The Bubbly Mare

1, 2
“Just an Ordinary Day...”

Derpy Hooves sleepily opened her eyes and looked around the room. Her mind was always blown as to how she could fall asleep each night in her own room, yet not remember where she was at all when she first woke up.

The pegasus stretched, yawing, smacking her lips. She could see through her window it was early morning, the sun had a pinkish hue as it came through her blinds. She rolled over onto her stomach and rose from her bed, her eyes focusing to the best of their ability.

She stopped, feeling a cold dampness between her legs. Derpy sighed. She was used to it – five times a week or more she’d wake up this way. It felt more familiar to her than her own room. Thankfully, she was wearing a diaper… each night she put one on since late foalhood.

She didn’t bother looking down at it. She left the room, untaping it by the door and throwing it into the trashcan before cantering down the hall and into the shower. She didn’t have to think about it anymore -- the only changed aspect of her routine was eventually disposables were bought instead of cloth All-in-Ones. She stayed in the shower for a few minutes longer than usual… getting herself extra presentable for a big day.

After shower came breakfast. Hoofmade Oatmeal muffins from the Sugarcube Corner. They always filled her up. A glass of milk followed, a little cheese later, and she was on her way.

Derpy lived alone. She had no pony to say good-bye to. Hopefully that would change soon, but if not that was okay. She had many friends to say hi to as she walked down the way to where her date waited. That was enough. Twenty years old and she was always happy… some ponies thought she was simple and that’s why she was happy, others admired her chipper attitude. She said hi to them all, just as Pinkie Pie would have.

Thunderlane waited at Horte Cuisine. He saw her coming well before she saw him and waved, getting up and pulling out a chair while smiling. Each week they’d meet here and talk, and eat, and plan what they were going to do that day. He was always so nice. Sometimes when it was all over and the sun was set, they’d go back to Derpy’s house or go up to Thunderlane’s house, and have a little fun. It was usually just a lot of kissing and snuggling, which Derpy really liked, but this one time Thunderlane put his hoof on Derpy’s privates and started rubbing really fast… but she asked him to stop because it was too rough.

Horte Cuisine was always so expensive. Thunderlane liked to “Go Dutch” most of the time, so Derpy started eating breakfast before meeting him there. She’d get an appetizer to snack on while he ate. Sometimes he’d have too much and share, but not always.

“Derpy!” The black pegasus exclaimed as she made it up to him. “I’m so happy to see you!”

The small gray pegasus blushed.

“Likewise, Thundie,” she replied, sitting in the chair he pulled out. “What’re you going to have today?”

He sat down in front of her:

“I’m thinking the poached eggs and two currant muffins.”

“Sounds nice.”

“Oh, it is!” He looked at her and smiled. “Are you going to order anything this time?”

“Maybe a salad,” replied the wall-eyed pegasus, giggling. “I’m trying to keep my figure.”

“Oh, come, come now, Derpy,” replied her dark date. “You’ve got a fine figure. You can eat anything you want and still be my petite, little Derpy Hooves.”

They’d had this conversation before. Many times. Derpy had already told him it was too expensive for her, so she started to say these things so he wouldn’t try to help her decide on cheap things she knew she didn’t like.

“I’m fine.” Derpy smiled. “I feel like going to an exhibit after this. I hear Cherry Berry’s displaying all three of her balloons over the next couple days and answering pony’s questions about their history and what makes them work. That sounds like a lot of fun.”

“I don’t know… that sounds kind of boring.” Thunderlane motioned for the waiter. He came up and smiled as the pegasus made a few stiff motions towards his menu without saying a word. The waiter nodded.

“And the Madam?” He asked, not even looking over at Derpy.

“I’ll have a salad,” she said, sheepishly. “No dressing, please.”

“That’s fine, Madam,” the waiter responded, still not looking in her direction. “Would you like something to drink with that, Monsieur?”

“A mug of Faux-Jacks Cider would be nice.”

“This early?” said the waiter, his eye wide with surprise.

Thunderlane just stared at the waiter, who nodded sharply in reply.

“Uh, yes. Very well, Monsieur!”

The waiter began to walk off.

“Separate checks, please!” Thunderlane called after him. "Don't forget this time!"

“Will you bring me some water, too?” Derpy asked, as the waiter looked back at her date and nodded.

Thunderlane sighed, turning his attention back to Derpy.

“So… you were saying?”

“I want to go to Cherry Berry’s exhibit and learn about balloons today.”

“Oh, yes.” He put his head in his hoof and smiled politely. “And how much is this going to cost me if I come along?”

“It’s free,” Derpy replied with a smile. “Cherry’s doing it to help with public speaking and because she feels really passionate about balloons. Twilight Sparkle suggested it to her.”

“Oh. That’s neat.” Thunderlane nodded. “Something tells me you’re pretty excited about this, aren’t you?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well,then…” Thunderlane thought for a moment and nodded. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to learn about how earth ponies get into the air.” He smiled more sincerely this time. “I wanted to see a movie or go to a secluded part of the park, but if that sounds better to you… then I guess I’ll just have to go along with you, won’t I?”

“Thank you, Thundie.” Derpy smiled.

“No need to thank me, Derpy. I like knowing you’re happy and grateful.”

“Your meal, Monsieur.”

Derpy jumped as the waiter set Thunderlane’s food down on the table. He passed her the salad and water more casually. He then set the cider down carefully before the black pegasus, setting a napkin by his side. Derpy looked down at her salad. Her cheese looked mushy already as some of her water had splashed into it.

“Thank you!” said Thunderlane, as the waiter nodded and walked off.

“Yeah, thanks,” Derpy said, loud enough to be heard, but not getting a response out of the servant.

The two sat there, Derpy picking at her salad, while Thunderlane savored his poached eggs.

“You have to try these sometime,” he said, picking up a small bit he spilled on the table with his hoof. “I don’t know what they’re using for seasoning, but it cuts through the bland egg taste and really adds some zing!”

“Maybe for my birthday?” Derpy looked up at him and smiled.

“If you remember,” Thunderlane playfully teased, grinning. “Then it won’t be a problem. My treat.”

“I won’t forget,” Derpy replied, giggling, as she watched Thunderlane pick up his first currant muffin.

He took a bite and grinned ear-to-ear, his mouth full of rich, moist muffin.

“Oh, my.” He giggled, sounding muffled through his muffin. “Derpy, this is amazing!”

“I’m glad,” replied the wall-eyed pegasus, looking up at her date. “I like seeing you smile.”

Thunderlane chuckled as the muffin disappeared into his mouth.

“Oh, wow, that's so rich, I’m not sure I can eat the other one.” He belched, washing it down with a bit of cider. “Would you like it?”

Derpy’s grinned ear-to-ear.

“I’ve never had currant before,” she said quietly, staring into the rich, dark muffin which looked more like roasted oatmeal raisin. “I’d love to.”

“Here,” Thunderlane said, passing the breakfast treat across the table towards his marefriend. It never made it there.

The muffin fell to the ground in a way that normally wouldn’t have happened. There was a hole located in the center of the table for an umbrella and the muffin was just the right size. Thunderlane usually got a table with no umbrella... a dark-coated stallion like himself loved basking in Celestia's sunlight. It was free, after all.

“Oh, no!” Thunderlane laughed. “Hopefully it landed topside down, err, uh... topside up!” He got up, pushing his chair all the way out. He took one look and shook his head. “Oh, Derpy, I’m so sorry… my chair just crushed it. It’s a streak in the gravel now… you don’t even want to know what it looks like.”

Derpy’s smile, which had been hopeful even after the muffin fell, quickly faded.

“It’s okay, Thundie.” She sighed. “I know you didn’t mean to.”

“Really, I’m very sorry.” Thunderlane looked her in the good eye. “Maybe next week. Now how ‘bout we get the check and skidattle on over to that little balloon thing of yours, huh?”

“I’d like that.” said Derpy, as Thunderlane put up his hoof and the waiter zipped by.

He set two checks down. Thunderlane paid for his and even threw in a tip, while Derpy… the eight bits her salad cost was almost all she had on her at the time. She didn't leave her little bit extra for the waiter that didn't look -- even into her bad eye -- when she talked.

The two then left the restaurant.