Locus

It was a tiring day for Derpy.  She had always tried not to directly blame her condition for things, but it certainly made getting jobs harder.  Other ponies tended to judge her by that, subconsciously labeling her as unsuitable.  Eventually, she just had to pick up a job in postage; even then, she got the worst job—delivering packages around town by hoof.

Today, Derpy was having a particularly hard time because the local ponies were scared of something.  Rumors didn’t have an exact answer as to what, in particular, they were scared of.  But the rumors generally pointed to something, or things, seen on the edges of Ponyville.  Monsters, or worse, were skulking about the fringes of the Everfree Forest.  She, however, had no time at the moment for any of that.  It wasn’t rain, wind, or sleet, after all.  Although something unpleasant in the back of her head added the addendum, nailed up below the original slogan, “Huje green things with teeth.”

She was having trouble with her last delivery of the day.  The Apple family, normally gregarious and outgoing, were especially spooked about all the various nasty rumors.  Right now, Granny Smith would not open the door and sign for her package again...

“Ah don’t care if you demons have our new encyclopedias.”  Granny Smith was very agitated.  “I’m not going to let you in so you can ravish us in our beds!”

Derpy let out a heavy sigh.

“Ma’am, I just need you to sign for this package, and we can both be on our way.”

“None of your clever tricks.  You would say anything to get into this house.  But you aren’t getting in, no matter what you say.”

Derpy was about to give up and just leave a note on the door, when Applejack trotted up, taking a break from her chores, and saw her at the door.

"What are you doing here sugarcube?” Applejack asked, nervously glancing between Derpy and the door Granny Smith was shouting from behind. “Ah heard y’all way out by the apple orchards!”

“Well, I'm trying to deliver a package but-”  Derpy was cut off by another shriek from inside.

“Don't you let those demons in, Applejack!” Granny Smith wailed.

Derpy let out a heavy sigh of tired frustration, wordlessly got a signature from Applejack and flew off.

“Get a job at the Post Office,” they said. “It'll be easy,” they said.  She had only expected to have to deal with the whole rain, wind, and snow thing, like it said over the door.  Again, that little addendum popped into her mind of its own accord.   Derpy had never signed up for dealing with the panicking residents freaking out over monsters skulking about the edges of the Everfree Forest.

As she flew off back to Ponyville, she could have sworn she saw a shadow on the edge of the forest.