//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Awkward Moments and Sad Times // Story: Muffins: A Super Duper Derpy Hooves Adventure! // by SunshineSprite //------------------------------// Derpy and Peppy flew closely alongside Zecora as they shot through the clouds. Hopefully, they could get past King Sombre’s shield. He had placed a massive field of magic around the whole town. Fortunately, he only surrounded Ponyville. But that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t want to capture every other place in Equestria. The three drifted slowly over the town as soon as it was in sight. Peppy tried to make her way down, but it was no use. She couldn’t get past the magical force that held the town hostage. Derpy drooped her head and arms downward, a sad expression springing across her face. Zecora sighed and said, “Perhaps we need to find a different way inside. Although, I really feel that right now, we should run and hide.” Derpy gave the zebra a distant glare. “Oh come on!!! You may as well have been named Zecoward.” Peppy shot Derpy a look that meant, “Don’t say things like that. It’s wrong.” Derpy shrugged and attempted to roll her eyes, except that they still went in odd directions. Roseluck looked up at the sky with fear, worrying that she would never be able to get out. But flying way up there was… Derpy. She gasped and ran towards the edge of the field, just as Derpy flew down. Just as Roseluck had, Derpy gasped and flew down towards the field. They both met and stared right at each other. Simultaneously, they each put up a hoof, mirroring each other’s movements. Roseluck could feel her hoof on Derpy’s, and vice versa. They looked at each other sadly, Derpy flapping her wings ever so slowly. Roseluck’s ears dropped, and Derpy knew that she couldn’t stay. They dropped hooves, and Derpy said, “I will find a way out of this for you. Just hang on, my dear friend. My dearest pal, Rosy!” Roseluck sighed and nodded, indicating that she had heard. Backing away, she turned and walked away, looking slowly over her shoulder and crying at the same time. Derpy once again dropped her head, and Peppy Mint came down to her and placed a hoof softly on her shoulder. “Come on, Derpy dear… we have to go.” Derpy sniffed and nodded. Together, they flew back up to Zecora, who had witnessed the sad scene alongside Peppy. They just had to find a way to save everypony. Or else, a loving friendship would be shattered. King Sombre spotted the violet-red maned pony sadly walking back towards the town. It appeared that she was heading towards the park area. He looked up towards the sky. It was starting to get cloudy. He then got an idea, a very nasty idea that would surely scare the tails off of those worthless ponies. Using his magic, he summoned a portal. A bright, shining, purple light appeared. And then, everything started to warp and meld together. Within a few moments, he had teleported them to… the Everfree Forest, to the deepest part, where the Timberwolves roamed. Suddenly, ponies were screaming and running for their lives, Timberwolves hungrily lurching towards them and chasing them down. He cackled at the fear of the ponies, and bellowed with laughter as one was tackled to the ground, a pony-hungry Timberwolf drooling on top of them. The victim was none other than Bonbon, and Lyra was close by. She tried to scream out to Bonbon, but Sombre cut her off by cupping a clawed hand over her mouth, muffling her cry. She moaned and whined as Bonbon starting crawling backwards on her back, trying to cautiously get away. “Don’t you just love those Timberwolves?” he asked menacingly in poor Lyra’s ear. She squirmed with fright, crying in response. “Oh, don’t worry. I won’t wet him eat hewr,” he said in a baby-like voice. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. Just then, there was a howl. Bonbon had kicked the vicious creature of the Everfree right in the kissers, and the animal fell backwards. King Sombre roared with laughter, Lyra still struggling to get away. Bonbon spotted Lyra and charged towards them. Sombre noted this and threw Lyra right at her, causing them to bonk heads. “Yah!” they both screeched. They fell backwards on their backs. The Timberwolf wandered off, forgetting his future “lunch”. King Sombre picked the ponies up by their tails, the two shaking like leaves. “Well now, I guess it’s time to get back, am I right?” he asked. With the ponies in claw, he slithered on back to towards the town, his victims shaking with fright. Derpy and Peppy had been flying for hours, Zecora just sitting in the balloon, talking in rhyme to herself. “Gah!” Derpy yelled. Peppy turned towards her. “Hmm?” Derpy stretched and glided down towards the balloon. She plopped herself down and said, “My Celestia! My wings are aching so much from all this flying! I need to take a break.” And with that, she slowly lounged onto her chest, her butt sticking straight in the air. She let her tongue hang out and exhaled loudly. Zecora giggled at her hilarious posture. Peppy Mint scolded seriously, “Derpy! Don’t do that, that’s not polite!” Derpy switched onto her back and started laughing. Kicking her legs in the air, she guffawed as loud as she could. Just then, Zecora’s eyes widened. “AAAAAH!!!!” was all that she had time for, for out of nowhere, a huge gust of wind blew them forward. Peppy screamed and raced to catch up. Derpy felt whiplash pass through, her mane going up in clumps. She looked like a troll pony. “Aahahoooooohahahewhaheehaaaaaaaahaahoo!!!! OhmydearCelestiaNOOOO!!!!!” Zecora cried out, clinging to Derpy for dear life. They zoomed faster and faster down to the ground, slicing through the sky like a knife through butter. Peppy managed to grab on to the balloon and soon saw what the problem was: a hole! Derpy held her arms in the air and said, “Weeeeeee!!!! It’s like a rollercoaster ride!!!!! Ahahaha!” Zecora turned her head to see poor Peppy Mint flinging up and down on the balloon, her mane whipping at her face. The poor dear was clinging to that balloon like it was her own child, screaming, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The three helpless ponies, or perhaps two helpless since Derpy was enjoying the ride, plunged farther and farther down. Peppy’s face soon looked like a deer in headlights as the ground suddenly came up really fast, in the blink of an eye. “WE’RE GONNA CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Peppy Mint screamed. Zecora and Peppy Mint cried and screamed while Derpy just laughed and laughed… “’Ah… gah.” Peppy slowly opened her eyes and scanned her surroundings. It appeared that they had landed in the middle of a forest. Thankfully, it wasn’t the Everfree. She turned and saw Zecora and Derpy laying on top of each other. Zecora was on her back as Derpy was right on top, face to face. “Oh, Dr. Whooves,” Derpy said dreamily. “I love you too. I wish that we could spend more time together. Mmmmmm…” Peppy stifled a giggle as Derpy actually kissed Zecora, and it was a full on smack-a-rooney of a kiss. Zecora opened her eyes at the same time Derpy did. And then… at the same time: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Birds went flying sky-high, the sound of wings fluttering about every which way in the forest. Peppy Mint couldn’t help herself and fell on her back, laughing and laughing while holding her stomach. “Gahahahahahahahaha!!!!” Tears streamed down her face as Derpy and Zecora frantically rushed off of each other. Blushing a fiercely red, Derpy looked at Zecora. “I see that you have somepony in your thoughts today, but Derpy dear… I don’t love you that way,” Zecora said nervously. Derpy slowly nodded, her eyes wide and herself feeling embarrassed. Clearing her throat, Derpy said, “So, uh… what should we do?” Peppy finally got a hold of herself and said, “Ah! Hah, well, hah, ahem… Well, I did hear that King Sombre had last been seen at the Crystal Empire. Maybe we could make our way there. The Crystal ponies must know something about him. So, let’s go there!” Derpy nodded happily. So, they headed off through the forest, luckily having landed right at the end. Emerging into the light, they spotted a train not far off. “We can take the Express Way!” Derpy cheered. The three of them ran as fast as they could, hoping to catch the train before it was to leave. Lots of ponies near Ponyville had heard of the incident and were trying to get away. Some Pegasi said that their home had been captured, and Derpy remembered that the place was deserted. Peppy Mint must’ve been hiding. “I was really terrified when that giant ball of darkness sucked every single Pegasus into it,” Peppy said sadly. “I’m glad that I got away.” Derpy drooped her ears, Zecora covered her face in her hooves. The trio managed to get on the train just before the conductor said, “All aboard! Time to go!” Derpy thought to herself just then. Just where were they going? “Hey Zecora?” Derpy said. “Yes?” the zebra implied. “Just where are we going?” “Why, to the Crystal Empire, remember? Or, do you not remember?” “Oh. Right.” Derpy looked out the window, watching the clouds slowly turn black. She really hoped that they could provide them with answers. The Crystal ponies were their only hopes right now. Peppy Mint had told her stories about them when she was a filly. And, Twilight and the gang got to actually meet them. Perhaps they really could help them? The train was moving along very smoothly, so Zecora decided to get a nap in. Peppy settled in next to Derpy, stroking her mane and telling her to relax and that she’d wake her when they got there. It was a long ride, and Derpy was pretty comfy. So she drifted off into a deep slumber… Derpy was galloping through a field of flowers, daisies and roses in fact. Dr. Whooves was prancing right next to her. They were laughing and enjoying themselves, without a care in the world. Dinky Doo bounced right behind them. Together, the three of them fell into the pile of flowers, smelling them and letting them lightly tickle their noses. Dr. Whooves looked at Derpy, as Derpy looked at him. Dinky sat up and asked, “Mommy? Daddy? What’s that?” She was pointing towards a dark cloud. Derpy sat up and gazed in horror as King Sombre came up out of nowhere. He blew all of the flowers down, causing them to wilt. She turned to Dr. Whooves, and realized that he was gone. Dinky also disappeared. Derpy screamed as King Sombre engulfed her in darkness… “AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!” Derpy shrieked. Zecora woke with a sudden start, banging her head on the ceiling. Peppy Mint had dozed off and cried out, “OhmyCelestiawhathappened???” She turned to see Derpy huddled in a sad heap on the floor. Peppy kneeled down next to her and said, “Oh… Derpy? Are you okay?” Derpy nodded her head really fast. Zecora gasped for air, whispering, “My word, I think my heart stopped. One moment I’m sound asleep and the next I feel my head being bopped.” Zecora turned to Derpy and sighed. Peppy sat back on the bench, cradling a traumatized Derpy. She looked like something had scarred her for life. “My love… so close, yet so far,” she whispered dramatically. Zecora rolled her eyes. Peppy smiled and said, “Oh! I knew it! My little Derpy Dee is in love!!!!!” Derpy then proceeded to give Peppy the death stare while Zecora laughed vigorously. Oh, me thinks that this is gonna be a looooooooong train ride, Derpy thought to herself. Celestia and Luna desperately searched for a way out, but there was no way. The Mane 6 had been secretly spying for them, having gained the trust of King Sombre since they didn’t have the Elements of Harmony. “Dear sister, I fear that we won’t be able to leave…” Luna sat down sadly, looking up towards her sibling for comfort. Celestia put a hoof on her head, saying, “Fear not, dear one. We will get out… we just have to wait.” The two of them looked out through the one window that they called their “prison window”. Night was approaching, and Luna was really falling into depression. Celestia watched silently and miserably as Luna sat there, looking out the window. Crystal clear tears streamed slowly down her face. They sparkled like the sun on the ocean. Oh Twilight, my faithful graduate, please help us… please. Celestia begged Twilight mentally, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the Alicorn would be able to stop Sombre. But that of course was a BIG maybe… Twilight Sparkle and her friends crept through the town, which was now the Everfree’s main dish. It swallowed the town up like somepony gobbling up a giant cheeseburger. Fluttershy squealed when Rainbow Dash accidently stepped on her tail. Pinkie Pie jumped onto Applejack’s back and she bucked her right into the air. Rarity screamed as the party pony came crashing down on her. Twilight turned and glared at everypony. They all looked squeamish, ready to run and hide (especially Fluttershy). Poof! Pinkie’s mane deflated like a popped balloon, and Rainbow immediately panicked. “No Pinkamena Diane Pie, no cupcakes please!!!!!” Pinkie cried then, tears pouring down her face. Twilight knocked Rainbow on the head for saying that, and Fluttershy squealed yet again. “EEEEEEAAAAAHH!!! Cupcakes!!!!” she squealed. She took cover behind Applejack, who rolled her eyes. Twilight flapped her wings in frustration. This day just couldn’t get any worse. Just then, Rarity pricked her ears up and listened for something. It was Sweetie Belle, singing a sad melody. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were sitting next to her, listening respectively. Fluttershy then hummed out a key and started singing “Hush Now, Quiet Now”, and Sweetie Belle joined in. She took the higher notes, Fluttershy the lower ones. Together, they created a beautiful piece. Their audience listened happily, and not too far off, Celestia and Luna were singing along…