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Lyra's Human 2: Derpy's Human

by pjabrony

Chapter 30: 30: The Sun Also Derps

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And so, once more, Karyn and Derpy found themselves on the train.

It was a second-class ticket, not the all-the-bells-and-whistles of their first trip, but neither were they uncomfortable. They got to see the sights again through the window in a roomette.

They were heading southwest. The countryside was less densely populated than any region that Karyn had been to before. Gentle hills and valleys provided an almost roller-coaster experience.

“Dinky couldn’t make it?” asked Karyn.

“She’ll be along. She missed the train from Canterlot, but the next one isn’t too far back. She’ll certainly return with us.”

“I’d like to have her along for the trip though. She’s pleasant conversation. Not that you aren’t.”

Derpy grinned, then turned serious. “I think she had something to tell you as well. She asked if she could have a minute or two with you. Oh, well. If it's that important, she'll tell you eventually.”

“So tell me, what’s he like?” asked Karyn.

“Huh? Who?”

“Your father, silly filly. The guy we’re visiting.”

Derpy was still spaced out. Karyn tried again. “OK, what does he do? Does he still carry the mail?”

“Oh, no. No, he’s too old for that. He’s stopped working.”

“That’s nice, I guess. I’d like to stop working someday, so maybe I can ask him what retirement is like. I hope he’s enjoying it. But why did he move out so far?”

“A lot of ponies move there when they get older,” said Derpy, staring out the window. “It’s pretty, you’ll see.”

“I hope that he likes me. You can never tell how ponies are going to react.”

“Well, everypony’s unique, but he’s family. You saw how Dinky took to you.”

Karyn still hadn’t told Derpy about Dinky’s initial hostility, but even so, she was right. Dinky had been more receptive to a human than most ponies. It just took a little work.

They had left behind Ponyville and Appleloosa. The trees had thinned and the grasses were taller and less green as the train proceeded. Stops were fewer and farther between, and soon even the grass was left behind as they entered a desert.

Barrel and saguaro cacti dotted the land as the sun blazed above. Karyn watched dust devils pick up torrents of sand and spray them around. Even though she was warm, she didn’t risk opening the window. The sand would have gotten in her eyes, and whatever cooling the wind would provide wasn’t worth it.

“Is this where your father lives?” she asked.

“No, not here,” said Derpy. “Very few ponies do. A few pegasi just make sure that the desert doesn’t encroach past the boundaries set out by Princess Celestia. Nopony grows anything.”

“I hope the train doesn’t break down out here.”

“If worse comes to worst, we’ll just all have to take shifts pulling. I don’t think they’ll make you pull, though. The harness wouldn’t fit.”

Karyn grinned. The sandy desert gave way to salt flats that might once have been a river or lake. The reflection from the sun on the white salt blinded Karyn, and she shaded her eyes.

“It’s hard to believe that anypony can live beyond this. They seem cut off from the rest of Equestria.”

Derpy seemed distracted and didn’t respond at first. Karyn shrugged it off and went back to looking at the open plain.

The train made one stop in the desert, a town even more technologically backward than the ones Karyn was used to. This was like a stopover in the Old West. She thought that it would not be out of place to see two ponies having a gun fight at high noon.

Only a few ponies got on the train, and they were very old, reminding Karyn of Mr. Waddle, he of the pipe cutie mark.

She was still trying to get Derpy to be more engaging. “You said there were a lot of older ponies where we’re going to?”

“Huh? Yes, there are. And they’re not that cut off. This is just the most direct route.”

Derpy kept pausing and restarting her side of the conversation. “A few young ponies too, but no one wants that. Everypony should be old together.”

Karyn thought that it wasn’t so good for old people to not have any younger folk. They tended to be happier when there were unwrinkled faces and unbent backs around to remind them of their better days. But she didn’t disagree.

At last the train was pulling out of the desert into more lush lands. The area was still tropical, but now palm trees and ferns were more plentiful than the hardy desert plants. The train was making more frequent stops. When the train went around curves, Karyn could see the direction they were traveling, and she caught the first glimpse of the ocean horizon.

They disembarked at the station. A cobblestone road curved off into the distance. Karyn got the impression that they were walking atop some great retaining wall that held back the ocean. Derpy trotted along the road.

“Don’t you want to wait for Dinky?” asked Karyn.

“She’ll be along soon enough. Come on, Daddy’s waiting.”

Karyn shrugged and followed. She was still looking for the residential area, but hadn’t yet seen it. There weren’t even too many shops. The buildings that were along the road seemed more specialized. She passed a smithy, a mason’s shop, and a woodworker’s. I suppose they need to have these somewhere, she thought.

She raised her head to the sky. There were no clouds, only a deep and endless blue with the sun behind her. When she turned toward it, she squinted and the light made sparkles on her eyelashes. She could see tiny rainbows in the circles.

“It’s such a beautiful day today,” she said. “We picked a good day to come out here.”

“It’s always a nice day in this section of Equestria,” said Derpy in monotone. “Pegasi don’t let any clouds come by.”

She turned back and looked at Karyn. “Some ponies think that rain once in a while would be nice, just a plain, steady rain with some gentle clouds, but most are of the opinion that having the bright sun is better. Anyway, that’s what they do.”

“But how do they grow plants and keep it from turning into the desert?”

“Oh, everypony around helps out. They water the grass with hoses and use plant food. They do it at night though. Any day that you stop by, you’ll have the nice weather and the grass. Here we are.”

Derpy had come to a break in the shops along the road and turned down a little alley. At the end was a tall metal gate that was slightly ajar. She pushed it open with a hoof.

Karyn was about to follow when she heard the whistle of the train from off in the distance. “That must be the train that Dinky’s coming in on. Are you sure you don’t want to wait for her?”

“Huh? No, she’ll be along. Come on.”

Karyn walked through the gate.

She had always felt that Equestria was more beautiful than Earth, at least the parts that she had seen of both. After coming through the desert and the salt flats, she was prepared for some kind of desolation. Instead, she had a good idea of what paradise would be like.

The valley gently sloped away toward the sea. In the distance, gulls danced on a breeze from the sea. The sun’s reflection was a shimmer of gold on the water. Drawing her eyes back up, Karyn saw the network of marble-white walkways crisscrossed with the hedges. Each hedge had been squared off at the top with the precision usually reserved for topiary gardens. But there were no fancy designs here, just the simple beauty of shapes.

The houses that made up the village were small, and she wondered if any held more than one or two ponies. All were made of stone, and that gave the sun one more surface to shine on. That made sense, though. If this was a place where old ponies dwelt, they probably wouldn’t have large families.

Derpy had started down, but Karyn stood still, stunned by the beauty of the valley below. When Derpy noticed that she wasn’t being followed, she went back to Karyn.

“You coming?”

“Yes. Where does your father live?”

Derpy turned toward the valley. “Over yonder. In fact, maybe I should go and talk to him for a few minutes before you come down.”

“OK. When Dinky comes by, I’ll catch up.”

“Thanks.”

As Derpy flew down, Karyn realized that something was missing. There were far fewer ponies than ought to be in a town this size. The valley was every bit as large as Ponyville’s main square, but only a few gardens were being tended and, far off where she could barely see, a small gathering was being held. Was the beautiful day really so commonplace that the ponies didn’t want to run around and enjoy it? But she didn’t mind since the town itself was unspoiled. She leaned against the back wall of the building by the gate.

“Karyn!”

She heard a faint voice calling her from behind. Ducking her head out the gate, she saw the small speck of Dinky coming up the road to her. She waved and turned back to look at the valley. She was still in awe and wanted to use her time to look at it.

A detail she had missed the first time caught her eye. Throughout the valley, in among the yards and houses and hedges, there were small round stones. She couldn’t tell what purpose they served, if indeed they weren’t simply decorative. She looked to the yard closest to her and saw more of the stones close up. They looked like perfect, polished spheres.

“Karyn!”

Dinky’s voice was louder, and Karyn thought there might have been some urgency in it, but she was more curious about the stones. She walked over to inspect one closer, when she saw yet another odd thing. Far off, but still in view, Derpy had stopped and landed. She seemed to be focusing her attention on one of the stones themselves. “Did she get lost?” Karyn said to herself, but then continued toward the stone.

“Karyn, wait!”

Dinky was coming through the gate, but whatever it was could wait a moment. Karyn had reached the nearest stone. It was lacquered and reflected in the sun, and Karyn wanted to touch it and feel the smooth surface. She noticed that it wasn’t quite spherical, but had small pockmarks on it.

It looks like the surface of the moon, she thought. Why would they have so many copies of the moon here? I thought that for so many years ponies were afraid of it, since Nightmare Moon came from there. What would that symbolize to ponies?

Then it hit her.

“Oh, no,” she said, sinking to her knees. She looked around the stone for confirmation and found it. A name, and two dates with a dash between them.

Dinky had caught up to her, realizing that it was too late. Karyn looked down at where Derpy was facing the stone. “Then that means. . . “

“Yes,” said Dinky. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get you in time. I wanted to explain everything.

“It happened ten years ago, and Mommy got very depressed afterwards. She kept on saying how she didn’t know how she would go on without him. After a few days, I guess she decided she wouldn’t. She kept talking about him as if he were alive and had just moved away. She talked about visiting and spending time, and now she has one-sided conversations with him when she comes here.

“I told you that one time I really upset her. I don’t remember what the fight was about, but she said something like, ‘Grandpa will be very disappointed in you,’ and I spoke without thinking. I said, ‘He would be, if he were still alive!’ She stopped yelling at me, but she just cried. I’d never felt worse. I can’t ever say it again in front of her. That’s why I wanted to get you alone, but I didn’t have a chance last week, and then I missed the train today, so. . . “

Karyn was only half-listening. As though in a trance, she walked toward where Derpy was.

Things became clearer as she headed down. What she thought were houses were mausoleums. She passed a few where the marble tombs shone through the glass doors. The names of the ponies interred were carved inches deep into the rock.

She approached Derpy and was able to make out a few words. Derpy was speaking without lament or sadness in her voice. She really did act as if her father could hear her.

“I’ve been busier than I ever have been this year. Even with Dinky gone. Oh, she had a little trouble in school, but she’ll get over it. She’s so smart, but you know that. Much smarter than I was at that age.

“I made a new friend this year. Her name is Karyn, and she’s a human from another world. Some ponies probably think I’m weird for it, but I don’t mind. Not really. There have just been too many good things to come out of it.”

Derpy still hadn’t noticed Karyn approaching from above.

“Oh, and I got a cat too! Can you imagine? Silly, forgetful Derpy taking care of a little kitty. But I never forget to feed him. Actually, sometimes I wake up and worry that I have forgotten, but then I go down and check and his bowl is full of food. Isn’t that funny?

“I’m getting along well at work too. It’s hard, carrying all that mail every day, but you know that. Hey, I met Princess Celestia! Can you believe it? And not only that, but she made me a princess too! Only for a little bit, and to me it really didn’t count, but how about that? Maybe that makes you a king, huh?”

Karyn shifted on the grass, and Derpy picked her head up.

“Aha. Daddy, this is the friend I was telling you about. She takes care of me so that I’m never lonely. Karyn, do you want to say hi?”

Karyn felt a bit awkward. “Um, it’s nice to meet you, sir. Derpy takes just as much care of me. She’s really an awesome pony. You should be very proud.”

Derpy kept looking at the stone. Karyn watched her.

“She such a good friend and a mother. Don’t listen to her about other ponies thinking she’s weird. Everypony loves her. She hangs out with all the famous ponies, and we go all over Equestria. Even on Earth where I come from, we all love her. She’s kind and caring and it really shows.”

It was too much. Karyn’s voice cracked. “I just, I. . . she’s the most wonderful pony and. . . “

Derpy still spoke to the stone. “No, it’s OK, Daddy. I understand. You always get tired around this part of day. It’s all right, we’ll come and see you again in a little while. Dinky will want to say hi as well, and I’ll bring some of those chrysanthemums you like.

“Come on, Karyn. We need to let Daddy rest a bit. “

Tears streaming down her face, Karyn nodded. She trudged up the walk with her hand on Derpy’s shoulder. She didn’t know who was leaning on whom.

When they reached the top where Dinky was standing, Derpy said, “I’m going to go pick up the flowers. You two can visit for a little while. Dinky, you can see Grandpa when I get back, OK?”

“Sure, Mommy.”

Derpy went back through the gate. Once Dinky was sure that she wouldn’t hear them, she said to Karyn, “Are you mad that I didn’t let you know? I really tried.”

“No, I’m not. I’m not sure what to feel. Or what I ought to feel. I never knew him, but to see the way Derpy acts around him, it’s harder than if she cried.”

“I know. Thanks for playing along. We just have to be stronger than she is for once.”

“Of course I can’t contradict her. I know it would break her heart.” Karyn kept looking down, making sure she knew exactly where he was. “Tell me about him. What you remember.”

“Huh? Oh, well, he was a very large pony. A big stallion with lots of muscles, but he hadn’t used them for a while because all he did was carry the mail. I never knew my grandmother, but from what I gather she was kind of a silly mare and not attractive. That’s probably where Mommy gets it from. Anyway, all the other fillies said that she would never find a handsome stallion, but then Grandpa chose her, so I guess he saw something inside.”

“Your mother gets something from him as well, I think.”

“I’m sure, plus he raised her.” Dinky thought some more. “I would stay with him when I was a baby and Mommy had to work. He would make my breakfast every day. Every day he would ask me what I wanted, and every day I would say the same thing, toast. He made it for both of us and he never got tired of eating it. Or maybe he did and didn’t let on. That’s what I remember most, those breakfasts. Funny, how it’s the little things you remember, right?”

Derpy came back in. “Are you sharing stories about Grandpa, Dinky? He’s so nice, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is,” said Karyn.

Derpy looked at Karyn, as if wondering why she answered. But her tears were drying and she was smiling, so Derpy said, “I got lots of flowers. Let’s go down and give them to Daddy.”

She had indeed. On her back was a tight arrangement of mums in white, yellow, red, and lavender. They were so bulky that they looked heavy, and it seemed like Derpy would tip over.

“Why did you get so many?” asked Dinky.

“We might get hungry.” Derpy reached her head around and pulled a yellow flower out, chewing on it as she started down. Dinky shrugged and bit down on a lavender one.

“Karyn, do you want a flower?” she asked.

“Um, sure.” Karyn took a white mum and nibbled on it as she brought up the rear. “It’s actually not bad.”

They reached the grave and Derpy began arranging the flowers around it. “Here you go, Daddy. We only ate a few, so the rest are for you. Unless we want a few more. You won’t mind, will you?”

They sat on the grass and talked and talked, the three of them, for hours. If Derpy addressed her father, Dinky and Karyn would talk to him as well, though for long stretches she did not. Eventually the shadows grew longer and the shimmer of gold on the horizon grew wider.

“Oh, look at the sunset!” said Karyn.

The sun was low enough to where you could look at it. The orange-red light suffused everything. A gentle breeze blew the ponies’ manes back, and Karyn’s hair as well.

“Sunset City. That’s what they call this place,” said Derpy, smiling. “I think it’s one of the prettiest parts of Equestria. Someday, many years from now, I’d like to come out here myself. I’ll watch the sunset every night and I won’t ever get tired of it. Someday when all my work is done and after I’ve seen you get married, Dinky.”

“Hey, don’t pressure me!”

Derpy laughed. “Take your time. Like I said, not for a while yet.”

Karyn’s emotions started welling up in her again. “Derpy, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope it’s a long time before you come here to stay.”

Derpy was silent for a long time, and Karyn was afraid that she had offended her or triggered something in her, but she was just looking out as the sun itself sank into the sea and turned to water.

“Karyn, do you know the best thing about a sunset? Do you know how they say that the anticipation of a big event a lot of times makes you happier than the event itself? Every sunset is a preparation. A getting-ready. Every sunset happens just so that a sunrise can happen soon. Every one. So long as Princess Celestia is around to bring it back, which is forever. So don’t ever be sad about a sunset. Promise me, OK?”

“I promise, Derpy.”

They all stood up and walked back up the hill, to the train heading East toward home.

To the new sunrise.



For Bernice, and for Charlie as well

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