[Satyr] Crystal Obsession

>"Crystaaaaaaaalllss."
"Yes, yes, crystals. Tasty crystals."
>You lead the obsessed mare away, placing crystal after crystal upon the ground, leading back to your house and to your bedroom
>You are Anonymous, and you are a sick man

5 years later

>"Daddy, why can't mommy say anything besides 'crystals'?"
"Well, sweetheart, it's because your mommy is retarded."
>"What's retarded mean?"
"It means she's not all there in the head, like you or I."
>She ponders this for a moment
>"Is that why she never hugs me like the other mommies do with their kids?"
>You get on one knee and tussle her hair
"Sort of, but I'm sure she loves you. Deep down, if she could think clearly, I'm sure you'd be her little Crystal."
>Your daughter giggles lightly at the play on words of her name
"I'm sure, one day, she'll see you shine brighter than any gem she could ever hope to imagine. One day..." >you trail off
"...One day, she'll be the mommy you deserve. Until then, are you okay with just daddy being there for you?"
>She looks up at you and smiles, before wrapping your waist in a hug
>"Of course. I love you, daddy!"
>You bring her up to your chest and reciprocate the hug
"Love you too, baby girl."

7 years later

>You sit at the dining table with your family
>Crystal happily kicks her hooves under the table as she eats her eggs
>Across from you, the mother sits, poking at her food, making an effort to nourish herself
>You had a hard time keeping her alive when you had first started out
>So consumed by the love of crystals was she, that she often times had forsaken eating altogether
>You'd find her up and gone some days, later discovering her in a cave somewhere, panicked at the sight of protruding ribs as she weakly muttered about her precious crystals
>Hell, that first day you brought her back to your house, she was absorbed in admiring a crystal you had given her, too interested in its brilliance to care that you had her on her back, legs spread while you pleasured yourself with her body
>What was meant to be a one time thing became so much more
>You had spotted her around from time to time, belly large with child
>You had figured some stallion got the same idea you had and knocked her up
>The surrounding villagers had wanted nothing to do with her and refused to help the poor mare
>She was once a tyrannical sorceress who had lost her powers when Equestrian royalty came to free the enslaved ponies of the Crystal Empire
>Feeling guilty yourself and not wanting to see her come to harm, you had begun to feed her when you could, seeking shelter for her when she'd doze off out in the open, exposed to the elements, happily muttering about crystals in her sleep
>Then came the surprise nine months later
>You had begged Nurse Redheart to come help you deliver the baby, the soon to be mother sprawled out on a cardboard box in an alleyway nearby
>She had refused at first, but even she had the kindness in her not to let an innocent child be brought into this world under unfortunate circumstances
>She came to the alley, you stumbling behind her with a tub full of warm water, towels, disinfectant and other supplies she had bundled into your arms and made you carry
>Some hours and several pained screams later, a brand new baby girl was born
>But it was not what you expected, not what you expected at all
>Instead of a full pony, what came out was half pony, half human
>Redheart cradled the newborn, shocked, before looking to you, disgust plain on her face
>You had tried your best to assuage her concerns and weasel your way out of the situation, but to no avail
>After all, what other humans could possibly live in Equestria? You were the only one to date
>You soon became known around town as the sicko you were
>Not because you slept with a pony; interspecies relationships happened quite often
>It was because you took advantage of her in her poor mental state
>Still, you were not a man to back away from your responsibilities
>It was your child, after all, and over the months you had grown attached to the wayward mare
>You had come to love them both as your own
>So, you took them in, took up another job, and balanced that with taking care of the two that could not take care of themselves, albeit with some help from a still incensed, but understanding Nurse Redheart
>Over the years, the town had come to accept the strange family, regarding you as politely as they could, ignoring the mother, sometimes helping her back home
>As for your daughter, the townsfolk loved her
>They were unsure of her at first, but her beaming smile and innocence despite her parental background warmed their hearts and she became quite welcomed amongst the citizens of Ponyville
>In time, your own crimes and that of the mother were forgotten, and you now lived a peaceful life
>And now you sat at the dining table, staring her down as she played with her food
>She looked up at you and shrinked back in her seat at your unwavering gaze
"Eat." >you commanded
>She looks at her food, pouting
>"C-Crystals..."
>You set your eating utensils down
"EAT." >you say again, this time more forcefully
>She begrudgingly takes up a forkful of egg and stuffs it in her mouth
>Your daughter giggles at the scene
>"Mom's funny!"
"I swear, your daughter is more mature than you."
>Not like she can help it
>She had slowly become better over the years, however, as she lived in the town, normal mannerisms making an influence on her crystal-addled brain
>It was hard for her, but she was learning to do some things by herself
>The clock chimed, cuckoo making its appearance to signify the new hour
>She hissed at it as always
"Time for school, honey."
>Your daughter jumped up from the table, running over and donning her backpack before coming back and giving you a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, turning and doing the same to her mother
>"Love you mom, love you dad! Going to head off now!"
>She turns to leave, but a desperate grunt stops her
>You both turn to the voice of protest, seeing your wife sticking a hoof out, a strained expression on her face
>Your daughter walks up gingerly, concern on her face
>"What's wrong, mom?"
>Your wife places a hoof on Crystal's head, rubbing it gently, and forcing a smile
>Your daughter looks back to you, confused
"I-I think she's wishing you a good day at school."
>She turns back to her mother, noting the subtle nod she gives her
>They smile at one another, before Crystal wraps her mother in a tight embrace
>"Thanks, mama!"
>Mama... you hadn't heard call her that since she was small
>She takes off out the door and you turn again to the mare at the table
>You smile, the progress she was making really starting to show
>You kneel down and kiss her on the forehead, running a hand through her mane lovingly
>She turns to you as you whisper
"Everything's going to be fine, I just know it."

>Later that day, a knock at the door stirs you from your slumber on the couch, tired from your shift at the factory
>You open it, surprised to see Celestia at your doorstep
>You haven't seen her since she came to reprimand you for your actions years earlier
>She had let you off the hook, however, knowing that your wife no longer posed a threat and that you were living a happy life together, under the watchful gaze of her faithful student and her friends
>"Anonymous," she says quietly
>"I believe I have found the answer to your wife's condition."

2 weeks later

>"Ahem."
>You turn around to your "wife"
>You see a rather cold and stern look on her face
>Ever since the princess found a spell to cure the curse that had taken a hold of her mind, she's been largely ignoring your presence, opting to work out her past at the castle and spend some much needed time with her daughter
"Hey, uh,"
>You're cut off as she sets a hoof forward locking eyes with you
>"Twelve years..." she mutters
"W-What?"
>"Twelve years! I have spent the last twelve years of my life with you, having a child by you, living in some backwater town, all the while being treated like an ill foal!"
>You back away as she draws closer, horn alight, anger evident in every facet of her face
>Looks like she finally decided to confront you
>And you were scared
"Listen, I-"
>"You, you used me! For your own, selfish desires! V-Violated me..." she takes a shuddering breath
>You feel your heart break as all the years of love and devotion come crashing down around you
>It was always one-sided, you knew it
>You had lied to yourself, convincing yourself you were a good man
>But it doesn't change what you did
>You fall to your knees, back pressed up against a wall
>"And yet-"
"Please... I'm so sorry. I just,"
>Your words catch in your throat as you look for something to say
>There was no excuse
"If you're going to kill me, will you at least take care of our daughter? Tell her... Tell her her daddy's gone somewhere far away. I, I really,"
>You find yourself pushing back the tears as you choke
"I really don't want her to grow up parentless! I love her too much, love you too much. I don't want to see that happen!"
>You're on the verge of sobbing, head hanging low to the floor so as not to face your accuser, the pain in her eyes, the pain you caused
>"Kill you?" she whispers
>The glowing of her horn fades out as she walks up to you
>"No, no I do not plan on killing you."
>You look at her, a now calm expression overtaking her face
>"Had you let me finished, I wanted to thank you."
>She looks back to you, your confusion apparent as she explains
>"Despite my... mental state, you took care of me, looked after me, and took responsibility when you learned that the child was yours. You could have simply abandoned me, like all the others."
"I couldn't have just left you-"
>She raises a hoof to stop you, so you let her finish
>"You have saved my life more times than I care to count" she sighs
>"You tried to help me reintegrate into society. I must have been such a burden..."
>There is sadness in her eyes, reminiscing over years she'll never get back
>You motion to speak again, but stop once more as she continues
>"You brought happiness into my life, something other than empty crystals to fill the void. You brought me a daughter,"
>She smiles this time, a hint of pride in her voice
>"One that I adore more than anything. And now I get to spend time with her, as a real mother."
>"I would be lost, long since, if not for you. So while I do not agree with what you did to bind our souls together, I wish to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving me so many years ago, and giving me a life I can look forward to."
>"So thank you."
>She plants a kiss on your forehead, as you have done with her countless times before
>You stare at her, mouth agape as you try to process the information
>She was not angry with you, at least, she did not hate you for what you have done
>Instead she was thanking you
>Happiness glistened in your eyes as you feel a weight lifted from your shoulders
>There was still hope, hope for you, for your daughter, for a life together with your family, whom you cherished so much
>"What you said earlier, about loving us. That is not a lie. You have been a good father and husband. And I would be the one lying if I said I did not hold feelings, although scattered, for the man who has looked after us for so long."
>"Perhaps... perhaps we can start anew."
>She smiles at you, with a mercy you do not deserve, and a tear makes its way down your cheek as your heart beats in strong passion once more for the mare in front of you
"I love you."
>Her smile softens
>"I love you, too."
>You lean forward and hug her close, basking in the warmth of love and life gifted to you by this mare and this world
>And across the hall, a young satyr girl peeks in on the scene from behind a crack in the door, smiling wider than she has ever smiled in her life
>Her mother was sane, her father forgiven, and her parents were happy
>Today was the start of a new beginning