Now, without further adieu, I present,
“A Crafter’s Dream”
Steve carried Derpy, holding her wounded body against his chest. Neither had said a word, him because he was focused on getting back to their home, and Derpy because she was too busy sobbing into his shirt. Steve grit his teeth in anger at what that prick had done to her.
Under the cover of night, Steve eventually made it to her home. The lights were on, signifying Dinky was probably still up. Trying the door, he found it locked. Happy she had listened to him, but still slightly frustrated, he gently knocked.
“Hello? Dinky? It’s me, Steve. Your mom’s here.” There was a hurried shuffling on the other side, some clicking and the door swung open, revealing the small unicorn filly. Her eyes were watering, but a smile was present on her face at the sight of the pair. However, that smile fell and turned into fear when she saw the state her mother was in.
Walking in, Steve gently laid Derpy on the couch. Sighing to himself, he turned to Dinky.
“Dinky, I need some soup, some muffins and a fluffy blanket.” She didn’t question him, immediately setting off to find what he requested. Turning back to his charge, he brought her face tear-stained face up to look at him. He winced at the black eye and bruises she sported.
L1: Potion Select: Healing Potion (Level 2)
Withdrawing a potion of healing, Steve swiftly uncorked the bottle.
“C’mon, Derpy. Drink this. It’ll make you feel better.” She nodded shakily, and gripped the bottle. Tipping back her head, she gulped down the red liquid. Immediately, Steve saw the bruises on her face and body fade. Taking the empty bottle back, he stored it just as Dinky came back with a fluffy blanket and a plate of three muffins.
“The soup is warming up right now, Mister Steve.” He nodded, and grabbed the muffins and blanket. Placing the plate on the nearby table, he unfolded the blanket.
“Hey Derpy, could you sit up a little?” She responded by doing just that, allowing Steve to wrap the blanket around her. Picking up the pony burrito, he gently laid her down. All the while, she didn’t say a word. Steve looked her in her eyes. They were blank. He sighed, knowing exactly what was wrong. She was terrified. And after what had happened, he didn’t blame her.
“Derpy, it’s okay. Your safe.” Steve spoke, softly. She didn’t respond, causing him to sigh again. Steps to his right made him turn his head. Dinky trotted in, a bowl of soup clutched in her magical grip. Nodding his head in thanks, he grabbed the bowl, setting that too on the table, next to the muffins. Standing up, he spoke.
“Derpy, I’ll be right back. Just need to talk to your daughter for a moment. Make sure to eat something.” Turning, he walked to the kitchen. “C’mon Dinky.” Curious, she followed.
Once in the kitchen, he faced Dinky and knelt. Putting a hand on her shoulder, he sighed and thought on how best to tell her what had happened. Dinky waited patiently.
“Dinky, I wish I knew a better way to tell you this, but I don’t, so here it is. Your mom, has been through a lot tonight. Probably more than she’d ever gone through in her entire life, combined. She’s hurt, not physically, I healed her, but mentally. I know you may not understand, but…”
“I got it.” She interrupted. This made Steve raise an eyebrow in confusion. Sighing, she walked out of the kitchen, only to return with a book. She hoofed it over to Steve. Grabbing it, he turned it over to the front cover.
“Psychology and the Pony Mind?” Steve wondered aloud.
“Chapter 5.” She responded simply. Steve shrugged and turned to the proper page.
“Oh. Mental Trauma and its Effects.” Steve read aloud. Looking up and closing the book, he gave Dinky a curious look.
“You read this? No offense, but this doesn't seem like a very interesting book.” She chuckled and blushed.
“Yeah, but I found it interesting.” Steve shrugged.
“So, you know your mom is really hurt, right?” She nodded.
“Good, that means you can help her when I can’t. Look, I’ve seen this before, so I know it affects everyone differently. Right now, she needs to feel she’s safe, and she needs you.” Dinky nodded.
“Are you leaving?” She asked. Steve pondered for a moment, but shook his head.
“No. This all happened because of me, so I’ll make sure she’s okay, at least for tonight.” Dinky’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean this is your fault?” Steve sighed.
“The guards targeted your mom because she was my friend. They thought they could figure out where I lived from her.” Steve looked back in the direction of the living room and sighed, a expression of guilt present on his face.
“I don’t blame you, Mister Steve. And I don’t think Mom could ever blame you for what happened either.” Dinky spoke from behind him. Turning his head, he gave her a unbelieving look.
“No offense, but I find it hard to believe she won’t. You weren’t there. She looks better now, but that whole experience will scar her, possibly for life. I deserve to be blamed.” Dinky looked up, looking like she wanted to argue, but Steve spoke before she could.
“Anyway, kid, I don’t know if your mom has a bed time for you, but I think it’s time you got some sleep. And don’t worry about your mom. I’ll stay with her out here. I don’t want to risk moving her, not while she’s still fragile.” Dinky sighed but didn’t argue, moving on to, presumably, her room. Steve turned and started to walk to the living room.
“Mr Steve?” Steve stopped and looked at Dinky. She had her head poked out of a doorway with a worried expression on her face.
“She’ll be alright, right? My mom.” It broke Steve’s heart, to see such a good kid scared like that. The least he could do was reassure her. He smiled.
“Of course.” She smiled and went back into her room. Steve felt his smile drop. In truth he didn’t know. Problems in the mind always eluded him.
Walking into the room, he saw Derpy had fallen asleep, covered in the blanket. Smiling, Steve gently sat on the couch, tucking his head onto a large pillow. Tired from the day’s events, Steve fell asleep.
He was in too deep a sleep to feel the blanket-covered pony shift and cuddle against him in the night, a faint smile present on her sleeping form.
* * * * *
Steve blinked his eyes, groaning at the light that invaded his sight. Rubbing a hand on his face, he sat up and stretched, popping his back. Looking over to his side, he saw, to his horror, Derpy wasn't there. Only a mussed up blanket remained, left spread out on the couch. Shooting to his feet, Steve set off, searching for his friend.
He didn't have to look for long. To his surprise, he found both mother and daughter in the kitchen. Dinky was sitting at the dining table, while Derpy was at the stove, cooking something. Upon his entry, both mares and filly smile widely at him.
“Hey Steve. I was beginning to think I would have to wake you up myself. Breakfast is almost ready.” Derpy stated, turning back to the hot pan on the stove. Steve raised an eyebrow in confusion. Hesitantly, he sat down in the chair besides Dinky.
“Hey Derpy, Dinky. How are things going with you gals?” Steve
asked, eyes looking in Derpy's direction, a slight hint of concern present on his features. She looked back at him and winced slightly from the look he was giving her. Looking to her daughter, she spoke.
“Hey Dinky, sweetie? Could you go to your room for a moment? Steve and I need to talk for a bit.” Dinky nodded in understanding, and swiftly left the room. A few moments later, Steve heard the sound of her door closing. Sighing, Steve slowly walked towards her.
“Look Miss Derpy, I understand if you hate me now because of what I …? He was swiftly interrupted as Derpy latched herself onto his, giving him a big hug. Stepping back in surprise, he looked down at the mare in confusion as she looked up at him, a smile on her face.
“Dinky told me you blame yourself. I couldn’t imagine why, until she told me how you said it was your fault that I was imprisoned.” Steve looked away, an expression of guilt on his face. “Steve, look at me.” He didn’t, until her hoof reached up and turned his head to look at her. “I don’t blame you. You didn’t want me to go through that. You weren’t the one that put me through that.”
Steve opened his mouth to protest, but she continued.
“I saw what you did. You fought tooth and hoof to get to me. You risked your life to save me from that dirt-bag of a General. How could I possibly even dislike you?” She asked, the beginnings of tears in her eyes. Steve looked down at her, surprise and happiness in his face. Kneeling down, he smiled and gave her a big hug, arms wrapping around her. She readily returned the hug, content to stay there in his comforting grasp.
Steve felt something latch onto his arm. Looking up, he smiled as he saw Dinky, hugging his arm, a smile on her muzzle. Steve readjusted his grip, allowing the filly to get into the hug as well. The trio sat there, hugging each other, letting everything else fade away.
However, as all things must, they were forced to end the hug when Derpy suddenly shot up.
“The muffins are burning!” Just like that, she was at the stove, hurriedly pulling out a dozen blackened muffins. “Oh no!” She groaned. Steve simply chuckled. She turned her head to look at him, a expression of mock hurt on her face.
“What, are you laughing at my misfortune!” She inquired, sounding a lot like a certain white unicorn. Steve laughed.
“Oh wow, you sound just like Miss Rarity!” He chuckled. She simply smiled, as her daughter laughed along with Steve. Grumbling, she moved to grab some flour to make some more, before Steve's hand intercepted her hoof, gripping the bag of flour instead. Smirking down at the mare, he spoke.
“Let me, Miss Derpy. After all, such an exquisite mare like yourself must not dirty your hooves.” He replied, bowing low, putting on a fancy accent, making both ponies in the room laugh loudly at the display. Standing back up, he grabbed some bowls and utensils.
“Let’s get to work.”
* * * * *
After some time, the pair had been thoroughly covered in a mixture of flour, sugar, and egg. After cleaning themselves up, they set to cleaning up while Dinky was busy reading in her room. Derpy washed, while Steve dried and put away the dishes. They were both silent, content to work without talking. Until, Steve broke the silence with a hesitantly asked question.
“Sorry for not asking earlier, but, are you okay Derpy?”She stopped. Steve turned his head to look at her, waiting for her response.
“No. If I’m being honest, I’m not.” She turned to look at him, the look in her eye similar to what it had been last night. “I’m scared, Steve. I’m terrified that the Royal Guard would do that to anypony. I know, and I trust that you will protect me. I know. But you won’t always be around to protect me and Dinky, will you?” Steve opened his mouth to respond, closed it, then shook his head, regretfully. She sighed.
“That’s why I’m scared. I can’t prove they did anything wrong because I don’t have any proof, those guards are out to get you, and by connection, me, and the only being on this planet that has the means and will to protect my family is wanted as a criminal.” Sitting down, she let out a shuddering sigh. “When did my life get so stressful?” Steve looked down at the mare, feeling guilt bloom in his chest. Not knowing what to do, he hugged her. Feeling her hooves wrap around him, he spoke gently.
“I don’t know all the answers. I may be strong, and fast, and powerful, but I’m not a god,or some all-powerful being. At the end of the day, I’m just me, the last member of a extinct species. But I promise you. I will fight to my last breath to protect you and Dinky. And you can trust the promise of a Crafter.” He felt her tightened her grip.
“Thank you.”
* * * * *
Celestia and Luna gazed in horror at the sight before them. Eight beds, all filled with Royal Guards, all sporting various injuries. They were all unconscious, healing from their injuries. Their gazes took on the hurt and pain they were all in.
“How many, Sister?” Luna asked. Celestia sighed.
“The total guards hospitalized are 22. Two are in critical condition. Luckily, there were no deaths.” Luna gasped.
“This, this was not an attack. This was a massacre.” Luna spoke. Her sister nodded.
“Indeed. Even the general was not conscious, and any guards that were not injured or present don’t know what happened, only that the Creature was responsible.” Luna growled.
“Sister, this calls for desperate measures. I wish to enact Black Claw.” Celestia’s eyes widened, but as she was about to respond, she pondered the idea. Sighing, she looked at her sister, eyes narrowed in seriousness.
“Luna, that initiative is a worst-case scenario. They are given all access to anything they wish. They have an authority level just below ours. Are you sure this is the correct thing to do?” Luna took one more glance at the guards, and nodded her head. Celestia gave a nod in response and sighed.
“I will inform them immediately. May Faust have mercy on the Creature’s soul.”
Blacl claw is an enderman. I call it.
ok the princesses not investigating properly before going lethal to someone who has not killed seams out of char for them hmm good fic so far but that a bit strange i'm getting the feeling there an outside influence on them to not try peace and before you they did Luna did invading the mind is not trying peace
and luna has the power to look into the mind at least the dreams she should be able to find out what happened
Oh to be a fly on the wall when they find out what really happened.
Yep, how I figured the princesses would act. There's no possible way that their little ponies might have done anything at all wrong is there? The rot at the very top spreads downwards, and their attitude that non-ponies are automatically in the wrong before looking at the evidence will become a moral gangrene through their whole society unless they act to cut it out.
I can see the next dream encounter with Luna going very badly with Steve telling her that you can tell a lot about a ruler by the actions of their guards, and what he thinks of the kind of so-called ruler who condones the kidnapping and rape of her own subjects by the very ones supposed to be protecting them.
This is fun, but I feel like it's starting to push the misunderstanding past the point of sensibility. Derpy may not have proof, but it'd be pretty trivial for her to arrange a peaceful meeting, especially with the help of Zecora, who the main six have learned to trust.
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You seem to think neither one of them has a plan. Cause trust me, they do. And it is beautiful. On that note, no-one with the exception of Derpy, Dinky and Zecora have heard Steve's side of the story. Most of the town think he's a monster. And sure, Derpy could come out and say she is Steve's friend, but that didn't get her anywhere last time. Now if Zecora said the same, maybe that would work, but the ponies, as said in Ch. 5 or 6, are dense and gullible, in general. That may not work either. So it's up in the air at this point.
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Which would be a bigger problem if they didn't have magical plants that were perfect lie detectors, and which Zecora is intimately familiar with. It'd be pretty trivial at this point for Derpy and Zecora to give ironclad testimony on what they know.
9486213
I was not aware about the truth plants. Not to worry, I'll be sure to include that in the story. This is what I get for being behind on the show.
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The truth plants were how the cutie pox episode got resolved, season 2 or 3 I think.
The story art looks like a buff JackSepticEye
Damn it! Leave Steve alone!
I love this story so far, keep it up!
No.....No may Faust have Mercy on the Black Claw as the Crafter will not.
They have just pushed this past the point of no return, to turn a SpecOps team on the Crafter with a carte blanche check. This is the point were they are gonna see the first Deaths, He has been taking a Hurt but not Kill mindset up to this point but i suspect that is going to be Recended at some point in the near future.
ruthim345 I have a Question, A chapter or so ago it was mentioned that Pinkie Pie has talked with him more then once, So why hasn't she stood up for him? It seems odd that one of the more Understanding and Friendly of the Mane Six has yet to try and sort this entire thing out?
May Faust and Notch have Mercy on them should any of his Friends get any further hurt.
Edit: I also Call Griffons, Black Claw just fits them.
You idiots calling on a black op soldier without the whole story this is going to blow up in your face spectacularly
9486298
I'm guessing that Pinkie hasn't made the connection between the non-hostile and invisible 'Mr. Ghost' who hasn't had his welcome party yet and the evil, aggressive, hostile, and of course very visible ape-monster that Rainbow has told everypony about.
After all, Mr. Ghost can't possibly be the bad monster because he isn't attacking ponies. And friends don't lie to their friends either. Right?
I find it amusing that this whole fiasco could easily be avoided by Dinky or Derpy having a few choice words with Twilight.....
Twilight definitely wouldn't let this stand.
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Paulon's right. She has no idea that Steve is Mr. Ghostie.
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I would think Pinkie would know, she is after all Pinkie Pie.
I think she would at least know enough to at least Suspect after the Guard figured out he was using Invisibility. I mean they would have told Twilight who then would have told her friends.
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I guess. Honestly, while I plan out the story well enough, it's you guys, the readers who go full ham on details.
This is getting outta hand. Steve can only do so much to protect himself, Derpy and Dinky against the entirety of Equestria.
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And yet, he's willing to lay everything to protect those very two ponies, regardless of what's thrown at him.
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True, but when you stop and think about the Characters and their Personality's it's apparent just how deep they really are.
I could tell all of their reactions to Rainbow Crashes lies when they come into the light. This might actually BREAK their friendship with Rainbow, it's that bad. I Fear what Celestia and Luna will do to her should one of their Little Ponies die due to Crashes Pride.
9486368
Would Twilight be told about the use of invisibility though? In her overheard conversation with Spike she said Trench had told her to leave anything regarding Steve to him and his forces. It's likely that she's being kept out of the loop entirely now that the Guard is there, though I suspect Celestia still intended her to stay involved.
I smell a glory hound of Rainbow Dash sized ego proportions running things. Unfortunately for Trench his actions just left a pile of gore instead of glory.
Alright, it's all on you, Dinky. Go talk to your classmates, get the CMC involved. Snips and Snails already have reasons to like Steve, and it shouldn't take too much to get the CMC to go look for his house in the Everfree.let the children being about peace! Shame every adult involved in this debacle! Millennium old alicorns will get shamed by foals!
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I think she knows or at least expects. It's possible she DOESN'T but then again this is Twilight we are talking about.
The misunderstanding is a bit dragged out at this point, hopefully this will wrap up quickly.
9486298
As I have said before, "gods domain be the power of creation, woe be unto the enemy of a man who possess it"
Its gotta be some version of an enderman army.
Really you two horses. Every fight between your (admittedly pitiful) guards and Steve has left a body count that lopsided doesn't even begin to describe. One of you has met "the Creature" twice and both times you were sent running with your tail between your legs. Now you want to send what sounds like a death squad after him when he A) made it clear that he's going to start killing if someone goes after Derpy or Dinky, B) going to be hyper-alert for any threat against them or himself? I won't ask if you're stupid because the answer is obviously yes. No what I want to know is how you two managed to not get yourselves killed before blundering into ascension.
At this rate the fallout when the truth goes public is going to be massive. Rainbow sent to prison for the lightning attack, giving false statements, and multiple accounts of assault. The Guards under a massive cloud of dishonor & humiliation on top of all their other failures - maybe even disbanded so their goes Shining's career. Twilight certainly getting a massive case of guilt for her actions against Steve plus seeing her blind faith in Celestia shattered. Luna & Celestia basically handling the nobility their heads on a plate (Neighsay will have a field day with this). Oh and lets not forget that the entire time they are pushing a being who has proven far more dangerous than any of their other foes and has a very legitimate reason to hate them into the hooves of their neighbors who may have their own grudges.
THIS is why absolute monarchies don't work. You get an idiot at the top and everything falls apart.
img-comment-fun.9cache.com/media/aAdv0Eo/awGQGp5q_700w_0.jpg
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Ok, to be fair, your A point isn't something they know about, he told the general, and as we saw at the end, everyone who was there was hospitalized and the general is probably in a coma. Every other point is valid though.
Hhhmmm....
HHHMMMMM...
HHHMMMMMMMM!!!!!
They need to go back to english class.
(Yes, I know this is on purpose, good writing.)
So you're saying, you're going to send people equivalent to WH40K's Holy Inquisition, instead of going yourselves...
One fuck up after the other :T
Ok it's a damn good story but i just can't. i'm sorry but i can't. I despise stories that make the MC out to be the bad guy because of something so stupid as Xenophobia. A simple fucking talk would get this all cleared up. So i'm sorry but i can't read this anymore.
I'm assuming an elite squad of griffons/dragons or something along those lines, though I wonder why Equestria even has something like this, I don't really see any non-pony citizens to be often in Equestria
You know, I liked the concept but at this point I'm giving it up as a bad time investment.
Edit:
To clarify, if you want to read about a crafter wailing on super aggro ponies, including a guardspony who implied that the rest are in the process of raping Derpy (whom they dragged off for hard interrogation, complete with beatings) to piss the protagonist off and an ever escalating amount of beating people up, please enjoy.
So far things could have been de-escalated:
-By him staying out of Ponyville in stead of stalking invisibly, and yes he could have grabbed anything he needed during the night in stead.
-By him ranting out loud at Luna during any one of the dream sequences in stead of doing it in his head when directly asked.
-By the guards not beeing a bunch of sadistic pricks
-By any one pony in authority including Twilight actually asking questions.
-By Rainbow Dash not lying about beeing attacked.
-By Celestia or Luna asking questions. Any questions. Of anyone before issuing a death warrant.
Call the Avengers
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Yup, this is what you'd call an unmitigated disaster. I'm not sure what forces are in play to make sure everyone around has one hell of a bad time, but it's like everyone has had their bad traits exemplified.
I smell Discord all over this.
And yes, I agree with all of the points you've made. The ponies are being unnecessarily cruel, and the princesses are being blind as all fuck. You'd think that after thousands of years, at least Celestia would know to de-escalate.
Or that anypony would have the mind to ask "Why the fuck are you doing this?", to which the Crafter would actually respond.
Yeah, prideful bastards they seem to have been - but from what I'm seeing, he ain't any better.
It's ... really hard for me to enjoy this story. It's not only unrealistic (not that ... y'know. Ponies is realistic) but considering the characters at the time of Season 1-3 they weren't this bullheaded nor moronic. This feels like a really old early 2000s RPG where everything was "Kill on sight if you aren't friendly." Just... what.
mare and filly smiled
an
The levels of stupid in this are really starting to piss me off. I am close to downvoting this for improper portrayal of intelligence.
Okay, real talk: I’m enjoying the story as a whole, but this whole misunderstanding has just escalated way too far and dragged on for way too long. I’ll keep reading in hopes that this improves, but as of right now, you’re on thin ice here.
Ground running, didn't make
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I disagree, what you do if you had a strange creature attacking your citizens and when you sent in the military, were wiped out?
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Keep in mind they saw him as a some sort Osama Bin-Laden. Their objective was to kill him at all costs, including using torture. You might be saying “but doesn’t that sound a little bit fucked up?” but the US actually tortured many people using waterboarding in order to obtain information. I’m not saying torture is justified, because it’s very wrong, but I can understand where they’re coming from.
Yeah this is way to much. I don't understand how this story is rated so high. It's a trash fic with trashy characters. The princesses would have stepped in by now and found out what the General did. Those were F-ing war crimes the general was doing. This isn't Equestria anymore. This is some horrible world of nonsense your toting as the world of pastel ponies.