//------------------------------//
// The Heart of a Friend 
// Story: Derpy Who? The Story of My Life 
// by Cabral095 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 3 - The Heart of a Friend
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Rest came easy that night. The next morning, I witnessed something that I hadn't experienced in ages, waking up with the sun shining directly on my face and body. As I basked in its warm glow, I stood up and stretched my legs and wings. Thankfully the cloud was fairly dry, so I didn't have to worry too much about soaking wet feathers for once.

I looked around, and saw a few pegasi shifting the clouds around. This got me thinking about getting a new job, as I didn't grab any items from my old place when I left Cloudsdale, as the thought of needing any of those items completely slipped my mind. I proceeded to hop off of the cloud, and fly on over to town.

When I landed, I was greeted by some waves and hellos; to which I waved back shyly. I spent the next half hour or so walking around, besides I hadn't had the time to check everything out in detail. There were so many things I had never seen before that were not in Cloudsdale, like plows, rakes, wagons, and much more.

At least there was a lot more food here than there was in Cloudsdale. Unfortunately I didn't have a single bit to spare. I still lacked a job, and I was getting quite hungry. Further on down the road, I saw Applejack pulling a large cart of apples. Upon the sight of this, my stomach began to growl viciously. I decided to take a chance, and fly on over to say hi. So I did just that

"Hi!" I said landing next to her.

"Well hi there Derpy." she replied, "Can ah help ya with somethin'?"

"Well," I started, "I wanted to know if I could help you."

"Oh." she said, "Well, I dunno, I mean, I can handle this on my own."

"I see." I said, "Well, alright."

"Though I'll tell ya what Derpy, why don't ya go on and see if Pinkie needs anything. She's always getting into some sort of mess."

My stomach then growled again.

"Sounds like somepony is hungry." stated Applejack.

"Yeah, I haven't eaten in a while" I giggled.

"Well why didn't ya say so earlier! If you're that hungry, have an apple. I have more than enough, I can spare a couple".

"You really don't mind?"

"Not at all."

"Thank you so much Applejack!"

I grabbed an apple from the top of the cart.

"I'm going to find Pinkie, It looks like you have your work cut out for you."

"Have fun Derpy, I'll see ya later!" She said waving goodbye.

Eating my apple, I flew off towards the bakery, in hopes to find Pinkie. I reached the bakery, and walked inside. Of course Pinkie wasn't in sight. I walked toward the back room to see if she was back there, she wasn't.

"Hello dearie" said an unfamiliar voice from behind me. "Can I help you with somethingng?"

I turned around to see a blue pony, with two toned pink hair, and some cupcakes for a cutie mark.

"Oh hi.. Um, Is Pinkie pie here?" I asked.

"Oh, you just missed her. She went out towards the Everfree forest, probably went to see Fluttershy."

"Ohh well thanks anyways, Ms?"

"Oh, forgive me, I'm Mrs. Cake. I own the bakery, with my husband of course."

Just then a light yellow pony walked into the store. "Mrs. Cake." She said, "I brought you the sugar you wanted."

"Oh why thank you Bon Bon." Mrs. Cake said walking over to her, "You're such a sweetie, I don't know how the shop would survive without you."

"It's not a problem." Bon Bon replied, "Always glad to help."

She looked at me and gasped, "You're the new pony from the party last night right?"

"Yes." I said, "That's me."

"I've never really taken the time to introduce myself, I'm Bon Bon."

"I'm um, Derpy."

"Derpy?" Questioned Bon Bon, "is that really your name?"

"Well, not really.." I began, "It's just a name Pinkie Pie gave me. If you want, you can call me Ditzy."

"Ditzy? Now that I like that better." She replied, "So, do you have a place you're staying at in Ponyville?"

"Well," I started, "not really, seeing as I just got here. So, I um don't really have a place to stay."

"Oh." Bon Bon sympathized, "Well, we don't really have much in the way of hotels in Ponyville. Oh I know!"

Bon Bon reached into her bag, and tossed a few bits at my hooves.

"There you go, it's all I can spare for now."

"What is this for?" I asked.

"Why it's for your house fund of course! Every little bit counts."

I looked down at the bits, and then back to Bon Bon, "Thank you so much. Though I really don't deserve this, but thanks anyways"

"Oh!" Mrs. Cake exclaimed, "I have something for you too deary."

Mrs. Cake walked into the back room of the store, and came out with a brown pack.

"It's from an old friend of mine." She began, "She's a pegasus, but she left it here long ago so I'm sure she won't mind if you take it. After all, you need it more than she does right now."

She placed the bag on my back, and I put my wings through the straps. It was a simple, yet comfortable brown pack, with 2 large pouches on each side, and another small pouch on the right side. I picked up the bits, and put them in the bag.

"Thank you." I said, "This is, one of the nicest things anypony has ever done for me."

I walked out of the Cake's shop, waving goodbye to my new friends. With only a few bits in my pocket, I figured I could at least get some food, though the thought of saving up for a house first was ever constant. These thoughts raced through my head as I walked down the streets of Ponyville.

	I can't just keep living off of charity. I need some sort of job here, but what? I was eventually so caught up in my thoughts that I wasn't watching where I was going.

I soon ran into a building, and once again, I fell on my back. Feeling a bit dazed from the sudden impact, it took me a while to come to my senses. Slowly my vision began to come back. I vaguely made out the sign which had a letter on it, with some wings, and it said 'Ponyville Mail'.

Mail service? I thought to myself. I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea.

I trotted inside, however, the place was deserted. A single off white colored stallion with a brown two tone mane stood towards the back of the room.

"Hello." He said, "How may I be of service to you?"

"Oh, well I um. I was wondering, where are all of your workers? Are they out doing mail?"

"Well," He began, "currently there is only one pony helping with the mail, her name is Raindrops. Other than that, we don't have any other workers. You see, about a year ago, the head CEO left the business for some family emergencies, he never returned.

"This left me in charge. Slowly over time some of the workers began to leave, mostly because I couldn't handle the job as well as the old boss could. So the mail service is now left to me, and Raindrops."

"I see" I stated, wondering if I was going to be able to ask about work. He seemed to notice that something else was on my mind.

"Oh, I'm sorry." he said, "I didn't mean to take up your time. So, how can I help you?"

"Well, I was wandering around town, and was looking to see if there was a place to work."

"Oh, well in that case" He began, "I suppose you're expecting pay if I hire you, but as of now, Raindrops and I are barely making any money."

"Well, what if you paid me the same amount that you two are being paid, I mean having another pegasus wouldn't hurt business."

"Yeah, I suppose, maybe we can finally get out of this rut. Well, how's that sound Miss?"

"Um, Ditzy, Ditzy Doo."

"Miss Ditzy Doo, I think you have yourself a job."

*A job!* I thought. *He didn't even consider my eyes as a disability.*

"Come with me." He said as he walked into a back room.

I followed eagerly. Looking in the room, there were two stacks of letters, each about the same height as me. He said they needed to be delivered today.

"Deliver these today, If you could. I don't want to sound so hasty, you know with just hiring you and all Miss Ditzy."

"Well, it's not that I mind. It's just that I don't know Ponyville too well, I'm still a little new here, and I don't know everypony."

"Ah." He said, "this should help some."

He turned around, and pulled a map out, as well as context of Ponyville's residents.

He set them on the floor, "These should help you find where you need to go, and who receives what."

"Thank you very much" I said, "These will definitely help me."

"Now, I know you're new here, so that means slower work. But we need all the help we can get."

He explained a bit more to me, and I was ready. I took one stack, I somehow managed to fit them into my bag. He wished me luck, and I flew off towards the east side of town.

I felt like a young eager filly again flying through the sky. It seemed like the day could not have been any more perfect. The sun was bright, the weather was calm, and the air was fresh. I finally landed on the east side of Ponyville, and checked who the first letter was going to.

*Lyra Heartstrings?* I thought to myself.

I checked the book, and found her address. She was near the edge of town, not too far from me. I reached her house, and knocked on her door.

"You're not Raindrops." Said a mint green unicorn opening the door.

"No." I responded, "My name is Ditzy, I'm helping out with the mail."

"Oh that's good." She said, "They've been needing help for some time now."

"Here's your mail." I said cheerfully. "Why thank you. I hope to see you again Ditzy, maybe we can get together sometime for some hay fries or something."

"Well, ok." I said, "I hope you have a nice day!"

"You too Ditzy, goodbye!"

She was very welcoming. I began to think. Already asking me out for hay fries? I don't even know her. This town sure is different from Cloudsdale.

After that, I left and finished mailing the rest of the letters. By the time I reached the post office, the sky was a mix of purple and fire orange, with the temperature beginning to cool down. I walked into the office, and saw a light gold mare with a cyan mane. She was talking with the boss.

"Ditzy, I'm glad to say all the letters were delivered today. I wanted to tell you that you've done an excellent job."

"Thank you sir." I said.

"Oh Ditzy." He continued, "This is Raindrops, she is the other Pegasus who works here."

She turned around, and waved a friendly hello. I smiled and waved back.

"Ditzy," My boss began, "more letters will be arriving in the morning, and Raindrops has something she needs to take care. Would you mind coming in early, and helping me out?"

"Sure thing!" I replied.

"Oh wonderful. Now, go home and get some rest, you'll need your strength for tomorrow."

"Oh ok." *home?* I thought to myself. *I still didn't have a place to stay. Not to mention that I hadn't eaten lately.*

With the sun beginning to set, I didn't know where I could go to eat some food. I walked out of the office, and took the few bits I had received from Bon Bon earlier that day.

*I know this is for my house, but I can't go without eating.*

I put the bits back into my bag, and flew off towards the outskirts of Ponyville. After 10 or so minutes of flying I had reached my destination, the Apple Family Farm.