Origins of Derpyby ScourgeousChaptersThe Phone CallThe Pony Beneath My SkinSpirits on My ShouldersThe Phone CallThe dawn chorus began to rise from the trees as the sun rose into the open skies. Cloudsdale was the first place to feel the warmth, golden and blue milky light washing over the thick billowing clouds. Movement began to shift in the clouds, slowly filling the area with life. Pegasi began to flutter from their homes and stretch their drowsy wings, greet the sunlight, then slowly work away the wariness in their limbs. Derpy Hooves had awoken far before first light. She had trotted out of her house, quickening to a gallop as she was sure that no-one was around, and made haste to the small workshop that she came to every morning. Less letters came to the post office every year, due to unicorns having magic to send letters, and other Pegasi delivering their own. Still there was plenty to deliver, and she sat down by the stacks and began to sort them into her saddlebags. When the bags were heavy, she clipped the latches down with some degree of difficulty, unable to focus her eyes on the buckles and use her hooves to twist them in. When she'd tied it securely around her frame, she slipped her head out of the door, wincing at the sight of ponies already moving about. I hate ponies seeing me... She thought miserably, scooting out of the room and across the soft, plush clouds. Only a few gazes strayed onto her, and even those muttered fierce things under their cold breath. Derpy spread her wings and rose into the air with a few beats, swiveling around a few times in the air. She hovered for a long moment, then dived over the edge, spreading her wings out to the sides. Clouds whirled on each side of her, and she squealed, unable to make out which side was which. The more she tried to focus her gaze, the more her uncontrollable eye began to drift, and she soon saw nothing but topsy turvy. The ground was approaching fast, she could feel it around her. The pressure of the wind and the air around her was how she had learnt to stabilize herself when cascading for the ground at speed. She pulled in her wings, stretched out her legs and made a rearing movement at the last moment, impacting with a branch and sliding through a thick knot of leaves and twigs. Thorns scraping her pelt, she slipped through and landed on a thicker branch with an oof! "Ugh..." She groaned, looking around, head whirling. Most of her mornings began with a headfirst crash. Mostly they involved walls, the ground, but this time obviously she'd found herself spread like streamers through the branches of Golden Oaks Library. She slid backwards, hooves flaying, then fell off the branch and landed in a heap on the ground. Her limbs ached with bruises from days before, and throbbed with new found pain of stabbing branches. "Derpy? Is that you out there?" Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn who lived in the library came walking out of the door, blinking tiredly. "Oh yes... uh, very sorry... I, uh..." "It's okay." She smiled, yawning and raising a hoof to her mouth. "Better me than Rainbow, right?" Derpy shuddered, remembering the first time she'd run off course and into Rainbow Dash's abode. The tomboyish mare had sneered at her, telling her to watch where she was going next time, and to not interfere with the cooler ponies. She'd skid away and off the edge again, trying to block the taunts from her ears. She shook herself back to reality, just nodding sheepishly to Twilight. She muttered a tiny farewell, then took off again, focusing very tightly on the road ahead. Being closer to the ground with things on every side of her made it much easier to maneuver around. She dropped letters in their boxes, keeping her eyes low as she went by. Ponies often stopped to stare at her, little rumors whispering from their mouths. "Is that the pony with no mommy?" A little filly cried from her mother's side. Derpy bit her lip and hurried past, landing quietly so she could gallop away. She rounded a corner and sighed, a few loose tears escaping. It wasn't her fault that she had no parents. All her life had been the Equestrian Orphanage. Years of ponies watching her from the streets, being fed porridge and apples for her fillyhood, under the gaze of foster parents that barely cared for her. Sure, they had loved her and raised her up. But there was no loving mother and father to daughter bond between them. Their time was on their other work, and there was no tenderness shared. Derpy had no memories like other ponies did of growing up. She yearned for memories of hugs by the fire, laughter and singing, movie nights with her family. But there was no family for her to share. Rubbing her eyes, she stepped out and delivered the last few letters. There was one letter left in the bottom, one for Carrot Top, her room mate. Spreading her wings, she set her one good eye on Cloudsdale high above, flying slowly and steadily for the city in the sky. Going upwards was much easier, her destination in sight, and soon her hooves gently rested into the cloud layer. Now the city was bustling with noise. She hurried through, bumping into the occasional pony and tripping over a hoof. "Watch it!" "Look where you are going, oh can you even do that?" "Don't take up too much space!" She bit back her tears and burst forward, hoping to make a clear run home, but she smacked head first into a black Pegasus and staggered backwards. He dropped his glass, and it disappeared through the clouds. He snarled at her, and she stared up into his amber eyes with terror. "Leave her alone!" Said a loud, commanding voice. The black Pegasus raised his gaze to glare at an Earth pony standing before him, but how? "What are you doing in Cloudsdale, ground pony?" "A simple spell really," The brown stallion said, glancing at Derpy. 'What's all the hubbub?" Derpy shook her head frantically. 'It's fine! I'm going home!" She hurried off, but the Earth pony persisted to follow her. "Please! At least let me know the name that you behold." She turned around and stared at him with burning eyes, just wanting to get out of public. 'Derpy Hooves! The clutz! The failure! The orphan!" She stormed away, bursting through her door and slamming it behind her with a cloud of mist rising around it. She stood in the entrance, panting. She shook her head slowly, pretending nothing had happened, and stepped into the next room. She slumped her saddlebags to the floor, digging out the letter to Carrot Top from her sister and carried it over to the ochre mare, who also used a spell like that of the strange brown stallion she'd seen. "We need to move. It'll be easier for both of us," Derpy said, passing the letter. Carrot Top cut into the letter, pulling out the paper and scanning her eyes over it. "Why do you say that?" She shuffled away, sitting down and sighing. "We wouldn't have to pay for Twilight to cast a spell on you all the time. And I wouldn't have to crash every morning." "Again?" Carrot Top exclaimed. "Yeah... Golden Oaks Library this time." The mare blinked, turning and frowning. "Huh? Oh, no, not you. I mean this letter. My little sister says she wants me to go and stay with her and my parents again. They miss me." Derpy stared at her with the coldest glare, knowing that Carrot Top knew better than to mention family around her. The pony winced, clearing showing that she had forgotten in her moment of distaste in his sister. Derpy had always urged Carrot Top to love her family more than ever and appreciate every moment she got to spend with them, but that was simply not the case. "Anyone ring?" Derpy said, changing the subject and glancing at the phone, on the bench. Ponies seldom phoned, and when they did it was for Carrot. "Yeah, but I missed it, I was in the bath." She stepped towards it and lifted the phone, placing the top by her ear and dialing the number for voicemail. There was a faint ringing sound, then a beep that showed there was a message waiting. She sighed, reaching for a pen with her mouth so she could write down whatever it said. When the message clicked into place, there was a long brief moment. "Miss Hooves," It began, "We are sorry to inform you some news from the Orphanage. Your caregiver has a note here that was supposed to be read to you on your twenty first birthday." Derpy glanced at the calendar, seeing her birthday marked with a red vivid the day after the one she was on. The pause in the recording made her uneasy. There was the sound of breathing, and of a note being unfolded. The next words made the pen drop from between her teeth. "Your parents are alive." The Pony Beneath My SkinThe phone slipped from Derpy's hoof and bounced on it's cord, dangling just above the ground. There was the sound of the long beep at the end of the message droning from the speaker. Derpy staggered backwards until her flank hit the soft wall behind her. She felt herself changing inside rapidly, feeling very hot and faint, then cold and frail, angry, then passive, sad, then filled with glee, all in the space of a few seconds. It felt like it took a lot of effort, because when she began to sway on her hooves, she was overwhelmed with grief. All these years. All these seasons. Alone. Deprived. Broken. Deserted. My parents abandoned me... "What's up, Derpz?" Carrot Top called over her shoulder, eyes skimming the news paper. "I... I..." She couldn't force words through her throat as hard as she tried. She fled for the bathroom, nausea rising deep within her stomach. She leaned over the sink and her stomach convulsed, but nothing rose to her mouth and she just groaned and staggered a little. A vile taste at the back of her tongue made her want to spew, but her belly was empty. She rose her head to stare in the mirror with one teary eye, the other drifting off into space. So flawed... why me? She hissed in her mind, watching tears stain her cheeks. No wonder her parents had left her in that cold damp orphanage, where ponies seldom had to stay. Everypony had a loving pair of parents who raised their fillies and colts until they were ready to leave. Derpy still felt fragile as a newborn foal, her legs wobbly, her eyes blurred, head not quite right yet. She smashed her hoof against the mirror, and it cracked, a few of the shattered pieces raining to the ground. She let out a choked screech, pulling her hoof back and slamming it on the ground. She stared at her jumbled, ragged reflection in the pieces still clinging to the frame, lips pulled back in a snarl. Carrot Top flung herself into the bathroom, careful not to step on the glass. "Derpy! What's going on? Do I have to give a lecture about being pretty on the inside again?" "So you do think I'm ugly!" She hissed. "Well so did my parents! And every other pony!" The golden mare looked taken about, hurt flooding her eyes as she stared at her distraught friend. She tried to find words, but her lips just moved a little as she struggled to understand what was wrong. "My parents are alive. They abandoned me because I was an ugly little foal who didn't turn out perfect as they had imagined." She wailed. Carrot Top flung herself towards Derpy and pressed against her, feeling the Pegasus slump against her and cry aloud, her wet tears soaking into her orange mane. She soothed her gently and stroked her with a hoof, listening to her rumbles and squeals into her fur. She sighed, leading the Pegasus back out into the living room. "Come on, you don't need them! You've done well without 'em." "No I haven't. We have no bits. I fail at the job I try to keep. Everypony besides you hates me." "Surely, somepony has showed you kindness?" Derpy looked up very slowly, staring through a mop of her fringe. She stared at Carrot Top, meeting her gaze as she turned the question over in her head. Her memories flooded back to meeting the mare as a young filly, her smile, her friendliness, and her overall warm-heart. The memories skipped forward a bit, and she saw herself meeting Twilight, asking to cast a spell on her friend. The kind unicorn had always been there, and she had never stared at her eyes like all other ponies. Then the thoughts came very close to the moment she was living, only a few moments before. She felt herself staring into warm, pleading eyes. Blue swirling eyes with a swoop of dark brown mane drooping over them. The brown stallion who had defended her, asked of her name, tried to talk to her when her heart was breaking. She opened her eyes again only seeing Carrot Top waiting for her quietly. "There was a stallion. Today. I'd never known him before now... but he stood up for me. He really wanted to talk to me, but I just came home." She explained, snuggling against her friend. "Why don't you go see if he is still in Cloudsdale? Start again and talk to him." She said, smiling. "Forget about your parents. You can have plenty of true friends." Anger rose inside Derpy and she kicked Carrot Top away with a scream. "No! I will find him! And he's going to help me find my parents." "How would you ever find your parents?" She said, growling with pain. She ignored her, stepping out of the door and into the cold evening. The sun had already been lowered beneath the cloud layer, and the land was ghostly gray. She stepped across the cold blanket, hooves sinking a little in the soft damp fluff. Tears continued to fall unconsciously down her face as she walked through the quiet streets, which had bustled with life only moments before. Something was strange. Only a few minutes had passed since she had been in the street, with the citizens of Cloudsdale streaming around her. She looked between the houses, and the gangly shadows cast by the houses. She took a deep breath and called out, but there was nothing. Where is everypony? Slowly as she wandered, her anger and misery fading from her aching body, ponies began to step from their homes and walk about as usual. Soon there was more life in the streets, and she found herself being jostled around as per usual. She looked wildly for the brown stallion, but it was hard to see between the ponies who ran along the ground and those who hovered and flew above. She hissed and wished that she had asked his name in return. Her eyes trailed along every alleyway, then halted on a hot air balloon that was hovering just above the edge of the city. She pushed through a group of Pegasi and galloped towards it, hopes soaring as she saw the scarfed pony trotting towards it. "Yoo-hoo!" She called, eyes brightening. He looked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Derpy Hooves! I wasn't expecting you back so soon. Feeling better?" She hesitated beside him, then scraped her hoof on the soft ground. "No, actually. I needed to talk to you." "Doctor Whooves at your service, ma'am." He dipped his head, blinking softly. Warmth tickled her inside, and she stared up at his tall figure. "When I got home from one of the worst days of a life that I've never though was worth living, there was a message on the receiver. It told me that even though I grew up my whole life in an orphanage, teased, alone, struggling to find myself, that my parents were alive. I want to find them, Doctor. I want to prove to them that I'm not a useless foal with wonky eyes." He stared down at her with the deepest warmth any pony had ever shown towards her, an understanding in his eyes that made her feel butterflies in her chest. He smiled, then nodded to his balloon. "I was just about to head to Canterlot. If you want to come with me, I'll be happy to help you look for them." She stared up at him, tears of happiness ebbing at the edges of her eyes. She took a sharp, cold breath, then dipped her head politely to him, unable to word her gratefulness. She continued to make several polite gestures, then leaned forward to press her cheek to his neck before backing away sheepishly. "Thank you. I would love to come. At least until I find something. Anything." "Do you have any idea who your parents are?" He asked, climbing clumsily into the the basket. She followed more slowly, fluttering up beside him. "Well... no. A Pegasus, maybe? I've had weird feelings this week, as if my body knew that this was the week I would be told. Whenever I get angry or upset, whatever played a part in doing it disappears until I calm down." "Sound's weird." He said, confusion swirling in his gaze. Not weird. Powerful. She blinked and looked around, the voice in her head disappearing like smoke. Obviously Doctor Whooves hadn't heard it. Beautiful. You're blooming like a beautiful flower, love. Every flower needs sunshine. Spirits on My ShouldersDerpy folded her front hooves and leaned over the edge of the balloon, staring out into the eerie, darkening blue. Doctor Whooves constantly monitored the flame and the direction, goggles pulled down over his eyes. Her tail swished ever so often as she stared dreamily out into the world. She'd never stopped to admire the beauty of the open skies, the light of the sunset far down on the horizon. "You sound like you've had quite the rough life, Miss Hooves." He said suddenly, turning to face her. She smirked. "Yeah. Enough about me, how about you, Mr Whooves." She teased, giggling at the two resembling names. "Me? I just travel. Always have, always will." She stared at him for a long time, knowing that there was obviously more to his life that he wasn't in the mood to share with her. Shrugging, she turned away, back to the clouds whirling beneath them, and the wind swirling past. She could see Canterlot in the distance, and Ponyville bobbing beneath them. She yawned, resting her head on her hooves. "I wonder if Carrot Top will miss me..." What fun was she anyway? Derpy coughed, shaking her head violently. She hated when that dark voice entered her head. She narrowed her eyes rubbing the sides of her head. Ignore him. Seriously, he's just trying to meddle with you head, love. She raised her head abruptly at the soft new voice. Who are you? Who is he? She hissed, feeling crazy for talking back to the voices in her head. There was a sinister chuckle, and it sounded almost as if it was beside her, rather than on the inside. You'll find out soon enough. Listen to me, and you'll find your parents. He's lying! Listen to me, and you will truly find them. Hah! She wouldn't help you find them. She doesn't even want you to find them! Derpy screeched and whirled around. "Shut up! I'm not listening to either of you!" She screamed and stomped her hooves on the basket floor, causing the balloon to jerk around. Doctor Whooves turned to face her with wide eyes, ears flat back against his head. He stepped carefully towards her, eyes searching her expression. She stared up at him, gritting her teeth, head throbbing with an unbearable pain. Concern flooded his gaze, but her glower told him to keep quiet. She slumped against the edge, panting and taking gasping breaths. She writhed around as if in pain, but she felt completely healthy. It felt like something within her was stirring, waking up. A pony inside was opening it's eyes from a long hibernation, and was about to take control. "Are you okay, Derpy?" Doctor said, leaning forward. She stared up at him with watery eyes. "Something is happening to me. Why today? On the day that note was read to me..." He crouched down beside her, constantly raising his head to make sure the balloon stayed on track. "Just focus on breathing calmly. We're almost there, then I can take you to the nurse." "No!" She spluttered, spittle flying from her mouth as she wriggled around, trying to get her hooves in order. "I don't need a nurse! I'm perfectly fine!" A long groan escaped her as she rose upwards, swaying sickly with the movement of the balloon. She leaned over the edge and took a sharp breath of the cold air, seeing Canterlot steadily grow larger below. Doctor rushed past her and turned down the heat of the flame a little, then began to steer them clearly to the side of the city. "Something is wrong, and I have to get you somewhere safe." He persisted, and the balloon jolted suddenly as the basket skid on the grass. Derpy staggered into the side, eyes on the deflating balloon as it folded down over them. She groggily grabbed one of the sacks and heaved it over the edge to land heavily on the ground. She clambered out and lay beside it, her head whirling. She felt like the more she blocked out the voices, the more they fought in her head and tried to break in. There was a sudden blast of magic, and a plume of smoke, then a rolled up scroll landed beside her. Doctor Whooves scrabbled out and reached for it, but she snatched it away, clenching it in her hoof. Straightening up, the pain in her head clearing, she unrolled it and pinned the edges down against the ground. "Dear Derpy Hooves, Please make your way to my castle in Canterlot. I must speak with you urgently. There is no time to waste. You must come here at all costs. Princess Celestia." She lifted her hooves away, and the paper rolled back up. Glancing at Doctor Whooves, she took a short, sharp breath. The Princess was probably going to tell her who her parents were. Or tell her that her parents had moved far away to Manehatten or something along the lines. But the Princess sounded very urgent, as if what she had to tell Derpy was a matter of life and death. "I need to see the Princess." She said, eyes glowing with determination. Doctor blinked, retying his scarf around his neck. "Is that so? Well, I need to stock up on supplies, and you need to see the doctor." "You are the doctor," She smirked, trotting up to him and leaning against his shoulder, staring up into his eyes. "Pretty please can you come with me? She said that I had to come to her immediately!" He stared down at her, amusement glowing in his blue eyes. The warmth on his face made her tingle all over. Never had she had anypony stare at her in such a way. A way that held no coldness or spite, judgement and cruelty. Carrot Top just showed regular friendliness, but the connection she shared with Doctor Whooves made her spark inside. He finally sighed, giving in to her golden gaze. "Fine. But can we make it quick? At least you are feeling better." She brushed her fur against his, making a warm humming noise in her throat. "Thank you so much! This means a lot to me. I need to find out the truth about my parents, whether it is something I want to hear or not." He grinned, eyes and smile sparkling together. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" She squealed with delight, thundering ahead towards the city, giggling and glancing over her shoulder as he followed on her tail. Darting through the buildings, she steadily made haste for the castle. She could see it gleaming on the side of the mountain in all of it's glory. With a yell of delight, she sped up, ignoring the grunt of annoyance from Doctor Whooves as she sped on. "Slow down!" He hollered as they skid around the corner. "I have no time to slow down!" She smiled. "Come on, Canterlot Gardens!" She hurried to take a shortcut through the gardens, bouncing down the steps and through the paths between the bushes and flowers. She almost lost Doctor behind her, but he steadily kept up, following her maneuvers through the winding trees. She suddenly skid to a halt, and Doctor Whooves went running past, trying to slow down when he saw her stop. Her eyes slowly trailed up the stone base where a statue had once stood, a smooth white block imbedded in the ground, a pale dusty plaque on the front. She stepped forward very slowly and drew her hooves over the smooth top, small rough indents on the surface where the statue's feet had stood. Her heart raced in her chest as she stared around, looking for the creature captured in stone, as if she expected it to be lying somewhere in the gardens. "Derpy?" Doctor pressed. "I thought you said Celestia really needed to see you." "But..." She couldn't bring herself to say anymore, her throat suddenly dry and rough as sand. She just waved her hooves at the base, eyes glowing with terror. He glanced at it, then back at her, one eyebrow raised. His jaw dropped a little, eyes widening. He recognized as well as she had what was missing, something that had been there for a long time now. Discord. Author's Note The whole story will be edited at the end. :)
The Phone CallThe dawn chorus began to rise from the trees as the sun rose into the open skies. Cloudsdale was the first place to feel the warmth, golden and blue milky light washing over the thick billowing clouds. Movement began to shift in the clouds, slowly filling the area with life. Pegasi began to flutter from their homes and stretch their drowsy wings, greet the sunlight, then slowly work away the wariness in their limbs. Derpy Hooves had awoken far before first light. She had trotted out of her house, quickening to a gallop as she was sure that no-one was around, and made haste to the small workshop that she came to every morning. Less letters came to the post office every year, due to unicorns having magic to send letters, and other Pegasi delivering their own. Still there was plenty to deliver, and she sat down by the stacks and began to sort them into her saddlebags. When the bags were heavy, she clipped the latches down with some degree of difficulty, unable to focus her eyes on the buckles and use her hooves to twist them in. When she'd tied it securely around her frame, she slipped her head out of the door, wincing at the sight of ponies already moving about. I hate ponies seeing me... She thought miserably, scooting out of the room and across the soft, plush clouds. Only a few gazes strayed onto her, and even those muttered fierce things under their cold breath. Derpy spread her wings and rose into the air with a few beats, swiveling around a few times in the air. She hovered for a long moment, then dived over the edge, spreading her wings out to the sides. Clouds whirled on each side of her, and she squealed, unable to make out which side was which. The more she tried to focus her gaze, the more her uncontrollable eye began to drift, and she soon saw nothing but topsy turvy. The ground was approaching fast, she could feel it around her. The pressure of the wind and the air around her was how she had learnt to stabilize herself when cascading for the ground at speed. She pulled in her wings, stretched out her legs and made a rearing movement at the last moment, impacting with a branch and sliding through a thick knot of leaves and twigs. Thorns scraping her pelt, she slipped through and landed on a thicker branch with an oof! "Ugh..." She groaned, looking around, head whirling. Most of her mornings began with a headfirst crash. Mostly they involved walls, the ground, but this time obviously she'd found herself spread like streamers through the branches of Golden Oaks Library. She slid backwards, hooves flaying, then fell off the branch and landed in a heap on the ground. Her limbs ached with bruises from days before, and throbbed with new found pain of stabbing branches. "Derpy? Is that you out there?" Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn who lived in the library came walking out of the door, blinking tiredly. "Oh yes... uh, very sorry... I, uh..." "It's okay." She smiled, yawning and raising a hoof to her mouth. "Better me than Rainbow, right?" Derpy shuddered, remembering the first time she'd run off course and into Rainbow Dash's abode. The tomboyish mare had sneered at her, telling her to watch where she was going next time, and to not interfere with the cooler ponies. She'd skid away and off the edge again, trying to block the taunts from her ears. She shook herself back to reality, just nodding sheepishly to Twilight. She muttered a tiny farewell, then took off again, focusing very tightly on the road ahead. Being closer to the ground with things on every side of her made it much easier to maneuver around. She dropped letters in their boxes, keeping her eyes low as she went by. Ponies often stopped to stare at her, little rumors whispering from their mouths. "Is that the pony with no mommy?" A little filly cried from her mother's side. Derpy bit her lip and hurried past, landing quietly so she could gallop away. She rounded a corner and sighed, a few loose tears escaping. It wasn't her fault that she had no parents. All her life had been the Equestrian Orphanage. Years of ponies watching her from the streets, being fed porridge and apples for her fillyhood, under the gaze of foster parents that barely cared for her. Sure, they had loved her and raised her up. But there was no loving mother and father to daughter bond between them. Their time was on their other work, and there was no tenderness shared. Derpy had no memories like other ponies did of growing up. She yearned for memories of hugs by the fire, laughter and singing, movie nights with her family. But there was no family for her to share. Rubbing her eyes, she stepped out and delivered the last few letters. There was one letter left in the bottom, one for Carrot Top, her room mate. Spreading her wings, she set her one good eye on Cloudsdale high above, flying slowly and steadily for the city in the sky. Going upwards was much easier, her destination in sight, and soon her hooves gently rested into the cloud layer. Now the city was bustling with noise. She hurried through, bumping into the occasional pony and tripping over a hoof. "Watch it!" "Look where you are going, oh can you even do that?" "Don't take up too much space!" She bit back her tears and burst forward, hoping to make a clear run home, but she smacked head first into a black Pegasus and staggered backwards. He dropped his glass, and it disappeared through the clouds. He snarled at her, and she stared up into his amber eyes with terror. "Leave her alone!" Said a loud, commanding voice. The black Pegasus raised his gaze to glare at an Earth pony standing before him, but how? "What are you doing in Cloudsdale, ground pony?" "A simple spell really," The brown stallion said, glancing at Derpy. 'What's all the hubbub?" Derpy shook her head frantically. 'It's fine! I'm going home!" She hurried off, but the Earth pony persisted to follow her. "Please! At least let me know the name that you behold." She turned around and stared at him with burning eyes, just wanting to get out of public. 'Derpy Hooves! The clutz! The failure! The orphan!" She stormed away, bursting through her door and slamming it behind her with a cloud of mist rising around it. She stood in the entrance, panting. She shook her head slowly, pretending nothing had happened, and stepped into the next room. She slumped her saddlebags to the floor, digging out the letter to Carrot Top from her sister and carried it over to the ochre mare, who also used a spell like that of the strange brown stallion she'd seen. "We need to move. It'll be easier for both of us," Derpy said, passing the letter. Carrot Top cut into the letter, pulling out the paper and scanning her eyes over it. "Why do you say that?" She shuffled away, sitting down and sighing. "We wouldn't have to pay for Twilight to cast a spell on you all the time. And I wouldn't have to crash every morning." "Again?" Carrot Top exclaimed. "Yeah... Golden Oaks Library this time." The mare blinked, turning and frowning. "Huh? Oh, no, not you. I mean this letter. My little sister says she wants me to go and stay with her and my parents again. They miss me." Derpy stared at her with the coldest glare, knowing that Carrot Top knew better than to mention family around her. The pony winced, clearing showing that she had forgotten in her moment of distaste in his sister. Derpy had always urged Carrot Top to love her family more than ever and appreciate every moment she got to spend with them, but that was simply not the case. "Anyone ring?" Derpy said, changing the subject and glancing at the phone, on the bench. Ponies seldom phoned, and when they did it was for Carrot. "Yeah, but I missed it, I was in the bath." She stepped towards it and lifted the phone, placing the top by her ear and dialing the number for voicemail. There was a faint ringing sound, then a beep that showed there was a message waiting. She sighed, reaching for a pen with her mouth so she could write down whatever it said. When the message clicked into place, there was a long brief moment. "Miss Hooves," It began, "We are sorry to inform you some news from the Orphanage. Your caregiver has a note here that was supposed to be read to you on your twenty first birthday." Derpy glanced at the calendar, seeing her birthday marked with a red vivid the day after the one she was on. The pause in the recording made her uneasy. There was the sound of breathing, and of a note being unfolded. The next words made the pen drop from between her teeth. "Your parents are alive."
The Pony Beneath My SkinThe phone slipped from Derpy's hoof and bounced on it's cord, dangling just above the ground. There was the sound of the long beep at the end of the message droning from the speaker. Derpy staggered backwards until her flank hit the soft wall behind her. She felt herself changing inside rapidly, feeling very hot and faint, then cold and frail, angry, then passive, sad, then filled with glee, all in the space of a few seconds. It felt like it took a lot of effort, because when she began to sway on her hooves, she was overwhelmed with grief. All these years. All these seasons. Alone. Deprived. Broken. Deserted. My parents abandoned me... "What's up, Derpz?" Carrot Top called over her shoulder, eyes skimming the news paper. "I... I..." She couldn't force words through her throat as hard as she tried. She fled for the bathroom, nausea rising deep within her stomach. She leaned over the sink and her stomach convulsed, but nothing rose to her mouth and she just groaned and staggered a little. A vile taste at the back of her tongue made her want to spew, but her belly was empty. She rose her head to stare in the mirror with one teary eye, the other drifting off into space. So flawed... why me? She hissed in her mind, watching tears stain her cheeks. No wonder her parents had left her in that cold damp orphanage, where ponies seldom had to stay. Everypony had a loving pair of parents who raised their fillies and colts until they were ready to leave. Derpy still felt fragile as a newborn foal, her legs wobbly, her eyes blurred, head not quite right yet. She smashed her hoof against the mirror, and it cracked, a few of the shattered pieces raining to the ground. She let out a choked screech, pulling her hoof back and slamming it on the ground. She stared at her jumbled, ragged reflection in the pieces still clinging to the frame, lips pulled back in a snarl. Carrot Top flung herself into the bathroom, careful not to step on the glass. "Derpy! What's going on? Do I have to give a lecture about being pretty on the inside again?" "So you do think I'm ugly!" She hissed. "Well so did my parents! And every other pony!" The golden mare looked taken about, hurt flooding her eyes as she stared at her distraught friend. She tried to find words, but her lips just moved a little as she struggled to understand what was wrong. "My parents are alive. They abandoned me because I was an ugly little foal who didn't turn out perfect as they had imagined." She wailed. Carrot Top flung herself towards Derpy and pressed against her, feeling the Pegasus slump against her and cry aloud, her wet tears soaking into her orange mane. She soothed her gently and stroked her with a hoof, listening to her rumbles and squeals into her fur. She sighed, leading the Pegasus back out into the living room. "Come on, you don't need them! You've done well without 'em." "No I haven't. We have no bits. I fail at the job I try to keep. Everypony besides you hates me." "Surely, somepony has showed you kindness?" Derpy looked up very slowly, staring through a mop of her fringe. She stared at Carrot Top, meeting her gaze as she turned the question over in her head. Her memories flooded back to meeting the mare as a young filly, her smile, her friendliness, and her overall warm-heart. The memories skipped forward a bit, and she saw herself meeting Twilight, asking to cast a spell on her friend. The kind unicorn had always been there, and she had never stared at her eyes like all other ponies. Then the thoughts came very close to the moment she was living, only a few moments before. She felt herself staring into warm, pleading eyes. Blue swirling eyes with a swoop of dark brown mane drooping over them. The brown stallion who had defended her, asked of her name, tried to talk to her when her heart was breaking. She opened her eyes again only seeing Carrot Top waiting for her quietly. "There was a stallion. Today. I'd never known him before now... but he stood up for me. He really wanted to talk to me, but I just came home." She explained, snuggling against her friend. "Why don't you go see if he is still in Cloudsdale? Start again and talk to him." She said, smiling. "Forget about your parents. You can have plenty of true friends." Anger rose inside Derpy and she kicked Carrot Top away with a scream. "No! I will find him! And he's going to help me find my parents." "How would you ever find your parents?" She said, growling with pain. She ignored her, stepping out of the door and into the cold evening. The sun had already been lowered beneath the cloud layer, and the land was ghostly gray. She stepped across the cold blanket, hooves sinking a little in the soft damp fluff. Tears continued to fall unconsciously down her face as she walked through the quiet streets, which had bustled with life only moments before. Something was strange. Only a few minutes had passed since she had been in the street, with the citizens of Cloudsdale streaming around her. She looked between the houses, and the gangly shadows cast by the houses. She took a deep breath and called out, but there was nothing. Where is everypony? Slowly as she wandered, her anger and misery fading from her aching body, ponies began to step from their homes and walk about as usual. Soon there was more life in the streets, and she found herself being jostled around as per usual. She looked wildly for the brown stallion, but it was hard to see between the ponies who ran along the ground and those who hovered and flew above. She hissed and wished that she had asked his name in return. Her eyes trailed along every alleyway, then halted on a hot air balloon that was hovering just above the edge of the city. She pushed through a group of Pegasi and galloped towards it, hopes soaring as she saw the scarfed pony trotting towards it. "Yoo-hoo!" She called, eyes brightening. He looked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Derpy Hooves! I wasn't expecting you back so soon. Feeling better?" She hesitated beside him, then scraped her hoof on the soft ground. "No, actually. I needed to talk to you." "Doctor Whooves at your service, ma'am." He dipped his head, blinking softly. Warmth tickled her inside, and she stared up at his tall figure. "When I got home from one of the worst days of a life that I've never though was worth living, there was a message on the receiver. It told me that even though I grew up my whole life in an orphanage, teased, alone, struggling to find myself, that my parents were alive. I want to find them, Doctor. I want to prove to them that I'm not a useless foal with wonky eyes." He stared down at her with the deepest warmth any pony had ever shown towards her, an understanding in his eyes that made her feel butterflies in her chest. He smiled, then nodded to his balloon. "I was just about to head to Canterlot. If you want to come with me, I'll be happy to help you look for them." She stared up at him, tears of happiness ebbing at the edges of her eyes. She took a sharp, cold breath, then dipped her head politely to him, unable to word her gratefulness. She continued to make several polite gestures, then leaned forward to press her cheek to his neck before backing away sheepishly. "Thank you. I would love to come. At least until I find something. Anything." "Do you have any idea who your parents are?" He asked, climbing clumsily into the the basket. She followed more slowly, fluttering up beside him. "Well... no. A Pegasus, maybe? I've had weird feelings this week, as if my body knew that this was the week I would be told. Whenever I get angry or upset, whatever played a part in doing it disappears until I calm down." "Sound's weird." He said, confusion swirling in his gaze. Not weird. Powerful. She blinked and looked around, the voice in her head disappearing like smoke. Obviously Doctor Whooves hadn't heard it. Beautiful. You're blooming like a beautiful flower, love. Every flower needs sunshine.
Spirits on My ShouldersDerpy folded her front hooves and leaned over the edge of the balloon, staring out into the eerie, darkening blue. Doctor Whooves constantly monitored the flame and the direction, goggles pulled down over his eyes. Her tail swished ever so often as she stared dreamily out into the world. She'd never stopped to admire the beauty of the open skies, the light of the sunset far down on the horizon. "You sound like you've had quite the rough life, Miss Hooves." He said suddenly, turning to face her. She smirked. "Yeah. Enough about me, how about you, Mr Whooves." She teased, giggling at the two resembling names. "Me? I just travel. Always have, always will." She stared at him for a long time, knowing that there was obviously more to his life that he wasn't in the mood to share with her. Shrugging, she turned away, back to the clouds whirling beneath them, and the wind swirling past. She could see Canterlot in the distance, and Ponyville bobbing beneath them. She yawned, resting her head on her hooves. "I wonder if Carrot Top will miss me..." What fun was she anyway? Derpy coughed, shaking her head violently. She hated when that dark voice entered her head. She narrowed her eyes rubbing the sides of her head. Ignore him. Seriously, he's just trying to meddle with you head, love. She raised her head abruptly at the soft new voice. Who are you? Who is he? She hissed, feeling crazy for talking back to the voices in her head. There was a sinister chuckle, and it sounded almost as if it was beside her, rather than on the inside. You'll find out soon enough. Listen to me, and you'll find your parents. He's lying! Listen to me, and you will truly find them. Hah! She wouldn't help you find them. She doesn't even want you to find them! Derpy screeched and whirled around. "Shut up! I'm not listening to either of you!" She screamed and stomped her hooves on the basket floor, causing the balloon to jerk around. Doctor Whooves turned to face her with wide eyes, ears flat back against his head. He stepped carefully towards her, eyes searching her expression. She stared up at him, gritting her teeth, head throbbing with an unbearable pain. Concern flooded his gaze, but her glower told him to keep quiet. She slumped against the edge, panting and taking gasping breaths. She writhed around as if in pain, but she felt completely healthy. It felt like something within her was stirring, waking up. A pony inside was opening it's eyes from a long hibernation, and was about to take control. "Are you okay, Derpy?" Doctor said, leaning forward. She stared up at him with watery eyes. "Something is happening to me. Why today? On the day that note was read to me..." He crouched down beside her, constantly raising his head to make sure the balloon stayed on track. "Just focus on breathing calmly. We're almost there, then I can take you to the nurse." "No!" She spluttered, spittle flying from her mouth as she wriggled around, trying to get her hooves in order. "I don't need a nurse! I'm perfectly fine!" A long groan escaped her as she rose upwards, swaying sickly with the movement of the balloon. She leaned over the edge and took a sharp breath of the cold air, seeing Canterlot steadily grow larger below. Doctor rushed past her and turned down the heat of the flame a little, then began to steer them clearly to the side of the city. "Something is wrong, and I have to get you somewhere safe." He persisted, and the balloon jolted suddenly as the basket skid on the grass. Derpy staggered into the side, eyes on the deflating balloon as it folded down over them. She groggily grabbed one of the sacks and heaved it over the edge to land heavily on the ground. She clambered out and lay beside it, her head whirling. She felt like the more she blocked out the voices, the more they fought in her head and tried to break in. There was a sudden blast of magic, and a plume of smoke, then a rolled up scroll landed beside her. Doctor Whooves scrabbled out and reached for it, but she snatched it away, clenching it in her hoof. Straightening up, the pain in her head clearing, she unrolled it and pinned the edges down against the ground. "Dear Derpy Hooves, Please make your way to my castle in Canterlot. I must speak with you urgently. There is no time to waste. You must come here at all costs. Princess Celestia." She lifted her hooves away, and the paper rolled back up. Glancing at Doctor Whooves, she took a short, sharp breath. The Princess was probably going to tell her who her parents were. Or tell her that her parents had moved far away to Manehatten or something along the lines. But the Princess sounded very urgent, as if what she had to tell Derpy was a matter of life and death. "I need to see the Princess." She said, eyes glowing with determination. Doctor blinked, retying his scarf around his neck. "Is that so? Well, I need to stock up on supplies, and you need to see the doctor." "You are the doctor," She smirked, trotting up to him and leaning against his shoulder, staring up into his eyes. "Pretty please can you come with me? She said that I had to come to her immediately!" He stared down at her, amusement glowing in his blue eyes. The warmth on his face made her tingle all over. Never had she had anypony stare at her in such a way. A way that held no coldness or spite, judgement and cruelty. Carrot Top just showed regular friendliness, but the connection she shared with Doctor Whooves made her spark inside. He finally sighed, giving in to her golden gaze. "Fine. But can we make it quick? At least you are feeling better." She brushed her fur against his, making a warm humming noise in her throat. "Thank you so much! This means a lot to me. I need to find out the truth about my parents, whether it is something I want to hear or not." He grinned, eyes and smile sparkling together. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" She squealed with delight, thundering ahead towards the city, giggling and glancing over her shoulder as he followed on her tail. Darting through the buildings, she steadily made haste for the castle. She could see it gleaming on the side of the mountain in all of it's glory. With a yell of delight, she sped up, ignoring the grunt of annoyance from Doctor Whooves as she sped on. "Slow down!" He hollered as they skid around the corner. "I have no time to slow down!" She smiled. "Come on, Canterlot Gardens!" She hurried to take a shortcut through the gardens, bouncing down the steps and through the paths between the bushes and flowers. She almost lost Doctor behind her, but he steadily kept up, following her maneuvers through the winding trees. She suddenly skid to a halt, and Doctor Whooves went running past, trying to slow down when he saw her stop. Her eyes slowly trailed up the stone base where a statue had once stood, a smooth white block imbedded in the ground, a pale dusty plaque on the front. She stepped forward very slowly and drew her hooves over the smooth top, small rough indents on the surface where the statue's feet had stood. Her heart raced in her chest as she stared around, looking for the creature captured in stone, as if she expected it to be lying somewhere in the gardens. "Derpy?" Doctor pressed. "I thought you said Celestia really needed to see you." "But..." She couldn't bring herself to say anymore, her throat suddenly dry and rough as sand. She just waved her hooves at the base, eyes glowing with terror. He glanced at it, then back at her, one eyebrow raised. His jaw dropped a little, eyes widening. He recognized as well as she had what was missing, something that had been there for a long time now. Discord. Author's Note The whole story will be edited at the end. :)
