The train rattled along the somewhat rusted tracks. The tunnel to Canterlot was just ahead, and Derpy was getting her bags ready. It was a bit harder, considering she did not have a horn to lift up heavy objects. Grunting, the pegasus heaved the bags onto her back, watching the tunnel end, and the glorious city of Canterlot come into view. Derpy's eyes widened as the city's gold and purple accent shimmered under the sun, which was covered by distant pegasi moving large clouds. They had a darker tinge, which indicated rain. She had hoped she'd get to the castle before then; but it seemed impossible with how slow the train was going. Derpy released a long sigh as the final tunnel darkened the train cars. It only took a few long moments for the train to slow at the train stop. With an astounding lurch, Derpy was thrown forward, hitting her head on a metal pole with a cringe-worthy clang. She fell backwards, a small purple bruise appearing on her forehead. With a groan, she slowly stood back onto her hooves, and walked towards the front of the train. She nodded to the conductor and hovered off of the train.

Derpy was not a skilled flyer, but she had enough practice so that she would not run into other ponies or objects. She had done this in the past, and it was what originally gave her this eye condition. Her right wing's feathers were dis-aligned with the other, thus the wings did not function properly for Derpy. She had been given this nickname when she moved to Ponyville for the first time. The other fillies had teased her about her strange wings, and decided to name her 'Derpy'. The first time this had happened, Derpy ended up crying, and was sent home for the day. The teachers did not deal with the bullies, and the torment continued until Derpy dropped out to pursue a career of being a Mail-mare for the NEMS (National-Equestrian-Mail-Service). Her special talent was unclear to her, but she had received it when she was but a small filly, blowing the bubbles that her mother had given her. When the juice was gone, so was her mother. She had been adopted, but soon after she joined the workforce, her adoptive mother had been killed in a train accident outside of Apploosa.

Derpy was shoved to the ground as she exited the train, landing on the platform with a thud. Holding onto her baggage, she furiously flapped her wings, lifting herself into the air above the bustling rainbow of ponies. Children meeting grandparents, Parents meeting children, and family and friends simply greeting one another. Derpy, who was dead set on getting to the castle before the rain could beat her to it, soared upwards, the gentle breeze gracing her light grey feathers.

Once the grey mare was at least 2 stories above the station, she began to make her way towards the shimmering Canterlot Castle. The golden swirls stood out amongst the dark purple and off-white stone. Tall spires touched the darkening sky. It was hard not to gape at the great castle. Itself reflected the authority the Princesses had, ensuring the kingdom appeared strong. Hundreds of years old, it was surprising that it wasn't crumbling to the ground, or the supports that connected it to the large mountain above the city. From certain angles, one could say it was floating over the city. Near magical waterfalls flowed freely from the castle's base, as well as the city's. Some landed in lakes, and others ponds, which shimmered with the evening sky. The Moon would rise soon.

With a soft 'clack', Derpy's hooves hit the cobblestone outside of the Castle gates. Two guards looked her over, before granting her access. Luna had not been lying when she said she'd tell her guards about her visit. The metal gates, the sun and moon carved into the bronze, opened. Derpy nodded to the guards, and trotted on through, trying to keep a cheerful demeanor. The wind began to pick up. It would be a storm that would no doubt, be vicious, it's gnashing teeth bearing down upon Equestria and all who live there.

The Gardens were in front of the main entrance to the lobby. Cut topiaries depicting Princess Nyx, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Princess Twilight, Princess Rarity, Princess Rainbow Dash, Princess Pinkie Pie, Princess Fluttershy, And Princess Applejack towered over the rose garden and maze. The automated sprinklers had not yet turned on for the evening, and Derpy had been thankful for that. The cobblestone to the main castle entrance was long and perfectly straight, but it shortened as Derpy reached the said entrance. Two Lunar Guards nodded to Derpy, and parted their crossed spears, the crest on the handles a shining crescent moon.

"Welcome, Miss Doo. Princess Luna, Regent of the Moon will see you in the main throne room past the lobby."

Nodding, the grey mare ruffled her wings, and continued to trot into the castle. The lobby was brilliant, a pure crystal chandelier hanging overhead. A red-velvet carpet lead into another room, a door carved into mahogany blocking it off. Who were standing alert, wearing Solar Armor and holding solar spears in their armored hooves, were the guards. The chairs were carved from the same type of wood as the door, the polishing on them as radiant as could be. The cushions were crafted from a quality fabric. Derpy noticed the style, and determined it was imported from the Zebra homelands; Zebrica. The walls were decorated with portraits of all of the Princesses, The Regents of the Sun and Moon, Twilight Sparkle, The Elements of Harmony, Princess Nyx, and Princess Cadance. As Derpy moved, the rainbow glinting off of the crystal lights danced across her vision. Staring in wonder, she soaked it all in. The feel of the carpet, which was soft and easy on her somewhat sore hooves, the amazing crystal chandelier, and the high quality wood mahogany used for the doors and furniture.

Deciding she shouldn't keep the Princess waiting, Derpy walked to the guards, who didn't even acknowledge her, and simply opened the doors. Inside, is what you'd expect. The throne room had hardly changed, except for a dark blue alicorn sitting beside the said throne.

"Welcome Ditzy Doo. I hope the trip treated you well. It is a lovely day... other than the coming storm, is it not?" Luna smiled at Derpy, her night-sky mane sparkling in the light. She had been waiting for the pegasus, and while doing so, had been shifting the sun for her elder sister; who had been on leave to Mexicolt for important meetings about trades between Equestria and said country.

"H-Hi Princess... Yes.. The trip went well..." Luna frowned, and walked over to Derpy, her composure proud and regal, as should be a Princess to a citizen. "Your forehead.. Let me have a look.." Luna gently brushed up Derpy's chin to take a closer look at the bruise on her head. The blood had crusted into a scab, but it didn't make it look any better. The bruise was a nasty one, brown around the edges. Luna lowered her hoof, and began to walk a few steps away from the pegasus. "You need to be more careful! You could have seriously injured yourself!" Luna chided. Soon though, her smile returned, and she beckoned Derpy over with a wing. Obeying her Princess' wishes, she trotted over. Luna wrapped a dark feathered wing over Derpy, and closed her eyes. "Yes.. Your eyes. Continuing our conversation from the Dreamscape.." Derpy shifted her fetlocks as Luna opened her turquoise orbs, which now gazed at Derpy. Those eyes beheld a strong presence of magic, no doubt alicorn magic. "Ditzy Doo, your eyes.. I noticed they... had accents of alicorn magic. I do not know how this came to be, but it astounds me.. and as I said, this cannot simply be passed up." Luna's horn began to glow a dark indigo, a book levitating over to Derpy and her. She set the book down in front of Derpy, and opened it up to the first page. The title was written in ancient ink, slightly faded from age. 'Depictions of Magic in Ponies'.

"Here, we can at least study how this is possible. Few Earth ponies in the past have had such eyes... but never a pegasus. It is a rare occurrence when both parents are royal-blood unicorns." Luna turned to a page near the center of the book, the scent of dust and paper reaching Derpy's nostrils. She resisted the urge to sneeze, and instead held her breath. "Here is states that it can occur with anypony, but mostly unicorns of royal blood, or very talented unicorns who have inherited the ability to become an alicorn, if they fulfill their destiny."

Derpy's ears perked at the mention of the ability to become an alicorn just by fulfilling your destiny, and remembered the Elements of Harmony. Applejack had fulfilled her destiny as the Element of Honesty; saving Equestria's ranks and citizens a war against the Rhino Kingdoms by stating the falseness what a disguised changeling Advisor said about the Equestrians. They had attempted to start a war so that they could seize Equestria while the Princesses were busy with the battle. Soon after saving both countries, and slaying the changeling who had attacked Princess Celestia, she ascended, Princess Twilight assisting. Applejack had been an earth pony, and ascended. The same went for the other elements, who achieved their ascensions by simply expressing their own representatives to the fullest extent.

The night lulled on, Luna and Derpy discussing her future. Luna had allowed Derpy to watch her raise the moon, whilst lowering the sun below the horizon. Soon, it twas past eleven PM, and Luna stood smiling at Derpy. She used her magic to snap the book shut, levitating it back to where it was. "Now Ditzy, I understand if you decline. It is a hefty responsibility... I need to request something of you..." Luna's smile faded, replaced with a stoic, expressionless look in her eyes. Derpy, confused, tilted her head. She had been tired, but still perky enough to express interest. "What is it Princess...?"

Luna spread her wings, taking the position of superiority. She lifted her chin, her gaze hardening. Her mane flowed out ever so gently, galaxies and Nebulae, stars and solar systems shifting with the calm swirls. Her tail-bone flicked the stream of space to the side, and her fetlocks stood straight, the rest of her legs straightening with them. Her wings stood out, erect. The soft feathers varying in shades of blue. The tips were a darker blue than the rest of her, almost black. Her hooves were the same, pristine color. Her coat was sleek and shiny, the fur laying down in a perfect manner. This was not the normally kind and expressive Luna. This was a Monarch, and Derpy took the message. This was of the upmost importance. She wasn't sure if she was ready. "Ditzy Doo... I must ask if you will be my personal student." Derpy almost fainted. She didn't process it at first, wondering if this was a dream. Was it? Why would Luna ask such a thing of her? Her mind raced with such questions, but without warning, she blurted out. "YES! Yes I would love to be your student!" Derpy held a hoof to her mouth, her eyes narrowing. Chuckling, Luna bent to a knee. "My dearest sister presented the idea to me. I have been looking for weeks now, visiting dreams of potential students.. none of them had beheld the gift you had. It is rare. I am honored to be your teacher, Derpy. I am sure we will become good friends over the time we are learning from one another." Luna stood once again, her wings now folded. "I am retiring to my room. Speak to a guard about where your quarters will be. I am unsure of such things. As Princess Luna turned tail and walked to the throne room doors behind the throne Celestia had normally sat on, she looked back, and winked at Derpy.

Derpy couldn't help but smile as she settled into her bed. The guest room almost appeared as a hotel's. A desk, magical fridge, arcane heating microwave, and a simple bed with white sheets. The pillows were soft enough that Derpy could be comfortable, and so were the chairs. Looking out at the waxing moon, Derpy's smile widened. She was the personal student of a Princess. She would learn and.. And she'd be honored with such a title.

Derpy reached for the candle, and blew it out. Closing her eyes, the last thing she saw was the moon.

Everything was going to go just fine, and she didn't have to live in the shelter anymore. She'd be comfortable in the room until Luna or another Princess gave her a home.

Everything was just perfect.

Author's Note

I couldn't wait anymore. I defied the draft! DERPY IS NOW LUNA'S STUDENT! I IZ SUCH A PROUD! *Cough* Uhm. Right. So.. This took a while. That's all. Yep.