//------------------------------// // But It's Not Funny // Story: Drip Drop // by Silver Thread //------------------------------// The wetness of the clouds just barely touched her hooves as she sat there, staring down at Ponyville below. Ponyville...this little village she called home. She sighed. Could this really be considered her home? Derpy let her shoulders fall, wings limp on her body as a mist caressed her flank. "Oh..." A hummed, sad sigh came from the throat of the defective pony. She had to face it, she didn't really belong here. When she tried, she'd just...got in the way of everypony. Closing her eyes she remembers her first day, showing up at that party, holding her breath as she tried to forget that there would never be a party for her. It'd be easy enough, sure...but Pinkie might not stop at a party. Derpy didn't need someone prying into her past. The periwinkle pegasus turned her head to the east, to the nearest open waters. Not her favorite place to go, but an option none-the-less. And with that single thought, she turned, haunches and legs leaping unsteadily from her cloud-perch, her wings catching wind rather easily. The mist made it rather unpleasant, chilling her to the bone, but she pushed past. There was only way for her to cheer up. The open sea. --- "Can you say your name?" The pegasus filly tilted her head up at her mother, mouth parted. Relatives had gathered to chatter, and currently she was in the spotlight. "Say, 'Drip Drop'. Come on, dear, say it, say 'Drip' and 'Drop'." Gentle eyes fluttered and she cooed at her child. The filly looked blankly but her good eye looked down, and up again. "Deh. Ba.. Dadeh.. Derder?" The relatives tried to pitch in, her grandpappy pony saying, "Drip Drop the Drippy Droppy!" "Derpa?" Her aunt just barely chuckled, with her mother wincing at her sister's lack of consideration. "Ha. She said Derp. They say the fates know before anyone else, you know?" Though she had attempted to keep a pleasant, kind vocal tone, Drip Drop's mother nuzzled at her filly before snapping her head at her sister. The mare's voice cracked with pent-up anger, "Just because you can't conceive doesn't mean you have to taunt the one of us who actually CAN. My," she clears her throat, "my filly is perfectly fine! Aren't you, Drip Drop?" Completely oblivious, Drippy sucked at her hoof, chewing at it barely, as she stared up at her mother...and at the wall. A point which made her aunt look at her with condescension. The mare walked towards the window, and quickly went aloft and away. Grandpappy began to speak, "Don't worry abo.." "HOW COULD I NOT?" Drip Drop's mother was red-faced, all legs shaking and at the point of collapse. Still, she stood tall, "All she ever does is try and beat me. She LOST. I have a FILLY! A precious, wonderful, VERY SPECIAL FILLY!!!" Her voice avalanched cloud droplets from the home, disappearing into the air. The gathering went quiet. "Derpa?" The filly said confusedly, blankly. "Drip Drop. Please..." her mane covered her face, pockmarks in the cloud below her head as her voice wavered, strongly but brokenly, "My...my precious angel...Drip Drop..." --- Too lost in thought, as per usual, Derpy barreled forward, wings fast but inadequately built for the air. The flimsy, aged structure never had a chance. Town Hall was met with more than its architecture could handle. Beams holding the dome-top began to creak from the crash, and Derpy could only listen, dazed, halfway through the roofing as the creaking turned to a loud CRACK... She pulled away just in time to watch the dome-top of Town Hall fall in on itself. Her mind blanked. It curled back in on itself, in a defensive way, as she puckered her lips to hold her breath and forget what just happened. Derpy stared at the wreckage. She unfortunately knew exactly who was needed. Flying up to a beautiful rainbow home, she found Rainbow Dash relaxing. The ashamed pegasus cleared her throat. "Hey Dash?" As always, her voice came out as though nothing was hurting inside of her. And nothing was anymore, she had forgotten it, hidden it all away. Rainbow Dash looked at her with an analyzing face...then disappointment, as she fell back staring at the ceiling. "What nowww?" --- Derpy made sure to grab a darker cloud as they headed back to the Town Hall, where the preparations for Applejack's going-away ceremony were originally going to be held. The cloud rumbled a little, and she was glad Dash didn't know she was bringing it on purpose. Something inside told her she needed it. It would be better they think she was dull than to let them know she was broken.