Last Stop on the Mail Route

Tickets to Canterlot were cheaper than I expected. I step out of the line for the ticket booth, moving towards the awaiting train and their associated tracks. Actually, I bought two tickets; I'd heard from Rarity that the booths were sized for four Ponies, facing each-other. Not exactly keen on potentially sharing a seat with a stranger for several hours, I figured I could use the room to kick my feet up or something.

There were a lot of Ponies out and about, chatting and waiting. Must be because Canterlot isn't terribly far; I knew Rarity would make trips often, so I guess other Ponies did too? Half of them didn't even have luggage. My neck tingles with my dislike of crowds, but I'm torn from my distaste quite early.

"Mister Muss!" A familiar voice squeaks out distantly, pulling me from my thoughts and helping guide me through the morning gathering of ready-to-goers. Waiting for the boarding call to go out, the crowd continues to grow in number as the time ticked ever closer, more and more Ponies herding in; all probably a into Canterlot for the Fair, too.

If the station was already this bad, I may have underestimated how packed Canterlot was going to be. My height, of course, always gave me an advantage to navigating packs of Ponies; I could even step over the worst of them, but that usually got a pretty poor reaction, so I tried to scoot around them, typically.

Picking Ponies out of a crowd was a little harder, with their eye-blinding variety of colors, often contrasting with themselves. Thankfully, the pair of Ponies i was looking for had a habit of making themselves known, and had a palette that was pleasant on the oculars.

Closer to the boarding ramp, I can see Dinky, standing on Derpy's back, waving me down. Derpy has her wings furled up, using them to balance Dinky. Clever.

Carefully parting through, around and over the gathering flashbang of knee-high crayon-colored tiny horses, I'm finally close enough to make (some form of) eye contact with Derpy, who smiles warmly as she sees me. She's got her and Dinky's tickets in her teeth, two bags of luggage beside them (I have no idea what she might have packed, considering they don't wear clothes), and a smaller saddlebag hanging off her neck; like a sturdy looking purse. One of her wings stretching out to wave at me, while Dinky slides off the same side of her back, making sure to stay close to her mom so as not to be consumed by the wanton crowd.

Honestly, I have no idea how she managed to get this far with a Filly, tickets, and two things of luggage. Unicorns had it easy; this Mare put in the work.

Nearly tripping over the last pony I step around, (and exchanging a rather impolite apology), I manage to kneel beside the pair, returning the smile.
"Hey Derpy, hey Dinkster. Want some help?" I offer, nodding to the luggage.

Surprisingly, Derpy shakes her head, and instead tilts her head up towards me, offering the tickets in her mouth.
"Mind hohlding dees? I've ghot dhe lugghaj." Derpy responds with closed teeth, trying not to let her lips touch.

... I know I could probably just take it with my hand. It'd be simple. Easy. The proper thing to do. But we were going to spend a weekend together. Time for a little hint as to the consequences of bringing me along.

I lean down, watching her eyes widen as I take the tickets from her mouth, with my mouth, teeth to teeth. I'm slow about it, maintaining eye contact (as best I can), giving her a cheeky smile once they dangle from my own. She's dead-still while I do it.

I had no idea if passing things mouth to mouth were the norm for Earth Ponies or the like, but judging by the bashful look on her face, it might not be a thing for Pegasi. After I've got them, I do take them and tuck them into my pocket with my other tickets, patting them once they're secure.

"T-thanks." She finally breaks the silence, huffy. "You could have used your hands, you know." Derpy teases, glancing down, throwing me a playful smile.

"Would that have been as fun?" I counter, grinning.

She purses her lips, glancing away. I was pretty certain at this point; this Mare had a thing for teeth.

While we wait, we slip to some small talk, though it doesn't last long; the Conductor's whistle carrying over this side of Ponyville from the front of the train, signaling the start to boarding. I get the chance to see just how Derpy managed getting her, Dinky, and all their stuff here; she uses her wings, like hands, to wheel the luggage alongside her with the handles. I forget how prehensile those things tend to be.

And how it seems like the Ponies adapted to oddly human approaches to technology. I think about that, sometimes. Like it wasn't their own inventions? So much of their technology looked like it was meant for humans to use, and not made or invented by those meaning to use them with hooves. Shaking thoughts that might hurt my brain out of said space, I follow closely, Dinky staying closer to me now that her Mother was wheeling the luggage forward.

She's actually pretty on her game about it, only nearly tipping them over once when they got caught on a gap in the floorboards of the station. The crowd surges around us, all wanting to quickly get settled.

The train car we filed into is about three quarters full, so we had a chance to basically get our own booth. Dinky and Derpy sit across from me, our luggage stored overhead, while me, my jacket and my leg occupy the other two seats, giving me a chance to sprawl out. That gets a few glances from passing Ponies, wondering that the hell it even is.

Thankfully, being cramped wasn't as much of an issue as I thought it would be; I'm abusing the double-tickets I bought anyway. The train is a lot more open, since Ponies sit either on their haunches, or fully on their stomachs. Compared to the very closed-off, multi-seat trains I was used to on earth, these were far more open, like floor-cushions with no back.

Not my first time taking the train, either; usually with Twilight and Spike to visit.

Dinky, funny enough, isn't the most excited one; that would be Derpy. It's pretty clear she doesn't get out of Ponyville, ever, and she was definitely planning on this trip for a while, and looks out the window, leaning over Dinky, with a smile that just can't seem to leave her face.

Makes me feel like its all the more important that I make sure it goes off without a hitch.

"So what's on the planner?" I field, shifting to sink into my seat and get more comfortable, hands clasped on my stomach. Dinky wriggles her way underneath the table, squeezing in between my side and my arm, giving me a wide grin. Derpy glances over, noticing; but when she sees I'm fine with it, she stifles a giggle, shaking her head.

Adorable kid. More adorable mom, honestly; I love watching her smile.

"Uhhh... the hotel that we're going to check out is the..." She mutters, tearing her gaze from the window to rummage through her bag; with a wing to keep the top open, she pulls out a pamphlet with her teeth, holding it out towards Dinky. Without missing a beat, the little filly surrounds it with a shimmering lavender glow, unfurling it in front of herself.

"East-Side... Equine... Estate. A fancy... affordable, home away from home. No... Reservations Needed, offered Breakfasts and Indoor Pool." Dinky reads out, before beaming proudly. Getting to see these two in action was the sweetest thing.

Derpy smiles, nodding proudly. Kid read that out pretty concisely. Actually, I had no idea what grade Dinky was in. Or how like, advanced she was. Or the Crusaders. Were they like, grade school? If Cutie Marks were like Puberty, then that was probably it. But some of the Foals in the school had Cutie Marks.

I stop myself before I spiral into another one of the many, dangerously always-waiting thought spirals of trying to comprehend how this world worked. My brain hurt less when I stopped trying to, and just rolled with it.

It takes me a second to notice that Dinky is looking up at me now, expectantly. Is she looking for my approval, too? This kid is too damn cute.

I tussle her Mane, nodding in turn.
"Tackled them big words like a pro, squirt. Could probably ready circles around me."

Dinky practically puffs up twice her size in pride, Derpy rolling her eyes. I think.

"Sounds like you singled out a good place. How'd you hear about it?" I ask, looking to Derpy. She shakes her head.

"When I told my boss about the trip, he was the one who actually recommended it to us. Said it's where he likes to stay when he's in Canterlot on business, or meeting with family." She explains, pocketing the pamphlet into her purse again as Dinky floats it back over to her.

"Gotchya." I nod, glancing out the window. Looks like everyone's on board -- one of the Conductors trots past the window to get into place. Probably shifting off the station here any minute.

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" I field suddenly, looking to Derpy. A thought just tickled my mind.

"Mm? Uh... sure? What about?" She responds, curious. Dinky stares up at me, equally so, tilting her head.

"You've got, uh... is Strabismus the right name?" I ask, cautiously tilting my head. It's not always easy bringing up someone's condition, but one cripple to another, I'm hoping she won't take issue.

I'm pleasantly met with Derpy looking more like she's surprised, rather than upset.
"Oh! Yes, I have it. You know about it?" She asks, hooves kneading on her train seat. "Most Ponies don't actually know my condition, they just call it Cross-Eyes."

There's a distant, muffled whistle towards the front of the train.

"Really? Huh. Yeah, exists on my old world too. I wanted to ask, and I hope I'm not offending, but I noticed... Dinky does a lot of reading for you, right?" I point to the little filly tucked against my arm.

Both nod.

"She's a delight." Derpy smiles, which gets Dinky beaming again. "I can read things out on my own, eventually, but I haven't had a pair of glasses in a while, and Dinky is always wanting to help me"

"One, that's adorable. Two, the meat of my question." I start, but their confused look pauses me. Right.

"Oh, uh, sorry, old world saying. I meant, that leads to what I wanted to ask." I explain, and Derpy nods.

"How do you handle your deliveries?" I ask, motioning with my hands. If she couldn't read properly; how was she one of Ponyvilles most efficient Mail-Mares?

"Oh! You mean because I can't read the -- oh, well, I get one of the other Employees to list out who each package or letter is for, and then I take it to each Pony!" She explains, like it's the simplest thing in the world.

I purse my lips in thought, processing that statement.
"So you know... every Pony in town, by name, and where they live?" I ask, unsure.

She nods quickly. "Yep!"

Well, consider me floored. I knew she was a brilliant Mare, but damn. I couldn't think of anybody who knew how to do that kind of shit. Explains why Dinky was so damn smart, too; her Mom had some damn good memory.

My only reaction is a little golf clap, nodding with admiration.

She smiles bashfully, a hoof patting her Mane as she glances away.
"W-what? It's nothing special..."

"I completely disagree." I bluntly retort. "That's amazing, and I doubt there's more than a handful of Ponies this side of Equestria who could do such a thing. You've got quite the talented mom, Dinkster."

Dinky is all smiles, nodding complete agreement.

Derpy turns further and further away, just staring out the window now, blush growing.
"Flatterer..." She mumbles.

The train lurches suddenly, starting to chug down the tracks. We watch out the window as Ponyville starts to become distant, growing further away.

Dinky pops out from under my arm and slinks back under the table, nuzzling up against her mom as the two watch the train shift out of the station, both exuding tangible excitement.

Fuck, these two were the cutest things.