The Bubbly Mare

2, 11
"Expectations"

It was a few hours before lunchtime. Walking together, mother and daughter slowly approached Sugarcube Corner. They stood just outside and looked at each other. The filly smiled broadly.

"Are you ready?" Diamond asked, looking over her daughter one final time, making sure she was presentable.

Derpy nodded.

The mare opened the door, motioning for the filly to go inside. Derpy went in without hesitation.

Here we go, Diamond thought as she stepped inside, closing the door behind herself.

Surprisingly, except for the Cakes and Pinkie Pie, the shop was empty. It wasn't usually that way on a Saturday morning; there were normally a few young ponies about. Diamond had taken her time, hoping guests might've already started showing up, thinking that would give Derpy some idea of how many guests would actually be there. This would have to do. Besides, the filly hadn't invited too many, just a hoofful. Diamond had been sure Mr. Cake added the plus-one option to the inventions... not that it ultimately had made much difference.

The mare stretched, finding the nearest chair as Pinkie Pie bounced up to Derpy and greeted her with a smile... and a big hug.

"Happy Cute-ceañera!" the pink filly chirped.

Diamond watched as Derpy's posture stiffened and she withdrew, but then relaxed a bit in Pinkie's tight, snugly grasp. She weakly returned the hug.

That wasn't so bad.

Pinkie pulled away, looking into Derpy's eyes and smiling. She returned the smile and Pinkie immediately took her by the hoof, pulling her towards a jukebox in the middle of the restaurant. Derpy stumbled a bit into the open space, though not enough to cause Diamond to get up. She was clearly confused as to what was about to happen, but her mother knew. The pink filly pushed a button and everything became clear.

A happy tune emanated from the record player. It was just the right volume for Derpy, not too loud or abrasive. The filly looked on as her pink friend began to bounce in time, smiling at her. Eventually Pinkie's whole body began to bounce as the tune developed and instruments picked up in rhythm.

Diamond knew Derpy didn't dance. Plenty of opportunities in Canterlot going to client's weddings had shown her that. This was a different type of dancing than Derpy was used to, however. It wasn't organized, but that didn't mean she would want to try it.

Derpy stood there, watching Pinkie dance, lifting a fore hoof up and crossing it in front of her body. This wasn't done in time. The fact that it stayed there meant Derpy was already making up her mind about dancing.

Stay on the dance floor, sweetie. Please try it.

Pinkie continued to dance, getting her whole body into it, twisting and turning in rhythm. Diamond had heard from the Cakes that their little pink intern really liked sweets (to the point she had them with every meal); she was able to see how the filly kept so trim. The dance was growing more and more complex, Pinkie's mannerisms more and more inviting to Derpy... she reached out to her.

Derpy looked back at Diamond, a blush on her face. Why she was embarrassed Diamond could only guess, but she knew from the wide-eyed expression that Derpy would be heading in her direction pretty soon.

Letting out a sigh, Diamond set both hooves on the floor. It was time to get up before Derpy came to her.

"Uh, Pinkie?" Mrs. Cake said. "Maybe Derpy would like to play a different game, dear?"

Mrs. Cake's soft voice resonated over the music. She gave Pinkie a warm smile, maintaining eye contact to assure Pinkie this was more than just a suggestion. As Pinkie's eyes widened in confusion, Mr. Cake piped in, "Pin the tail on the pony's a very popular party game. Why not give that a try instead?"

Pinkie looked at Derpy, her expression blank.

"Um... does that sound like fun?"

Derpy nodded rapidly. "Uh-huh."

The smile returned to Pinkie's face. "Okay!"

Diamond set her hooves back on the chair across from her and sighed. The two were already headed in the direction of the wall where the picture hung. Despite requiring some coordination this was more Derpy's speed. Plus Diamond had a better view. Whenever the two fillies turned to each other to talk she could see both their faces just fine. Derpy was smiling.

* * *

Mr. Cake walked up and set a cup of cocoa on the table as Diamond sat watching Derpy and Pinkie play. Derpy had not won a single game of the three, but was showing no signs of tiring yet. Besides, Pinkie seemed supportive and completely willing to play... again, and again, never once losing the tiniest bit of enthusiasm. Maybe she and Derpy did in fact have something in common after all.

"How's it going, Diamond?" the young pastry chef asked, breaking her trance.

She turned turned towards him slowly, forcing a smile.

"I'm okay," she said plainly. "Derpy seems to be having fun, though."

"Yup," Mr. Cake turned towards the two. "It's too early to tell, but Pinkie might just have a future in entertaining. She just needs to learn to read ponies a bit better."

"She's young yet..." Diamond watched Derpy laugh, picking up the cup and taking a sip. "Besides, they make a good pair."

"That they do."

As Mr. Cake turned to trot back to the counter the bell on the door dinged. Both turned to see Big Mac opening the door, two packages held in his hooves, and Granny Smith's silhouette just entering the shop behind him. Applejack followed, pushing a baby carriage and wearing saddlebags. Diamond began to get up to greet them.

"Oh, don't you bother none on account of us," Granny Smith said, as Mr. Cake approached to offer her some help. Mr. Cake hesitated, confused, until Granny Smith gave him her hoof and a smile. "I'm on ma way, dearie... you rest now."

Granny Smith made it to the table just fine, noticing Diamond's hind hooves resting on the chair across from her. She sat to the side, Mr. Cake pulling out the chair for her. Then, once she was settled, with a flick of her hoof Applejack brought the baby carriage in and set it alongside the table. Granny Smith looked inside and smiled, straightening the blanket for Apple Bloom. Then she nodded to Applejack, dismissing her to go play.

Wonder how Amethyst is doing with Dinky. At worst she's probably crying.

Big Mac sat at the booth across from the two, setting the packages on the table in front of him. He slumped down into a similar position to Diamond, letting out a sigh as Applejack added her saddle bags to the pile. Granny Smith looked over at him and stared a moment, to which he straightened up and looked over at his sister. The young stallion got up and casually approached the grey filly.

Diamond looked on as Derpy's face lit up seeing her two friends approach. The energy in her voice as she greeted them with "Hi Applejack! Hey Big Mac!" was substantially peppier than it had been with Pinkie. The mare just watched.

"Hey Derpy," Applejack replied nonchalantly. "Happy Cute-ceañera!" She motioned to her side and Big Mac stepped up.

"Happy Cute-ceañera!" he declared.

"What'ya doing here?" Applejack asked, motioning to their game.

Pinkie bit her lip, holding her breath and grinning,... looking ready to explode.

"Pin the tail on the pony!" Derpy exclaimed after a moment. "Wanna play?"

"Sure!"

"Ee-yup."

Diamond smiled, looking at each guests face... they all looked eager to have fun with Derpy. Diamond also noticed Mrs. Cake looking at Pinkie and smiling. She knew why, though Pinkie looked completely oblivious.

She waited for Derpy to speak. That's really sweet.

They all began to play. They'd come to play with Derpy and that's just what they started out doing.

* * *

Wow, that didn't take long.

Four more games were played, of three to four, then Big Mac and Pinkie found themselves on the dance floor. Diamond didn't blame the filly, she could tell Pinkie was easily distracted from a mile away. As for Big Mac, she knew that other than school he hardly got out... much less took a break from work. The Cakes looked fine with this, though Diamond felt Granny Smith's hooves grinding up against the table as he turned his back on their game so soon.

"It's okay," she said, smiling at the eldest Apple. "Derpy doesn't mind."

Granny Smith nodded and relaxed. It was true, he hadn't left Derpy unhappy. That's what had mattered, at the moment at least.

Derpy and Applejack were still poking holes in the picture, though Applejack was beginning to yawn, showing signs of boredom. She forced a smile as Derpy spoke to her. Derpy was fine continuing the game, and in a smaller group it would go quicker at least, giving Applejack a turn a bit more often so she wouldn't have to just stand there.

"Sorry we didn't fill in the plus-one," Granny Smith said, looking out at her grandchildren. "Ah wanted to bring Breaburn and Apple Fritter along, but they're stuck out west, tendin' to their own family needs."

"It's okay," Diamond replied, smiling again at her elder friend. "The fact that Derpy has made even a couple long-term friends I'm really happy with."

Granny Smith grinned back, nodding, opening her mouth to speak again. She was cut short.

The bell on the door dinged once again, causing a few heads to turn. Standing there was a filly Diamond could only guess was Fluttershy. She was a friend of Derpy's Diamond hadn't met (and wasn't sure she would, seeing how Derpy never talked about her). She looked slightly encumbered by an overly stuffed saddle bag, which looked more lopsided than heavy. With the yellow-colored filly there was a friend. A cute little unicorn with a purple mane and light coat, her cutie mark a set of blue jewels.

"We're here!" exclaimed the unicorn in a sing-songy tone, entering the eatery with her friend in front of her. She smiled, instantly reminding Diamond of the children of faux-glitterati in Canterlot (or most of Derpy's old classmates). "Fashionably late, of course!"

As several ponies turned their way, Diamond noticed Fluttershy hiding behind her mane.

"Hiya Fluttershy!" Pinkie exclaimed, running to the filly and giving her a hug.

"Hi Fluttershy!" Derpy exclaimed from her little corner, before going back to the game.

Applejack and Big Mac both nodded and waved, Big Mac exclaiming a friendly "Hello!"

The unicorn blinked a few times, turning to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, giving her pegasus friend a slight nudge. "A-hem."

Pinkie's face lit up.

"Oh yeah! This is Rarity."

Rarity smiled and bowed, immediately showing all present how she was skilled in magic by gracefully taking the awkward-looking bags off Fluttershy's back and setting them on the table with the rest of the gifts. "You really shouldn't have insisted on carrying these all the way here, dear."

Fluttershy took a breath, sighing with relief. "They're... my bags."

Diamond took this all in, sitting back as she and Granny Smith nodded and waved to the two fillies, and Pinkie introduced the two new guests to everypony they didn't know by name.

This should be fun.

* * *

Everything had gone a lot better than Diamond had expected.

With the new guests there Applejack found herself briefly on the dance floor with her brother, then settled in the corner talking quietly with Fluttershy while enjoying some fresh punch. Pinkie Pie had been back and forth, being a good hostess, making sure all the guests were having fun. Diamond noted she actually seemed to fare better in larger parties. Derpy continued to play Pin the Tail on the Pony, happy as can be, with Rarity along side her. They had played several games and the unicorn showed no signs of tiring.

Diamond watched Derpy play with this strange new filly who stared for a moment at Derpy's eyes upon first noticing them, though not for long. Diamond was happy to notice that, despite the loud introduction, Rarity had somewhat of a quiet inside voice. She was so quiet, in fact, Diamond couldn't hear what she was saying word-for-word... but she couldn't hear Derpy well either, and Derpy tended to be louder. She watched Rarity's face closely and Derpy's reaction as they talked... checking for any discomfort, confusion, anger, or scorn in the way Rarity's lips moved. She knew it so well. Rarity seemed completely friendly, almost as enthusiastic as Pinkie Pie, though no where near as loud. If anything, the unicorn acted a lot like what Diamond had hoped Derpy would run into in Canterlot... but that never had happened.

"Perhaps this will be a new friend," Diamond mused, aloud.

"What's that now, dearie?" Granny Smith asked.

The older pegasus shook her head, continuing to focus.

The game continued for a few more rounds, and Diamond noticed Rarity starting to get distracted... her eyes moving to other parts of the Corner -- dancing, punch, bobbing for apples (which Applejack and Pinkie Pie were just approaching). She knew that probably meant the filly was getting bored.... however, something happened a bit different from all the other times Derpy had interacted with ponies, and it's possible that it had something to do with a cue:

"That's the last song for now!" said Mrs. Cake, as the jukebox ended. "Ten minutes and lunch will be ready!"

Big Mac looked disappointed, though he was the only pony dancing by this point. The Cakes had to be able to easily be heard.

Rarity turned to Derpy, and Diamond heard part of what she was saying (reading her lips for some of it):

"Want... new game?"

Derpy looked confused, though because the noise was dying down, Diamond could hear her more clearly:

"What kinda game?"

Rarity smiled. "It's simple! Sit, sit, I'll show you."

In a matter of moments Derpy and Rarity were sitting on their haunches facing each other. Derpy seemed utterly confused as both Diamond and Granny Smith looked on, curiously.

"It's easy, and I can guarantee you'll have fun." Rarity put her forelegs up in a boxing position and both mares nodded, knowing what was coming next. "Just put your hooves up, sit still, and... I'll show you first."

"Um..." Derpy followed suit, still looking confused. "Okee!"

Rarity, cleared her throat, reciting a rhyme by memory, adding a few words here and there all the while tapping her hooves on the offbeat, alternating pushing them back and forth:

This little foal
went to school (darling!)
to get the tools
and plant her seeds.

She ended up,
becoming queen
of fashions and of magazines!

And she was a great success.
Oh, wouldn't you
love to be her?
Looking back
on all your hard work?

(I would!)

Oh, you may not
follow the same path,
but that's okay,
you still must try.

We make our way,
by who we are,
not who we were,
or what we've done!

So make your tracks!
In Equestria
you'll find a way!
In a land of friends,
paths never end!

The singing had gotten both Applejack's and Big Mac's attention. Fluttershy in the corner looked passed Pinkie at Rarity rhyming with Derpy. Everything went silent.

Diamond found her lips moving along with the rhyme. It was a familiar song, an old nursery rhyme with a simple (albeit slightly grating) melody. She recited it with hope to Derpy when she was quite small and frail, at a time when she didn't cry much less look up at other ponies. Some of the lyrics were different, improvised and quite rough, but the premise was still the same... so was the dream she once had herself inside it all.

Derpy sat there. Diamond watched her face, the filly's mouth agape and smiling in awe.

"All you have to do is move your hooves like mine so we touch and viola!"

Derpy put her hoof forward and the rhyme started again... slowly, of course. She tapped her own hooves together, then put her other hoof forward, looking back at her mother.

"Keep going!" Granny Smith encouraged.

Diamond sat there watching intently, as Derpy did just that.

The game had started out at a crawling pace, with Rarity stuck on the first few words, the melody hanging in air, waiting for Derpy to respond. It quickly sped up as Derpy's hooves quickly learned what to do.

It's just muscle memory, sweetie.

Soon enough Derpy's hooves were moving to make the song as fast as it had been when Rarity started singing. The little pegasus, who had started out smiling, began smiling even bigger and brighter.

Diamond looked over at Granny Smith, the older mare grinned.

"Gotta admit that's mighty impressive for a first try."

Diamond nodded. It was, all things considered.

The rhyming continued for a bit longer, and eventually lost the attention of everypony but Derpy, Diamond and Granny Smith and, of course, Rarity. Naturally this type of activity required some physical exertion, so after a few times through Rarity began to sweat. It didn't help that the clapping was growing slightly faster. Mr. Cake took this as his cue to interrupt, coming up behind Rarity so Derpy could see him.

"How 'bout some ice cream girls?"

It took Derpy a moment to stop and look up at the young baker. Diamond could see her hooves still wanted to make the motions they'd been making for the past few minutes. The little pegasus rolled her shoulders back, rocking a bit while giggling.

"Okee!"

Rarity took a deep breath, panting.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Cake!"

Mr. Cake just smiled.

"Certainly... please go sit at the booths and we'll have you all taken care of right away!"

* * *

Diamond was not surprised by the seating arrangement.

Derpy sat on the inside next to Applejack and across from Rarity, Rarity next to Fluttershy. Big Mac, again, picked another booth, not entirely by choice (Diamond guessed), but because the booths could only seat four. Mr. Cake quickly remedied this by bringing two chairs from the back, one for Pinkie and one for Big Macintosh. All was set and everypony seemed happy, though Big Mac and Fluttershy didn't say a word... which was, so far, not uncharacteristic of either of them.

What was unusual, however, was how Derpy talked to both Applejack and Rarity. It started about the game she and Rarity had just been playing, her eyes wide. Simple conversation, with Rarity nodding, saying "yes, yes, darling," and Applejack smiling, listening to her talk, biting her lip whenever Derpy repeated herself more than twice or went on for too long. Seeing this Rarity nodded, then looked directly at Derpy and spoke quickly during a brief moment of silence:

"Say, do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Applejack looked at the unicorn, giggling. That wasn't smooth by any means, but it was fairly smooth for a young filly.

Diamond watched as Derpy nodded rapidly.

"Uh-huh, a little sister named Dinky! She's a unicorn, and she cries a lot, but that's okee. I can always go outside and play on my swing if it gets too loud. Mommy says it's okay to go on my swing as much as I want as long as I don't go too high. Applejack helped make the swing, and I sometimes try to-"

"Hey... uh, Derpy?" Applejack smiled at the lil pegasus, playfully poking her with her hoof.

Across the room Diamond almost had her face in her hoof. Her daughter was wired.

"Uh-huh?"

She pointed at Rarity, whose eyes were slightly narrowed but she still smiled.

"Give her a moment to, uh... Ah guess think about what yer sayin' and say something back."

"Oh, um..."

Derpy smiled, looking at the table... turning red again, but this time for a more appropriate reason. Pinkie Pie, who'd been chattering with Fluttershy up to that point, stopped for a tick hearing what Applejack had said. It was good advice, after all. Everything went quiet for a moment.

"Well, ain't you the least bit curious if she's got any brother or sisters?"

Those words came from Granny Smith. Derpy looked over, her face still red. Her eyes settled on her mother as she responded truthfully:

"A lil. I hadn't thought about it."

"Then ask! It's good manners, sweetie!"

Those words came from Diamond. She found herself smiling... Granny Smith was looking at her, grinning as well.

Derpy turned back to Rarity, her face blank.

"Um... do you have any brothers or sisters?" she asked, directly.

The ivory filly was quick to reply, "Yes, yes." Diamond watched as her eyes returned to their warm state. "A little sister named Sweetie Belle. She's quite adorable and, yes, even for a foal, she can cry quite a lot. Mother says it's perfectly normal."

Derpy grinned.

"Neat!"

Applejack smiled.

"Is there maybe anything more you wanna ask Rarity?"

"Um..." Derpy's face went blank. Her face contorted into a sheepish smile as she thought. "I like your mane."

"Why, thank you! I like your colors."

Derpy giggled.

"Thanks! I like the way you talk."

This is going a lot better than I expected.

"So..." Rarity looked to Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Big Mac. She got Big Mac's attention and the rest followed suit. "Um, say Derpy, I can't help but wonder... how exactly did you get your Cutie Mark? Do tell."

"Yes please!" Pinkie exclaimed, already having heard the story once before, simple as it was. "Do tell! Do tell!"

Derpy looked at the ponies around her. They looked back, smiling. She started to look away, down at the table again. It wouldn't be long until she turned back to mom.

"It's what we're here to celebrate," Granny Smith said. "'Least talk about it some. She wants know 'cause she's interested! We all are, whether we've heard it before or not! If it's worth celebratin', it's worth talkin' about."

"That's true, Derpy," Diamond said. "We're very proud of you... and I think you can tell everypony here about what happened when you got it."

Derpy was looking Diamond's way with wide eyes again. Diamond smiled back.

"Please, sweetie?"

"Um..." Derpy turned back to the table. "When me and Applejack were gunna go to bed, she called me bubbly after a bath, and I thought about it... and I am."

Rarity's eyes darted around the table. She took a breath, but still waited a moment to speak. A lone cricket chirped somewhere in the bakery. That was all there was to say and everypony was silent.

"Well... you certainly do seem quite bubbly." Rarity looked around the table. "Doesn't she?"

Several guests murmured in agreement, one loudly piping over the rest, "Oh yeah! She's so bubbly and super nice!"

"Pinkie Pie..." Applejack chuckled, face in her hoof. "Those two kinda mean the same thing."

"Oh..." Pinkie blinked. "Well that doesn't keep it from being true!"

The farm filly rubbed her chin for a moment. Diamond couldn't help grinning at all this. "Fair enough."

Sitting back Diamond took a breath. This was all going to well, she couldn't have asked for more.

* * *

Ice cream was served, but not before each pony placed an order with Mr. Cake. He jotted everything down quickly before disappearing into the back for what seemed like less than two minutes, only to reappear with a cart stocked full of bowls.

He gave Applejack and Big Mac vanilla, whereas Rarity and Pinkie Pie were served chocolate. Fluttershy and Derpy both had strawberry, and even Diamond and Granny Smith enjoyed a bowl, coffee and vanilla respectively. Given how her hind hooves were still resting on the seat across from her, Diamond certainly could've used a lil caffeine. There was little talking as they all ate their ice cream, but Diamond still watched.

Everypony ate with good table manners, though by far the weakest were Pinkie Pie and Derpy. Compared to Pinkie, however, who's cheeks and face were completely covered in chocolate, Derpy was far less noticeable... a bit of strawberry on her lips and chin as she finished up. Diamond watched as Rarity looked up at her daughter eating, particularly around the lips. No, she did it twice... That wasn't where she was looking.

Rarity was, again, looking at Derpy's eyes. It was only a few passing glances. It made sense that fillies and colts would be curious. She was appearing well-enough raised to not say anything at least.

Applejack also gave Derpy a bit of attention. She turned to her with a napkin as they all finished up, only to wipe away the bit of strawberry from her lips. The farm filly smiled, booping the pegasus on the nose. "There!"

That's kind of her.

Diamond watched for a moment, expecting Applejack to turn to Pinkie Pie to do the same thing... there were plenty of napkins on the table, after all. Nothing happened, though.

Maybe she hasn't noticed.

Big Mac's spoon clanged loudly as he finished, gaining the attention of all ponies at the table for one brief moment. Applejack looked right at Pinkie, and the pink filly smiled back... nothing.

Strange.

This didn't last long. Mrs. Cake came out with a sizable cake on her back, ready for the party.

"Pinkie decorated it herself last night," said the baker, as the party made way and she and her husband helped set the cake on the table.

Diamond watched as Mrs. Cake subtly passed Pinkie a napkin, mouthing "clean your face, deary." Pinkie did just that.

Diamond then stood up to take a look, along with everypony else. They all stood in front of the table, peering downward.

The cake was grey, with a yellow boarder. On it there were blue bubbles, black writing, and a cutsy filly face. "Happy Cute-sinera, Derpy!" it said in rough script. The colors were a close match to Derpy's, if not a tiny bit too bright, close enough for everypony to make the connection. The smile on the face appeared a little lopsided, but it had a yellow mane, and the eyes were (thankfully) simple and black... possibly the Cakes' recommendation not to get too detailed.

Pinkie was left playing with her hooves, a bit like Derpy sometimes did... she sat there and said nothing.

"I like it, Pinkie," Diamond said, moving in beside the filly. "Don't you, Derpy?"

"Uh-huh!" Derpy turned the pink filly. "A whole lot!"

"Aww... thanks."

What happened next surprised more than just Diamond.

Derpy hugged Pinkie, tight. As the little pegasus had been unsure when Pinkie had first hugged her, Pinkie's forelegs went splayed and her eyes wide... but soon she returned the hug, blushing.

"Oh, wow...," Pinkie and Diamond muttered at the same time.

* * *

The cake was served up quick and everypony enjoyed a piece, though they all remained spotless this time. The cake was half yellow, half chocolate. Derpy had chocolate, alongside Pinkie. They smiled at each other, Derpy having switched sides to sit close to her, bits of it in both their teeth. Diamond remained standing by the table, a bit more directly involved, marveling at Pinkie's work. It wasn't professional-quality, but it was good... especially for a filly. She ate a small piece, watching her daughter and friends all together... they devoured it.

Once everypony had had a piece what remained of the cake was cleared away for the next part of the gathering. Next was, of course, presents. This was the other reason Diamond was standing, to be able to pass them to her daughter at an appropriate speed. Just a few years earlier Derpy was known to tear into her Hearth's Warming Eve gifts. Though unlikely, given how hyper she had become, that would be, for lack of a better word... impolite.

Diamond had talked with the Cakes before setting up the party, to get an idea of what to expect. In Ponyville, little gifts at a Cute-sinera were not uncommon. Not the same as birthdays, of course, but it was always the thought that counted. She turned to the pile on the table, figuring which gift to pass to her daughter first. A smile from Granny Smith, along with a motion from the elder Apple's head, suggested she might go through the Apples' presents first.

"Very well."

Applejack's came first... a set of thick purple blankets for their bed.

"Thank you!" Diamond said, nodding to the farm filly. "Always so practical... that's going to get you ahead in the world." She turned to her daughter. "What do you say, Derpy?"

"Um..." Derpy looked down at the gift. From the expression on her daughter's face, Diamond could only guess that Derpy was slightly bemused to be getting bed sheets from her best friend. "Thanks!"

Applejack smiled and nodded.

Big Mac's followed, of course... a small set of saddlebags. The perfect size for Derpy, and just what she needed.

"Thanks!" Derpy said, with slightly more enthusiasm.

"Ee-yup!" the farm colt replied, sitting back.

Granny Smith set her own package on the table. It appeared somewhat cumbersome, but she had managed to carry it to the table on her own. Diamond was ready to offer a hoof, but she knew how Granny Smith could be.

"Open it, child."

Derpy did just that, her face instantly her face lighting up once the present was opened. Granny Smith had brought a dozen apple spice muffins in a box with an open top. Derpy looked up at Granny smith, a giant smile growing on her face.

"Thank you!"

"Oh, don't mention it, dear."

With Applejack's saddlebags empty and Big Mac's two packages in tatters, there was one set of saddlebags to open. They were cyan in color.

"May I, Fluttershy?" Diamond asked, turning to the filly and remembering what she had said when she came in.

Fluttershy nodded meekly. Diamond picked them up, opening one side and removing a package. With it spilled a couple bags of bird seed and a towel with bits of brown fur, which Diamond tenderly pushed back inside, focusing on the package. This one was purple and said Rarity on it in script. Derpy was passed the package (with it a few hairs) and they all looked on.

A few tears of packing and the present was revealed. Rarity brought a new winter scarf, hoofmade and yellow. Not a bad gift, seeing how Derpy and Rarity didn't know each other.

"Thanks," Derpy said, with a grin.

Rarity smiled back as Derpy turned to her mother again.

"Last one on the table, sweetie," Diamond said, passing Derpy the final package.

This package was pink.

"Um, I hope you like it," Fluttershy muttered as Derpy was passed the pink package.

Derpy opened the package like she had all the others. This was another hoofmade item, a winter hat matching the scarf Rarity had made. She looked at it, then looked at the scarf she'd just gotten beside her with the rest of the gifts. Fluttershy looked away, blushing... so somepony else spoke for her:

"It's a set," said Rarity. "Fluttershy and I both went to work. It was quite fun!"

Derpy looked over at Fluttershy, who tensed up, Diamond could only guess because of how she felt. She took a breath to say something, but her daughter beat her to the punch.

"Fluttershy?" Derpy said. "What's wrong?"

Fluttershy murmured something under her breath which no pony could hear.

"Huh? I don't understand you."

Fluttershy sighed, turning to look up at Derpy. Her face was quite long.

"I said you don't like it."

Diamond looked over at her daughter... she looked confused.

"Um... I do like it."

Fluttershy sniffled, looking across the table at Derpy. They were both silent.

"Then what do you say?" Diamond asked.

Derpy looked up at her, before looking back at Fluttershy.

"Thanks Fluttershy."

The yellow filly's frown melted away, replaced by a grin... which made Diamond a bit uncomfortable.

"Oh, it was nothing... really."

She seems a little manipulative. The mare sighed, again taking everything in.

* * *

Mr. and Mrs. Cake looked at each other, then down at their little pink ward. Again, Diamond noted she looked ready to explode.

"You've been so patient, Pinkie," said Mr. Cake. "Why don't you get your gift now?"

Mrs. Cake nodded in agreement, mouthing "go on," with a smile. Pinkie bolted up, taking off like a shot behind the counter and then up the stairs, clip-clopping the whole way there.

This should be interesting.

Diamond looked down at Derpy. Her daughter wasn't looking back at her, she was looking where Pinkie had gone, curiously.

Applejack got up from her side, scooting past Rarity to do so. She walked around and filled the new empty seat, putting a forehoof around Derpy and gently squeezing her. Derpy looked over at Applejack and giggled.

"Happy Cute-ceañera, Derpy," she said, for the second time, smiling at the filly. "Happy to see ya laughing so much."

Derpy wiggled around playfully and Applejack retracted her hoof when she realized she was being watched. She and Diamond locked eyes for a moment, the farm filly putting a hoof behind her head before looking away. Diamond smiled in response, nodding.

Applejack gets a little too informal when she's excited. That's okay, she's under fifteen... she realizes it's inappropriate.

"It's okay," Diamond mouthed at the farm filly, continuing to nod.

It hadn't taken a minute for Pinkie Pie to come bounding back down with a gift on her back that, Diamond could only guess from its shape and size, was a record. It was wrapped tightly in bright red and blue paper, with a yellow ribbon, all primary colors. She set the gift package in front of Derpy, smiling... eagerly.

"I spend three whole days on this getting it -just- right!" Pinkie chirped. "I really hope you like it!"

Derpy looked up at Pinkie, then down at the package.

"Open it, sweetie," Diamond found herself saying.

Derpy did just that. Everypony was quiet... watching, waiting.

The very moment Diamond saw bright yellow and grey, she knew what Pinkie had spent her time on. Derpy, with surprising care, stripped the package of its remaining paper and looked down at the gift.

Derpy was looking at her own portrait, made without paint. It appeared exactly as she did, having enough care put into it that it seemed as though Pinkie really had put three solid days of work into it. The portrait smiled, the eyes drawn into happy little slits with surprising detail... again, possibly the Cakes recommendation. Pinkie even included the Cutie Mark, with the right number of bubbles and correct amount of space between them. The portrait was made from construction paper, layers on top of layers, carefully cut and assembled to give it a real, almost three-dimensional look. The edges were smooth, no lines left indicating where cuts were made. Pinkie either didn't use them or she was really that good with scissors. Either was impressive considering her age.

The party was speechless. Derpy just stared at her gift, then looked up at Pinkie as everypony watched.

"Pinkie," said Diamond, breaking the silence. "It's incredible."

Pinkie looked back at Diamond and smiled as Derpy nodded.

"Uh-huh!"

The whole party murmured in agreement.

Granny Smith got up from her table and slowly approached, taking a close look at the gift.

"You could have a future in this, child," she said, rubbing her chin. "Looks better than half the 'modern art' hanging in the Canterlot galleries... least last time I went up there to see Diamond. Derpy must've been Apple Bloom's age, though."

"Hasn't changed," Diamond murmured, nodding.

Pinkie Pie blushed. "Aww, shucks."

Derpy looked on, her mother could only guess entranced. Diamond knew this was the first gift she'd ever gotten that she couldn't really play with, really couldn't touch, so she just stared at it... and from her silence, Diamond hoped was processing what it meant. "Three whole days" - as Pinkie Pie put it - was a long time for a filly to work on something... especially one as excitable as Pinkie.

"Pinkie," Applejack said, in disbelief. "You really didn't... buy this?"

"Nope! Well, maybe the paper and glue."

Derpy finally put her hooves on the gift, carefully. Diamond's focus was on what she was going to do next. She kept it on the table, grasping gently at its boarder, gently... getting a feel for all the layers inside to out. That only made sense. There must've been at least fifty.

"Be careful, sweetie."

Derpy didn't look back, but weakly nodded in response.

Diamond then saw Derpy pull upward slightly on a loose edge and felt her heart skip a beat. Over the praise Pinkie was still receiving, Diamond spoke clearly:

"Sweetie, it's not that kind of-"

Riiiiiip!

The entire party turned to look and went silent, for a different reason.

* * *

Derpy had not pulled off one layer, she had ripped the second highest later over the base paper two inches inward, causing the right wing (both wings were spread) to loosen from it's tip. Diamond already knew she was thinking the card would open. It made sense, from her point of view, but unfortunately she was both strong and uncoordinated.

The grey filly froze, her good eye fixed firmly on the new tear in the card. She looked up slowly at her mother and Pinkie, then everypony else. Nopony said a word, and everypony under seventeen was either looking at each other, or the walls or ceiling. The only exception was Applejack, whose eyes darted back and forth among everypony there, positioning herself a bit between Pinkie and Derpy. Despite the lack of attention to her blunder, Derpy's breathing picked up and her eyes went wide... frightened.

"Sweetie," Diamond began, slowly. "That was an accident..."

Despite trying to comfort her daughter, tears welled up in her eyes all the same. If anything, that probably made it worse as she had just defined the mistake.

Diamond sighed, looking over to Granny Smith, who immediately motioned to Pinkie. Diamond looked over to Derpy again who was just staring at the little pony across from her. The frizz in the pink filly's mane was strangely missing, her mane fell unnaturally straight, even straighter than Fluttershy's. Deflated. Her coat appeared darker. Derpy stared at her, while she stared at the table motionlessly.

"Pinkie," Mrs. Cake said, gently, coming up from behind. "Derpy didn't mean to-"

The pink filly nodded, taking a breath.

"I know."

Derpy sat there, crying quietly despite having heard that, looking at her new damaged present. Diamond reached around the table and gently put her hoof on her daughter's shoulder. Applejack was ready to put a hoof around Derpy again, but looked back, scooting away to give more room for the bigger pony.

"It's okay, sweetie" she whispered, hugging Derpy tight. "It's okay."

Derpy continued to sniff.

"I- I didn't mean to. It was a nice present." She and Pinkie locked eyes. "I loved it, Pinkie. I really did!"

"Pinkie knows." Diamond looked up at Pinkie, who smiled weakly at them both. "We all do."

Everypony nodded in agreement, smiling warmly at Derpy. Nopony said anything, though. Applejack looked closest to saying something, but kept biting her lip. Diamond just nodded.

Pinkie reached, across the table to try to touch Derpy on the shoulder. It was a stretch and she had to lean, but when her hoof came close enough the grey filly turned towards the wall of the booth. Pinkie looked at Diamond, then at Mr. and Mrs. Cake.

It's alright, Pinkie," said Mr. Cake. "She just needs a little time."

"She'll be okay," Diamond promised, forcing a smile. "Sooner than you think."

Hopefully this won't take very long.

* * *

Everything was quiet. The party had shifted in tone and this did not surprise Diamond at all.

Following ripping Pinkie's gift, Diamond picked Derpy straight up, showing everypony there that strength runs in the family. "It's okay..." she whispered,over and over, knowing this repetitive whispering would usually help.

The filly spent a while in the corner wrapped in her forelegs. After the first few minutes she wasn't sure exactly how long it had been, but that was okay. This was enough excitement for one day. Derpy sat on her mother's knee, gently rocking.

"You were a big girl today, Derpy," Diamond said, quietly. "Mommy is so proud of you."

The mare had tried a few times to get a reaction out of her daughter as they sat there. Like earlier the filly did not look up, though she nodded. Diamond and Granny Smith exchanged glances again, the older mare nodding.

"Party's winding down now anyway," Granny Smith said, looking in the stroller at Apple Bloom. "Ninty-five percent of it went off without a hitch! Can't complain about the last little bit."

Nodding, Diamond looked out at the guests. They were talking at the table, Fluttershy and Big Mac paired up. Rarity and Applejack chatted, with Pinkie and the Cakes talking off in the opposite corner, the filly's mane still straight. Applejack, Diamond could tell, felt eyes on her again and looked back, biting her lip. The two smiled at each other.

You're a good friend, Applejack.

Diamond then looked down at her daughter, who looked up towards the ceiling, eyes still a bit teary.

"We're going to be heading home soon, sweetie."

Derpy responded with a small twitch of her mouth, then a nod. A bit of acknowledgement. She heard, she understood, and that was enough.

Diamond looked up at Granny Smith, who looked back. She kept up eye contact as she spoke:

"If it's okay with Granny Smith, Applejack can come over. Would you like that?"

As Granny Smith nodded a small smile formed on Derpy's lips. That was something. She turned to face her mother.

"Uh-huh."

Diamond smiled back.

"You have a nice smile, sweetie. Now, don't you think it might be a good idea to go back to the party soon?"

The two looked at each other, Derpy biting her lip. She glanced over at the guests, and her mother followed her gaze. Together they saw Pinkie had just turned around, her frizz slightly restored. She smiled, unaware she was being looked at by two ponies from across the room. Derpy turned back.

"I, um..."

"They won't be mad, Sweetie, promise. Not even Pinkie." Diamond ruffled her mane, to which Derpy grinned even bigger. "You don't have to go, but it would make everypony really happy to know you're okay. I know I'd want to know if I were Rarity or Applejack."

Derpy nodded, gears clearly turning in her little head as she sat there.

"Okay. I'll go."

Diamond, again, found herself smiling as she set Derpy down. She stood up so Derpy couldn't get back on her knee, towering above her daughter.

"That's my girl."

* * *

Derpy looked back at Diamond one time as she approached her friends.

Go on, Sweetie.

Applejack and Big Mac were the only ones to notice her approach, until she made herself known.

Trotting past the two, she was headed toward Pinkie first. She stood in front of the filly and despite still standing, Diamond couldn't see her face as they spoke, but she could see Pinkie's and hear their tones of voice. The filly smiled as Derpy said something, in a slightly upset tone. Pinkie just stood there, the Cakes on either side of her. When Derpy stopped talking, Pinkie responded by opening her forelegs and wrapping Derpy up tight. The Cakes clearly approved, each putting a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. Again, Derpy's posture was tense at first, but after a moment she returned the hug and patted the pink filly on the back. When they finally broke away, Diamond could see Derpy's profile clearly. Derpy was smiling.

The two then turned towards the party and approached. Applejack made room for Derpy and she sat down on the inside, as she had been. Derpy didn't say anything, but Diamond could tell the grey filly was listening to everypony by the way her eyes were moving. That was okay. This day had been exciting enough already.

Diamond sat down across from Granny Smith, looking over at her older friend.

"This has been quite a day already," she said, letting out a sigh. "I'm happy. I really am."

Granny Smith smiled.

"I can tell, and ya should be." She leaned back, popping her stiff shoulders. "Ya gotta let her make her own decisions and deal with the world the way it is. Ponies ain't all nice like you and me... but everypony here seems pretty well-behaved, which is all you can ask for in friends."

"Yeah..." Diamond looked over at the collection of young ponies laughing together, her daughter smiling as Applejack joked. "It is."

* * *

Stepping out of Sugar Cube corner, Diamond sighed. She had all Derpy's presents on her back, even the one Pinkie Pie had made tucked away between the quilt and the scarf. Fortunately they weren't too heavy. She looked back as the fillies still with her waved at Mr. and Mrs. Cake and Pinkie.

"Come back any time, now!" shouted Mr. Cake as they disappeared over the hill.

There were three left, Granny Smith, Apple Bloom and Big Mac having gone one way with Fluttershy, while Applejack, Derpy, and Rarity went the other. Rarity didn't live far off from Sugar Cube Corner, so it only made sense she might tag along. It didn't bother either filly and she seemed nice enough.

Applejack and Derpy walked at the front of the group, pep in their step. Rarity walked towards the middle, inadvertently blocking Diamond from rushing towards Derpy if she fell... but that would be okay. After all, Applejack was there. She knew from Granny Smith and everything that had happened already that she could count on Applejack if something went wrong.

Rarity looked back at Diamond and began to slow a bit... Diamond knew she was about to talk to her from the way she kept looking up at her.

"Hey there," Diamond said, keeping her eyes on Derpy. "Have fun at the party?"

"Oh, very much so!" Rarity replied, slowing to the point she and Diamond were almost side by side. Diamond sped up a bit and so did she. "Derpy is a sweetheart. She must take after you."

Diamond grinned.

"I've been told that before."

I know what you want to ask.

A moment of silence passed, Rarity awkwardly looking up at the sun and shielding her eyes before continuing.

"Prior to this I had only seen Derpy in school, but I never talked to her! I'd hardly even seen her face. She has a lovely smile and very unique eyes."

Diamond chuckled.

"She's always had this tendency to blend in. Probably doesn't help that she also likes to keep to herself." She looked down at the filly. "Rarity, if you're curious about her eyes, it's okay. You can just ask."

Rarity shuffled uncomfortably, before giving a slight nod.

"My mother says it's rude to ask such questions, and I must agree, but... I've never seen eyes quite like that. It caught me off guard."

"It's how she was born, but she's still like every other pony... just shy. You were nice to her, and I appreciate that, and-" Diamond paused a moment. "Rather you were nice to everypony, and that's good manners. We all appreciate how good of a guest you were."

Diamond could've stopped to smack her forehead if it weren't for the need to keep up with her daughter.

Smooth, Diamond, really smooth. Mike would be so proud.

Rarity nodded.

"Why, thank you! Say, now that I think about it... perhaps I could give Derpy an old pair of my sunglasses! Then I could recommend some makeup, and that would make her most-"

Diamond had already heard enough.

"No thank you, Rarity."

She realized her words were friendly, but her tone was rather quick.

Rarity blinked twice, coughing a bit.

"Er... um, did- did I just say something wrong? I'm only trying to help."

Diamond smiled at the filly, unaware they had slowed down a bit. Applejack and Derpy were further along, about to round a corner. The two sped up again in an effort to keep up. Rarity was rather quick for a small unicorn.

"I know that," Diamond said. "Derpy's fine just the way she is. We don't want her to hide her eyes, because she doesn't have a reason to. That would only make her feel bad. You don't want to do that to ponies."

Rarity bit her lip, again nodding.

"I understand... but I'm still confused. Why are we going faster now?"

Together they turned the corner and Diamond saw her daughter, not much farther ahead, laughing alongside the smiling farm filly as they continued to joke.

Derpy's usually not this out-going. Even with Applejack.

What they were saying, however, would unfortunately be missed.

"I just want to keep up, Rarity," Diamond said, taking a breath. "Make sure they stay on course."

"Oh..." Rarity looked to the right and began to slow down a bit more. "Well, this is my house. It was a nice party, Miss Diamond. Sorry about the picture... and the question."

The mare smiled as the filly began to turn away.

"Rarity?" The filly turned around again. "It's just Diamond. And it was nice meeting you."

Rarity's smile perked back up. She waved.

"Take care!"

Diamond looked on as the filly walked away, towards a house she passed regularly. It was a large home for this part of town, two-story, with a small river flowing by the side.

If Diamond and Mike were still together and in Ponyville she probably would have a house much like that, maybe bigger. But she lost Mike, with him her job... and the ability to stay in Canterlot.

She looked forward towards Derpy and her home, which was just a speck in the distance. She could see Derpy smiling and let out a sigh.

At least she's happy.

That was true. Derpy was happy and Dinky would be brought up in a place where she wouldn't be looked down on. That's all that mattered.

She continued along a bit, over a couple hills... the running she had done earlier was still catching up to her. She walked quickly to keep up, through the pain that continued in her side. Closer and closer she went, until she and the pair were just a house length away. Home wasn't far off and at this point they'd be fine.

She stopped a moment beside an alley that ran between two houses. The two would still not leave her sight, though she knew what was coming might require taking her eyes off them for a moment. She looked down the alley and saw a trash can not far off. She moved quickly, almost bolting, then lifted the lid and promptly vomited. At least this one was over with quickly.

Darn morning sickness, she thought, before turning back to the road. I'm already feeling better at least.

Though it wasn't morning anymore and she knew it, with both Derpy and Dinky she had been sick this late. It was typical.