Chapters Chapter 1: Junior Flight Camp
"Hey pal, get your lazy mug off the counter!" An annoyed voice came from behind a bar counter, along with a loud pound from a hoof on the counter. A grey pegasus head shoot up his red eyes looking alarmed at the sound but relaxed as he saw it was only the barkeeper glaring him down.
"Keep your mug off the counter before I throw your mug to the curb." He said with a heavy Manehattan accent withdrawing his hoof from the counter, it picked up a cloth and resumed his duty of keeping the glasses in the bar clean.
"You okay Red?" A voice came from the left side of the grey pegasus, a gentle hoof patted the pegasus named "Red's" shoulder. The grey pegasus looked to a white pegasus with a 5 o'clock shadow, the pegasus was wearing a Wonderbolt's flight jacket. Its front side decorated with a few medals, some slightly tarnished from years of wear and tear. The back having the classic lightning bolt with two clouds on the left and right side.
"Yeah Light, I'm okay" Red answered to his worried friend who lowered his hoof back to the bar counter it grasped a glass of cider mixed with salt and some sort of brown liquor. Red never learned the name since it was made only in Manehattan, and he was only passing through the corrupt city. He raised his hoof to his dark brown mane to rub it a few times in a weak attempt to wake himself up before lowering it onto the counter. With a small twist of his neck, a loud crack was heard making the pegasus named Light cringe at the disgusting sound.
"Sorry." Red said noticing his friend’s annoyance, he then spread open his large grey wings another weak attempt to wake up. His wing bumped into somepony who cried out an annoyed "Hey!" but as Red closed his powerful wings he looked at the pony with an almost murderous look making the pony back away with a nervous look in his eyes.
"You got to stop that bro" The white pegasus said picking his glass up to take a large gulp of his strange cider drink. As the glass hit the bar counter he mumbled something sounding like...
"Among other things."
Red looked at his friend sighing once, he knew full well what his friend was referring to. Propping his elbow on the counter he picked his half empty glass of cider with extra sugar and salt. Looking into the cider he could faintly see the reflection of two red eyes staring back up at him. Eyes that only a moment ago looked ready to hurt somepony now looked broken...
"What was I mumbling about in my sleep this time?" Red asked not even taking a glance at his friend who was staring at him.
"Junior Flight School... you never told me about it before." Light said sounding slightly interested in that story, with a heavy sigh along with a heavy heart Red closed his eyes.
"Ah Junior Flight School, such simple times back then..." He mumbled as his mind began to relive that old memory...
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"AHHH!!!" A high pitch scream cried out in protest as a yellowish pony slammed into a soft patch of clouds cushioning her fall. She popped her little head out, her pink hair covered one of her sky blue eyes. She looked greatly upset as she tried to pull herself free from the patch of clouds, she grunted in failure at her attempts some of the ponies snickering at her.
"Fluttershy you okay?" A pony called out as he offered his brown hoof to her, she blushed softly at the slightly older pony before taking his hoof with her own. With a small bit of effort the older pony pulled her free.
"Thank you Red..." She said timidly at the pony who nodded once his dark brown mane covered the top half of his red eyes slightly showing he badly needed a mane cut.
"You’re welcome, but why did you lock up like that?" Red asked the shy filly, she looked down at the clouds kicking it softly as if to try and avoid the question. With a sigh Red looked up at the higher patch of clouds at the Flying Instructor who was looking over his clipboard. His head raised up to look at the pony who was next to fly.
"Rainbow Dash!" He said, a blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail eagerly trotted up to the edge of the clouds. Eager to prove herself, Red noticed Rainbow Dash was very stuck up thinking she was all that. Though… she did have the speed to back up her boasting she could even give Red a race for his bits.
"3.2.1.GO!" As soon as the go was said, a rainbow blur was all that remained of Rainbow Dash as she flew off into the clouds. Spinning around several of them, as she did the clouds slowly began to rotate before crashing into the rainbow blur.
"Crud!" Rainbow Dash cried out as she spun out of control flying into a large patch of clouds, the clouds she sent spinning flew at the group of ponies who were with Red at the bottom of the course. A few of them gasped loudly as they tried to take of flying, Red took off as well but not away from the cloud at them! His red eyes glared at the clouds as he stopped in their path, his grey wings started to flap harder as a small twister began to form in front of him.
"Ready" He said to himself as the twister sucked up the cloud that was out in front of the others, the twister ripped up the cloud into smaller bits til they began to form into solid snow balls from the pressure and cold in the twister. His eyes watched the incoming clouds closely til he felt the distance was right.
"Target locked" He mumbled before opening his wings the twister broke apart spending the snow balls flying at the clouds. The snow pierced the clouds with little issues breaking them apart into tiny bits that didn't have the mass to continue their path the air froze the tiny clouds in place. With amazement his Flying Instructor lowered his glasses as if to make sure he wasn't just seeing a colt take out a group of clouds, after a few blinks he looked at his clipboard.
"Red...Red... ah. Red Bullseye! Come here!" The Instructor said. Red turned his head to his instructor. Before flapping once as he glided down to his teacher landing gracefully in front of the much larger Pegasus.
"Yes Mr. Arc?" Red said with a hint of respect, though he was worried about being chewed out. He knew that pegasus weren't supposed to fly unless instructed by the teacher but his body just reacted...
"Impressive flying Bullseye! You should consider going to the advanced class, your much better than the rest of your class. And Rainbow Dash!" The teacher looked up at Rainbow Dash who was sulking as she flew back.
"Clean up the mess you made, Red Bullseye. Why don't you take it easy for the day as a reward for saving your classmates." The teacher said, Rainbow Dash glared at Red who nodded once in response to his teacher. Rainbow flew off to clean up the scattered clouds Red left her, the teacher looked at his clipboard. Red walked past his teacher, failing to hear the next name that was called til...
CRASH!
Red felt somepony crash into him hard enough to knock him and that somepony right off the edge of the cloud. His eyes closed tightly as he felt somepony grabbed his head in almost a head lock, he struggled to open his wings as his wings were caught up in the other ponys wings. The next thing he felt was the cushion impact of the clouds surrounding him and the pony on top of him.
"What the?!" Red finally managed to say as the head lock weaken, he slipped his head free from the pony’s grasp. Pushing them off he struggled to get out of the clouds, pulling out he fell onto the harder floor like clouds before pushing himself to his hooves. Whipping around he opened the clouds up in a fit of anger.
"What is your prob..." His voice weaken at his last few words as a small head from a filly popped out her nose gently touched Red's making his face erupt with a shade of red that almost matched his eyes. Which were now wide as could be, his eyes locked with a pair of pale grey apple green eyes. Those eyes locked with his, til finally they crossed gently as she noticed their noses were touching. She had a mane and tail that matched her eyes, a coat that was grey like Red's. It took a second for her to realize that they were close to each other, she could feel Red's warm breath on her nose and Red could feel her's.
She then jumped up, only the direction she jumped was in his. Falling on top of him just like she did only moments ago when they crashed into the clouds. Their heads collided together, Red's eyes went from wide to seeing stars as he hit the clouds the little filly laying on top of him out cold just like him...
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"And and?" Light asked eagerly leaning close to Red, the seat tilted in Red's direction.
"And I woke up in the infirmary hours later." Red said making it sound like that was it, Light's head dropped in disappointment.
"You ass; what happen to the filly? What was her name?" He said leaning back in his chair, Red shrugged once as if to play off Light's interest.
"She was sitting in the chair beside my bed, she said sorry so many times I lost count." Red said as he rubbed the spot right below his dark brown mane he winced as if somehow he could still feel that pain from bashing heads with the filly.
"And as for her name it was..."
"Derpy Hooves!" Another voice cried out from the other side of the bar, Red's blood ran blood at that name. He turned his attention to a unicorn who was surround by a few other unicorns, earth ponies and a pegasus or two. They were listening to the unicorn who was telling some story, he had a blue coat, blue horn that stuck out through his mane that looked almost like a cloud on top of his head.
"My dear friends, she was easy to trick!" The unicorn cried out with pride...
"My dear friends, she was easy to trick!"
Those words echoed inside Red's head, Derpy Hooves? It couldn't be the same Derpy Hooves he knew, the same Derpy who crashed into him two years ago and turned his life upside down...
"So who was the filly?!" Light asked once more nudging Red's arm, Red glanced at him making Light back away a bit. The look of murder, replaced the broken look once more.
"Red... you okay?" He asked his voice shaky, Red looked at his drink he could see that desire to kill in his eyes. Closing his eyes his hoof began to shake his glass a bit, on reflex he placed his other hoof on the glass to steady it. With a weak voice he opened his eyes, the look of murder was gone replaced with the broken look.
"Light, that unicorn the one with the cloud head... ask him about the pony he tricked." Red said, Light raised an eyebrow before looking at the corner to see several stallions laughed at the unicorn who raised his glass and took a large swig of his drink.
"Um why?" Light said, but Red was looking at his glass once more. Sighing Light pushed himself off the barstool with one hoof, the other grabbed his glass and walked over to the group pushing his way through though some moved aside seeing he was a Wonderbolt. Even all the way in Manehattan the Wonderbolts held a high amount of respect, as he got to the center of the group he raised his glass to the unicorn who eager clicked glasses with him before they both took a drink. After all it was disrespectful to ignore a toast from a Wonderbolt. Light lowered his glass before taking a peek at Red who was still looking into his drink, turning his attention to the unicorn he introduced himself.
"Light, and you are?" Light asked, the unicorn lowered his glass a smile that was sure to dazzle any young filly.
"Pierce, pleasure to meet you. Wonderbolt I see" Pierce pointed out seeing Light's medals, Light nodded once.
"Was, retired. I came to drink with my buddy whose also retired." Light said, he tilted his head to Red who was still looking into his drink listening very carefully to he conversation. His drink finally stopped shaking as he got a hold of his emotions, Pierce looked to Red raising an eyebrow.
"That pegasus seems rather broken, are you sure he's" Pierces sentence was cut off as Light glared at him, making Pierce gulp nervously.
"Watch your tone, that's Red Bullseye." The whole room grew quiet as those words left Light's mouth, the whole room almost stared at Red who simply took a large gulp of his cider salt mix. Some of them began to whisper in a hush tone to each other.
"Red Bullseye?"
"That's the guy?"
"I heard he died"
"I heard he married Princess Celestia"
"I heard he disappeared after he finished training Spitfire"
"You got to be kidding, that Pegasus can't be him."
All these rumors came pouring out into the room, like Light just turned the faucet on in the sink. Only a few of those rumors were true, one that he disappeared after training Spitfire. And two that he died, well a part of him died.
"Red, wants to hear about the pony you tricked." Light said, the room grew quiet once more but Pierce soon broke the silence with a smirk.
"Of course, a pegasus as fine as him must love to hear about another fine stallion ruling someone else." Pierce said with a smug tone, Red's eyes tensed for a moment before relaxing. Pierce smirked at Light before clearing his throat..
"I went to this dance at the request of my friend to date someone named. Rain... Rain... Ah! Rainbow Dash! That's right. I tend to forget fillies and was she a filly, at first I planned to bring her back to my place for some fun." Pierce said taking a drink from his grass, a small shiver went down his spine at the flavor but he soon continued his story. Red's eyes were now moved to Pierce, Rainbow Dash? There was no way there was another Rainbow Dash in all of Equestria, he raised his hoof to the barkeep...
"Only she ran away to some bitchy Griffin who told me to get lost. As we were about to get into an argument a dangerous cloud came by and ruined my attempt at getting some action. Or so I thought, there was another filly Derpy Hooves. She was upset because someponies were picking on her, and somepony who asked her to the dance turned her down and had to leave at the last moment." He said smirking proudly as if he had some hoof in that pony leaving Derpy alone, Red came over with a fresh glass of cider with salt in it. Only the salt looked a bit on the heavy side. Light moved a bit aside for Red to look Pierce right in the eyes.
"Oh please continue, I'm interested in what happened next. Thought I'd move closer to hear the action." Red said in the rather calm tone before bring the glass to his lips and taking a large drink. Pierce blinked at the amount of salt that gathered at the bottom of the glass, before clearing his throat.
"Well I convinced the young filly to come back to my hotel room, after a few drinks she was rather lose. But boy was she tig-" Pierces words were cut off as the glass in Red's hoof came down on Pierces head smashing it into pieces, the bits of salt on the shards got into the small cuts on Pierces head.
"Oops sorry I dropped my glass, thanks for trying to catch it though” Red said calmly, Light's eyes widen at Pierce who was on the ground howling in pain at the burning salt in his small cuts. Red slowly walked to Pierce who was weakly trying to crawl away, Red stepped on Pierces tail stopping him dead in his tracks.
"Where are you going pal? I wanted to hear more." His voice was turning darker, Pierce's eyes widen at the look of death that seemed to glow in Red's eyes. They looked almost blood red, like the small trail of blood that was dripping from Pierce's head to the floor.
"Please continue." He said coldly, Pierce tried to reach out for somepony only to have them back away from him.
"I said, con-tin-ue"
"W-Well I-I mounted her and finis-" Once again his words were cut off as Red slammed his hoof into Pierce's stomach knocking him into a table that easily toppled over. The barkeeper came charging out at Red with two stallions behind him.
"Buddy, get the hay out of m-" The barkeeper's words were cut off but not by Red, but by Light who slammed his wing into the barkeeper's face knocking him out cold. The other two stallions charged Light who took off flying over the crowd of ponies, the two stallions chased after him. Leaving Pierce to Red..
"Oh sorry did I cut you off again, I'm so clumsy must be Derpy rubbed off on me 2 years ago. Good thing I didn't go to the dance with her, or I might have become more clumsy" Red said, Pierce's eyes widen in fear.
"Y-You!? You were that somepony who left her!?" Pierce said trying to get up only to have Red step on his cloud like mane pinning him down once more.
"I-I'm sorry I d-didn't know she was yours! I-If I knew I w-would of let you have her!" He said trying to get up but wasn't successful as Red slammed his back hoof down silencing the cowering unicorn.
"You’re the reason... you’re the reason she..." Red's voice died down before he closed his eyes tightly he could feel tears welling up in the corner of his eyes. Shaking his head once to clear the painful memory, his mane swayed side to side before he glared down at the shaking unicorn.
"Best pray that Celestia saves you." Red said before closing in on Pierce who began to cry in fear...
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"Derpy Hooves?" Red said to the young pegasus, she nodded once her eyes cast down in shame. Her ears pinned back in fear of the older pegasus...
"Well... I'm Red Bullseye." Red said, Derpy's ears went up a bit as Red introduced himself. Nervously she peeked up at Red who was smiling softly at her, raising her head fully Red noticed her eyes were different from anypony he saw before. One of them was looking down while the other was looking right at him.
"Your eyes..." Red said softly, Derpy instantly looked back down in worry. Red tilted his head a bit before sighing, he could sense that her eyes greatly bothered her in some way.
"I know... they’re freaky." Derpy mumbled just loud enough for Red to make out her words, blinking he also noticed she had a small slur to her almost timid voice. Timid like she was expecting him to make fun of her, kind of like Fluttershy only he could tell Derpy wasn't shy like the yellow pegasus. Just scared of being made fun of...
"Derpy..." Red mumbled though she didn't hear him, "Derpy" he understood now why she had the name. Her eyes, timid voice, and klutziness was all... Derpy as much as he hated to admitted it.
"Na their not freaky, they're actually kinda pretty." Red admitted closing his eyes, as he heard an almost squeaky gasp. Derpy looked away her yellow mane covered the eye that was casted up at Red.
"You’re lying" She said, she put her hooves together almost like she was pressing them together out of nervousness. Red opened his grey wings wide to stretch them, the sudden action caused Derpy to move back in her chair a bit as if thinking he was going to strike her. Opening his eyes Red looked into her upturned eye, the other soon moved up to look back at him. Now her eyes seemed normal to him though still slightly out of focus, turning his eyes away he looked at the ground beside the bed. With a single and effortless flap he glided out of the bed. Putting all four hooves on the ground he walked to the infirmary door, as his hoof reached for the doorknob he turned to look at her once more.
"I gain nothing from lying to you Derpy Hooves, I'll see you around." Red said before opening the door and walking out, the door shut gently before Derpy pushed herself out of the chair and landed a bit clumsy on the floor. One of her eyes watched the door as if expecting him to come back, the other was watching the roof.
"He gains nothing from lying to me?.." She said to herself her voice trailing off, before following his exit to the door...
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"Red!" A voice called out...
"Derpy?.." Red answered in a weak tone.
"Red! Red you son of a bitch wake up!" The voice said before a powerful hoof punch came snapping Red's head to the side. His eyes snapped open wide, his red eyes looked to the owner of the hoof in alarm. He could only see Light who sighed lightly in an effort to calm himself, Red sat up he felt his whole body soaking wet. Raising his hooves to saw a red liquid dripping from them, his eyes widen in alarm as he looked to Light.
"What the hay happened?!" Red said in a panic, Light frowned looking at his friend blood soaked hooves. Shaking his head a bit, he grabbed Red's hoof and helped to his hooves.
"I don't know, I lured those bouncers away from you. Only when I got back, Pierce was gone along with everyone else… though the bar was torn apart by what looked like a tornado.. I'm guessing that was you. And when I screamed out I heard you moaning in pain a name..." Light said explaining what he knew, Red placed one of his bloody hooves to his forehead trying to search his memory.
"I only remember closing in on Pierce saying he should pray to Celestia after that.. a blur." Red said, did his own anger at Pierce make him block out everything that happened? That must of happened after all he was covered in blood.. and Light even said Pierce was gone.
"Did I murder him?.." Red asked himself, Light was about to answer til somepony ran past the alley wearing in officer’s uniform.
"We best get out of here." Light said, Red nodded once and took off flying with his friend. As he reached the lower clouds he took a glance back at a large group of officers surrounding the bar. Did he really just murder somepony?...
"If I did, then it was for Derpy... don't worry Derpy I'm going to find you." Red said to himself before it zipped past Light, as he did the loose blood on his tail and mane flew off and disappeared...
Chapter 3 A Long Ride Home
“What do you mean you’re leaving Manehattan?!”
Light yelled as Red pushed his door to his hotel room open.
“Just as I said, I’m leaving I have to find somepony” He said not even pausing to look at Light’s stunned face, Light shook his blonde mane out to clear the stupid look on his face.
“Who though? This Derpy Hooves? What is she to you?” Light asked, Red froze at that name for a moment before he sighed lightly. His red eyes fell on Light who cringed a bit, his eyes weren’t mean but the almost blood red would cause any pony to cringe back.
“Yes Derpy Hooves, and she is… Well she’s somepony I hurt.” Red responded sounding vague, vaguer than normal. Light had known Red since he began training for the Wonderbolts before he even trained his pupil Spitfire to take over, for Red’s strange retirement. After all Light was the one who signed off on Red’s papers, he only asked that Red train someone before leaving.
“Was she the reason you retired?!” Light asked raising his voice, somepony stopped by the door and looked in. Light kicked the door shut in their face before glaring at Red, he still didn’t understand Red’s choice to retire. No one but Red knew the reason for that, he wasn’t even close to being too old to keep up with the younger generation. Heck even Spitfire couldn’t keep up with Red’s skills now, even with how rusty Red let himself get.
“Yeah” Was all Red said before he picked up a briefcase, opening it up there was an old picture inside. Well it looked old at least, it was folded several times even looked like it was crumpled up a few times. Light looked at Red as he moved aside to take his old Wonderbolts jacket from the chair, folding it up and tossing it in the briefcase. As the jacket landed the photo slipped free from the briefcase and sailed across the room landing in front of Light’s hooves. He reached down and picked it up to get a good look at it…
“This is her?” Light asked, Red paused and looked at the photo in Light’s hoof. He felt a desire to snatch the photo from Light, but it’s not like he could wipe the memory from his head. He just simply nodded before continuing to pack. Light looked down at the photo once more, there was Red holding somepony with a matching grey coat as him. She had pale, light grayish apple green eyes. It was a rather pretty color Light had to admit but her eyes were weird, one was looking straight at the camera the other was looking at the ground. She is Strabismus (Crossed eyed simply put), her mane matched her eyes as well. She was standing in front of Red, his head resting on top of her’s they almost looked like a couple.. As if this filly was Red’s special somepony. That wasn’t the strange part of the picture though, it was that Red was smiling. He looked very happy, Light glanced at Red who was closing the briefcase now his face was emotionless… broken even. Was that really the same Red now?
“She must have been very special to you…” Was all Light could say at this point, Red grabbed the briefcase handle in his mouth before he swung his head making the case land on his back. Opening his wings they pinned the case down, as he walked to Light he reached out with one hoof and grabbing the photo before gently tugging it away.
“Yes, she wasn't…” He said before putting the photo between his feathers, walking past Light he mumbled one more thing.
“She still is”
Light watched as Red left the room, what could have happened between the two? To make such a skilled Pegasus like Red Bullseye, look so broken in only a year’s time…
“That’s right it was only one year ago… since Red quit the Wonderbolts…” Light sighed lightly, he remembered the day Red came into his office. Light was much older than Red, too old to be an instructor anymore. That’s why Red was the new instructor or at least he was chosen to be, Light picked him out from Junior Flight Camp when he heard about Red’s display of skilled flying…
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“You sure Rainy Arc?” Light asked, a slightly nervous Pegasus stood in front of him. The Pegasus was Red’s instructor back at Flight School, the Pegasus named Rainy Arc handed him a clipboard.
“Yes Light Ning, Red Bullseye would be a perfect as your replacement. He’s skilled, fast, and good with instructing the others.” Arc said, Light took the clipboard looking at the reports Arc made of this young Pegasus called Red Bullseye.
“Bullseye, isn’t that the son of Vector Bullseye?” Light asked Arc, who nodded once.
“One in the same, he displays the same skills as his father. Perhaps even better” Arc said sounding unsure, though it was understandable Vector Bullseye was before Rainy Arc’s time. If Vector was still alive, he’d be the same age as Light though a little younger.
“I remember Vector, he was good. Though I never knew him on a personal level, he was mostly just a name on sheet of paper.” Light said sounding rather casual about it, he handed the clipboard to Arc who took it.
“I’d like to see him in action” Light ordered, Arc nodded once and led Light through the doors to the field. As Arc opened his mouth to called Red, Light covered Arc’s mouth with a hoof shaking his head.
“I’d prefer seeing him acting normal, not trying too hard to impress me.” Light said, Arc nodded once before pointing to a grey Pegasus who was at a starting line with a strange blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane. Light’s eyes looked to the cutie marks on their rumps, a cloud with a red lightning bolt. Now, he looked to the grey Pegasus, he had a bull’s eye target with a red dot in the center of the target. That had to be him, the assistant couch raised a starting gun. It fired off and the rainbow mane Pegasus took off, a small rainbow was behind her. Kind of like the storm clouds that were behind Wonderbolts when they took off for shows, though that was all fake just for the fillies and colts at the Wonderbolts shows.
“The rainbow one is fast” Light commented, he then looked to Red but he was gone. Blinking in amazement his eyes scanned for the grey Pegasus, and those red eyes. But he was nowhere to be seen til the rainbow mane Pegasus was about to cross the finish line only to slam into the grey Pegasus who suddenly was in front of her. The grey one slid across the finish line, the rainbow one rolled past the finish line and hit a few Pegasus who were cheering for her. Several of the Pegasus flew all over hitting the ground, Light looked to Arc who was smiling.
“What just happen?” Light asked, confused as to what happen. Arc looked at him with a cocky smirk at his best student, he then walked out onto the field Light followed.
“Red’s able to stay in ponies blind spots, a very rare skills. He has it, while you were seeing Rainbow Dash what was actually happening is he was flying right by her side til the last second. Then took the lead from her.” Arc said in an almost bragging tone, Rainbow Dash picked herself up and stomped to Red who was talking to a few of his class ponies.
“You cheated Red!” She said as she slammed her head into Red’s challenging him, Red simply blinked at her in confusion. Light watched for a moment before figuring out what Arc meant, Red was using Rainbow Dashes own blur against her so she believed she was out front til the last second and passed her. The sudden action startled her so she slammed into him, knocking him ahead even more and slowing herself down at the same time.
“Genius…” Light said before trotting ahead of Arc to the fighting ponies well more to say Rainbow Dash. Red was just staring back at her, he seemed careless of the fillies’ anger.
“That’s enough Rainbow Dash!” Light screamed out, Rainbow Dash looked to Light only to have her jaw drop in amazement. She moved away from Red and zipped over to Light her hoofs on her face like a fan girl seeing her idle. Light stopped at the sudden action catching him off guard, Red on the other hoof rolled his eyes and began to trot away to a filly who had a matching coat as Red. She was sleeping it seemed, her mane a unique color. And a strange cutie mark it looked like bubbles…
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“Bubbles...”
Light said, he had lost sight of Red. His eyes widen in surprise, as he ran into the hall looking down it for any sign of Red. But he was gone, most likely to the train station…
“That pony... was Derpy Hooves...”
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“One ticket to Ponyville”
Red said to the filly behind the glass of the ticket booth, she nodded once taking a ticket from a large roll and slid it under the glass.
“50 Bits please” She said, Red nodded once and pulled one of his wings forward. Shaking a bit a large emerald fell free landing in front of the filly, her eyes widen.
“G-Give me a moment to get your change.” She said, but Red grabbed the ticket and ran off. She screamed after him, but he didn’t stop though. He couldn’t he had to get to Ponyville and the train was leaving now, he couldn’t wait for them to count it out. Not that he cared money was such an unimportant thing to him, bits, jewels, trading none of it mattered to him. Not anymore at least, not since he lost Derpy…
“Ticket please” The conductor said, Red quickly dropped the ticket in the hoof of the conductor before climbing onto the train. He slid the first car door open seeing only a pony with a white mane done up in a bun, she was elderly it seemed. Seen a good few years on her Red could see, sighing he didn’t mind being in a train car with somepony but he did want to be alone. Shaking his head he walked into the train car and sat by the window looking out, as he did a sudden jerk made him shake a bit as the train was pulling out from the station…
“Hey sonny!” A loud voice came from Red’s left, jerking his head it was the elderly pony. She had a large smile on her old face, now that she was closer Red got a better look at her. She had a pie on her flack, judging from the red on it apple pie.
“Ma’am” Red said, being formal to the old pony. She laughed before sitting across from Red, he could hear her old bones creaking from her movements. She stared at Red for a few minutes before Red finally decided to talk.
“Can I help you Ma’am?” Red asked trying to cover his annoyance, he was hoping she’d ignore him but it seems that wasn’t going to be the case. She tilted her head a bit placing one hoof on her mane rubbing it, lost in thought… or maybe she lost her thoughts…
“Um… call me Granny Smith. And can I help you youngin?” Granny Smith said, her smile big… and full of kindness. Red blinked before face hoofing himself, sighing he dismissed her sudden forgetfulness.
“She’s old Red… Remember that” He mumbled only to get a smack in the mane, it didn’t hurt but it caused Red to jump back.
“Who you calling old sunny!?” She said insulted, Red’s eyes widen. Damn her hearing was sharper then Red thought, sighing he decided to at least apologize and introduce himself looking up at her brilliant orange eyes.
“Sorry Miss. Smith, I’m Red Bullseye.” Red said tipping his head a bit, she smiled and nodded. Appearing to forget Red’s rudeness, though she didn’t seem surprised to hear his name.
“Nice to meet you Red, I’m Granny Smith.” She said kindly, Red sighed once more… she had already introduced herself… Was it going to be like this the whole trip, by Celestia he hoped not. He could only tolerate so much…
“What ca going to Ponyville for?” Granny Smith asked, snapping Red’s attention back to her. For a moment he stared at her, he debated telling her is reasons for two reasons. One he didn’t wish to be bothered, the other… maybe she knew Derpy…
“I’m… visiting an old friend.” Was all he said, Granny Smith nodded once.
“Aw ain’t that the sweetest thing, I’m going back home from visiting some of my relatives here in Manehattan. The Orange family!” She said sounding happy to be going home, she must have been home sick Red guessed. Simply nodding once to the elder pony he looked out the window, they were crossing the water now. He could see the shining water, Celestia would be setting the sun soon because the water was dyed a lovely orange. Then would be raising the moon, and night would fall among all of Equestria.
“Excuse me youngin, you look like a pony on a mission” Granny Smith, Red glanced at her for a moment before looking out the window once more and nodding to her.
“I guess you could say that… but Miss. Smith I’m tried, I think I’m going to rest my eyes” He said, Granny Smith looked worried about Red. In a way he could respect that, the elder pony had a good head on her shoulders. Red closed his eyes and began to think back, back to his second encounter with Derpy…
“Well more like second attack…” Red mumbled Granny Smith didn’t hear him this time as Red remembered that day…
…
…..
…….
“Red! Reeeeeed!”
A voice came from behind Red as he walked down the hallway, the voice slightly slurred. Derpy? That was the only pony Red knew that spoke with a slurred tone. Turning around he spotted that pale, light grayish apple green mane bouncing up and down. That bubble cutie mark on her flack as she almost had like a skip to her clumsy run, as she came to a sliding stop in front of Red. As she did though stepped on a piece of paper, Red’s eyes widen as she flew right into him. The two rolled down the hall several times before Red hit the floor hard, shaking his head he was about to get up til something landed on top of him knocking him right back into the hard floor. His head slammed into it making him see stars in his vision, Derpy’s head landed right on top of Red’s.
“Oops… sorry…” Derpy said, Red shook his head a little making the stars vanish before he looked up at Derpy. Sighing lightly he didn’t move much to Derpy’s surprise til finally she pushed herself off him after a minute or two. Looking down in shame, both her eyes unfocused as usual. Red pushed himself off the floor before turning to Derpy.
“It’s fine, it was an accident” Red said brushing himself off with his wings a few times before looking to Derpy. She was looking at him now, even with those two unfocused eyes he could tell she was surprised.
“You’re not mad at me?” She asked, Red shook his head a bit making his brown mane sway a bit. The action made Derpy’s grey cheeks slightly warm up, he was much nicer then the rumors said. Everypony told Derpy Red was mean and didn’t like to be bothered. Even when they crashed into each other the first time he sounded mad at her til he saw her… Why was he so nice to her?
“You’re a lot nicer then everypony says” Derpy admitted, Red tilted his head before shrugging once to Derpy.
“Sorry to disappoint you?” He said questioningly, Derpy raised her hoof in defense making Red back up a bit since she was close enough to almost hit him.
“No, no, no. I didn’t mean it that way.” She said sounding like she was defending Red in some way, it caught Red a little off guard.
“It’s fine, but what did you need Derpy?” Red asked, she was running after him after all it must have been important. Derpy lowered her hoof appearing lost in thought, what was she chasing him for?… She just saw him down the hall and went after him with no goal in mind.
“Ummm… oh! Would you like to eat lunch with me?! I’ll buy!” She said shooting her head up to looking right at Red both her eyes focused on him. Red blinked a bit bothered by her request, not because he didn’t want to. It’s just… nopony ever invited him, it bothered him as to why she asked him. She must have had other friends to ask.
“Um... suuure but why me?” Red asked, Derpy tilted her head in puzzlement at his question. Why not? Was the first thing that came to her mind, but that might sound strange?
“As sorry for me bumping into you… twice.” She said sounding a little ashamed by her weak answer, but she really didn’t know what else to say. Red thought about it a moment before nodding, she must of felt bad for it he thought. He wasn’t mad about it though strangely… whenever Rainbow Dash crashed into him or sent things flying at the others Red would always get annoyed.
“Alright than Derpy I accept your offer” Red said before walking beside Derpy in the direction of the cafeteria, it was quiet though… neither of them knew what to say to the other. Red was looking ahead, Derpy was looking well in two directions. Once in a while she’d lose her balance bumping into Red saying “Sorry” but Red simply smiled seeming not to bothered by her clumsiness. It wasn’t til they entered the cafeteria that Derpy finally said something…
“Muffins!” Her sudden outburst made Red jump a bit, he looked at her with a bit of confusion til he looked at the lunch line up. Indeed they did have muffins… a lot actually. Blueberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Banana, and so on. Derpy quickly ran to the line that was gathering for the lunch hour, Red quickly followed after. As they got into line Derpy was trying to peek over the taller Pegasus’s who were grabbing their lunches her unfocused eyes locked on the pile of muffins that were quickly dying down. Red looked over her as well at it, did she really love muffins?
“Derpy, do you like muffins?” Red finally asked, Derpy wiped around and nodded several times with enthusiasm before looking back at the muffins. Red felt a small smile creeping up on his lips, she was… kind of cute. Like an innocent pony who was discovering a new world before her, if innocent was such a thing Red thought. Derpy was pretty close to it
“What’s your favorite kind?” Red asked, Derpy didn’t turn around this time but she said.
“Oatmeal”
“Oatmeal is a kind of muffin?” Red thought, he had never seen an oatmeal muffin before though to be fair. He never really saw too many muffins before, his mother never really brought muffins home. And he was always eating at home, never having any friends to go eat with… Though here he was with Derpy, was she his friend?
“Yay! Oatmeal!” Derpy cried out snapping Red out of his train of thought, she eagerly grabbed several muffins that looked like they indeed were made from oatmeal. She then pushed ahead to set them on a lunch tray, Red looked at the oatmeal muffins before grabbing two. One to try now, and if he liked it the other for a snack later. He then grabbed an apple just in case he didn’t like it and set it on a tray before following Derpy. True to her word she bought Red his lunch and trotted off with her tray in her mouth, Red followed after her without a second thought his tray on his back with his wings keeping it pinned in place. Derpy turned around smiling at Red her eyes both locked him before saying.
“There’s an empty table ove-“ But her words were cut off as Red saw her fall forward, the tray slipping from her mouth. The muffins flew from the tray and landed all over the floor, Derpy soon joined them as she hit the floor. The tray landed on her head, Red’s eyes widen in panic. What happen? There wasn’t anything to trip over, she was clumsy sure but she could walk normally enough. As Red moved to Derpy’s side he heard a group of ponies laughing. Raising his eyes he saw Billy, the school bully and his group of lackeys. All pointing and laughing at Derpy, he then saw that Billy’s hoof was right behind Derpy.
“Nice fall Dippy Hooves, maybe if those eyes weren’t so crossed you would of saw my hoof.” Billy said howling with laughter, Derpy sat up looking at her muffins all over the floor. She picked up one, it was covered in dirt though… they all were. Derpy then looked to Billy, he was a brown Pegasus with a dumbbell on his flank. His tan mane covered one of his eyes, he looked to his friends one was a bluish grey with a black mane. The other light brown with brown mane, both of Billy’s lackey’s mane’s covered their eyes mostly. Red looked down to Derpy whose pale, light grayish apple green eyes began to shine as tears began to collect in her eyes.
“Aw Dippy’s going to cry, what a loser!” Billy yelled out, some of the other Pegasus began to laugh at Derpy who was trying to wipe her eyes with her hooves. Soft sobs escaping her lips, Red set his tray down on the table and walked past Derpy to Billy who stopped laughing as he saw the glare Red was giving him.
“You got something to say?” Billy said, his tone slightly threatening though Red didn’t back down as he stopped in front of Billy a foot away.
“Say you’re sorry” Red said, his tone much darker then Billy’s but Billy laughed at Red’s attempt to scare him.
“What do you care? You Dippy’s friend?” Billy said smirking, some of the Pegasus grew quiet as Red didn’t even pause before saying.
“Yeah so what if I am DumbBilly” Red said, one of Billy’s lackey’s coughed a little holding back a laugh. Billy threw him a dark glare quickly shutting him up, before looking back at Red. Derpy sobs stopped as she looked up at Red, both her eyes focused fully on him.
“He… cares about me?” Derpy thought, Billy got up from his seat and slammed his head into Red’s like goat challenging another.
“Then you’ll get beat down for being Dippy’s fri-“ But his words were cut short from Red’s head slamming into Billy’s head. Billy fell back into one of his lackey’s who caught him, Billy rubbed the impact spot with one hoof before pointing at Red.
“Kick his flank!” Billy’s lackeys let go of Billy, who fell back words hitting his head on the seat since he wasn’t being supported by his friend. The brown mane Pegasus flew at Red, raising his hoof to strike him only Red was gone. The Pegasus came to a stop in midair looking around before.
“Above you!” The Pegasus looked up before Red’s hoof slammed into his face knocking him to the floor and knocking him completely out. The bluish grey Pegasus charged Red now, slamming into Red from behind the two of them flew at the table Red’s tray sat on. As they were about to hit it Red’s wings caught the table flipping him and the lackey over the tray. The Pegasus surprised by the sudden flip and seeing the world upside down released Red to try and correct himself. But he slammed into the middle of the table, bouncing off the surface and hitting the floor hard. Red smirked before a voice called out.
“Hey loser!” Red whipped around only to feel Billy’s hoof punching him in the face, Red flew into a small group of chairs knocking them over with ease. One of the legs of the chair hit him in the eye, he grabbed his eye with one hoof. He could feel it swelling up already, if he hadn’t closed his eye from Billy’s hit he might have lost an eye. Sliding across the floor still holding one eye, he saw Billy (with his only good eye) taking off flying. The bluish grey lackey picked up the tan one following after quickly, Red pushing himself to his hooves.
“Oh no you don’t!” Red cried out as his wings spread open before he flapped them several times, a small tornado formed in front of him. He kicked one of the chairs into the tornado before smirking, his one good eye locked onto Billy’s head.
“Target locked” He said before he flapped once more tilting the tornado enough to send the chair flying out like a cannonball it aiming right on target. As it was about to hit, Billy entered the hallway with his lackey in tow, the door closed shut breaking the chair as it hit.
“Damn!... Negative impact.” Red said cursing himself for not reacting sooner, his tornado lost it’s power and faded away. Red wanted to hunt Billy down, and demand he say sorry to Derpy but the teachers would soon arrive. And right now Derpy needed him, he ran to Derpy grabbing her wing with one of his own.
“Come on!” He said before he opened his wings to take flight releasing Derpy’s wing, she opened her own wings to follow. But not before Red stopped and picked up one of the oatmeal muffins off his tray, gently putting it in Derpy’s hooves before taking his other muffin. He took off flying, Derpy on the other hoof looked at him with one eye. The other looking down at the muffin, her mouth slightly open in surprise.
“Derpy!” Red screamed snapping her back to her sense she took off after him quickly, cradling her muffin in her hooves as if it was a living creature. They both flew out the open windows quickly going to the courtyard of the Flight School, Red landed beside the old fountain that fired out a small rain cloud. The cloud gently showered the metal in the fountain making the pool of water that cycled reusing the old water. Derpy landed beside Red who set his muffin down on the metal seat of the fountain he rubbed his eye in a bit pain.
“Buckin Billy, figures he’s a coward who hits when you’re not looking” Red said to himself, Derpy looked up at Red who was slightly taller than her. Setting her muffin beside Red’s she flew up to the small raincloud carefully ripping a piece of it off with her mouth before landing beside Red. Who was busy messing with his eye, she placed one of her wings on Red’s shoulder to turn him around.
“Mph mh mhh (Let me see)” Red blinked his good eye as Derpy gently moved his hooves from his bad eye. As she got closer Red could feel his face warming up, but the cooling moister from the cloud quickly washed that blush away as he felt the slight sting from the cold cloud on his eye.
“Ahhh…” Red mumbled out in pain as Derpy gently dabbed his bad eye with the cloud in her mouth. After a few minutes, the swelling began to go down and Red convinced Derpy to let himself do it since he felt strange having Derpy so close to him. She moved away from him as he placed his hoof on the cloud to hold it in place. She then returned to her oatmeal muffin picking it up in her hooves, looking at it for a moment.
“Thank you Red…” She mumbled out, Red’s ears perked up in an attempt to hear her.
“Huh?” He said, Derpy shook her head a bit making her pretty mane sway softly back and forth. Red shrugged once as he tended to his eye, Derpy smiled before taking a bite of her special muffin. A soft blush rose on her cheeks and her smile grew softer.
“Best oatmeal muffin I’ve ever had…”
…….
…..
…
“Sonny!” Granny Smith cried out shaking Red awake from his dream, or memory was more like it.
“Huh?!” Red said as he shot awake his eyes open in alarm, he looked from side to side before looking out the window. The sun had already risen…
“Did I really sleep through the night?” Red said to himself, that was the longest slept he’s had in months it felt like. Though with how he felt it was most likely true, he then looked to Granny Smith who was picking up her bag in her mouth before setting it down on the train seat beside her.
“We’re almost to Ponyville” She said sounding happy to be almost home, Red on the other hand felt scared… an emotion he hadn’t felt in ages…
“…I’m almost there…”
“Care to come back to my hotel room, my little pony.”
A dark voice said, startling a young Pegasus awake she sat up her strange pale, light grayish apple green eyes looking around the room in alarm. As if she was expecting somepony to attack her, but nopony was there. A rooster in the distance was calling out, telling everypony morning had come. The young Pegasus touched her forehead to try settling down, as her hoof touched it she could feel sweat drenching her. Quickly grabbing her blankets, rubbing her face to clear away the sweat.
“The dreams are getting worse…” The young Pegasus said, tossing the slightly damp blankets aside as she did she had good look at her swollen belly. It looked like she ate an armies worth of muffins, if only it was that simple she thought. Opening her grey wings and flapping hard once, she lifted herself off the bed. With a little effort she flew to the bathroom, landing on the floor a bit shaky she looked in the mirror. Her pale, light grayish apple green eyes looked into it seeing her reflection. Her matching mane was a mess from tossing and turning in her sleep, sighing lightly she grabbed a brush. As she began to comb out her mane to get it to its normal messiness she looked at her large belly.
“It’s late… I wonder why. You were supposed to be born a month ago, but… I can still feel you kicking.” The young Pegasus said a hint of sadness in her voice, the doctors were just as lost as she was in why the baby wasn’t coming. One doctor joked about it saying “Maybe it’s waiting for somepony”, the joke didn’t cheer her up at the time but sometimes she’d laugh about it when she was alone.
“Are you waiting for him?...” The pony asked rubbing her belly, only to receive a kick against her hoof. She blinked in surprise at the action but laughed, she then looked up at the mirror one of her eyes was looking at the ceiling while the other rested on her belly.
“He won’t come back, not after… what I said to him.” The young Pegasus closed her eyes before she finished up getting ready to start the day. Taking a shower, brushing her teeth, and getting a muffin for breakfast with a cup of tea.
“Oatmeal.” She said, sitting at her kitchen table she stared at the muffin for a few minutes before taking a bite. Same rich taste she loved… but it somehow didn’t taste as sweet as the one’s he would give her from time to time. She sighed lightly as she continued to eat her muffin, sipping her tea from time to time. As she finished her breakfast she heard a knock at her door, setting her plate and tea cup in the sink she went to the door opening it up.
“Hey Derpy how ya feeling?” A rainbow mane Pegasus said zipping past the pony named Derpy before she sat on the couch smiling. Derpy blinked a bit surprised, not that she should have been. Rainbow Dash came almost every morning to check up on her, closing the door Derpy walked over to the sofa sitting down. Rainbow Dash stretched a bit before laying down on it casually, sometimes Derpy felt like Rainbow Dash was treating her home like her own. Not that she minded the company, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were the only ones from Flight School who cared about her.
“I’m okay, the baby kicked me a little while ago.” Derpy said with a somewhat cheerful tone, she did care about her baby. Just the thought of raising it alone, hurt her more so without him around… he might have made a good father, no she knew he would have been a great father…
“Have you heard anything new about him?” Derpy said, Rainbow Dash normally sighed at her questions about the same pony. But this time she sat up looking straight at her making Derpy tense up, did she hear something?
“Actually yeah I have” Derpy’s eyes widen a bit as they did the baby inside her kicked her making her jump before rubbing her belly softly. Rainbow Dash kept up on all the Wonderbolts news and rumors, and he was the best the Wonderbolts had seen in years. Not that it made Rainbow happy, she was kind of mad at him for taking her dream and dropping it as soon as he took it.
“Word has it Red Bullseye was spotted in Manehattan at a local bar with Light Ning, and that Red got into a fight with a cloud mane Unicorn” She said in a hushed tone as if somepony else might have been listening, Derpy’s heart stopped at the Unicorn part. Cloud mane? That Unicorn who… took advantage of her kind, and slightly foolish nature? It couldn’t of been him, but if it was then what did Red do to him?..
“Listen I have cloud duty today, AJ will be around to see you in a bit. She made you some apple muffins, Later Derpy!” Rainbow said as she dashed out door after opening it, leaving Derpy with her confused thoughts. Red was seen, she hadn’t heard anything about him for a whole year. It scared her not knowing how he was, if he was alive, unhurt or even happy. Even with what she said to him, she never wanted anything bad to happen to him… She didn’t know what to think, what she did know was… Applejack was bring her some of her homemade muffins!
“Apple no less” Derpy said, it brought a comforting smile to her face. Though oatmeal was her favorite, AJ did make some amazing apple muffins. She was very grateful for having understanding friends in Ponyville it did make things a little easier for her, though being alone at night was sometimes painful. To sleep with only a little baby kicking her, no one to smile with her at the babies actions. As she thought this a kick came making her laugh a somewhat hollow laugh, softly touching her stomach.
“Whenever I think about him… you move. Do you know something I don’t?” Derpy thought, a small hopeful smile came to her face. She got up from the couch and closed the door Rainbow Dash left open on her rush to leave for her job. As it closed shut she could have sworn she heard the faint sound of the morning train coming to Ponyville.
“I think Applejack had to get Granny Smith this morning.” Derpy said, maybe that was why she was in town this morning. Derpy wandered to her bedroom to lay down for a bit, as her head hit the pillow she turned to her side to see a picture frame. Holding one of her favorite memories, reaching for it she gently picked it up careful not to drop it… again. Pulling it to her she looked at the cracked glass, she dropped it a few days ago… thanks to her clumsy nature. Though the picture wasn’t damaged, well any more than it already was. It had some water damage from past tears that fell, that was til Big Macintosh was kind enough to make her a picture frame as a birthday gift…
…
…..
…….
“Happy Birthday Derpy!”
Applejack cried out to a surprised Derpy, she blinked surprised at the four ponies who knocked on her door. A pony with a light brilliant gamboge coat was smiling at her, the pony’s mane pale, light grayish olive almost matching Derpy’s mane. The pony had her mane in a large pony tail, along with her tail, a cowpony hat on as well. Her flank had three red apples, she also had beautiful emerald green eyes. By her side her older brother Big Macintosh, he had a brilliant amaranth coat, with brilliant orange mane. His mane was in a mess it looked a lot like Red’s mane style, Big Mac’s eyes matched his younger sisters though.
“Happy Birthday Derpy” Another pony said making Derpy look down to see a little filly. Applebloom, she had something both her siblings had, her coat matched Applejack’s mane. Her mane simply brushed looked the same as Big Mac’s coat, kind of an opposite which was strange to Derpy. She had a nice large red bow in her mane, and behind them all was Granny Smith!... Asleep. A soft snore was escaping her mouth, though now that Derpy looked closer. Big Mac was pulling a cart with Granny Smith in it, with some gifts.
“Ya going to leave us outside?” AJ asked in a kind tone snapping Derpy back to her senses, she opened the door a little more to make room as everypony came in. Big Mac pulled the cart carefully through the doorway and slid free from the harness, setting it on the floor carefully before pulling a basket of Apple Muffins out of the cart. It had a pretty little yellow bow tied around the handle of the basket, Big Mac set it on the coffee table. Then reaching into the cart once more he took out two gifts wrapping in apple theme wrapping paper.
“We brought you gifts!” Applebloom said full of joy as she jumped onto Applejack’s back smiling at Derpy who was still a little confused as to what was going on. It wasn’t til Big Mac placed the gifts on the table she slowly reached for the smaller of the gifts. There was a tag on it…
“Happy Birthday Derpy, Applebloom” Derpy read aloud, Applebloom smiling more.
“I made it for you!” Applebloom said sounding excited, Derpy smiled finally a tear escaped her crossed eyes as she opened the gift. Tearing up the paper she tossed it casually to the floor where Big Mac picked it up so there wasn’t a mess. As Derpy got the last of the paper off there was a small wooden box with a heart painted on it, she opened the box slowly.
“A bow?” Derpy said, there was a bow that matched her mane inside the box. Taking it out she smiled at it, it was big like Appleblooms bow that was in her mane now. A small laugh escaped her lips, making the two sisters smile in responds.
“Ya did good AB” The older sister said, Applebloom nodded a few time seeming proud of her gift.
“Here Derpy open Big Mac’s gift. I’ll get this into your mane.” Applejack said, Derpy handed the bow to her then picked up the next wrapped gift with was from Big Mac. It read…
“Happy Birthday Derpy, Eeyup” Derpy laughed at the last part before eagerly ripping the paper off. As she did though she saw glass which made her freeze. It was made from glass which meant it was gentle, so this time she slowed down taking the paper off while Applejack carefully did her hair. Finally getting the paper off she saw it, a picture frame. Blinking she turned it over carefully it was the perfect size for her favorite picture…
“Big Mac did you make this?” She asked her voice a bit shaky.
“Eeyup”
“For me?”
“Eeyup”
“Was it hard?”
“Nnnope”
“Was it for my picture?...” Her last question made her gently hug the picture frame.
“Eeyup”
“I saw your picture by your bed when you asked me to grab the pillow for you. It was a bit damaged, but it looked very important. So I told Big
Mac and he smiled” Applebloom said, she hoped down from Applejack back before going to Big Mac. Who puffed his chest out, showing he was proud of his work.
“Thank you… everypony…” Derpy said before her tears escaped her eyes and fell to the floor…
.......
…..
…
As she opened her crossed eyes, she noticed she was crying again. Hugging that precious memory, loosening her grip on the frame she looked at the picture. There he was, Red hugging her from behind with a large smile on his face. He was always handsome colt she thought, his red eyes that normally frighten everyone. Eyes that looked like blood, eyes that could frighten even the toughest of ponies. But never her, to her they were always gentle. Like the red setting sun on the water…
“When did I get so sappy?...” Derpy said laughing a little as she wiped her eye with one hoof, she then set the picture carefully on the bedside table.
“That was the same day… he asked me to the dance…”
…
…..
…….
“Congratulations on making the Junior Speedsters Derpy”
A voice said from behind her, as she was looking up at the roster for the Pegasus fliers. Derpy wiped around to see a handsome colt smiling at her, his coat the same grey as her’s. His red eyes like a red apple, a mane in a brown mess but it only made him look handsomer. He had his hoof extended with a muffin, but not just any muffin. It was oatmeal!
“Thank you Red!” She said taking the muffin, eagerly she began to eat it with a large smile. Red had always treated her well, as if she was normal in his eyes… or like they were dating. The idea brought a small blush to her face, no, no way would Red want her like that. He was just very nice, always protecting her from bullies, helping her with the work she didn’t understand for class, even protecting her from her own clumsiness. Never once complaining, always had a smile on his face for her. He was just nice to her, and well he was nice to Firefly as well. Firefly loved him for protecting Derpy from Bill and his goons, he was the only nice guy in Derpy’s life.
“Come on Derpy, Firefly set up a celebration party for us.” Red said, snapping Derpy out of her muffin loving… and Red admiring state. She nodded once, stuffing the rest of the muffin into her mouth before walking beside Red to the exit of the school.
“Mphm hmm mhm? (Where’s the party?)” Derpy said, her mouth still full of delicious muffin. Red blinked at her before laughing lightly, he then looked forward.
“At the pizza place” Red answered, Derpy smiled widely looking forward. Red seemed to know what she was thinking half the time they talked, it was nice it ment she didn’t have to try hard to explain things like must ponies needed her too. It was like they had the same train of thought when it came to things, swallowing the rest of the muffin she paused seeing something. Red continued to walk on a few feet, before stopping to look at her.
“Derpy?” He asked slightly worried, but her attention was on the large poster. The poster for the school dance next month? Red walked to her side looking up at her, if memory served him right. Derpy was going with Firefly and they were going to make their own dresses for the dance, date or no date they were going.
“Red, do you…nevermind” Derpy said, Red looked to her. Did she want to go to the dance with him? A soft blush rose on Red’s face, dancing with Derpy? The idea sounded… fun, but he didn’t know how to dance. No one taught him…
“Hey you two lovebirds coming!?” A voice called out making Derpy jump a bit in Red’s direction, he did the same making them collide in mid-air. Red however weighed more than Derpy so he fell on top of her, he raised his arms quickly to wrapping them around Derpy’s small body. His wings slammed onto the ground to catch them both, Derpy instinctively wrapped her arms around Red’s neck. As they held each other close, Derpy looked up at Red staring into his eyes deeply. A soft blush rose on her grey cheeks, she could of sworn Red’s cheeks were getting warmer too…
“Hey… Derpy… Will you go… to” Red was struggling to get the right words out, as if his brain was turned off. But Derpy smiled at him, she knew what he was trying to ask. Or at least she hoped it was what he was trying to ask, so with a timid voice. Both her eyes focus on his, she nodded to him. Before she pulled him closer into a strong hug.
“I’d love to” Derpy said, Red jumped a bit but a smile came to his lips. And he nodded once in response holding her, til a faint galloping was heard behind them.
“You know, you two can make out when we’re at the party. I don’t mind selling tickets to the show” A playfully teasing tone came, Red’s eyes widen and finally his wings gave out making both Derpy and him land on the floor. A small “Eep” escaped Derpy’s lips as Red landed on top of her, he quickly rolled off her though sow’s not to crush her. He got up at an almost blinding speed, his face bright red.
“A-Ah I’ll meet you at the party!” Red said, he tried to run off but Firefly cut him off.
“Woah, woah, woah! You going to leave your little Derpy on the floor?” The pink Pegasus said, her mane blue. Red froze looking at Derpy, whose face was bright red but she wasn’t moving from the ground. Red sighed lightly, by Celestia this was embarrassing. Red flew to Derpy side gently picking her up, her eyes were spinning in their sockets. She almost look like she blew a fuse in her brain.
“K-K-K-K” Was all she could spit out, Red raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“K?” Firefly said as she came over to Derpy, Derpy looked ready to faint so Red got behind her hugging her waist to keep her up. Derpy hugged his arms without even thinking about, Red was trying to look down at Derpy’s face so he rested his head on top of her’s.
“Derpy are you okay?” Red asked sounding worried about her, but Derpy smiled she could feel Red’s voice echoing in her heart.
“K-Kissing Red wouldn’t be so bad…” She whispering to herself, Red’s eyes widen but he smiled gently rubbing his head into her soft mane. His smile grew when she rubbed her head against him til finally Firefly said…
“Say cheese!”
Smiles still on their faces they looked to Firefly who had a camera in her hooves, then a soft click before they even figured out she took a picture.
…….
…..
…
“But you never went with me…”
Though she didn’t blame him, what happen. He was picked by Light Ning to be the next Captain of the Wonderbolts, and the trainer at the Wonderbolts Academy. He was forced to leave a week before the dance, things only got harder without him around to brighten up her days. Without him there to protect her from Billy, the bullying got worse because they wanted payback for all the times Red beat them up for messing with her. Though she never told him…
“I couldn’t have you rushing back to school to protect me… you had a great future in store for you. I couldn’t be the one to take it away.” Derpy said as a single tear slipped from her eye, even though she didn’t want to steal his future for her sake. She missed him so much, the night he left she put on the strongest face she could… But she cried all night alone, Firefly was busy making her dress that night…
“I didn’t want to be a burden on her or you...” She said looking at the picture, as she reached for the picture a knock on the front door causing her to jump. Her hoof hit the bedside table knocking the picture into the air, it flew across the room landing on the dresser. Bouncing a few times til it hit the vase of flowers sitting on the dresser, the vase rolled off the table landing on the pile of blankets she threw off her bed earlier. But it didn’t stop there, it slipped free from the blankets rolling down the stairs of her room to the living room.
“Hey!” Derpy cried out, she struggled to get off her bed but once she did she took off flying after the vase. The vase reached the bottom of the stairs by the time she got off the bed, it was rolling to the door.
“Come back here!” Derpy cried out, not that the vase could listen to her. The front door open as she said this though, a pony stepped into the door. She was an earth pony wearing a tan cowpony hat, freckles on her face, a messy pale, light grayish olive mane. A light brilliant gamboge coat, with three apples on her flank. Only one pony looked like that!
“What in tarnation is goi-” Applejack’s words cut off as she walked in stepping on the vase, the world was then flying by in Applejack’s eyes. She flew across the floor on the vase going past Derpy who froze as AJ’s hat flew off hitting Derpy in the face as she went by. Derpy flew straight into the front door breaking it right off its hinges, Applejack on the other hoof hit the sofa flying over it her face hit the soft cushions luckily but she bounced off the couch making her land on her hooves in a daze state.
“W-What the hay just happen?...” She said as she took a good look around the room, the couch was almost knocked over. Derpy was laying on top the front door with AJ’s hat covering her face, AJ walked across the floor swiping her hat from Derpy placing it on her head. Derpy smiled nervously…
“I just don’t know what went wrong…” Derpy said, making AJ roll her eyes.
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“Thanks for fixing my front door Applejack, sorry for what happen though.”
Derpy said, sounding ashamed of herself. AJ sighed lightly but smiled at Derpy patting her messy mane with a soft hoof.
“Ah its okay, no pony was hurt. I’m just glad the muffins weren’t damaged” AJ said, she had set the muffins down before entering Derpy’s home. Good thing too or else the chain reaction of accidents might have been much worse knowing Derpy’s luck. But AJ decided to keep that last part to herself, Derpy was already feeling bad enough.
“But thanks for going with me to pick up Granny Smith, I’m sure she’ll love seeing you.” AJ added on, Derpy perked up a little Granny Smith was always a pleasure to see even when she forgot things a little. Both fillies walked up the train station platform stairs as the train was rolling into the station. Derpy sat down on a bench with AJ as the train came to a complete stop at the platform.
“There’s Granny Smith!” AJ raised raising a hoof at the window, Derpy squinted at the window. She could faintly make out Granny Smith’s messy white bun moving as she got out of her train seat and grabbed her bag with her mouth. Granny Smith then turned to look out the window seeing AJ waving at her, she smiled waving a hoof back. Granny Smith then turned to somepony who Derpy couldn’t see she set her bag down and seemed to be talking to the pony. Then picking up her bag to walking away from the pony going to the exit, Applejack got up with Derpy to go greet her. But as did Derpy could have sworn she saw the pony’s cutie mark in the shape of a bullseye with a red dot in the middle.
“Wait.. is th-“ Her words were cut off as a sharp pain stabbed through her womb. She grabbed her stomach in pain, Applejack on the over hoof didn’t notice as she walked to Granny Smith. Granny Smith hugged her granddaughter, as she did she saw Derpy shaking.
“Applejack!” Granny Smith cried out, but before Applejack could turn around Derpy was falling… slowly. She could feeling the world slowly disappearing as she fell to the side, as she was about to hit the ground. She felt something catch her, strong arms lifted her off her hooves.
“She needs a doctor!” A new voice said, reaching her ears. She could have sworn it was Red’s, but that was impossible. Her senses were dying now, the pain in her womb almost too much to bare she wished it would end. Just as her senses died she heard that same kind tone reach her ears once more…
“I got you Derpy…”
Then… silence…
Chapter 5: Together Again
“Sir! I’m going to have to ask you to leave!”
“Like hay I will!”
Arguing, someponies were arguing with eachother. One voice just sounded concerned, the other sounded furious. Must be the one being asked to leave, Derpy thought…
“Are you the father?!”
The voice said, there was a silence before the angry voice answered. Though it sounded more upset then angry now…
“…Yes I am…”
Once again silence over took the pony in the bed as she felt darkness take her…
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“Derpy! I’m so glad you made it!”
An excited voice said, a pegasus with red eyes was running across the field away from several ponies who were all standing in a line. He had a whistle around his neck and wore a Wonderbolts flight jacket, a Captain’s rank on the collar of his jacket. A baseball cap with the Wonderbolts emblem on the front of the cap, he had a large smile on his face as he came closer but when he saw the look on the grey pegasus’s face he stopped several feet away.
“Derpy?...” He said to the grey Pegasus with pale, light grayish apple green eyes full of tears. His heart dropped at the sight of Derpy crying, he took a few steps closer but she took the same steps back away from him… as if she was frighten of him…
“Derpy, what’s wrong?” His voice sounded full of concern for the female Pegasus, he came closer this time she didn’t retreat from him.
“Der-“ His voice was cut short as Derpy lashed out with a hoof slapping Red’s face, his head jerked off to the side from the impact. His eyes wide with panic, confusion, worry, so many emotions were in his eyes… Emotions Derpy had never seen Red have before, he slowly turned his head to her.
“W-Where were y-you?...” She asked him, he opened his mouth but she smacked him hard across the face once more silencing him before he could even talk.
“WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST?!” She screamed out, her normally crossed eyes were focused solely on Red. His grey cheek was now red from the smack, he looked so confused. What did he do wrong? It was written all over his face.
“Derpy, what are you talking about?!” He yelled back, she smacked him once more to silence him. Though Derpy wasn’t the strongest pony, Red knew he’d be feeling the stinging pain later on when the panic inside him wore off.
“You left me at the dance alone!” One of Red’s eyes peeked at her, a tear was glistening in it.
“I-I…” He was trying to find his voice, but she turned away from him.
“You n-never cared about me… you used me… til you were bored of me... you left me behind…” Derpy said, Red’s eyes snapped to her. But before he could say anything she took off flying…
“Derpy…?”
“Derpy!”
“DERPY!”
He screamed after her, but with her eyes full of tears she never looked back at the broken heart Pegasus name Red Bullseye…The blood eyed Pegasus looked down at the ground, as a tear slipped free from his eyes. He looked up once more to see the love of his life… fly away…
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“Waaaaah!”
Somepony was crying now… like a baby… it sounds so little…so… so…
“So fragile, is it mine? And… that monsters?”
“Or… is it his?”
These thoughts flowed from her mind as the intense pain, which was in her lower area was now on her stomach. Like somepony had cut her open, but the pain soon subsided as the pony on the bed passed out once more…
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“What do you mean you can’t go to the dance with me?!”
A panicked grey pony said as she lifted her head from the top of the other grey ponies head, the smaller pony was laying on top of the larger pony in the middle of the practice field for Junior Speedsters. The larger pony had a book opened up in front of him, which the smaller one was reading while she laid on top of him. It was a book about the history of the Wonderbolts, the larger pony turned his attention from his book to look at the smaller pony. His red eyes appeared gentle as he spoke his next words…
“Light Ning wants me to take the A.W.T.C, trust me I don’t like it anymore then you Derpy.” The pony said looking away from Derpy, it was true he didn’t like it at all. He really did wish to go with her to the dance but he knew if he had any intention of asking Derpy to be his special somepony. He needed work, a good job to make sure Derpy would live a good life… A life Red wanted so bad to give her, and if being Captain of the Wonderbolts meant he could give it to her. He’d do it without a second thought, he returned to reading his book as Derpy grew quiet for a minute or two before asking.
“A.W.T.C?” She finally asked, trying to cover up the sadness and worry for Red leaving her.
“Advanced Wonderbolts Training Course, he believes I can pass it in only a month. And if so, then I’ll replace Light Ning as Captain of the Wonderbolts” Red said answering Derpy’s question, she looked down trying to hide her pain. Though she knew Red could see right through to her heart, it had only been three months since they met. Yet Red knew her better, and understood her better than anypony else. He closed his history book and turned his head to her smiling.
“Everything will work out I promise Derpy, do you trust me?” He said, his voice full of concern and care for her. She couldn’t help but smile at him, she then rubbed her head gently against his affectionately.
“I’ve always trusted you Red, I know you won’t hurt me” She said softly, making Red’s face turn red a bit. He knew he couldn’t let her down now, he had to do this to make a future for them both… and maybe for a little one down the road…
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“Hush now, quiet now…”
That voice…
“It's time to lay your sleepy head…”
It sounded so kind, so…
“Hush now, quiet now…”
Loving, like somepony comforting a child…
“It's time to go to bed…”
As those words left someponies mouth, the filly on the bed opened her eyes weakly. The sun must have set since the lights were off, curtains covering the windows open to let in the beautiful moon light. The filly turned her crossed pale, light grayish apple green eyes to a shadowy figure that stood in the moon light. Her vision blurred from hours of having her eyes closed, she could faintly make out the figure was carrying something. It almost looked like they were… rocking it slowly, was whatever the figure carrying alive? The filly tried to get up only to grunt in pain, as her hoof touched her stomach faintly feeling stitches. The figure raised it’s head from whatever it had its arm, it seemed to stand there for a moment frozen like a deer in headlights before finally it said…
“Mommy’s awake little one…” The voice said, it caused the filly to jump a bit as the figure slowly turned around. Or it felt like it was slow, though the whole world felt slow to the filly as her eyes widen in alarm as the moon lit up a Pegasus with red eyes… eyes like the setting sun. His mane dark brown, a grey coat just like her, the Pegasus took a step closer to the filly in the bed.
“R-R…” The filly weakly said, she couldn’t find her voice both her eyes solely focused on the older pony in front of her. He walked closer til he was beside her bedside, he then offered the object he was rocking to her.
“I believe this dinky little filly belongs to you…” The Pegasus said in a gentle and kind tone, the filly looked down to see the object was a baby wrapped in a blanket. She blinked slowly reaching for the baby with both hooves, cradling it carefully as Red let the baby slip from his arm into her’s. Derpy looked down at the small creature, it had a grey horn… his horn… but it had her eyes only they were normal not goofy and stupid looking like her’s. She exhaled a bit in relief, she feared others would make fun of her baby if they had the exact same eyes.
“Her eyes are just as beautiful as yours” Red said, Derpy eyes both of them focused on Red’s face which she could see clearly now. He was smiling… that same soft smile he’d always give her it hadn’t changed. He looked older… tired… like he hadn’t slept in weeks, but he looked… happy?..
“R-Red…” Was all she could she could choke out, she reached one hoof up letting her baby settle on her chest. Though weak she tired her best to reach out to Red’s face, she had to make sure she wasn’t losing it… seeing her wildest dream coming true. Though as her hoof was a few inches from his face she felt her strength draining, as her hoof went lower and lower… til it pressed against Red’s chest…
“You… are real…” She said weakly, he was… there was no doubt she could feel his heart beat under her hoof. This wasn’t a dream, he was really here, in front of her, letting her touch him. Even after everything she did to him, blaming him for her mistake when she knew it wasn’t his fault. He had a chance to make a life for himself what right did she have to steal it away…
“Well ofcourse I’m real, who were you expecting the Easter Pony?” Red said a small laugh escaped his lips, a dry sounding laugh. But it sounded like he was happy none the less, he carefully reached up and gently took Derpy’s hoof in his.
“Of course I’d be real Derpy Hooves, I’m really here…” His voice lowered as he repeated himself; as if he couldn’t believe he was here either, his eyes resting on her hoof as he held it. For a moment silence took over in the room, as neither of them had any idea what to say. Well they did know, Derpy wanted to know why he’d come back to her. Why he wanted to even see her in a 100 mile radius, but she kept quiet out of fear he’d slip away and disappear again.
“Though I don’t know why I’m here… why I’d appear here after a year. A whole year of not searching for you, not talking to you, not saying sorry to you… I should just go…” He mumbled as he tried to pull away, releasing her hoof only for her to squeeze it tightly well as tight as she could in her condition.
“You have nothing to be sorry for…I.. I hurt you R-Red.. I shouldn’t of blamed you for my moment of weakness… for myself losing faith in you…” She said, her words shaky as her emotions finally let loose; the tears she had been holding in since he appeared again broke free all at once. Happiness he was here beside her once again, sad because she hurt him so bad he blamed himself for what happen, fear for losing him again, guilt, hurt, so many emotions she didn’t even know existed. But what she did know is she couldn’t lose him again, weather he be there as a friend or her special somepony she couldn’t lose him.
“Derpy…” He said weakly, weak? She never thought he was capable of being weak he always stood so strong in the face of danger, he never feared flying fast, taking on a hurricane, even when Rainbow Dash sent those clouds flying he didn’t pause for a moment to protect others. But he was stuck there in her grasp, she could almost feel his own strength draining from his body. This scared her, no terrified her this stallion was the strongest one she ever met. Stronger than her parents, stronger than Firefly, and stronger than Billy, but right now in front of her. He looked broken, like someone just stole everything from him. Why did he look like this?
“Derpy, when you came to training that day…and left me.. I gave up, I gave up on happiness, gave up on the Wonderbolts…” He said, her ears pinned back against her skull she sniffed softly as her sobs finally subsided.
“Why? Red, w-why give up on your dream?” She finally choked out, he laughed once weakly as a few tears fell onto her hoof.
“Dream? Y-You… you were my dream Derpy, not the Wonderbolts. I agreed to become one for you…” Red weakly said, Derpy’s eyes widen in surprise. She was his dream? How? She was a clumsy pony everypony bullied for her eyes, how she could be his dream when he was so talented, strong, amazing, kind, hand…
“I… I wanted you to be my special somepony…” He said cutting off her thoughts, if her eyes got any wider they would right now. Almost popping out of her skull, it didn’t help that a blush as red as his eyes crossed her cheeks.
“W-WHY?! I’M JUS-“ Her words were cut off as Red suddenly looked up at her, his tears streaming down his face. But the look on his face, anger… something he never showed to Derpy others sure but never her. It scared her…
“You’re beautiful! Kind! Cute! Y-Your… innocent…” As those last words came out he suddenly closed the gap between them as his lips pressed against her. A squeak escaped her throat but faded away into his lips as her eyes fully focused on his closed eyes. He was shaking against her lips… was he scared that she wouldn’t return his love… of course she would… this was what she wanted since her eyes first laid on him. Since he first touched her, she desired more from him nothing bad. But… she couldn’t explain it, she wasn’t very practiced in love. Though judging from his shaking… neither was he… so without a moments paused her eyes fluttered closed as she used every bit of strength in herself to press her lips back. Tears once again flowed from her closed eyes, but not pain or sadness… happiness was all she felt.
It took a full minute though it seemed like forever til he broke away from her lips breathing a bit on the heavy side. Though her lips were still out waiting for his as if she was frozen in time, he couldn’t help but smile… a real smile for once in a long time he was feeling happiness she looked so cute… though after another minute of not moving his smile faded.
“Derpy?... Derpy?...” He gently poked her lips with his hoof as soon as he touched her, she slowly fell backwords. Red’s eyes widen in panic but as her head hit the pillow, she smiled more as she passed out from exhaustion.
“I think I broke her…” He said softly but as he did he broke out laughing, tears falling from his eyes as his sides slowly began to hurt after a moment or two he fell forward. His head gently landed on Derpy’s lap as his own exhaustion took him…
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A small filly laughed lightly in her sleep as her two parents slept together for the first time… without a nightmare only their hooves joined together as if nothing could break them apart again.
