Derpy was inside the passenger coach looking out the window when a picnic basket landed onto the seat on the other side of the aisle. Looking inside the basket, there was a mug of cider and a perfectly made chocolate chip muffin. Attached to the mug was a note. "What this? A note from somepony?" She began to read.

Dear Derpy,

It's nice to know that you are okay. I made you a muffin and bought a mug of hot cider for you. These are my gifts to you, Derpy. I miss you and love you so much. Dinky misses you too. She has gone off to the Friendship Castle to notify Twilight Sparkle about your situation. And don't worry, everything is going to be okay. Enjoy your muffin and gulp down that delicious hot mug of cider as you watch the scenery go by.

Love,
Doctor Hooves

Derpy began to cry, not in a sad mood but in a joyful mood. "I miss you too Doc," she said to herself. She drank the hot cup of apple cider and enjoyed the delicious muffin, savoring every bite. As she finished her muffin, a glimmer of light shown from the basket. Confused, she looked inside. In the far corner of the basket was a coin. One more bit that Derpy needed.

"YES!!" she screamed. Holding the coin in her hoof, she smiled and sighed happily. Just then, a conductor arrived. "Sir! I would like to make a payment."

The conductor looked at Derpy. "What do you need miss?" he asked.

"I would like to pay my exit fare please and disembark at the Ponyville Train Station please," Derpy replied as she gave the bit to the conductor.

The conductor observed the bit. "Hmmm, well you did need to pay one more bit. Payment accepted. Make sure you have all your belongings. This train will be arriving into Ponyville in an hour. Thank you for riding The Friendship Express madame." The conductor tipped his hat and left.

Derpy smiled as she stared out the window, waiting for her long journey to be over.

Meanwhile, Dinky had just explained the situation to Twilight when Applejack ran into the main hall of the castle.

"Twilight!" she yelled. "There's an emergency!"

"Don't worry," said Twilight. "Dinky here had just explained to me the entire situation."

"Um...Twilight?" asked Fluttershy, who had just arrived after feeding her animals breakfast that morning.

"Yes Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

"What is the...um...ETA?"

"E.T.A stands for the Equestrian Transit Authority," Twilight proudly announced. "Formed recently, they control and own the Friendship Express. Why do you ask?"

"Well it's just that...um...there has never been...uh...a company like this before."

"Hey!" shouted Dinky, standing between them. "What about my mother? She's gonna miss Hearth's Warming Eve! How long have you been without your animals huh?" she asked to Fluttershy. "Do you know how much I miss my mother? Her name is Derpy!" Dinky began to cry. "Her name is Derpy Hooves!" Dinky began crying on the floor, tears flowing out of her eyes leaving puddles of water on the floor.

"Oh...I...am...um...very sorry Dinky," replied Fluttershy. "I didn't know you loved your mother that much."

"Of course she is!" Shouted a familiar voice. It was Rarity, who had just overheard the conversation after arriving back from her spa treatment a couple of hours ago. She trotted over to Dinky, who was still crying.

"You see Dinky, whenever somepony is traveling for business or leisure, they always promise that they will return. Take me for example. I have to go and showcase a new line of fashion once a month in Manehatten. Before I leave, I always say to my sister, 'Sweetie Belle, I'll be Manehatten for a couple of days. Take care of the house for me until I get back.' When I return home, the place is sparkling clean as a red ruby."

She paused dramatically.

"You see Dinky, no matter how far away somepony is, they will return," she concluded. Dinky had stopped crying.

"You mean, after we deal with this situation, she'll be home in time for Hearth's Warming Eve?" she asked excitedly.

"Of course! In fact, let's go to the town hall right now and confront Mayor Mare about this situation." Rarity began packing her saddlebags. "Come on everypony! Let's declare that Derpy will be the mare who finally returned!" Once when everypony was ready, they all dashed out of the Friendship Castle, quickly making their way to the town hall to confront Mayor Mare, president of the ETA.

A couple of minutes later in the town hall, Mayor Mare had just wrapped up another meeting with the Equestrian Transit Authority. All the members had reported that all was well and the company was in full stride and very profitable ever since they have been incorporated. Mayor Mare was sitting in her desk chair looking outside the window, watching all the citizens of Ponyville happily playing in the new fallen snow and going about their day.

Well it's a bit chilly, she said to herself. Just then, her office door burst open and broke off its hinges with a mighty crash. Mayor Mare turned around fast and noticed the Mane six, with a filly whom she did not know.

"Oops, sorry about that Mayor," replied Applejack. She had bucked the door open with her back hooves with great strength that the door was now broken.

"What is the problem, my little ponies?" asked the mayor. "Is there anything wrong?"

"Yes there is mayor," Twilight confronted. "Read this letter first." It was the letter that Derpy had written to her husband, Doctor Hooves.

Mayor Mare read the letter. She studied for a couple of seconds, then gasped.

"My goodness!" she exclaimed. "I thought the policy of an exit fare was okay. Everypony had agreed to pay the extra fare to get off the train."

"Now then," replied Dinky. "If you don't revoke this, ridiculous policy, we have no choice but to inform Princess Celestia, who will most likely remove you from your position as mayor of Ponyville and the president of the ETA! So, do we have a deal?" she put a hoof over her desk.

Mayor Mare thought for a moment, shocked about the question. Then she smiled and shook Dinky's hoof.

"It's actually my fault for this policy. I had everypony in the company agree to this and I wish I never put it forth. I will make the announcement later today to revoke the policy."

If somepony was trotting down the hallway, they could have sworn hearing Pinkie Pie's party cannon go off. The mayor's office was booming with sounds of cheer and thanks.

A couple of hours later, the mayor had called a meeting at the front porch of the town hall.

"Attention everypony. Ever since I have become the president of the ETA, I have been proud to be the leader of such a pristine group of ponies who have continued to keep the Friendship Express in operation." She paused dramatically.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, I am proud to announce that the exit fare policy will henceforth be revoked and that from now on, the cost to ride the Friendship Express will be zero bits!"

There was an eruption of applause and cheers from the audience that had gathered. A couple of minutes later, Pinkie Pie had arranged a welcome back party for Derpy.

"She'll get first dibs on her favorite muffin! Chocolate!" as she began hopping in place, cheering with everypony else.

An hour later, the Friendship Express pulled into Ponyville station. A red velvet rug had been rolled out on the floor of the platform. Twilight told the conductor to stop the train when the second coach reached the middle of the platform where the rug was. The train screeched to a halt and only one door opened.

"Derpy!" shouted Twilight. "You can come out now, your husband is here to see you."

Inside the coach, Derpy got off the bench and made her way to the door.

The moment she opened the door, there was thunderous applause with streams of confetti flying everywhere. Derpy was flabbergasted. Her husband ran up to her and gave her a hug.

"Derpy!"

"Doc!"

The moment when they hugged, there was another applause, one that was even louder than before.

"Derpy! It's great to see you again. Wait a minute...you paid that bit to get off the train?"

"Yes I did Doc, all thanks to you." Derpy kissed her husband on the cheek, making him blush. A sound of aw's echoed from the crowd.

"Mommy!" shouted Dinky as she ran up to hug Derpy. Derpy happily returned the hug.

"It's good to be home."

That night, Derpy and the Doctor Hooves were in bed. They had just had the greatest Hearth's Warming Eve celebration and the best dinner ever cooked by the citizens of Ponyville. Dinky had just gone to bed a couple of hours earlier, sleeping happily knowing that her mother was finally home.

"Good night Derpy."

"Good night Doc."

Derpy turned off the light and went to sleep. For the many years to come, she will be forever known as: The mare who finally returned.

The End.

Author's Note

Well that's it! I finished my first story. I hope you enjoyed it and please give your comments on it and suggest any edits that I need to make to this story.

Edit: I have recently edited all the chapters of the story and tried my best to make them better. If there is anyone who would like to edit this story, please send me a PM. Thank you and stay awesome!