the price of freedom

Derpy was woken by the sound of banging on the front door. It was still dark out because she had once again slept through the entire day without even knowing it. The banging was accompanied by the occasional drunken yell.

“Hey!” filthys' slurred voice rand out from the front porch, “somepony lemme in!” he continued to pound on the door. “I said lemme in! Derpy! You stupid useless retard! LEMME IN!”

There was a crash in the foyer as the front door came off its hinges and slid across the tile flooring. The drunken form of filthy appeared in the doorway next to Derpy, reeking of alcohol.

“You retard!” he yelled, spraying his booze tainted spittle all over Derpy and the couch, “why didn’t you lemme in?!” he stumbled over to her side and stared down at her. His eyes were bloodshot and dilated to a near impossible size. “I really hate you!” his saliva spattered onto her face, “I don’t even know why I keep you around!”

He brought a hoof down on her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and bringing tears to her eyes.

“I’m gonna enjoy this!” he slurred, standing over her and spreading her back legs apart, leaving her helplessly open to him. She tried to push him off but he punched her solidly in the jaw.

“Mr. Rich! No! Stop! Please stop! “Derpy begged weakly as he began his ungodly act.

“Shut up!” he roared, punching her in the head and ribs until he felt her bones break. He continued to ride her and pummel her face until she wasn’t even recognizable. Her teeth were mostly gone and she was coughing up blood. More blood flowed out of her nostrils and down her broken muzzle. Both of her eyes were swollen shut and caked over with blood.

The violation finally came to an end as the bay window next to them exploded. Two royal guards crashed through and grabbed filthy, tossing him off of Derpy and into the wall.

The last thing Derpy saw before blacking out was a kind alicorn face looming over her, crescent moon pendant glowing softly.

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

It was over. The suffering was over. Derpy had finally been rescued. Later she was told that the doctor who had treated her on multiple occasions had become increasingly suspicious of her continuing injuries. He had called a close friend to investigate, and later found that filthy rich had been embezzling money from the crown for the past five years. He sent a letter to the princess immediately regarding the situation.

Considering her sister was already near ponyville paying a visit to a neighboring town celestia sent her a note telling her to get to ponyville immediately, giving her permission to use force if necessary. When Luna had arrived at the rich estate she heard a commotion from inside and peeked in a bay window next to the porch. She was horrified by what she saw. She sent the guards in to detain the crazed and drunken felon and entered after them, rushing over to the battered shell of a mare lying limp on the couch. She started to work as fast as she could to reverse the damage and was able to correct most of it. But there was nothing she could do for the mares’ eyes. They would stay crossed forever.

She brought her to canterlot to keep an eye on her as she recovered. She healed quickly and was soon up and about exploring her new surroundings with immense curiosity.

“Derpy? Are you awake?” Luna soft voice interrupted the blonde mare’s dreams.

“I am now princess. “She smiled, rubbing her eyes.

“Your recovery has gone very well over the past week” she stated, sitting on the bed next to Derpy, “I think you’re about ready to leave.”

Derpy sat silently as the words slowly began to sink in. she looked up at Luna uncertainly, “you mean… I’m free?”

“Well of course that’s what I mean.” Luna smiled. “You are free to go whenever you like.” Luna jumped in surprise as she found the young Pegasus wrapped around her in a tight hug.

“Thank you” Derpy whispered, a single happy tear rolling down her cheek.

Luna returned the hug, “You’re welcome.”

Derpy sat back and thought for a moment, “but princess, now that I’m free, I have nowhere to go. I don’t have any family to go to.”

The princes smiled for a moment. Slowly a smile grew on her face.

“I think I have the perfect job for you.”

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

Twilight was waiting next to her mailbox. She was eagerly awaiting a new spell book she had sent for, but the mailpony was running late. As usual.

She smiled as she saw the silhouette of a Pegasus on the horizon coming towards her. As the pony drew nearer twilight could make out a grey coat and golden mane rippling in the breeze. Her mail had arrived.

“Package for Mrs. Twilight sparkle!” the cross-eyed mailpony announced as she made somewhat of a crash landing next to the mailbox.

“Thank you Derpy” twilight chuckled, signing for the package and talking it from the bubbly mare.

“See ya later twilight!” Derpy called back as she took to the sky again. Twilight shook her head and smiled as she stepped into the library to read her new book.

Derpy soared through the sky, zigzagging through clouds, her smile brighter than the sun above her. She had found a purpose. She was happy.

She was free.