It was a normal spring day in Ponyville. The birds were chirping. The flowers were flowering and Derpy was causing a commotion at the post office. A light gray pegasus with a blonde mane stared at her boss with her crossed eyes as he laid into her over messing up. Again. “Derpy, you ditz! This is the fourteenth time today you’ve screwed up someponies packages! And it's only Monday!” The mustachioed stallion yelled and yelled as Derpy only sunk back in her chair. “If you weren’t my niece I woulda fired you long ago. Now GET OUTTA MY OFFICE!” He yelled, practically pushing her out of his office and slammed the door behind her. The wall eyed mare walked solemnly to the counter before shaking off the negative feelings she had welling up. She quickly swallowed them as she heard the familiar chime of the door open. The familiar trotting of a little filly. A pale, litish gray violet filly with a grayish gold mane trotted up in excitement. The little unicorn filly used her developing magic to levitate a piece of paper in her mouth up to the counter.
“Mommy! Mommy! Miss. Cheerilee said we get to visit the Crystal Empire for a field trip next month! Can you sign my permission slip?” Dinky Doo said with glee. The pegasus giggled as she grabbed a pen with her mouth and quickly signed it. “Thank you mommy!”
Derpy nodded. Dinky stopped her bouncing for a moment and noticed her mothers body language. “Mommy, are you okay?” Derpy nodded silently. The filly wasn’t convinced and turned away. “Oh okay. I’ll see you at home!” and she trotted out. The filly knew she had to rush back to school to turn in her slip, but she knew she couldn’t. She had to talk to someone. Her mother’s best friend. Dr. Hooves.
The filly raced through town to a familiar house with bits of experiments strewn about the lawn. The stallion in question was digging through a cart filled with broken machine parts and busted clocks. Time Turner was Ponyville’s resident clocksmith and inventor. His passion for science landed him the nickname Dr. Hooves. A rare occurrence when he’s ever referred to as Time Turner. Dinky hopped into the cart in an attempt to be noticed. “Where is it? Where is that thromdibulator!” He tossed bits of tech left and right, and even a sink until he finally noticed Dinky. The filly exclaimed a small “Boo!” to give him a fright. Doc exclaiming “Gah!” and falling back into the ground with a hoof over his heart.
The filly giggled and giggled. “Got ya, Doc!” ‘Doc’ Derpy’s nickname for Dr. Hooves. The stallion gave a sigh of relief to see the unicorn.
“Dinky Doo! Now what do I owe the pleasure? Mother wants some of my special ‘Derpy Double Shift Muffins’? Ooh! Or does she require my special-” Doc was cut off by the filly whistling.
“Doc, mommy was acting weird today.” Dinky began. She told him about her visit to the post office. “I wanted to get my permission slip signed so I went to see mommy at work only wasn’t acting like herself! So I thought “If mommy is acting weird there’s only one pony to go to!” the only pony who's spent time with mommy more than she has with herself!” She pointed her forehoof at the amber stallion “You!” The filly was cute but she could match Pinkie in who could talk the longest. Doc, doing what he could do, stuffed a muffin in her mouth. The young filly happily munching while Doc pondered for a minute.
Derpy feeling down? What could have gotten to her? And WHY would little Dinky’s first thought be to seek my assistance? I must get to the bottom of this.
Doc motioned for Dinky to follow him. The young filly happily trotting alongside the stallion. “So, are we gonna go help momma?”
The stallion nodded, “Eventually, young Dinky. But first, I believe you have a permission slip to return to Cheerilee.” He stated with a smile. The filly gave a bashful smile as the two headed to the school house.
-000-
The bushy mustachioed postmaster looked at his employee with a gaze of stone. The stallion looking at her performance of the day. “Well, you didn’t screw up much since this morning so I guess I can let you off the hook, kid.”
Derpy squeed with delight as she flew into him for a hug. “Oh thank you, Uncle Postmen! Thank you thank you thank you!” Postmen groaned as he pried Derpy off him.
“Okay kid!” She managed to pry her away and send her and himself flying into stacks of mail “Don’t push it.” Derpy gave an embarrassed smile and flew off. Smashing into the door. “You forgot to open it. AGAIN!” She gave another embarrassed chuckle and zipped out.
She made a quick stop to Sugarcube Corner to pick up some muffins. Mrs. Cake and Pinkie greeting the mare with warm smiles. “Hiya Derpy! How’s the mail business? Oooooo I bet it’s sooooooooo fun! Meeting all sorts of interesting ponies all day and-” The hyper pink pony felt a cupcake shoved into her mouth by the elder pony.
“Good afternoon, Derpy. Same as usual?” Mrs. Cake asked. The pegasus nodded.
“Could you throw in some chocolate chips and- OOOOOH! Some scones! Incase Doc decides to come over.” The wall eyed mare explained. Pinkie and Mrs. Cake shot each other a look and the pink pony zipped off to fill the order.
“Offly close to Dr. Hooves, aren’t you?” Mrs. Cake remarked.
Derpy nodded. “Oh of course! He likes to keep me company after, during and sometimes before work. He also takes care of Dinky when I’m too busy.” Derpy took a complimentary muffin and took a big bite.
“You’re lucky to have a coltfriend like him.”
Derpy spat the contents in her mouth out in a spit take. Covering Mrs. Cake in muffin and spittle. “C-Coltfriend!? Me- him- nonononononono! He and I are just good friends!” She defended. Mr. Cake wasn’t convinced.
“But you two spend so much time together, and-”
“I assure you, Mrs. C. Doc and I aren’t together.”
Mrs. Cake shot her a sly, knowing grin. “If you two aren’t together, then why have you been blushing this whole time?”
Derpy was lost for words. She didn’t have feelings for Doc. Did she? It wasn’t long until Pinkie returned with the bundle of muffins. Derpy paid the cake her bits with an exasperated sigh but kept her smile and dashed out. Mrs. Cake and Pinky looked at each other and then the door before Pinkie asking “What the hay was what about?”
-000-
Derpy trotted down the road with muffins happily in hoof. The wall eyed mare couldn’t help but think back to what Mrs. Cake had said. Doc? My coltfriend? Sure we do everything together, but- No! Derpy you stop that! He’s your friend. Her mind battled on like that for a while. It wasn’t long until Derpy reached her house. A grounded house. Given her daughter was a unicorn she felt the need to have a home close to the ground but it made more sense for her, to. It was a quaint little cottage with a mailbox that had familiar bubbles painted on it. It wasn’t always the two of them —her and Dinky— she used to be a married mare. A marriage she’d try her best to forget. The pegasus opened her door to see an excited Dinky with Dr. Hooves. The two were fixing the old busted radio that Derpy had been meaning to get looked at for some time. “Well, who's this now?” She said with a smile. The filly jumped with glee as she ran to her mother for a hug.
“Momma! Doc took me to school to return my permission slip!” The unicorn said with glee.
“Yes, yes! Cheerilee asked how you were doing, as well. Oh! And,” Doc and Dinky motioned towards the radio “Totally repaired! Now you don’t have to worry about spending three months worth of bits on a new one!” Doc exclaimed. Derpy gave a chuckle as she set her basket of muffins on the table.
“Oh my! Why, it looks so new! No wires popping out at all.” Derpy gazed at the radio with awe. Marveling Doc’s handiwork. Derpy reached behind her and pulled out only a few bits. “This is all I can afford-” Doc silenced her with a forehoof against her mouth.
“Nonsense!” He exclaimed. “This was done out of lo- friendship!” He stammered on his words. Dinky shot the stallion a knowing eye as he collected himself. “I shan’t charge you any bits for this! Since we’ve become so close have I ever charged for repairs?” Derpy gave it some thought.
He’s right. Ever since we met he’s never charged me for repairs. Even Princess Celestia has to pay when something needs fixing. What makes me so special?
On the outside Derpy appeared to be at a loss for words. The mare ran a hoof through her daughters mane before setting off for the kitchen. “I think I best get started on dinner. You wanna stay, Doc? I’m making a stew with some fresh carrots I got from Golden Harvest.”
Dinky tapped the stallion’s forehoof. “She sets a place for you in case you decide to come over and talk about science.” She said with a smile. Doc scratched his chin as he gave it some thought. He did have a few clocks to fix and some experiments to work on, but it wouldn’t hurt to stay for a bit. As Derpy went off to the kitchen Doc decided to follow suit. “Stay, young filly. I need to discuss a matter with your mother.” With a nod from the unicorn Doc set off.
-000-
The kitchen was small. A simple stove with a sink and counter and a pot stewing atop. Derpy chopped carrots into the pot for her patented ‘Derpy carrot stew’ for dinner. The stallion watched on as the mare chopped away at the long oranges before her. Doc took a second to clear his throat and slightly adjust his green bowtie. “Derpy, if I may, can I-” He began.
The mare jumped at his sudden speaking and nearly dropped the knife. Doc rushing up to keep her steady. A blush creeped across the wall-eyed mare’s face. Quickly turning to hide it from the scientific stallion. After setting the knife of the counter and setting Derpy back up right, Doc finally asked his question. “Derpy, what has you down?”
“Wh-wha! I don’t know what you’re talking about, Doc!” The mare stammered for a bit. She knew he saw through her. He always has.
“Dinky was telling me that you seemed a bit down at work.”
“I wasn’t down! I was just-”
“Derpy Doo you tell me what has you so upset this instant!” He shouted. Doc never raised his voice. The only times either of the fillys heard the stallion raise his voice was during parent teacher conferences whenever Cheerilee would say Dinky is slipping in her studies. It took a lot to upset Doc, and his friend being upset and not telling him upset him the most.
Derpy took a deep sigh before looking in his eyes. Or, as much as she could with her eyes being the way they were. The mare placed her forehooves on her bowtie to adjust it. Doc knew this was a ploy to delay her story. Shooting her a look, the pegasus began. “The morning started off pretty bad when I messed up some deliveries.”
“A few missed orders? That’s normal for any mailmare.”
“Not when it isn’t even lunch yet!” She shouted. He could tell this hurt her. Tears were welling in her eyes. “I don’t know, but I just… I was off my game. It was one mistake after another. Rarity’s fabric got shipped out to Canterlot instead of Manehatton, The Cake’s shipment of special Yakyakistanian icing arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, your hourglass never arrived,” she plunged into a hug as she wrapped her forehooves around his neck as she cried into his shoulder. “It was a total disaster!” She said between sobs. Doc did his best to comfort the mare but could tell it was something more. Between more sobs phrases like ‘I’m a failure’ and ‘I’m a useless cross eyed moron’ In the corner of his eye he spotted a frightened Dinky peeking around the corner. Doc felt at a loss. All he could do was hug back. Running a hoof through her mane as he calmed her. The last words she set made Doc’s anger boil.
“Ace was right.”
He lifted her chin with a hoof so he could see her eyes. Her eyes; a sea of golden yellow. His heart skipped a beat as he stared into her. “You are not a failure! You may be a little absent minded at times, but a failure you are not!” He pulled her into a more intimate hug. “Derpy Ditzy Doo, you are not a failure!” He felt heated. The sound of her ex-husband’s name made him even more so. The two parted from their hug as they turned to see a cheering Dinky. Both fell flush as they tried to collect themselves. Derpy cleared her throat as Doc and Dinky scattered to set the table. It wasn’t long until Derpy came out with her carrot stew. The trio enjoyed their dinner as Dinky talked about school and her excitement for the field trip to the Crystal Empire. Doc talked about how he’s perfecting his time travel chair to be more than just a chair with no actual time travel abilities. As he did, Dinky noticed how enamored her mother was with his talking. Neither understood a lick of what he was saying but they were happy. At the end of the night Doc read the filly a bedtime story.
“And there he was; in the midst of The Time Master’s evil, Royal Pin knew he had one thing to do.” Doc rambled. Dinky was just into his story as he was. A tale about a unicorn who can time travel.
“What happens next? I need to know, Doc!” The unicorn filly said in excitement.
“Now that will have to wait for another day.” He said as he turned off her lights. Derpy came in and gave a goodnight kiss to her daughter and tucked her in.
In the hall Derpy smiled the brightest smile Doc had ever seen. “Thank you for today. You didn’t have to take her to school or even help with dinner, but-”
“Nonsense Derpy! It was my pleasure. At this point Cheerilee expects me to accompany the filly. And she is such a joy to have around the lab!” The two shared a giggle before Derpy gave him a tight hug.
“I mean it Doc, thank you.” The two touched noses for a second. Their faces flush with a crimson red.
“I-I-I-I-I believe I should be heading back to my lab!”
“Oh no! You can stay here for the night.”
“Another night on your couch, eh? You do have a remarkably comfy-”
Doc was cut off by a gray forehoof shoved up against his mouth. “No no, I-” She swallowed her words. “I was thinking maybe you could… sleep in my bed. Just for tonight!” Doc fell flush at her offer. He took a hard gulp as he tugged at his collar. The pegasus wrapped her hooves around his barrel and nuzzled her head against him. The two shared some yawns and Derpy was out like a light. She wasn’t awake to feel a tender kiss upon her head as Doc drifted off to sleep.
A young unicorn filly was excited as she always was. Cheerilee had given the class an assignment on how their parents had met each other. Dinky was excited because she got to ask her mom how she met her dad. The young filly burst from the school door and almost instantly rammed into a tree. An array of laughter echoing in her ears and a snarly voice ringing out in an all too familiar tone. A familiar “Watch where you’re going ‘Dinky Dork’ before you hit one too many trees and become just as weird as your mom.” The snarky Rich family descendant bellowed. Diamond Tiara with her lackey, the whimpering Silver Spoon, cackled from the school yard. Dinky shook off her insults with a look.
“Hey! My momma has perfect vision!” The filly defended. Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes at Dinky’s attempt to defend her mom. This gave the foal a nasty idea. With a smirk she turned to Dinky.
“At least I have parents. You have a weird mom and the weird clocksmith.” The words hit Dinky deep. Tears welled in her eyes as the Cutiemark Crusaders chased off Diamond Tiara. Sweetie Belle wrapping a hoof around her shoulder to make sure she was feeling okay.
“Dinks, don’t let Diamond Tiara get to you.” The Crusader unicorn gave it some thought. She was rejoined by her cohorts when an idea struck. “Hey! Why not ask Derpy how she met Dr. Hooves!”
Dinky’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea!” The filly collected her books and charged up and raced off with a ‘Thanks guys!’ as she ran off.
-000-
The door to the cottage flung open as the filly raced in. Derpy was resting on the couch as Doc was working on some clocks and rambling on about his recent experiments. He often brought his work to their house so he could keep Derpy company, and vise versa. The sounds she made woke her mother and scared Doc and caused him to drop an hourglass. Dinky excitedly sat next to Derpy as she pulled out her assignment paper. “Miss. Cheerilee gave us an assignment on how our parents met. Since I don’t know my birth dad I thought “Why not ask mommy how she met Doc!” that has to be an interesting story!” She finished talking and happily pulled out her papers. With pen in mouth the filly was excited to hear about how Derpy met Doc.
“Oh dear, I dunno Muffin.” Derpy began, “It’s long and boring. You sure you wanna hear it?” Dinky nodded excitedly.
“The young girl has to hear Cheerilee ramble on and on about ancient Equestrian history, and the times Celestia had to give a speech while her mane was on fire. I’m sure she can handle our first meeting!” Doc chimed in. Both mare and filly shot each other knowing looks.
“You sure it’s not also ‘cause a certain stallion goes on and on about science?” The mare joked. Doc fell flush as he turned back to the clock. With a clearing of her throat, Derpy began. “Well… it all started many years before you were born. The day Doc moved to Ponyville.”
-000-
The young pegasus flew through the streets of Ponyville with glee. A paper in hoof as she zipped by the newly opened flower shop. Derpy Doo had just applied to become the new mailmare after the retirement of Courier Post. Due to excitement, and the little problem with her eyes, she wasn’t entirely watching where she was going. When she looked up and was flying face first to a cart full of… clocks?
BAM
Derpy landed face first into the cart. All she could hear was coo coos and tickings. Her mane covered in sand from broken hourglasses. With a yank, she felt herself being pulled out and onto the ground. “Sweet Celestia! Are you alright!?” She looked up to catch who was talking to her. A grayish amber Stallion wearing an unnecessarily long scarf and fedora stood over her. He spoke in an accent that sounded like he was from Trottingham. “Ma’am? Ma’am! Oh Luna… I do hope she’s okay.” He held out a hoof. Derpy slowly reached out for the hoof to stand back up. The stallion took off his hat to reveal a slicked back mane of dark gamboge. “That was a nasty crash you made.”
Derpy shook her head to clear her mane of any debris. She faced the stallion as in an attempt to act as if she didn’t land face first into a pile of clocks. “I’m so sorry sir! I just don’t know what went wrong.” The mare said with a weak smile. Noticing the cart was a moving one, she only had one thought. “Are you new in town?”
“Indeed! I am Time Turner! I am here because I heard Ponyville was in need of a clocksmith.” Time Turner explained. Derpy’s face beamed.
“Oh we need one of those! Town Hall's clock hasn’t rung since-” Derpy gave it some thought as she rubbed a hoof under chin. “Oh, well I guess since I was a filly.” She said with a smile.
The stallion nodded. Taking out a few clocks from his cart to show them off to the mare. “Mayor Mare sent letters pleading for an expert clocksmith all over Equestria.” The stallion reached into his cart. Digging through and tossing clock after clock. The mare dodging a flying grandfather clock. “Aha!” he exclaimed as he showed her a flyer.
Clocksmiths of Equestria:
I seek expert clocksmiths to fix the Town Hall clock. A terrible thunderstorm struck the clock precisely 10,000 moons ago and it hasn’t rung since! Please respond post haste or visit in person by coming to Ponyville Town Hall.
Sincerely, Mayor Mare of Ponyville
Derpy stared at the paper with awe. She was excited that somepony might finally be able to fix the clock. The mare offered to take the stallion to town hall. She blushed slightly at him as he put his hat back on. Derpy tried and tried to think of conversations but she just wasn’t much of a conversationalist. It wasn’t until she turned to the post office that ticked something off. Time Turner noticed her giddy glee when she began to giggle to herself. “Excited, are we?”
“Yuhuh! I just applied to be a new mailmare!” Derpy nodded repeatedly with the biggest smile that could outmatch Celestia on a good day. “I’m so excited!” Time Turner smiled and chuckled at his new companions' excitement over her new employment. The two walked along more until they reached the center of town. A beige mare with a pink-ish graying mane trotted back and forth. The pegasus whispered closely. “That’s Mayor Mare. She’s who you need to talk to!” Time Turner tipped his hat at the mare as the two trotted up to the delegate pony. Mayor Mare; a regal mare in charge of all of Ponyville, greeted her potential time telling savior. “Mayor, I think this stallion is here to help with the clock.”
“Thank you Bubbles.”
“It’s Derpy.”
“Whatever you say, Muffins.” Mayor Mare bowed to the scarfed pony. Guiding them to the inside and the very tip top of the tower. The two trotted up the inner mechanisms of the clock. The gears old and the cogs not moved in 10,000 moons. Dust caking the inner walls and all the pieces. Time Turner scanned the clock's innards closely to see what the problem was but nothing stood out. Most of the deeper parts scorched from lightning and many from the years of neglect. Time Turner thought for a moment as he eyed his surroundings. The stallion rubbed his chin with a hoof as he pondered what to do. Mayor Mare stepped forward with eyes pleading towards the clocksmith. “Can you fix it?”
“Not only can I fix it, but it will ring and tick much louder than it did before!” Time Turner exclaimed. Both mares cheered with Derpy clapping her forehooves together. “I need to collect my tools and then reconstruction begins!”
-000-
“HOLD IT!” the voice of the young filly cried out. Derpy stopped mid-story with her forehooves slowing down from clapping. The older mare chuckled in embarrassment. “Doc, your name is Time Turner? And you came to Ponyville to fix the Town Hall clock?”
Doc nodded at the filly’s question. “Before making roots in Ponyville I travelled the land fixing clocks to fund my research.” Doc held up a bright pink clock covered in glitter. With the tick of the hour hand an explosion of confetti burst from the clock and covered the stallion. “Note to self; ask Pinkie to de-Pinkie her clock when it needs repairs.”
The mare and filly giggled to themselves before Derpy turned to her daughter. “Can I continue, Muffin?” The filly nodded. “Good, now where was I? Oh right! Doc ran out to his cart-”
-000-
The mare floated shyly out of the hall as she watched the stallion tossed his scarf and hat into the cart. Showing off a white collar with an elegant green tie. Tossing more clocks aside he pulled out a small wooden tool box with an emblem to match his cutiemark. Derpy marveled for a moment as he dug through for tools. All of them being made for clocks on a much smaller scale. The pegasus felt a heat creep across her face as he mumbled to himself. Attempting to clear her throat the pegasus bumped into his cart, causing it to tip over and cover her on clocks. ‘I’m okay!’ was uttered from the pile. The stallion looked over from his tools with a start. “Good word! Are you okay!?”
The mare popped up from the pile, her mane full of sand. “I’m okay.” It was then he noticed her eyes. Her golden eyes that peered off in two different directions. “Oh my, are you sure you’re alright?” He inquired.
“I’m pretty sure, why?”
“It’s just-”
Derpy’s eyes widened. “Oh! You mean my eyes?” The stallion nodded “Oh no! My eyes have always been like this. Carrot Top calls them ‘wall eyes’ it’s very common from what I’ve been told.” The stallion held her head in his hooves as he stared into them. His ocean cerulean gleamed at her golden glow as she fell with a blush. “I’m Derpy, by the way.”
“Time Turner and you simply must visit my lab!”
“Your la-”
“Oh! First, I must fix the clock! Be out in a jiffy.” The stallion zipped into town hall. Derpy sat there for a moment as purple hearts protruded from her person. Her heart beat heavily and her face as hot as an oven. Her mind began to race at the thought of the stallion.
He wants to check out my eyes? But, they’re not that special…
As her mind thought she began to think of the one pony to help. Her oldest friend; Carrot Top. The only place her friend could be found this time of day was the bizarre setting up her carrot stand. “Carrot Top! She’ll know what to-”
-000-
“HOLD IT!” a new voice shouted out. Derpy stopped floating in mid air to greet her friend sitting in a recliner across the coffee table. The yellow mare with an orange mane and three carrots for a cutiemark stared at Derpy with a twitching eye. “THAT IS NOT MY NAME!” She yelled out, “MY NAME IS GOLDEN HARVEST!”
Derpy floated back to her seat next to Dinky and cleared her throat. “Hiya Carrot Top! How long have you been here?” The orange mare let out an exasperated groan/sigh. “I’ve been here the whole time!” Derpy blinked “You invited me over for tea while Doc works?” Another blink “Just get to the part where I come in already.”
Derpy nodded. “So, there I was; flying through Ponyville looking for Carrot Top-”
-000-
The pegasus flew through the bizarre with purpose; finding Carrot Top. The orange mare was setting up her stand with bushels of carrots. She may not have the same audience as the Apple Family’s apple karts but her carrots made a decent living. She spent the greater part of the day setting up her stand only for her bubbly friend to crash into it and ruin hours of setting up. With a roll of her eyes and groan she knew who it was that caused it all. “Hey Derps, mind explaining why you set me back hours of setting up?” The gray mare shook the carrots out of her mane with an embarrassed giggle.
“Hey Carrot Top.. how long have you been here?”
“That’s not my name and I’ve been here since sun up. I’m here every day, remember? I kinda sell carrots?”
Derpy blinked at her friend's explanation. The mare stared back in deadpan before shaking it off.
“Okay Derps, what’s up?”
Derpy went on to explain her meeting with the stallion. Her expressions of almost infatuation for a stallion she’d just met only a few minutes ago. Golden Harvest put a hoof to her chin and gave it some thought. Derpy cared deeply for the stallion and it was clear. Carrot Top had only seen Derpy this happy one other time — her ex husband — That was a time best be forgotten. The carrot mare walked with her friend back to the center of town, unknowingly to Derpy, Golden Harvest was leading her back to the clock tower and kept her talking so the pegasus was none the wiser. It didn’t take Derpy long to realize until she ran face first into the familiar clock kart, and the stallion beside it. Derpy paused with a blush across her face. “Buh-Wah- Carrot Top!”
“Oops! Well, I gotta get back to my carrots. Bye!”
Golden Harvest zipped off to leave the flustered mess as Time Turner returned to greet her. “Derpy, dear girl! This clock was sure something.”
“Did you fix it?”
“Not yet. I asked Mayor Mare if it was alright to set up shop here until it’s finished.”
Derpy began to celebrate until the last bit hit her.
‘Until it’s fixed’ Oh no.. he’ll leave when it’s finished.
“Say, Timey Wimey,”
Time Turner gave the mare a confused expression as he repeated her nickname back to him. She giggled at his confusion. Her giggle. Like he was to Derpy, Time Turner felt an infatuation with the absentminded mare. Something about her wanted him to stay in Ponyville. He could hear his mother’s voice calling out ‘love at first sight.’ Her messy blonde mane that hung over her face but still gave him a view of her walled eyes. “Yup! It’s my nickname for you.” She paused for a moment. “Should.. Should I not give you a nickname?”
Time Turner shook his head. “Oh no, my dear girl! By all means. Timey Wimey is a fine nickname!” Derpy pulled him into a hug as her head nuzzled into his neck. Time Turner’s face was blushing brighter than Celestia’s sun. “O-Okay Derpy, y-y-you can let go now.”
Derpy realized just how long she was hugging and quickly let go. The two walked through town to the residential part. Looking for a nice single home for Time Turner to call home while he fixes the clock. The mare listened in fascination as the stallion went on about his true passion; science. This struck her with a question. “So why do you like science so much anyway?”
Time Turner’s eyes widened at the pegasus’ question. “Dear girl, my love for science and my passion began when I was just a foal. A traumatic experience where I witnessed a mare wearing an eyepatch blipped into existence. When she vanished I dedicated my life to discovering who she was and where she came from!” Derpy looked on in awe at his story. Wondering where he got his cutiemark as well. Time Turner noticed her looking and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Well, that came from when my mother’s hourglass broke and I spent a week trying to fix it. It’s not as impressive a story. My special talent allows me to produce funding for my true passion; science!”
“Wow, you’re a regular Dr. Hooves!” Derpy paused at her own words. A wide smile creeping across her face. “Oh, I know! Your new nickname is-”
-000-
“Doc!” Donkey finished off in front of her class. Everyone, including Ms. Cheerilee and all the other parents, stared in wonder at Dinky’s story. “And that’s how my momma met Doc.” Upon her finishing the entire class cheered.
In the back, Derpy clapped her forehooves together as Doc wrapped one heroung her shoulder. “Derpy, she is growing up to be a fine young girl. Isn’t she?”
Derpy rested her head against his neck and began to nuzzle. “You’ve been a big part of that, Doc. I don’t know what either of us would do without you.” Doc rested his chin against the top of her head as he nuzzled her mane.
Celestia’s sun was just beginning to rise as a greyish amber stallion trotted through the sleepy town. Today was a special day. Today was Derpy’s birthday. Doc made his way to the bazaar where Carrot Top was setting up her carrots for the day. The stallion looked around him to make sure no hide nor hair of Derpy was following him. “Pssst-” He whispered. “Golden Harvest.”
The yellow mare got instantly annoyed and shot a look and began. “My name is-” She stopped once she knew who it was. “Doc, it’s just you. Shoulda known since you’re the only one in town who gets my name right.” Doc pulled her close as he wrapped a forehoof around her neck. “Do you have the ingredients?” The yellow mare nodded. “Good. I want today to be very special.”
“You care a lot about Derps, don’t ya Doc?”
Doc paused with a blush. He did care for Derpy a lot. She was special to him. “Yes, well I-” He paused, not knowing what to say. Doc simply rushed away with only the words “Be at Derpy’s by 8 tonight!” All Carrot Top could do is give a knowing smile before setting up her stand for the day. Doc had big plans for Derpy tonight. Plans to celebrate the hardest working pegasus in Ponyville. But Derpy, on the other hoof, wasn’t feeling so hot. Her day had felt like Tartarus since she woke up. She nearly forgot to put on her uniform before leaving and she didn’t want Postmen to chew her out again. She was late getting Dinky to school, and even though Cheerilee was okay about it, Derpy felt like she could have gotten up earlier. She just knew today was going to be bad.
Dinky hugged her mother’s neck and Derpy held her daughter close. “I love you momma. And happy birthday!” Derpy couldn’t help but smile at her daughter's words. She gave a “I love you, Muffin” before she took off for work.
Doc appeared from behind the doorway as Derpy trotted off. Turning his attention to Cheerilee and Dinky, he began. “So, are you sure you can make it tonight?”
The teacher nodded. “As soon as class ends I can make my way over!”
“Fantastic! Now I must be off to Roseluck to talk about part of her gift.”
Dinky latched onto Doc’s foreleg before he left. “Momma’s gonna love her party!”
Doc hugged the filly back. “I sure hope she does.” With those words, he took off.
-000-
“Are you sure it didn’t come in?”
“Yes ma’am. It's my job to make sure everypony gets their packages on time!” Derpy replied with a smile but behind that smile was a fuse waiting to go off.
Derpy was in the midst of a conversation with the fashionista herself; Rarity. The unicorn had come to pick up an order of special Saddle Arabian silk fabric but one thing or another had happened and the fabric hadn’t shown up. Now, this may feel frustrating but these things happen. Rarity wasn’t having it and grew more frustrated as the tiny crew were searching all over for it to no avail. “Listen hear you feather-brain. If my special order of Saddle Arabian silk fabric isn’t in my hooves within the next five minutes.”
“But ma’am-”
“Four.”
The fuse was growing shorter.
“Three.”
“It’s not here! We che-”
“Two.”
That was it. The fuse was about to go off and nopony, not even Rarity, could see what was going to happen next.
“One. Now, where is my-”
“It isn’t here!” Derpy snapped. Her sudden outburst shocked everypony in line. Princess Luna stuck her head from the crowd to see the commotion before hiding behind the rest. “If your package had shown up then it would be in those precious little hooves of yours! BUT. IT. ISN’T! So why don’t you make like a tree AND GET OUT OF HERE!” All the mare did was exhale an exhausted exhale. Rarity silently exited the post office. Refusing to make any eye contact with anypony.
Postman heard the commotion and rushed to reassure everypony it was okay, guiding them to a secondary line for their packages. Postman furrowed his brow at his niece. “Derpy-” She didn’t look. “Derpy Doo.” he spat again, but she still didn’t turn her head. She was seething and on the verge of tears. Finally he rested a hoof on the pegasus’ shoulder as she calmed down from the outburst. “Derps…” he began, “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?”
The mare looked up to her uncle/boss with worry. “But sir! My shift isn’t over!”
“For your sake, and everypony else's, please take the rest of the day off.” Postman was normally gruff and scratchy with her. Always on the verge of yelling. This was different. His tone was more hush and calm as he gently patted her shoulder.
The mare nodded and slowly snuck away before anypony could say anything to her. She snuck to the streets of Ponyville as everypony was going about their day. She walked towards the shopping bazaar to talk to Golden Harvest. Unbeknownst to her, from behind an apple cart were the familiar stallion with a rose colored mare. Doc and Roseluck breathed a sigh of relief as Derpy passed without noticing them. Rose handed Doc a present as he gave her a hug. “This is fantastic!” He laughed. “Derpy will love it!”
Rose softly giggled to herself as Doc marveled over her work. “I hope she does, Doc. She must be something pretty special for you to go out of your way to prepare a surprise party for her. Is she your fillyfriend?”
Doc choked on his words. Fillyfriend? He thought. Why does everypony assume Derpy and I are together? His mind raced but all he could say was “I- well, we- No- she- I-” He was squashed by Rose giving him a knowing wink as she gave him the package.
“Just take good care of her.”
Doc nodded as he rushed off towards Sugarcube Corner. The topic of the cake was a matter Doc hadn’t thought through. “Would Derpy like a standard cake? Or a tower of muffins?” He said to himself. “So many variables!” His mind was up in the skies of how grand his party for Derpy was going to be.
-000-
Derpy made her way through the streets of Ponyville. Not too much was going on other than a few birthday wishes from the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Happy birthday Ms. Hooves!” Greeted the tiny unicorn.
“Yeah, I hope your birthday is super extreme!” Followed the pegasus.
“Iffin’ y’all wanna, drop by the farm fer some free apples! As a gift!” Finished off by the earth pony.
Derpy giggled as she ruffled the mane’s of the three young girls. “Thank you girls. Is Dinky with you?” The girls shook their heads. “She must be at Doc’s workshop.” The girls gave the pegasus one final hug before taking off towards her trusty carrot selling friend.
-000-
Doc burst through the doors of Sugarcube Corner with bated breath. Having run from Rose’s florist stand all the way across town was quite the trot. The eyes of the pink party pony targeted Doc as he slunk through the shop. The pink mare zipping to the counter. “Is Derpy here?” The mare shook her head. “Fantastic! I need help with a cake for her party.”
“Ya know Doc, I could have had this all done by now if you let ME plan the party.” She said in a stern tone.
Doc nervously laughed. “Pinkie, I know you are an excellent party pony!”
“Uh huh!”
“But Derpy is special.” The mare paused. “She requires a scientific approach to her party! A hoof who knows she likes a small, quiet get together with friends.” He explained. Pinkie nodded and gave a knowing wink. Causing Doc to blush.
“Now, would Derpy like a standard cake or a tower of muffins? She has a love for muffins but a cake is more appropriate for parties. Oh Pinkie, the variables!” He gasped out. Pinkie gave it some thought. Derpy would like cake but a tower of muffins would make her very happy, but then, Pinkie had an idea. “Doc! What if you had a cake MADE out of muffin batter!” The pink pony suggested. Doc’s expression grew excited as he grabbed Pinkie’s face with his hooves and pulled her close. “Pinkie you GENIUS! A muffin CAKE!” Doc cheered as he spun Pinkie in a twirl. “Derpy will love it!” When he let go the pink mare spun until she landed on the floor.
“Anything I could do to help, Doc!” Pinkie cheered. The stallion told her the time to have the cake ready and bolted off. He had more to do before he could pick Dinky up from school. On the other side of town, Derpy wasn’t having a great day. A stray storm cloud had gotten away and began zapping anything in its path with lightning. The poor mare had been zapped up to four times before Cloud Kicker managed to get the cloud under control. The pegasus shouted a flurry of apologies before zipping off. Derpy breathed a sigh of relief as she continued on but a wave of mud covering her halted the mare in her steps. Big Mac gave her a nervous, and embarrassed, smile before trotting off. “Great” Derpy thought, “What else could go wrong today?” She made her way to Sugarcube Corner for a quick muffin before she headed home.
The bell to the bakery chimed as the pink pony greeted the gray pegasus with a fresh muffin. “Happy birthday Derpy!” Pinkie greeted. Derpy giggled as she snatched the muffin and began nibbling on it. She tried her hardest to stay positive after her outburst but Pinkie could tell something was off. Her Pinkie Sense was sure of it. The pink mare asked why she was feeling out of it, but Derpy couldn’t confess. All the gray mare could do was order an apology cake and have it delivered to Rarity.
-000-
Derpy works ever so hard. Doc thought. She deserves a nice party. Something special for my special mare. He paused for a moment at his own thoughts. He thought of Derpy as not only special but his special mare. He took a second to collect his thoughts. He cared deeply for Derpy, very much so, and wanted to make this party extra special for her. He froze in his steps when he heard the door creek open but calmed once he saw it was Dinkey. The small unicorn had a concerned look on her face as she approached the amber stallion. “Doc…” She said quietly. “I think Momma isn’t doing okay.”
“Are you certain?” He asked with a concerned voice. He might have to call the party off if Derpy isn’t in the mood for it. Dinky continued what she saw.
“I was walking home from school and heard a huge noise at momma’s work so I checked it out but had to quickly hide because it was momma! So I secretly followed momma all day and her day has been getting worse and worse and-” Dinky was cut off by Golden Harvest stuffing a muffin in her mouth.
“Thank you.” Doc whispered.
Golden Harvest winked as she turned her attention back to the cake. Doc rubbed his forehoof under his chin as he gave it some thought.
-000-
Derpy had come up to her doorstep with a defeated look. Her birthday was the day Celestia laughed at her. As she opened the door she expected a big “SURPRISE!” from everypony in town, but that wasn’t the case. Her living room was empty. THe only remnants of the planned party was the big muffin cake on the dining room table. Dinky was nuzzled on the couch reading a book. Her daughter looked up with a big grin of glee and she ran up to hug her forehooves. “Happy birthday momma.” She said quietly. Derpy stroked Dinky’s mane tenderly and kissed her forehead. “Where’s Doc?” Derpy was curious. He practically lived with her with all the times he’d stay over either watching Dinky or just keeping her company.
He works so hard for me and Dinky…
“He’s making you a nice dinner.” Replied the filly as she looked back to her book. Derpy got a glimpse of what she was reading and rolled her eyes with a smirk. In the kitchen Derpy saw Doc at the stove with a pot of, what she assumed, was soup. Doc looked back to the pegasus with a shocked expression. “Derpy!” he gasped, “Didn’t expect you home so soon.”
“Uncle Postmen let me off early today.” She gave a nervous chuckle. She didn’t want to worry Doc about her outburst earlier. Without another word Derpy walked up and silently rested her head against his neck. The stallion gave a slight blush as he wrapped his right forehoof around her. As she snuggled into him he could feel tears welling in her eyes. The two stayed like that for a good ten minutes before separating. Doc wiped away a tear from her eye and gave her a comforting smile.
“Happy Birthday Muffin.” His comforting words were followed by a light peck on the cheek.
