The Sun Is Shining
It was an early morning in Ponyville, and the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, casting golden beams along the land. Dew still hung tightly to the grass, and a slight chill gripped the air of the small town. Like usual, the masterpiece that the sunrise had painted across the sky was scored by the chirping of birds, just recently awoken and ready to begin their daily hunt for lazy worms. All around the town was quiet, with the exception of a number of small farmers on the outskirts of Ponyville, who woke up before the sunrise to get an early start on their morning chores. In another remote corner of the town, another sound joined in the chorus.
The slam of a door opened hastily, but with enthusiasm, echoed forth into the young morning. Standing in the doorway posed a proud pegasus. Grey fur lay sleek against her coat, and nearly-perfectly preened feathers gently ruffled against a slight draft that took the open door as an invitation. The glint of flight goggles were nestled in a mess of blonde mane, and a slightly worn, though well loved, mailbag lay snugly against her side. Her steely eyes looked out into the morning before her stoically, as though daring the world before her to get in her way. The look was only made slightly less steely by the fact that one of her eyes was glaring less towards the morning before her than at the grass at her feet. She took in a deep breath, gathering herself for a moment before jumping headlong into the adventure she called 'Today'. A poke at her flank broke her out of her reverie.
Blinking, she turned to look behind her, where she saw her adoptive daughter Sparkler.
"Hey Mom, it's after 7. Shouldn't you get going?"
Though her sputtering and flailing, and subsequent stumbling in her hurry to get on her way were perhaps more than slightly clumsy, she was no less determined to face the day ahead of her head on!
Grabbing her list of deliveries for that day from her mail bag, Derpy began quickly scanning through the names of ponies for whom she had mail. The first name on her list was Rainbow Dash. Derpy brightened up immediately, a smile adorning her face. Rainbow Dash was one of her best friends, and she had mail for her! She was going to be so happy!
Banking right and turning towards the direction of Rainbow’s cloud house (or at least in the direction she thought it was), Derpy quickly made a beeline towards her first delivery of the day. As she sped over the town below her, she noticed the abundance of clouds the condensation from the previous night had left behind.
“Boy, Rainbow sure is going to have a lot of work for her today.”, Derpy thought with a slight frown. Rainbow Dash was super cool though! Just like Derpy! Or at least how Derpy thought she could be. Spying a cloud dead ahead of her, Derpy stuck one forehoof out ahead of her and began frantically flapping her wings. As she shot towards the cloud, her tongue stuck out in concentration. She imagined herself as her prismatic friend, speeding around without even a second thought, ready to pound every cloud in the sky into submission in just 10 seconds flat. Powerful wingbeats propelled her straight forward and into the cloud. As she felt its impact against her hoof, courtesy of her innate pegasus magic, she smirked. How could a mere cloud possibly stand up to a strong pegasus like her!
The answer to that question proved to be, 'quite easily', as Derpy’s momentum was quickly reduced to zero. The obstinate cloud, who clearly had no intentions of leaving so early in the morning sprang back into shape, flinging the surprised pegasus back out in the direction she came. Spiraling helplessly out of control, Derpy bounced into another cloud behind her. The receiving cloud similarly bounced her away again before evaporating into nothingness. Derpy bounced around several more times, clearing a decent portion of the sky around her before a much less comfortable looking tree appeared to be her next destination.
“Whoa!”
Derpy heard a shout in the distance, before feeling two powerful legs wrap around her a few seconds after. Opening her eyes, Derpy looked up into the bemused gaze of her friend, Rainbow Dash. Glancing to the side, she saw the aforementioned tree just a few feet next to them.
“You alright there, Derpy?”, Rainbow asked, an eyebrow lowered in concern.
“Oh, uh, yeah! I’m fine Rainbow Dash! How are you?”, Derpy replied cheerfully, feeling not at all awkward being cradled like a foal in her friends hooves. Seeing as her friend most likely had her balance by now, Rainbow let her go, allowing her slightly clumsy friend take to the air again.
Rainbow giggled, “I’m doing fine, Derpy. What were you doing out there? Playing pinball with the clouds?” Derpy blushed slightly at the comment, and rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment.
“Heh, no. I was just looking for you actually! You got some mail!”. Derpy reached into her mail sack, and pulled out an envelope that was addressed to Rainbow Dash. Handing it proudly to the pegasus before her, Derpy smiled gleefully again at another job well done!
Rainbow took the letter before smiling at Derpy. “Thanks Derpy! I appreciate it! Sorry to run, but we’ve actually got a small shower we’re supposed to be setting up today. I’m gonna have to go snag a few more clouds from the Everfree to cover up here.” Rainbow said, motioning to the now mostly cleared sky that Derpy had cleared.
Derpy gasped in realization, “Oh no! I’m so sorry Rainbow Dash! I didn’t mean to make more work for you.” Derpy hung her head in shame, but Rainbow waved her off.
“Ah, don’t worry about it. It’s just a few clouds, and with me on the job it’ll be no sweat.” Rainbow smirked casually. “Anyways, thanks for the letter! I’ll catch you later Derpy!” Rainbow commented with another smile before speeding off towards the everfree.
Derpy waved back with a smile, before pulling out her list from her bag.