Chapter 1: The Thunderstorm
Chapter 1: The Thunderstorm
"Ugh, Derpy!"
The familiar sound of the cyan pony roaring made Derpy jump, a small blush creeping over her face as she slowly turned around. When she did turn around completely she flinched, Rainbow Dash right in her face with fury, yanking the banner over her head and tossing it away like garbage.
"How many times have I told you; do not try to help me set up the town hall!"
The gray pegasus avoided Rainbow Dash's burning gaze with a shudder, trying to get rid of her blush that grew darker.
"Oopsie, sorry," she mumbled, reaching for the fallen plank of wood. The cyan pegasus thrust out her hoof to stop Derpy, leaning closer.
"Did I not just say not to help me?"
"Well, yes but--"
"No buts, just, go away!"
Derpy flattened her ears and extended her wings, flying away from the raging pegasus below. Today was the Mayor's birthday, and Derpy wanted to help set up the decorations. She had tried to help Rainbow Dash by grabbing the banner and flying to pin it on the town hall building, only to become tangled. She had thrashed about and rammed into the pillars, smashing one.
Derpy's blush grew more intense as she remembered the embarrassment of everypony staring at her and their eyes all narrowed or their heads bowed to hide the laughter. The gray pony felt as if she did everything wrong. She felt like there wasn't a thing she could do right. Derpy rubbed her temples with her hooves, landing on a small cloud in the sky. Her gaze shifted to the weather ponies as they pushed thunderclouds together, a frown tight on her face.
I thought we were having the Mayor's birthday! she thought, removing her hooves from her face. She shook the thought of helping them, knowing she would cause damage instead. The gray pegasus jumped off of her cloud and flew back towards Twilight Sparkles' house. Maybe she has something for me to do, Derpy thought excitedly.
Soon Derpy could see the tree home, the purple alicorn standing just out of her house. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her gaze intense as she focused on something Derpy couldn't quite see. She grew excited, flying down to greet Twilight.
Maybe I can help her.
Derpy dropped down beside Twilight with a smile, leaning closer to her.
"Hey, Twi," she said cheerily. "watchya doing?"
The purple alicorn jumped at the sound of Derpy, crying out as she stumbled over. The gray pegasus flinched, knowing she had made Twilight Sparkle fall. Derpy offered her a hoof as Twilight stirred, a innocent grin on her own face.
"Sorry Twilight."
Twilight shot Derpy an icy glance that made her grin vanish quickly, a frown replacing it instead.
"Twilight, is something wro--?"
"Yes, there is!" she snapped, interrupting Derpy. Her voice was clipped and her eyes narrowed as she refused the pegasi's hoof, getting up on her own.
"I was in the middle of meditating!" she huffed. Twilight Sparkle shot her one last glare, clenching her teeth. "It's going to help me with my studies. So please, Derpy, go bother somepony else!"
It was like a cold slap in the face, stinging her harshly. But Derpy did not argue. She instead reluctantly slumped away, her head bowed low to the ground. Twice. Twice she had made a horrible mistake and made a fool of herself. The gray pegasus decided to go see Applejack instead, her mood suddenly lifted miles high. She snapped open her wings and took off, heading over to the apple farm.
Derpy finally arrived to the farm, peering down below to try and find the orange earth pony. She squealed happily as she saw Applejack bucking at the trees, the apple family moving quickly.
"Quickly, ya'll!" Applejack yelled over the howling wind. "we need to get these apples before the storm!" Derpy flew down towards the family, a smug grin planted on her face.
The gray pegasus approached Applejack, trying to get her attention. When the orange earth pony noticed her she looked at her in a strange way, tilting her head slightly.
"What is it sugarcube?"
"Can I help?"
Applejack bit her lower lip, using a hoof to hold down her hat as a gust of wind came over them.
"A-ah guess so," she stuttered. "we need to buck these apples before it starts to rain." Derpy nodded and flew over to some trees, trying to figure out how to do it. I've seen Applejack buck the apples, but, maybe there's a quicker way... aha! Her grin grew as she thought of an idea, flying into the trees. She flew into each one, giving them a good shake and the apples plunged to the earth below. Derpy giggled and repeated this process with each tree, feeling pride swell over her. I'm actually doing something helpful!
"What the hay are you doing, Derpy!?"
The gray pegasus stopped as Applejack jumped, grabbing her tail before she flew off again. She cried out as pain shot up her spine, immediately dropping back down to the ground. Derpy whirled around to find Applejack's face unreadable, shrinking away slightly.
"Didn't you get a bucket to put the apples in?" she asked, her voice dripping with irritation. Derpy dropped her eyes from the earth ponies', blushing.
Applejack took in a deep breath to hold back her anger, refusing to glare at Derpy.
"Look sugarcube, I know you want to help but... maybe you should leave. We now have even more work to do."
The gray pegasus just sighed, turning away from Applejack. Yet again, another mistake. Derpy headed home as rain began to pour over her, a shiver moving through her frail body. She sniffed, trying to fight off the tears that threatened her eyes.
Derpy was about to reach her home until she bumped into a large object, knocking her onto her arse. She gasped and looked up, seeing a blue metal box in front of her.
What is this? she thought as she rose to her hooves, walking to the front of it. Derpy pushed on it. Nothing. This time she pushed harder. Nothing. The gray pegasus narrowed her eyes and took a few steps back, charging at the blue box.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!"
Derpy stopped as she was about to ram into the box, turning slowly to the voice. Before her was a brown stallion with a dark chocolate brown mane hovering over her, his face having a quizzed look.
"Aren't you cold? Do you need a place to stay?" he asked, offering her a hoof. The gray pegasus looked up at him, realizing she had been shrinking away from him.
"I--I, um, sure," she whispered, accepting the hoof.
Who is this guy?
"Why, I am the Doctor. Who are you?" he asked as if reading her hind.
Oh boy...
Chapter 2: Meet the Doctor
Chapter 2: Meet the Doctor
Derpy followed the mysterious stallion to a small house, not meeting his eyes.
I could've gone home but, he seems like such a nice pony! she thought. The gray pegasus held back a giggle as he tripped up the stairs, rushing to help him up. He looks...strange.
The Doctor muttered his thanks and placed a hoof on the doorknob, frowning. Derpy peeked over his shoulder as he tried to open the door, failing miserably.
"Maybe it's the rain?" she offered with a shrug.
"Yeah."
"May I try?" Derpy asked, stepping closer to the door. The Doctor nodded, moving out of the way for her. Derpy placed a firm hoof on the doorknob, twisting with a grin as the door popped open with ease. He stood there and looked at her with wide eyes.
"Something wrong, Doc? You seem shocked," the gray pegasus giggled. When the Doctor shook his head and mumbled something to himself Derpy suppressed a laugh, reluctantly following him inside. He scurried off into the house making Derpy frown slightly.
"Uh, doc, are you ok?"
"Yes! Yes, I'm fine," he breathed, rushing past her. "Um, can you wait here for a second?"
"Sure thing."
Derpy shut the door and stood on the welcome mat, inspecting his house. It was small but reasonable for one pony.
The living room had a brown couch for two ponies in the corner, small plush pillows on each side. A large light blue rug was in the center of the room, stretching out to the kitchen. A small round table was on each side of the couch, each one having a small cream lamp on it. The rug stopped in the doorway to the kitchen as Derpy tried to lean forward to see the rest of the house.
"Here you go!"
The gray pegasus squeaked as she tumbled forward from the Doctor's voice breathing into her ear from behind her, landing harshly on her face.
"Oh dear!" the Doctor gasped, scrambling over to the fallen pony. He helped Derpy up, a blush creeping over her face. The blush darkened as he placed a hoof on her cheek with a frown.
"Are you sick? You're face is red," he asked, moving his hoof to her forehead. Derpy squeaked again, backing away suddenly with a darker blush as she avoided his gaze.
"I feel fine," she insisted. The Doctor walked back over to her while biting his lower lip, lifting her chin.
"Are you sure? I mean, you are pretty warm."
Derpy nodded frantically, flinching away as he held out his hoof.
"What? It's a towel," he said with a smirk. The gray pony looked out at his hoof and relaxed, grabbing the towel gratefully. As she dried herself off the Doctor's smirk grew bigger.
"Maybe you weren't sick," he said with a sigh, moving his eyes to the side. Derpy let out a sigh of relief as he said that, hiding a smile as she dried off her face.
"but maybe, you were blushing."
She moved the towel slowly off her face to find the Doctor nose-to-nose with her, the blush finding it's way back to her face.
"N-no I was not!" she stammered, putting the towel back over her face to dry off.
"Derpy, your face is dry already," he said smugly, a large grin on his face. She jumped as the Doctor removed the towel from her grasp, backing away.
"I, uh, think I should be heading home," she mumbled, heading over to the door quickly.
"Wait," he called out, stopping the gray pegasus in her tracks. "you can't go out in this weather!"
Derpy sucked in a sharp breath, turning back around.
"I mean, I don't want to be a bother or anything," she said softly, twirling a strand of her blonde hair with a hoof.
"A bother? Why would you be a bother?"
"Well, I usually create messes everywhere," Derpy said with a frown, sitting down on the welcome mat. "I try to help but, it always turns into a disaster."
The Doctor opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it, padding quietly over to her. He sat down by Derpy, leaning against the door as he searched her face.
"How do you make messes all the time?"
"Let me explain today..."
After Derpy was done explaining, the Doctor straightened his tie that was around his neck. He looked at her face, seeing that one eye was off. He furrowed his eyebrows as he thought maybe he was seeing things. The Doctor blushed as she looked away, her ears flattened.
"It's ok," she sighed. "everypony stares..."
"No! I was j-just a bit confused, that's all!" he tried, reaching out to her. "Please face me."
The gray pegasus refused, trying to block him out.
"Derpy, I'm begging you."
Derpy let out a tiny sigh, hesitating. Finally she turned back around slowly to face the Doctor, his blush gone.
"U-uh, doc, what are you doing...?"
He had his hooves on either side of her face, gazing intensely into her eyes.
"My, my," he breathed. "you have lovely eyes."
A dark blush found its way to Derpy's face, moving her eyes away from his.
"Um, t-thanks."
The Doctor removed his hooves quickly as he drew in a deep breath, rising to his hooves.
"Well, I only have one bed," he said with a sheepish grin. "I can take the couch."
"No, I'm the guest! I'll take the couch."
He stopped her before she could move, his eyes serious.
"But you are a lady," he pointed out.
Derpy stared at him with wide eyes, her breath hitching.
A...lady...?
"Now, go upstairs. The bed is the first room on the right."
She watched the Doctor for a few more heartbeats as he headed over to the couch, laying down on it.
"Thanks, Doctor," Derpy whispered, heading up the stairway. She followed his instructions carefully, walking into the bedroom. A small bed was in the corner of the room on her left along side of a window. There was a small desk with a lamp on it, drawings scattered on the wooden desk. A blanket was cast over a large rectangular shaped object, a sudden idea hitting the gray pony.
He never had a blanket... she thought to herself. I'll get him this one!
Derpy skipped over to the rectangular box, gripping the soft blue blanket between her teeth with closed eyes. She pulled away the blanket with a satisfied hum, opening her eyes. She dropped the blanket with a shocked look on her face as she looked up at the box.
No way.
Before her, the large blue metal box loomed over her that she saw in the street.
How is this here...?
