//------------------------------// // Prompt #419: Express // Story: Ponywatching // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// The bell of the Ponyville Schoolhouse clanged out its final chorus for the day, telling the young ponies, and their teacher, that school was finished both for the day and the week. Among the last to leave were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, two of the three making plans for the weekend. “And so I was thinkin’ we could all go to Sugarcube Corner. They’re having a baking contest, anypony welcome, and five bits gets you all the cake you can eat once the thing is done, and you know that Pinkie’s gonna bring her A-game this time,” said Apple Bloom, “So I was thinkin that I’d tried baking, but neither of you have, so maybe one of your cutie marks might be in cooking.” “I dunno Apple Bloom,” said Sweetie Belle, “The last time I went into the kitchen at Rarity’s, she told me that I was to never go in there again. What about you, Scootaloo?” Scootaloo, however, was grumbling something about her parents. Apple Bloom poked the pegasus in the side. “What? Oh, the baking contest. Yeah, I don’t think I can get in,” said Scootaloo, shaking her bit pouch upside down for affect. “No bits.” “What about your allowance?” asked Sweetie Belle, “couldn’t you ask your parents for it early?” “Nah,” sighed Scootaloo, “after I wrecked my last scooter, my mom told me I couldn’t have my allowance until it had paid for the replacement. It’s gonna be a while before I get it back. Don’t think baking’s my thing anyway. You two have fun at the baking contest, though.” Shrugging, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both waved Scootaloo goodbye, and bolted off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. Scootaloo sighed again, and hopped on her scooter, and began to roll home. If only she had another source of bits, instead of being completely reliant on her parents. She knew that Sweetie Belle had a part-time job at a small theatre in town. Maybe she could look into something like that to earn a bit more spending money. “Hey there,” said a voice from above Scootaloo. She looked up. “Gah!” Two bright yellow eyes were staring at her, completely upside down and less than half a meter from her face. “Whoops, my bad,” said the voice behind the eyes, “lemme just, hang on, I had this a minute ago, come on work internal sense of direction, WHOOP!” At the last cry, Scootaloo dove out of the way as a grey shape smacked into the ground where she had just been. A minute later, the shape stood up and dusted itself off. “You’re Derpy, right?” asked Scootaloo, “Derpy Hooves?” “Ditzy Doo is my actual legal name, but yes, a lot of ponies call me ‘Derpy’,” said Ditzy, blinking her eyes into something resembling level. “You deliver our mail. I’ve seen you flying around town,” said Scootaloo. “Yep!” said Ditzy, one hoof fumbling in her saddlebag, “So I sort of heard what you were saying to yourself about your friend having a part-time job and all...” “What?” said Scootaloo. “Yeah, you were talking to yourself. First sign of going crazy, that,” said Ditzy, her eyes drifting to opposite corners of her skull, “anyway, I overheard, and I think I might be able to help. I’ve seen you on that scooter of yours, zipping around town. You’re pretty fast on that thing.” “Heh, thanks!” said Scootaloo. Just as she was about to start on how awesome she was on the scooter, a piece of paper was shoved in her face. “You have an hour to follow that route,” said Ditzy, from behind the paper, as Scootaloo pulled it off her face, “No wandering, no shortcuts, and you have to stop and check every mailbox along the way, both sides of the street. I’ll see you at the end.” Ditzy smiled, and pushed herself back into the air. “Depth perception, do not fail me now!” cried Ditzy, as she flew off down the street. Seconds later, she smacked into a tree. “...dang.” Scootaloo grinned. This would be easy. ******** Forty-seven and a half minutes later, Scootaloo slid her scooter to a stop right outside Fluttershy’s cottage, panting and puffing. Ditzy Doo, by contrast, looked just as fresh as she had at the start, and was finishing off an apple as she clicked stop on her timer. “Not bad, for doing it on a route you’d never seen before,” said Ditzy. “Not bad?” panted Scootaloo, almost falling off her scooter, “that was the fastest I’ve ever gotten here.” “As I said,” said Ditzy, “not bad. You still didn’t beat me here. I’ve been here for seven minutes. Anyway.” Ditzy pulled Scootaloo off her scooter, and sat her on the ground. “Here’s the deal, Scootaloo. The post office needs a few ponies to help run express mail. You’d be great for it, I think. I can get you a part time position, but it’s going to involve a few really early mornings, especially while you’re still in school.” “How early?” groaned Scootaloo. “The kind where you leave your house while it’s still dark,” said Ditzy. Scootaloo groaned again, and then considered what she was being offered. “Fine,” she said, “just have to clear this with my parents.” “Already done,” chirped Ditzy, “I’ll come and get you tomorrow morning.” Scootaloo groaned again, but comforted herself with the fact that this was for money.