“I got it!”
Derpy turned from her muffin-making as she heard the sound of her friend’s voice.
“Got what Luna?”
The violet moon alicorn plopped a freshly-cut daisy on the clean counter of Sugarcube Corner. “This is the flower you can put in your hair for your date, silly filly!”
“Oh.” Derpy said, focusing her golden eyes on the object. “Don’t remind me. I’m going to die.”
“Come on.” Luna scoffed. “The Doctor will be more nervous than you. He asked you out, didn’t he?”
Derpy cocked her head. “I guess so, but I’m still going to die because I’m going to make a fool of myself in some way or another.”
Despite her words, Luna could tell she was excited, because her eyes, which were normally crossed or in different directions, were now focused in the same line of sight.
“Hey guys!”
Pinkie Pie, the hyperactive pink mare, bounced in the door of the sweets shop.
“Hi Pinkie.” Derpy mumbled.
There were small clicking sounds as Luna shifted her glass-slippered hooves. “What is it Pinkie?”
“Well, I have a favor to ask of you.” Pinkie babbled. “You know how Mr. and Mrs. Cake are away right now, and I was left in charge of the store and the job of looking after Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake? Well, the Elements of Harmony and I are being called for a conference with Princess Celestia... your sister Luna! And was wondering, could you look after the twins and the store just for one night? PULEEZE?”
“Uh...”
Before Derpy could provide an answer, Pinkie was hopping back out the door, calling over her shoulder: “Thanks! I owe you one! Bye!”
Derpy banged her head on the counter. “What am I going to do now?”
“Relax.” Luna said. “I can take care of the children for a few hours.”
Derpy looked up, her eyes brimming with gratitude. “Really? You would do that for me?”
Luna chuckled. “Sure. They’re only foals. How hard can it be? I am a princess, after all.”
Derpy shook her head. “You have no idea.”
Luna clicked her hooves on the floor. “Chop-chop! We have two hours to get you all prettied up!”
Luna first started with Derpy’s mane. It was yellow, and usually slightly unkempt.
Luna levitated a brush with her magical aura and began combing through the pegasus’ tangles.
“Let’s hope this date goes well, unlike the last try.”
Derpy winced at the memory of Sunnytown; a strange haunted place full of misery. She had stumbled upon it yesterday, and she was lucky to get out with her life.
“I sure hope so.”
Luna pulled hard on an unyielding knot. “I’m never letting you go into the Everfree Forest alone again. That was such a stupid move on my part.”
“How were you supposed to know?”
Luna moved the brush to her tail. “I was supposed to know. I’m one of Equestria’s rulers! I’m supposed to know every inch and width of my realm.”
“Well, considering you were banished for one-thousand years, that cuts you some slack.”
“Oh, don’t remind me.”
Luna set the brush down. “Now for the flower.”
Derpy didn’t understand how she did it, but Luna somehow managed to weave the flower into her mane so that it wouldn’t fall out until deliberately removed.
The night alicorn began going through a checklist.
“Feathers straight?”
“Check.”
“Bubbles shined?”
“Check.”
“Looking cute?”
“I hope so.”
“Okay, see how you look!” Luna held up a mirror with her magic.
Derpy gasped at her reflection. Her mane was perfect in every sense, wavy and slightly curled. The daisy poked out from the left side, adding to the beauty. She was pretty, but not in an overdone way.
“Well?” Luna asked.
“It’s perfect!” Derpy exclaimed. “How did you do this?”
Luna giggled. “Luna’s touch!”
“Are you sure you want to foalsit?” Derpy asked. “It’s a hard job. Believe me, I know.”
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Luna insisted. “Besides, back at Canterlot, I’m expected to talk with all these fancy thee’s thou’s and thy’s, and speak all oldish. Here, with you, I can speak any way I see fit! Celestia won’t mind. She understands.”
(A/N: THIS is my explanation to why I have never made Luna talk like she does in the show. She can be less formal around her friends, right?)
“Good point.” Derpy said.
“Now we just have to wait for the right time! Wouldn’t it be funny if he gives you an English Muffin thing?”
Derpy made a sour face. “If he does, I will stuff a pear down his throat.”
It was almost six in the evening as Derpy trotted away from Sugarcube corner.
“Have fun!” Luna called.
“I will... hopefully.”
“But don’t have too much fun!”
Derpy paused in her steps, thinking about the statement, and then she turned back and yelled: “Oh, Luna! EWWWWWW!”
She heard Luna laughing as the door shut.
Sighing, Derpy proceeded down the busy Ponyville road. Her destination was Ponyville park. She had been reminded of this countless times today by Luna so that she wouldn’t forget, which sometimes she did.
She felt the eyes of male ponies on her, which made her slightly uncomfortable. She was like this for the Doctor, and the Doctor only.
“Howdy Derpy! What are ya dressed up so fancy-like for?”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders, a group of adventurous foals ever in search of their Cutie Marks, had appeared in front of her.
“Yeah!” Scootaloo, a hyper pegasus, piped up. “You don’t go out every day looking like that!”
“Well, I actually have a date with the Doctor!” Derpy said.
Sweetie Bell did an over-exaggerated gasp. “Really? That means our love potion must’v--mmmmf!”
Apple Bloom slapped her hoof over Sweetie Bell’s mouth. “Never you mind her. Y’all have an awesome time on yer date, y’hear?”
Derpy nodded, feeling warmed by the filly’s kind words. “Thank you all.”
Scootaloo thrust out a hoof dramatically. “Cutie Mark Crusaders, AWAY!”
Derpy smiled as she watched them tear down the street and into the darkening town.
She turned back to her original route, only to be faced with a problem, literally.
Her mortal enemies, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, stood barring her path. They always teased her about her crossed eyes whenever they got the chance.
“Well, well, well.” Diamond Tiara sneered. “Why are you all dressed up? It looks like it was done by a monkey.”
Derpy shook her head, actually smiling. “No, it wasn’t done by a monkey. You’d like to know.”
“Then who was it?” Silver Spoon said with a confident smirk.
“It was Princess Luna.”
The two bullies’ jaws dropped.
“...Princess Luna?”
Derpy nodded. “Eeyup. Luna is a close personal friend of mine, so she came over here to help me prepare for my date. Now, if you don’t mind, I must be going. I don’t want to be late.”
She brushed by them, who were still in shock that such a high rank royalty would bother to be near, or even be friends with such a stupid pony.
To avoid further stalking, Derpy unfurled her wings and took to the sky.
She enjoyed the the feeling of the wind under her wings as she rode the air currents.
Finally, she touched down in the specified meeting place, thanking Celestia that the Doctor wasn’t there yet.
The selected spot was truly beautiful. It was a more open field in the middle of the park, filled with long grass. The near treeless landscape offered a clear view of the horizon, where a huge full moon was just beginning to rise. Derpy suspected that Luna had made it that way just for them.
As she listened to the breeze rustling the grass, she took a moment to calm her jittery nerves. She prayed that she didn’t do something foolish, like she usually did. This date was important to her.
She started as there was a slight crunch behind her. She turned, and sure enough, there was the Doctor coming toward her through the grass.
He was an Earth Pony, with brown fur and darker brown mane, which was always spiked, and he was at least a head taller than Derpy. He had hourglass Cutie Mark, and a strange accent. He clearly wasn’t from Equestria. Tonight, he wore his green tie, which he always wore to formal occasions.
When Derpy turned to face him, he was so utterly amazed at her natural beauty, that he faltered.
“Hi Doctor!” She called out to him cheerfully.
“Uh...” He stammered.
I’m forgetting something! he thought furiously. Oh, right!
He sat back on his haunches and held out a yellow flower, shaking slightly. “T-This is for you.”
Derpy gasped with surprise as she took the flower. “A marigold! It’s my favorite flower! How did you know?”
“A little birdie told me.”
“Uh-huh.” Derpy said. “Perhaps this bird was a little night princess birdie?”
“Maybe.” The Doctor paused. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” Derpy’s cheeks darkened slightly. “It’s not my doing though. Luna did all of it. I owe her big time.”
As they began their leisurely stroll through the wonderful scenery, the Doctor asked: “How did you and Luna become such good friends? You’re always doing things for each other.”
“It’s actually a very strange story.” Derpy said. “Would you like to hear it?”
“I most certainly would.”
“Here goes...”
Luna sat in a corner during a majority of the celebration after the defeat of Nightmare Moon. She was too ashamed to join in.
She looked down at the rose wreath around her neck. Despite the warm welcome she had received, some ponies still gave her dirty looks now and again.
It’s just what I deserve. she thought.
She didn’t deserve a party like the one being thrown after all she had done. She had terrorized Ponyville, kidnaped her own sister, and she had almost destroyed the Elements of Harmony.
I will never be accepted.
“OUT OF THE WAAAAAY!”
Luna looked up just in time to see a gray filly coming towards her face at super sonic speed.
CRASH!
The filly landed in a jumble with Luna.
The filly hastily arose. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” She fretted. “Please don’t banish me to the Everfree Forest!”
Luna rose to her hooves, brushing a strand of blue hair out of her face. “It’s alright!”
The gray pegasus looked up at her with large, strangely positioned eyes. “No it’s not! I meant to give you this...” She took out a darkly colored muffin with little moon and star sprinkles all over it.
Luna took the muffin, surprised. “You made this for me?”
The filly nodded, gaining a little more courage. “Yeah. I noticed how sad and lonely you seemed over here, so I thought: ‘Gee, maybe she would like a muffin!’ but, I’m still having flight troubles...”
Luna looked from the muffin in her hoof to the strange filly. “This is just for me?”
The pegasus nodded. “Yup. I wanted to welcome you back to Ponyville! How does it taste?”
Luna took a nibble. Chocolate, her favorite! Soon the muffin was reduced to nothing but crumbs.
The cross-eyed pony cocked her head. “How was it?”
Luna smiled. She was starting to feel something she hadn’t felt in a long time; happiness. “It’s the best I’ve had in one-thousand years, literally! What’s your name?”
“Well, my name is Ditzy Doo, but everybody just calls me Derpy. And, I know you! You’re the best princess that ever lived! You’re Princess Luna!”
Luna was stunned. Best princess? After all she had done? Suddenly, she smiled, and her form began to glow.
“L-Luna?” Derpy said nervously.
Luna grew taller. Her regular mane changed to flowing starlight. Her fur grew darker, and her horn grew longer. In front of Derpy now stood a regal alicorn, much different from the one she had seen a second ago.
(A/N: This is my explanation as to why Luna changed in between seasons.)
“Woah, you grew big!” Derpy exclaimed.
“Indeed I have.” The new Luna said. “Through the power of friendship, you have reverted me to my true form! I thank you profusely.”
“Yay!” Derpy hopped around.
“Though, I still don’t know if I’ll be accepted...”
Derpy rested a hoof on Luna’s. “Well, I accept you. If your ever feeling sad, I can make you a muffin, okay?”
Luna smiled. “I would love that Derpy.”
“...and that’s how it all began.” Derpy told the Doctor. “I taught her how to use her magic wisely, and she taught me how to fly better. We’ve been friends ever since.”
“Uh... wow.” The Doctor mentally kicked himself. Great response dummy!
Derpy giggled in her absolutely adorable way. “You thought it was pretty amazing, huh?”
He nodded. “Most definitely.”
They skirted the edge of a pond, the moonlight reflecting and glinting off of the water as it rippled.
Derpy, who had been trying the entire time not to make an error, suddenly made one.
Her hoof struck a rock sticking out of the ground. She was caught totally off guard, and she went tumbling into the shallows.
“Derpy!” The Doctor splashed in after her, and fished her out as fast possible. “Are you alright?”
“Y-Y-Yes.” Derpy shivered as she was led out onto the bank. She was more embarrassed than anything. Stupid, stupid, stupid! “I-I’m just f-freezing!”
The Doctor decided Derpy looked even cuter with wet mane falling down her shoulder, but he pushed that aside and led her over to a spot under a tree.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“J-just very c-cold and wet, t-thank you.” Derpy shivered. To her annoyance, she found that the flower Luna had interwoven in her hair was still there, and it hadn’t even shifted from her tumble.
She sank down onto a mossy patch, and the Doctor lay down with her, letting his body heat warm her sodden body.
“Derpy?” The Doctor asked.
“Hm?”
“I know this probably seems rude, but I’ve been wondering for a long time... How did your eyes become like that?”
Normally when Derpy was asked this question, it was directed as an insult. But behind this question was only curious innocence.
Derpy winced slightly as painful memories surfaced. “Well... I was born like this. My dad died when I was very young, or so they say. My mother never cared for me, and she eventually abandoned me. I wandered the Everfree Forest until I came to Ponyville. Pinkie Pie found me, and the Cakes took me in. They gave me that little house I live in now, right next to Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie taught me how to make muffins at a young age. School was horrible. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon always teased me about my eyes, though they laid back a lot after I started hanging with Luna. Basically, no one ever really loved me until the Cakes and Luna came along.”
The Doctor wanted to say it. He desperately wanted to, but he didn’t dare for fear of how Derpy would react.
“That sounds hard.” He said instead.
“Yes, it was.” Derpy was all nice and warm now. She was beginning to feel drowsy, as was the Doctor.
She wished she could sleep there all day, all year even. She was about to give in to the dark folds of sleep when a thought jerked her awake.
“Luna!”
“Huh?”
“Luna! I left in charge of Pumpkin and Pound and I can’t let her take care of them all night! They never sleep!”
“Oh...” The Doctor rose reluctantly to his hooves. “Well... can we do this again sometime?”
Derpy smiled. “Sure! How about next week?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Without really thinking, Derpy leaned in and kissed the Doctor on his cheek. “Thank you. I had a wonderful time.”
“Ah...” His mind had just drawn a complete blank. Now he was blushing furiously, and he prayed Derpy couldn’t see it in the moon’s dim light.
“Good night Doctor!” Derpy unfolded her still-damp wings and flew up into the sky.
“Good night Derpy!” He finally managed.
Derpy had to bite back a huge squeal that was threatening to erupt. Best first date ever!
Derpy opened the door to Sugarcube Corner and walked inside. Luna was nowhere to be seen.
“Luna?” Derpy called. “Are you here?”
There was a loud crash from upstairs, and then Luna’s voice yelling: “OH THANK ME!”
Derpy giggled as she heard glass slippers clattering down the stairs. “How did it go?”
The sight that greeted her made her bust up.
It was Luna, but a funnier version. A diaper hung off of her horn, and she was covered in baby-food-splatter. The ever-ravenous Pumpkin hung off of her mane, chewing on the end. Pound buzzed around her head like an insect.
Luna sighed. “That was horrifying!”
Derpy pried Pumpkin off of the alicorn’s starry mane and handed her a muffin to gnaw on instead. She grabbed Pound’s leg and pulled him to the ground. “It’s no easy job.”
Luna inspected her friend more closely. “Derpy, you’re all damp! What happened?”
“Uh... I kind of had a mishap...” She related the story to her.
Luna was stunned by the end. “You kissed him?”
Derpy nodded happily. “Yeah! He didn’t get mad! and guess what... He gave me a marigold! Wait a second, did you tell him that my favorite flower was marigold?”
“Maybe...” Luna levitated a clean towel and began drying Derpy off. “You’re going to catch a chill!”
“So will you.” Derpy pointed to her friend’s sodden mane, which now hung limply by her side. “Do you want to sleep over at my house tonight? It’s far too late to be flying all the way back to Canterlot.”
“Sure.”
That night, Derpy lay in her bed, listening to Luna snore on the couch in the other room in a most un-princess-like manner.
She rolled over and placed the marigold the Doctor had given to her on her windowsill. Maybe the Doctor does love me.