A Princess' Request: Three Crates
Ch. 1
Parcel Post panned his eyes over the deliveries that needed to be shipped out that day. Everything local; something he liked. He needed to finally have a day that concluded on a good note, especially after the recent Summer Sun Celebration. Not only was the day a busy one because of letters being sent to friends and loved ones, sending their best wishes for a safe celebration, but the sudden appearance of Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna’s return from her banishment, the inhabitants of Ponyville have been sending and receiving letters, talking or asking about the ancient alicorn who rose the moon. Business was what Parcel Post liked; however, the insane traffic of letters, along with the normal packages that need to be shipped, has overwhelmed the poor stallion, along with his staff.
A full week was about to conclude, indicating that Sunday was a guaranteed day off. Seeing everything was checked off with no x’s anywhere on the sheet, Parcel Post was about to call it a day.
The front door of the post office flung open and a cross-eyed mare stumbled in. Her blonde mane was frazzled and her gray coat had spots of dirt across the pegasus’ body. “My goodness!” Parcel Post exclaimed, though not surprised to see Derpy Hooves in such a condition. “What happened?!”
Derpy adjusted her blue mailmare cap before speaking. “Another cat…” she muttered.
Parcel Post let out a sigh, “Derpy, what have I told you about petting other ponies’ cats? You aren’t an animal keeper, especially with how you look now, and should be focusing on work, not lending your attention to a pet.”
“But this was rubbing up on me and then rolled onto its back, begging for me to rub its belly!” the mare argued, throwing out a hoof to try and emphasize how much she couldn’t resist the cat. “I don’t know what this cat’s deal was when I stroked its tummy a third time before it attacked me!”
Again, Parcel Post made a sigh of disapproval. “Regardless of how cute it was behaving, you are there to do a job. Understand?” His voice was a matter of fact and Derpy knew he was being serious. Her ears retreated, upset that she could not resist the feline’s cute nature.
“I’m sorry…” Derpy muttered. In a fit of depression, she removed her mailbag and let it go to the ground with a thump. However, the bag was supposed to be empty, not make a heavy thud.
“Did… you deliver everything today?” If there was one thing Derpy was never off par, it was her ability to make sure every delivery was to its destination on time. If there was a package that needed to be delivered from Ponyville to Manehattan, she might be able to pull off the fabled sonic rainboom for how fast she would fly.
“Of course I did!” Derpy leered down at the bag, curious as to what hid in the sack. Releasing the straps from the sack, Derpy flipped open the flap.
“RRRRRREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW!” A black cat screamed, now exposed to the outside world.
“IT”S THE CAT AGAIN!” Derpy shrieked. Adrenaline flooded through the pegasus’ blood and picked up the mailbag. The angry creature swiped its claw at Derpy, but thankfully missed. With all her might, she threw the bag at the widow. The sack, along with the cat, crashed through the glass, making a horrific sound that would turn any head to wonder what would cause such a noise.
Realizing what she had done, Derpy looked to the ground, he glass littering the wooden floor. “Sorry about the window… again.” The mare can't remember how many times that same window has gone through repairs. She can remember her first day on the job, smashing through it whilst escaping an angry swarm of bees. As for the other times, one involved a boomerang that went rogue when Derpy “accidentally” opened a package and began playing with the technical toy. Another involved her crashing through the window while being chased by a dog… that was being chased by bees. A stone, a blank of wood, and somehow an innocent paper airplane managed to smash through the surface of glass, all because of Derpy.
Parcel Post walked around the counter and patted the pegasus on the shoulder, giving Derpy a friendly smile. “It's okay, I would have done the same thing to the cat. That's why I am a dog pony.” Derpy cracked a smile, but frowned as she looked back at the window. “Besides, we have it ensured,” he added.
“Thanks for trying to cheer me up,” Derpy sighed, then shook her head. “It's just hard being me sometimes.”
A friendly arm came behind the mare’s neck. “I know,” Parcel Post spoke in a warm tone. Thinking about an innocent task that will cheer up the mare and cause less damage, the stallion’s ears twitched. “Tell ya what! Why don't you help close up shop? Just sweep the floor and then mop up.”
Knowing nothing can go wrong with sweeping, unless the straws from the broom would suddenly combust, Derpy happily accepted the task. She started from the front of the post office, carefully removing the glass from the floor. Everything went along nicely with nothing getting in the way of her sweeping.
Finished with her sweeping, Derpy stood beside Parcel Post as the stallion cleared the counter of any loose papers. “What do you have planned this weekend?” Derpy asked, her eyes slowly rolling around in her head.
The stallion blushed, “Oh, umm… I… well…”
Pressing further, Derpy grinned widely, “Does it that mare you’ve been interested in?”
“P-perhaps… I asked Happy Trails i-if she wanted to have lunch tomorrow and she said yes…” Parcel Post smiled, but still wore a nervous grin.
“Congrats!” Derpy beamed and hugged her boss. “Do you plan to-”
The front door slowly opened and the two ponies turned their attention to the one entering. In fact, not one, not two, but three ponies made their way into the post office. Two white stallions dressed in elegant armor entered with graceful struts. Walking in between them… was Princess Celestia.
“P-Princess Celestia!” Derpy exclaimed, amazed by the princess’ sudden appearance. Despite the counter being in the way, that did not stop Derpy from bowing. In a quick motion, she slammed her face on the counter, hoping that was enough to give her respects to the alicorn. Princess Celestia flinched a bit, worried if the pegasus hurt herself, but she was surprised to see Derpy pop her head off and smile.
“Welcome to the Ponyville Post Office!” Derpy exclaimed, gesturing to the entire store with her arm. “What brings you to our humble establishment, your highness?” In her peripheral, Derpy noticed her boss staring at Princess Celestia with a dumbstruck gaze. “Why haven't you bowed?” she hissed. Placing her hoof behind Parcel Post’s skull, Derpy slammed his face on the table to simulate her version of a bow. Again, Princess Celestia flinched at the sight of pain.
Clearing her throat, the alicorn spoke, “Good afternoon.” Bringing himself to attention, Parcel Post sprung his head upwards to return his eyes back to the princess. “I am here because I need to request special service.”
“And how may Ponyville’s own mail company assist?” Parcel Post asked with a beaming smile, wanting to be of any help.
“I am in search of a pony by the name of Derpy Hooves,” Princess Celestia spoke, her eyes darting between the two ponies. “Do you two by chance know where they might be?”
Swinging her head onto the counter, Derpy spoke in a muffled tone, “That’s me!” before bringing herself back to attention.
Not in anyway scared, nor worried, the earth pony asked, “And what might you need of my employee, princess?”
Smiling, the alicorn looked to Derpy and answered, “I have heard amazing things about you. Your techniques have been quite interesting from what the locals have told me, along with your ability to get the task done. I also hear you are quite the nice mare.”
Again, Derpy smashed her face on the counter. Though nopony could see her face, the pegasus smiled. “Thank you for your words of kindness!”
“Your... welcome.” Princess Celestia gazed at Derpy’s forehead, noticing a red bruise starting to show. “Now, here is what I need for you to do...” Both Derpy and Parcel Post straightened up, with ears pointed at the princess. “Obviously, I need you to deliver something. An important shipment of three crates will be arriving on Monday here in Ponyville. I need you, Derpy Hooves, to deliver them to my throne room.”
Derpy rose her hoof in order to not be rude and interrupt the princess. Princess Celestia nodded to allow Derpy to speak. “I am glad you have come to Ponyville for my services specifically, but why don't you have your shipment arrive at Canterlot?”
The princess smiled, “Because I know you are the best for this job. Like I said before, the ponies here in Ponyville have told me that you are the one who will always get the task at hoof done. I know you will get what I need finished.” A serious, yet kind smile grew on Princess Celestia’s lips. “Will you be the one to deliver these crates?” Derpy swung her head at the table, but did not feel her forehead smash against the table. A yellow aura glew around Derpy’s head, preventing it from moving. “And you don't have to keep… bowing.”
The mare looked over to her boss who smiled at her. “If the princess says you can do it, I know you can do it.”
With both Princess Celestia and Parcel Post’s belief that she will not fail, Derpy Hooves moved from behind the counter, standing before the white alicorn. The incident with the cat did not hinder the pegasus’ positive attitude. Rather, she forgotten it had ever happened. This was a request of a lifetime, and Derpy Hooves was not about to let it slip from her grasp.
“You got it Princess!” Derpy saluted.
“Excellent!” Princess Celestia moved slightly, and the guards quickly exited the post office. “My organizer will be sending a courier early Monday morning about instructions on how to deliver said packages.”
“Understood!” Derpy nodded.
Turning toward the exit, Princess Celestia spoke, “Farewell, Derpy Hooves. I will see you Monday with the task completed.” Then, she left with grace in her steps.”
A hoof patted Derpy on the back. “Well, looks like you have quite the task at hoof,” Parcel Post smiled. With the princess now gone, the pegasus showed a bit of weakness and frowned.
“Do you think I might fail?” She looked at her boss and could tell he was thinking about the various ways she could mess up the delivery.
“I am sure you will do fine,” Parcel Post answered, despite the thoughts in his mind. “Why else would the princess herself request you?”
Derpy slightly blushed, remembering Princess Celestia’s kind words. “I guess you are right. Maybe-”
“Well aren't you a cutie!” Both Derpy and Parcel Post looked to the broken window to see Princess Celestia gazing at the ground. A black cat purred and rubbed its body against her long white legs.
“Isn't that the cat from earlier?” Parcel Post asked, looking to his employee. He looked at Derpy with concern, seeing her eyes wide with worry.
“Don't pet that cat…” Derpy muttered to herself. To her horror, the black cat rolled onto its back, revealing its underside.
“You want a belly rub?” Oh no! Princess Celestia brought her hoof and pet the cat’s belly. Then a second time.
The world around Derpy began to slow down. Her heartbeat rang in her ear as she fanned out her wings and darted for the broken window. “Princess! No!” The alicorn turned her head to see where the loud exclaim came from, not noticing her hoof going down for the third stroke.
In an instant, the cat hissed and screeched, ready to strike. Derpy dashed through the broken window, nearly missing the sharp blades of glass still clinging to the frame.
As the guards brought their attention to the charging mare, Princess Celestia took a few steps back away from the angered feline. Its hairs on its back stood up, informing the alicorn that it was not pleased. Without warning, it made a leap at her face.
In a blinding speed, Derpy passed the guards and lunged herself in front of the princess. “Noooooooooooooooooo!” The cat’s arms wrapped around the pegasus’ head; and proceeded to scratch Derpy Hooves’ face with vicious ferocity.