A Journey's End

Chapter 2

The eastward flight back to Ponyville was full of mixed emotions in Ditzy's heart. On one hand, she felt her heart soar to visit her husband's grave. She could close her wall eyes and pretend Sweet Treat was still alive and well. On the other hoof, seeing his grave kept reminding her that her love was gone. As Ditzy flew back to Ponyville, she thought back to when she and Sweet Treat first met.

It was just over two years ago. Ditzy had just moved to Ponyville and taken a job as the town mail carrier. The job was perfect for her. With her eyes, Ditzy didn't have much depth perception, so she had to take her time with everything she did. Being the mail carrier, Ditzy could always take her time delivering in the village. The only time she would have to rush is when a package had a special delivery notice.

Quickly, she moved into the little apartment above the Ponyville Post Office. Sure a two bedroom was a little much for a single pony, but she had planned to turn the second bedroom into a small laboratory. Despite her appearance, Ditzy was a clever pony. It took a whole day to move everything from her parent's cloud house in Cloudsale to Ponyville. Ditzy's parents had chipped in some bits to have a moving company help their daughter. Ditzy was worried she might damage some of her possession in the move if she did it alone.

Ditzy awoke bright and early for day one of her new job, even though she lived right above it. After a good breakfast, the blonde descended the stairs and entered the lobby promptly at 9am.

"Good Morning, Ditzy," an older unicorn said. The tan colored stallion had a chocolate mane and tail, his cutie mark was a stamp. The years were starting their toll on the stallion; his face was getting wrinkles and he was walking slowly. Obviously, he only had a few years left before retiring.

"Good Morning, Virzt Clazz," the blond said. "Ready to go!" Ditzy walked right up to the counter and bumped her fore knee into the front of it. Ditzy rubbed at the sting in her forehoof while her boss gave a slight chuckle.

"I like your enthusiasm, Ditzy," he said. After the sting was gone, Ditzy rubbed the back of her head with a blush. "But there is no need to rush. Ponyville isn't that large of a village. Feel free to take your time."

"OOOOOOOh, okie dokie," Ditzy responded. She walked up to the elder pony as he handed her a mail satchel.

"Every once in a while, you will have to take some packages out of Ponyville to their destinations," First Class said as he walked to a cart behind the adjacent wall. "Just like today." He pulled a large envelope out and put it on the counter. "Now this package was dropped off yesterday for next day delivery to Canterlot. Just make sure it gets there today." Ditzy nodded and put the package in her satchel. "Here are you letters for the day." First class handed Ditzy a bound stack of bundled letters. "This is only half of your normal rounds, I don't want to overload you on the first day. If you get lost, there are maps of Equestria in the flap of your satchel." Ditzy nodded quickly at her new boss. "When you are finished, come back and we'll ready your deliveries for tomorrow, welcome aboard." First Class extended his hoof and Ditzy followed suite. But, she over extended and ended up shaking his mid hoof instead.

"Zorry," she said with a blush. "I don't have good depth perzeption."

"I was wondering about your eyes, Ditzy," First Class said. Ditzy frowned at the comment.

"I waz born thiz way, and I really don't like talking about it," she replied.

"As long as it doesn't affect your work, it doesn't matter to me," First Class said. "And I apologize if I upset you." The older stallion's kindness turned the grey mare's frown upside down. They both walked to the front door and Ditzy walked out of the post office. First Class turned left and Ditzy Doo turned right. The blond mare began her rounds with a smile. She stopped to reach into her satchel and retrieve the first bundle she had. Holding the bundle in her teeth, she tried to read the address on the letters. "Sweet Sweets Bakery" was written on the envelope. Ditzy tucked the letters under her wings and took a look at her map. The bakery was only a few blocks away. So off she went, trotting slowly to learn the layout of the town and avoid bumping into anything she would come across.

As Ditzy went along, several ponies said hello to her and she responded in kind. What really surprised the new resident was how friendly these ponies were. Though once in a while one would stare at her, the majority didn't seem to notice her eyes.

"Nopony iz looking at me like I'm a vreak," she thought gleefully to herself. As she walked past a small boutique shaped like a carousel, Ditzy quickly eyed a white wedding dress in the window. She chuckled to herself thinking of when she would wear one. Crossing the street, the blond could see a shop in the distance. It oddly looked like a gingerbread house. A sign on the outside read "Sweet Sweets Bakery." Ditzy opened the front door to the chime of the bell and walked in. The air was full of the aroma of freshly baked goods and Ditzy licked her lips at it. She was careful not to have the door hit her, but tripped on the rug just inside. Ditzy stumbled a bit before crashing chin first onto the floor with a heavy thud. The letters under her wing came loose and landed with a light thud in front of her spinning eyes.

"That was quite a fall, Miss," a gentle voice said. When Ditzy's eyes stopped spinning, she looked up to see a light purple unicorn with a naturally wavy blond mane and cropped tail. Ditzy blushed a little as she stared into his cream eyes, then realized he was holding out his hoof to help her up. "Welcome to my bakery, how may I assist you."

"Oh, I brought your mail, Mizter," Ditzy said nervously. The stallion helped her up and levitated his mail onto the counter.

"You must be the new mailmare First Class told me about," he began. "Welcome to Ponyville, my name is Sweet Treat."

"My name is Doo, Ditzy Doo," the mare said. "Do do doo doo, haha." Sweet Treat laughed at the adorable little blond.

"That laugh is absolutely precious," Sweet Treat said drawing a blush from the blond. "Are you sure you are alright, Ms. Doo?"

"Juzt Ditzy iz vine," the she responded. "And I'm ok."

"Very well, Ditzy," Sweet Treat responded. He walked over to the kitchen and called to her from inside. "You just moved here, how do you like Ponyville?"

"I like it a lot," Ditzy shouted. "The poniez are zo nize here."

"They certainly are, you'll love it here," he responded. Sweet Treat came back in with a fresh batch of muffins levitating above his head. He set them on the rack and sat down behind the counter. "Set those down riiiight there."

"Oh, thoze look yummy," said Ditzy eyeing the fresh treats before she realized she had more letters to deliver. "Oh my Zeleztia, I have to go. More letterz to deliver." The grey Pegasus made for the door before Sweet Treat spoke to her once more.

"If I may, where are you staying, Ditzy," he asked. She turned to the stallion as she opened the door.

"In the apartment above the pozt ovvize," she said. "Why?"

"I thought, if you were okay with it," Sweet Treat began with a noticeable blush and scratching the back of his neck. "I could drop by with a basket of muffins as a housewarming gift, say around 6. I noticed you were eyeing them when I brought them out." "Please don't think I am creepy," he thought to himself. To Sweet Treat's surprise, the Pegasus smiled at him and replied cheerfully.

"I finizh my zhift at five," she said. "And I could uze a big…ztrong…ztud to help move a vew piezez." Ditzy covered her mouth with her hoof and the two stared at each other for a moment with beet red faces. "Okayzeeyoutonight," she said quickly before ducking out the shop and closing the door. Outside the shop, Ditzy panted a little trying to catch her breath. "Did he vlirt with me… Did I vlirt with him…" she thought. "We did…" she finally said. Her lips curled into a cute smile as she realized a stallion had noticed her. Ditzy took a step forward to resume her route and promptly fell, forgetting there were a couple steps at the entrance. "Owwww, ponyveatherz," Ditzy said quietly rubbing her head. She quickly recovered and a smile returned to her face as she took to the sky, off to her next delivery.

The rest of the day went rather smooth for the new resident of Ponyville. She met a few new ponies, and familiarized herself with the town. All of the letters were delivered soon and Ditzy looked into her satchel. The final package for special delivery to Canterlot was the last piece. With a smile, Ditzy turned to face the city on the mountain. Flaring her wings, she took to the air flying carefully until she was above Ponyville. Once free from flying into any obstacles, she sped off. After all, this package was scheduled to be delivered today. The wind whizzed through her mane as Ditzy flew through the air.

The flight to Canterlot took some time. By the time she landed, the clock towers were chiming 2 o'clock. Ditzy panted as she entered her satchel, looking for her map of Canterlot. Looking at the large envelope, she noted the address.

"Bridle Avenue, 2…24," she said. Her attention turned to the map, but as she turned her head to read it, she saw the street sign read, "Bridle Ave." Ditzy couldn't believe she had landed on the right street. "Will you look at that," she said putting the map away. She tucked the large envelope under her wing and trotted off. "Zuch a clever pony." Ditzy trotted for a brief moment before finding the address. It was a large home, pillars and windows everywhere and a huge lawn. She stood in awe of the size of the house before gently flying over to the front door. Ditzy knocked on the door and sat on her haunches, waiting for the owner to answer. The door opened and Ditzy put on her best smile.

"I brought you a letter," she said cheerfully holding the envelope in her hooves. It was snatched away from her and tossed into the house. Ditzy was surprised by the action, but more so by the odor coming from the all black stallion.

"HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS?" he shouted with an aggressive stance. Ditzy backed up a little. "I…ordered this for next day delivery…." Even from a couple feet away, Ditzy could smell alcohol on his breath. "That means it gets here…THE NEXT DAY!"

"But…" Ditzy stammered. "I did…"

"THAT MEANS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING!" he shouted again. The stallion stopped briefly taking in the mailmare. "What's wrong you're your eyes? OOOOOOH…let…me…guess…" he began. "You don't see well do you?" Ditzy looked at the ground trying to hold back tears. "Dropped your letters, fly the wrong way…huh…deliver to the wrong addies?"

"No…I…" Ditzy stammered letting a tear fall.

"Juuuuust look at your derp eyes…" the stallion said. "HAHA, I like that…do you…Derpy Hooves?" The Pegasus turned quickly and took to the sky, sobbing her golden eyes out. "SEE YOU LATER, DERPY!" the cruel one called out.

She flew, and flew, and flew, sobbing as she went. Ditzy couldn't believe how mean that stallion was. How could he be so cruel? Try as she did, she couldn't stop hearing those cruel words. After what seemed like hours, a tear-blurred Ponyville came into view.

Suddenly, the Ponyville clock tower came into view and Ditzy was snapped from her day dream. Acting as quickly as she could, Ditzy turned, narrowly avoiding the clock tower and flying right into the outer canopy of a tree. The impact was gentle, but the blond found herself covered in leaves and sticky sap. Spitting the leaves out of mouth and shaking them from her mane, Ditzy heard something below.

"Mommy, you are so silly," Dinky Doo said giggling at her mother. Ditzy looked around and saw she had crashed into one of Twilight's branches.

"Are you ok, Ditzy?" Twilight Sparkle asked joining the young unicorn.

"You know me, Twilight," Ditzy began dislodging herself from the tree. "Tough az nailz." With ease, Ditzy lowered herself to the ground and was promptly squeezed in a hug by her daughter. Dinky triumphantly told her mother how Twilight helped her practice more levitation, and enchanting more than one object at the same time. The little filly was beaming with joy at all she had done, and her mother beamed equally. The three mares exchanged their good-byes and the mother and daughter were on their way home.

Once home, Dinky hurried to the kitchen and used her magic to levitate two of the cooled muffins onto plates. Ditzy watched with a smile as her daughter ran about the kitchen using her new magic skills to get the butter and two glasses of milk. Once prepared, the two muffins were soon consumed.

"Yummy," Dinky declared after the snack was gone. "Were these Daddy's recipe?" Ditzy nodded at Dinky's question. The Pegasus draped a napkin over her hoof and wiped her daughter's face clean. "Tell me a story about Daddy, Mommy." Ditzy was caught off guard by the question. She was unsure of whether or not it was time to tell her.

"What do you want to hear, Muvvin?" Ditzy asked nervously.

"What did you and Daddy do on your first date?" she asked. Ditzy sighed in relief on the inside. This was a story she wouldn't have to worry about.

"I'll tell you at bedtime, Zweetie," Ditzy said with a wall eyed smile.

"YAAAY, bedtime story," Dinky cheered. Quickly, the two cleaned up the snack and spent the rest of the day playing together. After dinner, Ditzy gave her daughter a bath and the little unicorn got ready for bed. The two ran two Ditzy's room and hopped in the bed. Dinky used her magic again to levitate Ditzy's wedding photo in front of her face. "Story time, Mommy."

"Okay, Muvvin," Ditzy said. The two got comfortable in bed as Ditzy began to tell the story. "It was Mommy's first day at work and it was…tough. I came home a little upset…" Ditzy's mind wandered as she told the story and she began to reminisce…

Ditzy sat among her still unpacked boxes, crying her walled eyes out. She was still distraught over what that awful stallion had said. Her golden eyes were bloodshot from crying and two dark grey streaks lined her cheeks.

"Why?" Ditzy kept saying to herself. It was the only word she could think of. Looking to the window, Ditzy saw that Princess Celestia had begun to lower the sun and raise the moon. She took a little solace in the fact this day would end soon. Then came a knock on the side entrance. The blond was briefly startled but tried to compose herself as she walked to the door. "Who iz it?" she asked.

"It is me, Sweet Treat, Ditzy," a familiar voice called. Ditzy panicked and tried to clean herself up. How could she forget she invited Sweet Treat over. Confound herself for not unpacking her mirror.

"Juzt a minute," she called. The blond ran her fore hoof through her mane, trying to straighten it out. Quickly, she wiped her face with her other fore hoof, trying to clean the tears from her cheeks. Once "presentable," went to the door and opened it. "Zorry, Zweet Treat, it'z hard to move in here right now."

"Think nothing of it, Ditzy," Sweet Treat walking in. Above his head was a basket full of assorted fresh muffins. "Happy House Warming, Ditzy." The Pegasus smiled for the first time in hours. She eyed the basket and the kind eyes of the unicorn, before giving him a hug. "I'll take that as a 'thank you.'" Ditzy couldn't help but giggle as she broke the hug. When she looked into his cream eyes, Ditzy saw Sweet Treat's expression change from joy to concern.

"Have you been crying, Ditzy?" he asked noting the pink in her eyes. Ditzy tucked her ears and looked down with a sad look upon her face. Sweet Treat took his hoof and lifted her chin. "Tell me everything." Ditzy didn't know why, she had only met this stallion hours before. But something told her, she could trust Sweet Treat. The two tucked their legs and laid down on the hardwood floor. Sweet Treat listened as Ditzy told him of the highs early in her day, and the lows later. Ditzy watched as a look of utter disgust took over her gentlecolt caller's face.

"Top Shelf," he said interrupting the mare.

"Pardon?" Ditzy responded.

"His name is Top Shelf," Sweet Treat said recalling his knowledge of the horrid horse. "He is an over-privileged, foalish, drunkard."

"You know him?" Ditzy asked.

"Heard of him," Sweet said looking out the window. "He has a reputation among us service ponies. And several ponies I have contacts with will not do business with him. He'll end up a nopony." Ditzy started to tear up as she continued her story, getting to the horrible words Top Shelf spoke. Ditzy cried hard at the recall of those words. Suddenly, she felt a hoof around her. Sweet Treat was hugging her into his chest.

"Shhh, Ditzy," he said ever so gently. "Go on and let it out." The blond looked up as another tear fell. "Don't take his words to heart. Your eyes…are the most beautiful ones I have ever seen." With a final sniffle, Ditzy looked into Sweet Treat's eyes. "And I don't think I'll ever see a pair more beautiful." Even hidden behind tear streaks, a blush invaded Ditzy's cheeks. Raising a hoof, Sweet Treat wiped a tear from Ditzy's face. Golden eyes and cream eyes locked again for what seemed like an eternity. Suddenly, Ditzy leaned forward and brushed her lips against Sweet Treat's. The kiss was brief and Ditzy pulled back with an embarrassed look on her face. She opened her mouth to apologize, but was silenced by a returned kiss.

"And that was the virst date Mommy and Daddy," Ditzy said before looking at her daughter who had fallen asleep with her mother's wedding photo tucked under her fore hoof. "…had," Ditzy finished with a smile. Ditzy kissed Dinky on the forehead before pulling a blanket over both of them. Before laying her head down, Ditzy flared out her left wing. On one of her feathers, shining in Luna's moonlight, Ditzy looked at her gold wedding band. Just as she had done every night since the funeral, Ditzy kissed the ring before settling on her pillow. "Goodnight, my love," she whispered to her absent husband. Within minutes, Ditzy was asleep.

A/N: Hey everypony. I hope you are all enjoying the story so far. Click the review button below and tell me how you like. And don't be fickle, I know the bakery in Ponyville is called Sugarcube Corner. It'll make sense later. In the meantime, I'm gonna go play COD with Gamer Luna, wish me luck…