Derpy made it to her next delivery stop in no time. She hoped this delivery wasn't as long as the other ones had been. She really needed to speed things up. The mailmare landed on the front steps of the townhouse, and knocked brisquely. A few moments later, the intended mail recipient was standing in front of her. "Hi Carrot Top, I brought you a letter," Derpy said rapidly, pulling out the letter.
"Oh, hello Ditzy, come on in. I was just getting ready to go grocery shopping. For some reason, I always seem to be out of food the day after I buy it."
"That's because I emptied your fridge," Derpy said, happily. "It was really full, so I took care of it." She gave a bright smile to the orange-maned pony.
"What?" She asked, wonder clear in her voice. "But, how did you... I mean, I always lock my doors when I leave and... There was so much food in there, how could you possibly eat it all?" Then she shook her head, thinking it best not to hear the answer. "Ditzy, do me a favor and stay out of my fridge, ok?" She took the letter from Derpy and shut her door, leaving the mailmare outside.
Derpy giggled. She was actually glad Carrot Top hadn't let her in. She was also glad that she didn't have to try and answer any questions. Sometimes things just happen, and ponies are better off not knowing the hows and whys of it. Besides that, she was on a tight schedule now. This delivery had been short enough to make up for some lost time, though. Derpy took off, flying to her next delivery. She would be really quick with these, and not stop to chat.
At the town record shop, a well-known showmare was with an equally well known DJ, discussing and finalizing a deal. "So, I can just store my equipment backstage, and then we don't have to worry about setting it up all the time. Plus you'll be able to get familiar with the systems I use, and we'll make sure you're credited in the show as our effects pony. Is that a fair deal?" The DJ asked, holding out a hoof.
"Trixie is pleased with the terms," the showmare said, "She agrees to give you use of her stage and talents." She took the DJ's hoof and shook it.
At that moment, the mailmare came through the door and trotted quickly to the DJ. "Hello Vinyl, I brought your package." She quickly pulled out a square envelope and handed it to her. "Sorry I can't stay to chat, I have to make my last delivery before I start running late. Oh, um, is Octavia at home right now? I've got a package for her, too."
"Yeah, Tavi's there. She's probably upstairs practicing that up-tight, sophistocated stuff she calls music in her studio." The gray pegasus turned to leave, and Vinyl called out, "Thanks for the package!" Derpy nodded in response, and left the store, headed to Vinyl and Octavia's house.
Vinyl turned to Trixie, holding the flat, square envelope with her magic. "This is what I was telling you about. It's my new record, and it's gonna give me some awesome sounds to work with in the show."
Trixie eyed the package, curiously, "Well, what record is it?"
Vinyl opened it and removed its contents. "Uh-oh." She said, a small frown appearing on her face.
"What?" Trixie asked, "What's the matter?"
The DJ held up a bunch of sheet music, "I think Ditzy got me and Tavi's packages mixed up." She laughed, seeing the humor in the situation.
Trixie didn't like missing out on the joke, and spoke up. "What is so funny? Without that record, how are you going to make your next album for the show? If you don't have something new, we won't be able to sell tickets, and that means no pay."
Before she could get too worked up, Vinyl put a hoof over her mouth. "Chillax Trix," she said, as she began reading the sheet music. "I think I can work with this. Yeah, if I adjust my soundboard to match the instrument notes... Then throw in a couple of heavy drops in the right spots... Oh yeah, I can work with this." She smiled, and walked to the back of the store. She looked over her shoulder at Trixie, who still couldn't believe she had been silenced in such a rude manner. "Just come back at the end of the week. I'll have something put together by then."
Trixie just huffed before leaving the store, making a mental note to return at the end of the week. She would need to hear the music to get a feel for the effects she was going to use.
At Octavia and Vinyl Scratch's house, Derpy arrived and knocked loudly on the door. She hoped that Ponyville's Canterlot Ensemble member wasn't practicing at that moment. She was lucky, and caught the cellist player during a break. The gray mare opened the door, surprised to have a visitor. "Hello, can I help you?" She asked, her Canterlot accent making it clear where she had been raised.
Derpy nodded, and pulled a square envelope from her mailbag. "I brought you a package!" she announced happily.
Octavia grinned and took the package, "Oh, thank you Ditzy. I've been waiting all weekend for this. My newest sheet music to practice."
Derpy smiled in return, "You're welcome, Tavi." She snickered at the cute name the cellist's roommate had used for her.
Octavia blushed, and laughed uncomfortably, retreating behind her door. "Heheh, oh my, would you look at the time, I have some practicing to do. Well, it was nice talk-" She was cut off by the mailmare.
"TIME!?! Oh no, I'm gonna be late! Sorry, I gotta go, there's somepony I'm suppose to meet. Oh, and don't worry, your secret's safe with me!" Then she jumped into the air and took off into town.
The gray musician slipped back into her house, wondering about the last part Derpy had said to her. "Secret? Just how much did Vinyl say to her?" Her face went pale as she thought of what secret the mare was talking about. "That Vinyl better not have told her what I think she told her." Then she shook herself, "Oh come on, she promised she wouldn't tell anypony about that. I just need to get back to my music, and take my mind off of it for a little bit." She opened up her package, "Now, lets just see what the Ensemble has planned for our next... Oh my, this isn't what I was expecting." She examined the record that was in the envelope. "This can't be right, it looks more like something Vinyl would order... Oh well, perhaps it's meant to be something inspirational." Octavia went back upstairs to her studio and put the record on the player. As the music began to play, she stood by her cello, picked up her bow, and began to play along with the music, doing her best to come up with complementing tunes to it.
Derpy flew as fast as she could with out running into anything. It didn't take her long to arrive at her destination, Sugarcube Corner. She looked around and was relieved to find the pony she was suppose to meet with. She trotted over to the brown earth-pony. "Hello, Doctor. I'm sorry I'm late."
"Oh, not at all," the Doctor replied, "You're actually right on time."
Derpy sighed, relieved. She had made it after all. "So, Doctor, what did you want to meet me here for, anyway?" It wasn't often that he invited her out like this.
"Ah, yes, the reason for bringing you here. Well, you see, you've been my assistant for quite a while now..." He began.
"Yes?" Derpy wondered why the Doctor was being so fidgety. He wasn't usually like this.
"And we've been through quite a lot together, haven't we?"
"Yes?" Derpy said, realizing that the Doctor was building up to something big, and she had a good feeling about what it was.
"Well, I've been thinking, and I've come to a decision." He said, with certainty. He looked directly into her eyes, which seemed to have straightened out. His own becoming half shut, as he prepared his next words, carefully. Derpy couldn't believe it, was he really about to ask her for this? To share a life with her forever? Yes, he must be, what other reason would he have for bringing her out here during her deliveries? "Ditzy?" He asked.
"Yes Doctor?" She replied, leaning in, both of her golden yellow eyes focused on him, the smile on her face one of the most sincere she had ever made.
"I think you need a vacation," he said, plainly, his expression quickly returning to normal.
Derpy stared back at him, confusion on her face, and just a fraction of her disappointment showing. "What?" She asked, completely thrown off by what he said.
"Yes, a vacation. So, I've went and gotten a temporary assistant to take your place while you spend the next couple of weeks relaxing and recharging. I brought you here so you could meet her. Ah, here she is now!" He pointed to a light blue unicorn with a blue and white mane.
"She?" Derpy asked, feeling crushed.
"Yes, I'm Colgate. I'll be helping the Doctor while you're on vacation. Nice to meet you," the unicorn said, holding out a hoof.
Derpy took it, and put on a smile, trying her best to look friendly, although with marginal success. She took the hoof and shook it. "Hi, it's nice to meet you in-pony. I never see you when I make my deliveries to your house."
"It's cause I'm usually busy all day."
"Oh, while you're here, I have your magazine for you." Derpy took out a magazing from her mailbag with a closeup of a pony's shiny white teeth on the cover. She set it on the table, her friendly facade falling from her face.
"Thanks, Ditzy." Colgate said, happily accepting the mail.
"Well, I'm glad you two are getting along," the Doctor said.
"Yeah," Derpy said, uncomfortably. "Anyway, I have to be going. Lots of deliveries to make still." She turned away and began walking off with her head hung low, rather than flying. That alone made it clear that she was upset.
After a moment of wonder, the Doctor started after her, "Ditzy, wait!" He called out. He walked along side her. "Ditzy, what's wrong? If this has anything to do with my new assistant, I assure you, it's only temporary, and it's for your own good."
"What's for my own good?" She said, her voice quavering slightly, "You replacing me with somepony else? It's because of my eyes, isn't it? I bet you just think they look weird and now you want to get rid of me. Is that it?"
Doctor Whooves was shocked, he had never seen his assistant in this state. "Replace you!?!" He stopped her, and turned her head to face him. He lifted her chin, so she was looking up at him. "Ditzy, how could you think something like that? I could NEVER replace you." He gave her a soft, caring smile that spoke volumes, without words. "Look, I've noticed you've been acting strange, recently. I also know that you don't get to see your daughter all that much because of the two jobs you have to take on to support her. It's been stressing you out. You may not notice it, but I have. That's why I've given you this vacation. I care about you Ditzy, so don't think I could ever replace you."
Derpy's eyes were once again focused on the Doctor, shining with tears that were trying to form. It seemed like he was the only pony, other than Dinky, that could get her eyes to straighten out. She returned his smile with her own. "Thank you, that means a lot to me." She sniffed, and turned away, "I need to be alone for a little bit," she said, her voice cracking, slightly. She stepped away from him, and flew off.
Colgate came up next to the Doctor, concerned. "Is she gonna be alright? She seemed pretty upset. I don't think I've ever seen a pegasus walk off like that."
"Yes, she'll be fine. She just needs some time alone," he replied, watching as the pegasus flew.