Derpy yawned heavily, the bags under her eyes evident. It had been another grueling day at work as a mailmare, and she’d promised Rainbow Dash that tomorrow she would help clear the sky. She figured that after that she’d be coming back to the weather patrol at least once a week, but she’d been on break for a while from the team because the ever-nearing spring holiday season had meant that many rabbit-related packages and cards were coming into Ponyville, and the post office was dwindling on employees. She grabbed the last couple envelopes and placed them in her saddlebag, straightening her mailmare hat as she took to the skies. It was nice to be able to get the final deliveries of the day done.
As she flew, Derpy couldn’t stop thinking about the events that had occurred in the past couple weeks. Though it seemed like yesterday, it had been almost a month since she’d spoken to the students of Cheerilee’s class. She was thankful that there hadn’t been much of an uproar that followed it. A few ponies had asked about it, but Derpy had simply brushed it off and changed the subject, grateful that most ponies complied and didn’t ask about it any further.
Cheerilee had come to her house the day after the presentation apologizing for everything that had happened. She explained that she hadn’t realized how much offense she had caused Derpy, and that it wasn’t like her to be that way. She was so used to being around children that she ended up treating Derpy like one, and she didn’t want to push her too much, as she was afraid that her eyes caused her more trouble than they really did. She confessed that she’d pitied Derpy, but that the simple pity evolved so rapidly that it had become a belief of incapability. Cheerilee also told her that she had been stressed out about the visit, and had wanted everything to go perfectly. She hadn’t realized how controlling she had gotten and how much stereotyping she was evoking until it was thrust right into her face. The many apologies that followed nearly drowned Derpy, and she knew that Cheerilee really was sorry. She forgave her and the two mares went out for lunch afterwards.
Everything’s fine, Derpy assured herself. So why am I still thinking about it?
She dipped her head to look down at a couple ponies on the streets, heading home from their work. A couple saw her and waved, and she smiled and waved back.
She suddenly realized why she was pining on the situation so much.
What if Cheerilee wasn’t the only pony who thought of me that way?
Derpy continued to wave at them, but her smile fell short. She didn’t want other ponies to pity her. She simply wanted respect and love from her peers. If she was going to have to prove to them that she was worth that, she would do it.
But how? That was the question. Derpy stored that thought in her mind for another time, promising to come back to it.
She had barely even noticed she was on her last delivery until she had arrived at the address. She looked up at the house, her heart skipping a beat. Looking back at the address, she checked to make sure it was written right, and that it had been addressed to the right pony. There was no mistaking it. She was in the right place.
Derpy Hooves found herself standing in front of her own home, the fireplace inside flickering softly and casting a glow on the building. She almost mechanically put the letter in the mailbox, but she stopped herself and walked inside, rushing upstairs and tossing the envelope onto her nightstand. She quickly got herself ready for bed. She was certain that after reading the contents of the letter, she would be heading straight to sleep.
It wasn’t long before she was back in her bedroom, flicking on her bedside lamp, sitting down on her bed, and opening up the envelope carefully so as not to rip the message inside. It certainly wasn’t a bill, she knew that, and the messy writing on the front puzzled her. Who could it be from? There was no return address, so it was certainly difficult to tell. Gently pulling the paper inside of the envelope out, she began to read.
Dear Derpy Hooves,
I know you don't really know me, but my name is Scootaloo. I'm in Dinky's class. Anyways, since Miss Cheerilee taught us how to write letters in class, I thought maybe I could write you one because I wanted to talk to you. I really liked your speech that you came and said to us last month. I know I should've written this letter sooner, but I was scared and didn't know what to say.
It really meant a lot to me when you talked about being yourself. I was very inspired by everything you said. You see, I'm kind of like you. I'm a pegasus who can't fly. Even though I know you can, I felt like everything you said the day you came in really applied to me too, because ponies bully me all the time for not being able to fly. When you said all the stuff you could do, I realized that maybe if I tried hard enough, I could fly. The doctors told me it's not impossible, but it isn't likely either. My wings are just too small to carry my weight. They told me I probably wouldn't ever be able to fly, but Rainbow Dash told me that Im just waiting for my gross-spurt or something like that. She said my wings are just charging up so that when I'm older they'll be bigger and stronger than everypony else's.
Ever since you came to my class, I've been practicing every day on my own. I'm doing exercises Rainbow Dash taught me. I almost asked Rainbow Dash to help me, but then I decided I wanted it to be a surprise! Wow, I can't wait to show her! She almost caught me practicing one time behind Carousel Boutique, but I hid as fast as I could! I decided that Applebloom and Sweetie Belle shouldn't know yet either, because I want it to be a surprise for everypony! I wanted to tell you though because I feel like you'd understand why I'm doing this. The one thing I remember you said that stuck to me the most was: “I may have to work harder than everypony else, but that just makes me stronger, right?” The day you came to my class, I almost didn't come. There are bullies at school who were really mean to me the day before, and I didn't want to come to school because I thought they were gonna be mean again. I was really scared. My mom said that I should go to school because today would be an easy day. We weren't learning much, but a pony was coming to speak to us in class. I cried a lot, but don't tell Applebloom and Sweetie Belle that. They'd think I was a chicken! So I toughed it out and came to school.
That morning I got bullied by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They are really mean and pick on me Applebloom and Sweetie Belle because we don't have our cutiemarks. It makes me really sad. I didn't cry, but I yelled at them for being meanies, and Miss Cheerilee got mad at me and Applebloom and Sweetie Belle-- even though we didn't do anything. I wanted to go home. But, I did what my mom told me and toughed it out. At lunchtime, I tried to practice flying again. I played "Wonderbolts" with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. It's this game where we all pretend to be Wonderbolts, and I was Rainbow Dash! Even though she's not a Wonderbolt, she's awesome enough to be one! So we played Wonderbolts and then Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon started making fun of me. They said I couldn't possibly be Rainbow Dash because I couldn't fly. This time I didn't say anything and lunch ended before I knew it. We went into the classroom and Miss Cheerilee introduced you. You started speaking and I didn't know what to think because you sounded sad. You sounded like you didn't want to be there. But then suddenly you sounded passionate about what you were saying. You talked about being yourself and standing up to bullies. I was so surprised by how you stood up for yourself. After you left I decided I had to do that too!
School ended and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon came up to me. They started bullying me but I told them to leave me alone. They wouldn't stop and I told them that I didn't care about what they said. I knew that I had great potential and that I'm me and they couldn't change that. I told them that I was stronger than them because I strived to be me. Oh gee, you should've seen the looks on their faces! Their loud mouths had never been that still their entire lives!
I'm not really sure what else to say other than thank you. I know Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon aren't done with me yet, but I am certain that they won't be bothering me for a while. Your words really helped me strive to be a better me. I hope you can come back soon!
Sincerely,
Scootaloo
Derpy lowered the letter from her face, tears forming in her eyes. Sniffling a little, she neatly placed the letter on her nightstand, flicked out her lamp, and lay down. She drifted off into sleep with a gentle smile on her face, one that not even Celestia's magic could erase.