Mail-Do-Well

Mail-Do-Well

Chapter 2

Written by P3RROHAMBRE

The following weekend...

“Excuse me.”

“ Sorry”.

 “Oops.”

“Pardon me.”

Apology after apology left Derpy’s mouth as she tried to squeeze through the narrow lanes of chairs and ponies that had already taken their seat. The pegasus didn’t really expect so many of Ponyville’s residents to show this early for the meeting but then again, being fifteen minutes early might’ve not been considered actually ‘early.’

After passing a few more ponies and more of her sincerest apologies, Derpy found the empty seat her crossed eyes had targeted and plopped her rump on it’s surface. She looked around, taking in her environment. The town hall was big enough to house the entirety of Ponyville but just barely. Windows and pictures of past mayors and political figures that ran Ponyville many moons ago lined the manilla walls.

She swiveled her head to see the heads of stallions and mares that were either discussing things among themselves or simply waiting for this meeting to start, wanting to voice their own concerns and problems.

As did she.

Now graffiti taggings weren't honestly a big deal...if it had been just one out of the clear blue. This was different though. The taggings had been increasing and becoming more frequent and quite bold with their messages. It hurt the mare to see the town she loved and adored being vandalized and slandered in such a way.

Now some would argue that graffiti tagging was a form of art, a way to express one’s very soul if you will. She understood this but not on ponies houses or places of business.

It’s really not that big of a deal anyways.

Sparkler’s words echoed in her mind from yesterday. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around how Sparkler couldn't see it as a big deal. If nothing is done about this, the entire town could possibly end up as one colorful canvas displaying explicit scenes or words.

Derpy couldn’t have that.

Not just for her, but in consideration for her sister, Dinky. Derpy cared much for her unicorn sibling and only wanted to give her the best, which meant that she needed to have her sister learn and grow in a respectable and safe environment.

Derpy looked over to one of the clocks that hung on the wall and checked the time.

11:55 A.M. Five more minutes.

The blonde mare couldn’t wait. Finally something would be done about all this. She would voice her concern and make everypony see what was going on and they would surely agree. Everypony that lived here grown to love this little town and wouldn’t want to see it vandalized and possibly worse.

Right?

“Oh! Hello Derpy,” a cheery voice said from the side and gained the attention of the mail-mare.

“Oh hey!” Derpy replied with a warm smile, seeing Ponyville’s own local librarian and multiple savior, “How are you doing today Twilight?”

The lavender mare took a seat beside Derpy. The pegasus noticed a notebook and quill sticking out of it and figured that Celestia’s protege had come to do what she does best.

Take notes.

“I’m fine. I just got done cleaning some spray paint off my home early this morning. It had rather...questionable words on it. I had to get it off before Spike woke up and saw it.”

Now Twilight? This is getting bad...

“You too? I had the same thing happen to me about a week ago. That’s actually why I came to the town meeting today,” Derpy said, now hoping that Twilight was here for the same reason.

“Is it a real big issue happening in Ponyville?” Twilight inquired, seeming completely oblivious to how big of an issue it really was.

Derpy grimaced inside, a little concerned that even the smartest pony in town didn’t even see it.

“Well, yeah. At least I think so. I’m sure you do too after what happened to your home.”

Twilight simply shrugged as she pulled out her notepad and quill out of her bag with her quill.

“Well it could happen to anypony. I’m sure it was just some colts or fillies trying to get a good laugh or something. Besides, I already put a spell on my home that will keep the little artists from coloring the library again.”

Was that it? Just some random group of young children that were simply trying to get a good laugh? Derpy had a feeling it wasn’t something that simple. She heard about the same cases in Manehatten and though this was not evidence enough to assume that it just wasn’t  random pranks of some sort, she knew one thing.

Ponyville never had these kinds of problems until now. They may seemed small and trivial but Derpy didn’t care for that. The fact that it was happening was reason enough and she really couldn’t imagine any of the children in Ponyville being able to commit such acts.

So what was it?

“Attention! May I please have your attention!” the voice of Mayor Mare called out, making Derpy rip herself from her own questioning.

It seemed her question would have to wait for now.

“Please, can I have your attention!” the mayor said once again but a bit louder this time. The crowd of seated ponies began to silence their voices and end their small conversations.

Derpy Hooves looked over to the mare with her light,grayish amber coat and wearing her signature glasses along with her official looking attire. She stood up on a small stage with a little podium in front with a plethora of papers stacked on it.

“Thank you,” Mayor Mare said as the room went from whispers to complete silence and every pony now gave the political official their undivided attention.

Especially Derpy.

Okay, she’ll probably address a few things. Probably taxes first...

“Alright then. Thank you all for coming. It really shows how much you all care for our beloved town...” she said in a sincere tone.

C’mon, enough of the greetings. We’ve all heard this a million times in the past...

The meeting hadn’t even really begun and the blonde mare was already becoming impatient. Everypony in here had to feel the same. She didn’t care to hear about taxes, as she knew they would stay the same...at least for the mayor’s sake. If she wanted any hope of re-election, it would be wise of her to keep taxes where they’re at.

“Before I open the board to questions and concerns to the fine citizens of Ponyville, I will review the town’s economic standing and what not...”

Derpy sighed under her breath and looked over to Twilight Sparkle. As expected, her quill was scribbling furiously on her notepad, probably writing every single word that came out of Mayor Mare’s mouth.

“....and as always, taxes will stay the same, as I always strive to make sure that they will,” Mayor Mare said in almost a pompous tone.

Ponies began clapping their hooves together in applause for their mayor, happy to hear that their taxes weren’t going any higher. Derpy did the same though she could care less at this point. The impatience and anticipation that was building in her was overwhelming and it took every ounce of control she had just to keep herself from blurting what they should really be talking about.

“Now with that settled, the floor is open to anypony. Remember, this is the time to speak up if you have a concern about our town or if you feel that something should be added or changed to help make Ponyville a better place to live,” Mayor Mare announced with a smile.

Finally!

Derpy was about to jump to all four hooves and voice her concern for her beloved town, but her reflexes weren’t quick enough, as she heard another voice.

“I have a problem, one that I’m sure everypony has!” a pony with a short dark brown mane and a chestnut coat with an hourglass on it’s flank.

“And what would that be Doctor...errr...” the mayor now looked at one of her paper, probably one wiht all the names of Ponyville’s residents. She adjusted her glasses and now looked back at the stallion, “You’ll have to forgive me. It seems I can’t recall your name doctor...?”

“Just call me the Doctor.”

“Alright then...Doctor,” Mayor Mare said with a weird look, “And what would you like to say to help our humble town.”

Derpy looked over intently to the stallion that wore a necktie and perked her ears up. Whatever he was about to say, he sounded a bit upset about it and Derpy knew it had to be about the increase of vandalism and taggings.

Why else would anypony be upset?

“Well, I been noticing something happening that past couple days and I’m sure everypony here at this meeting today has also.”

Ponies began to whisper to themselves and wonder what this stallion was referring to.

Derpy knew and she let a small smile escape her, a bit happy that she wasn’t just the only one.

“And what would that be Doctor?” Mayor Mare asked, her own curiosity now taking hold.

C’mon, tell ‘em Doctor. Tell them what’s happening so we can stop it.

“Pears.”

Derpy’s mouth immediately dropped and her mind went completely blank.

“Uhh..excuse me Doctor? Pears?” Mayor Mare questioned.

“Yes. For the past few days I been taking notice of the increase in pears in the produce and I can’t tell you how much I hate pears. I feel that their an abomination to our product lines and should be abolished.”

The entire hall was silent all with the exception of a few snickers here and there. Derpy closed her jaw before it threatened to hit the floor and simply face-hoofed herself. She now questioned the sanity of some ponies that lived in this town.

“Uhhh...I’ll be sure to take note of that Doctor...thank you for your concern,” the mayor said as she scribbled something down. Probably something along the lines of psychiatric help for the stallion. “Anypony else? This is the time to give your thoughts.”

Your turn! C’mon before some other pony gets up and wastes time!

Derpy obeyed her conscious and stood straight up on all four hooves and immediately called out.

“I do mayor!”

Everypony, including Twilight, now looked over to Derpy with mixed expressions. Some were curious while others just waved her away, seeing her as still that ‘half-wit’ pony, and some just stared with blank faces.

Oh crap...

She could see all eyes were on her and nervousness began to set in. Derpy was usually one to keep attention away from herself but this had to be done.

“Ah, yes Ms. Hooves?” Mayor Mare said with a welcomed tone.

Derpy took a deep breath and swallowed, trying to ignore the many eyes that simply stared at her.

“Well...I been noticing some things going around in Ponyville that I think needs to be brought to everypony’s attention...”

“It better not be pears!” a random pony called out, making the grey mare blush heavily.

The mayor shot a nasty look at the pony, though Derpy didn’t dare look to see who it was or risk losing her nerve to do this.

“Please, let Ms. Hooves speak, thank you.”

“Thank you mayor,” Derpy said coyly, “Anyways, I been noticing some taggings going around in town with graffiti and displaying explicit scenes and images on homes and property in general. Now I don’t know who’s been doing it but I feel that it needs to be stopped.”

“And what solution do you propose Ms. Hooves?”

“I was thinking increasing our police force and maybe hiring a clean-up crew...” she trailed off as loud whispers now were heard again.

Mayor Mare scrunched her muzzle a bit as she stood, seemingly thinking of these propositions.Twilight Sparkle went back to writing notes and Derpy simply stood, waiting for soe type of response.

“Well Ms. Hooves, I appreciate the concern you have but I can’t simply decide to increase our police force or hire a clean-up crew simply for a few...random occurrences.”

Random occurrences?!

“Random occurrences? I don’t think they can be considered random when it keeps happening more and more everyday,” Derpy said, trying to keep her bafflement under the radar.

“Things do happen Ms. Hooves, but even if I was to do what you propose, we have to think of the costs.”

Derpy rolled her cross-eyes.

Of course...it’s alway about bits with you.

The mayor continued. “To hire more police officers and hire a cleaning crew takes bits and the only way we could do that is if the taxes were raised, which in turn, would come out of these well paying citizens.”

The whispers now became louder at the word of higher taxes. Derpy didn’t care for that. So what taxes would have to be raised? It was for the good of Ponyville. Isn’t that what everypony wanted?

“But it would stop the vandalising of homes and businesses!” Derpy rebuked, “I’m sure everypony here agrees with me. If it’s for the good of the town, then raise the taxes!”

Mayor Mare grimaced.

“Alright then...is there anypony here that agrees with Ms. Hooves here?”

Derpy scanned the crowd of seated equines, expecting loads of hooves flying up into the air. Instead, she found none. Ponies just shifted in their seats and looked at each other as if they had no clue what was happening or being discussed.

I can’t believe this!

Derpy looked over to Twilight who was still writing in her notepad.

“Twilight? You think you could help me out here??” Derpy whispered, hoping for some support.

Twilight looked over to Derpy with a sheepish smile.

“Um well...she does have a point Derpy. I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal to go to such lengths. I’m sure it’s just some children trying to be funny is all. It’s nothing malicious.”

Derpy simply couldn’t believe what was going on. Sparkler felt it wasn't a big deal, Twilight felt it was just kids trying to be humorous, and ponies at this town meeting were more worried about saving their bits than thinking about what was best for the town.

“I’m sorry Ms. Hooves, but I don’t think we have enough here to feel it’s something that requires action. I’m sure it will pass-” but she was interrupted by a persistent Derpy.

“What?! It does require action or it’s just going to get worse! We need-”

“Ms. Hooves!”

Derpy immediately silenced herself.

“I understand your concern-”

You obviously don’t...

“But we have more important things to worry about for now. I just don’t see this as something as a priority Ms. Hooves. I’m sorry. Now please take your seat.”

Derpy looked down at the floor and tried to comprehend what was going on. How could no pony see this is not being a big issue? They were okay with this crime going rampant?

I can’t do this...

She felt sick to her stomach; she was disgusted. Ponies seem to only see this as some type of playful joke and it was something that simply could be wiped away. This was not a problem that simply could be left to time to figure out...action needed to be taken.

But what could she do? She had put her hope in the hooves of the citizens and its leader but they only saw it as a joke.

They saw her as a joke.

“Derpy,” she heard Twilight say,” You need to take your-”

Derpy simply lifted her hoof and silenced the librarian.

“I’m...I’m just gonna go.”

With that, Derpy Hooves began to make her way out of the lane of chairs and headed for the exit of town hal. Her head hung down in shame and even embarrassment. No pony understood...no pony cared.

None seemed to understand.