Last Stop on the Mail Route

The door jingles as the three of us leave; place was too tasty for leftovers.

I don't think I'm gonna forget Sal's for a long while; thinking of that fried fish. Mm.

Derpy seems to be in a good mood, too; she's woken up a bit now that we've got some fuel in her, and Dinky is trotting around her mom excitedly.

"I think we've got some energy to burn, and a few hours left in the day. If I remember right, the park isn't far from here." I ruminate aloud.

"...We could swing by. I don't think I've seen it since I was a Filly." Derpy nods, head tilted to look up at me in interest. "Want to see the park, Dinky?"

"Only if I can see it from Mister Muss's head!" She grins, sliding to a stop in front of me.

"Dinky, you can't bother Anon every--" Derpy starts, missing it as she blinks.

We both stare at her. Dinky is already leaned against the back of my head, little hooves kicking out past my neck, giggling.

"...You two are getting weirdly fast with this." Derpy notes, looking up at her daughter.

We grin.

Quiet side-streets lead us further into Canterlot. If I remember, it was...

"That way!" Dinky shouts from atop my head, drawing a few passerby's glances as she points a hoof forward.

Right, I've got my navigational tool. I'm pretty sure she's just guessing, but--

Nope, I see the fountain. She's good.

The stone walls that surround the sizable park come into view first, topped by fancy metal bars. Open sections between them form into cobbled paths, that sweep and sway through the grassy park, speckled in flowers, trees and shrubbery. While half the park seems to denote more to stone-based structures, benches and tables, the other half splits into just paths and benches, working their way around a sizable lake, which sits a family of sleepy ducks. Evening, orange sun splashes overtop the water, giving it a sparkly haze.

There's not too many other Ponies out, only a few out on the paths or chatting on benches. Another plus to wandering around while the Fair was ongoing. A single Guard nods politely to us as we cross the threshold, stood at a relaxed attention.

I consider asking Dinky if she wants the chance to get down and run around, but I can hear her giggling to herself, enjoying being the tallest, grandest little filly in the park. As you were, the Tallest.

Derpy makes a comfortable hum as she saunters beside me, overlooking the greenery as we slowly round the path.

"Today was... really nice, Anon. I'm really happy you came with us." She says warmly.

"And we've still got a day left. Thinking of squeezing in another round on the Wonderbolt track? I'm sure we'd have time." I ask playfully, giving her side a little nudge with my leg.

"No, no." She chuckles softly. "That was enough for me. Well... I might start flying a little higher than I normally do during my routes, but still."

"Wonderbolting it while ferrying packages? I'm sure there's some skill overlap. You should go to that tryout; what was it, next month?"

"Anon, I'm not trying out for the Wonderbolts; they want young recruits, who aren't tied down. Not older Mares with a Foal who already work a full-time job." Derpy tries to deflect, but I'm not having any of it.

"Look, Older Women are hot and all, but aren't you and Dash basically the same age? I know you're not nearly as old as you think you are. I think you just need more fun sprinkled into your life." I counter, giving her a look. I think she's just been shackled with too much responsibility on her own for too long. She needs a rekindling to the idea that she's allowed to do things for herself; and I'm glad to help.

"You're very sweet Anon, but no. I had my fun. It's just... not in the cards. Not with my condition. It's one thing to run an all-cloud track, it's another to actually fly like a Wonderbolt." She sighs, seeming resolute on the matter.

Dinky pats the side of my face opposite of Derpy, before leaning to whisper in my ear.

"Mom would make the coolest Wonderbolt." She whispers firmly. That's not a childish observation or a familial praise.

That's a demand, from my Grand Regent, the Tallest. Her Mom would be the coolest Wonderbolt.
"Understood." I whisper back, as Dinky rises back up to lean on my head again.

"I think you'd crush it a lot harder than you realize." I prod, testing the waters.

"Please. You saw how sore I got; well, still am." Derpy huffs, giving her wings a little flap.

"Yeah, after what? An hour straight of keeping up with Rainbow Dash, one of the six Elements and Creator of the... Rainblow?" I protest.

"Rainboom." Dinky corrects.

"That." I nod. "You Mail-Mare like no Pegasus I've seen, and I think it's kept you in better shape than you think."

"...That's sweet, Anon, but I can't." Derpy repeats after a longer pause. We're wearing her down, I can feel it.

"What if... Dinky hung out with me, during the tryouts? You go to Cloudsdale, participate in the event, enjoy yourself, and I watch Dinky while you're gone?" I offer; backed up by Dinky's vehement nodding.

"That's..." Derpy sighs.

"I know you'd crush it. You've maintained one hell of a physique thanks to your work, and you'd have a month to kick in a little extra training. Carry a few extra boxes, bank your routes a little harder. We'll turn Sundays into your rest days." I keep the offer rolling, supported further by Dinky, who continues to nod with each point.

Derpy is silent for a long moment; I don't push it, letting her ruminate. It's clearly clashing with some long-cemented ideals she's gotten used to.

Her gaze floats over the lake as we slowly start to circle it.

"Even if, I figured out a way to... actually handle that. Being a Wonderbolt is... a lot, Anon, and I haven't looked into it in years. I can't afford a heavy life shift like that, and with my condition, it doesn't matter how good I fly." She explains. There's a somber acceptance in her voice, like she'd already given up on the idea long ago. "Dinky is the one who needs that kind of focus, now."

"But what if I want you to be a Wonderbolt?" Dinky asks.

That gets a pause out of Derpy, who looks up at her daughter, still sat on my shoulder; she's leaning off my head, holding me for support.

"We both found stuff at the Fair that we want to do, Mom. I want you to be happy, too! Plus, Mister Muss is fun! I already hang out with him, like, all the time!" The Filly squeaks.

I think that last point is the one that hits Derpy the hardest. I know she hates how little time she actually gets to spend with her daughter, since she spends so much time working. I don't know what kind of obligations keep her working that hard, but it's clear she's scared of any life-shift making things worse.

"...I'll... think about it, okay?" Derpy offers, smiling weakly before looking back over the lake.

Dinky goes to add more, but I pinch her little snout shut, pulling it down so I can whisper to her.

"Moderation. Gotta give your mom time to think about it." I warn; Dinky nods, making a zip-motion across her lips.

We both play it off by the time she looks back up to us.

"Whatever you need, Derpy; you know I'm here for you." I say warmly, earning a bump against my leg.

"Yeah, I know. You've made that pretty clear at this point." She teases, that smile getting a little wider. "And I appreciate it. A lot."

"You serve our noble house, well, Sir Mister Muss." Dinky decrees, patting the top of my head.

"Thank you, your Tallness." I reply proudly.

Derpy still isn't quite sure what to make of our little bit, stifling a laugh.

We walked that park for a good while, enjoying the calm scenery as orange light began drooping, and the shadows got longer and longer. Late-Evening was about the time we called it, heading back to the Hotel.

I can't help but glance up towards the Castle, every time it peeks into view between the buildings we pass. The guards are starting to get phased out by their Thestral counterparts, exchanging Golden, almost Roman armor for their Deep-Blue, swept style. While some Ponies might be more fearful of them, I found them more endearing than their day counterparts. Weirdos stick up for weirdos, I guess. They tend to wave back more than the Royal Guards.

There's a different Clerk at the desk when we get back inside the Hotel's lobby; mottled brown fur, big thick glasses. They're not quite as Chipper, but provide a polite nod anyway. They see Dinky fiddling with the keys, recognizing we're a guest already.

Derpy refutes being carried up the stairs again, feeling spry enough to climb them herself again; though Dinky holds no such restrictions. My back is thankful to just stick to carrying one, our door clicking open, and shut as we're back in the room once-more.

Dinky is promptly deposited onto the bed, like a football, spiked right into the cushions. She enjoys it immensely, giggling as she bounces.

Speaking of cushions, looks like they left me the spare Blankets and Pillows as requested. Now I can look into getting those chairs set up for a solid snooze. Once I've gotten my jacket and shoes off, I'm bundling them up in my arms, fending off Dinky as she tries to yoink an extra pillow for herself. She gets smacked by one for her troubles.

"Dinky, leave Anon be and go brush your teeth; toothbrush is in the smaller luggage." Derpy mothers at Dinky, who relents, hopping down off the bed. Unzipping, rummaging, and off to the bathroom to prepare for the night, Dinky leaves me and Derpy alone in the room for the moment, the washroom clicking shut. I can hear Dinky humming through the door as the water runs.

Both my arms are full of spare pillows and blankets as I feel a tail flick against my leg. I have to crane my neck to glance over the stuff I'm carrying, finding my route to my chair-to-be-beds intercepted by a particularly grey, bubble-butted Pony that's staring up at me.

"One 'hell' of a physique, huh?" She chuffs, throwing me a playful stare.

"Meant every word of it." I affirm. I'm tempted to drop the blankets and pillows on her, but don't want to risk the mood by being too playful.

Derpy sobers up for a moment, the smile fading.
"...About today. At Sal's... thank you. Did you... want me to tell you about it? About him? Would that make you uncomfortable?"

"Tell me whatever you're comfortable with, Derpy. You don't have to worry about me." I affirm, smiling down at her.

I feel her tug my pant-leg, as she trots towards the bed, hopping up and settling on its edge. She pats beside herself, and I oblige, setting the spare sheets down beside us as I creak onto the mattress. We both crane an ear towards the bathroom, Dinky still humming to herself, sink still running, all muffled by the door.

Derpy takes a deeper breath, sitting on her haunches to try and face me properly.

"...That was Dinky's father, as I'm sure you figured. His name is Ponet. I met him in Ponyville, some time after I moved here and got settled. He was... nice. A comfort, after Cloudsdale." She starts; I can tell it's hard for her to talk about this, but I keep a comforting hand on her hoof while she works through it. Derpy pauses now and then, as she figures out how to word it, or to listen for Dinky.

"He'd go on and talk about Magic for hours, how he wanted to be one of Canterlot's top Unicorns. I could listen to him for hours... he never judged my impairment; said it made me special. I never really realized how he didn't ask too much about me until afterwards." She sighs. "A simple Mail-Mare like me, given a chance to be with an up-and-coming somebody, is how my family put it. They liked him a lot. Or at least, the idea of him. I didn't notice so much, because I was just so happy to have... something."

"He... he was pretty excited, when he found out we were going to have a Foal together. So we got a House together, threw together a quick ceremony... it was his idea, and I thought I wanted nothing else. We dreamt big, based on his big future, about plans for a successful career, loads of bits. He got even more excited when Dinky was born; that she was a Unicorn, like him. Thought it was going really good for us, that he had it all figured out. But..." Derpy trails off, lip quivering. I tenderly stroke her hoof, and she glances at my hand, pursing her lip. "Things weren't going good for him, trying to apply at Canterlot. Dinky... she wasn't taking after his hoof-steps as much as he was hoping. Ponet started getting... angrier. Started snapping at us. He didn't think my clumsiness was as cute anymore, especially not as my condition worsened. He'd yell about... how expensive the things I was breaking were. How I kept ruining my glasses, how I was embarrassing him." Her voice is heavy with emotion, her face twisted in a variety of pained expressions.

"Sometimes... yelling wasn't enough. He never put a hoof on Dinky, but... he got close. We argued when he put a hoof through the wall when she was being fussy, and he stormed out. Found out he found another Mare, whose father had some Canterlot connections. I haven't heard from him since, and hadn't seem him... well, until now. That's been... probably a couple years, now. I don't know how well Dinky remembers him, but... I never know how I want to tell her, if she asks." Derpy says softly, voice tinged with betrayal, rubbing one of her legs with a hoof.

"Since he left, I've been paying off the mortgage; and since we never officially divorced, and he skipped town, I've also been paying off some of the debts that he had. That, and Dinky's schooling... well, that's why I'm always working. We barely break even each month. I'm... terrified, because if I so much as get hurt seriously, once, we're... done for. I can't afford that. Not the time, not the Bits. And Dinky doesn't deserve that." She continues, her voice quieter than before, trembling as she explains herself to me, opening her worries.

I pull her close against me, almost dragging her onto my lap as I hold this poor, trembling Mare as tightly as I can without hurting her, my head resting atop of hers.

"I... I guess the worst part, is seeing how... happy, he looks. Looked. With his 'New Family'. Like he just... moved on, and didn't face anything for it. No Karma, no kickback... he's just, happy in Canterlot, while I struggle to break even from... I never want to call it a mistake, because Dinky is the best thing that's ever happened to me... but..." She mumbles, sighing heavily, body trembling as she does.

"...Not that you haven't given me a new reason to be happy, for the first time in years." Derpy quietly adds, wrapping her own hooves around me now, and returning the hug.

For a long moment, I simply hold her, gently stroking her fur.

"...You said he never put a hoof on Dinky?" I ask quietly.

She nods.

"...What about you?" I follow up.

Derpy is silent for a long moment. I squeeze her a little tighter.

"I will never lay a hand on you, or Dinky, in any capacity that isn't brimming with love. I want you to know that." I whisper. It's not my place to throw my anger or threats at him, now. I don't care about him; I care about this beautiful Mare. At least now, I know to never let him get too close.

I can feel her nod against my chest.

"...What if you get tired of me? If I get worse? I... I don't want to put Dinky through anything like that again." I hear her mutter into my chest.

"You gonna get sick of me and my limp?" I counter, smiling softly. I gently hold her chin, nudging her to look up at me. Those big, sweet eyes are tear-speckled, staring right through me.

"Of course not." She answers surprisingly quickly, and concisely, frowning slightly.

"Then it sounds like you know my answer, too. I fell in love with a clumsy, caring Mail-Mare with a heart as gold as her eyes, and her adorable, silly daughter. And I wouldn't have it any other way." I affirm firmly. She sniffles, reaching up to wrap her hooves over my shoulders, pulling me into another tight hug.

"I trust you, Anon. I trust you so much. I... you've been so patient. So loving. So... willing to care. I really, really want us to work. I want Dinky to have someone reliable, like you, in her life. Is it really okay if we're not... normal? If we're taking it slow? Is it enough for you?" She mutters into my neck; I can feel her tears wet my skin. "I... I don't want you to leave, because you aren't getting what you want."

"You beautiful, silly mare. The only thing I want is what we're doing right now. Just... us. Doing whatever feels natural. The last thing I want is you to push yourself into something you aren't comfortable or ready for. I'm patient, because I'm not... 'Looking' for anything specific out of this, Derpy. We're both... well, experienced in things that make us seek something other than the normal, standard idea of a relationship. I just want to be a part of you, and Dinky's lives. Those... quiet, Sunday mornings where we make breakfast and play games. Walks where we can just... zone out and talk. Those scant few minutes during your shift, where you can find time to visit me and Dinky. That's what I want. I want you, Derpy; every part of you, no ifs, ands or butts." I state; the words are starting to get caught in my throat, as my own emotions start catching up with me.

We slowly part from the hug, staring at each other. It's all too tempting to start counting those pretty freckles, but I resist for the moment.

"...I lo--" Derpy goes to say, but I press my finger to her lips. She stares at me for a moment -- then also picks up on it. The water is off, and Dinky isn't humming.

We both quickly try to scramble to look a little more presentable, Derpy rubbing her eyes and me quickly scooping up the spare sheets, as Dinky exits the washroom. She blows a big raspberry, stopping a few feet into the room.

She squints at us, glancing between the two of us as we glance away.

"...I forgot to... wash my... horn." Dinky slowly claims, taking several large hoof-steps back towards the bathroom.

The door shuts, and the water starts running again, muffled.

We both see a little horn stick out the bottom of the door, as Dinky tries to peep.

I suddenly feel my shirt collar get grabbed by a pair of hooves, as Derpy pulls us nose-to-nose.

"Anon. Is... is it to early to say I love you?" She whispers, breath hot on my face. She's staring at me expectantly.

For a moment, my mind thinks about... us. We've only been dating a couple weeks. We've only known each other a little longer than that.

Yet, I can't imagine myself enjoying a day where either of these two aren't there. Trying to prepare for the ever-busy Derpy's arrival, getting her something to eat and drink... bumming around my house with whatever else is going on, Dinky's little curious eyes staring, and that unusual wit she has glaring through.

"I love you too, Derpy." I whisper back. There's no doubt when I say it. It's hard to focus on those mottled freckles, this close.

Our lips meet, Derpy pulling me close. She sighs a throaty, heavy exhale into my mouth, pressing hard against me.

We have to wrap it up fairly quick though; almost forgot Dinky was basically peeping on us, and we can hear her horn thudding against the door as she tries to find a good peeping angle.

"Let me go and get set up on the chairs." I affirm, getting ready to stand.

A firm hoof doesn't let me rise from the mattress.

"We... already showered together, Anon. If you're... comfortable with it, I know Dinky would be stoked... and I would enjoy it if you... would join us. In the bed." Derpy explains, blush apparent on her cheeks. "Not for... you know, Dinky is here, but..."

"You want me in there because I'm just so warm, huh?" I tease, grinning.

"Maybe." She jokes back, smiling at me.

"That sounds lovely, Derpy. Are you sure?" I ask one final time, to make sure.

"Positive." She says without hesitation, giving me a quick peck on the nose.

Derpy

The room is dark, lit only by the vague moonlight splashing through the window and its translucent curtains.

The bed is massive, easily able to fit us all, swathed under numerous blankets and pillows. It's far more luxurious than I ever expected to get, during this trip. Or... ever, really.

Curled against my stomach is Dinky, snoring peacefully, clinging to Anon's hand as it reaches overtop of me to reach her.

I can feel Anon nestled against my back, my wings pressed between us, as I lay between him and Dinky. His arm is draped overtop of both of us, the other arm cradling his own head, laid curled up against me.

He wasn't wrong. He's... very, very warm. It's nice. His hugs have always been nice. Tender. Careful.

This is... really nice. All of this. Especially... this. My hoof traces the arm that rests atop me, the slightest heat from his breath against my mane.

For the first time in a long time, I feel... safe.

I also feel a soft kiss press against me, through my mane.

"Not asleep yet?" I whisper softly, barely turning.

I can feel his head shake against my fur, as he plants another kiss.

My eyes are still red, but I feel better. I haven't been able to, or been comfortable with, explaining... that, to anypony until now. It felt good knowing some...one knew, and someone cared.

I didn't expect to see her father here. But... as I feel Anon plant another soft kiss against me, I realize... I don't care as much as I did.

The only thing I dread now is how quickly I'm falling asleep, knowing it means that this moment will end sooner.

...But there's plenty more up ahead.

I sigh softly, nuzzling further into Anon, and pull Dinky closer against myself.

"Goodnight, Anon." I whisper.

"...Sleep well, Bubble Butt." I hear him whisper, words tinged by a barely-contained grin.

I can't get a good tail-slap in from under the covers. He probably planned around that. I audibly sigh, twisting to pout at him.

I get a kiss for my troubles.