Mothers Return

I thought I'd've been done with my personal life but... This isnt part of it I dont wanna share.... but things are quite shocking. A few days ago I was tasked by The Doctor to take care of Ditzy while he got some medicine... I sat at Ditzy's bedside inside her home in my costume. Had Rarity fix the dress that I destroyed showing Cilantro and Spearmint my home. They're actually doing well. Their father couldnt believe it when I walked up to their door. I was in town staying with Princess Twilight and I had to pick up my niece- who Cilantro and Spearmint have made great friends with. And they even kept my secret! Well... that's enough side tracking for now but... I sat by Ditzy's bedside in my usual attire. My mother's dress, a new yet similar sunhat to the one that got stomped out and my red frame glasses. She was having a bit of soup with garlic, hot sauce and a tiny bit of rosemary. The room flickered with the light of a TV set across from her bed with Ditzy's favorite cartoon series playing. It was a bit dark in the room because we had most of the blinds that opened up out into the open roads of Ponyville and had a good angle of me. Only one we had open was with a tree blocking it somewhat. I sighed looking to her."...Doesnt this bring back memories Ditz?" I asked. "Me at your bedside when you were sick? We'd normally color, play with our toys or even just do our own little things making sure we didnt get in the way if you were really sick."

Ditzy sniffled wiping her mouth with a towel. "...Is dot really any differnt than when Doc does it... but yeah... I missed this..." She said. I looked to the TV.

"...Ditzy...?"

"Yes sissy?" I glanced down at her hooves... I polished them for her, gave her a little pink coloring with swirls.

"....Do you.... do you ever wish we could go back.... convince mother to stay with us....? She missed a lot of important things in our lives..."

"....Mommy was mean... Doesnt you 'member Daring?" I looked back at her getting misty eyed.

"...Yeah... she was but... I learned not to hold grudges.... even to those who wronged you.... badly.... I've been back at our home Ditz.... Her room... Ours.... Daddy's stuff.... I went through all of it finding things that... made me remember how much we did when we were so young...."

".....can we not talk mommy no mores? I dont want my sissy cry... sissy not want me cry?" I sniffled.

"Sorry sis... I'm.... I'm not sure what's coming over me...." She started coughing a bit. I kept her soup stable as to not get it all over the bed. After she was done she whined a bit.

"...Owies...." I shushed her and lied her back taking her soup aside.

"It's okay Ditzy... Doc should be back with medicine to help you... Do you want me to get you a drink?" She weakly nodded smiling. I got up and walked out of her room... I walked out into the living room and looked at the door... Remembered how good it felt to be back in my sisters arms after a while.... even sharing that moment with Princess Twilight... She's got a lot of fans in her guards... Especially this one guy. Weird but he kept his cool.... Think he was a General... No matter. I grabbed a glass from the cabinets and ducked into the fridge for a moment. I stopped seeing a sealed package of strawberries... Even were covered in that sugar made from that plant I'm allergic too. And to clarify: Yes I'm allergic to that plant AND strawberries. Didnt mean to confuse anyone last time. I've kinda grown to have a fear of them. Not as much as spiders but... still scared. I took a deep breath and went for the orange juice bottle grabbing it and shutting the door to the fridge like it was gonna be coming after me.

I quickly poured Ditzy's juice and looked at the pictures out on the fridge. Mostly drawings from Dinky. Drawings of her and the doctor, her mommy and even her friends... even an old picture... A picture of me, her... and... dad... I stopped pouring her juice and just stared at it. This was before he had gotten sick... Before we lost him. I was only broken from my trance by a knock at the door which kinda startled me... lucky this dress was made with extra weights... More conditioning and it keeps my wings from extending out which kinda strengthens them.... I guess. I was hesitant to go check at first until I heard someone call out. "Derpy! Derpy honey open the door!" They said. It was the Doctor. I hurried over to the door and opened it hiding behind the door just out of view. The Doctor huffed as he came in with Dinky, Doc carrying some bags full of stuff and Dinky holding a small bag with the markings of a mortar grinder for medicine practice out in the wild. The Doctor looked to me as I closed the door. "Ah Lady Daring! Thank you for opening that. I felt if I were just about to drop everything." I helped him set down the bags nearby. "Is Ditzy doing well? She was sneezing an awful lot when we were going out." I sighed.

"Yeah... she's fine... Was just getting her some juice." I averted my gaze as Dinky ran into her mothers room. The doc put a hoof on my shoulder. I looked to him. Mane spiked up all nice, warming smile on his face, and a new bow tie that Ditzy got him for their two year anniversary... weird they've been together for two years when it seems longer.

"Everything okay Daring?" I shrugged. "...Do you wanna talk? Ears always open for you..." I thought about it for a moment before taking his hoof and walking over to the kitchen...

"...I dont know why but... lately I've been thinking about mother... how she was there for us... how she cared for us until Ditzy's accident... and when Daddy died.... Is it wrong to wanna go back and have her stay...? Maybe save Ditzy...?"

"Look... I'll look past the 'Saving Ditzy' part of it... but... somethings just have their set course.... your father leaving the mortal plain, your mother running off.... even that wretched nanny.... I hope karma caught up with her..." To be honest it did. She was a notorious thief under a surname... Guess who snuck into her hideout and made off with her families money and put in an anonymous call to the guard! Yeah she got karma'd alright.... Not saying how I found her out but it was funny to watch her in the trees as she got hauled off... thank Celestia for gillie suits... like... seriously thank her because she GAVE me a gillie suit in case assassins were after me for some reason. "Why would you be thinking that?"

"...Mother has been on my mind since I went digging around in our old home... its heartbreaking to see things just... broken and decrepit... things that we had in a place we lived... I just.... I have so many questions... Where is mother? Is she still alive?" Doc shushed me grabbing the mug of juice.

"Daring... Take this to Ditzy and say goodbye. You obviously need to go before Dinky starts asking about her grand mother and I cant tell her! Nor can Ditzy! She was already abandoned once by a deadbeat of a father after her mother died."

"And that happened to us but vice versa!" I whispered angrily. "And I cant believe you're kicking me out!"

"You're delusional Daring. You need to go home and get some rest!" I huffed.

"Call me delusional or what ever but you must do but my thoughts are my own and my feelings are my own as well." I started walking away from The Doctor with the drink in my grasp.

I walked into Ditzy's room to see Dinky sitting on the floor next to her mothers bed watching cartoons with her. I set her drink down giving my sister a weak yet warming smile. "...Thanky's Daring... I needed this...." She said. I gave her a tissue and she took it blowing her nose. I huffed.

"You're welcome Ditz... Anyways I actually kinda have to go home now..." She looked to me and I looked away.

"Why...? Why's you gots to go?" I sighed.

"....You can blame The Doctor on this... kicking me out basically... I dont wish to go but I feel if I stay longer he's going to get mad at me..." I looked back at Ditzy. "...I'll try to return soon... perhaps with a gift for everypony here." I looked to Dinky... Just had her eyes trained on the TV screen. "See ya later kiddo... maybe we can get some ice cream after I come back... Maybe as a family once your mom is all better..." She looked up and got up hugging me a bit. Gave her a kiss on her forehead before she broke the hug and sat back down to watch cartoons.

Didnt even give The Doctor as much as a glance as I went to the door and walked out. Very few ponies noticed. Those who did I gave a smile to... maybe an autograph or two until a guard noticed I was getting a bit overwhelmed. It was the general of all ponies. He escorted me back to Twilight's castle keeping ponies away from me. And maybe about an hour after that I was on a train bound for my home near Canterlot. But as I left the station... someone started following me... I couldnt tell who they were but... I knew they were following me... Cloaked figure, bag over their shoulder following me. Almost dressed like a monk as to slip by ponies that passed. Even ignored me because of how high class Canterlot is... Not saying that it's lower class that like my books but... Canterlot tolerates me with my work and the way I pack up city streets when doing signings. Now when it comes to the other cities... worst has to be Manehattan... But anyways I couldnt go to the guard... what if they knew something about me? What if they found me out and blabbed to the guard. Basically something I had to do myself... as dangerous as it was. I kept walking for a while until I just ducked into an alleyway. Everywhere I roam whether it be city or jungle or even remote forest I have a map of sorts. Forests and jungle I have topographical maps while cities are just normal. Detailed as well. I ducked down into the alley as fast as I could running to the end before running around a corner and hiding. I waited until the hooded pony was just on top of me before pouncing and tackling them. I pinned them after a brief struggle and... I just about had a heart attack... I shook my head and even rubbed my glasses with the sleeve ...I... Saw my mother....Silver mane but still looking full of youth... Just as the day she left us.... She looked up at me giving a smile as I backed off. "...Well... That's no way to greet your mother Daring!" She said. Her voice even sounded the same.

"I... What... HOW?!" She got up and shook herself off.

"Dont think I didnt see what you're doing with your life... I'm very proud of you.... And getting by without showing your real identity? Seems you havent changed a bit, trying to hide things from dear old mommy!" I looked down the alley and huffed looking back.

"Will you be quiet! What the fuck are you doing here and WHY show your face this late into the fucking game?!"

"What? Mommy cant see her little girls from time to time?"

"Bullshit! You havent seen us since you left the house, us with it! I ought to give you a busted lip for even following me the way you did! I honestly could've started screaming and everyone would've gotten the guard on you while I hid away! But you wouldnt sell out your own family would you? Put your daughter in danger? What about your daughter that was injured and you never gave a shit for?!"

"I cared for her! I cared for her as I did you!"

"Showed that REAL well with a fucking nanny and a note and not a trace of your fat ass!" She jabbed me in the chest with her hoof.

"Dont you dare talk to me that way! My flank isnt fat and you've got the worst potty mouth!"

"I'm not your little girl any more! I'm a grown mare! I can say what I want!" Before mother could respond we heard a sneeze and looked down the alley to see a stallion standing there wiping his nose before continuing on. I sighed. "Follow me, keep your distance... we talk when we get to my house...." She nodded knowing we couldnt be seen in this alley way... like I'm arguing with some old whore... seems like my mother did that the way she was.... Wouldnt doubt she sold herself out at all... even if she took some of the fortune with her. She followed me all the way home.... and I mean all the way... over the bridge out of the city, under the fallen log through a chasm, and even over a rickety wooden bridge that had enough strength to hold just one pony at a time. My home was secluded in woods. Just how I like it.... how I grew up obviously. Large cottage almost like my childhood home. Inside was... I'm not gonna explain. I had everything laid out like my childhood home. Small differences here and there but it was like I never left. Treasures where our living room was, a writing room upstairs (fathers room), my room next door (mine and ditzy's) and my mothers? More treasures and some portraits as well as a stash of books I can hand out to lucky fans. Mother looked to me as we entered the door.

"Guess you didnt wanna go far from home... Why dont you let your sister live with you?" I sighed.

"She's got a family, I've got a niece, your fucking grand daughter... Now tell me why you show up at this moment when you could've come back and spent time with your damn family!" I could see her expression turn from smug to sad.... She looked back at the bag on her back before taking it off and losing the cloak revealing her pristine coat and wings... untouched by time.

"...This... this isnt a social call Daring... I.... I need help... Your help...." I looked at her confused as I ditched my hat and glasses on the table in the middle of the foyer.

"Help? Help with what? Fixing the family? Too late for that! Dad's dead, Ditzy and I are grown up, Doc is dead as well as the gardener!" Yes I lied to her face about The Doctor. She doesnt need to know he's immortal... sorta.... I still dont understand how he works. But she sighed hanging her head.

"...It's... It's all my fault...." My confused look even had me tilting my head even more confused. "....It's... It's about time I come clean with you sweetie... I.... I want to die...." My heart sank... I looked to her bag and backed away.

"...Th-that better not be some explosive to take someone with you...."

"...Like I could get my hooves on that without trouble..." She looked to me sitting down. "...but it's not that... it's... something worse than death... extended life..." She nudged the bag forward. Curious as I was... I hesitantly opened it fearing something could jump out or go off in my face but... All I saw was a golden idol in the shape of a monkey holding a glowing red jewel. "...I... I found this years ago... before you and Ditzy came along... before your father was barely a teenager.... it was outside of a cave entrance... I thought it looked nice and decided to save it as a little trinket... but... I've noticed things started happening... I havent been aging... Yet... who ever I was with died to a strange sickness.... Ones who i've loved the most.... " Tears started to build in her eyes as she stood up. "....I... I was responsible for your fathers death.... he was sick because of me.... and... I didnt realize it until a few stallions later... It... it was only a matter of time and... I'm afraid it's gotten to someone closer than a lover...." I gasped having my heart sink lower and my eyes widened.

"...No... no tell me you're lying and this is some trick!" She didnt say a word. "... N-no... not... not Ditzy... she's... she's sick... this... this has to be some fever dream I have... I ... I should wake up from any minute...." She walked over to me and hugged me. I latched onto her... my sister was going to die... I was going to lose her. She shushed me.

"...Its okay... Its okay... She's... She's not gonna die... not unless we do something..." I sniffled a bit.

"...W-we cant... she's not gonna get better.... I... I'm losing my best friend.... and my only real family!" My mother slapped me across the face. She looked me in the eye and wiped my tears away.

"...She... isnt... going to die... we can fix this.... You've done this sort of thing before havent you...? Kept catastrophe's from happening? Just by returning the thing?" I held my cheek and sniffled. I've honestly returned maybe a few items realizing catastrophe could occur if off its pedestal for a long period... This? I dont know anything about it... well... other than that it steals the life force of those loved by whomever had the relic. I dont know its name and where its from. "...Will you help mummy fix this? Please? I... I dont want to lose Ditzy... Nor do you it seems...." I sniffled.

"...O... Okay.... I'll help.... but... please... just... dont touch anything in here.... I want to help... not to hurt... but I will if it means protecting my things..."

"You do that and... we might lose Ditzy... but... you have my word... For now... rest... yes?" I sniffled and nodded. She shushed me. "...Dont worry.... everything will be okay... Ditzy's gonna be okay....." I honestly had flashbacks of when she would tell me dad was gonna be okay.... But this could be different now that I know about this.... Hopefully...