Note: The song in the chapter is actually an original song I wrote called "Sunlight, Moonlight"
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As morning arose on the town of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash shifted around in her urine-soaked bed, careful not to jostle her sweetie resting on her rump... only to find that her butt felt lighter than it had the night before. Turning around, she found herself looking only at her bare blubbery flank, a folded note resting at the base of her rainbow tail. She knew who wrote it and her heart sank at the implications the note probably held, but she knew she had to see what it said and, reaching behind her, she grabbed the note with a hoof, sat up, and opened it before reading its scrawled message, the letters shaky and looking more akin to the Cutie Mark Crusaders attempts at writing a novel.

I'm Sorry Dash..... I... I can't sleep... all I see is him.... all I see is that stare.... I'm no better than him... I love you Dash... but I can't be here..... You deserve better than me anyways....

-J

"Oh Joshua....."

Rainbow Dash could feel the tears coming to her eyes as she hugged the note close to her heart, feeling guilt at not having been able to keep her sweetheart in Equestria and sorrow at being alone again.....

But little did she know....

The human wasn't gone.
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A cloud high above Rainbow Dash's castle was where Joshua had been seated for the past few hours. Sleep had been a total stranger to him, even buried in the warm and gentleness of Rainbow Dash's huge butt. All he'd been able to see every time he tried to dream or close his eyes was that horrible gleam in Champagne's olive-colored eyes, a gleam reading a willingness to destroy everything good in the world just for his own selfish games.... and now that he knew he had apparently a whole organization behind him, that devilish shine grew all the more brighter.

So all night, he'd resigned himself a variety of meaningless tasks leading up to him just to just sitting on that small patch of cumulus nimbus and looking up at the sky, his legs dangling off the edge, and counting the stars in the sky until the sun broke the darkness. His whole night had been one long trip through town and this was his last stop...
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The first thing he'd done was a little nighttime flying, soaring by other groups of pegasi all chattering and playing. But each time one of them had called out to the teen, he'd just continued on flying. He couldn't tell anymore who was going to yell at him or who would believe that he hadn't done what Champagne had said. Hours had passed before he'd flown up to the castle and written a note to Celestia to let him go back home for a few hours, having to go where Spike had fallen asleep after the movie and waking him up to deliver it, much to the dragon's annoyance. Meowth had left him a note saying he was spending the night with Fluttershy since he wasn't too sure the teen wanted to see him at the moment. The princess had been kind enough to give him a special magical amulet that would allow him to go home and back since he knew he'd be out late and he didn't want to disturb Celestia's slumber.

It was late when he reappeared in the backyard of his family home and he knew the entire neighborhood was fast asleep now, so he'd just wandered through his hometown and done a little stargazing, even playing on the same playground Celestia had found him at. But as he'd swung on the child's swingset, he felt a pain in his heart, one threatening to come out through his eyes in hot salty streams. He'd been so close to finding a new home and now Champagne had all but demolished his reputation. Even if Rainbow Dash and Gilda had tried to reassure him that it was unlikely that anyone would believe that news article since they'd seen the live TV report, he knew that it wouldn't be hard for Champagne to get that report either doctored or destroyed.

Climbing off the swingset and climbing up onto the large spiral metal slide that he knew the kids loved playing on and getting stuck like sardines, he sat on the top and let himself lay backwards, closing his eyes as if hoping against hope that maybe here in his own world he'd be able to find slumber.

But every time he'd shut his eyes, all he could see was that same damn glare... and all he could hear was what Champagne had told him before bashing his head in with that hot sauce bottle... repeating over and over...

"And I'll take a special pleasure in watching Rainbow Dash cry as her friends suffer..."

The realization that he couldn't save them just kept him away from any remote chance of a peaceful nights rest and after about an hour, he'd given up and slid down the curved chute before leaving the park and wandering to a local bar known as J.J.'s.

He'd done a little work for the owner, a family friend and one of the few people who refused to believe Josh had been responsible for his parents disappearance, and since then had been told he was welcome there anytime for a game of pool or even a smoke, even if he was a little young to be hanging out with the usual crowd there.

Yet even in the loud boisterous atmosphere of the pub and even seated at the bar, a pack of smokes and a mug of root beer at his hands, relaxation was far away from Josh's senses. He'd even taken one of the cancer sticks and placed it in his mouth, but felt himself unable to gather the courage to light the cigarette and just placed it back in its small white box before placing the carton into his pocket and heading back out into the streets, taking another stick and twirling it in his fingers before walking into the alley behind the pub and whispering into the silver device around his neck and finding himself quickly back in Equestria, standing at the doorstep to Celestia and Luna's palace.

After giving the amulet back to one of the guards on duty, he'd taken back to the sky and flown off towards Ponyville, reaching the small town around 1 A.M.. A stroll through the darkened town had told him that everyone was fast asleep and a look around Sweet Apple Acres, the boutique, Fluttershy's cottage, the library, and even Sugarcube Corner had revealed to him that he was the only one still awake, albeit the cowpony resting with a bucket near her head and Pinkie Pie sleeping upside down.
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That was what had led him to where he was now and where he'd been for the past few hours, just looking up at the night sky. He'd counted the stars, ruffled his hands in the clouds softeness, and even managaed to light up one of the smokes and contemplated placing it into his lips for a few puffs, each time finding himself just setting the stick back down and twirling it absently in his hands. As he looked at the orange glow of the sun start to come into his line of his, he let out a sigh and began to reflect on all that was going on... singing to himself all the while.

Lost in the shadows of what I held dear....
Praying to God to keep me cold and clear....
I fight for the light,
Begging for darkness to show me what's right..
I know nothing else...
But that my heart is full of anger and fear....

Sunlight, Moonlight, never ever.. show me the sight...
Free me from the fear inside
Tell me it's gonna be okay
That I will live just one more day
And that I will find my reason to be......

Memories running through my head
Better alive or better off dead
What is my purpose to be in this land
Give me an answer and steady my hand
Tell me what is riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.......

Josh gripped his shirt, feeling hotness running down his face. He knew he was crying and it hurt him everywhere....

Sunlight, Moonlight, never ever.. show me the sight...
Free me from the depth of my fear inside....
Tell me it's going to all be okay
That I will live just one more day
And that I will find my reason to be......

I beg of thee......

As his song ended, Josh wiped a few tears away from his eyes only to have the sound of weeping fill his ears... and to his amazement it wasn't him......

"That was beautiful, Josh...."

Turning around, Josh found himself face to face with the familiar pink-maned unicorn he knew as Fluttershy, her aquamarine eyes streaming with tears.

"Fluttershy? What are you doing here?", he asked cautiously.

The pegasus sniffled before she spoke, her voice shaky with the sobs still in her throat. "I-I've been trying to get some morning flying in since the night you took me up to Cloudsdale. I had so much fun that day..."

"Yeah, well I don't think we'll be having much more fun anytime soon.... I'm leaving Equestria as soon as Celestia gets done with helping the sun rise.", Josh muttered, looking away from the pegasus solemnly

"What???", Fluttershy gasped in horror, "Why?!"

"I've got no reason to be here anymore... Champagne all but destroyed my reputation. He's probably gotten that news report altered too just for his own amusement.... I'm not gonna be allowed anywhere in Equestria by the time he's done. I might as well head home...."

"But what about you teaching us about friendship!? What about the contest?! What about Rainbow Dash!?!?"

"None of those matter.... If I stay here, I'd just make everything worse... I can't teach you ponies jackshit.... and Rainbow Dash.... there's so many ponies here that she deserves more than me... I'd just make her as much an outcast as I am."

"Josh, that's not true!!!"

"Face it, Shy...", he replied, calling her by the nickname he'd heard Rainbow Dash call her back at the hospital after she knocked out Thoroughbred, "It's time I leave... I don't belong here...". It was then Josh gave a hollow laugh as he remembered something he told Gilda back at the hospital. "I actually believed that nothing they could do would drive me away.... Boy... was I fucking wrong..."

"But.... But Josh......"

"Just go, Fluttershy... and tell Twilight and everyone... they don't need to worry anymore... the psycho's going back home. Promise me you'll tell them that."

Fluttershy's heart all but broke as she nodded, the tears pouring down her cheeks. She could tell from Josh's tone that his mind was made up. "I... I'll tell them....", she whimpered as she turned and flew back down, sobbing woefully and leaving Josh looking at her disappearing form sadly.

"Only an hour or so before she's done... Then I'll go home... I wont even bring Meowth with me... He can be a reminder to Fluttershy and everyone else..... that I never belonged here.... and I don't deserve happiness.... Death and despair... those are the only companions I warrant...."

Josh sighed and cradled himself, burying his head in his knees. But his thoughts were cut off by a loud yell from behind him in the distance.

"LOOK OUT!!!"

Slowly getting to his feet, Josh turned and was only able to get out a few words before he was impacted...

"What the f---"

"Bamf!!!"

Immediately Josh found his head buried in between two gray chubby cheeks, a blonde tail resting in his eyes. The impact of the pony's rump colliding into him was so fierce it pushed his head against the ponies flankhole and started to deprive him of air.

"Mmmph! Mmmpphhhh!", he screamed as he tried to free himself and struggled desperately to breathe. Soon a clueless sounding voice rang out and told him instantly whose butt he was stuck in.

"Oops! Sorry about that, heh heh... I guess my iron butt CAN'T handle flying backwards.", Derpy Hooves blushed sheepishly as she wiggled her flanks and tried to loosen Joshs head.

"MMMMPHHH!", he yelled as he got his hands pushed against her cheeks and shoved himself backwards in an attempt to free himself... right at the same time Derpy shuffled her rumps orbs of flab. The momentum not only freed Josh from his bottom-made prison, but pushed him backwards off the cloud. He was only able to get out a sharp scream before Derpy managed to grab a hold of his leg and struggled to pull him back up. The pain of Derpy's hooves pressing into his still fragile tender legs was akin to someone taking a hacksaw to his crotch and he wanted nothing more than to pass out. "Oh god!!! KILL ME!! PLEASE KILL ME!!"

"HOLD ON, JOSH! Derpy's got ya!!!", she yelled as she slowly managed to pull the teen back up onto the patch of cumulus. As she fell onto her rump the second Josh was back safely resting on the cloud, the boy screamed painfully as he felt the burning sensation of Derpy pressing into his wounds slowly disappate. When the pain had finally subsided, he managed to brace himself on his palms and sit up, looking frantically at the pony sitting with him.

"Derpy?!? What the fuck were ya doing?? You almost fucking killed me!"

"I.. I was trying to see if I could fly backwards.. I saw Rainbow Dash do it once..."

"Goddamn... I had the feeling you ponies wanted me gone, I'm just waiting for Celestia to rise the damn sun!"

"Woah, woah... hold on one second..", Derpy sputtered, closing her criss-crossed eyes. She may have been a little dim, but her bulb wasn't completely out. "Why?! Because of that article??"

"Heh..", Josh laughed hallowly, "Even you know what they think I am now... A goddamn psycho. I was just defending Rainbow Dash and they make me out to be some sort of psychotic freak.... It's just like my family... everything and everyone thinking I'm this horrible human being...."

"Your... family?", Derpy asked, scratching her head as Josh got up and stretched out his back.

"Suns about up... soon I'll be away from the ponies and their stares... I was never meant to be here..."

"Josh, running away isn't going to solve your problems.. believe me, I've tried!"

Josh couldn't help but look at the gray pegasus next to him in surprise. This was the first time he'd ever heard Derpy saying something with sagelike-clarity

"You think I don't hear the other ponies making fun of me for my eyes, my klutziness, my spaciness? I've heard their taunts and seen their stares... I even thought about running away myself! I even got a suitcase packed and boarded the first train I could see!"

"So what happened? How exactly did it fail?", Josh asked, resting a hand on his leg, careful to keep it gentle as to not aggravate his injury. Having Derpy press down on it didn't serve him any favors.

The pegasus sighed before she managed to somewhat focus her mismatched eyes on the teen before her and spoke..

"It happened like this..."
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*One year ago*

"I'd just boarded the 10:03 train going to the outskirts of Equestria and I didn't know what I was going to do... All I knew was that I couldn't take the pain... the stares and laughter of everyone making fun of me... I had to go far away... for myself..."

As Derpy Hooves rested her chin on her hoof sadly, looking out her train window at the passing landscapes of the towns of Equestria, she tried to let her mind vanish into the recesses of her subconcious, the images of the rivers, mountains, and buildings flashing by failing to cover her sadness.

She'd just botched up a single cloud delivery, nothing major... yet Hammerhead had screamed at her...He'd called her worthless, a waste of skin, just downright pathetic. She'd flown off sobbing, unable to even hear Hammerhead trying desperately to apologize after he'd realized what he'd just said to her.

She hadn't even stopped to think, just wanting to get as far away from the yelling as possible. She'd always had a slight hypersensitivity and all the yelling overloaded her to where she had to escape.

That's what had led her to the train she was on. In the state she was in, she didn't care where she went or HOW she went there... she just knew she had to get away from Ponyville, from that yelling and anger.

"Now stopping in Canterlot! All passengers for Canterlot, please get ready to depart!"

Derpy paid no attention to the announcement. Canterlot was not far away enough for her, no she'd gotten her ticket stamped to take her to the far reaches of Equestria's outer limits, where no one could find her. As she felt the train come to a slow stop, she knew it'd be about a half-hour until the train took off again, on its pathway to nowhere.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even hear the calm voice speaking to her...

"Something troubling you, my dear?"

Derpy started to turn towards the voice to tell it she wasn't in the mood to talk... but then she realized who that voice belong to... Sitting in the empty seat next to her was a white alicorn, her multicolored mane flowing down her back and her magenta eyes shining with a motherly wisdom... They could only belong to one mare...

"Princess Celestia??? What.. what are you doing here? Don't you have like a private chariot?"

Celestia gave Derpy a small nod before she spoke. "This I do, but every now and then I like to just take the train like everypony else... get to know all my subjects. I couldn't help but notice you gazing out the window like that and I get the feeling it's not just from a sudden interest in Canterlot architecture.

The blonde-haired mare gave a sad sigh before she spoke to the princess, her tone devoid of its usually bubbly tone that could have rivaled that of Pinkemina Diane Pie. "I just can't take it anymore... I know no one there in Ponyville likes me... Just because I'm different..."

"Different?", Celestia asked curiously.

"Yeah... my mismatched eyes, my clumsiness, my iron flanks... they say all it brings is disaster... and now Hammerhead... he's saying I'm worthless, that I'm a waste of flesh..."

Derpy's voice cracked as she remembered what the gruff pegasus had screamed at her and she sniffled back the tears wanting to spill as Celestia gently caressed her mane.

"Hammerhead's always had a slight anger problem... I'll have to have a heart-to-heart with him about decorum.", Celestia admitted, "But you shouldn't let what one pony says get to you.."

"It's not just him.. everypony else is always mocking me anyways, calling me Ditzy-Doo, Google-Eyes, Brainless Blonde.... They think it doesn't effect me just because I try not to show a reaction... I always was told by my mom that ignoring bullies would make them stop.... But it doesn't! It still hurts me so much!"

It was all Derpy could bear to say and just felt silent tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. Celestia just held Derpy close and cooed to her gently.

"It's ok to cry, Derpy. It's what makes us normal. But you can't let what they say get to you... Everypony likes to joke around with each other and it's usually a sign of affection. In fact, Luna used to always call me stinkbutt after the time I accidentally sat on someponies limburger sandwich!"

At this, Derpy couldn't help but laugh, a welcoming sound breaking through from her sadness. "You sat on a sandwich? How'd you do that?!"

"Let's just say I've learned now to pay attention to where I sit, even when doing paperwork. But the fact is that no matter how much she'd call me stinkbutt or draw pictures of me with stink lines around my flank, we still love each other dearly."

"Are you saying Hammerhead and the other ponies love me too??", Derpy asked.

"Maybe not love... but they DO like you. Just think of what you've got that any pony would admire!"

Derpy tapped her chin contemplatively as she thought it over. "Well... I've got a cheerful demeanor, I'm never saying a bad word about anyone, I'm always making ponies laugh with my clumsiness and brightening their day..."

"And the iron butt, you can't forget that!", Celestia added with a chuckle.

"Yeah! My iron butt! Heck I can open up peanut butter and jelly jars and open doors without even using my hooves!"

At this, Celestia couldn't help but give the pegasus a look of puzzlement. But she was glad Derpy was feeling back to her old self. "That sounds... impressive."

"Hee hee, yeah!", Derpy giggled, "I could even show you sometime!"

"Um...", the princess blushed as she tried to think of a response, but the sound of the P.A. system above saved her.

“Last call for all ponies! We will be leaving the station in one minute!”

“Well, that’s my sign to go, Derpy.”, Celestia said as she got to her hooves. But before she left, she gave Derpy a small smile and rubbed the top of her mane gently. “Remember, Derpy.... We all may make fun of each other at times, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like each other... It’s just our way of showing affection.”

“So when they plant fake barf in my lunchbag, it’s a sign they like me?”, Derpy asked hopefully.

“Um... that may not be as affectionate.”, Celestia admitted again, “But you know what I mean, Derpy. The next time they call you Ditzy-Doo, just know that it’s not out of spite... it’s just a way of them having a little fun.”

“But what if they say worse things?”

“Then just tell them how it makes you feel. If they continue, you know you can always contact me. I’m here for all my subjects!”

Derpy gave the princess a smile as she made to leave the train car and got up herself. “Princess Celestia?”

The princess turned with a gentle smile towards the wall-eyed pegasus. “Yes, Derpy?”

“You think maybe you could have your chariot give me a ride back home?”
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“After that, Celestia had a long talk with Hammerhead and he apologized for yelling at me. The other ponies still make fun of me at times, but they let me make fun of them too, making everything even-steven! Since then I’ve never even considered running away!”, Derpy smiled at the teen next to her.

Josh felt a little better from Derpy’s story, knowing that Celestia would probably watch over him as well and that if there was anyone who would never believe Champagne, it was her... But the words from that article still stung.

“Derpy, being called a psycho isn’t the same thing as being called Googly-Eyes.. That article, it makes me look like I’m a loon... and Champagne’s probably got it spread all over Equestria now, not to mention him very likely destroying that news tape that showed what really happened!”

Josh turned and took out the pack of cigarettes still in his pocket, clenching them in his hand hard enough to make the box cave in.

"I want to stay, but feeling all this... all this in my head.... Feeling all this anger and betrayal..... HOW!?"

Without warning, he chucked the pack off the cloud and dropped his head in his hands.

"I am so confused and....... I don't know what the fuck to do!!!"

Derpy put a hoof on his back and rubbed it gently, an action Josh didn't attempt to fight off.

"You're feeling a lot of emotions and having trouble figuring out HOW to feel, right?"

Josh just nodded. "How do I deal with all this... How do I prove myself?! How do I get their trust again when it all feels so fucking lost!?"

“I wouldn’t be so sure...”, Derpy smiled as she reached into her mailbag and pulled out a sheet of paper, “I found this online before I left home for cloud patrol and thought you’d like a copy of it. Go on, read!”

With a wince, Josh focused his eyes on the paper and began to read. What was printed on though shocked him deeply.

It is exceedingly rare the Rutherford Times is forced to print a retraction and even rarer that it’s one of this magnitude.

A few days ago, we printed an article of what occurred at Bratwurst’s Best Wurst this past Tuesday. Sometime last night, someone (who has asked not to be identified) gave us a copy of the security tape from the restaurant as well as a copy of a local news report that was interviewing Champagne. While most of the action isn’t clear, it is made abundantly clear in the tapes that what transpired in the german restaurant was different from what we were told. At no point in the tape did Joshua James Rocket, 15, ever come in contact with the cashier and the only pony he spoke to was Champagne, who was indeed having an interview. An altercation did occur, but from what we could make out, it was instigated by Champagne and leading to Josh being impaled and electrocuted. No charges will be filed against him due to the vague circumstances, but we will no longer be taking reports from Champagne unless he has video or audio proof. Our deepest apologies go out to Joshua, to Rainbow Dash, and to Applejack for all the inconvenience and we would also like to give Champagne a stark reminder that the Rutherford Times and most of Equestria’s newspapers prefer to refrain from spreading gossip and we’d like to thank him for making us ALL look stupid. While we cannot obviously remove the article from the past paper, we have removed it from our online page and are making sure no other news outlet gets it either. Once again, we extend our deepest apologies to Joshua James Rocket, to Rainbow Dash, and to Applejack for any and all inconvienence caused by this garbage of an article.

The smile that began to light up on Josh’s face could have rivaled that of Derpy and Pinkie Pie’s smiles combined. Before he knew what he was doing, Josh had reached over and given Derpy Hooves a giant bearhug, one the pegasus gladly returned.

“Derpy, I don’t know how I can thank you! I gotta get back to Rainbow Dash and show her and Gilda this! Maybe... maybe I CAN help them!”

Before Derpy could say another word, Josh had released the hug, and leapt off the patch of cumulus with a yell before spreading his wings and beginning his flight down towards Ponyville. As she watched the teen disappear, Derpy calmly reached into her bag and pulled out a pen and scroll, writing a small note.

Dear Princess Celestia,
You were right. I DO have qualities other ponies would admire. I have the ability to spread the truth!
Signed,
Derpy P. Hooves

Rolling the scroll back up and making a mental note to try and get it to the princess later, Derpy placed it and the white carton back into her bag and took off the cloud on her way to Hammerhead and the rest of the pegasi waiting for her... and for once..

She couldn’t care less what they had to say.
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Rainbow Dash just sat on the urine-soaked bed, rocking herself, holding the letter close to her and trying to comprehend what Josh had written. She was alone again... and it felt awful...

“What do I do?”, the cyan pegasus whispered to herself, rocking back and forth, “Josh is gone! I can’t do this without him... hell, I can’t do this by myself!! I don’t know what to do!! Applejack and I.... we can’t do this! We can’t!!”

“You can... and you will!”

Looking up, Dash found herself looking at the gaze of her lover and immediately she felt a wave of anger at the teen for worrying her so fervently.

“Joshua?!? What are you do---”

Josh didn’t say anything. Instead he strode over to the plump cyan pegasus, took her into his arms, and gave her a deep passionate kiss, rubbing his hand into her mane and tusling her ear. The mare’s hindlegs turned into jelly and she found all her anger, all her worry, all her sadness... all evaporate instantly. He held the kiss in deeply before breaking it, taking the letter he’d written, and tearing it into shreds before taking the pegasus back into his loving hands.

“Tonight, you and I... dinner. We’re having a fine dinner, no ifs, ands, or buts! We’ve got the day off, we might as well enjoy it! I’ve gotta go get ready, honey... but while I’m gone... read this.”

Josh gave her the letter Derpy had gave him and kissed her once more before leaving the hayloft, a new spring in his step. As she struggled to stay on her hooves, she just looked at the set of barn doors the teen had just departed from and did the only thing she could think to do after such a deep kiss....

She laid back on the moist bed and just let out a moan of pure, unadulterated bliss.