Time came and went, and Mavis steadily became more accustomed to Equestria's way of life. She was still the object of prejudice from the citizens, but thankfully, she had her friends to defend her. Speaking of friends, she also made some with some Mountain Nymphs just outside of the Crystal Empire. They helped teach Mavis how to use natural magic from nature, and make Mavis into a half Nymph upon mastering the eight forms of magic her master's taught her. Today, she was spending a day at the grotto, relaxing alongside her masters. She was currently soaking in a warm bath along with Marina, "Ah, this feels so nice," Mavis commented, as Marina helped with washing her.
"So, how are things in the Crystal Empire?" Marina asked.
"Truthfully? The citizens still don't trust me, All I hear is something about someone called 'Tirek'. Who is he?" Mavis asked.
"Tirek is one of the most evil villains Equestria has ever seen. He's a centaur who has the ability to absorb the magic from magical lifeforms," Wanda explained, as she walked into the bathhouse.
"O-Oh, I see," Mavis said, feeling dejected.
"Now hold on, Mavis! Just because he's evil doesn't mean every centaur from this world is evil! In fact his father, King Vorak, stood in opposition to his son's ambitions!" Wanda quickly said.
"But to think that the actions of one centaur is why everyone is treating me like a bad guy. quelle horreur," Mavis replied. She was then embraced by Marina.
"Now Mavis, just because one centaur's actions lead everyone to believe they can't be trusted doesn't mean that you need their approval. What matters is that there are those out there who like you for WHO you are, not WHAT you are," the watery nymph said.
"Even so, but I would still like to venture out without feeling singled out," Mavis replied.
"I know you do, but think of it this way... that Hearth's Warming Ball that Cadence invited us will allow us to help turn the public's opinion about you around," Wanda said.
"That's right! Think about it that way," Marina said. Mavis, however, was still unsure, even with the encouragement from her masters.
Many months have passed, and it was finally time for the Hearth's Warming Ball at Canterlot Castle. The Crystal Family had arrived in Canterlot, and checked in with Twilight and Shining Armor's parents, and introduced Mavis to them. The two of them were a bit hesitant about Mavis, being a centaur, but they could tell she was nothing like Tirek. Mavis was currently walking through the fair grounds at the Canterlot Castle Ball, with her mentors, Marina, Sky, Tabby, and Kat so they can keep any of the snooty nobles from trying to harm their precious student. Things were going well, until Mavis, her siblings, friends from Ponyville, and her mentors were kidnapped by an army of monster hunters, and brought back to the world Mavis originally came from.They were currently being held in cages in the hunter's camp. Inside the main tent, the leader of the hunter's was going over his master plan against the Forest Kingdom.
"Knowing the centaurs, they'll be sure to come charging head first to save the girl. That's when we'll strike. As for the rest of the kingdom, the only real threat will be the elves," he said, a look of wicked glee on his face, taking a sip of his coffee. Just then, one of his underlings came rushing in.
"Marcus! The Centaur and her friends! They've escaped!" he said. Marcus then did a spit take.
"WHAT?! HOW DID THEY ESCAPE!?" Marcus roared.
"Well, what happened was like this," the lackey said, as he went into a flash back.
About 15 minutes ago,
Mavis and her friends were all trapped in cages, imbued with King SOmbra's dark magic. It was this magic that was keeping the ponies and nymphs from using their own magic, "Ok, so we can't use magic to break out. Is there anything we can do?" Vibrant asked.
"Hmm, maybe we could try to pick the lock?" Toby suggested, looking at the lock.
"Could work, but we have no idea what to expect from the Dark Magic they placed on the bars," Wanda replied. Nearby, they could see Mavis, lying down in her cage, a look of dispair on her face.
"Now don't worry Mavis. None of this is your fault," Dana quickly tried to reassure the young centaur foal. Just then, some of the hunters came in, and opened the cage that held Mavis' friends.
"What do you want?" Nathan angrily questioned, only to recieve a punch across the face from one of the hunters, sending him into Sasha's massive bust, "Hey, what was that for?!"
"Be silent! You kids are going to be tried for siding with these freaks of nature," one of the hunters stated coldly.
"And for getting to hang out with such babes!" the hunter who punched Nathan seethed.
"What makes any of you guys more special than centaurs like our friend?" Kelly questioned.
"These are unnatural creatures. Anything that is unlike humans must be purged. And the same goes for humans who would willingly turn their back on their own kind to form relations with them," the first hunter said.
"You won't get away this!" Marina proclaimed.
"We intend to do whatever it takes to preserve the sancitity of the human race, even if that means... GAK!" the first hunter said, as Daria kicked him where the sun doesn't shine, and roundhouse kicked the second one.
"Quickly, let's free Mavis and get out of here!" she declared. The other captives of the cage quickly rushed out, with Vibrant snatching the keys from one of the hunters.
"Here, open Mavis' cage and we can get out of here!" she said. Dana then took it upon herself to unlock Mavis' cage.
"Hurry Mavis!" she urged. Mavis quickly got up, and made her way out of the cage. Wanda then conjured up a boulder, and smashed down a wall, allowing them to escape.
Real Time, in the Hunter's Main Tent,
"That's basically what happened," the lesser hunter said. Marcus just facepalmed.
"My god, I am surrounded by incompetent idiots! Well, don't just stand there, get a team and hunt down those traitors! Burn the forst to the ground if you have to!" the lead hunter ordered.
"YES SIR!" the lesser hunter quickly ran out of the tent.
"One way or another, humanity will have one less problem to worry about," Marcus said.
With Mavis and Friends,
The group was walking along a path in the forest, having just escaped the clutches of the hunters. They were now trying to figure out what to do next, "So, what now?" Toby asked.
"Well, if the way they were talking was true, then any human towns would probably persecute Mavis, so that option is out," Kelly commented.
"What about the Forest Kingdom that Mavis was born in?" Kat suggested.
"That could work. One of the only entrances to the kingdom is very near where we are," Mavis replied.
"Really? Well, if you would, sweetie, lead the way," Wanda asked.
"Oui," Mavis replied, leading them through a path in the forest. They hadn't run into any sort of issue until....
"HALT!" a group of human like girls leapt down in front of them. They were wearing clothes that looked to be weaved from leaves and vines. They looked just like humans, except for the fact they had really pointy ears, "State your business! Why were you humans chasing this centaur?" one of the girls asked, clearly not trusting any of Mavis' human friends.
"Hang on! We were NOT chasing her! She was leading us through the forest to one of the entrances to the Forest Kingdom after we escaped from some hunters," Crystal pointed out, clearly sounding offended that she and the others were being associated with the hunters.
"Hmm, is this true, little one?" the lead girl asked Mavis.
"Oui, it is. They are all very close friends of mine," Mavis replied. The elves still didn't seem to turst any of her human friends, but they took her word for it.
"Very well. Humans! Be honored that you are being allowed to our glorious kingdom! But be warned, serious consequences will be immediate should you do anything shady!" the lead elf said.
"I'll take them to meet with the Queen," one of the other elves volunteered.
"Very well. Keep an eye on them," the lead elf ordered.
"Come with me," the elf said, leading them the rest of the way. The soon came across a massive, wooden gate.
"HALT, WHO GOES THERE!?" a loud man's voice bellowed.
"One of the scouts from the Elf Recon Team! We found a centaur, accompanied by her friends. They just escaped the hunters, and need a place to take sanctuary. I need to take them to see the Queen!" the elf girl called back.
"OPEN THE GATES!" the man's voice called out. The massive gates then began to open slowly. On the other side was a very short man with a beard like a viking, "Please, enjoy your stay," the man said, allowing them inside the village. Inside, they all saw centaurs, elves, dwarves, and even humans going about their usual business. The city itself looked like a cross between a fantasy world and a futuristic city.
"Is this really where you come from, Mavis?" Melody asked.
"Oui. It's a quiet city, which is something I quite like about it," Mavis replied, as they walked through the city eventually arriving at a massive castle that looked somewhat like a tree.
"This place is huge!" Toby commented, as they entered the castle.
"Hopefully the Queen is a kind ruler," Diamond Tiara commented.
"I have never actually see the Queen herself, but Maman and Papa always told me that she's a very nice lady," Mavis replied, as they arrived at a pair of massive doors.
"You're all about to meet the Queen, so please, don't do anything to embarass yourselves," the elf girl said, as the doors opened. Inside, there was a Centaur woman, nearly the size of a skyscraper, with breasts a large as a mansion, "My Queen, I have come to you with a young centaur foal and her friends. They have just escaped the same Hunters that laid seige on the northern village," the elf said.
"Young lady, step forth," the Queen said, her voice carrying a tone that was a mix of compassion and authority. Mavis cautiously stepped forward, "Are you the foal in question?" she asked.
"Oui, I am," Mavis replied.
"Were you among the few survivors from the northern village?" the Queen asked.
"Oui. Mes parents ont été perdus dans le siège, et j'ai été envoyé dans un autre monde, ma reine," Mavis explained.
"I see. I am very sorry to hear that. May I ask your name?" the Queen asked.
"Oui, My name is Mavis Gustou," Mavis replied. The Queen looked very surprised.
"'Gustou'? Your parents... their names wouldn't happen to have been David and Alice, would they?" the Queen asked.
"Oui, that is true," Mavis replied. It was then that the Queen did something no one in that room, not even her guards were anticipating; The Queen squealed happily, and scooped up Mavis.
"So you're the little Mavis that Alice told me about," the Queen said.
"W-Wait, you know Maman?" Mavis asked.
"Of course. For you see, little one, your mother just happens to be my blood daughter," the Queen explained.
"So, that would mean that..." Mavis qas quick to put two and two together.
"Yes. You are indeed my Granddaughter," the Queen replied.
"Uh, your grace? If I may?" Wanda respectfully said.
"Yes?" the Queen asked, setting Mavis back down.
"Well, the thing is, we just escaped from the very same hunters that attacked your village, and we kind of need a place to stay until we are able to return to our own world," Wanda explained.
"I see. Well, the Palace has more than enough rooms. You are all welcome as guests," the Queen said, as she tapped her sceptar on the floor. Almost immediately, another centaur woman, dressed as a maid, with breast much larger than a human child, trotted in, "Please show our guests to their rooms. They'll be staying with us for a while," the Queen instructed.
"Yes, my Queen. If you'll all please follow me," the Centaur maid said, leading them out of the throne room.
"Merci for your hospitality, Grandmere," Mavis said.
"You're quite welcome sweetie. And don't hesitate to come ask for help wth anything," the Queen said, as Mavis went to catch up to her friends.