“Ring! Ring!” The bell ranged throughout the school, signalling the end of lessons for the day.
“Alright class, before you go remember to write an short story on any topic you like. That’s it, class dismissed.” Miss Cheerlie said, taking her teaching materials and walked out of the classroom.
When Miss Cheerlie left the classroom, fillies and colts alike rush out of the classroom.
Dinky left the school excitedly, looking forward to going home with her mom.
Derpy stood outside, waiting to fetch her foal.
“Mom, why are you dress like that?” Dinky asked upon seeing Derpy wearing weird things around her body.
“Dress like what, little muffin?” Derpy asked innocently, smiling at Dinky.
“Like that. The thing around your face, mom.” Dinky said, pointing to the weird object strapped around Derpy’s face.
Derpy used her hooves to touch her face and touched some leather. Her face has some leather straps wrapped around her face. “Oh, that. It’s just some new things that Rarity gave me to try.” Derpy said, using her hooves to flick the straps.
“Does it include that thing?” Dinky asked, pointing to the saddle on Derpy’s back.
“Yep. Come on hop on, I heard it’s quite comfortable when ponies sit on it.” Derpy said, gesturing for Dinky to hop on her back.
“Really? I don’t mind giving it a try.” Dinky said and approached Derpy. Derpy bent down so that Dinky could mount her easily. Dinky climbed up and sat on Derpy’s back.
“Wow, this material is really comfortable! What is it made of, Mummy?” Dinky asked, amazed.
“I am not so sure.” Derpy replied.
“So shall we go home now, little muffin?” Derpy asked. Dinky nodded. Derpy raised her hooves in the air and start to walk slowly back to her house.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
The sound of her hooves hitting the ground slowly and steadily sound so calming to her. Today, she decided to take a longer route to enjoy the feeling of horse riding again. It has been way too long since she did this.
Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Clip-clop.
Earth, Singapore Armoured Cavalry base
*Author's note: Derpy's name on Earth as a horse is Goldheart
The wind blew against her mane, the ground soft and easy to walk on. Most important of all, it was away from all the chaos that happened a few hour ago. The fields around her seemed endless. There was no stress, no need to don the heavy armor, no need to run through enemy fire.
Her rider, Andrea, walked beside her slowly, holding her reins and pulling her along. Goldheart bend her neck to face the ground, not daring to look up to look at her rider as she lost the race.
“Goldheart, I know you are upset, so I brought you here, to the fields.” Andrea said, pointing at the tall grass around them.
Andrea slowly pull to a stop and released her grip on her reins. Andrea proceeded to kneel down and look at her horse at eye level. Andrea place her hand on Goldheart's snout. Andrea took a breath and said, “Goldheart, it’s okay that we lost the race. I never expected we would win anyway.” Andrea comforted. “All the other war horses are big and strong. There is no way that we would beat them anyway.” Goldheart’s ears perked up, listening attentively to her rider.
“So don’t be so down, Goldheart. Other horses can look down at you, physically and mentally, but you cannot look down on yourself, Goldheart.” Andrea said, using her hands to touch Goldheart's neck. Goldheart glanced a look at her rider. Andrea was trying her best to comfort her even though she lost. She nudged Andrea with her snout and raised her head.
“Much better, now come on, let’s get back before Keith starts to worry where we are.” Andrea said, before walking her back and mount her. Andrea grabbed her reins tightly and shouted “Giddy up, Goldheart!”
Stables, Singapore Armored cavalry
“Andrea, where have you been?” Keith asked, his face filled with worry.
“Oh, I have been to the grass fields and have a little talk with Goldheart. The poor girl got demoralised after losing the race. So I brought her to the grass fields to cheer her up.” Andrea said.
“Andrea, you should have told us before going there alone. I am worried for you......” Kieth said, showing care and concern for Andrea.
“There goes the lovebirds again, wonder when they will end it this time?” Rommel asked cheekily.
“You know it is because of you right that they are fighting with each other.” Goldheart asked, looking up at Rommel’s immense size.
“I just ran at my leisurely pace. You can’t blame me that I won the race.” Rommel retorted.
“Why can’t your hooves be a teeny bit shorter than? I’m sure the other horses would appreciate if you didn’t run so fast all the time.” Goldheart complained.
“Hey. I don’t run fast. It’s just that my every step covers more ground than the average horse.” Rommel stated back. Rommel bend down to look Goldheart in the eye.
“Goldheart, it’s okay being a shorty. I was a shorty before I became a stead. With the rate you are going, you are going to be taller than me in about 3-4 months.” Rommel stated.
“We will see about that.” Goldheart said, though a part of her really hoped what Rommel said was true.
Clip-clop. Clip-clop. CLIP-CLOP. CLIP-CLOP!
The sound of her hooves hitting the ground was too loud. Derpy looked down at her hooves and discovered that her hooves were starting to white and it was lengthening along her thigh. Derpy smacked back into reality and reasserted control and turned her hooves back to grey.
It was too close for comfort. Derpy looked behind her and saw that Dinky was fast asleep on her back. Derpy raised her hooves and began to trot home. Once she reached her house, she open and quickly slammed the door shut.
She placed Dinky gently on her bed and quickly retreated to her bedroom. She place the saddle and reins back into the cupboard. In it, there was saddles of different sizes and birdie of different length to accommodate different riders and her different forms. Placed at the bottom was her metallic armor from her days as a warhorse on Earth.
Derpy looked at the mirror. Where once stood a clumsy petite mare, now a tall and mighty white horse with a horn and a pair of wings stared back at her.
Derpy smiled at her reflection. One day, Dinky will discover her past and what she did before coming to Equestria, but for now no one must know what she truly is or what her history was.