Derpy Hooves weaved around and through trees in the little patch of forested area, deftly dodging limb and branch with ease. She circled a low wisp of cloud on a whim, spinning faster and faster until it columned up into a pillar of fluffy white, spiraling skyward. Diving and banking sharply back towards the earthy ground, she soared dangerously closer and closer before pulling up at the very last second. She let her wing glide over the crystal clear surface of the shimmering lake that lay near Ponyville, enjoying the coolness of its proximity.
The golden eyed mare was struck by a thought, Ponyville! It was just over the next hill and promised the welcoming hooves of her friends, family and best of all, warm confectionary. Which of course included her all time favorite...muffins.
Derpy let out a whoop of excitement and rocketed back up into the air, her hooves kicking off of the water’s surface with the practiced grace of a veteran of the skies. The geyser left in her wake chased her for all it was worth, but she was too quick. Her grin split her face from wildly flapping-in-the-wind ear to ear. Already, she could see the fast approaching inhabitants of Ponyville, her wonderful home on the beautiful lands that Celestia herself ruled.
The smile that Derpy wore somehow grew even more as she dipped below a fast approach cloud bank, then pushed off of its cushy bottom for more speed for getting home. The little dots that had been her neighbors became ponies as her pumping wings took her once again closer to the ground. Merrily, they waved up at her, instantly recognizing their one and only favorite, most reliable of mailmares, Derpy Hooves.
With equal merriment Derpy barrel rolled and waved over her belly back at the other mares and stallions she past by in a blur. Turning around with a slightly more composed, placid grin, she continued her journey towards muffins and adventure. She did not get far, however, for soon she spotted a familiar purple pony. This newcomer was standing on her hind legs and waving at her furiously. Strangely, this pony even looked upset at her!
“Derpy! Hey, Derpy, Derpy!” The mare that was none other than Berry Punch—Ponyville’s local wine connoisseur—and she was most certainly shouting at her. Judging by her angry expression and tone, it seemed likely that this showy greeting was meant to flag her down from her expedient flight heading towards Ponyville proper.
Derpy tilted her head in a confused manner, her mouth hanging open slightly in a startled, wondering fashion. What’s got Berry in such a state? The grey pegasus pondered.
Growing ever closer, Derpy tilted her wings and smoothly glided down to meet with Berry, strangely, her voice was loud despite the wind rushing in her ears.
“Derpy, wake up!” The final shout from the nearby voice jolted the pegasus upright.
“Muh-huh!?” Cold water splashed in her face, just as she did so.
Spluttering, Derpy began to rub at her face without a second spared, a lot of the water had made it up into her nose. She flipped over onto her legs from her rump and began shaking immediately, only to stop and groan without making much progress. There was a significant amount of pain coming from her head.
“Oh gosh, sorry Derpy, I didn’t mean to get you like that, it didn’t seem like you were...are you okay?” Berry Punch was crouched in front of Derpy with a concerned look on her face, staring up at the other mare’s golden eyes.
Derpy smiled weakly while still clutching at her noggin’ with one hoof. “Ow... eyeah, I’m not hurt, thanks Berry.” She signed, and casually began wringing out her mane. Without missing a beat she asked, “so what’s the damage this time?”
Nearby, a sad looking white picket fence, that might have just been perfectly well off and upright a few short moments ago, leaned lazily into Berry Punch’s front yard.
The purple mare facing Derpy frown at the sight, before looking back to answer the downed pegasus. “Well, it could be worse, at least it wasn’t a window or something really dangerous. Don’t worry about it I can fix this in a jiffy.” Her smile was meant to be reassuring, Derpy knew that.
“O-okay, are you sure though?” Derpy strained her left eye to cooperate with her right to get a good look at just how bad the damage was. Dirt was kicked up where some of the pickets had been uprooted, and nearby lay the splintered remains of the one she must have collided with.
“Yeah, I’m sure Derpy, you just go on ahead, okay? I know I’ve said this a million times, but be careful, we worry about you when you...get hurt.” Berry said the words to Derpy in as kind and well mannered a tone as possible. “Are you sure you’re gonna be alright? How’s your head?”
Derpy knew it was meant to be friendly, and she indeed took it that way, but it still made her feel bad whenever she crashed...or dropped something...or anything else. Still, she remained cheerful despite those setbacks.
In answer to Berry, Derpy’s head seemed to pulse down to her its damage report with renewed vigor. “Oh, I’m not hurt much, it’s just a nasty ol’ bump I think, I’m fine.”
Berry frowned, blinking and looking from Derpy to the fence and back. “If you’d like you can take a break from your mail route and come in, I have an ice pack that-”
“Oh, nono it’s hunky dory,” Derpy took flight clumsily, hovering just above the ground in an unsteady fashion as was her norm. “Really, I need to get these all delivered pronto, especially if I just lost a bunch of time sleeping on the job.” She gave Berry her most convincing grin where she hung, trying her best to stay steady where she hung in the air.
“Well, if you say so.” Berry’s lips turned down in a worrying fashion, very obviously not being convinced. “Head injuries can be serious though Derps, take it easy, okay? I know your boss is a hard case, but you can’t work at all if you don’t take care of yourself.”
Derpy nodded her head cheerfully, her usually self returning slowly (despite the mention of her boss). “Okies! I sure will Berry, and don’t worry, my heads plenty hard to keep me from getting hurt too bad!” Her giggle was barely suppressed by a hoof coming up to her muzzle. “See you later, and sorry about the fence!”
Berry smirked and waved weakly after the fast departing pegasus, who lilted this way and that in the air as she took wing to the open air. “Oh horse manure,” Berry stared around at the ground, realization dawning on her. “I didn’t get my mail! DERPY, COME BACK!” Purple hooves kicked up a cloud of dust as she raced across Ponyville’s rural country roads after the infamous mailmare.
