//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Plans For The Weekend // Story: Derpy: Overcoming Trials // by vincent5000x //------------------------------// (9_6) “Good morning everypony,” Derpy said, flashing her friends a warm smile. She couldn't help but feel refreshed after an entire weekend of quality time with her daughter, although Minerva didn't look as happy as she did. “That’s two weeks, Derpy!” Minerva huffed. At first, Derpy stared forward in confusion, trying her best to understand what her friend was talking about. Looking toward Carrot Top for a clue, Derpy was let down as the earth pony snored loudly from her seat, drool dripping onto her desk. “What are you talking about?” Derpy asked. “Your foal!” Minerva snapped. “I thought we were your friends, but apparently,” she continued, rolling her eyes with another huff, “we aren't good enough to get to meet your daughter.” “Is that it?” Derpy giggled as the unicorn crossed her forelegs in frustration. “You know you're allowed at my house whenever you want, nopony was stopping you!” “I know that,” Minerva sighed, rolling her eyes as Carrot Top snapped awake with a loud snort. “But I’d rather be invited to meet her, not just show up unannounced.” “Who meets what now?” Carrot Top asked as she wiped a bit of drool off her chin. “Minerva’s just complaining because she hasn't met Dinky yet,” Derpy told her friend. “Really?” Carrot Top looked at the unicorn with an oddly shocked stare, “what have you been doing for the past two weeks that you haven't been able to meet her?” “Family issues,” Minerva flatly said, turning to look in another direction. Derpy couldn't help but see her friend shudder slightly, “but it's settled now.” “Well, do you want to meet her today?” Derpy asked as the unicorn turned to face her again. “Sorry, but I have things I still have to do this week. So how about…” “Then why are you complaining about this now?!” Carrot Top interrupted. Ignoring Carrot, Minerva continued, a look of annoyance crossing her face, “... This weekend?” “Okay,” Derpy chuckled. “How about on Saturday afternoon? We can all hang out at my house or go to the park.” “That’d be nice,” Minerva said with a smile. “I’d bet Dilvent would like that too.” “Speaking of which,” Carrot Top interrupted, looking towards the stallions empty desk. “Where is he? Homeroom should be starting soon.” “It’s just homeroom,” Derpy interjected, “attendance doesn’t affect any of our grades. Maybe he got sick over the weekend and won't be able to come in today?” “Or maybe he’s talking to Shooting Star,” Minerva said as she looked towards the door. “What!?” Derpy snapped as she looked towards the room entrance. Like her friend had said, Dilvent was walking side by side with Shooting Star, a smile on the stallions face. “What are you doing?!” Derpy yelled, drawing the entire rooms attention. Normally, Derpy would sink back into her seat, embarrassed by the fact that she had drawn everyponies attention, but a rising anger was blocking out her sense of thought. “Derpy, he’s just talking to her,” Minerva quickly replied, trying her best to calm her friend down. “There shouldn't be anything wrong with that.” Derpy continued to stare at the two as Dilvent hastily finished his conversation and made his way over to the group. She couldn't help but take the happy smile he had as an insult. “Good morning, everypony!” Dilvent forced a chuckle as he noticed the stare Derpy was giving him. “Whatever it was, I swear I didn’t do it!” “So you weren't just being all friendly with that... That... gah?!” Derpy snapped. The bell rang, indicating the start of homeroom, but all that meant was another ten minutes of sitting around while her anger escalated. “Okay, so I was talking to Shooting Star,” Dilvent chuckled, smiling sheepishly. He began rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof as he looked down at the desk in front of him. “She just wanted my help with something.” Derpy quickly focused her gaze outside before she said something she didn't want to. She felt angry with her friend, but knew that she was overreacting. Breathing a loud sigh, she looked back at the stallion. “So what did she need help with?” “Sorry,” the stallion chuckled, “she kinda asked me not to tell you.” Dilvent sheepishly smiled again as he squirmed in his seat, “but its nothing to be worried about!” “Okay,” Carrot Top interjected. “Now I’m worried.” “You know what, I was about to let you see my daughter this weekend, but I don't know anymore.“ Derpy quickly turned and looked back out the window, hiding the smile on her face. Her anger towards her friend had faded, but felt that that threat would make him think twice about talking to the pegasus again. “I think you broke him again,” Minerva said, drawing Derpy’s attention back towards the stallion. Once again, he had his head stuck inside his jacket, talking to himself under his breath. But even though she didn't blame Dilvent for talking to Shooting Star, she couldn't sooth the anger of seeing one of her friends happily talking to a mare she hated almost as much as Glittering Gem. “Derpy, are you coming or not?” Minerva called from the doorway. “Oh, sorry,” Derpy sheepishly chuckled, realizing the bell for next period had rung while she sat thinking to herself. Getting up from her seat, Derpy followed her friends toward the next class. As the day continued, Derpy tried to push her worries out of her head and was ready to spend time with her daughter. She enjoyed spending her lunch period with her Dinky, even though she could use the time to catch up on some neglected homework. It was always worth the smile on Dinky’s face when she walked in. Unfortunately, she knew it couldn't continue forever. “Excuse me, Miss Lemonway?” Derpy called to the unicorn, directing her over towards the side of the room, “can I talk to you for a minute?” “Of course,” the unicorn replied, keeping her gaze on the foals as they ate. “Its just... I won't be coming to spend lunch with Dinky everyday anymore.” “Oh my, did something happen?” Lemonway asked. Derpy just chuckled and waved her worries away with a hoof. “No, its just that I don't think it's fair to come every day and spend time with Dinky when no other parents do,” Derpy responded, forcing a smile. “Derpy, there’s nothing wrong with you coming everyday to spend lunch with your daughter,“ Lemonway said with a serious tone. “I actually wish other parents would spend their lunch with their foals.” “I know, its just... I r-really have a lot of schoolwork I need to start catching up on and I really don't want to, but I think my best option is to do it during lunch.” “I understand,” Lemonway said with a caring smile. “You’ll still come every now and then though, right?” “Of course!” Derpy hadn’t meant to yell but, she really hated having her schoolwork pile up, and didn't want to neglect her daughter when they were at home just to finish a few questions of homework. “I still plan on coming every Friday.” “I understand,” the unicorn chuckled, placing a reassuring hoof on Derpy’s shoulder. “I know its hard being a mother at your age, but you’re doing very well.” “Well I... I’m trying my hardest.” Derpy couldn't help but blush at the compliment. “And that’s all anypony could ask for,” the mare continued, quickly catching a glance at a hanging wall clock. “Well, it looks like its that time once again, have a good day at school, Derpy!” “I will, thank you.” Derpy quickly rushed back to her waiting daughter, giving her a heartfelt hug and goodbye before rushing back to school. The rest of the day past by uneventfully as Derpy continued with her classes. Although, Dilvent seemed to have taken Derpy's threat from earlier seriously. He continued to seclude himself to the inside of his jacket throughout the day. “You do realize I didn't mean what I said earlier about not getting to meet Dinky, right?” “What?” Dilvent stuck his head back out into the open, the final bell of the day ringing. After a moment, a look of realization crossed his face. “Oh... I know that. I was just thinking about something else.” “And what would that be?” Minerva asked as she put the last of her books away. “What we talked about during lunch,” Dilvent sighed as he tossed his saddlebags on his back. For a moment, Minerva looked at Derpy with a expression between understanding and worry. “Am I missing something?” “Just me thinking, is all,” Dilvent quickly responded with a sheepish smile. Stealing a quick glance at the door, Dilvent quickly rushed to his hooves. “Oh, look at that... I gotta go... home,” Dilvent quickly said as he rushed towards the door. “There’s something wrong with that stallion,” Carrot Top muttered as she left the room, chuckling for some strange reason. Derpy watched as her two friends left the room, still confused. She couldn't help but wonder if she had done something worrisome. “Don't worry about him,” Minerva said, cutting into Derpy’s thoughts. “He’s just trying to help too many ponies at once again.” “For somepony who hates social interaction, he sure does worry a lot about other ponies problems,” Derpy sighed, grabbing her bags and heading for the door. (o^o) Dinky stared at the plate in front of her. She had never been given two muffins at once before. She couldn't help but feel a little worried. Especially with how worried her mother had looked for the past few hours. “Uh, Dinky?” the foals mother said, drawing her attention. Dinky could still see a look of worry and concern on her mothers face. “What’s wrong mommy?” Dinky tried to smile, hoping that it would help calm her mother down. “I won't be able to come to daycare for lunch everyday from now on.” “That’s okay mommy.” Dinky continued to smile at her mother. She had heard her talk to Miss Lemonway earlier and even though she didn't fully understand, she knew that it was something her mother didn't want to do, but had to do. “I’ll be okay.” (9_6) Derpy stared at her daughter through the few tears in her eyes, a wave of relief washing over her as Dinky continued to smile. Even though her daughter was too young to speak, she could tell that she was saying it was ok. “Thank you so much for understanding, muffin.” Derpy couldn't help but give her daughter a big loving hug. “But I promise to come every Friday.” “I’m not interrupting anything am I?” “Hi, Dad,” Derpy greeted as she let go of Dinky. The moment she was released, the young foal began eating the first muffin she could get her hooves on. “No, you're not interrupting. I was just telling Dinky how I won't be able to continue seeing her everyday at lunch.” “Homework finally catching up to you, I see,” the stallion chuckled, making his way to the kitchen fridge. “I never expected there to be so much,” Derpy replied as she took the partially eaten muffin from Dinky’s hooves and replaced it with a sippy cup of juice. “I'd rather work on most of it at school so that I don't have to worry about it here at home.” Derpy's father merely grunted a response, lifting a milk carton over his head and took several gulps. “Dad!? Use a cup, you're setting a bad example for Dinky!” “I am not,” the stallion huffed back, placing the milk back into the fridge. But as he was doing this, Derpy couldn't help but notice as Dinky tried to lift her sippy cup over her head, almost falling on her back in the process. (o^o) “Bye mommy, see you after you're done with school.” Dinky continued to wave as she watched her mother leave. She didn't like the idea of not seeing her for most of the day, but planned to do her best and make her mom proud. “Good morning Dinky,” Lily said as she made her way over towards Dinky. “You ok? You don't look so good.” “Mommy’s not coming to see me at lunch today.” Dinky couldn't help but slouch a little as she already began to miss her mother more than usual. “I just want today to be over with already.” (9_6) “So you're actually going to join us for lunch today?” Minerva looked at Derpy with a look of shock, a small grin crossing her lips. “Only because I have homework I need to get finished,” Derpy quickly responded as she and her friends entered the health room. “I’m still going on Fridays and days where I don’t have to worry about homework.” “Why not just do it at home, after school?” Dilvent asked, looking towards the chalkboard. “Because that means less time to spend with Dinky after school, I just think this will give me more time with her, since it’s twenty minutes going to and from the daycare already. If I use that time to get through my homework, then I figure I’ll get more time to spend with Dinky once we’re both home.” “Well, I guess that makes sense,” Dilvent replied. Again, he looked at the chalkboard, although when Derpy looked, she couldn't see anything. “What are you looking at?” Carrot Top asked first, also staring at the blank chalkboard. “Absolutely nothing at all,” the stallion chuckled in reply. “Alright class, take your seats,” Miss Dian said as she entered the room, the bell ringing just as she reached her desk. “Today we're going to continue our lesson on health plans.” Even as everypony began taking their seats, Derpy continued to watch her teacher. Ever since she had told her that she had a daughter, her teacher seemed to avoid her. By the time class had ended, Derpy decided to invite her teacher to meet Dinky that coming weekend as well. “Miss Dian?” Derpy called, everypony else already leaving for their next class. “Oh, Derpy,” Dian chuckled sheepishly, “how are you today?” “I’m very good, thank you for asking,” Derpy replied, noticing how her teacher still continued to avoid her gaze. “How are you?” “I’m fine, thank you,” the mare quickly replied, “you should quickly head to your next class Derpy, you wouldn't want to be late for... class?” “Oh, don’t worry, I just wanted to ask you a quick question is all,” Derpy replied, feeling a bit awkward. “I was wondering if you and your daughter would like to hang out this weekend?” “…” “I was hoping for a chance for you to meet Dinky,” Derpy began to say, “ and I’m sure your daughter would like it to. By what I know, they’re friends in daycare.” “…” “Miss Dian?” Derpy stared at her teacher, who in turn continued to stare blankly at her in return. “Okay…” Dian finally muttered, her eyes slightly glazed with confusion. “I guess if its for the foals, I’m ok with that.” “Thank you Miss Dian, I know Dinky is going to love getting to see her friend this weekend,” Derpy said with a smile. She was already planning to keep the whole thing as a surprise for Dinky. “Lets talk about this on Thursday, ok?” Dian sighed. “You really should head to your next class.” “Oh, you're right! Sorry about that,” Derpy chuckled as she rushed towards the door. “Have a good day!” As Derpy made her way towards the gym, she couldn't help but imagine the look on Dinky’s face when her friend surprised her with a visit. “Hopefully this will make up for not being able to see her everyday at lunch anymore,” Derpy said to herself as she made her way into the gym.