So far, I've been off to a slow start, I know. But, I will pick up the pacing and add some more substance to the fic. So, let's see how things will turn out for Derpy!

Slowly, Derpy began to wake up. She blinked repeatedly as her eyes swapped direction they were facing each time she closed them.

"Ugh... my head..." Derpy said as she stood up. "Huh... what a dream... some voice in my head? Wanting to help me? I guess I'm more depressed than I thought..."

It was only now that Derpy began to notice her surroundings. She was in the Open Lands, a ways beyond the outskirts of Ponyville, and it was already dark out; the moon was high overhead. Derpy found her satchel somehow fell off her back.

"Wait... what am I doing out here!?" She said before gasping. "N-no way... you mean..."

Slowly, she raised her hoof to touch her forehead... and just as she was about to touch it...

"H-h-horn!?" Derpy stammered, feeling the pointed object on her forehead.

She rushed over to a stream nearby and looked at her reflection in the moonlight. Though it was dim, she could easily make out a horn on her forehead, curving upwards and fading from dark gray to red at the tip.

"S-so... it wasn't... a d-dream..." Derpy said. "...I'm an... Alicorn..."

Smirking, Derpy glanced over at a rock sitting on the ground nearby.

"Hmm... I've always wanted to try this..." she said as she walked over to the rock.

She examined the rock briefly before she focused, with all her might, her energy to her forehead. She couldn't get anything to happen at first. Panting for a moment, she tried again. The horn flickered the same gold color of her eyes, as did the rock at less frequent intervals, but she still couldn't get it to budge.

"Aw... I can't do it." Derpy said sadly.

"But of course you can, Derpy." came a heavenly male voice in Derpy's head that she instantly recognized.

"Arbmos!" Derpy said.

"You simply need a little nudge..." Arbmos said.

Immediately, Derpy's new horn glowed gold for a brief moment before turning crimson. The rock glowed the same color and levitated. It moved up, down, and sideways for a moment before it was set back into its place. Derpy got a feel for how it worked, though she was not actually the one doing it.

"...Now you try." Arbmos instructed.

Recalling the same feel that Arbmos created when he levitated the stone, Derpy did the same, the horn glowing gold again as the rock did the same, and it slowly floated off the ground, hovering a few inches in the air.

Derpy gasped. "I-I did it...!" she said proudly.

"Very good, Derpy." Arbmos said. "You know how to use basic magic. I shall continue to instruct you on more advanced magic as time passes, and for specific situations."

"Awww..." Derpy sighed. "...why can't I learn it now?"

"Because it is far too complex for a beginner." Arbmos said.

"Oh." Derpy said before she yawned. "Well, I'm getting sleepy. I think I'll go home now."

"Very well." Arbmos said. "You will need your rest."

"But... wait." Derpy said. "How am I gonna explain the horn to the other ponies?"

Arbmos chuckled. "That will not be a problem at all. I've spent my time learning complex magic, and managed to learn how to perform Invisibility Spells, as well how to use magic to affect the horn itself. So, by doing both those at once..."

"...I can hide the horn?" Derpy finished.

"Yes." Arbmos said. "In fact, since you lack experience, I shall do it for you..."

The horn glowed crimson for a moment, before it vanished. Derpy reached up at felt for it; she could feel it, but it was now invisible.

Derpy's eyes widened in amazement. "Oh, cool! So I can use magic, and nopony will know it's me!" she giggled.

"That's correct." Arbmos said. "The best way to use magic... is to ensure no one else knows you are using it."

"Ah, okay." Derpy said. "Well, anyways, I'm just gonna head back. I know that I vowed to never go back, but now that you're helping me, Arbmos, I think I'll give everypony a second chance."

"Yes, excellent..." Arbmos said. "...and once I let you know it is alright... do pay a visit to a certain purple Alicorn."

"Purple Alicorn... oh! Twilight Sparkle?" Derpy said. "I'd be happy to introduce you to her... at least, if you were to, um... show up?"

"Oh, I will most definitely show up..." Arbmos said.

Without saying too much more, Derpy picked up her satchel and return to Ponyville. She went back to her house and readied herself to go to sleep in her bed, but before she did, she got out her pencil and diary and sat at the desk in her room.

Holding the pencil in her mouth, she wrote an entry in her diary:

Dear Diary,

I had just about the worst day of my life today, and I had been put on suspension from my job without pay. Needless to say, paying the bills and buying food would be difficult... but things have changed for the better.

I met a pony... or somepony who use to be a pony... talking to me in my head, who wants to help me out. Sounds crazy, I know, but I know that I can't be dreaming. I don't know why all of this is even happening to begin with... but I don't want to question it.

The voice in my head, whose horn is now on my head, Arbmos, is gonna give me power that I need to win the respect that I deserve! I have to do things for him, but I know it will be okay. He seems friendly enough. He turned me into an Alicorn. I think I can trust him; why else would he do all this for me?

Anyways, it's getting late, and I'm tired. I'll get back to you later.

-Derpy.

After finishing the entry, Derpy put her diary away and climbed into her bed. She shut off the light and pulled herself under the sheets of her bed.

"Ahhh..." Derpy sighed. "...I know things'll get better from here on out."

...Just keep hoping, Derpy. Because who knows how things could end up turning out? Anyways, hope you all are enjoying the fic so far! I'll get back to you next time!