A Lesson Learned

Derpy Hooves looked up at the library tree. Was this the place? She wouldn't have liked to be lost again. Darn GPS.

Lifting a hoof nervously, she tapped lightly on the door. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK. Fine, maybe it was more of a hit than a tap. She'd never been the most gentle pony.

The door opened halfway, a purple dragon--Spike--standing at the doorway, barely inside the house. "Twilight!" he hollered, glancing briefly at Derpy, "Somepony is here to see you!"

Twilight was at the door in hardly a second, using her horn's magic to move the books scattered across her floor. For the pony who's organization skills had saved Winter Wrap Up, Twilight was one messy mare.

"Sorry about the clutter." The purple pony blushed subtly, opening the door all the way. "How can I help you?"

Derpy took this as an invitation to come inside. "Oh goodie, it you, Twilight Sparkle! I've been traveling all over Ponyville looking for you, but this darn GPS kept saying I was more and more miles away from here!"

"Let me see that," said Twilight, taking the device from the gray mare's hoof. "This is a pedometer."

Ignoring her, Derpy continued. "Well you see Twilight, Rainbow Dash has started everypony yelling at me ever since the Town Hall incident, that one time Applejack left Ponyville, do you remember that?"

Twilight nodded.

"Yep, and somepony asked if I had taken school lessons in clumsiness, and I said no, but I thought that could be an idea! So I came here, since you are so smart and all, and you will definitely give me clumsiness lessons!"

Twilight smiled to herself, flattered and more than a little amused. Clumsiness lessons? Really? "Well, Derpy, I'd love to help, I really would. The trouble is, I've just got so much studying to do! I'm still a student myself! I'm sure you could ask Cheeri--"

"Oh pleeeeeeaaaaaase, Twilight! I don't even have to do it the pegasus style! I could be an Earth pony, like you!"

"I'm a unicorn."

"Plus I don't even want to learn magic spells! I just want everypony to stop yelling at me for the things I do! And nopony ever yells at you, Miss Sparkle!"

Miss Sparkle? Twilight could certainly get used to that.

"Fine, Derpy. But we can't work with this clutter. Come back tomorrow. Any time is good."

"No no, Miss Sparkle, this is my classroom now too! I must help you clean it!"

Twilight sighed, looking back and forth at her wonderful books. She couldn't risk anypony stomping about on them, and Derpy was certainly one who might have more of a chance of ruining them.

"If you'd really like to get started today, I suppose we could go upstairs. . . ."

Luckily Twilight's bedroom was a lot less messy than her living room. "So, what exactly are you looking to learn?"

"I dunno, just pegasus stuff! How to not get scolded."

Twilight looked at the shelves around them, scanning for something useful. "Erm. . . . How to Make New Friends might be useful," she suggested meekly. "Unless of course, you're looking for something telling you how to do whatever you pegasi do. I don't have many of those."

"Read it to me. The friends one!" grinned Derpy, focusing her eyes pleadingly on the book.

Twilight flipped the book open in response, clearing her throat nervously. "'Chapter One: Just be Yourself.'

"'Don't try to change who you are for the ponies you'd like to get to know. Although it never hurts to be outgoing, if you don't feel comfortable being the first to talk to someone, don't.'"

"But I do feel comfortable," Derpy interrupted.