As The Stars Come Out She felt like she was going to choke on her own heart.She just wanted this to be a happy day. She likes happy days. But her body shook with anxiety as her hooves held yet another customer complaint letter. It was full of words, most of which she didn’t understand, but its tone seemed to crumble the message into one stone-cold word: Failure.She was sad. She was depressed. She was angry at herself. How could this happen? She honestly didn’t know what she did wrong. She was sorry. So sorry. She didn’t mean to -“WHOOOOOO WANTS HAYBURGERS!?!” cheered an enthusiastically accented voice.“W-What?”Mailmare Muffins was shocked out of her bitterness. She quickly dried her tears and hid the letter away from view as the scientist trotted through the door, all smiles, with hot fast-food in his saddlebags.“I-I thought we were going to work on the ‘science thing’,” trembled Muffin’s voice as he set it out on a
OdysseiaIt wasn't dark out just yet, but it was getting there. The winds were heavy, there was a storm brewing, no one was around for miles and everything had generally gone to hell in a handbasket.Doctor Whooves stood at the edge of the Everfree Forest, and tugged the hood of his cloak over his head. It was far from a good night to be out here, but what choice did he have? Derpy, bless her soul, had up and disappeared without telling a soul where she was going, and hadn't come home since. That was a disturbing, frightening thing, coming to visit and finding a distraught Dinky alone with a sitter, asking with tearful yellow eyes if he knew where her mama was.He didn't, but damnit, he was going to find out. Someone had mentioned seeing a grey Pegasus in the area, so here was where the journey began. Steeling his reserve, Doctor Whooves started into the forest to begin his search.
He Waits (Edited draft) I hugged the Doctor as I left to visit my brother up in Cloudsdale. I was gonna be away for four days.It seemed like a long time to be away from My Docky for we see each other every day and we cuddle and give little kisses to each other.I like being with him. He follows me pretty much everywhere I go. He's always by my side, like a dog, just to be sure I'm safe.He tucks me in the evening and kisses me goodnight.Really, he comes to house and hangs with me till I fall asleep in the safest place in Equestria... His arms. That Doctor always makes me smile and never lets me down.You can say he's overprotective of me, but not the "If you even look at my girlfriend I'll kill you" kind of protective. He's protective enough that he lets me go out on my o
Unusual First EncountersWinter was their favorite time of year. Dinky loved the snow and playing in it late into the evening, while Derpy appreciated the chill of the wind in her mane and fur. What both ponies enjoyed were their weekend walks, an easy-paced loop around Ponyville that started and ended at their small home.Today wasn't an exception by any means, not initially. The only thing truly out of the ordinary was the decision to cut across a frozen pond. It had been cold enough as of late; it should have been frozen solid—at the very least safe enough to cross.The "should have been" would doubtlessly come back to haunt Derpy for days on end. Dinky had fallen behind, and her mother hadn't thought anything of it. Dinky was probably trying to build up enough speed to run and slide, she assumed—until there was a crack, a splash and, most worryingly of all, a small filly's voice crying out, "Mama—!"Derpy turned in time to see Dinky being swallowed up by an opening in the ice. For a moment,
Deviants
