//------------------------------// // Orientation // Story: Crescent Moonbeam Ep. 2 Schedule Conlict // by GlitterBit //------------------------------// Crescent, Spike, and Twilight walked into Ponyville. Twilight was reading off a list, while Crescent looked around the town. She took a deep breath, it still felt nice to be outside and about. Canterlot Mental had been mostly inside, and when she’d had the weekends free with her parents, they’d still stayed inside mostly. Ponyville was fairly quiet this time of the day. Only the shopkeepers and some of the stall ponies were really active, most everypony else was still waking up. They walked through the quiet streets quickly. “Good, we’re back on track.” Twilight checked her list once again. Crescent rolled her eyes, but kept following. “Alright we’re here.” Twilight stopped in front of the Post Office. A closed sign still hung on the outside of the door though you could hear somepony walking around inside. As they approached, Crescent could hear a mild grumbling from behind the door. Crescent was a little apprehensive at the grumbling, but Twilight checked her list and smiled. “Right on time. Now onto introductions.” She opened the door and walked inside. Crescent remained outside. She kicked at the ground a little worried and combed  few stray hairs back into her main. Spike poked her in the side. “You should probably follow her.” Spike suggested. Crescent sighed and adjusted her glasses. She took a deep breath and trotted inside. “Good day sir. This is your new employee, Crescent Moonbeam.” Twilight introduced Crescent as she entered. The stallion behind the counter had a mail cap on and a stack of scrolls in his hooves. He was pale yellow with a white mane and tail. “Good morning.” He grumbled and set down the stack of scrolls. He motioned for Crescent to follow him into the back. Crescent hesitated for a second, Twilight nodded in the stallion’s direction. Crescent walked in after him. The stallion stood by a shelf in the back. He was grumbling to himself as he sorted through the shelf. Crescent walked over to him. He spared her a glance then took a hat off the shelf. He flattened it out and handed it to her. “Should fit your horn.” He said as Crescent tried it on. It did fit her horn, as well as her mane, glasses, and most of her muzzle as it slipped over her face. Crescent lifted it up so she could see. “It is adjustable you know.” The stallion said as he looked back through the shelves. Crescent huffed. I’m not stupid you know. She rolled her eyes and felt around the back of the hat. There was the adjustable strap. She fiddled with it for a second or two trying to get it undone. She felt something take it from her hooves and slip it tight, setting it snugly against her head. She turned around to see Twilight peeking through the door. Twilight winked, Crescent nearly glowered, but stopped herself in time. She’s just trying to help. Crescent assured herself. I still could do it myself. Stop thinking that. Crescent shook her head and readjusted her glasses. “Will these fit?” The stallion asked holding a pair of saddlebags. Crescent took them and slipped them on. She adjusted the straps and felt the weight of the bags. They’ll do fine. Though why do I need them for sorting? Crescent thought. The stallion nodded. “Good. Now, I’m Abacus Slate. I manage the Ponyville Post. I understand you’re the applicant?” He asked. Crescent figured a nod would do just fine and did so. Abacus continued. “Alright. I know you applied for work as a sorter specifically, but most ponies will do most jobs. So you’ll start off sorting, but you’ll be delivering some letters this afternoon. Is that alright?” He asked. Well that explains the saddle bags. Crescent thought. I don’t think delivering will be all that much worse than sorting anyways. Crescent nodded again. “Alright then. Day starts at eight, that’s thirty minutes from now, so do whatever you’d like until then. I’ll train you when you start.” Abacus escorted Crescent to the front desk and gave her a shove past the desk towards the door. He stepped back into the back room, shutting the door behind him. Crescent slid across the floor on her rear and hooves trying not to fall over. She stopped in front of Twilight, who was standing on tippy-hooves. She looked up at Twilight who was grinning. Twilight pulled out the list and handed to Spike. “Take notes.” She said. “So what’s your schedule like?! What are you doing first?! How do you sort letters properly?” She barraged Crescent with endless questions. Crescent assumed it was to fill out the rest of the schedule Twilight was planning. “Um Twilight?” Crescent interrupted. Twilight stopped. Spike rolled his eyes and got ready for notes. Crescent looked around a little awkwardly and adjusted her new cap. “I’m not trained yet. He said to come back at eight.” Twilight looked a little surprised and glanced over her list in dismay. “Great! Now the whole schedule will be off!” She sat on the floor glaring at her useless list. Crescent nearly let a sigh of relief out, but stopped herself. I won’t have to deal with the list after all! Crescent coughed. Twilight was looking over her list with a keen eye. Spike spared a glance at Crescent and nodded at Twilight. Crescent rolled her eyes, but Twilight started scratching her quill across the list with a look of determination and Crescent suddenly felt nervous again. “Um Twilight? What are you doing?” Crescent asked. “I didn’t account for this, but if I move some of these around and revise my original estimates…” Twilight scribbled more furiously. Crescent watched as nearly the entire schedule was re-written right before her. Her heart fell as she watched. She knew Twilight had good intentions, but she’d been looking forward to a day she could spend doing things herself. Spike nodded again and Crescent sighed. Crescent started to speak when a crash sounded outside the door. Crescent recognized it. Only one pony made crashes that sounded like that. She flung the door open to see a mildly disheveled Derpy dusting herself off outside the door. “Derpy!” Crescent helped her off the ground and gave her a hug. Derpy hugged her back. “It’s good to see you Cress! So you start today?” Derpy asked grinning. “I sure do!” Crescent responded enthusiastically. “Good! Have you met Mr. Slate yet?” Derpy tilted her head to the side. “Yeah.” Crescent looked over her shoulder and leaned in close to Derpy. “Is he always like that?” She asked. Derpy took the one step over to the post office door and started to pull it open. “What do you mean?” Derpy asked as she stepped through the door. “Derpy!” Abacus shouted. Derpy jumped back through the door knocking Crescent over and sending them sprawling in a heap. Crescent blew her mane out of her face as they struggled to untangle themselves from each other. Derpy knocked her wings into Crescent more than once, and Crescent bonked her horn against Derpy several times. Eventually they got untangled to find Abacus and Twilight looking down at them. Twilight looked worried and Abacus looked annoyed. Crescent readjusted her cap as she stood, trying to look presentable. Derpy stood and saluted. “I’m here Mr. Slate Sir!” Abacus shook his head and put a hoof to his forehead. “Yes you are. Derpy, I take it you know the newbie.” He gestured at Crescent. Derpy nodded. “Sure do! I’m her recruiter!” She waved at herself. Abacus checked over his shoulder at the town clock which chimed started chiming eight. He sighed and opened the door to the post office. “I’ll guess we’ll start your training. The Temps don’t get here till eight thirty anyways and Parcel has the day off.” He gestured Derpy and Crescent inside. They entered, Crescent silently thanked Celestia that Twilight wouldn’t be able to complete her list. “Um sir?” Twilight said before the door closed. Crescent stopped in her tracks and tried not to look guilty. Abacus looked over at Twilight. “Yes Princess?” He asked politely. “I’m trying to help my cousin settle into Ponyville would you mind if I accompanied her for her training at least?” Twilight asked. Crescent desperately wished Abacus would say ‘no’, but she could tell he wasn’t going to deny her. He stepped aside and waved Twilight through the door. Twilight quickly entered the Post Office, handing Spike a scroll and a hasty “Take notes.” The door closed and Abacus walked to the backroom. Derpy followed quickly careful not to disturb any of the stacks of paper. She still knocked over two of them trying to skirt others. Crescent nudged the scrolls back into piles as she followed. Twilight came in last with Spike following. “Alright then.” Abacus took a deep careful breath and started explaining the many duties of a mail sorter. He even had pull down charts diagramming the parts of a letter. Crescent sat with rapt attention for the first few minutes, hoping Twilight would notice and decide the list wouldn’t be needed, but eventually she found herself drifting as Abacus began a detailed description of proper sorting techniques. Twilight moved closer to get a better view of the diagram. Derpy flopped against Crescent, nearly snoring, jolting her back awake. Crescent nudged Derpy the other way trying to wake her up. Derpy tipped upright and then further falling over the other direction. Crescent caught Derpy before she hit the floor, she spared a glance at Twilight to see if she noticed, and cautiously set Derpy upright. She let go of Derpy and turned her attention back to Abacus. “Now the stamp must be placed in proper accordance with-” Derpy fell into Crescent again. Twilight kept watching Abacus and Spike was busy taking notes, so nopony noticed. Crescent tried to lean Derpy back upright only to have her fall back at her. Crescent caught Derpy and set her upright again. She looked back at Abacus. Whoomph! Crescent turned around and saw Derpy sprawled out on the floor behind her. She looked at Twilight. She knew Crescent and Derpy were friends, what would she think if she saw Derpy asleep in the middle of training? Would she think Crescent wasn’t paying attention either? Crescent growled quietly and started looking around for something she could prop Derpy up with. She found an empty box and pushed it under Derpy. Derpy fell halfway into the box and tipped it over herself. Bonk! Derpy hit the floor again before Crescent could catch her. She looked around for something else. She heard Abacus droning in the background. Something about improperly sealed letters. She saw a crate carrier and tossed it onto one of the ceiling beams and wrapped Derpy up in it. Crescent slipped and the whole thing fell down on top of her. Crescent dug herself out from under Derpy and the tangled cords and looked round desperately for something else. Her eye fell on her saddlebags. Abacus stated something about Mail Carrier policies. She placed one behind Derpy and looped the straps over the top of her placing the other saddle bag down in front of her. Derpy started tipping backwards, but crescent dropped a box on top of the front saddle bag. Derpy stopped moving suspended on the saddle bag straps. Crescent sighed in relief and turned back to Abacus. “And that’s all you really need to know. Any questions?” Spike was scribbling on his page and Twilight was checking over his work. “Nope. You’ve certainly covered everything Mr. Slate.” Twilight took Spike’s notes and started working on her list again. Crescent started panicking. Oh come on! I was right here! I listened to practically the whole thing! I don’t need a list. Crescent fumed silently. Was everything going to be this way? Sure, the first few days had been introductions Crescent had understood why Twilight had scheduled everything, especially after her first day running around Ponyville. Still… that didn’t mean she’d always need supervision. Would she? Crescent started panicking even more as Twilight smiled and rolled up her list. She calmed herself down. It wouldn’t always be that way. Even today she could always ignore the list and move on with her life. It won’t be that hard. Twilight walked over to Crescent, who grinned nervously. “Oh don’t worry.” Twilight waved a hoof and barely spared Derpy a glance as she handed Crescent the finished list. “You’ll do great and if you forget everything.” She tapped the list. “It’s all in there. I even have some special bits in case you forget something.” She smiled again at Crescent, who grinned nervously down at the floor. “Thanks Twilight.” Crescent said unenthusiastically. She wasn’t looking forward to ignoring all of Twilight’s hard work. Twilight smiled, Spike raised an eyebrow and shrugged. They walked out the door waving Crescent goodbye. Abacus walked up and tapped Derpy on the head. Derpy spluttered awake and tangled herself up in Crescent’s saddle bags. Crescent flinched as Derpy hit the ground with a resounding crash. “Good use of the saddle bags.” Abacus said helping Derpy to her feet. Crescent smiled weakly. Once Derpy was settled Abacus turned back to Crescent. Crescent looked back. “Alright then.” He checked the clock. Crescent heard the front door open and close. “Sounds like you start now.” Crescent smiled again. She took her saddle bags back from Derpy and tucked Twilight’s list in the bottom of one. Alright how hard could this be?