Two ponies were standing around, one minding a market stall and the other just hanging out because she had nothing better to do.
“Carrot Top, do you ever wonder what’s real?” said the cross-eyed pegasus.
“No, Derpy, no I don’t,” said the earth pony.
“Oh… okay then.”
Derpy always pondered that question.
Derpy looked around herself. Pegasi flew thru the air on wings much too small to let them fly. Unicorns lifted objects using their mind. She even saw an Earth pony lift more than it looked like she should be able to, without exerting much effort too. Everything she saw around her she had been told was impossible or that it didn’t exist. Or had she? Maybe here was real and over there was the dream.
She guessed she wouldn’t ever know.
“So Derpy,” said Carrot Top, “What have you been up to lately? Seeing anyone?”
“What? Uh, no…” said Derpy.
“You’re going grey old mare someday instead of just a grey one. Heck, I’m the same age as you and already married with two children.”
“Sometimes I feel younger than I am.”
“That’s good, hold on to that. Does you no good if you mope around.”
‘I don’t know, teenagers mope around a lot,’ thought Derpy.
“Yeah,” said Derpy.
Things were suddenly silent. Carrot Top liked to ask that question every once in a while. She meant well, but she didn’t know of Derpy’s plight. The plight she never shared.
What was real?
“Mommy! Mommy!” said a tiny blond unicorn that was being trailed by an older purple-maned one.
“Dinky, Amethyst, you’re just in time to help me close up shop,” said Carrot Top smiling.
“Aw butts!” said Dinky, the smaller one.
Derpy couldn’t but have her spirits lifted at the sight of Carrot Top’s children, sometimes she felt like a second mother to them.
“Now now, don’t you want to help make things easier for your mother?” said Derpy.
Amethyst slid right on up to Derpy and wrapped one of her forelegs around her.
“Aw don’t mind her, she’s just in her lazy kid stage,” said Amethyst.
“And you’re in your lazy teen stage I bet,” said Derpy.
“Heh, maybe.”
Carrot Top turned her smiling face to Derpy.
“Want to join us for dinner again, Derpy?” said Carrot Top
Well she didn’t have anything better to do.
Dinner at Carrot Top’s always helped Derpy take her mind off things.
The entire family was there, the two daughters and the parents. The table was filled with a modest meal. Everypony had enough food for themselves and it was clear that the household wasn’t wanting for food. Derpy sat in between Amethyst and Carrot Top. Carrot Top sat across from her husband who was sitting next to their other daughter.
“-and that’s when we figured out the thing was out of ink!” said Written Script, Carrot Top’s husband, laughing.
He was the only one laughing.
“Um,” said Derpy, “if the paper was wet in the first place, doesn’t that mean you have another problem on top of that?”
Written Script’s chin fell to the table.
“Gee, I hadn’t thought of that,” said Written Script.
Carrot Top reached across the table to give him a gentle pat.
“So…” said Amethyst, “what did you do in school today, Dinky?”
Dinky puffed out her cheeks and scrunched up her face.
“Bluh! We just did boring stuff.”
“I’ll… take your word for it,” said Amethyst.
The table was silent, but that was only because nopony could think of what to say yet. Usually they were a lot more talkative; Derpy needed them to be or else her mind would start to wander.
“W-weather?” said Derpy.
“Oh, do you know what the weather will be like for the next few weeks? That’d be really helpful,” said Carrot Top.
Derpy answered in confidence, “Ye- no…” well she started with confidence.
“I know what the weather’s gonna be like,” said Dinky.
“Oh?” said Derpy and Carrot Top together.
“It’s gonna be butts!” said Dinky.
“You mean bad,” said Amethyst.
“It’s especially bad if it’s butts,” said Written Script.
Amethyst rolled her eyes.
‘Wish I could do that,’ thought Derpy.
“What makes it so butts?” said Derpy.
Amethyst looked grumpy. Dinky looked differently grumpy.
“It’s gonna- gonna be rainy,” said Dinky.
“Try not to stutter,” said Amethyst.
Dinky made an argumentative grunt.
“Some rain will be good for the garden,” said Carrot Top, “You don’t want mommy’s garden to dry out, do you?”
“I guess not,” said Dinky, ”Rain is still butts though.”
Derpy wished she could stick around here forever, but she had to be back home eventually.
Dinner at Carrot Top’s had ended and soon Derpy was alone in her house.
Having a place to herself was nice, but it didn’t help her tendency for her mind to wonder about her existence. She did everything to put her mind on something else from reading a book to smashing her head against the wall. It was a boring day for her, give her a break.
It wasn’t the usual time to do so, but she eventually resorted to trying to sleep.
Derpy went to sleep.
Derpy woke up.
She had been having the most vivid dream, if she had been dreaming that is.
It was still dark out; she had gotten up early.
Derpy went to the kitchen and poured herself something to drink.
“I hope I don’t feel tired when I go to school,” said the cross-eyed human.
“What are you doing up so late, young lady?” said Derpy’s mom.
“I can’t sleep,” said Derpy.
Derpy’s mom slapped her hand against her face.
“What am I going to do with you? You can’t sleep half the time and the other half you can’t wake up! Doesn’t help that you seem to be immune to both caffeine and sleeping pills,” said Derpy’s mom.
Derpy angled her head down dejectedly.
“I’m sorry,” said Derpy.
Her mom’s eyes widened then went back to normal.
“Oh sweetheart, I’m not mad at you. It’s just that sometimes it’s frustrating to deal with your sleep-related troubles,” said Derpy’s mom, “Now promise me that you’re going to hustle back to your room and try and get some sleep.”
“Okay,” said Derpy.
She had lied.
She did go to her room, but she didn’t try to sleep. She lied on her bed, looked at the ceiling, and thought about reality until it was time for her to get ready for school.