Protecting Derpy Hooves

For several weeks Derpy and Foster went without getting bullied. Mrs. Dandy moving them helped, and sitting next to Mrs. Dandy at recess also helped. They try to avoid Dezzy and her group. Fortunate for Derpy and Foster, Snap Shot and White Night had different class times than Dezzy. Outside of school, it was the same. Derpy and Foster did their best to avoid the trio. When they had no choice, they went into a public area. The group shed away every time. Not scared enough to not do it, but too scared to do it in public. Cowards. But as the weeks went on Derpy started to get a little distant. A little more every week. Foster began to get worried. Was something going on in her life that he didn't know about? He was quick to ask her. This was during recess.

"Derpy, is there something wrong? You've been acting distant," Foster asked her. She sighed.

"I really don't want to say this, but... in one week, I have to go," She said. Foster felt a pinch. His best friend was going to move. He knew it. He had let her and their teacher down. He had let her mother down, he let himself down. The pinch turned into a sting as he thought this. Foster tried to hide his emotions.

"W-Wh... Where are you... Where are you going?" Foster asked. Derpy looked down.

"I know what you are thinking. I'm not moving," Derpy said. Foster's face lit up. He sighed in relief. "But I still have to leave. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn't want to ruin our fun together. I guess waiting to tell you made it worse."

"So where are you going?" Foster asked. Derpy sighed.

"The one place where I never wanted to go back... Cloudsdale," Derpy said. Foster got worried. He wouldn't be able to keep her safe up in Cloudsdale. He learned in class that only Pegasi can naturally walk on clouds, though Unicorns can cast a spell on others to walk on clouds. He could find somepony to cast it on him, but he doubted they'd actually help him. He'd have to let Derpy go on her own. What if she got hurt? He couldn't be there.

"Will you be okay?" Foster asked.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm sure the ponies who bullied me have matured," Derpy said hopefully. Foster agreed.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Everything will be fine." One week. That's how long until she had to leave. "Wait, why are you going there?"

"Oh yeah, I'm going because I'm going to attend flight school," Derpy said. "I'm going to learn how to fly!"

"But you already know," Foster said.

"I figured some things on my own, but just the basics. As you remember, I'm not that good," Derpy said. Foster remembered the numerous times Derpy had crash landed. Sometimes into him.

"How long will you be there?" Foster asked, fearing the answer. Another sigh from Derpy confirmed his fear.

"About a month, but we can still write letters!" she said trying to be positive. Foster smiled, her positive words only brought him down. A week. How much can they cram into a week? Before he could think about it, the bell for recess's end rang. The rest of the week the two tried to stay together as much as they could. A lot of their time was spent in Sugar Cube Corner. Derpy tried and tried to get a story out of Foster, but it was in vain. He wanted to ask his mother, but she was too busy with her work. And, all too soon, Derpy's last day came. She said goodbye to her mother and father, and left to meet Foster at Sugar Cube Corner. It was closed since she had to leave at a late time.

"Hey, Foster! How are you?" Derpy asked. Foster smiled.

"I'm good, how about you?" Foster asked.

"I'm excited, when I get back, I'm gonna be a full grown mare!" she said. Foster laughed. He didn't want her to go. He wanted to grow up with her, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. But that was selfish. This wasn't his decision. It was hers. And she chose the right one.

"And I'm going to be a stallion," Foster said. "How did saying goodbye to your parents go?" Derpy laughed and rolled her eyes. But with them in opposite directions it was awkward looking.

"Well, my mom cried for almost 20 minutes. And my daddy and I had to coax her for 10. But my dad was proud of me. He might have shed a tear as I left, though. I don't know." Derpy sniffed. She choked up at the end of her sentence.

"Hey, hey... it's gonna be okay, you'll be back before you can spell Sugar Cube Corner," this made Derpy laugh. She leaned forward and hugged Foster.

"I don't know how I'm gonna do it! A whole month without you, or mommy, or daddy, or Sugar Cube Corner's muffins!" By now she was crying a silent cry. Foster caressed her mane. "And what if... w-what if they bully me?" Foster needed to say something. Anything to make her feel better.

"Look Derpy. Just know, the only reason ponies want to bring you down, is because you are above them. Remember that. Alright? You're better than them." Foster said. He must have said something right because she looked up and smiled. "See? That's the Derpy I know."

"Thanks, Foster. You're the best friend anypony could EVER have!" she hugged him again. Now it was Foster that was about to cry. But he wouldn't let himself.

"Well, you've got a balloon to catch. You gotta go," Foster watched her reluctantly let go.

"Yeah, you're right. I will write to you ever day. So you better expect some letters. And... Foster? Keep yourself busy," and with that she flew off. Foster now noticed that her flight was a little unprofessional, compared to others. Foster watched her until she was out of sight. Then he turned around and left. Keep yourself busy. How am I gonna do that? Foster thought to himself. Looks like another night of thought for him. He already missed her.