"Good Afternoon, Mr. Lan!"
I yawned widely. "Afternoon, Derpy... How was your day yesterday?"
"Great! Some of us have a surprise for you later!"
"Surprise?"
"Why are you so tired?"
"It's a long story... what did you say about"
"It's ok, I have time! Pinkie, 6 cupcakes, please!" The pink baker bounced out from under the table, set the cupcakes down, then slowly sank back under, watching us. I tried to look down there for her as soon as she vanished, but she was gone. How in the name of Luna does she- drop it... drop it... Derpy giggled adorably, and served us both a cupcake. "So, what's the story?"
"It's not a happy story, Derpy..."
"That's ok! Most of your stories would end up sad, and so would mine. Sadness is part of life, and through its lens we can see happiness and understanding beyond. Besides, knowing your sadness and you knowing mine will help us get to know and understand each other better."
I blinked very slowly. "How incredibly deep and well thought out. As you wish... Were you there for Pinkie's party yesterday?"
"I wouldn't have missed it!"
"All right then... You saw the incident with the blades, I'd assume."
"Yeah." Her muzzle wrinkled in confusion. "What was that about?"
"I'd made the three fillies swear on their manes and tails not to try to get my crest. When they tried anyway, my magic activated and sent knives to cut off said manes and tails." Derpy blinked at me for a moment, then burst out laughing. "What, what did I say that was funny? This is very serious!"
"I-I know... but I just can't keep from picturing them without tails!" She paused to wipe away a tear. "I'll bet Rarity is furious with you!"
I smiled slightly too, finally realizing the hilarity of that image, but sadness was tainting mine. "Yeah... She's been spreading rumors that my knives are what cut Sweetiebell and Scootaloo. And, of course, after I countered her yesterday, Mayor Mare is running with the idea like a stampeding buffalo." I was stopped from ranting further by another massive yawn.
"Sweetie and Scoot got cut!?"
"Yeah... they thought it'd be a great idea to jump off a platform into a rapidly-flowing river while holding knives..."
"...Oh... But, why are you so tired?"
"I've been up all night at the hospital, watching over Scootaloo. Sweetiebell just got cut, but Scoot was impaled against a rock... It's been tough, but they say she'll recover. Even if it wasn't my knives that hurt them, they were copying my crest... I couldn't get the knives away from them in time... I couldn't stop them in time... I feel responsible for their injuries...
"You couldn't have done anything, Lantra..."
"I could have tried harder..."
"Mr. Lan, you did try hard, I'm sure of that. Now stop moping and blaming yourself, or I'm going to cram this cupcake down your throat!"
I laughed slightly. "Ok, sorry. But, whether I am or am not responsible isn't going to matter to the town. More of the townsponies believe Mayor Mare every hour."
"But there are lots of us who saw through her mask when you challenged her. And, like me, we're not afraid of criticism any more."
My smile lost a lot of the sadness. "Thank you, Derpy. You have no idea how much that means to me."
"So, why did you get bullied?"
"What?"
"Well, this subject is closed before you can mope more. Sad is fine, as long as there is a lesson- that lesson is to stop moping and blaming yourself. Lesson learned, new topic with new lessons. You said you'd been bullied when you saved me. Why? You have a dangerous talent, you're athletic, smart, powerfully magical... Why would people bully you? Any stallion would be scared, any mare enchanted."
...For a second, I nearly spilled everything to this strange, unique mare... Then I bit my tongue just in time. I was in a province of the traitor! Anything I said could end up back in Her hooves. Anything, from my race to even my real name could end in my execution for denying exile.
"One... can't always be powerful... I used to be weak, and was... bullied horribly."
Derpy was looking at me sadly, as if I'd let her down and she knew I was mostly lying... To distract her, I asked "Who else is with you against Mayor Mare?"
"Oh!" she perked up at once. "Granny Smith for one! And Lyra, and Turner! As soon as I was on your side, so was he!" Something in me twitched with suspicion.
"Are you two a couple?"
"No..." she looked slightly sad. "He's just a really, really good friend... He's too immature for me- too much to learn. Just like Rainbow Dash..."
I choked on a piece of cupcake. "WHAT!?" She had turned an interesting shade of red that made her even cuter.
"I had a... curious... phase..." I kept staring. "You should have seen me trying to show off for her... I destroyed the town hall by accident."
"...Seriously?"
"Yep... So I completely failed to catch her attention, in the right way at least. But, she's only interested in the athletic ponies anyway." Derpy sighed slightly, then suddenly locked eyes with me. "What type of mare do you like?"
I blinked at her, bewildered. "What?"
"Oh, or do you like colts..."
"Luna no! I just... that was unexpected."
"Why? It's not off topic."
"Ok, well... I guess I'd say I like all types of mares."
"That's a cop-out!"
"No, I mean it. Every type of mare brings something unique to a relationship. That's what part of the concept of herds has."
"I heard you telling Twilight about those. The idea makes sense to me. But, what does each type of mare bring? You're not getting out of my question that easily."
I sighed, but couldn't help laughing slightly. "But, it'll sound so wrong!" Mentally, I blinked at my own phrasing. I was relaxing around Derpy to an extreme degree. "Ok, ok, stop staring at me like that. First off, Rainbow has a point about athletic mares- A well-worked flank is sexy. They're competitive too, which is fun." Derpy was looking sad. "Don't worry, I don't just like that type. Then you've got your quiet mares, and nerdy mares. Both Kinky, though generally in opposite ways. Quiet is nice for a cuddle, nerdy if you want a deep, thoughtful conversation." I could tell I wasn't giving Derpy what she wanted to hear, but I didn't know how to answer what she was looking for.
"Then there's amusicians. Probably my favorite type, they are as varied as their styles of music." What type was Derpy? Something Discord had said once rang through my mind.
"Always watch for the unique ponies. No type, no rhyme or reason. Utter chaos in a beautiful body, controlled. They'll steal your heart, make you act like somepony else for them, and they'll drive you crazy. Now, get back to the barracks, and if you tell anyone what I'd said, I['ll turn your bed into scorpions!"
I looked across at her after those few moments of silence. She actually looked hurt. Did she have feelings for me, that she wanted me to mention her so badly?
"Well then... I guess-"
"Wait, there's still one more type of mare I like."
"...What...?"
"The unique mares. Like Zecora. She's not placable in my category, special, and unique. Another is well... you."
Her head had been in her hooves, pretending to be eating with over-extreme gusto. At my comment her head shot up. "You like me!?"
"I... ...yes... You're unique and special and... just you!"
She bounced out of her seat, floating in the air. "Come on!" she grabbed my hoof and started literally dragging me along the shop floor. "I still have that surprise for you!"
"Wait, where are- ow!- where- ow!- Derpy, I- ow!" We'd left Sugercube corner, and the rocks in the path the grey mare was taking did not feel overly pleasant!
"Come on, keep up!" she seemed absolutely oblivious to any pain she was causing.
"You're damn lucky you're cute..." I muttered. Forelegs crossed, I was dragged along for several more minutes.
"Ta-da!" Derpy dropped me and flew off behind me. I stood shakily and turned, cursing every stone to never have children. I was face to face with a mid-sized cottage, set up just beside the spring. Gathered in front of it were Derpy, Doctor Whooves, that DJ from the party, and a few ponies I didn't know yet.
"What?" I asked confusedly.
"We built your new home!" Derpy said happily.
"YEAH!" A muscular white pegasus shouted. Could he even get off the ground?
"But, the mayor-"
"She has no right to bar you from the community." said another new pony. She looked ancient, with a pie on her flank. My hunch was this was Granny Smith, and she must be related to Applejack. "Nopony who's wanted to live here since my pappy started it has been turned down!"
"Yeah, man. Totally uncool." said the DJ.
"Besides, some of us already know you're all right." Whooves said, nodding seriously at me.
I realized I was crying. "Thank you all... Never have I been made to feel so welcome."
"Be careful with your laughter, friend. The Mayor comes to make it end."
I glanced behind me to see the mayor and a few important looking ponies storming up on us.
