Two weeks later, Hestaria landed at her mailbox as always and waited a few seconds for Derpy to bring her the mail. A few seconds passed, then a few more. Derpy finally swooped down landed in front of the dark gray bat pony.

“Derpy, are you okay? You’re a little late this morning.” Hestaria asked concerned for the young mare.

“Yeah, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted your letter today.” Derpy said not looking directly at her. Well, her one good eye wasn’t looking directly at her.

“What do you mean?”

Derpy reached back and took an envelope out of her saddle bags. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you Hesti, sorry.”

Hestaria took the letter and watched the Pegasus fly off towards Canterlot. She looked down at the envelope and was shocked at what she saw. In big red letters, the words, ‘Return to Sender’ were printed over the front face of the envelope. Not only had they denied her, they didn’t even bother reading her letter. She had been putting in longer hours at the Weather Factory to try and get closer to paying off her house so she could move into Cloudsdale. But now, her hopes dashed, her dreams crushed; she didn’t have anything now. She dropped the letter and ran inside with tears streaming from her eyes.

It didn’t matter how positive she was now, there wasn’t going to be anything after this. She would be working the same shit job she was working now until she died. Hestaria didn’t bother going to work that night, she didn’t care. It was just before sunrise the day after that, that anypony even came to check on her. The knock woke her from a very long sleep. She trudged her way to the door.

“Go away.” ‘Did I really just get up to say that?’

“It’s White Knight.”

“Don’t give a fuck.”

“I brought mango flavored beer.”

Hestaria’s ears perked up at the words and the door swung open quickly. “You’re bluffing.”

“Am I?” White Knight said holding up the six pack of fruit flavored beer.

Hestaria downed the first one with gusto and held back on the second. The alcohol wasn’t too strong, but it helped her calm down a bit.

“So,” Knight started. “The boss sent me to find out why you haven’t shown up for work.”

“I quit, that’s why.” Hestaria replied taking a swig of the mango flavored beer.

“Why? Because some letter told you that you’re not qualified to serve?”

Hestaria knit her brow. “How’d you know that?”

“Wind and rain don’t always wash away things lying in the street.”

“Whatever, I don’t care anymore.”

“Last I checked, what somepony said to you didn’t matter to you.”

“It’s because I’m not normal. I know it is.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know you see the wings on my back just like everybody else. They require a photo and a full physical. I’m the most fit pony in that factory and they don’t think I’m physically inept to fly with Cloudsdale’s Air Force. It’s all because I’m not normal. They want somepony who looks like you, not some bat winged freak.”

“You’re not a freak. And there are still other things you can do.”

“Weather Patrol already denied me; Celestia knows the Wonder Bolts wouldn’t take me and more over I doubt that even the Celestian Guard would take me.”

“Look, I don’t like what they did any more than you do, but apply for something else. I’ve worked with you for four years now and I know you know you don’t give up.”

“Hope can only get you but so far Whitey.”

“Listen, I’m going to be trying out for the guard next month, they do the physicals there and train you. If you don’t meet expectations, they kick you. Full proof.”

“And if they say I’m not what they’re looking for?”

“Then you have my permission to quit. Come one this’ll be fun! If not physically painful.”

“You really have a way of being positive about the situation don’t you Whitey?”

“How about you come to work tonight and avoid getting fired?”

“Fine, only if you bring me a case of beer before I leave every week.”

“Deal.”

The two friends bumped hoofs and laughed, the first time she had laughed in a few days.