Horror And Love…
A/N: Had an idea as to why our dearest Muffin Overlord acted and sounded the way she does as well as, occasionally, looking downtrodden. The other circumstance is, I admit dark, but not entirely out of the question for somepony to take advantage of Derpy and well…
Derpy Hooves…
'Even my name fits' she said to herself. She'd been left an orphan after her parents had mysteriously vanished on a trip to Manehattan but nopony wanted to have her around for a long time due to her eyes and her slow mind. The authorities never wanted to really help the mare, but they found her a small flat and, after a series of incidents at flight school, even a job doing the post for the other ponies in Ponyville which gave her some money every week. It wasn't anything grand like what she guessed Rarity lived in, but it was her home and she was oddly proud of it in her own simple way. Apart from work, Derpy helped to move the clouds around the sky if the weather ponies asked, but she mainly just sat at home and baked muffins that she'd sell in a little homemade stall outside – she didn't make much from it, but Derpy felt proud to be a business pony like Rarity, Fluttershy or Pinkie Pie.
"Hey, Derpy…" Derpy looked up to see Rainbow Dash hovering above her. She was one of the few ponies that would try to make time for her, the incident with the banner notwithstanding, and even Rainbow Dash admitted that Derpy was faster than her on a sliding course. They'd been friends since the time Derpy had been living in Cloudsdale and both in Flight School and running races until she'd had to leave because the bullying due to her quickly developing poor eyesight had got too much for her. The blue pony had defended her to the hilt and, when Derpy had been forced to leave and return to Ponyville, had ensured that a few extra bits somehow found their way into her bank account.
"Hi there, Rainbow Dash!" Derpy picked up her mood into a more cheerful one. "Is clouds moving okay?" she asked.
"Huh? Oh, yeah… We thought about asking for your help, but we know today is muffin day"
"Yay, muffins!" Derpy bounced on the spot.
"Anyway, there's going to be a party in Canterlot and I offered to bring your invite"
"Derpy doesn't think like me Twilight does"
"You mean for accidentally hurting her? Everypony says that it wasn't your fault" Rainbow Dash frowned as Derpy just sat down and looked sad. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"No – Derpy not happy. I'm not well" and Rainbow Dash hesitated and then sat down and put a hoof around her friend. She knew that Derpy had a number of unknown mental conditions that nopony seemed to be able to work out and treat.
"Is it getting worse?" and Derpy nodded.
"My head hurts a lot and sometimes I can't see. Derpy told Medipony and she say there is a big lump in my brain"
"Isn't there anything they can do?"
"Derpy told its inobberable"
"Inobberable? Do you mean inoperable?" and Derpy nodded.
"Don't be sad, Rainbow Dash" Derpy looked at the ground and moved around a few pebbles with a rear hoof. "I die… I not hurt so much"
"Why don't we go and see Twilight? I'm sure she can find some magic to help you"
"Last time I see Twilight, she call Derpy a very bad word" Derpy whispered what it was. "Derpy was in the library getting a book and the shelves came down. Nothing to do with me, but Twilight blame Derpy and ban her from in going"
"I'll go beat her up" Rainbow Dash felt very angry. "Or maybe say some bad words back at her" and, to her surprise, Derpy stopped her with a shake of her head.
"Don't do that, Rainbow Dash… Derpy not important very"
"You are to me – we're friends after all" and she tried to think of something to get Derpy back into a happy mood. "You know, they've got some lemon surprise muffins in today – want to go and get some?"
"I money don't have. Derpy landlord ask for more money, but I just don't have it. But Derpy landlord say Derpy doesn't have to pay if nice be Derpy him to, but I'm always nice to everypony" she said confusingly and it took a few seconds for Rainbow Dash to get sense out of that mixture of words before starting to curse up a storm that would have sent Fluttershy running for cover.
"Derps, you just leave your landlord to me. I think he needs to be told something important. Now, about this party…"
"Not going. Derpy make all the other ponies laugh at her"
"I'm sure they won't" Rainbow Dash assured her. "Now, you can come with me to the party if you like"
"You means it?"
"It'll be cool" and then Rainbow Dash noticed Derpy's coat and mane. "Um, maybe you should do something about that"
"I can't afford it" Derpy said. "No bits I got have for that or even food"
"How much food do you have?"
"Nothing for two lots of seven day weeks"
"Haven't you been shopping?" Rainbow Dash sighed.
"I tried to go, but I didn't have any money" Derpy explained, "So the shoppony wouldn't give me thing any. I've eaten day once at office post" and Rainbow Dash's heart broke. Somepony was taking advantage of her friend and she wanted to beat them up or even turn them over to Discord.
"Derpy, what happened to all the bits you've saved?"
"Derpy landlord say I pay to live there. Then he say I have to be nice to him so I can stay"
"How long has this been going on for?"
"Um…" Derpy tried hard to think and held up all of her four hooves. "This months I think. Sometimes I don't think so good"
"Derpy…?" a cold and terrible fear came over the Element of Loyalty, "Has your landlord ever touched you in a bad way?"
"Um, I just don't know" Derpy admitted. "We just have special cuddle times every week and then he makes noises weird and sweaty goes. It takes me unsticky ages to get" and that was the straw that broke the pony's back.
"Derps, you are coming with me to Ponyville and we're going to get you seen to and looked after right"
"I'm a nopony" Derpy started to cry, "Ain't friend nopony anyone to"
"You are my friend, Derpy Hooves, and I wouldn't have it any other way. What your landlord has done is wrong and he needs to be punished"
"But live would do I where?"
"You can stay at my place" and, with that, Rainbow Dash grabbed hold of Derpy and flew away at top speed to the hospital.
#
After making sure that Derpy was being well taken care of, Rainbow Dash summoned up all of her friends and told them what was going on. Fluttershy was violently sick, Pinkie Pie lost all of her colour and joy, Applejack looked horrified and Rarity wanted to get her sewing things and do some serious harm. Twilight had been frozen with horror at how Derpy had thought she hated her and teleported with Spike to seek an immediate audience with Celestia and Luna and brief them on what had happened to the Pegasus mare and ask what should be done. Celestia, normally a very kind being, went into a rage that one of her ponies could take advantage and violate an innocent and sweet pony like that and called out the guards and ordered them to take Derpy's landlord into custody and put him in the little used dungeons to await a trial.
"Rainbow Dash!" Derpy called out with a cheer as she and Fluttershy trotted in to see how she was doing. "I better feel now"
"Hey, Derps, that's awesome! Now, I have some good news for you – we think we might have a cure for the lump in your head. The Princesses found a magic spell that will reduce the swelling enough for the Doctors and Nurses to operate"
"Yay"
"And" Fluttershy said, "We are going to sort you out with a house all to yourself and get you a really nice job. Pinkie Pie is just waiting to throw you a party, but we told her she'd have to wait until you felt a bit better and were out" she added warmly.
"Derpy you help?"
"Well, duhhhhhhhhh" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "Of course we help our friends. Everypony is really upset they didn't help you when you needed it, but now that bad pony that hurt you is going to be punished"
"Fix eyes?"
"Um…" Fluttershy looked flustered and glanced at Rainbow Dash for help.
"They can't do anything about that, Derps, but not having that lump in your head will mean you can fly better and faster – I bet you could even beat Spitfire" and Derpy giggled.
"Funny" and then she turned sad. "Am I bad pony I not tell for?"
"You didn't know it was wrong and bad, Derpy" Fluttershy said, "But now we're going to make sure that nopony hurts you again like that ever again"
"You friends Derpy all with?" the accident prone pony asked timidly.
"Yup" and then Rainbow Dash remembered something. "When you get out of here, Rarity has promised to take you to get a full makeover to make you look better and then make you some nice things to wear"
"But no money"
"Well, Princess Luna decided that all the money your landlord had is yours now because he was a very bad pony" Fluttershy told Derpy. "And you'll get lots more too from other ponies to say sorry. But Rarity says this is her present to you, Applejack said you can have free apples for the rest of your life and I am going to make sure you always have enough eggs to make muffins"
"Muffins! Yay! Oh…" Derpy's cheerfulness quickly drained away. "About what Twilight?"
"She's guilty about what happened between you two and she wants to make up by making sure that landlord of yours is sent away for a very long time" Rainbow Dash glanced at Fluttershy who gave an uncharacteristic shrug and grimace – neither wanted to upset the mare any more by saying Twilight was pushing for the Death Penalty.
"I'm a silly pony… I no mean to make her cry and upset"
"But it wasn't your fault" Fluttershy said. "She didn't know how bad that lump in your brain was and how it made you do things, so now she does and she's very sorry about it. You know, I wish I could be as brave as you"
"Derpy not brave"
"You are… You battled through terrible winds to get clouds in the right place, you were the first to charge Tirek and you took that orb for Twilight a few weeks ago. If it hadn't been for you taking that hit, we'd not be here" and a small smile appeared on Derpy's face.
"Okie dokie lokie" she said.
"And then there is me…"
"You?" Derpy was confused. She knew she was never the smartest pony in the stable, but this confused her greatly – what was Rainbow Dash on about?
"Well, I've been doing what I can to help you out over the years, but I've really wanted to just protect you and keep you safe. I didn't rightly know what that meant until Applejack explained it to me and it turns out I like mares more than stallions… Actually, I like you"
"You like Derpy as in liking Derpy the way landlord did to Derpy?" and both of the other mares hearts dropped a little.
"Errrr…. Kinda" Rainbow Dash battered down the emotions she was feeling about what had happened to Derpy. "What I mean to say is that I like you a lot as a friend, Derpy, and I'd like to be more than just your friend"
"You mean you want…"
"Yep – might not look like it, but I don't want to not be a part of your life anymore. I know we can't get married like, but would you be my marefriend?"
"You like Derpy? As in love Derpy?" and the blue coloured pony nodded shyly.
"More than anything… 'cept flying" and the three of them laughed a little. "Its too dangerous for you to be in Cloudsdale right now, so every weekend I'll come down here and spend the time with you doing whatever we want" and Derpy blushed a deep red before glancing nervously at Fluttershy and then back at Rainbow Dash.
"Derpy kiss?" and the weather pony hesitated before hovering over Derpy and planting a tender and loving kiss on the other mare's lips.
"Does this mean you two are together?" asked Fluttershy with a smile on her features.
"Yeah"
"Yepsies"
"YOU ARE TOGETHER…? WE NEED TO PARTY!" Pinkie Pie said as she slid out from under the bed.
"Uh… How did she get there?" asked Fluttershy.
"Best not to think" Derpy giggled as Pinkie Pie started hopping around the room doing a one pony conga line.
"You got that right" Rainbow Dash smirked before planting another kiss on her lips. "Derps, I'm going to make sure that nopony ever harms you again"
# # # # #
"Mega Bucks, do you have anything to say before your sentence is carried out in accordance with our laws?" Princess Luna spoke. It was three months before it was all agreed that Derpy had recovered enough to be out and about – shocking people when she said she wanted to witness the execution. The Mane 6 had cautioned against it, but Derpy had said that she knew it was wrong and that seeing the death of Mega Bucks would help her heal. Rainbow Dash had advised her not to be there that morning, but she would still support her marefriend in her choices and so the two of them joined the Mane 6, Spike and other ponies in the courtyard of Canterlot castle to witness the execution.
"What is the point? She was only a silly little filly that I had the right to do with as I pleased… It was more of an act of mercy to mount her again and again because nopony else would" the stallion spat from the platform.
"Oh, if only I wasn't so kind…" Fluttershy muttered, "I'd like to get up there and tear that fatherless bastard to shreds". She actually tried to lunge for Mega Bucks, but the others only just held her back from doing some she would regret later.
"Your comment is noted for the records. My Little Ponies, you will all bear witness to the ultimate punishment for this… this… this creature's crimes and tell others of it so they may now the penalty that befalls others like him. Guards, are you ready?"
"We are ready, Your Highness" Flash Sentry was commanding the detail of the guards that would put Mega Bucks to death. He nodded to a pony that was standing by a lever which he held with both his forehooves and glanced at the clock for the time.
"Even if you kill me, I will still be in your dreams as a nightmare" Mega Bucks said.
"Now" Flash Sentry said, and the other pony pushed forward and Mega Bucks dropped through the now open trap doors and jerk as the rope became taut and his neck was snapped. They waited for five minutes before a Doctor listened for a heartbeat and shook his head firmly – he was dead.
"Cut him down and bury him" Luna ordered, "And place no marker over his grave" she added. They lowered his body and carried it the short distance away to where a hole had already been dug. The Guards were just about to fill the grave when Derpy shakily stepped forward and told them to wait. She slowly trotted to the hole to see the still warm body of the stallion that had violated and took advantage of her before she turned around and lifted her tail…
"I didn't think Derpy had it in her" Rarity said as they could not help but watch Derpy defecate over the corpse – the ultimate insult a pony could give. Princess Luna's eyebrows rose so high they nearly came off her head at the normally kind hearted and loving pony do that action – she sadly wondered if Mega Bucks' actions had changed Derpy on a deeper level. Then again, she reasoned, if anypony deserved it, it was Derpy.
"You didn't see what she ate last night" Rainbow Dash snickered.
"That wasn't entirely what I meant, darling"
"Cover the body up" Luna ordered at last when the Pegasus had finished and trotted back over to her adopted friends and family.
"You okay, Derpy?" asked Rainbow Dash quietly.
"I think so" the other Pegasus said. "I knew that when I saw that, I'd be safe once and for all"
"And what made y'all do 'hat?" asked Applejack with a gesture of her head.
"He insulted me… I wanted to do the same to him"
"He... deserved it" Fluttershy said. "I mean, if any pony did, then it was him"
"You know, darling, we've got that appointment at the spa to take care of" Rarity said.
"What?" Derpy blinked. Her memory and speech was getting better and better all the time, her own thought processes were always fine, but she didn't remember booking an appointment at the spa.
"Oh, didn't I tell you?" Rarity smiled. "I pulled a few strings and called in some long owed favours for a little something for you and dear Dashie here. Oh, I simply know its going to be perfect…"
"Twi, what is she on about?" Rainbow Dash blinked and then her jaw dropped open as Twilight whispered something into her ear. "That legal?"
"Not here, but Equestria accepts marriages being valid when done elsewhere, so Rarity called in a few favours and…"
"This calls for a party!" Pinkie Pie said loudly. "Oh, even better – A WEDDING RECEPTION!" she added with a cry.
"Dash, Rarity says that I have an hour before she's taking me to the spa to get made up before we have to not see each other" Derpy looked at her marefriend.
"Its only for a day"
"I know… Its just that" Derpy caught sight of Fluttershy who, surprisingly, had suggested it to make the others go embarrassed after she had loaned Derpy a few select books of hers.
"What?" Rainbow Dash looked at her partner in life.
"Derpy want muffin"
"Uh… I don't think there is enough time for a trip to the bakery"
"Oh" said Derpy running a hoof down Rainbow Dash's closest flank, "I didn't mean that sort of muffin…"