Perfect
It was perfect. It came out in complete and utter perfection, as if these same words had been uttered dozens and dozens and dozens of times before. It was said in a perfect pitch, a perfect sob, and a perfect tone. And it was an utter and complete perfect horror that filled Twilight Sparkle, as she watched the little mail pony frantically pick up the spilled postage all over the sidewalk. It was like a tiny explosion of well wishes and letters among get rich quick schemes, and hoof written love, scattered in little white squares all over the walkway towards her brand new castle. Twilight could only watch in silence as Derpy died a million deaths in front of her, and Twilight felt guilty for each and every single one.
She didn't mean to get so angry. No pony ever means to bubble over in a frothing pot of rage. Twilight was a brand new princess with a brand new castle in the middle of the town. She had a brand new life with brand new problems and brand new anxieties. The zoning board was breathing down her neck, there were meetings left and right to swear her into different branches of government, different dignitaries from different countries wanted to talk and all Twilight wanted to do was relax. She wanted to relax and bury her nose in a book for one evening, and just take a break from it all. She wasn't born or groomed to be a ruler, she wasn't raised to run a country. She was just a nerdy little girl with a love of learning.
So when her diligent mail mare had forgotten (for the third month in a row) to bring her ordered book to her door step, Twilight Sparkle finally snapped like a twig. She screamed. She raged and shouted, snapped and snarled, and when Derpy innocently opened up her mail bag and tried to offer Twilight a magazine, (someone else's magazine) just to calm her down, just to try and make amends, hoping it might be something similar to the book Twilight was looking for, Twilight slapped the mailbag clean off her shoulders and to the ground.
That's when Derpy broke down, eyes widening like a child's and tearing up when she realized just how angry she'd made Twilight Sparkle- the brand new Princess of friendship. What a screw up she had to be.
"I-I'm so sorry! I'm so so sorry, I didn't mean to! I- I'll clean it up! I swear I will, please don't tell the post office, they said they'd fire me if I was late coming back one more time, and, and there are just so many numbers, and so many addresses and there's so much to remember! There are just so many letters, I-I mean there are too many letters on too many letters next to too many numbers, and sometimes I just can't see, and, I mean it's- it's hard to see and I can't, I- I just can't, and everything is blurry and I'm SORRY!" Derpy sobbed, dropping to her knees, scooping up what letters that were within arms reach. Twilight stood there, stunned. Frozen and fixated on the little mare that desperately apologized and frantically scooped mail into her little bag. For the love of- Derpy was acting like the spilled mail was her fault, even though Twilight was the one who knocked the mail bag off her shoulders. Derpy probably thought it was somehow her fault!
Dear Celestia, what had she done?
What was she supposed to say? To rectify this? To repair the mare that just broke down in front of her? True, her long sought after book tortured her existence with its absence. She'd spent nights eagerly anticipating reading the blots of shapely ink on pages. She'd been beside herself with joy when she received the personal letter from one of her favorite authors about the book and the correspondence that occurred afterwards. The book had been missing for the past three months, and she was absolutely positive it was the fault of this pegasus in front of her. Whenever there was a missing letter, a lost envelope, or a sought after package that hadn't arrived on time, every pony turned to Derpy. She was the culprit and the guilty regardless of whether or not she had anything to do with the problem. Everypony in town knew Derpy was to blame. The klutzy, cross-eyed mare who was always lost in space. The girl with the target painted on her forehead from birth. The little pony that got up every day, marched to the post office and worked her tail off until sunset. A victim forever and a day of a joke too cruel to speak of. The world spent its days laughing at her, as if her life were eternally funny. There were no hugs for this little pony- the bearer of the world's problems. Just jeers and sneers and snarls of a world too angry to see how much it hurt.
Twilight was a part of that world. The one that took things for granted like reading easily, or being able to memorize addresses, or fly in a straight line without bumping into anybody. How often did Derpy have to endure the snickers of ponies behind her back? How strong did she have to be to ignore the names called or the whispered torture of other children when she was younger? Twilight had torn her to shreds without even thinking about it. Crushed her and sent her to her knees with a well-timed slap and a few thoughtless words.
The book was nowhere closer to being read. It still sat somewhere in a dusty backroom in the post office. This action had not in any way assisted Twilight in receiving her book and instead, all that it had managed to accomplish was utterly shake the very foundation of a young girl doing her best in a cruel world.
The princess of friendship, and yet here she was learning like a newborn foal.
Twilight scooped Derpy into her forelegs in a fierce hug and squeezed as hard as she could. The ditzy mail mare squawked in shock, flinching at the contact the moment Twilight touched her. The type of flinch that screamed in volumes when a mare was used to being hit instead of hugged. Twilight winced and closed her eyes, squeezing the poor shuddering pony until she finally stopped shaking.
"Everything is going to be okay. You're okay. I promise, " She whispered quietly.
Derpy sniffled quietly, and pulled back, looking Twilight over for any hints of dishonesty. Satisfied when she couldn't find any, they embraced again, before Derpy stepped back, and resumed picking up her dropped mail- only to find Twilight had already done so, using her magic while they hugged.
"...Twilight...Y-You're smart...why am I different?" the little pegasus whimpered. Twilight shook her head with a gentle sigh, reaching out to pull Derpy gently against her frame once more.
"So you can show the world how to be a better place. So we can learn from you. So you can teach them. Teach us. Teach me. Show us how strong you are, so we can learn by example. That'd be my guess," Twilight whispered quietly, cupping the girl's cheeks to peer into her eyes with sincerity only a princess could muster. Blinking back a few tears, Derpy pulled out of the grasp, and slowly shook her head.
"T-Thank you. But I'm no leader, " she began, only to have Twilight shake her head.
"The greatest leaders in the world rarely know they're leading it," she whispered, reaching out to rest a hoof on Derpy's shoulder. Derpy shook her head again.
"But I screwed up. I'm a screw up. I forgot your book, I left it at the post office..." Derpy whimpered. Twilight shook her head firmly.
"Listen to me Derpy. You are not a screw up. You never have been and you never will be. And if anypony, EVER says that to you, they are LYING, Derpy. They are lying to your face and you never, EVER have to put up with that, okay? Okay Derpy? Don't you EVER take that from anypony! Not even me. What I did? What I said? That shouldn't have happened and I'm sorry. I screwed up, not you, alright? I'll make sure the post office doesn't fire you. Not over this. Not over me. Okay? And if that ever does happen, you come to me, alright?" Twilight cooed, squeezing her friend tightly in that reassuring embrace again. Derpy sniffled, reaching up to rub at her eyes with a hoof. Twilight smiled as best she could, hoping against hope this little pony believed her. That somehow she could make things right.
"But...if I'm not a screw up, then what am I?" She whimpered. Twilight took a deep breath and drew Derpy into a hug yet again, holding it and squeezing the other mare against her lovingly.
"Perfect. You're absolutely perfect,"
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I'll be honest...this was deep. Especially the story behind it.
I love it! X3
Many feels were experienced. A+ writing on your part.
Awwww, i wish i could hug Derpy!
This fic hit me straight in the feels, well done!
"Just because you're having a bad day doesn't entitle you to be an asshole," as the saying goes.
It's a good lesson, yeah. I've been there. Good story.
Good show of Twilight. Sometimes we mess up and do something we regret (like Twilight do here). The important thing then is how we cope with it. Twilight, indeed, is one who owns up to her failure and tries to make things better.
I know that feeling. Working in sale too. Though most customers we have are OK. Some are quite nice - some are best when they go. Quick.
This story was very touching - and truly a valuable lesson of friendship. So really nice done. Have my like and my fav on this.
I would follow you - if I didn't already. So have this practical moustache instead.
This reminds me of something I read a while back. Number Nine (The Punching Bag) seems especially appropriate.
Loved this story. And the author notes. Sadly you are right.
A very sweet and touching story, with a strong lesson for everyone to take to heart... I would hate Twilight for making Derpy cry, but she did well to make amends. Pony hugs seem like a good cure for any problem.
Thank you for sharing the story, and I'm honored that the picture helped to inspire it!
That picture gives this story a cuteness blast yield of easily three hundred kilod'aaaaaaws.
Derpy looks confused. Slapped then snuggled by royalty, all within a minute or two.
6035010 She probably thinkin "What in the **** is wrong with this mare?"
6035077 "Princesses be crazy."
the comma after nopony in the short description was unneeded
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story! I myself have been on both sides of this situation. Both are hurtful to everyone (everypony) involved but if there is a sincere apology the situation is usually changed to a loving understanding that we all matter and that we should all be loved for who we are. We all have gifts to share with one another. Always be willing to seek some ones gift. They might just surprise you. A lesson I have experienced the hard way.
Thank you again for a lovely story. It truly made my day!
6035091 Hey, you thought puberty was bad? She just grew a pair of freaking wings! Princesses have a right to be crazy.
As someone who has often felt the same way Derpy did in this story, I just want to say bloody fine job! Definitely a lot feels here. You've earned yourself a fave and a like.
Man...I've been there...Well done!
I loved this story. It captured a lesson, possessed the right voice, and came together beautifully.
Ha, Rarity is in your name, and you delivered a gem. </shameless>
Very good.
6035077
Like the late Terry Pratchet once wote:
"The princess had a mind that ticked like a clock and, like a clock, it regularly went cuckoo.”
Customers don't want my wrath? Then the damn twits should pick up after themselves. #1 reason why I hate being out in the main shop and prefer the little workshop I've set up out back, where I can fix old computers all day. Damn customers can't wreck those, at least...
Job well done, I like it. GO DERPY GO
It's rare for 1,500 words to earn a following from me, but damn it if this doesn't do it
This spoke to me on levels i didn't even know i had. thank you for writing this.
Huzzah.
No other words for it. Very powerful in such a small package.
Thank you for the story!
This... This piece right here... It speaks volumes in just a few words. It says perfectly why I love Derpy, and shows the world what it means to be a little bit kinder. Even if we hurt someone, we can still try to make it right. This piece was beautifully done, my friend.
Oh...okay, maybe not the saddest story in existence, but it did make me cry.
6051355 If I don't like a customer I pass them off to my manager.
I wonder why my manager hates me?
http://media.giphy.com/media/19zeFIpfVu6EU/giphy.gif
This story was fantasic. You captured the sentiment perfectly. I know what it feels like to be on the reciving end of someone else's anger even though you didn't have anything to do with it. To be considered the screw up, or the one to blame for every little mistake. You captured all those sentiments and more, and left me reduced to tears.
Well done.
If you want my opinion on this story, read the title and chapter heading.
Wow! Simply WOW! There are days when I feel I've not been the nicest of people (or the best pony I could be....). Then a short story shows me how I could do better! So very well done!
I've been cursed! Cursed with feels I do not understand!
very inspirational!
Nice message, and I hate to be the jerk here (especially since I also work a service job), but being cute and sympathetic isn't the same as being competent at your job. Assaulting someone isn't acceptable no matter how bad they are at it, but still I've been on both sides of this one. Your example in the notes doesn't even fit: not getting a package she's been expecting for months isn't her fault (though the Twilight I know would've simply hit up the post office after they missed the first expected delivery date) unlike not paying a bill and then yelling at a call center rep for it. Watching someone keep a job they're terrible at based purely on being too... whatever... to get fired... that's something I do every day. Do I want Derpy fired? Of course not, but rather than just telling people they're okay as they are, help them be more than that. I hope Twilight follows up on this because seriously...
The Princess of Friendship, with a special talent for magic, can do nothing more than give a pep talk? Further, this is a pretty dark version of Equestria versus the canon where Derpy's an alternative for the relay team (don't recall if Slice of Life was out by the time of this publication, but Rainbow Ralls was at least). You constructed a version of the world designed to make us feel sorry for her. It clearly works for a lot of readers, but... I don't know. Telling someone they're perfect is telling them they don't need to grow and improve.. really it's telling them they can't. I just... don't like that message. Derpy's not perfect, and that's not a bad thing. The hug's a good start but Twilight... do better than that.
I'm upvoting this... not because it led me where it seems to have led a lot of the comments and not because it tricked me into feeling bad for Derpy. I'm sorry but it's just too stacked against her. It broke my suspension of disbelief as I thought 'wait a minute... Ponyville only gets this mean when they're setting up some obvious moral... I'm upvoting because this made me think about myself, and a coworker I should be doing more to help. Another individual who's decidedly not perfect.
6542977
I think you got the message perfectly clear. Everybody wins.
WHY DO I KEEP EATING THE FRICKIN FEELIOS RRRFFGGH
TOO MUCH FEELS DARNIT
I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS MANY FEELS
(Hey that rhymed)
Sorry. I just saw a really sad play, read two of your Diamond Tiara stories, and now I'm reading this bundle of feels. It really is a good story, just... Feels overload
The term that springs to mind is "cloyingly saccharine".
Holy shit that put a lump in my throat and made my heart feel like there was sand in it. Really good story!
I can see obbascribbler narrating this. I hope she would one day I know she'll do a good job.
A little rough around the edges, but still really sweet. Well done.
Sequel pls