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One day, Derpy met a pony...
She was working for a litterbug service at the time, going from place to place picking up trash. There was always work because, even though they were everywhere, there were always ponies too lazy to find a trash can. Most ponies employed the service usually would go so mad with boredom they'd quit after a few weeks. Derpy was fine picking up litter, though, and she'd been there a few months. The only accident she'd had there was when she stabbed herself in the hoof with her pointy stick, which it hurt a lot... the tetanus shot hurt a lot more, though.
There were a few new co-workers. Mostly Pegasus, as they were the best since they could scale trees or the top of hills in a matter of seconds. They kept to themselves and seemed to be doing an okay job... they had a slightly less experienced Pegasus to guide them, but he didn't know everything. Derpy had been there the longest and she knew things he didn't. She tried to give them some helpful advice on where to look, but they told her to buzz off and called her names, like “blind,” “ditsy,” and “retard”. Those words always hurt...
There was one light gray earth pony in the new group who naturally couldn't keep up with the flying. He seemed disinterested in the cocky Pegasi from the get go. Much like Derpy on her first day, he'd been given little instruction -- just a quadrant of the park to clean. He kept his head down, jabbed the litter, and put it away in his sack as he went. The Pegasi weren't all going to want to clean the trails when they could see the park from all the wonderful angles and perspectives he could only dream...
Recognizing his chestnut mane, Derpy flew up to him. After introducing herself and offering him help as an experienced trash collector, his face lit up.
“My name is Cloudfire,” he replied, with smile. “I'm surprised to find a nice Pegasus here.”
“Yeah,” said Derpy. “Let's collect together... I can show you all sorts of places you'd never think to look!”
“I would appreciate that... they didn't tell me anything other than clean the place up well as we're getting paid by the weight." Cloudfire rolled his eyes.
Derpy giggled as together they trotted off into the depths of their quadrant. She showed him many of the most accessible places ponies would commonly dump trash, but the Pegasi wouldn't think to check: places beneath structures, under stairs, behind buildings, by trees and roots near picnic tables, in grass, in cracks, and beneath monuments.
By the end of their 4 hour shift, they'd filled 8 huge bags a piece with garbage ranging from potato chip bags and juice boxes, to cigarette butts. Their co-workers had only 4 bags a piece, but they had more diverse trash... such as tackle boxes and soda cans that had washed up on one of the nearby islands, broken lost toys, and even clothes and jewellery. Because their stuff weighed more, they were to be given bigger bonuses back at the station... and were gloating their successes over the wall-eyed misfit and her new friend the whole way there.
Cloudfire was used to Pegasus looking down on him. Unicorn, too. Derpy was used to EVERYPONY looking down on her... being teased didn't bother her any more. Together, once they arrived, they left the proud ponies who were on their way to the bar to spend their bonus. Neither Derpy nor Cloudfire liked to drink. Thought it better to save their money.
“Are you new here, Cloudfire?” Asked Derpy as together they strolled through Ponyville.
“Yes, I am.” He said. “I've been here two weeks and it seems like a pretty good place... I don't know my way around all that well yet, though.”
“Go see Pinkie Pie if you want a good tour! She's really funny.”
“I might do that...” Cloudfire smiled. “If I could fly up high like a pegasus and look down on everything I'd probably know Ponyville really well by now...”
“Flying can be fun,” said Derpy,” but it's really not all it's cracked up to be.”
Cloudfire looked at her.
“I... have a tendency to make other Pegasus mad when I fly. I sometimes crash into them.”
Derpy looked to the ground as she said that. Cloudfire responded with a comforting nuzzle.
“I can't imagine what that must be like...” He said. “I know what'd make us both feel better... how about we go get something to eat?”
“Let's go to Sugar Cube Corner!” Replied Derpy. “They're still open and Pinkie Pie works there!”
“That sounds like fun... you really like this Pinkie Pie gal.”
“She's one of the Mane 6!” Said Derpy. “They've saved Ponyville and Equestria so many times!”
Again, Cloudfire's face lit up:
“You know the Mane 6...? I'm impressed.”
Derpy just giggled. There was a lot the two had yet to learn about each other. All in due time, though, all in due time...