That Way

                Derpy was living the life she wanted to live. Some would disagree, but with her fiance, and her nice home, everything was alright. Well, Derpy had to admit to herself that it could be a little better. Jet, her future husband, was not as happy and energetic as he used to be. Her house was, okay, but it could be bigger. Last but not least, she wished she had a little more money. But Derpy always found ways to be happy. If it was her muffin from Sugarcube, that started her out at the Post office early in the morning, or her bath at night, after finishing her long day. Sometimes she found it to be ponies in her life too. Applebloom, and gang would always find it funny when she did flips in the air. All her mail would rain out of her bag, and land on the little fillies heads. It made them smile, and it made her smile too, so it was okay, even when the customers would complain about their dirty mail. Most of her customers were happy, and have big smiles on their faces when they got letter from relatives really far away, or something about being accepted into a school, or even sometimes they would have money in them. They were magical things she delivered that made ponies smile, and she loved smiles, and that is why she enjoyed her job. Most of the time though, Derpy delivered bills, it was still fun to do though. Working for the local post office was not always so easy. Derpy's eyes made it hard to fly straight, it made things complicated when she had to deliver a letter far away. It was long hours too, she almost could not stay awake when she came home late. After filling out her accident reports, and a ton of paperwork, she was happy to come home. Jet was not so happy to see her though. The unicorn would ask why she was so late, and Derpy was forced to tell him about the accidents she had that day. He would usually be mad at her, yell at her, and maybe call her a few names, but she loved him. Jet is why she came home every night, because they would have a big fancy wedding, they would kiss, and everyone would think Derpy was really beautiful in her dress. Jet did not like the idea, but he said she loved her all the time.

              Today was a usual start to her work. It was a crisp fall morning. News buzzed around town of the soon coming winter, and how the pegasi promised a lot of snow. It was already coming early this year. This was her favorite weather, when she could dress in her winter clothes. Today Derpy threw on a scarf before leaving, to enjoy the September air. She stopped and got her fresh breakfast muffin, for free, at Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie was working, and she always gave her free muffins, since Derpy always brought her packages with clothes for Gummy. With a farewell, she would be on her way. It was a little different today though. This was her first day back to work after a week vacation. Her boss, Narley, told her to take a vacation after a incident, and that she needed to stay low. She did drop a lot of cargo on her good friend Twilight Sparkle, and after all the money the company had to pay, he said that it was necessary. Narley was actually a very nice pony. He was a tall, and skinny pegasus, the race of most workers there. He would always take the fall for Derpy, and let her off easy. Her big boss though, which Narley always complained about, would sometimes figure out about her accidents. Again, he would take the fall, and she would be let off. This time though, Narley said it was really close, and to stop by his office later at the post office. He was always working, and always busy. He used to be a young, happy pony, but when he started working here, he lost his charm. He was a surfer, and had trophies from all the contests he was in all over his office. Narley's name was also a cool name for surfing, but everyone calls him Ryan now, and he hates it when Derpy calls him that. She does it anyway.

              After eating her breakfast while flying, she flew the rest of the way to the post office. She would pick up her papers, organize her mail, check in, and be on her route. The ponies there ignored her though, especially Rose, who was with Derpy during the Twilight accident. She decided that maybe when she dropped off Twilight's mail, she would say sorry in her free time. She did not know though, she may need the free time today. Derpy was not feeling good at all, and did not get up well this morning or for the past week vacation.

"Hey, Ditzy" One of the stallions said, his tone was low. He was tired like everyone else in the breakroom, all waiting to get their routes. Good thing for Derpy, nobody could bully her now, because they were all exhausted.

"H-hello" She replied

"So... where have you been?" It was Atlas, he was a newer worker. Young and had a letter and compass as a cutie mark. His father was her big boss.

"I had a week off"

"Oh, a vacation? I guess they gave you some time off" He looked at her, she did not look so well. "Hey, are you okay?"

"yeah... It was a vacation I guess. I am alright, I think I'm just a little sick. I had a big dinner last night"

"Okay... Just be careful" Atlas worried about her often. She looked after her as well, with Narley.

"Well, thank you" Ditzy picked up her mail bag. Atlas looked at a clipboard, and then handed her the route.

"Shh, I will get you out of here quickly. Don't tell anyone I gave you your route first" Derpy blushed.

"T-thank you"

             The post office was really big. It never failed to amaze her. It was a big building, with 3 parts. One for mail and the workers area, one for the offices, and one was for the customers. Derpy walked over to the garage, and it opened when she stomped her hoof on the wood beams. Immediately, she closed her eyes while the cold air blew in her face, and under her wings she opened. It was set high up, with a platform for the pegasi to fly out of, and bring cloud carts in to. Derpy flapped her wings, feeling very tired, and sick. Her delivery's were all the way across town. Not exactly what she wanted to do now, but whatever the job required was what she would do. Derpy liked ponies on the other side of Ponyville, it was where Twilight lived,  also Lyra and Bon-bon were there too. The CMC also seemed to be up to there shenanigans there, since the school was located nearby too. Derpy had not been there lately, due to her vacation. The last time she was there, she crushed Twilight on a sky delivery. The air caught under her, and brought her up into the air. The pegasus looked back at her co-workers, who one by one started to do the same. The sun was rising, and Ponyville was waking up, it was a beautiful thing.

            The first delivery she had was to a older woman, the mail she gave her was obviously just bills. She had many deliveries to make, before her break. It was at 12, after she met the required letters she had to deliver, Derpy would go to the deli and get a fresh daisy sandwich. Today however, she would go to Twilight's and apologize. Her stomach still hurt badly, her dinner was not that big honestly. It started to worry her, as she got dizzy while in the air. Derpy shook it off, it was probably her eyes playing tricks on her. After a good amount deliveries, to multiple homes that she knew, it was around 10. It would get boring sometimes, and lonely. She would think of Jet, the wedding, her break, her friends, and sometimes she would just count the ponies walking by to pass the time. Derpy was not so fast, she took her time, but the other ponies would make fun of her for it. Calling her dumb, stupid, and slow, but honestly she was just simple. She was not dumb, she just did not let some things bother her. Ditzy found that good, that she did not let things pull her down. She did her job with a smile. It showed when at 11, she saw her favorite fillies playing in the grass by Rarity's place. A big smile came across her face, when she flapped her wings, and landed near them.

"Hi Ditzy Doo" Sweetie Belle said, stopping a soccer ball Applebloom kicked to her.

"Hello Ditzy" Was what Scootaloo said, walking over to her.

"Howdy!" Chirped Applebloom

"Hello guys! How are you?" Derpy responded to the three. She definitely liked them, she got along well with the many school aged foals around her town. "Playing soccer?"

"We are doing well. We are playing soccer, we are actually playing a lot of sports. Scootaloo said that Rainbow Dash was really good at a lot of sports, and that a lot of ponies have sport Cutie Marks" Sweetie Belle's squeaky voice replied with a smile. It was funny seeing her sweaty and her white coat stained. Her sister was such a pretty pony, she would probably be mad at her for getting that way.

"Yeah! How cool would a soccer ball cutie mark be, or a football, or a golf club!"

"Well Applebloom, that is a lot of sports and a lot of work. I am just doing it because Rainbow Dash does it" Derpy loved the way all their voices squeaked. She missed the days when she was adorable.

"I know Rainbow dash!" Derpy said a little too excited. The girls smiled.

"We know you know Rainbow Dash" Applebloom giggled. She went off with Sweetie Belle to begin kicking the ball back and fourth again. The grass was nice and damp in front of Rarities house, it had the smell of fall sports. Derpy smiled, watching the two, Scootaloo found a way into Derpy's stretched mailbag.

"Hey, what are you doing in there?" She giggled

"I'm just getting comfy" Scootaloo said, laying down in the crinkly mail. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure!" Derpy said with a smile "J-just, don't go in there, my mail will get dirty" She had trouble saying no sometimes, but Scootaloo hopped out, fluttering her wings.

"You are a really good flier, you fly all around Ponyville and deliver the mail" Scootaloo said, pulling her wing down. It tickled a bit, but she accepted it.

"Yes, I don't know if I'm a good flier though, I can't fly very fast"

"Yes..." Scootaloo said, with her feet in the little bit of mud on the ground, and wings extended. "But Rainbow Dash said that some ponies are fast, but others have a lot of endurance" Scootaloo compared her little wings, to her one long one.

"Endurance?" Derpy was confused by the word.

"Uh- it means you can go for a really long time without getting tired. The other day she said she had to work on it. Rainbow can go REALLY fast, but gets tired quickly too. So after thinking about some ponies who can fly for a really long time, I thought of you!"  The little filly answered, letting her fold her feathers back up.

"Why thank you, I never had anyone say I was a good flier before"

"Well I think you are!"

"I'm happy you do. Other ponies... well they can-" Derpy began to say. Scootaloo cut her off, knowing what she was about to say.

"I know you don't like to talk about it.... but even though your eyes are not so straight, you still fly really good. I know some mean ponies can say that you are not good, but it is not true. The bullies at school say I am stupid because I can't fly" Scootaloo said, her mood going south.

"Oh, cheer up. You will learn soon enough. We all fly eventually. My mom told me, that the most beautiful flowers, bloom the latest. So even though you can't fly now, maybe you will be able to fly really, really good in the future. Maybe I can help you"

"Will you?" She said, putting her head back up "That would be awesome! Can you teach me now?"

"Oh... well Scootaloo, I'm working right now. I have mail to deliver! Maybe tomorrow on my break" Derpy said with a smile "Besides, it is kinda hard. Flying does not come so quick. It all comes from your-"

"Heart... I have heard that before" She said rolling her eyes "Aww please? Rainbow Dash is always busy too, maybe on your break today?" Scootaloo said, giving her puppy eyes.

"I would say yes, but I am not feeling so good. I also have to see Twilight" Derpy replied, patting her head.

"You are not feeling so good? Uh-oh. Maybe you should see a doctor. I heard there is a pony flu going around, and I don't want you to catch it. Most of Ponyville depends on you!" Scootaloo smiled.

"Aww, thank you, nopony has ever said that before" Derpy blushed a little. Scootaloo hugged her leg, and it made her gently grin. "I think I am fine Scoots, I am a strong mare, it is just a belly ache. Not a flu."

"No problem, get well soon" Scootaloo mumbled, with her arms around her leg and head squished up against it. She let go, and before she left, they kicked the ball back and fourth with the other two fillies. When she did leave, they all sweetly gave her a good-bye, and Derpy did as well. Meeting the CMC daily was often a good push to get her working again, and lift her spirits. They were very sweet girls with a lot to say.

                It was around 11:30 when Derpy finally finished talking to the girls. This was the time of day where Ponyville really started to get moving. It was when the customers began to walk over to the market and begin shopping, and the school foals would start going to school. The nice thing about Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, is that they only had a hour of school on weekdays. Applebloom was even more lucky, she did not have to go on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that she could have extra time to work on the farm. Today was a Wednesday, and a perfectly good work day. The mail ponies were up in the sky, ponies down at the market were hollering deals, and a lot of earth ponies were up on the farm working. This is the time of day where you would see a lot of busy mothers, and mares. All the stallions were working the stands, or out on the fields. Derpy got in more deliveries, and sadly her stomach got more and more upset as she went on. She stayed strong, it was only a little. Nothing that could stop her from working. She did decide that she would use her break to talk to Twilight. She would shave sometime off her afternoon break, and work really fast so that she could not only apologize, but ask her why she was so sick. The more Derpy thought about it, she did not really feel good for the last couple of days. Maybe Scootaloo was right, and she was getting the pony flu. It would hold her back so much if she did, she already had a vacation. One of her deliveries was to the school, and a few more bill runs, back fourth in her little area on the other side of the town. Getting tired easily as she went on, she thought about some things to get her mind off of it.

            After her last few deliveries, which she did very quickly, Derpy was exhausted. Scootaloo did say she had endurance, but definitely not today. Even with the boost Scootaloo gave her with the compliments, she just could not push through the wall she hit. Her wings began to slow down, and her heart began to slow as well. What was going on? It was pure exhaustion. Maybe it was that she was not getting enough sleep lately. It was 12, and Derpy was relieved that it finally was. Thank Celestia her long break was here. Twilight always seemed to treat her nicely when she came over to, with a nice cup of coffee. Derpy knew almost everyone in Ponyville, but Twilight and her friends were definitely ponies she found herself talking to a lot. The 6 get around, and are pretty popular due to their status with the princess. Twilight was good to get with when she had a medical problem, or a question, Rarity would always dress her nice when she needed to be, Fluttershy was good to relax with, Pinkie Pie gave her muffins, Rainbow Dash was a pegasus she would see all the time in Cloudsdale, and Applejack would always supply her with fresh apples. On top of all this, she found herself delivering letters to them often. So when Derpy landed on Twilight's doorstep, it was not a surprise to get a friendly smile, and greeting.

"Hello Ditzy!" Twilight said, shaking her hoof

"Hi Twilight, It's my break... I just stopped by because I wanted to talk" Derpy noticed how fast she healed.

"Well, come in. We can have a nice cup of coffee. Spike brought in a really nice brew this morning from the market. I ordered it special"

"Special? Is it your birthday?" She turned her head, walking in and wiping the little bit of mud from Rarity's grass.

"No..." Twilight giggled "It is my anniversary of being Celestia's student. She sent me a letter reminding me, and I decided to treat myself to something a little more expensive today.  I wanted to share with someone, how about you sit down and have a cup" Derpy was happy that Twilight did not seem to be mad at her.

"O-oh, no thank you. Not if it is expensive"

"Please Ditzy, It is no problem at all, I want you to. It matters how much time you have though, if that is the case, I will not hold you up" She pulled out a chair with her magic, Derpy sat down.

"I have a long break" She lounged back, Twilight poured the bag of ground coffee beans into a cup with a film. It had a little hole on the bottom, that the coffee dripped out of. She put it over a pot, and it started to drip. Twilight sat down.

"So, what did you want to talk about? I have a lot of time too, I decided not to read any books today." She looked around "I don't know if I can do it" She said with a giggle. Derpy took her mailbag off, and wrapped it around the chair.

"Well... Twilight. I just wanted to apologize about what happened last week. It was a accident, and I am really sorry. I don't exactly know what went wrong, and I just hope you know I feel very bad. I hope there are no hard feelings-" Derpy put her head down, until she was stopped by the purple unicorn.

"Ditzy! Don't feel so bad. I have magic, and I fixed myself quickly. There is no need to be so upset over it. Is that why you came over? You are a very friendly mare, I can't hold a grudge. Besides, I was focused on something I should not have been focused on, it is 100% fine." Twilight reached over and patted her back.

"Well, it is just that I have been having some problems lately. Work has been hard, and Jet has been... well depressed, and I have not been getting a lot of sleep"

"Oh Ditzy, it is okay" She stopped herself from questioning what Jet's problem was. Twilight already knew that Jet was a general dick. She met him in her studies in Canterlot. Someone that used Derpy. Twilight knew that although Derpy had her handicap, she was naturally beautiful, and cute. Jet could easily take advantage. "You should give yourself a break"

"Well, Twilight I did! I had a week vacation right after our problem, and I still did not get a lot of sleep. I have not been feeling very well in the mornings lately, and Jet is not helping."

"Well, do you think you are sick?" Twilight said, getting up and pulling out two coffee cups.

"There is a flu going around, but my belly just hurts" Derpy said, looking over at what she was doing.

"Hmm, well I'm no doctor, but I can help you. Go through the list, see if you have anything I know of. It probably is just a bug." She began pouring the hot coffee out into the two mugs. The steam came off of them, it smelled strong and delicious. She went over to her fridge and pulled out some creamer and sugar. They were put on the table, and Twilight slid her cup over to her. Derpy began to prepare her coffee, it was too hot to drink.

"O-okay Twilight, my coffee has to cool down, so we can do that."

"Alrighty... Now I may have to feel around your abdomen a bit, you will be okay with this right?"

"Of coarse Twilight, just be gentle... okay?" Twilight nodded, as Derpy bit her hoof. She did not really like being examined by doctors. But who did.

"Of coarse, you can trust me" She pulled her up, and they walked over to the middle of the library floor.

               Derpy stood their, a little sick and dizzy, while Twilight went upstairs and washed her hooves. She came back down and skimmed through a book, looking up some possible problems. The amount of books she had was unbelievable, and Twilight probably knew everything if the rumors were true. Spike said that Twilight must of read every book in there twice, and that she was always shipping and trading with Celestia's library. In that case, she was probably a genius, and everyone knew it. A lot of people Derpy knew came to Twilight when they were in trouble. She ran all of Winter Wrap-Up! She is a leader, and leads many events around the town, and is the voice of wisdom. Twilight however did not want to brag. She was good at magic, and smart, but it did not make her better then anypony. That is why she did not exactly want to tell Derpy that Jet was abusing her, and that a lot of her problems would be solved if she left him. It would sound like she knew a lot about relationships, but she really didn't. But, Twilight knew, that Derpy was easily convinced. Her bosses told her that she was really upset when she was not, and Jet tells her she is worthless, and she is not. People took advantage of a beautiful, unique, and friendly mare like that, and it made Twilight upset that ponies would actually do that. Derpy moved around a little, nervous. Twilight locked the door and came by her side.

"Now... im going to ask you some questions okay?" She felt her stomach for knots. Derpy shook a little bit, as her hooves moved around her stomach. It was a little awkward.

"Yes" Derpy answered, a little nervous. Twilight stopped and did not feel anything.

"How has your diet been for the last week, I know you were on a vacation." Twilight levitated a book over to her. It was "The Big Book Of Pony Problems" and it could figure out what was wrong with a pony by answering a series of questions. Twilight turned to stomach pains.

"Well, I would eat a muffin every morning, packed with things that are good for you, I would have a daisy sandwich for lunch, but on Thursday I had a hay burger, and for dinner it changed every night, but it was actually the same stuff I have been eating honestly" Twilight turned the page, Derpy looked down.

"How long has this been going on, a week right?"

"Yes... about a week, and it has been getting worse through the days. It gets better at night though" Derpy sighed, another flip of the page by Twilight.

"Umm" Twilight got a little nervous to ask this one, but she still asked it and smiled awkwardly "Uhhh, have your- bowels been functioning... correctly? Where has the pain been really..."

"Y-yes. It has been in my stomach, almost like i'm sea sick" Derpy blushed a bit.

"Have you.... hmm.... Do you have any history of having this before"

"No..." She let out a deep breathe getting bored.

"Is anyone in your home sick?" Twilight focused harder on the book.

"Nope"

"It is probably a simple bug Derpy" Twilight sighed, shutting the book.

"Well... This is not normal! Something is wrong, I can tell..."

"Stress maybe?" Twilight thought about it, Derpy was not someone who would put up an act being sick. She is a pony that would not say anything if she was sick. One time she had a head cold, and was sniffling so badly, and looked so sick, but somehow she was still doing the mail. If she was whining over a stomach bug, it would not be her, something was up, and Twilight could not pin point it.

"Please Twilight" She asked.

"Well.... uhh" Twilight looked around, and she levitated the pages through the book. Maybe she would just ask her some BS questions to make her feel better. But honestly Twilight had no idea, she looked through some more questions in the book. "Im going to ask you a few more questions"

"Go ahead" Derpy said rolling her eyes.

"Normal urination?"

"Y-yes...."

"Are you taking medications?"

"No"

"Are you allergic to anything?"

"No"

"Uhh... have... you eaten anything not supposed to be eaten"

"No Twilight"

"Uhh" She began to get nervous, she didn't know. It was probably nothing. Twilight still had some more embarrassing questions, but she was thinking of just skipping them because she wanted her coffee.

"When was your last period..." Derpy opened her mouth and Twilight put the book down "I don't know Ditzy, you have to see the doctor. You aren't someone who complains, so there must be something wrong, but I-" Derpy scratched her chin. Twilight turned her head. "What?"

"Uhh... the last question" Derpy said with her head down.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry I asked you about that stuff. I know it was probably another pointless 'no', it is just-" Twilight sighed when Derpy cut her off.

"N-no... my period... It was due a week ago" Twilight really did not want to talk about this topic. She was getting somewhere, but she was definitely not the type of mare that knew about problems... back there. Twilight did the right thing and flipped the pages. Probably worth a shot, but she would probably get more no's. Derpy was not the best patient.

"Have you had any problems... with that kind of stuff. Do you miss it often, is it heavy, light" She asked, seeing her blush. She felt bad asking these questions.

"No, my b-body does it right on time.....it usually is m-medium" She was nervous, and scared.

"Uhh..." Twilight rubbed her face "When was the last time you have seen the doctor"

"Last month" She said, looking around.

"Any...." Twilight paused "Any... sexual relations with anypony" Derpy froze up, and she put her head down, brushing her hoof against the floor "D-Derpy... you can tell me... I promise I won't tell anyone... we are getting somewhere"

"Jet and.... I have... umm... we"

"Have you?"

"2 w-weeks ago was my.... uh... first time... ever" Derpy did not look happy. Apparently what they did was not very pleasant for her. Twilight Knowing Jet from Canterlot, he probably hurt her.

"Derpy...." Twilight knew where this was going. It shocked her that it could be possible. Poor, poor mare.

"Y-yes Twilight" The grey pegasus responded, with her head so low Twilight thought it would hit the floor. She bit her lip. Derpy sniffled, and she felt bad that it could possibly come to this. Maybe a few more questions, but it was probably true.

"Did... you use protection?" Twilight chewed on her pen she was levitating.

"N..... no"

"Ditzy, do you understand what can happen when you don't use protection..."

"N-no... I was really scared though, and he was kind of rough, is it possible that he...h-he hurt something back there? I-I don't do that stuff Twilight... I-I promise, I was a virgin... and one night, he was a little drunk... and he... touch-" Derpy began crying, she was very emotional thinking about these things. Derpy was indeed simple, and hated getting into these complications. She did not want to ever do this, but again she had problems saying no. Jet hurt her... and Twilight knew she would pay the price. She was a little shocked that she did not notice.

"Derpy... when you Don't use protection...."

"Yes" Derpy's tear filled eyes looked up at Twilight

"You... you get pregnant. You have a foal... it is possible that can happen" Her eyes widened.

"W-wait..... am I?" Derpy said. She was really emotional now, she had no idea how to feel. If she should feel mad, or upset, or happy, but all sorts of thoughts she did not want to think about filled her head. A foal? A child? Another one of her running around on its little hooves? A foal that would depend on her, and that she would have to feed and bathe, but worst of all with Jet? She was not ready to go this far with Jet! She barely understood what having a baby is. What is it like, the pain, birth, and how ponies look at you. Derpy saw Mrs. Cake when she was pregnant with her twins, her stomach was so big. Mrs. Cake was a large mare too! She was young, and her body was fragile, how would it hold a foal?

"Well.... yes, there is a good chance that you are pregnant Derpy...." Derpy looked around distressed, Twilight walked over to her. She broke the news to the poor mare, of the many complications she would suffer. She knew all about the magic of friendship, but she had no idea how love worked. The changling queen got extremely powerful from it. But this was not even the magic of love, or even friendship, it was... parenthood, and a entire dark side that Twilight never studied. She would have her mare things, but she never, ever, thought about having a child. How in the world would this innocent mare  deal with it.

"Twi-twi-tw-t-t" Derpy pulled Twilight close to her and began crying on her shoulder. She never felt this bad in her life, but she gently patted her back. Twilight would write about this to Celestia, and she will help her get through this. She may even convince her to get rid of Jet. Derpy was a simple, and innocent mare that Twilight would not watch suffer through this, and she knew that she would use her friendship to help her. Derpy was going to be a mother now, and join the cycle of creating new life. It was sad that Jet had to take her innocence away from her, but Twilight was going to help her. Help her get through one of the biggest mysteries of life.

"Lets have that coffee... We will talk about it. It's okay Ditzy Doo. You will get through this, I promise" Twilight turned the sobbing mare, and lead her back over to the table.