//------------------------------//
// Capitulo Dos 
// Story: Kick about! Los Lobos! 
// by Dirty Bit 
//------------------------------//


Capitulo Dos


Qualifications


Derpy trotted outside with a spring in her step while Starrk followed lazily behind as he looked around at his new 'home'. The former Espada almost felt dizzy seeing so many vibrant colors at once, and on the many residents of Ponyville to boot.

"Hey, Derpy!"

The two pegasi looked to see another pegasus mare approach them, only she had a jasmine coat and a blue mane and tail. Her cutie mark was three raindrops. She smiled at Derpy "Morning!" She blinked over at Starrk "Who's your friend?"

Derpy smiled "Hey, Raindrops! This is gonna be our newest mailpony! His name is Coyote Starrk! He's staying with me and my daughters for the time being!" The former Espada gave a curt nod in greeting.

Raindrops tilted her head with a puzzled expression "Coyote Starrk? That's a pretty weird name..." She then smiled "But it's good to have an extra set of hooves over at the workplace! We've been getting so many mail requests nonstop! Why don't we get going?" She unfurled her wings and began to hover. Derpy joined her friend as the two took to the air.

Derpy looked down at Starrk with a smile "C'mon, Starrky! The post office is just a few blocks north from here! We can get there faster if you fly!"

Starrk shrugged and jumped into the air, seeing if he can easily walk on it like he had before in his previous life. Sadly, he noticed he fell and quickly positioned himself to land on his legs. He grunted and looked down 'So I lost that ability...' He then perked up "Wait a minute..." Starrk remembered his wings as he looked at them unfurl and hummed to himself 'This won't be too bad, I suppose...' He then lifted himself up with his wings and managed to catch up to Derpy and Raindrops as the trio flew together.

Raindrops looked over at Starrk "So, Starrk, where are you from?"

Derpy answered for the former Espada "Some place that sounds like a tasty taco!"

Starrk held an unamused glance from Derpy's answer, but then looked ahead and noticed a two-story building on the ground with an envelop over the doorframe. He turned to Derpy "Is that the post office?"

Derpy smiled "Yup yup! That's where me and Raindrops work, and you, too! This is gonna be so great! My first day as an employer, and we get to work side-by-side as frie-" The sound of booming static reached Derpy's ears, interrupting her gushing, as she turned to see that Starrk was not next to her "Starrky? Where'd you go!?" She said to herself as she darted her head around in surprise.

Raindrops stopped and looked around as well "What in the hay happened just now!?" She blurted out in confusion.
_____

At the post office, Post Haste wore his blue mailpony outfit and hummed a tune as he trotted his way over towards the front entrance "Another day, another set of mail to be deliver-" Starrk appeared in front of the stallion in a blur and caused him to yelp and rear onto his hindlegs in surprise. He then fell back shortly after as he looked at the former Espada's lazy expression "Wha-...Who are you, sir?"

Starrk stared at the post office, then turned to the bewildered stallion on his right "Hm? Oh, I'm just here to get a job..." He replied in his laidback tone as he trotted his way inside.

Post Haste blinked as he watched him go inside "A job? Who is that stallion?" He muttered to himself.

"Starrky!"

Post Haste perked up and looked around at the voice he heard. He then noticed a concerned Derpy and Raindrops flying towards him and landing next to him. The wall-eyed mailmare spoke "Hi, Post Haste! Have you seen Starrky anywhere? He was just right next to me and Raindrops!"

Post Haste blinked "Who's Starrky?"

Derpy smiled "He's a nice looking pegasus that looks like he's ready to go sleep again! We were just flying with him here!"

Raindrops frowned at Derpy "You don't think he ditched us, did he?"

The lanky stallion noted each feature and spoke "You mean that stallion that appeared in front of me just now?" He turned to the post office's entrance "He just went inside saying he was looking for a job!"

Derpy smiled "Wow! He IS fast! Thanks for the help, Post Haste! Now I just gotta find Crafty Crate and get things settled!" She galloped inside without another word.

Raindrops blinked "Fast? Derpy, wait up!!" The jasmine pegasus galloped after her friend.

Post Haste picked himself up and stared blankly at the two mailmares going inside "What's going on right now?"
_____

Starrk trotted through the office and reached the receptionist's desk. A short-sighted earth pony wearing glasses and a mailpony's outfit was reading a book, not noticing the former Espada was even around. Starrk slightly furrowed his eyebrows as he spoke "Hey."

The stallion hummed in question and set down his book. He adjusted his glasses and peered his eyes open to see Starrk standing at the desk and smiled "Why hello there, stranger! How can I help you today?"

Starrk replied "I'm here for a job at this place. Where do I begin?"

The stallion craned his head back "Huh? Well, I dunno if you should be coming to me! You should talk to Crafty Crate and see what he says!"

"Wait!"

The two stallions looked to see Derpy and Raindrops approach them while catching their breath. Derpy then perked up "Oh, 'scuse me!" She galloped back towards the entrance and punched in her time card. Raindrop caught on to her own mistake and did the same. Afterwards, they went back to the two stallions as Derpy spoke "Anyways, Mr. Zippy, we were just on our way to see him! Starrky here's gonna be our new recruit!"

Starrk shot a bitter look at Derpy "Don't call me that..."

Mr. Zippy straightened his glasses at the former Espada "You don't say! Well, he don't really look the part with that unenthusiastic look in his eyes!"

Raindrops turned to look at Starrk and frowned "I see where Mr. Zippy's coming from. Not only does he look as scruffy as our boss, he's probably lazy, too..."

Derpy smiled "That'll change once we get him working! Let's head over to Crafty's office!" The three pegasi trotted off, Derpy taking point, as they made for another door with the words 'Crafty Crate' on a small plaque resting on the door.

They went inside, and there was a large pegasus stallion with a five o' clock shadow and a black cap jotting down words on paper. He looked up when he heard the door open "Good to see you two, girls. Ready for another day?"

Derpy nodded with a giddy smile "More than you know, boss! And the best part is, I brought another worker!"

Crafty Crate held a hoof to his chin "Really now? Let's take a look at the new pony!" Derpy and Raindrops made way for Starrk as he took a few steps forward. He looked at Crafty Crate with his usual lazy expression. The foreman was instantly uninterested as he looked back at him "Derpy...Who's this?" He asked in an unamused tone while he frowned at Starrk.

Derpy grinned "Our new mailpony! He's a super-fast pegasus named Coyote Starrk! If you give him a job here, we could get more stuff delivered in little time!"

Crafty squinted his eyes at Starrk "Really...Okay, Starrk. Ignoring Derpy's recommendation, what are your qualifications to give you work here?"

Starrk frowned "I have Sonido and a good amount of strength. Is that enough?"

Crafty scoffed "Is that it? I mean, have you had previous jobs anywhere in Ponyville, or Equestria for that matter?"

Derpy gave a sad frown at Crafty "Please, boss, give Starrk the job!" She pleaded "He was homeless before, and he has a child! He needs this job!"

Raindrops was surprised "He has a child?" She turned to Starrk "Was there some kind of falling out with your wife?"

Starrk turned to Raindrops with a frown "I'm not married. I don't want to get into it..."

Crafty Crate rubbed his chin "A stallion down on his luck with a kid, eh? Never thought I'd see one in Ponyville of all places..." He rose from his seat and examined Starrk up close "Starrk, right? How about I give you a little test to see if you're the right stallion for the job?"

Starrk instantly replied "As long as I get it over with. I want to go take a nap." He stated flatly.

Crafty chuckled "So we got ourself a male Rainbow Dash here, eh? Let's step outside and issue your test and see if you're good enough..." He trotted towards his door.

Derpy frowned "Umm, boss? I've only found Starrky just the other night in Whitetail Woods. He doesn't exactly know Ponyville very well!"

Crafty turned to Derpy "Are you taking back what you said about him being a good mailpony?"

Derpy flinched and bit her lower lip "I-I...-"

"He can use my map!"

The group of pegasi turned to Raindrops as she pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper with her mouth and placed it on the desk "Just give him a minute to look this over and he'll get the gist of who to deliver mail to!"

Derpy smiled "Or better yet, since I'm the one that recommended him, I can supervise his progress and report back to you!"

Crafty casted a skeptical glance at Derpy "It's one thing to trust you when delivering mail of all kinds, but can I trust you to be a supervisor for a new employee?"

Raindrops trotted next to him "I can be an assistant supervisor! You can count on us, boss!" She smiled at Derpy and Starrk.

Crafty sighed "You gals are persistent with this, aren't you? Fine..." He pulled out a bag of mail and draped it over Starrk's midsection "This is some of today's haul that needs to be delivered to the following residents in Ponyville. If he manages to get them all correct AND in perfect timing, he gets the job! But his performance better check out. I mean it..." He casted a warning glare that made Derpy droop her ears back.

The wall-eyed mailmare gulped "Yes sir..." She then turned to her friends "C'mon, you two! Let's get going!" Derpy and Raindrops galloped outside while Starrk merely trotted at his own pace.
_____

Derpy fished out one of the envelopes given to Starrk and read the address "Hmmmm...Oh, this must be Davenport's water bill! His place is easy to spot!"

Starrk looked around "Where does he live?"

Raindrops pointed a hoof to Starrk's right, pointing to a very distant building with a sign containing a quill and sofa "Where else? He lives in his own shop!"

Derpy placed the letter in Starrk's teeth and smiled "All you gotta do is go over there and place that letter in the mailbox and move onto the next one!"

Starrk stared at the letter in his mouth, then at the distant building and sighed as he blurred out of existence as the sound of booming static was heard. Derpy and Raindrops were instantly startled as they looked around.

Meanwhile, Starrk appeared in front of the quill and sofa shop and noticed the mailbox next to it 'Well, at least I don't have to kill people all the time...' He said as he trotted over and placed the letter in the mailbox. The former Espada then looked back where he came from 'I definitely shouldn't be moving around when I don't even know this place entirely...' He then activated his Sonido and met back with the two mailmares, causing them to jump as he stood with his lazy expression "Done..."

Raindrops was slackjawed "That only took three seconds for you to go all the way there and all the way back!? You really ARE fast!!" She beamed "If you know Ponyville like the back of your hoof, then this job will be easy picking for you!"

Derpy smiled, then perked up with a brightened grin as she hovered in the air "Lightbulb!!!"

Starrk stared up in confusion at Derpy "...What?"

Raindrops gave an embarrassed grin "That means she has an idea..."

Derpy swooped down to Starrk and gave a small hug "What if I just pull out each letter and show you where to go and you can easily report back to me? Then, when you're not busy, I can show you around Ponyville so you know where to go the next day!!"

Starrk felt uncomfortable being hugged by Derpy, even if she gave him and Lilynette a place to stay. He lightly pushed himself away from Derpy and grunted "As long as it helps us, then I won't argue..."

Raindrops smiled "Cool! Then why don't we get started on the next letter?"

Derpy smiled "Yeah! Let's go into the sky so Starrky can get a better view!" The three pegasi went into the air. While it was good he would possibly get a new job, Starrk remained unenthusiastic about how he had to do it. When they reached a good height, Derpy fished out another note and read it "This next one goes to Sweet Apple Acres! Which is~..." She points to a farmland just outside of Ponyville "Over there!" Derpy gave Starrk the letter, and he instantly winked out for a moment, then easily returned "Wow, Starrky!! Keep this up and you'll be employee of the month in no time!"

Raindrops smiled "You know, for a father who appears lazy, you sure know how to work!!"

Starrk frowned "I've worked before, just not here. Hand me another note..."
_____

Derpy presented the empty mailbag on Crafty's desk "He's done!" She chirped happily.

Crafty stared dumbfounded at the bag "Done? But it's only been an hour!" He said in disbelief as he grabbed and examined the bag with his forelegs.

Raindrops shook her head with a smug smile "She's not kidding around, boss! Feel free to check the bag!"

Crafty never thought he would see such a sight shortly after giving out a decent test as he noticed the mailbag was completely empty "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle..." He rose from his chair and held out a hoof to Starrk with an eager grin "Congratulations, Starrk! You got the job! You'll be delivering full-time starting tomorrow!" He proclaimed with joy. Finally, he will have a more productive worker in his fold.

Starrk held out his own hoof and shook it with Crafty's while Derpy and Raindrops cheered as they jumped up and down. The former Espada did not realize how big of a deal it was to get a simple job around this town 'I wonder if Lilynette's having any luck of her own...'


To be continued...