A Whole New World

I look in the bathroom mirror and adjust the tie around my neck. I check my teeth to make sure I brushed then properly and turned throwing my arms out wide.

“How do I look?”

Derpy stares at me with one closed eye. “Good enough to ravage.” Derpy states giving me a grin.

“Careful,” I say poking her nose. “I might take up that declaration.”

Derpy chuckles. “Come on, you don't want to be late.”

I nod. “So what's this Parcel Box like?”

“He's a great stallion. He brought the Ponyville Postal Service four years ago and has turned it into one of the best delivery services this side of Canterlot mountain. He prides his work force over anything else and only demands the best out of us.”

“Sounds like a hard ass.” I state.

Derpy gasps. “Oh no! He's wonderful. If you have personal problems he always has an open door for you. If it wasn't for you I would probably have him riding my back.”

I stop dead with my mouth agape. “R-really?”

Derpy turns and flicks her tail at me. “I'm joking, he's married with four kids and twice my age.” Derpy continues her walk and laughs.

“That wasn't funny...” I mutter following after my mare.

Derpy opens the front door after putting on a outfit that screams Mailmare. She even had a baseball cap with what must be the postal service logo.

“What?” Derpy asks as I was clearly staring at her. “Do I have something on my uniform?” Derpy spins around looking for something out of place.

I smile. “No, you look fine. I was just admiring the look.”

Derpy stops her spinning and sways up to me. “Well, if you're a good boy then maybe I can wear this next time we're alone.” Derpy turns away and drags her tail across my stomach.

“Stupid sexy ass mare...” I whisper.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!” I quickly answer following Derpy out and closing the door behind me.

“Michael, I really hope Parcel Box likes you. It would be great to work together.” Derpy says as we walk along the street.

I nod. “I do too Derpy. I'm not about to let you struggle to feed another mouth. It's just not right.”

I sat on a stool in the office of Parcel Box and my hands didn't stop sweating. Derpy and I had arrived just as the morning shift was leaving and then I noticed something. All the delivery ponies had wings, they were all Pegasi. Only the receptionist was an earth pony. Derpy had gone off towards the back to get her assignments and the receptionist led me to the office where I have sat for nearly ten minutes.

I stared at the floor but looked up when the door to the office opened and a grizzled Pegasi stallion entered. I stood up and waited for the stallion to sit behind the large desk in front of me.

“Please sit.” The stallion says gesturing to the stool.

I sit down and let the stallion take the lead. The stallion takes out a box from the desk and pulls out a long brown stick from inside. “Do you smoke Michael?” I pause. “I know who you are. Young miss Derpy has spoken to me about you.”

“I hope nothing bad sir and to answer I'm not sure that I do smoke.” I reply.

The stallion nods but takes out a second brown stick and rolls it across the desk. I reach out and stop it before it falls off. I bring it to my nose and give it a sniff. I frowned. The stick smelled like mint but had other tones to it my brain just couldn't recognise.

The stallion laughs. “I take it you haven't had a cigar before?”

“I'm not sure, my memories are fragmented so most of my knowledge is gone until I can get it back.” I state.

The stallion nods. “Would you like to try it?”

I give the cigar a look then nod. “Try things once right?”

The stallion lights a match with a wing and uses a tip of a feather to hold it out towards me. I hold the cigar out to the flame and watch as the tip of the cigar smoulders and smokes. The stallion tosses the match away after putting it out with a wing flip. I watch him puff on his and copy the motion. I cough a few times but the taste and texture wasn't that bad. I take a few puffs and blow out the smoke.

“Not bad. The mint flavour really helps it.” I say getting a grin from the Stallion in return.

“I like a stallion that can appreciate the finer things in life.” The stallion then gets serious. “Michael, names Parcel Box. I'm the owner of Ponyville Postal Service. I would like you to be honest with me, if that's OK?”

“Certainly sir.” I reply.

Parcel Box nods. “Good. I have a close relationship with all of my workers. I believe that if you treat your workers like family then they will work their best. I love my family Michael. My wife my children, I love all of them.”

“Y-Yes sir.”

“After Miss Hooves spoke to me about you and what you are going through I had to speak to you myself. I have great respect for Derpy and how she has kept her family going. When she told me you and her are now an item I could see the sparkle in her eyes. I want to ask you a question Michael and I want an honest answer. Do you love Derpy and her family?”

I removed the cigar from my mouth and placed it on a dish that Parcel Box had put his cigar on. I looked him in the eye and replied. “With all my heart.”

Parcel Box grinned broadly. “Welcome to the Postal Service.”

“Just like that?”

Parcel Box chuckles. “What? Did you think I was going to ask for your lifes history? I already know you have memory problems so that wouldn't work.” Parcel Box stands up and walks around the desk. “I always pride myself on my ability to see others for who they are. It helps when you own your own business.” I nod. “Good, now I know you don't have wings so flying is out of the question. I may however have a job you can do, if you don't mind a little walking?”

I shake my head. “No sir, I promised Derpy I would do my best and I mean it.”

“Great! Follow me my boy and I'll show you the task.”

I walk out with Parcel Box and wait as he speaks to his receptionist. Parcel motions for me to follow him as we pass through a set of doors leading into the back area of the building. I look at the other ponies milling about noticing the different packages they carry. I turn my gaze to Parcel Box as he starts to talk.

“This here is the main sorting room for any parcels or letters we have delivered from the Canterlot Dispatch Warehouse. The letters are sorted by name number and street but the parcel side is where the help is needed.”

I follow Parcel as we pass the room into another large area where rows of carriages stood. I look to each in turn only to realise they are full of parcels but no pony was tending them.

I hear Parcel sigh and gesture to the carriages. “This is the job I'm almost pulling my hair out with Michael. The carriages here all have parcels ready to be delivered to local businesses. I however have no pony on staff strong enough to pull them and with all the mail back log, I can't spare anyone.”

I rub my chin and walk up to the first carriage. I notice the harness on the front for a pony to hook into but not practical for me...unless. I cheer in my head when the harness ring can be rotated and clasped around my waist. I walk forward and with a little effort I can get the carriage moving. I then realise the carriage wasn't really that heavy for me and I could probably pull it with only a little effort on my part.

I look to Parcel box to see him smiling. “I guess this is what you want me to do as a job?”

Parcel Box nods. “If you can handle the carriages then the Courier job is yours.”

I walk the carriage around the loading area for a few minutes. I stop the carriage and back it into the space it came from. I unhook myself and give Parcel a smile. “I'll do it.” I hold out my hand.

“My boy, you and I are going to get along fine.” Parcel puts his hoof in my hand and we shake.

“So when do you want me to start?” I ask.

“Would now be OK for you?” Parcel asks.

I nod. “Is it possible I could go home and get changed, my suit really isn't the best for pulling carriages.”

Parcel nods. “That's fine with me Michael.” Parcel turns to walk away but looks back. “Oh! I almost forgot!” Parcel reaches up and takes a large folded piece of paper out of his mane. I really got to know how ponies do that. “This is for you. Derpy told me 'it's from your mare with love!'”

I take the paper from his out stretched hoof as Parcel walks away and I unfold it. It was a map of Ponyville with all the local businesses ringed and named. I notice the postal building has been marked for reference. I spot in the bottom corner a little note from Derpy.

“I knew you would accept.” I read out loud and smile at the little X kiss near the writing. “Thanks Derpy.” I say and pocket the map. “Well better get home, looks like my afternoon is going to be booked.”