Muffins
Derpy stood at her kitchen counter, her face twisted in concentration. Various ingredients were strewn across the countertop, and flour was everywhere. In her mane, on her wings, on the floor, on the walls. A recipe book was propped up against the wall, the spine of the book practically broken, the pages overly creased. She vigorously rolled the dough out, the rolling pin between her hooves, and then knead the dough back together as the book instructed. She thought it was sort of pointless to roll it out first, but she did as the book told her so.
Freshly baked muffins covered every other surface of the kitchen. The smell filled the room and Derpy stopped, and took in a big breath. She then put the rolling pin down and stared out the window towards the rising sun.
Three months had gone by since the changeling war had ended. Ponyville was mostly rebuilt, as was Cloudsdale. Derpy lived on the outskirts of both towns, somewhere neatly between the two. Derpy herself had preferred living in Ponyville, but her sister, Muffin, liked Cloudsdale better. So they had settled in the house between the two. The house was in a tree, partway in the sky, but close to the ground. Derpy's father had built it, when Muffin was very young, and right before the accident that had caused him to pass away. Then it was just Derpy and Muffin.
Derpy would fly Muffin to school early in the morning everyday, where she would be let in early because of her sister's work schedule. Then Derpy would continue on her day by delivering mail to the citizens of Ponyville, and sometimes Cloudsdale. Then she would fly back, pick up Muffin, and the two would go home together.
But for the past three months, there had been no flying together. No dropping Muffin off at school, no picking her up after. There was no Muffin any more. Derpy was alone.
Muffin's name had been recorded with those missing from Cloudsdale, since that is where she had gone to school. The little filly, though she had originally been in Ponyville the time of the attack, was deemed missing, and therefore, declared dead. Her body never showed up. Nopony had found her. She was just... gone.
A small tear rolled down Derpy's cheek as she thought about it. She was used to being made fun of by other ponies. She was a little slow at times, she knew, and a lot of times she wouldn't understand other ponies' jokes. She was sure many of them were at her expense. Muffin was the one pony who accepted and loved her just the way she was. And now, she was gone.
Although the situation was sad, Derpy tried not to despair. Her sister had been one of the most optimistic, cheerful and friendly fillies she had ever known. And that was something that she had passed onto Derpy, during their time living together. Just the two of them. Many ponies thought that Rainbow Dash was Derpy's biggest hero, but in fact her biggest hero had been Muffin. The little filly that she had been allowed to name.
She remembered being so excited when her mother told Derpy she was going to be a big sister, that she was going to be a role model for some young filly or colt. Derpy was going to be a role model. She had never felt happier.
And now, though the circumstances were grave, a small part of Derpy knew that wherever Muffin was, dead or alive, she was safe and happy, and she was thinking of Derpy. And really, as long as Muffin was happy, so was Derpy.
There was a sudden knock at the door. Derpy moved away from her thoughts and walked towards the door. She pulled it open and smiled.
"Hi Rain-bow Dash! Hi Flut-tershy!" Derpy said.
"Hi Derpy! We're here to help bake and bring muffins to Scootaloo's Flight School," Rainbow Dash said with a smile. Derpy stepped back and let her new friends enter. Muffin may be gone, but the happy feeling she always emitted was left behind. And that is what Derpy needed most.
Derpy led the two pegasi into the kitchen. Rainbow Dash began to pack up the already baked muffins, while Fluttershy began to tidy the kitchen. Derpy smiled and walked back to where her dough sat, waiting for her. She picked up the rolling pin and began humming to herself as she rolled out the dough.
Muffins always made her happy.