//------------------------------// // A Story of Bubbles // Story: Time is Forever // by MysteryMelt //------------------------------// A Story of Bubbles “Our tears are words which the heart cannot comprehend." ~ Star Swirl the Bearded “Mommy! Don’t let me go... mommy please!” “Whatever happens my precious one. Fly away, fly away and never return. Remember, I will forever love you—” “Noooooooo!” An impulsive jolt awakened a grey-coloured pegasus laid among a lakeside. The wind blew through the trees but there was a slight chill in the breeze. This was her favourite spot; Winsome Falls. The refreshing waters of Cloudsdale formed a relaxing rainbow waterfall that would overhang above and pour below. The grey filly had spent to entire afternoon carelessly laid underneath the waterfalls, free from the worries of the world. This peaceful place always got her to sleep. But each time she awoke, she felt her heart that pounded against her rib cage even in this beautiful environment. Her sleep wasn’t peaceful; the nap had done nothing to quell her headache either. She bolted upward in utter silence and held her hoof to her head. Most fillies awaken from a nightmare, but not this filly, she always awoke into a nightmare. She stared up at the sky and she watched the white clouds shift and the birds sour. Her heart still hammered in her chest. Why did her anxiety always peak after a nightmare? Neither the shifting soft clouds nor the roar of the relaxing waterfall could cleanse her anxiety this time. She feared for a moment that this fear would never leave her heart... Like magic, a cluster of bubbles floated upwards to greet the filly. One such bubble popped on her nose. She could see straight through them, the spheres reflect bright and happy patterns inside the bubbles. Bubbles were mysterious objects which are said to hold words which the heart cannot comprehend... It is said that when they pop the secrets kept inside them are released unto the world. These bubbles floated and bobbled in all different directions in the gentle breeze. She turned her attention to this cluster of bubbles and watched take their journey in the sky. Something about them made her smile and calm. Her heart rate slowed, her headache faded. Perhaps it was the way they bobbled, or perhaps it was the colours. Only the bubbles filled her with optimism. Then she felt something silent and cold trickle down her cheek. She held her hoof under her amber eyes... they were leaking. Salty droplets trickled down out of her eyes. Those few shining seconds that only happen when you awake, where you are oblivious the world, had faded from her. Now it all came flooding back. Her heart dropped in her chest and sadness billowed inside. It happened often, but yet, she had never gotten used to it: the sadness, the leaky eyes. Even when awake her inescapable nightmares still clung to her soul, they haunted her with reflections of the past, they made her throat dry and her smile weaken. Enough, she thought and took a deep breath. Sometimes she wished she could just stay asleep and never feel again. When she got up, she was reminded that there was a missing piece in her life, today was the day she was going to find it. She took flight into the clouds to journey alongside the bubbles... She is Derpy Hooves. Ponyville was once again filled with beloved inhabitants; the town was once again a fruitful place with opened markets stalls filled with ponies buying, selling and bartering. The events of Dark Plague didn’t leave the town entirely unscathed. The spoilt ruins of Ponyville smoldered even now. Alas, the town was littered with wooden beams which swung from the highest housetops, destroyed market stalls and sordid mud puddles. Everypony simply avoided the rubble as they trotted around town however nopony was just going wait idly as their homes remained destroyed. A cleanup operation was scheduled to begin tomorrow. News had travelled quickly about the defeat of Dark Plague, but one pony still remained troubled by it all... Twilight Sparkle was laid in solidarity, her hooves were folded inwards. The library was quiet, as it should be. She laid within the centre of the main hall. It had been two days since Dark Plague’s defeat, but yet there was still no sign of the Shadow Pony anywhere in Equestria. When Twilight had requested for search parties to be sent, everypony thought she was mad. Maybe she was mad. She took a deep sigh of guilt. Now Twilight was finally able to relax from the events past. Perhaps a good book would take her mind off it... Soon the book ‘Gillian’s Theory: i=us3’ was laid before her and a levitated red apple floated alongside her head. The book was written by the late Star Swirl the Bearded and was all about... physics! Twilight had purposely extinguished all other candles to increase her solace. She took a bite into the juicy fruit and read the research amidst candlelight. Reading was her personal favourite hobby, Twilight smiled to herself as she read upon the pages of the gaily book. It was to be a peaceful afternoon without any distractions... Then the door to the balcony swung ajar. It clattered against the wall as the figure of a pony flew into the library uninvited, the figure of the pony spun around and crashed on the floor of the hall. Plumes of dust curled in all directions. Twilight Sparkle coughed and held her hoof up against her face to cover her eyes, it didn’t help. Has Dark Plague returned? Was she better? Eventually the dust clears to reveal a mail carrier pony with a bubbly expression laid under a heap of varying books. “I gots you a letter!” The cloudy-coloured filly spoke with certain unevenness. She merely wriggled the dust off her fur with a gently shake. She was unmistakably unfazed from the crash. Everypony needs their mail. Without Derpy and the post-master’s office, surely Equestria would fall apart. Of course there is the dragon’s way of transporting letters, but as everypony knows, burping up letters can be quite tiring, not to mention, informal. That never stopped Twilight Sparkle mind you, but this time the letters had to be delivered personally. Derpy proceeded to rummage through her mail saddlebag wrapped firmly upon her shoulder. From the sack she produced two items: a sealed letter, stamped with the personal crimson seal of princess Celestia and a complex riddle: “Uhhh, thanks?” Twilight Sparkle said. She didn’t know if she should be thankful, baffled, or both. Since when did princess Celestia have her mail carried by ponies anyway? She threw the riddle away and placed the letter to one side upon the davenport. This mail carrying pony wasn’t completely estranged to her. Grey fur, blonde mane, crossed amber eyes and a cutie mark of bubbles and finished the ensemble. There was no mistaking her... “You’re... Derpy, right? I remember you. You helped with the celebrations by repairing the town hall with Rainbow Dash.” “Yup, heeee.” She tittered in reply with a goofy smile. “Oh um... Can I help you clean up?” Derpy, always happy to help, could only offer after all she had just made a mess of the entire library. “Uh, Twilight. I really don’t think that’s such a good ide—” “Quiet Spike,” Twilight replied firmly at her friend Spike who had proceeded downstairs after the clatter of noise Derpy created. He gives a slight grumble and grabbed a sweeping broom weaved from the oak of the Everfree Forest and bristled yellow hay. He silently proceeded to clean up the dust. “Helpful is my middle name,” Derpy said warmly and plopped her mail saddlebag down. “Alright.” Twilight said with a smile. Together the ponies studied and cleaned. Twilight trotted around the library and idly putting away books, she knew where they all went, the placed them all back onto their respected shelves. As each book went on the self, Derpy flicked through each one hoping to find a book she would enjoy reading. After tidying was complete they laid alongside one another by candlelight with their chosen paperback books. While Twilight read about magic, Derpy was delving into the journey of ‘Daring-Do and the Left Hand of Hades’. Derpy couldn’t really read that good so she just smiled at the colourful illustrations and pointed at them with her hoof. Derpy really admired Twilight Sparkle; she was intelligent and always so full of life. Whenever they needed a new reading book Derpy kindly offered to fly up to retrieve it. “Uh oh.” The uppermost bookshelf shook with a clack, Derpy had accidentally crashed into it. The shelf creaked with a nasty clack. Then the shelves buckled. A chain reaction unfolded as the ceiling high books fell from above every single book in the library falls with them, taking all books on the shelves underneath along with them. All the books crashed into a heap right on top of both Twilight and Derpy. The sound of breaking wood ensued; another layer of dust covered the library. The library was in tatters. Derpy pushed her way through the sea of books until her head popped up out of the mountain. Twilight was also swamped by colourful books alongside the pegasi. Twilight's right eye twitched, she was about to explode in rage. “I-I just... alphabetised every b-book...” Twilight said and tried to contain her rage; she held it in for the sake of Equestria. “I just cleaned this place,” Spike said and groaned. He snapped the sweeping broom down over his knee in protest. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to... I—” Derpy didn’t want to cause any more chaos. “Uh... I’ll just go.” She hastily picked up her saddlebag among the reading books. She then took flight out of the library via the open balcony door she crashed through. She did not lift her eyes to meet with either the libraries inhabitants. Instead she hung her head low in humiliation. Sugarcube Corner, an entanglement of a structure made to look like a delight of colourful chocolate, candy and cake. Just looking at this infectious bakery made Derpy’s mouth water and her stomach groan for food. This was the location of her next delivery. The building was surely bigger inside than it looked from the outside. Derpy marched through the door. Inside, business was booming. Some ponies were sat at tables drinking juice and chatted among themselves. Others were buying and selling the cakes in the stands from Mr. and Mrs. Cake; they hurriedly made the transaction of bits. Derpy hovered quietly into the kitchen... “Afternoon!” Pinkie Pie said and jumped up out of nowhere. She beamed with a welcoming smile. She had startled Derpy, but only slightly. She proceeded to silently rummage through her saddlebag and handed the cotton-candy pony another letter with the crimson seal of princess Celestia, but also a brown paper parcel. Pinkie Pie squealed in delight and ripped it open, she loved receiving presents. She teared through the paper with the toe of her hoof and it was revealed that inside was an apron and a tall white chef’s hat. Pinkie Pie gleamed with a smile and placed them on her body. “Perfect!” she said. “Saaayy, you should help out Derpy!” Pinkie Pie suddenly dragged the cloudy pegasus into the kitchen... “Uh, I don’t know if I should—” “C’mon, it’ll be fun. What could possibly go wrong?” Pinkie Pie interrupted, she was determined to let her help. As they entered the kitchen proper Pinkie barked orders. “Okay, you go there and watch those, when they’re crisp brown, notify me and when the heat burns over make sure that the bread is nice and brown so check it regularly at different intervals, then you come over here to check if the boogleloops are slippery enough—” Pinkie Pie forgot to breath she took an abrupt deep breath before continuing with her gobbledygook. Derpy stands utterly baffled and puzzled as she found herself helping another pony. As they dance around the kitchen and flipped pans to make chocolate treats galore. Derpy stands in front of an oven. She was puzzled by all the dials and the oven so instead the bubbly pony just stared at the bread. As the bread rose in the heat she suddenly realised what they were baking: muffins! “It’s a muffin... within a muffin...?” Derpy said and then her jaw dropped as she happily gasped. “Muffinception!” She shouted and got giddy. She spread out her wings in her excitement and accidently turned the dial on the oven sending it into overheat. The oven ticked over, the muffins melt to a pulp and then flames burst forth from the oven. Smoke engulfed the whole room in black haze. Sugarcube Corner was on fire! Aghast by the flame Derpy quickly jumped back. The muffins inside the oven explode. Derpy ducked. Yeast and icing exploded onto the walls and ceiling. The black smoke thickened and filled the room with poisonous gasses and the fire spread quicker than they first anticipated. As the fire alarm bell tolls everypony evacuated the building. Derpy and Pinkie Pie were about to make a mad dash to the fire exit until a sound or terror stopped them... It was the sound of crying fillies. “Pound and Pumpkin Cake!” Pinkie Pie screamed! She screeched to a halt. They were upsets. Alone. Pinkie Pie turned and charged into a mad gallop. She coughed wildly from the fumes which didn’t help her breathing. The smoke made her home even more catastrophic than it usually is. She exploded through the door and knocked it off the hinges as she does. In their small cot the two baby fillies wept loudly. They were surrounded by smoke. In a desperate attempt to escape they had tried climbing out of their own cot but had failed several times. Pinkie Pie, their saviour, grabbed them both with one fell swoop and dived out of the upstairs window. Everypony burst into the daylight... Everypony was safe and had fled Sugarcube Corner just in time. They were safely outside but now they stood in shock. Some of them were covered in black scruffs from the fumes and others were covered in the melted chocolaty treats that they had tried to purchase. Pinkie came from around the back of the building with Pound and Pumpkin held safely under each hoof. She trotted to stand alongside everypony else, including Derpy, as they all watched Sugarcube Corner burn. “Well... not bad for a first try I guess,” Pinkie Pie said with a sly shrug. Then the sound of the windows bursting out from the heat silenced Pinkie Pie’s optimism. “Well... not bad for a first try, I guess.” Pinkie Pie said with a shrew shrug. Then the sudden sound of the windows bursting out from the heat silenced Pinkie Pie’s optimism. A dozen ponies charged down the street. They wore red fire gear, and blue plastic helmets each with red a siren-light that flashed on the top. They galloped fearlessly to the fire. “Everypony stand back! We’ll handle this!” One of the fire fighter ponies shouted, he was the courageous leader, with a cutie mark of a set of flames, carrying a hose pipe in his hooves, connected by the nozzle to the nearby water tower. He aimed it at the building. “Wait, wait, waaaiiit!” Pinkie Pie shouted as everypony was still stood in the firefighters way. The hose was directly aimed at them! She waved her hooves up in a futile attempt to stop them— A jet stream of water blasted gallons of water upon everypony, before shooting into Sugarcube Corner. The water splashed inside the shop ruining the shops furnishings. The water proceeded to destroy all the chocolate treats stored inside the shop. They were all left to melt and grow soggy from the jet stream of water. But at the same time, the fire was extinguished. “My shop!” Mrs. Cake hollered in hurt. Her voice louder than that of her customers. “Uh oh, I’m in big trouble now” Pinkie Pie said regretfully and ran to comfort Mr. and Mrs. Cake. She dropped her chef’s hat and apron into the mud on approach. “Mr. and Mrs. Cake, I can explain!” She shouted in the distance. The fire was slowly extinguished with the stream of water. Clean white smoke now rose from the building instead. Sugarcube Corner was destroyed, but not by some great villain nor an evil mastermind... but by Derpy. Malevolent glares were thrown at Derpy. She stood and twiddled her hooves in embarrassment. She had put everypony in danger and even endangered two baby fillies! Everypony glared at her, they were angry, angry at her. Their scowls burnt into the back of her mind. She kept finding herself in these situations, perhaps it was just her helpful personality. It never worked out. Once more she hung her head in humiliation and took flight silently up into the clouds... As the whit of white clouds came to bypass, there stood a serene and peaceful cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville. It was overlooked by a tree which carried a small house for little birdies, at least that’s what Derpy thought it was for as she playfully tapped it with her hoof. Literally but unknowingly terrifying the little birdies inside. This was her final delivery for the day. Her heavy hoof knocked against the wooden door to the cottage. The sound of unlocking and clanking can be heard as the inhabitant unlocked the numerous metal locks on her door. The occupant inside must have had at least twenty locks on the inside of her door. Eventually the door opened ajar. “H-hello...” “Delivery for Fluttershy!” Derpy bellowed at the top of her voice. “Oh... oh my... um, there’s n-no need to shout,” Fluttershy squealed in reply. The wooden door swung open to let the mail carrier pony inside. It isn’t often she got guests visiting her cottage. Everypony knew Derpy in some way; however they all remembered her for been that ‘clumsy pony with the mail sack’. The visit was not something her pet bunny rabbit Angel was happy about. The rabbit’s arms were crossed and he had a glum frown upon his face. He was not impressed with Derpy's demeanour. He had heard the tales of the wave of destruction Derpy had caused in recent memory... This let Derpy get a good look around in that brief moment of silence: her cottage was roomy, warm and welcoming. But perhaps it was also a cottage with many great and terrible secrets. The floorboards creaked and a grandfather clock ticks quietly in the back and the fireplace burned brightly, however the mantelpiece above the fireplace was utterly empty. Alas, Fluttershy opted not to reside in the floating city of Cloudsdale but preferred the solace of her cosy cottage with her creature companions. Fluttershy didn’t even keep photos of friends or family in her home which was strange for a pony that seems to be so warm and welcoming... Then for the last time Derpy rummaged through her mail sack. There was one last letter left among the empty space of her sack. After accepting the letter, Fluttershy shyly opened it and peered at the contents... Dear Fluttershy. As you are well aware Dark Plague left most of the fair town of Ponyville in a state of utter ruin and unrest. While she was acting under the influence of another and has received a full pardoning under my wing, the damage still remains to be extensive. Henceforth, I formally request you to join the seventh cleanup operation of Ponyville at the 70th sunrise of the fourth month of C.R. All ponies must do their duty to allow the town to recover from such a devastating attack. PS: Thank you also for the wonderfully-shaped butterfly brush. ~ Princess Celestia. “It's about the cleanup tomorrow. Dark Plague’s attack left most of the town in ruin.” Fluttershy said. Of course Fluttershy couldn’t blame Dark Plague after realising she was under the power of a puppeteer but she still remembered the glaring green eyes of the shadow that attacked her. Perhaps this is the reason why she had installed twenty iron locks on the inside of her door. “Oh... is that what I’ve been delivering?” Derpy said. “You mean you didn’t know what you’d being delivering this whole time?” Fluttershy replied. “I guess everypony gets a personal request to attend. I got’s mine this mornin’... but I think I lost it.” Derpy twiddled her hooves and hung her head down in embarrassment. Usually, any form of pamphlets or invitation letters would be dropped from the sky like wavering petals upon Ponyville. On rarer cases they would be sent from Celestia via Spike the dragon. But why did Princess Celestia give her the special task to deliver the post personally this time? Nevertheless while delivering all the crimson sealed letters, she had lost her own. Fluttershy could sympathise with this pony. In some respects they’re one and the same. Both of them preferred to live in solace and both of them preferred to keep to themselves above all else. “Um... well. Maybe you can come along with me tomorrow?” Fluttershy said. “R-really?” Derpy said and lifted her head up. Her eyes shone like a young fillies would after seeing an open candy stall. “Oh boy! Are we having a slumber party and everything?” She said excited as ever. “Uhhh...” Fluttershy mumbled and then paused to think, but by then Derpy had brushed past the meek Fluttershy and let herself in. Fluttershy's cottage was cozy and small, there was a grand fireplace with pans that swung on small hooks above. There was a birdcage in the corner and a brand new grandfather clock next to a green couch. Angel tapped his foot against the floorboard impatiently and shook his head repetitively in disagreement. “Okay... I guess you can stay...” Fluttershy inadvertently agreed. Angel gasped and fell backwards to faint. Even Fluttershy didn’t understand what she’d just let herself in for. As Derpy investigated she found in the birdcage within a small bed of hay, an endearing baby dragon. It only had two legs, a dragon’s head and a long tail. “Why do you keep a keep a dragon in your house?” Derpy said and tilted her head to one side... “Oh... um, that’s not a dragon... it’s a wyvern.” Fluttershy mumbled and ferried Derpy upstairs. “Does it have a name?” Derpy said as she was pushed upstairs. “Oh, I know... you should call him Bubbles!” “Actually 'he' is a 'she' but um... nevermind.” Fluttershy said and began to regret their arrangement. Derpy had stumbled upon another awkward situation. Night crept into the town of Ponyville like a silent ninja. The illustrious moon loomed up high into the sea of velvety black clouds. Only the sound of crickets that chirped cheerfully stirred in silence of the night. The interior of the cottage was warm with an amber glow from the candles that lit the halls. Derpy hadn't caused any disaster... yet. She slept upside-down in a bedroom opposite Fluttershy's. Fluttershy’s bed was shaped like a butterfly and the soft covers were patterned green. Derpy had never seen such an act of kindness. Usually she just drifted through the town without a care in the world. But tonight even in the soft and comfy bed she struggled to sleep. She tossed and turned and broke into a hot sweat. Whilst down the hallway, Fluttershy slept soundly snuggled inside her blanket. She was like an angel and her breaths were a gentle purr on a sea of dreams. Of course Fluttershy was scared of the dark and always slept with a tiny nightlight on by her bedside. A smaller bed had been placed next to her own to accommodate her pet Angel. Not a sound stirred. ... “Mommy! Why did you leave me? Please no! Don’t leave me!” “Follow the bubbles.” “Noooooooo!” ... “Huh?” Fluttershy groaned. She awoke slowly after been disturbed from her gentle sleep by the sound of a pop. It was followed by a monstrous groan erupted from the opposite hallway. She squealed loudly and pulled the blanket over her head. It sounded like... zombies?! No... worse, it could be... brainless zombies! Fluttershy trembled from fear under the covers. “W-who’s there?” She muttered and gained enough courage to lower the bedclothes. Her eyes were still closed however, she dare not opened then. Then something tickled Fluttershy’s nose. She screamed and accidentally rolled out of bed this a thud. She dared to opens her sleepy eyes... infront of her was a bubble that bounced up and down. It popped in her face. It's not Angel and it's not Bubbles... oh no, now I'm calling her Bubbles, Fluttershy thought with a meek whimper. The name Derpy gave her new pet Wyvern had caught on. Still half asleep Fluttershy decided to sleep on the floor. She laid down and nestled in her blanket until she was wrapped-up warm. Another round of bubbles bounced to her side and all around her entire bedroom. Fluttershy got up. Bubbles weren’t that scary... right? She reassured herself but it was hardly enough. What if there was a monster in her home? What if there was a monster in her house with terrible teeth... a monster which blew bubbles?! No, that was stupid. She eventually got up and tiptoed over Angel’s bed and to the bedroom door. It was groaned again from across the hall. Her eyes were unsteady and still partly wedged together from sleepydust. Huge bags were under her eyes but still she trotted with trepidation. She left the safety of her bedroom and walked across the hall with the bubbles that guided her. The last bubble popped away as she nudged the door open with her nose. The door opened slowly with a shrill squeak. Derpy was sat on the bed and wept openly. “I had a bad dream” Derpy said sadly without enticement and twiddled her hooves. She up at Fluttershy in a way she would at a parent or carer. The cloudy-fillies nightmares often ended the same way: with her shocking screams. Fluttershy breathed a warm sigh of relief and dismissed the mortified groaning as Derpy’s terrified reaction to the nightmare. The kind yellow pegasus sat on the end of the spongy bed with a warm collective smile. “Wanna talk about it?” Fluttershy quietly said, the least she could do was comfort her. “Well... I was sad; really sad. Mommy told me to fly away and never return home. She never even taught me how to fly. I guess that’s why I always crash into things. I’ve never known why she told me to leave. But I remember standing in the rain, desperate and alone and when I opened my eyes I saw them; the bubbles. They were funny and tickled when they popped on my nose. I followed the bubbles and they led me to Ponyville. Without realising it I had a cutie mark and a new home. Now I’m only sad when I have nightmares.” Derpy said with a small silver tear in her crossed eye. “You miss your mom?” “Yup...” Derpy sniffled. “If it helps, I don’t know my parents either.” Fluttershy replied and then tried to remember to a time in her own life when she was a young filly. To a time when she must of had parents. But she had no mother and no father to remember. No images, no photos, nothing... Perhaps all these years of living in solace does that to a pony. Derpy never had another pony to talk to about her nightmares before. Usually a mother would do that. Comfort a crying filly, warm them when they’re cold, love them when they're lost. Perhaps the kindness of another pony was all it took to feel better. However there is always a time when a daughter must leave home to live their own life something Fluttershy had been doing for so many years all by herself. That was something Derpy admired about her. “Thank you, Fluttershy,” Derpy said sincerely with a sniffle and wiped her leaking eyes. Fluttershy opened a book to read her a story that night. It was a fairy tale about a lonely filly, a great kingdom of gold and all the kindness of the world. That precious little filly had lived a sheltered life, until she was thrust into the unknown by herself. When she finally came out and talked to them, she was called names and told she couldn’t be a part of their games. But in the end that brave filly became a great legend. She came out of the shadows and out of the darkness to become something much greater than anypony could imagine. Fluttershy was like a mother to Derpy that night. As the fairy tale was read, Derpy’s heart calmed in her rib cage. For that brief moment after the nightmare she thought it would burst out. Nightmares are always so real when you’re dreaming them. Even when you awake you believe they’re still real, until that realization crept in and you find yourself safe in your bed. Their night of storytelling and discussion ended when the grandfather clock downstairs chimed for dawn. Without a moments delay the sun reached its zenith on the horizon, no doubt the work of Princess Celestia who must have decided it should be another bright and warm day. The morning sky dazzled amethyst. The sun rays shone brightly inside the bedroom as both ponies gazed out the wooden window. “It's morning already. We should get ready.” The morning arrived. In the town square everypony was gathered in groups of lines. Some of them were chatting, others were doing stretches while preparing. This was not the first time they’ve had to clean up their fair town; Ponyville had been attacked numerous times before. The Elements of Harmony had restored most of the town on many occasions but this time the magic was not enough and the street were still laddered with remaining debris. Days like this had become procedure just like Winter Wrap-Up. Fluttershy and Derpy hastily trotted up to join at the back of the crowds. Fluttershy even brought her own custom sweeper and was eager to help. “Good morning everypony!” The Mayor said into a small microphone as she gently pushed her glasses onto her nose. She was stood on a small wooden stage erected in the town square. The Mayor cleared her throat before speaking again: “Apparently Twilight Sparkle was supposed to be organizing this event. But unfortunately she informed me that she will be delayed due to ‘rearranging her books’.” The Mayor shrugged her shoulders and Derpy blushed bright red in the crowd. Stood next to the mayor on the stage was ‘Commanding official’ Rainbow Dash. She was a fiercely loyal and devoted pegasus who Derpy had met before. Derpy always admired how Rainbow Dash was so cool and awesome even into the direst of times. She and Rainbow repaired the town hall together during the Applejack charade but unfortunately Derpy singlehoofedly caused the destruction of the town hall. “Alright!” Rainbow Dash said and stridently stood up to take command with Wonderbolt goggles which loosely hung around her neck. “We have three task forces: cleaners, removers and repairers. The cleaners will clean the streets of any and all rubbish. The removers will proceed to remove any broken or irreparable pieces of rubble to the skip tip outside of Ponyville. The repair group will repaint and repair the houses.” Rainbow Dash continued to bark orders to the other ponies and organized them. “I declare the seventh cleanup of Ponyville to commence!” With the speech finished the three groups disembarked, they trotted, flew and teleported in all different directions, leaving only Derpy stood in the centre. “Alright then Derpy, you’ll be in charge of... something far away that isn’t flammable. You can be part of the cleaner group.” “You can count on me, Rainbow Dash!” Derpy said with a childish grin and without further enticement fluttered off into the town. Everypony worked as a team as piles of rubble were meticulously lifted and removed. The entire town was filled with helpful ponies. High above earth ponies laid on raised wooden walkways where the ponies below would levitate the tubs of colourful paint upward. The Pegasus ponies swayed paintbrushes across every building in several lines to give the town a brighter shade. New panes of glass that served as windows were placed in the holes left by the previous battles. Ordinary cold water was splashed upon the windows to clean them, except not for very cold water as it would freeze upon the glass. Working their way down the buildings, as down below in the streets other ponies removed and picked-up any rubble. Ponies came together and collectively lifted the heavier pieces of rubble before the pegasus flew the rubble to the skip tip on the far side of town. It was a team effort. Derpy flew in a zigzag among the streets and soured around and she tried to help. Eventually she lands on one of the wooden walkways as ponies dance around as they painted and cleaned. Derpy confusingly picked up a sweeping brush in her mouth and began cleaning. The pony to the side of her wore yellow rubber gloves and had a yellow gas-mask by her side as standard. “You do it like this,” the white unicorn said and perfectly cleaned the nearby window, washing it water first and then showed her how to properly clean. Everything she did was so perfect in detail. The white unicorn was Rarity, who had got involved in this operation despite how much she hated dust and dirt among other things, she was quite good at cleaning. Perhaps she was even the queen of clean. She directed Derpy with simple commands and showed her how to properly tidy. “Roger!” Derpy replied and grabbed a duster. She then rapidly brushed the entire roof with little care for detail. In the process she sent dust particles in all directions. Rarity sneezed, even her sneezes were somewhat composed. “Gazunteight.” Derpy giggled. Rarity wafted away the dust with her hoof in disgust of the stuff. She liked to be clean even when cleaning. Without realising she was going overboard Derpy took off and moved to the next house. She dusted rapidly as she flew-by which got many stern looks from the ponies who were showered in dust below. She had made a mess of the town again. Unfortunately, everypony knew of Derpy’s mishaps from the day before. Now they all went to great lengths to try and avoid her for their own protection, like Derpy was an infectious disease to be avoided. The stories of disaster in Sugarcube Corner spread across the gossiping lips of everypony as quickly as the fire did but Derpy just helped out, oblivious to the nearby stern looks and groups that tried to avoid her. Derpy landed on the ground with an ungracious wobble and placed the duster to one side. Derpy landed on the ground with an ungracious wobble and placed the duster to one side. “Yo Derp!” An arrogant voice addressed her. Derpy turned around to find, a coat of blue? She followed the coat of fur upwards, her neck arched back to peer at the pegasus that loomed over her. She was Hurricane, known as the storm as the sky because she could generate whirlwinds just by spinning through the air. She had a mohawk-styled blue mane with bleached-white tips and a tornado for a cutie mark. She looked more like a stallion than a mare as she was heavily built and even had a stubble. But the most alluring of her attire was a skull she wore as a necklace, it was like a prize of death that swayed around her neck. “What the derp are you doing? Hahaha.” Hurricane taunted above her with little remorse. “I’m helping clean the town.” Derpy said with a chirp. “Hear that guys? She’s too stupid to even know when she’s been insulted... and way too stupid to know when she’s not wanted,” Hurricane said, alongside her were two other bullies from Cloudsdale who Fluttershy knew from her past. “I... I...” Derpy sputtered. Not wanted, what was she talking about? “Is everything okay over here?” A deep voice said. It was Thunderlane. His coat was dark grey and his mohawk mane matched that Hurricane’s. He descended from above and his hooves pounded hard against the ground upon landing. “Of course it is baby,” Hurricane lied. “Everything’s going to be okay from now on... that’s why I married you.” Hurricane flew happily around Thunderlane in an aficionado ballet; her whole demeanour had changed around her husband. When Thunderlane soured off to continue his cleaning tasks. Hurricane landed with a thud and then glared evilly back at Derpy. “See how successful I am? I have a husband, a loving and caring family. But what do you have, Derp? Know what I think? I think you’re a worthless retard. You were born a retard, you’ll die a retard, and you’ll be remembered as a retard.” Hurricane said with a heartless laugh. Hurricane spun around the hapless Derpy until the wind gathered around her. A whirlwind erupted in the centre of the town and then aimed at Derpy. The gust caught the filly inside it as Derpy was spun around and around and was blasted out of the whirlwind to spin through the air. She smashed straight into a building, her body smashed straight through the wall and caused immeasurable damage. She smacked her head hard against the stone pavement with devastating impact... The building shook with a gradual creak. As the whirlwind dispersed from afar Derpy got up. Her head was dizzy and her ears were flopped down. All she could hear was the haughty laughter of Hurricane and her bullies. She turned skyward to see the building she crashed into. It was the town hall. Now it was peerlessly creaked as the wooden supports holding the town hall snapped and buckled under the weight. The stone pillars inside the town hall smashed and leaned to crash into the next set. The town hall leaned over. Within the interior building the curtains fell from the windows and the marble tiles on the floor break and the roof caved in. All the windows smashed and burst glass outward. She gasped and trotted forward out of the pile of rubble. Roof tiles fell of the top of the town hall and smashed all around her, sending sharp parts of marble into her skin and fur. She limped forward as the building collapsed around her, the building would crush her if she didn’t get out quickly. She rushed to the doors to find they were locked from the outside so she turned to make a dash to the hole in the wall she smashed through. “H-help me...” Derpy tried to shout but the dust from the collapsing walls only filled her lungs. She coughed uncontrollably but still she limped forward. She noticed Hurricane and the other bullies. They were the only ones who knew she was in here, but they flee the scene without helping her. Nopony was coming to help her now, why would they? Derpy just thought they were accidents, only now did she realise that she had done wrong by everypony. They all laughed in her face, avoided her, secretly wished she was gone. Now they would get their wish... The town hall collapsed. But she didn’t make it, Derpy was still inside. A plume of smoke shot up as the tremendous collision was heard across the entire town. The town hall was utterly destroyed and with it a part of Ponyville’s history. Now only its ruins were splayed out infront of everypony. Ponies of all kind saw the destruction from afar and now they gathered in groups around the wreck. Most of them stood in shock with their hooves over their mouths. “What happened here?!” Rainbow Dash said. She had seen the damage from above like a hawk and arrived with Thunderlane alongside. Nopony stepped forward to claim responsibility. Then the smoke cleared. Laid in a defeated pile in the centre of the wreckage was Derpy. She was safe. She checked her body, it was completely covered in splinters and glass and scars. Her mane was a now a ruffled mess and was grey to match her body as both were covered in dust. None of them helped her. None would dare greet the destructor. Most just stared down at her. “Derpy... what have you done?!” Rainbow Dash’s voice croaked. As her blurred vision focused she looked up at them all dazed and defeated. Everything Hurricane said... it was all true. “That pony is a menace!” One pony shouted. “Yeah! She causes more harm than good.” “She shouldn’t be in Ponyville!” Rainbow Dash glanced around nervously at the steadily growing crowd of ponies as a riot occurred around the town hall. Derpy was scared and alone and was only greeted by the angry and annoyed faces of all the ponies she’d ever come to love. Their chants pierced her hearing like nails. “It wasn’t me. I-I didn’t mean to...” She said but her muffled voice was disquieted by the thunderous chants of ponies that wanted her to leave. She was cornered. They all thought it was her fault, maybe it was her fault. She did the only thing she could... She cried. After a brief moment of quiet she suddenly spread out her bleeding wings and took flight into of the freedom of the sky. She left only a single trail of silver tears... Bitter was the night, the wind chilled their bones and all in the air a solemn stillness held. “Derpy? Deeerpppy!” Pinkie Pie covered in mashed up muffin bread and paint stains shouted into the night. “Please... come home!” “I just let her go. It’s all my fault.” Rainbow Dash said and regretted not helping the cloudy-filly. “It’s going to be okay... I think.” Fluttershy quietly tried to comfort her fellow pegasister. “What’s going on everypony?” Twilight Sparkle arrived late after she rearranged all her library books. “It’s Derpy.” Rarity explained stood next to Applejack. “She’s run away from home...” Lantern lights swung from side to side in the black of night. They shone vivid in a futile attempt to fray against the darkness. Panic filled Ponyville and questions filled everyponies mind. Had they done this? Was this their fault? Have they bullied her out of her own home? In their utmost regret everypony was out in hordes and searched for the Derpy. Missing posters were slapped on every lamp post. Ponies’ even followed tracks and chased leads; to no avail. All the shouting in Equestria could not help. Every home, market stall and cottage was searched from top to bottom. Drawers were upturned, floorboards removed, the cleanup operation had become one to search for a missing filly. Alongside a forlorn hill on the outskirts of Ponyville, the lone Fluttershy who carried a small flickering lantern in her maw came across a mail saddlebag that she once carried proudly upon her shoulder. Fluttershy held it in her hoof and clutched it to her chest tightly. Somewhere today she had gained true feelings for her. She remembered that bubbly personality of a filly who even in times of trouble, still stood strong. Now gone. Fluttershy glanced out upon the horizon but despite her hopes, only the silent wind greeted her. Ripples of bitter water ring out across a lake. She had returned to her favourite spot under the overbearing waterfalls that fell from Canterlot. As the gushing waterfall endlessly trickled water down into the lake from afar. She stared down at her reflection in the water, it danced upon the ripples. She stared for hours in the dark, hoping her reflection had answers, answers to where she really belonged, answers to her nightmares, answers to why she can’t be normal. ‘Why me? Why only me?’ Her psyche screamed at her reflection. Her eyes leaked again, they had been leaking for quite some time. The salty droplets fell into the water; they fell down like rain and created the small ripples across a peaceful lake, much like the ripple of destruction she felt solely responsible for. She felt ashamed... ashamed to have stood among those who were so normal. “I can’t do anything right and nopony believes me. I-I don’t cross my eyes on purpose, it just happens,” she said to her own tearful expression. She looked at her chromatic eyes which were always crossed. Now she looked at those eyes with regret and disgust. Even her nightmares brought those same eyes to leak salt. The nightmares were always about her mother, and always ended in the same way. Derpy reflected back to when her mother sat with her amidst a warm fireplace and would sing the same soothing lullaby. Perhaps that same sombre lullaby could cheer her up as she would reminisce about the old times with her family. She sung a sad lullaby with a lump in her throat... “I don’t mean to break stuff, I don’t mean to crash, I wish I could be awesome, just like Rainbow Dash. I wish I could bake chocolate and cupcakes galore, then I would be like Pinkie Pie for muffins, I adore. I wish I could speak clearly to make sure you knew, that I don’t do everything, as wonderful as you. I can’t sow any dresses and I’m hardly ever neat, unlike that pony Rarity, who is noble and perteet. I wish to be Applejack, so strong and really fast, but when I fly in races, I’m slow and always last. I wish I could be clever and really rather wise, I wish there was a way I could fix these funny eyes. I haven’t got a magic horn, and I’m always cause strife, I wish to be Twilight Sparkle, who’s always full of life. I wish to be like Fluttershy, all cute and calm and quiet, but instead I’m always crashing, enough to start a riot. "I just don’t know what went wrong... Now I ask: where do I belong?” A silver tear dropped into the lake. “Wow Derpy. That was... um... really beautiful.” “Fluttershy?!” Derpy gasped as she heard Flutterhy's quiet voice from afar. “You heard all that?” Derpy asked and quickly smeared her tears upon her face with her grey hoof. She didn’t want anypony to see her cry; she didn’t them to know she felt unworthy to be part of Ponyville. “We all did,” Twilight Sparkle’s voice replied. Suddenly all of Twilight and her five best friends come from behind the bushes around the lakeside. They proceed to comfort Derpy; everypony hugged the filly tightly like they would their own child. Each of them were gravely concerned by the fillies disappearance and they had all worked so hard and searched more than half of Ponyville. “H-how... did you find me?” Derpy sniffled. “We followed the bubbles.” Fluttershy replied with a smile. Fluttershy then handed Derpy her mail saddlebag which she had left on the moor. Together they had all followed the trail of bouncing bubbles which had leaded them directly here. “I... I’m sorry. I just want to be like you... I-I just want to be normal! I promise I’ll stop breaking things even when I don’t mean to.” Derpy stammered. “But it’s who you are Derpy. I think Princess Celestia made you deliver the mail in that special task on purpose, to help find yourself. You see nopony is perfect; we all have our own flaws and things we don’t like about ourselves. For me, sometimes I feel like a failure. But you are who you are, and you shouldn’t change that because of other ponies expectations.” Twilight kindly explained. “We like you for who you are.” “Absolutely.” “T-thank you everypony... thank you.” Derpy said and suddenly found herself at the centre of a warm and welcoming friendly group hug. Her heart warmed. For the first time she belonged. For the first time her missing piece was filled in that one moment by the lakeside. She looked at the six best friends and suddenly realised that even they all had their flaws. Pinkie Pie tends to talk too much like she did when she tried to explain the cooking. Fluttershy was terrified of everything, even her own shadow. Rarity always went over the top with things, even when it came to cleanliness. Twilight sometimes felt like a failure. They all had flaws and this proved in Derpy’s mind without a flash of doubt or a twinkle of mistrust: nopony was perfect. After Derpy's ripple of destruction, the accidents weren’t as worse as everypony thought. You see Twilight Sparkle actually enjoyed alphabetising all her books. It was busywork she was accustomed to. Once she even purposely de-shelved every book in the library herself. So arranging the books one more time didn’t hurt. When sugarcube corner exploded into flame Pinkie Pie just wore a smile and continued. Besides, cleaning up involved eating all the leftovers and that meant licking the walls from chocolaty treats. Mr. and Mrs. Cake shop was repaired in no time at all, especially since the cleanup operation was underway. With the help of her pegasisters Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy and without any more interruptions, all Ponyville’s cleanup was complete. All the buildings stood stronger than ever all of them were and repaired in no time at all and all was completed. Even the town hall was sturdier when everypony rebuilt it. Ponyville shone on the horizon as beautiful and bright as can be. This was her home now... she belongs here. The following sunrise Derpy was welcomed back with open hooves. Everypony despite whatever they had said and done earlier were glad to see her alive and well. She got many cuddles and snuggles that morn. However there was one spiteful pony that wasn’t so glad to see that she had returned. Derpy took a deep breath to puff up her chest and mentally prepares herself for the following encounter. She marched towards Hurricane. She took one last breath and stood up to Hurricane, as brave as can be. “Not breaking anything today, eh Derp?” Hurricane sarcastically said. She turned to loom over the cloudy-filly with a snidely grin. Even though Hurricane was stronger Derpy still hung her head high and showed no fear. This time the bully Hurricane stood alone and without the others to make Hurricane look cool, she was as another vulnerable pegasus. Derpy scowled from ear-to-ear and swayed to one side. She then accidently crashed into an oaken beam stood alongside. The beam creaked and suddenly collapsed on top of Hurricane. With a slight whiff of white smoke, Hurricane was revealed to be trapped underneath the oaken beam of wood. The bully was unharmed but humiliated nevertheless. “Oops,” Derpy tittered sarcastically; that showed her. But Derpy didn’t feel right, she knew this wasn’t her. She couldn’t repeat what Hurricane did to her, she couldn’t leave her under the beam, that would make her no better than Hurricane. Derpy wasn’t a bully and wasn’t about to become one. Instead, Derpy was going to deal with Hurricane in her own way... “The difference between you and me is that I’m not a bully and I never ever will be.” Derpy looked into Hurricane’s amethyst eyes to show that she was serious. Then in an act of madness the she offered Hurricane her grey hoof. She was going to help this bully, even after all she had done. But Hurricane turned away and refused to be helped by this cloudy-filly; even in defeat she still disliked her. That was her chance wasted. Derpy then turned without another word and took flight to leave Hurricane to think about her actions. Hurricane was left alone to wallow and wince under the oaken beam; trapped. In this one moment she was given time to think about her distasteful behaviour. Underneath the beam perhaps Hurricane learned that it isn’t right to intimidate or bully others for whatever reason. Derpy had done it. She had faced up to her bully in her own way and she did so without changing who she is, without becoming a bully herself. Perhaps her utter clumsiness can be used for good in future. She vowed from that day forward to be more aware and more careful. Now there was just one last thing to do... She had to find her mother. On a white field of snow which stretched on the horizon like sandstone, trifling devilish whirlwinds formed and dispersed across the landscape. A copious white haze of swirling snow spun its way across the rippling dunes of the mountain. Frozen winds battered her face as she travelled through savage hilltops and isolated mountains. She had told everypony that she was going travelling and she also told them that she might not return. It all depended on what lied in wait for her at the end of her journey. The cold winds gave no care to the purpose or value of the souls it claimed. But she had wrapped-up warm, a snow-coloured scarf wrapped around her neck blew in the air and pink earmuffs covered her ears. Her hooves however remained exposed to the snow as they left small imprints that marked the road she travelled... Why had her mother told her to fly away and never return? What really happened that night? Why did her mother abandon her? These were all questions that burnt in her psyche, questions which determined her to continue. She was not ignorant of the danger, which is why her mail saddlebag had been filled with supplements and luxuries, food and fruit which bulged out of the sack among other refreshments to appease her thirst. But where was she travelling to? After she was shown such kindness from her new-found friends, a memory had triggered in her mind. A memory of home. Why did she live in such an unforgiving landscape? It was difficult to even see ten feet infront of her, but she continued ever onwards without a single word muttered from her mouth. She had almost entered an emotionless perpetual limbo. This was the very farthest reach of Equestria, beyond any town ever known. Yet through the haze was a little cottage stood in its isolation and loneliness. Its old age could be told from the vines that grew up the crumbling walls and the roof that was made from layers of yellow straw and hay. There was white smoke billowing from the chimney. Her mother must be inside. She passed a congregation of dead flowers, their blackness stood out in the white plain. This was it; the answers, the end... The grey wooden door creaked open. Derpy was greeted by a gust of warm and welcoming air when she entered. Inside, it was familiar and warmly. There was a huge fireplace which was lit and burnt brightly; they were photos on mantelpieces and carpets of grey which had illustrations of bubbles on them. It told Derpy of what she had missed and she remembered it well. As the wooden door closed itself behind her she looked to the far end of the cottage. In a small wooden rocking chair was an elderly pony that was knitting a blanket. “...M-mommy? Is that you?” She said in her most innocent voice. Could it really be? “Oh... my dear...” The elder pony looked up with a sweet smile. “You must be Derpy?” She said and slowly got up out of the rocking chair and approached the door. “Come, your mother has been waiting for you for a very long time.” On the short walk outside Derpy felt proud that she had completed her journey. After years of uncertainty, years of mishaps, nightmares and false hope, she finally stood before her own mother in the frozen wind. Then she suddenly realised... It was a gravestone. A lonely old grey rock that stood frozen on the mountain. The answers she sought may have to wait a little longer— “She’s sleeping now. She’s at peace.” The elder pony explained. “I came so far and I was too late,” Derpy said as she kneeled in the shallow snow to weep. Sadness crept in at the same time the realization crept in. With her hoof she wiped away the ice that had congregated over the stone. There was no more doubt. It was her mother. Derpy will never know the truth. Has everything lead to this?! “You seem like a good pony. Honest and true. I think you feel like you’ve been through so much.” The elder pony put her hoof on her shoulder. “You feel that life is harsh and cruel... and anything that lies ahead is uncertain. But there comes a time in everyponies life when the world goes quiet and the only thing left to listen to is your heart. What does your heart say?” “It says I failed... It says my journey was a waste.” Derpy sobbed, her silver tears marked the snow. "I had a daughter once who was born deaf, she struggled through the whole life that she had.” She paused, "my point being that sometimes the journey is hard and the hardest part of any journey is believing you’re worthy of it. I think your journey has just started and it will go on no matter how hard it seems. I believe, you were sent to me... because I’m sick. You were sent to me for the truth.” The elder pony was wrapped up warm inside the blanket she had knitted herself. “I need answers. To my mother...” Derpy asked and then cradled the cold gravestone like it was flesh and blood. “I knew your mother. We were friends back when you were just a wee fragile filly. She gave me this house after she passed away and told me to wait for you. Your mother only wanted a better life for you.” “Why couldn’t I have a better life with her?! Why did she abandon me?!” “She owed a great debt of many bits to an organization. They chased you and your mother to the ends of Equestria to get those bits. She even moved to this cottage on this forlorn mountain because she was hiding from them. But then they found you, then they came in their white chariots to take her. The day she told you to fly away was the day she was killed. She saved your life by telling you to fly away.” The elder pony coughed uncontrollably as there was a cold shiver. “Why couldn’t she come with me?” “Because they didn’t know she had a daughter. To protect you she stayed behind... and they got her,” she paused. “All this time you thought she abandoned you? You've lived with a false guilty burden of all this time thinking she left you? She saved you from the same fate. Your mother didn't abandon you... she saved your life.” ... ‘Mommy! Don’t let me go... mommy please!’ ‘Whatever happens my precious one. One day I hope you will have it in your heart to forgive me. But you must fly away, fly away and never return.’ “Please no! Don’t leave me!” ‘Remember, I will forever love you— no matter who you are.’ ‘Nooooooo!’ ‘Follow the bubbles.’ ... With her memories finally pieced together Derpy could let go. She stood up from the gravestone and wiped her silver tears away. For the first time in a long while; she smiled. Her mother told her to flee from ponies coming to hurt them. She saved her life. She was a hero. Derpy felt absolved from her past. All the sadness and all the unanswered questions were also absolved. Now she felt free from all those terrible nightmares of that dreadful night. Like before, a magic cluster of bubbles floated upwards to greet the filly. She could see through them yet these perfect spheres reflect rainbows of light. She could see bright and happy patterns of the bubbles. She knew that bubbles were mysterious objects which are said to hold secrets. It was said that when they pop the secrets kept inside are released into the world. Then she felt something silent and cold trickle down her cheek. She held her hoof under her amber eyes... they were leaking. Salty droplets streamed down out of her eyes. She smeared them with her hoof, all she felt was sadness within. A missing piece which made her throat dry and her smile weaken... But the bubbles bobbled in front of her; they bounced and popped when touched. They stopped her tears because the bubbles were her tears. That was her special talent. Her tears were healing waters or a stream a joy. Her special silvery tears magically altered to bubbles to bounced back up to make her smile, to make her laugh. Her teary bubbles reminded her to wipe away that leak from her eyes and to cheer up when she is sad back. “You said you knew my mother... w-who are you?” Derpy asked, she didn’t even know the elder ponies name, yet everything she had said resonated in Derpy like nothing she had ever heard before. “My name is unimportant as is the life I have lived. This is about your life now, your journey. You must continue it, as I’m afraid mine has come to an end,” the elder pony said weakly. A quiet slosh in the snow caused Derpy's ears to perk up. “Huh?” Derpy said, when she turned back she saw that the elder pony had passed away. It was peaceful, the only sound she made was the gentle fall into the snow. Now the snow had become a bed of white to comfort her. The elder pony laid next to Derpy’s mother. There was nothing that could have been done. The elder ponies sickness had taken its toll. But the elder ponies last words rang true in Derpy. Derpy picked up her nearby knitted cloth and placed it over the elder pony in respect. It’s as if this elder pony waited for her, waited to help her; to tell her the truth that her mother couldn’t. And for that, Derpy was truly thankful. After a return journey home, Derpy hung her head up high with her new sense of fulfillment. She took a deep breath. Her mane blew in the billowing chill of the wind. A single set of bubbles bobble behind her as she overlooked her home. She is Derpy Hooves, a brave pony who took a long and tough journey, she found her missing piece and bested the nightmares. Around the back of the cottage now stood two gravestones; side-by-side. The silent stones watched the breathtaking snowy peaks and Ponyville that shone dimly in the distance... The empty cottage remained there on the mountain. The wind clattered the wooden door open. Inside remained all the old photos and memories of growing old, Derpy as a small filly who laughed with her mother. Both her and her mother playing games in the snow and Derpy getting a piggy-back ride. Another showed Derpy been read a bedtime story while wrapped in a warm blanket. There was one final photo of Ditzy Doo, she stood without her daughter and smiled for her final photograph. Underneath the photos on the mantelpiece: the fireplace gently flickered out. Dear Princess Celestia. ‘I thought I’d take the time to write about what I’ve learned today, if that’s okay. Today I’ve learned that nopony is perfect, we all have things about ourselves we don’t particularly like, but that’s what makes us ourselves. We should never be ashamed of that fact or estranged to our flaws and we shouldn’t be any different than who we really are. Be one pony. Be yourself. Take opportunities that arise. Don’t be frightened you will not succeed or they don’t work out. The only failure is not attempting. Always respect yourself and others too, but make sure there is always room for fun and laughter. Everypony has setbacks in their life, it is how we deal with them and overcome our difficulties that makes us stronger. I completed that special task you gave me and I found something I wasn’t looking for: a home. I will continue my journey for Ditzy Doo...’ ~Durpy Derpy To Be Continued... My Little Pony: Time is Forever™ will return... 'The only one who can save them now... is a Doctor.' Notes: Derpy will frequently join the main cast to feature in the adventures to follow. Derpy buried the elder pony next to her mother. Ponyville has been destroyed several times since the shadow began, this includes both the Ursa Minor and Parasprite incidents. This is referenced by the mayor of Ponyville declaring the seventh cleanup of Ponyville to commence. If you’ve ever bought a (Pinkestia) Princess Celestia toy, you’ll know she gets a hair/mane brush along with her. This is referenced in the letter in which Celestia wrote to Fluttershy. The next four chapters will be going through the canon characters: Derpy, Doctor Whooves, Lyra Heartstrings, Bon-Bon, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia. Hurricane will return...