Dinky jumped up onto the soft leather cabin seat and giggled excitedly, her light velvet dress crumpling, "Oh! I'm so excited! I'll finally meet my little sister!". Ditzy giggled and sat down next to her, "It'll be a long train ride, Muffin. Don't get yourself too riled up", I sat on the opposite cabin seat, "I'm a little nervous, love. What if she's taken to Snow's new boyfriend? What if Mana changed his mind about adopting Rose? What if she doesn't even want to see me? What if-", Ditzy took hold of my hand, "Crimson, calm down. Of course Rose will want to see you, you're her daddy. If Mana is the man you say he is then he would've stuck to his promise. Now calm your pretty little head". I nodded and chuckled, still a little nervous, "I know, Ditzy. It's just been so long since I've seen her, she was just a little baby". The train door hissed as it shut, "Yay! We're off!", Dinky looked out of the window, "Thank goodness! Canterlot gets boring after a while. All the stuck up business people and the expensive food that doesn't even taste that good. I can't wait to have one of Applejack's sweet apple fritters". I checked my phone impulsively, I always did when I was nervous, "Oh, Ditzy... I'm really nervous", Ditzy sighed and held my hands, "Look at me, my love", I looked up and gazed into her yellow-golden eyes, they always made me melt inside, "Rose will want to see you, she is your daughter. She'll be just as excited as Dinky was when you became her daddy, isn't that right, Muffin?". Dinky broke away from her window gazing, "Huh? Oh, yeah! Rose will definitely want to see you!", Ditzy and I giggled at her, "And, she will hopefully be excited to find out about us". I smiled in recollection and stroked the wedding band that signified our unity, "Six months next week, my love", Ditzy nodded and kissed my hand, "You took your time dragging your feet, I was ready for marriage by the second week of our relationship". I laughed a bit, "I'm sorry, love. I got nervous, very nervous. I think I missed lunch on the day I asked you", Ditzy rolled her eyes playfully and played with my wedding band, it was dotted with a single golden-yellow jewel and a light inscription that read: "Ditzy, my love x", it stretched all around the silver band in a flourishy writing, "So how are you liking your new last name?". Ditzy giggled, "Ditzy Dream? It's actually quite endearing. I know Dinky likes hers, don't you, Muffin?", Dinky nodded, "Uh huh, Dinky Dream is cool!". Dinky lifted the golden chain necklace that Ditzy and I bought her when we married, "Just as cool as my ring necklace!", hanging from the necklace was a silver ring that had another flourishy inscription that read: "Our child, Dinky. Love, Mama and Crimson x". Her necklace was shiny and well-kept, it almost looked better than when we bought it, "You take good care of that, sweetie. I'm impressed!", Dinky smiled proudly and let it hang above her dress, "It's the best!". The train finally left Canterlot and began to cover the huge spread between Ponyville and Canterlot. "So, Ditzy. Who do you think you'll go visit first?", Ditzy shrugged, "I didn't really have a lot of friends. Well, in fact I had no friends. Just my little girl", Dinky looked at Ditzy and hugged her tightly, "You'll always be my bestfriend, Mama". Ditzy smiled and cuddled with Dinky, "But it's alright, Dinky and you are the only people I need. I think I'll just stick with you for the time being, let Dinky go visit her old schoolfriends", I checked my phone again, no messages or anything. I let out a sigh, "What's wrong, Daddy?", I looked up to face Dinky, "Oh, nothing, sweetie". Why hasn't Mana texted me back yet?
Rose's bed seemed to shift under my arms. I bolted up, expecting to see a lively Rose... but was disappointed when I just saw that it was Snow who turned in her sleep. I exhaled sadly, "One week, one day", I covered my eyes with my palms and sobbed quietly. For a shock coma it was taking too long for her to wake up. She should've woke up on the third or fourth day maximum. The thought of losing Rose killed me inside, it was a good thing Crimson wasn't here to see this. Maybe if he was here in the first place Rose wouldn't of been burnt. I can't blame him for leaving, Snow stepped on his heart so coldly it almost made me leave Ponyville. But, at least Snow felt remorseful and apologised. I picked my phone up to check the time. Huh, I had a message. I tapped the letter icon and checked the- Crimson!? I hastily opened the message, "Hey, Mana! Loooong time no see! I'm happy to say I'm coming to Ponyville for a week or so to visit my little girl! I've already boarded the train (Oh no...) and I'm on my way! Unfortunately, I won't be there till early tomorrow morning. Still, tell Rosie that Dad's coming to see his special little girl that he has missed SO much!". My hand shook, Crimson was on his way... while Rose was comatose!? I put my phone down and thought. What are we gonna do? Crimson can't see Rose like this! Why the hell now of all times!? I stood up and left Rose's room, before slumping against the door until I was sat down, "It's hopeless".
Darkness... nothing but a black nothing. I should've been scary but it wasn't. It was dying I was scared of. The thought of leaving everyone behind... Mom, Candy, Parasol... Mana. It was leaving Mana that scared me the most. I had finally got a dad, and no sooner I go into shock, something I still didn't understand, I had only heard the nurse say it while in my room. It felt strange hearing and not seeing, almost as if I was blind, but paralysed too. I wanna wake up. I don't wanna be in the darkness, I wanna be with Mana and Mom and Candy and Parasol. Not alone, not without my family.
My eyelids slowly and reluctantly parted, letting in the dull light of the hospital. My face was pressed against the soft bed, making me all the more reluctant to get up. I placed my arms on the bed and pushed myself outwards, allowing me to look around. Mana was gone. I yawned and sat up fully on the plastic chair, checking the time as I did so: 1:23pm. Ugh, asleep for 8 hours didn't make me feel as good as I had hoped. I sighed and held Rose's hand, "Oh, Rosie. Please wake up, I miss you". Of course, there was no response. I wish Mana was here to hold me. No wonder Candy is so infatuated, he is such a sweetheart. He even stood up for me. Just like Crimson would've. Why did I let him go? Why did I have to be so stupid? Rose lost a father, and I lost a life partner... all because of me.
Crimson and Dinky were both completely wiped out, sleeping soundly side by side on the opposite booth. I smiled happily, it'd probably be better if I let them both sleep, they were up all night, Dinky with excitement and Crimson with nerves. Poor dear, even though I thought his nervousness was unneccessary, he didn't know what to do with himself. All of those silly scenarios he concocted in his head, thinking that Rose wouldn't even want anything to do with him, thinking that she would've preferred Snow's boyfriend to him. He was a wreck. I was just thankful that I could calm him down. Crimson shuffled in his sleep, his head hanging down for a few seconds, before the weight of it caused him to fall forward and bonk his head on the table, "Ow...". He must've woken up, "You okay, my love?", Crimson looked up, his eyes half-lidded and doe-like, "Yeah... where's- oh", Crimson looked to his side and looked at Dinky, before wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into a cuddle. Dinky shuffled a bit, before sighing and cuddling up against Crimson, wrapping her arms around his chest, "You two are adorable when you fall asleep". Crimson nodded and sat up, "I love her, she's my special little girl". I watched as Crimson pressed himself against the window side, letting Dinky rest on his chest, "Care to join us, love?", I smiled and shook my head, "There isn't enough room, hon. I don't wanna ruin the nice little corner you two have. I'm not tired anyway, you go back to sleep, hon. You've got a big day tomorrow". Crimson yawned and nodded, "Okay, then. Good night, Ditzy, I love you", I held his hand and smiled, "I love you too, sleep well". Crimson shut his eyes, falling asleep again after a few minutes. I rested my head on my hand and looked out of the window, the moon just looming on the mountaintop. If truth be told, I was nervous too. Rose is my stepdaughter now, would she even like me? What about my esotropia? Well, she has esotropia, maybe she'd feel safe knowing that I understand any hardships she may come across because of it. I can't wait to meet her though, I always dreamed of having another daughter, but if I told Crimson, he'd probably think he's not providing for me well enough, when he most certainly is. I crossed my arms on the table and yawned, feeling more tired than I initially thought. I felt a hand on my hair, it was Crimson. He gently stroked my hair, "Thank you, sweetie", Crimson chuckled lightly, "Don't mention it, hon. Sleep well".