With The Hooves For the Holidays

Chapters

Sparkler's Story
The Doctor's Story
Ditzy's Story
Dinky's Story

Sparkler's Story

“Almost Christmas!” Dinky happily jumped about clumsily attempting to use her magic to hang a stocking over the fire place. After several failed attempts Sparkler gave Dinky’s magic a little boost, so the stocking would end up over the fireplace instead of in it. Sparkler smiled as her grey coated younger sister’s eyes lit up with joy. Sparkler looked around the room, she and her foster sister had done a wonderful job of preparing the room. The tree was pretty well decorated; they had managed to avoid breaking any ornaments this year. They had taken care of the normally mountainous piles of laundry that typically occupy the sofa. The two made their way over to the kitchen.
The small kitchen was filled with garlands lining the edges of the roof. A note sat by a festive basket of muffins. Levitating the note Sparkler began reading it to her younger sister.
“To my Dear Little Muffins,
This is always a busy part of the year, so unfortunately I won’t be home till very late tonight. The Doctor may be coming over as a surprise visit, so make sure the house is presentable” Sparkler and Dinky both groaned at this, it would mean more cleaning for them “I left you some muffins (and there is some chocolate milk (its hidden behind the eggnog you two don’t like))” before Sparkler could finish reading Dinky had pulled out a glass and was tossing things out of the fridge. She sloppily poured herself a glass and was munching away on a banana nut muffin. Sparkler sighed and took a towel to mop up the spilled chocolate milk and put all Dinky had taken out away.
Grabbing a blueberry muffin and pouring herself a glass Sparkler continued “If Carrot Top drops by the rent is in the envelope on the coffee table, and her gift is on my nightstand.” Dinky ran off and returned with a pair of envelopes which she set down on the kitchen counter. “I know you have the week off Sparkler, but Miss Rarity said she had something she needed to see you about. She said it was okay to bring Dinky, stay safe out there.
Love,
Mommy
PS Save some muffins for me!”
Folding up the letter Sparkler and Dinky began “cleaning” a process that consisted mostly of shoving everything they could under the sofa.
“Dinky do you feel like a trip to Carousel Boutique?” Dinky looked up from the pile of magazines she was trying to shove into a bookshelf, and rushed off to the closet, returning with her scarf and winter boots before speaking.
“Yes.” Sparkler laughed as she levitated her earmuffs on and then slipped on her warm fuzzy boots. The two sisters walked out, the mild crunch of snow beneath there hooves providing the only noise in this winter stillness. The weather ponies had set up a light snowfall. Dinky pranced about trying to catch snowflakes with her tongue. Sparkler played along but worried. “Is Miss Rarity mad?” she thought to herself “I hope this isn’t about the gems I messed up last week. I’m still new at this my cutie mark is for gems not dresses” She would have continued this line of thought if a sloppily constructed snowball hadn’t smacked her in the face. Looking to see her little sister giggling from behind a bush Sparkler began packing some snow down and returned fire or snow in this case. The two broke into a light trot flinging snowballs back and forth. Eventually Dinky crashing into a snow bank outside Carousel Boutique.
Shaking off the snow the pair of sisters entered the high end dress shop. A small bell rang heralding there entrance.
“Dinky wipe your hooves. Don’t go tracking snow all over the place.” Dinky looked up angrily
“You’re not the boss of me!” Sparkler gave Dinky a look and the little filly reluctantly wiped her hooves on the welcome mat.
“Miss Rarity?”
“Just a moment darling!” a small commotion sounded from upstairs and Rarity emerged carrying four brown paper packages all tied up with string.
“Am I in trouble Miss Rarity?” Sparkler said sheepishly, afraid she was about to lose her job. Rarity gave her a quizzical expression before laughing.
“Trouble? Why in Equestria would you be in trouble? I’m giving you a Christmas gift, of course once I made one for you I felt I had to make one for your sister, and then I couldn’t possibly leave your mother out. Then I worried about her Coltfriend so I made one for him too.” Rarity was floating the packages around.
“Uh… made what?”
“Why these of course!” Rarity dropped two of the parcels in front of the unicorns. “Go ahead open them. I want to see how they look” Dinky didn’t need to be told twice. She ripped through the paper. Her sister gingerly untied the knot and unfolded the paper. Both sisters looked at the beautiful winter capes Rarity had given them. Sparkler’s was blue with three stars and a diamond adorning the clasp and a pattern matching her cutie mark spanning the end of the cape. Dinky’s was a simple lavender cloak with dark purple polka dots and a bowtie tying it together, with little pieces of artificial fur on both the collar and the ends. Dinky had squirmed into hers and was already running around the full body mirror trying to see how it looked. Sparkler put hers on Rarity keeping her eyes locked on little Dinky running around cheering for her cape. Rarity smiled as she got a hug from the little grey unicorn. Running a hoof through her yellow mane Rarity let Dinky know it was her pleasure to make the capes for them.
Rarity turned to look at Sparkler’s new look. The cloak was a little big, it was almost like a fine dress, Sparkler levitated the mirror around admired her new look. Rarity squealed with glee happy that her creations had turned out so magnificently. Sparkler felt a small wave of guilt. She had not gotten anything for her employer.
“Miss Rarity I’m sorry I didn’t get anything for you…”
“None of that dear I won’t hear it.” Sparkler opened her mouth to interject but Rarity cut her off “I made these a generous gift to my number one gem hunter and carver. I’m proud of the work you do, and I thought you deserved a special holiday treat.” Rarity began whisking them out of the store “And do tell your mother to drop by, I want to see how hers turned out. Merry Christmas!”
Being rushed out of the store Sparkler still felt she should have gotten Rarity something. The two began walking around town noticing most of the stores had closed for Christmas. Mr. Breezy’s Fans remained open despite the cold when asked Mr. Breezy said “Never know when somepony is going to need a fan.” Davenport’s Quills and Sofas was open for business offering a sale on special seasonal quills, that taste like peppermint. Sparkler was tempted, but decided she had enough trouble with her chewing on writing instruments problem.
A little discouraged the duo returned home. Sparkler hanging up Dinky’s new cape and winter wear, which was so ceremoniously deposited on the floor, before taking care of her own. Dinky decided she wanted to color. Sparkler was left alone in the kitchen. She took out a pot as well as knife and a bar of chocolate. She began chopping the candy into fine pieces and began heating them in the pot. She then levitated out a whisk and a little milk and happily began producing mugs. Pouring one for herself and one for Dinky, she emptied the rest into a thermos.
Sparkler happily levitated the mugs of piping hot beverage, and entered the living room. Rather than her sister happily coloring, Sparkler saw a heartbreaking sight. A stray spark had flown out of the fire and lit Dinky’s precious stocking on fire. Dinky sat there sobbing. Sparkler dumped her hot chocolate to extinguish the flaming stocking, but the damage had been done. The once festive red sock was now a half burnt shadow of its former self. “This is all my fault.” Sparkler thought to herself as she rocked her sobbing sister. “I should have put the fire out before we left. I was lazy. Now it’s my fault Dinky feels awful.” Three knocks hit the door in quick succession. Sparkler looked at her sister “Stay here okay?” Dinky nodded mumbling a barely audible “Mm-hmm” sipping her hot chocolate the occasional tear still slipping her eye.
“Oh Celestia. How am I going to explain this to Mom?” Sparkler thought to herself. She opened the door, standing there in an orange sweater and a red and white striped scarf was Ms. Carrot Top. “Come right in Ms. Carrot Top I have the rent right he-”
“Don’t be a silly filly Sparkler. Its Christmas! I’m not here for the rent. I’m here to give presents! Where’s Ditzy?” Carrot Top entered and shook a little snow out of her stylized orange mane. She set down a medium sized box wrapped in striped wrapping paper and a big red ribbon.
“Mom’s got to make deliveries. Ms. Carrot Top I need a favor.” Sparkler showed Carrot Top the charred stocking “Can you watch Dinky while I try and get this fixed?”
“Sure, but wouldn’t-”
“Thanks Ms. Carrot Top! I’ll be back soon!” Sparkler levitated her new cape on and quickly hopped into her boots and once again raced through the streets of Ponyville. Occasionally she slipped on the icy roads. She realized something, she seemed to be taking advantage of Miss Rarity’s generosity. She had given them beautiful capes, and now Sparkler was going to ask Rarity to do something else for her. "I need to get her something nice" Sparkler looked around. No quills or sofas that store had closed. Mr. Breezy continued to be open “Never know when somepony is going to need a fan.” There Sugarcube Corner still had an open sign. Sparkler rushed in levitating her purse and quickly counting her bits.
“Hi there! Do you need Christmas Cookies, cuz we have Christmas cookies. Well not as many as we had before because I’ve been eating so many. But I guess its okay since no pony will buy Christmas Cookies after Christmas. Ohh! Do you want to buy some Christmas cookies? They’re super-duper delicious! I should know I’ve been eating them all day!” The bouncy Pink Earth Pony continued to talk, Sparkler trying desperately to understand what was going on.
“Uhh I need a gift for my boss.”
“Oh we have the perfect thing for your grumpy wumpy boss. Everypony loves Cake! Well except those ponies who don’t like cake. They mostly like oatmeal, and so then I said “Oatmeal are you crazy?” Course I should love and tolerate them all the same, but really who likes oatmeal over cake?” Sparkler’s head was spinning trying to keep up with the bubbly pink pony.
“Uhh…” Sparkler’s eyes darted around the room trying to find something suitable “How much for that box of Bon-Bon’s Premium Bon-Bons?” The fancy box of chocolates seemed to hold an assortment of flavors ranging from Coconut to Sea-Pony Surprise, it seemed a fancy desert type dish. It would be right for Miss Rarity sparkler hoped to herself.
“Fifteen Bits! Its certainly a fancy gift for your grumpy wumpy boss!”
Fifteen Bits was certainly more than Sparkler had hoped to spend. “Uh is there anypony else I could ask for help?”
“No Mr. Cake and Mrs. Cake went out for the evening. Mrs. Cake was wearing her pretty new earings. So I said ohh “Mrs. Cake you look so fancy pants tonight” and then she sa-”
“Ok Ok Ok I get it.” Sparkler didn’t want to spend all that money, but Miss Rarity had been so generous to her and her family, and now she was going to ask her to fix Dinky’s stocking. Sparkler hated herself for a second was she really going to begrudge her employer a box of fancy chocolates? What kind of spirit was she in? She wasn’t deserving to have such a kind and generous boss. “I’ll take the chocolates, and could you wrap them?” Sparkler emptied every last bit out.
“Well of course I can wrap it.” The Pink Pony sounded almost offended such a question had been asked. Her cheerful demeanor immediately returned as she bounced around grabbing unseen wrapping materials from out of nowhere it seemed “My special talent is throwing parties. Of course I wrap presents all the time, except this isn’t like a birthday present. I have the perfectest specialist wintery-est wrapping paper ever!” The Pink Pony seemed to generate a tornado as wrapping paper shavings and bits of ribbon flew in every which direction. The Pink Pony pirrouted and presented what appeared to be a festive Christmas Tree made out of wrapping paper. “Wait I forgot one pull” the pony pulled a ribbon and the tree collapsed into a perfectly wrapped box with an elegant red bow atop it. Sparkler’s jaw dropped at the physics defying wrapping process. Picking up the now packaged bon-bons she backed slowly out of the store keeping both eyes fixed on the hyper active pink pony.
“Bye! Have a merry Christmas!” Sparkler dashed out of the store and towards Carousel Boutique, the clock was striking Eight. Most stores were already closed. The Pink Pony was locking up Sugarcube Corner. Even Mr. Breezy was calling it a night, which means the chances of the boutique being open were slim to none. Rushing across the icy walkway she found herself slipping eventually losing her balance and smashing into the front porch. Shaking the snow from her mane, she walked up the steps and raised a hoof to knock. Her hoof missed widely as the door opened. Rarity was a frilly magenta cape with the most beautiful clasp Sparkler had ever seen. It was a magnificent Ruby shaped like a heart bound with a gold chain brining around her neck.
“Oh Sparkler dear was there something you needed?” Sparkler thought about bringing up the charred stocking, but instead decided to give Miss Rarity her gift. The unicorn smiled as she took the present, delicately removing the ribbon. Upon the last strand of ribbon removed the package exploded, the wrapping paper morphing into a tree, then a pony, then a duck, before ending up as a box and a perfectly rolled factory condition tube of wrapping paper.
Rarity looked at Sparkler’s hanging jaw and smirked “I take it Pinkie Pie wrapped this?” Sparkler did her best to nod “Close your mouth darling it’s very unladylike.” Rarity now flipped the box with her magic levitating the wrapping paper away at the same time “Ohh a box of Bon-Bon’s Premium Bon-Bons. I do so love these little chocolates, but I can’t have any of them right now” The two of them re-entered the boutique Rarity clearing away some space in her well-organized albeit crowded refrigerator and then placing the chocolates in. “It was very generous of you to go to the trouble of getting my favorite treat. I didn’t need a gift darling.” Rarity was adjusting a few things she looked at herself in the mirror “Oh why would I wear the emerald earrings? What was I thinking?” Levitating out her jewelry box she made a quick change to a simple pair of diamond earrings. “Now Sparkler what did you need? I do hope its nothing to long, the Apples have invited my family over for Christmas Dinner, Sweetie Belle said something about Cutie Mark Crusader Christmas Carolers.”
Again the wave of guilt washed over Sparkler. Here she was about delay her already generous boss from going to dinner with her family and friends, so she could fix a mistake that was entirely her fault. “Nothing too important Miss Rarity. Go have fun with your friends and family”
“Thank you again Sparkler. If there is anything you need don’t hesitate to ask.” Rarity shut her jewelry box and led Sparkler out of the store. She locked the door and trotted off wishing Sparkler a Merry Christmas. Sparkler now began despondently walking back home, having failed her mission. She slipped on a patch of black ice and collided with a white picket fence.
“You okay?” Mr. Breezy helped Sparkler up off the ground. Sparkler was letting a stream of tears dribble down her face. She sniffled as she got up. “What’s wrong Sparkler?” The Earth Pony reached into his sweater and produced a handkerchief. Sparkler blew her nose and began to talk
“Well Mr. Breezy, Dinky’s stocking was a little too close to the fire.” Sparkler levitated out the burnt sock “and I helped her hang it.” Sparkler’s eyes were beginning to well with tears. She was now sobbing. “So I was going to take advantage of my boss’ generous nature and ask her to fix it. But then I didn’t even do that. So now I am a manipulative pony who couldn’t even fix her kid sister’s stocking. What kind of horrible pony am I?”
“Sparkler I won’t listen to this.” Mr. Breezy stomped his hooves in the snow. He picked up the stocking “Follow me” The stallion lead Sparkler into his fan emporium. It was full of fans of all shapes and sizes ranging from hoof-held to ceiling fans. All of them were shut off, and Mr. Hooves made his way to a back room. Inside was a small sewing machine and a basket of yarn. Mr. Breezy got to work taking out a red piece of cloth to fix the stocking. Sparkler took a moment to look around the room. There were newspaper articles detailing the rise of the Wonderbolt “Sky Breeze” then there were articles attacking her as a “one trick pony.” There were pictures of a stunning tan Pegasus mare with a red mane. A display case had a Wonderbolts’ Outfit dressed on a Pegasus Mannequin. Finally one article detailed a horrific crash in which Sky Breeze and a mare by the name of Sea Breezy perished and right next to it was a letter of condolence signed by Wonderbolts’ Captain Spitfire. It said how sorry they were about his daughter and wife’s death.
“Sparkler I think you are being entirely too hard on yourself. You took your sister out and played with her in the snow. You help out your mother who works herself half to death to take care of you two. You work hard to impress your boss, and you even went and got her a gift. You are not a bad pony Sparkler” Mr. Breezy then picked up the mended stocking with a patch covering the burnt section “Besides would a bad pony run around like a mad mare to fix a stocking for her sister?”
“Thank you Mr. Breezy. If I may ask why are you being so nice to me?”
He pointed to all the cruel reviews of his daughter’s performance “Never know when somepony will need a fan.” He gave Sparkler a wink and a smile as he waved to her as she trotted back towards her house.
Sparkler entered there was Carrot Top exchanging presents with her foster mother, while her little sister had fallen asleep on the sofa. The Doctor entered the room with a tray of hot cocoa wearing the beautiful new cape Miss Rarity had made for him. Sparkler smiled, maybe things weren’t so bad after all.

The Doctor's Story

Definitely a slow day. He shouldn’t be surprised. No one is in great need of time pieces this time of year. Everypony knows they are short on time. Still he wanted a perfect still day today.He continued playing around with the Grandfather Clock he was supposed to be fixing for Carousel Boutique. He was disinterested in fixing it. He was focused on the gifts he had gotten for his beautiful fillyfriend and her foals. He was positive he would be earning some major points tonight. A bell rang signaling someone entering his shop.
“Hello and Welcome to Tardis Watches and Clocks. What may I do for you?”
“My cuckoo clock is broken again.” Doctor Hooves opened his eyes. There was his most frequent customer. A pink pony with a frizzled mane wearing a festive was holding a cuckoo clock which had lost both the hour and the minute hand. Both had been worn out from being pushed to make the clock “cuckoo” more often than on the hour.
“Pinkamena… did you make the clock go cuckoo too much?”
“Well of course I did silly. I can’t resist that little bird going cuckoo all the time…” He was used to this at this point and began getting out the replacement hands for the clock. “… and that’s why I brought it to you because you’re the doctor for clocks. Of course you’re the tenth clock doctor I’ve had.”
“I fixed it.”
Pinkie Pie continued with her story. The Doctor coughed.
“I fixed it.”
Her story had taken a turn for the bizarre she was talking about all sorts of strange things whatever Daleks were they now were the focus of the story.
“Ms. Pie your clock!” Pinkie finally snapped out of her story.
“You fixed it!” She happily lifted her clock and spun around with it before giving the good doctor a painful if heartfelt hug. She then seemed to produce a purse from out of nowhere and began rummaging trough it. She tossed out all sorts of things, it seemed more fit in that purse then should be possible when she tossed out a sack of flower, a bunch of rocks, and some turnips.
“No charge Pinkamena. It’s Christmas.” Pinkie stopped rummaging and once again embraced the Doctor tears of joying streaming down her face. Pinkie loosened her grip and handed the Doctor a small wrapped box before bouncing out of the store with her cuckoo clock on her back and the various debris back in her purse. Rubbing his head he sat back down and began tinkering with Grandfather Clock again.
He looked at the door, then to the box, then back again. He nervously undid the ribbon. The wrapping paper exploded and began going through a myriad of shapes. The Doctor momentarily panicked and ducked under the desk. After another few seconds a seemingly unused roll of wrapping paper fell to the floor. He nervously looked over the counter there was a small package. Lifting off the lid ready to hit the dirt again the brown earth pony looked inside. There was a batch of Christmas Cookies. He happily began munching away at one and returned to his work.
Hours slipped by as he continued modifying and repairing the antique wooden clock. It was beautifully carved, and he was having trouble concentrated. The last thing he wanted to be doing right now was work. He looked down into his bag and felt a surge of pride. He had gotten Ditzy the perfect gift. He had heard her talk about the New Year’s Ball in Canterlot, so he had managed to get a hold of a pair of tickets. He was confident the two of them would have the best night ever. He would help her pick out a new dress from Carousel Boutique . He laughed a little to himself, he should probably finish fixing the clock if he was going to go shopping there. He laughed and looked again in his bag, he was happy with the gift he had gotten Sparkler, a week or two ago he overheard her mention needing a new purse. He had picked out an amazing one, a Hoity Toity Original. It was a light pink and had three diamonds serving as buttons on the top. Finally came a gift very near to his heart. He had wrapped a thin hardcover book with a gold wrapping paper and a thin red bow. He had gotten Dinky one of his favorite books from childhood “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” Looking down in the bag he noticed one last thing, a small golden pocket watch. It was given to him by his father, and he considered it his most precious possession. He considered it a good luck charm.
The bell rang once more and the pony the good Doctor wanted to see least trotted in. It was a blue earth pony with a blonde mane and a bow tie and an hourglass cutie mark.
“Well well well Doctor still putting around in this little shop? Now we all see why I am the Master.”
“Don’t you have better things to do then gloat? Go run your shop in Canterlot, I have more important things to do than deal with you.” The Doctor looked back down at the workings of the Grandfather clock. “Thank you have a nice day.” The Doctor looked up. “You’re still here? Buy something or get out?”
“Now now is that any way to treat the owner of Timelord’s Watches and Clocks? What would old Derpy Hooves think of that?”
“Her name is Ditzy Doo, and I don’t think she’d give a flying foal one way or the other, considering what a pain in the flank you are.” The blue pony let out a disapproving tut-tut.
“Is that anyway to react to your new neighbor?” He let out a little laugh “Come now. You can’t be surprised I ran you and your little ramshackle watch shop out of Canterlot then Manehattan and Bucklyn. You had to know I’d move into Ponyville next. So where you going to run and open shop next? Hoofington? Perhaps Stalliongrad? Too bad you aren’t a Pegasus you might be safe in Cloudsdale I’d have to hire a Pegasus to ruin you then. You couldn’t make it in Las Neighgas selling imitation Oneighga Watches”
“You can’t run me out of Ponyville. I’m part of the community. They love me. I even have regulars who show up for frequent clock problems. Look one of them gave me this.” He pulled forth the box of Christmas Cookies.
“Ah yes a box of cookies. The sort of thing you’d give a mail mare. Of course you’d know all about that. The sort of thing you’d give to anypony who is easily replaced.”
“They wouldn’t replace me.”
“Wouldn’t they?” The blue earth pony snatched a cookie and left.t
The Doctor shouted and shook his hoof “You owe me a Christmas Cookie!” Still hadn’t Pinkie said something about other people being doctors for her clocks? That he was the tenth. It stung, but there was no way she would hug somepony who was easily replaceable. Was it? This was Pinkie Pie the highly emotional party pony. Still is it that preposterous to believe? All he did was fix ponies clocks. He wasn’t a real doctor or some profession that required a great deal of trust, he just fixed watches and things. Still he was part of the community. He had been dating Ditzy Doo so much some mean ponies had changed her nickname to Derpy Hooves. Sure it was a mean nickname, but he was permanent fixture. It wouldn’t be like the cities where he had been undercut by the lower prices and wider selection, these ponies knew him, they wouldn’t abandon him. Still the nagging doubt remained, he had a hard time focusing on the clock, and eventually ended up fiddling with another cuckoo clock he was making.
He really did not care for the things, but every time he made one a certain Pink Pony would buy it. He smirked to himself imaging the ruckus that would go off every hour from the Cake’s tenant. He wondered how those two put up with her and their own toddlers. He could only imagine the toddlers and Pinkie Pie were an incredibly destructive if lovable combination. He really hoped he wasn’t replaceable. He put those thoughts out of his mind and decided now would be as good a time as any to close up shop and go visit Ditzy. Hopefully Mr. Handel let her off her mail run early today.
Wrapping a scarf around his neck he began trotting off towards the small house at the edge of Golden Harvest Farms. He waved a heart hello to everypony he met hoping to make a lasting impression on them and hopefully dispel his fears about replacement. To his dismay most either ignored him or returned the greeting out of politeness. The sun set still caused a faint orange glow in the snow clouds. He stopped to admire for a second before making his way through the short picket gate and knocking three times on the door.
He was a tad surprised seeing the pony who opened the door.
“Carrot Top? Is Ditzy home?”
“No I’m watching Dinky for Sparkler right now, but according to Sparkler Ditzy should be back soon, and she should be right back after taking care of something.” The orange maned Earth Pony led him inside. He walked into the den with Carrot Top, Dinky was asleep on the sofa and a nice fire kept the room snug and toasty. “Would you like anything to drink? I heard Sparkler mention hot chocolate when I arrived.”
“I’ll fix it Carrot. Don’t wait on me.” Perhaps it was insecurity about what would happen when the new watch shop opened up that drove him to be extra nice to everypony, but Carrot did not pick up on how nervous he actually was. Slowly and meticulously he got out the ingredients and began carefully making the hot chocolate.
“You realize there is a thermos?” The Doctor jumped a little at the silent entry by the grey Pegasus. She had flown right through the kitchen window and he had not noticed her come in.
“Hello Ditzy.” He trotted over to the grey Pegasus shutting the window. She was wearing a blue wool sweater in addition to her normal mailmare’s hat and satchel. He embraced her with a big hug.
“Merry Christmas Ditzy”
“Merry Christmas. Lots of deliveries.” She dropped her satchel to the floor and tossed her hat which in a logic defying journey managed to cross the room and land perfectly on the hat rack. “Tired”
“Ditzy is that you?”
“Go. I’ll bring you and Carrot Top some hot chocolate. You deserve some relaxation” He gave the yellow Pegasus a peck on the cheek, and resumed making hot chocolate. Ditzy went to the next room and began chatting delightedly with Carrot Top. He smiled as he poured the hot chocolate into three mugs. And carried the tray in. Entering the room he noticed Sparkler had returned and was hanging a patched stocking with Dinky embroidered on it by the fire place, it seemed like the entire Doo family had the uncanny ability to move around without him noticing. He noticed something that gave him mild discouragement, Sparkler had a new purse. It wasn’t a Hoity Toity original, but it meant he was replacing something not filling a void. He still had the perfect gift for Ditzy, he was still irreplaceable.
“Carrot open yours!” The Doctor set the tray of hot chocolate on the table and sat down next to the still sleeping Dinky Doo. The yellow Earth Pony carefully tore the envelope and opened a letter, she cleared her throat and began reading aloud.
“To my Dear Landlord and Best Friend Carrot Top. Aww Ditzy that’s sweet of you to say” Carrot again turned to the letter. “Now I know you’ve been having trouble with the Stallions…” Carrot Top shot Ditzy a nasty look. Ditzy shrugged and smiled while Sparkler laughed “and you complain about now having any nice clothes” Carrot raised and eyebrow “Where is this going Ditzy?”
“Keep Reading” Ditzy’s obliviousness to how negatively the letter made Carrot out to be was lost on her, while Sparkler was still giggling almost spitting out her hot chocolate.
“All right” Carrot cleared her throat again “So in addition to a Mares-Day out trip to the spas and getting you a fancy new dress from Carousel Boutique”
“Carousel Boutique! That reminds me Miss Rarity had gifts for the two of you!” Sparkler perked up.
“Not now Sparkler let Carrot Finish”
“Yes Mom. The unicorn’s enthusiasm dimmed for a moment, but returned once Carrot started reading. “I have enclosed the prize I received from Mr. Handle at Equestrian Express for being employee of the year” Everypony shot Ditzy a skeptical look
“He said it was for being the most loyal delivery pony in all of Equestria delivering even on rainy days! He also said I was better about dropping things this year…” Ditzy’s voice trailed off as Carrot continued “These are two tickets to the New Year’s Ball in Canterlot” The Doctor felt crushed, Ditzy had given away what he had gotten her before he even had an opportunity to present it. On top of that she had gotten it from her boss. “Mailponies get cookies. My Flank.” He cursed in his head. Now two of his gifts were ruined and given his current run of luck somepony was going to give Dinky The Night Before Christmas. “It’s still salvageable. Ditzy gave the gift to Carrot Top she still can’t go.”
“Hey Ditzy want to be my wingmare?”
“Rubbish” The Doctor muttered that inaudible to all but himself. Now this evening was definitely shot. Today was far from perfect. Dinky began turning over in her sleep catching her as she rolled off the sofa the Doctor let everypony know what he was doing “I’m going to take Dinky to her bed.” He carefully wrapped her in the blanket she had on and made his way up the narrow wooden staircase to the top floor. His eyes were a little watery he had failed. There was no way he was irreplaceable. He carefully entered Dinky’s room the floor was a minefield of blocks and other small toys, including the death trap known as roller skates. He set Dinky down on the bed and needing a few moments to think decided to tidy the room a bit while he planned. He must have been angrier than he realized because while tossing some blocks in to the toy bin he stomped his hoof and comically tripped on a roller skate.
“Are you alright?” The sleepy voice of Dinky Doo asked. The Doctor picked himself up and sent the offending skate to the only prison that could hold it, the toy bin.
“Yes I’m alright” The Doctor did not realize he had a tear or two on his face.
“You don’t look alright. Why are you crying?” Her childish naiveté let her ask questions when other ponies might let it alone.
“I wasn’t crying I was… sweating through my eyes.” Dinky gave the Doctor a look that said she didn’t buy it for a second “I have a present for you” Dinky dropped the subject and shot to attention The Doctor had barely pulled the gold wrapped package with a red ribbon from his bag before Dinky had telekinetically grabbed and used a combination of her magic and hooves to tear through the wrappings. Ignoring the fact that her room was now a mess again, she held the book up. She was a little filly the alphabet was still fairly recent, she could much less read a book. “Will you read it to me?”
“Of course.” At least one of his gifts would be appreciated.
“T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse”
“We don’t have any mice in our house we chase them all away so they don’t eat our muffin crumbs.”
“Uh-huh.” The Doctor didn’t mean to sound disinterested and shot her an apology smile, but Dinky hadn’t noticed and pointed her hoof back to the book. “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care”
“My Stocking! It’s still ruined!”
“Don’t worry I saw Sparkler hang it back up. Fixed.”
“I have the best big sister in the world!”
“The Stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads”
“What’s a sugarplum?”
“It’s a kind of candy”
“Then how does it dance?”
“I don’t know…” He quickly returned to the story before being questioned “And mama and her kerchief”
“What’s a kerchief?”
“It’s like a bandana. And I in my cap had just settled in for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn I heard such a clatter I jumped from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash tore up the curtains and threw up the sash”
“Ewww…”
“What?”
“Why would you throw up a sash? I don’t think I’d like to eat clothes.”
“It’s a different kind of sash and by threw up I think he means opened.”
“Oh.”
“The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.”
“What’s a reindeer?”
“It’s like a regular deer but it can fly.”
“So it has wings like a Pegasus?”
“No it just can fly.”
“How?”
“Christmas Magic” Dinky felt cheated being given that answer but let it slide as the Doctor resumed the story.
“With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! “Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.”
“What’s a wreath?”
“It’s a circle”
“Why don’t they just say that?”
“It doesn’t rhyme.”
“Oh”

“He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf”
“What’s an elf?”

“And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!”
“You shouldn’t laugh at Santa. Also what’s an elf?”

“A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.”
“Why would you be afraid of Santa?”
“He’s not afraid of Santa He has nothing to dread!” The Doctor quickly regained his demeanor and resumed “He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!”
“How’s he do that?”
“Christmas Magic” Dinky groaned. It seemed she wasn’t going to get a better answer then that tonight
“He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" The Doctor shut the book “Good night Dinky.”
“Wait!” She gave the Doctor a big heartfelt if painful hug “Thank you for the book, but I still have questions for you” The Doctor sighed and expected “What’s an elf?”
“When are you going to marry Mommy?” The Doctor had not been expecting that question “Sparkler wanted to know.” He could tell she was fibbing, but she still wanted the answer
“I don’t know Dinky. I know your mother is a special mare, definitely the special mare. I just don’t know when I’ll ask. And this is a secret between the two of us got it?” The little unicorn nodded. “Good night” He made his way towards the door and as he was shutting he heard one more question.
“What’s an elf?” He chuckled and checked his pocket watch as he went down the stairs. A small realization came over him. Ditzy was running on a tight schedule, and was almost always running things down to the wire. He found the perfect gift for Ditzy the day of. His pocketwatch was a sentimental piece of him and it addressed what she needed. Entering the living room he felt relief that Sparkler had gone to bed. He left the purse under the tree still wrapped in its box and made his way over to Ditzy who was staring at the fireplace now that Carrot Top had left.
“Merry Christmas” He gave her a peck on the cheek again and handed her the small velvet box that contained his watch. She opened it and recognized it immediately.
“Oh its perfect.” She tossed both her hooves around the Doctor putting him in his fourth bone crushing hug of the day. “Open yours!” She handed him the large wrapped box. He read the tag “To the most irreplaceable Stallion in the world Love Ditzy” He opened it. It was a dapper brown suit with small patches on the knees with a small pin that looked like a muffin.
“It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” He gave cuddled next to Ditzy and stared at the fire. The night was perfect.

Ditzy's Story

The day had been divine and this was the perfect end to it. Carrot Top seemed to be enjoying her Christmas present very much either that or Aloe and Lotus had relaxed Ditzy so much she could no longer comprehend reality. As the spa ponies continued to work their relaxing massages Carrot opened conversation.
“So Ditzy, you said you still had one surprise left before we leave for Canterlot. Would you care to put me now or is it some big secret?” Her voice began to modulate up and down as the blue spa pony began a series of chopping motions. Ditzy’s giggles likewise moved up and down as the pink pony did likewise. The pair was then led by the third, Spa Pony, lotus blossom into the Sauna.
“Surprise! Big finish before New Years Ball!” Ditzy was positively thrilled at whatever she had planned. Carrot looked skeptical.
“But how will we put on fancy clothes and ready our manes for the ball tonight?” Carrot Top’s question was legitimate, but Ditzy laughed and said to leave it to her. Carrot nervously smile, Ditzy was sweet, but she hoped this would go better than some of their previous escapades. Leaving the spa the mares felt refreshed and ready for anything. Carrot had put on her red sweater and scarf while Ditzy was wearing the new cape she had been given by Rarity for Christmas. It was a faint blue with small silver lines running in an intricate pattern that glistened every time the sun hit it. Ditzy refused to tell Carrot where the duo was going. The streets of Ponyville had finally been cleared of snow, making the walk simply cold as versus cold and wet. Mayor Mare promised better snow clearing every year, and yet it seemed to get worse and worse. Ditzy had occasionally wondered if the politician could be being dishonest.
“We’re here!” Ditzy proudly presented Carousel Boutique to her friend.
“Ditzy you can’t mean to buy new dresses? There’s not enough time for new ones to be made and improperly fitted dress just won’t do-” Ditzy put her hoof over her friends mouth and rolled her eyes, impressively in both directions at once. It gave Carrot a moment of pause. Someponies called her “Derpy” because of that, but she didn’t care. It was meant to hurt her, and mean ponies were not going to get any satisfaction out of her. She then removed her hoof and spoke.
“Just go inside.” The duo knocked on the door Carrot expected it to be closed, it being New Year’s Eve and all but Rarity’s voice almost sang in response
“Ditzy darling is that you?”
“Yes Mam!” The door opened and the unicorn hurried the duo into her shop.
“I must say darling the cape I made looks positively magnificent on you.” Rarity trotted around Ditzy admiring her own handiwork for a moment. “Now the pieces you commissioned are almost ready I just need the wearers for a few last minute hems!” Carrot wasn’t quite sure what was going on all she knew was she was being lifted by magic and blinded by fabric. She had been fitted by Rarity before, she decided not to fight it and just see what was going on. The fabric finally passed, but her eyes were covered again, this time by hooves.
“Uh-Uh No peeking”
“Ditzy how am I supposed to know what I am even wearing?”
“You’re not. It’s a surprise!” Ditzy laughed at her friend’s slightly disgruntled sigh. Rarity occasionally made marks on the dress with tailor’s chalk. Once again the fabric flew over Carrot’s eyes and Rarity disappeared back to her work room.
“Alright Ditzy if I’m wearing the mystery dress to the New Year’s Ball, what are you wearing to it?” Ditzy giggled before disappearing behind the changing wall. Ditzy deliberately took longer than usual, if only because Carrot seemed particularly impatient today. Ditzy wasn’t above a little prank to mess with her friend. A few impatient hoof stomps later Ditzy moved out to show off the dress she had Rarity make for her. Carrot Top let out a faint gasp; it was odd for her to see the mail pony who outside of her work uniform almost always dressed casually dressed so formally.
“Ditzy you look amazing! I never imagined you would own such a beautiful dress.” Carrot Top was looking it over when the unicorn reentered the main room.
“She did not want to. Originally she just wanted the commission for you. She was going to wear this!” Rarity levitated out an old faded and somewhat rumpled red dress. “But I insisted if she was going to the New Year’s Ball she would need to look her best. So I designed this master piece.
I started with a black velvet base from there I made the top out of my special gold silk and trimmed the ends of it with it. Finally I’ve had these pearls that I couldn’t do anything with, and I’ve tried positively everything. Then Ditzy comes in and commissions a dress for you, and inspiration strikes me like a bolt from the blue. Ditzy do be a dear and turn around” The Pegasus complied and Rarity then gestured to the fourteen pearls mirroring Ditzy’s cutie mark. Towards the bottom of the dress the black broke into a sea blue in a wave like pattern mirroring the ocean. “It is magnificent isn’t it?”
Rarity would have gone on about her creation all day had not Carrot Top began talking “That looks amazing Rarity. I can’t wait to see how mine looks!” Rarity moved the changing wall in front of Carrot and then levitated a small box over it. The time it took Carrot to change seemed like an eternity to Ditzy. She wanted to see how this part of her present had turned out. After all it was the part she had least control over. Finally Carrot Top emerged Ditzy happily clapped her fore hooves while Rarity squealed with glee at her finished creation. It was a breezy white gown with a green sash, and a rose on the forward left shoulder with a matching rose for her mane.
“You look good Carrot!”
“Good darling? Good doesn’t even begin to describe it! She looks positively stunning. I do so wish I was going to the New Year’s Ball. Try and have a good time dears.”
“Thank you Rarity! We will!” The two Mares happily trotted out onto the streets Ditzy putting her cape on and Carrot returning her scarf to a cozy position around her neck. As the two got further away from the boutique they heard one last shout.
“And if you see Prince Blueblood push him into a cake for me!” The two friends laughed and wondered what Rarity meant by that. The pair certainly didn’t have any plans of assaulting royalty with cake. Arriving back at Ditzy’s house they saw a sky chariot parked outside.
“Ditzy you aren’t planning to fly us to Canterlot are you?”
“Hehe Nope!”
“Then what are you planning or are you going to continue this mare of mystery routine?”
“Continue!” Ditzy laughed at her friend’s sigh. The pair entered and there in the kitchen were two familiar stallions at least for Ditzy.
“Carrot you already know the Doctor.” The brown earth pony waved hello and then went back to that universe perplexing activity that was making dinner. Next to him a brown Pegasus who looked distinctly uncomfortable in the suit he had to wear for the night stepped forward.
“Ditzy Doo! How’s my employee of the year doing? I gotta say I was surprised when I heard the Doctor wasn’t coming-” He leaned in to whisper to Ditzy “But now that I’m seeing your friend I’m kinda glad he’s not. How’s about introducing me?”
“Sure!” Ditzy spoke with her normal voice which at close range almost deafened the Pegasus. She did not quite understand why she was asked to introduce them. It would be bad manners not to. “Carrot Top this is my Boss Mr. Handel!”
“Please call me Chip.” The Pegasus had a gruff voice to match his stubble and rugged build. Carrot Top politely offered a hoof shake. Mr. Handel kissed her hoof. Carrot did her best to keep what she was feeling to herself.
“Charmed I’m sure.” Carrot said keeping voice level but a hint of her displeasure did escape.
“No the pleasure is all mine.” The Doctor continued stirring the pot of boiling water but he now had a big stupid grin on his face, watching the situation.
“Yeah. We’re all friends! Mr. Handel is pulling the sky chariot to Canterlot carrot” The bulky Pegasus puffed up at the mention of his feat.
“We should get goin’ then.” Mr. Handel held the door open “Miss Carrot Top your chariot awaits.” Carrot rolled her eyes. Ditzy quickly zipped over to the Doctor “Thanks for watching Sparkler and Dinky for me. I know Sparkler is old enough, but I don’t want her to have to be in charge that long. You’re the best” She gave him a peck on the cheek.
“You just have fun tonight. I’ll try not to burn your house down.” Ditzy laughed and went out the door and onto the chariot.
Soon they were soaring through the air towards Canterlot. Despite his rough appearance Mr. Handel was quite the graceful flier. He kept trying to strike up conversation with Carrot, but she didn’t seem to be enjoying any of his jokes. Ditzy found they were all highly amusing. “How do you make an apple stand? You take away its chair.” Ditzy thought Carrot seemed grumpy, but decided that would all change once they arrived at the New Year’s Ball.
The chariot finally set down on the cobblestone streets of Canterlot.
“We made it.” Mr. Handel let out a huge breath. The sky chariot was designed to be pulled by a pair of Pegasi not a single one, even one as strong as Mr. Handel. He was out of breath.
“Will you be all right Mr. Handel?”
“Sure Ditzy. Just give me a minute to-” Carrot Top and Ditzy had already gone inside.
The New Year’s Ball was more immense than anything Ditzy had ever imagined. A four-piece band filled the air with music. Princess Luna was still greeting the crowd in a regal sea blue dress with thousands of small diamonds mirroring the night sky. The day was reaching its last legs and Princess Celestia would lower the sun and Luna would raise the first moon of the New Year.
“Well Carrot where do you want to start? The band! Maybe by the Princesses? Or oh The Wonderbolts!” Ditzy grew in excitement at each idea. Carrot shook her head.
“Ditzy how about this? I go look for the stallion of my dreams and you go have fun?” Ditzy was unsure. She wouldn’t be being a very good wingmare if she left her friend on her own. She scratched her head with her hoof.
“Carrot Top are you sure?”
“Ditzy you are a wonderful friend, but I can handle finding the stallion of my dreams on my own. Go have fun.” Carrot smiled, and Ditzy was reassured. Ditzy trotted off and began forming a checklist of things she wanted to do.
She was going to wait in line. She was going to meet the Princess. Midway through the line Princess Luna lifted into the air as her elder sister descended from the balcony. She was wearing a red dress with small fragments of gold glinting from the last shards of the setting sun. Oh well so she wouldn’t be able to meet Princess Luna, she would at least get to see Princess Celestia. The line continued crawling along for another twenty minutes. Then something remarkable happened, Princess Luna returned from raising the moon. Ditzy was next in line, and she was going to meet both Princess. It amounted to little more than a hoof shake, but Luna remembered her “creative” Nightmare Night costume and Princess Celestia remembered her from delivering Twilight Sparkle’s friendship report that week Spike was sick.
She was happy to be recognized by the Princess. She certainly was having a grand time. Mr. Handel had finally arrived, he said something about being unable to find a parking spot. He wanted to introduce Ditzy to his old flight school roommate. She did not want to meet some old Pegasus and hear them reminisce about the glory days, but Mr. Handel seemed adamant about it. Mr. Handel lead her to an area she did not expect. The VIP zone was full of sorts of important ponies, Mr. Handel introduced her to a blue Pegasus in a Wonderbolts’ uniform.
“Ditzy Doo this is Soarin, my old roomie.”
“Hey if ain’t old Chipping and Handeling!” Mr. Handel groaned at the mention of his old nickname. Soarin then turned his attention to Ditzy “How do you do Miss Doo?” Ditzy giggled and made polite small talk for a while. She was getting to talk to a Wonderbolt, she was going to have to tell Rainbow Dash about this the next time she made a delivery. Eventually Soarin decided to go get some food, and Mr. Handel decided to join him.
Ditzy now wandered over to the orchestra. Tonight was going swimmingly, everything was better than expected. The orchestra continued playing a fast paced waltz. Ditzy spotted a familiar orange Earth pony.
“Hey Carrot!” Carrot Top looked around for the voice that shouted across the dance floor before finally spotting Ditzy and practically galloping across to meet her.
“Ditzy you will not believe the colt I’ve meet. He’s amazing, and a total sweet talker. You’ve got to meet him” Carrot lead Ditzy back across the room. The orchestra had taken two more members on in the time and the violin mare began leading a powerful crescendo. The music began building in tension. She approached the stallion from behind and turned him around
“Ditzy this Firestarter.” The red maned tan unicorn with a lit matchstick cutie mark turned around a look of realization darted across his face.
“We’ve met” Ditzy practically growled “This guys no good for you Carrot. He’s a complete pain in the flank.” Ditzy looked to Carrot Top expecting her to back away from the colt immediately, instead she looked hurt and confused.
“Ditzy you can’t mean such nasty things.” Ditzy focused, making sure to work on looking at Carrot with both of her eyes.
“Carrot Top. I wouldn’t say such things if this were not the absolute worst unicorn in ALL of Equestria. No. The entire world!” The Red maned unicorn seemed to shrink into his tuxedo.
“Derpy I can’t believe-” Carrot caught herself. She had used the nickname bullies had given to the mailmare. Ditzy’s eyes began to water.
“Fine. I don’t care.” She lifted off the ground and flew out of the ballroom at her top speed.
“Ditzy I-” But it was too late the damage had been done and Ditzy had left Carrot Top’s voice range.
The Pegasus left and set herself around a loading entrance in the back of the palace and proceeded to cry her eyes out. She ignored the cart carrying big speakers and piles of records. She could hear a conversation in the backround.
“Hey Tavi!”
“Ah Vinyl just in the nick of time as always.”
“Well with you and your band playing the old I got to be ready to bring in the new. Time to forgive and forget the past.” Maybe whoever these ponies were had a point. It had been years since she had seen Firestarter, perhaps he wasn’t the same unicorn who had wronged her so many years ago. She would go ask his forgiveness and her friend’s. She dried the tears from her eyes, and returned to the ball. The band had been replaced with a white unicorn with big blue sunglasses. The waltz was replaced with a low steady techno beat. There on the other side of the room were Carrot Top and Firestarter leaving the ball. Ditzy turned to follow but as she reached the exit she was stopped by Mr. Handel. “Hey Ditzy if you leave before it ends how am I supposed to bring you and Carrot home?”
“Meeting point?”
“Good idea Ditzy. In the parking lot towards the very back. The absolute last space before reaching Main Street.” Ditzy nodded and then left the ball. Carrot Top and Firestarter had left her visual range, she ascended to the sky and hoped there were not any laws about flying in Canterlot. There two blocks away Firestarter and Carrot Top had come to the Canterlot Park and were sitting on a bench. Rather than descend directly in front of them she took an approach from behind, and listened to the conversation.
“I feel really bad about calling Ditzy a name.”
“Hey don’t worry about it. Tonight is about you and me.”
“Why did she call you the Worst Unicorn in the World?”
“I’m sure she had me confused with some other pony.” Ditzy grimaced. He hadn’t changed. He was still the same selfish lying pony he had always been. She had just been innocent enough to believe him last time. Now he was trying to do to her friend what he had done to her five years ago. She would tell Carrot the truth. She would rather lose Carrot as a friend than see her hurt the way she had been. She glided silently in behind them.
“No Firestarter. I remember you.” Both the unicorn and the earth pony jumped and turned to look at Ditzy. She had both her eyes glaring at the unicorn “Every little lie about loving me forever. The promise that you would marry me. The lies about what you said normal fillyfriends were supposed to do. You aren’t worthy to be the father of my little muffin. You ran when you found out about her. You broke my heart!” Ditzy had worked herself up into a scream. Carrot turned and gave surprised looks at both Ditzy and Firestarter.
“Well uh darling I can explain.” Firestarter was backing up giving his collar a little tug
“Are you talking to me or her?” Carrot now started advancing on Firestarter.
“Well you of course. Some derpy eyed Pegasus means nothing to me!” Ditzy watched with some unladylike glee as Carrot Top pushed Firestarter into the Canterlot fountain.
“Wrong answer. Ditzy I’m so sorry! I should have trusted you. You are such a good friend. Can you ever forgive me?”
Ditzy put a hoof around her friend and began leading her to the parking lot. “Of course I can Carrot. I expect apology muffins.” The pair began laughing “and you should be nicer to Mister Handel.” Carrot groaned.
“Do I have to?” Ditzy looked at Carrot out of the corner of her eye.
“Oh all right Ditzy.” The pair met up with the bulky brown Pegasus who had traded his suit for a baseball cap and a black jacket.
“Eh Ditzy! The lovely Miss Carrot Top! Happy New Year! Now lets get out of here before the rush.” The two ponies walked aboard the chariot as it ascended into the air.
“Eh… Chip.” Ditzy smiled at Carrot as she continued “maybe sometime you’d like to go for a coffee or something. If you don’t that’s fine-”
“Are you kidding? I’d love to! How’s tomorrow for ya?” Ditzy clapped her hooves together. Carrot sighed and mumbled a yes. The chariot approached Ponyville and the hopeful first light of a new year broke over the hills. One quick stop at Golden Harvest farms, Carrot left Ditzy with a thank you and a promise for some carrot nut muffins first thing. Mr. Handel quickly made it to Ditzy’s house. He was beginning to yawn and he looked awful. “Thank you Mr. Handel! See you tomorrow.”
“Sure thing Ditzy. I’m gonna take a little nap now, or maybe I should shave. I asked Carrot Top last night. So that makes today tomorrow! I’ve got a date!” Ditzy was unsure why her boss was so frantic, but he only narrowly cleared the tree line as he took off. Ditzy entered her home to see Sparkler making waffles in the kitchen.
“Mom! You’re back how was the ball?”
“Yeah how was it?” Dinky emerged from behind the counter every bit awake as her adopted sister.
“Eventful. I’ll tell you all about it later.” Ditzy looked around the kitchen and saw a pizza box stuffed into the trashcan. “What happened to the dinner the Doctor was cooking?”
“He ah…” As Sparkler tried to find a way to put it delicately Dinky jumped in.
“He set pasta on fire!”
“Yes that.”
Ditzy giggled. “Where is he now?” The two unicorns pointed to the living room. Ditzy entered and saw the Doctor, his collar was unbuttoned and he was wearing a festive party hat while he slept with a New Year’s noisemaker going off every time he gently snored.
“Happy New Year.” She gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
“Well that’s certainly the best wakeup call I’ve ever gotten. Eh-Sorry about the mess.” New Year’s streamers and noisemakers littered the room as well as the burnt shells of several discharged firecrackers and some used sparklers.
“It’s okay. You’re very good to me you know that? I wouldn’t trade you for any stallion in the world.” She then gave him a big kiss right on the lips.
“Not that I’m complaining, but what brought that on?”
“Oh nothing” Ditzy smiled as the couple watched the sun rise.

Author's Note: I wanted to get this up by midnight so there may be several errors. I have not yet proofread. If you see any please let me know. Happy New Year.

Dinky's Story

Author's Note: I apologize for the delay with this one, but I wasn't happy with the original New Year's Story I wrote for Dinky. So after several total rewrites this is the end result. Thanks for reading and enjoy this final story.

“Wake up sleepy head!” Dinky opened her eyes. Her mother was gently shaking her awake. “Don’t want to be late!” Dinky groggily got out of bed and began prepping for the day. Ditzy flapped out of the room and quickly down the stairs. Dinky took a moment clumsily levitating a brush and with great care straightened her mane for the day. Magic was difficult, she didn’t have anywhere near the talent of her adopted older sister. Her mother always told her it was because she was only a half unicorn, but wasn’t she also a half Pegasus? How come she never got wings, instead she only got weak magic? It wasn’t fair. Regardless of her grumbling she still wouldn’t trade her life for all the bits in Equestria.
“C’mon Dinky you’ll miss breakfast if you take too long.” Dinky accepted that as a challenge and raced Sparkler to the kitchen. After a quick breakfast of muffins and milk, Ditzy had to leave to deliver mail, and Sparkler had to rush to her job at Carousel Boutique. Dinky was left alone to get ready for school. This wasn’t uncommon. Her mother and sister had to make it to their jobs on time, and Dinky could handle getting herself ready for the day.
Wearing an adorable little scarf and earmuffs she waited outside for the schoolwagon. She liked school. She enjoyed learning new things. Of course she wished she was in Miss Cherrilee’s class. No one said it to Mister Worm’s face, but everypony knew that Miss Cheerilee was the better teacher. Finally the cart pulled by the handy-colt turned down Dinky’s street. The handy-colt was an elderly brown earth pony and as always wore his beat up hat and goatee while sucking on a piece of hay. The wagon pulled to a stop.
“Hello Mister Hayseed.”
“Howdy Dinky. Have a good break?”
“The bestest!” The grey unicorn happily climbed onto the back of the wagon where several colts and fillies were happily chatting away about what they did, where they went, and what they got. She sat alone. She got along fine with most of the other children, some had even invited them to join their group on Nightmare Night, but she just wasn’t very social with these large crowds. The wagon continued its route around Ponyville picking up the occasional schoolbound pony. Finally a small pinto colt wearing a red and white striped scarf climbed aboard the wagon.
“Hi Pip!” The colt looked around before recognizing Dinky waving a hoof and taking a seat next to her. He set down a small bucket, which he presumably was carrying his lunch in. His mouth now free he offered Dinky an enthusiastic “Hello.” The two began happily chatting as the wagon made its way into the still lightly snow covered schoolyard. The class disembarked some mumbling thank yous to Hayseed the handy-colt. Dinky and Pipsqueak happily took seats to the back of the class. Mister Worm was an elderly earth pony stallion, fond of wearing argyle sweaters and odd hats. His cutie mark of a pile of books was nothing if not accurate. Often he would merely drone on reading directly out of the books or his lesson plan. That’s exactly what happened today. Dinky dutifully followed along, but grew increasingly bored. Pip had fallen asleep mumbling something about the Princess in his sleep. She’d have to remember that. She liked teasing him about Princess Luna being his girlfriend. She’d have to find a way to listen to him talk in his sleep while still appearing to pay attention.
She propped her book up so that her face was hidden. She then leaned in to listen to Pip talk about his “favorite Princess ever” He was mumbling something about being gobbled up. His face began turning through fearful expression after fearful expression. She leaned over and began shaking him with her hoof.
“Pip!” She said in an overly audible whisper “Wake up! You’re having a nightmare.”
“Miss Doo is there something you’d like to share with the class?” He adjusted his small cap and walked away from the podium where the book was resting.
“No Mister Worm.” Dinky lowered her head and tried very hard to become invisible. He looked over and saw the small colt twitching in his sleep. He quickly rapped his ruler against Pip’s desk. Pip awakened with a start, he looked up at Mister Worm who shot him a nasty look.
“I advise you try to stay awake in class.” Pip squirmed, and Mister Worm went back up and continued droning about Equestrian history.
“So Pip” Dinky did a much better job of hushing her voice this time “How’s your favorite Princess?”
“How did you know what I was dreaming?”
“You talk in your sleep.” Pip began blushing. “It sounded scary.”
“I wasn’t scared…” Pip was putting on a brave face, Dinky could tell he wasn’t telling the truth. She’d let it slide though. What else were friends for?
She’d have to ask the Doctor about checking the school’s clocks. There was no way time was moving this slowly. On any other day she might be interested in the culture of Griffins, but this was the first day back from break, and nopony honestly expected them to get anything done. That is except Mister Worm. He continued droning on about their mountaintop architecture and their occasional conflicts with dragons.
After an eternally long time the bell finally sounded for a recess break. Both classes took their break simultaneously, which unfortunately for Dinky’s class meant the older ponies usually got the playground equipment. There were plus sides to. One of the older fillies, Sweetie Belle liked talking with her, and sometimes her other friends would hang out with the younger foals, but it often was overshadowed by them. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were notorious bullies, but they did not stop at bothering their schoolmates. They would often take time to mock Mister Worm’s Class. None of them had earned their cutie marks yet, and that was all the cause they needed to deride them. It looked like they were keen to make up for lost time over break.
“Oh look if it isn’t the little blank flank with almost no magic.” Diamond Tiara said with a sneer. Dinky had learned to ignore them for the most part. She and Pip continued playing with his new marbles. “She’s practically an Earth pony except she isn’t as strong or smart as one of us” Silver Spoon added.
“Puh-lease she would be an insult to Earth ponies if she was one of us.”
“How are those cuties from your coltfriend?”
Pip looked angry and was about to speak up for his friend when Dinky mouthed for him to be quiet. The two fillies saw they weren’t getting enough of a reaction from Dinky, so they moved onto Pip.
“Who even wants a little colt from Trottinghiem here? You’re ruining Ponyville, and you talk funny. ”
“Your coat is a mess. You don’t even have your special talent. You aren’t special.” Pip sniffled and wiped a tear from his eye. He had a hard time fitting in after moving to Ponyville. Dinky stood up and turned to face the fillies.
“Everypony is special.” Dinky said staring down Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon almost daring them to keep going.
“Of course you would say that” Silver Spoon shot back.
“What do you mean?” Diamond Tiara grinned at Dinky’s response and regained the momentum in the conversation.
“Isn’t it obvious? “ Dinky still looked bewildered. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon began circling the filly, while Mr. Worm continued reading whatever it was he was reading. “You would say that everypony is special”
“Because you’re not”
“and your mom is a different kind of “special”” Diamond Tiara mockingly made quotes in the air with her hooves and went crosseyed. Silver Spoon laughed and continued mocking Ditzy’s ocular condition. Dinky was normally content to let the bullies get bored, but they had just crossed the line. Dinky stomped her hoof in the ground, shut her eyes, and began focusing intently on bringing up as much magic as possible. She felt butterflies rattle around in her stomach. Her forehead grew hot as she tried to cast a spell. All she heard was more laughing and Pip’s continued sniffles.
“Oh. Are you going to use your magic?”
“We’re like waiting.”
Dinky felt the heat dissipate from her head all at once and she opened her eyes.
“It didn’t like do anything” Silver Spoon smirked. Dinky lowered her head, she didn’t even have enough magic to stand up for her friend or her mom. She now felt awful and began sniffling.
“Aww what’s the matter? Going to cry Blank flank?” Pip responded with a strangley authoritative voice.
“Takes one to know one!” Dinky stopped for a second that comeback didn’t even make sense. She opened her eyes and looked at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon they seemed the same.
“What’s that like supposed to even mean?” Pip pointed at their flanks. It shocked Dinky she did not notice it before. She had made their cutie marks vanish. Diamond Tiara looked back at their now completely bare flanks. They started screams of panic and ran off saying they were going to be in so much trouble. Dinky grinned for once the inattentive Mister Worm would be a good thing. He just nodded and kept reading his large hardcover book.
The rest of the day passed as slowly as the morning did, but the entire class sort of saw Dinky as a hero for standing up to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Pip was comparing her to the pirates in his comic books. The whole class liked the idea so much they scribbled doodled and generally frittered away throughout the lesson in Pegasus Literature. Mr. Worm didn’t really care, he was just glad the class was quieter than usual. The drawings ranged from simple scribbles showing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon as blank flanks to some showing Dinky as a pirate to Dinky dressed as Mare Do Well saving the day, and her personal favorite her using the elements of harmony to banish all the mean-ness from their resident bullies.
Class finally let out. Dinky thought about taking the cart home, but she realized her mother and sister would still be at work and it would be boring there alone. She decided to wander around town with Pip. He normally dawdled before going home, and today had been exciting. There were lots of things to talk about. Break, magic, pirates, what they were going to get from Sugar Cube corner. The afternoon was looking up. Trotting into Sugar Cube Corner the afternoon immediately began to look dreadful. It somehow had slipped their minds that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon loved to go to Sugar Cube corner. Both their cutie marks and their bad attitudes had returned.
“Oh look if it isn’t the blank flanks.”
“Your stupid spell didn’t even last that long.”
Mrs. Cake was preoccupied with two little foals, and wasn’t exactly giving all her attention to her customers. Pip ignored them and began looking over the various confections. Dinky glared at them she focused very hard and made her horn glow again. The two panicked and rushed out of the sweet shop. Dinky sat down and enjoyed their now unattended cupcakes. Pip joining her and happily enjoyed a free treat rather than paying for one.
“Aw that’s cute. Are you having a good date sweetie?” Dinky looked up and saw her mother carrying a large package and a handful of letters addressed to the Cakes. She was bewildered. Why did her mom ask her how her date was going? She normally asked how her day was, and she had a cupcake not a date.
“What do you mean Mommy?” Ditzy giggled and shrugged her shoulders. Pip seemed just as lost. Regardless Ditzy delivered the mail and resumed her route. After eating their sugary treats, the pair resumed walking about Ponyvile stopping to build a snow pony in the park. Pip had to go home and the pair went their separate ways. Dinky wondered what she was going to do for the rest of the afternoon, when she passed a familiar establishment.
Tardis Watch Emporium stood out with its bright blue coat of paint on the otherwise dull block. Dinky hopped on in. The Doctor was lifting a large grandfather clock onto a cart.
“Hello Dinky!” His eyes lit up as somepony had finally arrived to keep him company. “How was school?”
“It was great I used my best magic ever!” The Doctor chuckled.
“So what did your spell do?”
“I taught those nasty bullies Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon a lesson.” The Doctor gulped, he clearly was displeased about hearing this.
“Dinky… why? What did they do?” He stopped working on the clock and looked very seriously at the little filly.
“They made fun of Mommy and Pip” The Doctor remained silent for a moment; the only sound was the ticking of dozens of clocks in perfect unison. He finally spoke, choosing his words very deliberately.
“Dinky.” She recognized that voice, it was similar to her mother’s voice when she had done something wrong. “I’m sure you were very brave standing up to those bullies. But your mother has learned to fight her own battles, and she doesn’t let mean names bother her anymore. The last thing she wants is for ponies to get in fights for her. Believe me, I once got in a brawl with a most ill-tempered stallion, for insulting your mother. She was not happy with me.” The Doctor put a hoof around Dinky’s shoulder “I don’t think she’d want you causing trouble at school for her sake.”
Dinky looked guiltily towards the ground. “But what about Pip?” It had been a long time since the Doctor had been a foal, but he still remembered more than enough to know what Dinky was really trying to do.
“Dinky, I’m sure your friend is glad you stood up for him, but there are other ways to get a colt’s attention than fighting his battles for him.”
“I wasn’t trying to!” Her voice filled with anger. The Doctor laughed
“I’m sure Dinky.” The Doctor gulped a little at the angry glare he got. “Like mother like daughter” He mused to himself. “Anyway, why don’t you run along and play? I’ve got some more work to finish up on.” Dinky nodded and glumly slinked away, the Doctor oblivious to her mood souring.
Dinky walked along kicking the occasional clump of snow. She didn’t mean to be bad. She just wanted to stand up for her mom and Pip. “No” she muttered to herself. She did it because it was the right thing to do, not because of some colt. She wasn’t sure why, but every pony seemed to think she had a crush on Pip. At least Pip had not picked up on that. He seemed just as embarrassed when her mom brought up them being on a date. “That’s what she meant!” A few ponies looked at Dinky who had not realized how loudly she had exclaimed her realization. She grinned and kept walking home. Come to think of it, Pip seemed more embarrassed than she was. It was probably just because he was a boy. Boys were always more afraid of cooties and stuff.
Dinky cheered up as she spotted a familiar face opening the gate to their house. “Sparkler!” Her big sister turned and waved.
“Hey Dinky.” The pair walked inside the house. Looking at the living room floor it seemed as if the laundry had unfolded itself to make a mess everywhere. “C’mon Dinky let’s take care of this.” The pair of unicorns began folding the clothes.
“Sparkler, how can you tell when a colt likes you?” Sparkler continued folding towels
“Don’t you think you are a bit young to be worrying about colts Dinky?”
“Well it’s just Mommy said we were on a date at Sugar Cube Corner and the Doctor thought I wanted to impress him”
“Do you?”
“NO!” Sparkler laughed at her sister’s emotional response. She remembered when Colts had cooties. Now she wished they’d notice her a little more.
“Well Dinky, I don’t think I need to tell you whether Pip likes you or not. He’s your friend right?” Dinky nodded “Then you already know he likes you.” Dinky put a hoof to her head, she had not thought about it that way before.
“But what if he gives me cooties?”
“Sis’ I’ll let you in on a little secret. “ She reached over and drew Dinky in close to whisper into her ear “You can’t actually catch cooties. It’s okay for you to play with colts.”
“Really? Is that true?”
“Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye”
“You’re the best Big Sister ever” Dinky looked up and gave her sister a hug.
“Why?”
“Because you know everything”
Sparkler laughed “I’m not going to dispute, but we should probably get this laundry done.” Dinky frowned. She hated laundry, but she wouldn’t change anything for all the bits in Equestria.