A (W)Hooves Story

Chapters

1

The party at the town hall was in full swing. Every pony was relaxed and having fun. Octavia and DJ Pon-3 were providing dance music with a few ponies already out onto the floor. Derpy had arrived late, having a lot of mail to deliver that day. Having wanted to dress up, but also in a rush to get to the party, the blond pony had neglected to tie together all of the straps on her light blue dress. Having flown from her house she had not noticed that they were loos until she landed and trotted into the town hall where the party was being held. After trotting only a few meters in, she tripped over the lose cords and unceremoniously tumbled and rolled forward, crashing into a drinks table and ending up with the punchbowl on her head.

“Derpy!” exclaimed a nearby pony in shock.

“Sorry,” said Derpy with a frown, her dress wet. A few nearby ponies gave the young mail filly a disapproving glance.

Pinkie Pie was over in a flash.

“You ok?” she asked, helping Derpy up.

“Yeah, I suppose… sorry about the mess,” Derpy replied apologetically, still gathering her bearings.

“No problem’o,” said Pinky Pie cheerfully. As quick as a flash, Pinkie Pie had collecting the Punchbowl and had restocking it. She cleared up the mess and put the table back in order with a new tablecloth.

“Wow,” said Derpy admiringly. “You are always so well organized.”

Pinkie Pie smiled. “I have gotten into the habit of having a “Derpy” reserve on hand!” She said in a chipper voice. “It means I’m always prepared for every eventuality!”

Just in earshot of the two, a nearby mare with a snooty disposition said disapprovingly “It is sad that everyone has to account for such ‘regular’ accidents.”

“How true,” agreed her equally inpatient stallion partner.

Poth Pinkie Pei and Derpy had heard this, with Derpy suddenly looking sad again.

“Oh, don’t listen to them,” said Pinkie Pie encouragingly, grabbing her hand. “Come and get something to eat! We have muffins!”

Derpy shook off her melancholy as she always had done, returning to her smiling state.

“OK,” she said, following the Pink pony. Derpy seemingly ignored the fact that her dress was now half covered in punch.

Looking around, Derpy noticed that Dr. Whooves was absent. But that was not uncommon for the Dr. who was often busy with experiments.

The evening progressed as most parties did for Derpy. She would spend a bit of time with her closer friends Carrot Top and Sparkler before they drifted off to do things with their other friends. Dinky being already in bed. She would awkwardly chat and dance with a few others she knew before doing or saying something clumsy which sooner or later resulted in nervous laughter and excuses to be somewhere else. She just shrugged and smiled as she usually did, doing things on her own until she was one of only few ponies left on the dancefloor.

As the party wound down and ponies left for the night Derpy suddenly announced that she was off home as well. She got a few nods, smiles and goodbyes, the usual. What was unusual, however, and something that no pony had noticed, was that Derpy had not been as quick as she usually was when shrugging off dismissals and unflattering comments sent her way. It had taken her longer to return to her chirpy self then usual each time. She was also quitter than normal; her energy had been lower.

Instead of flying home Derpy slowly walked through the lovely evening night. Alone now, her expression changed to that of a frown, looking down instead of up at the starry skies above. She passed a few ponies on their way home, a small group of friends, a few couples being romantic. These pleasant scenes did nothing to lift her mood. In fact, it was the opposite.

About an hour later it Was Dr. Whooves who was the one cantering through Ponyvill at night. With a smile on his face and a letter between his teeth he looked as cheerful as always. Arriving at Derpy’s home he was about to knock on the door when he caught a glimpse of pale blond hair in the moonlight in the garden nearby.

“Oh, there she is,” he said, trotting over. “Good thing I didn’t knock… I don’t want to wake up Dinky”.

Derpy was sitting on a bench under a tree next to a small lawn.

Approaching Derpy, Dr. Whooves did not notice her turn away from him as he enthusiastically started to talk.

“Hello Derpy. I need to send this letter off tomorrow, but I have to head off early to finish an experiment, so I thought… hey! I know a mail pony who could take care of this for me...”

Derpy did not reply straight away. He could see that she was wiping her face with her hooves.

“Sure thing Doc.,” she said in her quiet voice, only half turning towards him. The moonlight was bright enough that Dr. Whooves could quickly tell that she had been crying.

“Is everything alright?” he asked in concern, unused to seeing Derpy be anything other than cheerful.

“I’m OK,” she replied, turning away. “Don’t let me stop you from your experiments.”

Her tone was contradictory.

“Nuts to my experiments,” said the Dr. after a moment’s contemplation “you are much more important than some silly experiment.”

He sat down beside her on the bench.

“Now tell me what is troubling you.”

Derpy was a little surprised. Wiping her eyes again, she turned to face Dr. Whooves. Derpy’s eyes where focused straight, and it was only after they began to wonder that the Dr. noted that her eyes had been straight at all. It occurred to him then that he had pretty much forgotten that she could do that.

Derpy could see his eyes track hers as they drifted apart.

She started to cry again, hugging the Dr. in an exaggerated manner.

“There, there,” he said reassuringly, patting her on the back. “Surely it can’t be that bad.”

Derpy’s quiet crying turned into quiet sobs.

After a few moments to gather herself she whispered, “I am sick of being Derpy.”

Dr Whooves looked shocked for a moment, pulling her back he looked down at her.

“What in Equestria do you mean by that?”

“I am sick of being clumsy, always causing accidents, being strange… being alone.”

“You are not alone my dear,” said the Dr. reassuringly. “You have your friends, your family.”

“Who tolerate me,” she replied, a little anger creeping into her voice.

“That is not true…” said the Dr. as a reflex.

“It is,” she interrupted. “I make situations awkward; I am a burden to my friends.”

Dr. Whoves thought for a moment.

“I think most ponies who have gotten to know you would find your propensity to clumsiness to be… well, charming.”

“Well not me,” Derpy replied with conviction. She turned to the Dr.

“You got to help me Doc,” she said suddenly, grabbing his hooves in hers. “I don’t want to be like this.”

Dr. Whooves looked unsure.

“You have already been to the hospital many a time. There is nothing I can do against your Strabismus (*) that they haven’t already tried.” *(Lazy eye)

“I know there is nothing I can do about my eyes directly,” Derpy continued, looking up at the sky.

“But surely there is something else I can do that can help.”

Dr. Whooves once again noticed that Derpy held her focus for longer then he was used to. Placing his hoof to his chin in contemplation he thought for a moment.

“Hmmmm…”

Derpy took in and let out a long breath.

“Look Doc thanks for…” she started.

“If you really want to improve yourself that much,” the Dr. interrupted. “What friend am, I if I don’t try and help you.”

“Really?” exclaimed Derpy leaning back and clapping her hooves together hopefully.

“Sure,” said the Dr. kindly

He jumped off the bunk and back onto the lawn

“Come by tomorrow afternoon after work, we have some training to do!”

Derpy jumped off the bunk and gave the Dr. a hug.

“Thanks Doc,” she said.

They parted and the Dr. picked up his letter before making to go.

“Don’t you want me to mail that?” she asked as he made to leave.

“No,” he replied. “It will have to wait after all.”

Derpy smiled, things were about to get interesting.

2

Derpy arrived at Dr. Whooves’s home and laboratory after work the next day.

“Are you their Doc?” she called, entering his lab with a happy trot.

“Over here,” he called from somewhere out the back.

Derpy made her way through until she found the Dr. in the library nook of his workshop, he was sitting in a large leather chair with a Chaiselonguen (*) next to him. In between the chairs was a small table with two classes of water and a pocket watch sitting on it. *(psychologist sofa)

“What’s all this Doc?” asked Derpy, coming over and unceremoniously taking a seat.

“I’ve been doing some research,” he said, holding his hooves together in front of him.

“Though I can’t physically heal you, I can address some of the weakness of your condition.”

“hmmm hmmm.”

“I have come up with a series of exercises that will assist you to concentrate.”

Derpy became distracted and started playing with the lamp.

“Derpy!” said the Dr. sharply.

“What? Sorry,” said Derpy, snapping back to attention, her eyes focusing for a moment. The lamp tottered dangerously back and forth before coming to a standstill.

“As I was saying,” the Dr. continued. “I’ve been doing some research and I believe a part of your problem is psychological.”

“Psycologi…what?” she questioned.

“I think a part of your problem is your mind reinforcing this persona of yours.”

“My persona?”

“Yes, the image you have of yourself. How you think you should act around others.”

Derpy contemplated this for a moment.

“I am doing this to myself?” she asked honestly, a little bewildered.

“Subconsciously… possibly,” he continued.

“So that is what the watch is for” Derpy pointed out, seemingly randomly. “You are going to hypnotize me!” she said, clapping her hooves together.

Dr. Whooves looked impressed.

“See, there is more to you… when you want there to be,” he said reassuringly.

Derpy started playing with the watch.

“When you are not being distracted that is,” he continued, more impatiently.

Derpy let go of the watch and sat back shyly.

“Sorry,” she said.

“Do you want to improve yourself?” the Dr. asked challengingly.

“Yes!” said Derpy with conviction, her eyes focusing for a notable amount of time.

“Well then, let me tell you about your training.”

Derpy and Dr. Whooves spent the next few hour talking about her exercises, there was some reading and writing tasks, some meditation, some exercises that were part balance, stretching, dance and combat practice and some art, as well as talking.

Derpy found it difficult to concentrate but tried her best. The Dr. patiently bringing her back on topic as needed. To assist her, he did some hypnotization at specific points of her training.

After about another three hours both were exhausted, it had been a big day, but the Dr. seemed happy with their progress.

Over the next half a year Derpy regularly did her exercises diligently, often under the supervision of the Dr. when he could spare the time. She was regularly hypnotized to assist her concentration while practicing at the lab and had become proficient in the forms that they did together, which included elements of dance as well as a fighting forms. Dr. Whooves seemed to enjoy having a partner to practice with and the two would dance and spar together. After a while Derpy also began to help around the lab, which also became part of her training.

Though there had also been some improvement to her clumsiness outside of her training sessions, Derpy was a bit frustrated that most of her improvement over the last half a year seemed to solely to come when she was hypnotized, and not in her day to day life.

It was winter and fresh snow lay outside as Derpy arrived for her daily practice.

“Hello doc!” she called out as she entered the lab.

As had become her habit, she took a deep breath and her eyes focused for a moment. She was ‘feeling’ the effects of her suggestive hypnosis in connection with entering the lab. With more pronounced grace, she took off her scarf and coat, hanging them up on a hook carful.

“Where are you hiding!” she called out.

“Over here Derpy,” replied the Dr.

Derpy trotted over to a large invention. The Dr. was laying underneath the contraption fiddling with a few valves and a pump. Despite working, he still had on his signature long scarf.

“Darn the luck,” he said, wiping his brow. “I need a few more liters of compound D-12.

“I can mix it up for you,” said Derpy, moving over to a nearby table with a bunch of beakers and chemicals.

“Same concentration as last time?” she asked.

“Absolutely, thanks Derpy.” Replied the Dr.

He was in an awkward position so was grateful that he did not have to get up. Laying back while he waited, he looked over at the blond filly as she calmly mixed the chemicals. He smiled to himself, even the idea of having Derpy near such a table full of breakable and dangerous items would have been unthinkable half a year ago. Yet, there she was, mixing away competently. She had become quite an asset in the lab.

“Well look at you,” he said happily.

“Hhmmmm…?”

“Look how careful and concentrated you have become,” he continued. “I am very proud of you Derpy.”

“Thanks Doc,” she replied with a smile, though it then turned into a frown.

She finished adding the ingrediencies and turned back to face him while she mixed them together in a larger beaker.

“I just wish I could be like this when I am outside of the lab as well.”

The Dr. smiled knowingly, he had been waiting for such an opportunity.

“And why can’t you?”

“You know very well that the hypnosis only works when I am hear,” she replied.

The Dr. thought for a moment.

“Do you remember when I said… that a lot of what was holding you back was your own image of how you think you should behave around others.”

“Yeah,” Derpy replied, a little frustrated. “But it doesn’t help if I am still clumsy and unconcentrated, which I can only stop doing with your help and that watch.”

“You are still worried that you will do or say something wrong?”

“Of course,” she replied.

“Sounds like what is holding you back is fear.”

Derpy’s eyes focused and she gave the Dr. a confused expression.

“Derpy, I think it is time that you know. I actually stopped the hypnosis in Autumn.”

Derpy stopped mixing.

“What?” she said. “But we still do the watch thing regularly.”

“Yes, I just kept it going as a placebo. You haven’t needed any help for some time now.”

Derpy looked down at her hooves as well as the glass backer she was holding.

She began to shake a bit, suddenly vary scared that she would break something.

“Are you sure?” she said unbelieving. “I still feel totally different when I come into the lab.”

She carefully put the beaker back onto the table, seemingly scared to hold it anymore.

Dr. Whooves began to crawl out from under the contraption. Derpy looked around with concern, worried that she was too close to something dangerous.

“That is all you,” he said, dusting himself off and putting his scarf in order. “You now decide how concentrated and careful you want to be and when.”

Dr. Whooves walked over and put a reassuring hoof on the fillies’ shoulder.

“But. But I can’t!” Derpy said, confused. “How do I know when to be more concentrated… and when to be… well, me?”

“Both ‘are’ you” said the Dr. reassuringly, “You don’t have to decide between the two. You can still be the bubbly and carefree Derpy we all love and be careful and concentrated when and where you want.”

Derpy rubbed one front hoof against the other, uncertain.

“I don’t know Doc… can I really…”

Suddenly there was a loud bang from outside as a large magical discharge expanded past the building. It was so powerful that the room began to shake and rumble.

“It wasn’t me!” said Derpy as a reflex, shrinking into herself a bit.

The Dr. looked out of the window with a critical eye, while still comforting Derpy.

“Looks like something from Princess Twilight,” he said, noting the colour and power.

“That is why I am so focused on the science of the magic in this world,” he said, suddenly distracted.

“Scientific Magical artifacts. that’s the key!” he continued, indicating to a series of smaller objects. Some of which began to glow after the magic discharge.

“Oh no,” he said suddenly, his face full of concern. “The magic charged up the portal key!”

“The what?” asked Derpy.

“Look out!” called the Dr.

But it was too late, one of the artifacts discharged a burst of magic and after bouncing off a large mirror hit the two ponies, who disappeared in a bright flash.

Derpy opened her yes to see herself and the Dr. suddenly in the middle of a dense, snow covered forest.

“Where, where are we doc?” she asked.

The Dr. looked around with concern.

“I think… I think we are…”

He was interrupted by a loud howl nearby, quickly followed up by a few further away.

“Timberwolves!” exclaimed Derpy in fright.

“I feared as much,” said the Dr. analytically.

“We have to get out of here,” he stated in his professional tone. Looking at the overcast sky through the dense branches of the deep forest and around to try and get his bearings.

Being winter, the light was fading early, but this made it easier to orientate through the light snowfall.

“Can you fly up?” he asked Derpy, who was backing up against him in fear.

Derpy looked up. Despite having no leaves, the branches were so dense that shadows played in the canopy, a set of yellow eyes looked down at them form one.

“I don’t think so” she said in fear.

The Dr. frowned. Another howl sounded; this time closer.

“We will have to run then,” he said in a determined tone. “Come on, this way”.

The two ponies galloped through the forest at full speed, shadows with glowing eyes followed them from the sides as well as the forest canopy.

Suddenly there were two wolves in front of them, blocking their way.

Derpy yelped in shock.

The Dr. did not flinch.

“Stay back,” he shouted, as he launched himself at the two wolves.

Derpy watched as the Dr. fought the two timber creatures. Had she been of a calmer frame of mind she would have recognized the form that she had ben training with the Dr. over the last few months.

Dr. Whooves did a spin kick that shattered one of the wolves then ducked and flipped the second wolf over his head as the creature lunged at him, sending the hapless magical creature into a large tree trunk where it exploded into individual bits.

Derpy clapped in glee but quickly stopped when out of the surrounding forest, five other wolves appeared.

“Derpy!” shouted the Dr. as he galloped back to the scared filly.

The wolves closed in and Dr. Whooves jumped onto Derpy and slammed his one hoof into the other.

There was a loud bang and a sphere of magic expanded out from the two huddling ponies, disintegrating the lunging wolves.

Derpy opened her eyes as the Dr. got off her, he was panting furiously, and she could see a small device attached to his one hoof’s that she hadn’t noticed before.

“What was…” she started.

“Look out!” shouted the Dr. jumping back onto Derpy as a large branch crashed down onto them, torn loose by the protective magical blast.

Derp could feel that something had hit the Dr. as he was pushed down onto her and suddenly went limp.

“Doctor!?” exclaimed Derpy as she pushed herself out to the side. Pulling the doc out from under the branch she could see that he had taken a big hit.

“No no no no no” she said, holding her hoofs to her face.

Looking around, she could see that the wolves were already starting to reassemble themselves, it was only a matter of time.

Her eyes focused as she gathered herself.

“comeoncomeoncomeon” she started to say in desperation.

“You got this you got this you got this!”

With every repeated line, her voice got stronger and calmer.

Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, her eyes focused on the Dr.

There was a few more howls in the distance, even more wolves were coming.

Derpy ducked under the unconscious doctor until he was on her back. Using his scarf, she tied him more firmly to her back with her free hoof and her teeth. All of that experience carrying bulky and heavy loads on her mail runs coming in handy.

One of the wolves had reassembled, and approached the two, growling,

Derpy ignored the wolf and with great effort raised herself and the unconscious Dr. off of the ground with a leap and a mighty flap of her wings. Seasoned Pegasus mail-ponies were known for having greater lifting power and weight carrying stamina then even Wonderbolts . And Derpy regularly carried ridiculous heavy loads.

Hovering for a second, she shouted “let’s go!”

Her eyes focusing and her pupils grew small in concentration.

Accelerating at an eye watering pace she flew through the trees at a suicidal speed. Staying low to avoid branches she ducked, weaved and did some insanely sharp turns to avoid trees and the occasional wolf who would lung at her from out of the shadows. Always mindful of her cargo, she positioned herself so as to not let him slip off or hit obstacles.

With a few more turns and weaves that would have impressed even Rainbow Dash she broke free into a small clearing and flew up into the sky. One last timber-wolf trying to jump up after her.

With a triumphant shout Derpy accelerated into the late evening sky. There was only light snowfall and she could make out the lights of Ponyville in the distance.

Taking a few breaths to regain her stamina, she heard the Dr. groan ever so lightly.

“Don’t worry Doc, we’ll soon have you to the Doctors…”

Derpy's eyes finally started to return to normal and began to drift a bit.

“I mean the other doctor, doc,” she said with a goofy grin.

Shrugging her shoulders in a typical Derpy fashion, she flew off at a sustainable pace, a smile on her face.

Nurse Snowheart was walking by the entrance area when Derpy suddenly burst, not crashed, through the entrance, a flurry of snow following in her wake before the door shut again.

Nurse Snowheart put her hoof to her face in shock, reeling back at the sudden entrance.

Sliding expertly to a stop, Derpy panted furiously, looked around until she saw Nurse Snowheart, her eyes focused.

“The Doc was knocked out by a falling branch!” she said clearly and distinctly, despite being out of breath. “You gott’a help him.”

Nurse Snowheart acted quickly.

“Ill get a stretcher,” she said, dashing off.

Derpy began to shake from the exhaustion but still managed to carefully lower the unconscious Dr. Whooves off of her back. When the nurse returned Derpy and the nurse lifted him up and placed him on the stretcher, after which Derpy collapsed onto a nearby bench, exhausted.

Doctor Horse came galloping in, having been notified.

“I have him, thanks nurse,” he said. Taking a quick look at the exhausted Derpy, he noticed that she was also injured.

“Make sure she is OK as well,” he instructed before dashing off with new patient.

Derpy soon found herself in an examination room with the nurse tending to her scratches and bruises. Derpy was sitting there quietly, breathing much slower now, but still a bit labored.

“I’m impressed Derpy,” said the nurse suddenly.

Derpy looked up at the kind medical pony.

“Normally it is you that needs to be patched up,” nurse Snowheart continued. “But we haven’t seen you regularly since summer… and now you even save another pony.”

Derpy smiled goofily.

Doctor Horse entered the room.

“Is everything ok?” he asked the nurse.

“Just a few bumps and scratches… there you are, all finished up.”

“Is the doc ok, doc?” asked Derpy as Doctor Horse checked her chert.

“He is fine, a slight concussion and a broken rib but nothing critical”

“Is he awake? Can I see him?” asked Derpy.

“He is awake,” confirmed the medical Pony. “You can see him shortly once you are done here.”

A few minutes later, Derpy entered Dr. Whooves room to find the Dr. looking tired but awake.

“Derpy” he said with a smile.

“Doc!” Derpy exclaimed, rushing over to give him a hug.

Dr. Whooves flinched as she came too close to his broken rib.

“Sorry,” said Derpy, moving back and putting her hooves in front of her mouth shyly.

The Dr. shifted a bit to make himself more comfortable. He gave her a big smile.

“No big thing,” he said. “You saved me after all.”

“Well you saved mine first,” Derpy replied with a smile.

“And I was the one to put us in danger in the first place… so I think you have one up on me there.”

Derpy moved to give him another hug.

“Careful,” he said in warning.

Derpy’s eyes uncrossed for a moment and she careful positioned herself as to not go near the effected rib with her embrace.

“You still don’t believe that you can use your training when and how you want to?” he asked in a soft voice, her ear being so close.

“I think I am starting to,” she said softly in reply.

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to continue my training,” she continued confidently, before returning to her normal cheery disposition. “If you’ll let me.”

“Good. Because I have gotten used to having you around,” he said as she carefully pulled back.

The two ponies shared a kind smile.

“So… do you want a muffin?” Derpy suddenly asked, her tummy rumbling. “Since I was so often hear I made sure that Pinkie Pie stocked the cafeteria.”

Dr. Whooves smiled.

“Sure thing,” he said, as the grey filly cantered out of the room in her search for food.

3

Another half a year went by. Derpy had gotten considerably better with her clumsiness and awkwardness. Her self-confidence building up over time thanks to her growing social successes. No longer was she often avoided at parties, and she enjoyed the ability to chat with anyone while keeping her goofiness at a more endearing level.

She had also kept up with her training with Dr. Whooves. Her growing aptitude had allowing the Dr. to enjoy the benefits of a competent sparring partner as well as lab assistant.

Despite Doctor Whooves reservations, Derpy had insisted that she become more active in his experiments, which also meant accompanying him on various outings. Something he tried to accommodate around her mail schedule whenever possible.

Dr. Whooves had tried to dissuade her, as many of his experiments and excursions were not always without danger. But Derpy had refused to leave his side and her company was a lot more appreciated then even the Dr. would admit.

The two ponies found themselves in a hot and dusty town in southern Equestira. They were in a beat-up old saloon sitting at a half-broken table. In front of them were two glasses of lemonade in old glasses. The rough looking bartender pony gave them an odd look from the bar.

Derpy was grinning happily. Using her wings, she was using one to fan herself and the other to fan Dr. Whooves who sat near her.

Dr. Whooves had his eyes closed and was enjoying the breeze created by the grey Pegasus pony.

“They are late,” said Derpy, looking up at the cracked clock on the wall.

“Do you even know what they look like?” she asked, looking around at some of the unsavory characters scattered around the saloon. The two of them looked quite out of place.

“No need to worry, my contact said that they would recognize me,” he replied, keeping his eyes closed.

Derpy took a sip of her lemonade through a straw. Her nose crumpled a bit, it was quite sower.

Four Pones entered the saloon, all were wearing wide brim hats and Poncho style coats. The leader looked around the room. Derpy could clearly see the black stubble on his chin, but not his eyes.

The leader nodded to the other three and all four approached the table where Derpy and Dr. Whooves were sitting.

“Dr. Whooves?” asked the leader in a thick accent, keeping his eyes covered.

Derpy folded up her wings and Dr. Whooves addressed the newcomers.

“Yes my dear fellow… and who might…”

He was interrupted when the newcomer placed a small pouch onto the table, a few crystals spilling out as it fell over.

“Do you have the gold?” the stranger stated.

“Wonderful my dear fellow,” said Doctor Whooves excitedly, the quality of the crystals was better than expected.

“Yes yes,” said Doctor Whooves, regaining his composure.

Reaching down into his saddlebag, he produced a small pouch of his own, placing it on the table careful. It opened a bit to show a tiny bit of the glittering gold inside.

“As agreed,” he said happily. “I hope it was not too much trouble to get them, that mine is not exactly easy to get to, or safe.”

“We are professionals,” the gruff stranger replied with his thick accent.

Dr. Whooves grabbed the pouch to inspect the crystals. Derpy looked at the four ponies who were just standing there.

“Are you not going to check your payment?” she asked.

The leader of the four raised his hat. Derpy could see his two cold eyes under a tumble of thick black hair.

“No señorita,” he replied. “In fact, we have a further proposal for the Dr.”

The stranger’s eyes lingered on Derpy for a moment, her eyes were in the crossed position and she was smiling harmlessly.

Dr. Whooves looked up.

“Yes?”

“I am well aware of the normal use of such a crystal, that you have requested,” said the leader of the four, taking the last seat at the table.

“And my contacts have informed me of what you are capable of making with them, my dear doctor.”

Dr. Whoves expression turned serious.

“What did you have in mind,” he asked.

“I would like you to build me something like this,” the unshaven stranger stated, reaching into his poncho, he produced a piece of paper which he placed on the table and slid towards Dr. Whooves.

Dr. Whooves and Derpy looked over the sketch, Derpy frowned.

“I think three examples would be fair payment for the remaining Crystals, no?” he asked, sliding the pouch of gold back towards the Dr.

Dr. Whooves frowned, he looked up at Derpy who had a serious expression on her face, she shook her head ever so slightly.

“I’m sorry old bean, but no-can-do,” doctor Whooves said, sliding the piece of paper back with the gold.

“We do not make weapons,” he continued. “We will have to stick with what was originally agreed.”

“That is a pity señor,” said the stranger, taking off his hat.

Many in the saloon instantly recognized the pony and became uneasy. The leader nodded at his companions and the three accompanying henchmen spread out, two behind Derpy and one behind the Dr.

“Dr. Caballeron,” stated Dr. Whooves, recognizing the Pony.

“It is good that you know who I am,” Dr. Caballeron said calmly. “It means that you also know that I do not take no for an answer.”

“Well this will have to be a first for you then, sport,” said doctor Whooves. getting up from his chair.

“Good day.”

Dr. Caballeron gave a nod and the Henchmen behind Dr. Whooves who then put a hoof on Dr. Whooves shoulder threateningly.

Dr Whooves grabbed the hoof and spun his body so as to pin the hoof of the henchman behind his back.

“Stop!” shouted Dr. Caballeron angrily.

Dr Whooves froze, he could see that the other Henchman had grabbed Derpy’s arms and were holding her up.

“Doc!” exclaimed Derpy in concern.

“We also know that you can fight,” said Dr. Caballeron confidently, sitting back down.

“How kind of you to bring along a liability that we can make use of as leverage señor,” Dr. Caballeron continued in an arrogant tone, indicating towards the grey filly.

Derpy looked shocked for a moment. She had not felt like a liability in months and being called this once again struck a raw nerve.

Her eyes focused and shrank down to two intense golden points in anger.

The henchman opposite her, next to Dr. Whooves, looked shocked at the sudden change in expression on the pony that he assumed was nothing more than a goofball.

Derpy nodded at doctor Whooves. His expression turned from concern to shrewd calculation. The two Henchmen holding Derpy looked down at the Pegasus, wondering what had caused the sudden change in their comrades’ expression.

Derpy suddenly flapped her powerful wings, pulling both of her assailants up before flapping again to push herself backwards. The two-henchman holding her twisted violently and lost their grip as Derpy slid to a halt and immediately went into the offensive with another flap of her wings, careening into one of her former captors.

Dr. Whooves immediately began to fight the other Henchman as Dr. Caballeron quickly got up to assist fighting against Dr. Whooves.

Chairs were thrown, Henchman were launched onto tables and against the wall. Derpy was thrown out of one window before rolling and then immediately jumping up to smash back in through another window to region the fight. Using her wings skillfully to avoid powerful hits from the experienced Stallions, Derpy’s wild but skilled blows quickly had two of the henchmen stunned. Dr. Whooves, meanwhile, had dispatched the henchman he was facing with a skillful block and counter blow and then blocked another good attack from Dr. Caballeron.

“Enough!” shouted Derpy as she careened towards Dr. Caballeron, stopping just short with a powerful flap of her wings that sent the unshaven pony flying back into another table.

Looking a bit worse for wear Dr. Whooves gathered up the crystals off of the floor and grabbed the pouch of gold.

Derpy was standing over the dazed Dr. Caballeron with her wings out threateningly. She also looked quite roughed up, but otherwise ok.

Dr. Whooves walked over to Dr. Caballeron. The unshaven ruffian had regained his composure by shaking his head back and forth but remained otherwise where he was on the floor, grimacing up at the two.

“Your gold,” said Dr. Whooves, throwing down the gold pouch at the feet of Dr. Caballeron. “Though you may want to give the innkeeper some for the mess you made.”

Looking past Derpy, Dr. Caballeron could see the very large barman standing there with an angry expression on his face.

Dr. Caballeron gulped noticeably.

Dr. Whooves walked out of the saloon without another word.

Derpy lowered her wings, her eyes returned to normal and immediately started to drift. The grey filly gave Dr. Caballeron a goofy smile before snapping back into her focused scary state.

“I am ‘no!’ liability,” she said pointedly, immediately reverting to her normal happy face before trotting out of the door after the brown stallion.

Doctor Whooves put the crystal pouch into his travel bag and smiled as Derpy joined him by his side on the dusty street.

“I feel sorry for anyone who underestimates you Ms. Hooves,” he said kindly, giving her a hug.

“Thanks Doc,” she replied, returning the hug. “All thanks to you.”

“Oh, great Alicorn no,” he said. “It is you that has made all of this possible, thanks to your hard work.”

Derpy blushed.

“I think I owe you a dinner for what you did today,” he said, the two starting to trot back to the train station.

“Not to mention all of the assistance you have given me in the lab.”

Derpy smiled, happy with herself. She seemed to contemplate something for a moment as they trotted down the dusty street. Suddenly, a rare shrewd expression crossed her face as she narrowed her eyes and smiled slyly towards the Dr.

“I will take you up on that offer doc,” Derpy said with confidence. “This weekend at my home.”

Dr. Whooves looked confused.

“But… wait, I’m confused. I was going to invite you to...” he started.

“You offered me a dinner with you, and I accept your offer,” Derpy interrupted. “And I get to choose were. So yeah, it will be at my home.”

“Are you sure?” asked Dr. Whooves.

Derpy tilted her head slightly and grinned, her sly expression making the Dr. ever so uneasy. He was unused to such an expression from her.

“You continue to amaze me Derpy,” he said eventually, dismissing his concern.

“Good,” the grey filly said to herself, looking a bit smug.

Quickly distracted by his own train of thought again, the Dr. started to talk about the planned inventions for the crystal as the two trotted together back to the train station.

4

Carrot Top was standing at the entrance of Derpy’s home. The grey filly with the golden eyes stood in front of her, looking amazing in an elegant blue dress and with her hair made perfectly.

“You look amazing Derpy,” Carrot Top complemented her friend.

“Thanks for coming over” replied Derpy with a grin, “I’m not used to getting all dressed up like this… I was always too scared of doing something… well, Derpy.”

Derpy blushed a little, turning her head slightly away.
Carrot Top gave her friend a hug.

“You have changed a lot, it is true,” said the orange headed filly. “But the Derpy that is you is still there. Just with less accidents.”

The two ponies shared a large grin.

“Thanks,” said Derpy.

Sparkler and Dinky trotted up from behind, both with saddlebags.

“Everything’s set up,” said Dinky chirpily.

Sparkler used her unicorn magic to pull out a list, which Derpy caught in her hoof.

“Here is the recipe, don’t forget to turn down the heat in ten minutes for the vegetables.”

Derpy smiled confidently.

“Thanks for all of your help everyone,” Derpy said. “I know it was short notice.”

“Of course,” said Sparkler. “I would remind you not to let your dinner burn but you haven’t done that in over a year.”

“But it’s the Doctor coming over tonight,” interrupted Carrot Top with a suggestive smile. “So maybe she is a bit more… distracted.”

“Don’t burn your dinner!” said the little unicorn Dinky seriously.

All four laughed.

Sparkler and Dinky gave Derpy a quick hug.

“Have fun tonight,” said Sparkler as the three trotted off.

Derpy waved them off and then closed the door.

As they got to the road the three filly’s met Dr. Whooves coming the other way.

“Hello, my dear’s,” greeted the Dr. “going out for the evening?”

“You could say that?” said Sparkler with a suggestive smile.

“Have fun,” said Carrot Top also with a ‘tone’.

The three filly’s giggled as they went on their way. Dr Whooves was left standing with a dumbfounded expression.

Shaking his head clear he walked to the door, knocking softly.

A few moments later Derpy answered, smiling sweetly.

The Dr. froze, a blush forming on his face.

“Wow,” he said as a reflex. Derpy smiled at the reaction, blushing slightly herself.

Dr Whooves had to shake his head clear.

“That is becoming a bit of a habit it seems,” he said to himself, before turning back to Derpy. “Now there was no need to get all dressed up just for little-old-me.”

Derpy smiled, breathing in for a moment to keep her mind focused.

“Come in Doc.” she said, “I have to see to the food.”

“Thank you” said the Doctor.

He trotted in and put up his scarf on a hook.

“You look great by the way,” he called out to the kitchen. “I neglected to mention that.”

Derpy smiled as she worked the stove.

“Can you give me a hand Doc!” she called back.

The doctor entered the kitchen. He could see that Derpy had put on an apron to keep her dress clean.

“Can you help chop those?” Derpy asked, pointing a hoof towards some vegetables on a chopping block. She worked the stove to ensure that everything cooked as instructed.

The Dr. got straight to work.

“Wow,” said Dr. Whooves, taking in the complexity of the meal. “Such a complex meal. I am the one who is meant to be doing you a favor!”

“Oh… you are,” said Derpy.

She continued. “The meal… me dressing up tonight… I wanted to prove to myself that I can do it” said Derpy, “when it counts.”

She blushed slightly.

“But you have proven it a hundred times over, over the last year,” said Dr. Whooves kindly.

Derpy took the prepared vegetables and added them to a pot.

“But this is different… just humor me doc.”

The brown stallion looked impressed.

“Sure thing Ms. Hooves,” he said kindly. “I look forward to the evening you have planned.”

It was an hour later and both ponies were leaning back in their chairs with a large tummy. Despite still looking pristine Derpy was not bothering to look elegant. The room was elaborately decorated with candles and looked amazing.

“That was amazing,” Derpy said happily. “I need to do that more often!”

The grey filly had to suppress a burp, which she barely managed by holding a hoof to her mouth.

“A most commendable meal my dear, you hit it for six(*),” complemented the Dr. happily. (*) (A cricket term -meaning you knocked it out of the park)

“For six?” questioned Derpy, but she shrugged it off. “For 12!”

The two ponies laughed.

“I think we will have to get some exercise to help this meal settle.”

“Way ahead of you Doc,” said Derpy, getting off of her seat and moving over to a gramophone.

Some rhythmic music quickly started playing, it had a beat very similar to the dance routine Derpy had practiced with the Doctor a few months ago.

Derpy turned around and gave the Doctor a suggestive look, her eyes focusing.

The Doctor blushed as a reflex, but then got up with confidence.

“As you wish, the night is yours,” he said happily.

The two took each other’s hooves and began to move together to the beat.

Still well versed in the routine, the two were on autopilot and could enjoy the music. After dancing more energetically for a few songs together the rhythm then slowed… not letting go, the two continues on.

“Not knowing exactly what you still have planned for the night,” the Doctor said encouragingly “I would have to say that the night was a complete success.”

Derpy smiled.

“I think you have proven to yourself that you can do whatever you want Derpy,” he continued. “I am glad that you are my assistant, and I hope that you are happy with what you have accomplished.”

The Doctor was using his normal tone.

Derpy smiled shyly. Calmly she turned to look back at the Dr., her expression softening.

“There is one more thing I want to accomplish tonight,” she said, her tone and expression hitting home.

Dr. Whooves face reddened, having been happily naive and oblivious so far... not even he could misread her intent now.
“Derpy…” he said, unsettled, but not letting go of the golden eyed filly, “I am not sure that it would be such a good idea… I mean, you know what I am like...”

“I do” she replied.

“The experiments, my work, the trips away, are you sure that you want to be a part of such chaos?”

“I already am, silly” she replied, putting her hoofs over his shoulders, he automatically put his hooves around her waist to counterbalance.

“But you know what my life can be like… even I have to admit that it can be a bit… well, odd, at times,” he said, still unsure.
“I know,” she replied. The two moved slowly back and forth, talking, but still moving to the rhythm.

“Listen doc,” she said. “I know your quirks, and I think they are sweet… I know we make a great team and I think that we could be even more, if you’ll have me.”

Derpy’s eyes, which had been focused the whole time began to wander at this point making her look even more adorable with her calm expression.

Derpy continued, “if you can accept me for who I am, I would be happy to accept you for who you are.”

Doctor Whooves looked into her eyes. His doubts seemed to melt away and his expression softened. The two ponies slowly moved closer, there eyes closing as they tilted their heads ever so slightly to…

Derpy caught her hoof on the edge of a sofa and lost her balance. Falling backwards onto the sofa, she pulled the Dr. down with her until they both ended up in a tumbled mess.

The two ponies blinked at each other.

“Good to see somethings don’t change,” he said with a chuckle after getting over the initial shock.

“Good to see that something’s do,” replied Derpy and kissed the Dr. The kiss was rushed and their noses scrunching up. The both reddened.

Derpy pulled back. With an audible, “smack.” the two parted lips, Derpy smiling up at the shocked expression of the doctor.

Dr. Whooves grinned back, embarrassed. Both blushed furiously. After having a second to catch his bearings, the brown stallion’s expression softened into a smile and he leant forward to give the grey filly a more tender kiss.

Parting again after a moment the two gazed into each other’s eyes.

“Sorry doc… I just got’to!” said Derpy in her normal chirpy tone. Breaking the spell of the moment, she gave the Dr. a massive bear-hug. The doctor was surprised by her strength and was out of air for a moment before Derpy let go, allowing him to gain his breath again. Looking at each other, the two laughed in each other’s arms.

There was a sudden beeping from the kitchen. Derpy wriggled her way out of their interlocking arms and got up, the doctor sitting up as well.

“Desert is ready,” announced Derpy happily, straightening out her ruffled dress. “We don’t want them to burn, do we?”

“Oh?” said the Dr. fixing his ruffled-up main. ”And what is for desert?”

Derpy looked back and gave her best Derpy style grin.

“Why muffins of course!” she said happily, trotting into the kitchen.

Dr Whooves got off of the sofa, he chuckled to himself as he walked after her into the kitchen.

“What adventure have I gotten myself into this time” he said to himself with a smile.

The End.

There you go, I hope that was entertaining and a 'plausible' way for these two ponies to get together and form a larger family unit. This is why I left the doctors name as Whooves, perhaps he can change it later once they move in together ^^ I also like the idea of Derpy being less accident prone but still a bit silly, fun loving and easy going, but able to @#$@#%* if needed! All the best, leave a like or a comment if you enjoyed it.
Biz