//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: School Lunch's Suck // Story: Derpy: Overcoming Trials // by vincent5000x //------------------------------// (9_6) “So, is it everything you thought it would be?” Carrot Top chuckled as she took a seat next to Derpy. “Yep,” Derpy replied, her eyes fixed on the papers in front of her. “Another year of being cooped up in the corner, secluded from the rest of society.” Stealing a quick glance, Derpy looked around the busy lunch room. Some ponies would walk in and head straight for their regular table, while others walked into the ever growing line for the school lunch. Derpy even noticed a few griffons and mules scattered throughout the room. “And once again, we’re shoved into the corner,” Carrot Top sighed. Derpy merely shrugged as she returned her attention to her work. She knew that she and her friends were sitting alone in a secluded corner of the room, but that’s how it usually was. “Hey, number twenty three’s B, right?” Derpy passed one of the papers she had towards Dilvent. “Yep,” Dilvent replied as he placed a half eaten gem on the table and looked over what Derpy had. “You got seven, six, eleven, five, nine, and twenty wrong. Also,” he continued, snatching another paper from Derpy's collection. “Four, eleven, seventeen, and thirty two are wrong on this one too.” “Damn,” Derpy huffed, taking her work back. “Derpy, how are you this far behind in your work?” Minerva questioned, glancing at several pages Derpy still hadn't gotten to. “I mean, half of these were due last week?!” “I know,” Derpy sighed, rubbing her temples with her hooves. “But I can't help it. After I get home, I dedicate all my time to Dinky, and by the time its time for her to go to bed, I’m beat. What little homework I have gotten done, I did after staying up an extra hour.” “Then, I usually wake up an hour early to make sure Dinky is ready for daycare and that I have everything I’ll need for the day and…” “Whoa, calm down,” Dilvent interrupted, stopping Derpy’s rant. “She didn't ask for a play by play.” “I know,” Derpy sighed, slumping in her seat. “I’m just a little riled up is all. I’m worried about how Dinky is handling lunch without me.” “I’m sure she’s fine Derpy,” Carrot Top responded, munching on a carrot. “What's the worst that could happen?” (o^o) “I miss mommy.” Dinky stared at the mashed peas and grape juice in front of her, missing her mother more and more. “Where’s your mom?” Lily asked her friend. “Is she ok?” “She couldn't make it today,” Miss Lemonway said as she sat down next to Dinky. “You really should eat Dinky, I don't think your mom would be happy if you didn't.” “How come?” Lily asked, her foalish curiosity peaking. “Because she’s busy with school, like your mother Lily,” the older mare replied, levitating a small spoon up to Dinky. “Oh,” the young unicorn replied. Putting down her own food, Lily gave Dinky a hug. “Its ok Dinky, I know what its like.” “Thank you.” Dinky returned the hug before she began eating her lunch. (9_6) “Yep, these all look good to me,” Minerva said as she put the last paper down. “A+ material.” “Only because you had her re-do it several times,” Carrot Top snapped, apparently worn out by just watching. “This is homework, not a thesis paper!” “Its okay,” Derpy sighed as she put her papers away in her bag. “It actually does help me in the long run.” “See,” Minerva said, smugly smiling at Carrot Top. “Derpy understands the importance of good grades.” “And you wouldn't let her stop until every answer was one hundred percent correct,” Dilvent sighed as he glanced out a nearby window. “But that’s why you’re the egghead of our group.” “Thanks for the compliment,” Minerva said with a smile. “I don't think he was complimenting you,” Carrot Top sighed as her head collided with the table. “Excuse me,” a new voice called from close by. As everyponies gaze shifted towards the voice, Derpy felt her anger begin to rise as she found Shooting Star standing just a few feet away, a tray of food on her back. “I was wondering if..” “What are you doing here?!” Derpy interrupted, clearly annoyed by the pegasus’ presence. “I-I was kinda w-wondering if I could…” Shooting Star’s voice stuttered as Derpy’s stare caused her to take a few steps back. “I-I mean…” “Could what?!” Derpy yelled, its intensity masked only by the conversations of everypony else in the room. “What could you possibly want from us?” “I... I,” Shooting star began stuttering. Backing up even more, she had to swerve to miss a passing pony, causing her to hit a large pillar. “Oh buck,” she cursed under her breath, her food falling to the ground. Several nearby groups quickly fell silent as they turned to look towards the commotion. But when they noticed who it was, they all went back to what they had been doing. Some stifling laughs as they shook their heads. “Well?” Derpy continued, drawing the pegasus’ attention once again. “What do you want?” For a moment, Shooting Star tried to hold a confident stance, trying her best to look Derpy in the eye. But as she continued to look into Derpy’s good eye, her gaze faltered and an expression of fear overtook her face as she ran out of the room. Once again, several groups quickly looked over, some watching as Shooting Star disappeared from sight. Others began to laugh as they continued to look towards the door, making jokes with one another about what just occurred. But Derpy ignored them as she continued to stare at the door, trying to calm herself down. “What’s her problem?” Derpy huffed, turning to look back at her friends. While Minerva continued to watch the door Shooting Star had just run out of, Carrot Top simply shrugged. “Damn!” Dilvent snapped in a barely audible huff. “What’s wrong?” Derpy asked, hoping for a change of subject. “Nothing…” the stallion replied as he got up from his seat. “I just forgot something, I’ll be right back,” and with that, Dilvent rushed out of the lunch room. “Where do you think he’s going?” Derpy asked, a small amount of anger clearly noticeable in her voice. “Bathroom.” “Class.” Derpy stared at her two friends, annoyed by their differing answers. “If you don't know, it would've been better not to have said anything at all.” A few minutes later, Dilvent returned, looking a little annoyed as he returned to his seat. “Well, that was a waste of time,” He huffed mostly to himself. “Where did you go?” Derpy asked, feeling like she already knew the answer. “That way,” Dilvent said as he pointed back to the door, a smug smile forming on his face. “You see, there’s a hallway that leads to several class…” “That’s not what I meant,” Derpy seethed, doing her best to keep herself calm. She knew that the stallion had run after Shooting Star and was lying about it. “Why are you lying to me? I thought we were friends!” “But we are friends, Derpy,” Dilvent responded. “Then why did you run after Shooting Star?! You know what she did, so why are you even talking to her?” “Derpy, I…” Dilvent began, unable to find an answer to Derpy’s questions. “Oh, a lovers spat,” Carrot Top chimed in. “I never figured you for the jealous type Derpy.” For several moments, the table fell silent as Dilvent, Derpy and Minerva all looked at Carrot Top with blank expressions. “Look, Dilvent,” Derpy sighed, completely ignoring Carrot Top’s statement. “I know I can't tell you what to do, but please stop talking to her. She helped put my daughter in danger, and I can't just forgive her for that.” “Really, you're just going to ignore me?” Carrot Top tried to interject. “I know that Derpy,” Dilvent replied, “and I don't expect you too, but you two were friends a long time ago and…” “I mean seriously, I give you the perfect chance to change the subject and this is what I get?!” Carrot Top continued. “And nothing!” Derpy snapped. “She was my friend, all the way up to the point she started making fun of me rather than defending me. But I was able to deal with that, but this… this is something completely different!” Derpy sat for a moment, glaring angrily at her friend. She could see a conflicted look in his eyes and could tell that he was trying his best to figure out a solution to something. “So have you decided what we’re going to do yet?” Minerva asked, attempting to change the subject. “Well,” Derpy began, putting a hoof to her chin, “I originally planned meeting at my house and that we'd all figure out how to go on from there. But I think if we all meet at the park instead, It could be simpler.” “Oh, so you’ll change the subject for her and not me?!” Carrot Top scoffed. “Well, it would definitely save me a trip across the whole town,” Minerva chuckled. For a moment, Derpy sat dumbstruck at what Minerva had said. By what she knew, the unicorn live just over a quarter of a mile away from her house, no where near as far as the other side of town. Derpy was about to ask why when the bell rang and ponies began to make their way out of the room. “I guess I’ll just ask her later,” Derpy said to herself as she dawned her saddlebags and followed her friends toward their next class. “Stop ignoring me!” Carrot Top yelled to deaf ears. (o^o) “So what happened with your mom?” High Lane questioned as he walked over to where Dinky and Lily played. “Why didn't she come today?” “Mommy had very important work to do today!” Dinky stared at the colt, wishing he would just leave her alone, rather than bug her about her absent mother. “Just leave her alone High Lane,” Lily replied in Dinky’s stead, “or I’ll tell Miss Lemonway that you're messing with Dinky again!” “I’m just asking her a question!” High Lane quickly replied. “I’m merely concerned for her mom's well being. I mean, what if she was on her way here and got hurt?” “Mommy’s hurt?” Dinky could already feel her eyes begin to water as worry began to cloud what she knew. “Miss Lemonway, High Lane’s making Dinky cry!” Lily yelled as the older unicorn made her way over. “I am not!” the young colt protested as the older mare scooped the youngest in her hooves. “It’s ok, little one,” Lemonway whispered, slowly rocking Dinky. “There’s no need to cry.” As Dinky’s nerves began to settle, Lemonway fixed the young colt with a stern glare. “What did you do?” “I didn't do anything!” High Lane quickly shot back. “It’s not my fault she’s a crybaby.” “He made it sound like Dinky’s mom got hurt on her way here,” Lily told Lemonway. “Even though he knows that her mom couldn't come today!” “But I didn't mean to make her cry,” the colt said as he began to slouch, a mild look of annoyance crossing his face. “I would hope so,” Lemonway said as her gaze softened. “But you still should've known better than to say something like that. Do I have to tell your father about this?” “But that’s not fair!” the colt snapped, a mixed look of fear and anger on his face. “I didn't do anything wrong!” “Then how about this,” Lemonway said as she looked down at the young foal in her hooves. “Do you think I should tell his father what he said?” For a moment, Dinky thought about nodding her head yes. She really didn't like how High Lane had made her feel. For a few moments, she continued to look at the colt, thinking about what she should do. “No.” Dinky shook her head and smiled up at Lemonway. “He may have said something mean, but that doesn't mean I should do the same.” “Well then,” Lemonway smiled as she set Dinky back down next to Lily and giving High Lane her attention once again. “I’ll let you off with a warning this time, but I will tell your father if you do it again.” “Yes Miss Lemonway,” High Lane huffed before he walked away, grumbling under his breath. “Oh don't mind him,” Lemonway said, quickly trying to ease any tension that might have built in Dinky and Lily, “its just how colts are.” “Ok,” Lily responded as she looked over at a different area of the room. “Hey Dinky, lets go play with those blocks!” “Ok!” Dinky rushed to follow her friend. (9_6) “Thank you very much for telling me Miss Lemonway,” Derpy thanked. “While I’m not happy with what, High Lane said, I am happy to her that he was at least talked to.” “I originally planned to tell his father, but Dinky decided that a simple talk was all it deserved,” the older mare replied with a chuckle. “Well, thank you again,” Derpy said with a smile as she lifted Dinky onto her back, holding her steady with her wings. “See you tomorrow morning.” “Have a good night you two,” Lemonway called as Derpy made her way towards the door, stopping in front of a waiting filly. “Good night Dinky, Good night Dinky’s mom,” Lily said with a smile. “See you tomorrow Dinky.” “Have a good night Lily,” Derpy replied, feeling her daughter wave from on top of her back. “Tell your mom I said hello.” “I will,” Lily said with a smile as Derpy left the room. The walk home was uneventful as Derpy told her daughter about her day and asked her about hers. She tried her best to ignore what she had been told by Lemonway, but she still didn't like knowing that her daughter was close to tears while she was at school. The only solace she found was the fact that Dinky had decided not to get the colt in trouble with his father. “Its hard to imagine that such a sweet and forgiving foal ever came from a monster,” Derpy whispered to herself as she finally made it home. The rest of the week continued as normal, with the exception of Derpy staying at school for lunch instead of going to the daycare. Derpy had also made plans with Miss Dian and her daughter Lily to meet Dinky and her at the park that Saturday afternoon. “Alright, so we’ll all meet up at the park entrance by noon then,” Minerva stated as she finished putting her books in her saddlebag. “Yep.” Derpy nodded in agreement. “I should be done with my deliveries by then and we should already be in the area.” “Deliveries?” Dilvent asked. “Oh, I deliver packages on Saturday mornings to earn a few bits,” Derpy replied. “I didn't know you still did deliveries?” Carrot Top said, looking a little betrayed. “Well, I can't have my dad pay for everything,” Derpy began as she made her way out of the classroom. “Besides,” she continued as she stood just outside the doorway, a small smile appearing on her face, “it was during one of my deliveries that I found Dinky.” For a moment, Derpy stood motionless as the memories of that delivery replayed themselves in her mind. She couldn't help but shudder as images she wished she could forget resurfaced. “Well, this just got awkward,” Dilvent said with a forced chuckle. “How about we just end the conversation here, huh?” “Yeah…” Minerva sighed, moving past Derpy and giving her a caring smile. “So, tomorrow at noon, just outside the park, right?” “Yeah,” Derpy sighed, taking a deep breath. “Sorry about that though.” “Hey, like I said, end of conversation,” Dilvent said as he pushed passed the two. “Now if you don't mind me, I have things I gotta get done,” with that, Dilvent left the three mares on their own. “Well, I better get going too,” Derpy said. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.” “Bye,” Derpy’s friends called after her, waving as she disappeared around a corner. “I can't wait for tomorrow,” Derpy said as she left the school, her spirits higher than what they had been a few minutes earlier. “Dinky’s just going to love my friends.”