//------------------------------//
// A New Life and a New Light 
// Story: Derpy Who? The Story of My Life 
// by Cabral095 
//------------------------------//

	
Written by: Cabral095 (AR)

Edited by: SCL3618

Chapter 1 - A New Life, and A New Light.
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From the day I was born, I was rejected; almost all of my life I have been, just because of how I look. My parents kicked me out when I was just a small filly, so I was left all alone to fend for myself. It was extremely hard, especially considering my eyes were never straight. Eventually, I taught myself to look straight; but the strain would become unbearable after just an hour or two. I spent my early life looking for jobs all throughout Cloudsdale.

Everyday was a battle for food and shelter. I didn't make too many friends, and I was often seen on the streets wandering. I just wanted to be alone from everypony. It was easier than being made fun of. 

The orphanage tried to take me in, but I just ran away every time. I was still made fun of their. Except by the caretaker. She was kind. However, I knew that in my condition I wouldn’t be adopted, so I left the orphanage. Childcare agents soon came on the search for me, they wanted me to go back. All I did was hide from them.


When I finally reached my late teens I began my search for a job. However, in the condition I was in, nopony would hire me for a job. I got an occasional ok, and heartfelt yes, but I lost the job after a few days. 

Almost everywhere I went, nicknames like klutz, nincompoop, idiot, and Derpy were constantly thrown at me; they grew on me, like a cancer. Over time, there was one name that seemed to stick on me the most, Ditzy Doo.

After quite some years of off and on jobs, I finally managed to find a small job working in the Cloudsdale weather facility. The job was decent, and I was finally able to afford a small apartment of my own. It was a homely little place, someplace where I could be me with nopony else seeing me. 

I enjoyed my time at home, it was warm, and quiet. I enjoyed the quiet. It was a
sigh of relief from life. Relaxing, and comforting.

The job I obtained was just working the cloud machines, I was only there for an hour or two a day; within this period of time, I could keep my eyes straight just long enough to last.

It seemed that the more I tried to keep them straight, the worse my vision became. I was so used to being cross eyed, that the challenge of keeping them straight was quite daunting; aside from the eye issue, I didn't make too many friends during my time there. The pegasi there were kind, friendly, and always willing to help, but everytime I would denied their service. However, this all changed the one and only day I woke up late for work.

I rushed over to the factory without even thinking about my eyes. I soon reached the factory floor, and the manager saw my eyes. He immediately called me up to his office right away. At that moment I knew this was it. I knew I was finished, and that my life would immediately go back into turmoil and chaos.

I entered his office, and glanced around. There was a desk towards the back wall, and some pictures on the desk as well as the wall. A large window stood to my left looking over Cloudsdale. I could see the hustle and bustle of the busy cloud city before me. The manager stood by his desk, he looked over a few papers sat on his desk. He then asked me to stand in the middle of the room.

He walked towards me and sighed, "Your name is Ditzy, right?"

"Yes sir." I responded.

"Ditzy, tell me one thing if you would, how long have your eyes been like this?"

I was slow to answer, "For my entire life sir."

He adjusted his glasses and sighed again, "Ditzy, why didn't you tell us sooner? I can't have a pony with a condition like yours working for us, something like that could cause a major mishap on the factory floor."

"But sir!" I interrupted, "I can see just fine when my eyes are like this! I don't have a single bit of trouble getting around at all; I've been like this all my life, and have grown used to it."

"Ditzy, I believe you." He stammered back, "I truly hate to do this, but I can't risk something of this magnitude... If the owner or even the mayor found out, I could lose my job. I know you're a hard worker and a great help to everypony, but I just can't risk this move. I'm sorry Ditzy, I truly am.."

I flew off with tears streaming from my eyes that day. From then on, I never looked back. I flew as fast as I could away from Cloudsdale, and away from everypony; away from my the life I had known.. I honestly had no clue where I was going, but I knew I just wanted to get away from everypony and be left alone in my dismay.

I flew as long as my wings held, eventually I found myself near a forest. It was cold and lonely place. Nopony was in sight, and the sun was beginning to set. This seemed like the perfect place to get away from everything. I flew down and surveyed my surroundings, visibility was terrible, and what was worse was that night was to come. I had to find some sort of shelter, I slowly walked for what seemed like an eternity.

The sun had finally set, and I was still walking. My hooves ached, and my wings were dragging on the ground. A soft rain had started to fall down on me; I continued to walk slowly. My coat was no longer a light shade of gray, and I was growing ever more weary. Finally after some time of walking, I spotted a hollowed out tree. Once I was inside, I walked in a small circle, and laid down. My coat and wings were soaked, but I didn't care. Perhaps some sleep would help me relax. I shut my eyes, only to be welcomed by my nightmares.

I woke up the next morning to the sun shining in my eyes, and the birds singing their songs. For some odd reason it seemed as if the forest had somehow transformed overnight. For a brief moment everything seemed so serene, so peaceful. Like this day was a new day for me, but I knew that nothing would change for me. It never had before, what was so different now? The memories of Cloudsdale soon began to flood back into my head; the job loss, the humiliation, and the thought of not being wanted. My depressive state came back, and wrapped itself around me. I simply moved on.

I continued walking for some time with my head down, and wings dragging once more. I kept walking until I managed to walk straight into a cottage. I fell on my back and looked at my surroundings. I would soon figure out I was right outside of the forest, and next to this cottage. I rubbed my head, and stood back up. Looking around the cottage, I spotted a light yellow pegasus mare. She was singing and playing with some animals. I slowly walked forward, trying my best to not be noticed. I took another step, and a large crack was heard. I looked down to see that I had stepped on a stick, the mare stopped singing and looked at me.

As soon as her teal eyes met mine, I bolted in the opposite direction. I couldn't stand for anypony to see me. After about five minutes of running, I reached a small bridge and took a minute to catch my breath. Upon doing so, I decided to take a look over the side of the bridge. I looked into the water and saw my reflection. My blonde hair was in a mess, and my coat was filthy. I felt nothing but shame, as I stared at it with disgust.

Tears soon began to roll off of my nose. I couldn't help but cry, my life had been full of nothing but misery, denial, and failure. Of course there were a few moments of bliss, but not nearly enough to outweigh all of this pain at once. I continued to stare into the small river. I chuckled a little at my messy hair and began to fix it, when, "HI!"

I jumped back, and looked to my left. And standing there was a pink pony.

"I've never seen you before!" she gasped. "I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name?"

I really didn't know what to say, as no one had ever greeted me this way before. I just stood there and shyly looked down at my hooves.

"Oh come on," She continued, "you can tell me! WAIT! I can guess this, I can guess this! Um um, is it Greyla!?"

I shook my head no.

"Um, well, hmm, let me see here."

She began to look all over my body, though she was most fond of my cutie mark.

"OOOOOHH! I love your cutie mark, but, what exactly is your talent? Hmm, maybe, maybe you're good with bubbles!"

This made me chuckle a little. I slowly opened my eyes to see what her cutie mark was.

"OH I KNOW!" she screamed, "You're Bubbles!"

Once again I shook my head no. I quickly took a glance again to see her cutie mark,

"Balloons?" I asked to myself, But when she heard me mutter, she saw my eyes.

She gasped, "What's wrong with your eyes? They're so… derpy!"

Upon hearing this, I began to back away slowly.

Pinkie gasped loudly and said, "Derpy! That's your name, it's Derpy! Well Derpy, I'm glad to make your acquaintance!"

This confused me beyond all measure. She was calling me Derpy, something that I used to despise being called. That and it wasn't my name, but when she said it; there was a sort of peace, and welcoming ring to it.

"I've got a great idea!" The pink pony exclaimed, "You're new here right?"

I shyly shook my head yes.

"Great!" Exclaimed Pinkie, "Because I'm going to introduce you to everypony in PonyVille!"

As soon as I heard those words, my fears sunk in.

Meeting one was awkward enough, I thought to myself, but a whole town?

Part of me was thinking that I should make a run for it, but there was something rather tempting about this offer. I knew that everypony would probably laugh at me, and I would once again fall back into the pit of despair; but there was something about this pony. She made it seem warm, and inviting; maybe even fun.

"Well come on!" she exclaimed, grabbing my leg she dragged me towards town.

As the town drew closer, I could see it was full of ponies. At the sight of that, my fears began to take over, and I went into lockdown. I tried to get away multiple times, but to no avail; she had a tight grip on my leg. Finally we stopped, and the destination would, of course, be the middle of the small town. It wasn't the largest town I've seen before, then again I've never left Cloudsdale before so I can't say much on that matter. Dirt roads, small buildings, and brightly colored ponies.

I was going to say something to Pinkie, but before I could; she screamed at the top of her lungs, "HEY EVERYPONY! THIS IS DERPY! SHE'S NEW HERE!"

I knew I was done for. That name was sure to get laughs and giggles. I pulled my blond mane over my yellow eyes, trying not to be noticed. A few ponies began to chuckle, but surprisingly, others came up and greeted me. Soon there was a large group of ponies surrounding me. In all of my life I had never been accepted into a group like this or even greeted this was. I slowly greeted them one by one. Each of them extending a hoof and saying hello.

Being surrounded by all of these ponies scared me a little. The thought of even attempting to keep my eyes straight was long gone, it seemed as if everypony in town	was greeting me; I couldn't help but smile. As I was greeting some newer ponies that had just walked up, Pinkie shouted,

"OK guys! We have a new pony in town and you know what that means!"

"PAARTAAAY!" The crowd of ponies thundered in approval.

Pinkie Pie then flew off in one direction, and the crowd of ponies began to disperse shortly after she left. After a few of minutes the majority of the crowd had gone, they all left for their homes. I supposed it was to get ready for the upcoming party. The sudden disappearance of everypony brought back the feeling of desolation. However this feeling wouldn't last long.

"Well hey there!" Echoed a voice from behind me, "What are ya doin' all alone in the middle of the street?"

I turned around, and saw before me an orange pony, with a brown hat and a bright blonde mane.

"Ohh.." I said, just realizing I was standing vacant in the middle of town. "I was just..well."

"What's your name?" she asked in a thick country accent.

"I-I-I.I'm" I tried to piece together what name I should go by, "My name is.. D-Derpy Hooves"

Wow, that was cheesy. I thought to myself. Ditzy Doo sounds better, but I like the sound of this better than the other names. It has a certain ring to it, besides, that pink pony, Pinkie I think, called me Derpy. I might as well roll with it.

"Derpy huh?" she inquired. "Well I think that's a fittin' name. 

She sure is honest if nothing else...

“So Derpy, do have ya some place to be? Because Ah'd be more than willin' to show you around".

"Well." I started, "I'm not sure where to go, but a pink pony mentioned something about a party for me. But, I really don't have a clue on where to go.."



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Authors notes: This is an old story of mine, I first published it on FanFiction early this year, and it did decently well. I finally decided to go ahead and post it here. 

*This story takes two years before Twilight arrived in Ponyville.