Derpy cleaned behind the desk at the post office, sweeping as she hummed a song to herself happily swishing her tail occasionally behind her as she listened to the dinging sound of the front door opening.

“Hello Derpy!” Bon Bon sang out as she trotted up to the counter with her saddlebags on.

“Hi Miss Bon Bon. What can I do for you today?” Derpy set aside the broom as Bon Bon waved a hoof with a faint blush.

“No need to call me miss, Derpy. Bon Bon is fine, after all. I need to send out a few letters to my cousins up in Trottingham and one to my other cousin out in Rainbow Falls,” Bon Bon explained and nosed the envelopes out of her saddlebags to slide them across the counter.

“Setting up another family reunion?” Derpy asked as she examined the envelopes before pushing them into a bin marked outgoing. “Twelve bits please.”

Bon Bon placed the bits on the counter and cracked her neck.

“Yeah, hopefully if I can get everypony rounded up again. Last one was when I was a filly. It takes a lot to get my family together because they live all over Equestria. Me in Ponyville with my roommate, my parents up in Trottingham, cousin in Canterlot, aunt in Manehatten. Everywhere,” Bon Bon waved a hoof around in the air for dramatic effect. “It’s tiring.”

“I bet. Got anything else going on?” Derpy asked as she scooped up the bits into her register.

“Nope. Other than working at my shop, it’s a normal day in Ponyville thank Celestia.”

Derpy gave a snort at that as she leaned against the counter and hoofed Bon Bon a muffin.

“How’s the kids going?” Bon Bon asked and took a small bite of her blueberry muffin.

“Decent. Dinky is doing good. She really likes science. Sparkler is okay too. She’s been looking for a job that allows her to work with gems. Rarity seemed quite interested in her the other day.”

Sparkler had been quite excited to tell Derpy and Dinky about it. Derpy had been proud when finding out. Rarity didn’t take on apprentices ever. Rarity had stated it being she was fully invested in making Sparklers and her families lives better with decent pay.

Derpy hated to admit it, but the extra money would be nice. That was one of Sparklers main reason of agreeing to work for Rarity. A large part of Derpy felt ashamed having to have her teen daughter help pay bills.

“Derpy? You there?” Bon Bon waved a cream colored hoof in front of Derpy’s as she wore a concerned expression.

“Yeah. Just thinking is all. How’s Lyra?” Derpy asked and Bon Bon groaned.

“She’s her normal, crazy self. One helluva roommate, that’s for sure. Wouldn’t have her any other way. She’s kinda cute, to be honest but well, I’m not good at navigating emotions or stuff like that.”

“Sounds like one of my friends,” Derpy scoffed and Bon Bon tilted her head to the side. “Or well, two of them I suppose i should say. Alright so, it works like this. One friend loves another one. Other friend doesn’t know that said first friend loves her. You following me so far?”

“I think so?” Bon Bon blinked in confusion. “Carry on, dear.”

“Okay. And the second friend doesn’t know she likes my first friend and it’s so bucking confusing!” Derpy shouted and slammed her hooves on the counter as a shocked Bon Bon jumped. Derpy almost never cursed. If she cussed, it meant she was really frustrated. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. If i may ask, who are your friends?” Bon Bon asked curiously as she sat down and Derpy trotted around the counter to join her.

“Sunset and Silverspeed.”

“Oh ho ho. So the Royal Guard is shooting straight for Celestia’s daughter eh?” Bon Bon chuckled and Derpy nodded. “Talk about shooting for the stars, sheesh. Not even I would aim that high.”

“Same. But Sunset is either oblivious as hell or she’s intentionally ignoring it. But none of us plan on pushing it.”

Bon Bon opened her mouth to speak as they both jumped at a loud scream coming from outside.

“She’s here!” A pony cried as the two went to the door to watch a hooded pony approach.

They both dropped their jaws as everypony bolted in a cloud of dust. Carrot Top pulled her welcome mat indoors, Caramel was pulled into a house by Strawberry Sunrise.

“What is going on?” Sunset asked in confusion as she trotted up with saddlebags of her own. “Woah!”

Shoeshine yanked the three inside and Silverspeed followed suit and Shoeshine locked the door, pulling the blinds down hastily. Berry Punch pulled her daughter inside her house and slammed the door shut.

Within thirty seconds, Ponyville had became a ghost town. The hooded figure shrugged and dug at the dirt, ignoring a tumble weed rolling by.

“What the fuck, Shoeshine?” Sunset snarled and Bon Bon flinched at the tone. “I almost lost my groceries because of that!”

“Sorry but I needed you all in here. The mare is in town,” Shoeshine breathed and hugged herself. “The evil eyes. Haunts my dreams. Trixie is hiding in her wagon because I told her too. I saw Roseluck, Daisy and Lily hiding in their house.”

Sunset peered through the blinds and the mare outside glanced at her. She had glowing yellow eyes and Sunset shrugged.

“She’s just a zebra, weirdos. What’s so evil about?” Sunset asked and Silverspeed grabbed her.

“She comes into town, does weird shit, scares everypony. And she lives in the Everfree! The forest full of pony eating monsters! And she just strolls through the place like it’s bucking nothing!” Silverspeed shouted and Sunset rolled her eyes with a frown. “Who willingly lives in a hell hole?”

“Aren’t you a Royal Guard?” Sunset asked pointedly. “I’ve seen you kill and fight. The fact that you’re afraid of a zebra is mind blowing.”

Silverspeed opened her mouth and closed it, shaking her head. Sunset just didn’t understand like the rest did. If Shoeshine was worried, that’s usually a good sign for everypony nearby to get worried.

“I’ve met a few zebras. They’re harmless,” Sunset waved a hoof dismissively in the air. “Some rhyme a lot. Some don’t. It’s a religious thing for them. Derpy, where do you sit on this?”

“Not sure,” Derpy chewed on her lip. “I’ve never met a zebra. Where do they live?”

“Zebrica. Never been there personally but it’s talked about in some books in the Grand Library in Canterlot,” Sunset explained and shifted her weight. “Are you all seriously scared of her? Candy Flanks, you too?”

It took Bon Bon a minute to realize Sunset was talking about her.

“My name is Bon Bon. Not Candy Flanks!” Bon Bon exclaimed and tapped her cutie mark on her left flank of three wrapped bon bons with a frown. “Bon Bon. Or Bons or Bonnie if we are friends.”

“Okay, sorry. Chill Bon Bon,” Sunset grumbled and stretched out her legs as she again peered outside.

“And no, I’m not afraid of her. I’m just afraid of getting ran out of my own damn town with pitchforks and flaming torches for having a differing opinion,” Bon Bon answered and Sunset scoffed.

“I highly doubt that’ll happen. Equestria is civilized unlike the dragon lands,” Sunset shot back and everypony else nodded in agreement.

Everypony knew the dragon lands was a fucking crazy to ponies.

Sunset continued to watch the zebra curiously and sighed, shaking her head.

Author's Note

Just found a co worker I knew died Monday. So this chapter (and story) is gonna be dedicated to him. RIP the homie Evan.