Learn to Love

by Leapingriver

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Thunderlane, Sad, Romance, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Derpy Hooves
Length: 4366

Ditzy, aka Derpy, is no stranger to being bullied and expects to be by anypony she meets. But Ditzy is about to find out that not everypony you meet is a bully, and help and understanding can come from the most unexpected of sources.

Ditzy, aka Derpy, is no stranger to being bullied and expects to be by anypony she meets. But Ditzy is about to find out that not everypony you meet is a bully, and help and understanding can come from the most unexpected of sources. Will Ditzy find out the way she makes him feel? Will he come to terms with his feeling for her, will he be able to learn to love?
Graduation and Prom, the most amazing nights in a young pegasus life, will be the finale to their high school career. Will he be able to ask her out on this special night? Well practice makes perfect, and the upcoming Winter Formal will give him the chance to make his move. or will it?

AN: I honestly don't know where this idea came from. I was just going about my day when it popped into my head. Ironically I came across a fic that same day with the same ship. So maybe I wasn't as crazy as I thought.

Published 2013-05-27 03:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-06-30 19:51:43 UTC

Chapter 1: Somepony Special

It was a cold and blustery morning, typical this time of year in Cloudsdale. A light snow was falling and clung to the ground only a few seconds before melting. A young gray pegasus flew through streets of Cloudsdale, her blonde mane waving in the wind as she quickened her pace. She hated crowds. Something you unfortunately could not avoid in a town as busy and as populated as Cloudsdale, but she learned that if you left early enough you could beat the hordes of pegasus swarming to their jobs and daily activities. Checking the time she realized she had a little more time than previously calculated, slowing down she entered one of the few shops that were opened at this hour. There was a soft ting as she pushed open the door and walked into the warm building.

“Mornin’, Mr. Bran.”

An almond colored stallion looked up from behind the counter and smiled, “Good Morning Ditzy, haven’t seen you in ‘bout a week. The usual?”

Ditzy smiled back, “Yeah, I’ve been running late these past few days so I haven’t had the chance to stop by. Oh yes please.” The stallion nodded, then slid back the glass on the display case and pulled out a rack full of baked breakfast goods. “Which will you be having today, Miss. Doo?” he asked.

Ditzy looked over the tantalizingly delicious treats, she could feel her mouth start to water as their aroma reached her nose. After contemplating for a minute she decided, “One cornbread muffin, please. Oh, and make it to go please” she added glancing at the clock. Ditzy licked her lips as he wrapped her breakfast. When she wasn't looking, Mr. Bran discreetly slipped an extra muffin into his best customer's bag. He was quite fond of Ditzy, he was an old friend of the family and he cared for her like he would his own daughter. “That’ll be 2 bits, Miss. Doo.”

Ditzy snapped her eyes forward and had to blink to get them to focus on the register; her wayward eyes, once relaxed, had rolled off in different directions. Shaking her head in hopes of getting her eyes to straighten only resulted in disorienting them even more. She became even more frazzled when she saw Mr. Bran’s apple green eyes watching her struggle. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks and her eyes sting; it was so embarrassing. She always tried to look and act like a grown pony around Mr. Bran, she didn't want him thinking she was a baby, but now here she was; eyes crossed and brimming with tears. Ditzy squeezed her eyes shut and, ignoring her dampened eyelashes, counted to three. W-wone… t-two… th-three. Deep breath Ditzy, she told herself.

Mr. Bran waited patiently as Ditzy slowly calmed herself and tried to refocus her eyes. He was no stranger to her floating eyes and he saw nothing wrong with her because of it, but he knew they were a great deal of embarrassment to the young mare. He watched as Ditzy reached into her saddlebag and placed her bits on the counter, her eyes never leaving the floor. He suspected that her eyes were still askew, and she was ashamed. His thoughts were confirmed when she choked out a small apology.

“Sorry for what, Ditzy?”, he asked?
"Um, um f-for, um. Oh I don’t know!” She wailed, “For, for, being me.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being you, hon. Don’t let anypony ever let you think otherwise.” Mr. Bran walked around the counter to the gray mare sitting miserably on the floor. Wrapping a wing around Ditzy’s shoulder he drew her into a warm embrace. “You are a very beautiful, talented, and caring mare.” he gently pushed her chin up until her eyes were level with his, “Never let what others say bring you down, Ditzy. No matter what they say, know, you are special and unique. Don’t you ever try to change that about yourself. Who else in your entire school taught themselves to fly, hmm? Tell me; nopony else am I right?”

Ditzy sniffled and gave a small nod, “B-but… they all fly so much better than I do. They don’t crash into things or fall down or always wreck things like I do.”

Mr. Bran shook his head before answering her, “But don’t you see Ditzy? That’s what makes you a better flyer than any of them. You know how to fall down and get back up. You know how to take failure then dust yourself off and try again. You have that strength Ditzy, the strength to keep going, that I’m sure none of the other fillies and colts in your class have. They don’t know how to take failure or loss without losing their cool and blaming somepony else. They don’t know because everything was given to them. They were lucky enough to have straight wings, straight eyes, and someone guiding them to sugarcoat their failures. You didn't, and look at the talented mare you've become.”

Ditzy was at a loss for words, never had anyone in her entire life complimented her like that. Was she really that special? She looked back at Mr. Bran; he looked so sure of himself, so confident in her. “Do- do you really mean that Mr. Bran?”

“With all my heart Ditzy, with all my heart.”

He chuckled before chanting, “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a muffin in my eye.” Ditzy couldn't suppress a giggle, surprised that the old baker had remembered the silly rhyme from so long ago. Mr. Bran smiled, “Now scoot you silly filly, or you’ll be late for school.” Ditzy gasped when she saw that she would make it just barely in time for school, if she hurried. “Oh no, I’ll be late, I’ll be late!” Quickly fishing out 2 bits from her saddle bag she shoved them into Mr. Bran’s hooves, “Thank you, thank you soo much. I have to go now, sorry, bye” She gave him a quick hug then darted out of the bakery and off to school.

“Wait, you already paid for the--” Mr. Bran began to shout, but she was already gone. Looking down at the 2 bits in his hoof he shook his head and let out a small laugh, “Can’t get nothing past you, eh Ditzy?” Still smiling he tucked the ‘extra’ bits in his aprons pocket; she always seemed to know when he packed an extra muffin and she’d always, somehow, pay for it. “You really are something Ditzy, you really are something.” he said to himself.
~~

Ditzy flapped her wings faster; she only had five minutes before the morning bell rung to signal the start of school. Luckily the school came into view sooner than she thought. Without slowing down Ditzy threw open the door and zipped in. She knew she wouldn't have time to stop by her locker but she might have enough time to eat her muffin before class started. She zigzagged through the hallways, with minimal damage, and reached her classroom. After catching her breathe she chose to walk through the rear door, fewer ponies would stare at her than if she walked through the front. Ditzy walked to her seat in the second to last row, head bent and avoiding the eyes of her classmates the whole way. A quick glance at the clock told her it was three minutes to seven. She smiled and opened up her parcel from the bakery and pulled out her muffin, she was about to bite into the delicious crumbly goodness when the front door suddenly slammed open.

Ditzy inhaled sharply when she saw who had just walked– er barged– through the door. She nearly choked on a piece of muffin, her heart was racing. Oh why now, why can’t I ever enjoy a muffin in peace?

Author's Note

This is my first pony fanfiction, so constructive criticism is welcome. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.

Chapter 2: A Curious Feeling, Indeed

Ditzy’s inhaled sharply when she saw who had just walked –er barged– through the door; she nearly choked on a piece of muffin, her heart was racing. Oh why now, why can’t I ever enjoy a muffin in peace?

They sauntered in like they were the most popular ponies in the whole school, well, maybe because they were the most popular ponies in the entire school. Ditzy tried to shrink into her chair and look invisible, What I’d do to be a unicorn and make myself disappear. Ditzy was, unfortunately, a magnet for bullies and that's just what these ponies were; bullies. One of them, Diamond Dust, detached herself from a tall charcoal stallion and sashayed right over to where Ditzy was sitting and, placing her hooves on the edge of the desk, leaned her face into Ditzy’s. “What’cha eating there,” she crossed her eyes, “Derpy!” she cackled. Diamond Dust turned her head to see her whole clique laughing, all except one. The charcoal pegasus was grimacing, and looking away uncomfortably. Frowning she barked at him, “Oh come on, lighten up.” She turned back to the cowering pegasus before her, “You didn’t answer my question… FREAK! What are you eating?”

Ditzy bit her bottom lip, Where’s the teacher, why can’t she ever walk in on time whenever they’re up to no good? She could feel her eyes beginning to drift; they were making her anxious. Ditzy knew that if she didn't answer, Diamond Dust would get impatient and resort to more physical means of humiliating her. She swallowed and took a shaky breath, “Um, n-nothing.”

Diamond Dust smirked, “Nothing, huh? Well then… since it’s ‘nothing’, I guess you wouldn’t mind if I…” impossibly fast, Diamond Dust snatched Ditzy’s muffin right out of her hoof, “took this!”

“Hey!” Ditzy shouted, standing up.

Diamond Dust got just what she wanted; Ditzy’s face and, more importantly, her eyes were now exposed to the classroom. Ditzy realized her mistake to late.

“Give it back, please.” she begged.

“Hey, Aura Lee! Catch!” Diamond Dust threw Ditzy’s muffin through the air. A white mare with golden locks caught it and tossed it to a brown stallion with a blue mane shouting, “Heads up, Cerulean!” The charcoal pegasus mouth was set and his eyebrows were deeply furrowed as Cerulean jumped up and caught the crumbling pastry; just as Cerulean was about to pass it he shouted over his friends raucous laughing, “Come on guys, knock it off!” He moved to grab the muffin but Cerulean tossed it over his head; into the hooves of an orange mare with a violet, pink streaked mane.

“Lighten up Lane; gee, somepony’s in bad mood this morning” the orange mare trilled as she dangled the muffin just out of the stallions reach. He gave her an annoyed glare before trying to grab the very beaten up muffin, “Really, Dusk Fall? You wanna play this the hard way?”

“Hot potato!” she giggled and lofted the muffin past his extended forelegs to a very amused Diamond Dust.

Ditzy could only watch helplessly as they ravaged her muffin; tossing it from one to the other as the charcoal stallion tried to intercept it. She sniffled, “It’s not a potato…” she whispered. Ditzy knew better than to try and get it back, if she did she ran the risk of incurring Diamond Dust’s wrath. She should consider herself lucky though; to have gotten off so ‘lightly’. They had only insulted her twice and she still had the extra muffin Mr. Bran gave her. Ditzy was smart enough to know not to pull it out while Diamond’s group was still murdering her current one; she’d have to wait until lunch to find a place to hide and eat her spare muffin in peace.

“Geez dude, chill. I you want the muffin you’re gonna have to catch it.” Cerulean smirked as he aimed over his friend’s hooves, “Hey Aura, watch now!” He chucked the muffin towards her, unfortunately his throw was to low and the charcoal stallion was able to seize it midair. Turning he came snout to snout with a not very pleased Diamond Dust. “What’s your problem!? Can’t you have a bit of fun?” she shrieked.

The air thickened, and a hush swept over the classroom as the two pegasai glared at each other. Ditzy glanced up when she heard Diamond Dust screech. She was frightened by the silvery mare’s angry gaze but at the same time relief washed over her when she realized those burning magenta eyes were not aimed at her. Diamond Dust was mad; fortunately Ditzy was not on the receiving end this time.

“My problem!?” Thunderlane fumed, “You know, this is all some ponies have for breakfast sometimes! How would you like it if somepony got their grimy hooves all over it?!” Before Diamond Dust could answer, a voice was heard at the doorway, “Gooood Morning class.”

Reaction was immediate; the classroom turned into a whirlwind of feathers as pegasus rushed to their seats before the teacher could walk in. Diamond Dust and her group dispersed as they to, sped to their seats. Cerulean and a green stallion with a bright turquoise mane quickly sat on either side of Thunderlane in the third to last row. Not a second too soon, their teacher walked in, oblivious to the events that had unfolded seconds before she entered, and started calling attendance.
Thunderlane looked down at his hooves where the remnants of a muffin were. He wasn’t one to waste food but he had no other choice. Thunderlane sighed and dejectedly tossed the pastry into the garbage pail by the door.

Such a waste, he thought, such a waste of food. And for what? A stupid game! He let out a frustrated sigh, what a great way to start my morning.

Ditzy had to bite her lip to keep herself from crying as she saw her breakfast sail into the trash bin. Why do they have to be so mean! A small tear trickled down the length of her face and dripped onto her desk. She tried not to sniffle too loudly; she didn't want them to know they had succeeded and made her cry. She wiped her eyes and nose with a napkin from her parcel, and tried to look forward as the teacher called attendance.

“Diamond Dust.”

“Present.”

“Der– ahem, I mean um, Ditzy Doo” the teacher fumbled and a wave of snickers went through the room.
Ditzy was aghast, not even the teacher could remember her name. “H-here” she replied shakily. More giggles and faint whispers could be heard as the teacher continued down the list of names.

Ditzy slumped lower in seat, they were all looking at her, she could feel their eyes burning into her, judging her for something she couldn't help. Her stomach twisted, her heart felt like it was carrying a thousand pound weights, and her insides squirmed. Ditzy lowered her head and let her mane act as a shield to their burning gazes. It was getting harder to breathe, her throat was closing up, and her heart was pounding; threatening to burst out. She had a burning feeling in her midsection; it stung like acid on an open wound. Why can’t they look away! I can’t breathe; they’re all looking at me, they’re all looking at me. Sweet Celestia, please stop looking at me! Ditzy was hyperventilating, her eyes were wide; pupils dilated and staring forward. She wrapped her forelegs around her chest protectively and tried to relax her breathing. As the teacher began the day’s lesson and the amount of staring eyes lessened, she began to calm down. Relaxing her tensed shoulders and rigid wings she drew her eyes to the front of the classroom... and groaned.

Their teacher, Mrs. Bell, was starting their day with… calculus.

Everypony grumbled as they pulled out their incredibly heavy math textbooks, some ponies already looked like they were knocked out. Anypony that wasn't a math scholar was leaning their head heavily on one hoof with sleepy, dazed and/or confused expressions. Ditzy tried to concentrate but all those symbols; algorithms and logarithms, and whatever other -rithms.

Which was which, which did you use to graph? Were they even used to graph? Maybe that was statistics, but then… what was calculus for? Do I even use calculus outside of school? What’s the point of learning all of this!?

She groaned, nothing made sense, it was all a bunch of mumbo jumbo, and her eyes crossing things didn't help the matter. The morning dragged on and Ditzy was just about ready to give up, it was all giving her just one big headache, when the teacher suddenly snapped her book shut; effectively waking half off the class up.

"Now that we're done reviewing I'm sure you are all ready for today's exam."
Exam! What exam? You didn't mention anything about an exam this whole week!

Ditzy panicked, and so did the rest of the class. They were in hysterics; Diamond Dust was blubbering, unshed tears glistening in her eyes, a good half of the classroom was begging Mrs. Bell to move the exam, while the other half just silently accepted their fate. Mrs. Bell looked at her math geniuses, smiling smugly at each other, and as if on cue they burst out laughing. The entire class just stared, bewildered.

What where they laughing at?

It took Mrs. Bell a minute to compose herself, "Yes well, that certainly woke them up, don't you think?" she said looking at her mathematicians. They snickered in agreement; laughing at their classmates hysterics. The class settled down as they put two and two together and realized it was just theirs teachers idea of a joke. Ditzy breathed a sigh of relief as Mrs. Bell continued, "Well, now that I have your attention; the administration board has decided that the senior class needs to hold another fundraiser if they want to have prom at th-"

She was swiftly cut off by the groans and complaints of her students.

"That's not fair!"
"Didn't we raise enough last time?"
"They can't cancel prom, it's not right!"
"We're leaving soon, why do we have to keep hauling in bits for the school!"

Mrs. Bell raised a hoof to silence her class, once they all stopped she spoke, "Let me finish. As I was saying the administration board wants to ensure there's enough to let the other grades do something memorable as well. For the past two years the freshman and sophomore classes could not do anything because the seniors prom used up a good deal more than what they raised, thus cutting into the underclassmen's fundraiser bits." Her gaze panned through her students, "Now tell me, does that seem fair to you?" The class only grumbled, and Mrs. Bell offered a small smile, "Cheer up ponies; I actually think you're all going to enjoy this type of fundraiser." Several students sat a little straighter; intrigued.

"How is a fundraiser going to be fun?" Dusk Fall asked with a bored expression as she inspected her hoof, "The only way a fundraiser could be fun is it were like, a dance or something." Her smile broadening, Mrs. Bell gave a small chuckle, "Actually Dusk Fall, you hit the nail right on the head." Dusk Fall raised an eyebrow, "Ha ha ha, you're very funny Mrs. Bell, but how does the administration figure having another dance, pay for another dance?"

"Well you see, the school has worked out a compromise." Mrs. Bell explained, "Prom will free of charge for all the seniors, if they attend this new dance. See, the reason prom costs so much to attend is because the school wants to regain, or balance out, what was spent for the prom, and usually this money pays back the debt with some left over. However by then it's already too late to use for the underclassmen. SO, the school believes that if they collect those bits now with another dance there will be enough time to plan something for the underclassmen. That way, everypony is happy!"

"So basically: we get another dance, that's cheaper, don't have to pay for prom, and no catch?" Aura Lee asked.

"That's right, Aura. Now isn't that swell? It's a semi-formal dance, so girls you don't have to go as nicely dressed as you would to prom, and boys... well um, I guess there really isn't much you can tone down with a suit now is there?" The mares giggled, and the stallions just groaned. Nonetheless the classroom was abuzz; mares were discussing the best way to wear their manes and what the latest styles were, the stallions conversed amongst themselves mostly about which mare they were planning on taking and what would go down afterwards.

Ditzy chewed on her bottom lip and wrung her hooves; the whole dance idea did not sit well with her. She knew that she didn't have to go; it wouldn't affect her going to prom since she wasn't planning on attending that either. It was the thought of the endless torture she'd have to endure from Diamond Dust's little group, they would tease her nonstop about how no one would want to take an ugly filly, like herself to the dance. Ditzy wrapped her hooves around her chest and rocked herself back and forth, I'm not ugly, I'm n-not ugly. I'm b-beau-beauti-ful. Mr. Bran said not to listen to them. Oh but it's so hard sometimes. Her thoughts were interrupted when a gray hoof tapped her desk; looking up through her mane she saw a gray blur. Blinking she realized she was crying; she shied away from whoever it was that was looking at her. They probably just want to make fun of me some more, thought Ditzy, maybe if I ignore whoever it is they'll go away.

"Are you ok?"

Ditzy jumped, she hadn't expected to be spoken to so softly. She glanced up and saw concern etched in the face of the stallion who sat in front of her. He repeated the question, "Are you ok?" Ditzy saw guilt flash in his golden eyes.
"Uh, um, um..." she trembled, she wasn't used to being spoken to so kindly by another classmate, and she was rightfully suspicious, yet it wasn't just fear that froze her tongue.

The stallion opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Diamond Dust floated towards him and wrapped her forelegs around his neck.

"Thunderlane isn't this sOoo exciting?" the silvery mare crooned, the morning's events apparently forgotten or forgiven.
His smile seemed forced as he nuzzled her back, "Hey, yeah, totally."
Diamond Dust didn't notice his lack of enthusiasm, as she was too wrapped up in hers, "Oh my gosh, this is going to be aMazing! Me and Blossomforth were just talking, and oh my gosh, she has a great fashion sense. Did you know that? Well obviously not better than mine of course, but she has some great idea's. Do you have any idea on who you're planning on asking Thunderlane? Huh, do you? Have your eye on any specific mare?" she said these last few lines while nuzzling into the crook of his neck, cuddling deeper into his lap and batting her eyelashes delicately.
"Oh. Yeah... yeah... I have my eye on somepony..." he answered distractedly.
Diamond Dust pouted; upset that Thunderlane didn't seem to be taking the hint, "Well, I'm sure somepony would definitely loove to go with you. Why, if it were me I'd say yes in a heartbeat. A heartbeat Thunderlane, a heartbeat." She brushed her head under his chin and settled deeply into his lap; resting her head against his chest adoringly.
"That's cool." he deadpanned, annoyed with Diamond Dust's attempts to rope him into the dance with her, he was trying his best to get her to leave. It seemed to work; Diamond Dust was slowly scooting away. After what seemed like forever, she finally got off his lap and flew back to her friends, muttering angrily to herself the whole way.

Ditzy rolled her eyes as she watched Diamond Dust fly away, what a kiss-up, she couldn't believe how insistent Diamond Dust had been. Ditzy knew Diamond Dust was manipulative but she never thought that she could be so... so seductive. Hearing Thunderlane sigh heavily she cast her gaze up and watched as he rolled his eyes at Diamond Dust's retreating back. Ditzy felt her heart skip a beat when he caught her staring and his gaze locked onto hers. She quickly snapped her head away. Ditzy could feel her heart hammering in her chest as he leaned over his chair towards her desk. She shrank back; suddenly afraid. He looked like he was about to say something, but the bell cut him off. Ditzy peered through her blonde mane, and saw him frown before he turned and flew to his next class.

Ditzy sat up; confused. She raised her head so only a few strands of her mane remained in her face. She moved her hoof to push them off and stopped. She paused; her hoof gently touching her cheek. They were warm. But that's impossible... Unless she was embarrassed, her cheeks were never warm. I'm not embarrassed... So why were her cheeks warm, what was making her heart skip? Could it be... nah. Ditzy dismissed the thought with a brush of her wings as she made her way to her next class. But still..., Ditzy couldn't help but smile as a warm feeling danced across her cheeks.

Author's Note

I really liked the beginning but then I realized that I'd have to include a bunch of stuff to get the story moving along a bit and the problem came with how I was going to end this chap. It's not the ending I envisioned but this is what happened. Hopefully not to mushy for some people.

(P.S. I purposely wrote Diamond Dust saying "me and __", just thought it would make her sound a bit more snobby and self centered.)
Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed. Constructive Criticism is welcome and appreciated.