The next day, Derpy woke up and looked around. She was still in the same coach she had been in since the day before. The train was now at one of the many platforms at Grand Central in Manehatten. The conductor, who was new to the job, had announced that the train would be leaving in five minutes at 8:00am.

"Excuse me?" she asked the conductor who had just passed her.

"Is there anything I can do for you miss?" he asked Derpy, checking his watch.

"May I please borrow a piece of paper and a pencil so I can write a letter to my family?" Derpy asked.

The conductor thought for a moment. Then he took out a pencil and a folded piece of scrap paper from his pocket.

"Take all the time you need. Where does it need to be delivered?" he asked Derpy.

After Derpy had wrote the letter, she gave it back to the conductor. "This letter is for my husband, Doctor Hooves. He lives in Ponyville not far from the station. You should have one the conductors who monitor the station deliver this letter to him as soon as possible," she told him.

"Alright then. Just relax in your seat. I'm sorry that you haven't paid your exit fare yet. It happens at least once here in Manehatten. But don't worry miss. Everything is going to okay," the conductor replied.

Just then, the station clock struck 8:00am.

"ALL ABOARD!!" shouted the conductor as he shut the doors of the coach. The train driver in the cab blew the train whistle and soon the train began to leave the platform, bound for Ponyville.

A couple of hours later, it was 10:00am and the Doctor had just finished making breakfast for Dinky. The Hooves family had celebrated Hearth's Warming Eve for many years. But this was the first year that Derpy would not be home for the holiday.

"Dinky, do you miss Derpy?" the Doctor asked his daughter.

"Of course I do," she replied. "It's been a whole day since she has left."

"Well I hope she is enjoying her vaca-" the Doctor was interrupted by a knocking at the door. He ran over to the door and opened it. There, standing in front of him, was an official ETA conductor. Panting, he reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a folded letter. He gave it to the Doctor. "I think you should read this letter," he said. "Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!" He tipped his hat and galloped away back to the train station.

"What's this?" the Doctor asked as he got back to the kitchen. He opened the letter and began to read.

Dear Dinky and Doctor,

If you are reading this, you may still think that I am on vacation. Well, I'm not. I am sitting on one of the benches in a coach on the Friendship Express. Yesterday, I paid the 10 bits fare to get on, but didn't realize I had to pay one more bit in order to get off the train in Dodge Junction. Now it's Hearth's Warming Eve and I miss you guys very much. Please ask anypony to help me get off this train. Spread the word about how the ETA implemented this exit fare policy and have them revoke it immediately. I demand that whoever is the president of the ETA should step down and that the ETA should be shut down! Oh and Doctor, the next time the Friendship Express comes into Ponyville, try to toss a muffin into one of the coaches. I'm starting to get a little bit hungry and thirsty. I'm in the second coach from the steam locomotive.

Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!

Derpy Hooves

After reading the letter, the Doctor put the letter down and immediately began to make a muffin for Derpy.

"Ditzy!" he shouted as he put the muffin in the oven. "Please run to the Friendship Castle. Ask Twilight that there is an emergency. Explain this situation about your mother to her and then bring her to the town hall to confront the mayor."

"Yes dad. I'll be as fast as a wonderbolt!" She put on her saddlebags, put the letter into one of the bags, and ran out of the house.

Once the muffin was finished, the Doctor placed one bit coin, a delicious muffin and a mug of fresh apple cider into a picnic basket. Carefully packing the basket into his saddlebag, he locked up his house and ran towards the train station, about to make the greatest delivery on the best holiday of the year.

When the Doctor arrived at the information booth at the train station, he asked the attendant when will the next train arrive. The attendant told him that the next train will arrive from Canterlot at 12:00am. Thanking the attendant, he took a seat onto one of the benches on the platform. Sighing, he placed his saddlebags onto the floor next to him.

"Why do you look so glum?" asked a familiar voice. It was Applejack, waiting for the train from Canterlot as well.

"It's just that I haven't seen my wife for a whole day," he told her. "I made her a muffin and will also give her a mug of apple cider."

"You mean the fresh Sweet Apple Acres apple cider?" asked Applejack.

"Of course!" the Doctor said enthusiastically. "It's probable the best gift for someone who is stuck on a train."

"Say what now?" asked Applejack, confused of what the Doctor just said.

"Oh...it's just that," he paused dramatically. "My wife Derpy Hooves didn't pay the exit fare to get off the train at Dodge Junction. Now she's sitting in one the coaches, waiting to finally get off and see me again." The Doctor began to cry. Applejack was surprised. "An exit fare? That can't be right. Ever since the Friendship Express began service, a pony didn't need to pay to get on the train or get off. It was a free service!" she thought to herself.

"Uh, Doc?" she asked.

"Yes Applejack?" the Doctor said wiping a tear from his eye.

"Everything is going to be okay. I'm just here waiting for my cousin to visit my family for Hearth's Warming Eve. I'll pass on your situation to my friend Twilight as soon as I can."

"Thanks Applejack. You're the best," he said.

Just then, a whistle sounded. The Friendship Express pulled into the station. Ponies began to disembark from the train.

"Now's the time to deliver them gifts to her," Applejack said.

"Alright then," he said. "These are for you, Derpy." Doctor took out the picnic basket that he had packed into one of the saddlebags and tossed it into the second coach.

"Happy Hearth's Warming Eve, Derpy," he said as the train departed the station. He watched the train disappear from view. Once the train was out of sight, Doctor trotted back to his house.

"I hope she is okay," he said to himself as he unlocked the door to his house. As he closed the door, he signed and sadly made his way to the living room. He sat down on the couch and began to read a book, waiting for Derpy to arrive.

Author's Note

I would like to make an apology real quick. I can't do Applejack's use of grammar. It is very difficult to type up and I tried my best. If there is anyone who would like to help me fix the grammar, please comment below. Thank you and stay awesome.