Chapter3: the incident
It was not long before we arrive at home. Due to the darkness, it is very difficult to actually tell the exact time. But the clock in the house shows six. I head for the kitchen to prepare dinner. While Dinky quickly crawls up to the sofa, making herself comfortable. When I arrive at the kitchen, I found some carrot on the table
"Did Golden harvest left those this morning? I really should thank her when I get the chance." I thought to myself. While I was chopping the carrot into small bits so I could make some carrot soup, I heard a knock on the door. Dinky quickly jumps off the sofa and sprint towards the door. As I poke my head out of the kitchen to see who was at the door, a familiar orange pony was standing at the door.
"Oh, it's aunty Golden. Mom is in the kitchen, I can go get her if you want." Dinky smiles, as I walk out of the kitchen. Golden harvest has a concerning look on her face, which usually accompany with bad news.
"What's the matter?" I walk up to the door, to welcome her.
"I hear from Bon Bon, that AJ, Dashy, Fluttershy, Pinky and Rarity, followed the lavender unicorn into the Ever free forest." As Golden harvest finish her sentence, I to was wearing the concerning look on my face.
Before long, the whole pony vile was aware of the six headed into the ever free forest. While many ponies were worry, and wants to make a search party. The mayor reminded every pony that no pony has ever come out of the ever free forest unscarred. While there are still some ponies who want to go and search for them, most ponies gave up hope for their survival. While I would love to go search for them, the thought of heading into the Ever free forest made the scar under my blond hair ached. It has been six years since I got that scar, and that incident still haunts my dreams. The red blood running though my hooves, as everything goes silence. That was the last time I saw his blue eyes.
"Ditzy, are you alright? You look serious." Golden harvest broke me out of my thought. I smile and nodded. While she still has her doubts, she did not pursuit any further. On our way home, Golden harvest kept me from running into other ponies; she has always been my friend, Even after every pony else left me, she stood by my side. Before long, we arrive at my house. As soon as we walk into the door, we saw Dinky slowly crawls out of the living room looking like a starving zombie.
"foo….od, need foo….d!" Golden harvest and I looks at each other, and laughs.
Thanks to Golden harvest's help, we manage to finish make diner in just half an hour. While I try to invite Golden harvest to stay for dinner, she kindly declined. While I really want her to stay, I did not want to force her. With a smile, she left. Despite the act, Dinky apparently was not that hungry. She barely touched her soup.
"Muffin, are you not hungry?" I look at the little filly, and she looks back. However, our eyes did not lock for long; she soon turned her glace and went back to eating. I really do not understand what happened. Just a few hours ago, we were walking back together from sugar cube corners. Now she will not even look me in the eye. The rest of the dinner went by quietly; Dinky went back into her room right after dinner. While I was cleaning up, I notice something on the sofa. When I walked up, I realize it was an old album. Looking at the album, I finally understand why Dinky was acting so strangely tonight. After cleaning up, I walked up to Dinky's room.
"Muffin, may I come in?" I knock on her door softly, but there was no reply. I try to open the door, but the door was locked.
"Muffin, can we talk?" I knock on her door again. finally the door opened, and there stands Dinky in her pajama.
"What is there to talk about?" her eyes were cold, so very cold.
"It is not what you think." I compose myself, and try to smile.
"So I wasn't adopted? I am a unicorn, how can an earth pony and a Pegasus give birth to a unicorn. I always thought that maybe my dad was a unicorn, but then how do you explain this." She throws a photo at me; on it were a gray earth stallion and me, but only my eyes were aligned. I pick up the photo, and place on the table, and then I turn back to Dinky, who now has tears coming down her muzzle.
"Muffin, I didn't want to tell you this, because I expected you would react this way. You were not adopted, not technically. However, it is true; I am not your birth mother." Following those word were more tears, as she try to slam the door shut, I forced my hoof into the door to stop it from closing. The door slams onto my hoof, while sharp pain shoots through my hoof, it must be nothing compare to what Dinky is feeling.
"WHO!? Who is my real mother?" Dinky screams, her voice was full of sadness and rage, it hurts my heart hearing every word. I try to enter her room, but she will not move, which is a clear indication she does not want me to enter. With that, I sat down outside the door.
Dinky's mother was a beautiful unicorn name Dream Sparkle, she was a good friend and a colleague of my in the equestrian science society. We were friends since Dinky's age, and in many ways, we were like sisters. She was a very intelligent unicorn, at the age of five she was invited to join Celestria's school for talented unicorn. While her magic was not the strongest, she makes up with wits and science. She decline the invitation because she understand that, while she can do anything other unicorn can with science, science is still not magic. By the time we graduated, she was the top of our class. After graduation we both join the equestrian science society, and we were both in the scientific development department. Together we worked to create a means to improve all ponies.
While Dream Sparkle excels at Biomechanical research, I was the best biochemist pony in the whole department. We both love our job, and are very good at what we do. In just a year, both of us had made great deal of progress in our respected field, and was given our own office and lab as rewards.
Ever since I started to work in the lab, I always found a blue berry muffin in my office after work. After some investigation I finally found out it was place there by a grey earth pony name Muffin Doo. He works at the muffin shop next door and is a very hard working pony. I have seen him a few times, but he never talked to me. One afternoon I finally decided to confront him about the muffin. When I saw him, he was working in the shop. When he saw me, he ran into the back, which was for employees only. I waited in the shop, until he got off work, and before he can slip away, I cornered him. Pulling out the blue berry muffin he place in my office that day, I ask him why is he leaving muffins in my office. To my surprise, his reply were 'because I love to see your smile when you are enjoy the muffin.' I blush a bit at the answer; I do not usually smile much, mostly due to there is not really much reason to. I let him go after that.
After that day, I started visiting the muffin shop almost daily. Muffin and I really hit it off. We grew very close very fast. I slowly grew addicted to his blue berry muffins, while he never seems to mind making them for me. One afternoon, after work, I went back to my office to pack up as usual. When I got into my office, on my desk was twenty-five blue berry muffin place in a way that makes up the shape of a heart. On each muffin there was a letter, which spelled out,
WILL YOU BE MY VERY SPICAL PONY.
My heart skip a beat at the sigh, and when I turn around, I saw Muffin at the door with a huge bush of flowers in his mouth. I was shocked, not sure what to say. When he asked me to marry him, I just cannot stop myself from nodding. That was the happiest day of my life.
Dream Sparkle, also felt in love with a unicorn stallion name Dr. Spark around the same time. We held the double wedding months later. At the time, it seems nothing could ever go wrong.
"And how do I play into all of this?" Dinky still having tears coming down her muzzle, she steers at me with that sad cold eyes. Her steer was like a dagger, cuts right into my heart. With pain, I continue the story that I would much wish I had forgotten, like many other things.
The happy days lasted for a short years, until both Dream Sparkle and I became pregnant. We decided to come back to our hometown, pony vile, to welcome the new life. The only way to get to pony vile was through the Ever free forest. At first we were worry, but after our encounter with a few timber wolves, and Dr. Spark and Muffin bravely knocking them to pieces. We all feel a lot safer. It was a long and scary trip, but we arrived safely. weeks later, we gave birth to two beautiful fillies. After few more days of rest, we decided to go back. the only to go back was through the Everfree forest, while many ponies suggest we should take a different path, Dr. Spark and Muffin who were confident from the first trip told us, as long as we are with them, there is nothing to fear. How foolish of us, for believing in those romantic words.
As we enter the Ever free forest, the sun cease to shine, the darkness was nothing like the night, there was no stars nor moon, only trees that seem to be alive. Timber wolves' howls rages along the path, as we travel further into the forest, the two fillies started to cry, perhaps they already knew what was to come, perhaps they were trying to tell us to go back, but foolishly we continue. Finally, we saw the exit. As we sigh a breath of relief, letting our guard down for mere seconds. That is when a timber wolf jumped out of the dark forest and onto Dr. Spark. More, more timber wolves appeared out of the forest, they blocked the exit. Dr. Spark didn't last very long, holding back her tears, Dream Sparkle fires off a huge ball of light, blinding the timber wolves, and scream for us to run. But the exit was blocked, and our only option was back the way we came. We ran as Muffin tries to protect us, We made as far as half the way back, until another Timber wolf appear out of nowhere and jumped onto Dream Sparkle. Although Muffin manages to knock the Timber wolf to pieces, Dream sparkle's back hoof was also badly injured. She looked at me with a smile, then she handed me the young baby filly. She told me to leave her, and save the filly. With packs of Timber wolves rapidly catching up, she stood her ground and was prepares for the worst, while she know she will be no match, she tries to buy us as much time as she can. Holding back all of the emotions, I turn and ran with Muffin following behind me. We ran as fast as our hoof will take us, but the road seems endless. Finally, we can see the entrance, but it seems the Timber wolves has long planed our demise, a large group of timber wolves was guarding the entrance. Muffin stops me, handing our filly into my hoof, and smile. I know that smile well; it was the same one Dream Sparkle had just shown me. Closing my eyes, not wanting to see what is to come of my love, as a sharp pain hits my head. When I open my eyes, a Timber wolf had pinned me to the ground. The two fillies were on the ground next to me, their cry rings in my ears. I try to fight back, but I was no match, as I was ready to face my death, a strong Hoof hits the timber wolf, knocking it to pieces. Muffin covered in blood barely standing, came to my rescue. I grab the fillies and try to make for the Entrance, but another timber wolf jumps onto me, knocking the two fillies out of my muzzle. Once again, Muffin beats down the timber wolf, and point for me to run. I grab the first filly that was next to me, but when I look for the second one, I saw that a timber wolf have already got the filly. I try to go save the young filly, but muffin screams for me run. Before I could react, the timber wolf with the filly had already ran off. holding back the tears once again, I sprint for the entrance. this time, Muffin was covering for me, and we manage to barely make it out of the forests, but the timber wolves did not retreat, they had waited for this meal for too long, and they came too close to give up now. They continue their pursuit, as we try desperately to run. But after all that running, we were all exhausted, as the timber wolves are rapidly closing in, I heard Muffin's voice saying, 'leave now, and don't look back'. I know what it means, I ran a bit further, and hide the filly in a tree. Then I ran back to aid muffin, I wasn't holding high hope, but I wish to at least bring back his body if nothing else.
When I arrive, I found muffin covering in even more blood than before, but still knocking timber wolves down one after another, I jump into the fight, trying to help him. Even if this is the end, even if I do not survive, I am happy knowing I can die alongside him. We fought for what seem to be eternity, and in the end, we did manage to push the Timber wolves back into the Ever free forest. Muffin's fur at this point had been dyed crimson red, and there were sharp pain on my head, and almost everywhere else. After the last timber wolf escapes back into the Ever free forest, Muffin collapse in front of me. I ran up, holding him in my hooves, as blood runs down my hooves. Finally all the emotion I been holding back explode in one instant. Muffin looks at me with those blue eye that I loved so much, as he whispers, 'I am so glad you are alright.' His word were soft and gentle, full of love. But my tears won't stop. 'smile for me one last time Ditzy, you know how much I love your smile.' I force a smile, as Muffin's blue eyes slowly closes. The sharp pain in my head grew worst, but I was too busy crying to even care. It is until blood started to came down my head, when I finally pay attention to the pain, but at that point it was already too late. The world spirals, as everything seem to spited into two, the pain grew worst by the second, and finally everything went black.
When I finally woke up, I was in Golden harvest's house, apparently she found me outside of Pony vile. I looks at Golden harvest, but regardless how hard I try, I could not focus on her face.
"Sweetie just rest. Everything is going to be alright." As she comforts me, I remember about the filly in the tree, I try to jump up, but my body will not listen. With no chose, I look to Golden harvest, and ask for her to help retrieve the filly. She nodded. After she left, I lay on the bed, trying to digest everything that has happened. As the realization of every ponies' death slow slowly sinks in, tears begin to flow down my muzzle once again. While I was crying, a doctor came into my room. He looks me in the eye and shakes his head.
"Doc, please tell me why my eyes can't seem to focus." I call out to the doctor. He looks back and paused for a second. Although I still cannot seem to focus on him very well, his concern was very clear even out of focus.
"Mrs. Doo is it? I'm afraid I have some bad news." The doctor slowly moves towards me. I don't know what is about to come, will he tell me about the death of muffin? Or perhaps there were other bad news. As I slowly compose myself, I nodded for him to continue. Strangely I really wish he simply tell me the bad news was muffin's death, at least I will be prepare.
"Mrs. Doo, I'm afraid you sustained heavy injury to the head. We were not expecting you to remember anything; the injury should have cause major amnesia as well as many other problem throughout your body. Although it seems that you retain most of your memory, your bodily function as well as your eyes were still heavily affected. I'm afraid you may never live a normal life again." those words hit me like a heavy rock, as those words sinks in, I realize I was very lucky. Although I may never be able to live a normal life again, at least I still have those precious memories. I looks at the desk next to my bed, and on it was a blue berry muffin, with a card underneath it. I clumsily move the muffin and grabs the card, hoping it was from Muffin. maybe he just passed out, maybe Golden found both of them in time. Maybe…..
Hours later, Golden harvest returned with the young filly on her back. The second I saw her, my heart jumped. As Golden Harvest walks towards me, the thought goes through my head.
"Which Filly survived." My heart sank the second I saw the tiny horn. My Filly was the one that got carried away. As tears swelled in my eyes again, the little filly grabbed my hoof. As I look at the little baby filly, she looked back at me. She was like a ray of sunshine that broke through the clouds of despair. Looking at the little filly, I thought to myself, that although she may not be my little filly, she and I both lost out family this day. Perhaps it was destiny, which allow the two of us to ended up together. I look at the little filly and smile, 'how you doing there, Dinky'
Dinky didn't say anything. The story must be hard for her to digest, it has been six years, and I still have yet to come to terms with what happen that day. How could I expect Dinky to.
"Dinky, you alright?" I slowly push the door open. The second I poked my head into the door, a shadow jumped on me, and I was pin to the ground. The little filly holds me in her arms, my mane soaked in her tears. I slowly gets up, picking up the little filly. After crying for another few more minutes, she lifted her head, and looks me. I smile at her, as I run my hoof through her mane.
"Muffin, it's alright." Before I knew it, tears begin to form in my eyes also. As I wipe the tears with my hoof and tries my best to hold them in, Dinky jumps up and hug me again.
"Mom, I'm sorry." She buries her face into me, as I held her in my arms.
After the Incident, I decided to settle down at Pony vile. Due to my eyes could never align, my days as a biochemist Pony ended. Not only that, due to my injury, I was unable to do many other jobs also. Luckily, I was able to get a job at the mail station as a mail mare. The doctor was not completely wrong about the amnesia; I lost many of my memories, such as much of my childhood, my family, and even a lot of my research. However, for some strange reason, even the doctors cannot explain, I remember everything that happens between Dream Sparkle, Muffin Doo and me with near perfectly clarity. Some doctors suspect that my brain simply made up stories to fill up the blanks, but all the records in the Science Society and our schools prove my memories were correct to the letter.
After putting Dinky to bed, I went back to my room. While sitting on my bed, looking out the window, I saw the stars on the night sky. Back before muffin proposed to me, we always walk home every night after he get off work at the muffin shop. As we walk under the night sky, we would always enjoy watching the stars. As those memories once again flooded my head, another set of tears slowly forms in my eyes.