Derpy first view of Karyn’s apartment was that it was clean, cleaner than usual in her estimation. She found that the reason for it was that all the clutter had coalesced into a singularity centered around Karyn’s computer desk. Silently she gave Karyn a look, but Karyn shot it right back.

“I know about the mess, but it’s midterm season again, and I’ve got to work somewhere. If I took out the time to clean it up, I’d never be able to actually get the reports done.”

Derpy narrowed her eyes. “If I didn’t take the time to clean, I wouldn’t get things done.”

“Well, you and I will have to agree to disagree on that one.”

“How does that work?”

“That’s when two friends stop arguing because the friendship matters more than the argument,” said Karyn.

“I’ll agree to agree to disagree, on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

Derpy flew over the desk, knocking over a small stack of paper. “Are you doing well on your midterms?”

Karyn’s face beamed. “Definitely. Derpy, I’m doing awesome in school, and I have been, ever since Twilight taught me about study strategy a couple of years ago. Wow, that was right after we met. Seems like such a long time ago.”

“And you’ve been passing school ever since?”

“Yes, once I got my pens and books to work again. I think people still know me as Feather Girl.”

“So tell me what the tests are that you’re passing so well.”

Karyn flipped over one of the books. “This one’s on legacy technology.”

“Like for inheretances?”

“Ha, no. It means really obsolete stuff that no one uses anymore.”

“Oh!” said Derpy. “I get it. Because you’re studying the human equivalent of magic, it makes sense that there would be some ancient legends and stuff from thousands of years ago that all the humans would have forgotten about.”

“Essentially right, although in this case it’s more like the ancient legends of twenty-five years ago.”

Derpy tidied up Karyn’s study area, and Karyn let her do so, although she kept her eye on the work to make sure that she didn’t lose anything important. “Speaking of timing questions,” said Derpy, “can I ask another one?”

“Sure, but I don’t understand all of the different magical consequences between our worlds.”

“No, not that. You started school three months ago, and you have one month to go before the end of the year. How is this the middle of term?”

Karyn laughed at that. “All right, normally I’d pass it off, but I’ll explain everything. In school, we have semesters, which run for four or five months each. The first one of the year is in the fall, and the second is in the spring. For that one, there are a pair of full-week breaks that make it longer, and one of them is darn near close to the middle of term. Here in the fall, though, the holiday is this week.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s an actual holiday that we celebrate this week called Thanksgiving. It’s our big autumn holiday.”

“Oh, for when you run the leaves,” said Derpy. “Wait, you don’t run the leaves, I know we discussed that.

“True. It’s really more of a harvest celebration. Back in the day when the country was first settled they had a bad winter but a good harvest, or something like that. Honestly, it’s a little confusing as to why they started it in the first place, why they have it at the time they do, and why it’s on a Thursday. But they did, and they do, and it is.”

“Respectively?”

“Yes.”

Derpy finished her tidying. Karyn thanked her, saying that it did look better and agreeing that she probably did have time, but secretly she was planning to restore it as soon as Derpy left. Organized chaos helped her think.

“Anyway,” said Derpy. “are you getting ready to go home for this holiday? What was it called? Thinks living?”

“Thanksgiving. And it’s funny you should mention that. I am going home then, but also today. There’s a pre-Thanksgiving party at a family friend’s, and I’m going.”

“You couldn’t get out of it?”

“In this case I don’t mind.” Karyn put on her winter coat. “They’re nice people, and it lets you see how we celebrate.”

“Sweet! I’m in.”

They walked outside to Karyn’s car. She had to take a circuitous route to get to the highway, and Derpy’s attempted direction didn’t take into account dead ends.

“Honestly, you need to learn to fly. It’s so much easier when you can just go in the direction that your destination is and keep going until you get there.”

“Maybe you’re right, but at the same time, you can miss things doing it that way. Look.”

The road passed out of the residential areas and became a parkway. Trees lined the road in their fall colors, and Derpy was silent for a moment. Then she said, “It’s so pretty. We don’t have this in Equestria.”

“Fall colors? Sure you do.”

“Oranges, reds, and yellows, yes. And we have evergreen forests too. But you’ve got them all mixed in.”

Karyn took a look herself. She had driven the road many times and been taken through the area by her parents many others. She was used to conifers and deciduous trees together, but in Equestria nature was more organized. They spent the rest of the journey in quiet observation.

It was a quick turnaround at Karyn’s parents’ house, and soon they were in the larger car, Karyn and Derpy in the back, and they had no choice but to quietly observe. Karyn got an idea. Reaching into her bag she pulled out her laptop. She looked toward the front for a reproach, and when none came she turned it on and pulled up a blank document. “If you can type back,” she wrote, “we can chat like this.”

Her mother spoke up. “Are you working on your midterm report, Karyn?”

“Yes, a little.”

She angled the laptop toward the opposite seat and went back to looking at the scenery. When she checked a moment later, nothing had changed. She tried again. “Derpy, I know you have your manipulation spell. You can use it for this.”

At last they keys pressed themselves. “I thought you were working on your midterm report.”

“That was a cover story.”

“You lied to your mother?!”

“Not really. I’m thinking about the midterm report, so I am working on it a little.”

Derpy shut the laptop lid, indicating that she no longer wanted to participate. Karyn reopened it and wrote, “I’m sorry. Let’s not fight, it is a holiday after all.”

“I’m not mad at you, but I do want you not to cheat so much. Also this way of talking is no fun since we can’t hear each other’s voices. Let’s just wait till we get there.”

Karyn closed the laptop again and leaned against the window. It was a long drive out of town, and Karyn didn’t feel like trying to find wireless internet on the way, so she just relaxed, but Derpy put her hoof in Karyn’s hand, and that was comforting.

The house that they arrived at was also on a tree-lined road, but the leaves had been raked off the lawn so it looked immaculate. Karyn got out and hung back while her mother and father walked up the lawn with the dessert they had brought.

“Cool house, huh?” she muttered.

“It’s bigger than your parents’.”

“Yeah, these people do really well. That’s how they can have so many people here.” She pointed up and down the road, which was cluttered with cars.

“I hope that means that the party is going to be bigger than the one they had for you as well.”

“Could be.”

“Come on, honey,” Karyn’s father called from the front door. He had rung the doorbell and was waiting there. She hustled to be there when the door was opened.

When the hostess greeted them and they finally got inside, Karyn lingered once more by the closet as she hung up her coat. “What do you think of the inside?”

“It’s got a weird smell.”

“That’s probably their cooking.”

Derpy sniffed. “No, I’m discounting for that. Any house, the first time you go into it, smells a little off. You haven’t noticed that?”

“Actually I have.”

They meandered into the kitchen, which had an open view into the dining room, and with people in both places it wasn’t crowded. Karyn spotted a potato chip bowl and helped herself to one with some dip, then surreptitiously dipped another one and fed it to Derpy with her hand at her side.

Her parents were walking around giving long greetings to everyone and catching up on old times that Karyn was either not a part of or was too young to recollect. She got annoyed and broke away, preferring to say quick hellos to everyone and then mingling at a relaxed pace without the specter of having to greet other people hanging over her.

Working their way around the kitchen to the laundry room, Karyn and Derpy saw that the hostess had covered her washer and dryer with a tablecloth and was using it as a staging area for foods that she hadn’t brought out yet. Pies and cakes were waiting for the dessert course, and a few of the side dishes that only needed to be reheated rested their as well. Karyn made some mental notes as to what she planned to eat as her mother stuck her head in.

“Come on, there’s still a few people here to meet.”

Karyn wanted to protest that she had said hi to everyone, but indeed there were some strangers to her, and she was grateful to be introduced rather than walking around awkwardly avoiding them for the party. This took her past the living room and into the den, and afterwards she got another moment alone with Derpy.

“What were they doing in there?” asked Derpy.

“Just partying. What did you mean specifically?”

“In the living room. All the men were watching TV, and it sounded like a big commotion, but I couldn’t tell what it was.”

Karyn peeked back. “They’re just watching football.”

“What’s that? I guess I couldn’t play that because I don’t have feet.”

“I don’t think they use their feet much anyway. Really, I don’t understand the game much myself, but on Thanksgiving, and most every Sunday, men gather round the TV to watch it, and it’s important to them. It works out, since it gets them out of everyone’s way.”

Derpy took another look. They were indeed intently watching, and didn’t take any notice until the hostess walked in front of the TV, at which point they angrily told her to keep going.

“Come on,” said Derpy. “Let’s go check out the food again.”

They went back into the kitchen where the hostess was beginning to get everything in order. She was particularly organized, with each dish having its contents written in marker on the foil covering the dish. On the side of the refrigerator was a sticky note that listed everything they were to have. Karyn complimented her on her diligence.

“I have to do it that way,” she said. “In the past, when I didn’t, it seemed that every year some dish would be forgotten. We’d be finished with the meal and I’d be cleaning up, and all of a sudden someone would say, ‘Why was there no cranberry sauce?’ or something like that. Excuse me.” She zipped back to the oven, which had beeped.

“Maybe if she didn’t make so much that wouldn’t happen,” Derpy whispered.

“True, but that’s the whole point of the holiday. In past times, it was a chance for people who frequently went hungry to eat until they were satisfied. Of course, today it’s a chance for people who already eat too much to break their diets.” She shot a glance back toward the living room.

“Does that include me? Because these carrots are making my mouth water.”

Karyn went over to the dish labeled “Carrots” and took a whiff. They did indeed smell good, with some sort of sugar having been caramelized on them. “It isn’t fair that you can’t sit at table with everyone else and enjoy the meal. But that’s just the way it’s got to be. If you were discovered, even here with all these nice people, I don’t know what would happen, but it wouldn’t be good.”

“But can’t I have some of the food?”

Karyn sighed. “Let me see what I can do.”

She accosted the hostess. “Is there anything I can do to help? I’m not the best cook but I know a little about it.”

“Oh, thank you, but just about everything’s done. In about ten minutes we’ll be setting up, so if you want to carry out the food then, I’d appreciate it. Until then, let’s see, the table is set, the chairs have all been counted, I don’t think there’s much to do.”

Karyn retreated. “When we set out the food I’ll see what we can do for you,” she said to Derpy.

As she went back to the party to count down the minutes she ran into her mother. “You should go offer to help.”

“I just did. There’s nothing to do now, but in a few minutes I’ll bring out the side dishes to the table.”

“Good for you! I’m glad to see you’re starting to do things like that without me having to ask.”

Karyn grinned and walked away. “Thanks, Derpy. Because of you I got some praise from Mom.”

“I still think you’re lying to her in a way.”

“Oh, hush. Let’s think about how we’re going to feed you.”

When the time came, Karyn was the first back into the kitchen. If the hostess had any children of her own, they were nowhere to be found, so Karyn was the only one helping. She grabbed the carrots that Derpy had mentioned first and walked toward the table.

“Actually,” the hostess said, “if you could take that in to the kids’ table, thanks.”

“Where’s that?”

The hostess pointed Karyn toward another room that she hadn’t even noticed. A smaller table had been set with half a dozen plates and more room in the center. Once alone, Karyn put the carrots down and removed the foil.

“All right, here’s your chance. Take a few, though. It’s supposed to look like a full serving. And for goodness’s sake, be discreet!”

Karyn was happy to see the carrots disappearing directly from the bowl rather than floating down to where Derpy could get a better angle. The process continued as Karyn brought out the Brussels sprouts and the cornbread, but when it came to the mashed potatoes, she was in a quandary.

“It’s not really sanitary for you to bite into this,” she said. “Hang on, I’ll use my spoon and you can just lick it off.”

“How will that be any more sanitary?”

“It won’t, but it’ll be only me, and I breathe in enough of your germs as is. If indeed there are any diseases that can cross over from a pony to a human.”

Derpy took the proffered spoon. “But there are such diseases, like when you were ill because you weren’t using your changeling powers.”

“Yes, magical illnesses, but I’m not worried about everyone suddenly growing wings because some of your saliva got mixed in the food. I am worried about flu and such.”

She hastened back to the kitchen to grab the next side dish. This was a sweet potato casserole covered in marshmallows, and any damage to its pristine surface would have been immediately noticed.

“I don’t know how I’ll get you a taste of this.”

“It’s all right. I don’t really care for marshmallows.”

“Really?” said Karyn. “I think they’re the best. But even so, you could just have the sweet potatoes underneath if we could get them.”

“I’ll see if I have a teleportation spell that would work.”

“No, don’t do that.” She had a vision of the kids scooping the marshmallows to find a void underneath. Some of them might prefer that, but it would clearly unnerve people.

Karyn went back in one more time, and the hostess thanked her once more and said that the only other thing that needed to be put out was the turkey.

Karyn’s vegetarianism was based more on diet than on ethical concerns, but she still winced at the thought of having to carry it. She didn’t mind if other people ate it, even if right in front of her, but preferred not to have anything to do with the transaction.

As if her reaction served as a reminder, the hostess said, “Oh! That’s right. I got the tofu turkey as well. If you’d like to take that out, I’ll bring the real kind.”

“Thank you. Are any of your kids vegetarian too?”

“No, but I was told that you were coming so I got it for you. We don’t have any vegetarians in our family.”

“And you got some just for me?” Karyn was shocked. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Nonsense. I want to make sure that everyone has something they want to eat.”

“But no one else will want to eat this.”

“Then you’ll get to take home lots of leftovers.” The hostess grinned as she picked up the turkey.

“Thanks.” Karyn followed her into the side room.

“Don’t you want to eat with the rest of us?” the hostess asked. “You’re old enough now that you don’t have to sit at the kiddie table.”

She checked around. The room had enough space for Derpy to fly free in, while the main dining room seemed cramped. “I think we’ll be fine in here.”

“We?”

“Me and the other kids.”

The hostess left, and Karyn said, “Whew, almost stepped in it there.”

Derpy hissed with laughter. “You covered well.”

“Thanks. Did you enjoy the food?”

“Yes. I wish I could take a plate and sit down with everyone else, but this method is probably better for my diet anyway.”

Little kids started bounding in from everywhere, and Karyn had to suspend her conversation with Derpy. She took the head of the table as the oldest person there, rejoicing in the fact that she got that spot for once. Throughout the dinner, she endeavored to keep the younger ones in line while maintaining her own manners as thoroughly as possible. It helped to have Derpy watching invisibly and silently from the corner. When the two ate together, politeness was a natural thing for Karyn, but at such a formal dinner she was sure to keep her napkin on her lap and her elbows off the table.

The sole topic of discussion among the kids was the desserts, and when that course came, Karyn helped herself both to cheesecake and apple pie. As the party wrapped up and she took home her leftovers, back in the car she yawned.

“That was a great party, but I’m beat. I didn’t think that imitation turkey had tryptophan.”

At her feet, her laptop bounced up and down. She reached down and pulled it open, flipping to the blank document.

“Actually,” Derpy typed, “the idea that tryptophan from turkey makes you drowsy is a myth. There’s some, but no more than in other meats. It’s really just having a big meal that makes you want to sleep.”

“How did you know that?”

“I read it on the Internet on one of the times I was bored.”

From the front, Karyn’s father said, “Trying to keep yourself awake?”

“Something like that.”

“Don’t bother. Take a nap and you can stay over before you go back to school tomorrow.”

She opened her eyes. “No, I definitely want to go back tonight.”

“Well, then you’d really better go to sleep now or I’ll worry.”

Derpy extended a wing over her, and Karyn had a makeshift blanket. Moments later, by her reckoning, her mother was telling her to put her shoes back on, for they had made it home. Another quick turnaround, and she was driving Derpy back to her apartment.

“That was a fun party,” said Derpy.

“How could you have had fun? You didn’t get to talk to anyone.”

“True, but I got to eat a lot of good food. Well, not a lot of good food, but a strong diversity of good food.”

Karyn chuckled at that. She pulled into the driveway of the apartment, keeping as quiet as she could while she pulled in front of Gayle’s car to make it easier for her to get out.

“Well, I’m glad you had a good time. I’ve got to get ready to finish these midterms and then go back once more for the actual Thanksgiving break.”

“You do your best. I’m going to see if I can get some ponies to start adopting this holiday.”

“Do you really want to have a feast of your own?” asked Karyn.

“What I want is a four-day weekend. As a mailpony I don’t get a lot of time off. Everypony needs their letters all the time, and I don’t resent that, but to be able to get to celebrate with friends and family…well, someday I’ll get there.”

Karyn put her hand on Derpy’s shoulder. “You will. I know it. And when it happens, I hope I’ll be there. Happy Thanksgiving, Derpy.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, Karyn.”

Author's Notes:

Have you guys read about The Future of Derpy's Human yet? That's for the distant future, here's for the immediate!

“It’s true. But what’s this project you’re working on?”

After a moment of thought, Derpy said, “I doubt it’s something that you’re interested in.”

“Oh, come on. Is it something really pony-specific, like having your hooves polished? Or maybe something pegasus-related, like you have to fly around Equestria to make sure it’s the same size as it was last year?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karyn followed Derpy. Once out of earshot, she said, “It seems that all the big burly stallions are the most polite of all ponies.”

“Hmm, that’s true. I guess they know that when you’re strong you’d better be nice.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Well, we can’t have that. We should think of a way to make it special.”

“Special?” said Karyn.

“Yes. Some way to make us remember this day.”

I hope you enjoy it!