The Legacy of Derpy Hooves

Chapter One:

Her face lay on it's side upon the soft pillow, it's squishy texture supporting her cheek. Her hair lay in streaks of gold atop the plush quilt that kept her warm, her breathing at a relaxed pace as she slowly came around. Her eyes opened to the goddesses morning light, as it passed through the fluffy cloud floor, reflected from the surface of Equestria. She used her fore hooves to push off onto her knees which sank a little into the springy mattress as they took her weight. Stretching to the heavens, she arched her back, letting out a delicate moan. Derpy Hooves loved to sleep, because she could escape into the world of dreams. Anything was possible when she flew the never ending realm of white space, where she could be whoever she wanted to be. Sooner or later though, she had to wake up, back to a reality where everything seemed far harder. She felt by comparison rather helpless in this world, where she could barely take care of herself.

“Derpy dear? Are you up?” Derpy's mother asked.
“Yeah mummy, I'll come down soon!” Derpy replied.

Pulling her legs across the bed, she sat on the edge of it, her hooves dangling into the cloud floor. As her hooves touched it, the cloud swirled around them as it's softness caressed them. Her hooves plunged into the cloud as the pegasus pony dropped onto the floor. With her magically light touch, her pegasus status allowed her to cross it as the cloud particles danced. Opening her bedroom door she strolled through her home to where she heard her mother, the dining room, which appeared to have a bowl of Derpys favourite cereal on the table.

“Morning angel, you have a nice sleep?”

Derpy smiled at her mother and nodded, still feeling a little groggy, but well rested. She knew she owed a lot to her mother as she couldn't begin to imagine how she could cope without her support. As she sat down at the dining table, she idly noticed her thigh, which still bore no cutie mark. Her mother noticed the change in Derpy's expression as she poured milk on her cereal.

“Derpy, is there something the matter?”

Derpy fiddled with the spoon in the cereal, the crunchy wheaty morsels swirling around. She liked to think they were pegasus ponies racing one another.

“Well, I really don't know why I don't have a cutie mark yet. I'm a mare now mummy and my flank is still blank.” Derpy explained.

Derpy brought the spoon to her mouth moodily, letting the wheat ponies fall into her maw, devouring them.

“Your cutie mark... That's something you have to work for dear and it doesn't come easily. If you ask me, I think you need to experiment a little.”

Derpy swallowed the next mouthful the milk within the soaking ponies leaking upon her tongue.

“I know that mummy, but I don't think ponies really understand me.” Derpy replied.

Spooning the mushy ponies into her munching teeth, Derpy finished off the last of her cereal, holding the bowl up to sip the milk from it. When her gaze was now longer obscured by the bowl, her mothers shining yellow figures concerned gaze met her.

“Derpy I know you have trouble sometimes, but you are a beautiful pony, both inside and out. You just need to keep at it and everyone will see that in the end.”

Trotting leisurely around the table, Derpys mother produced a comb from her bag. She took Derpy's hair into her hooves and began to run it's teeth through her daughters hair. As she had just woke up, there were a couple tugs and uneven hairs.

“Thanks, mummy. I'll try again today.” Derpy said.

As Derpy's mum finished combing her hair she ran it through her tail a few times for good measure. The hair in her tail was dense, long and sleek. It didn't take much work to get her looking neat, but her mum enjoyed grooming Derpy so she was thorough.

“That's a good girl, I wish you all the best.”

Derpy turned to her mother and gave her a hug before she set off. Trotting along casually across the cloud layer she gathered speed for take off. Cantering now her hooves made broad sweeping steps as she opened her wings. By now at a full gallop she could see the edge of the cloud layer as she began to slowly flap her wings, spreading out gracefully at her sides. Her hooves by now were barely touching the cloud layer as she began to rise into the air. Passing the very edge of the cloud layer she gazed beneath her as Equestria made itself visible beneath her suspended hooves. Now in full flight she began to bank and turn downwards, cutting through the clouds as she descended through the atmosphere. The familiar town of Ponyville was now visible and Derpy turned so she was descending towards it. She flew over Sweet Apple Acres farm and gently lowered her altitude to prepare to land in the town plaza. Her wings fully extended, she glided on the air current, her hooves held out in anticipation of impact with the earth. Her front hoof touched the ground and Derpy found herself tripping over it, landing with a thud on her back. With her hooves in the air and her wings spread either side of her, Pinkie Pie appeared to peer down at her from behind.

“Oh it's you Derpy! Haven't seen you in a while. The landing gear there still giving you trouble?” Pinkie joked.

Derpy rolled onto her hooves so she could stand and nopony else would need to see her crash landing.

“Oh um...Yeah. Never mind that Pinkie. Say, that looks like a lot of sugar, you need a hoof with it?” Derpy offered.

Pinkie glanced at the couple of big bags she had been lugging around this far and quickly nodded.

“Yeah, it's a real workout, Derpy! If you don't mind, that'd be really neat of you! We need to get these to Sugar Cube Corner. I can't make cupcakes without sugar!”

Derpy nodded, taking Pinkie's other bag in her teeth, swinging it over her back as she walked with Pinkie.

“So you just out for a stroll today?” Pinkie asked.
“Well I'm trying to find out how to get my cutie mark. It's really embarrassing not having one at my age.” Derpy explained.
“Oh, right I see that. Well if you wanted too you could come help out at the factory? It might help you find out what your best at Derpy!” Pinkie said.
“If your sure that's okay Pinkie.”

Pinkie took Derpy down to Sugar Cube Corner where they had to drag the bags of sugar into the basement. Derpy hovered in the air and placed the bag next to Pinkie. Derpy's nose began to sniff lightly into the air, as it picked up a pleasant aroma.

“Mmm what's the really nice smell Pinkie?”
“This, Derpy is my latest batch of blueberry muffins! Seeing as your a fellow muffin enthusiast, you can help taste test this batch!” Pinkie offered.
“Yes please Pinkie Pie, I cant wait to try one!”

Derpy licked her lips as Pinkie placed one into her hoof, the smell wafting into her nostrils. Her mouth opened to reveal her strong teeth, which slid through the plume of the muffin effortlessly. The batter broke apart in her mouth as her tongue found the subtle tartness of the blueberries. It tasted heavenly and Derpy's expression matched that of a pony in bliss.

“Good then Derpy?” Pinkie asked with a broad smile.

Derpy rose onto her hind legs with the muffin in her maw, nodding vigorously. Suddenly the muffin flew out of its wrapper, loosened by Derpy's nodding as the soft cake flew across the room. It landed in a large vat, which Derpy quickly flew over to. The vat was mixing strawberry sauce, and the half eaten muffin was being strirred and broken up amongst it.

“Pinkie, I'm really sorry!” Derpy cried.

Pinkie peered into the vat as it's contents were ruined by muffin and as what was left of the muffin began to clog the machine.

“Well...We've never tried THAT recipe before...Derpy I have to fix this, don't worry about it, it's okay...” Pinkie sighed.

Derpy hung her head as she turned to leave, knowing full well that Pinkie was upset even if she didn't yell at her. It would seem that baking wasn't Derpy's thing. Just then she spotted Rarity walking across the road, turning to her. Rarity took Derpy's hoof in hers and greeted her with a hopeful smile.

“You can help can't you? I'm designing a new ensemble for Vinyl Scratch's tour in Ponyville and I cant do it on my own! You simply must empathise with my plight!” Rarity begged.

Derpy looked rather startled by the ponies erratic display. She knew Rarity was a passionate pony when it came to her trade, but it escaped her what use she could be.

“Rarity I really don't think I could help with this. I don't have much of a...Delicate touch.”
“No, no, you have to understand, there's no possible way anypony could mess this up...That is to say I'm absolutely confident in your abilities!” Rarity continued, now dragging Derpy.
“Well uh...If you put it like that, how can I say no?”

Rarity took Derpy into her design workspace across the street in her own home. Derpy noticed bits of material sprawled all over the place with large sketches of beautiful dresses adorning the walls, attached with tape. Derpy in fact almost tripped over what was in the middle of the room, that appeared to be a broken tailors dummy. It was slashed all over and its head and one of its hooves had come straight off it's body. A fluffy white cat appeared to be curled up on top of the dismembered dummies body.

“...Opalesence seemed to like my tailor pony a little too much. She appears to have claimed it for her own and I can't use it as she has left it. Yes dear, that's why you are here.” Rarity explained.

Derpy looked blankly back at Rarity as if she didn't understand what she was implying.

“I dunno what you mean Rarity, what does that have to do with me?” Derpy asked.

Rarity at this point appeared to be gathering pieces of material that she had been stitching together, levitating it with her magic off to her side. She turned with the clothes in front of her, approaching Derpy with them.

“Dont worry, you don't have to understand, you just have to stand there...And...”

Before Derpy knew what was happening, Rarity had placed a top on her that had more sparkles and frills on it than Derpy had ever seen. Lifting Derpy's hooves she placed a lemon coloured denim skirt on her with matching leg warmers. Derpy was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable having clothes shoved on her. Rarity placed her hoof about Derpy's face as if to pose her head. Just then there was a knock at the door.

“I wonder who that could be... I simply have to find a sign to put on the door when I'm busy creating art.” Rarity complained.

When the door opened, Rainbow Dash flew past her in a blaze of blue. She then promptly started to help Derpy get the clothes off of her.

“Rainbow Dash, what on Equestria do you think your doing?!”
“More to the point, what do YOU think your doing with Derpy? I saw from the window as I flew past. She isn't a doll for you to dress up, she's a pegasus pony who belongs in the sky, on an epic adventure!” Dash replied, angrily.

Derpy simply sighed as the two of them argued over what was to be done with her. She simply paced out of Rarity's house as they did so, leaving the last leg warmer by the door. In a few brief moments Dashie had flown back to Derpy's side and now hovered in front of her.

“Derpy, you cant let people just use you like that! Your a pegasus pony, like me!” Dashie said.
“...Not like you Rainbow Dash. You're super fast and super cool. You're flying skill is unrivalled in all of Ponyville.” Derpy said.
“Heh, I see you've been reading my posters. But that doesn't mean you can't be like that. You should go to flight school and get some help. Heck, they used to call me Rainbow Crash before I passed my exams in flight school.” Dash explained.

Derpy looked up at Rainbow Dash, although it was hard for her to tell as her eyes were quite lazy and never seemed to look the same way. Derpy remembered a dream she had a few days ago where she actually could fly and keep up with Rainbow Dash, accelerating at mach speed. Derpy then all at once hugged into Rainbow Dash.

“Derpy rainboom!” She exclaimed.

Dash blushed at her fans warm embrace, wriggling a little to get out. She had an image to keep up.
“I'm err... Glad to hear you like it Derpy. Well...I wish you all the best! Tell them RD sent you!” Dash finished.

Later that day Derpy had arrived at the reception of the school of flight where she was greeted by a magenta pony with a shocking pink mane.

“Welcome to Cloudsdale's school of flight. Are you looking to enrole or are you a drop in student?”
“Oh uh...I think I am a drop in? RD sent me. It's Derpy Hooves.” Derpy said.
“I see miss Hooves, please go to assembly cloud 4 if you would. It's the hall to my right, second door on the right.” She said.

Derpy thanked the receptionist pony and trotted her way through to the door she was told to go to. She could hear voices beyond it and she wasn't keen on interrupting a lesson. All eyes would be on her and she hated that. Regardless, she opened the wooden handle and trotted inside, where indeed a group of young ponies eyes now laid directly upon her. Also an inquisitive looking mature pony with glasses and a silver mane caught her eye.

“I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt.” She said shyly.
“Not at all, young pegasus, this class will be a sampler of what our school can offer. Please, sit with us...Miss...?”
“Derpy Hooves sir, pleased to meet you.”
“And I am First Class, a stand in for Lightning Crash, who has a bad cold. Now lets get started shall we?”

Derpy Hooves joined the rest of the class, most of which were younger than her, which made her feel a little silly. At least she thought that they wouldn't be much to compete with if they had only just started flying. Just then she noticed Scootaloo of the Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed up to her.

“Oh hey Derpy! You still don't have a cutie mark either?

Derpy shook her head, looking rather embarrased.

“Don't worry about it, I think it's cool. I wanna have you as our mascot for the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

Derpy smiled and nodded, not wanting to talk too much seeing as she was already an intrusion in the class and didn't want to disrupt it further.

“Now class, what we have here is the hoop course. We'll be flying in formation around the figure eight course. You will fly through each hoop, rising and lowering in the air without touching the hoops. Now this might seem difficult, but the hoops are about a metre in diameter, so even a novice could clear this with ease. Derpy, please go to the front and lead the formation as you are the oldest student.” First Class said.

Derpy's ears lowered as a whole ton of pressure was just placed upon her. There would be no mistaking who the klutz was if she messed up because everypony was behind her. On his instruction, Derpy advanced to the mark as the leader of the formation. In her usual way she advanced from a trot, to a canter to a gallop until her hooves left the ground, towards the first hoop. She cleared it easily, her wings folding at the right time to get through. She then gracefully banked around the bend, swooping down to get through the lower hoop, clearing it too. After a lap however Derpy was beginning to get dizzy and was looking around to see where the next hoop was. Unfortunately each of the ponies before her crashed into her, causing a pony pileup. They plummeted to the cloud layer and landed softly in a heap of flapping wings and groans. First class shook his head with his hoof on his face as the ponies struggled off of a dazed Derpy.

“Ugh the dumb mare with the derp eyes clipped me. Cant you see out of those lazy things?” One pony said.

Derpy was looking more embarrassed than ever and almost felt like crying she was being treated so meanly. Scootaloo jumped atop Derpies back and stood defiantly over the other filly.

“How DARE you say that to her you horrible pony! Derpy is a really cool pony and really kind to us Cutie Mark Crusaders so you can just button it!” She yelled.

“Well said, Scootaloo. You adjust your attitude kid or your enroling papers might get lost in the post.”

Derpy had noticed by now that First Class had a letter on his flank, so he seemed to be from the post office.

“Now we're going to try it again. Not you Derpy, we're going to have a chat. Please, come with me.” First Class said.

Derpy's heart sank as she saw First Class move into the hall, following behind him. Scootaloo looked back at Derpy as she left the cloud, concerned she was getting in trouble. First Class turned to Derpy as she closed the door behind her, looking rather sheepish.

“Now Derpy, Dash mentioned your arrival about a half hour ago. She knows you've been having trouble fitting in and she speaks very highly of you. Now because your precision flying leaves a little to be desired, I don't think we can help you here. Regrettably, with the greatest respect, your vison is impared slightly through no fault of your own.”

Derpy felt like she was sinking into the cloud floor she was standing on, feeling smaller and smaller with every word. She knew he wasn't trying to be mean, but this was just another one of the many things she had tried to do and failed.

“But Derpy, Dash is a very respected pony among the ponies of Ponyville and I have a good feeling about you myself. This is why I'm going to give you a chance, to be a mail mare.” He said.

Derpy flapped her wings and jumped up and down in glee. Her few visits to Ponyville had actually paid off. It would seem that Rainbow Dash had grown close to her and really wanted to see her makes something of herself.

“Of course! I'd love that! Thanks so much Mr Class!” Derpy cried.
“Glad to hear it Derpy. Now I have some ponies to teach, but I'll expect to see you at cloudsdale post office, first thing tomorrow morning. Oh, and you'll need these.”

First Class opened a locked case he had propped up against the door. He took out from it a broad leather band with two pouches on each side. He placed it on Derpy's shoulders with a smile and a pat.

“These are your new mail bags. First thing, alright? You'll be on a work trial and if you do well, you'll be the new mail mare of Ponyville!”