Derpy Hooves: Dragon Slayer
By YellowCardPony
Chapter 1: An Evening with Derpy
It was the night of the summer’s first food festival in the quite town of Ponyville. All the colt and mares from miles around had come into town to celebrate the start of another summer. It was a grand party by the quaint town’s standards, with your regular singing, dancing, merriment and of course the Four Corners eating contest.
As Daylight was now lasting much longer into the night the sun still shown over the mountain tops clearing lighting things up as the festivities were just starting to kick off. The heart of the festival was setup around the base of town hall. Where normally there would be a few street venders and plenty of trotting room, now was dozens of tables and stands setup for ponies to gather and mingle.
Along the edge of the celebration, sitting at a table together were three long time friends. Amber, Tangerine and Cinimus. All three were earth ponies who all worked together on a fruit farm to the south. They normally only made the trip to Ponyville when they were ready to sell the harvest, but they always set aside special time to come for the summer food festival.
They sat together watching the crowd of gathering ponies intently. Each of them hardly talked as they were carefully watching everypony who showed up. It was then that Amber the light orange pony with a smooth blue mane spotted what they were looking for.
“Here she comes girls.”
“I told you she was back in town,” said Tangerine a yellow pony with a black curly mane.
“Amber, Tangerine shhhh,” said Cinimus a light pink pony with a spiked tan colored mane.
“Is it really her?” Amber asked looking into the distance. “She’s the right color but I can’t tell.”
“I’d know that blonde mane anywhere,” Tangerine said.
“A grey Pegasus with wild blonde mane,” Cinimus added. As the mare in the distance was moving closer. All three farm ponies watched eagerly as the mystery pony drew closer until they could see the look on her face clearly.
“Crossed eyes,” Amber said softly. All three friends looked at each other nodding in agreement.
“Derpy Hooves!” All three spoke in unison giggling.
***
The grey mare trotted into the square unaware of the attention she was getting. Derpy trotted with her head held high and a giant smile on her face. Celebrations were a great chance for her to get out in the crowd where she loved to be.
“I can’t wait to see what she does this year,” Amber said to her friends.
“Come on Amber that sounds mean expecting her to do something silly,” Cinimus scolded.
“That being said, something crazy always seems to happen every year she is here,” Tangerine said to her light pink friend.
“No harm meant, it just makes things exciting,” Amber explained. “Watch this,” she added as she raised a hoof and waived it in the air.
“Hey Derpy!”
Hearing her name Derpy looked around quickly. Her eyes straightened for a moment and allowed her to get a quick view of the orange pony waving to her. Taking a moment to stand on her back hooves she waved back enthusiastically. She recognized her old friend Amber.
“Come over!” Amber called again.
“Oky!” Derpy shouted causing a nearby colt to cringe at the volume. In excitement Derpy leapt into the air and began to take flight. She did not take into account the growing crowd and her wings swiped a few ponies on the way by. Disgruntled cries rang out in Derpy’s wake. “Sorry!” she called out looking behind her at the fallen ponies as she continued to fly forward.
“Watch out!” An alarmed voice rang out. Turning her head forward Derpy barely had time to maneuver herself out of the way of a waiter who was carrying a serving tray of punch glasses on his head. Derpy began to spin out of control from the last second evasion. Amber, Tangerine and Ciniumus watched in amusement as Derpy came to a rolling stop in the dirt in front of them.
“You always know how to make an entrance Derpy,” Amber joked as she took a sip of fruit punch that had just been delivered.
“You alright?” Cinimus asked getting up from the table to help the grey mare.
“I’m ok,” Derpy said as if nothing had happened. She took a moment to dust herself off and pick her travel bag up.
“And how you are doing tonight Derpy Hooves?” Cinimus asked as she took her seat at the table again.
“I’m good, it's fun to be at the festival,” Derpy said with a giant smile on her face. All the while her eyes seemed to be looking in different directions.
“Have a seat Derpy, we just got punch, there is a glass for you as well,” Tangerine offered pointing out the four glasses of fruit drink on the table.
“Thank you,” Derpy said looking at the table through crossed eyes. “But I’m looking for someone tonight.”
Amber smirked and bit her lip to stifle a laugh.
“Who are you looking for?”
“I'm expecting a letter,” Derpy replied finally focusing on the orange pony.
“Don’t you deliver the mail around here?” asked Cinnimus.
“Only on the weekends, and they don’t let me deliver to myself either,” Derpy said.
“What’s so important you would rather go looking for a mailmare then spend time with your friends?” Tangerine asked.
“Oh this is a special letter from out of town,” Derpy replied.
“Sounds interesting,” Amber said taking a drink of punch.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to getting it as soon as possible,” Derpy said as she flapped her wings lightly lifting herself off the ground.
“Who’s it from?” Cinimus inquired.
Derpy hovered for a moment taking a quick look around the square, before softly landed back on the ground. She leaned forward slowly in order to whisper.
“I don’t know.”
Amber couldn’t hold back a laugh this time. Tangerine kicked her promptly under the table, as she tried to control laughter herself. Cinimus held her composure.
“What do you mean dear? How can you be so sure you are getting mail when you don’t even know who it’s from?”
Derpy stood in place for a moment as if thinking to herself. After an awkward minute passed she spoke up. “Oh I get a special delivery everyone month.”
Amber who had just gotten her giggling fit under control burst out laughing again. Tangerine couldn't help herself anymore and joined in the laughter. Cinimus still held her composure wincing as she watched the grey mane spin around putting her back to the table.
“I have to go,” Derpy proclaimed oblivious to the laughter.
“Are you sure you don’t want a quick drink?” Cinimus offered, still feeling bewildered by the blonde pony.
“No time, I don’t want to be late” Derpy replied as she started to trot away.
Cinimus leaned in close to Amber and Tangerine to whisper, “Was she using some kind of metaphor there, or is she just really confused?”
“By Celestia I hope she wasn’t using a metaphor for anything,” Tangerine said.
“I told you, she is a complete flake,” Amber laughed. “Let’s keep an eye on her, I bet she does something funny.”
“You had your fun Amber,” Cinimus said. “No reason to be mean.”
“Chill Cini,” Amber replied. “I can’t help it if somepony is really clumsy and crazy, it’s just funny.”
“It is pretty funny,” said Tangerine nodding in agreement.
All three farm ponies watched with renewed interest as the grey mare made her way away from them.
Derpy had not gotten but ten yards away when she suddenly hopped up on her hind legs. She moved her head from side to side quickly looking through the crowd. She took a few steps on her hind legs one after another and quickly began losing her balance. Unable to keep herself upright any long she began to bring her front hooves back down.
Derpy had been so focused on looking around she had not noticed the young filly standing in front of her until it was almost too late. Her front hooves were bearing down on the unsuspecting child. In a panicked move Derpy hopped back upon her hind legs, her wings spreading out to assist her balance.
As she dodged she spun around in a circle on her hind legs, with her front hooves waving up in the air like someone calling for help. In what seemed like a perfectly timed movement she spun around missing a waiter pony by inches.
Amber, Tangerine and Cinimus watched in awe as the spectacle unfolded just feet away from them. Derpy spun in a perfect circle as if she was a seasoned ballerina. At the last moment as she came to a rest her out stretched fore hoof made contact with one of the punch glasses on the waiter’s tray.
The blow was not strong enough to break the glass, but it was strong enough to send the drink flying through the air. The glass of punch flew in a perfect arch remaining upright and not spilling a drop.
Amber’s eyes locked on to the flying drink as it sailed through the air almost gracefully. Everything was moving so fast she only had time to raise a hoof to cover her head before the drink landed.
With a thud and the sound of glass cracking the punch splashed all over Amber. The red liquid quickly covered her and soaked into her white blouse.
There was a moment of silence all around as everypony took account of what just happened. Derpy now sat on the ground facing the trio of ponies. “My bad,” She said loud enough for everyone around to hear. The crowd erupted into laughter looking at the drenched earth pony.
Amber lost her temper and leapt up from her seat. She started to yell something but tripped over the tablecloth and fell forward knocking the table over as she went down.
The remaining glasses of punch, including the full glass meant for Derpy came crashing down on top of her. The uproar from the crowd grew intensely louder at the scene.
Lying on the ground Amber was now in a state of shock at what was going on. She looked down at her punch soaked body and noticed that a small corner of the table cloth seemed to have been tucked into her tail that had caused her to trip. Tuning out all the noise from the crowd and her friends, Amber looked across the dirty ground and at the blonde mare still sitting ten yards away.
Derpy’s innocent and confused face looked back, but then for a split second her eyes seemed to straighten out and a grin flashed across her face. As quickly has it happened her face returned to that of simple and bewildered mare.
As the laughter died down the ponies from Ponyville began to disperse and continue on with the food festival. Tangerine and Cinimus helped Amber back to her feet and did their best to console her.
As Amber got to her feet she felt herself shacking with rage.
“She did that on purpose!”
Tangerine and Cinimus looked across the crowd at Derpy as she began to fly off, and then looked back at each other.
“Did you see that look she gave me? She did this on purpose!” Amber continued.
“Not so funny when her antics are on you,” said Cinimus as she lectured her friend.
“It’s still plenty funny though,” Tangerine said grinning. “Right Amber?”
“Are you two not listening to me, Derpy isn’t what she seems,” Amber said still shaking.
“Oh, than what is she?” Cinimus asked as she began to push the table back upright.
“Evil incarnate!” Amber said through gritted teeth.
“Let’s get you to the spa and cleaned up,” Tangerine said. “Everything will be better,”
“And look on the bright side,” Cinimus said. “You said that Derpy always does one big blunder each year, and I think it-”
“Shut up, both of you,” Amber sighed as she began to let her anger go. Her friends standing on each side began to steer her away towards the Ponyville spa. As they went Amber took one last look over her shoulder. She could see the blonde pegasus flying off in the distance. “Who are you Derpy Hooves?” she said softly to herself.
As the trio headed off in their own direction, another set of eyes were locked onto the grey Pegasus as she flew. A white unicorn, unknown to Ponyville studied the grey mare intently. He made mental notes of her air speed and direction as he troted through the town square.
“She has to be the one,” He said to himself as he glanced at the thick saddle bag he wore. “Delphina Ray,”