My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Friends from Unexpected Places

Chapter 17

Trying to Fit In

After being temporarily taking by Rainbow Dash and her mother for the night, Derpy and eTu`nes worked together a little story to tell them in order to let them stay that isn’t too far from the truth.

“but… do we have to lie to them? I mean, we barely know them and we’re already lying to them.” Derpy said, not really feeling keen about this.

“you want to live out in the park in a cardboard box?” Derpy quickly shook her head ‘no’. “well, that means we have to lie. I don’t like it too but we have no choice.” eTu`nes opened the door and walked on out. A torn Derpy followed behind him.

The 2 sat down to dinner with Rainbow Dash and her mother, eating corn on the cob. “Thanks, Mrs. Dash!” both eTu`nes and Derpy said as they chowed down.

“please, call me Shine Dash.” she asked.

“okay, Mrs. Shine!” they both replied again.

Shine gave a kind chuckle before asking what they were hoping she wouldn‘t; “so, I must ask, what brings you to FeatherTop, and where are your parents?”

Both stopped eating for a moment. “they’re… they’re dead.” eTu`nes lied. “my parents were killed by a rival family. Ditzy lost hers in a train accident.”

“oh, I’m sorry.” Shine replied. Dash kept pigging out till her mother asked her to stop. “so… how’d you 2 meet?”

Derpy took over. “well, we both ran away from our foster homes. We both got bad families. And mine was tough as I lived next door to some very horrid bullies, so… we just ran and met each other by chance in the Everfree Forest.”

“hmm. That’s some good luck on your part.” Shine muttered. “What happened next?”

“Well, we stayed in the forest, glad to be away from our abusive ‘families’ when a Leviathan came out of nowhere.” Derpy exclaimed, catching Dash’s attention.

“Leviathan?” Shine asked, having never heard of them before.

“Big Sea Serpent, and when I mean big, I MEAN BIG!” eTu`nes laughed, stretching his arms as far as he could.

“whoa! How’d you survive?”

“un…” both Derpy and eTu`nes stopped and pretended to think. “how did we get rid of it?” he muttered. He hit himself in the head a few times. “Sorry, can’t seem to remember how. Only thing we both remember about it is that it caused Ditzy’s eyes to look like that.” he said, pointing to her.

“the Leviathan caused that?”

“well… yes and no. the monster blinded me but we were able to heal it… with some side-effects.” Derpy said, pointing to her eyes at the end.

“well, at least you escaped with your life.”

“yeah. If only we could remember how.”

Dash sat back. “you know, the eyes make you look sort-of… Derpy.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Shine exclaimed.

“well, she does. In fact, that sounds like a cool nickname. Yeah, from now on, I’m gonna call you Derpy.”

Shine angrily shook her head. “I’m sorry for my daughter. She’s like this from time to time.”

“no no. it does actually sound better then Ditzy in some cases.” Derpy said with a chuckle. “no, she can call me Derpy.”

“Cool!” Dash exclaimed. Shine rolled her eyes with a sly chuckle.

“if I may continue…” eTu`nes interrupted. Shine gestured him to continue. “… well, not knowing if the monster is dead or not, and wanting to get away from our foster families, we came here, and you know the rest.”

“right.” Shine said, believing every word. “that is quite a story.”

“so… if you know how bad we had it, can we please stay here?” Derpy asked. She and eTu`nes gave big grins.

Shine looked at them suspiciously. Both foreigners nervously gulped. Dash looked between them both, still munching on the corn cob.

“let me think about it. I’ll give you a answer in the morning. For now, however, you can stay.”

Derpy breathed a sigh of relief. “thank you, Mrs. Dash.” eTu`nes said.

“call me Shine. Mrs. Dash is my mother.” Shine smiled.

“all right!” Dash cheered. “Come on, I’ll show you guys my room.” she said as she pulled them upstairs.

Shine couldn’t help but smile. “well, at least Rainbow Dash is making friends.” she chuckled.

Dash showed her new friends into her room and they couldn’t help but get a little bit freaked out.

Hanging on every wall was a Wonderbolts poster; she had Wonderbolt figurines, she had Wonderbolt key chains. She even had a Wonderbolt bed sheet.(sounding familiar to anybody?)

“wow. Guess someone’s REALLY into the Wonderbolts.” Derpy said, not breaking character.

“And why wouldn’t I? they are just the most awesomest, most spectaculerist, most amazingist team of flyers out there! And when I get older, I’m gonna join ‘em!”

“join the Wonderbolts?” Derpy scoffed. “Keep dreaming. I hear that club‘s so exclusive, you need to be invited by a Wonderbolt in order to join.”

“and how do you know?” eTu`nes asked.

“un… I know someone who knows someone who’s in the Wonderbolts.” Derpy quickly made up. There’s one thing she wants nobody to know.

“if you say so?” Dash shrugged. She yawned and smacked her lips. “guess it’s getting late. Catch you guys in the morning?” she asked as she jumped onto her bed.

“Sure thing. Getting sleepy myself.” eTu`nes yawned. He and Derpy left and closed the door behind them.

Dash squealed in excitement as she hugged a pillow. “woo-hoo. I got honest to goodness friends.” she silently cheered. “and one of them is a Dragon. How awesome is that?”

Derpy and eTu`nes walked into the guest room, both starting to get really tired and wanting to go to bed now. There was just one problem.

“there’s only one bed.” Derpy quietly said. “how is this going to work?”

eTu`nes shrugged. “I’ll take the floor. I’m comfortable on hard surfaces.” he said. Before Derpy could argue, eTu`nes laid down on a rug and fell asleep.

“if you say so.” Derpy tiredly and sadly said. She climbed into bed and went out like a light.

She just laid there for a few moments before… “no. you know what. No.” she suddenly said. eTu`nes opened his right eye and lazily glanced up. “you’re getting into bed with me.”

“wait, what?” eTu`nes exclaimed in surprise.

“I’m not letting you sleep on a hard floor. I wouldn’t feel right for letting it happen.” Derpy grabbed his hard and tried to pull him up.

“you’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” eTu`nes laughed.

“you’re darn right I am.”

eTu`nes couldn’t help but chuckle. He decided to humor her by getting up and getting into bed with her.

“okay, but will this be…” he saw the full size of the king bed. “WHOA that’s big.”

Derpy pulled back the covers on the left side. “you stay on the right side and I’ll stay on the left. Deal?”

“Deal.” he laughed. There was certainly enough room for them both. They both climbed onto the bed and stayed on their sides. Derpy even arraigned some of the pillows to make a effective barrier.

“night, eTu`nes.” Derpy yawned before nodding off.

“night, Derpy.” he replied before catching the bedbug himself.

20 years later…

A new day, a new chance to fit in with the Pony-folk. At least, that’s what Edge kept telling himself. It’s only been a day and he’s already feeling like a outsider. And why should he be surprised? He is a Changeling, after all. But he’s hoping to fix that today. He’s gonna go out and try to find something he can help; making up some phony story about how he can’t make mirrors anymore; and why Fluttershy and Bahamut went with that for his false Backstory, he’ll never know.

Edge yawned as he woke up. Since he was able to move and all, he relocated himself to the floor downstairs, letting Fluttershy have her bed back. It felt too soft, anyways. He was used to hard surfaces; grew up in a hive, after all.

Edge cracked his back; literally, as he yawned again. “don’t wanna try and make breakfast again; that went bad last time.” he muttered to himself.

He got up, only to have something leathery fall off him. He noticed this and gave it a look. “a blanket?” Bahamut yawned and plopped his head on top of the couch. “you put a blanket over me?” Edge asked.

“no. when I hit a pillow, I go out like a light.” Bahamut yawned.

“so, it was…” Edge smiled as he looked up the stairs.

Fluttershy stretched as she, Bahamut, and Edge walked out of the house. “another perfect fall day.” she pleasantly sighed.

“it’s fall? guess that explains why it was getting cold.” Edge muttered. “well, I’m gonna go see if there’s anything I can do in town. I need to do something or else I’m gonna go crazy!”

“if only you could go by your name and be a mirror maker.” Bahamut chuckled.

“if only.” Edge playfully replied.

Fluttershy put on a saddlebag and stretched her wings. “I got something to take care of in town. Will you be alright by yourself, Edge?”

“I think I can manage.” he said. He concentrated and changed into his pony-sona. “long as I keep this up.”

“and Bahamut…”

“I know. I know. Take care of the little woodland creatures; I know the drill.” Bahamut distantly replied. He heard this over and over.

Fluttershy chuckled as she moved her attention to Edge. “ready to go?” she asked.

“ready.” both took to the air and headed for Ponyville.

“if he wasn’t a changeling, those 2 would make a good couple.” Bahamut muttered as he went back.

‘Shy and Edge flew though the air, Edge having the time of his life.

“oh, this feels nice. I haven’t been able to fly this high in FOREVER!” he happily exclaimed. He performed a loop-de-loop with flare and style.

Fluttershy watched him with a smile. “Good to see your feeling much better. Seems like it was yesterday that me and Bahamut found you near death.”

“and I thank you for that.” Edge said.

“so… what are you going to do next?”

“well, find a way back to the hive.”

That piece of news hit ‘shy hard. “oh.”

Edge noticed this. “but… probably not until I feel stronger. I mean, I’m a Changeling all by himself in a love-filled town. This is a smorgasbord for me.”

“I’ve been curious, how do Changelings feed?”

“oh, a plethora of ways; bite like a vampire, suck it out though a hole in the head though a straw, suck it though your eyes…” Fluttershy was clearly freaked out by this. Edge couldn’t help but laugh. “Hahaha. Oh, ponies are so easy to freak out.” he sighed. “no, we just absorb it, like how plants absorb oxygen or sunlight or whatever it is they absorb. The problem is if there’s enough and if the subject is willing to do it. Like you.”

“like me?”

“yeah. When you were taking care of me, you were giving me your love willingly. That helped heal me. And before I leave, I wanna repay that somehow. Hence me staying and trying to find a job.”

“oh. Well, good luck with that.”

“thanks. I’m gonna need it.”

The 2 went their separate ways when they entered the town. ‘Shy stopped for a moment and looked back at Edge with a smile.

Edge’s first stop was Carousel Boutique. Rarity’s gotta have a opening, right?

Nope.

“really? Not even a sweeper?” Edge asked.

“sorry, no. I don’t hire anyone.” Rarity explained.

“yet… you got Ash working for you.” Edge smirked.

“he’s living here. I figured I might as well get some free labor out of it.” Rare said while making some last minute modifications to a drawing of a future suit.

“right. Well, thanks.” Edge turned and left. “(well, that’s one down, 4 more to go.)” he thought to himself.

Speaking of labor, Edge went to the library next, hoping Twilight is hiring now that she’s with child. Even if she’s just starting, she’s gotta be hiring for some strenuous tasks, right?

WRONG!

“I’m sorry, Edge, but I’m not really hiring. Library’s don’t need much attention.” Twi explained, reading ‘how to be a single mother’.

“They don’t?” Edge dejectedly asked. Twi shook her head ‘no’. “aw, man. First, Rarity, now you. Hopefully Pinkie’s got a free spot.” he said as he left.

As Edge left, Twi couldn’t help but feel sorry.

Sugarcube Corner. For a Ponyville Hotspot, Mr. and Mrs. Cake have got to be hiring, especially with Nightmare Night around the corner.

Apparently not.

“Oh, sorry Edge darling but with Marble and Sora with us, we’re actually making more then we can sell.” Mr. Cake said as he cradled Pumpkin Cake back and forth.

Edge’s head hit the counter. “you gotta be kidding me!”

Next was Sweet Apple Acres. She had to have a job, right?

Well, she did.

“oh, sorry Edge but we just picked the last of the apples for the year. And Zap Apple season doesn’t start for another 3 months.” A.J. explained.

“oh, come on!”

All that was left was Rainbow Dash but that was gonna be a problem.

He couldn’t find her.

“I’m really starting to hate this town.” he grumbled.

“wow.” Berry muttered as she looked a drawing over. “this looks like it’s going to be expensive, ‘Shy. You sure you want me to make this?”

“of course, I’m sure Berry.” Fluttershy said. “you’re the best jeweler in Ponyville. There’s no one else I would give this task to.”

“if you’re sure. You can probably expect it ready in time for Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

“that’s prefect, Berry. Thank you.”

Berry spotted something outside. “well, speak of the devil.” ‘Shy turned around to see Edge slowly walk by.

“See you later, Berry.” Fluttershy said as she headed out.

“See ya, Fluttershy.” she replied. She turned her attention to the drawing. “quite a interesting design choice, Fluttershy.” she muttered.

Edge slowly walked on down to the center of town after being turned down everywhere he went.

“hey, Edge. How‘d the job hunt go?” Fluttershy said as she approached him. He sadly glanced up. “That bad?”

“yep. Nobody had a job opening. And before you ask, I wasn’t able to ask Rainbow Dash. I haven’t been able to find her all day.”

“oh. Well, I could always use a helper with the animals. I don’t get paid much but…”

“I’m afraid I’m gonna have to decline, Fluttershy. I want to pay you back in my own way. I’m sure I can find something.”

“oh. Well, if you say so.”

The 2 reached the fountain in the center of town. Edge stepped on something cold and looked down. he found a bit of the lowest value and flicked it up and down.

That gave ‘Shy an idea. “you know, they say that this is a wishing well.”

“wishing well?”

“yeah. They say if you flick a bit into it and wish for something with all your heart, it’ll come true.”

“That so?” Edge muttered. He looked down at the bit. “I take it I have to be silent about it?” ‘Shy nodded in confirmation.

Edge stared down at the bit with a curious look. He looked up at the fountain. He sighed and closed his eyes. He held the bit close for 10 seconds before flicking it in.

“what did you wish for?” ‘Shy curiously asked.

“sorry, but that…” Edge tapped his forehead. “is a secret. But… I will tell you this. It’s ¼ true already.”

Now she was curious. “Come on. Tell me. I promise I won’t tell.”

Edge turned around and playfully crossed his arms across his chest. “sorry, but my lips are sealed.”

Fluttershy ran around to the other side. “oh, tell me.” she whined.

“nu-uh.”

“Please?”

“no way, José.”

Fluttershy kept on pestering him but he held his ground.

Edge had 4 wishes on that single bit that are connected into one: to find a work-place to pay back Fluttershy, to find a way back to the Hive, to reveal the truth to everyone and hope they don’t go ballistic, and probably the most important one; to stay with Fluttershy.