//------------------------------// // Original Plot Chapter 14 // Story: A Little Girls Love // by darkmage1997 //------------------------------// It was the day before Hearths Warming, and all of Equestria was abuzz, trying to get things ready for the big day. At Canterlot Castle, things were certainly busy, as Celestia and Luna oversaw the preparations for the Hearths Warming Ball, "Ok, decorations are progressing smoothly, sister. How are preparations for the food?" Luna asked, seeing her sister eating a cake, before hiding it behind her bake. Luna just gave her a very tired look, "This is why I take care of food preparations, and YOU handle the decorations," the lunar princess said, rubbing her temples. "I can't help it!" Celestia pouted. "Yeah? Well, anypony can clearly see your flank says otherwise," Luna snarked. "Oh, so we're going there, are we?!" Celestia said, getting in her sister's face. "If you keep gorging yourself on the refreshments for our guests, then yes!" Luna yelled back. Both sisters then got into a big fight cloud. The nearby servants and guards just sighed. "I'm amazed at how society hasn't crumbled yet," one servant grumbled. Just then, a letter materialized over the two of them, causing them to stop fighting for the moment to read it. "A letter from Cadence?" Celestia questioned, as she read over it, "Ok, so it looks like the Nymphs will be joining the festivities here since Mavis is going to be coming. On that note, Cadence also says that Mavis will come and join in the fun if we DON'T get her any presents," Celestia read. "An odd request, but if Mavis does not wish for any gifts, then we shall respect her wishes," Luna replied. Celestia continued reading the letter, her expression becoming more distressed, "Something wrong, sister?" Luna asked. "The Demon Bus..... Cadence said it claimed a family in the Crystal Empire," Celestia replied. Luna gasped. "We haven't heard anything about the Bus since we encountered it last year," Luna replied. "Indeed. Mavis must still not feel completely safe, or happy, or free. Remember the Bus did say that those requirements are the only things that are keeping it in this world," Celestia replied. "Which begs the question 'how do we help Mavis to feel happy, free, and safe?'" Luna asked. Both sisters though hard about the question. In Ponyville, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy were all hanging out at the spa, getting pampered, trying to relax from the usual stresses of their days, "So, have you heard anything from Cadence regarding Mavis?" Fluttershy asked Twilight. "Well, so far Mavis hasn't made any attempts to escape, but she hasn't made a decision about getting adopted. From what Cadence told me, Mavis wants nothing to do with the pressures of being royalty," Twilight replied. "So Mavis doesn't want to be a princess?" Fluttershy asked. "I can't imagine why she wouldn't. After all, being a princess is just about everypony's dream," Rarity commented, thinking about how glamourous she could be as a Princess. "Well, keep in mind, Rarity, Mavis was very scared when we first met her. Plus, part of the letters said how some of the nobility of the Crystal Empire treated Mavis more like a monster, rather than a living creature. It may be in our best interest to respect Mavis' wishes," Twilight replied. "Hmm, you make a good point, so I guess I can understand," Rarity replied. Just then, a scroll materialized before them, bearing the royal seal of Celestia and Luna. "A letter from Celestia and Luna? Probably telling us when the Hearths Warming Ball is going to begin," Twilight guessed, as she unfurled the scroll, and read it over, "Oh dear," she said, sounding distressed. "Is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked. "The Demon Bus.... it has returned, and claimed the lives of a family in the Crystal Empire," Twilight replied. This got some gasps form her friends. "How horrible!" Fluttershy commented. "But what reason could the bus ever have for killing a family?" Rarity asked. "I don't know, but we can't rule out that it did so in cold blood," Twilight replied. Both she and her friends only sat in a tense silence as the contemplated what they had heard. At the Ponyville Train Station, the night before Hearths Warming, Gallius, Sandbar, Silverstream, Yona, Smolder, and Ocellus were all waiting on the platform of the Ponyville Train Station with their guardians, waiting for the next train to come and take them to Canterlot. The other Creature Leaders were invited by Twilight and friends to spend Hearths Warming in Canterlot, as well as share their culture's take on the beloved holiday, "It would be easier to fly to Canterlot ourselves," Grandpa Gruff grumbled. "That may be true, but not everyone here has that luxury," Yona countered, as a heavy mist began to roll in, blocking out the light of the moon. "I don't recall there being any mist scheduled for tonight," Sandbar commented, confused by why such a heavy fog was rolling in. It was then that they all heard a sound that was unfamiliar to the guardians, but the Young Six remembered from about a year or so ago. They, along with everyone else could faintly make out a large, rectangular object, with two piercing red lights. "My reign of horror will soon come to an end. She will set me free. But anyone who dares to harm her in any way, I will personally see that they are sent straight to HELL!" the Demon Bus then raced out of the fog, charging towards the station platform. Everyone on there was horrified when they saw the Demon Driver, it's sadistic visage shown through the broken window. With a scream, the Demon Bus came closer, causing everyone to flee the station. After a moment of nothing happening, Ember looked around the platform to see that the Demon Bus was gone. "W-What was that?!" Lyra exclaimed, holding on to Bon-Bon, who was shaking just as much as her unicorn friend. "I don't know, and I don't want to know!" Sandbar exclaimed, hiding under a nearby bench. "I think I heard Princess Twilight talking about some sort of Demon thing," Ocellus commented. "I think I've heard rumors from my cousin in Trottingham about the same thing. It had an extremely cold presence, like something out of a horror movie," Bon-Bon replied. "Yaks hope this not a sign of something worse to come," Prince Rutherford commented shakily.