A/N: You all know what happened to Ditzy if you read Cops: Equestria. If you didn't go back to it and read it if you get a little confused.
A Journey's End
Chapter 4
Twilight Sparkle walked at a very slow pace as the schoolhouse came into view after teleporting from Canterlot. Her number one assistant, Spike, was walking right next to her. Even on the outskirts of town, Twilight and Spike could hear the clamoring of ponies in the distance. Neither of them spoke, or even looked at each other. They both were still in shock Normally, Twilight would be holding her head high, but today she was barley holding her head above the ground. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying and the color still hadn't returned in her face. Ponyville's librarian was heartbroken. Her number one assistant wasn't faring any better. Even Spike could not help but let a few tears go as he walked. He rubbed his wrists where the cuffs once restrained him. That didn't bother him as much as the feeling in his gut. Throughout all of their adventures, the pair had never seen anything like this. As they continued on, Spike got a feeling inside of him, like he wanted to throw up. With a belch, a mystical green mist came from Spike's mouth before forming a scroll. It fell to the ground and stayed there for a minute. The unicorn pawed at it with her hoof and turned to Spike.
"What do you think the Princess will say?" Twilight asked. Spike shrugged his shoulders with as much confusion at his friend. "I know Princess Celestia didn't plan on me learning a friendship lesson this way. Let alone my informing her of the first equicide in a hundred years…" Spike looked at Twilight and picked up the scroll. Living with her for so many years had taught him to know when she would have a vocal train of thought.
"No way of knowing what the Princess will say, Twilight," Spike began unrolling the scroll. Twilight sat down, ready to hear the words of her teacher. Spike cleared his throat and unrolled the scroll.
"My Most Faithful Student," he began. "I thank you for your letter informing me of this dire situation. As your ruler, it breaks my heart to know that one of my subjects has departed this world. I have worked hard to eliminate equicide from Equestria in the hundred years since the Stalliongrad Strangler was brought to justice. It is awful that such an act has returned to my land." Spike lowered the scroll and looked to Twilight. "She must be really upset at that." Twilight nodded at the dragon before he continued. "But as your teacher, and friend, I am so sorry you had to be a witness to such a horrible act. The events are now, forever, burned into your mind, never to be forgot. Should you need anything, please let me know. And while I applaud the lesson in friendship you have learned, nopony should have to see another treated in such away."
"I wish I could forget what I saw," Twilight said letting another tear fall. Spike stopped reading and gave Twilight a hug to comfort her. She returned the hug as another tear fell from the other eye. Spike held Twilight tighter, trying to act as a rock for her.
"Finally," Spike continued. "I commend you for returning to Ponyville. The poor little filly will need all the support and love she can get. Please take great care when you break the news to her. When I am finished with my duties, I shall come to Ponyville to do what I can for the little darling. No need to tell me where you are, a simple locator spell is all I need. In the meantime, do what you can to comfort her, Twilight. I'll be along shortly. Your Loving Teacher, Princess Celestia." Spike finished reading and tucked the letter into Twilight's saddlebag. In silence, the two continued over the last hill and drew closer to the school.
In the distance, Twilight and Spike could see several school foals in the playground, waiting for their parents to pick them up. Standing watch with a stack of papers at a bench was their teacher, Cheerilee. The magenta pony's head was whipping back and forth from paper to students. She often stayed a couple hours after school to wait for all the kids to leave with their parents. Out of the corner of her eye, Cheerilee saw Twilight and Spike approach. The teacher put down her pencil and walked over to the gate to greet her friends.
"Twilight, Spike," she greeted joyfully. "What brings you to the school?" Twilight said nothing and her expression of sadness never left her face. "Is something wrong?" Twilight looked into the teacher's eyes.
"MISS TWILIGHT, MISS TWILIGHT," a little voice called. Dinky ran up to her tutor and leaped up, grabbing Twilight in a big hug around her neck. "What are you doing here, Miss Twilight? Are you waiting for Mommy to talk to her?" The little filly looked at Twilight with such warm, tender eyes, making Twilight's arch in sadness.
"Hey, Cheerilee," Spike said pointing eyes away from the two unicorns. "Can I talk to you for a minute, over there?" Cheerilee nodded and trotted off with Spike, leaving Twilight and Dinky alone.
"What's going on, Miss Twilight?" Dinky asked. Twilight tucked her legs under her and lay down in front of the little one. It was now, Dinky could see how sad Twilight Sparkle was. "Why do you look like you are going to cry?" The little unicorn sat down and her brows arched at the purple unicorn's expression.
"Dinky," Twilight choked out. "Something terrible has happened to Mommy."
"Mommy?" Dinky said getting worried. Twilight pulled the young filly in for a hug. Twilight put her mouth close to Dinky's ear.
"I'm sorry, Dinky. But Mommy…is with Daddy now," she whispered. Twilight held onto Dinky, preparing for the worst. And it came as Dinky's body began to jerk as she started to cry. The heart broken wails reverberated in Twilight's chest as she hugged Dinky tightly. Cheerilee silently looked on the two with tears in her eyes too, heartbroken for her sweetest student. Twilight was doing her best to comfort the sobbing filly, to no avail. Without warning, Dinky began to struggle in Twilight's grip.
"No, NO!" Dinky screamed as Twilight lost her grip. Suddenly, Dinky took of running.
"Dinky, wait," Twilight called as she ran after the little blond. Twilight quickly used her magic to teleport Spike onto her back.
"That could have gone better," Spike said.
"Don't even start, Spike," Twilight said a little harshly. Dinky was running as fast as she could into town. She ducked, bobbed, and weaved around everything and everypony that she found in her way. With all these quick movements and obstacles, Twilight couldn't focus her magic onto the little blond rocket. Spike was bouncing up and down on Twilight's back. Further into town Dinky led Twilight. Dinky made a final turn and Twilight followed, it was then the purple unicorn saw where the little one was running. She was leading them to the post office. The little one burst in the door of the post office, crying and screaming.
"MOMMY?" she called.
"She's not hear, Dinky," First Class said behind the desk. "She'll be back…" Before the tan stallion could finish, the blond turned and ran up the stairs, calling for her mother. Twilight burst into the post office just as Dinky disappeared upstairs. "What's going on?" First Class asked. Spike jumped off Twilight and motioned for her to go after Dinky.
"Ditzy is dead, First Class," the dragon told the stallion. His eyes widened in shock as Spike came up to the old earth pony and told him what happened. Most of the story was lost on First Class, he zoned out in his sadness.
Meanwhile, Twilight was looking for Dinky in the upstairs apartment. She searched the sitting room, bathroom, kitchen, and Dinky's room, she found nothing. The final door, Ditzy's bedroom, was slightly ajar and Twilight could hear sobbing from the other side. Slowly, she entered the bedroom and saw Dinky on her mother's bed. Her eyes were closed tight and she was hugging her parents' wedding picture. Twilight quietly made her way over to bed and jumped up onto it. Gently, she cuddled up to the mourning child and draped her hoof over her. Dinky looked up at her trusted tutor and buried her head into Twilight's chest.
"I'm so sorry, Dinky," Twilight whispered. Dinky said nothing. She just continued to try cry into Twilight's chest. Unsure of what to do, Twilight instinctively began stroking Dinky's mane.
"Do you know what happened to Mommy?" Dinky managed to choke out between her sobs. Twilight looked into the little filly's eyes; she was begging to know what happened. "Please, Miss Twilight. I don't know why Daddy left us. I don't want it to be the same with Mommy." With a little reservation, Twilight agreed.
"Ok, Dinky," Twilight said. "Spike and I saw what happened to Ditzy. On her delivery in Canterlot, somepony was being really mean to her." Dinky's eyes filled with tears again at the thought of treating mother bad. "Apparently, he said something that really upset her and Mommy told him off. Then he…" Twilight paused, but the look in Dinky's eyes were pleading with the unicorn to continue. "He reared around and kicked Mommy in the head." Dinky gasped in shock and started to cry again.
"Why would he be mean to Mommy? Why would he hurt her?" Dinky asked sniffling. Another set of tears went down light purple cheeks. Twilight wiped them away with her hoof, trying to calm her.
"He was drunk, Dinky," Twilight answered. "Ponies do stupid things if they drink too much." Dinky broke down again and buried her head back into Twilight's chest. Everything she had tried to settle the child didn't work. As the two laid in silence, Twilight Sparkle noticed a flash of golden light coming from outside the bedroom door. Dinky continued to cry as a knock came to at the door. The door opened and in stepped Princess Celestia. The normally regal alicorn was stepping lightly and her face was marred with sadness. The Princess said nothing as she came to the bed. She tucked her legs and went down to the floor. Her large stature still allowed her to be a foot taller than the two unicorns on the bed. "Dinky," Twilight said nudging the filly. "Somepony is here to see you." Dinky looked up to see who Twilight was talking about, and got a quick shock.
"Hello, my little pony," Princess Celestia said in her warmest tone. Dinky stood on the bed and gave a gentle bow. "You needn't stand on ceremony for me, Dinky. My visit is not formal."
"But," Dinky began. "Mommy always told me to I had to act a certain way in front of the Princess." The little unicorn started to cry more thinking about her mother.
"Your mother was right to teach you proper etiquette," Celestia began. With a golden glow from her horn, Princess Celestia removed her crown and set it aside. "But I am here for you, little one." Celestia lowered her head to Dinky's level. "I am so sorry about what happened to your mother. I cannot imagine what you are going through. Is there anything in my power I can do for you?" Dinky thought for a moment.
"Princess, your magic is really strong?" Dinky asked. The alabaster alicorn nodded. "Can you please bring Mommy back?" The Princess turned to Twilight, both with remorse on their face.
"My magic is indeed strong," she began. "But it is beyond my power to bring your mother back to you, Dinky."
"Please?" Dinky begged the alicorn.
"I'm sorry, Dinky," Celestia said. "I wish I could. Seeing you like this, young Dinky, it breaks my heart. The only solace I can offer is that the stallion who took your mother away has been arrested. Soon, he'll answer for what he did." The little blond lowered her head her head in sorrow and to the surprise of the two older ponies, let more tears flow.
"Mommy," Dinky called weakly. "I want my Mommy." The Princess looked at Twilight Sparkle before charging her horn with her golden energy. Celestia lowered her horn to the crying unicorn and enchanted Dinky. The little filly started to calm down and her crying slowed. Eventually, Dinky's sobbing gave way to gentle snoring and the filly was asleep. The Princess levitated her crown back on her head and motioned for Twilight to follow her. "Mommy," Dinky muttered in her slumber. The two left dinky in her mother's room to her dreams; still clutching the wedding photo. Together, they left the small apartment and descended the stairs into the post office. Spike and First Class were waiting for them.
"How is she doing?" First Class asked.
"The Princess used a sleep spell to let Dinky get some rest," Twilight answered.
"I doubt the poor dear would have gotten any rest otherwise," the alicorn finished. "At least she can be with her mother again while she's asleep."
"How could this happen?" First Class asked the group. "Ditzy never hurt a fly. She didn't deserve to die."
"I don't know, First Class," Twilight answered. "What'll happen to Top Shelf, Princess?"
"Top Shelf?" First Class asked. "Oh no, this is all my fault." Everypony turned to the aged mail pony. "She didn't want to make the delivery, but I talked her into it. Her blood is on my hooves."
"First Class," the Princess said sternly. "I'll hear no more of you taking the blame. There was no way you could have known what would happen."
"But, Princess," he argued.
"Let it go, my pony," Celestia responded. "Don't blame yourself for what happened to Ditzy."
"Yes, Your Majesty," First Class said before furrowing his brows. "But if I ever get my hooves on Top Shelf…"
"There will be no need," Twilight Sparkle said. "He was arrested right in front of Spike and I."
"And he got zapped by one of the cops," Spike added smiling.
"Well that makes me feel a little better," First Class said sitting down. Nopony spoke for a brief moment.
"Uh, Princess?" Spike asked stepping forward. "What going to happen to Dinky?"
"You're right, Spike," Twilight said. "She's too young to be on her own." The Princess thought for a moment before turning to the tan stallion.
"First Class?" she asked. "You've watched Dinky grow up, haven't you?"
"I have, Your Highness," he answered with a bow. Princess Celestia somehow felt a "but" coming. "However, my wife and I just bought a small cottage outside Las Pegasus. We'll be leaving in a few days to begin our retirement. We don't have enough room for Dinky, or we'd take her in, lickity split."
"I see," Princess Celestia answered. She thought briefly for a moment. "Perhaps I should consider her for my School for Gifted Unicorns."
"Princess," Twilight said. "I've been tutoring Dinky for a few weeks now. Her magic isn't strong enough to pass the entrance exam. And I don't think it would be wise to take Dinky away from her friends. She'll need them for support."
"You are indeed correct, Twilight," the Princess said. "Removing her from Ponyville will do more harm than good. She's better off here, but she can't be left alone."
"I'll take her in," Twilight said suddenly. Everypony turned to her, surprised at the sudden proposal.
"Yea, I mean it may get cramped, but we'll make it work," Spike said in agreement.
"Are you sure about this, Miss Sparkle?" First Class asked. Twilight nodded in agreement, drawing a smile from the Princess.
"Twilight, I am very proud of you for taking on this responsibility," she began. "And since you are already working with Dinky, I would like you to personally take over her magical education and make her your protégé." The purple unicorn nodded at her teacher, ready to take on the responsibilities.
"You'll be needing this then, Miss Twilight," First Class said walking behind the counter. He bent down and fumbled with the dial on a safe. With a final click and squeak, the door opened and First Class took a stack of paper out and put them on the counter. Twilight came over and levitated the papers in front of her.
"What are they, Twilight?" Spike asked.
"Its bank statements and insurance papers," the unicorn responded.
"Indeed," First Class said. "Ditzy put the insurance money from the fire and Sweet Treat's life insurance into a trust fund for Dinky in case of an emergency, or advancing her education. There is enough there for to ensure she grows up with everything she'll need." Princess Celestia took the papers and looked them over.
"Well, this takes care of one matter," she began. "I'll meet with mayor and we'll have all the legalities tended to. But now we have another issue. We now have to plan a final farewell to the dearly departed." Everypony looked up at the door to the upstairs apartment. They knew the next few days would be the most trying of the young life resting upstairs.