While on their way back from an evening to themselves, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor discover a scared little girl named Mavis, abandoned in an ally way in the Crystal Empire. After taking her to the Crystal Palace, Cadence sends a letter to her Aunt and sister in law and her friends to come and meet Mavis, and try to help her overcome all her sorrows and fears. After awhile, Cadence asks her aunt she would allow her to adopt Mavis as her own daughter. Can the crystal couple be the loving parents that Mavis deserves so much, or will Mavis' fears drive her away from Equestria? Read and find out!
It was a brisk, Fall evening in the Crystal Empire. Families were putting their foals to bed, shops were closing, and couples were out on dates. One particular couple, however was heading home after a date at one of the most poshest restraunts in the empire. They were Princess Cadence, and her husband, Prince Shining Armor, co-rulers of the Crystal Empire, "Did you enjoy it, my love?" Shining Armor asked.
"It was one of the most excellent dinners we've had all year Shiny," Cadence replied. However, before the went any further, they saw something, or rather, someone, a very young someone, was walking along the sidewalks, all alone. Judging by the wardrobe, they knew in an instant that the child was a human girl. She was wearing a very well made Gothic Lolita dress, and looked to have a very frightened face, and she looked as though she had not eaten properly in days. She had raven black hair, beautiful green eyes that were red and puffy. They had assumed she was crying, as she walked along the sidewalk, holding onto the sides of the buildings as she walked.
"I need to find my way out of here.... got to get out of this place," they heard the girl say. Judging by her accent, they assumed she was from the human version of Cadence's home country of Prance. The little girl then looked up to see the royal couple. With a frightened squeak, she ducked into the alley way, hoping to have gotten out of sight, 'Please don't find me, please don't find me, please don't find me," she chanted in her mind, as she heard the hoof steps getting closer and closer to here. More tears began running down her cheek, as she feared the worst of the worst.
"Um, excuse me?" she heard Cadence asked worriedly. The little girls heart sank, as she looked up to see that she was discovered. She squeaked and tried to run away, only to trip over a small, but heavy rock.
"S'il vous plaît, ne me faites pas mal!" the girl pleaded in her native tongue.
"Chut, ne t'inquiète pas, je ne te ferai pas de mal. je veux vous aider," Cadence replied, speaking the same exact language. The girl look genuinely surprised to see the humanoid pony before her speaking her language.
"You speak F-French too?" the girl inquired.
"I assume that is what you humans refer to as Prench, but yes, I do speak that language," Cadence replied. The girl seemed at ease by the alicorn's tone, but was still nevertheless frightened, "Might I ask what your name is, s'il vous plait?" Cadence asked, trying to keep from scaring the poor girl.
"je m'appelle Mavis Gustou," the young girl replied.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mavis. I am Cadence, the..... head authority of the Crystal Empire, and this is mon mari, Shining Armor," Cadence said, trying to keep the girl from feeling more intimidated by telling Mavis of her role as princess.
"By the way, why are out so late?" Shining Armor questioned. At the question, Mavis began feeling utterly helpless, and broke down crying. She didn't even try to hold back.
"I c-c-can never go b-b-back to my home. There's n-n-nothing left for me there," Mavis sobbed, covering her head. The royal couple felt terrible for the little girl.
"You know, if you want, we could always take you to our home. We'd be more than happy to help you," Cadence offered. This seemed to only frighten Mavis even further.
"non non Non! Je ne peux pas vous accepter cette offre!" Mavis squeaked.
"It's alright sweetheart, we'd love to have you as a guest," Cadence replied. Mavis seemed very unsure of this, and gripped her right arm.
"W-well, I guess I would like to have somewhere w-w-warm to sleep," she murmured quietly.
"Then alright. Let's go and get you some nice hot food, and maybe a relaxing bath," Cadence said, gingerly taking Mavis' left arm, as they led Mavis to their home.
'They seem like nice.... people. But what if they're like THEM?' Mavis thought, as images of a gang of teenagers, dressed like pirates, were all surrounding her. Mavis felt her heart race faster, and her blood running cold. Her thoughts of possible impending doom were cut short, when they arrived at the Crystal Palace. She looked up in awe.
"Princess Cadence, Captain Shining Armor, I see you've enjoyed your evening," one of the guards commented. Mavis' eyes widened, not just in surprise, but in pure horror.
'P-PRINCESS?! Did I do something bad?!' she thought fearfully. She thought about running, but thoughts of the guards chasing after her quickly snuffed out that idea.
"Princess, who is this little girl?" the guard asked.
"This is Mavis. She'll be staying with us for the time being," Cadence replied.
"Um... o-on second thought, m-maybe I shouldn't," Mavis said almost inaudibly, too quiet for the adults to hear her.
"As such, could you go prepare a guest room for her? We'll bring her up after we get her something to eat," Cadence said.
"At once your majesty," the guard said, as he went to take care of the task he was given.
"As for you, let's get you something to eat. You look like you haven't eaten in days," Cadence said, as she began walking Mavis into the castle. Or rather, she was dragging Mavis in with her, as Mavis seemed too reluctant to go in, "Is there something wrong, precious?" Cadence asked.
"I-I don't think this is a g-good idea after all, princess," Mavis stammered.
"Why ever not?" Shining Armor asked.
"I-I don't want to ask for f-food from royalty," Mavis replied, trying desperately to run away.
"It's no problem at all Mavis. We're happy to give you something to eat," Cadence soothed.
"mais je ne suis qu'une fille que vous avez trouvée. Pourquoi voudriez-vous aider quelqu'un comme moi?" Mavis asked.
"Do we really need a reason to help someone? You're someone whose scared and alone. Keeping you from feeling like that is more than enough reason for helping you," Cadence replied. Mavis tried thinking of something to counter that, but she quickly dismissed that idea, as she didn't want to argue with a princess, and just gave in.
"O-ok. I would just like some du pain grillé, s'il vous plait," Mavis sighed in defeat.
"Is that all you want?" Cadence asked. Mavis simply nodded, "Alright, how many slices would you like?"
"seulement deux," Mavis replied.
"Would you like butter, or jam on your toast?" Cadence asked. Mavis shook her head. "Well, what about something to drink?" she added.
"peut-être juste un verre de lait?" Mavis asked.
"Of course," Cadence said, as she led Mavis to the kitchen. There, they saw a familiar human boy, fixing himself a sandwich.
'Oh no, a human!' she thought, trembling fearfully.
"Fixing yourself a little snack, I see?" Cadence asked.
"Yeah, I wanted something on my stomach before hittin' the hay," Nathan replied.
"Well, just nothing big. We don't want another of your sleepwalking incidents," Cadence warned. Nathan shuddered at the memory of the aforementioned incident. Images of him walking around in his underwear, while in a trance, filled his head. Nathan then took noticed of something around the corner, "Oh, that reminds me. We have a guest staying with us," Cadence said, pulling Mavis from her hiding place. Mavis was full on hyperventilating upon being seen by Nathan, "Nathan, this is Mavis Gustou. Mavis, this is Nathan, my and Shining Armor's eldest son," Cadence said, introducing the two.
"Nice to meet ya Mavis," Nathan said. Mavis didn't reply, only hiding behind Cadence.
"She's very shy and timid. You might want to give her some time to warm up to you," Cadence advised. Nathan nodded, as he took his sandwich, and went back to his room, "Now Mavis, you don't need to be scared of Nathan. He can be a bit of a.... tough guy, but he's a very nice boy," Cadence reassured. Mavis didn't seem too convinced, 'What in Equestria happened to you?' Cadence thought to herself, as she began making toast for Mavis. She put two slices of bread in the toaster, before going to make a small cup of milk. She got the milk carton from the fridge, and poured it into the cup. The toast finished, as they popped out from the toaster. Cadence place both slices on a plate. She then sat Mavis at the table, and placed her meager dinner in front of her. Mavis then proceeded to eat the toast, and drink the milk. After a few minutes, she was done.
"Merci beaucoup," Mavis said.
"Now, how about a nice bath before bed?" Cadence suggested, as she took the 'human' girl to her room. Mavis thought worriedly for a second.
'I can't let them know about that. They may turn me in as some attraction,' Mavis thought fearfully, "Uh, p-princess, if it's not too much t-trouble, could I maybe b-bathe alone?" Mavis asked.
"Whatever makes you more comfortable. I'll be right outside the door if you need me," Cadence said, as she prepared the bathtub, making sure it wasn't too hot or cold, and was just the right height. With that, she gave Mavis a towel and a washcloth, and exited the bathroom. Mavis began undressing. After she did, she looked at her right arm. From the shoulder down, it was a metal arm. Images of someone swinging a sword at her filled her head. She remembered the agony of the pain from getting her real arm cut off, and from getting a replacement arm. Mavis shook her head. She then looked at the tub, and climbed into it. Once she was in, a pink flash emitted from below the surface. A fish tail then resurfaced where her legs would've been.
'I must do everything I can to hide these,' Mavis thought, as she began washing herself. She took extra care around her artificial arm. Once she was completely washed, she rinsed off, and began draining the water. She then began drying off. She took extra time, drying off her fish tail, which, after a few seconds, reverted back into human legs. She then redressed, and exited the bathroom.
"Do you feel any better after a nice bath?" Cadence asked.
"Oui," Mavis replied solemnly. Cadence was worried about Mavis' well being even more.
'Maybe I should talk to Aunt Celestia and Luna about helping her. I should also contact Twilight and friends about this as well,' Cadence thought to herself, as she put Mavis in bed, "Alright Mavis, bonne nuit et fait de beaux rêves. And if you need me or Shining Armor to help, you can always ask a guard to come and get us," Cadence said, tucking in Mavis. With a kiss on the top of her head, she left Mavis alone to sleep. Once Cadence left, Mavis looked fearfully all around the room. She then began to cry softly.
In the Royal Bedchambers,
Shining Armor had just finished up checking on the infants, before returning to his and Cadence's bedchambers. Moments later, Cadence had come back, "Hey Honey, how's our little guest?" the alabaster unicorn asked.
"I honestly haven't a clue. She hardly spoke after I gave her something to eat, and she seemed even more glum after taking a bath," Cadence replied.
"I have a feeling that whatever's bothering Mavis, I'm not going to like it," Shining Armor commented.
"I agree. I'm going to contact my aunts and Twilight. We're going to need all the help we can get with helping Mavis," Cadence said, as she wrote two notes. She sent one to Canterlot, and the other to Ponyville. With that, she crawled into bed with her husband, and slept the night away.
Chapter 2: The Families of Canterlot and Ponyville (Rewritten)
Morning had broke over the town of Ponyville, and at a certain cottage on the outskirts of town, a certain, kind hearted family were all tending to the animals and their Pokémon, making sure they were fed and properly groomed, "There you guys go," Toby said, handing his Fire Pokémon some Pokémon Food adorned with red berries, which they were happy to chow down on, "Next up is Tsareena," he commented, as he prepared the Grass Pokémon her food.
"Eat up little ones! Plenty for everyone," Fluttershy said, pouring plenty of feed to the rest of her animals. A mouse then leaped up, and stole the box of feed, pouring it down it's mouth, making it very, very chubby. Fluttershy giggled at the mouse's shenanigans.
"You always look so pretty Lopunny," Serenity commented quietly, as she brushed her ace Pokémon's fur.
"Ahh, you're like a master stylist Serenity," Lopunny sighed contently, as she munched on some Pokémon food. As they were finishing up their duties, a knock came from the door. Fluttershy went over to the door, and opened it. To her surprise, it was Cory, who looked like he had just run a marathon.
"Cory? What brings you here?" Fluttershy asked.
"We have been summoned to the Crystal Empire at Aunt Cadence's request," Cory replied, giving Fluttershy a scroll. Reading over it, Fluttershy frowned, a concerned look etched on her face.
"When did this come in?" Fluttershy asked.
"Moments ago. The others are probably being assembled now as we speak," Cory replied, as he remembered what had happened.
15 minutes ago,
The Sparkle Family had just settled down for breakfast, which consisted mainly of pancakes, when....
"Twilight!" they all saw Spike rushing in, "Message from Cadence!" he said, panting and wheezing. He then took notice of the pancakes, "Ooh, pancakes!" Spike said, as he went to help himself. Twilight couldn't help but roll her eyes at the young dragon's antics. She opened the scroll and began reading.
'Dear Twilight,
Last night on our way back from a date night, Shining Armor and I found a young human girl, lost and abandoned in the alleys of the Crystal Empire. She is extremely well mannered, but it also easy to frighten, more so than any other child we've met. I ask that you and your friends come at your earliest convenience. Maybe one of you could help her out with her fears?
See you soon,
Your Sister In Law, and Fellow Princess,
Cadence.'
Reading over the scroll, Twilight made sure she didn't miss anything. She frowned at the thought of a young girl being so easy to scare, "Kids, once you're all done with breakfast, I need you to go and fetch our friends. We have been summoned to the Crystal Empire to help Cadence out with something," Twilight said.
"Sure thing Mom," Cory said, as they began to eat their pancakes quickly. With that done, they headed out the door to gather up their friends. Twilight couldn't help but wonder what could've happened to this young girl.
Present Time,
"And that's pretty much what happened," Cory explained.
"Alright. We'll join you guys as soon as we can," Fluttershy said. With a nod, Cory took off, back to the castle. Turning to her kids, who were looking worriedly, she said, "Toby, Serenity, we need to finish up our daily tasks. We're needed up at the Crystal Empire."
"Ok Momma," Toby replied.
"Y-Yes Mommy," Serenity whispered, as they got back to their original tasks.
"Angel, you're in charge while were gone, ok?" Fluttershy asked her pet bunny rabbit. Angel saluted in understanding.
Later, at the train station,
The Mane Six and their children were all assembled on the platform of the train station. The kids were all conversing amongst each other, while the parents were discussing the details of the letter, "Did Cadence ever say anything about what makes this kid so scared?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"No, all that she's a good mannered child, but is just as equally timid. I just hope we'll be able to help her," Twilight commented. Just then, some of the Fujiyama Brother's friends from the Alicorn's Wish Guild came rushing onto the platform, along with Raiden.
"Did we miss the train?!" Simon asked.
"No, I think I see it in the distance," Rarity replied.
"Well, that's good," Cassidy commented.
"Off on another job?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah, something about unstable cliffs, threatening a farm in some town," Claire replied.
"By the way, where are all of you heading to?" Naomi asked.
"The Crystal Empire. We were asked to help out with something," Twilight replied.
"What a coincidence. Cadence sent an emergency request, asking me to come to the Empire right away," Raiden said, holding the flyer.
"Well good luck in whatever it is you need to do," Simon said, as the train pulled into the station.
"Thanks. To you kids as well," Twilight said, as the train took off.
Meanwhile, in the Crystal Empire,
The Crystal Couple had just woken up, and were getting ready for the day, "Here's to hoping that Twily and her pals can help Mavis," Shining Armor commented.
"I hope so too. She's too young to feel this scared and alone," Cadence replied.
"Speaking of which, one of us should go check on her. Just to make sure she's not having a panic attack," Shining Armor suggested.
"Good call. I'll do it. You go on to breakfast with Nathan. I shouldn't be too long," Cadence said. With a nod, the royal couple exited the room, and went in separate directions. Cadence soon arrived at Mavis' room. Gingerly knocking, she poked her head in, "Mavis, sweetie? Are you up?" she asked, looking over at the bed, where she saw the sleeping form of the little girl she and her husband rescued. Upon walking closer, she could faintly hear Mavis whimpering in her sleep. Cadence couldn't help but feel her heart break at the sight. She gingerly nudged the little girl. This turned out to be a bad move, as Mavis shot up, looking frantically around, completely panicked, "Mavis, Mavis, just calm down sweetie," Cadence said, rubbing the young girl's back soothingly. Mavis was calming down, but was still rather uneasy.
"B-bonjour princesse," Mavis said, trying not to be rude to her hostess.
"Now Mavis, you really don't have to call me by my title. I won't be angry if you don't," Cadence said. But Mavis looked unsure. Cadence saw the uncertain look on the girl's face, "You know, why don't we drop the whole title thing, and go have some breakfast? We'll be expecting company soon," Cadence said.
"O-oui," Mavis replied, sounding unwilling to meet any more new people. She and Cadence then left the bedroom, and made their way to the dining room.
"So, would you like something to eat? We can always make more toast if you want?" Cadence offered. Mavis solemnly nodded, as they entered the dining room, where Shining Armor and Nathan were already seated in. The moment Mavis saw Nathan, her blood ran cold.
"Morinin' Mommy. Mornin' to you as well, Mavis," Nathan greeted, trying to be friendly. Mavis shrunk when the Texas boy talked to her directly, "Hmm, well, can't blame me for tryin' to be nice," Nathan commented.
"Well, like I said last night, Mavis is still extremely timid, so just give her some time," Cadence reminded, as she began preparing Mavis some toast.
'That human is p-probably waiting for p-perfect moment to f-fry me up and e-eat me!' Mavis fearfully thought, as she took a spot that was a few seats away from Nathan.
'Is it my breath?' Nathan wondered, as Cadence gave Mavis some toast, and a glass of milk.
"Now Mavis, I know you're just adjusting to things here, but you don't have to worry. And, if it'll make you feel any better, my Sister In Law is to visit us. She's bringing her family and friends to come to meet and help you," Cadence said to the timid girl, who began eating the meager breakfast.. Mavis didn't seem too excited about meeting more people, "And on top of that, I also asked someone smart to try and help you and use to understand what's troubling you," she added. Mavis slumped lower in her seat, 'I hope Raiden can help out,' Cadence thought to herself. Just then, a guard came into the dining room.
"Princess Cadence, you're guests from Ponyville have arrived at the Train Station, and your aunts will soon be arriving themselves," he said.
"Very good. Please escort them to the main foyer when they get here," Cadence instructed.
"Yes Princess," the guard said, as he dashed off to carry out his task.
"With that being said, Nathan, go and freshen up. I'll be helping Mavis with that," Cadence said to her son.
"Ok Mommy," Nathan said, as he took off.
"As for you, let's go and make you more presentable," Cadence said to Mavis. Mavis fearfully nodded. Cadence looked sorrowfully at the young girl, as she took Mavis to the bathroom. There, she gave Mavis a toothbrush, some toothpaste, and a towel, "Do you want to wash your face first?" Cadence suggested. Mavis fearfully nodded, taking it as an order. Cadence sighed sadly, as she turned on the water, making sure it wasn't too hot for Mavis. With that, Mavis carefully splashed some water on her face. After that, she put some toothpaste on the toothbrush, and began brushing her teeth. After a few minutes, she spat out the toothpaste, and washed out her mouth, "Ok, now are you ready to make some new friends?" Cadence asked. Mavis nodded, even though she really didn't want to. With that, Cadence led Mavis through the castle, eventually, reaching the courtyard.
'I really don't want to do this, but I must obey the princess,' Mavis thought to herself, as they waited out in the courtyard for their guests to arrive. In only a matter of minutes, their guests had finally arrived. Cadence and Twilight proceeded to do their nursery rhyme that they used to do as kids. However, for Mavis, it was drowned out by her fear, as she saw, too her horror, the large number of human kids. Images of them looking all demonic and evil filled her mind, as they were all preparing to cook her up in mermaid form. Mavis gripped her heart, trying to catch her breath.
".....vis? Mavis?" Mavis fearful thoughts about her impending doom were cut off, as she looked up to see the worried look on Cadence's face, "Are you alright?" she asked gingerly. Mavis realized she was being rude in front of the princess' guests.
"Eek!Je suis désolé!" Mavis squeaked fearfully.
"Whatever for?" Cadence asked.
"F-for being rude to your g-guests," Mavis replied quietly. This certainly was a shock for everyone there.
"But you weren't being rude. You were just feeling overwhelmed slightly by the sudden large group," Cadence soothed.
"I'm guessing introductions should wait for now," Raiden commented. Mavis shrunk out of guilt.
"Well, it would seem like the appropriate move for now. She doesn't even seem comfortably around Nathan," Cadence said, cradling the little girl. She then noticed one of her Ponyville friends was missing, "Uh, where's Rarity?" she asked.
"Apparently, having one of her fashion panic attacks," Rainbow Dash bluntly replied, pointing to a tree. On one of the branches, Rarity's back was arched up like a cat, with feline eyes. She was also hissing at the sight of Mavis' dress, "She apparently has a bad history with Gothic Lolita," the rainbow maned Pegasus explained.
"Je suis désolé. I did not know that my dress was offensive," Mavis sadly apologized.
"No, no, no! Your dress isn't offensive! Some ponies just don't like the style," Cadence tried to reassure Mavis, who still looked guilty, "I know. Why don't you at least try to make friends with each of these children? I assure you, they are friendly, and very nice," Cadence suggested.
"I'm sure we can find some way of having some fun," Lucky Joy commented, as she took a hold of Mavis' left arm. With a yelp, the timid French Girl was dragged away.
"Just stay close to the castle, alright?" Twilight called out.
"So, I can see why you called each of us here," Raiden commented to Cadence.
"Yes. Mavis is a very well mannered young girl, but for some reason or another, she is absolutely terrified of just about everything around her," Cadence explained.
"Hmm, this doesn't seem like a typical case of pantophobia," Twilight commented.
"What do pants have to do with that girl?" Applejack questioned.
"No, pantophobia isn't the fear of pants. It's the psychological fear of everything. But I guess pants would fall into that category, so...." Raiden explained.
"Rest assured niece, we will do everything we can to help you, and Mavis," Celestia said.
"Thank you aunt. Now then, as for you, Raiden, I assume you got my emergency request?" Cadence asked. The Thunder Teen showed the flyer, "Good, now then, if you'll all come inside, I'll explain the details of your job, Raiden," Cadence said, as she led the others into the castle.
Inside the throne room of the castle, the friends from Ponyville, the two Royal Sisters, Raiden, and Cadence were all gathered, "Now then, Raiden, the reason I asked for you specifically is to help Mavis. Of course, you already knew that," Cadence said.
"Yes, but if I may ask, why me?" Raiden asked.
"Well, it's because I think Mavis should feel more comfortable talking to a human. See, even though she has been more open with Shining Armor and myself, she still seems to harbor some sort of misconception towards us," Cadence explained.
"I see. Well, I may not be an expert in psychology therapy, but whatever is troubling Mavis must be deep rooted in her subconscious," Raiden theorized.
"You mean like she was bullied for doing something others would view as embarrassing or offensive?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Could be. So, my request for you, Raiden, is to at least try to get through to Mavis," Cadence said.
"I will do what I can," Raiden said.
"Wait, Princess Luna has that spell that can let others peer into the memories of others, right? So, why not just do it that way?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Because, Rainbow, I can only use that spell when the pony, or in this case, human, is asleep," Luna replied.
"Plus, it wouldn't do all that much for Mavis in the way of helping. We need to understand how she views the rest of us, as well as possible allergies or medical conditions she may have, her specific likes and dislikes, etc.," Raiden added.
"I think I get the picture now," Rainbow Dash commented.
"Princess, if I may ask, could you have the chefs prepare something sweet for Mavis? I want her to feel as comfortable as possible when I talk to her," Raiden asked.
"Of course. I'll have the chefs whip up a plate of cookies for you and her," Cadence replied.
"Alright, then if you'll show me to the room she was staying in, I'll begin compiling a base set of questions to ask her," Raiden requested.
"Of course. As for the rest of you, can you go and find our children? I'd like for Mavis to start her therapy session as soon as possible," Cadence requested politely.
"Ok," Twilight said, as they took off to find the kids. Cadence then led Raiden to Mavis' room.
"By the way, what did you mean by 'medical conditions'?" Cadence asked.
"We don't know anything about Mavis, so we don't know if she has some kind of medical condition that we need to be aware of. I'm talking like asthma, low blood sugar, that sort of thing," Raiden replied, as they arrived.
"I'll bring Mavis to you, once she arrives back," Cadence said, leaving the Thunder Teen to begin writing down his questions.
To say that Mavis was having an anxiety attack would be an understatement. Being surrounded by the new ponies made her uncomfortable enough, but being surrounded by humans was a scary experience for her, 'I-I'll be alright, as long as they never find out about.... that, I should be safe from them. But that d-doesn't make this any less s-scary!' Mavis thought, as she clutched the three stuffed animals Chris treated her to. They consisted of a duck, a bear, and a puppy dog. Kelly noticed the unrest in Mavis' eyes. She wanted to do something to help Mavis, but chose against it. She felt that Mavis felt scared enough with being in a new world without someone breathing down her neck. Just then, they saw Twilight coming towards them.
"Hey Twilight, what's up?" Chris asked.
"We're ready back at the castle," Twilight replied. She continued to talk to the kids, but for Mavis, it was all drowned out by fear.
'R-ready? R-ready for what?' Mavis thought, before a fearful thought took over, 'Oh no, did they find out?! Are they going to eat me?! I don't want to die!' Mavis fearfully thought, as she tried in vain to back away, only to be stopped by Melody and Clover.
"Hey, don't worry Mavis, Raiden is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet," Melody said.
"Sure, he get's cranky whenever someone interrupts his experiments, but he won't hurt you," Clover added, as they all walked to the castle, dragging the distressed Mavis along with them. To her, they were dragging Mavis to her doom.
Inside Mavis' extremely overactive imagination,
Mavis was in her mermaid form, and was tied up and gagged. She screamed for help, but was all in vain, as she was taken to the kitchen, and placed on the cutting board. Above her, Chris and Cory were staring with demonic expressions on their faces. Looking around, she saw the other human children, all preparing for a big seafood buffet, and like the two eldest boys, they were all just as demonic, and evil looking. Mavis started to cry, as she was begging to be let go from the rag gagging her. She looked up to see Chris readying to chop up Mavis with a massive butcher knife. Mavis screamed as he brought down the knife.
Reality,
Mavis was snapped out of her terror vision, as she found herself back in her room, all sweaty from her fearful thoughts, "W-when did I get here?" Mavis questioned.
"Just a few moments ago," she turned, and her face paled even further at the sight of Raiden, sitting in a chair, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Raiden Fujiyama. I came here at the request of the Princess to ask you a few questions," Raiden said in a soothing tone, trying to ease Mavis' fears. He then motioned to the seat opposite of him, "Please, have a seat. This won't take long," Raiden added.
"P-please, just d-don't hurt me. I p-promise I'll be g-good," Mavis tearfully begged.
"Relax. I am not planning on harming you in anyway. Like I said, I just want to ask a few questions, then I'll leave you alone," Raiden said. Seeing as she had no alternatives, Mavis gave up, and sat in the chair, "Now then, Cadence said that she and her husband found you lost and all alone in the alleys of the Empire, correct?" Raiden asked.
"O-oui," Mavis replied, trying not to panic.
"Now then, I'm sure you're feeling scared and overwhelmed by being in another world, but I assure you, as long as the princess, or one of her friends is with you, no one will harm you," Raiden said. He then motioned to the plate of cookies on the table in front of them, "Please, help yourself," he offered. Mavis looked at the cookies. Raiden made a point to note a few things. 1. Mavis seemed to be on the verge of mental collapse, as made evident by the tears in her eyes. 2. even though he said she could have some cookies, she seemed unwilling to even take one. in fact, she seemed to try to scoot away from the plate, 'Hmm, how curious,' he thought. He then proceeded to try and ask the rest of his questions.
1 1/2 hours later,
"So, even with the stuffed animals you gave her, she still seemed to be scared of you guys?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah. But I don't understand why. She was eyeing them in the toy store, but she seemed dead set on not getting them when we offered to get them for her," Chris replied. Just then, the doors to the throne room opened up. Entering was a very perplexed Raiden.
"Well, how did it go?" Cadence asked.
"Well, it took a bit longer than I originally intended, but I was able to gather up some bits and pieces of Mavis' mind set," Raiden replied with a frown, "Although, I wonder about her mental state, and what could have gotten her in such a shape as she is now," Raiden said.
"Well, what did you find out?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Well, I was able to confirm a few things. First and foremost, she has a slight case of pantophobia. That much, I can say for certain on a piece of paper, but the rest of these details are a bit of the delicate nature, extremely difficult to put on paper," Raiden stated.
"What kind of details?" Celestia asked.
"Well, for starters, she appears to have some kind of aversion to food items with processed sugar in them. I offered her the cookies I requested, but she seemed to be absolutely terrified of them," Raiden replied.
"Why on Earth would she choose willingly to ignore something like that?" Crystal asked.
"No doubt the sugars would make her way to hyper, and she would be able to go racing around the world!" Rainbow Dash theorized, as an image of Mavis racing around at lightspeeds entered their minds.
"She doesn't want to be fat, so she makes it a point to avoid as much sugar based products as possible," Raiden corrected. Everyone did an anime style trip and fall.
"REALLY?! What is she, Rarity?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"HEY!" Rarity yelled, sounding offended.
"Apparently, she saw an episode of a TV show called 'Rugrats' that traumatized her from eating anymore sweets. She said she doesn't even try going Trick or Treating on Halloween. But according to what I gather, she can have sugar, but it has to be in extremely small amounts. Anything that's naturally sweet, such as honey is exempt from this," Raiden clarified.
"Ok, I guess that would be rather difficult to put on paper," Cadence said.
"While we're on the topic of her diet, she also seems to have an extremely low metabolism, much lower than that of any child her age. This is why she doesn't eat much. I did offer her a way to help regulate her metabolism to make equal to that of Heaven's metabolism, but she immediately declined," Raiden continued.
"Now why did she do that then?" Applejack questioned.
"No doubt the medicine would unlock some kind of godly power, resting deep within her! She'd go on a blood rampage!" Nathan exclaimed, as an image of Mavis being surrounded by a golden energy, her normally black hair turning yellow, entered their minds.
"Actually, she hates needles, and the medicine has to be injected into her bloodstream to work," Raiden corrected, "Though, I have been working an ingestible tablet version of the medicine, but it's still in the testing stage," he explained further. He then turned to Cadence, "Shall I continue?" he asked.
"I see no reason to stop now," Cadence solemnly replied.
"Next up, she has an aversion to receiving presents, such as toys and the like," Raiden stated.
"You know, now that I think about it, Mavis seemed absolutely unwilling to accept the toys we got for her," Kelly commented.
"So, what's the deal with this? Is she like some kind of voodoo witch doctor in training or something?" Vibrant Sky questioned, an image of Mavis cackling like a witch, stirring a cauldron entered their minds.
"The latter. Apparently, her dislike of getting presents stems from another trauma she had in her home town. Apparently, she saw some kids getting scolded and punished for throwing tantrums inside toy stores. She now fears getting yelled at, so she tries her best to not want any toys. The same goes for sugary foods," Raiden explained.
"Well, kids don't like getting punished for being bad, but does Mavis really think she's bad?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"It would appear so. Before we began the session, she promised that she would be good if I didn't hurt her," Raiden replied.
"Hmm, so Mavis isn't the like any of the children we took in. Unlike the rest of you, Mavis doesn't seem to trusting of us," Twilight said.
"Did you find anything else out, Raiden?" Cadence asked.
"Afraid not. About halfway through my questions, she started nodding off. So, I let her crawl into bed to take a nap," Raiden replied, turning to Princess Luna, "I take it you can handle things from this point?" he asked.
"I will. I just hope we get to the bottom of whatever makes her act so timidly," Luna replied, as she lit up her horn, and disappeared.
Looking around, Luna found herself, of all places, underwater, "What the...?! What is this memory?" Luna questioned. She saw something swimming past her at blinding speeds. She tried getting a good look at what it was, but it disappeared into the kelp, 'Hmm, I won't be able to find anything here. I'd better move onto the next....' Luna's thought was cut off, when she saw a little two year old girl swimming by. What caught her by surprise was that the lower half of the girl was that of a fish tail. Upon closer inspection, the girl bore a striking resemblance to Mavis.
"Mavis, mon enfant, it is time to go home," Luna then saw a woman swimming towards the little fish girl. Luna noticed that, like the fish girl that she now knew was in fact Mavis, the woman's lower half was also a fish tail.
"Ok Maman," the toddler fish girl said, swimming over to the larger fish person. She, however, was unable to stop properly, as she gently bumped into her mother.
"Ok you little sweetheart, let's get you home for your nap," the larger fish woman said, as she and Mavis swam, to what Luna suspected, to be the shoreline. The woman poked her head up above the water, making sure the coast was clear, "Ok, we must be quick," the woman said, as she and Mavis resurfaced, and grabbed some towels from a waterproof container lying nearby.
"Maman, why must we always dry ourselves in private?" the younger Mavis asked.
"Because, our kind must never be discovered by the humans. Your father is the only one who knows of the existence of mermaids," the woman said, as she and her daughter dried themselves off, turning their fish tails back into human legs. They then quickly got dressed.
'Hmm, so Mavis is actually one of these 'mermaid' creatures. I'd better keep that a secret for now. But it doesn't look like anything else will happen here,' Luna thought, as she went to view another memory of Mavis'.
Mavis' subconscious, age 2 3/4 years old,
Luna now found herself in the middle of a very lavish house, 'Hmm, could this be Mavis' old home?' Luna wondered. She saw the young Mavis walking around, trying to get up onto the couch. Just then, a big, burly man came by, and picked up Mavis, who squealed and giggled.
"All right you little rascal, there you go," the man said, placing Mavis comfortably on the couch, "Now, you just sit there and watch some tv, while your Mommy and I go and take care of something," the man said, as he left Mavis on the couch. Luna noticed that unlike Mavis or her mother, the father didn't have a French Accent. Mavis turned on the tv, which, for some reason, came onto a cooking show. Luna didn't understand human cuisine all that well, but she could tell that the people cooking were professionals. She then saw some of them using fish as a part of one of their recipes. Looking over, she saw Mavis' face pale at the sight of the fish being chopped up and cooked. Luna saw Mavis' face turn green, as she ran out of the tv room, and into what she thought was the bathroom. The sound of Mavis throwing up could be heard throughout the house. This was even able to get the attention of Mavis' parents, who quickly rushed to their beloved daughter's side.
"Mavis, what's wrong?" Mavis' father asked.
"I just saw the most disgusting thing ever!Quelle horreuer!" Mavis replied, as she lost her lunch again.
"Oh dear, I should've checked the channel before leaving Mavis alone like that," the father said, feeling bad.
"But, why on earth was it on a cooking show?" the mother asked.
'Well, that would explain one reason Mavis seems to scared of the other children. Even more reason to keep her secret,' Luna thought, as she went onto another memory.
Mavis' Memories: Age: 3 and a half years old
Luna saw that she was outside, in the middle of an alley way, in the middle of a rainstorm. She looked around, and nearly lost her own lunch at what she saw: Mavis was on the ground, tears flooding out of her eyes. What Luna nearly throw up, was seeing Mavis holding an extremely bloody wound, where her right arm should have been. She looked around, and saw said arm, laying on the ground. She then saw a couple of older kids, dressed as pirates, looming over her, one of the swords they were holding was covered in blood.
"Well me crew, we finally found one; a baby mermaid, all on her own," the leader of the group said, as he approached the terrified Mavis.
"ENOUGH!" Luna was taken aback, as she saw bullets of light in several different colors knocking the pirates away. She then saw the parents rushing to their daughter's aid. They were horrified at seeing their daughter maimed the way she was.
"MAMAN! PAPA!" Mavis cried uncontrollably.
"Oh, my sweet angel, what have they done to you?!" the mother sobbed, holding her angel daughter tightly.
"We got to get out of here, fast! I know a guy who owes me. We can help with Mavis' arm that way," the father said, as he took Mavis from the mother, and they ran away.
"My word, Mavis has gone through the worst of the worst traumas I've seen yet," Luna commented, as she used her magic to flashforward a bit. She was now inside what appeared to be an operating room. She saw that Mavis was heavily sedated, laying on the operating table, with a couple of doctors rushing to help her. Luna saw that the doctors were giving Mavis some kind of surgery in which they replaced her arm with a metal one.
"Ok, that should do it," one of the doctors said, as he left to go speak with the parents. Luna could only look on helplessly at Mavis, who was still heavily sedated, lying on the operating table, her real arm being replaced with a fake metal one.
"No one should ever deserve this, especially one so young," Luna tearfully commented, as she went onto another memory.
Mavis' Memories: Age 4 Years, 14 days old
Luna once again found herself in the middle of Mavis' old home, but everything was all wrong; The entire house was on fire, and she saw Mavis desperately trying to get some debris off of her parents, "Mavis, my precious angel, listen to me. You need to escape the house, and get back to the ocean. Those pirates are after you, not us. You need to save yourself!" the father pleaded with his daughter, who was still trying to free her parents.
"B-but I do not want to live without either of you!" Mavis tearfully argued.
"I know Mavis, but to us, you're more important than our lives. You should have the chance to grow up and live, even if we do not follow you," the mother said. Mavis was full on waterfall crying now, as she fell to her knees, unable to move.
"Ready crew! Aim!" Luna could hear the same pirates voice order.
"You need to go NOW! PRISIM CHARIOT!" the father said, as he cast a spell, which surrounded Mavis in a ball of light, and propelled her out of the house.
"FIRE!" Mavis could only watch in pure agony as her home was destroyed by the very pirates who sought to capture her. Mavis knew her parents didn't survive, and began to cry, once more. Luna was absolutely horrified at all the horrors that Mavis was forced to endure so early in life. She soon found that Mavis was dropped in an alley way somewhere.
"M-Maman, P-Papa," Mavis said in a broken voice, barely audible. She then got up, and tried to make her was back to the ocean. From the shadows, Luna saw a teenaged girl in mismatched clothes, looking on at the poor girl in sympathy.
"Don't worry little one, you'll find a new home soon enough," Luna was shocked to hear Eris' voice coming from the older girl, as she snapped her fingers, and opened a portal to the Crystal Empire, "I'd better get Daddy, Heaven and the boys. They'll need to help Twilight and them with that girl," Eris said, before teleporting away.
In Mavis' bedroom,
Luna had just reappeared beside Mavis' bed, where the scarred girl was sleeping, clutching her new toys closely, "Don't worry little one, you will be safe in Equestria, forever and always," Luna said, as she carefully left Mavis to rest.
The Throne Room,
"And that's how they found out about the DNA evidence," Raiden said.
"The nerve of some people!" Kelly commented. As they were all talking, Luna came back in, with a disturbed look on her face.
"Luna? Did you find anything else out?" Celestia asked.
"I did, but I don't think any of you want to know. Let's just say, the child's past was more, as today's foals would say, 'brutal', than anything we've seen," Luna said, feeling sick just thinking about what she saw.
"Hmm, that's not good," Shining Armor commented.
"But what can we do? From what Raiden told us, Mavis doesn't have that strong an immunity to processed sugars, so we have to rule out a party. Sorry Pinkie," Cadence apologized.
"Don't worry. We need to make Mavis feel more welcome here," Pinkie replied.
"By the way, on a completely unrelated note, but do humans eat fish?" Luna asked.
"Yes. Fish is a vital source of protein, and is considered brain food for humans. My nationality actually specializes in certain fish dishes call 'sushi'," Raiden replied. Luna frowned at this.
"Why? Does Mavis not like fish?" Toby asked.
"It's not that. Let's just say she's a bit attached to marine life," Luna replied, trying to dance around the fact of Mavis being a mermaid.
"Ah know! Will could probably help us!" Nathan exclaimed. Everyone shot him a questioning look.
"How can Will help?" Clover asked.
"Will could give Mavis some Pokémon that may help her feel more secure," Nathan clarified.
"I see. You're proposing that Will gives her some emotional support Pokémon, right?" Twilight asked.
"Yup," Nathan replied.
"Well, that could help her out quite a bit. Twilight, I know it's a bit much to ask, but could you bring Mavis with you all back to Ponyville?" Cadence pleaded.
"Don't worry about it Cadence. We're more than happy to help," Twilight replied.
"Good, while you're doing that, Raiden, could we give you one more job?" Cadence asked. Raiden quirked his eyebrow.
Mavis stirred in her sleep. Sitting up, she saw that she had fallen asleep during her talk with Raiden. She felt the feeling of guilt in her gut for conking out, 'That was very rude of me. I will need to make it up to that human somehow,' Mavis thought to herself, clutching her new toys plushies. She decided to go and find Cadence, as she felt the alicorn was the only one she could trust, 'I just hope she isn't too busy,' Mavis thought, as she got out of bed, and went over to the door. She tried reaching for the door, but the door handle was too far up. She tried jumping up to grab the door, but it amounted to only grazing the bottom of the handle. Mavis saw the chairs that she sat in when talking to Raiden. She set her toys on the bed, and tried moving the chair closest to the door. With some effort, she was able to move the chair to the point where she could reach the door. She climbed up onto the chair, and opened the door. She collected her toys, and made her way out of the room, "Now, what way to go?" Mavis wondered, as she wandered aimlessly through the halls. As she walked, she eventually was cut off when Guard Armor and Skyla darted out in front of her. Mavis was caught by surprise, and fell on her butt, dropping her Teddy Bear and Ducky in the process.
"Gaa goo?" Skyla babbled, as she pounced the teddy bear, while Guard picked up the ducky.
"Uh, excuse me, but.... th-those are m-mine, I think," Mavis said quietly. The two Alicorn foals looked at the timid girl, make her jump, "O-On second thought, you can keep them," Mavis said, backing away slowly. She continued to back away until she bumped into something, or rather someone. Looking up, she saw the very pony she was trying to find.
"Oh Mavis, you're up," Cadence said. She then noticed her two youngest foals playing with Mavis' new toys, "Now isn't that cute? Now Skyla, Guard, why don't we give Mavis back her toys?" Cadence asked, gingerly taking the two plushies. Guard seemed to understand, but Skyla was fussing, trying to reach for the teddy bear, as it was given back to Mavis. Skyla then began crying.
"Or not," Mavis said, quickly giving her teddy bear back to Skyla, who calmed down instantly.
"Now Mavis, that's your teddy bear. Skyla has all sorts of toys for herself," Cadence said, taking the teddy bear once again. Skyla shot Mavis a grumpy look, "Don't be like that young lady. You know you have all sorts of toys to play with," Cadence said, picking up the two baby Alicorns.
'Great, I've only been here one day, and someone already hates me,' Mavis thought glumly, as she clutched the three plush toys, as Cadence came back from putting the two babies in their room.
"Now then, Mavis," Mavis shrunk under the voice of the Crystal Princess, "I know you're just getting used to the Crystal Empire, but I think I know a way for you to get to know more of Equestria," Cadence quickly added, seeing the scared girl looking more fearful.
"O-ok," Mavis said, her tone indicating she felt she was being forced into doing whatever Cadence wanted. Cadence could tell by the young girl's tone, and frowned.
"You don't quite understand. This is something I think that YOU would want to do, not something I'm forcing you to do," Cadence clarified. This seemed to do little to improving Mavis' meek demeanor, as the walked through the halls, eventually reaching the entrance, where the others were gathered, "Ok guys, Mavis is, more or less, ready to visit Ponyville," Cadence said. Mavis was once again on edge upon being around so many humans.
"Twilight, could you let Silver know that I may be staying the night here?" Raiden asked.
"Of course," Twilight replied. Mavis was still shocked at how a human talked so casually to a princess.
"Ah can go with them, at least so Mavis doesn't feel too alone," Nathan offered.
"Would you please?" Cadence asked.
"Ya can count on me," Nathan said.
"Alright Mavis, if you're ready, we can go," Twilight said gingerly. Mavis timidly nodded, not wanting to anger a princess.
"Oh! Before you go," Cadence said, pulling a small, child sized satchel out of a nearby closet, and gave it to Mavis, "This is so you're arms don't get too tired carrying your toys," she said.
"M-Merci," Mavis said, placing her ducky and her puppy inside, while still holding her teddy bear.
"We'll be sure to bring Nathan and Mavis back tonight," Twilight said, as they all took their leave. Twilight took Mavis' left hand, and led her out of the castle. Mavis was once again lost in her own thoughts.
'They're bringing me back? I didn't do something to upset Princess Cadence, did I?! Am I going to be a prisoner?!' Mavis thought to herself.
Mavis' overactive imagination,
"Mavis Gustou, how do you plead on the charge of being in the Crystal Empire illegally, being a mermaid, having an artificial metal arm, imposing on the Princess, and arguing with her?" a judge pony questioned, as Mavis was in shackles, being put on trial.
"Uh... I, uh," Mavis tried to form the words, before being cut off.
"She pleads guilty of all charges!" Mavis turned to see Cadence, glaring down at the young girl.
"Has the jury reached the verdict?" the judge asked.
"GUILTY!" the jury all chimed. Mavis' heart sank.
"Mavis, for crimes against royalty, I hereby sentence you to the sushi bar!" the judge said, as chains wrapped around her, and dragged her away. She saw all of the humans, preparing rice, wasabi, vegetables, and seaweed. She knew what this meant, and it terrified her.
Reality,
Mavis was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt something jerking her around. She looked up to see that she was in a rail car. She looked out the window to see that the train she was on was leaving the Crystal Empire behind. Looking around the inside of the rail car, she saw the humans, all mingling with one another, while the adults were chatting as well, 'What is going on with me? Why is any of this happening to me?'' Mavis wondered. The adults could see the saddened look on Mavis face, as she huddled up in her seat, clutching her teddy bear.
"What do you think the princess saw in the kid's memories?" Rainbow Dash wondered.
"Whatever it was, it must've been bad. She looked like she was ready to loose her lunch," Pinkie Pie replied.
"She seems very adamant about distancing herself from the other human kids," Twilight observed.
"I've also noticed she doesn't want anyone touching her right arm. What do you think that means?" Fluttershy asked.
"Something bad might've happened, and she doesn't want anything or anyone touching her arm," Rarity theorized.
"Well, we should just give her some time. She needs to open up to us at her own pace," Twilight said, as the Ponyville Station came into view.
Thankfully, the Ponyville Station was not terribly busy, so the others felt Mavis would feel more at ease, and be less likely to get lost, "Ok Mavis, we've arrived at Ponyville. Now, how about seeing some of the sights?" Twilight offered.
"O-Ok," Mavis said in a tone that indicated she didn't really have any opinions on the matter.
"Well, you will find that there are plenty of surprises that may help you feel more comfortable," Twilight soothed, as the all left the station. Mavis looked around, seeing the town that looked like a vintage village. She also saw an apple orchard in the distance, and what looked to be a gingerbread house. As she looked around, she got tripped up by a small, yet heavy rock, causing her to drop her teddy bear.
"Mon ours en peluche," Mavis said, as she reached with her right arm to pick up her bear. However, from out a nearby hole, a snake slithered out, and over her hand, not even paying the girl any mind. Mavis shrieked in terror, as she was paralyzed from fear.
"Mavis! Are you alright?" Twilight asked. Mavis gave no response, as she was still frozen in place, "Guys, something is wrong with Mavis!" Twilight called out, as Mavis fell over onto her side, her pupils becoming anime swirls, "Oh dear, let's get her to Carousel Boutique," Twilight suggested, as she gingerly picked up the young girl. Toby went and collected Mavis' Teddy Bear, and followed the others
At Carousel,
Mavis began stirring in her sleep. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was inside what looked to be a boutique of some kind, "Oh thank Celestia, you're awake!" Mavis turned to see Twilight looking at the young girl.
"What h-happened?" Mavis asked.
"I was hoping you would tell me. One moment, you're walking alongside us, the next, you're frozen stiff," Twilight replied.
"W-well, I dropped mon teddy bear, and when I went to pick it up," Mavis said, remembering what transpired. Her face paled at the thought of a snake that slithered across her hand, "And, I s-saw an icky snake," Mavis said quietly.
"I take it you're not to big on snakes either?" Twilight asked. Mavis nodded, clutching her stuffed puppy toy, "Mavis, I'm letting you know right here and now, it's ok to be scared of something. No one is going to judge you," Twilight tried to soothe Mavis' troubled mind. Mavis only cocooned herself in her hair, "Well, enough about scary stuff. We're here to make you happy. And to show you we want you to be happy, Rarity is ready to make you some more clothes. Though, I should tell you right now, they won't be Gothic Lolita," Twilight said. Mavis shrunk back in her seat.
"Uh, Princess Twilight, I, um," Mavis said quietly.
"Don't worry, you don't need to pay Rarity back. She wants you to have new outfits," Twilight said, leading the young girl out to where the others were.
"Uh, here's you teddy bear back," Toby said, giving Mavis her bear back. Mavis shrunk at being this close to a human, but took back her bear, nevertheless.
"Merci," Mavis whispered, taking a few steps back.
"She really doesn't seem to be comfortable around other humans, does she?" Vibrant whispered to Charity.
"Apparently not," Charity replied. Just then, the Fujiyama Brother's friend, Takanosuke came in, with a troubled look on his face.
"Takanosuke, what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"We just got orders from the Mayor. Everyone on this side of town has been ordered to evacuate to the guild," Takanosuke replied.
"What for?" Twilight asked in concern.
"There's a flash flood heading this way. Icezer, Carlos, Claire, April, and a few others are working to try and stop the flooding as much as they can, but they're having little luck. A bunch of others have been sent by Silver to evacuate everyone to the guild until we can resolve this," Takanosuke replied.
"We'd better get a move on. Even with Ice and Gravity Mutants stalling the flood, it won't be enough," Takanosuke said, as Mavis put both of her stuffed toys in her satchel, and they all left Sugarcube Corner.
'So much for getting Mavis some more clothes,' Twilight and Rarity mentally cursed.
Inside the Alicorn's Wish Guild Grounds
Mutants were busy helping the citizens of Ponyville evacuate to the guild, "Is this everyone?" Silver asked.
"Everyone from the East Side of town," a mutant replied.
"Good," Silver said, as he saw Twilight and friends, "Hey guys, I guess you heard about what's going on?" Silver asked, floating over to them.
"We did. Is the situation under control?" Twilight asked.
"I was about to head over to check on things myself," Silver replied. He then took notice of Mavis, who was cowering at the sight of another human, "Is this the kid Raiden was sent to help with?" Silver asked.
"Yes. This is Mavis. She hasn't really opened up to us yet, so we're giving her some space," Twilight replied.
"Good call," Silver said. He had thought about reading the young girl's mind, but chose against it, "Now then, I'd better go see how the others are doing," Silver said, as he floated away.
"You kids stay here. We'll go with Silver," Twilight said, as she and her friends followed after the psychic teen. Mavis felt more scared. She was surrounded by more unfamiliar ponies, as well as humans.
'Please.... someone, help me!' Mavis thought as she back away from the group. Melody and Clover noticed their new friend backing away, a scared look on her face.
"Mavis, where're you going?" Melody asked. Mavis squeaked, and continued to back up, only to trip on another rock. When she fell down, the children could hear something metallic hitting the ground where she fell.
"Did I hear a 'clunk' sound?" Toby questioned.
"N-Non, I-it was p-probably just your ears playing tricks on vous," Mavis quickly replied. Just then, Zach came into the picture, following his crush, Eliza.
"Zach, I keep tellin' ya, keep following me, and you're gonna regret it!" the Scottish girl snarled.
"Ah, but my love, your parfum is just so intoxicating as always! Berries, citrus fruits, seawater.... machine oil?" Zach was confused at what he was smelling, as was Eliza, but she was more angry than confused.
"I warned ya!" Eliza yelled, her arm turning into a metal club, and smacking Zach into a tree.
"MAN!" Zach was completely unfazed by this. He then started smelling the seawater and machine oil smell again, "There it is again," Zach said, as he began sniffing around. Mavis was getting more and more nervous, as the mutant came closer to her, "Strange, why does only your right arm have the parfum of machine oil?" Zach questioned. Mavis gripped her right arm.
"Maybe she was around factories a lot? Also, Zach, please keep your nose to yourself," Kelly asked as politely as possible.
"If that's true, then why does the rest of her have the parfum of sea water?" Zach countered.
"Maybe she was near the ocean a lot. Now, I asked nicely, stay away from Mavis!" Kelly repeated herself, an oni mask appearing behind her. But she couldn't help but wonder why did all but Mavis' right arm smell like the ocean. The others were thinking the same thing as well.
"So, I take it this is the wee lassie that Raiden went to the Crystal Empire to help?" Eliza asked.
"She is. But she's super shy!" Lucky Joy replied.
"Poor thing. Maybe a cup of green tea will calm her nerves," Eliza said, as she went to make some.
In a valley near Ponyville,
Twilight, Silver, and the others had just arrived to the scene of the action, where they saw a number of Fire, Ice, and Gravity mutants all trying to stop the flooding. They even saw Stealth summoning walls of thick vines to block the water, "That should hold it," the ninja said.
"Just for added measures," Carlos said, as he began freezing the vines.
"Ok, we got that taken care of. But now, how do we stop it from over flowing?" they all turned to see Silver and the Mane 6, coming towards them.
"We sent Echo-Echo into the water to try and find the source," Icezer commented.
"Why him?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Sound travels 4.3 times faster underwater. He's probably using echolocation to pinpoint the breach," Twilight theorized.
"That he is," Brian replied. Speaking of the robot teen, he shot out of the water, and landed in front of the others.
"THE BREACH IS CLOSE TO THE GROUND. TOO DEEP FOR ANY CONSTRUCTION CREWS TO GET TO," he reported.
"I have a barrier spell. I can use it, while Silver finds some boulders to halt the flooding. Brian can then melt the boulders, and fix the breach," Twilight suggested.
"Good call, but what about the water on this side of the dam?" Silver questioned.
"When the ice around my vines melts, the water can gradually leak out, without actually overflowing," Stealth replied.
"Then let's get to it!" Brian said. Twilight then surrounded herself and the two boys in a magic sphere, and levitated them all into the water. Echo-Echo dove back in to guide them.
"IT'S RIGHT OVER HERE," he said, pointing to a large hole in the dam.
"Well, time to get to work," Silver said, as he used his telekinesis to grab some nearby boulders, and plug up the hole. Brian then used his fire to melt the boulders down, sealing up the hole, "Well, that takes care of that. I'll let the Mayor know," Silver said, as Twilight teleported the three boys and herself out of the water, and in front of their friends.
"Mission accomplished," Brian said, as Silver floated off.
"Go ahead and tell the others they can return home!" Silver called out, as he shot off like a rocket.
"Let's get back to the guild. The others are waiting," Twilight said. With that, they all returned to the guild.
Mavis was eyeing the cup of tea that Eliza had made for her with hesitation. Eliza took note of this behavior, and thought she was just waiting for it to cool, "It may be bitter lassie, but it may take your mind of whatever's troubling ya," Eliza said.
"Merci," Mavis said, as she took a small sip of the tea. As Eliza said, it was extremely bitter. Mavis' face contorted with disgust, but it went away quickly, as she began sipping more.
"So, is there anything on why this girl's so reclusive?" Sora asked the others.
"We don't really know. All we know is that she doesn't like getting presents, and can't have excessive amounts of sugar. We only recently found out she doesn't like snakes," Cory replied.
"So, even with Raiden's help, she wouldn't open up?" Leon asked.
"Yeah. Princess Luna went into her memories to try and find out about her past. Whatever it was nearly made her throw up," Conner replied.
"It was that bad?!" Lucas exclaimed.
"Apparently. It must've been so bad, that she couldn't even retell it," Crystal replied. Just then, the others came back.
"Hey kids. No trouble?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Not at all. Eliza gave Mavis some green tea. Speaking of, some odd developments came up," Trinity replied.
"What sort of 'developments'?" Twilight asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Well, she tripped on a rock and fell on her butt," Kelly started, before being cut off,
"Is she alright?" Fluttershy asked.
"Truth be told, I don't even think she noticed that se tripped. Anyways, when she did that, I could've sworn I heard a metallic clunk sound coming from her right arm," Kelly began.
"On top of that, Zach said that she smelled like sea water, except for her arm, which smelled like machine oil," Josh added.
"That girl just keeps getting more and more mysterious," Twilight commented.
"You should go and take her to get some Pokémon. I'll get her measurements and make a smashing new outfit just for her," Rarity suggested.
"Good call. Maybe Will can suggest some," Twilight said, as she approached Mavis from the front, "Mavis, sweetie, I want to show you another part of town we like visiting," Twilight offered, but from Mavis Point of View, it sounded like Twilight was forcing her into it.
"O-Ok," Mavis replied quietly, not wanting to upset Twilight.
"Don't worry. It's not all that far," Twilight said, as she gingerly took Mavis' hand, and led her out of the guild grounds, "We'll swing by Carousel Boutique on our way back to Sugarcube Corner," Twilight said to her friends, who all nodded, as Twilight and Mavis left.
True to her word, it didn't take very long for Twilight and Mavis to arrive at Will's Ranch, "Here it is Mavis. This is where everyone you've met at the Crystal Empire got a bunch of wonderous pets," Twilight said, as they neared the Ranch House.
"P-princess, is it really ok for us to be here?" Mavis asked timidly.
"Of course. Will is a very nice person. His little sister, Cindy is also quite friendly too," Twilight replied. She wanted to tell Mavis that she didn't need to call Twilight by her title, but chose against it, as, based on Mavis' behavioral patterns, it would be a pointless venture.
"Did I hear my name?" Twilight looked to see Cindy pushing a cart full of Pokémon food, "Hey Twilight," Cindy greeted.
"Hello Cindy. Is your brother home? I'd like to talk to him about something," Twilight asked.
"Yeah, he's right around back," Cindy replied, pointing to the back of the house.
"Thank you," Twilight said, as she and Mavis went around the house. True to Cindy's word, Will was tending to some Grass Pokémon, spraying them with Super Potion.
"Ok guys, that'll do it," Will said, putting the medicine away.
"Thank you, Will," Shiftry said, as the Grass Pokémon took their leave. Will then saw Twilight, leading Mavis along.
"Hey Twilight," Will greeted.
"Hello Will. I see you're busy as always," Twilight commented.
"Yeah. Caring for all of my Pokémon is hard work, but I enjoy it. By the way, whose this little girl?" Mavis hid behind a pillar when Will looked at her.
"This is Mavis. She's new to Equestria," Twilight said, a tone of sadness in her voice. This did not go unnoticed by the Pokémon Master.
"Something wrong?" Will asked.
"See, Mavis is extremely timid, and is showing no signs of opening up to us, not even Cadence or Shining Armor," Twilight replied.
"Hmm, that's not good," Will commented.
"Yes, which is why I brought her here. I was hoping you would have some Pokémon that could make her feel safe," Twilight asked.
"Of course. I've got plenty of Pokémon in the Nursery and on the ranch that could help her," Will replied.
"That's great! What would you recommend?" Twilight asked.
"I'd definitely go with Togepi. It stores happiness in it's shell which it shares with those of pure hearts," Will replied.
"And Mavis fits that description perfectly!" Twilight said.
"As for other Pokémon, maybe some fluffy Pokémon, like Mareep, Swablu, Altaria, and Furfrou. I often take naps on the wings of Altaria or on Mareep's fleece," Will explained.
"What about Pokémon to help her with her fears? She's been showing a large amount of anxiety," Twilight asked.
"Hmm. Maybe I'll give her some Ghost Pokémon too. They don't need a lot of sleep, so they can watch over her when she's sleeping. As for her fears, I'll be sure to add Shuppet into the mix. Shuppet feed off of negative emotions, so she doesn't have to worry about that," Will suggested.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? I remember Ghost Pokémon are pranksters," Twilight asked.
"Don't worry. I'll give them the run down, and tell them to cool it with the pranks," Will replied.
"Well, I'm still not too sure about the Ghost Pokémon, but I'll take your word for it. I'll take Mavis around the ranch to look at the other Pokémon while you get the ones you're giving her. If, that's alright, I mean," Twilight said.
"Not a problem. Just don't wander off too far. It may not take too long for me to get her Pokémon," Will said, as he went off. Twilight then turned to Mavis, who was still hiding.
"Mavis, sweetheart, would you like to take a look at some of the other Pokémon here?" Twilight offered.
"M-Maybe the ones over by the w-water," Mavis replied quietly.
"Of course Mavis," Twilight said, leading Mavis over to the lake habitat, where she showed Mavis all manner of Water Type Pokémon. Mavis sat down on a rock, watching some Water Pokémon swimming around, 'Well, at least now she feels more calm,' Twilight thought. After about a few minutes, Will came back, followed by a bunch of Pokémon, while holding a Togepi.
"Sorry for the wait, but here are her Pokémon," Will said, presenting his choices for Mavis' emotional support Pokémon.
"Mavis, do you want to come and take a look?" Twilight asked carefully. Mavis got up from the rock she was sitting on, and walked over to the Pokémon. They consisted of Togepi, Swablu, Altaria, Mareep, Furfrou, and Shuppet.
"Why don't you hold this one?" Will asked, giving Mavis Togepi. Almost instantly, a warm smile appeared on Mavis' face.
"Il fait tellement chaud," Mavis commented, as Swablu flew onto Mavis' head.
"It probably doesn't need to be said that she loves her new Pokémon," Will commented, as he pulled out a few empty Pokeballs, "Mavis, you'll need these if you want them to be yours," Will said, giving them to the scared girl, "Use them to hold your Pokémon," Will clarified.
"They look rather cramped," Mavis commented.
"Your Pokémon will be shrunk down so they can fit comfortably," Twilight explained. With that, Mavis used the empty Pokeballs on her new emotional support Pokémon. The six Pokeballs clicked shut, signaling that they were now Mavis'.
"Cadence and Shining Armor have meal plans for each of those Pokémon. You can ask them about it later," Will informed.
"Merci," Mavis said, doing a curtsey. She then placed her Pokeballs into her satchel.
"You know Mavis, Rarity should be done with your clothes by now. Why don't we head over to the Boutique?" Twilight suggested.
"Ok," Mavis said quietly. It was clear to the studious alicorn that Mavis was finally beginning to open up, but was still shy.
"Thank you for doing this for her Will," Twilight said.
"Not a problem. Maybe next time she's here, I can teach her how to make special treats for her Pokémon," Will suggested.
"Well, only time will tell," Twilight said, as she led Mavis out of the ranch. unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes were watching them from the clouds.
"Lightning Dust to HQ, do you read me?" a teal Pegasus mare with an orange mane asked into a little microphone.
"HQ here Lightning. What have you to report?" a snobbish voice asked from the other side.
"The fake princess has just left a ranch run by a human stallion. She seems to be leading a little human filly back into town," Lighting Dust replied.
"Good, just keep an eye on them for now. We'll begin our operation tonight," the voice said.
"Yes, Prince Blueblood," Lightning Dust said, turning off her communicator, "Just you wait, Rainbow Dash, I'll show you what it's like to have your dreams crushed!" she seethed, as she flew off.
En route to Carousel Boutique,
Walking through town, Twilight was leading Mavis back to the Boutique, where she was hoping Mavis' new outfits were ready. Mavis wasn't really paying attention, as she held her Teddy Bear. As she was walking, she once again, tripped over another rock, and fell into a small mud puddle, "Mavis, are you alright?!" Twilight asked, helping the young girl up. Thankfully, only a small spot of her dress was covered in mud.
"Mon dress!" Mavis lamented.
"Don't worry Mavis, I'm sure Rarity will have it cleaned for you," Twilight tried consoling the young girl. Mavis once again looked disheartened by this, hearing that the ponies who were showing her hospitality were doing menial tasks for her. Twilight helped Mavis back up, and gave the young girl her Teddy Bear back. They once again press on, eventually arriving at Carousel Boutique. Twilight knocked on the door. A moment later, Applejack answered the door.
"Howdy Twilight. How'd things go with Will?" Applejack asked.
"Pretty good. Mavis was able to smile when she got a Togepi," Twilight replied.
"Well, that's a step in the right direction," Applejack commented, as she let the two of them in. Mavis looked around, and froze when she saw the human children. But she froze even stiffer when a certain, fluffy cat walked up to her.
"Mavis? Is something wrong?" Twilight asked. Mavis didn't answer.
"Oh good! You've arrived just in time!" Rarity exclaimed, breaking Mavis out of her trance, "Now Mavis, I know you like gothic Lolita, but I think this clothes may prove more comfortable for you to wear, and that they'll feel less constricting," Rarity said, giving Mavis a few sets of clothes.
"Merci," Mavis said.
"Rarity, I know how you feel about Gothic Lolita, but do you think you can clean Mavis' dress?" Twilight asked, motioning to the mud spot on Mavis' dress.
"Of course, darling. Meanwhile, Mavis can take a bath to refresh herself, and try on one of her new outfits!" Rarity gushed. She then turned to her cat, who was pawing at the ribbons on Mavis' dress, "Opal, darling, you run along now," Rarity said to her cat. Opalescence then wandered off, giving Mavis some relief.
"Ok Mavis, if you'll come with me to the bathroom, I'll start up a bath for you," Twilight said.
"Oui, but princess, could I maybe bathe alone?" Mavis asked. This question caught the lavender princess off guard.
"Um, ok, if that's what makes you more comfortable. But I'll be right outside if you need me," Twilight said, leading Mavis to the bathroom. She put some towels she got from Rarity on the counter, before proceeding to start the bath. Twilight made sure the water wasn't too hot or too cold, too deep, "Once you've gotten undressed, you can put your dress outside the door, ok?" Twilight asked.
"Oui," Mavis replied. With that, Twilight exited the bathroom, leaving Mavis to disrobe herself. When she did, Mavis could only look at her metal arm, and feel another pang of sadness and guilt, "I have to do everything I can to hide this, along with my mermaid form," she said quietly, hoping no one was eavesdropping. Mavis then placed her dress outside the door, and walked over to the bathtub. She saw that there was a step stool. She then used it to climb into the bathtub. When her legs were submerged, they turned into a fish tail. She then began to wash herself.
Back with the others,
Rarity had just taken Mavis' Gothic Lolita dress to be washed, "Sounds as though she's bathing now," Rarity commented.
"So, what Pokémon did Will give her?" Vibrant asked.
"He gave Mavis a Togepi to help with her sorrow, a Shuppet for driving away negative emotions, and a Swablu, Altaria, Furfrou, and Mareep, since they're all so fluffy," Twilight replied.
"Those do sound like ideal Pokémon for her," Nathan commented. Twilight was about to say something, when they all heard splashing coming from the bathroom, and the sound of someone falling over.
"Dang it!" they heard Mavis say. Twilight then rushed to the bathroom, and barged in.
"Mavis, are you...." complete shock cut off Twilight at what she saw. Mavis had a fish tail from the hips down, and a mechanical arm. Mavis looked up to see the look of shock on Twilight's face, and only one thing came to Mavis' mind at that very moment.
It's never easy knowing one of your secrets has been found out. For Mavis, she was absolutely terrified beyond rational thought, as she was seated on one of the display stands. Her outfit now was a lite blue tank top with black shorts, "So, what happened with Mavis?" Twilight asked the others.
"Her legs were turned into a fish tail, so now we know that she's a mermaid," Toby replied.
"What's a mermaid?" Season asked.
"They're mythical creatures from the human world that have the lower half of fish, and the upper body of a human," Toby explained.
"It's true," Mavis said in a droning voice, "I've been a mermaid ever since I was born," she continued.
"Ok, but why the secrecy?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Because the merfolk are supposed to live in secret, leaving humans oblivious to our existence," Mavis replied, sounding like a robot.
"Is that why you've been so, not talkative with us?" Nathan asked.
"Oui. Humans eat fish, so I was scared that you all would eat me, or at the very least, sell me off to one of those fishy prisons, how you call them, aquariums," Mavis replied, sounding less of a robot, in a scared tone. Needless to say, the human children were shocked by this.
"WHAT?! We'd never do that to you!" Crystal countered.
"Yeah, Kelly and Crystal may be crazy, but even they wouldn't cross that line," Josh added. The two aforementioned sisters decided to ignore the "Crazy" comment.
"Besides, we don't even eat fish," Conner added.
"Really?" Mavis asked in surprise.
"I always found fish dishes to be too smelly," Kelly replied.
"My family were vegetarians," Josh added.
"I'm allergic," Toby finished. Mavis now felt silly for being scared of them.
"What was that about selling you off to an aquarium?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, the merfolk have always been at odds with pirates, who seek only to exploit our existence for money. A gang of pirates said that they wanted to *ahem* 'sell my booty for big booty', as they said," Mavis explained.
"By the way, what's with the mechanical arm?" Kelly asked. Mavis had a terrified look on her face, as she remembered the entire ordeal.
"I-I'd rather not talk about it," Mavis replied. The others decided not to press on the matter.
"Does Cadence and Shining Armor know?" Twilight asked.
"Non! I was hoping to keep all of this a secret for as long as possible!" Mavis exclaimed. Everyone had sympathetic looks on their faces.
"Mavis, I know how it feels to be scared of revealing secrets, but they're going to find out sooner or later. But even so, they won't think any less of you," Twilight said, trying to add some comfort to the young girl. Mavis knew that there would be no way around it, so she gave in.
"Ok, I will tell them," Mavis said, sounding defeated.
"You have nothin' ta be scared of Mavis. Mommy and Daddy are really nice, just like Aunt Twilight said," Nathan reassured. Just then, Opalescence leaped onto Mavis' lap. Mavis let out a small squeak, and froze up.
"C'mon Opalescence, you go play somewhere else like a good kitty," Fluttershy said, taking Opal off of Mavis' lap.
"Ah'm guessin' ya don't like cats all that much, do ya?" Applejack asked, snapping Mavis out of her trance.
"Non. I've never been all that comfortable around kitty cats," Mavis replied.
"Makes sense. Cat love fish," Crystal commented. Twilight noticed it was getting late.
"Hmm, Mavis, would you like to get some snacks for the road? We can swing by Sugarcube Corner to at least get you some cookies. It'll be alright if you don't want any," Twilight offered.
"I think biscuits would make me motion sick," Mavis replied quietly.
"Uh, we were offering cookies, not biscuits," Rainbow Dash commented.
"Oh Rainbow, biscuits is the Prench word for cookies," Rarity clarified.
"And that's alright Mavis. We weren't forcing you to get any," Twilight said. Mavis nodded, "Well, I'll see to it about getting Mavis and Nathan back to the Crystal Empire. Cory, can you keep an eye on things while I'm gone?" Twilight asked.
"Sure thing Mom," Cory replied.
"Alright you two, lets get going," Twilight said, leading the two out of the Boutique.
"Well, at least now Mavis doesn't have any secrets she's too scared to hide anymore," Rainbow Dash commented.
"True, but I don't think that'll be enough for her to open up to us completely. She still seemed.... hesitant around us," Conner added.
"We just need to give her some time," Rarity replied, as they all went their separate ways back home.
About an hour and a half later,
The train had finished up it's journey across Equestria, as it arrived at the Crystal Empire Station. Stepping off the train, Twilight, along with Nathan and Mavis, who held a cloth over her metal arm, all made their way back to the Crystal Palace. All the while, Mavis had a feeling of unending dread as they inched closer to the castle.
Mavis' overactive imagination,
Mavis was sorrowfully sitting on her bed, awaiting for the Crystal Couple to pass their judgement on her fate. Just then, the door swung open, and a very angry Cadence marched in, "Well Mavis, we've debated on the severity of your crimes of keeping secrets from royalty, and figured out the perfect sentence for someone as criminally evil as you," Cadence said, glaring down at Mavis relentlessly, "I have decreed that your punishment will be banishment to the murky swamps at the southern most part of the world," Cadence said, flaring up her horn, and pointing it at Mavis.
"Please, can't I have a second chance?" Mavis begged. Cadence brought her hand up to her chin in a mock thinking manner.
"Nope," was all she said, as she fired a magic beam at Mavis, sending her away.
Reality,
"Mavis? Are you ok?" Mavis was snapped out of her trance, as she looked up to see Twilight, looking at her with a worried expression.
"Uh... oui. I was just thinking about something," Mavis replied quickly.
"Remember, you have nothing to worry about. Mommy and Daddy won't hurt ya for keeping two secrets," Nathan reassured. Mavis still seemed unsure of this, as they neared the throne room of the castle. Twilight then knocked on the door. The door opened up to reveal Princess Luna.
"Oh good, you're all just in time," Luna said, urging them inside.
"Hey Twiley, how did Mavis enjoy Ponyville?" Shining Armor asked.
"I think she did? She hasn't really made an opinion that much. But we did get her some Pokémon to help her feel more comfortable," Twilight replied.
"Well, that's good. Mavis, did you enjoy yourself?" Cadence asked the young girl, who was still holding the cloth.
"Uh, oui," Mavis replied nervously. Cadence noticed how Mavis was holding the cloth.
"Well, that's good to hear. Now, why are you holding that cloth?" Cadence asked. Mavis took a deep breath.
"Princess, I have not been entirely honest with vous," Mavis replied, as she dropped the cloth, revealing the metal arm for everyone to see. Needless to say, everyone, apart from Twilight, Nathan, and Luna were all shocked at what they saw.
"Mavis, what happened to your arm?!" Cadence exclaimed.
"Before I came here, I lost my arm, But mon papa was able to get me a replacement one," Mavis confessed.
"Fascinating. A hydraulic titanium infused artificial ligament. And quality craftsmanship too," Raiden said, examining the arm.
"And that is by one of two secrets I have been trying to keep," Mavis admitted.
"What is the other one?" Celestia asked.
"Mavis here is, apparently, a mermaid," Nathan replied.
"She's a what?" Shining Armor asked.
"A half human, half fish creature. That would explain why she was so hesitant around the other humans," Raiden deduced, still examining the arm, "But aren't mermaids just a myth?" Raiden asked.
"Raiden, you're living among Pegasi and unicorns. Do you really think mermaids are out of the question?" Drake asked.
"They may be the norm here, but I'm talking about the human world," Raiden said, still looking over the arm.
"So that's why she wanted to bathe alone," Cadence commented.
"That, plus I am too embarrassed to be seen au natural," Mavis admitted, blushing.
"Incredible! The parts in this arm look to be rust proof!" Raiden said, as he took out a device that looked almost like a magnifying glass, "Mavis, could you extend your arm for me, please?" he asked. Mavis did so without hesitation. With that, Raiden fed her arm through the hole of the device.
"What is that thing your using?" Shining Armor asked.
"An invention of mine that helps scan certain types of technology. If I use this on Mavis' arm, I may be able to learn how to do maintenance on it," Raiden replied, as the schematics were being downloaded into a little computer he had set up, "And that will do it. Ok, I'll go over these when I get home. And I'll be sure to have Mavis' medicine ready the next time we see each other," Raiden said.
"Thank you for all you're help today Raiden. Here's your payment," Cadence said, floating a large bag of bits to the thunder mutant.
"Thank you. I shall take my leave for now," Raiden said, as he left the throne room.
"Now, what about this whole 'mermaid' business?" Cadence asked. As Twilight began explaining Mavis' other side, Celestia turned to her little sister.
"Luna, is this part of the reason you couldn't talk about what you saw?" the solar sister asked.
"Yes. Apparently, a band of pirates caused Mavis to get her arm replaced, which I assume is part of the reason she is so distant from Nathan and the other humans," Luna replied, dreading the very thought of Mavis trauma.
"And that's pretty much how it works," Twilight said, finishing up her explanation.
"So that's how it work?" Cadence asked.
"Oui," Mavis replied, looking down shamefully.
"Mavis, what's the matter?" Cadence asked, concerned for her new guest.
"Well, I kept mon secrets from vous. I understand if you are angry with me," Mavis timidly replied. Everyone's hearts ached for the little girl.
"Mavis, I'm not the tiniest bit upset with you," Cadence said, much to the young girl's surprise.
"You aren't?" Mavis questioned.
"No. I understand why you would want to keep your arm and the fact that you're a mermaid a secret," Cadence replied. Mavis felt even sillier for thinking Cadence would be angry.
"So, what do we do now?" Nathan asked.
"Well, if you're all willing, you can all stay the night here. As for you Mavis, we have a small surprise for you," Cadence said.
"Thank you, Cadence. We will gladly take you up on that offer," Celestia said, as Shining Armor led them to their rooms.
"Come along Mavis, Nathan. It's time for you two to get to bed," Cadence said, leading the two along. Nathan went off to his own room, while Cadence brought Mavis to the same room she had slept in the night before, "For now Mavis, until you get more comfortable with Equestria, this will be your permanent room," Cadence said, tucking in the young girl.
"Merci, Princess," Mavis said. With that, Cadence left Mavis, who pulled the sheets over her head.
Back in Cadence and Shining Armor's bed chambers,
Cadence had just come in to see that Shining Armor had settled down himself, "Hey Honey, how's Mavis?" the alabaster unicorn asked.
"She was able to go to bed without any problems, but I'm still worried about her," Cadence replied, climbing into bed with her husband.
"Maybe she'll be more openminded when we finally adopt her," Shining Armor replied.
"Maybe, but for now, we should keep it a secret. I don't want to make her feel like she doesn't have a choice," Cadence said.
"Well, for now, let's just let her adjust to the Empire," Shining Armor suggested, as they turned off their lights.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Crystal Empire,
A pair of unicorns dressed like ice cream men were watching Mavis' room from an alley way, "Prince Blueblood, it's Flam. The child has gone to sleep," one of the unicorns said into a communicator.
"Good. We can anticipate that 'cousin' of mine will be taking her out sometime tomorrow. We can initiate the plan from there," Blueblood's voice said from the device. With that, the two unicorns slipped back into the shadows.
Chapter 9: A Crystal Empire Kidnapping!? Call in the Alicorn's Wish Elite!
Mavis was sleeping soundly in her bed, when the Pokeballs that were still in the satchel she got from Cadence released all of her new Pokémon. Swablu then flew over to the young girl, and started stroking her with his wing, "Mavis, it's morning," Swablu said. The soft feeling over her face was able to get Mavis to stir in her sleep. She blinked her eyes open to see Swablu sitting in front of her face.
"Is it morning already?" Mavis questioned groggily.
"Indeed. We should go and get something to eat," Furfrou replied, pulling the sheets off of the young cyborg mermaid.
"Ok, let me just get up," Mavis said, as she tiredly climbed out of bed. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, and climbed off. She then picked up Togepi, while Swablu perched himself on Mavis' head. Shuppet then went over to open the door, allowing Mavis and her Pokémon to exit the room, and make their way to the dining room. Thankfully, Mavis remembered the way from the first night she spent in the Crystal Palace. After a few minutes of walking, they eventually arrived at the dining room. Much to Mavis' surprise, no one was there.
"Huh? Maybe we're early?" Swablu theorized. Just then, one of the guards came in.
"Oh, you're that filly that the Princess is watching over, right?" the guard asked.
"Uh, y-yes," Mavis replied, getting nervous from getting unwanted attention.
"Well, you've made it here before anyone else. If you want, I can get you and your pets something to eat?" the guard offered.
"Merci. Just deux slices of toast. Would you all like some fruit?" Mavis asked her Pokémon. They all gave their votes of approval.
"Alright, I'll be back," the guard said, as he went to the kitchen. Mavis then took her spot at the table. Eventually, the other adults, Nathan, Chris, Timmy, and Drake all came into the dining room. Guard Armor and Skyla were being carried by Cadence and Shining Armor.
"Oh, Mavis, you're up early," Cadence commented.
"I have always been, how you say, an early riser," Mavis replied. Skyla shot a grumpy look to Mavis, who shrunk under the young Alicorn's glare.
"Now Skyla, is that anyway to treat our guest?" Cadence reprimanded her daughter. Just then, the guard came back with Mavis' toast, and a fruit bowl for each of her Pokémon.
"There you go," the guard said, giving Mavis and her Pokémon their food. He then took the orders from each of the others, and went off to get their food. Mavis then started eating her dry breakfast, while her Pokémon began chowing down on their fruit.
"So, these are the Pokémon you got from Will?" Cadence questioned, looking at Mavis' Pokémon.
"Oui," Mavis quietly replied.
"They're all really fluffy or are just cute," Twilight added.
"They're perfect for Mavis," Nathan added. Just then, the guard came back in with a cart with food, which included a large cake for Celestia, who immediately attacked it. Mavis didn't seem to care about Celestia's childish behavior, as she kept eating her toast. Altaria then laid a grape vine next to her.
"You should try and eat something juicy, so you don't get overly thirsty," Altaria recommended.
"Merci," Mavis replied, eating a grape.
"Mavis, we'd like to stay and help you grow more accustomed to Equestria, but we are needed back in Canterlot," Celestia said, wiping off frosting from her face.
"And I need to get home to check on things there as well," Twilight added.
"It's ok. You don't need to worry about me," Mavis reassured quietly, as they all continued with their breakfasts. A little later, the Crystal Family and Mavis were saying their goodbyes to the Royal Sisters and Twilight.
"Twilight, can you let me know when Raiden is finished with the medicine and.... whatever he's doing to help Mavis with her arm?" Cadence asked.
"You can count on me. But most of the Guild Members have become sticklers about letting nonmembers into the Guild, and I'd rather not pull rank on them," Twilight said.
"Well, just do what you can. That's all I ask," Cadence said.
"We'll see you soon Twiley," Shining Armor said.
"See ya' later Auntie Twilight," Nathan said, hugging his aunt.
"And I'll see you guys soon too," Twilight said.
"A-Au revoir, Princesses," Mavis said quietly. With that, each of the other three Alicorn's went back home.
"Now then, what would you like to do today Mavis? It is our day off from Royal Duties," Cadence asked. Mavis shrunk at the feeling of this much pressure.
"I-I uh...." Mavis stammered. She really didn't want the Princess wasting her day off on Mavis.
"Ah know you may not feel all that comfortable 'bout it, but why not the aquarium? At least that way Mavis can at least try to stay calm, knowing there are some friends o' the deep she can visit," Nathan suggested.
"It is a bit of a stretch, but it may be our best bet at getting her some closure. What do you say Mavis? You want to go to the aquarium?" Cadence offered. Mavis contemplated the choice given to her. On one hand, she can go to the aquarium that they offered to take her to, which the fish can view as either a home or a prison, or just go back to the castle and hide away in her room.
"W-well, I suppose a little walk around the aquarium would let me see how the fish there like it here," Mavis replied timidly.
"Well, I know what we're doing today," Cadence said, as they briefly returned to the castle to gather their stuff, which included a stroller for the alicorn foals, as well as Mavis' satchel, containing her plush toys and the Pokeballs containing her emotional support Pokémon, "Alright, is everyone ready to go?" Cadence asked.
"Ah am," Nathan replied.
"Oui," Mavis simply replied. With that, they set out for the aquarium. Unbeknownst to them, a certain, snobbish unicorn was watching from the shadows.
"Alright gang, Cadence and her little 'family' have just left for the aquarium for some odd reason. Make sure you're all ready," Blueblood said into a communicator. He then proceeded to follow in the Crystal Family's shadow.
At the Crystal Empire Aquarium,
As popular as the new Crystal Empire Aquarium was, there was hardly anyone there, giving the Crystal Family full freedom to roam the aquarium as they saw fit, "Incroyable!" Mavis said.
"I take it you like the aquarium, sweetie?" Cadence asked.
"Oui, but more than that, the fish are all... happy," Mavis replied, looking at some clownfish, who were just swimming around.
"Ah personally like lookin' at the turtles they have here," Nathan commented, observing some turtles swimming around a different tank.
"Oh Mavis, come look at these fish!" Cadence beckoned. Mavis walked over to the tank that the Princess was observing. The fish in question looked like they were kissing, "Doesn't this couple look so romantic together?" Cadence asked. Truthfully, she felt awkward asking about it, since she never really spent any time around fish.
"Actually, princess, if you don't mind my saying, but those fish are both male," Mavis replied. Cadence looked shocked by this, "And they're not kissing. They're actually fighting over territory. It only looks like they're kissing," Mavis clarified.
"They say having too much information can be a bad thing," Cadence mumbled to herself, as the family just wandered about.
Later on, the Crystal Family were taking a break in the jellyfish room. The foals were looking at the jellyfish in amazement, "So, what are jellyfish like, Mavis?" Shining Armor asked.
"Well, mermaids often come to them for electrotherapeutic massages. It feels a lot more better than it sounds," Mavis replied.
"But doesn't it hurt?" Nathan asked.
"At first, oui, but the stinging feeling goes away rather quickly. As for what they're like, they're very intelligent, despite not having a brain," Mavis replied.
"Is that right?" Cadence questioned.
"Oui. Also, jellyfish are also made mostly of water, from what.... maman told me," Mavis added, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Ok, subject change!" Nathan recommended quickly, as to keep Mavis from feeling any more sad than she did already.
Meanwhile, in Raiden's Lab at the Alicorn's Wish Guild,
Raiden was busy at work making several metal arms that were the right size and shape for Mavis. He did what he could to make the parts anti-rust, so Mavis could swim freely in the water as much as she wants, "Ok, that should do it for this one," Raiden said, placing the arm on a nearby rack, "Now then, as for her medicine," he said, looking over some chemical beakers, which were brewing up some sort of medicine. He then turned to his computer, and punched in some keys, "Ok, if I increase the amount of Vitamins C and D, that may be able to stabilize it," Raiden said, as he took two test tubes filled with two different yellow liquids, and poured them into a larger beaker, "Now, to solidify them, and make them ingestible tablets," he said, pouring the concoction into a machine. Just then, Brian came in with Lucas, Claire, Naomi, Maria, and Simon behind him.
"Hey bro, what are you doing?" Brian asked.
"Well, that new girl that's staying at the Crystal Empire has a lot of things that need to be done for her. This medicine should be able to give her some kind of tolerance to sweets, as well as increasing her metabolism by a reasonable amount," Raiden explained. Maria then noticed the metal arms.
"Raiden, ¿Para qué son estos?" Maria asked.
"Those are also for Mavis. Believe it or not, for some reason, her right arm is artificial. I made those arms in case her current one ever needs maintenance," Raiden replied, as the machine dispensed a bottle of pills, "Ok, now these are ready for her," Raiden said, taking the bottle, and putting it in his pocket.
"So, when is the next time you're going up to the Crystal Empire?" Naomi asked.
"I'm thinking of taking a quick trip up there. Though the train may have come and gone, so I think I'll travel by lightning," Raiden replied,
"And these arms are interchangeable?" Simon asked.
"Yes. Part of the design on Mavis' metal arm shows a release button, which allows her to detach her arm if need be," Raiden replied, carefully wrapping up each arm in some cloth, and placing them in a backpack, "Thankfully, they aren't terribly heavy, so it'll be easy for me to carry, or for her to use," he commented. Just then, Eliza rushed in.
"I thought I'd find ya lads and lassies here!" the Scottish Girl said, sounding panicked.
"What's up Eliza?" Claire asked.
"We just got contacted by Princess Cadence, she needs all the top members of the guild to come to the Crystal Empire right away! It's an emergency!" she replied, leading them out of the lab.
"Did she say what kind of emergency it is?" Simon asked.
"Apparently, her wicked cousin and his gang of hooligans have kidnapped the wee lassie we met yesterday," Eliza replied.
"'Wicked Cousin'? I think I remember Twilight saying something about Celestia having a nephew named.... what was it?" Raiden questioned, trying to remember the name.
"Wait, I remember Rarity saying something that happened at something called the 'Grand Galloping Gala'. She was hoping to woo over some Prince named Blueblood. But as it turns out, he was WAY too stuck up and snobbish for her," Brian replied.
"That's it!" Raiden said, snapping his fingers, as they all rejoined the others.
"Ok guys, your next job is taking you to the Crystal Empire. I'm sure you've been told that the new kid that's being cared for by Cadence has just been kidnapped by the former Prince Blueblood," Silver briefed.
"We're going to need to take the ship for this job," Raiden commented, pressing a button on a remote control he had on hand. Just then, the soda counter raised up, revealing a secret passage.
"How long has that been there?" April questioned.
"Don't worry about it," Raiden stated, as they all entered. At the bottom of the stairs, there was a large flying ship, waiting in a docking bay, "I've been tinkering around with this for a while," Raiden stated, as he leapt up into the ship, and made his way to the cockpit. With that, the other mutants, apart from Silver boarded.
"We'll be back soon, Silver," Eliza said to the telekinetic teen, who nodded, as a hanger door opened. It was revealed that the hanger was behind a massive waterfall, which split apart. The ponies that saw this had their eyes bulging at this.
"Alright guys, you ready?" Raiden asked, as everyone buckled in, "Ok, here we GO!" Raiden said, as the ship took off into the skies.
It took about half an hour for the ship to arrive at the Crystal Empire courtyard, where a frantic Cadence and Shining Armor were waiting. Nathan was stressing out too, "Hey! What's happened?" Icezer asked, as he and a few others leapt off of the ship.
"We don't really know ourselves! It all happened too fast," Cadence replied.
Flashback: About 45 minutes ago,
The Crystal Family were all looking at some of the sharks that were swimming about, when..... "Excuse me, Princess Cadence," a duo of unicorn's approached the family.
"Yes? Is there something wrong?" Cadence asked.
"Nothing's wrong, but we need your help with identifying something we recently found on one of our expeditions," the other unicorn replied, pulling out a small box. Nathan felt something was.... odd about these two unicorns, as they opened the box, revealing a rather bizarre looking rock. One look, and Nathan could easily tell it was a fake. Before he could speak up, some kind of gas began spraying from the rock.
"*Cough* *Cough*, What kind of rock is this?!?" Cadence demanded, as she and her family covered their faces. The babies were knocked out, as was Mavis, who didn't know what was happening. Before the Crystal Family could react, a flash bang was then used, temporarily blinding them, giving the unicorn's a chance to snatch Mavis, and escape, "No.... Mavis," Cadence said, as her eyes tried readjusting from the flash bang.
Real Time,
"Ok, so you said that there were TWO unicorns, is that correct?" Carlos asked.
"Yeah, that's right," Nathan replied.
"What did they look like?" Claire asked.
"They were both yellow unicorn's with red manes and tails. One of them had a moustache," Shining Armor replied.
"Sound's an awful lot like those Flim Flam Brothers that Applejack talked about that one time," Nathan commented.
"Well, I thought a few steps ahead, and a planted a small tracking device in Mavis' arm. With luck, we may be able to track them down," Raiden said, pulling out a tablet device, "Let's see...….., Ok, it looks like they were heading towards the southern mountain range," Raiden said, analyzing the screen, "Oh! That reminds me!" he said, handing off the bag and the pill bottle to the Crystal Family, "These are artificial arms for Mavis, should the need for maintenance on her current one ever need arise. As for the pills, make sure she takes them twice a day, once in the morning, and once in the evening, until that bottle runs out," Raiden instructed.
"Thank you, and please, just make sure she's safe when you bring her back. We'll contact Twilight and the others," Cadence pleaded.
"Don't worry. We'll make sure Mavis is back by sundown," Brian said, as the mutants all took off. Just then, something hit the family.
"Wait, did he say 'if Mavis' arm needed maintenance'?" Shining Armor questioned.
Meanwhile, with Mavis,
Waking up, Mavis found herself trapped in a cage, dangling above a pool of murky water, "W-where am I?" Mavis questioned quietly.
"SILENCE, BEAST!" Mavis nearly jumped out of her skin at the booming voice. Turning, she saw Prince Blueblood, glaring harshly down at her.
"W-Who are you?" Mavis was, at this point, terrified beyond rational thought.
"I SAID QUIET!" Blueblood slammed the cage, making Mavis even more scared, "When a Prince, such as myself, gives you an order, you are expected to obey without question, beast," Blueblood snarled, "And as for where you are, you're in a secret location, and will remain here until my demands are met."
"I-I-I-I don't have anything to give you, but I can try to get what you want," Mavis begged tearfully.
"Oh, you WILL be getting me what I, and my gang, wants. You're our bargaining chip," Blueblood retorted harshly, banging on the cage, as the other members of his gang came out from the shadows.
"I want to get back at Rarity for going back on giving me her fashion designs," Suri commented.
"I lost my chance to get into the Wonderbolts thanks to Rainbow Dash, and I am taking it back!" Lightning Dust added.
"And our scams went belly up thanks to the Apple Family!" Flam stated.
"And all of that faux Princess's friends made a complete mockery of the Grand Galloping Gala, and made me look like a clown!" Blueblood barked, before using his magic to grab Mavis by her tank top, "This is where YOU come in, beast. Knowing that ditz of a cousin of mine, and her meathead husband, and other beastly children, they'll be wanting to come and rescue you. The way this will work is that we will offer up your freedom, in exchange for all the royal power in Equestria. Once I have attained that, then I will help my gang and their battles," Blueblood stated.
"B-but, i don't think they will send a search party," Mavis whispered.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Blueblood roared, making Mavis shrink.
"N-Nothing," Mavis meekly replied.
"That's what I thought. KEEP IT THAT WAY!" Blueblood barked, as he and his gang left Mavis alone. Mavis didn't know what to do, but hope that someone would save her, as she curled up into a ball.
With the Guild Mutants,
On a nearby cliff, overlooking the ominous castle, the mutants were eyeing the castle, "Ok, according to this, Mavis should be in the back courtyard of that castle, in section 3,984," Raiden said, looking at his handheld computer.
"What section would we be in once we break in?" Sora asked.
"Uh, section 0," Raiden replied.
"Aw crap! That's like a million sections away!" Lucas complained.
"We have to fight our way through that whole castle? We'll be caught by then!" April added.
"Not quite. According to this, there's a hall if we take a 45 degree right turn that's a straight shot to the courtyard," Raiden countered.
"That's sounds easy enough," Eliza commented.
"Not quite. It IS a straight run, but there's a ton of stone statues, animated by magic, acting as security," Raiden corrected.
"How long's the room?" Simon asked.
"Uh.... Whoa, almost half a mile," Raiden replied.
"So, our choices are limited against us. We have no choice by to fight our way through the hall if we want to save that girl," Claire commented.
"Maybe we don't need to fight. We could probably make some kind of diversion in the front courtyard to draw off all of the statues. We can do the same when we get inside," Raiden suggested.
"Then we should get a move on. We can use these with our infiltration," Stealth said, pulling out some human sized kites, that looked like clouds.
"How will kites help with breaking in?" Takanosuke asked.
"We can use them to infiltrate the higher parts of the castle, while also avoiding looking too obvious," Stealth replied.
"Just like a real ninja!" Leon commented.
"I am a real ninja," Stealth deadpanned, as he, Naomi, Sora, Icezer, Simon, and Claire all took a kite, "We will infiltrate the higher structures. You guys should take the ground levels," Stealth said, as he and the other kite flyers took off.
"We'd better hurry too. Mavis must be terrified beyond all reason," Eliza suggested, as the land mutants took off towards the castle.
It didn't take long for the airborne mutants to get close to the castle. Stealth noticed a balcony in which they could enter. He threw a kunai knife with string at the balcony, and pulled them all in, "Ok. from here, we must stay to the shadows," Stealth said, as they all made their way through. Thankfully, there were no guards, which to them seemed, a tad too convenient.
"I don't like this guys. Why is it so quiet?" Claire questioned.
"You're right. Icezer," Stealth said, motioning to the hall. Icezer then took a moment to send a small flurry through the hall, checking for any possible traps. Strangely enough, there weren't any.
"Huh, I guess Blue Boy didn't think anyone would dare enter his chambers," Icezer commented, as they cautiously proceeded onward, staying in the shadows as much as possible. Just then, Naomi heard something.
"Someone's coming! Quick, hide!" she warned, as everyone took out some camouflage cloaks, and hide by the walls. Just then, some of the stone statues that Raiden mentioned came walking by, oblivious to the hiding mutants. Once they passed, the mutants all quietly proceeded onward. They eventually came up to a window, overlooking the back courtyard. There, they saw Mavis, sitting sad and alone in a cage.
"There she is," Sora commented.
"This seems a little TOO easy, don't you think?" Simon asked, as they climbed out the window, and slid down the roof.
"Remember what Rarity told us. Blueblood is extremely self centered, so he probably didn't think to leave Mavis guarded," Stealth said, as they rejoined the others.
"You guy's sure took your sweet time," Brian commented.
"Well, we ran into some of those creepy statues. How'd you get here so fast?" Simon asked.
"Well..." Eliza began to tell what happened.
Upon infiltrating the castle,
"Ok guys, we cut through there, and we'll be at Mavis' location," Raiden said, as he pointed towards a hall. Without a moment's hesitation, they all stormed the hall. Once inside, they were met with several stone statues, who went to intercept them.
"Alright, c'mon lad and lassies!" Eliza said, changing her arms into clubs, which she started swinging around, destroying the statues.
"Well, we didn't come in expecting the red carpet treatment," Raiden said, discharging a lot of electricity, destroying more statues.
"LEAVE THE REST TO ME!" Echo-Echo said. He then let out a sonic blast, which caused the statues in the hall to disintegrate.
"How'd you do that?" April asked.
"Everything has a specific frequency in which it disintegrates. My brother here just adjusted his sound cannons to match the frequency to disintegrate stone," Raiden explained, as they ran through the hall at full speed. They were met with more stone guards, which they were able to deal with. Eventually, they arrived at the courtyard, where they met up with the other group.
"And that's how it went," Eliza explained.
"Did you happen to see Blueblood's gang?" Stealth asked.
"No. Did any of you guys?" Raiden asked.
"No. Which is strange, because they would probably be on us by now," Icezer replied.
"We can figure that out later. Right now, we have to rescue Mavis," Brian said, as he and Eliza ran to the cage.
"Mavis, lassie, it's us!" Eliza said to the young girl. Mavis looked up, completely devoid of any sort of emotion.
"Bonjour," Mavis said, sounding less than ecstatic.
"Don't worry. We're here to get you out of here," Brian said, as he used his flames to melt the lock, which Eliza then smashed apart, "C'mon, we can escape now, and Blueblood and them won't suspect a thing," Brian said, picking up Mavis.
"What is the point? It's not like anyone will miss me if I stay here," Mavis said, despondently.
"Not true. Cadence and Shining Armor sent us out to try and find you, because they were worried about you," Raiden countered. Mavis didn't seem convinced by his words.
"Well, we got the kid, so let's get out of here before something bad happens!" Heiru suggested.
"Bad like us, you mean?" They all turned to see Blueblood and his gang, all standing there, looking evilly at the mutants, "I'm afraid we can't let you leave with our hostage," Blueblood said.
"You know something, Blue Boy? You shouldn't make threats if you lack the power to back it up," Brian stated, as he handed Mavis off to Francisco.
"And you should address me by my official title, beast! And I do happen to have the power to back my threats up," Blueblood snarled, as he revealed a most, interesting amulet, around his neck.
"Your power.... is just a piece of gaudy jewelry?" Maria questioned. Blueblood looked offended.
"This no mere necklace! This is the Alicorn Amulet, on of the most powerful artifacts in existence," Blueblood said, as he fired a beam of magic at Echo-Echo, sending him back into a wall.
"GEEZ MAN, I NEARLY FELT THAT!" the robotic teen commented.
"I think I read about that amulet. It boosts a unicorn's power exponentially, but at the cost of being corrupted by its power," Raiden commented.
"Y'know, I think I remember Twilight saying something about a unicorn that used that amulet to show her up and banish her from Ponyville," Heiru commented.
"I heard the same tale, but didn't that zebra friend of hers hide the amulet away?" Simon questioned.
"She did, but thanks to Suri here, we were able to acquire it," Flim replied.
"Well, that's enough posing. GET THEM!" Blueblood yelled. The Flim Flam Brothers mounted two large robot mech suits, while Lightning Dust began to fly around, circling them. Suri opted to stay on the side lines, and only intervene if needed. Blueblood also went on the offensive, firing magic at the mutants.
"I'll warp Mavis to a river outside of the Crystal Empire. I can at least escort her the rest of the way from there," Francisco whispered to Raiden.
"Good call," the thunder mutant replied. Francisco then took Mavis around the corner.
"Ok Mavis, I'll get you to at least as far as a river near the Empire. I can take you the rest of the way there," he said, as he began to warp space, and open a portal, "You go through first. I'll be right behind you," he said. Mavis looked hesitant at first, but would rather take her chances with whatever was on the other side of the portal, than stay and be a hostage. With a gulp, she entered the portal. Francisco was about to enter, when he was dealt a kick by the hiding Suri, thus closing the portal, with Mavis still inside. The resulting interrupted closure of the portal dropped Mavis in a river in the nearby valley. Mavis resurfaced.
"This doesn't look like the Crystal Empire," Mavis commented. She then remembered seeing Francisco being attacked before the portal closed, "Oh dear. I hope they're alright," Mavis commented, as she began swimming with the flow of the river. Thankfully, being a mermaid allowed her to maneuver better in the water, so it wasn't too difficult for her. As she swam, she saw something out of the ordinary, even for what she assumed was normal for Equestria. It appeared to be a very voluptuous tan skinned woman with blonde hair, in a red bikini like outfit, picking fruit from some of the trees. What caught Mavis' eyes were a pair of fairy like wings on her back. Mavis ducked underwater to hide when she saw the fairy woman looked towards the river, "I hope she didn't see me," Mavis hoped, as she continued swimming. She eventually came across a fork in the river, splitting her way in two different directions, "Which way do I go?" Mavis wondered, looking at the two river ways.
"If you're going to the Crystal Empire, go to the right," a woman's voice said.
"Oh, merci," Mavis said. She then realized what was happening, and turned to see another fairy woman, with pale skin. Her bikini outfit was blue, and looked more like a mermaid themed outfit. Unlike the previous woman, this one was not as voluptuous, but was still so, and had dark blue hair. With a small shriek, Mavis swam away as fast as she could.
"She's awfully skittish," the woman commented with a slight giggle.
Meanwhile, in the Crystal Empire,
Cadence was waiting restlessly by the river, hoping that Mavis would be brought back soon, "Cadence, have faith in the guild members. They'll bring her back," Twilight said. Cadence had summoned the Mane 6 and the Royal Sisters just after the guild members left to find Mavis.
"I know, but I can't help but feel anxious about this whole thing! I thought I had seen the last of that despicable cousin of mine," Cadence replied, as she eyed the water ways.
"We thought we had as well. But he is as stubborn as ever," Celestia commented, remembering when she and Luna had banished their nephew from Canterlot.
"I honestly don't know what I ever saw in him!" Rarity added. Just then, Cadence saw something swimming at great speeds towards them in the water.
"Is that her?!" Cadence exclaimed. The object in the water noticed them, and stopped swimming. Out from the water, Mavis gingerly poked her head, "MAVIS! YOU'RE OK!" Cadence squealed, as she used her magic to scoop Mavis up and out of the water, still in her mermaid form, "Huh, so that's what a 'mermaid' means," Cadence commented, looking at Mavis' fish tail.
"That's right, you never saw Mavis in her mermaid form," Twilight commented.
"Uh, Princess, could I maybe dry off?" Mavis asked politely.
"Oh, right!" Cadence said, handing Mavis a towel. Setting the young girl down, Mavis then began to dry off her tail, reverting back to her human form, "Ah, so that's how you revert back to human form," Cadence commented.
"Oui," Mavis replied solemnly. The adults noticed Mavis despondent tone.
"Mavis, I know it was scary for you, but I promise, it's all over now," Cadence soothed. Just then, a portal opened up, and out from it, a block of ice, containing Blueblood's Gang was tossed out, followed by each of the mutants.
"These guys did not want to make it easy for them," Brian commented.
"Somehow, Blueblood managed to get his grubby hooves on the Alicorn Amulet. But we were able to destroy it," Eliza said.
"Well, that's one less evil artifact in the world," Twilight commented.
"Thank you kids for doing this. Luna and I shall see to it that these five are thoroughly punished," Celestia said, using her magic to send the ice block away.
"Well, that's one hassle out of our hair," Stealth commented.
"Yes, but there is something else I need to do, regarding you, Mavis," Cadence said. Mavis felt her heart drop into her stomach.
"Princess, please, I-I didn't do anything!" Mavis said, fear was obvious in her tone.
"No, no, no, you misunderstand. You're not in any sort of trouble. I want to ask you something," Cadence soothed. Mavis relaxed a little bit, but was still wary, "Now Mavis, I can completely understand if you refuse what I am about to offer, but if I were to offer to adopt and become your new mother, would you accept?" she questioned.
"I-I- uh," Mavis was speechless. She really didn't want to replace her real parents, nor did she want to be a burden on the princess. On that note, Mavis also didn't really want to be princess either, "I-I don't know. I would like a new home, but I don't want to replace my maman or papa," Mavis finally replied.
"You're not replacing them. I'm sure they would want you to have a new family who would be there for you when you need them," Cadence countered.
"I guess I would like to be adopted, but I would rather not be a princess mon self," Mavis replied.
"Why ever not? You can have anything you would ever want," Rarity questioned.
"Uh, Rarity, I think that's why she doesn't want to be a princess," Raiden whispered.
"Oh, right," Rarity said, remembering what Raiden told them about Mavis, "OH! That reminds me!" Rarity said, giving Mavis a bag that held her Gothic Lolita dress, "I finished cleaning your dress for you," Rarity said.
"Your dress aside, just because your new parents are royalty doesn't mean you have to be royalty too. You can just declare you're not a princess," Brian stated.
"He is right. If being a princess is not something you want, you are free to renounce it," Celestia added. Mavis looked towards the ground.
"Would it be alright if I thought about it for a while?" Mavis asked.
"Of course. Take all the time you need," Cadence replied.
"Uh, you guys didn't see those others in the mountains by any chance?" Mavis asked.
"What others?" Icezer questioned.
"I saw two women in the mountains that kind of looked like you humans, but they had fairy wings," Mavis said, giving them a description.
"No, I don't think we saw anyone like that," Heiru replied.
"Oh! Those must've been the Nymphs!" Luna exclaimed.
"Nymphs?" Leon questioned.
"They're like fairies, only they're more in tune with nature," Raiden explained.
"Believe me Mavis, you DO NOT want to mingle with nymphs," Celestia warned.
"Why not?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"They may come off as kind, bubbly, and sometimes airheaded, but they are some of the most deviously cunning creatures to have ever lived," Celestia explained.
"But, the one that directed me here was nice enough to do so," Mavis said quietly.
"And besides, what makes you believe the Nymphs are devious?" Luna questioned.
"Because the chief nymph betrayed me at one point in life!" Celestia retorted.
"You still haven't gotten over that?!" Luna exclaimed.
"It was a breach of trust!" Celestia said, pulling on her sister's cheeks. Luna returned the favor, however, and started pulling on her sister's cheeks as well.
"Anyways, we're glad to have you back home, Mavis," Nathan commented.
"And Raiden was kind enough to bring these for you," Shining Armor said, holding the bag of mechanical arms.
"That reminds me. What did you mean by 'if her arm needs maintenance'?" Cadence asked.
"Ah yes, you see, there a button on Mavis' shoulder that acts as a release for her arm," Raiden said, examining her should, eventually finding the button, "If we press this button, then her arm can be taken off," Raiden said, as he pressed the button, and gently took Mavis' arm off. This action caused most of the ponies and mutants to faint, "I designed these arms to be interchangeable so she won't have to be without both her arms," he then took one of the replacement arms, and attached it to Mavis.
"That's unsettlin'," Nathan commented.
"But, at least we know a little more about how to take care of Mavis," Cadence said.
"I made these arms out of a lighter, yet more durable metal alloy, so it doesn't weigh her down too much," Raiden added.
"Thank you all for everything you've done for us," Cadence thanked, giving the Guild Mates a chest full of Bits.
"It was our pleasure Cadence. And if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me," Raiden said, as he and his brothers, save for Francisco, and friends all boarded the ship.
"I would recommend considering letting Cadence adopting you, Mavis. She is one of the most dependable ponies in Equestria," Twilight said, as she and her friends boarded the ship. Once everyone was safely aboard, the ship took off back to Ponyville.
"We must be getting back too, Mavis. We'll see you later," Celestia said, as she and Luna teleported away.
"Now then, why don't we take you home? I'm sure Francisco wouldn't mind doing a quick job for me real quick, do you?" Cadence asked the space teen.
"No problem, but uh.... what is that job?" he asked.
"I'll fill you in on the details when we get there," Cadence replied, as they walked towards the castle. Needless to say, Mavis, and even Shining Armor and Nathan, were curious as to what task Cadence wanted Francisco to do. Once they were back in the castle, Cadence the turned to Francisco, "Now Francisco, you probably know by now that Mavis is a mermaid. My request is simple. I want you to alter her bedroom, and make a large swimming pool just for her," Cadence explained.
"That doesn't sound too hard," Francisco commented, as Cadence took him to Mavis' room.
"Oh! That reminds me! I think this belongs to you," Shining Armor said, giving Mavis her satchel. Inside, her toys and Pokeballs were still there. She dug out her Pokeballs, and released her Pokémon. Needless to say, they too were overjoyed at Mavis' return. Furfrou pounced her, and started licking her.
"*chuckles* Ok, ok, I missed you all too," Mavis said, as Furfrou got off of her.
"When we felt you dropped your bag, we knew something was wrong, but we couldn't let ourselves out, on account of that satchel being too small," Altaria said.
"It's alright. Plus there was that bright light," Mavis said, as Swablu perched himself on top of Mavis' head. Just then, Cadence came back.
"Ok Mavis, Francisco is all done with the renovations on your room. Would you like to see what he did?" Cadence offered.
"Oui," Mavis replied, as she followed Cadence back to her now permanent room. Looking inside, Mavis, Nathan, and Shining Armor were in awe at what the spacial teen had done. Francisco had made the room significantly bigger on the inside. He also installed a large aquarium and pool.
"The pool connects to the aquarium in a special tube underneath the floor, which I also warped. To get into the aquarium, you'll need to swim through it. I also included a bunch of lights down there so you don't get scared or lost, as well as some typical aquarium do-dads. There's also a water filter, and the water itself changes itself regularly thanks to some of the machinery I put in there, so the kid will always have nice clean water to swim in," Francisco explained.
"Thank you for everything you and your brothers and friends have done," Cadence thanked. She was about to hand him a bag of bits, but Francisco held up his hand.
"You've already paid us more than enough. Besides, I was happy to do it for the kid," Francisco said, as he opened a portal, "We'll see you guys around," Francisco said, as he entered the portal, with it closing behind him.
"Well, Mavis, would you like to go for a quick swim, or would you like to take a nap for now? You've had a rather hard day," Cadence asked.
"Maybe a little nap wouldn't hurt," Mavis replied, as she climbed into bed.
"Well, alright. I'll put your dress in the closet for now," Cadence said, as she took Mavis' dress out of the bag, and hung it up in the closet, all the while, Mavis drifted off into slumber. Cadence motioned to her husband and eldest son to quietly exit the room, which the three of them did. Using her magic, Cadence gingerly closed the door behind her, allowing Mavis to slumber in peace.
Unlike any previous nightmares she may have had, this dream was completely strange to Mavis, as there was hardly anything there. She was just floating in space, "What could this mean?" she wondered, as she looked around. As she saw several planets and stars, as well as some comets. In the distance, however, she saw something, truly unfitting to the whole space schtick. It looked to be a voluptuous woman with black, starry hair, in a black bikini, similar to the Nymphs that Mavis saw in the mountains. Unlike the other two, she wore a cape that looked similar to Francisco's robes. She approached Mavis slowly, as not to frighten her. Mavis, while she didn't feel threatened, still felt a bit of unease.
"So, you must be that girl that Marina told me about," the Nymph said.
"Who is Marina?" Mavis felt she didn't even need to ask that question.
"Marina is one of my seven sisters, who controls the water. She told me she met some kind of human fish creature," the Nymph replied, "OH! But where are my manners? I am Cosmo, the Space Dream Nymph. I do all my magic in seeing through outer space, as well as peering into the dreams of others," the Nymph introduced.
"Mon name is Mavis," Mavis replied.
"Ah, so good to meet you Mavis. Now, you're probably wondering why I am here in your dreams, correct?" Cosmo asked.
"Oui, not that it is a bad thing," Mavis quickly said.
"Relax young one. I took no offense to it," Cosmo comforted, "As for why I am here, it is to see what kind of a girl you are. Based on what Marina told me, you do appear to be rather lanky and timid. But overall, you are a good candidate," Cosmo commented, examining Mavis.
"'Candidate'? For what?" Mavis asked.
"See, my sisters and I have grown.... how should I put this.... bored of our lifestyle. Not that there's anything wrong with it, mind you. We live natural lives in the mountains. But, it does get rather tiresome doing the same things over and over again. Which is why we want you to be our disciple, a student, so to speak. We want to be gurus to someone," Cosmo explained. Mavis still seemed confused and apprehensive about this.
"Ok, but why moi?" Mavis asked.
"Because, in order to pass on our Light Magic, we must choose someone who is pure of heart, an innocent, to put plainly. Nymph magic is very powerful, on par with Alicorn Magic, only more nature based. Do you get where I'm coming from?" Cosmo asked.
"I guess," Mavis replied, sounding less confused, but was still so.
"And, as a bonus, we'll teach you all of our beauty techniques, so you can have beautiful skin like ours," Cosmo said, stroking her arm, showing how flawless her skin was.
"Ok, but... I am not pure of heart. I caused mon parents to get...." Mavis got choked up with her words. Cosmo knelt down to comfort the young girl.
"It's alright Mavis. I already know about what happened to you," Cosmo said, pulling Mavis into an embrace. Mavis started calming down, but blushed at having her head rest against Cosmo's sizeable chest, making Mavis feel inferior to the Nymph, "You don't have to worry about ever telling anyone about how you came to this world. It is your life, so you make your own decisions," Cosmo soothed.
"Ok," Mavis quietly said.
"And don't ever put yourself down like that. You are plenty pure of heart, since you show exceptional manners, despite your hardships. In fact, there are others who have faced hardships, the same as you," Cosmo added. Mavis looked genuinely surprised, "Now then, the offer still stands if you wish to become our student. If you ever want to take us up on our offer, then we'll be waiting in the mountains," Cosmo said, as she began using her magic to gingerly stir Mavis in her sleep.
Back in Mavis' room,
Mavis sat up in her bed, looking all around, seeing that she was still in her own bedroom in the Crystal Palace. Mavis began pondering the conversation that she had with Cosmo, "I know Princess Celestia said that Nymphs should be avoided, but those Nymphs seemed too nice to be anything like what she said," Mavis said to herself, getting out of bed, "I wish I knew what I should do next," Mavis said quietly. As she paced around her room, she accidently slipped into the pool. She then resurfaced, "I should watch where I am going," Mavis commented, as she swam around the pool. She dove under water, and decided to check out the big tank Francisco provided. She found the tunnel near the bottom, and swam through it. She got to the other side, where she swam up. Once inside, she was in awe at the aquarium. There were quite a few coral formations, that Mavis could tell instantly were fake. She also saw some kelp, which, to her dismay, were also fake, "I was hoping for a little snack," Mavis commented, as she continued swimming around. There were a few aquarium lights, to help keep her from getting lost, but other than that, there was hardly anything there. Deciding she wanted to know more about the Nymphs, Mavis swam back through the tunnel, and resurfaced in the pool.
"Taking a little dip, Mavis?" Furfrou asked.
"Oui. Could one of you be a dear, and get me towel, S'il vous plait?" Mavis asked. Mareep came in with a large towel, allowing Mavis to dry herself off, reverting back to human form, "Merci," Mavis said, as Swablu perched himself on Mavis' head. Altaria opened the door, and they all left. Stepping outside, Mavis and her Pokémon saw Nathan walking towards them.
"Up already?" Nathan asked.
"Oui. Nathan, does this palace have some kind of library? I want to look up information on Nymphs," Mavis asked.
"Yeah, there's a library. The Royal Crystal Empire Library is practically a treasure trove of ancient books," the Texas boy replied, leading towards the Library, "By the way, why do ya want to look up Nymphs?" Nathan asked.
"Uh... well.... I want to know more about the ones in the mountains," Mavis replied, as they arrived at the Library.
"Well, that's all well an' good an' everything, but don't ya goin' on some crazy adventure on yer own. Them mountains can be treacherous if ya ain't careful," Nathan said, as he pull up the index book, "Ok, Nymphs, Nymphs.... here we go! Section N 16, third shelf," Nathan said, as he led Mavis and her Pokémon towards the aforementioned bookcase, "Now then, it should be 'round here some place," Nathan commented, before eyeing a book that said "Nymphs: Mysterious Pixie Creatures" "Ah, this must be it," Nathan flew up to pull the book of the shelf. Thankfully, it wasn't a terribly big book. He landed, and gave it to Mavis, "Will ya be alright readin' this?" Nathan asked.
"Oui. Merci beaucoup," Mavis thanked. With that, Nathan took off else where, as Mavis opened the book.
"Nymphs: Typically found in any untouched natural lands, these fairy like creatures are shrouded in complete mystery. The Nymphs are an all female race, that often live in groups of eight sisters, who all work to keep their presence hidden. They very rarely show themselves to ponies or humans, as a means of keeping their Light Magic out of the reach of evil," the book said. Mavis continued reading, and found several fascinating facts about Nymphs. The group of Nymphs that lived in the mountains near the Crystal Empire are the most powerful of all Nymph kind, and went into hiding when a unicorn named "Sombra" came into power. Mavis tired to continue reading, but all the terms in the book were too advanced for someone of her age, and her eyes were getting tired.
"C'mon Mavis, we should go get you at least some fruit to eat," Mareep suggested. Mavis nodded, and put the book on a nearby pile.
"I can keep reading later," Mavis commented, as they went on to get some snacks. All the while, Mavis couldn't help but consider what Cosmo had offered her. But Mavis knew she had to tackle one task at a time. First and foremost was the adoption that Cadence had offered. As she was thinking, she tripped, and almost fell on a magazine.
"Careful Mavis. Are you alright?" Furfrou asked, supporting his caretaker.
"Oui, but what did I trip on?" Mavis questioned, looking back. She saw a magazine about renting homes for the first time, "What's this doing here?" Mavis wondered, as she opened it up. She saw articles about how everyone who moves into a new home for the first time should always pay rent. Mavis seemed perplexed about this, but reading more into the article, she saw that any who fail to pay rent on time were kicked out of their homes. This caused some bit of concern. She wondered if she needed to pay rent to live in the Crystal Palace. Her thoughts were interrupted by Mareep nudging her.
"C'mon Mavis, you've read plenty in that first book," Mareep said, as he pushed Mavis out of the library. Mavis still wondered about that article, but as she thought before, she needed to handle one problem at a time.
In the end, Mavis waited about a week and a half before plucking up enough courage to ask Cadence to adopt her. The only problem? Mavis was unsure on how to ask the princess on the subject, "I don't want it to be too straightforward, but I don't want to take up too much of her time," Mavis said, as she paced around her room, "Oh, this is harder than I thought it would be."
"Mavis, you can always just go up and ask her," Togepi suggested.
"Non, non, non! I want to ask her, but I need to know HOW to ask her. I don't want to come off as some needy.... spoiled..... brat," Mavis said, her tone starting to become more broken and fearful, as flashes of her old home came to her mind.
Flashback: Mavis: 3 years old (before her arm got cut off)
"Now Mavis, you've been a very good girl like always, so you have earned yourself a little treat. Go and pick whatever you want, pumpkin," Mavis' father urged, as he and his wife continued looking for food.
"Oui, Papa," Mavis replied, as she looked around the snack isle of a grocery store, while still staying in eyeshot of her parents. As Mavis looked around, she heard some commotion coming further down the store.
"But Mommy! I want candy!" a boy's voice yelled in anger.
"Keep acting up, and you won't get any!" the mother warned. The boy didn't listen, and just went on breaking jars, stomping around, and yelling about wanting candy, and how he never gets what he wants. What Mavis saw next quickly extinguished her nerve for getting a treat: the mother took her son, placed her over her knee, and starting paddling him. The boy screamed louder because of this. Mavis clenched her heart, which was beating faster and faster out of fear, and she stumbled back, tripping over a pickle jar, that, strangely, wasn't shattered when the boy was throwing his tantrum.
"Mavis, mon enfant, are you ok?" Mavis mother asked. Mavis looked semi-fearfully at her parents, who looked genuinely concerned for their only child.
"Oui," Mavis quietly replied, her voice shaky.
"Well, why don't you ride up in the cart. If you see something you like, just point it out," Mavis' father urged, as he placed Mavis in the seat of the cart. Mavis, after seeing what that mother did to her child, clenched her eyes shut, trying not to look for any treats. Eventually, the family arrived at the checkout, and the parents were worried about their daughter, as she never spoke up., "Sweetie? Did you see anything you wanted?" the father asked.
"N-non," Mavis responded, sounding like she was about to burst into tears any second. The parents knew the reason behind this, but didn't push it, as Mavis was already on edge.
Reality,
Mavis was shaking at the memory, as it brought her to her knees, feeling like something was caught in her throat, "Mavis? Are you ok?" Mareep asked, snapping Mavis out of her fear induced trance.
"Huh? Oh. oui, Mareep. Just, thinking about something," Mavis replied, still shaken by her memory.
"You don't have to THINK about asking the princess. Just do it! She, her husband, and her kids love you already!" Swablu stated.
"All except for Skyla," Mavis quietly countered.
"Well, yeah, but you can win her over in time," Swablu countered back.
"If you're still insistent on thinking it over, just try to analyze the pros of being adopted by royalty," Furfrou suggested.
"Like what?" Mavis asked.
"Well, for starters, you can get tons of presents for you're birthday and whatever Equestria's equivalent to Christmas is...." Furfrou began listing off the pros, but Mavis wasn't listening, as she had another memory flash.
Flashback: Christmas Season: Mavis Age: 3 years, 2 months old (still before her arm)
Mavis was in a stroller, as her parents pushed her through the bustling mall. Being so young, Mavis was easily fascinated by the many decorations and bright colors, "I had a feeling you'd like seeing the Christmas decorations," Mavis' mother said to her daughter.
"We should try to find you some presents for Christmas. Just lets us know if you see anything you like. You've been one of the nicest little girls we've seen this year," Mavis' Father instructed.
"Oui Maman, Papa," Mavis replied, as the walked into a toy store. Looking around at the toys, she saw all manner of the hottest toys of the season. She was about to point out a playset, when she heard some kids whining and screaming to their parents about wanting a bunch of toys.
"I WANT ALL OF THOSE!" a girl screeched to her father, who quickly grabbed the toys that his daughter wanted.
"I NEED TO HAVE THIS ONE! AND THIS ONE TOO!" a boy screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Pathetic. Parents should learn to discipline their kids more thoroughly," a rich looking man said, as he bought a large princess castle playset, "Oh, could you wrap this up in that pink wrapping paper?" he asked the clerk, who obliged, and started wrapping it. Mavis thought about what he had said, and saw all the kids around her throwing tantrums, screaming at the top of their lungs, and dragging their tired looking parents into the toy store. Needless to say, Mavis was feeling rather uncomfortable by these scenes.
"Mavis, princess, do you see anything you like?" her mother asked, snapping Mavis out of her trance.
"Huh? Oh... uh.... well.... I.... uh," Mavis stammered, looking around desperately for something. But all the toys she eyed were the same toys that the other bratty kids were throwing tantrums about. Mavis was worried that she would be seen as a brat, "Non," Mavis replied, looking down, clenching her eyes. Her parents looked concerned for her daughter, and looked around at the spoiled children, as their parents cleared out the shelves.
"Mavis, precious, you needn't concern yourself with how those other kids are acting. You've been raised properly. You can ask for anything you want," her mother reassured. But Mavis was too scared to ask for anything.
"Uh... well.... if you insist, maybe just Un ours en peluche?" Mavis asked.
"A Teddy Bear is all you want?" her father asked incredulously.
"Je suis désolé! I don't need one!" Mavis flinched, covering her head with her arms.
"Maybe taking her to a Toy Store at this time of the season was a bad idea," her mother commented, as they left. Mavis was still saying how sorry she was.
Reality,
"Mavis? Yoo-hoo!" Mavis was snapped out of her trance once again by Altaria, "Are you sure you're ok?" Altaria asked.
"Oui," Mavis solemnly replied.
"Are you sure? You've been spacing out during this whole discussion," Swablu commented.
"I'm fine guys. Really," Mavis replied. Her Pokémon all looked unsure about this.
"So, I don't know if you heard me before, but the other pros to living in the lap of luxury is that you can request to have the best tasting snacks around," Furfrou began to explain. But once again, Mavis began having another flashback.
Flashback: Mavis Age: 3 years, 11 months, 4 days after her arm surgery
"Now then, Mavis, you just sit here and relax for a bit, while your father and I take care of that one hallway light," her mother said, changing the tv channels to Rugrats.
"And here are some snacks for you to munch on," her father said, handing Mavis a sandwich bag filled with cookies.
"Merci Maman, Papa," Mavis said, as she went to watch the cartoon. It was the episode where Chucky was about to run away from home, when his guardian angel came to show him what life would be like if he did leave. Mavis was shocked, appalled, and frightened by the scenes that followed. Complete, and utter chaos reigned in the town. Chucky's father became a nervous wreck, talking to a sock puppet, Phil and Lil were more rambunxious than normal, causing their parents to become equally nervous wrecks. The scene that Mavis nearly loose her lunch was when they got to Tommy's house. Inside, she saw that Tommy's parents were being overworked to near exhaustion. Their only driving force was a bratty girl yelling at them for more treats. She then became horrified at what came next. There was Angelica, the size of a house, scarfing down cookies, and chocolate sauce. Mavis couldn't watch anymore, as she changed the channel to a particular show about three boys trying to make some money. While she found this program hilarious, she couldn't help but still feel disgusted by the previous cartoon she was watching. She then placed the bag of cookies on the coffee table in front of her, feeling too nauseous to eat any.
Reality,
"Mavis? C'mon, snap out of it!" Swablu said, brushing his wings against the young girl's face, snapping her out, once more.
"Oh, sorry about that," Mavis quickly stated.
"Ok, you're clearly NOT alright. That's the third time you've spaced out," Furfrou commented.
"Y-You're right. Je suis désolé," Mavis apologized.
"We should probably ask the princess to get you some therapy. Each time you space out, you have this really scared look on your face," Mareep suggested.
"But, I already got therapy when one of the humans was here previously," Mavis replied.
"Hmm, well, then could you at least tell us why you've been spacing out?" Shuppet asked. Mavis knew there was not dancing around it, so with a heavy sigh, she began telling them about the flashbacks she's been having. The Pokémon all had understanding looks on their faces.
"Well, like that Brian fella said, you're free to NOT be a princess. You can also request not to have any of those benefits that I told you about," Furfrou stated.
"And besides, you're much more good mannered than those bratty kids. You know better than them," Altaria said, nuzzling the young girl.
"Oui, but that doesn't make this any less stressful for moi. I mean, the princess has done so much for the Crystal Empire from what Nathan has told me. He said that she has absolute authority over the empire. How can I ever talk to someone like that so casually, let alone asking her to adopt me?" Mavis questioned. She then noticed Furfrou, Mareep, Togepi, Shuppet, and Swablu all looking behind her. Then, it hit her, "She's standing right behind me, isn't she?" Mavis felt like she didn't even need to bother asking that question, as she felt the presence of royal aura behind her.
"Having a little chat with your Pokémon?" Cadence asked. Mavis squeaked, and slid under her bed, trying in vain to hide from the princess.
"How much of that did you hear?" Altaria asked.
"Plenty. And I don't know why she thought I would be mad at her for asking me to adopt her. She could've just come out and said something," Cadence commented.
"She was trying to find a way to ask you, without feeling like a brat," Togepi replied.
"It took her this past week just to pluck up enough courage to try and ask you. But she never thought about HOW she wanted to ask you," Mareep added. Cadence had an understanding look on her face, and turned to Mavis' "hiding spot".
"Mavis, precious. I know you feel intimidated by all this thought of living like royalty, but I can assure you, you don't need to worry about that part. Just focus on living your life the way YOU want to live it," Cadence said in a kind voice. Mavis then crawled out from under her bed.
"So, you won't be angry if I ask you to be mon maman?" Mavis asked.
"Not in the slightest. I would love to have someone like you around," Cadence said.
"Ok, but mon next question is 'will I have to pay rent'?" Mavis asked. Cadence looked aghast by this.
"What?! No. Why would you think that?" Cadence asked. Mavis then showed her the magazine from the library, "Oh Mavis, you silly goose. All this talk about paying rent is for grown ups, not children," Cadence clarified. Mavis felt incredibly silly for thinking that way, "Now then, I don't think it needs to be asked, but do you want me to adopt you?" Cadence asked.
"Oui," Mavis said, giving the Crystal Princess a small hug, which was happily returned.
"Don't worry Mavis. Everything will work out in the end," Cadence said to her new daughter. Outside the door, Nathan was sitting in the hall, like an anime tough guy, as he peered in at the scene.
"Looks like our world is gettin' a whole lot bigger," he commented.
Waking up was usually a chore for many, and Mavis was no exception. She pulled the sheets over her head, not wanting to get up, as she was too comfortable to move. However, her Pokémon were early risers, and knew Mavis needed to wake up, "C'mon Mavis, time to get up," Swablu said, tickling her ear.
"Non!" Mavis childishly refused. Her Pokémon chuckled at this behavior. Furfrou then pulled the sheets down, and off of her, "Ok, I'm up," Mavis said with a yawn.
"I've taken the liberty of picking out your outfit for today," Altaria said, as she placed Mavis' outfit on her bed. The outfit consisted of a dark green tank top and beige shorts. Mavis took her clothes, and went behind her changing screen, where she promptly change out of her PJs.
"Now that you're properly dressed, se should see about getting you some food," Togepi suggested. Thanks to the medicine that Raiden provided, Mavis has now been able to eat a little more food than when she first arrived. However, even with this new immunity the medicine provided, Mavis still tried to limit her food intake as much as she could.
"Oui," Mavis replied, as Shuppet opened the door, while Swablu perched himself on top of Mavis' head, and Mavis herself picked up Togepi. They then left the bedroom, and went to the dining room. Along the way, the met up with Nathan.
"Mornin' Mavis," Nathan greeted.
"Bonjour Nathan," Mavis greeted back.
"Ah take it you just got up?" Nathan asked.
"Oui, though I wanted to sleep a little more," Mavis admitted.
"Ah know that feelin'," Nathan said, as they walked together, "Say, Mavis, Ah hope Ah'm not being rude, but when you're legs turn into a fish tail, do you still feel them?" the Southern Boy asked. Mavis looked rather surprised by the sudden question.
"Oui. I do still feel them, but they feel like they're wrapped up tightly together," Mavis replied.
"Ah see. There's a lot more Ah want ta ask ya, but it may be more practical if we had our other friends in Ponyville and Canterlot here. Ah'm sure they'd want to here more 'bout mermaids," Nathan said.
"I guess they would be curious of my kind's lifestyle," Mavis commented, as they reached the dining room. There, they saw their parents, looking rather perplexed.
"Mommy, Daddy, somethin' wrong?" Nathan asked.
"Well, the chef just took off on his scheduled holiday, as are his fellow chefs. And to top of that, we're out of baby food for Guard and Skyla," Cadence replied.
"So, we're contemplating on what we should do for breakfast," Shining Armor added, as Skyla and Guard were fussing a little bit.
"Ah know! Why don't we hit up a restraunt? At least that way, Mavis can get to know a little more of the Empire," Nathan suggested. Both parents thought about it. It would be a good idea for Mavis to get to know the Empire if they ate out.
"That's.... actually not a bad idea. There's a new café that recently opened up that I really want to try," Cadence replied.
"Wait, isn't that on the really snooty, ritzy side of the Empire?" Nathan questioned.
"Yes, but you forget," Cadence said, pointing to her crown.
"Oh, right," Nathan commented.
"What do you say, Mavis? Want to go eat out this morning?" Shining Armor asked.
"Oui," Mavis replied.
"Alright kids, you go freshen up, then we'll head out," Cadence instructed. The two kids headed back to their bedrooms, and freshened up. Mavis recalled her Pokémon, save for Togepi and Swablu, and put the other Pokeballs in her satchel. Nathan met up with her outside of her room, and they went to the foyer, where their parents and the two babies were waiting. With that, they took off.
Meanwhile, at the café the family was en route to,
"I am Pierre Soufflé, and this is the CAFE SNOOT-AY, the snootiest restraunt in all of the Crystal Empire!" a Crystal Earth Pony said, as he waltzed passed his employees. The inside of his restraunt was much akin to a marble palace, mixed with a French café, "We are so snooty, we don't even let Prench Ponies in!" Pierre boasted, "Now, up on your hoofsies and up with your noses, we have some snooting to do!" he declared, as the employees went about their tasks. Just then, some of the Crystal Empire nobility entered. They looked like they would fit in with a restraunt like this.
"Table for four, peon," the leader stated to Pierre.
"Oh, right away, sir!" Pierre said, as he led them to their table, "What can I get for such important members of society, such as yourselves?" he offered.
"Four cups of coffee, all around," the leader stated.
"Right away!" Pierre said, as he ducked into the kitchen. Just then, the Crystal Family entered the restraunt. The Nobility took notice of them, but more so to Nathan and Mavis with disgust, especially at the sight of Mavis' arm.
"Doesn't look to busy," Shining Armor commented.
"We should get seated fairly quickly," Cadence added.
"Ah, Princess, so good of you to grace us with your presence! How many are eating? Six?" the host asked, bowing.
"That's right. And could we maybe have a booth?" Cadence asked.
"Right away!" the host said, as he led them to a booth. He then provided them with some menus, "Can we start you off with something to drink?" he asked.
"I'll just have some coffee," Cadence replied.
"Same here," Shining Armor added.
"And the young ones?" the host asked.
"Ah'll have some milk," Nathan replied.
"I would like some orange juice," Mavis added.
"Right away," the host said, as he ducked into the kitchen. The nobility wasted no time in approaching the family.
"Ah, Princess Cadence, it's not often we get to see you in public like this," the leader said.
"Well, we thought we'd eat out this morning," Cadence replied.
"Hmm, that's nice. Now, I have to ask, is this young girl your new child?" he asked, leering at Mavis, who cowered slightly under the harsh glare.
"Why yes! This is Mavis. She's new to Equestria, so we're taking her out to help her get more used to the empire," Cadence replied.
"Ah, as is proper, with any new princess," one of the other nobles commented.
"Actually, Mavis is technically under our care now, but she chose to renounce her royal title," Cadence stated nonchalantly. This didn't sit well with the nobility.
"Princess, you said you adopted her, yes?" another noble asked.
"That's what I said," Cadence replied.
"Then that means she HAS to be a princess. Otherwise, she's just a freeloader, leeching off of your royal status to make herself feel more important," the fourth noble stated. Mavis began questioning if getting adopted was a good idea after all.
"Now, now. Mavis is free to rule her life the way SHE wants. If she wishes not to be a princess, then that is her choice. No one can force her to be something she doesn't want to be," Cadence defended, not liking the tone that the nobles were giving off.
"If she were a commoner, then yes, but as she was adopted by you, she must be royalty. That's the way it works," the leader stated.
"But even then, we don't think she should be adopted by you. She has that ghastly arm," the second noble said. Cadence decided enough was enough.
"Let me make this perfectly clear," Cadence said in an authoritarian tone, as she stood up, "Mavis has chosen her way of living, and no one can force her to be a princess, not even royalty. Now then, I will ask this only once: Leave my family be, or face the consequences of your actions," Cadence stated, her tone indicating her decision was final.
"You're making a BIG mistake Princess," the leader said, as they went back to their table.
"Sorry about that Mavis. The Nobles of the Crystal Empire are just as bad as the ones in Canterlot. I hope they didn't make you feel uncomfortable, precious," Cadence said to Mavis.
"N-non, b-but, maybe.... I should take up the title after all," Mavis said quietly.
"No Mavis. As we've told you, you are free to choose how you live your life. No one can dictate it for you," Cadence reassured.
"Well, ok. I'd hate to think if they found out about my other secret," Mavis commented.
"Don't worry. No one outside of this family and our friends in Ponyville and Canterlot know about your watery secret," Shining Armor reassured, as the waiter came back with their drinks.
"Are you ready to order, or do you need more time?" the waiter asked.
"Um.... no, I think we're ready. I'll have some Prench Toast," Cadence replied.
"I'll have some eggs with hay bacon," Shining Armor added.
"Ah'd like some pancakes," Nathan stated.
"Ok. What about the young one there?" the waiter asked.
"Could I maybe just get pancakes, si vous plait?" Mavis asked.
"At once," the waiter said, retreating back into the kitchen.
"So, what were the oceans like where you come from?" Shining Armor asked Mavis.
"Well, they were perfectly clean and blue. It's all thanks to the Queen Mermaid," Mavis replied.
"'The Queen Mermaid'?" Cadence asked.
"She is the goddess of all mermaids, who watches over the oceans and it's inhabitants. She is very powerful, and very big," Mavis replied.
"How big are we talkin'?" Nathan asked.
"About as big as the palace," Mavis replied.
"That is big!" Cadence commented in surprise.
"Oui. The oceans are a natural beauty, even though I only swam around the shoreline near my hometown. Or at least it would be, if not for *gulp* the pirates," Mavis squeaked out. Nathan knew immediately where this was going, and signaled his parents to drop the topic. If by some miracle, the waiter came back with their food.
"If there is anything else you need Princess, just let me know," the waiter said, as he walked away.
"Ya want some syrup on your pancakes?" Nathan asked Mavis.
"Oui, but only a little bit," Mavis replied. Nathan then poured some on her pancakes, "Ok, that will do," Mavis said, stopping Nathan. The Texas boy then pour some syrup on his pancakes too, as they all ate their breakfast. It took about 15 minutes for them to finish up, as the waiter came back with the bill. Shining Armor then placed the right amount of bits on the table, along with a few extra for tip.
"Ok guys, ready to head out now?" Cadence asked, as they all stood up, "Ok then, why don't we go do some shopping today? It is still our day off," she suggested.
"Sure," Nathan shrugged. Mavis nodded behind him.
"Alright then. Let's get going," Cadence suggested, as they left.
"Please come again soon, Princess," the host said, as they left. However, from the shadows, a cloaked figure was watching the Crystal Family, his attention focused mainly on Mavis.
"Hmm, that one will do nicely," the shadowy figure commented, as he followed them in the form of a shadow.
After having breakfast, the Crystal Family decided to look around the shopping district, "Where should we look first?" Cadence wondered. Skyla and Guard saw the toy store, and starting babbling, and reaching out for it.
"Looks like the babies found somethin' they want," Nathan commented. Cadence chuckled.
"Alright you two, we can go in and look around," Cadence said, as they walked in. Shining Armor soon saw limited edition action figures, and went over to take a look.
"Oh, cool, you can't find these anywhere else!" he commented. Mavis could see that by the looks of how there weren't that many ponies in the store, that it had just opened up. Even so, she still felt a little uneasy about being in the toy store. She tried staying near the front, but her attention was dragged elsewhere. In a corner of the store, was a chest full of novelty rubber ducks. The sign above it said "Limited Edition Rubber Duck Set." She then gasped, and went over to look at it in excitement.
"Rubber duckies!" she exclaimed, picking up the chest.
"Looks like ya found somethin' ya want, eh Mavis?" Mavis jumped when she heard Nathan talking to her.
"Oh... uh..... oui," Mavis nervously replied.
"I'm guessing you like Rubber Ducks, right Mavis?" Cadence asked.
"Oui. They're just SOOOOOOOO cute!" Mavis exclaimed.
"Well, if you want them so badly, I'm more than happy to get them for you," Cadence offered.
"Well, it looks like these are the only set that are here," Mavis considered. She then scooched the chest over to Cadence, who then took the chest to the front counter, where she paid for the ducks. Shining Armor then came up to the counter, carrying an armful of limited edition action figures, which he then paid for.
"Really, Shining?" Cadence asked questioningly to her husband.
"They're collector's items!" Shining Armor argued defensively. His wife just rolled her eyes.
"Ah'd like ta buy this," Nathan said, putting a 3-D puzzle set on the counter. He paid for it, and the family took off.
"When did you get into 3-D puzzles, son?" Shining Armor asked.
"A while back, when some of the guys back home gave a set ta me. Ah've been collecting them here and there," Nathan admitted.
"They look..... complex," Cadence commented.
"Oh, they are. That's why Ah took a likin' ta them," Nathan replied. The family continued walking, but all the while, Mavis couldn't help but feel an ominous presence behind them, glaring relentlessly into her. The others felt it too, and decided to waste no time in ducking into a dress shop.
"You guys felt it too, huh?" Shining Armor asked.
"Yes," Cadence replied.
"Yup," Nathan added.
"Oui," Mavis added. She then noticed the dresses in the shop they were in. Much like her own, it was all gothic Lolita. She then started looking around in interest.
"Ah'm guess that dress she wore her first day here is her favorite style," Nathan summarized.
"It would appear that way," Cadence replied.
"Truth be told, I just love the style that maids wear, but, oui, gothic Lolita is my personal favorite style," Mavis admitted.
"Called it," Nathan commented.
"Could you just excuse me for a moment? I must use the salle de bains," Mavis requested, as she went over to the bathrooms.
"Ah really need to learn to talk fancy like that," Nathan commented. Just then, a shriek came from outside the bathroom.
"Oh no, Mavis!" Cadence said, as she made her way over to the bathrooms as fast as possible. There, she saw Mavis' satchel, along with Togepi and Swablu on the ground, badly hurt, "Swablu, Togepi, are you both alright? Where's Mavis?!" Cadence asked worriedly.
"Well, she was about to recall us to our Pokeballs, when this really twisted looking unicorn came out of nowhere, and dragged her into the shadows!" Swablu said.
"Oh no..... not THAT stallion!" Cadence was horrified at what the flying Pokémon had just told her.
"What happened?" Shining Armor asked. His concern only grew when he saw the look of horror on Cadence's face.
"Shining... Mavis has...."
Meanwhile, in another dark castle in the same mountain range as Blueblood's,
Mavis stirred from being knocked out. Looking around, she saw that she was chained up like some sort of animal to a post in the middle of what looked to be a throne room, "W-where am I?" Mavis wondered, looking around desperately.
"Oh good, you're awake," she turned, and nearly shrieked at seeing a terrifying black unicorn glaring down at her.
"W--Who are you?" Mavis asked, scared out of her wits.
"Ah yes. Introductions. I am Sombra, the rightful ruler of the Crystal Empire, and owner of all those crystals," the unicorn said.
"OK, but what d-do you want with me?" Mavis asked, trying to scooch away, only for the chain to stop her.
"See, those ponies you met, a few years ago, they ousted me from my throne, and took over my kingdom. I saw that they had grown attached to you for these past few days. Which is why you are my ticket back into power," Sombra explained. However, he saw the perplexed expression on Mavis' face behind her terrified eyes, "Hmm, maybe I need to be more clear. I want to reign over the Crystal Empire again, and no doubt those ponies who ousted me want you back. Which is why you are going to be my hostage until they meet my demands," Sombra clarified. This, however, did not sit well with the scared little girl.
"Wait, d-didn't you say that mon maman and her friends stopped you once before?" Mavis asked, hesitantly.
"Indeed they did. But I became more wiser for the wear since the last I saw them. I won't be beaten by the same method twice," Sombra said, grabbing Mavis by her hair, "Now then, you WILL help me out, whether you like it or not. IS. THAT. CLEAR?!" Sombra bellowed. Mavis thrashed her hardest, trying to get out of his grasp. The stress was becoming unbearable for her, until she went limp. This didn't bode well with Sombra, "Hey, did I say you could rest?! Open you eyes!" Sombra roared, as he threw the girl against the floor, breaking the shackles around her neck. Mavis then looked up at the unicorn, but her eyes were still closed. When she opened them, however, they gave off a very powerful green glow, and her hair turned into snakes, "What in the...!?" Sombra exclaimed, as he felt himself becoming stone. He fired a small bit of his dark magic at Mavis, only for it to hit her eyes. While successful, it did nothing for Sombra, as he became fully encased in stone. Mavis shook her head, and looked at what had happened to the unicorn. Needless to say, Mavis was horrified.
"Oh no..... not again!" Mavis exclaimed, as she ran out of the throne room. Images of a previous instance like this one entered her mind.
Flash Back: Mavis: Age 3 Years, 2 1/2 months,
The young Mavis was swimming freely in the ocean with her parents, "Don't swim to far, Princess," Mavis' father warned.
"Ok Papa," Mavis said, as she dove underwater, to explore the coral reefs, followed closely by her mother. They saw around for about 15 minutes, before.....
"Alice! We need to get out of here! Pirates are coming!" the father warned.
"Ok David, we'll be right up!" Alice replied, as she went to find their daughter. She soon found Mavis, playing with some fish, "Mavis, mon enfant! We need to go!" Alice warned. Mavis took notice of the pirate ship, and swam quickly for her mother. They resurfaced, and were pulled up by David, who helped them to dry off. But too little, too late, as some pirates caught sight of Alice and Mavis turning from mermaid into human forms.
"OVER HERE ME HARTIES! THAR BE SOME MERMAIDS, JUST RIPE FOR THE PICKING!" one of them called.
"We need to run!" Alice said, as they rounded up their stuff, and made a break for it. They continued running, only to be chased by the entire pirate crew with David carrying Mavis in his arms. They soon found themselves cornered.
"Grab the mermaids! Do whatever with the yellow belly dog!" the captain ordered, as the pirates closed in on them. David and Alice embraced themselves and Mavis tightly, as they braced for the worst. Being so young, being in a stressful situation such as this was not good for Mavis. The stress just kept building, until..... it happened. Her hair turned into snakes, and her eyes gave off a powerful green glow. The pirates stopped, as they began turning into stone. Mavis didn't know what was going on, nor did her parents, but her father had an idea.
"Papa, why did that happen?" Mavis asked.
"My guess, is genes from MY side of the family. See, princess, I have a bit of gorgon DNA from one of my ancestors, but it's a very miniscule amount," David tried to explain.
"If I were to guess, the mermaid genes you got from me might've amplified the gorgon DNA somehow," Alice theorized.
"So, I am just like that mermaid from that game Papa likes to play?" Mavis asked, as David examined the now stone pirates.
"Pretty much. But for now, we should get going. Since Mavis only discovered her gorgon heritage today, her eye trick won't last long. We should get as far away from here as possible before they break out," David suggested. With that, the family escaped. All the while, Mavis couldn't help but feeling bad about what she did to the pirates, even though they are scoundrels who had it coming.
Reality,
"I had hoped that was a one time thing!" Mavis cried, as she escaped into the courtyard, overlooking a riverbank. She walked along the edge of the courtyard, trying to find a glimmer of the Crystal Empire. It was then, she noticed the mountains she was in looked vaguely familiar, "This is the mountain range that Blueblood brought me to," Mavis said to herself. Her thoughts were cut off, when the cliff beneath her collapsed. She screamed, as she fell along with the cliff. She got tangled up in some briar bushes, which shredded her clothing off. Mavis would've been embarrassed, but her thoughts were once again cut off, as she fell into the river, and bonked her head against a rock. It didn't cause any bleeding, but it was enough to knock her out. Unconscious, Mavis drifted down the river, only to get beached along a shoreline. It was then that someone lifted her up, and brought her into a cave.
Needless to say, Cadence and the others were in absolute panic. They didn't know what to do to help Mavis get away from Sombra, or even where he was holed up in, "Oh, where is Twilight!? We need that device of Raiden's!" Cadence fretted.
"Ah thought you guys said Sombra was defeated last time?" Nathan questioned.
"We thought so too. But we severely underestimated his tenacity," Shining Armor replied, just as Twilight teleported into the castle with Raiden's device.
"I came as soon as I heard!" Twilight said.
"Good. We need to get our priorities out of the way first. Do you know how to work that thing?" Cadence asked.
"Yes. Raiden told me how to work this device. He would've come too, but he needed to meet with a client about some kind of experiment," Twilight said.
Back with Raiden,
"Ok, so Miss..... Lila, what is it you need me to do? And why do I need to wear a blindfold?" Raiden asked, as he was seated in a temple, blindfolded. Before him, stood a real gorgon in her teens. Her snake tail was pink, as was the snakes in her hair.
"Well, you see, my people are viewed as destructive monsters because of our ability to turn others into stone. But I head from a snake that there was a brilliant mind working for a guild in Ponyville," Lila replied.
"Yes, that would be me. I work on countless experiments in my lab, but what does that have to do with you? Not to be rude, or anything," Raiden asked.
"Well, my people were wondering if you could make something that could help us meld into society without causing someone to be turned to stone," Lila explained.
"Hmm, well, I've never done any work for eyes, but I think I can make something work. I will need to take you back to the guild, however. My best equipment is there," Raiden said.
"But what about the townsfolk?" Lila asked.
"Don't worry," Raiden said, pulling out a pen shaped device, "This will teleport us back into my lab, completely unnoticed. But a word of warning: I will need to take off the blindfold, so I can work. That being said, is there a way for me to break out of being stone, if I catch your gaze by mistake?" Raiden asked.
"Yes. Water is the only thing that can break the stone gaze of a gorgon," Lila replied.
"Ok, so for the testing, I'll need to set up some irrigation lines. With hope, Francisco hasn't gone out on a job himself. If not, then I'll set out some water basins for you to douse me with," Raiden said, as Lila wrapped herself around the thunder mutant. With a click of the pen, he and Lila teleported out of the temple.
Back in the Crystal Empire,
"Well, either way, we need to focus on Mavis. Does that thing tell where she is?" Shining Armor asked. Twilight then activated the tablet as Raiden instructed her. Within seconds, she got a signal from Mavis' arm.
"I got something!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Well?! Where is my baby?!" Cadence exclaimed.
"According to this, Mavis is," Twilight did a double take to make sure she wasn't reading this thing wrong, "Hmm, it says she's in the vicinity of the mountains where Blueblood was holed up. But it also says that she's moving along with the river. Maybe Mavis has escaped somehow?" Twilight wondered.
"Well, either way, we can't sit around, gawking! I'm going to those mountain's myself if it means rescuing Mavis!" Cadence declared.
"I'm going with you too. Mavis is my daughter too," Shining Armor stated.
"I'll lend any support I can along the way," Twilight said.
"Ah'll stay here. If Mavis does come back here, someone needs to be here to greet her," Nathan volunteered.
"Excellent. We shouldn't be too terribly long," Cadence said, as the three of them left to find Mavis.
Meanwhile, with Mavis,
Mavis was starting to stir in her sleep after being knocked out. Opening her eyes, she saw she was in a cave like temple of sorts. She sat up, only for her to wince in pain. Looking down, she saw that she had bandages wrapped around her body. Much to her embarrassment, the bandages were the only thing that was covering her up. She looked around, and saw that there were some vines growing on some of the pillars. She heard someone coming. She wanted to run away, but the pain prevented her from doing so. Just as she began loosing hope, it was renewed, as she saw Cosmo and the Nymph called Marina, entering the room, "Oh good! You're up!" Cosmo exclaimed, as she and Marina fluttered over to Mavis.
"Bonjour Cosmo. This is real, right?" Mavis asked.
"Indeed. You are very much awake," Cosmo replied.
"I guess that makes sense. I hurt a lot to be asleep," Mavis commented, as she tried to move, only for the pain to stop her.
"Careful there, sweetie. You haven't fully healed," Marina said, trying to coax Mavis into laying back down.
"W-Where am I?" Mavis asked politely, yet timidly.
"You're in the Nymph Grotto in the mountains. We found you unconscious by the river," Cosmo explained. Mavis then remembered what had happened earlier. She was still horrified at what she did to Sombra.
"I know this may be prying into your business, but, could you tell us how you ended up back in the mountains?" Marina asked. Just as Mavis was about to explain, six more Nymphs came in, including the red bikini clad one she saw picking fruit. One of the other five was dressed in a green bikini with magenta hair. Another was a dark skinned Nymph, dressed in a lite blue bikini, with what looked to be tribal feathers. She had hair almost as black as Mavis'. Another was dressed in a pink bikini and had sky blue hair. The seventh one was dressed in a white bikini with lime green hair. The last Nymph wasn't dressed in a bikini as the others. Her outfit, from what Mavis would describe, was a leather one piece outfit. Unlike the others, whose hair reached all the way down to their feet, she had short blonde hair. They were all voluptuous in their own rights.
"Oh good! She's up! How is she?" the green bikini clad Nymph asked.
"Well, she seems shaken up from whatever caused her to wash up on our beach. Other than that, and slight pains when she tries to move, she's fine," Cosmo replied.
"Here. Let me finish the healing process," the white bikini Nymph said, as she conjured a green orb, which she set on Mavis' belly. It melded into the young girl's body. With in seconds, Mavis didn't feel any pain anymore.
"I... feel better," Mavis said in surprise.
"That's good. We wouldn't want you being hurt, precious," the Nymph replied.
"We should do introductions before anything else. My name is Marina. I am the Water Nymph. I control the flow and purity of any body of water," Maria formally introduced herself.
"I'm Dana, the Food Nymph. I bring bountiful harvests wherever I go, and I just love-love-love eating and cooking!" the red bikini Nymph said.
"My name is Wanda, the Grand Nymph. I am, for sake of simplification, the queen of the Nymphs. I possess the magic that helps plants to grow freely," the Green Bikini Nymph said.
"I'm Sky, the Music Nymph. My melodies are capable of calming any sort of negative emotions," the lite blue bikini Nymph said.
"My name is Tabby, the Medicinal Nymph. As you experienced, I am quite adapt in healing magic," the White Bikini Nymph said.
"I am Yuki, the Snow Nymph. I keep trespassers at bay with my icy magic," the leather wearing Nymph said, speaking in a Swedish accent.
"Before I tell you who I am, you need to ask me who I am!" the pink bikini Nymph requested, stifling a giggle.
"Um... who are you? Mavis asked.
"Yes," the nymph replied. This confused Mavis.
"Yes, what?" Mavis asked.
"No, yes who," the nymph returned. This started getting snickers from the other Nymphs.
"You do have a name, don't you?" Mavis asked.
"Yep!" the nymph replied.
"Then, could you tell me?" Mavis asked.
"Who," the nymph said.
"Vous. I would like to know who vous are," Mavis requested.
"I just told you," the Nymph retorted, trying her hardest not laugh.
"Who are you?" Mavis asked, starting to get tired from this back and forth conversation.
"That's Who I am!" the Nymph replied.
"Ok, so who are you?" Mavis asked, as she was suddenly changed in a baseball uniform that was a few sizes to big for her, along with the Nymphs, who had to leave the top buttons on their uniforms undone for two MASSIVE reasons each. Just then, a sitcom laugh track came out from nowhere.
"Alright, all joking aside, her name is literally Who. Or rather, Catharine-Who. But you can call her Kat," Wanda clarified, as the aforementioned Nymph rolled over laughing, "She's what you would call the Artist Nymph. She can brighten up any darkness with her electric magic," Wanda explained, as they were all changed back into their original outfits.
"Ok, but why that whole thing she did?" Mavis asked.
"It's a joke, sweetie. She made her name like that so she could get a laugh out of everyone," Sky replied.
"Now then, weren't you going to tell us about who you got washed up on our beach?" Cosmo asked. Mavis knew she had to explain herself, so she told them everything. Needless to say, the Nymphs were shocked at the news that Sombra and the Crystal Empire were back. Even Kat could bring herself to laugh.
"Sombra. There's a name I hoped never to hear again," Dana commented.
"But from what you said, you managed to escape because of some gorgon heritage of yours?" Yuki asked.
"Oui. I somehow got it from mon papa's side of the family," Mavis replied.
"I see. With the Crystal Empire back, thing's should be more lively, assuming we can integrate back into society," Wanda commented.
"Why don't you?" Mavis asked.
"Well, centuries ago, Celestia and I had a bit of a fight over something you needn't worry about, and we've been hiding out here until we can face her again," Wanda replied. The other Nymphs rolled their eyes.
"Yeah, the fight was rather petty," Kat commented. Mavis then remembered something.
"Uh, could I trouble one of vous for some clothing?" Mavis politely asked.
"I'm afraid all we can offer you is this poncho," Tabby said, giving Mavis a small, worn out poncho.
"Marina and Cosmo weren't kidding about you. You truly are a well mannered individual," Dana commented, scooping up Mavis into a slight hug. Mavis, just like when she was hugged by Cosmo, blushed at being in direct contact with Dana's incredibly large chest.
"That being said, have you given any consideration as to what I told you about the other night?" Cosmo asked.
"It really is a simple query. Would you like to learn the ways of nature from us? If so, you'll be able ascend to becoming a Nymph yourself," Wanda explained. Mavis thought about it for a moment. These Nymph's were all giving her an opportunity of a lifetime. She would be able to learn ways of magic she never even thought of. And if what Cosmo said to her was true, Mavis would be subjected to the beauty regiments that the Nymphs clearly did, given how beautiful they were.
"Oui, but could we at least tell the princess of the Crystal Empire where I am? She recently adopted me, and is quite protective," Mavis requested.
"Of course, sweetie. We'll send a messenger bird to alert," Wanda said, as she quickly wrote a note, explaining where Mavis was and how to find them. She then gave the note to a bird, "Please deliver this to Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire," Wanda said to the bird, who took the note, and flew out a hole in the wall, "Once we explain things to the Princess, we'll begin your training," Wanda said to Mavis.
"T-Training?" Mavis asked, uneasily.
"Don't worry. We're just going to teach you all about the nature around you," Tabby replied.
"By the way, do you want Tabby to help you with your arm?" Yuki asked.
"Non!" Mavis squeaked, gripping her metal arm, "Sorry, but apart from mon mermaid and gorgon heritages, this is all I have left to remember mon maman and papa," Mavis replied.
"It's quite alright sweetheart. It is YOUR body, so you shouldn't have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable," Wanda said.
At the base of the mountain range,
It didn't take long for the three of them to reach the mountains, "Ok Twilight, so where is Mavis?" Shining Armor asked.
"According to this device, she's off in that general direction," Twilight replied, pointing towards a mountain path, with plenty of vegetation growing, despite it being all rock.
"Well, in any case, let's get going. The sooner Mavis is home safe and sound, the more at ease we can all be," Cadence said, as they ventured towards the path. Just as they were about to begin hiking up, the bird that Wanda gave the note to flew towards them. It stopped in front of them, and presented the note. Twilight took the note, and read it aloud.
To the new Royal Couple of the Crystal Empire,
I, Wanda, the Grand Nymph, along with my sisters, have rescued the child you refer to as Mavis when she was washed up on the shores below our grotto. We have treated the injuries that she sustained when she escaped from the former King Sombra. She is currently in our care. We would like to request an audience with you, regarding something with your daughter. Below are instructions on how to get to the grotto. We hope to see you shortly,
Sincerely, Wanda, the Grand Nymph,
Twilight made sure to reread the note to herself to make sure she didn't miss anything, but one thing boggled the minds of the three ponies, 'How in Equestria did Mavis escape from Sombra?'
"Well, all we can do now is follow these directions. We can worry about Sombra later. Our top priority is making sure Mavis is safe," Shining Armor said, as they followed the directions Wanda provided.
Following the instructions on the note that Wanda provided made it easy for the ponies to at least find the general area of the Nymph Grotto, or at the very least, the area where the entrance is supposed to be located. They stood before a crystal blue lake, surrounded by a mystical mist, "We're here, where are the Nymphs and Mavis?" Cadence wondered.
"I'm not sure. I made doubly sure that we were heading in the right direction," Twilight said, looking at the parchment. Shining Armor looked out onto the lake, seeing nothing.
"Maybe they were trying to throw us off?" he theorized.
"Impossible. They said that they wanted to talk to us about something regarding Mavis. They must know how worried we are for her," Cadence countered. Just then, the mist started becoming thicker. It was then, the ponies saw something swimming through the waters at blinding speeds. Whatever it was stopped in the waters in front of them. From the depths of the lake, emerged Marina, as she looked towards the three ponies.
"Are you the rulers of the Crystal Empire that Mavis told us about?" Marina asked.
"We are, at least. Are you one of the Nymphs that rescued my baby?" Cadence asked.
"Indeed. I am Marina, the Water Nymph. We took Mavis into our Grotto after she washed up on the shores of the beach," Marina explained.
"Could we see her? We'd like to know that she's alright," Shining Armor asked.
"The two Alicorn's may come with me, but you must stay here. Nothing personal, but the magic of the grotto prevents males from entering," Marina explained.
"Well, I guess if those are the rules," Shining Armor sighed.
"Don't worry. We shouldn't be long," Twilight said, as Marina led them across the lake.
Back in the Nymph Grotto,
"So, are there any activities you particularly like doing?" Dana asked, as Mavis sat on the counter of the kitchen, while the busty nymph was making cookies.
"Well, other than swimming, I do like rubber duckies and gothic Lolita dresses," Mavis replied.
"Hmm. I've only seen dresses like that in the Seeing Pool," Dana said, as she placed the cookies into the oven, and used her fire magic to start baking them.
"Quelle est la piscine de voir?" Mavis asked.
"It's this mystical pool we have that let's us peer into the society. Mainly we use it to see what's going on in the world," Dana explained, as she used her magic to prep the rest of the ovens, and put cookie sheets inside them, and then stoked the fire.
"I see," Mavis replied.
"Anyhow, once we get the ok from the princess, we can begin your training as soon as possible. So you'll be seeing more of us for a while," Dana said, as she pulled out the first rack of cookies, "Would you like one? They're fresh!" Dana offered. Mavis seemed hesitant, but knew she could handle sweets thanks to Raiden's medicine.
"Oui, but I would like just one," Mavis replied. Dana then used a spatula to scrape off a cookie, and put it on a smallish plate before giving it to her new student, "Merci," Mavis said, as she took a bite out of the cookie. She couldn't believe how sweet it was.
"Looks like you've taken a liking to my recipe," Dana commented, as she chomped down on five cookies herself.
"Dana, I hope this is not rude, but how do you not get chubby when you eat that much?" Mavis asked.
"It's quite alright sweetheart. And the answer to your question is Nymph Magic. Thanks to that, my sisters and I can eat all we want, and all the fat we would normally gain would go to 'other' places," Dana said. Mavis' attention went directly to Dana's humungous chest and her wide hips, "And if you're wondering, yes, the Nymph Magic we'll be bestowing on you will give you the same type of body as us, when you're older," Dana said. Mavis couldn't help but try and imagine herself with a body like her new teachers. Just then, Tabby came in.
"Mavis, the princess and her friend have arrived," the medical Nymph said.
"Ok Tabby. Merci for the biscuit, Dana," Mavis thanked the food nymph, and went with Tabby, leaving Dana to continue her baking. As she was led by Tabby, Mavis got a chance to look around the temple some more. Looking around, she could see what looked to be a fountain, and a mini library. She saw a sign above one of the doors that said "Bathing Room" on it. Mavis assumed that was where they wash up. Her thought train was interrupted as she bumped into Tabby.
"Careful, precious. Don't let your attention wander too much," the medical nymph said.
"Oui. Sorry Tabby," Mavis apologized. It was then she saw Marina walking in with Cadence and Twilight in tow, "Maman!" Mavis exclaimed.
"Oh, Mavis, you're ok!" Cadence exclaimed, as she scooped her daughter up into a hug, "We were so worried about you!" the Crystal Princess said, hugging Mavis even tighter. Mavis was relieved to be reunited with her mother.
"Speaking of which, how were you able to escape Sombra?" Twilight asked. Mavis, after Cadence eased up with the hugging, then explained to the two alicorn princesses about her gorgon heritage, and what happened with Sombra, "You're..... part gorgon too?" Twilight asked incredulously.
"Oui, but it only happens when I am, how do you say, stressed," Mavis replied nervously.
"Well, as long as you're away from that awful Sombra, that's all that matters," Cadence replied.
"But the thing is, mon gorgon eye thing doesn't last very long. It may not be long before he is free," Mavis brought up. This didn't sit well with any of the adults.
"Well, we shouldn't worry too much. Sombra is as smart as he is evil. He would know better than try the same thing twice," Marina commented.
"So he won't come after Mavis again?" Cadence asked.
"No. At least, not directly," Tabby replied.
"No doubt he would try to get someone that has just as much evil to do his dirty work for him," Sky said, suddenly joining the discussion.
"But that would take some doing. The only other one I can think of that just as evil as Sombra is Tirek, but he was banished back to Tartarus a while ago," Twilight commented.
"Well, how long does your gorgon eye trick work?" Cadence asked Mavis.
"I honestly don't know. This was the second time I used it," Mavis replied.
"Hmm. We can probably help you to control your gorgon powers," Tabby offered. Mavis was reluctant to do so, but she knew that she would need to learn how to control to keep her new family and friends safe.
"By the way, what was this 'offer' you made Mavis?" Cadence asked.
"Ah, yes. Come with us into the main room," Marina invited the princesses inside the temple.
One explanation later,
"... And that's pretty much the gist of it," Wanda explained.
"Hmm. I could see how this would benefit Mavis immensely, but I'm a bit leery about leaving her here with that mad stallion on the loose," Cadence voiced her concern.
"I understand your worries. But you needn't worry. The Nymph Grotto, as well as the mountain it resides in are protected with pure light magic. Evil forces like Sombra can't enter, even if he wanted to," Wanda reassured.
"So Mavis is safe with us. That is, if you'll allow her to train under us," Dana added. Cadence thought about it for a moment, before turning to the girl in question.
"Mavis, would you like to train under the Nymphs?" Cadence asked.
"I would, but that is if you are ok with it maman," Mavis replied.
"Whatever helps you feel more comfortable. When can Mavis be back at the Crystal Empire?" Cadence asked.
"Well, the sessions we will go over with her will take roughly an hour and a half each. So, if she keeps her focus on her lessons, we'll be able to bring her back this evening," Cosmo projected.
"Well, much as I don't like the thought of Mavis being away for very long, this does seem like the best course of action for her sake. Please, just make sure she comes home safely," Cadence pleaded.
"You have our word. Mavis will be in much better shape when she comes back," Wanda promised.
"Thank you. Alright Mavis, be sure to pay close attention to them. We'll see you later this evening," Cadence said, planting a small kiss on Mavis' forehead.
"I will maman. Au revoir," Mavis said, hugging the pink alicorn.
"I'll see you soo too Mavis," Twilight said, giving Mavis a hug too. With that, the two Alicorn's left.
"Alright Mavis, are you ready to begin?" Wanda asked.
"Oui," Mavis said, taking a deep breath.
"Then let us begin," Wanda said, as her eyes glowed green. The other nymph's eyes glowed the same colors of their outfits as well, as a bright light filled the room.
Opening her eyes, Mavis found herself in some sort of white, empty space. In a flash of various colored lights, the Nymph's appeared, "Ok sweetie, we're going to begin your training now. In this space, we will each create a scenario for you to complete. If you are able to complete all eight trials, then you will be able to become a nymph, just like us," Wanda explained.
"Ok," Mavis nodded.
"During these exercises, you are to refer to each of us as sensei. Do you understand?" Kat asked.
"Oui," Mavis nodded again.
"Good. We'll be going in order from the hardest trials to the easier ones. But don't worry, these exercises won't be anything overly difficult for someone your age," Dana informed.
"Merci, sensei," Mavis said.
"You don't have to actually call us 'sensei'. Kat's just trying to be funny," Tabby explained.
"In any case, let's begin!" Wanda said, as once again, each Nymph's eyes began glowing in the same color as their outfits, and a bright light filled the space.
Back at the Crystal Empire,
After arriving back at the palace, Twilight left back to Ponyville, "We can at least rest easier now, knowing that Mavis is in good hands," Cadence commented.
"I still can't believe she was offered to become a nymph, or the fact that she's also part gorgon," Shining Armor replied.
"Yes, but we can trust the nymphs to help her to control her powers," Cadence replied. Just then, Nathan barged in.
"Mommy, Daddy! Were you able to find Mavis?" Nathan asked, a tone of hope and slight panic in his voice.
"We did," Shining Armor replied. However, Nathan didn't see his younger sister anywhere.
"B-but where is she?" Nathan asked, growing more worried.
"Don't worry. Mavis is perfectly safe. We found some.... teachers for her," Cadence replied.
"Teachers? What for?" Nathan asked. Cadence then explained to Nathan how Mavis was also part gorgon, and that the nymphs were going to train Mavis to become one of them, as well as control her powers, "So what? She's a gorgon now too? And she's gonna become part nymph too?" Nathan asked incredulously.
"Yes. We can trust the Nymphs. Mavis does, and they didn't do anything to harm her when we went to find her," Shining Armor explained.
"Well, Ah don't like Mavis not being back home, but ya sure sound like ya know what yer doin', so Ah'll just leave it at that," Nathan sighed, as he left his parents to their own devices.
"I know he's worried. We just need to let the Nymph's do whatever they need to," Cadence said, as the two exited the throne room.
Back at Raiden's Lab,
"Ok, her goes test number six," Raiden said, as he lowered a glass case on top of some rats. The glass was heavily tinted, "Ok Lila, give it another go now," Raiden urged. The Gorgon girl took off her blindfold, and focused her gaze on the rats. Her eyes began giving off a powerful green glow. The rats turned their attention to the gorgon girl, but were unchanged.
"It works!" Lila exclaimed, putting her blindfold back on.
"Phew, that was rough! But it was all worth it!" Raiden commented, as he punched in some keys on his computer. Out from a nearby machine with a conveyer belt, came some sunglasses, which were just as tinted as the glass used in the test, "One more test. Put these one. We need to see how these fair," Raiden instructed, giving Lila a pair of sunglasses. Changing out her blindfold for the sunglasses, Lila once again fixed her gaze towards the rats, her eyes giving off the same green glow as before. However, just like in the test, the rats remained unchanged, "This test is a success!" Raiden exclaimed.
"Oh thank you Raiden! Maybe now the gorgon race can start formally establishing friendships with all societies!" Lila exclaimed, wrapping her tail around the thunder mutant.
"Uh... I'm.... glad.... you're..... happy.... but... could..... you maybe..... ease up.... on hugging….me?" Raiden asked between breaths.
"OH! I am so sorry! I just got so excited!" Lila blushed. Just then, Twilight teleported into the lab.
"Raiden? Are you in here?" Twilight asked.
"I'm over here!" Raiden said, walking towards the lavender princess.
"Oh good! Thanks so much for letting me borrow this. It was a great help to us!" Twilight said, giving Raiden his tablet back.
"Thanks Twilight. I trust you were able to find Mavis with no problems?" Raiden asked.
"We did. But we learned a little more about her too," Twilight said, as she began explaining what went down at the Nymph Grotto, "And that's what happened," she wrapped up.
"Hmm, well, her being part gorgon is a surprise, but luckily, this last job I took has a remedy for that," Raiden said.
"What was the job?" Twilight asked.
"I was asked to find a way for gorgons to be able to interact with society without turning others to stone. It took a few tests, but I was able to prefect these," Raiden said, presenting a pair of his newly invented sunglasses, "The dark tinting prevents the gorgon eye thing from working one way, while also keeping them able to see perfectly as if they were without them," Raiden explained.
"Wait... you took a job from a real gorgon?" Twilight asked.
"Yep. She's still here in my lab. Don't worry, she's wearing a pair of these sunglasses," Raiden reassured.
"And here I am!" the bubbly gorgon said, as she slithered out from behind a large machine. Twilight was a little unnerved at the sight of the snake tail, as well as the snakes in her hair, but retained her composure, "Pleased to meet you princess. I am Lila, official representative of the gorgon race. Pleased to finally meet you," Lila greeted cheerfully, yet respectfully, bowing to the princess.
"A pleasure to meet you as well," Twilight returned the greeting, while trying her hardest to focus on the gorgon's face.
"Raiden was such a help to me! He made these sunglasses that are gorgon proof! Now, if you are willing to, we gorgon's would like to formally establish friendship with the ponies," Lila requested.
"It did take some doing, but these glasses will be able to help the gorgon's out immensely. And who knows? Maybe they can teach Mavis a trick or two about the whole eye thing," Raiden commented. Twilight thought about it for a moment. Ponies have always feared gorgons for their stone eyes trick. But based on how Lila has been acting, all the stories about gorgon's being nothing but ruthless monsters seemed to have been greatly exaggerated.
"Well, I will need to meet with my fellow princesses, as well as the leader of all gorgons. I'm sure we can make something work," Twilight stated.
"Splendid! When can we expect you in the gorgon homeland, or should we come to you?" Lila asked.
"Hmm.... probably would be best if we met at your homelands. Ponies aren't to friendly towards gorgons, so we should at least try NOT to cause a panic. There's no telling what self-righteous ponies would do if they saw you," Twilight suggested.
"Good call. Uh, I don't suppose that pen of yours can teleport me back to the temple?" Lila asked Raiden with a little hope.
"Afraid not. It's a one trip," Raiden replied with a defeated shrug.
"Don't worry. I can teleport you at lease to a specific point near your homeland. Where can I take you?" Twilight asked.
"If you can just teleport me to the edge of the Everfree Forest, I can go the rest of the way myself," Lila replied.
"Ok, then I'll be glad to do that," Twilight said, as she began firing up her horn.
"Hold it!" Raiden said, as he prepared a bag of the gorgon proof sunglasses, "You can take these to your leader, and explain that the peace talks are going to get underway," Raiden explained.
"Oh good! And thank you again! If she is willing to, we can give the princesses your payment so they can give it to you," Lila suggested.
"That's fine," Raiden said, as the two teleported out of his lab, "I just hope Mavis will be alright," the thunder mutant commented.
Back with Mavis,
Things were going very smoothly for Mavis. She has been learning a lot from the Nymphs. Wanda taught her all about how trees, plants, and the earth around her gives more to her and the ponies she's been living with than she thought. Kat showed her that smiling can bring out the best in everybody, and how Mavis shouldn't be shy, or reserved. Sky spent the most recent session teaching Mavis about music, and how it can be found naturally in nature. Now it was Marina's turn to teach Mavis, "Ok Mavis, let's swim around for a bit," Marina suggested, as she brought Mavis out to the lake.
"Oh, I just love swimming!" Mavis exclaimed.
"I do too. Water does wonders for the complexion," Marina said, rubbing her face, as the two dove into the water. Mavis turned into her mermaid form the second her legs came in contact with water, "Does that happen on it's own?" Marina asked.
"Oui. I have no control over it," Mavis replied, as the two began swimming around, "Ooh, this water makes my gills tingle!" Mavis commented.
"Well, thanks to my magic, the water around here is more than 50 times cleaner than any other spring. The same goes for all of the bathtubs in our bathing room," Marina explained.
"I saw a sign in the temple about that," Mavis replied.
"Yes, well, Kat put it up as a joke, but seeing as how we've never had company until you came into our lives, it was just sitting there, never being of any use," Marina explained.
"I see," Mavis said.
"Now then, why don't I teach you about the water? Tell me everything you know about water," Marina requested.
"Well, I know it's blue, and wet. Mon amie, Raiden, told me that all living creatures are made up mostly of water," Mavis said, giving all her current knowledge of water.
"That is correct. But something you may not know, is that while water is the softest things, it can damage hard objects like rocks, wood, or mountains," Marina said. This certainly surprised Mavis.
"I do not understand," Mavis commented.
"See, what you may not know, is that water can wear away at rocks and mountains, breaking off small grains of them. gradually making them decrease in size. Wood on the other hand, can be warped by water," Marina tried explaining to the young girl. Mavis tried to comprehend what her mentor was trying to explain, and was only slightly able to do so.
"I think I get it now," Mavis replied.
"Good. And with that, our session is over for the moment. We'll pick up a little more when you're older," Marina said, as her eyes began glowing blue. Mavis was once again surrounded by a bright light, and was transported into the kitchen, where Dana was waiting.
"Oh good! It's my turn now! You ready to learn my secrets?" Dana asked.
"Oui, but, could I dry off my tail fin first?" Mavis asked, motioning to her tail fin.
"...…. And that's how you collect honey from a fresh bee hive," Dana said, as she and Mavis moved fairly large jars of honey into the kitchen, "You need to make sure to treat the bees right, and they'll be happy to give you their honey," Dana explained.
"I think I see bees in a better light now," Mavis commented, as she gave Dana a honey jar. Something came across Mavis' mind, "But, why do we need so much honey?" Mavis asked.
"Why, part of our beauty regime in the baths requires honey," Dana replied.
"Like a facial mask?" Mavis asked.
"Sort of. You'll find out when we all go in for some baths. And with this, our session is done for now," Dana said, as her eyes glowed red, and Mavis was enveloped in white light again. This time, Mavis was transported into Tabby's room.
"Ah, good. I was wondering when my turn was coming up," Tabby commented gleefully.
"So, what is it that you would like to teach me?" Mavis asked politely.
"Well, as the Medicinal Nymph, it would make the most sense for me to teach you all about healing and medicinal remedies. Now then, let us begin," Tabby said, as she sat in lotus position, across from Mavis.
"Oui," Mavis replied, sitting in the same position.
"Now then, as you may know, nature can be a double edged sword. It can hurt us, like say, a bite from a poisonous bug or walking though poison ivy. This is why natural remedies are implemented in order to counteract nature's dark side," Tabby explained.
"Oui. Many fish species' are poisonous too. Maman always used some sort of remedy made from kelp and algae to treat wounds or illnesses I get if I accidently come in contact with one," Mavis brought up.
"I see. So you know that nature can cure ailments, just as much as it inflicts them," Tabby said. Mavis nodded, "Well, there are various plants that you can use to help with the same affect as your kelp and algae remedy. Are you aware of a plant called aloe?" Tabby asked.
"Oui. Papa always used it whenever he got sunburn," Mavis replied.
"That is because aloe has many medicinal qualities that can soothe burning or itching skin. But there aren't any poisonous plants or animals up here, and the clouds Yuki summons to keep trespassers away helps with the sun, so I pretty much let the aloe I collect build up," Tabby said, pointing towards a large pile of cactus like leaves.
"But the aloe Papa used was a lotion," Mavis stated.
"Well, that is true for those who live in cities, but here, where we live naturally, we use pure aloe," Tabby said. She went on to explain to Mavis a few of her medicinal techniques, showing her what types of plants she should use, when to use them, and what plants to avoid, "I hope I made this easy enough for you to understand," Tabby commented.
"It did help a lot. Merci," Mavis thanked.
"You're very welcome, precious. Now then, on to your next lesson," Tabby said, as her eyes began glowing white, and Mavis was once more, enveloped in white light. She was then transported out into the snow, where Yuki was waiting. Despite only wearing the poncho, Mavis wasn't cold at all.
"Now then, why don't we play a little bit?" Yuki suggested, conjuring up some more snow.
Back in the Gorgon Temple,
"And that is the gist of it, my queen," Lila said, as she reported to the queen of the gorgons. She was a little larger than most of the other gorgons, and her scales and snakes were a brilliant golden yellow.
"Very good, my daughter. We gorgon have lived in the shadows for too long. It's about time we came out into the light, and made friends with the ponies," the queen gorgon said.
"Yes, Mother. The Princess was very kind to me, as was the human," Lila replied.
"If negotiations go well, we may be able to go out and enjoy holidays and festivals like anyone else," the queen stated. Her attention then went to the sunglasses, "By the way, how are those?" she asked. Lila gave a pair to her mother.
Meanwhile, with Twilight,
"... And that is why we should try to help the gorgon's incorporate into society," Twilight said, giving her explanation to the other three alicorn princesses.
"Well, even though gorgon's aren't exactly everyone's favorite species, it would be important to extend formal relations with them," Celestia commented.
"Indeed. Based on what you've told us, this 'Lila' gorgon doesn't sound like a threat. And Raiden's experiments proved a useful tool in this regard," Luna added.
"I think Mavis may also be of some help too," Celestia said.
"Your information about Mavis'.... 'other half' is quite helpful," Luna said to Cadence.
"Yes. I just hope her teachers will be able to help her out with that," Cadence said.
"That reminds me, who did you get to help Mavis?" Celestia asked. Cadence and Twilight began sweating. They knew Celestia had some kind of bone to pick with the Nymphs.
"We.... found a tribe of mountain monks who agreed to help her for the day," Cadence half lied. Luna knew which teachers she got for Mavis immediately, but kept quiet about it.
"Well, in any case, I will send a letter to the queen gorgon to set up a meeting about formal relations," Celestia said.
"Very good. That is all I wished to discuss. Is there anything any of you wish to discuss?" Twilight asked.
"Well, we should probably go over plans for this year's Hearth's Warming Ball," Celestia suggested, as they began discussing the party.
Back with Mavis and the Nymphs,
"And as you can tell, there are many things you can do with snow and ice," Yuki said, as she and Mavis sat inside an igloo.
"It's rather cozy in here," Mavis commented.
"That's good. You can even make a small fire in here. The snowy bricks help to trap heat, so you can stay warm," Yuki explained.
"Oui. But, as a mermaid, I am not affected by the cold," Mavis stated.
"Well, in any case, it would be a great help for shelter," Yuki said, as her eyes began glowing lite blue, and Mavis was enveloped in a white light. When the light dissipated, Mavis found herself in what looked to be an observatory. Looking around, she saw Cosmo, looking though a make-shift telescope.
"Ah, very nice. The stars tell all. Looks like it's my turn," she said, without even breaking her concentration on the telescope.
"What will you be teaching me, Cosmo?" Mavis asked politely. The Star Dream Nymph looked towards her young student.
"Well.... I thought we could take a walk through the stars. I can teach you about how the position of the stars can foretell the future," Mavis looked interested as her mentor suggested their agenda.
"But, do we not need air to breathe?" Mavis asked.
"You needn't worry about that. My magic will provided us all the oxygen we could ever need," Cosmo explained, as she casted her magic, which sent her and Mavis up into outer space in a magic bubble, "Now then, let's begin. Can you tell me one of the most easy to identify constellations?" Cosmo asked.
"I know of the Big and Little Dippers. And Papa always said something about a belt of 'Or iron', or something to that nature," Mavis replied.
"The correct term is 'Orion', and those are very easy to spot constellations. I will teach you about more constellations that can also be easy to spot," Cosmo said, as she then proceeded to teach Mavis about the surrounding constellations, as well as some that can only be spotted during specific seasons. She also taught Mavis on how to read the stars to tell directions, and to tell fortunes, "And that is why you will always find the North Star," Cosmo finished up her explanation.
"Merci. I never knew there was so much more to the stars than just being.... really, really far away," Mavis commented.
"Well, there is more I want to teach you, but the more advanced stuff will wait until you're a bit older. And with that, your training is complete!" Cosmo said, her eyes glowing purple, as Mavis was once more surrounded by light. This time, she was transported into a room with eight large monoliths, each one glowing a certain color. From these monoliths, each Nymph emerged.
"Mavis, you have completed the first part of your training. Thanks to this, we are now able to make you a Nymph, just like us," Wanda proclaimed.
"As of today, you will join our sisterhood as the ninth Nymph, the Crystal Nymph," Marina added, as each Nymph began glowing their respective colors, chanting some kind of incantation in Latin.
"Known omnes Potestates et in luce, nos tibi dona bonorum nostrorum auctorem. Hodie igitur tecum ex pura cordis tui similis effectus es. Per vires nostras vires largiatur tibi Nympha!" the eight of them chanted, their eyes glowing brighter than ever. Mavis felt their Magic infusing into her own body. From her back, she saw Fairy Wings sprouting out. The glowing on the nymphs each died down, and the fluttered down to their newest member.
"Always remember this Mavis. Anything and everything you fear is just in your head, but it is wise to be cautious," Wanda explained, reaching into her cleavage, pulling out a small crystal pendant, "And keep this with you as a token of our time together. This will allow you to teleport to us from the Crystal Empire anytime you wish," she explained, giving the pendant to her student.
"Merci, Wanda," Mavis thanked.
"You're very welcome, precious. Now, I know we said we would help you with your gorgon powers, but it's getting late, and the Princess wants you back by sundown," Wanda said.
"I can take her back. I can at least ask her permission for Mavis to come back for one additional lesson tomorrow. After we finish that, maybe Mavis would like to partake in some beauty treatments?" Marina offered.
"I would like that, very much," Mavis replied.
"Very good. Alright Marina, Mavis, take care in heading back to the Crystal Empire," Wanda said.
"See you soon, Mavis!" Kat said. The other Nymphs gave their farewells as well. With that, the two left the grotto, jumped into the river, and swam to the Empire.
Cadence waited with anticipation by the river, hoping for Mavis to arrive soon from her session with the Nymphs, "She'll come honey. We need to just have faith in the Nymphs," Shining Armor said to his wife.
"I know, but I can't help it," Cadence said. Just then, they saw two figures swimming towards them at blinding speeds. Out from the river emerged Mavis, alongside Marina, "Mavis! Thank goodness you're home again! Did you enjoy your time with the Nymphs?" Cadence asked.
"Oui Maman. I learned a lot from them," Mavis replied. Cadence then noticed the Nymph Wings on Mavis' back.
"And I see you've earned their blessings," Cadence observed.
"Yes. She was our best student since.... well, forever!" Marina replied.
"Thank you all for what you've done for her. But I must ask, were you able to help her out with her gorgon powers?" Cadence asked.
"No. Which is why I came with her," Marina then went on to explain what she and the other Nymphs wanted to do for Mavis. Cadence thought about it for a moment, before turning her attention back to Mavis.
"Mavis, would you like to go back to the Nymph Grotto to learn to control of your gorgon powers?" the Crystal Princess asked the Crystal Nymph.
"Oui. I would like to learn how to keep my.... other powers in check. Not to mention all the talk they did with beauty regime," Mavis said, rubbing her cheek.
"Well, we'll be dealing with the gorgon part first. After than, we can teach you all our beauty secrets," Marina said.
"Merci, for everything, Marina," Mavis said, hugging her mentor.
"You're very welcome Mavis. I'll see you again tomorrow," Marina said, as she swam back towards the mountains.
"Ok Mavis, let's go get you dressed. It must be freezing for you in that poncho," Cadence suggested.
"Not really. Mermaids are very resistant to the cold. The waters my Maman and I always swam in were much colder than this," Mavis informed.
"Well, either way, we should get you dressed, for the sake of modesty," Cadence said. Mavis blushed as she knew what that meant, as her parents took her back to the Palace.
Back with King Sombra,
The stone that had encased the tyrant unicorn had begun to crack, releasing Sombra from his stony prison, "Ugh, what just happened?" Sombra questioned. Looking outside, he saw it was already nighttime. He then remembered what happened with Mavis, "Hmm, that brat seems to have more to her than meets the eye. I need to plan more strategically," Sombra commented. He then felt a massive amount of malice from another dimension, "Hmm? What could this be?" he wondered, opening a portal. Peering inside, he saw a massive pirate galleon, surrounded by several smaller frigates and various other ships, "Hmm, perhaps I could you this to my advantage," Sombra commented, as he dove into the portal.
On board the Pirate Galleon, there was a meeting being held between the captain of the fleet of pirate ships, and his fellow pirates, "I'm not happy. I'm not happy one little bit," the captain said. He was a teenage boy a little older than the Fujiyama brothers. He had wild, black hair, and menacing brown eyes.
"We understand your dissatisfaction, but make no mistake. We're already trying to find another mermaid as we speak," a girl pirate said. She had short, purple hair done in a bob with deep, blue eyes.
"THAT'S NOT WHY I AM UPSET!" the captain yelled, smashing away all of the plates on the table, "Now that our incompetent crews let that one mermaid get away, it may be a matter of time before she warns the rest of her kind!" the captain yelled.
"You worry to much Markus," a boy with a growly voice said. He was wearing what looked to be the pelt of a wolf, "For all we know, she may have been taken to some mainland city that we can't properly attack," he added.
"That's a chance I don't want to take, Luke. We can't afford to let our biggest haul to be even further out of our reach," Markus said. It was then, a shadowy mist began to swirl around the meeting room, "What is this?! Did someone burn something again?!" Markus demanded.
"Not me! I keep all flammable stuff on a separate ship!" a boy dressed as a chef argued. It was then that the mist solidified into the form of King Sombra.
"A unicorn? Their horns go for a high price on the black market! Luke, grab it!" Markus ordered. Like a wild animal, Luke pounced on Sombra, who merely turned back into mist, which caused Luke to phase through. When he solidified again, Sombra fired a small magic blast at Luke, knocking him out.
"Hold your fire. I come with a proposition," Sombra stated.
"We don't talk with our targets. We only take what we want from them, and feed the rest to the sharks!" Markus declared.
"Hear me out. I know of the mermaid you seek, and I have a deal I want to make with you if you wish to capture her," Sombra stated. This caught the attention of the pirates.
"You have our attention," Markus said. With a smirk, Sombra began explaining his deal.
The next morning arrived quickly, and Mavis was graciously taking her time in getting dressed for her next session with the Nymphs. She eventually settled on an outfit consisting of a grassy green tank top and ocean blue shorts. She packed an additional set of clothes into her satchel, "You seem happy," Shuppet commented.
"Oui. Mon teachers are going to continue helping moi out with training today," Mavis replied.
"I thought you were done with that yesterday?" Swablu asked.
"I was done with Nymph training. But they want to do an additional session today to help me out with... another part of moi, as well as teaching moi about some beauty regiments," Mavis replied, putting a few rubber ducks in her satchel.
"I just wish we could go with you," Furfrou commented.
"I wish so too, but mon teachers made it clear that males are not permitted in the grotto," Mavis said, nuzzling the Poodle Pokémon.
"Well, hopefully whatever they want to do doesn't take terribly long," Togepi said.
"I should be back before suppertime," Mavis said, as she and her Pokémon left her room, and made their way to the dining room. Along the way, they met up with Nathan, and his Pokémon Partner, Hawlucha.
"Mornin' Mavis. Ya look to be in good spirits," Nathan commented.
"Yeah, she's eager to get back to that Grotto place and do something with the nymphs," Swablu replied for Mavis.
"She appears to have enjoyed her time there yesterday," Hawlucha commented.
"Oui, that I did," Mavis replied.
"Well, just as long as ya ain't pushing yourself," Nathan said.
"Non, the sessions were not at all difficult. In fact, it was more like, how do you say, playtime," Mavis replied, as they all arrived at the dining room. There, they saw that the chefs had set out a small, buffet style table for the family. Cadence and Shining Armor were already sat down for breakfast.
"Ah, good morning Nathan, Mavis. I trust you both slept alright?" Cadence asked.
"Yup," Nathan replied.
"I went straight to bed after I got home," Mavis replied.
"Well, you did have a busy day yesterday," Shining Armor said.
"Anyway, be sure to eat a good breakfast, sweetie. I'll be taking you back to the Grotto after breakfast," Cadence said.
"Oui Maman," Mavis said, as she and Nathan went to make themselves some breakfast. Mavis settled for a small stack of pancakes and syrup, while Nathan went for eggs and toast.
"So, what kind o' trainin' did they give ya yesterday?" Nathan asked.
"Well, there were eight of them, each with their own hobby. Sky taught moi about music, Tabby taught moi about natural medicine, and Dana taught moi about how to get natural cooking ingredients, like honey," Mavis explained, as she ate her breakfast. After a few minutes, they had all finished their breakfast.
"Let's just freshen up, and we can head out, Mavis," Cadence said. Mavis retreated back to her room, where she brushed her teeth, and brushed her hair. With that, she grabbed her satchel, and made her way to the foyer, where Cadence was waiting, "Alright Mavis, let's get going," Cadence said, as she and her daughter made their way back to the mountains.
Back in the Nymph Grotto,
The eight Nymphs were all fluttering about, trying to get things ready for the return of their student, "Ok, that takes care of snacks," Dana commented, preparing larges batches of cookies.
"I prepared the water baths," Marina added.
"All that's left is for Mavis to get here, and we can help her with her gorgon powers," Yuki added.
"Yes. That will be our first order of business. Mavis should not fear her powers," Wanda said.
"Good thing I still had this book on gorgons in my room," Cosmo said, pulling out a small tome.
"Well, I guess we're all set then. I'll go and keep a look out for Mavis and Cadence," Marina said, heading out into the lake. Needless to say, she was pretty excited to spend more time with her student. She resurfaced slightly near the shore. It was a moment before she saw a blur of pink in the distance. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was Cadence, carrying Mavis in her arms, "YOO HOO! Over here!" Marina waved.
"Hello Marina," Cadence greeted.
"Bonjour Marina," Mavis greeted.
"Hello Princess, Mavis. I hope the trek up here wasn't too terribly difficult," Marina commented.
"Not at all. The path was for the most part fairly even, so it wasn't too difficult," Cadence replied.
"Well, that's good. So Mavis, are you ready for today's session?" Marina asked.
"Oui, Marina," Mavis replied.
"Alright, like yesterday, I trust you'll bring her back safe and sound once your done?" Cadence asked.
"Of course! She'll be safe and sound when I bring her back," Marina replied.
"Ok then. Now Mavis, you be a good girl like always for your teachers," Cadence said, planting a small kiss on her daughter's forehead.
"Ok Maman, I will see you later then," Mavis said, hugging the pink alicorn, who returned the hug.
"Have fun now!" Cadence called out, as she went back to the Crystal Empire.
"Ok then, let's get going Mavis," Marina said, as she and her student swam to the grotto.
Back with Sombra and the Pirates,
"...And that is what I want out of you. In exchange, you may keep and do whatever you need with the mermaid," Sombra finished explaining himself.
"Hmm, a very devious plot, that be. Fortunately for you, we pirates don't give a hoot about civilians, so we can help you by any means to conquer that land," Markus replied.
"Of course, if you happen to skimp out on your end of the bargain, ye be in for a keelhauling!" Luke howled.
"Ye will be sent to Davy Jones' Locker if we be sensing any foul play!" the girl stated.
"I get what you all are saying. And don't worry, it matters not to me what becomes of that girl after I get my land," Sombra said.
"Well then, the question now is 'when are we setting sail'?" Markus asked.
"Don't worry. Leave everything to me," Sombra mused.
"But what about those ponies who made ye walk the plank last time ye crossed them?" the girl pirate asked.
"Aoi is right. We have faith in our vast numbers, but we may not be a match for them if they try what they pulled with you," Markus commented.
"Don't worry about that either. I have it covered," Sombra said, as he used his magic to summon the black mist.
"What are ye doing, ye scurvy dog!?" Markus demanded.
"Tell me, do you crave power?" Sombra asked maliciously, as the mist spread across the entire fleet. The agonized sounds of pain from all the pirates echoed through that patch of ocean.
Back with Mavis,
Having reentered the grotto, Marina dried off Mavis' tail, returning the young girl to human form, "Ok then, let's go meet with the others," Marina said, as she led Mavis into the temple.
"Merci, once more lending moi the poncho," Mavis said, pulling the poncho out, and giving it back to Marina.
"You're very welcome Mavis. And don't worry. For today's lesson won't require anything special," Marina said, accepting the poncho, as they met up with the others.
"Ah, hello Mavis," Wanda greeted. The others also greeted their student.
"Bonjour," Mavis greeted.
"So, are you ready for today's session?" Kat asked.
"Oui. I wish to learn how to keep my powers in check, as not to hurt anyone," Mavis replied.
"Well, don't worry. Our magic can help you control your gaze when you don't want it to work," Dana said.
"Now then, in order for us to be able to help you, we need to know how you managed to activate your powers," Tabby stated.
"Well, it only happened two times, and both times I was under a lot of stress," Mavis replied.
"I see. Well, I think there may be a mental block that prevents you from using it on demand. I think we can work around that," Wanda said, placing her hands on either side of Mavis' head. She then began using her magic, sending a warm feeling through Mavis' head, making her a little drowsy, "Ok then, that should hopefully do it. Now then, Mavis, think really hard. How does it feel when you turn into your gorgon form?" Wanda asked.
"Well, when ever I turn, my hair feels more alive than usual," Mavis replied.
"Hmm, makes sense, as the snakes in your hair are alive," Mavis froze up when Cosmo mentioned the word "snakes".
"Mavis? Are you ok?" Yuki asked, snapping Mavis out of her trance.
"Oh, sorry, but I am not exactly a big fan of snakes," Mavis replied.
"Ah, gotcha'," Yuki replied in understanding.
"Well, the snakes in your hair won't hurt you. They are a part of you," Wanda said.
"Now then, try to focus on the feeling you have whenever yo use your powers," Dana instructed. Reluctant as she was to do so, she did as she was told. She focused on the feeling she had when she turned gorgon, eventually feeling her hair moving on it's own. Opening her eyes, she saw that her hair had turned into snakes, much to her fright, "You did great Mavis! Now then, as for the stone eye trick, what does that feel like?" the THICC Nymph asked.
"I don't really feel anything when I do that, not that I even want to use it," Mavis stated. The snakes in her hair looked just as downcast as she did.
"I see. It must be a natural response when you change," Tabby commented.
"But if it is natural, then why aren't any of vous turning to stone?" Mavis asked, some of her snakes perking up in equal confusion.
"Nymphs are immune to that sort of thing, so of course we won't turn to stone," Kat replied, as Mavis reverted back to her normal form.
"But it would seem like your eye trick doesn't work unless you're under some kind of stress," Wanda observed.
"But, we're here to make you feel less stress, not more of it. So, I guess we're done with that then," Marina commented.
"And it looks like you can't be a Nymph AND a Gorgon at the same time," Sky commented, noticing that Mavis' wings were missing when she changed.
"Merci, for everything," Mavis said.
"You're very welcome Mavis. Before we take you back home, we did promise to treat you to our beauty regime, so, if you're still wanting to...." Wanda offered.
"Oui. I would like that very much," Mavis replied.
"Alright, then let's go into the bathhouse," Marina said, as she and the other Nymphs led their student into their bath house. Inside, Mavis saw all manner of bathtubs, which could easily classify as small swimming pools. In some tubs, she saw a variety of water baths, including one that had flowers floating in it. Another tub appeared to have some kind of white liquid substance that kind of looked like milk.
"Is that tub filled with milk?" Mavis asked, wondering why they would have such a bath.
"Technically yes, but it's a bit stronger than average milk. We conjure up this substance to help with skin vitality. It has more than fifty times as nutrients and vitamins than regular milk," Wanda replied.
"We usually save that tub for last, as not to get milk into the water baths," Kat added.
"But before we go and bathe and relax, we must first cleanse ourselves," Dana said, pointing to what looked to be a shower area.
"Another question about the milk bath, isn't it a little icky to bathe in milk?" Mavis asked, as she got dressed into a one piece swimsuit that Marina gave her.
"Not at all. Our magic makes it perpetually pure. It can never go bad, or get 'icky' as you call it," Cosmo replied, as she and Tabby began washing Mavis. Inevitably, Mavis turned into her mermaid form when she came in contact with water.
"Don't worry about that then, you can still use the baths even in mermaid form," Marina said, as she and the others all rinsed off. Mavis noticed that the shampoo they were using smelled especially sweet.
"What kind of shampoo is this?" Mavis asked.
"It's our own specially made blend. We use only the most freshest ingredients to make it," Wanda replied, as she picked up Mavis, and led her over to the bathtubs, "Now then, which one would you like to try?" she asked.
"What's that one with the all the flowers in it?" Mavis asked.
"Ah, that's another good bath we like! The flower petals are infused with our magic, and it helps to give the water a healing effect that absolves any fatigue one may feel," Sky explained. But the look on Mavis' face indicated the young girl didn't know what her mentor was saying, "Simply put, the flowers help the water so that it doesn't make you feel tired anymore," she simplified. Mavis looked now to understand her mentor, as Wanda set Mavis in the bathtub, following the mermaid in.
"Ooh, this does feel nice. My gills are all tingly!" Mavis commented, sounding incredibly relaxed, almost nodding off into slumber.
"Careful there, precious. We don't usually stay in these baths for more than two hours," Yuki said, rocking Mavis awake. The rustling of leaves caught all their attention. Dana then threw a fire ball at a ledge, revealing a group of nerdy looking satyrs.
"Uh, hey ladies," the lead satyr said, trying to sound pleasant, while sweating profusely.
"Trying to get a peek on us during our bath, are you?" Wanda asked, sounding really mad.
"We warned you the last time you tried peeping on us," Tabby said, a demonic smile working it's way onto her face.
"Now, Tabby, let's be reasonable!" the second satyr pleaded, as they were all dragged off by the medical Nymph.
"Who were they?" Mavis asked.
"Oh, just some satyrs trying to get a eyeful of us in the bath. Speaking of which, wasn't there a barrier spell put up to keep this from happening again?" Wanda questioned her sisters.
"Yeah, I made doubly sure of that," Yuki replied.
"Hmm, the satyrs must be getting smarter about our defenses," Wanda commented, as Tabby came back in.
"Well, that takes care of that," Tabby said.
"What did you do with them this time?" Kat asked.
"Oh, after wrapping them up like mummies, I sent them upstream on a boat," Tabby replied.
"We need to up our security," Marina commented, as the nine Nymphs went back to their baths.
Back with the Pirates and Sombra,
"Hah.....hah..... this power..... it's...… overwhelmingly GREAT!" Markus exclaimed, bursting with power.
"That should help you with those fools who beat me last time," Sombra said.
"Rest assured, we'll keep up our end of the bargain, if you keep up yours," Aoi said.
"Of course. Something of equal value must be given for one to gain something," Sombra replied.
"But for now, should we go over a strategy?" Luke asked.
"Aye, now, how do we do this?" Markus asked, as they began going over a strategy.
Cadence was currently talking to Luna, via magic mirror, "And that's pretty much what I want to do," Cadence explained.
"I see. It is about time Celestia faced the ghosts of her past, or in this case, the Nymphs of her past," Luna said.
"I will extend invites to each of the Nymphs, when they bring Mavis back from today's lesson," Cadence said.
"Good. It would be nice to reconnect with my old friend, Cosmo, in person," Luna commented, as they cut off their communication. Cadence went over to a window, overlooking the river that Mavis has been using to come home in, "Come home soon Mavis. I have a bit of a surprise for you," Cadence said to herself.
Back with Mavis,
Mavis and the Nymphs had all exited the bathhouse, feeling refreshed, "My skin feels much softer now," Mavis commented, feeling her arm.
"Yeah, now you see why we like all those baths. Our bodies are all much softer, and luxurious as a result," Wanda said, as Dana conjured up the extra nutritious milk in glasses, before passing them around, while making a large mug for herself. She also brought out some of the cookies she made earlier.
"And the best part of bathing is that we can have some snacks afterwards!" Dana said, as she ate five cookies.
"And you don't need to worry. As time progresses, all the weight you would normally gain will either go up here," Kat said, cupping her massive breasts, "Or it'll put more junk in the trunk," she added, tracing her hips with her hand, as she ate a cookie. Mavis took out her pill bottle, and got a pill from it.
"What's that then?" Tabby asked.
"A medicine that someone named 'Raiden' made for moi. He said it is to boost mon 'metal-ball something'," Mavis replied, as she took the pill. Tabby took the bottle to inspect the pills.
"Hmm, I don't sense many natural ingredients in this," Tabby commented.
"He said he made it in his lab," Mavis replied.
"Hmm, I have to ask, why did you need this in the first place?" Tabby asked. Mavis then went on to explain that when she was living in France, she lost her will to want sweets due to what she saw on television.
"I see. So, this medicine is to help you rebuild tolerance to sweets," Wanda commented.
"Oui, that is what he said," Mavis replied, as she ate some cookies.
"How long did he tell you to take these?" Sky asked.
"Until the bottle is empty," Mavis replied. Tabby then saw that there were only three pills left.
"Looks like you've been busy taking these," she commented.
"Oui. I want to be able to enjoy sweets as much as everyone else," Mavis replied. Within minutes, they finished the cookies and milk.
"Ok then Mavis, shall we get you home?" Marina asked.
"Oui. Merci for helping moi with mon powers," Mavis said.
"You're very welcome sweetie. We hope to see you again soon," Wanda said, as she gave Mavis her satchel. With that, Marina and Mavis dove into the river, and left for the Crystal Empire.
Back at the Alicorn's Wish Guild,
While going over some paperwork, Silver was munching on some chips, "Everything looks to be in order," he said, filing the papers away, "Things have been pretty quiet lately," he said, gazing out his window. His attention then turned to his calendar. He noticed that it was already December, and was encroaching on Christmas Season, or as the ponies call it, Hearths Warming, "Hmm, maybe we should do something for the holidays," Silver pondered. It was then, that Raiden came in, with Twilight in tow, "Ah, Raiden, and Twilight too. To what do I owe the pleasure of having you here?" the guild master asked.
"Ah yes, I have come on behalf of my fellow princesses to make a request of the Alicorn's Wish Guild. It is in regards to the upcoming Hearth's Warming Ball, being held up at Canterlot Castle," Twilight said, as she began to give the details of the job.
On the Pirate Galleon,
"And that will be how we attack," Sombra concluded his presentation.
"Excellent. Those landlubbers won't know what hit them!" Markus proclaimed.
"Yes, and you have full range to use your new powers anyway you see fit. As long as I get the kingdom, you can do whatever," Sombra replied.
"So, when are we attacking?" Aoi asked.
"Hmm, they're most likely going to be gathering at the same place for Hearth's Warming, so we can attack then," Sombra strategized.
"Quick question, what's Hearth's Warming?" Luke asked.
"It's my land's equivalent to what you humans call 'Christmas'," Sombra stated.
"Ah, so we're basically giving each other presents, eh?" Markus inquired.
"I guess so," Sombra laughed maliciously.
Back in the Crystal Empire,
Carrying Mavis in her arms, Marina brought the young girl, still in her mermaid form, to the palace, "Merci, for doing this Marina, and for everything you and your sisters have done for me," Mavis said, as they neared the Palace. Thankfully, there weren't too many ponies out and about, so they weren't spotted by the snobby nobles.
"You know we love helping you, Mavis. We're more than happy to help you out," Marina said, as they arrived at the palace, where Shining Armor was talking to the guards.
"So that's how they found out about the DNA evidence?" Shining Armor asked.
"Yeah, it was crazy," one of the guards said.
"Oh, looks like your daughter's back," the other guard commented, seeing the mermaid and the Nymph.
"Ah, Mavis, did you enjoy your time with your teachers?" Shining Armor asked.
"Oui. They taught me how to control mon powers, and gave me some beauty treatments," Mavis replied.
"Well, that's good. Thank you for everything you and your sisters are doing for our daughter," Shining Armor said.
"It's alright, Captain Armor. We're more than happy to help her out. I'll see you later then, Mavis," Marina said, as she turned to head back to the mountains.
"Hold on a minute, Marina, was it? My wife would like to talk to you about something," Shining Armor stopped the Nymph from leaving, much to hers and Mavis' surprise, "She'll explain everything inside," the alabaster unicorn said, inviting the Nymph into the castle.
Later, back at the Nymph Grotto,
They Nymph's were all doing their own thing, while waiting for their sister to return. Wanda was wondering what was keeping Marina, as she was never late, "She should've been back by now," she commented.
"Maybe the princess is talking to her about something?" Yuki thought, as she conjured up some ice for Dana.
"Thanks sis," Dana thanked, as she poured the ice into what looked like a blender, before turning it on. It was then that Marina came in, a crazed, ecstatic look on her face, while holding a scroll.
"Marina? What's with that look on your face? You only get it when you and Kat are planning something devious and underhanded, like some kind of insidious prank," Wanda commented warily.
"HEY!" Kat yelled, sounding offended. She was shut up by the looks the others were all giving her.
"Well, when I was at the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadence gave this to me!" Marina said, giving the scroll to Wanda, who read it aloud.
"Dear Wanda,
You and your sisters are all invited to attend the grand Hearth's Warming Ball, being held at Canterlot Castle. Each of you are allowed to bring one guest with you. We hope to see you all then,
Sincerely, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," the letter read. Upon reading this, the other Nymph's all looked equally as ecstatic as their aquatic sister. They were all squealing at the thought of being invited to their first party in centuries.
"This will be so much fun!" Kat exclaimed.
"But who should we bring with us? And what will we wear?!" Sky pondered. Wanda thought about it for a moment.
"You know, maybe we should take this opportunity to introduce Mavis to rest of our family," Wanda suggested. The other's knew what she was talking about, and seemed to be on board.
"But the invite says we're only allowed to bring one guest each," Yuki commented.
"And it seems odd that we're being invited to Canterlot, especially after Celestia started hating on us all those years ago," Dana added.
"Well, for now, we can just introduce our family in strides. And as for Celestia, I'm sure Cadence and Mavis can vouch on our behalf," Wanda reassured, as they went over to some crystal balls, and began making calls.
It was later that night when Mavis was being tucked into bed by Cadence, "Is it true, Maman, are mon teachers really invited to the ball?" Mavis asked hopefully. Mavis giggled at how cute her daughter was acting.
"Of course, precious. Aunt Celestia wanted to meet your teachers, so we're going to introduce her," Cadence replied.
"But what of her distrust towards the Nymphs?" Mavis asked.
"Well, seeing as how you have been spending quite a bit of time with them, I'm sure you'll be able to vouch for them," Cadence said.
"Well, ok," Mavis said, clutching her stuffed animals. Planting a kiss on her daughter's head, Cadence left Mavis to her slumber. However, unbeknownst to even Mavis, a dark, sinister presence lurked in the deepest recesses of her mind.
The Next Morning,
The Crystal Family was assembled in the Dining Room, enjoying their breakfast on pancakes. All the while, Nathan had a perplexed look on his face, which didn't go unnoticed by his parents, "Nathan, is something troubling you?" Shining Armor asked.
"Ah don't know if any of y'all heard, but there was some kind o' singin' last night," Nathan replied.
"What sort of singing?" Cadence asked.
"It almost sounded..... ghostly, for lack o' better word, but it was amazing!" Nathan explained.
"You know, I think the guards said something about there being some kind of eerie singing last night," Shining Armor commented.
"But I doubt seriously that it was a ghost. The Crystal Empire hasn't any records of any hauntings in any historical documents," Cadence added.
"What about ya, Mavis? Ya hear any singing?" Nathan questioned.
"Non, I was fast asleep last night. And mon Pokémon were all quite relaxed this morning," Mavis replied. Nathan was just as speechless as their parents, but he decided to just shrug it off, as he thought Mavis was just a heavy sleeper like he was.
"In any case, I understand you want to go to Ponyville for band practice, eh sport?" Shining Armor asked.
"Yup. If we're gonna perform at the ball, we need to get our groove together," Nathan replied.
"You are.... in a band?" Mavis asked.
"Yup. Along with Toby, Josh, Conner, and Mike, we make up a band we call the 'Equestrian Mayhem'," Nathan explained.
"Nathan is planning to head down to Ponyville for band practice a little later," Cadence added.
"Yer more than welcome to come, if that's alright with y'all," Nathan offered.
"We're ok with it, just make sure she's within your sight," Shining Armor said sternly.
"Gotcha'," Nathan replied.
"Well, finish up your breakfasts, and go freshen up. We'll send for the Crystal Express to take you to Ponyville," Cadence said. After finishing up their breakfasts, and heading back to their rooms to gather their things and freshen up, the both of them made their way to the main foyer, "Ok, I'll take you to the train station now. I've already sent word to Twilight that you two are on your way, so you can expect to meet her at the Ponyville Station," Cadence informed.
"Ok Mommy," Nathan replied.
"Merci Maman," Mavis added, as the pink Alicorn led them to the train station. Upon arrival, the Express was already there, awaiting to depart.
"Ok you two, have a safe journey to Ponyville," Cadence said, as her two eldest children boarded the train.
"We will Mommy. We'll try to be back by sundown," Nathan said. With a blow of the whistle, the train then took off. Not ten minutes later, Mavis had fallen asleep again, "Hmm, better ask Raiden about Mavis' sleepin' habits," Nathan commented to himself, as he pulled out his Nintendo DS.
On the Pirate's Fleet,
In the middle of what appeared to be a massive conference room, a large group of pirates were gathered, "Ok, so why have we been called here?" one of the pirates asked.
"Don't know. Probably has something to do with that unicorn and the deal the captain made with him," another replied.
"Alright, ye scallywags! Listen up!" they all stood to attention at the sound of Markus' voice, "We be making our move to this Equestria place. There, we steal back our mermaid!" Markus announced, inciting a roar of applause from his underlings.
"And in doing so, you may do what ever you wish to those who oppose you," Sombra added, coming from behind the captain.
"Oh yeah, what do you have in mind?!" one pirate yelled.
"Anything you wish," Sombra repeated, as he leapt down into the crowd, and began to sing.
With that, all of the pirates cheered rowdily, "Good that you get the big picture. Now, my spell will teleport us to the exact time of their little celebration party. This way, we can attack as soon as possible. Besides, we can't just keep doing this kind of stuff in any of the future chapters," Sombra stated, as he cast his dark magic.
Back at Ponyville Station,
With a shrill whistle, the Crystal Express had pulled into the Ponyville Station, where Twilight was waiting on the platform. When the doors opened, ponies were all exiting, while Twilight scanned the crowd for her niece and nephew. From the steam, Nathan walked out, with Mavis on his back, latched on like a koala. Twilight couldn't help but find such a scene adorable, "Hello Nathan, Mavis," Twilight greeted.
"Howdy, Auntie Twilight," Nathan said, still carrying the sleeping girl.
"Is she sleeping?" Twilight asked.
"Yup. She fell asleep not ten minutes out of the station back at the Empire," Nathan replied, as Twilight led them to her Castle.
"Must be jetlag. That usually happens to someone when they don't travel a lot," Twilight stated. It took about seven minutes to arrive at the castle, "Come along. We can put her in a bed until she wakes up again," Twilight said, as she took them to the nearest guest bedroom. Twilight took Mavis from Nathan, and laid her out on the bed, "Now then, I can watch over her until she wakes up. Until then, try to stick around the castle as much as possible," Twilight requested.
"Sure thing," Nathan nodded, as he left the bedroom, leaving Twilight to watch over the young mermaid girl, as she stirred slightly in her sleep.
"Oh, Mavis, what are we going to do with you?" Twilight asked, smiling at how cute Mavis looked.
Later that day,
After waking up from her unorthodox nap, Mavis was walking with Nathan through Ponyville, "Man, looks like the guys are all busy with their chores," Nathan complained.
"Eh, Qu'est ce que tu vas faire?" Mavis questioned, as they sat on a park bench. She then noticed Toby walking about, "Is that not Monsieur Toby?" the gothic girl asked. Nathan looked up to see where she was looking.
"Why, yes it is! Hey, Toby!" Nathan called out, catching the spectacled boy's attention.
"Oh, hey Nathan, Mavis," Toby greeted.
"Ya doing anything right now?" Nathan asked.
"Not really..... I had finished all my chores early, so I decided to head out. What about you two?" Toby asked.
"We got here about a few hours ago. The guys are still workin' on their chores, but they should be gettin' done here shortly," Nathan replied. No sooner than he did, the other boys arrived.
"Sorry it took so long. Had some trouble with tying down the hay," Mike said.
"Yeah, it was almost impossible for us to reshelf the library with all the new books Mom's been getting," Josh said.
"Well, everyone's here now, so we can git to band practice," Nathan said. Mavis was about to leave with them, when Twilight called out to her.
"Mavis, sweetie! I know your mother said to stay with your brother at all times, but maybe you'd like to join the girls and I at the spa?" the purple alicorn offered. Mavis turned to look at her brother, who simply shrugged.
"If ya want ta go, then Ah say go fer it. Besides, ya probably wouldn't want ta sit around listenin' to us play all day," Nathan said.
"Well, I suppose one little spa day wouldn't hurt," Mavis said.
"Wonderful! You won't regret this!" Rarity exclaimed, as they took Mavis with them to the spa.
Back in the Nymph Grotto,
The Nymphs were all going through their clothes, trying to pick out their choices for the Hearths Warming Ball, along with eight new Nymphs. One had bright, lime green hair, and owl glasses. She wore a similarly green bikini. The second was the tallest of the Nymphs, having blonde hair, and her bikini looked more like armor, and she was also wearing a loincloth. The third one wouldn't look out of place at an animal shelter, as she wore an apron over her magenta bikini. She also had fiery red hair. The fourth appeared to have overly wavy black hair, and wore an elegant dress already. The fifth Nymph had spikey purple hair, and had beautiful jewelry on. Even her blue bikini was adorned with jewels. The sixth Nymph looked to be a fashionista, and was wearing a cerulean bikini. The seventh Nymph looked to be a dancer, and had brown hair. The eighth Nymph had what could be described as an outfit befitting a cupid. She had luxurious blonde hair. Much like their sisters, these new nymphs were all quite voluptuous.
"I can't wait for you girls to meet Mavis! She is such a little sweetheart!" Sky commented.
"From how you described her, she sounds like an absolute doll!" the dancer Nymph replied, as they continued trying on different dresses. Dana came out wearing a Jessica Rabbit type outfit.
"Eh, too sexy," Kat commented.
"How about this one?" the overalls wearing Nymph asked. She came out wearing a Nurse's outfit.
"That's kind of the look I go with everyday," Tabby commented.
"Besides, this is a Ball, not a cosplay contest," the glasses wearing Nymph added.
"This one's not too shabby," Yuki commented, as she came out wearing a Yukata.
"Hmm, could work," the Amazon Nymph replied, as they continued trying out the various dresses.
In the Gorgon Temple,
The Queen Gorgon was going through dresses, trying to find what she wanted to wear to the Ball, "Hmm, too bland..... too flamboyant....," she said, as she cycled through her dresses, "Ugh, this is getting me nowhere! What does a girl have to do to look great for a ball?" she questioned. It was then that Lila came in.
"Mom? Are you still trying to find a suitable dress?" Lila asked.
"Yeah. I want to make a good impression for all of Gorgon kind," the Queen replied, the snakes in her hair taking an equally tired look as her.
"I think it's more about how you act that makes a good impression, and not how you look," Lila commented, trying to offer words of encouragement.
"I know that, but I want to appear less threatening when we get to the ball. From what Princess Twilight told me, the Canterlot nobles are extremely prejudiced against those who are unlike them, or that they view as a threat. Get where I'm going with this?" the Queen asked. Even the snakes in Lila's hair winced at the queen's logic.
"Well, as long as you look good, I'm sure they won't be that bad, especially if Raiden's guild will be there. And he's a friend of all four Princesses! What does that say to you?" Lila asked.
"I guess you're right. Appearances mean nothing in the face of good first impressions," the Queen said, as she went back to picking out a dress.
Having spent the last few hours in the spa, the girls all came out, feeling refreshed, "Did you enjoy yourself, Mavis?" Crystal asked.
"Oui, though I felt a bit uneasy about how the attendants reacted to mon fish tail. Not to mention that the water didn't make mon gills tingle," Mavis admitted.
"Well, it would be difficult for them to do your feet when your in mermaid form," Charity pointed out.
Flashback: Three Hours ago,
"Ok girls, we will do your pedicures now. We will need you to exit the pool now," Aloe said. One by one, each of the girls left the bathtub.
"Uh, could I get a little help here?" Mavis asked.
"Oh, right," Applejack said, lifting Mavis out of the tub, who was still in mermaid form.
"Oh my, I wasn't expecting this kind of surprise today," Lotus commented.
"Mavis is a Mermaid, so she's part fish," Kelly replied, as the aforementioned girl was laid out on a chair. The attendants still seemed in slight shock, but tended to them, nevertheless.
"By the way Mavis, is it alright for you to be out of the water?" Clover asked.
"I'll be fine, as long as mon gills are moist," Mavis replied.
Real Time,
"Well, mermaids aren't native to this world, so seeing one for the first time is a bit of a surprise. After all, that's how we all felt when we found out about you," Twilight brought up. Just then, Spike came running towards them. Seeing a dragon made Mavis' face pale completely, as she froze up.
"Twilight! We got bad trouble! I just received word that one of the tunnels leading to the Crystal Empire was blocked off due to an avalanche! The good news is that the Railroad Association has sent a team up to the site to get it cleared out, but they won't have it dealt with until this time tomorrow!" Spike reported.
"Hmm, that's not good. Well, thank you for bringing this to my attention, Spike," Twilight commended.
"Just doing my duty," Spike replied, It was then that he noticed Mavis, stiff as a statue, "Uh, is she ok?" Spike asked. Twilight looked at Mavis, and sighed.
"I think so, but maybe you should giver her plenty of space. She's still not used to Equestria, or the creatures that live here," Twilight advised.
"She's probably intimidated by you, even if you are a baby dragon," Rarity added.
"Ah, got it! I'll just meet you all back at the castle," Spike nodded, as he turned to leave.
"Oh, one thing, could you deliver the message to Nathan too, if you haven't already? He and Mavis will most likely be staying the night," Twilight asked.
"Sure thing!" Spike replied.
"He and the boys should be at Sweet Apple Acres, in the middle of band practice," Applejack added. Spike nodded, and took off.
"Mavis? You ok?" Kelly asked, snapping her fingers, breaking Mavis out of her trance.
"Huh? What happened?" Mavis asked.
"You froze up when you saw Spike," Twilight replied. Mavis took a moment to remember, and shuddered when she remembered seeing the dragon in question.
"I don't like reptiles or dragons," Mavis admitted, twiddling her thumbs.
"But you don't have to worry. Spike's a nice dragon, as well as my personal assistant," Twilight informed. Mavis was certainly taken aback by this revelation. A dragon being in service to a pony, and an alicorn on top of that?! Her thoughts were interrupted when Crystal and Kelly began ushering her towards Sugarcube Corner.
"Well, for now, why don't we go and get ourselves a little snack? You're probably hungry after our little session," Twilight offered.
"Well.... I guess one little snack wouldn't hurt," Mavis replied, as they made their way to the bakery.
After placing their orders, the girls were all lounging around, waiting for their snacks to come, "So, Mavis, there's something that Mommy told us about that we want to know for certain," Trinity began.
"Oui?" Mavis asked cautiously. She worried that Twilight told them about her Gorgonic Powers.
"Is it true that you're being taught by a bunch of Nymphs?" Crystal asked. Mavis mentally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oui. And they are most beautiful! They even taught me some of their beauty treatments," Mavis replied.
"That explains why your hair is so luxurious and soft," Charity commented, feeling Mavis' hair. It was then that Brian, Icezer, April, Maria, Lucas, and Simon came into the bakery, carrying several large boxes.
"Ok Mr. and Mrs. Cake, that's seven cases of varying fruits, as per your request," Brian said, as the mutants all set down the boxes.
"Thanks so much for doing this for us," Carrot Cake said, as he paid each of the mutants.
"What was the job you kids were doing this time?" Rarity asked.
"We were hired to find a bunch of fruits in an area that was too dangerous for any non-Pegasus pony to access. Needless to say, it was a tad on the boring side, but at least it was easy enough," Icezer shrugged.
"We asked Raiden if he wanted to come out on the job with us, but he said he was in the middle of some kind of experiment. Something to do with gorgons, or something," April added. Mavis tensed up at the mention of gorgons.
"What're gorgons?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"They're a breed of lamia, which are women with lower bodies of snakes, from what Raiden said. They have snakes for hair. They have the power to turn others to stone," Simon replied. Rarity shuddered at the very thought of such a thing.
"How dreadful, having snakes for hair!" she commented, appalled at the thought.
"I don't know.... it sounds kind of cool," Vibrant admitted.
"It is still a it scary though," Mavis mumbled.
"You say something Mavis?" Melody asked. Mavis squeaked.
"N-non! Nothing at all!" Mavis quickly replied. Applejack and Season Harvest knew instantly was up with Mavis, but based on her mannerisms, they decided not to press the issue. It was then that Eris came into the shop, with Heaven in tow.
"Ok Heaven, you go order something small now," Eris said. Heaven went over to see what she wanted, drooling at the sight of everything. Eris went over to the group. Mavis shrunk a bit, seeing the draconequess, "So, Twilight, how's Mavis been?" Eris asked.
"She's been an absolute angel! She's made a lot of friends since coming here! Sure, she needed to warm up to them, but she is easily one of the most well mannered of all the children!" Twilight replied.
"Wait..... how do you know her name anyhow?" Applejack asked.
"I'm... kind of the one who sent her here, after what she's been through," Eris admitted. Mavis was certainly surprised by this. This Eris.... person knew what she was going through?
"I see. Well, you certainly made the right choice, especially where you sent her. Cadence and Shining Armor have been such good parents to her. She even has new teachers in the mountains nearby," Twilight replied.
"I know. The Nymph magic that she's radiating shows," Eris said, looking at Mavis. Heaven saw Mavis, and instantly became interested in the new friend. She dashed over, eager to introduce herself.
"HI!" Heaven excitedly said, making Mavis jump a bit, "Watashinonamaeha Heaven Fujiyamadesu!" Heaven exclaimed happily.
"Euh .... je m'appelle Mavis Gustou," Mavis replied nervously, receiving a bit more attention than she really wanted.
"Alright Heaven, give the poor girl some space. She's not used to receiving this much attention," Icezer scolded, picking Heaven up by the back of her shirt.
"Ā, kōheide wanai! You all got to meet her!" Heaven pouted.
"Well, keep in mind. Mavis may have been here only a few weeks, but she's still not used to everyone just yet," Brian stated.
"Ok," Heaven puffed up her cheeks in an anime fashion.
"Ok then. Now go back and pick something for your snack," Eris instructed, as Heaven went back to the display case.
"Sorry about Heaven, Mavis. She get's a little.... excitable when she sees someone new. She's kind of like Pinkie Pie," Brian said to the gothic girl.
"Non! Non! It's fine, really!" Mavis argued.
"Well, at least she was trying to be friendly. That was a plus, right?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Yeah. Maybe next time they see each other, Heaven can try a little more.... controlled method of introducing herself," Icezer said. It was then that Raiden walked in, looking tired.
"Raiden, you look exhausted," Eris commented.
"Well, I got caught up in my research, lost track of time," Raiden replied with a yawn.
"So, what did you find out about gorgons?" Twilight asked. Once more, Mavis flinched at the mention of gorgons. This didn't go unnoticed by Season.
"Well, I have determined that gorgons have an extra layer of tissue in their eyes. It acts as an inhibitor for other gorgon's stone eye thing. This means that gorgons are immune to the eye trick of other gorgons," Raiden replied.
"So that explains why the other gorgons never turned to stone when I heard them talking to one another!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Yes," Raiden replied. It was then that Mrs. Cake came out, pushing a cart of cakes, pastries, cookies, and other goodies for them. Twilight then helped her to distribute the sweets among her friends, giving a small cookie to Mavis, who took her time with eating it. While she was eating, a stray cat wandered into the shop, causing Mavis to freeze up at the sight of it.
"Oh, it's you again," Fluttershy commented. The cat walked around them, looking at the curiously, before stopping at Mavis, who flinched. Without warning, the cat pounced playfully at Mavis.
"Isn't that just precious? It likes you," Maria commented. Mavis, however, did the one thing that she felt was appropriate in this situation. She let out an extremely loud shriek, before passing out.
"Oh dear, not again!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Mermaids just don't like cats, do they?" Kelly asked rhetorically, as Serenity picked up the cat, and took it outside.
"N-Now run along, Mr. Cat," Serenity politely requested, as the cat scampered off.
"I think Mavis will do a lot better if I just take her back to the castle. She and Nathan are staying the night due to a blockage en route to the Crystal Empire," Twilight said, as she picked up the mermaid girl, who was foaming at the mouth with anime swirls in her eyes.
"Well, hopefully she gets better," Rarity said.
"Mommy, would be alright if the girls slept over at the castle? We would like to know more about mermaid culture," Kelly asked. Twilight considered what her daughter had requested. She too wanted to know more about the type of place Mavis grew up in, in terms of her mermaid half. That, and it would do Mavis some good to spend some more time with the girls.
"Well, if it's alright with the rest of you, then I guess it's ok," Twilight replied.
"Ah got no problem with it," Applejack commented.
"Nor I," Rarity added. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash all added their own sentiments of approval.
"Ok, then how about 6 o'clock tonight?" Twilight asked. Once more a wave of approvals. With that, they all dispersed.
Later that night,
Knocking could be heard throughout Twilight's castle, as Twilight walked towards the doors. Opening them, revealed all of her friends, with their daughters in tow, "Hello everyone!" Twilight greeted.
"Hey Twilight. How's Mavis after what happened earlier?" Rarity asked.
"She woke up some time after we got back. She was still a little shaken up from her encounter with the cat, but she's doing fine now," Twilight replied.
"Well, that's good. Now then, Lucky Joy, Clover, Melody, you behave for auntie twilight, ok?" Pinkie Pie said. The others gave similar sentiments to their daughters too.
"They're all in good hands," Twilight said. With that, Applejack, Rarity, and the others said good night to their daughters, and took their leave back to their homes, "Alright girls, Mavis is with the others in the main room," Twilight said, inviting each of them into her castle. She then proceeded to show them to their rooms, before taking them to the main room, where Mavis, Nathan, Josh, Kelly, Nyx, Crystal, and Trinity were located.
"Hey girls," Kelly greeted.
"Hey," they all greeted.
"Where's Cory?" Season asked.
"He's working on a sculpture in his room. He was asked by Celestia to make something for the upcoming Hearths Warming Ball," Josh replied, as he and Nathan got up to leave.
"You two aren't staying?" Twilight asked.
"Nah. We'd figure Mavis should try opening open to the other girls first," Nathan replied, as he and Josh went back to their rooms.
"Well... alright then. If you girl's will get settled, I'll bring in some snacks I ordered from Sugarcube Corner earlier today," Twilight said, as she left the girls in the room.
"So, Mavis, what was it like in the ocean you lived in?" Charity asked.
"Well, I actually lived in a nearby town. But as for the ocean, it had the most clear, blue water you would ever see, along with the most beautiful coral reefs," Mavis replied, reminiscing.
"What about marine life?" Trinity asked.
"Oh, there were lots of fish where Maman and I always swam. Even dolphins came by to play with us. Some of my close friends include dolphins and Scylla," Mavis replied.
"'Scylla'? Who's that?" Lucky Joy asked.
"Scylla isn't a person. The Scylla are a race of marine creatures that have the upper bodies of a woman and the lower bodies of an octopus. Much like Nathan and the Apples, they tend to talk with, how you say, Southern Accents. The Scylla are very close friends of mermaids," Mavis explained.
"I see. What do mermaids think of sharks?" Clover asked.
"Well, Maman said they are the degenerates of the sea, and that I should stay far away from Great White Sharks. Other kinds of sharks like Hammerheads are ok," Mavis replied.
"What about piranhas?" Kelly asked.
"We don't talk about them," Mavis solemnly replied.
"Oops. sorry," Kelly replied.
"One final question. What are your thoughts on 'The Little Mermaid'?" Melody asked.
"Oh, I just love that movie! I loved all the musical numbers, especially Ariel's song about wanting legs, and Monsieur Crab's song about being under the sea," Mavis replied.
"Ah, a Disney movie. Though I never actually saw it, I did hear the dialogue, and I quite liked it too," Kelly commented. Twilight then returned with a bowl of popcorn.
"Now girls, don't stay up too late. I expect you all to be in bed no later than 9:30," Twilight said, as she left the girls to their own devices. From then until the appointed time, they continued asking each other questions, mainly about Mavis' life where she came from. Mavis told them all about the social structure of marine life. Fish and crustaceans were ranked as common folk, octopus, squid, dolphins, and whales were treated as upper class individuals, and Mermaids and Scylla were viewed as royalty or even deities. This Q&A session went on for about an hour, when it was time for them to turn in. Kelly and Crystal helped Mavis to her room. Once inside, Mavis got into her PJs, and crawled into bed with her stuffed animals, and her Pokémon to keep her company.
"Ah don't know. Ah heard something like this back in the Crystal Empire last night too," Nathan replied, as they tried to find the source, only to find that it kept moving around. They weren't the only ones who were trying to find the source. Twilight, Cory, and the girls were all up, trying to find the source of the singing. Serenity was latched tightly to Charity, as she was scared of how eerily it sounded.
"It sounds so beautiful," Kelly commented.
"I don't know. It sounds s-spooky," Serenity commented, as she clutched her teddy bear, while also holding onto Charity.
"Now don't worry Serenity, I'm sure there's nothing to be scared about," Charity reassured.
"Yeah, it's probably Spike's record player, and he probably just forgot to turn it off," Vibrant theorized.
"Not possible. Spike got rid of his record player last month when it broke," Nyx replied.
"If that's the case, then what could it be?" Trinity pondered, as the singing closed in on them. It was then that they met up with Josh and Nathan, who were both trying to find the source of the singing.
"Y'all tryin' to find that singin' too?" Nathan asked. A wave of nods was what he got for a reply.
"It sounds like it's right around the corner," Cory commented, as he peered around the corner. The answer to their curiosity was in the form of Mavis, as she appeared to be walking in her sleep, while singing.
"Oh, it was Mavis who was singing!" Josh exclaimed.
"Must be a mermaid thing," Kelly commented.
"Well, at least it wasn't anything dangerous," Twilight said, as she went to wake up Mavis.
"Hang on, you ain't really goin' to wake Mavis up?" Nathan asked, his tone sounding genuinely concerned.
"Of course," Twilight replied.
"But Ah was told that if ya wake up a sleepwalker, they'll go nuts," Nathan argued.
"First of all, that because it's dangerous for the sleepwalker's life, second, that's a myth. It's been scientifically proven that waking a sleepwalker puts them in no danger whatsoever. It's just the same as waking someone who isn't sleepwalking," Twilight explained, as she gently nudged Mavis' shoulder. This action made Mavis shriek, as she jolted awake, "Mavis! Mavis! It's ok! You're still in the castle!" Twilight quickly reassured. Looking around, Mavis had a look of confusion on her face.
"Uh.... why are we in one of the halls?" Mavis asked.
"Don't worry about it... now let's get you back to bed now. The same goes for the rest of you!" Twilight said to the other kids, who dispersed back to their bedrooms, with Twilight personally escorting Mavis back to her bedroom.
The next few weeks came and went, as the excitement for Hearths Warming drew nearer. It was nighttime in the Crystal Empire, as the royal family was preparing for their long trip to Canterlot first thing in the morning. Mavis was taking her time with packing her things. She had already gotten her clothes packed, save for her dress, which she wanted to wear for the Ball. She had a bag in place for her toys and her Pokémon, as she still wanted to sleep with her stuffed animals, "I should ask Maman about what to do about mon dress," Mavis said to herself, as she looked at the dress that was hanging in her closet. Just then, knocking could be heard from her door. Swablu went to open the door. Opening it revealed Cadence and Nathan.
"Mavis, are you done with your packing?" Cadence asked.
"Almost. I want to pack mon dress, but I was hoping you could help me with it?" Mavis asked.
"Of course. I think this bag should work," Cadence said, as she wrapped Mavis' dress in a bag, and, while keeping it on it's hanger, levitated it out of the closet, and with the rest of Mavis' luggage.
"So tiger, ya ready to go ta Canterlot?" Nathan asked. Truth be told, Mavis was still on edge about celebrating a holiday similar to Christmas, as she feared being greedy and selfish.
"Well, I.... uh," Mavis tried to reply, but to no avail.
"Now Mavis, you needn't worry. We know you don't like getting a lot of presents, so we'll try to keep it to a minimum," Cadence suggested. Mavis breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ya just gotta take your time with celebratin'. Ain't no one gonna force ya," Nathan said, as he left the room, leaving Cadence to tuck Mavis into bed.
"Good night Mavis. Sweet dreams," Cadence said, planting a kiss on Mavis, who nestled up in her bed, and prepared to fall asleep.
A few hours later,
It wasn't long before Mavis began having a dream. But this dream seemed very real, and not in the good way. All around her, she saw what appeared to be a castle, beginning to crumble, as a bunch of ships, which she recognized all too well, were firing at the castle. Looking around, she saw all her new friends, humans, ponies, Nymphs, and Pokémon, all buried under rubble, badly injured.
"Non.... non! This cannot be!" Mavis quivered, as she heard several people running towards her. Turning around, her face paled at the sight of the pirates that had been hunting her in her home town, along with King Sombra, who looked maliciously around.
"Thar she is, ye scallywags! Grab her, and get back to the boat!" one of the pirates ordered, as they all charged for Mavis, who ran away.
"Have to get away! I can't let them catch me!" Mavis said to herself, as she continued running. She eventually ran into a separate room, and hid. When she heard the pirates run past the room, she breathed a sigh of relief. But her relief was cut short when she found herself standing in front of a mirror. The problem with said mirror? Looking at her reflection, she saw a horribly evil version of her, smiling with razor sharp teeth.
"Well, well, well, what have we here? A scared little baby, who selfishly abandoned her friend and family just to save her own flesh. My, my, how disappointed they should feel that you would ditch them without a second thought," the evil Mavis said in a taunting tone, as the room around Mavis turned darker, and she soon found herself surrounded by all of her friends, who looked angry or disgusted or both at Mavis.
"Well Mavis, I hope you're satisfied with yourself. Not only have you abandoned us, but now ALL of Equestria is now under the control of King Sombra, and is infested with pirates," Celestia said, sounding incredibly displeased with Mavis.
"B-but I....." Mavis was silenced by the sight of the human children all pulling out knives, swords, or other forms weapons.
"Do not even THINK of lying to us now! This was your plan all along! You just wanted to ruin all of OUR fun by bringing those pirates with you from your world!" Brian yelled at Mavis.
"Well, in any case, we'll deal with the pirates, after we deal with you of course," Wanda said, as everyone closed in on Mavis, who cowered at being harmed by the people she thought were her friends. She waited..... and waited..... and waited for them to do what ever kind of harm they were planning, but it never came. Peering fearfully through her hands, she saw that all of them were gone. She slowly looked up, and found she was in a peaceful meadow.
"What... happened?" Mavis wondered.
"Are you alright, Mavis?" the little girl turned to see not only Cosmo, but Luna standing in her presence.
"You're very welcome, sweetheart. But I'm afraid I must ask, but who were all of those humans that were allied with Sombra?" Luna asked.
"They were the pirates that did this to me," Mavis sorrowfully replied, looking at her artificial arm.
"I see. Well, you needn't worry. We're more than ready to deal with Sombra, should that cur even try to attack again," Luna said, trying to comfort Mavis.
"And you needn't worry about those awful pirates. They have no means of getting to Equestria," Cosmo added. Mavis felt a little better about being safe, but she still had uncertainties about the whole nightmare she just had.
"Now then Mavis, you just worry about getting rest, and we'll worry about those awful pirates and that vile King," Luna said, as she and Cosmo set up a dream that Mavis would easily enjoy. Mavis saw that she was in a Parisian city square, with a bunch of Rubber Ducks falling from the sky. Mavis almost instantly forgot her nightmare. While both Luna and Cosmo smiled at the young girl's antics, Cosmo couldn't help but wonder about the image of the evil Mavis that she saw in the mirror.
'Something about that seemed, frightfully familiar,' the Nymph wondered, as she and Luna exited Mavis' dream.
The Next Morning,
The Crystal Family had woken up early so that they could catch the train, and they were all gathering in the main foyer, "Ok everyone, do you have everything you need and want to take with you?" Cadence asked. Shining Armor, Nathan, and Mavis, who still looked sleepy, all nodded. Shining Armor was also pushing a stroller that held Skyla and Guard, who were still half asleep, "Ok then, the train will be here momentarily, so we need to head towards the station now," Cadence said, as the family started heading towards the station. Along the way, Mavis took in the sights and smells that reminded her of Christmas back in Paris. Her thoughts were interrupted when they all arrived at the station, which was decked out for the holiday.
"Six tickets to Canterlot, if you please," Shining Armor asked, paying the ticket attendant, who gave the alabaster unicorn the tickets. And just in time too, as the Crystal Express had just pulled into the station.
"All aboard! Please have your tickets prepared!" the conductor announced, as everyone on the platform began boarding the train, presenting their tickets to him. Shining Armor did that as well, as the Crystal Family boarded a special royalty passenger car that was attached the back of the train, "We hope you will enjoy your trip, Princess. It's a non-stop trip all the way to Canterlot," the conductor said to Cadence.
"We're hoping for a smooth trip as well," Cadence said, as they all settled in. It was about five minutes when everyone boarded the train, before it took off. Upon feeling the train beginning to move, along with her already sleepiness, Mavis fell back to sleep. But she, nor anyone else, could predict the chaos that would ensue at Canterlot.
They had all assembled on the platform, waiting for the train to arrive to take them to Canterlot. Among them, was a log with a smiley face etched into it, "Uh, kids? Why is there a log with us?" Twilight asked.
"You mean Log? He's acting as the band's roadie for the ball," Toby replied. The adults all looked questioningly at him. Even Pinkie Pie.
"Dare we ask, why and how is a log acting as a roadie?" Rarity asked.
"Well, when I was moving some logs for the fireplace back on Sweet Apple Acres, I found Log in the pile, and we got to talking, and he really hit it off with the rest of us. Weren't you paying attention to the apartment complexes that were built over the past few days?" Mike asked.
"Wait..... you mean to tell me that this log was the architect behind those complexes? How is that even remotely possible?!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Log's a genius in just about every field imaginable. Last week he took us kite flying," Silver Spoon replied.
Flashback,
"Wow Log, you were right! This is relaxing," Kelly commented, as she and the other humans and foals were flying kites.
"Huh, I was wondering about that," Rainbow Dash commented, as the train pulled into the station.
"All aboard!" the conductor called. The scene then focused on the friends, as Log was heard walking onto the luxury car, with his bags.
"Now I've seen everything," Twilight said, as they boarded the train too. Once all passengers were safely boarded, the train took off for Canterlot.
One Hour Later,
The Train had pulled into the station, as the passengers from Ponyville departed from the train, "You all go on ahead to the Castle. We'll be going to see my parents," Twilight said to her friends, as they exited the station. As they got out, they saw Log was in a taxi, with his luggage in a separate cab, as they took off for the castle.
"I had no idea logs could hail for a taxi," Fluttershy commented, as they made their way to the castle as well.
"Now then kids, let's go see Grandpa and Grandpa," Twilight said, as she led her kids to her parent's house. Cory was a bit behind, as he was instructing the guards to take care of his sculpture, and to make sure no one sees it.
"We'll make sure it get's there safely, Prince Capri-Core," the guard said, as they wheeled the art piece off. Cory had to dash a bit to catch up with the rest of his family. Unknown to them, however, the Crystal Express was nearing the station by the second. With a screech of it's brakes, it came to a semi-slow stop. When the doors opened, the passengers were all let out. Among them was the Crystal Family. Cadence was carrying the sleeping Mavis on her back, while Nathan carrying most of her things.
"Ok guys, before the ball, we're going to visit your grandparents. After words, we'll head on up to the castle for the ball," Shining Armor said. Though, as he noticed Nathan was the only one who was awake and/or was paying attention, he realized he just made that little speech for nothing, and hung his head in disappointment.
"Don't worry dear. Maybe next time, when Mavis has an easier time staying awake, or when Skyla and Guard are older," Cadence said, as they made their way for their next destination. Along the way, they bumped into some of the Alicorn's Wish members, who were moving some large crates, all led by Eliza.
"C'mon boys and lassies! We need to get there by the time the moon peaks o'er the mountain," Eliza barked, as they continued moving the crates.
"Ya know, we'd have a lot easier time if you helped out!" Brian barked back, as he, Carlos, Icezer, Takanosuke, Cassidy, and Claire were all trying to pull the crates, while Raiden, April, Lucas, Simon, and Maria were all pushing them.
"Alright. If ya insist," Eliza rolled her eyes, as she went to help with pushing the crates. It was then that Raiden saw the Crystal Family.
"Oh, hey there! You guys just get to Canterlot?" he asked.
"Yep. We're going to visit my parents before the Ball tonight," Shining Armor replied.
"I'm sure Mavis will enjoy it vey much. As soon as she wakes up, that is," Cadence chuckled, looking back at the young girl.
"Jet lag, huh? Heaven's the same way, though she can be pretty stubborn," Icezer commented.
"By the way, I saw Twilight and them heading off in a separate direction than her friends," Maria commented.
"Huh, so they arrived here ahead of us," Nathan commented.
"Well, we'd better leave you guys to your job, whatever it is," Cadence said, as they bid the guild mates farewell, and proceeded to the house of Twilight and Shining Armor's parents. Though, as they passed, Cadence could've sworn she heard a hissing noise coming from one of the crates.
With Twilight's group,
They approached the home of the kid's grandparents, "Ok kids, here we are," Twilight said, as she knocked on the door. Opening it revealed Twilight Velvet, who scowled at the sight of her daughter.
"Well, it's about time you decided to visit! Guess since you're a princess, you can't be bothered to give your parents a visit, or even write to us!" Velvet chastised, before breaking out laughing.
"Always with the guilt trips, huh Mom?" Twilight joked.
"I'm just pulling you leg!" Velvet replied, as she invited them all in. Looking around, Twilight didn't see her father.
"Where's Dad?" Twilight asked.
"He went to go and buy some colored logs. He's picking up an extra one for that new girl that Shining Armor and Cadence took in," Velvet replied. Just then, a knocking came from the front door, "Oh, speaking of which," Velvet said, as she opened the door, revealing the Crystal Family. Mavis was starting to wake up, albeit a tad slowly, "Well, it's about time you all decided to show up!" Velvet jokingly snarled.
"Always with the guilt tripping, eh Mom?" Shining Armor asked, as they let themselves in. Upon entering, they saw Twilight and her kids, "Twiley! When did you get here?" Shining Armor asked. Twilight didn't answer, as she and Cadence did their little nursery rhyme.
"We got here just a few minutes ago," Josh replied. Mavis was swaying from side to side, trying to stay standing, while still half asleep.
"Ah, so is this my new granddaughter?" Velvet asked, looking at the drowsy girl.
"Yes. This is Mavis. She's very shy, so, could you not try to overwhelm her?" Cadence asked.
"I can, but she's as thin as a promise! Has she been eating right? And what of that metal arm she has?" Velvet asked. Mavis let out a long yawn, as she struggled to keep standing.
"C'mon Mavis, ya should go lay down," Nathan suggested, as he brought Mavis over to the couch, and let her lay on it. Mavis seemed to have gotten comfortable easily, as she began falling asleep again.
"Mavis' diet is alright, for the most part. She doesn't eat that much. As for her arm, well, something happened to her in the world she came from," Cadence explained. She knew the part about Mavis' arm was technically true, as she didn't know the full details.
"Hmm, well, I'll try not to give her too much food, and I won't press the matter of her arm any further," Velvet said.
"We'll try to keep quiet for Mavis' sake," Josh said.
"Thanks. Mavis deserves the rest," Cadence said.
"Why don't you kids go play out in the snow? The grown ups have some things to discuss," Twilight suggested.
"Ok Twilight," Nyx said, as they left the house.
"Now, what do you want to discuss with me?" Velvet asked.
"Well, it's in regards to Mavis," Cadence replied, as she began explaining everything to Velvet. At the end, Velvet had an understanding, yet skeptical look on he face.
"So, Mavis is not actually human. Rather, she's part creature that half human half fish called a 'mermaid'. On top of that, she's also part Gorgon and part Nymph too?" she asked, trying to get the facts straight.
"That's the gist of it. Though at first, she was very adamant about keeping the fact she was a mermaid a secret from us. We only found out about her Gorgon side by accident," Shining Armor replied.
"Well, it all sounds rather..... outlandish. I'm not doubting any of you or anything, but.... without proof, I'm having a rather difficult time believing any of it," Velvet admitted.
"Well, from what Celestia told me, she's having a member of the Alicorn's Wish Guild set something up just for Mavis," Twilight said.
"Though, as for her Gorgon and Nymph powers, the former is a bit on the risky side, given how the eye thing works. Regarding the latter, Mavis' teachers will be here for the festivities, so you can meet them then," Cadence said.
"Well, alright, I'll take your word for it," Velvet said. It was then that Twilight and Shining Armor's father, Night Light, entered the house.
"Hey everyone! Glad to see everyone's not too late!" Night Light commented.
"Daddy!" Twilight exclaimed. She immediately clamped her mouth shut, as she remembered Mavis was resting, or rather, just laying lazily on the couch.
"Ah, there they are! How's my little princess?" Night Light asked, ruffling Twilight's mane.
"I've been just fine, Dad," Twilight replied.
"And what about you two? I heard you took in another child?" the Sparkle Patriarch asked the Crystal Couple.
"We did. She's resting over there on the couch," Shining Armor replied, motioning to the couch, where Mavis was slowly getting up. She still looked groggy, as she let out another long, exaggerated yawn. Night Light looked intrigued by Mavis' artificial arm, "Dad, this is Mavis," the alabaster unicorn introduced the sleepy girl.
"Well, she is an absolute doll!" Velvet exclaimed.
"Indeed she is. Though she looks like she's seen better days," Night Light commented, seeing how sickly Mavis was.
"Well, she tends to sleep most of the time, and she doesn't like eating a lot," Cadence replied, before turning to Mavis, "Mavis, if you'd like, you can go and play with your cousins and brother out in the snow," Cadence offered.
"Oui Maman, *Yawns*," Mavis yawned, as she went out back to join her friends.
"Will she be alright? She didn't take a jacket," Night Light asked.
"Well, there's more to that young girl than meets the eye," Shining Armor replied.
"Well, we can do our Hearth's Warming traditions after the Ball. At least then we can try to get to know Mavis a little better," Velvet commented.
"Good call," Twilight replied.
"Now then, what's this about there being more to Mavis than meets the eye?" Night Light asked.
Later that very evening, the Sparkle Family were en route to the castle for the Hearth's Warming Ball, and they were chatting about what was going to happen there, "So, your roadie will take care of your performance prep work?" Velvet asked Nathan and Josh.
"Pretty much. He's bound to have everything set up for us by the time we get there," Josh replied, as they neared the castle.
"So, Mavis, I'm most excited to see your mentors again," Cadence commented.
"Oui Maman. They did say they were bringing an extended part of their family with them," Mavis said, as they got to the ticket booth.
"Tickets please," the bouncer said stoically. The adults all gave him the tickets, "Proceed," he said, standing aside, allowing the Sparkle family inside the castle. Mavis remembered her little meeting with the Nymphs before they headed out.
Flashback, about 15 minutes ago,
Mavis was getting dressed up in her Gothic Lolita dress, when she heard the amulet she got from Wanda go off. Walking over to it, she picked it up, "What is going on with this?" Mavis questioned. He question soon answered itself, as a projection of Wanda appeared before her, "Oh, Wanda! Bonjour!" Mavis greeted.
"And a hello to you too, Mavis. I trust you're in Canterlot now?" Wanda asked.
"Oui. Mon family arrived this morning," Mavis replied.
"Good. Now then, I'm sure you have questions in regards to how we're all going to get over there, yes?" Wanda asked.
"Oui. I was under the impression that you were coming sooner," Mavis admitted.
"Alright. I'm going to tell you exactly what to do. Now first, you'll need to get into the castle, obviously. Once you've done that, contact me, and pour just a little of your magic into the amulet. We'll do the rest. Do you think you understand?" Wanda asked.
"Oui. It sounds easy enough," Mavis replied.
"Ok. Well, I'm sure you'll want to talk some more with me and the rest of my sisters, but I think we can wait until we're in the Castle," Wanda explained.
"Oui. I will see you all soon. Au revior," Mavis said, as she hung up the communication.
Present Time,
Mavis' thoughts were cut off when they had arrived in the Ballroom. Looking around, she saw many decorations that reminded her of Christmas. Outside, she could vaguely see what appeared to be stands that one would expect to find at a carnival. She also saw her friends from Ponyville, all mingling with one another, "Well, Mavis, would you like to go play with your friends?" Cadence asked.
"Oui, Maman," Mavis replied, before remembering what Wanda had told her, "But first, I should call up mon teachers," Mavis said, taking out her pendant. She then tried contacting Wanda, key word being "tried". She looked all over the pendant, but found nothing that showed a function of calling someone. It was when she rubbed her hands over a jewel that was on it, that began calling Wanda. It was a few seconds before she picked up.
"Ah, Mavis. I'm glad you were able to call me up. Are you inside Canterlot Castle?" the head Nymph asked.
"Oui. And I am preparing to pour mon magic into the pendant," Mavis said, as she attempted to summon up her magic, and began pouring it into the medallion.
"Ok Mavis, that's good. We'll take it from here," Wanda said.
Over with the Nymphs,
"Alright girls, you all ready?" Wanda asked. Looking around, her sisters, all dressed in their usual bikinis, all nodded, "Ok then, now then, let's go," Wanda said, as they each poured their magic into the crystals in the Grotto. Within seconds, they turned into light particles, and were absorbed into the crystals, and were traveling at light speed to where Mavis was at.
Back in Canterlot Castle,
Mavis had set her pendant on the floor, and backed away from it, sensing that her teachers would be coming all at once, and would no doubt be filling up the space around her in an instant, "Mavis, is somethin' wrong?" Nathan asked, noticing his sister backing away from her medallion. His question was soon answered, when several flashes of light shone from her pendant, which took the form of all sixteen Nymphs. This got the attention of everyone else. The boys all blushed at seeing the Nymphs in their outfits, while the girls looked enviously at the figures of the Nymphs.
"Hello Mavis. I trust things have been well since we saw you last?" Wanda asked.
"Oui, Wanda," Mavis replied, as she hugged her mentor's leg.
"Hello Wanda. It's good to see you and your sisters again," Twilight greeted.
"Likewise, Princess," Wanda returned the greeting.
"Come Mavis. Let us introduce you and your friends to the rest of our family," Marina said, as they made their way to the center of the ballroom, where the other kids were at.
"So, these are your teachers, Mavis?" Josh asked.
"Oui. Mon mentors, Wanda, Dana, Tabby, Kat, Marina, Yuki, Cosmo, and Sky," Mavis introduced. The respective Nymphs all bowed, unintentionally giving the kids a view of their cleavages. This made the girls cover the eyes of the blushing boys.
"And these are our sisters, Daria, the Combat Nymph, Mariah, the Knowledge Nymph, Julia, the Jewel Nymph, Polly, the Animal Nymph, Fiona, the Opera Nymph, Sasha, the Dancing Nymph, Amanda, the Fashion Nymph, and Veronica, the Love Nymph," Wanda said, introducing Mavis and friends to her other eight sisters.
"She is totes even more cute as you described her!" Fiona commented, scooping Mavis up into a hug.
"I can feel a lot of love with that girl," Polly lazily commented.
"I'm glad to see you all love her already," Marina commented.
"Alright everyone! We'll now begin..." the voice of Celestia said, but was cut off. Looking in the direction of where her voice came from, they saw a shocked look on the solar princess's face.
"Uh, is she alright?" Toby questioned.
"Yeah, with Celestia and us, well, let's just say there's some bad blood," Dana replied.
"There's bad blood between Princess Celestia personally, and all Nymphs?" Mike asked.
"Pretty much. They had a bit of a fight a few centuries ago, and have been at each other's throats ever since," Sasha replied.
"Cadence, may I have a word with you?" Celestia asked, sounding irritated. Cadence gulped, and cautiously followed Celestia out of the room. Closing the door behind them, everyone in the ballroom could hear Celestia yelling and ranting at Cadence.
"Why are there Nymphs here?! Didn't I tell you they shouldn't be trusted?!" Celestia seethed.
"Aunt Celestia, I may not understand your distrust of the Nymphs, but they've proven to be a valuable source of guidance for Mavis. She was able to come more and more out of her shell as a result of their training," Cadence stated.
"Wait... so Mavis, actually trained under them?" Celestia asked, sounding like she was trying to get the facts straight.
"Yes. And now, on top of the medicine that Raiden made for her, she's now able to eat more food now. Including sweets," Cadence replied. Celestia, truthfully, didn't like the sound of Nymphs getting involved with the youth of Equestria, but she did like hearing that the newest addition to the family was starting to open up more.
"Well, alright. I'll allow them to stay for the ball, but I will be keeping an eye on them," Celestia stated, getting in Cadence's face, making the Crystal Princess uncomfortable, "Do I make myself clear?" the solar princess asked.
"Crystal," Cadence squeaked.
"Good. Now then, it's time to meet the rest of the guests, and for Cory to unveil his sculpture," Celestia said, as the two reentered the Ballroom, where the kids and adults were all mingling with the Nymphs, along with some of the other pony guests, apart from the really snooty noble ponies.
"So, you know how to talk to all manner of animals I've never even heard of before?" Fluttershy asked Polly.
"Oh sure. It's all a matter of being relaxed and at one with the vibes of the animals," Polly replied, sounding totally chill.
"I'm glad to meet fellow music artists," Sky said to the boys in the Equestrian Mayhem.
"Yep. Ah'm the lead guitarist," Nathan stated.
"I play bass," Conner added.
"I play ivories, either on a grand scale piano, or on my keytar," Toby added.
"I make sure to keep things a little jazzy with my saxophone," Mike added.
"And I'm the drummer," Conner stated.
"What about a singer? You have to have a singer!" Fiona stated.
"Well, we usually all sing when a song calls for it," Josh replied.
"What about you.... Sky, was it? What instruments do you play?" Toby asked.
"Well, just about any instrument," Sky replied.
"Attention, everyone!" Celestia called the attention to everyone in the room, "In the heart of the cultures of the Human society and our cultures here in Equestria, Prince Capri-Core has made a sculpture to showcase the unification of the merging cultures," she announced, as Cory went on to unveil his latest art piece. Pulling the covers off, everyone in the ball room was in awe. The sculpture was of two trees, decorated in similar, yet different ways. On one side of the sculpture, was a Nativity scene, where the birth of Jesus was taking place, as well as the very symbol of Christmas himself: Santa Claus. The other half had the three races of ponies, all gathering together, with the wendigos circling above them, and an image of a flaming heart in the center.
"As you can clearly see, my sculpture represents the origins of Hearth's Warming, and the human equivalent, Christmas. On the Hearth's Warming half, you can see the leaders of the three races and their right hand... or rather right hoof ponies, all gathering together, and learning to share joy and love, rather than hatred, in order to cast out the Wendigos. As for the Christmas portion, we see the birth of a religious savior, Jesus Christ, in the town of Bethlehem, along with the three kings, who came bearing gifts. In addition, we have the very symbol of Christmas. Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, otherwise known as 'Santa Claus'," Cory explained.
"Hmm, quite unique," Fancy Pants commented, eyeing the art piece with intrigue.
"Why the sudden sculpture?" a noble asked.
"As you heard me say, it is to symbolize the likenesses in our holidays, as well as the coming together of our different races.... including the two guests that the Alicorn's Wish Guild brought with them as diplomats," Cory stated.
"And which guests would those be?" the noble asked.
"We'll get to them at once. But before we do, we ask that you give them the benefit of the doubt. They are nothing like the tales surrounding their race say they are," Celestia said, before she signaled the guards to go and collect Raiden and the guests. Within minutes, Raiden came back in, with the two guests in tow. When everyone else caught sight of two gorgons, slithering into Ball Room, there was an incredible pressure. It was then that Rainbow Dash said the one thing she could think of at the time.
"Uh.... hello everyone. I....uh, am Queen Mediah, of the Gorgon Race," the Gorgon Queen said awkwardly, trying to make conversation. The snakes in both hers and Lila's hair even had uneasy looks. It was then that one of the snootier nobles decided to speak up.
"Princess Celestia! How could you possibly invite these..... these... monsters to such a sophisticated Ball?!" he demanded.
"Please understand. We did this as a means of bridging the gaps between our races. We're going to try and make as many friends with other species across the globe as we can. We already have relations with Minotaur's, Changelings, Griffons and most recently Yaks, Dragons, and Hippogriffs. We need to continue expanding our circle of friendship with all manner of creatures," Celestia stated.
"I still don't see these alliances working out in the future. I swear, you're making a mistake!" the noble stated.
"He's right! What if those Gorgon's turns someone here to stone?" another snooty noble asked.
"It's alright everyone. They are currently wearing my latest invention: Gorgon Proof Sunglasses! They're one sided lens that block out the eye thing that gorgons use to turn others to stone. As long as they keep them on, they won't turn anyone to stone," Raiden announced.
"And these things work like a charm!" Lila stated. This, however, didn't sit well with any of the nobles. In fact, it only made them more outraged, proclaiming their disapproval.
"SILENCE!" Celestia boomed in her Royal Canterlot Voice. This got everyone to quiet down, "I only ask that you give the Gorgons a chance. Is that so hard? Or would you rather that Equestria is full of racist ponies who view ALL creatures as dangerous?" Celestia asked in an authoritarian tone.
"She does raise a valid point. I'm more than willing to extend friendship with the gorgons," Fancy Pants stated.
"Besides, the gorgons haven't done anything to warrant such unacceptable behavior," Twilight added.
"Not to mention they wouldn't extend a job request to the guild unless they were serious about establishing relations with Equestria," Raiden chimed in. The nobles still weren't happy about it, but they decided to reluctantly take the princess's word for it.
"Well, if we're all in an agreement, I guess now would be a good a time to open up the festival that the Alicorn Wish Guild had set up for tonight's festivities," Celestia announced, opening up the doors, leading out to the streets of Canterlot, where game and food stalls were set up.
"Ooh! I just love games!" Kat exclaimed, as she and some of the others exited into the streets.
"What'd ya say, Mavis? Want to go play some games?" Nathan asked.
"Well.... ok," Mavis shrugged, as she and the other kids, and the adults went to go play games too.
"Hmph. How childish that even the Princesses would engage in such trivial activities," the noble pony commented, holding a giant panda bear stuffed animal, and some cotton candy, while also wearing tiger face paint.
"It's kind of hard to take you seriously when you have a prize like those," Shining Armor commented. Mavis looked around, wanting to find a game that she could enjoy. Looking around, she saw her mentors and her friends, all wandering around, playing some games or getting food.
"Could I get one of those 'stir fry' things? They sound tasty," Dana asked Cassidy, who was working a stall with Simon, April, and Sora.
"Sure thing. You guys get that?" Cassidy asked.
"Yep. Working on it now," Simon called back, as he began preparing Dana's order, "Would you like anything in your meal?" Simon asked. Dana then walked him through on what she wanted. Mavis continued to walk around, until she saw something that caught her eye. There, at a stand that Raiden, Stealth, Eliza, and Naomi were running, was a duck plushy that the twice the size of Mavis. With a gasp, Mavis rushed over to the stand excitedly, eyeing her intended prize intently.
"Well, lookie who's come to our stand. How've ya been, lassie?" Eliza asked, snapping Mavis into reality.
"Uh, I've been good," Mavis meekly replied.
"How have things been going with your medicine?" Raiden asked.
"Very good. I took it as you instructed moi to," Mavis replied.
"So this is where you wandered off to," Cadence commented, rejoining the young girl.
"Maman, I think I want that big ducky," Mavis said, pointing to the giant duck.
"Well, if that's what you want, then you can try to win it for your Hearth's Warming Present," Cadence said.
"Alright Mavis. All you need to do is chuck one of these rings onto those bottles," Raiden said, giving Mavis five rings, and pointed to some soda bottles they had set up. Mavis tried throwing the rings, key word being "tried". The first two rings she tossed went no further than the counter.
"If ya want, Ah could step in," Nathan offered.
"Merci. I am not, how you say, athletic," Mavis replied, giving the remaining rings to her brother. Without missing a beat, Nathan managed to get the three rings on the bottles. Stealth leapt up to get Mavis' prize of choice, "Merci beaucoup," Mavis said, hugging her giant duck.
"Yer very welcome Mavis," Nathan said, as he helped to pick up the duck. Knowing that carrying something as big as Mavis' new duck would be troublesome, Cadence hailed some guards.
"Could you take this into the castle and set it off to the side somewhere?" Cadence asked.
"At once," the guard said, as he took the duck, and went to put it inside the castle.
"Don't worry, precious. We can pick up your ducky when we're heading home for the night," Cadence said to Mavis. Skyla began fussing, wanting a stuffed animal too.
"Alright, little miss fussy pants, you can get one too," Shining Armor said, as he was given five rings too.
"Ah'd better git goin'. The guys n' Ah are gonna start our gig," Nathan said, as he went to go join up with his bandmates.
"Mavis! Are you enjoying yourself?" Mavis was then approached by Marina, joined by Julia and Fiona.
"Oui. I just got a giant ducky toy," Mavis replied.
"Well, it's good you're having fun," Fiona stated.
"If you want, we're going to go grab some snacks before Dana beats everyone else to them. Care to join us?" Marina offered.
"You go on ahead Mavis. Just make sure you try to stay close by your teachers," Cadence said.
"Oui Maman," Mavis replied, as she went with the Nymphs to get some cookies. When they got to the stand, Mavis saw that it was run by Brian, Icezer, Heiru, and Claire.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in. How've you been, kid?" Brian asked Mavis.
"Good. Things have been, how you say, quiet in the Crystal Empire," Mavis replied.
"Well, that's good. So, you interested in some Christmas Cookies?" Icezer offered, pointing to some cookies that were shaped like trees, snowmen, and other kinds of shapes.
"I would, but isn't it called 'Hearth's Warming'?" Mavis asked.
"Yes, but our guild prefers to keep thing to our way of thinking of the holidays," Heiru replied, as he readied some sleeves for the cookies, "So, which cookie would you like?" the emo ghost boy asked. Looking at the designs, Mavis decided she wanted a Christmas Tree cookie, as she would feel bad for eating a gingerbread man.
"Could I maybe get a Christmas Tree cookie?" Mavis asked.
"Sure thing," Heiru replied, as she got the cookies for each of them, "There you go. Enjoy," he said, as he retreated back into the shadows.
"Ray of sunshine he is," Marina commented.
"Eh, don't sweat it. Heiru's always like that," Icezer said, as he placed a sheet of cookies into the over, which Brian then ignited.
"Well, come along Mavis. I'm sure there's more fun to have while the night is young," Fiona said, as the older Nymphs led Mavis along. And while everyone at the festival had fun, they never thought their fun would soon come to an abrupt end.
Toby groaned as he woke up. His body ached all over. The whole room felt like it was rocking back and forth, as if he were in a cage, suspended several feet in the air. Opening his eyes, he saw that his suspicions were correct. He was being held in some kind of cage that was suspended in the air, inside what looked to be the storage part of a big boat. Looking around, he saw that Silver Spoon, Serenity, Charity, and Season were also in his cage. He looked around to see that the others were all in separate cages too. Looking down below, he saw that the Nymphs and Lila were also in a cage, "Where are we?" Toby wondered. His question was able to rouse the others.
"Ugh, where are we?" Kelly wondered, looking around. Upon seeing they were all in cages, they instantly became distressed. Serenity squeaked, and latched onto Season, upon seeing she was so high up.
"What happened, exactly?" Mariah pondered.
"Well, let's see. I remember that we were all at the festival at Canterlot castle, when...." Josh began, as they went into a flashback.
Flashback, Half an Hour ago,
"And that was our performance! Thank you, Canterlot!" Nathan said, as he and his band mates bowed, before retreating backstage.
"Phew, that was intense!" Mike commented.
"I think we left a good impression on them," Conner stated.
"Hey, what are those?" they heard someone say. Peeking out from behind the curtains, they saw something off in the sky. It looked to be a bunch of flying ships.
"What could those be?" Wanda pondered.
"It can't be the Storm King. We defeated him ages ago," Rainbow Dash commented. Raiden then pulled out some binoculars from his hat. He then looked towards the ships.
"Hmm, they appear to be some kind of ships, nothing like what you see here in Equestria," Raiden commented, zooming in. It was then that he saw the pirates, "What the...? Pirates?" he questioned. Mavis dropped her cookie in horror, and dropped to her knees, holding her head. This incited worry amongst her friends and family.
"Mavis, sweetie, what's wrong?" Marina asked.
"It's happening again! It's them!" she said in a terrified, broken tone. Celestia was about to question her, when explosions caused major commotion, making ponies run for cover. The Nymphs all shuddered, upon sensing a familiar, dark presence on one of the boats.
"Wanda, that magic.... you don't think," Kat began.
"I wish it wasn't, but it is," the head Nymph replied, as the ships all docked, and several pirates leapt off, and proceeded to rob everyone, and take hostages in the form of the children, including Mavis, Lila, and the Nymphs.
"Oh no! Toby! Serenity!" Fluttershy cried in anguish, as they were loaded into some cages.
"Come on, we gotta help them!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flying towards the ship, only for some black crystals to shoot up from the ground, stopping Rainbow in her tracks.
Real time,
"So... after that, we all got caged up, and were brought here," Sky stated.
"The only question now is 'where is here'?" Conner pondered. His question was soon answered, as the cages felt like they were being risen up to an upper level, leaving the Nymphs and Lila in their cages. Once they all reached the surface, they saw a bunch of pirates, celebrating and singing, as the captain made his entrance.
"So, you're the captain, Ah take it?" Nathan questioned.
"Aye, that I am!" Markus replied, leaping down in front of the cages.
"Well, if you're trying to recruit us, forget it!" Kelly spat.
"Like any of us would ever join up with you guys! Especially after what you did to our little buddy!" Vibrant added. This made Luke bang on the cage with a beastly growl, making most of the kids cower..
"I assure, joining us would prove beneficial to you, as it has been to us," Markus said, in a suave tone.
"Like we said, forget it! You guys have made Mavis' life a misery!" Mike stated.
"Really? Is that what she told you? Then I should correct some things, for instance, is was she who did THIS to me!" Markus yelled, showing them his hook for a hand.
"So ya have a hook for a hand, big whoop! That is so stereotypical for a pirate. What does that have ta do with Mavis?," Nathan asked.
"Aye, maybe. But what ye may not know, is that little mermaid friend of yours is also half gorgon! When she turned me into stone, her wretched father broke off me hand!" Markus explained. This caused confusion amongst the children. They knew Mavis was part Mermaid and part Nymph, but part Gorgon?
"And what proof do you have that Mavis is part gorgon? We can't just take your word for it," Nyx commented.
"Arg, maybe we can't convince ye with words, but mark me words, that little girl will be guiding us to our biggest booty haul ever!" Aoi stated.
"Man, who knew pirates were such pervs?" Crystal commented. it took a moment for the pirates to figure out what she meant.
"N-No-no-no-no! Not that kind of booty!" Markus stated defensively.
"Yeah right. Mavis told us you wanted to, and I quote, 'trade her booty for big booty'," Melody countered.
"Whatever! Take them to separate ships. The same goes with the big boobed fairies and the snakes monster below deck! I will deal with them later," Markus ordered the higher up captains.
"Aye-aye, sir!" Aoi said, taking them all back down below.
"What do you guys even want with Mavis, or us?" Kelly questioned.
"Well, if ye must know, we be using your little friend to help us find the city of the mermaids, the lost City of Atlantis. As for ye little barnacles, you're all our hostages! As long as ye be in our brigs, yer family's won't be coming to save ye, not unless they value your lives," the chef pirate explained.
"We've been in situations like this more times than we can count! They always find a way!" Josh proclaimed.
"Aye, maybe so, but with our partner back in yer kingdom, they may never get the chance," Luke growled.
Back in Canterlot,
"Man, this is the easiest battle we've ever gotten into!" Silver commented, dressed as a salsa dancer, as the Alicorn's Wish Guild's elite, the Mane 6, the Royal Sisters, the Crystal Couple, Discord, and Eris, all of whom were being unbelievably random, while effortlessly laying the smack down on Sombra, who was looking more than a little mangled.
"How can they be this powerful?! And they're all using such ridiculous attacks!" Sombra was struggling to stay standing.
"Just give up Sombra, your attempts to take over Equestria are more pitiful than that ridiculous haircut," Discord commented.
"Why you...…! Leave my hair out of this!" Sombra demanded.
"But what if I want to get involved?" a black hare asked.
"QUIT JOKING AROUND!" Eris yelled, ramming into Sombra like a torpedo.
"But I didn't say anything!" Sombra yelled, falling to the ground.
"Now that this pest is dealt with, we need to go and save the others!" Cassidy commented.
"But we're going up against an entire fleet of pirates. We're going to need a lot of fire power to fight back," Heiru commented.
"That's why I have this," Raiden commented, pressing a button on a remote control. A rumbling could be heard from outside. When they all went outside, they saw that the earth on the outskirts of Ponyville was splitting apart.
"No way! Ponyville has a split personality!" Pinkie Pie yelled, her eyes bulging comically. When the smoke cleared, a large ship was revealed.
"How long has that been there?!" Twilight exclaimed, her eyes bulging the same way.
"I've been working on it for a few months as a hobby, but now we can actually use it!" Raiden proclaimed.
"Well, since we're going to be on water, it makes sense. Plus, if we're bringing the other kids back, we're going to need as much space to bring them back with," Celestia commented. Sombra was then heard cackling.
"What's so funny? We just laid the smack down on you," Rainbow Dash stated.
"True, I've been defeated, but I will eventually get the last laugh, thanks to my inside agent!" Sombra laughed boisterously.
"Eris, could you take him to Tartarus?" Discord asked.
"Sure thing Dad," Eris said, snapping her eagle talon, teleporting away with the disgraced king.
"In the mean time, we should get going. We need to save Mavis and the others as quickly as possible," Chris suggested.
"Good call. Then let's hurry. Round up the guild, and bring them to the ship," Discord told his sons.
"Right away," Stealth said, as the eight brothers went to round up everyone in the guild. All the while, Celestia couldn't help but think about what Sombra had said before being taken to Tartarus.
'What did he mean by an inside agent?' Celestia wondered, as she and her friends all went to ship themselves.
Toby's cage, along with Dana, Marina, Tabby, and Fiona were emptied out into a cell in the brig of the ship run by the beastly Luke, "You all can stay here, while we search for our treasure!" Luke said, before eying the Nymphs like they were big pieces of meat, "Hmm, I can see why the captain wants you ladies," he said, placing a hand on Dana's massive chest. He soon found himself doubled over, as Dana kicked Luke in his "unmentionable area".
"Hands off the goods, bub!" Dana barked.
"Ye will pay for that!" Luke growled, holding his groin, as he exited the cell, "Oh man, that hurt!" he groaned.
"What are we going to do? Mavis is probably trapped in the main ship somewhere, and we're all trapped here!" Tabby complained.
"Wait, can't one of you break down the cage with your magic?" Toby asked.
"I've been trying to summon up my fire, but something's keeping me from doing so," Dana commented.
"Same here. Ah feel like ah have a serious case o the flu," Season added.
"I can't seem to summon any of my magic either," Charity added.
"I think it's this cage. I can feel King Sombra's dark magic coursing through the bars," Fiona commented, looking at the bars.
"You know, now that I think of it, the pirates all seemed to giving off the same kind of magic that Sombra does," Dana commented.
"You mean, you guys know King Sombra?" Silver Spoon asked.
"Unfortunately, we do. We were there when he took over the Crystal Empire, nearly 1,000 years ago," Marina replied.
"At that time, there was still a feud between Wanda and Celestia, so we didn't get involved," Tabby added.
"What did happen between the two of them?" Toby asked.
"Oh, Wanda ate a slice of cake that Celestia had been saving, and they've been at each other's throats for centuries," Dana replied.
"But you all look so young!" Charity commented.
"It's thanks to our natural beauty treatments, even though we don't really need them. We look great all the time," Fiona replied.
"And thanks to eight of us given her our blessings and turning her into one, Mavis will also grow up to be beautiful, even though she already is," Marina commented.
"But for now, we should try to escape this cell. But how?" Silver Spoon wondered.
"We could try picking the lock," Toby suggested.
"We could, but we don't have anything to pick the lock with," Charity commented. Everyone there just slumped down on the floor in defeat. The others were facing the same exact dilemma. But the thought of Mavis crossed all their minds, and they all hoped that she was ok.
Waking up, Mavis groggily sat up, "Ugh, what happened?" Mavis wondered, rubbing her aching head. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was in some kind of office, "Where am I?" Mavis pondered.
"Ye be in me office!" Mavis broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing the voice. Turning around, she saw, in horror, the very pirate captain who took her arm, "Ye gave me and me crew quite a bit of trouble, I hope ye realize that," Markus said to her.
"W-what do you want with moi?" Mavis asked.
"Why, what we humans have long since been trying to find. The Kingdom of the Merfolk, the Lost City of Atlantis!" Markus hissed. Mavis gasped.
"But you can't find it unless you have a willing mermaid to guide you!" Mavis countered. Markus slammed the cage, making Mavis yelp.
"Aye, but I think you WILL take us to Atlantis," Markus said, turning on some monitors, showing Mavis all of her friends and mentors being held captive in the brigs of the other ships, "Cooperate with us, and no harm shall come to them. Refuse, and well, we could use more hands on deck. Not to mention, those fairies are hot," Markus gave his ultimatum. Mavis really didn't want to see her friends enslaved or taken advantage of, but she also knew the City of Atlantis was to remain a secret. Seeing as her options are limited, she sighed in defeat.
"If I help you find Atlantis, will you let mon friends go?" Mavis asked.
"Aye, ye have me word," Markus lied through his teeth. He also had his fingers crossed.
"Alright. I will help," Mavis reluctantly agreed.
"Splendid! Now, where should we go first?" Markus drilled for information.
"We must be in the middle of, how you say, the Atlantic Ocean," Mavis replied.
"Alrighty then. We set sail for the Atlantic!" Markus exclaimed, making his announcement on an intercom. All ships changed course, and made their way to the ocean. They were cruising along, when.....
BOOM!
Several explosions were heard, being made against the pirate ships, "Whoa, what in the name of Davy Jones' Locker Room is going on?!" Markus exclaimed.
"Captain! We're under attack!" one of the lesser ship's admiral exclaimed.
"By who?!" Markus exclaimed, looking out his telescope. And lo and behold, a futuristic ship was firing lasers at all the pirate ships. Focusing in on the bridge of the ship, he saw the Guild Elite, and their friends from Equestria, "It's those landlubbers!" Markus snarled, going over to the intercom, "Attention all hands! Prepare to launch a counter attack!" Markus barked his orders. Mavis had a look of hope on her face.
"They came for me after all," Mavis whispered to herself, while Markus stormed out of his office.
"How did they even get here?!" Markus wondered.
To better answer Markus' question, it all started back in Equestria, where the entire Alicorn's Wish Guild was gearing up to go fight the pirates, and save the hostages, "We're going with you too," Twilight said to Silver, as she, her friends, family, and Queen Mediah were gathered together.
"Alright. We're getting ready to ship out," Silver said, as he took his place as the captain, "Alright, listen up! We're all going up against an entire pirate fleet. Our main objective is the hostages they're holding!" Silver announced to the guild, as images of each hostage appeared on the screen, with a picture of Wanda being drawn on it with marker.
"Really, Tia?" Luna chastised.
"I told you, I don't trust Nymphs! Especially not her!" Celestia argued. This forced Twilight to bonk Celestia with a book, making the solar princess whimper, holding her head in chibi form.
"And let's not forget that my daughter is amongst them," Mediah commented.
"We'll get them back. We of the Alicorn's Wish Guild pride ourselves on quality job executions," Raiden replied, as he sat in a chair that acted as the main console for the entire ship.
"I will open a portal following the magic trail the pirates left," Discord said, opening said portal.
"We need to hurry. Who knows what those pirates are planning with the hostages?" Rarity commented, as Raiden began punching in a few keys, thus activating the thrusters on the ship.
"Alright, here we go!" the lightning mutant said, as he set things in motion for the ship to take off, proceeding through the portal. However, unbeknownst to them, another, smaller ship was following them, with seven, familiar faces.
"Hmm, that transmission doesn't bode well with me," James said.
"Well, what's it got to do with us?" High Heel asked.
"Because those pirates have my son! If anyone's going to kidnap him, it should be me! I am his father!" James yelled.
"Well, by the looks of it, that guild may be outnumbered by the pirates," The Pharaoh commented. James thought about it for a moment.
"Hmm, you know, since it's the Christmas Season, I want to help my son. Just this one time, why don't we give them some aid? We can help ourselves to whatever treasure we find in the ships," James suggested.
"How deviously clever," Mane-iac commented, as they too entered the portal.
Realtime,
"Alright guys, we're going to have to go on the attack directly! Board the fighter jets, and go on the offensive!" Silver instructed the other guild members.
"I've already sent data on which ships you need to focus on to the jets. There are a total of four ships that are emitting some kind of frequency that's creating a barrier around the main flag ship. Your next mission is to locate the source of the frequency, and destroy it," Raiden added. With that, the other mutants went to the hangers to get ready for the fight. When the fighter jets were released, the pirates began retaliating, firing cannons and shots of dark magic at the jets.
"Now I get why Sombra was so easy to defeat! He must've given the pirates some of his dark magic, so much that he couldn't muster up enough strength to fight us back," Twilight theorized.
"Uh, guys, things are getting a little hairy out here!" Icezer said.
"There are too many projectiles inbound! We can't dodge them all!" Claire exclaimed.
"Then how about a little back up?" a voice said, as several flying robots came swarming in, either taking the blows for the mutants or fighting back against the lesser ships.
"That voice," Rainbow Dash said, as the monitor displayed James and his gang.
"Mr. Mason, what do you think you're doing?!" Twilight exclaimed angrily.
"Why, the same as you. I want to save my son from those pirates," James replied.
"And why pray tell, would you want to do that?" Rarity questioned.
"Because if anyone is going to kidnap him, it's going to be me! That, and I also have some gifts for him," James mumbled the last bit.
"Like we need your help! Why should any of us trust you?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Because, like it or not, those weapons on the pirate ships have you and your fighter jets outnumbered and outclassed. My robots can take the hits and return fire. Like it or not, you need me," James said.
"It may just be one time only, but promise us you're fighting on our side too," Silver pleaded.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I don't believe in 'sides', but I have to agree that the pirates must be stopped," James replied. While the rest of the guild and Queen Mediah didn't know the pony's history with James, they could tell by how the others have been acting that James' loyalty was questionable. And while the eight brothers, and the ponies didn't like it, they knew that they had to trust James just this once if they wanted to see their kids again.
"Alright. Focus your robots on attack these four ships. They're creating some kind of barrier around the main flag ship," Raiden said, giving the data to James, who nodded in understanding. Longface then proceeded to punch in some keys, and all the robots went on to attack the four lesser ships, clearing a way for each of the fighter jets commandeered by the Guild's Elite members.
The Elite Mutants wasted no time in dispatching with the pirates that were sent to attack, and Stealth, Heiru, Echo-Echo, Naomi, and Cassidy were racing through the ship, which was littered with bones from meat based dishes, trying to find the brig, and the source of the barrier, surrounding the main flag ship, "Takashi, can you pinpoint where the hostages or the machine are?" Stealth asked.
"I'M TRYING, BUT IT'S RATHER DIFFICULT TO GET ANY ACOUSITCS IN A WOODEN SHIP," Echo-Echo replied.
"I'm going on ahead myself to see what I can find," Heiru said, as he phased through floor, as the other four continued on. It was about seven minutes, when they reached some kind of room that looked be made of metal, instead of wood. Inside, was a bunch of computer equipment, two of which include what looked to be a giant ray gun, and some kind of solar panel.
"What could all this be?" Cassidy wondered.
"If I were Raiden, I would assume that ray gun thing is what's making the barrier around the main ship," Stealth commented.
"SO, SHOULD WE JUST SMASH IT?" Echo-Echo suggested.
"You wish it would be that easy!" a pirate, dressed in a wolf pelt growled, as he leapt out in front of them, "I'm afraid this is as far as any of ye goes," he snarled like an actual animal.
"Creep alert!" Cassidy commented.
"We can take him. He's just a low down, dirty dog," Naomi hissed threateningly at Luke.
"Well now, I commend you all for making it this far, but I'm afraid I can't let you let lay a hand on either the prisoners or the machinery. As the first mate to Luke, I, Stanford, cannot allow you to linger here," Stanford said, as a few more pirates joined him.
"WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY AND STOP US," Echo-Echo commented.
"Fine with me," Stanford said, as he lunged at them like a wild beast.
On Aoi's Ship,
"Is this really all they have to throw at us? I did nae get even a good warm up with that," Eliza yelled, stepping on the head of one of the pirates in a mocking manner.
"That's actually a good thing in this case. We shouldn't waste time with these small fries," Icezer said, freezing some pirates in place.
"Aye, when ya put it that way," the Scottish girl replied.
"We should check down here," Claire suggested, pointing to a hallway.
"Looks to be worth a shot," Carlos said, as they raced down the hall. Along the way, they saw all manner of weapons decorating the walls. Claire decided to swipe a katana from one of the mounts. It didn't take long for them to arrive in a room that was all metal, with some kind of machinery in it, including a giant ray gun device.
"Is this it?" Sora questioned.
"Alright, maybe there's an Off button on this somewhere. Spread oot and find it!" Eliza instructed. The others were about to look around, when something quickly struck at them all, stopping their search. A girl pirate then appeared in front of them. She had short, pink hair.
"Ugh, can those scurvy dogs NOT mess something as simple as taking care of a few rats?" the pirate complained.
"You must be one of the pirate captains," Claire accused.
"No, I am the weapons specialist Aoi's first mate, Beatrice!" Aoi's First Mate introduced herself.
"Then you must know why we're here," Carlos stated.
"Aye, but I can't just let you take our bargaining chips away, and the machinery in this room is too valuable to be destroyed," Beatrice replied.
"That doesn't mean we're just gonna sit on our butts and let you get away with your plans!" Lucas yelled, his nails elongating.
"Boys, why don't you leave this to me and Claire? You need to find the hostages as soon as possible. We'll handle her and the machine," Eliza said, turning her arms into swords.
"You two sure you can handle this?" Icezer asked.
"Yes. Don't worry about us, just go!" Claire said. The four boys then ran past towards a door on the far end of the room. Beatrice went to stop them, only for the gravity around her to intensify, "You're not going anywhere," Claire said, as the boys ran out of the room. Aoi then used her swords to slice through the gravity.
"Now ye get to play with us," Eliza said, as she and Claire took fighting stances.
"I won't just defeat you," Beatrice said, turning to glare fiercely at the two girls, "I will make sure you two wish you were never born! To my side, my minions!" she yelled. Stepping out from the shadows were a variety of odd characters. One looked to be a giant television set, another appeared to be a bamboo cup.
"Looks like these guys aren't going to go easy on us," Claire said, clutching her katana.
"Let's hope they'll show us a good time, lassie," Eliza replied, as they went to battle.
On Damian's Ship,
Everything on board looked to be what one would expect to find in a big, fancy kitchen, and not a pirate ship, "What kind of ship is this for a pirates fleet?" Brian asked rhetorically.
"Well, everyone's gotta eat, even pirates," Takanosuke replied. It was then that Zach smelled something from down the hall.
"This way guys! I smell some kind of horrid odor through this hall!" Zach said, leading them down a hall.
"What kind of odor is it?" Simon asked.
"It smells like a mix of rancid dairy products and moldy breads," Zach replied.
"Ok, that's disgusting," Brian commented, as they arrived in a room that looked entirely like a kitchen, with some advanced looking machinery in it, "Well, this looks to be the place," Brian commented.
"And that has to be the mechanism that's making that forcefield around the flag ship," Takanosuke theorized.
"Ye be right," a boy dressed in a chef's uniform said, stepping out from the shadows. He was a tan skinned teenager, with blue hair.
"And just who are you?" Brian questioned.
"My name be Patch, First Mate, and Sous Chef to Damian," the pirate replied.
"So he sent some small fry to stop us?" Simon questioned.
"I may not look like much, but me and me kitchen hands do not tolerate others interrupting our work," Patch said, as a living bowl of pistachio ice cream and a giant walking churro emerged from the shadows.
"Your kitchen hands are ice cream and a churro?" Zach asked incredulously.
"Not just any ice cream, the most evil flavor of ice cream: pistachio!" the ice cream bowl replied, as the three pirates engaged the mutants.
On Clarence's Ship,
Deciding it would be easier to sneak around the ship, rather than fight all of the pirates, the Elite Mutants warped into a room in the ship, thanks to Francisco, "Ok guys, looks like the coast is clear," Francisco commented, leading them down a hall. Eventually they found themselves in a massive metal room. Looking around, there were scorch marks, as if a war was being waged in there.
"What happened in here?" Leon wondered, looking around.
"We should focus less on that and more on that big machine. If I had to guess, that big ray gun must be surrounding the main flagship with the barrier," Francisco commented, pointing to the big gun like apparatus.
"Then let's find a way to shut it down," Maria suggested, as they went to look around the room. April shrieked, as she stumbled back from rounding a corner.
"What happened babe?" Francisco asked, as the others went to investigate. When they got over there, there was a monster waiting there, "What the hell?! What is this thing?!" he exclaimed.
"Got you guys pretty good, didn't I?" a boy's gloomy voice asked. Turning to the source, they saw a pirate, wearing a bird mask over his head, standing before them.
"So I'm guessing you're the guardian here?" Leon questioned.
"Indeed. I am the First Mate to Clarence, on account of how powerful I am," the pirate replied.
"And just what might your name be?" Francisco demanded. The pirate then struck a dramatic action pose.
"H," he replied. The Mutants were in disbelief.
'Seriously?! That's way too cool a name for this freak!' they all thought simultaneously.
"And I also know why you are here. In order to get to the main flag ship, you need to destroy this machine. As a result, I'm afraid I must defeat you to earn my keep," H explained, as some more pirates, including a giant number 6, stepped forth from the shadows, "Though, not as afraid as you will be," he added, as the pirates charged at Mutants.
Somewhere, deep under the sea,
A pair of ocean blue eyes on a colossal, shadowed figure glared intensely towards the surface.
On the Main Flag Ship,
Markus and his Admirals were all observing the Mutants holding their ground against their first mates and their henchmen, "Hmm, not bad. This guild may prove to be a challenge," Markus commented.
"Who do those two bimbos think they are? Fighting so beautifully, so gracefully," Aoi seethed romantically, watching Eliza and Claire, as the two flipped, and fought back against Beatrice and the others.
"Keep your head in the game, Aoi. They're still the enemy," Damian commented.
"I know, but at least these two look more dignified then those fairies we caught, walking around in only their underwear. If there's one thing I hate, it's women with bigger boobs and bigger butts than mine," Aoi grumbled.
"Yeah, they are pretty sexy," Luke drooled, only to be kicked into a wall by Aoi.
"Well, we should prepare ourselves, just in case they manage to best your first mates," Markus suggested.
"I still have the Lunar Panel release switch, right here," Luke groaned, holding a button.
"Let's keep that on stand by. We may need all the power we can get if they prove too much," Markus suggested.
"What are you going to do to them?!" Mavis demanded, while still suspended in her cage.
"If they manage to infiltrate me ship, we'll fight them off. Me admiral's first mates be powerful, but they don't stand a chance against the admirals themselves," Markus replied.
"Add our captain's strength to the mix, and we be pretty much invincible," Clarence added, as they left Mavis all alone. Mavis didn't know what to do. She felt completely useless.
"It's all my fault..... if I had never came to Equestria, none of this would be happening!" Mavis sobbed miserably.
"My, my, such feelings of sorrow," Mavis turned to see the demon Mavis from her nightmare standing before her, in an astral form.
"You!" Mavis exclaimed.
"Oui, I am a result of King Sombra's Magic, mixing with your Nymph Magic and negative feelings. And like it or not, I plan on taking over things when I get a chance," the evil Mavis said.
"Non! I will never let you take over! Besides, mon teachers told me that Nymph Magic can never be dark!" Mavis denied, as a sharp pain shot through her head.
"Hmm? An interesting development. I may get what I want sooner then I thought," Evil Mavis said, as she disappeared, leaving Mavis to nurse her aching head.
Watching the monitors, the ones who stayed behind were observing all of the Guild Mutants holding their ground against the Pirates, "I heard of how powerful the guild was, but I never expected them to be THIS strong," Queen Mediah commented.
"Indeed, which is why they are our best hope of rescuing the hostages," Silver replied.
"Uh, guys? I don't want to alarm anyone, but my sensors are picking up a large amount of dark energy coming from the Main Flag Ship," James commented.
"It's most likely the dark magic that Sombra gave the pirates," Heiru said over the intercom.
"No. According to these instruments, whatever this energy is, it's even greater than King Sombra's Magic," High Heel commented.
"You hear that guys? You need to destroy the machines quickly!" Silver exclaimed.
"We're working on it! But these guys aren't making things easy for us," Eliza replied.
With Heiru,
"Let's see, if I had to guess, this must be the brig," Heiru said, as he blasted the door down, "Hello? Anyone here?" the ghostly teen asked.
"Heiru? Is that you?" Toby's voice called out. Floating over to the source, Heiru found Toby, Silver Spoon, the three Beings of Harmony, and the Nymphs, all locked up like animals, "Oh, thanks for coming to help us out," Toby said.
"Don't thank me just yet. Let me bust you guys out," Heiru said, as he fired some ghostly energy at the lock on the door. It did dent, but it wasn't nearly enough, "Man, this lock is tough," Heiru commented. He then remembered something, "Hey Toby, take these," Heiru said, handing Toby a trio of familiar Pokeballs. A Friend Ball, a Luxury Ball, and a Heal Ball.
"You brought some of your Pokémon?" Silver Spoon asked her boyfriend.
"Some of them didn't want to be left behind," Toby replied.
"Uh, can someone explain what is happening?" Dana asked.
"Just take a step back," Silver Spoon suggested. Toby then released Tsareena from her Luxury Ball.
"Ok Tsareena, we need you to break down that cell door. Think you can do it?" Toby asked.
"Naturally," Tsareena replied, approaching the cell door.
"Ok then, let's give it a High Jump Kick!" Toby instructed. Tsareena leapt into the air, and dropped in front of the door, and kicked it off the hinges, "Wow, that worked better than I thought," Toby commented.
"What sort of creature is this? I've never seen anything like it," Marina asked.
"First off, I am a 'she'," Tsareena quipped.
"Secondly, Tsareena here is a Pokémon. One of countless many species. Our friend Will has an entire ranch full of them. If you want sometime, we can ask him to give you a tour," Toby offered.
"My, my, asking us out on a date, are you? You're quite the ladies man," Dana teased. Toby blushed, and stumbled over some wooden planks, accidently landing face first in Dana's massive chest, "My, how forward of you," she teased further.
"That'll be enough of that," Heiru said, pulling the blushing Toby off of the Food Nymph, who had a rather nostalgic look on her face.
'He's so much like the old pharaoh,' Dana thought to herself.
"Uh, guys, we should totes get out of here!" Fiona suggested.
"Fiona is right. Who knows if there are any pirates coming to put us back in our cell?" Tabby added, as they decided to leave the brig.
"Hey Toby, what did Dana mean by 'being so forward' when you landed in her chest?" Silver Spoon asked. Toby blushed at the question.
"Uh, well, why don't we hold off on that question until we're safe and sound?" Toby suggested.
"Oh, alright," Silver Spoon agreed in understanding.
Back in the fight with Stanford,
Pirates were tossed back and forth, as the mutants were making short work of them, "Man, who did these guys steal from, any how? Old people and little kids?" Stealth questioned, kicking back some pirates.
"How can this be?! There's only four of them!" Stanford yelled, pressing a button on some device, "Well, at least this way, we can turn the tide in our favor," Stanford grinned.
"Takashi, can you destroy that thing?" Cassidy asked.
"NO SOONER DONE THAN SAID," Echo-Echo replied, floating up to the device. He was about to unleash a sonic blast, when the top of the ship opened up, with the Lunar Panels opening up as well, catching and reflecting the rays of the Full Moon, "WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?" the robot teen wondered.
"Let's just say, the pirates like myself and Admiral Luke don't wear these pelts for nothing," Stanford replied, as he, and the pirates dressed similarly to him began transforming. Their pelts merged with their skin, as they grew nearly twice in size, becoming more animal than human, growling and snarling like actual animals.
"Ok, that's terrifying," Cassidy commented.
"But we can handle them, right?" Stealth asked. Naomi didn't answer, as she began transforming too.
"Oh Naomi, not you too!" Cassidy exclaimed, as Naomi began growing in terms of size. Her bikini snapped off, but was quickly replaced by fur that began growing on most parts of her body, including her arms and legs. Even her tail got bushier, and her hair grew wilder, and looked more unkept, like a lion's mane. Her breasts and butt had also grown quite large due to the transformation. Now, to the mutants, Naomi looked similar to Felecia from Darkstalkers, only with brown fur.
"Naomi?" Stealth asked. The transformed Naomi looked at her boyfriend, and took a stance like a predator gearing up to pounce on their prey, with an intense look in her eyes. Stanford, even though he was transformed, laughed evilly.
"How about that?! We weren't even planning to make one of your own turn against you, but whatever works!" he laughed evilly, before turning his attention to the adamantium clad teen, "As for you," he said, as he lunged at Echo-Echo, slamming him to the ground, where others proceeded to pummel him. Meanwhile, Naomi was creeping up on her friends.
"Naomi, you don't want to do this," Stealth said, only for Naomi to lunge at him.
"Akira!" Cassidy exclaimed. Her fears were soon snuffed out, hearing the ninja laughing. In truth, Naomi was just peppering Stealth with kisses.
"What?! She was supposed to maul you landlubbers to death! How is she only being lovey-dovey with him?!" Stanford exclaimed.
"Truth is, Naomi often listens more to her cat like instincts during a full moon, but she always manages to recognize her friends," Stealth replied. A sonic blast blasted all of the beast pirates off of Echo-Echo.
"WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION, WHAT ACTUALLY DID YOU DO TO HER AND YOUR MEN?" he asked.
"Those Lunar Panels amplify the Moon's rays, which causes beast walkers, such as myself and Admiral Luke to transform, and become more powerful than even a measly werewolf," Stanford explained.
"So that explains why Naomi changed too. Those panels must've overstimulated her cat nature, which caused her to transform," Stealth commented, pulling out a kunai knife.
"Well, it ain't perfect. In fact, the panels can keep us in these forms permanently, but otherwise, they only last for about an hour," Stanford added. Just then, several explosions came from the machines, as water splashed all over the pirates, "What the....?!" he exclaimed.
"We're alright now," Silver Spoon said, as she and the others walked out from the smoke. Toby had also released his Raichu.
"How did ye escape?!" Stanford exclaimed.
"They had help," Heiru commented, phasing through the floor, delivering an uppercut to Stanford. The now freed hostages rejoined the mutants.
"I can handle the rest from here, thanks to Marina," Toby commented, as Raichu floated forward.
"What's a chubby rat going to do to us?" one pirate asked.
"I am a mouse! Not a rat!" Raichu yelled, sounding offended.
"Typically, this goes against my morals, but I am willing to make an exception. Raichu, use Thunderbolt!" Toby exclaimed. Raichu then fired of it's electric attack, which was amplified by the water that Marina had used to destroy the machine. The pirates all screamed in pain, as they fell to the ground, completely tazed.
"Well, that's handy," Cassidy commented, as Toby recalled Raichu, and they made a break for it.
In the brig of Aoi's ship,
Nathan, Conner, Josh, Nyx, Dinky, Wanda, Daria, Julia, and Mariah were being held hostage, feeling absolutely miserable, "Does it feel colder, or is it just to me?" Josh questioned.
"We wouldn't know. Nymph's are resistant to cold, due to living in the mountains for eons," Wanda replied.
"No, Josh is right. It's gettin' chilly," Nathan replied, shivering. It was then that the door to the brig was blasted off, covered in ice.
"Hey guys!" Icezer greeted, as he and the rescue team piled into the brig.
"Just give me a moment, and I'll have you all out of here!" Lucas yelled, as he used his nails to pick the lock. In seconds, he managed to get it open.
"Now let's hurry! Eliza and Claire are fighting up above," Carlos suggested.
"A battle? Then I shall join as well!" Daria proclaimed, picking up a sword and shield.
"We should lend assistance any way we can too," Wanda suggested, as they all left the brig.
In the battle with Beatrice,
Pirates were being tossed like rag dolls, as Eliza and Claire were fighting them off, "Ugh! Must I do everything myself!?" Beatrice yelled, as she prepared herself to go into battle with the two powerhouse mutants.
"Do you honestly think you can face us? We defeated ALL of your minions, and we're not even the slightest bit tired," Claire stated.
"You may not be tired, but I am much faster than either of you!" Beatrice said, holding up two pairs of panties that the two girls recognized in an instant.
"What the.....?! When did you steal those?!" Claire yelled, holding down her skirt.
"As I said, I am more than five times faster than any normal human. I must say, one of the two of you have some degree of taste. Strawberry print undies? These are pretty cute," Beatrice said, before turning her attention to Eliza, "Though I don't understand why you aren't as embarrassed as your friend," she stated.
"Och, well, I am from the highlands of Scotland. I'm used to not wearin' anything under me kilt!" Eliza proclaimed.
"Too bad that changed when Silver established rules about your fashion sense," Claire commented.
"*untranslatable Scottish ranting*," Eliza proclaimed.
"Am I the only one who needs subtitles for this chick?!" one pirate yelled.
"Yeah, I didn't get a word of what you said, but I am still taking you both down!" Beatrice yelled, charged at the two.
"I can take this lassie! You should try and destroy that machine!" Eliza suggested, turning her arms into javelins, and charging for Beatrice.
"Ok. I don't want to move without my underwear, so I think I can just use my powers in this blade to slice through the machine," Claire said, as she infused her gravity powers into her sword. She then turned to the machinery, "Here I go!" Claire yelled, swinging her sword, sending a powerful shockwave, which also hit Beatrice, as it sliced through the machinery like butter.
"Nice one lassie!" Eliza said, giving Claire her panties back.
"Thanks Eliza," Claire said, as the two put their underwear back on, though Eliza was reluctant to do so.
"Hey guys!" they heard Icezer call out. Turning, they saw that the boys were successful in freeing the hostages.
"Looks like there was some kind of party," Nyx commented, looking around at the unconscious pirates.
"We should nae linger. Who knows how much longer they'll stay down?" Eliza suggested.
"Maybe next time," Daria said to herself, as they all left. Beatrice, while still reeling from the gravity attack, struggled to get back up.
"Admiral..... Aoi..... forgive me...…. please," she begged.
On Damian's Ship,
Punches and kicks were being exchanged between Zach, Takanosuke, Sora, and the three pirates, all six of whom were holding their ground fairly well, "You guy's aren't half bad," the ice cream bowl commented, being kicked by Simon.
"And we've got more to us than just looking good," Takanosuke said, fending off the churro.
"It is rather brave of you to face us on your own, while sending that hothead after the hostages," Patch commented, delivering an axe kick to Zach.
"He is a man among men, so he cannot fail," Zach said.
"Alright guys, we need to replenish our power!" the ice cream said, as his comrades began eating the ice cream. However, after a few spoonful's, he realized something important; he was being eaten, "Hey, I feel a breeze..... what part of me did you guys eat?" he asked, feeling dizzy. Patch and the Churro were holding their heads in pain, "Damn it.... I knew this would happen!" the ice cream exclaimed, falling to his knees.
"I wonder if Brain is having jus as easy a time as us?" Simon wondered.
Outside the brig of the ship,
Brian had easily made it to the brig, where some of the hostages were being held, "Alright, here I go," Brian said, cloaking his fist in fire, before punching the door clean off it's hinges. Rushing inside, he soon found Trinity, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Mike, Lila, Sky, Amanda, Cosmo, and Kat, all sitting in a cell, looking miserable. This changed when they saw the hotheaded mutant.
"Brian! Are we glad to see you!" Mike exclaimed.
"Glad to see you're all ok. Let me get you out of there," Brian said, as he melted the bars down.
"That's handy," Sky commented, as they all exited the cell, assisting Lila out, as there was still molten metal present.
"Now that you guys are safe, we can get out of here!" Brian said, leading them out of the brig.
Back up above,
Having sent the three pirates flying back, the mutants then looked at the machine, "Alright, so how do we do this?" Simon asked.
"Our best bet is to shut it down or destroy it. Either way, it's in the way of one of our objectives," Takanosuke said, accessing the controls, "Ugh, there are too may encryptions to sift through!" he complained.
"Then why don't we do it the easy way?" they heard Brian ask, as a stream of fire collided with the machine, causing it to explode. Simon was able to put up a barrier.
"That works, but next time, make sure we're cleared out of the way before you go smashing something," Zach instructed.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll keep it in mind," Brian said, as they all escaped.
"They think they made it through the main course, but this be just the appetizer!" Patch cackled sinisterly, before loosing consciousness.
On Clarence's ship,
"Take this! Monster Gates, appear!" H said, conjuring up some Shinto style gates, "All the monsters that you fear are on their way to gobble you up!" he laughed mercilessly.
"Well, in that case, I should just get us some allies too," Francisco said, dressed as a fisherman, and casting his line into a rift he conjured up.
"YOU'RE GETTING ALLIES BY FISHING?!" H exclaimed, his eyes bulging.
In the brig,
The last of the hostages were all lounging around their cell, feeling glum, "There has to be a way out," Cory commented, looking for any weak points in the cell.
"We could try blasting down the walls. That could loosen up the bars at least," Yuki commented.
"Could work, but with what? Our magic is useless in these cells," Crystal pointed out. It was then the spacial rift opened above their heads, and a rope wrapped around them.
"What is this?!" Kelly exclaimed, as they were pulled through the rift.
Back in the fight against H,
Francisco had reeled in the hostages, before closing the rift, "WHAT?! You stole our hostages!" a pirate yelled, her eyes bulging. H then sensed something.
"Aha! The monsters are here, finally!" H exclaimed, as a bunch of cute and harmless looking monsters emerged from one of the gates, "What the....?! These monsters are all cute!" he exclaimed, as the other gate began emitting a force itself, and monsters that looked like goo emerged, "Oh come on! These ones are incomplete! They're useless!" H exclaimed, as the monsters all surrounded the pirates. The monsters then started throwing themselves at him and his henchmen.
"Hey cut that out! That really.... well, it doesn't actually hurt, but it's getting on my nerves!" one pirate exclaimed.
"Don't worry crew, these monsters are always difficult to raise at first. Even I have trouble taming them!" H reassured.
"Alright little ones, story time first, then we can go get ice cream!" Polly said, holding a story book.
"WHAT!?!? They tamed the monsters already?! How did they do it so easily?! And how come I don't get ice cream at story time?" H pondered in a pout.
"Looky, looky! I got something really cool!" one monster said, showing off a complete set of Digimon DVDs.
"Aha, they're bribing them! Well, two can play at that game!" H said, as he approached some monsters, "Hey now, if you help me out, I'll give you some candy," he offered.
"No! I don't take candy from strangers!" a monster refused, smacking the candy away.
"Hey! Now that wasn't very nice!" H yelled.
"What are these things?" Timmy asked, looking at the gates.
"Maybe trash cans?" Francisco replied, throwing some garbage into the gates.
"HEY! CUT THAT OUT! THOSE ARE DELICATE PIECES!" H said, decking Francisco, only to find the two gates sparking, "Now look what you did!" H yelled, as six numbers emerged from the gates. They were 1-7, only there was no five, "What is this?!" H yelled.
"Just doing a little math problem," Leon said, placing 2 and 3 in an addition problem.
"Gah?! What do we do?!" 7 asked.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this!" 6 replied.
"No, 6, you're one more than 5!" 4 exclaimed, as he and 1 held 6 back. H was beginning to loose his patience.
"Enough of this stupidity! I'll be the stupid number 5!" he yelled, steeping next to the equals sign. However, the other numbers didn't take kindly to this.
"THAT'S THE WRONG ANSWER!" they all yelled, as they proceeded to beat him and the rest of his crewmates, up.
"Now that that mess is dealt with, we can get out of here," Drake commented.
"Not quite," April said, using her gravity powers to crush the barrier machine, "NOW, we can leave," she said, as they left, while the pirates were still getting beaten up.
"Those scallywags haven't seen the last of me!" H proclaimed.
A few minutes later, on board the Guild Flagship,
Having all returned to the safety of the Guild Ship, Silver went on to give a quick speech, "Ok guys, we were successful in not only freeing all of the hostages, but destroying the machines that were making that barrier around the flag ship, But now is where things get tricky," he said, passing it over to Cadence.
"Ok kids, I know I've asked a lot out of you in the past few months, but I must come to you once more. Mavis is somewhere on that main flagship. I must ask that you go and help us to rescue her," Cadence pleaded.
"We're more than happy to help, Cadence," Brian said.
"I'll come too. Something tells me I may be of more use in the field than sitting here," Raiden said.
"I can take your place," Takanosuke volunteered to stay behind.
"We're coming too," Wanda proclaimed, as she and her sisters all stepped up.
"Mavis is by far, the best thing that has happened not only to all of you, but to us as well. She's our prized pupil, and we have to help her!" Marina added.
"We can go too," Twilight said, as she and her friends also stepped up, along with Shining Armor.
"We'll stay behind. I think we've seen enough action for one night," Queen Mediah commented.
"Looks like we've got a big enough force. We should get going now. Mavis needs to get out of there as soon as possible," Silver commented.
"Just bring her home safely, ok?" Nathan asked.
"No need to worry. Our guild prides ourselves on quality job handling," Cassidy replied, as the team all made their way to the hanger.
"Oh yeah, Toby, you got some things there from your dad," Raiden said, before leaving, pointing to a pile of presents.
"My dad?" Toby parroted, looking at the presents.
"Consider it a customary action on my part," James replied.
"I still can't believe they got help from him of all people!" Diamond Tiara exclaimed.
"If it weren't for him, we would've never gotten close enough to the ships to free you," Takanosuke replied.
"By the way Toby, what was that about Dana saying you were being forward?" Silver Spoon asked. Toby blushed.
Deep under the ocean surface,
Many shadowed figures were swimming fast to the surface with a variety of weapons, followed by a massive figure.
Upon landing on the Pirate Flagship, the Guild Elite, Ponies, and Nymphs all rushed through the deck, trying to get into the main palace that was on the stern of the ship, "Wow, these guys really like boasting their power," Icezer commented.
"I'm sensing Mavis' magic somewhere near the back of that building," Wanda commented.
"Ok, then that's where we're going!" Cadence said, blasting the front doors down with a powerful magic blast.
"Yikes, remind me never to get on her bad side," Heiru whispered to Lucas, who nodded as well, as they ventured into the palace. Celestia, Discord, and Wanda were the last to enter, as they sensed something extremely powerful coming towards the ship from under the sea.
"What could that be?" Wanda wondered.
"I think I remember hearing Cadence say something about Mavis and some kind of mermaid queen," Celestia replied.
"Marina talked about that as well. This queen is apparently a goddess of the sea, who apparently has existed since this world began," Wanda replied.
"Well, let's just hope she's on our side, and won't attack indiscriminately," Discord hoped, as they entered the castle themselves.
About 20 minutes of chasing after Cadence,
The group had finally caught up to Cadence, was seen blasting a massive door, "Cadence, stop, this isn't working," Shining Armor pleaded, holding his wife back.
"I'll try to pick the lock," Twilight volunteered, stepping up to the door. She was about to undo the lock, when it opened by itself. The group had then piled into the room, only for the door to slam shut behind them.
"That's never a good sign," Pinkie Pie commented, as various forms of money began falling around them.
"What the...?! Where'd all this money come from?!" Silver exclaimed. A spotlight then revealed Captain Markus, and his Four Admirals, sitting contently at a table, enjoying a meal.
"So, you managed to make it past our First Mates and their crews, eh?" Markus commented.
"Well, no matter. Thanks to that unicorn, we're more powerful than ever before," Aoi commented.
"We'd better be careful, I'm sensing a that captain's magic in all the money that's falling around. We should try not to touch any of the money," Discord advised.
"You needn't worry about us. Nymphs have no need for money," Cosmo commented.
"Plus, this currency is no good in Equestria," Raiden added. Markus then twitched his eyebrow, which caused some dollar bills around Brian to enlarge, and wrap around him like a mummy.
"Hey, what the hell is this?!" Brian yelled, trying to summon his fire, but to no avail.
"It's no use. Once our captain's money wraps around you, you'll soon turn into a coin," Damian commented, as the money tightened around Brian. A flash of light emitted from the money, as Brian was turned into a giant, walking 10 yen coin, "HUH?! THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!" he exclaimed, his eyes bulging.
"Let me try again..... on that denim jacket guy," Markus said, as he sent the money at Silver. Like before, it wrapped around the telekinetic teen, and light could be seen emitting from the cocoon of money.
"Silver, no!" Twilight exclaimed, as she went to help the teen, only to find that Silver was transformed into a Gundum Style Action figure, "What is that?!" she yelled, her eyes bulging.
"I can't believe it! He turned me into a lucky coin! Now I have to pray to the spirits of money to turn me back to normal!" Silver said, clasping his hands together, "O spirits of money, hear my plea. Lend me your power, and maybe a twenty," he chanted, as ghostly apparitions began appearing.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" Shining Armor exclaimed, his eyes bulging.
"Spirits of money, aid me in my time of need! Aid me in the battle against these pirates; Ancient Art of the Evil Spirits: Haunt Bomb!" Silver exclaimed, sending the apparitions to attack the pirates, only for them to swat them away.
"It didn't work!" Silver and Brian said in unison, back to normal.
"These clowns are getting on my nerves. Deal with them," Markus ordered.
"Of course, Captain," Clarence replied. Luke then pressed the button which opened up the castle, which was lined with the Lunar Panels. He then began transforming into a massive wolf monster, that howled and snarled at the group. Looking above, the group saw Mavis, trapped in a cage, a soulless look on her face.
"MAVIS!" Cadence and the eight Nymphs cried.
"We can take these guys, you guys need to get Mavis, and get out of here," Silver said to Twilight.
"Will you be alright?" Twilight asked.
"We'll be fine. Now go!" Silver said, as the Guild Elite charged at the head pirates. Daria and Wanda retrieved the cage, and brought it outside of the castle. The others soon joined them.
"I'll pick the lock," Celestia volunteered, as she used her magic to break the lock. However, as they were about to open it up and release Mavis, an explosion, bigger than any they've ever seen destroyed the castle, and the Elite were sent skidding back.
"You guys truly are bothersome. Now then, I will only ask once; return OUR mermaid, or die," Markus demanded.
"I can get her back to the ship," Luna volunteered, sing her magic to lift the cage. However, Luke was much too fast, and delivered a powerful punch to the lunar princess. However, he didn't take into account that his sneak attack caused the cage to burst apart, and sent Mavis flying towards the edge of the ship.
"No, Mavis!" Marina cried, as she tried to go and save her, only to be stopped by Aoi, who used a scimitar to keep Marina at bay.
"You know, I really do hate you bimbo fairies, walking around barely dressed like that, showing off your curves in all the right places. Makes me sick," Aoi spat, grabbing one of Marina's boobs.
"Maybe it's because you haven't the kind of figure we get to have," Daria said, smacking Aoi away.
"OH NO SHE DIDN'T!" everyone there said in unison.
"Oh, you did not just say that," Aoi said darkly, pulling out a javelin, "I'll kick all of your fat asses!" she screamed, as she lunged at Daria, who pulled out the sword and shield she took from Aoi's ship.
"Looks like we're all back to business now," Silver said, as they all took their places, ready to fight the pirates, while Cadence snuck around them to try and rescue Mavis, again. She crept slowly over to save her daughter, only for several tornadoes of water to erupt from the water, splitting the ship in two. Mavis gripped the deck, desperately trying to keep from falling.
"Mavis! Grab my hand!" Cadence pleaded, reaching for her daughter's arm. Mavis tried to, but the water was causing her to loose her grip, as she tried to take her mother's hand. With no grip, she slipped, and fell through the crevice of the ship, "MAVIS!" Cadence screamed, as she flew down, trying to reach her daughter. However, debris got in the way, and Cadence was unable to save Mavis, who fell into the ocean. Cadence was completely heartbroken. Her daughter was now lost to the ocean.
"NO! Now how are we going to find Atlantis!?" Markus exclaimed.
"Seriously? A little girl just fell into the ocean, and all you're worried about is some lost kingdom?!" Raiden yelled.
Under the ocean,
Mavis was motionless as she descended deeper and deeper into the ocean, "Everything..... hurts...… so much," she moaned. Thankfully, she was still a mermaid, so she was able to breathe normally underwater. She could hear something coming her way.
"Lieutenant! There's a little girl over here!" she heard a man's voice call out.
"Take her to her royal majesty!" another voice said. She then felt like she was being carried away. Once Mavis got her bearings, she saw that she was being carried by two mermen. And judging by their armor, she could tell in an instant that she was being taken to see The Queen of Mermaids. The two mermen brought her before a massive mermaid. She had black hair, even darker than Mavis', and had similar blue eyes. Her scales were bright green, and she was wearing all manner of jewelry.
"Oh my, what happened to her?" the Queen asked.
"We can only assume that the humans up above were responsible," the lieutenant replied, as the Queen used her magic trident to bring Mavis closer.
"Oh child, you are much too young to suffer this badly," the Queen said, as she cast a healing spell on Mavis.
"I am better. Merci, you highness," Mavis thanked, doing a curtsy.
"It's no trouble at all. Now then, can you tell me what happened to you?" the Queen asked.
"Well, mon friends and family were coming to rescue moi from the pirates, but the ship we were all on split in two, and I fell through the crack," Mavis explained.
"I see. And these friends and family of yours, would they happen to have humans in them too?" the Queen asked.
"Oui. They have shown me nothing but, how you say, compassion since I first met them," Mavis replied. The Queen took a moment to consider what she was just told.
"And these pirates, are they fighting your friends and family?" the Queen asked.
"Oui," Mavis replied.
"Then it's settled. I shall aid you in the battle against these pirates, and I shall do so, by first granting you power," the Queen said, firing a magic beam at Mavis.
The Guild Elite, Nymphs, and Ponies were all holding their ground against the pirates, as the pirates were attacking them senselessly, "Man, these guys are tough!" Damian commented.
"Not to worry, I still have one more trick in the reserves!" Clarence said, pressing a button on a remote device. A giant storage shed then shot up from under the deck.
"What is this?!" Maria exclaimed.
"Inside here is our ultimate weapon! Once I open this, you can forget winning! You'll all be lucky to survive!" Clarence said, undoing the lock.
"This is bad. We were struggling enough against these guys before, but now we may not stand a chance!" Daria exclaimed.
"Hope ye all said your prayers! BEHOLD!" Clarence exclaimed, opening up the locker, to reveal Eris, doing laundry on a bunch of weapons, humming to herself.
"Oh, I just love that Cory~ He's just so cool!" Eris sang, as she dropped a handkerchief on Clarence's head, "HANDS OFF MY HANKY!" she yelled, delivering a powerful punch to his gut.
"Eris!" Silver exclaimed.
"Great! She's here!" Pinkie Pie chimed in.
"I'm always happy to help, but don't cross me, because I'M A TORPEDO!" Eris proclaimed.
On the guild flagship,
"I can't see anything with all those water tornadoes in the way!" Takanosuke said, trying everything to get a clear picture.
"What could be causing them?" Nyx wondered.
"They can't be a natural occurring phenomenon, that's for sure," Trinity commented.
"I can sense a lot of magic coming from underneath the ocean," Josh commented. it was then that two more pillars of water emerged from the briny depths.
"Now what?!" Toby commented.
"Two large heat signatures are being detected! Nothing can be this huge!" James exclaimed.
"Mavis did mention somethin' about a 'Mermaid Queen'. That could probably be her," Nathan commented.
Back on the Pirate Frigate,
Two, colossal shadows were cast over the deck of the frigate, as everyone there just looked up, slack jawed, at two imposing figures rose up from the ocean, "They're huge!" Lucas exclaimed.
"They.... look scary," Fluttershy commented, ducking behind Applejack. The water soon dissipated around the two figures, to reveal Mavis, now gargantuan sized, and the Mermaid Queen, swimming right next to her.
"OH NO! THEY'RE CUTE!" a pirate on one of the smaller ships yelled.
"Who dares to invade my domain, and disrupt the peace of my kingdom?" The queen demanded. Cadence took this opportunity to fly up to Mavis.
"Mavis, sweetie, is this the Mermaid Queen you told us about?" Cadence asked.
"Oui," Giga-Mavis replied. This caught the Queen's attention.
"Wait, did you say your name was Mavis?" the queen asked.
"Uh, oui?" Giga-Mavis meekly replied.
"Your parents... they're names would happen to be David and Alice Gustou, would they?" the Queen asked.
"Oui?" the goth mermaid replied. It was then that the Queen did something that not even her own subjects expected her to do: she squealed in joy, and wrapped her arms around Giga-Mavis in a massive hug.
"Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to finally meet you!" the Queen gushed, smothering Mavis in her massive bosom.
"Uh, I am glad to meet you too?" Mavis said, warily.
"Oh, I should explain things! For starters, your mother, Alice, is MY daughter! Oh, she's told me all kinds of things about you, but I never anticipated my own granddaughter would be this adorable!" the Queen gushed, making a "squee" noise.
"Uh, my queen, or rather, grand-mère, there is something you should know," Mavis started to say.
"Oh, that reminds me, where is your mother anyway? I want to talk to her about having the cutest little girl in the world!" the Queen asked.
"Yeah, about that.... these pirates happened to maman, and papa too," Mavis shrank, not in size, after giving that revelation. The Queen took a moment to process this information, looking at the deck of the ship. She, unfortunately could not tell the difference between Mavis' friends or the pirates.
"So, my daughter and son in law are no longer among the living, thanks to these.... these.... pirates?" the Queen's previous joyous tone was replaced with a tone of growing outrage, lifting her trident.
"I'm sensing a ton of magic emanating from that trident," Discord commented.
"I... don't like that look in her eyes," Brian commented. And he was right. With a swing of her trident, the Queen summoned several more water tornadoes, which struck all of the pirate ships. Pirates and Mutants were all falling into the water like flies. The tornadoes also hit the main flagship. The Guild Elite, Ponies, and Pirates were all trying to keep their footing, while Rainbow Dash, Discord, Eris, and the Nymphs all floated above them.
"Grand-mere, please, you're attacking my friends too," Mavis tried to stop the Queen.
"Oh, I'm sorry sweetie. But there are just so many humans here, I can't tell whose who," the Queen replied innocently. It was then that another sharp pain shot through Mavis' head. This one was even worse than before. The goth mermaid screamed in agony, as she gripped her head.
"Mavis, what's wrong?!" Cadence asked, only to be swatted away with a giant snake. Looking at Mavis, she saw that Mavis had gone Gorgon, her eyes had the similar evil look as King Sombra. Dark markings began appearing around Mavis' body.
"Oh no," Wanda said.
"Mavis.... she must've been infected with Sombra's dark magic!" Mariah exclaimed.
"This isn't good," Kat commented.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.
"Nymph magic must always be aligned with Light Magic. Since she was infected by Sombra's magic, it will no doubt either destroy her from the inside out, or cause her to split into two separate entities. Either way, Mavis is not in a fair situation," Dana explained.
"What's so bad about that? So Mavis gets split up. I fail to see the downside to that," Pinkie Pie commented.
"Because if it comes to that, she will no doubt become prematurely older, physically speaking. In other words, she could become twice her age if she was split apart," Cosmo explained.
"So, she would be older? That is bad. She would loose most of her childhood in one fell swoop," Luna commented.
"But given the two choices, it may be the only way to keep our little buddy with us," Icezer replied.
"Right. We'll just have to help her with adjusting with her new body, should it come to that," Wanda replied, as Mavis then used her snake hair to attack everyone on the ship.
"Mavis, stop this now! Did you tell me that they were you're friends?" the Queen asked, grabbing Mavis' mechanical arm. One of the snakes then hissed at the Queen.
"Mavis, don't you recognize any of us?! It's me, your mother!" Cadence said, trying to get through to Mavis, only to be swatted away. Sparks then started flying off of Mavis, who roared in agony.
"I take it that means that Mavis' magic is beginning to destabilize?" Raiden asked.
"It is an extremely powerful Nymph spell, that dispels or purifies dark or corrupted magic. It is known as Nymph Barrier," Luna explained, as Giga-Mavis was being restrained, and the dark markings on her were beginning to disappear.
Back on the Guild Flag Ship,
All of Mavis' friends could not believe what was unfolding before them, "So, those pirates were telling the truth about Mavis being a Gorgon, all along?!" Nathan exclaimed.
"And what about all those dark markings on her body? And that light thing that surrounding her?" Kelly wondered.
"My sensors are indicating a large amount of Dark energy coming from your, extremely large friend. The Light energy seems to be suppressing the dark energy," James indicated. Toby was about to say something, when a stray water tornado tore into both ships, catching everyone there up in the cyclone, "OH, COME ON!" the mad scientist screamed, as they all plummeted into the ocean. Several aquatic creatures, including merfolk went to their rescue.
"Are you all ok?" a merman asked, holding up Toby and Conner.
"Uh, yeah. What happened though?" Toby asked.
"It would appear that a stray water tornado that her royal highness conjured struck your ships," a young Scylla girl, a few years older than Mavis, replied, as she held up Serenity and Kelly. Her skin was light blue color, and had darker blue tentacles, "As for Mavis, Ah just don't know what happened to her. She's always been a kind hearted mermaid. A little shy, but always kind," she explained.
"Wait, so ya know Mavis?" Nathan asked the Scylla.
"Yup. Name's Olivia, Ah'm a Scylla, and one of many friends that Mavis has in the ocean," the Scylla replied.
"But never mind that, are any of you aligned with those pirates that are attacking our kingdom?" a merman asked, holding up Chris, Timmy, and Drake.
"No. Those pirates are on their own. We actually just escaped from their clutches," Melody replied.
"Hey, are you guys alright?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying towards them.
"We are, thanks to these nice folks," Conner replied.
"Well that's good, but you should try to find someplace safe to hide until this all blows over," Rainbow Dash suggested.
"There's a small island a few knots away. We'll take them there," the merman replied, as they began to swim away. It was then that the Nymph's Barrier spell was able to finally work it's magic, and purify Mavis. Unfortunately, it became apparent that they waited too long to enact the spell, as Mavis shrank back down to normal size, and split into two different parts. One Mavis landed on the deck, while the other one was caught by the Mermaid Queen.
"Quick! Restrain that Mavis!" Mariah exclaimed, pointing to the one that fell onto the deck. Maria then spun some thread around that Mavis.
"But, how do you know that's the good half of Mavis?" Twilight asked.
"Because, I can sense the Nymph Magic in the half that the Queen caught," Mariah replied, as the Queen cradled her granddaughter in her hands. Cadence then flew down to cradle her daughter.
"Oh Mavis, you poor dear," Cadence said, seeing what had happened to Mavis. As what Dana said had come true. Mavis now appeared to be a few years older, as made evident by how much shorter Mavis' dress was. The hem of the dress now came down to her knees. The queen set the two of them on the deck, surrounded by their friends and family, while she used her magic to send the pirates flying off somewhere.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" the five of them screamed, landing in the middle of a desert somewhere.
"It's just as we feared. Mavis is now twice her age. This is truly one of King Sombra's cruelest deeds," Wanda said, stroking Mavis' cheek.
"Isn't there someway to turn her back to her normal size?" Fluttershy asked Discord. Sadly, Discord shook his head.
"If this is the case, then I will give my help," the Queen said, as a ball of light floated off of her trident, and down onto Mavis, melding into her body, "I just gave her four years of MY life. It'll be worth every second," the Queen said, as Mavis began to stir.
"Mmm, what happened?" Mavis asked groggily, as she looked around. She saw that she was finally reunited with her friends and family.
"You're back where you belong Mavis, right beside us," Cadence said, embracing her goth daughter.
"Maman," Mavis said, returning the warm embrace.
"GRAH! Let me out of here!" they all heard the evil Mavis yelled, as she struggled to break free of the threads.
"What should we do with..... Shadow Mavis, over there?" Icezer asked. Everyone just looked at him questioningly.
"'Shadow Mavis'? Really?" Twilight asked.
"Well, she was born from King Sombra's Magic, mixed with Mavis' Nymph Magic and negative emotions, it only seems to fit the bill," the ice teen replied.
"Well, it would appear that our Mavis has both her Mermaid and Gorgon powers, while Shadow Mavis over there only has a tiny amount of magic on her. But to be safe, we should lock her up somewhere, some place where she can do no harm," Eris replied.
"I will take care of dealing with her. Maybe sometime in the future, we can attempt to reform her. But for now, she will need a major time-out," Celestia replied.
"Well, that takes care of that problem," Brian commented.
"Actually, could I maybe ask a favor of you lot?" the Queen asked.
"Of course. What can we do for you?" Twilight asked.
"Well, since these pirates now know where Atlantis is, my kingdom and it's people are not safe in these waters. I was wondering if it's possible to transfer the entire kingdom of Atlantis to this new world that Mavis now lives in? I would like to spend some more time with my granddaughter," the Queen requested.
"You needn't worry about that, your majesty. I can take care of everything," Discord replied.
"I'll go ahead and transport everyone back to Canterlot Castle," Eris volunteered.
"Ok, but could you make sure that I am transported there too? I wish to make a royal decree," the Queen requested.
"Normally, I would say yes, but you're just so....," Eris trailed off there.
"Not to worry," The queen replied, waving her trident. She then shrunk down to human size and shape. She had an extremely curvaceous figure, held only by a tiny bikini, "I trust his will work?" she asked.
"That will work perfectly," Eris said, snapping her eagle talon, teleporting them all off of the ship.
On the island that the others were taken,
"So, you guys eat fish, crabs, squid and octopus?" Toby asked.
"Of course, sugar. Did ya think we could live off of a diet of just kelp and algae alone?" a Kraken girl, about Olivia's age asked. She had bright pink hair, and the tips of her tentacles were all pink as well.
"But Mavis said she feared us because we eat fish," Mike replied.
"Well, there are some sea folk who are morally objected to doing so. We only serve up what you humans call seafood if the ones being served were criminals sentenced to death," a merman replied. It was then that they were all teleported off the island and ocean.
At long last, the war against the Pirates of Shadow was over. And now, everyone was back at Canterlot Castle. And by "everyone", that means every pony, human, Nymph, the Queen Mermaid, some of the Scylla, Kraken, and Cancers that were all rescued from the pirate's evil grasp, "We're all back!" Kelly exclaimed happily.
"So, where are we?" Olivia asked.
"We're in our world. This is the city of Canterlot. Those pirates will never find any of you in this world," Chris replied.
"We are eternally grateful to all of you for what you have done for my kingdom and it's people," the Mermaid Queen replied, bowing to them.
"It was our pleasure to help you all," Celestia replied.
"Well, large mouth bass on a stick! If it ain't Mavis!" Olivia said, walking over to the aforementioned mermaid.
"Olivia! Oh, it is so good to see you again!" Mavis exclaimed happily, embracing the Scylla.
"Hey, what are we, chopped kelp?" the same kraken girl asked, as she, and a few other sea kids approached Mavis.
"Katelynn! Carla! It's so good to see al of you again!" Mavis exclaimed.
"Mavis! There ya are!" Mavis heard Nathan's voice call out to her, as he rushed over to his little sister. It was then he saw something was... off about her, "Mavis, how'd ya git taller?" Nathan questioned. Mavis then noticed that she was closer to Nathan in terms of height.
"Sacre bleu! What happened to moi?!" Mavis exclaimed, seeing that she was taller. She was still a bit shorter than most of the big kids.
"I think I can answer that, sweetie," Wanda said, fluttering down to her student, "See, you were infected by King Sombra's dark magic, which caused you to split into two separate halves. The resulting mingling of his dark magic, with your light magic caused you to.... age by four years, physically speaking," Wanda explained.
"Wait, so she's older because of the unicorn's interference?!" Nathan questioned.
"I'm afraid so. But, the queen was gracious enough to donate four years of HER eternal life to you," Wanda replied.
"Anything for my darling granddaughter!" the Queen replied.
"Then we'll just have to have four years worth of playtime," Katelynn suggested.
"I would like to enjoy my childhood a little longer," Mavis replied.
"And you needn't worry. We're going to make sure every moment counts," Olivia replied.
"So, son, um, here are your gifts, that I got you," James said awkwardly, giving Toby some presents. Toby graciously accepted them, but remained wary, as Silver Spoon, Fluttershy, Icezer and Brian all huddled close by the twelve year old. This didn't go unnoticed by Dana, Marina, Sky, or Polly.
"Is there something wrong?" Sky asked Fluttershy.
"Well, Toby's father there, he's not exactly on good terms with any of us," the yellow Pegasus replied.
"Yeah, he's a bit of an asshole," Brian replied.
"And by 'bit of', he means that's basically his thing. He did a lot of injustice towards Toby in the past," Icezer added.
"Now how can someone do something bad to their own child, especially with someone as cute as Toby here?" Marina asked, smothering Toby with her boobs.
"You know, when he groped me on that ship, Toby reminded me of the Pharaoh of Trotlantis. He looks so much like him, and acts just as bashfully," Dana commented.
"Getting be a ladies man, aren't ya son?" James laughed, before his expression turned intense, "But seriously, if you do anything to these girls, you need to take responsibility," he stated.
"Oh, like you're one to talk!" Silver Spoon defended her boyfriend, who Marina released from her titanic tits.
"Doesn't it bother you that a bunch of older women are hitting on your boyfriend?" James questioned.
"Why would I be bothered?" Silver Spoon asked, a confused expression worked it's way onto her face.
"Well, on our world, it's illegal to have romantic relations with multiple partners," James explained.
"That's just sad. There's no law like that in Equestria," Celestia commented. The humans there couldn't believe what she had just said.
"It's true. Here, the mare to stallion ratio is like six to one, so we not only allow harem marriages, but it's greatly encouraged for that reason," Twilight added.
"Well, what about the fact that they're older than Toby?" James questioned.
"Actually, we Nymphs are ageless beings. We're neither older or younger than anyone here," Cosmo replied.
"So, Toby can not only date as many girls as he wants, but he can even take some of us as his girlfriends. The same goes for the other boys here," Sky added.
"Could you excuse me for a moment?" James asked calmly, walking over to a stone pillar. Without warning, he started bashing his head against it, causing massive cracks to form, until he collapsed.
"Dad, are you ok?" Toby asked.
"I'm a happy little woodpecker!" James slurred, before loosing consciousness.
"We'd better take our leave of this place. We'll meet again!" the Mane-iac declared, as she loaded James onto the hovercraft, and they left. During this whole thing, Mavis couldn't help but think about the conversation that had just occurred.
'If it's alright for Toby to have many girlfriends, then maybe....' Mavis' entire body turned red at the thought of Toby and her being a couple.
"Hey, Mavis, are you ok?" Olivia asked, snapping Mavis out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, uh, oui," Mavis replied, a blush still on her face.
"You sure? You seem fidgety, and your face is red and...." Carla trailed off when she and Mavis' other sea friends realized were this was going.
"Mavis.... do you... have a crush on one of those humans?" Katelynn asked cheekily. Mavis felt she could die of embarrassment. Thankfully, salvation came in the form of the Royal Sisters. Mavis' friends decided to back off on the subject.
"Mavis, dear, there is someone we would like for you to meet," Celestia said. Mavis turned to her parents, who urged her to go with them.
"Oui, Princess," Mavis complied, as the three of them were teleported away from them.
"Who are they taking her to meet?" Katelynn asked.
"I think I may have an inkling," Josh replied.
In an astral plane,
Mavis looked around, seeing what looked to be some kind of peculiar space, "Where are we?" Mavis asked.
"We are in the very place that Twilight became a princess. We brought you here to meet someone very important," Celestia replied. It was then that large, white Alicorn mare with a red man and tail materialized, "Mavis, we'd like to introduce you to..." Celestia was cut off by Luna.
"MOMMY!" Luna exclaimed, running up to hug the new alicorn.
"Our mother, Empress Faust," Celestia said in a dejected tone at Luna's antics. The new mare glared fiercely at Celestia, who shuddered at the fierceness of the glare. With a sigh, Celestia then turned to Mavis, "Mavis, what I am about to do would get me nonstop teasing from the others back at the party, so please keep this a secret," Celestia pleaded.
"Um... ok?" Mavis replied warily. With a deep breath, Celestia turned back to the new mare.
"MOMMY!" Celestia yelled in a high pitched voice. The mare's glare softened, as she pulled Celestia into a hug, putting Celestia into an uncomfortable position.
"Oh, how have my babies been? Are you two getting along?" the mare asked.
"We've been doing just fine Mommy!" Luna replied.
"Mommy, this is Mavis, the latest addition to our family in Equestria," Celestia said, introducing Mavis.
"Aw, and what a doll she is!" Faust exclaimed.
"Indeed she is, but she is terribly shy," Luna replied.
"The poor dear," Faust commented, taking notice of Mavis' metal arm, "And I take it those pirates are responsible for that arm?" she asked.
"I'm afraid so," Luna replied sadly.
"Approach, little one," Faust said in a gentle tone. Mavis cautiously did so, "I have met with two adults that you may recognize, and they have come bearing a gift for you," Faust said, as the two adults she mentioned materialized, and Mavis recognized them instantly.
"MAMAN! PAPA!" Mavis cried, as she ran up to hug them.
"Mavis, mon enfant, I am so happy to hold you in mon arms again," Alice said, as she and David embraced their beloved daughter.
"Mavis, are you.... taller? And have fairy wings?" David questioned.
"It is a long story..... but I thought I would never see you again!" Mavis cried, hugging her parents.
"We're happy to see you again too. Unfortunately, once we leave this realm, we will be unable to meet again for one whole year," Alice sadly told her precious daughter.
"I kind of figured that, but it still hurts hearing that for myself," Mavis admitted.
"We know it hurts to let someone you care about go, but you should always remember that song I used to sing while I was making art," David suggested. Mavis knew exactly the song he was talking about.
"That's good. Now then, I'm sure Empress Faust has told you that we have a gift just for you. We want for you to take it," Alice replied, as she and David mixed their magic around Mavis' metal arm, which began to come apart, "Always remember that we love you, our special little angel," Alice said, as Mavis was being transported back to Canterlot.
"I will! AU REVOiR MAMAN, PAPA!" Mavis was crying as she bid her parents one last goodbye, as she was taken out of the astral realm.
"You've both raised a very kind daughter," Celestia said to Mavis' parents.
"We know. Could you and all of her new friends and family make sure she grows up to stay that way?" Alice asked the Royal Sisters.
"We will, we promise," Luna replied.
"Merci beacoup. Oh, and could you tell mon maman that I said 'bonjour'?" Alice added.
"Of course," Celestia said, as the two sisters left back for Canterlot.
Back at the Party,
Everyone there was mingling with one another, with the Equestrian Mayhem getting ready for one last performance for the night, when a ball of light shone high above the gardens, "Mavis? Is that you?" Cadence asked, as the light dissipated, revealing Mavis once more.
"Maman? Am I back in Canterlot?" Mavis asked, holding her dizzy head with her hands. She heard a round of shocked gasps. Confused, she then saw that her metal arm was replaced with a real, flesh and bone arm, "What happened to mon arm?!" Mavis exclaimed.
"That is a result of what your parents did," Celestia replied, as she and Luna landed in front of everyone.
"Mavis, we know you wanted to keep your metal arm as a reminder of what happened between you and those pirates, but it would appear that your parents wanted you to live life with a real arm, which was the gift they wished to give you," Luna added. Mavis looked at her now real arm, and smiled, as this would serve as a reminder for what her parents did for her.
"This is great Mavis! At least this way, your clothes won't get caught on the metallic hinges," Kelly commented.
"Plus, the metal would make it difficult for you to grow properly, given how heavy it is," Raiden added.
"Come, sweetie, the band is about to perform, and I would like to share a good spot with you," the Queen Mermaid invited, as Mavis sat next to the queen, along with her friends from both land and sea, as well as her family, "You know Mavis, that whole, giant mermaid thing you did back in the ocean? You can still use the transformation. All you need is to be in a very large body of water, and think big. To shrink, you just need to think small," the Queen quipped.
"Mavis is going to make a very good student for each of you, and maybe the others from the East and West grottos too," Wanda said to the other eight Nymphs.
"Yeah. We'll need to show her the Southern Grotto first," Mariah replied.
"We can give you girls some crystals that connect to her amulet. That way, she can teleport instantly," Dana suggested.
"Alright Canterlot! Happy Hearth's Warming!" Nathan said over the mic, "Now, Ah know we had a few.... unexpected surprises, but now that's all behind us, and Ah'm happy to say that we can celebrate the joyous holiday in harmony!" he exclaimed, as the band began to play, with Nathan singing in the voice of Donny Osmond, for some reason.
After their performance, they were showered in applause from the audience ,"Thank you! Thank you!" Josh called out.
"We'll all see you at the concert tomorrow!" Mike exclaimed.
"See? Ah told ya they'd like it if Ah sang like Donny Osmond," Nathan said.
"Yeah, but I still think we could've done Elton John like vocals," Toby countered, as they went backstage.
"A most excellent performance! You son and his friends are quite talented," the Queen commented to Cadence.
"Well, this boy band they started is a hobby they all got together to do," Cadence replied. It was then they all saw the time on the clock tower.
"Oh my, is it that late already?" Tabby commented. Some of the kids were all starting to get tired.
"You're all welcome to stay in the castle," Luna said to the friends.
"I'd better get going to the ocean. I'm eager to see what the oceans here are like. I'll see you later Mavis," the Queen said, as Mavis tiredly nodded.
"As for you, I'd better get you to bed," Cadence said, picking Mavis up in her arms, "As for you, your majesty, I hope you and your subjects have a safe trip to your new home," the Crystal Princess said.
"Thank you, and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your holiday," the queen replied, as she and the others all gather around Eris.
"Oh wait!" Twilight said, giving the queen some parchments, "I run a school of friendship where I live. If you're interested, you could have some of your people attend?" she offered. The queen thought about this for a moment.
"Well, if some of the children are interested, I will be more than happy to approve of this," the queen replied.
"Katelynn, take this with vous," Mavis said, giving the kraken girl a cluster of crystals, "We can use this to keep in touch," Mavis explained.
"We'll be sure to call when we get to our new home," Olivia replied, as Eris snapped her eagle talon, and teleported them all to the ocean.
"Come along everyone, we'll show you to your rooms," Celestia said, as they all entered the castle.
It had been only a few weeks after the events of Mavis' first Hearth's Warming, and things were going as peacefully as they could be. Mavis had been taking lessons on basic academic studies with Mariah in the Southern Nymph Grotto, while also taking smaller classes with her ocean friends at the Friendship School in Ponyville, in order to learn more about making friends, and to hang out with hers and Nathan's friends. Mavis was lounging around the living room in the Crystal Castle, watching TV, while Nathan was playing video games and the two babies were playing on the floor, until they heard their father whooping about something, "What was that?" Nathan questioned.
"I do not know," Mavis replied. Their question was about to be answered, when their parents entered the living area.
"Kids, we have something big to tell you," Cadence said, looking like she was trying to hide her excitement. Nathan and Mavis focused their attention to their parents, while the babies were just playing on the floor.
"So, what's up? Ya ain't usually this excited unless....." Nathan trailed off when he put two and two together.
"You're right, sport. We're having another baby!" Shining Armor exclaimed, giggling like a filly. Nathan looked ecstatic, while Mavis had a look of slight excitement.
"Y'all hear that? You're getting a baby brother or sister in about a year," Nathan said to Guard and Skyla. Guard seemed to take this news well, while Skyla started throwing a hissy fit.
"Now Skyla, is that any way act?" Cadence softly reprimanded her (currently) youngest daughter. Skyla only pouted. She thought that a new child in the house meant less toys and less attention from her parents. She already didn't like Mavis when they first met, and still hasn't come around for the goth mermaid.
"Are you going to tell Auntie Twilight about it?" Mavis asked.
"We will, but for now, let's just keep it a secret. I want to see the look on her face when we tell her," Shining Armor replied.
"Well, ok," Mavis replied.
"Well, we can tell her this weekend, when we go to visit her. So, be sure you have your things all packed up. I have to send a message to the residents to get things ready," Cadence said, placing the still pouting Skyla on the floor, and walking out of the room, followed by Shining Armor.
"Now Skyla, Ah git ya want ta have all the attention for yourself, but ya got ta know that babies need a lot o' special care, especially newborns," Nathan attempted to reason with Skyla, who only blew a raspberry at him. Nathan seemed rather indignant about this. Now, the gloves were off, "Alright, if that's how ya want ta play it, then fine by me! I'm goin' ta tell ya a story Ah learned from church school, the story of Joseph, the King o' Dreams," Nathan said. Skyla then became interested at the thought of story time.
"A biblical story?" Mavis questioned.
"Yup. Maybe this will shock Skyla into respecitin' you and the new baby," Nathan whispered, so Skyla would not hear, "Alright Skyla, Ah'll keep this nice n' simple. The story o' Joseph goes like this; he was a man who was the youngest, n' most favored among twelve sons, and he had the power to see into the future through his dreams, a gift that his older brothers were extremely jealous about, so they had a plan ta sell Joseph into slavery, and say he was killed by a pack o' wolves," Nathan began telling the tale. Skyla seemed uncomfortable by this, as did Guard and Mavis.
"This is in the bible?" Mavis asked, as Nathan continued.
"So, Skyla, Ah want to know somethin'. Are you really so selfish that ya would treat your own family this way?" Nathan asked, in a cold tone. Skyla shook her head, and cowered. This led Nathan to comfort her, "Ah know ya ain't. But just keep that story in mind," Nathan explained.
"Do they really teach you these stories in church schools?" Mavis asked.
"Yeah. It is felt that we need ta know these stories, as a part o' religious history," Nathan replied, as they all went back to doing what they were doing before.
The next few months came and went, and the baby was due to be born any day. With this in mind, Cadence and Shining Armor sent Nathan and Mavis to Ponyville to stay with Twilight, while Guard and Skyla went to stay with their grandparents up in Canterlot. The two children were out and about in Ponyville, while the adults were all going over what was going to happen when the new baby arrives. Apparently, from the little bit they were able to eavesdrop from the meeting, apparently, there was to be a ceremony known as a "Crystalling", but they left before they could get any of the big details, "So, there was no 'Crystalling' when Guard or Skyla were born?" Mavis asked.
"Nope. Since the Empire was gone for a thousand years, some of the customs were, lost to time, in a manner o speakin'," Nathan replied.
"Well, I guess I could always ask Mariah what happens during this ritual. I do have her blessings as well," Mavis said, pulling out her Nymph Amulet.
"Hmm, maybe once everyone's all together, then we can ask her," Nathan replied. No sooner than he did, he saw Conner, Mike, Josh, Crystal, and Melody, all walking by, "Speakin' o' which, hey guys!" Nathan called out. It caught their attention.
"Oh, hey Nathan, Mavis," Crystal greeted.
"So, we hear the baby is going to be born soon?" Conner asked.
"Oui. Maman and Papa had us come down here until it comes," Mavis replied.
"You guys know where the others are? We'd like to go over something we overheard from the adults back at the castle," Nathan added.
"Well, Kelly's over at the Spoon estate, practicing her violin with Octavia. As for the others, I know Toby's holding down the fort at Fluttershy's cottage with Serenity. And I know most of the others are hanging out at the Guild's arcade," Mike replied. Mavis blushed at the mention of Toby.
"Well, Ah guess we can relay the information ta the others. Why don't we head someplace where we won't be bothered?" Nathan suggested.
"Good call. How about the barn at Sweet Apple Acres?" Mike suggested.
"Sounds good," Josh commented.
Later, in the Barn,
"Ok, so, what's this thing the adults were discussing?" Crystal asked.
"Ok, so the baby is due any day now. But there's apparently more to that than we know. Mommy and Daddy discovered some kind of ancient Crystal Empire ritual called the 'Crystalin'," Nathan explained.
"We don't know all the details, which is why I am going to contact Mariah and see if she can, how you say, shed some light on the subject," Mavis added.
"Which one is Mariah again? I keep forgetting," Mike admitted.
"She is one of the Nymphs from the Southern Grotto. She is, how you say, most curvaceous, and intelligent," Mavis replied.
"Oh! I think I remember her now! She's the one who wears the owl sized glasses, right?" Conner asked.
"Oui," Mavis replied, as she pour her magic into Mariah's crystal on her pendant.
In the Southern Grotto,
Mariah was reading her favorite romance novel series in her little den, "Ah, I just love romance! I hope I can find my own some day," she said to herself. It was then she saw a nearby crystal glowing, "Hmm? What could this be?" Mariah wondered, as she fluttered over to the crystal. Examining it, she smiled, "Oh goody! Mavis is calling!" she exclaimed, as she used her magic to summon a bubble from the crystal, "Hello Mavis, can you hear me?" she asked.
"Oui. Bonjour to you too, Mariah," Mavis returned the greeting.
"I trust things have been going well for you?" Mariah asked.
"Oui. The baby is due anytime now. That is actually why I called you," Mavis replied.
"Ok, what's on your mind?" Mariah asked.
"Well, while mon frere and I were up at the Empire, we discovered some kind of ritual called the Crystalling," Mavis explained.
"Ah yes, the Crystalling. Let me see, I know I have a tome on the Crystal Empire's traditions and customs somewhere," Mariah said, as she fluttered around her den, "Lets see, no, no," Mariah blushed at seeing one particular book, but remained focused. She eventually found what she was looking for. However, upon pulling it out, she only then realized it was underneath a large stack of books, which came tumbling down on top of her.
Back at Sweet Apple Acres,
"Mariah? Are you ok?" Mavis asked. Mariah's head then popped out from a pile of books.
"Oh, yeah, never better," she sounded dazed, as she pulled out the tome, and sat herself in front of the bubble. She then began skimming the book, before stopping at one page, "Ok, here's what you want to know. The Crystalling is a sort of tradition done whenever a pony is born in the Crystal Empire. The parents must present the baby to the Crystal Heart, along with the purest crystal they can find, where a pony called a 'Crystaler' presents the baby to everyone who comes. It is then that they all share the light and joy they feel into the crystal, that joins with the Crystal Heart, and increases it's power. Does that make sense?" Mariah asked.
"Ah guess? It kinda sounds like a baptizin'," Nathan replied.
"In a way, yes," Mariah replied.
"Well, if Auntie Twilight n' her friends are helpin' out with the Crystallin', then we needn't worry about finding pure crystal shards, or a crystaller," Nathan commented.
"Well, only time will tell. It was nice talking to you again Mavis. I'll see if my sisters here and from the Northern Grotto will be able to come to the Empire. If so, we'll see you then," Mariah said, as she closed off communications.
"Well, at least now we know what we're getting into," Crystal commented.
"All we need now is the letter from our parents, sayin' that the baby's here," Nathan replied. Just then, a scroll materialized. unfurling it, Nathan got up, "C'mon guys! The baby's been born!" he said. Everyone got up, and made their way back to Twilight's castle.
The kids had arrived at the castle, where the other kids were gathered, and they along with the adults were getting ready to leave. Among them was the latest addition to their circle of friends, Starlight Glimmer, "We got your message," Mike commented.
"Yep. We're going back to the Empire to see the new baby! I'm an Aunt!" Twilight proclaimed proudly, only to be met with aggressive throat clearing. Looking, she saw Nathan tapping his foot, his hands on his hips, giving her the stink eye, while Mavis looked rather despondent, "Oops. Sorry," she sheepishly said.
"Yeah, ya might want ta watch that," Applejack said.
"Maybe it's because I have hardly any presence that everyone just forgets about me. Story of my life," Mavis commented in a goth manner. This seemed to unnerve the others.
"Uh.... if it makes you feel better, I don't forget you," Toby commented. This made Mavis break her goth character, and blushed at her crush. Thankfully for her, this went unnoticed, as the others shared Toby's sentiments.
"Well, in any case, we should head on up to the Empire. Cadence wants us all to see the baby," Twilight said, as they went to the train station.
On the train ride,
While the adults were all talking in the next car, the kids were all hanging out. All apart from Mavis, who was sleeping on a bench, dreaming peaceful dreams.
Mavis' Dream
In a French Café, an adult Mavis was seated at one of the outside tables, sipping a cup of tea, and enjoying a cake. She then heard the most beautiful music she had ever heard. Ever curious, she decided to investigate. She eventually came across a small crowd, surround a harpsicord, being played by the most handsome man she had ever seen. Tall, intellectual, and a gentle look in his eyes behind a pair of glasses, Mavis instantly fell for him. He finished up his song, took a small bow, as the crowd applauded him, and dispersed, leaving him and Mavis all alone, the latter of whom was fretting, not sure how to address this situation, even less so, as the man approached her, "I assume you enjoyed my music?" he asked. Even his voice sounded like silk to Mavis.
"Oui, oui, monsieur musicien," Mavis replied.
"If you like the music, I could take you on a night on the town?" the man offered.
"But, we barely even know each other!" Mavis replied, her eyes being replaced with anime swirls.
"We could get to know each other this way," the man replied.
"Oui, when you put it that way," Mavis replied.
"I am Toby, by the way, Toby Mason," the man introduced himself.
"Mavis Gustou," Mavis replied.
"Well, shall we then?" Toby offered.
"Oui, and let's get married some day, and have 23 babies," Mavis replied.
Reality,
Mavis shot up from her sleep, after that dream, "Wow, that escalated quickly, no?" Mavis said to herself, a deep blush on her face. Looking out the window, she saw that the train was nearing the Crystal Empire. She was then approached by Melody and Clover.
"C'mon Mavis. Auntie Twilight wants us all to be ready for when we arrive," Melody stated.
"Ok," Mavis replied, as she grabbed her satchel, as the train came to a complete stop. The doors opened, and they all got out of the coach, with Mavis being the last one out. From the cloud of steam, they were able to spot the adults, including Shining Armor, who looked like he just drank twelve pots of coffee.
"Shining Armor! I didn't know you were meeting us!" Twilight exclaimed happily.
"Of course I am! It's me, right here, here I am! Why wouldn't I come meet my sister, or my kids?" Shining Armor asked in a slurry voice, like he hadn't slept in weeks.
"Are you alright?" Twilight asked.
"NEVER BETTER! Being a father is amazing, and wonderful, and amazing, and confusing, and amazing! But surprising too, you know? I mean not that you would know, I know, you know?!" he asked in a crazed fashion. An aggressive throat clearing got his attention. Turning, he saw Nathan tapping his foot impatiently, while Mavis appeared downtrodden, "Oh, I mean, being a father to THIS baby is amazing. No offense intended to either of you!" he quickly retorted.
"I think this calls for being a little extra worried," Vibrant whispered to Season and Serenity, both of whom nodded.
"Sorry, I haven't slept well since Cadence had the baby. Come to think of it, she hasn't either. it sure would be great to get a break," Shining Armor added.
"Oh, of course. What was I thinking? You two probably need all kinds of help," Twilight replied.
"Well, we can watch the baby for a spell," Nathan volunteered himself, and the others.
"Well, that's nice of you to offer, but this baby isn't anything like Skyla or Guard. It may be a good idea to have Twiley and her friends help out with the baby instead," Shining Armor politely declined. Mavis seemed rather disappointed by this.
'It would've been nice taking care of the baby alongside Toby. It would be like if we were married,' Mavis thought to herself, a goofy smile working it's way onto her face, images of her and Toby holding a mini-Mavis with large owl sized glasses in their arms.
"Mavis, shake a leg! We're headin' ta the castle!" Nathan called out to her. Mavis snapped out of her daydream, and quickly caught up with the others.
Having arrived back at the Castle, Shining Armor ushered them towards the nursery, where Guard and Skyla lived in, "I should probably tell you, seeing the baby might be a bit of a shock," Shining Armor warned.
"C'mon big bro, I've met babies before. I expect this one won't be any different," Twilight said, as they all entered the nursery, where Celestia, Luna, Chris, Timmy, Drake, and a tired looking Cadence were already present. There, sleeping peacefully in the crib, was the new baby.
"She's so precious," Kelly whispered. The baby then wiggled free of her blanket, revealing an abnormally large pair of wings. The baby cooed, and babbled. Everyone there was speechless, especially Nathan and Mavis.
"Of course, I could be wrong," Twilight admitted.
At the North Nymph Grotto,
The Southern Nymphs had just arrived at the Northern Grotto, with Mariah carrying a large bag filled with some books, "We're here!" Sasha called out. This drew out the Northern Nymphs.
"Ah, good. Are well all ready to attend the Crystalling with Mavis?" Wanda asked.
"I packed some sweets for Mavis and all her friends to enjoy. Too bad the baby won't be able to enjoy them," Dana said, holding a plate of cookies. She had Yuki and Cosmo hold plates of brownies and cupcakes respectively.
"I brought a bunch of books on the Crystalling, as well as a bunch of other stuff, just in case," Mariah said, motioning to her bag, which was almost overflowing with books, as one fell out. Daria picked up the book entitled "Ninjas of Love".
"How's this supposed to help with the ceremony?" the Amazonian Nymph asked, only for Mariah to snatch it away.
"Oh, wow, 'how?' indeed!" Mariah said, blushing, as she used her magic to send it away.
"Oh, was that book one of your 'naughty' books you like to horde?" Kat teased, a mischievous look on her face.
"Focus Kat. We really need to get going to the Empire now. Mavis is expecting us," Wanda said, getting her sisters' attention once more.
"I'll go ahead and contact her," Marina volunteered, fluttering over to a crystal.
Back at the Crystal Empire,
"The baby is an ALICORN?!" Twilight exclaimed, as the baby babbled and sucked on her hoof.
"Ya know Skyla n' Guard are Alicorns too, right?" Nathan commented, in a deadpan tone that rivaled that of Mavis' gothic tone.
"It's more than likely the attention the new baby will get will leave us forgotten, like an old, broken toy," Mavis sighed in her gothic tone.
"Ok, seriously. We get you're trying to be a goth, but you can at least tone back on that," Kelly suggested.
"But even Skyla and Guard's wings aren't nearly this big!" Celestia commented.
"Maybe this means she'll be a better flyer long before her big brother and sister!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"And we should also keep tabs on her magic, just in case," Twilight suggested. The baby then sneeze, and unleashed a powerful magic burst, which cut through several levels of the castle. A Pony servant poked her head from a few floors up.
"Ah ain't fixin' that," Nathan stated.
"It would appear that her magic is more powerful than that of a newborn unicorn!" Celestia determined.
"That's another thing Guard n' Skyla can't do," Nathan commented.
"The crowd's have already started to gather," Luna commented. She then noticed Pinkie Pie blowing up a balloon.
"This Crystalling is going to be some party!" she happily exclaimed, before the balloon popped.
"Do you think we should call it off?" Cadence suggested.
"Um, I think we've faced ALOT worse than baby magic," Rainbow Dash replied.
"I can't imagine cancelling such a beautiful and important ceremony over something so potentially adorable," Rarity added. The others all agreed.
"In light of the little one's abilities, this Crystalling may be more important than ever," Celestia commented.
"She's not wrong, you know? It may help get her magic under control," Chris added.
"Perhaps you should address your subjects, and remind them of that," Celestia advised. The tired looking Cadence nodded, and gave the baby a kiss on the forehead. The baby then babbled, as she reached out for her mother, who left along with Celestia and Luna. Everyone left in the room then turned back to the baby, with Shining Armor snoring, while leaning at the top of the crib.
"Shining Armor, do you have everything you need for the ceremony?" Twilight asked, nudging her brother, who groggily woke up. Upon hearing his sister's question, he began panicking.
"OH NO! I STILL HAVE TO INTERVIEW THE HONOR GUARD, PICK THE PURITY CRYSTAL, AND CHOOSE A CRYSTALLER!" he exclaimed, before falling to the ground, his lip in a nervous pout.
"It'll be ok. Pinkie and I can stay here with the baby," Twilight said, as the baby was hugging Pinkie's face.
"And we'll all help you with everything else," Applejack said, volunteering herself and the rest of the Mane Six. Shining Armor only collapsed out of exhaustion.
"Anything the rest o' us can do?" Nathan asked.
"Well, if you want, you can help keep things in check with the baby. I'm sure she wants to play with a lot of new people or ponies," Twilight suggested.
"I could always take pictures for Auntie Cadence and Uncle Shining Armor," Toby said, pulling out a digital camera.
"Ok, where did you get that?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"It was one of the presents Dad gave me for Hearths warming," Toby replied.
"Well, ya can't say he ain't forgettin' about traditions," Applejack commented. Mavis thought about Toby as a photographer.
Mavis' Wild Imagination,
An adult Mavis was posing in a rather skimpy bikini, which did hardly anything to hide her curves, while an adult Toby was taking pictures of her for a magazine article, "Oh yeah, work that bod, baby! The camera loves you!" Toby said, as he snapped a few pictures.
"Um, are we done yet Monsieur Toby? This is a little embarrassing," Mavis pleaded, as she shifted in a shy manner.
"Not quite, we still have one more outfit for you to wear," Toby replied, pointing to the rack. Upon seeing there was nothing there, Mavis was equally confused as she was nervous.
"Uh... Monsieur, this other outfit.... it's not what I think it is, is it?" Mavis asked. Toby grinned in a perverted manner.
"Oh yeah," he replied, as he reached for her bikini.
Reality,
"Wow, that escalated even more," Mavis said to herself, as she blushed. She felt her pendant vibrating, "Oh, mon teachers are calling," Mavis said, as she opened the pendant.
"Ah, Mavis, I was wondering where you were," Marina said from a small projection from the pendant.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought about something," Mavis replied, as the baby flew around, dragging Pinkie Pie, while shooting magic blasts, which were canceled out by Twilight, "Uh, maybe I should take the pendant to another room," Mavis commented.
"Good call. We'll be there momentarily," Wanda said.
"I will be in the next room if anyone needs me," Mavis said, as she left the nursery. She then went into the next room, where she place her pendant on the floor, "Ok, you're good to go now!" Mavis called out. As her pendant began glowing brightly. In moments, the Nymphs all arrived in the room.
"Hello Mavis. We're very pleased to see you again," Sasha commented.
"Bonjour, it is nice to see you all again too," Mavis greeted.
"So, where's the baby?" Kat asked, as a beam shot through the wall.
"Need I say more?" Mavis asked rhetorically. Peering through the wall, Fiona, Sky, and Yuki all saw Twilight, Pinkie, and Mavis' friends trying to get the baby contained.
"The baby is an ALICORN?!" Sky exclaimed.
"That's what I said!" Twilight replied.
"The birth of an Alicorn is something even WE know nothing about," Mariah commented.
"Well, that's not very helpful," Mike commented, as he smashed into Toby, Kelly, and Clover, as Pinkie, still being dragged by the baby passed them by.
"Man, even Skyla n' Guard ain't this energetic," Nathan said, as lifted Melody onto his shoulders.
"Well, it looks like they're going to be busy for a while," Wanda commented, as they all exited the room.
"So, how are preparations for the Crystalling going?" Marina asked.
"Well, since we got here, not much has happened. Papa still has to interview the honor guard and pick the Crystaller. I know Mademoiselle Rarity is picking out the Purity Crystal, thankfully. I didn't want to have to make one," Mavis said in relief.
"Well, making a Purity Crystal is a tad too advanced. You're still in training," Wanda reassured.
"So, have they picked the Crystaller?" Amanda asked.
"Not yet, as far as I know," Mavis replied. It was then the nursery door opened, and out walked Twilight, who was using her magic to keep the baby in control, with Pinkie Pie inside. The other kids also walked out, looking rather exhausted.
"Ah repeat: This baby is WAY more energetic than Skyla or Guard," Nathan groaned, as he fell flat on his face.
"If push comes to shove, we may need Mavis to get the baby under control," Kelly said, using her sisters as crutches.
"Moi? What can I do?" Mavis asked.
"You know, that gorgon thing," Kelly clarified.
"I don't think that's such a good idea. We don't know what Mavis' eye trick can do to the baby," Twilight countered.
"Plus, I do not like using it so much. Only in, how you say, the most dire situations," Mavis added, as they all walked towards the courtyard. As they did, Mavis noticed how Toby was blushing as Sky and Marina walked close to him, 'Toby must like girls with bigger chest and bigger tushies. If only I were bigger,' Mavis thought.
Mavis' Wild Imagination,
In an anime like high school, Mavis was walking through the halls, looking ever so graceful. Most of the boys gawked at her as she walked by, while the girls all looked envious of her. Mavis was the representative of her classroom, so she had to maintain a high degree of professionalism, lecturing boys who act unfavorably towards girls, making sure everything in the class room was in an ordered fashion, and making sure no one was in violation of school rules. She soon approached her classroom, "Oh, what a great day," Mavis said, as she slid open the door. Upon looking inside the castle, she saw Dana, Marina, and Sky, all dressed in school uniforms that were three or five sized too small, hitting on Toby.
"Hey Toby, I know of a this cute little café in the shopping district. Why don't we go get something to eat?" Dana asked, sitting on the boy's desk, giving Toby an eyeful of her bubble butt, which was hardly covered by a skirt or her panties.
"Or maybe we could go to the aquarium?" Marina suggested, resting her boobs on the boy's head.
"I think we should hang in the band room," Sky commented, leaning next to him, giving him a full view of her cleavage.
"H-HEY! What is the meaning of this naughty behavior?!" Mavis exclaimed, catching their attention.
"Oh, Mavis, when did you get here?" Marina asked.
"Never mind that! Why are the three of you acting so improper with Toby so early in the morning?!" Mavis demanded.
"Aw, lighten up. We can't help it if Toby likes big girls," Dana said, motioning to her butt, while Sky and Marina motioned down at their tits. Mavis, while she was among the most beautiful girls in school, was completely flat as cardboard.
"Jealous of our hot bods, are you, Mavis?" Marina teased. Mavis blushed, but retained her composure.
"My figure is not the problem! You're in school, and acting so naughty is against the rules!" Mavis argued.
"Aw come on, we're all kids here! We need to enjoy life as it comes to us," Dana said, as she smothered Toby in her boobs.
Reality,
"Wow, my imagination is getting really bizarre. Besides, I'm not really the tsundere type," Mavis said to herself, as they exited the castle. Twilight and Cadence then used their magic to separate the baby from Pinkie. The baby fussed, wanting to play with Pinkie some more. The baby, not getting what she wanted, began crying in Royal Canterlot Voice levels of volume, causing the others to cover their ears. The sheer volume of the crying was enough to cause the Crystal Heart to crack, until it broke apart. Everyone gasped in pure shock, with Daria, Marina, Dana, Mariah, and Wanda fainting, as the baby fluttered down into Cadence's arms.
"Ah'm guessin' that's gonna make it hard ta do the Crystallin'," Applejack commented.
"It's worse than that," Twilight said, peering out onto the horizon, "Without the Crystal Heart, the Crystal Empire is about to be buried under a mountain of ice and snow," she explained, showing the dark clouds starting to gather over the empire. The baby, completely oblivious to what's going on, just babbled happily.
"So, not only can we NOT take part in the fabulous ancient ceremony, but we're also about to be frozen solid?!" Rarity questioned.
"Without the Crystal Heart's magical protection, the city is about to become a winter wasteland," Twilight replied.
"What about when King Sombra ruled the Crystal Empire, and the Crystal Heart was missin'? The city wasn't covered in snow then," Applejack asked.
"The Heart wasn't missing. It was still in the castle. King Sombra had just hidden it," Twilight explained.
"I'm afraid Twilight is correct, and the storm clouds are already forming!" Celestia commented, as she pulled back some curtains, showing the encroaching clouds.
"I can totally fly up there and bust those puppies up! No problem!" Rainbow Dash volunteered. However, her advances were cut short, as Celestia shut the curtains.
"I would not advise that, Rainbow Dash. Those storm clouds are nothing like the ones you know," the solar princess said.
"Indeed. The weather this far north has a will of its own. Even we have trouble containing them," Sky added.
"And because of that, it will only grow stronger, enveloping everything in it's path," Luna added.
"Including the Crystal Empire!" cried Cadence.
"And us along with it!" Twilight added, as Pinkie Pie latched onto her.
"Ain't there somethin' we can do?" Nathan asked.
"We could try putting the Crystal Heart back together, but that requires a certain level of magic," Wanda stated.
"What about Mavis? Can't she just make a new Crystal Heart?" Rarity asked.
"I'm afraid the Heart is an artifact that has existed LONG before the Crystal Empire was ever founded. Even we don't know how it came into being," Amanda replied.
"On top of that, Crystal Formation is the most basic form of magic a Crystal Nymph can use, but Mavis has yet to fully master it. And forming a powerful artifact is an advanced level feat," Yuki added.
"Well, there goes that plan," Rainbow Dash commented.
"The Crystal Empire's Royal library is just as extensive as the one in Canterlot. Maybe there's something there we can use," Cadence suggested, giving the baby to Shining Armor.
"I can help with finding something. I'm pretty good with books," Mariah volunteered.
"In the meantime, we will do what we can with keeping the storm at bay, but even our magic will succumb to the frozen north's weather," Celestia said, as she and Luna went off to fend off the storm.
"Meanwhile, some of us should instruct the crowds to get back into their homes. In the worst case scenario, we may need to evacuate the Crystal Empire," Cadence said.
"The three of us can handle crowd control," Rainbow Dash commented, motioning to herself and Applejack and Fluttershy.
"Then rest of us will head to the library to search for anything that can help with the Crystal Heart," Twilight said, as everyone split off to do their tasks.
Not even 2 minutes later,
Shining Armor, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, the kids, and the Nymphs, apart from Mariah, who was helping Twilight and Cadence find a spell to fix the Crystal Heart, were all running around, trying to contain the baby, who was flying around, giggling, and shooting magic about. Nyx, Trinity, and Wanda did their best to keep the baby from destroying the library, "Young filly.... get back here!" Shining Armor yelled, as he, Nathan, Daria, Julia, and Vibrant chased her down the corridor, while Twilight was reading off the books Cadence and Mariah were giving her.
"Anything up there?" Twilight asked, sounding desperate.
"Not yet! I'm not sure how these are organized!" Cadence called back, as the baby popped onto a shelf she was looking at. Cadence smiled at the baby, as she sneezed, firing a blast of magic. She then teleported near Twilight, flying about, as Shining Armor, Sky, Toby, Mavis, and Dana chased after her, "Shining Armor? I thought YOU were watching the baby?!" Cadence asked.
"I'm trying!" her husband called back, as he rounded a corner, chasing the baby, while Toby tripped on a book, which caused Sky to fall on him, her boobs in his face.
"Oh my gosh, are you alright?!" Sky asked Toby.
"Yeah, I'll be ok," Toby replied, trying to ignore the tits in his face. Needless to say, Mavis was completely jealous of Sky.
Mavis' Wild Imagination,
In an anime style neighborhood, a young Mavis was running down the streets, her school bag in her hand, and a piece of toast in her mouth, "Oh non! I can't be late again!" she said through the toast, as she neared an intersection. What she didn't know was that her crush, Toby, and his girlfriend, Silver Spoon, were walking down the same path, when she accidently crashed into them.
"Oww, are you both al...?!?!" Toby stopped himself, when he saw that both girl's skirts were uplifted over their hips, giving him a full view of their panties. Mavis quickly hid her panties, completely embarrassed, while Silver Spoon didn't seem all that bothered.
Reality,
"Maybe I should ask one of mon masters about my imagination," Mavis said to herself, as a bunch of books fell on top of her, as the baby giggled as she flew by.
"Mavis, I know you don't like using your gorgon powers, but any chance you can make an exception, just this once?!" Mike asked, as he, Kelly, Clover, and Conner were all being dragged by the baby.
"Typically I do not like resorting to this, but I may as well do it. At least until the ceremony actually starts," Mavis said, as she morphed into her gorgon form.
"That won't be necessary, sweetie. We were able to find a Spell of Relic Reconstitution," Cadence said, as she used her magic to catch the baby, who finally calmed down.
"I just hope this will be enough," Twilight commented, looking at the parchment.
"But this may take more time than we have to spare. We've already begun the evacuations for the city. All of you need to get to the train station before the tracks freeze over," Cadence suggested, as Mavis returned to human form.
"Come on kids, we'll see you to the station," Dana said, as the kids quickly left the library, led by the Nymphs.
"Wait, where are Spike and Starlight?" Mavis asked.
"They went to find someone who they think can help!" Nathan replied, as they got out of the castle. They opened the curtains, only to be blown back by a powerful gust of wind.
"We're trapped!" Melody cried, as Twilight and Cadence exited the castle.
"Well, with luck, maybe this spell will work," Twilight said, as she and Cadence attempted to cast the spell. It appeared to work at first, and the Crystal Heart was able to be reassembled, but the cracks on the Heart was not properly sealed, and it shattered again, "The spell..... failed?! I don't know what else to do," Twilight commented in a defeated tone.
"An old student of mine believes he does!" they all saw Celestia, and the others walking in, along with a new unicorn stallion. He was orange and white with blue eyes. He went to examine the fragments of the heart.
"The baby did this?" he asked in a surprised tone.
"I tried putting back together with...." Twilight was cut off when the unicorn crumpled up the scroll.
"The Spell of Relic Reconstitution. That won't do it," he said, as he got out a book from his bag, "The Crystal Heart's been around for millennia. Restoring a relic like this is magic WAY beyond ONE spell. You need to combine it with something else, something unique to the relic itself. Something that strengthens it and provides it with power?" he said in an urging tone. Everyone knew exactly what he meant.
"The Crystalling!" she exclaimed.
"Combining that spell, with the light and love of everyone gathered for the ceremony, together with Somnambula's weather Adjuration to clear away the snow, and... a little fledgling's forbearance for the parents," the unicorn said handing out scrolls to Starlight, Cadence, and Shining Armor, while also looking at the baby, who giggled in Cadence's arms, "That should curb the little one's power fluctuations," he said, as the baby babbled, squishing his face.
"You must be Sunburst. Starlight said you were a powerful wizard," Cadence said.
"Oh, I'm no wizard," Sunburst admitted, causing everyone to gasp.
"But he's studied magic his whole life! You should see his house! And since no one has any better ideas, what do we have to loose?!" Starlight backed up her old friend.
"I had planned on asking Twilight to be our Crystaller, but since she's going to be busy," Shining Armor said, as Cadence handed the baby to Sunburst.
"I'd be honored," Sunburst said, as the baby reached for his glasses, giggling.
"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Twilight said, as everyone got into position. Twilight once again cast the spell, but it was harder this time, as she had to keep a hold on it. Celestia and Luna aided her in keeping the Heart in place. Starlight then added her magic to the mix. Outside on the stage, Cadence and Shining Armor both gave the baby a kiss on either of her cheeks, while casting the spell Sunburst gave them, while Rarity presented the Purity Crystal to Sunburst.
"Citizens! May I present the newest member of the Crystal Empire?!" Sunburst exclaimed, as he motioned to the baby, who giggled as she was engulfed in a bright yellow light. The crowd cheered, as they bowed, sending their feelings of love all throughout the Crystal Empire, causing it to glow. Sunburst took this opportunity to tap the Purity Crystal to the glowing street, which made the Crystal itself glow. He then dashed back behind the curtain, and inserted the Crystal into the heart, causing it to glow brightly. When the light dimmed a bit, the Heart was reformed, and it made everyone look like Crystal Ponies, while also eliminating the snow. Everyone cheered, as the danger had finally passed, as the Heart's power was able to break open the clouds. The baby then lowered down into her parent's arms.
"Best. Crystalling. EVER!" one pony commented.
"Now this is mighty pretty," Nathan commented. Mavis couldn't agree more, seeing her crystal coating.
Later, at the Train Station,
Night Light and Twilight Velvet had arrived on the train, along with Skyla and Guard Armor, "You would not believe the crazy weather that delayed our train! It came out of nowhere!" Night Light said with a chuckle, as he and Velvet gave Skyla and Guard to Nathan and Mavis.
"But it was all worth it to see this peaceful, little angel," Velvet said, seeing the baby, "Aww, so sweet! Come to your Grandmare!" Velvet cooed, as the baby cooed.
"Yeah, peaceful now, anyway," Applejack commented, as they others all nodded.
"I suppose that spell really worked!" Twilight added, as they all heard the baby gearing up for a sneeze. Everyone ducked for cover, as the baby sneezed normally, with nothing else happening.
"We have Sunburst to thank for that," Shining Armor commented.
"I hope he takes his role as Crystaller seriously. Something tells me the baby will need someone like him for magical advice," Cadence added, as Velvet was handed the baby from Shining Armor.
"Cadence, dear, aren't we going to name the poor little dear, or are we just going to spend the entire visit just calling her 'The Baby'?" Velvet asked.
"We were thinking 'Flurry Heart'," Cadence replied.
"To remember the occasion," her husband added, getting a laugh out of Rarity.
"Goodness, how can anyone forget?" Rarity asked rhetorically.
"Apparently easily, since everyone's forgettin' the four o' us easily," Nathan commented in a salty manner, holding Skyla. Mavis nodded.
"I think it's lovely," Twilight commented, giving Flurry Heart a kiss on the cheek, as everyone went back to the castle.
"So, Skyla, that's gonna be your new baby sister," Nathan said. Skyla fussed slightly, but not enough for Nathan to giver her a stern look.
Several weeks have passed since the war against Sombra and his pirate lackeys, and Mavis couldn't be happier. As per her wishes, as well as Cadence's wishes, she's been getting lessons from the Southern Nymphs, while also visiting her friends down in Ponyville whenever she gets some time to herself. But happy as she was, today, she was bored. She was lying on her bed, contemplating what she wanted to do. She already finished her training with the Southern Nymphs for the week, and she hung out with her friends on their off day from the Friendship School. She slumped out of bed, not caring that she hit her head on the floor, "Why must this boredom be so painful?" she commented, as the rest of her fell down too. It was then that the door opened, revealing Cadence and Shining Armor.
"Mavis? Why are you on the floor?" he asked.
"I am, how you say, bored, Papa. I've already done all the things I like to do," Mavis replied.
"What about hanging out with your Nymph friends up in the mountains?" the pink alicorn asked.
"They're off on some conference with the other Nymphs from the South, East, and West grottos," Mavis replied. Shining Armor thought about this for a moment, then, an idea hit him.
"I know, what if I showed you a section of the castle you haven't been to yet?" he suggested. This was able to get Mavis' attention.
"I am listening," Mavis replied, sounding interested.
"The wing of the castle Shining Armor is referring to contains a bunch of magic mirrors," Cadence explained. This now intrigued the bored mermaid, who stood up.
"I guess I would like to see them," Mavis replied.
"Ok, but when we get there, stay close to us. Those mirrors have a tendency to be a little tricky, and can often lead to unpredictable situations," Shining Armor explained.
"Ok Papa," Mavis said, as her parents took her to the wing. Along the way, they bumped into Nathan, who looked like he had just come back from a workout session.
"Hey guys. Where're y'all goin'?" the Texas boy asked.
"We're taking Mavis to go see the wing of the castle that has all those mirrors," Cadence replied.
"Cool. Mind if Ah tag along?" Nathan asked.
"Oui, grand frère," Mavis replied. Nathan didn't need Cadence to translate, and with that, the family went to go to the mirror room. It took about three and a half minutes to arrive.
"Now stay close you two. These mirrors have unpredictable effects, and have the potential to be quite dangerous," Shining Armor said, as he opened the doors. Inside, the two kids saw a plethora of mirrors.
"Hmm, wonder what makes 'em so dangerous?" Nathan asked, as they passed by one mirror. However, looking into that mirror, he saw a giant spider like creature where Mavis was standing, "Wait, Mavis, stand in front of that mirror," Nathan said.
"Um, ok, but why do you..." Mavis cut herself off, when she saw herself as a giant spider creature standing in the mirror.
"What in the world?" Shining Armor questioned.
"Look here! Mavis looks different in this one too!" Cadence called to her family. Looking at the mirror, they saw that in this one, Mavis' arms and legs were all furry, and looked like wolf limbs, with the ears and tails to boot.
"Let's try this mirror," Shining Armor suggested, motioning to another mirror. In this one, Mavis appeared to be human, except she towered over her brother and parents, and had a large horn protruding from her forehead.
"Ah think these mirrors are showin' us what Mavis looks like as some other kind of mythical creature," Nathan theorized, seeing only himself, and his parents in one mirror, but no Mavis, "Hmm, maybe this one shows Mavis as a vampire," he commented.
"This is so, so, extraordinary, in a disorienting sort of way," Mavis commented, looking in more mirrors, which showed her either having just one eye or rabbit ears. One mirror seemed to show a regular human Mavis, until she took her head off, "Ok, that's disturbing," Mavis commented.
"Ah recognize some of these creatures. Werewolf, wererabbit, cyclops, what Ah'm assuming is an ogre," Nathan listed off what monster species he knew.
"Maybe Raiden or one of the Nymphs can shed some light on this," Cadence theorized.
"I can try to get in contact with Mariah later tonight," Mavis commented, as the left the room.
Later, when the Nymphs got back from the conference,
After receiving word that the Nymphs were all back in their grottos, Mavis wasted no time in contacting Mariah, who came as soon as she heard about the mirrors. Now, the Knowledge Nymph was fluttering around the mirror room, examining the mirrors, with Mavis in tow, "This is simply astounding! These mirrors aren't merely just for vanity purposes!" she exclaimed, looking over them.
"So, what are they for, exactly?" Cadence asked, as she, her husband, and Nathan were also assembled in the mirror room.
"Well, when you peer into these mirrors by yourself, you only see you own reflection as you are right now. But since Mavis isn't human, these mirrors must be showing what she must look like in other realities. In other words, she may be a Mermaid/Gorgon in this world, but in another world, she could be some other type of creature," Mariah explained.
"Something other than a mermaid?" Mavis quietly murmured, as she touched a mirror that showed her as a werewolf. When she did, all the mirrors began emitting a bright light, "WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" she shrieked, as she was absorbed by the mirror she touched. Cadence, Nathan, and Mariah all jumped in to try and save her, but they were too late.
"Mariah, is there a way to get her out?!" Cadence pleaded. Mariah placed a hand on the mirror, and used her magic to scan the mirror. After a moment, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, the good news is that she isn't in any danger, nor will she be in there for long. The bad news is I have no idea how long," Mariah replied.
Inside the mirror,
(For the sake of this next bit, I will only refer to Mermaid/Gorgon Mavis as "Mavis" for the first part, or if I am talking about the entire group of Mavis'. From now on until this bit is done, each Mavis and Monster Queen will be referred by their species.)
Mavis covered her head, in an attempt to protect herself from whatever was awaiting her. She carefully opened her eyes, and was shocked to see that not only was she in her Mermaid/Gorgon Form, but there were several other hers. And towering above the large group of Mavis' were the Queens of each species. Mermaid/Gorgon was able to recognize her own grandmother, as well as a Werewolf Queen, Vampire Queen, Witch Queen, and several other copies of the Queen. Mermaid/Gorgon then slithered over to her Grandmother, "Grandmere, what are you doing here? And where is 'here'?" Mavis asked, being careful about her eyes.
"I do not know, but it would appear that we are not the only ones to be drawn into this place," the Mermaid Queen replied, picking up Mermaid/Gorgon in her colossal hands. The other Queens did the same thing with the other Mavis', "I recognize some of these other monster species. Werewolf, Witch, Ogre, Succubus, Dullahan, Arachne, just to name a few," the Mermaid Queen commented. Just then, an astral figure appeared.
"Greetings. I am the Spirit of the Dimension Mirrors," the figure greeted all of the Mavis' and the Queens.
"Um, greetings. Is there any particular reason we've all been summoned here?" the Zombie Queen asked.
"Of course. You see, I sensed a great deal of magic emanating from beyond several particular mirrors. Of course, unless the one or one of them were to touch on of these mirrors, I could not drawn them all in. Uh, don't ask about the details," the Spirit explained.
"Ok, so, why exactly are we here?" Harpy Mavis asked.
"Well, given that you all are giving off the same exact type and amount of magic, I am here to make a proposal. I have the power to merge entities that exhibit the same type of power together to form one powerful entity, by also merging their worlds together. I've done this like...…. a bunch of different times. I am here to offer this to all of you," the spirit explained.
"Ok, so..... is there any particular reason you're bringing this up to us?" the Minotaur Queen asked.
"Well, there's really no need for all these other realities to exist, so by merging them together, all the different cultures will be gathered in one whole nation, ruled by one Queen with the traits of every known monster species. You'll still be able to govern over your subjects as each of you have been doing," the Spirit explained.
"And what of us? Will we merge too?" Ogre Mavis asked.
"Of course. And much like your grandmothers, you girls will also become one, sharing the abilities of each individual counterpart," the Spirit explained.
"One more question. If we want to change directly from human form to a larger form, like a centaur or a lamia, would our bodies change to adapt to that?" the Arachne Queen asked.
"Of course. All you need to do to change into one of those species' is to concentrate on the species itself. However, if some outside force is needed to trigger the change, like say the Full Moon, then that happens on it's own, and can't be controlled," the Spirit replied. This made Werewolf, Werecat, and Wererabbit Mavis' all flinch.
"Could we maybe take a moment to converse with one another?" the Centaur Queen asked.
"Of course. Take as much time as you need," the Spirit replied, as the Queens, still holding all of the Mavis', huddled up.
"So, what do you all think?" the Mermaid Queen asked.
"Well, it would bring a bit more cultural diversity to our subjects, not to mention Equestria," the Succubus Queen commented.
"Well, I'm all for it if you all are," the Vampire Queen commented.
"And what of you, Mavis.....'s?" the Werewolf Queen asked.
"Well, if our friends from each of our individual homelands were to become a part of this new merged Equestria, then we would say yes as well," Lamia Mavis replied. They all turned back to the spirit.
"We have decided that we shall take you up on this offer," the Dullahan Queen declared.
"Splendid. Now, this may make you a bit dizzy, but it'll pass almost instantly," the Spirit said, clapping his hands together. With that, all of the Mavis' and the Queens got swept up into two different tornadoes, as did the portals from each of their respective worlds, as they all began merging together.
Back in the mirror room,
"Ok, it's only been a few minutes. I'm sure it won't be long before Mavis comes back," Mariah commented, pacing back and forth.
"Ah'm just hopin' nothin' bad happens on the other side o' them mirrors," Nathan replied, sounding equally worried. It was then that Shining Armor thought of something.
"Hey guys, I can't remember. Was Mavis a zombie or a witch?" he asked. This got the attention of the other three, who, coincidently, couldn't remember what sort of creature Mavis was.
"Ah think she was a giantess or a dullahan?" Nathan commented.
"I could've sworn she was a dragon or a lamia," Cadence commented.
"I can't remember if she was a snow woman or a werewolf," Mariah added. Just then, Mavis popped out of the mirror, stumbling from dizziness.
"That spirit wasn't kidding about being dizzy," Mavis commented, as she faceplanted into Mariah's gigantic bosom.
"Mavis! Are you alright?" Cadence wasted no time in rushing to her daughter's side.
"Oui maman. I am just very dizzy," Mavis replied, trying to regain her sense of balance.
"She's been through quite the ordeal, so maybe we should wait until tomorrow to ask her about that," Nathan suggested.
"Good call. I'll go tuck her in. Mariah, you're more than welcome to stay here for the night," Cadence offered the Nymph.
"I think I'll take you up on that offer," Mariah said, as Shining Armor showed her to her room, while Cadence took Mavis back to her bedroom. Inside, she was surprised to see several things about Mavis' room that she knew weren't there before. First, there were countless apparatus' for various other types of species. Solar powered heating lamps for reptilian species', an Olympic sized swimming pool, and the room itself was several times larger than the castle, putting tons of space between the various objects. Cadence also noticed that Mavis had not six, but well over thirty different kinds of Pokémon, including cat, lizard, several Ice Types, etc.
"This just keeps getting stranger and stranger," Cadence commented, as she placed Mavis on her bed, and tucked her in, "Good night, Mavis," Cadence said, turning to leave.
"Good night, Maman," Mavis said, as she drifted off into a well earned sleep. But it wasn't just The Crystal Family and Mariah that couldn't remember exactly what species Mavis was. All of her friends around Equestria laid in bed, wide awake, as they tried to remember what Mavs belonged to. Things weren't much better for the Queen either. When she got back, she saw that the cities of all the monster species had merged together. Snow topped hills, where Yukki-onna lived were right next to the castle of the vampires, the werebeasts were now seaside neighbors with the merfolk, and other denizens of the sea. The humans that had been living with each monster species were equally puzzled.
The next day, in Ponyville,
".... and that is when I popped out of the mirror," Mavis had finished explaining what transpired when she was sucked into the mirror.
"That sounds awfully familiar for some reason," Pinkie Pie commented.
"In any case, we haven't received any word from your grandmother regarding problems in her city," Celestia said.
"But we should take care in monitoring Mavis' new found abilities," Wanda said, over the amulet.
"You know, if Mavis and the Queen are both perfect mixes of EVERY known monster species, then I can only think of one name to describe them," Discord commented.
"And that would be?" the Queen asked, via portal that Celestia conjured up.
"You both can be known as.... Omni-monsters!" Discord declared dramatically. There was an awkward silence.
"Omni...." Twilight broke the silence, finally.
"Monster?" Raiden finished her question.
"Well, think about it! They have access to the powers not just one, but every monster species from the human world. So, wouldn't it make sense to call them by a species befitting such a fact?" Discord questioned.
"Well, I for one, think is sounds marvelous!" the Queen declared.
"Well, when you put it that way, the word 'omni' does mean 'all' or every'. So I guess it works perfectly for them," Raiden pointed out.
"Plus, it would make it easier than to just call them by any monster species we can think of," Toby added. Mavis blushed when her crush spoke about her.
"Well, I guess I could get used to it," Mavis quietly said. And from that moment on, Mavis' friends all had many more friends and adventures.
It was a brisk night at the Crystal Empire, and a certain couple were walking back home from a night on the town, "That was a most wonderful evening, Shiny," Cadence said.
"Anything for you, my love," Shining Armor replied. The alicorn was about to say something, when they heard something. Something that shouldn't be there. It sounded like someone crying. Someone young for that matter.
"Where is that coming from?" Cadence wondered, as they followed the source of the noise. The sound got louder, as they neared a dark alley way. It looked absolutely filthy, but the unmistakable sound of crying could be heard somewhere deep within the alley way. Using her magic, Cadence illuminated the way. The crying got louder, but was quickly stopped. They were able to determine the source of the sound was coming from a nearby box, "Hello? Is anypony there?" Cadence questioned, but got no response. She then used her magic to light up the area around the box. They could hear something shifting inside the box, as if it was trying to get away from the light. Cadence went to see who or what was in the box.
"Be careful dear," Shining Armor warned.
"It's ok. We're not going to do anything that could harm you," Cadence cooed to whatever was in the box, trying to coax it out of it's hiding place. The creature that was inside the box only poked it's head out. Cadence and Shining Armor were very shocked to see a creature that resembled the "human" creatures that Twilight encountered during her trips through the magic mirror. This particular one, however, looked absolutely miserable. It's long, black hair was a mess, there were dark rings around it's eyes, and the green dress it was wearing, which confirmed the creature to be a girl, was completely tattered and torn in several places. They also saw that she had what looked to be a patchwork teddy bear, "Are... you ok?" Cadence asked soothingly. However, the human did not seem to be calming down. If anything, she looked absolutely terrified of the princess, as made evident by the fact she was trying to escape. The human bolted out of the box, but didn't get very far, as she collapsed from exhaustion. The Crystal Couple quickly went to the child's aid, only to see her trying to crawl away.
"P-P-P-Please, I don't want any t-trouble," the girl begged, as she tried to crawl away, still holding her teddy bear.
"You don't need to worry about that. We mean you no harm," Cadence said. The little girl wanted to run away, but the overwhelming presence of the Princess was making it difficult to do so, "Uh, maybe introductions are in order..... I am Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence by my closest friends and family. And this is my husband, Shining Armor," Cadence said, introducing herself, and her husband.
"A pleasure to meet you, but if we may ask, what is your name?" Shining Armor asked. The girl was feeling to much pressure, and started hyperventilating. This action became worrisome for the couple.
"It's ok, little one. We aren't forcing you to give us your name. You're free to tell us at your own pace," Cadence quickly reassured, trying to rub the girl's back. The girl flinched at this action, convinced they were trying to harm her. Cadence frowned at this, wondering just what happened to this child, "Uh, someone as young as you shouldn't be out this late. Why aren't you at your home?" Cadence asked. The look on the child's face was bone chilling, to say the least. The look in her eyes indicated she was reliving several traumatic experiences all at once. Some of these flashes include a bunch of kids and adults abusing her in some form or another. Another was seeing a report on TV about a bus, crashing into a gorge. One thing that was mostly focused on was the name "David Tipper".
"N-No.... please no," the child said, as some tears escaped from her eyes. This definitely did not sit well with either Cadence or Shining Armor.
"Well, if you want, we could at least provide you with some shelter and food. We could even give you a nice warm bath," Cadence offered.
"B-b-b-but I...." the child tried to find an excuse, but was unable to. As such, she surrendered herself, "Ok," the child quietly squeaked. With that, Cadence used her magic to gently levitate the child onto her back. This caused the child to get scared, and tried to wiggle free, with no luck. She was able to calm down a little bit after being set on Cadence's back, but was still on edge, as they walked back to the palace. However, unbeknownst to them, someone or something was watching from a misty cloud.
It took about ten minutes to arrive back at the palace, "Welcome home, Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor. I take it your night out went off without a problem?" a guard asked. Mavis was absolutely horrified at what she had just heard. She was being taken in by royalty?!
'Oh no! What did I do?!' Mavis feared for her safety.
"There was no trouble at all, but I need you to go and prepare a guest room. We have someone who will be staying with us until further notice," Cadence said. The guard then noticed the girl, who was looking desperately to get off of the princess's back.
"Is this.... creature, the guest in question?" the guard asked, making sure to emphasize the questioning tone on the word "creature".
"Indeed she is. Though she won't give us a name, she seems to have some sort of trauma going on," Shining Armor said, as they entered the castle. With that, Cadence knelt down to let the girl off of her back. As soon as she did, the child made a break for the door, only to be stopped with magic.
"Where are you going? You're room is INSIDE the castle," Cadence said.
"B-b-b-but I don't w-want you to go to this much t-trouble just for m-m-me, P-princess. I-I'll just go back to that alley way," the girl replied, as she tried desperately to break free, but to no avail.
"Now that won't do. Someone as young as you has to have an acceptable form of shelter. Besides, you will be able to have some food. You must be starving," Cadence said, as she ushered the girl into the castle. The girl decided it was no use to resist, so she just gave in, once again.
"I'll prepare something for you. Is there anything you want in particular?" Shining Armor asked. The girl thought of what she could ask that wouldn't take too much from the castle's food supply.
"C-could I may just have t-two pieces of t-toast?" the girl asked, sounding reluctant to ask for food from royalty.
"Well, if that's all you want, then ok. But would you also like something to drink?" Cadence offered.
"W-W-Water," the girl replied. In truth, she wanted milk, but chose against it.
"Ok then, let's go and get you fed, then we'll show you to your room," Cadence said, as she and Shining Armor took her to the dining room, where she was seated at the table. Going into the kitchen, the royal couple prepared some toast and a glass of water for the young girl. While they did, the girl couldn't help but feel on edge, being alone in someone else's home, as well as being in another world. And it didn't help that she felt someone was watching her. She could remember several run in's with an eerie bus, that was numbered 308, and all the trouble it caused wherever it went. The doors to the kitchen opened up, making the girl jump in her chair, "Ok sweetie, here's your toast and your water," Cadence said, as she set a plate and a glass on the table in front of the little guest. With some hesitation, the girl started eating the toast. Once she was finished with the two slices, she went to drink the water.
"Th-thank you, princess," the girl said politely.
"You're most welcome. Now, if you'll come with me, I can show you to your room," Cadence said, leading the girl out of the dining room.
In another part of Equestria,
Some ponies in the city of Manehatten were walking up and down the streets of the city, wanting to get home for the night. There was also a heavy mist in the air, "Better hurry home," a stallion said, as he rounded a corner. It was then that he sensed something further up the street, which had a heavier fog.
"Mavis...… where's my sweet little baby?" a ghostly voice asked. This certainly confused the stallion, as he tried to look deep in the fog, as he heard an unearthly honking sound, as something was nearing him. He saw a large, metal rectangular carriage rolling down the street. The stallion's face paled when he saw a creature in the window. It looked to be a lanky minotaur, but with no horn. It's eyes were all black, as if they were soulless, "I WILL SEND ANYONE WHO HARMS MY DAUGHTER TO THE GRAVEYARD!" the figure said in a demonic tone, as the carriage passed the stallion, before disappearing into the fog.
"That was not normal! I have to inform the princesses!" the stallion said, as he raced back home as fast as his legs could carry him.
Back at the Crystal Empire,
Cadence had given the child a room that was a short walk from hers and Shining Armor's room. She had just helped the child bathe, and was tucking her in for the night, "My chambers are right across the hall from you, so don't hesitate to come and get me or my husband if you need something," Cadence said, as she made her way to the door.
"M-M-M-Mavis," the girl said. This caught Cadence's attention. She then turned back to the child, "M-M-My name is M-Mavis," the girl said.
"Ok. Well, goodnight Mavis. Pleasant dreams," Cadence said, as she left the girl to sleep. While Cadence did give Mavis a room that let the moonlight into the room, illuminating the room, Mavis was still scared, too much so to sleep. She just covered her head with the bed sheets.
Dawn had broken over the rural town of Ponyville. And within the castle of Twilight, the very Princess was waking up to a bright, sunny day. "Looks like today is going to be a good day," she said, as she exited her chambers, and made her way to collect the morning paper. She was nearing the main doors of the castle, when it suddenly burst open, and she was tackled to the ground by a pair of familiar ponies, "PINKIE! RAINBOW!" Twilight yelled, annoyed at getting tackled first thing in the morning.
"Twilight, have you read the paper?! There's something big that happened in Manehatten last night! And it's really big! Even bigger than somepony new moving into town!" Pinkie said in less than a minute.
"What is it?" Twilight asked, as Rainbow Dash gave her a copy of the newspaper. Taking a look at it, Twilight was drawn towards the headline.
Ghostly Carriage Appears in Manehatten. An eerie Ape Creature Was Seen in the Window
Twilight continued to read the article. She had remembered seeing contraptions called "buses" in the human world when she went through the mirror. What she was wondering was how a bus got to Equestria in the first place, let alone a human? It was then that their other friends arrived, "Ah'm guessin' y'all saw the paper?" Applejack asked.
"We did," Twilight said.
"You said that these carriages were called 'buses', right Twilight?" Rarity asked.
"I did. But how in Equestria did a bus get to Equestria, and with a human, no less?" Twilight wondered. Spike then came in with a scroll.
"Twilight, we got a scroll from Celestia! She said that Cadence and Shining Armor are on their way to Canterlot with a human child!" Spike said, as he handed the scroll to Twilight.
My fellow Princess, Twilight Sparkle,
I'm sure you've read today's paper. If not, reports of one of those 'bus' things you told us about since your trip through the mirror have been coming in throughout ALL of Equestria. If that weren't enough, those same reports say it may be a ghostly apparition. I would like for you and your friends to investigate this matter further. But before you do so, I would like for you and your friends to come to Canterlot to meet a special guest that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor met last night. A human child by the name of Mavis.
Your Fellow Princess, Celestia.
Twilight reread the letter to make sure she didn't miss anything, "So, what does the princess want?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Apparently, that ghostly bus has reported sightings coming in from all over Equestria. Celestia wants us to investigate the matter," Twilight explained.
"Uh.... maybe I should sit this one out," Fluttershy whispered, but went unheard by her friends.
"But before we do go investigate the ghost sightings, we've been called to Canterlot. Cadence and Shining Armor are coming to introduce a human girl they found last night. She goes by the name of 'Mavis'," Twilight explained.
"Aw yeah! I've been curious about those human things ever since you went through that mirror," Rainbow Dash commented.
"I can throw a big 'Welcome to Equestria' PARTY!" Pinkie exclaimed, firing off her Party Cannon.
"Now hold on girls. Being in a new world can be nerve wracking for somepony. Even I was unsure of what to make of myself in human form, much less being in a new world," Twilight said.
"Twilight does raise a good point. We don't know if this little filly is going to open up to us," Applejack pointed out.
"So we should probably hold off on a party and things like that until she's comfortable with living in Equestria," Twilight said, as they all set out for the train station.
In the Crystal Empire,
Cadence and Shining Armor had just woken up, feeling refreshed and full of energy, "Ok Shiny, we'll head out for Canterlot just as soon as we have breakfast and pack our bags," Cadence said, as they exited their bedroom, "You go on ahead. I'll see if Mavis is up," she urged. Shining Armor then went on to the dining hall, while Cadence went to check on their guest, "Mavis? Are you up? It's morning," Cadence cooed, peering in. Her happy demeanor was quickly changed to that of concern, when she saw Mavis, sitting up in bed, looking like she didn't even sleep last night.
"Mustn't sleep...… can't let the demon get me," Cadence could hear Mavis whimper.
"Mavis? Are you alright?" Cadence asked, coming over to the girl's side. Mavis jumped, and fell off bed at being startled, "Oh my goodness, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" Cadence said, rushing to the child's side once more. Mavis flinched as Cadence came near her. Mavis immediately got on her hands and knees, in an apologetic manner.
"P-P-P-P-P-Princess C-C-Cadence. I-I-I-I'm sorry for not c-c-c-coming when you c-called for me!" Mavis apologized, unwillingly to look Cadence in the eyes. Cadence's heart ached, seeing someone so young fearing for their life in her presence.
"Mavis, you don't need to be so scared. I was only coming in to see if you were awake, and wanting breakfast," Cadence reassured.
"O-O-O-Ok. If you w-want me to come down, then I-I-I-I must," Mavis replied, sounding out of breath, still refusing to raise her head.
"I'm only offering it to you. You're free to deny. I won't get mad," Cadence quickly reassured. Mavis only slightly raised her head.
"O-Ok," Mavis replied, a hint of reluctance in her voice, as she stood up, clutching her raggedy teddy bear.
"Ok then. Now then, let's go get some food in you," Cadence said, leading Mavis out of the bedroom, "Is there anything in particular that you want? We can make you some more toast if you want?" she offered. She got a timid nod as a response. Once in the dining hall, Shining Armor was already enjoying a plate of pancakes.
"So, how'd our little guest sleep?" Shining Armor asked kindly. Mavis tensed up when she became the center of attention.
"I'm afraid she didn't sleep at all last night," Cadence replied, helping Mavis into her seat, "Could you go and prepare two slices of toast?" she asked a servant.
"At once, your majesty," the servant said, retreating into the kitchen. Cadence then took her place at the table, where a fresh stack of pancakes were waiting. Pouring a little syrup on them, she then began to dig in. The servant then came back into the dining room, with a plate containing two slices of toast, with a little butter on them. Mavis began eating once they were set in front of her. It wasn't long before the three of them were done eating.
"We're going to go get freshened up. After we do that, I want to take you somewhere very special," Cadence said. Mavis tensed up by this, which didn't go unnoticed by the princess, "I know, what if I get you a little treat once we arrive at our destination?" Cadence offered. Mavis' response was most unexpected.
"O-OK, ok! I'll go!" Mavis cried out. Her tone indicated she didn't want a treat. Cadence was surprised. Most foals would jump at the chance to get a new toy or something sweet, but this girl was acting like her life was in danger.
"Ok, ok, Mavis. I was only offering, not ordering," Cadence said, as she helped Mavis into the bathroom. She then helped her to brush her teeth, tidy up her hair, and wash her face. Cadence then gave Mavis a towel for the girl to dry off with, "Now then, let's get to the train station. The Crystal Express will take us to our destination," Cadence said, as she and Mavis exited the bathroom. They made their way into the foyer, where Shining Armor was waiting.
"Ready to go?" Shining Armor asked.
"Of course," Cadence said, as they exited the castle.
"Make sure the castle is secure while we're gone. At latest, we should be back tomorrow morning," Shining Armor said to one of the guards.
"Yes sir!" the guard said, as the Crystal Couple and Mavis left. As they walked through the Crystal Empire, they heard someone screaming.
"MONSTER! AND IT HAS OUR PRINCE AND PRINCESS HOSTAGE!" the pony yelled, as everyone all retreated back into their homes. What was a bustling city instantly became a ghost town.
"How rude! Mavis isn't a monster!" Cadence grumbled, as they continued walking. Mavis felt really bad. She thought it was her fault. And it didn't help that the citizens of the Empire viewed her as a monster. After arriving at the station, some ponies coming onto the platform were whispering among one another about Mavis.
"So, that's one of those 'human' things Princess Twilight encountered in that other world?" one pony asked in a hushed voice.
"Well, she matches the description," another whispered back. Mavis was getting uncomfortable about being the center of attention.
"Come along Mavis. The Express is waiting," Cadence said, ushering Mavis into the Royal Passenger Car. Once everyone was on the train, the Crystal Express set off.
Arriving at Canterlot Station, the Mane Six and Spike, as they departed from the train, and made their way to the castle. Unfortunately, they weren't even halfway up the street leading to the castle when a swarm of reporters circled around them, asking Twilight for her thoughts on the Ghost Sightings, "Princess Twilight! Is this ghost a result of your trip beyond the mirror?" one reporter asked.
"Princess Twilight! How are you going to deal with this specter?" another questioned.
"Princess Twilight! Do these Ghost Sightings prove the supernatural?" another pressed for answers.
"QUIET!" Twilight bellowed, silencing the reporters, "Look, I currently have no comment in regards to this alleged 'Ghost', but I am attending a summit with my fellow princesses regarding the matter," Twilight said, as she and her friends all made their way to the castle. Soon, they had all arrived at the palace gates.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle and Friends. Princesses Celestia and Luna have been expecting you. They are awaiting you in the Throne Room," the guard said, as they let the Mane Six and Spike into the castle. They made their way to the Throne Room, where the Royal Sisters were waiting for them.
"Twilight, so good of you to come. I assume you've heard about this 'Ghost' by now, yes?" Celestia asked.
"We have. But I can't fathom it. Ghosts are just a figment of an overactive imagination. So how are similar reports of a ghost coming in from all over Equestria? On that note, why is the ghost a human, and why is he driving a bus?!" Twilight rambled, only for her former mentor to place a calming wing over her.
"We all have just as many questions as you do. Which is why I have sent Discord on an information retrieval mission to this apparition's origin world," Celestia said.
"You sent Discord where now?" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"What my sister means is that Discord is trying to find as much information as he can about the ghost from where it originally came from," Luna clarified. It was then that Cadence and Shining Armor entered the throne room. Twilight and Cadence then proceeded to do their little nursery rhyme from their youth.
"SUNSHINE, SUNSHINE, LADYBUGS AWAKE! CLAP YOUR HOOVES AND DO A LITTLE SHAKE!" they sang, before embracing.
"We haven't seen each other since the last Princess Summit. How have things been in the Crystal Empire?" Twilight asked.
"Pretty good. Not a lot of nobles have been complaining, so that's a plus," Cadence replied.
"Lucky," Luna grumbled.
"Cadence, your letter said that you found a human child up in Canterlot?" Celestia asked.
"Indeed we have. But before we introduce her to you, we have to tell you that she did not sleep at all last night, so she may not take too well to any..... overly enthusiastic greetings," Cadence warned.
"Wait, why didn't she sleep last night?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't know the reason. All I heard her say when I went to check on her was 'Can't let the Demon get me', or something to that effect," Cadence replied.
"This human must have some sort of connections to this Ghost that's been appearing in Equestria," Rarity theorized.
"While that could be true, we mustn't jump to any rash conclusions. There is a possibility that the child does not have anything to do with this ghost," Luna suggested.
"Would you show her to us?" Celestia asked.
"Certainly," Cadence said, going back to the throne room doors. Outside, Mavis was waiting, looking absolutely tense, scared, the whole nine yards. Cadence could easily tell Mavis did NOT want to meet the highest authorities of the land, "Mavis, sweetie?" Mavis jumped when Cadence spoke to her, "Sorry, but they're all ready for you," she said. Mavis felt her heart drop into her stomach, as she marched into the throne room, her gaze fixed on the floor as Cadence walked her in. Mavis was much too scared to lift her head to see everyone waiting for her. The others saw how scared the child was, but given how young she looked, they couldn't really blame her. She WAS in a different world than her own.
"Is this really what humans look like, Twilight?" Applejack whispered.
"They do, but the ones I encountered don't look nearly this.... sickly," Twilight replied, trying to find the right word to describe Mavis' condition, as the girl in question limped pitifully along.
"Well everypony, this is Mavis. Unfortunately, we know nothing about what happened to her prior to when we found her, but she is a very well mannered child," Cadence introduced the child, who was panicking the more she felt many unfamiliar eyes on her. The others were conflicted. On one hand, they could introduce themselves, but on the other hand, they could see Mavis was unwilling to even look at them, and didn't want to put any more pressure on the poor girl than she was feeling already. It was then that Discord appeared, with a human man in tow, who was freaking out.
"Well, it certainly was a chore tracking down a suitable source about this ghost thing, but this guy should probably shed some light on the situation," Discord said,
"FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING GOOD AND HOLY, WHERE THE HELL AM I, AND WHAT IS THIS THING?!" the human yelled, making Mavis flinched at the increase in volume.
"Now calm yourself. We aren't going to harm you, we just want information about something called the 'Ghost Bus 308'," Discord said.
"The Ghost Bus? It's better known as the 'Demon Bus'. I know a bit about how it came into being," the human said, still sounding panicky.
"Then, could you shed some led on this?" Celestia asked.
"O-Of course," the human said, as he took a seat at a chair Discord had provided, "The legend of the Demon Bus isn't very old, but it has been quickly gaining popularity," he explained, as he went into a flashback.
Flashback, 1 year ago:
"A night time bus was picking up passengers from a bus stop in the town it comes from. It was raining hard that day," the human explained, as the scene showed a part of a modern day city, where a bus was picking up some passengers. The doors closed, and the bus took off, "At first, things seemed to be pretty normal, as the driver drove down the streets. There was hardly any traffic too, so that was a plus. However, it was then that things took a turn for the worse," he explained, as the scene showed the bus passing several bus stops, "Because it was raining, it made the roads slick, to the point where the tires couldn't get any good traction. That, combined with the fact it was night, and that the bridge they were heading for was out, it was little wonder what happened next," the human explained, as the bus went over the edge, and crashed at the bottom of the ravine. For some reason, the bus exploded in a giant fireball.
Realtime,
Needless to say, everyone was shocked, even Discord, "IT.... It crashed?" Fluttershy questioned.
"Yeah. And before you ask, there were no survivors. Everyone was killed in the crash," the human explained.
"What about the authorities? Did they investigate what caused the crash?" Celestia questioned.
"They did. Unfortunately, when they pulled the bus from the wreckage, it was so badly damaged, it was impossible to pinpoint any malfunctions in the breaking systems. And that's not even the worst of it," the human replied.
"Let me guess; some time after the crash, the ghost began appearing, right?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yeah. It is said that the ghost appears every time someone is foolish enough to try and cross the bridge where it met it's demise and takes their lives, pedestrians or motorists," the human explained.
"It.... it kills anyone in it's path?" asked a horrified Twilight.
"Anyone, yes, but not everyone. A number of people have been spared by the bus, if anything, only to spread the word about it's curse," the human replied.
"How is this 'curse' manifested?" Cadence asked.
"There are three signs that signal the arrival of the Demon Bus. First, you'll feel a sudden drop in temperature, followed by a heavy fog. Next, you'll hear an eerie voice calling out, along with a ghostly honking of it's horn. Next, a piercing red light will shine through the fog, as the bus makes itself appear. In addition to this, there are two other things you need to know about the Demon. First, you must not press your face against the glass of the bus. Many have done so, and all of them have been driven to madness so intense, they died within days of being admitted into an insane asylum," the human explained. Mavis was becoming more and more scared the more he explained the lore of the Demon Bus.
"How dreadful," Rarity commented. The others shared her sentiments.
"And the other thing?" Applejack questioned.
"The other thing is that the Demon Bus only appears at night," the human replied.
"At night, huh? Well, thank you for your time," Celestia said, as Discord teleported him away.
"I made sure to erase his memories of this, as not make people think he's a raving lunatic," Discord commented. Mavis was still trembling at the remembering the story of the Demon Bus. Her shaking did not go unnoticed by Cadence.
"Mavis? Are you alright?" Cadence asked. Mavis flinched when the princess spoke to her.
"N-n-no. I-I-I-I-I've been scared of the Demon Bus for ages. I-I-I-It doesn't h-h-help that it's b-b-been f-f-f-following me everywhere I go," Mavis croaked out. This certainly was a surprise for everyone. Mavis, the child Cadence found, who was scared of her own shadow, had a connection to this Demon Bus?!
"Looks like you may be right, Rarity. This little one may have more to do with this Ghost than we know," Twilight whispered.
"But if what that human says is true, the Demon Bus won't show up until it's night, right? We could probably show her around Ponyville," Rainbow Dash suggested.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Maybe seeing the friendliest town in Equestria could help put her mind at ease," Cadence said.
"I'd be more than happy to make her a more comfortable outfit! It must not be terribly comfortable in such a tattered dress," Rarity offered.
"Yeah, then we can get her some yummy treats!" Pinkie Pie added. Mavis flinched at this. She really didn't want any presents or treats, but could see she wasn't going to get out of this. Cadence, however, came to her rescue.
"I think a new dress would do Mavis some good, but I would advise strongly against any treats. When we were leaving the Empire, her tone about coming her indicated she didn't want any treats," Cadence explained. Mavis feared the worse. To her, Cadence basically said she wouldn't be grateful for any of the nice things they were all doing for her.
"Then we'll gladly respect her decision," Twilight replied. This did not put Mavis at ease, in the slightest.
Mavis was not feeling safe or happy at the slightest. The train ride that Cadence and Shining Armor "forced" her into taking to Ponyville was making her more and more scared by the second. To her, she was being made to go to the small town, as not to incur the wrath of the princesses. She felt so helpless, as she clutched her patchwork Teddy Bear, wanting whatever torture she thought the ponies were going to put her through to be done and over with. The Mane Six and the Crystal Couple could see that Mavis was feeling scared, but they were unsure about how to help her, "Something must've really traumatized her, if she's keeping her distance from us this long," Twilight commented.
"I hate to even suggest it, but do you think she had an encounter with the Demon Bus?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"It's a possibility. She's so young, that just about anything can be scary," Cadence replied.
"That, I can understand, but an actual Demon? This is something that no child should live in fear of," Twilight replied.
"What about how we're going to deal with the Ghost? Have you figured out a way to get rid of it?" Spike questioned.
"I'm no expert on the supernatural, but there is one thing I do know about ghosts. And that is the fact that they only linger in the world of the living because of some unfinished business," Twilight replied.
"But we don't know if this thing has any unfinished business or is just haunting Equestria for the heck of it! How are you going to help it find peace, ask it why it's haunting the kingdom?" Rainbow Dash asked, in a mocking, joking manner.
"That's... not actually a bad idea. Maybe if we can try to get the ghost to tell us about how it came into being, we can try to help resolve it's unfinished business," Twilight replied. Rainbow Dash was just as shocked as the others. She was just joking around, but wasn't expecting to be the one to find the best possible way to get rid of the ghost.
"I-I don't know. The way that human made it sound, this ghost must be really scary," Fluttershy commented quietly.
"I agree, but we have to be brave, for the sake of Equestria," Twilight tried to comfort the shyest member of the group. Mavis could hear their conversation, and couldn't help feeling bad.
'They're not going to be able to do it. No one who has ever faced the Demon Bus has ever lived to tell the tale,' she thought, as the train came to a stop. Looking out the window, she saw that the train had stopped at a small village, at the base of the mountain Canterlot was located.
"Come along, Mavis. There's so much we want to show you," Cadence said, making the girl flinch.
"R-Right away," Mavis complied, not wanting to anger Cadence. With that, Mavis braced herself for the "torture" the adults had planned for her, as they exited the train car. Once outside the train station, the group was surrounded by a swarm of reporters, wanting to know how the Princess meeting regarding the Ghost issue. Mavis, feeling overwhelmed, hid herself within the circle, clutching her teddy bear closely.
"QUIET!" Twilight boomed, making Mavis cower, "Look, we have an idea on how we can deal with this ghost issue, but we need time to work out the details," Twilight said, as she and the group forced their way through the crowd. One of the reporters caught a glimpse of Mavis, and soon began following the group in secret, thinking that she might be involved with the ghost.
"Ok Mavis, our first stop on our itinerary will be Carousel Boutique, where we can get you some more clothes, ok?" Cadence asked the young girl, who, once again flinched, but nodded, not saying anything, as she followed the adults to the Boutique. Entering the Boutique, Rarity ushered Mavis over to the measuring area.
"Ok Mavis, just hold still, while I gather the necessary measurements," Rarity requested. Mavis complied, and stood as stiff as a statue. Rarity soon gathered the measurements for how long Mavis' outfits should be, when she then needed to move on to her arm length, "Mavis, could you be a dear and extend your arms for me, please?" Rarity asked. Mavis felt really awkward about this whole thing, "Ok, that will do," Mavis was able to relax herself as Rarity finished measuring her arms. Picking up her Teddy Bear, Mavis stepped out of the measuring area, "I'll have her dresses ready by this evening," Rarity said, as she went to work.
"Let's meet up back at my castle," Twilight suggested.
"Marvelous idea, Twilight. I'll see you then," Rarity said, as they all exited the boutique.
"Since Mavis doesn't want any treats, maybe we should skip Sugarcube Corner this time," Cadence suggested. Mavis tensed up. By the sounds of it, this 'Sugarcube Corner' was a popular hangout spot the adults liked visiting, and she felt she was keeping them from something they liked. This made Mavis more uneasy, as they continued onward.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Ponyville,
While the Mane Six and Crystal Couple were showing Mavis around Ponyville, the presence of the Demon Bus could be felt within the thicket of the forbidden Everfree Forest, "Ah, so it would seem that trustworthy individuals have taken Mavis into their care. How interesting. Perhaps a meeting with them later tonight should be in order," the Demon Bus said in it's eerie voice, as the presence vanished.
Dusk soon fell over the quiet town of Ponyville, as the group all made their way back to Twilight's castle, "And here is my castle, Mavis. Not quite as big as the ones in Canterlot or the Crystal Empire, but it's just as lovely," Twilight explained. Mavis just kept her eyes glued to the ground, not wanting to raise her head. The adults kept questioning why Mavis was so reluctant to do fun stuff, but they kept choosing against asking her. Twilight then saw it was getting late, "You guys are free to stay the night. I have more than enough rooms for you," Twilight offered her brother and sister in law, as well as Mavis, who tensed up. She didn't want to impose on a Princess, but she also didn't want to be outside in case the Demon Bus was to appear. With her options limited, she chose to go with the choice she thought was the least stressful.
"Thanks Twiley, I think we'll take you up on that offer," Shining Armor agreed.
"Quite right," Cadence agreed.
"What about you, Mavis?" Twilight asked. Mavis flinched at being directly talked to, but nodded, not wanting to anger Twilight, "Alright then, I'll show you all to your rooms," Twilight said, inviting them into her castle. Mavis only rose her head just to see where she was going, but was in awe at the crystalline structure. Once she was inside, she returned her gaze to the floor in front of her, as not to get lost. It took about seven minutes to find their rooms, "Your room will be directly across the hall from Cadence and Shining Armor's, so if you need them for anything, ok?" Twilight asked.
"O-Ok," Mavis fearfully replied, as she got into bed. She was glad that they didn't see the tears that began flowing down her face. Twilight looked sadly at Mavis, wanting so badly to help her.
"I'm sure you two can keep things in check here, while the girls and I go and try to find that bus?" Twilight asked.
"Of course. But be careful. We don't know what this Demon might do," Cadence pleaded.
"We will. I'll be back in a little bit," Twilight said, as she made her way back to the entrance. Mavis could faintly hear them talking about what they were going to do, and felt worse by the second. She feared what the Demon would do to them, what ponies would think if they traced connections to the Ghost to her, what she could be punished with. Mavis simply covered herself with the sheets, and sobbed quietly, holding her Teddy Bear even closer.
'Why do things have to be this way? Why am I a cursed girl? What did I ever do to deserve all this torment?!' she thought.
On the outskirts of Ponyville,
The Mane Six were all venturing to the outer limits of Ponyville, in hopes of finding the Demon Bus, but found nothing. Fluttershy felt they should just go home, but knew they had to resolve this issue, for the sake of not only all of Equestria, but for Mavis' sake as well, "I'm starting to think this Ghost is going to be a no show. We've been out here for nearly twenty minutes, and it hasn't shown up!" Rainbow Dash yelled in annoyance.
"Yeah, maybe we should call it a night and try again tomorrow," Twilight reluctantly agreed, as a fog started rolling in.
"That's weird. There's no forecast for fog tonight," Rainbow Dash commented.
"Didn't that human say one of the signs was a heavy fog?" Fluttershy quietly asked, feeling scared. It was what happened next that scared even Rainbow Dash beyond reason.
"Mavis...… Mavis...… where's my little baby? I love my baby," a ghostly voice said, as they heard something approaching them. But the fog was so thick, the Mane Six couldn't tell where the sound was coming from. Soon, a demonic laughter came from deep within the fog, as a red glow shown through, as the Demon Bus made it's horrific appearance.
"S-So... you're the Demon Bus?" Twilight carefully questioned.
"It would appear that my reputation precedes me. Yes, I am the Demon of the 308 Bus," the Ghost replied, as two red dots and glowing red, razor sharp, smiling teeth appeared.
"Well, I guess introductions on our side are due," Twilight commented.
"There is no need. I know all about you and your friends, as well as why you came out to confront me," the ghost replied, the smile turning into a frown.
"Ok, so.... is there any particular reason you're..... haunting Equestria?" Twilight gingerly asked.
"There is. In fact, you all met the reason for my being here earlier today," the ghost replied. The Mane Six were shocked, to say the least. The Demon Bus really IS after Mavis!
"If you think we're just going to give her up to something as creepy as you, you got another thing coming! She's suffering enough!" Rainbow Dash yelled defensively.
"Quite right. I will not allow you to harm even one strand of hair on that poor dear's head!" Rarity agreed. The Demon Bus chuckled.
"Do you honestly think I can harm Mavis? If anything, she is the only living creature I am unable to take the soul of!" the Demon explained. This made the Mane Six even more confused.
"Now hang on there.... If ya ain't wantin' ta hurt Mavis, then why are ya after her?" Applejack questioned.
"Unfortunately, I am bound by the rules of death to NOT give you a direct answer at this time. However, I will tell you this; You may think giving her toys and treats could help her feel more secure, but would she truly feel that happy?" The Demon riddled.
"Ok, so if you aren't going to harm Mavis, then how can we help you move on from this world?" Twilight asked.
"I said I couldn't collect her soul or harm Mavis, but that doesn't mean she and I aren't connected in some fashion. In fact, she is the key to allow me to pass on," the Demon explained.
"In what manner?" Rarity asked.
"There are three requirements that she MUST feel, before I am able to leave this world. They are as follows," the Demon said, holding a piece of paper, and donning some reading glasses, "They pretty much require her to feel a certain way. She must feel Happy, Free, and above all, Safe. Remember what I said about gifts. They may not help Mavis. If anything, they could end up making things worse for her...… I sense an evil presence somewhere that could be targeting Mavis. I must go now. Remember my words," the Demon said, as the Bus reversed into the fog, before disappearing. To say the Mane Six were shaken would be an understatement.
"So, all we got to do to get rid of the Demon Bus is to make the kid feel safe, happy, and free? Sounds easy enough," Rainbow Dash commented.
"Easier said than done, you mean. Keep in mind what he said about Mavis' reaction to gifts. If toys and treats won't make her feel any happier, than we need to find an alternate solution to help her," Twilight replied.
"Maybe something will come to us in the morning. We're bound to have clearer heads in the morning," Rarity replied. The others agreed.
"Ok, then tomorrow, we can start mulling over ways that can help with Mavis' situation," Twilight said, as the all went back home.
Meanwhile, in the darker part of Equestria,
A black mist rolled in, as glowing, green flaming eyes appeared within the mist. A unicorn pony soon took the shape of the dastardly King Sombra, who looked quite pleased with himself, "Ah, I can feel a tremendous amount of fear somewhere in Equestria! This could be the right amount of power I need to finally take what is rightfully mine!" he cackled, before sensing another presence, "Hmm, something else is here. Something very powerful. But no matter; once I attain this source of fear, nothing can stand against me!" he said, as he disappeared into the shadows once more.
Sunlight pierced the darkness in Mavis' room, causing her to stir in her sleep. Mavis, felt too comfortable in bed, however, and did not want to get up. That, and also the fact that she was too scared to move. She had cried herself to sleep the night before, as she could hear the sound of the Demon Bus's horn from outside, 'I hope they managed to deal with the demon,' Mavis thought to herself, as she rolled herself out of bed, flopping on the floor. She was used to this kind of thing, all because of several previous foster families she had been in the care of.
"Move it, brat!"
"God, can anyone be any stupider than you?"
"What a stupid bear, for a stupid bitch!"
"Get out of my sight!"
The voices kept repeating the similar or worse things in her head, over and over again, causing her to clench her head, wanting them to stop, "Please, someone help me!" she quietly pleaded, almost inaudibly. Just then, knocking could be heard from the door, making her jump in shock.
"Mavis, sweetie? Are you up?" she heard Cadence call from behind the door. Mavis, not wanting to anger the princess by making her wait, quickly rushed over to the door, with her Teddy Bear in hand. She tried jumping up to reach the door knob, but was only able to graze it. She then saw the doorknob glowing with Cadence's magic. Fearing that the Princess was angry with her for not answering her right away, Mavis quickly rushed back behind the bed, and cowered in fear, "Mavis?" she heard Cadence ask, as she entered. This made Mavis fear the absolute worse.
Mavis' Imagination,
Mavis could only continue cowering, as she heard the hoof steps of Cadence stomping closer to her hiding place, "Oh, so here you were!" Mavis looked up to see a really angry looking Cadence, "I have been calling you for five minutes! You know you're expected to respond to me IMMEDIATELY when royalty calls for you, yes?" Cadence questioned. Mavis was about to answer, when Cadence held up her hoof, "Don't even pollute my ears with you vulgar voice! Come to think of it.... your very presence in Equestria disgusts me beyond reason!" Cadence said, as she used her magic on Mavis' beloved Teddy Bear, incinerating it. Mavis was absolutely devastated, seeing her cherished toy destroyed, "Now, get out of my sight!" Cadence bellowed, as Mavis ran out of the castle, hoping to get away from not only Cadence, but Equestria as well.
Reality,
Mavis continued cowering, clutching her Teddy Bear, as she heard Cadence approached her, "Mavis? Are you alright?" Mavis looked up to see the concerned look on Cadence's face. Mavis quickly got on her hands and knees, bowing to her.
"P-P-P-P-Please forgive me, Princess. I-I-I'll try harder to answer the door next time!" Mavis said in her broken tone, refusing to lift her head to look at Cadence. Cadence felt her heart break, seeing Mavis so fearful of her. She knelt down to try and look at her in eyes.
"Mavis, I assure you, I am not the slightest bit angry with you. I was just coming to see if you were awake, and wanting breakfast," Cadence reassured. Mavis didn't seem too convinced, but she was feeling hungry.
"O-Ok," Mavis quietly complied, standing up. Cadence nodded, and ushered Mavis out of the room. However, unbeknownst to Mavis, she had forgotten her beloved Teddy Bear, as it laid on the floor. Once the two of them were at the end of the hall, ready to descend the stairs, Mavis realized she had left it in her room, but didn't want to anger Cadence by asking to go back. She just continued on, pretending nothing was wrong, but was beginning to stress out immensely. This did not go unnoticed by Cadence.
"Mavis, where's your Teddy Bear?" Mavis shrunk as Cadence spoke to her. Once again, refusing to anger the Princess, Mavis chose to force herself to answer.
"I-I-I must have l-left it back in my r-room," Mavis quietly confessed. She was hoping not to anger Cadence any more than she felt she did already.
"Well, if you want, once I get you settled in the dining room, I'll teleport back, and get it for you?" Cadence offered. Mavis really didn't want to make the Princess do any favors for her, but she felt completely insecure without her Teddy Bear. She was desperate to get it back.
"O-Ok," Mavis could kick herself for agreeing to such terms, but didn't, as she didn't want to be rude in front of Cadence.
"Very well then. Let's go get you settled in," Cadence said, ushering Mavis into the dining hall, where Shining Armor, along with Twilight and Spike were already having breakfast.
"Good Morning Cadence, Mavis. I trust you both slept well?" Twilight asked.
"I did, and I assume Mavis did too?" Cadence asked. Mavis tensed up. Truthfully, she had no dreams last night, good or bad, but was unwilling to share her thoughts.
"Well, that's good to hear. Is there anything in particular you both want to eat?" Twilight asked.
"I'll just have some pancakes. What about you, Mavis?" Cadence asked. Mavis really didn't want to ask the Princesses for food, so she chose to go with something small.
"T-T-T-Toast?" Mavis whimpered.
"At once," Spike said, as he went to prepare the request food items.
"I need to head back up to rooms really quick to get something. I won't be long," Cadence said, as she teleported away. It was only for a brief moment, but to Mavis, it felt like an eternity, as the same voices she was trying to push out of her head were beginning to taunt her once more, even more persistently. She tried to keep a neutral look on her face, but both Twilight and Shining Armor could tell she was not alright. Her trembling eyes clearly showed she was reliving through some kind of traumatic ordeal. Just as Twilight was about to see if she was alright, Cadence teleported back, with Mavis' patchwork Teddy Bear, "Here you go Mavis," she said, floating the toy in question over to the timid girl, who respectfully took it back.
"Th-thank you, Princess," Mavis murmured quietly, hugging her bear tightly, feeling at ease.
"Did.... something happen?" Cadence asked, as she took her seat.
"Mavis had another one of.... those spells," Shining Armor whispered to his wife. Cadence immediately knew what he was talking about, remembering the traumatized look on Mavis' face the first time they met her. They knew they had to get the bottom of Mavis' fearful behavior, but they weren't sure how to do so, without Mavis' feeling like she was being interrogated. Just then, Spike came back in with both Cadence and Mavis' breakfasts.
"Pancakes for Cadence, and toast for Mavs," he said, presenting the two with their respective breakfasts.
"Thank you Spike," Cadence said. Mavis merely shrunk in her seat. She wasn't very comfortable with being so close to a dragon, even if Spike was only a baby dragon. In fact, she felt so uncomfortable, she almost forgot how to talk.
"I'll just assume Mavis is grateful, and leave it at that," Spike said, as he took a bowl of jewels, and took a seat at a seat further down from Mavis, in order to give her some space. Mavis said nothing, and only started eating her toast, the only sounds were the crunching of the crispy bread in her mouth.
"Maybe we could try doing something fun with Mavis? Maybe she would open up to us a little bit," Shining Armor suggested in a hushed voice.
"But what can we do? Her behavior makes it clear she doesn't want to feel like we're spoiling her," Cadence questioned. Mavis was to much involved with eating her meager breakfast, but could faintly hear what the grown ups were saying. She felt even smaller than ever before. The way she was hearing it, they were talking about how she was taking their kindness and generosity for granted. She had finished her last piece of toast, when she got up.
"I-I need to use the bathroom," Mavis quietly said, but she was still heard by the adults.
"I can take her to the bathroom," Shining Armor volunteered, as he had finished his breakfast. He got up, and ushered Mavis out of the dining room.
"So... how'd things go with the Demon Bus? Were you able to find it?" Cadence asked.
"We did. And it reveal some... rather interesting things about Mavis, and how she's the key to helping it move on," Twilight replied, as she explained everything in detail to Cadence. Needless to say, the Princess of Love was most surprised. She figured Mavis had to have some kind of previous encounter with the Demon, but to hear that she is the key to helping her to move on? Both princesses felt there was some kind of major piece of the puzzle that they were missing. Just then, Shining Armor burst into the dining room, looking extremely frantic.
"Darling? Where's Mavis?" Cadence asked.
"She's gone! All that was left in the bathroom was her Bear!" Shining Armor said, levitating the raggedy bear over to them. The Princesses were shocked to hear this news.
"WHAT?!" They bellowed in the Royal Canterlot Voice.
Cold. Mavis could only feel cold, as she felt herself laying on a rocky surface, which she thought was odd. Last she checked, she was in a crystalline castle, with a smooth floor. She took a moment to remember what had transpired. She had just gone to the bathroom, and finished washing her hands, when she was about to leave the bathroom. But as she did, she saw a black mist surrounding her, pulling her in. She called out to Shining Armor, who then burst through the door upon hearing Mavis' cry, for help. Opening her eyes, she saw she was on some sort of mountain clearing. She looked up to see it was still nighttime. Again, this was odd, as it was daytime when she woke up and had breakfast, "Surprised to see it's still nighttime?" she heard someone say. Turning to the source, she saw King Sombra, looking sinisterly at Mavis, who attempted to back away, only for Sombra to use his magic to create a wall made of dark crystals, which trapped the young girl, "Now, now. I can't have you running off, my little hostage," Sombra taunted mercilessly. Mavis, overwhelmed with dread, chose to talk.
"W-Who are you, and where am I?" she quietly asked.
"I suppose some introductions are in order. I am Sombra, the rightful King of the Crystal Empire! And as for where you are, you're in a very unique part of Equestria, one that has been irreversibly been affected by the magic of another creature of darkness, known simply as Nightmare Moon. A spell she cast has plunged this entire mountain range into perpetual night," Sombra explained to his hostage.
"S-S-So, why am I h-h-here?" Mavis asked cautiously.
"Consider it an investment. It would appear that Princess Cadence and her friends and family all care deeply about you, and would want you to return to them, by any means. Which is why I am going to exploit that to my advantage. In simpler terms, I am going to give you back to them, in exchange for not only the Crystal Empire, but ALL OF EQUESTRIA!" Sombra proclaimed loudly. Mavis flinched at the loud volume, and feared the worst, because she thought that not only Cadence, but everyone she's met would blame her for Sombra's rise to tyrannical power. It was then that she and Sombra both felt a sudden chill.
"Oh no," Mavis squeaked fearfully.
"Mavis...…. Mavis...…… where's my little baby? I love my little baby!" a ghostly voice said, as a mist rolled in.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sombra questioned. Just then, the red lights of the Demon Bus appeared. Mavis' first instinct was to run away and hide, but Sombra would most likely catch her before she could get far, "So, you must be the evil presence I've been sensing," Sombra accused.
"I could say the same about you, 'unicorn'," the Demon said, it's red, eyes, glaring fiercely at Sombra, who glared back.
"You shall address me as KING Sombra! Now, state your business here," the disgraced king demanded.
"AND YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK TO ME IN THIS MANNER! I possess powers far beyond anything you are capable of!" the Demon roared, making Mavis cower in fear. Mavis was absolutely terrified of buses, but to see the most evil one in existence? It was all to much for her, "As for you, Mavis, take walk down that path. Somewhere beyond this mountain range, you'll find mentors who can help you come out of your shell. I have things to discuss with this one," Mavis needed no further urging, as she ran off, screaming for her life.
"NO! MY HOSTAGE!" Sombra was about to go after Mavis, when the Demon Bus materialized in front of him, stopping his advances.
"As I said, WE have much to discuss," the Demon said, putting emphasis on the word discuss.
Mavis didn't know where she was running to, but anywhere was better than being face to face with the Demon Bus. The mountain pass was freezing, but she knew she had to get away. But one thing was bothering her. Why would the thing she feared most want to help her? As she was lost in thought, she didn't watch where she was going, and nearly walked straight off the cliff. She was able to stop herself, just shy of the edge, "T-Too close," Mavis commented. A demonic shrieking from the way she just came made her flinch. Once more, she wasn't paying attention to the cliff, as it gave way, plunging her into the raging rivers bellow. Mavis attempted to swim to the surface, when she hit her head on a rock, knocking her out. Thankfully so, as she could not hear a demonic voice, calling out.
The others had quickly gathered at Twilight's castle as soon as they got the word that Mavis went missing, "Do we have any idea where she might be?" Celestia asked.
"No. When I got in there, all I could find was her Teddy Bear," Shining Armor replied.
"Might I have a look at that? I could use this to track the little one's whereabouts," Discord volunteered. Cadence then gave Discord Mavis' beloved toy. Almost instantly, Discord frowned, upon sensing a familiar dark power, "It would appear that King Sombra has come back. I know this kind of magic anywhere," he said. Everyone gasped in shock.
"I had thought we'd seen the last of him when he tried to take over Equestria!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Well, he's always been persistent. That's what he's well known for among powerful magic beings such as ourselves," Celestia commented.
"Even back win our younger years, he wasn't even liked by Chrysalis or Tirek. Basically, he's that one guy in school that's a big jerk to everypony and they all hate him for that," Luna added.
"Well, if he's kidnapped Mavis, it's more than likely that he's holding her as a hostage so that we'll turn over all authority to him," Twilight deduced.
"I won't let that happen! Mavis has suffered too much, and I won't let her feel any worse than she already does!" Cadence proclaimed. The others shared her sentiments.
"Well said, Cadence. I'm going to need some time to track Sombra's magic trail. In the meantime, why don't you all head to Tartarus to interrogate Tirek and Chrysalis? They may not be big fans of Sombra, but they may have a clue as to where he would set up shop, as far as a hideout," Discord suggested.
"It's a long shot, but it's our best lead," Shining Armor commented. The others had concerns, but were still determined to find Mavis, and bring her back home.
"I'll join you once I found the trail," Discord said, as he poofed up a chemistry set, and went to work. Celestia opened a portal to Tartarus, which everyone entered.
Meanwhile, with Mavis,
When she came to, Mavis felt absolutely cold. The last thing she remembered was running from Sombra and the Demon Bus, before falling off of a cliff, into a freezing cold river and hitting her head. She felt something warm nearby. Focusing her sight to the source of the heat, she saw a small fire, "Where.... am I?" Mavis wondered, as she sat up, only to be stopped by a sharp pain in her head. She then saw she was in some kind of cave. There looked to be medicines of all kinds, as well as regular first aid supplies.
"OH MY GOODNESS!" she heard a woman's voice cry out. Turning to the source, she saw was appeared to be a human woman, dress in a skimpy white bikini, which barely held her curves, and a nurse's hat, rushing to her side. Mavis saw that she also had lime green hair, "You mustn't move around too much, sweetie. That injury to your head hasn't finished healing," the woman said, gently pushing Mavis back down. What happened next made Mavis think this woman wasn't human. The woman then conjured a ball of light, and set it against Mavis' head. Almost instantly, Mavis felt the pain in her head dissipate.
"My headache.... it doesn't hurt anymore," Mavis quietly commented.
"Well, that's good to know," the woman said, as she turned to get something from a nearby desk. Mavis then noticed something on the woman's back; fairy wings. The woman then came back with a pair of scissors, and cut the bandages wrapped around Mavis' head.
"Um, excuse me for asking this, but.... you're not human, are you?" Mavis carefully asked.
"No sweetie. I am what is known as a 'nymph', a nature spirit that prefers to live a natural life. My name is Tabby, by the way," the Nymph said, introducing herself.
"My name is Mavis," Mavis replied timidly. She blushed as she felt Tabby's massive chest brush against the back of her head.
"There, looks like your wound is all healed up," Tabby said, examining Mavis' head.
"Was I hurt in some way? And where am I?" Mavis politely asked.
"Well, when my sisters found you, had floated through the caverns, and must've sustained a bump and a small cut to your head when you fell into the river. When we pulled you from the river, you were close to catching pneumonia. But thankfully, we took action, and set up a nice fire to warm you back up, while I treated your injuries. Speaking of which, your dress should be done drying by now," Tabby explained, as she walked over to the other side of the fire, "No, still a bit damp. Well, as for WHERE you are, you are currently in the Nymph Grotto, home of myself, and my 23 sisters," Tabby explained.
"My word, that's quite the family," Mavis commented.
"Well, we never have to worry about stuff that civilization calls 'food budgets'. Nymphs don't require food, but we still like to snack a little bit. In fact, Dana should be done fixing you some nice hot soup. You should be healed enough to walk. Can you stand?" Tabby asked. Mavis tried to stand up. She wobbled, but thanks to Tabby, she regained her balance. Looking down, she saw she was naked.
"EEK!" Mavis squeaked, covering herself up, "WHY AM I NAKED!?" she cried in a hushed voice.
"Well, your underwear was also drenched, so that had to be removed so you could warm up properly. But not to worry. One my sisters made this for you," Tabby said, giving Mavis a simple, plain blue dress. Tabby then helped Mavis slip into it, "Now then, let's go see about that soup," Tabby said, as she took Mavis' hand, and guided her out of the cave. Covering her eyes from the light, Mavis saw a lush, green grotto. There looks to be vegetable gardens, as well as fountains, statues, which were covered in vines. She saw several animals, both domestic and exotic, running around. As they passed the mouth of another cave, Mavis looked in to see a massive library, and a Nymph, much more curvaceous than Tabby, happily reading. The Nymph had lime green hair, and large, owl glasses.
"Is that our little guest?" another woman's voice asked. Mavis turned to see another Nymph, with dark tan skin, stirring something in a cauldron. She had blonde hair, that reached all the way down to her wide hips, and wore a red bikini. While she wasn't as curvaceous as the Nymph in the Library, this Nymph still had larger curves than Tabby.
"Indeed she is. Mavis, this is Dana, the Gourmet Nymph, and one of my many sisters. Dana, this young one's name is Mavis," Tabby introduced the two of them.
"It's very nice to meet you Mavis. I'm just finishing up some soup for you. Tabby, could you get her comfortable at the table?" Dana asked her sister.
"Sure thing. Come along Mavis," Tabby said, bringing Mavis over to a rather large table. Tabby got a high seated chair, so Mavis could reach her soup with ease. Within moments, Dana came out with a piping hot bowl of soup for Mavis.
"It's made with organically grown vegetables, and plenty of natural herbs and spices, guaranteed to warm up a person," Dana said, as she placed the bowl in front of Mavis. Taking the spoon that was provided, Mavis then began sipping the soup. She was amazed at how delicious it was, and she felt warmer already, as she continued to eat, "So, what do you think happened with her?" Dana whispered to Tabby.
"I'm not sure. When Marina found her, it looked like she was in the water for quite a bit, and that injury to her head indicates she hit it somehow when she fell into the river. I'm just glad Marina found her when she did. Who knows how much worse her condition could've been if she was left in the water?" Tabby shuddered at the thought of how much worse off Mavis could've been.
"So, is this the girl?" The two Nymphs turned to see four more Nymphs approaching. One had red hair, and was wearing a grassy green bikini. The second was a chocolate colored woman with blue tribal markings on her face and her (thick) thighs. She wore a sky blue bikini, and had feathers in her hair and outfit. The third Nymph wore a breast plate and a loin cloth, and had orange hair. She was much taller than the others. The last one wore a seashell bra, with dark blue panties. She had darker blue hair.
"Yes Wanda. This is Mavis, our guest," Tabby said in a hushed voice, as not to make Mavis seem uncomfortable.
"She looks so undernourished," the armor wearing Nymph commented, seeing how scrawny Mavis was.
"But what I would like to know is what a human is doing in this world after so many centuries?" the darkest skinned Nymph wondered.
"This must be a result of an outside force," the red headed Nymph theorized, as Mavis finished her soup.
"I made enough for a second helping. Are you still hungry?" Dana asked, fluttering over to Mavis.
"I.... would like that. Thank you," Mavis replied. Normally, she wouldn't want to impose by asking for more food, but she oddly felt at ease around the Nymphs. Dana then took the bowl to go fill it back up.
"Mavis, there are some more of our sisters that I think you would like to meet," Tabby offered. Mavis then felt a tad nervous. It was nerve wracking for her just to be someplace new, surrounded by people she didn't know. but the Nymphs seemed like kind souls.
"Mavis, there are some more of our sisters that I think you would like to meet," Tabby offered. Mavis then felt a tad nervous. It was nerve wracking for her just to be someplace new, surrounded by people she didn't know. but the Nymphs seemed like kind souls. The Nymphs that Tabby and Dana were talking to fluttered over to her, "Mavis, these are some more of my sisters. There's Wanda, our Chief Nymph," Tabby motioned to the red headed Nymph, "Sky, the Music Nymph," she said, fluttering by the darkest skinned Nymph, "Marina, our resident Ocean Nymph," she said, introducing the seashell wearing Nymph, "And this is Daria, the Warrior Nymph," she said, fluttering around the tallest Nymph.
"It is a pleasure to meet all of you," Mavis said respectfully.
"And we return your greetings with the utmost respect. But, if I may be bold as to ask, where did you come from? Marina found you in the river, which led straight from the mountains," Wanda asked gingerly. Mavis began feeling uncomfortable, again, but the gentle presence of the Nymphs was not nearly as overwhelming, and made her feel more calm. Without going back to her life on Earth, she explained everything, from winding up at the Crystal Empire, being kidnapped by King Sombra, and her encounter with the Demon Bus. Needles to say, the Nymphs that were present were all shocked. Dana even dropped the bowl of soup when she heard everything Mavis told them.
"I certainly wasn't expecting Sombra to return after a thousand years," Marina commented.
"Well, at least the Crystal Empire is back, and has a new, benevolent ruler," Daria added.
"But what of this 'Demon Bus'? What even is it?" Tabby asked.
"It's this really evil ghost that's been stalking me for almost two years. It kills anyone that gets in it's way. Every foster family I've ever been sent to live with met their end because of the ghost," Mavis replied, cuddling closer to Dana, feeling scared about reliving her traumas.
"Hey now, you needn't worry about this Demon getting you here. Evil forces can't enter our Grotto," Dana reassured, holding her close. Mavis felt inferior to Dana, as she felt the Nymph's massive rack resting on her head.
"Well, we should at least inform the Princesses that you're safe. I'll write a message to them, telling them where you are," Wanda said, as she wrote a message down, and sent it with magic, "In the meantime, would you like to meet the rest of our sisters?" the Chief Nymph offered.
"Ok," Mavis replied. While she seemed to be fine on the outside, she was becoming increasingly worried when Cadence would arrived, and what the Princess would do.
Meanwhile, in Tartarus,
"For the last time, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT SOMBRA IS PLANNING!" Tirek roared, annoyed at the surprise interrogation, when the four Princesses, and their friends appeared in front of him.
"But Sombra was one of the biggest and baddest prisoners Tartarus had ever held! Surely you guys should've heard him say something?!" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"We wouldn't associate with that...… stallion if he was the last sentient creature on this planet!" Chrysalis countered. After their last failed attempt to conquer Equestria, the Royal Sisters and Discord used Grogar's Bell to strip both Tirek and Chrysalis of their magic powers, before banishing them to Tartarus, along with Cozy Glow.
"I hate to say it, but if Tirek and Chrysalis don't know what Sombra is up to, then they must not know," Twilight commented.
"Now that's the first sensible thing I've heard since we were imprisoned here!" Tirek complained, crossing his boney arms. Just then, a scroll materialized in front of Cadence.
"What could this be?" Cadence wondered, unfurling the scroll. Reading it, she had a look of relief and joy on her face, "Mavis has been found!" Cadence exclaimed.
"She has?!" Celestia exclaimed.
"YES! Just look at this message!" Cadence said, giving the scroll to her aunt. Celestia then began reading, as Luna, Tirek, and Chrysalis all looked over her shoulder. However, upon seeing who it was from, all four of them adopted the same exact expression of uncertainty.
"What is it? Is she in any kind of danger?" Twilight asked worriedly.
"No. If anything, she's safe from any and all kinds of danger. She's currently being cared for by the Nymphs," Celestia replied.
"And the Nymphs are?" Applejack asked.
"They are the most ancient creatures of this world. They're nature spirits who prefer to live natural lives, away from civilization, but..." Luna trailed off.
"But....?" Rarity quizzed.
"The last time we saw the Nymphs, well.... let's just say," Chrysalis began, an aura of pure dread forming around the four immortal creatures.
"Dammit legs, quit trembling!" Tirek yelled, slapping his legs.
"Just what kind of creatures are these Nymphs to make even Tirek so scared?" Fluttershy wondered, as they all tried imagining what the Nymphs were like. Images of giants, destroying mountains, spewing fire, or just wreaking havoc in general. Just then, Discord teleported in, looking quite pleased.
"Alright everypony, I do believe I have the whereabouts of where ol' Sombra took our new little friend," Discord said.
"You lot keep talking about this 'Mavis' character. Who is she?" Chrysalis asked.
"She's a human girl who's staying at the Crystal Empire under my care," Cadence replied. This came as a surprised to both Tirek and Chrysalis.
"A human in this day and age? I thought they went extinct eons ago?" Tirek commented.
"You mean humans once lived in Equestria?" Twilight asked.
"Yes. They built the first city in the land. It was ruled by a very young, very benevolent pharaoh. Humans possessed a magic that was in a league all of it's own, surpassing even Alicorn or Nymph magic," Tirek explained.
"Of course, thanks to Discord, they ended up being banished to another world, only to live on as mythical creatures," Chrysalis commented.
"What does she mean by that?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, apart from the Pharaoh and his closest friends, I kind of, sort of, corrupted the minds of the humans, making their lust for power manifest. It was actually Starswirl the Bearded that was able to banish the humans," Discord explained sheepishly.
"We will have words about this later, but you said you were able to track Sombra down?" Twilight asked.
"Indeed. He took Mavis to the Eternal Night Mountains, one of the only places in Equestria permanently affected by Luna's little tantrum all those centuries ago," Discord explained, making Luna blush in embarrassment.
"Well, what are we waiting for?! We need to go help Mavis!" Cadence exclaimed.
"Since we need to take care of this quickly, I will handle Sombra," Discord volunteered, opening a portal to the mountains, which the Ponyville crew and their friends all entered, as the portal closed behind them.
"I'd say they'll last five minutes against the Nymphs," Chrysalis commented.
"I'll take those odds," Tirek commented.
"Are these 'Nymphs' really that bad?" Cozy Glow asked.
After meeting the rest of the Nymphs, Mavis was sitting around what they called the "Main Area". She was anxious about the princesses coming. She didn't want to go back with Cadence, for fear of what she may do to Mavis when angered, but she knew she couldn't stay with the Nymphs. She was unsure of what she wanted to do, as she watched Polly leading some baby ducklings to the pond. For the first time since she came to Equestria, Mavis cracked a smile. While she did like it in the Grotto, and the fact that the voices in her head haven't bothered her the whole time since she's been here, she missed holding her Teddy Bear. She felt someone sitting next to her. She looked to see Mariah, looking concerned for the young girl.
"Is there something troubling you Mavis?" the knowledge Nymph asked, motioning for Mavis to rest her head on the Nymph's lap. Laying her head down on Mariah's lap, Mavis sighed glumly.
"Well, I'm just worried about what the princesses are going to do once they find me. I don't want to go back, but I can't refuse the will of royalty. I just don't know what to do," Mavis confessed.
"I see. You're feeling conflicted between what you feel that you 'must' do, and what you want to do. Well, I can tell you one thing; no one, not even royalty, can make another do something they don't want to do," Mariah tried to offer some words of wisdom. While Mavis took those words to heart, but still felt unease. Just then, Sky fluttered over to them.
"Mavis, our guests have arrived, and they were asking about you," Sky said. Mavis felt her heart drop into her stomach.
"It'll be alright Mavis. The Princesses aren't tyrannical monsters. They have no reason to harm you," Mariah soothed, as she took Mavis hand, as she and Sky walked the young girl to the entrance area. Mavis didn't feel any better, even with Mariah's sincere words.
Earlier,
Having arrived at the exact site where Sombra had Mavis captive, the group of friends wasted no time in looking for her. When they came up with nothing, Fluttershy noticed tracks in the dirt, "Um, I think I found something," she quietly said.
"What is it?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy then pointed to the tracks, which the lavender princess and Discord then examined, "Tire tracks. I remember them from the Human world. The Demon Bus might've been here," she deduced.
"It looks like the ones over here are older than these ones here. And I spy some footprints that look small enough to be Mavis'," Discord commented, examining the tire tracks, as well as Mavis' footprints, which were located behind the fresher tire tracks.
"I see hoof prints too. Maybe the Bus and Sombra duked it out?" Rainbow Dash theorized. No sooner than she did, they all felt the temperature drop a few degrees.
"Mavis...… Mavis...…. Where's my baby? I love my baby!" the ghostly voice the Mane Six recognized echoed, as a red glow, and eerie honking of the Demon Busses Horn echoed, as it materialized, "Took you all long enough to get here," the Demon commented.
"Well, we had to chase some leads about Sombra," Luna cautiously replied. She, her sister, Niece, and Nephew in law had only heard about what the Demon Bus looked like, but to see it in person? It was more terrifying than they were told.
"Well, you needn't worry about that unicorn anymore. I took the liberty to send him to Hell, personally," the Demon commented, smiling it's red, glowing, razor sharp toothed smile.
"Well, that eliminates one problem," Discord commented.
"Serves him right for what he's done, I say," Cadence commented.
"As for Mavis, I sent her down that pass to find some help until you all would arrive. However, she fell into the river below. She's in safe hands at the moment," the Demon explained. This was starting to puzzle them even more. Why would the Demon Bus worry so much about the safety of Mavis? "Pink Alicorn. The one they call 'Cadence'. I see you've taken a liking to Mavis, yes?" the Demon questioned.
"Of course. She's so sweet, and gentle, it's heartbreaking to see her so fearful of us. I want to help her any and every way I can," Cadence replied.
"We've been meaning to start a family ourselves, and well, we've been talking," Shining Armor piped up. This came as a surprise to everyone else.
"Are you saying you two are going to adopt Mavis?!" Twilight exclaimed in joy.
"Of course. Mavis needs someone to comfort her when she needs it the most," Cadence replied.
"You seem like the right people, or I should say 'ponies' for the job, as you would be the first mother figure she would have in her life. But I leave you with this little clue to getting Mavis to be as open as possible with you; do not let her take the adoption the wrong way," the Demon said, as it backed up, and disappeared.
"So, is that what happened when you all encountered the Demon for the first time?" Luna asked.
"Yes. It just appeared, we talked, and then it gave us a clue in the form of a riddle, before disappearing!" Pinkie Pie said in one breath.
"Well, I don't know what it meant by 'don't let her take the adoption the wrong way', but maybe having some parental figures in her life would do her a world of good," Cadence commented.
"Well, for now, we should follow these tracks Mavis left," Shining Armor suggested. The others followed after him, as they followed the tracks. About five minutes later, the tracks stopped at a cliff.
"The Demon did say Mavis fell into the river. Think this is the one?" Rainbow Dash questioned, seeing the raging river below.
"I hate to say it, but it might be. Maybe if we follow the river flow, we can find the cave she went into to. From there, we can try and find an alternate route into the Grotto, and find Mavis," Twilight suggested.
"Good call," Rarity commented, as they took to the path leading downstream. They continued following the river, until they saw the river ended in the side of the mountain.
"That doesn't make a lick o' sense! How can a river just stop?" Applejack wondered.
"My guess is that the river is flowing into some hidden cavern," Celestia theorized, just as a blue glow came from the water. The group took a step back, as a ball of blue energy rose from the river, and floated in front of them. The ball then disintegrated, as Marina was then seen, fluttering before them.
"Hello. I am Marina, the Ocean Nymph. I take it you all are here in search of Mavis?" she questioned.
"We are. Is she safe?" Cadence asked.
"She is, though she had a nasty injury to her head. But you needn't worry. My sister, Tabby, was able to heal Mavis' injuries. My other sister, Dana also gave her some soup to warm her up," Marina explained.
"That's a huge relief," Fluttershy commented.
"Indeed. If you wish, I can take you all to see her in our Grotto," Marina said.
"Would you, please?!" Cadence asked desperately, gaining an anime sweat drop from the Nymph.
"If that is what you wish, then follow me through the pass. I will take you to a shortcut to the Grotto," Marina replied, leading them down the mountain. It didn't take long to reach the bottom of the mountain, where they saw a large number of dead trees.
"What happened here?" Shining Armor asked.
"Not enough sunlight. And the fact that water doesn't flow through here anymore adds to that factor," Marina replied, leading them through the forest of dead trees. All the while, Luna couldn't help but feel responsible for the state of the forest. They walked for less than an hour, before they saw plants that looked more alive than the rest of the forest, "We are nearing the Grotto," Marina said, as they pushed past some vines. Soon, they had arrived. Needless to say, the pony friends were in awe at the mere sight of the grotto. Everything looked so.... alive. Just then, they saw Sky fluttering about.
"Hey Marina, these the ponies that Mavis told us about?" the musical Nymph asked.
"Yep! So, could you go and find her? I'll take them to see Wanda," Marina asked her sister.
"Sure thing!" Sky replied, fluttering away. Celestia, Luna, and Discord all had looks of impending dread on their faces, as Marina took them to see Wanda. Soon, the ponies were all face to face with the Nymph Queen herself.
"My, my, so many guests in one day," Wanda commented.
"Are you by chance the leader of the Nymphs?" Twilight cautiously asked.
"Indeed I am. My name is Wanda, the Earth Nymph, and, I guess you can also call me the queen of the Nymphs, though I am not royalty," Wanda replied.
"Well, I suppose introductions would be in order on our end?" Twilight offered.
"There is no need. We Nymphs have a Seeing Pool, which shows us everything that goes on in the outside world, including several events revolving around you lot," Wanda explained.
"So, does that mean you saw us coming?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Indeed, which is why I sent Marina to find you," Wanda replied.
"Then, I suppose you know why we are here?" Cadence asked.
"Yes. It's because of Mavis, yes?" Wanda replied. Cadence nodded.
"It is. She just barely escaped from that awful King Sombra, and we're worried about her well being," Cadence explained.
"Well, you needn't worry. One of my sisters, Tabby, took the liberty of healing a nasty wound to Mavis' head. And it was a good thing Marina found Mavis when she did. The water in the river was far below the freezing point. If we had been a few minutes late, well, best not to think about it," Wanda advised. This didn't sit well with any of the pony friends. Mavis nearly died from hypothermia? The mere thought was enough to make Pinkie's mane go flat.
"Wanda, we've brought Mavis," the voice of Sky made everyone look up. They saw Mavis, Sky, and an outrageously curvy Nymph standing in the doorway. The young girl in question looked tense upon seeing the ponies.
"Mavis! Oh, thank goodness you're alright!" Cadence exclaimed, as she went over, and scooped Mavis into a great, big hug. Mavis' heart was pounding faster and faster, for fear of what Cadence might do to her.
"P-Please forgive me, Princess. I didn't mean to make you worry," Mavis softly pleaded.
"All that matters is that you're safe and sound," Cadence soothed, rubbing Mavis' back.
"Since she got here, has she shown any signs of panic?" Twilight whispered to Wanda.
"Not that any of us have seen," Wanda replied.
"Is something wrong?" Sky asked.
"Well, to tell you the truth, ever since we found her, Mavis has been absolutely terrified of us. We've tried just about every approach to get her to open up to us, like offering her some toys or something sweet. But she always declines," Rarity explained.
"Hmm, that is rather strange for a child her age. Perhaps, her problem is one of a more psychological matter. She probably started acting like this because of some kind of trauma she experienced," Wanda replied. They were all doing their best to keep quiet, as not to make Mavis feel any worse. Just then, a thought came to Wanda's mind, "Mariah, could you take Mavis back to the library? I would like to discuss something with these nice ponies," she requested.
"Of course! May I, princess?" Mariah asked Cadence. Cautiously, Cadence released Mavis, "Come along now, little one," Mariah said, taking Mavis' hand, and leading her out of the den.
"Ok, so why did you want Mavis to leave?" Discord asked.
"Let me ask you all something. Are you familiar with an ancient city known as 'Trotlantis'?" Wanda asked. This caught the attention of the Royal Sisters and Discord, while the others looked perplexed.
"Trotlantis? I've heard of it, but it's just a myth, right?" Twilight asked.
"Actually, Twilight, Trotlantis isn't just a real city, but it was Equestria's very first city," Celestia replied, causing her former student's eyes to go wide.
"Indeed it was. In fact, what I am about to tell you pertains to a young girl who looked exactly like Mavis, and the Pharaoh who freed her from the thralls of slavery at the hands of the young Pharaoh's cruel, tyrannical father," Wanda said, as she began to tell them the tale of Trotlantis.
Flashback, 5,000 years ago, in a neighboring kingdom,
It was the middle of the night when several explosions erupted from the city walls. This woke up a young girl from within the castle. She was of a fair complexion and had long, luxurious black hair, "What is the meaning of this?!" the girl asked.
"Princess! You need to evacuate! We're being invaded by Trotlantis!" one of the guards yelled, rushing into her bed chambers.
"So that Pharaoh really is serious about conquering all nations. Alright, lead the way," the Princess requested, as the guard led her to the back of the castle, "Where are Mother and Father?" she asked.
"They went to help combat the invaders, but the enemy is using magic and tools we have never seen before," the guard replied, as he put the princess into a boat, just as the surrounding walls exploded, and several of the invaders rushed in, slaughtering all of the guards, who attempted to fend them off, but were unsuccessful. The Princess was horrified by the carnage, but she had bigger things to worry about, as one of the invaders grabbed her by the hair, and threw her out of the boat.
"What is the meaning of this?! I demand that you explain yourselves!" the Princess demanded, trying to be brave. She was only met with a fist to the face.
"Silence! We have orders from our king to take you prisoner. We've already slaughtered the majority of this city's population, and are taking the survivors as captives too," the invader said, as he took the jewelry the princess was wearing, and put them into his bag, "Put her with the other prisoners," the leader ordered to the lackeys. Two of them took the princess by the arms, and took her over to a cage, where several other kids her age were being held.
"Not you too, Princess!" one of the kids exclaimed.
"What happened to our city?" the Princess asked.
"These bad guys just up and attacked the city! They've been killing people left and right, and taking the survivors captive! It doesn't matter if your a man, woman, child or pony," one colt replied.
"My mommy and daddy," a very young girl whimpered, as the caravan took off. As they left the city limits, the Princess was horrified at the carnage that had befallen her beloved city. People and ponies were either being slaughtered or taken prisoner, homes and crops were being burned down, and the invaders were pillaging the riches of the city. As they began to cross the desert, the nameless Princess saw that her parents were murdered by the invader's overwhelming numbers.
Realtime,
As Wanda told them the tale of the Trotlantis, the Ponies were all shocked and appalled by what the Head Nymph had told them, "But, we were told that Trotlantis had a benevolent Pharaoh. Why would he attack another empire?" Twilight asked, sounding genuinely confused.
"Well, this was when the kind Pharaoh's cruel father was in power. He was a true tyrant even among the standards of other tyrants," Wanda replied, disgusted by the actions of the dictator.
"Ok, but what does this story have to do with Mavis?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"This next part will do more with what we'd like to do for her. It has to do with the Tyrant Pharaoh's son," Wanda explained, as she continued her story.
Flashback: 5,000 years ago
Walking through the corridors of the palace, a young boy, dressed like royalty looked sadly out the window, as he saw the multitudes of people and ponies his father had enslaved over the years. They were all being forced to work until they collapsed, in which case, they were then made to fight in the gladiator's arena, "Why father. Why must you commit such horrible atrocities?" the young Prince sadly asked, as he continued to walk through the halls. He had to admit, he felt ashamed of his royal heritage. The young Prince thought a kingdom should be ruled by a kind, noble king. Each time he walked through the halls, he was unable to help but feel guilty about all the lives that were taken to make it. His thoughts were interrupted when he bumped into someone, "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going," the prince apologized, seeing the nameless ex-Princess from the empire that was recently attacked.
"P-P-Please. forgive me," the ex-Princess pleaded, fearing of what the Prince would do to her. This was the first time that they had crossed paths.
"No, it was my fault. My mind was somewhere else," the Prince replied, helping the slave girl back up. The former Princess wasn't sure about how to react to this. Ever since she was made a slave by the evil Pharaoh, she had been treated like less than dirt, so for the son of the man who destroyed her kingdom to help her was a complete surprise to her.
"Th-thank you," she said hesitantly. The Prince eyed her shackles, and frowned.
"I truly do apologize for what my Father has done to you and your kingdom. He's been on this power trip for months now, and won't listen to reason," the Prince tried to explain.
"I wish I could believe you, but..." the former Princess said, sounding unsure about trusting the son of the man who pretty much murdered her family.
"I understand. But I have every intention of making it up to you any way I can, after I take the throne from that man," the Prince replied.
"You there! What are you doing, slacking off?!" one of the guards yelled, as he roughly grabbed the ex-Princess by her hair, "My Prince, did this slave harm you any way?" he asked.
"No, now release her! Unless you forgotten, that this section of the palace is under my rule, and I get to decide what happens to the slaves that Father put under my control?" the Prince sounded and felt disgusted by saying the word "slave", but knew he had to, as to enforce his authority over the guard, who then released the former princess, dropping her to the floor, before taking his leave, "Sorry to call you that awful term. Unlike father, I detest the thought of slavery," the Prince said, hating how his father treated other living creatures.
"I would so love to taste freedom again, along with my fellow captives," the ex-Princess replied.
"I would try to take the throne for myself by usurping Father, but he believes only one who can match him in combat, in terms of both physical prowess and magic, can take the throne, if they can take his life," the Prince replied, feeling useless. In truth, the Prince was a kind hearted pacifist, who abhorred the thought of ending the life of another.
"Even if you couldn't defeat him, is there still a way to escape?" the former Princess asked. The Prince thought about it for a moment, before getting an idea.
"The only way I can think of is through the garbage dump. Nothing ever comes back from there. We can escape through there," the Prince replied.
"'We'?" the former Princess asked.
"Yes. I can't stomach the atrocities that my father has inflicted on these lands any longer. I want to free these people from his clutches, and the only way to do that is to slay him in combat, as per our customs," the Prince replied, as he and the ex-Princess made their plan.
Realtime,
"Ok, so did they manage to escape?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"They did. However, it was no easy feat for them, but it was well worth it in the end," Wanda replied.
"You mean, the two of them finally found you and your sisters?" Twilight asked.
"Indeed, though it took them quite a few weeks before they wound up in the same scenario Mavis was in earlier," Sky replied.
"In other words, they fell into the rapids, and wound up in the river?" Cadence asked.
"Yes. After they told us of their plight, we agreed to take on both as students to train them in the ways of combat, even though we're against violence. The Prince was able to master several forms of Fire, Ice, Water, and Combat Magic from Dana, Yuki, Marina, and Daria, respectively, while the Princess was able to master the forms of Magic of ALL of us Nymphs, combined. Doing so triggered something that even we never anticipated," Wanda replied.
Flashback, 5000 years ago,
The young Prince was fusing Fire and Ice that he learned from the Nymphs into the Combat Magic, while using Water to shield himself, as Daria traded blows with him, "Excellent! You've come a long way since we began," she complimented, as the Prince released a stream of Fire with his next punch.
"Hopefully, I can use this to end my Father's tyranny," the Prince commented.
"While we don't like seeing our Magic being used to end the life of another, after seeing what he's done, we'll make an exception this ONE time," Dana said, resting her massive chest on the Prince's head, making him blush furiously. Meanwhile, the Former Princess was finishing her last lesson with Wanda, as she made several rock slabs rise up from the ground, forming a table.
"Wonderful! With this, you pass your final test," Wanda commended.
"Thank you, Wanda," the Former Princess replied. Just then, some crystals started to form around the young girl's feet, which then sprouted out, forming a large cluster of Crystals, each a different color.
"What's this now?" Wanda wondered, as beams of light from each Crystal shot out at the ex-Princess, as a pair of Nymph Wings sprouted from her back, "Well, this is unexpected," Wanda commented, using her magic to look over the young girl's body.
"Is there.... something wrong?" the former Princess asked.
"Well, it would appear that mastering ALL of the types of Magic my sisters and I have taught triggered some kind of.... metamorphosis, making you a Nymph as well," Wanda replied.
"Is that unusual?" the Prince asked.
"It's never happened before, so we don't know what to expect," Wanda replied.
"Well, in light of the fact that you both have passed all of your trials that we put in front of you, you both have passed," Wanda declared.
"Thank you for this opportunity," the Prince bowed respectfully, as did the ex-Princess.
Real time,
"In the end, the Prince was able to win the throne from his cruel father, and freed all of the slaves he had captured. While the majority of them were free to leave to rebuild their homes, some of the former slaves elected to stay and serve the young Pharaoh of their own accord. This included the former Princess too," Wanda concluded the story.
"Ok, so am I right in assuming what happened to the former human princess is what you want to do for Mavis?" Cadence asked.
"Indeed. Not only would this help her develop magic powers, but it could help her in terms of self confidence and being a bit more courageous," Wanda explained.
"Ok, but why have you guys teach her? Can't she learn magic at some fancy school or something?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"That's the thing I noticed when Mavis saw all of you. She seemed rather tense, to put it nicely. She seems to be more open towards my sisters and I," Wanda replied.
"Plus, most of the high ranking academies in the Crystal Empire are the equivalent to military schools," Cadence added.
"What Wanda is trying to say is that no matter what you all might do for her to make her feel more welcome, she still live in perpetual fear of you, especially the Princesses," Sky added. The ponies all had sad looks of understanding on their faces, especially Cadence.
"Well, it makes sense. Given everything she's been through, she probably fears important political figureheads like royalty," Discord theorized. Cadence then turned to Wanda.
"Wanda, do you believe this would make Mavis happier?" Cadence asked, a tone of desperation in her voice.
"I do believe so," the Nymph replied.
"Then please, teach her your ways of magic, and help her become braver!" the Princess of Love begged.
"You have my word. Of course, whether or not my sisters and I will be able to teach her is all up to Mavis," Wanda replied.
"Ok, so how do we ask her?" Applejack asked.
"Simply put, we just ask her like it's an offer, as a means to keep her from feeling we're forcing this on her," Wanda replied.
"We should probably have Mariah ask her. She's the most soft spoken among us Nymphs," Sky suggested.
"Capital idea," Wanda replied, as she pulled a crystal from her cleavage, and used her magic on it, causing it to glow, "Mariah? Are you there, sister?" the leader Nymph asked.
"Yes, I am. Is there something you need Wanda?" Mariah's voice said through the crystal.
"Yes, I would like you to relay a message to Mavis for me. It's about taking her under our tutelage as an apprentice, and potential Crystal Nymph," Wanda replied.
"Ah, so we're going through with it?" Mariah asked.
"Yes, but could you try and make it sound like an offer, rather than a request? We don't want to make Mavis feel put upon," Wanda requested.
"Of course, dear sister. I'll bring her over once we're done reading," Mariah said, as the Crystal stopped glowing, and Wanda put it back into her bra.
"Thank you for this, Wanda. There is one more thing I need to inform you of, regarding the little one," Cadence explained.
"Yes?" Wanda asked. Cadence explained that she and Shining Armor were planning to adopt Mavis as their own daughter, "I see, though you wish to adopt her AFTER she completes her training?" Wanda asked.
"Yes. As we previously mentioned, Mavis has been utterly terrified of us, so we want to wait until she becomes more assertive from your training to adopt her. We don't want her to forgo chances for her own happiness for some selfless reason," Cadence replied.
"Well, with Daria's help, Mavis should be able to be more assertive, and willing to try things you and your husband want her to," Wanda replied.
"That's all I ask. But, could you maybe keep this a secret? I don't want the thought of being adopted interfere with her lessons," Cadence requested.
"Of course," Wanda replied.
"Excellent! We'll return to the Crystal Empire to get Mavis' room prepared. How long should we expect these lessons to take?" Cadence asked.
"Well, for the original Crystal Nymph, it took her about a year, maybe 15 months, to master all of our various magics, so we have a pretty good grasp of what we should do for her," Wanda replied.
"But we'll only teach her al the essential magics, such as Mariah's knowledge magic, Daria's combat magic, the various elemental magic that myself, Wanda, Dana, Yuki, and a few others know, as well as a few other types," Sky added.
"We should leave now. If Mavis sees us leaving without her, she might think she did something bad or that we may do something bad before we go, and force herself to come back with us," Twilight suggested.
"We'll leave this with you. From what we can tell, it's all that keeps Mavis calm," Shining Armor said, levitating Mavis' raggedy teddy bear to the Nymphs.
"We'll be sure to give it to her. And Luna? You needn't worry about patrolling Mavis' dreams. Cosmo can handle things here," Wanda said to the Lunar Princess.
"Very well," Luna said, as the Ponies were then escorted back to the entrance of the grotto.
"Take this with you. We can keep in contact about Mavis' progress, and we'll let you know when she's done with her lessons," Sky said, handing Cadence a cluster of crystals that seemed to glow on their own.
"Simply marvelous!" Rarity was in awe at the cluster.
"Thank you all for doing this for Mavis. I truly hope that she becomes more open minded about Equestria," Cadence said, as Discord teleported them all away. With a smile, Sky went back to where Wanda was at. However, she was unaware of a sinister presence lurking nearby.
"So, it would appear they're taking all the necessary precautions for Mavis to become happier, but it will take much more than magic and kindness for her to know true joy," the Demon Bus Driver said, as the bus disappeared into the shadows.
Mariah was walking Mavis back to where Wanda was, as the redheaded Nymph requested. Needless to say, Mavis was a little worried. As far as she knew, Cadence and the others were still there, and we probably going to force her to come back with them to the Crystal Empire. Truthfully, she didn't want to go back, and even if she did choose to go back, she felt that she would no doubt be made a slave to the princess. Mavis really wished she had her beloved Teddy Bear. They soon arrived at Wanda's hut, where the head Nymph was waiting, "Ah, Mavis. I was waiting for you. Come in, and have a seat. You too Mariah," Wanda requested politely. Both of them entered the hut, and took a seat in front of Wanda, "So, Mavis, before I tell you about what we wish to do for you, I was asked by Cadence to give this to you," Wanda said, giving Mavis the raggedy teddy bear, which Mavis eagerly accepted.
"Thank you," Mavis said, hugging her cherished toy.
"You're very welcome. Now, onto the reason I called you in here, there's something my sisters and I would like to do, regarding you," Wanda explained, gaining a cautious look from Mavis, "And you needn't worry. It's something that personally, I believe you would be most interested in," Wanda explained.
"Ok?" Mavis replied, still cautious.
"Well, my sisters and I are willing to teach you the ways of Nymph Magic. Now before you jump to conclusions, allow me to explain. Learning Nymph Magic won't necessarily be a difficult task. In fact, the lessons we have planned will actually be more akin to playtime," Wanda explained. She wasn't kidding around. The lessons she and her sisters were planning for Mavis to take were more like playing around.
"But.... I can't use magic," Mavis replied meekly.
"That's alright Mavis. The lessons we want you to take part in will help you to subconsciously learn magic. Or in other words, you'll be able to pick up on magic without realizing it yourself," Wanda explained.
"As for what types of magic you'll be initially learning from us, you'll learn the four basic elements magic, Earth Magic with Wanda, Water Magic with Marina, Fire Magic with me, and Air Magic with Sky, in addition to general education with Mariah, combat magic for self defense with Daria, Art with Kat, and well, you get the idea," Dana explained, pulling Mavis into a warm hug. Mavis felt at ease with the hug, but blushed at Dana's giant boobs against her face. Thinking about the types of magic she'd be learning from the Nymphs, Mavis was slowly starting to become interested.
"If you're still unsure about the lessons we'll have you do, then let me tell you about another benefit you'd get from our lessons; You'd get a body that all human boys and maybe a few girls would be attracted to. A body like all of ours," Sky explained, tracing her curvaceous figure.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to learn some magic. But what about the princess?" Mavis asked cautiously.
"You needn't worry about Cadence. She has given her blessings for us to teach you. Of course, the lessons you'll be taking will take a little over a year to complete, but we'll keep things as easy for you as possible," Wanda explained.
"So, I guess the only question of the hour is 'are you ready to begin, Mavis?'" Dana asked.
"Yes," Mavis replied, a grateful look on her face.
"Excellent! But before we begin, why don't we go see Cosmo?" Wanda offered.
"Ok, but, may I ask why?" Mavis asked politely.
"Well, there's something we feel that needs to be done first. We want to find out what makes you so timid. I know this sounds intrusive, but you don't have to tell us what you've been through. Cosmo has a type of Magic that enables her and others to access the memories of others, so you don't have to feel any unnecessary pressure," Wanda explained.
"Well, ok. But all I will say is that you will not like what you find," Mavis cautiously replied, as Wanda took her hand, and led her to Cosmo's observatory.
Inside the observatory, Mavis saw several star charts that looked complex, and difficult to understand. Wanda led her to the center of the room, where Cosmo was sitting in Lotus position, appearing to be meditating, "Cosmo? Sorry to interrupt, but..." Wanda began, as Cosmo stood up.
"It's quite alright Wanda. I was informed about the child from the others," Cosmo replied, taking notice of Mavis, "And I assume this little one is Mavis?" Cosmo asked.
"Indeed. Mavis, this is Cosmo, the Space Dream Nymph. Cosmo, this is out newest protégé, Mavis," Wanda explained.
"Hello," Mavis politely, but quietly greeted.
"A shy one, is she?" Cosmo asked.
"Yes. But there's more to her shy behavior than just being shy," Wanda replied. Cosmo could decipher a hidden meaning in her sister's words.
"I see. Well, there's only one way we can find out about her. Mavis? In order for us to truly help you, we need to take a look into your past, but to do that, I need to put you to sleep," Cosmo said to the little girl.
"Uh, ok?" Mavis awkwardly replied.
"Don't worry. This isn't going to hurt one little bit," Cosmo said, placing both hands on Mavis' face, releasing some magic into the young girl, who started feeling drowsy, before plopping into Cosmo's bosom, "She'll be out for about maybe an hour or two, but hopefully, we'll find what we're looking for," Cosmo said to Wanda, as she placed Mavis' head on her lap, before joining hands with Wanda. Both their eyes began glowing white, as they were transported into Mavis subconscious.
Mavis' Memories: Age: 2 months old
Both Nymphs opened their eyes to see that they had entered what they believed to be Mavis' subconscious, "Is this....?" Wanda asked.
"Yes. What we are witnessing now is one of Mavis' earliest memories," Cosmo replied, as the scene before them became more focused, and they saw what looked to be a modern human home. They saw a bookshelf with some knick-knacks on it, a big box with a black screen, sitting on top of what appeared to be a large cabinet, and photos on the walls. They saw a burly man and a woman with a swollen belly in one picture, and the same burly man with a baby in his arms.
"Could that be Mavis?" Wanda wondered.
"No. If you look closely, that baby has blonde hair. Mavis has black hair," Cosmo replied, as they examined more of the photos. Each one had a picture of the burly man from the first picture, with a young girl who was growing up in each picture. One thing the two of them noticed was that the woman from the first picture was never in any of the later photos. When they got to the last photo, they saw what they thought was the girl from all the previous photos, but she was dressed in rather inappropriate attire. She was wearing a top that was far too small, a skirt that was far too short, and at least five layers of make up. They then heard crashing coming from the next room. They fluttered into the next room, where they saw the same teenage girl from the photos, along with the same burly man that was in each photo.
"Megan, calm down! Getting mad at your daughter isn't going to fix anything!" the man yelled at the girl, who looked to be an emotional wreck. Her mascara was running down her cheeks, as she held an L shaped item in her hand that the two sisters couldn't recognize.
"But Daddy, this..... this..... FREAK cost me my relationship with my boyfriend! I can't, like, live with out Trevor!" Megan yelled, as her father tried to wrestle the object out of the troubled girl's hands.
"Didn't you pay attention in Health Class?! I gave permission to your teachers to teach you Sex Education for a reason!" the father yelled, as he continued to try and wrestle the object out of his daughter's hands before she did something drastic.
"I did pay attention, Daddy! And that's why I, like, slept with Trevor! To feel what it's like! I don't even, like, want to be a mother!" Megan yelled, as the Father and daughter struggle continued. The Nymphs then noticed a nearby crib, with a little bundle inside. Peering in, they saw the tiniest baby they had ever seen, who was crying from the loud noises.
"Is that...?" Wanda asked.
"Yes. That is Mavis as a newborn," Cosmo replied. Just then, a loud bang caused both Nymphs to jump, and clench their hearts, which were pounding severely. Turning to the source, their blood ran cold, as they saw Megan on the floor, motionless, while the man stood their, horrified at what happened.
"No, Megan.... Not you too!" the man wept, cradling his now dead daughter's body. The two Nymphs then started putting the pieces together.
"This..... this is horrible! Why would a human want to try and kill one of their own?!" Wanda wondered why Megan was going to kill her own daughter.
"I don't know, but we should delve into events that happened further along Mavis' life," Cosmo said, as she and Wanda went through a door.
Mavis' Memories, Age 2
The two Nymphs found themselves in a completely different house than before. It was a little bigger than what they saw in the first memory, "Could something have happened after what transpired?" Wanda wondered, as the front door swung open, reveal a family of five, all of whom looked sleazy, with a two year old Mavis in tow.
"Well Mavis, this is your new home. We'll show you to where you will stay, and everything you're not allowed to do," the woman said, sounding less than enthusiastic about Mavis being in her home. The Nymphs followed after Mavis, who stayed close to the woman, who showed her to a broom closet, "This is all you get. Don't even think of coming to get us if you get scared. Now, get settled in, then we'll give you your chores," the woman snarled.
"Ok, that woman doesn't seem like a good parental figure head," Wanda commented, as the two year old Mavis put what little stuff she had into the broom closet. Mavis then sighed miserably.
"There must be something else that shows why she's so scared of adults," Cosmo commented, as she used her magic to fast forward through the memories. And all of Mavis' memories were laid bare. Mavis had been to several different homes, with each one treating her worse than the last. There was one memory that had some adults taking belts to Mavis' backside, simply for saying "No" to watching what the humans called TV. Some of the worst memories had Mavis sleeping either in a dark, leaky basement without a bed, or even a blanket, or outside in a yard, chained up like an animal. The two sisters were disgusted at how badly Mavis was being treated. She wasn't just abused her entire life, she was emotionally scarred for life, and at such an early age. But one thing that the sisters took note of was the mention of the Demon Bus on the device humans called TV.
"Enough! I can't watch anymore!" Wanda demanded, as Cosmo stopped showing Mavis' memories, "Mavis. She has had a life no child should ever be made to live. It's no wonder she's scared of adults," Wanda commented, still sickened by the horrors they both saw.
"Should we inform Cadence about this?" Cosmo asked. Wanda thought about it for a moment.
"Hmm. Would be a sensible idea. After all, I did tell her that I would keep her updated on all breakthroughs regarding Mavis," Wanda replied. Cosmo nodded, and took them both out of Mavis' mind.
Real world,
Both Nymphs opened their eyes to find that they were back in the observatory, and that Mavis was still sleeping soundly on Cosmo's lap, "The poor dear. She's lived a life no one should ever have to endure. It would appear the fates were on her side, bringing her here to the grotto," Cosmo commented, stroking Mavis' cheek.
"One things for certain. We can't let Mavis continue living in perpetual fear. Thankfully, our lessons are going to be what she needs to break out of her shell," Wanda said, taking the sleeping Mavis from her sister.
"She'll be out for a little longer. Once she's up and moving, then you can begin," Cosmo stated. Wanda nodded, and left the observatory, "I should probably make it a point to keep an eye on her dreams for now. But what of that Demon Bus? Why is it so interested in her?" she pondered.
Mavis stirred in her sleep, as she woke up in Wanda's hut, "Wasn't I just in an observatory?" Mavis wondered, as Wanda walked back in.
"Ah, Mavis. Good to see you're up. Did you enjoy your little nap?" Wanda asked kindly.
"Yes, I did," Mavis replied.
"Well, that's good to hear. Now that you're awake, why don't we get a start on your lessons?" Wanda suggested. Mavis got up, still holding her Teddy Bear.
"Ok. What did you have in mind?" Mavis asked, as Wanda led Mavis out of the hut, and to a large mud pit.
"In order to learn Earth Magic, you must first become one with the Earth. In other words, just go play in those mud," Wanda said.
"That's.... all I need to do?" Mavis asked, sounding surprised. In truth, Mavis never really played in mud before, so this was a new experience for her.
"Indeed. When you play in the mud, you should be able to get a good idea on what the earth should feel like," Wanda said.
"Ok, but, will I need to get dressed in something else? I don't really want to get this dress all muddy, and I'd feel a little embarrassed about being naked," Mavis asked politely.
"If you don't want to get that dress muddy, then you're going to have to get into your birthday suit. One, because we don't have anything else for you to wear, and two, if you are naked while playing in the mud, you're become that much closer to being one with the Earth. Besides, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. We're all girls here," Wanda explained. Mavis still felt embarrassed as she took off the dress she was leant, and placed it, along with her Teddy Bear by a nearby rock. Mavis, now fully naked, proceeded to climb down into the mud pit. However, she slipped, and slid all the way down into the mud, which came up to her calves. "You just have fun in there sweetie! I'll come back for you in about roughly an hour!" Wanda called, as she fluttered away. And with that, Mavis started tromping through the mud.
Embarrassed as she was about being nude, Mavis felt that playing in the mud was fun. She then proceeded to roll around in it, "Hee-hee, who knew this could be so much fun?" Mavis asked, as she slid around in the mud. She rolled up big balls of mud, before slamming into them. She laughed, as she had a grand time in the mud. Later, Wanda came back with Marina.
"My, my, she's all muddy!" Marina gushed at how cute Mavis was, playing in the mud.
"Ok Mavis! Time for your next lesson!" Wanda called. Mavis tromped back over to where Wanda was at, "Your next teacher is going to be Marina. She's going to teach you all about Water Magic," Wanda explained.
"And the best way to do that is to first have a nice, soothing bath," Marina explained, as she glanced over at a tub filled with warm water.
"I love baths!" Mavis exclaimed, as Marina took her over to the tub. She placed Mavis in, and proceeded to scrub her new apprentice.
"I'm guessing you had fun in the mud?" Marina asked, as she scrubbed Mavis' head, which had a lot of mud in it.
"Yes. It was my first time playing in mud," Mavis replied.
"Really, now?" Marina asked. Mavis nodded, not giving a verbal response. Marina knew why Mavis wouldn't talk about her past.
Five minutes prior to when Mavis woke up,
Wanda had just set Mavis down to keep sleeping in her hut, as she left to go tell her sisters about what Mavis had gone through. Truthfully, she was disgusted at how callous the human world was. She knew humans had a tendency to be cruel, but everything she and Cosmo saw was horrific. Soon, she saw Dana, Marina, Sky, and a few other Nymphs chatting, "Oh, Wanda! Did you find something about Mavis?" Dana asked.
"Indeed I did. And all of it was truly despicable," Wanda replied. This raised concern from the other Nymphs.
"I'm probably going to regret asking, but.... what did you find out?" Sky asked. Wanda then proceeded to explain to her sisters what Mavis had gone through, from being made a slave, to being left only scraps while her foster families hoarded all the good food for themselves, and even chaining her up like ad animal and leaving her outside, even during rainy seasons. Needless to say, Wanda's sisters were all horrified and disgusted at what Mavis' foster families did to her.
"Have humans really become so cruel as to treat someone so nice as a Mavis like less than dirt?" Daria questioned, crossing her arms.
"Cosmo and I were equally as disgusted with Mavis' treatment by those humans. But one thing that still peaks my curiosity is the Demon Bus. It appeared each time Mavis was abused in some manner, and took the lives of everyone who abused her," Wanda replied. Now, her sisters were confused.
"Now why would a demon want to help someone? Especially when the one it's helping is so scared of it," Veronica pondered.
"Regardless of the reason, we should focus on Mavis for now. We've been given a task by the Princess to help her out of her shell, and try to mend her heart and spirit," Wanda explained.
"So, we know she's going to train under you first, Wanda, but who gets her after you?" Sky asked. Wanda thought about it for a moment, before looking to her aquatic sister.
"Perhaps Marina," Wanda replied.
"Me?"
"Of course! One, so Mavis can have a bath, two, she can experience water while she's still wet from the bath, three, because she may like playing in the water, and four, Mariah needs time to gather materials from her extensive library, while also hiding all the more.... inappropriate books from Mavis," Wanda replied. Mariah blushed, but knew her sister was right.
"Well, that sounds reasonable," Marina replied.
"As for who she goes to after you, we'll decide when the time comes," Wanda replied.
Real Time,
Marina had just finished washing Mavis clean of the mud, and helped her out of the tub, "Ok Mavis, now normally, you would dry off after a bath as not to catch a cold, but in this case, you're training with me will be in the lake where I dwell," Marina said, as she grabbed Mavis' dress and Teddy Bear, and led her to the lake. Mavis was still embarrassed about being seen naked, but her worries soon ended, as they arrived at Marina's lake, which was full of the most crystal clear water Mavis had ever seen.
"So, what now?" Mavis asked.
"Why, just jump in," Marina urged. Mavis nodded, and went to get in the water. The water was chilly at first, but Mavis soon got used to it, as Marina joined her, "Ok Mavis, just keep kicking you feet, and try to paddle over to that rock over there. And don't worry, I'm right here for you," she urged, as she swam over to a nearby rock, which was only about fifteen feet from Mavis, and it was still in the shallow end of the lake. The girl in question proceeded to swim over to the rock. Though she had trouble keeping herself afloat. This prompted Marina to come and help Mavis, "Alright Mavis, I'll help you get into a proper swimming form. First, let's lay you on your back," Marina said, flipping Mavis over, so she was floating on her back.
"Ok, now what?" Mavis asked.
"Just kick you feet, and use your arms to paddle, while also keeping yourself stabilized," Marina instructed, as she swam back out to the rock. Mavis then proceeded to swim towards the water Nymph. She was able to have a much easier time swimming on her back, and soon arrived at the rock, "Very good Mavis. Now then, to keep yourself above the water, just kick your feet gently," Marina said, as she flipped Mavis back over, and put her in an upright position. Mavis then began to kick her feet to keep herself above the water, as Marina said.
"Like this?" Mavis asked.
"Yes. We'll continue swimming for a little longer, then Dana will come and teach you about Fire and Food," Marina said, as she then began to help Mavis get better at swimming. Eventually, Mavis was able to swim freely, "Well done Mavis! Now, let's see about getting you dried off," Marina said, as she took Mavis to the shore, where Dana was waiting, with a towel.
"Ok Mavis, let's get you dried off," Dana said, as she and Marina dried off Mavis. Marina then gave Mavis the dress she was borrowing, as well as the child's Teddy Bear, "I'll take it from here, sis," Dana said, as she took Mavis' other hand, and led her to the kitchen area, "Ok Mavis, our first lesson in terms of fire and food will first be in identifying the various food groups," Dana said.
"Ok," Mavis said, as Dana placed her on a bar stool.
"Now, there are a total of four basic food groups. Grains, such as bread, rice, and grains, fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, meats and other proteins, like fish, and finally fats and oils. Foods that can be found in this group include stuff like candy, cookies, etc.," Dana briefly explained.
"I see. Well, I don't really like eating stuff from that last group. I've seen many people become chubby," Mavis commented.
"Well, you needn't worry about getting chubby. Once you're all done with these lessons, you won't ever get fat, because the nymph magic you'll inherit will not only keep you from getting fat in your belly, but all the fat you'll probably take in will go to other places. I mean, when you look at one of us, you can see we get all the goods," Dana said, cupping her boobs in her hands. Mavis blushed at this, feeling a little insecure, but felt at ease, knowing that she would get a body type like the Nymphs, "On that note, we should work on putting a little more meat on those bones of yours. You're severely undernourished," the Thicc Nymph commented, looking at how thin Mavis was.
"Ok, but how do we do that?" Mavis asked.
"Well, part of the lessons I'll be teaching you will help you to identify which foods have high nutritional value, how to cook and make them taste good, and how to stoke fire to cook with," Dana explained. With that, Dana then took Mavis into the vegetable garden and the fruit orchard to teach her how to properly identify good fruits and vegetables. However, since it was only the first lesson, Mavis was limited to picking a few bushels of apples, and pulling some carrots. Once they brought it all back, Dana then went into detail how to wash vegetables plucked from the ground, and helped Mavis with peeling some apples. This continued for another hour, when Mariah came into the kitchen, "Time for Mavis to switch teachers already?" Dana asked.
"Yes. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," Mariah commented.
"Nah, we were just finishing up the first lesson. Ok Mavis, I'll finish up here, while you go with Mariah for your next lessons," Dana said. Mavis nodded, and grabbed her Teddy Bear, walking over to Mariah, who then took her from the kitchen.
"Now Mavis, my lessons may be a little on the boring side, compared to the rest of my sister's lessons, but I will try to make it as fun and enjoyable for you as I can," Mariah said, as they arrived at Mariah's library, "Take a seat, and we can get started on the first lesson," she said. Mavis went over to a table, while Mariah came back with a few small books, "Tell me, what kind of education did the human world provide you?" she asked.
"I don't know. I was never allowed to go to school," Mavis replied. Mariah frowned at this, but maintained her composure.
"Well, you needn't worry. The lessons I am going to provide you will squeeze twelve years of school, and four years of college into only 15 months. But before you get the wrong idea, I am going to make the lessons as simple as I possibly can," Mariah explained.
"Ok," Mavis replied.
"Don't worry. You'll pick up on each lesson quickly. As for the curriculum I'm going to teach you, it will include the core basics, such as reading, writing, arithmetic, as well as science," Mariah said, as she began a nice easy lesson with teaching Mavis how to read.
3 months after Mavis was taken under the tutelage of the Nymphs,
Mavis was aiming a bow and arrow at a target that Daria had set up, "Remember, aim high," the Warrior Nymph said, as Mavis fired off the arrow. It didn't hit the target, but was able to hit the ground just before it, "Hmm, maybe we should work on improving your upper body strength," she commented.
"Is that why I didn't hit the target?" Mavis asked.
"Well, it's part of it, sweetie. But don't dwell too much on it," Daria said, as she and Mavis moved onto another exercise.
4 months after Mavis was taken under the tutelage of the Nymphs,
Mavis was focusing magic in her hands, as she tried to create a spark to light a fire, "Remember Mavis, don't strain yourself. Fire should be able to flow out of you like a breath of air," Dana said, as Mavis continued to build up magic. until a small flame appear in her hands.
"Did I.... do it right?" Mavis asked, out of breath from concentrating so hard.
"Indeed you did. Now, just place it in the kindling at the base of the pot. Mavis did so, and soon, a ring of fire surrounded the pot.
7 months after the Nymphs took in Mavis,
"Mavis? Come on out!" Polly called out. Despite having been living with the Nymphs for over half a year, and receiving many lessons from Polly, Mavis was still scared to death of snakes. One had slithered across Mavis' feet, causing Mavis to flee in terror.
8 months after the Nymphs took Mavis in,
"Ok Mavis, try to find the Unicorn Constellation, and tell me it's name," Cosmo requested. It was night time, and Cosmo had brought Mavis to a tall peak in the foothills, where they were stargazing.
"Ok, I think the name is Monoceros, and it's right..... there! Next to Orion," Mavis said, pointing to a constellation.
"Very good. Now, how about something a little tougher?" Cosmo asked, as they continued stargazing.
Elsewhere, at that same time, in the mountains,
Dana was picking some wild berries for some jelly she was going to teach Mavis how to make, alongside some of her sisters, "Ok girls, that should be enough!" Dana said.
"This is a lot of berries," Sky commented.
"Well, I want to gift Cadence with some jars after Mavis is done with her lessons," Dana replied. A twinge of slight sorrow was felt among the sisters.
"It's already been eight months since Mavis began her lessons," Veronica commented.
"Well, hopefully, she'll be allowed to come visit us from time to time?" Kat suggested, trying to lift their spirits. This somewhat succeeded. A mist then began rolling in, and a chill could be felt among the Nymphs.
"Strange.... we're impervious to the cold," Yuki commented. Just then, a ghostly sound echoed through the mountains. It sounded like a horn, blaring loudly. The sisters all then saw a large, shadowy, rectangular object on one of the lower ledges from where they were.
"Who are all of you?" a demonic voice said.
"We are the mountain Nymphs that inhabit the nearby grotto," Wanda replied cautiously.
"Ah, so you're the ones who are teaching Mavis," the shadowy form then materialized into a large, metallic object that the Nymphs were unfamiliar with. However, Wanda knew immediately who, or rather, what it was.
"Oh.... my...… Are you..... the Demon Bus Mavis told us about?!" Wanda explained. This caused shock among her sisters.
"My legend seems to spread like wildfire. Indeed, I am the Demon 308!" the Demon said, as a shadowy figure could be seen from behind the glass, smiling a sinister, razor sharp grin. The Nymphs could have sworn they saw blood coming from the demon's mouth.
"Ok, so why have you come here? The grotto is protected from all forms of evil, preventing those who have the darkest of hearts from entering," Wanda questioned, wanting to know the Demon's motives.
"My reason for hanging around here concerns Mavis. She seems.... much happier since she arrived in your grotto," the demon replied.
"Yes, we heard that Mavis had a horrible beginning to her life, all thanks to her foster families," Dana replied.
"Those fools were not worthy of being foster families! They were families of corrupt politicians, wanting to appear more pleasing to public eye, or just hated Mavis' guts all together. But none of them ever lived long enough to regret the wrongs they inflicted upon her," the Demon explained.
"So we've heard. On that note, I think you should know that we aren't going to let you harm one hair on that adorable head of Mavis," Marina replied.
"Mavis is the only person that I am unable to harm. Not that I have intentions of harming her," the Demon replied.
"Y'know, that right there has me confused. You're a demon, and yet, instead of spreading mayhem and destruction for the fun of it, you seem to only spread it to protect Mavis. Why is that?" Sky asked. This seemed to have hit home, as the shadowy figure materialized into a human man, with normal, blue eyes, instead of glowing red ones.
"Ladies..... the truth of how I came into being will forever remain unknown, for I came into being for strong feelings of hatred and anger towards those who caused Mavis harm, and equally strong feelings of love, responsibility, and compassion for Mavis," the man explained, his voice sounding broken.
"What is your connection to Mavis, anyhow?" Wanda asked.
"You see, when I was alive, I was a kind man, who had everything I could ever want in life. A good paying job, a loving wife, a beautiful daughter, and a roof over my head. However, life has a tendency to be rather cruel. When my daughter was born, my wife unfortunately was unable to survive," the Ghost Driver explained, as a younger version of him held a baby in his arms, a sad look on his face.
"The baby in question..... it wasn't Mavis, was it?" Wanda asked.
"No. It was my daughter, Megan. I raised her as any father would. With loving care, and firm discipline. It was the happiest fourteen years of my life," the Ghost explained.
"Only fourteen years? Did something happen?" Dana asked.
"Yes. It was about when she was at that age where she started showing an interest in boys. There was one in particular that met her fancy. After they started dating, Megan started dressing more inappropriately, stayed out well after curfew, taking part in drugs and alcohol and she even engaged in sexual activities with that boy. When we all found out she was pregnant, the boy dumped her, not wanting the responsibility of being a father," the Ghost explained.
"That's horrible! Have humans really gone downhill so much over the eons?" Yuki asked.
"There are more atrocities that humans have committed, but I won't go too into it. Anyhow, after nine months, Megan gave birth to a baby girl," the Ghost explained.
"Mavis," Daria said in shock.
"Yes. However, Megan did not want to be a mother. She blamed Mavis for her getting dumped by the boy who knocked her up, even trying to go as far as ending Mavis' life when she was just an infant," the Ghost explained. The Nymphs were aghast by what he had told them. A mother not only not wanting her own child, but going as far as to kill her child?! Humans were truly barbaric.
"But, since Mavis is here in Equestria, I take it Megan was unable to kill her?" Marina asked.
"You're right about that. I attempted to wrestle the gun out of her hands before she did something drastic. However, life once again played it's cruelty on me, as the gun went off, piercing both Megan's heart and lung, killing her instantly," the Ghost tearfully explained.
"I'm sure it was just an accident, right?" Wanda asked.
"It was. When I was taken to court after someone called the police, I explained everything. I was thankfully able to avoid jail time, but since there were two deaths since I got married, Mavis was taken by Child Protection Services, and put into foster care, while I was to receive several months of therapy. After I got a clean bill of health, I was set to go get Mavis back. However, her first Foster Family issued a restraining order against me, preventing me from being within 500 feet of her. I was, however, able to somehow find out how they were treating her, and none of it was good. They constantly forget to feed her, change her diaper, and neglect her health and need for warmth. I knew I had to do something," the Ghost explained.
"I don't think I'm going to like the answer, but, what happened next?" Veronica asked.
"Well, I got a job as a Bus Driver, as you can see, and I was lucky not only for the foster family to be aboard the bus at the time, but Mavis' bastard father, the same boy who got Megan pregnant, was also on the bus. Before I picked them up, I made sure to place several flammable alcoholic drinks around the bus. That night when they were all on the bus, I had drove the bus to a bridge that was to be built, but was under construction. I knew what I was about to do was an act of great sin, but it had to be done. So, I steeled myself, and drove the bus over the cliff. The impact ended up killing myself and everyone on the bus that day, but it was worth it to try and get Mavis out of that Foster Home. However, things only got worse for her over the years," the Ghost explained.
"Let me guess. Each Foster Home she went to treated her worse than the last one, until she wound up here, right?" Sky asked.
"Yes. Every time a foster family would abuse Mavis, or if someone were to attempt to cross the bridge where I met my end, I would show up and take their lives. And all the foster families I killed over the years all did something truly despicable to Mavis, in one way or another. Either hogging food for themselves, and keeping Mavis from enjoying any, to bullying her for candy or toys she would rarely get. That teddy bear is the only thing that wasn't stolen, as the foster family kids didn't want a 'shoddy looking rag'. However, the deaths that followed Mavis earned her the title 'Cursed Child' for wherever she went, I would go," the Ghost explained, remembering everyone he killed.
"From what the princess told us, she apparently gets tense when she's without it," Wanda added.
"Yes. That Teddy Bear is the only thing that gave her comfort, kept her sane, to put it simply. All the abuse not only damaged her physically, but she was also broken on the inside. Her heart, mind, and spirit," the Ghost explained.
"You said that in past tense," Mariah observed.
"Yes. Since she became her student, Mavis has finally discovered what it means to be happy, which is one of three prerequisites that must be met for me to move on," the Ghost explained.
"Apart from happiness, what else does she need to feel?" Sky asked.
"She must also feel safe and free. Living in that Crystal Empire will help her feel safe, but it is up to her to attain her freedom," the Ghost said, as it disappeared.
"So, the Ghost is actually Mavis' Grandfather, who's just looking out for her," Wanda commented.
"Well, you can't blame him for watching out for her well being. But what did he mean when he was talking about Mavis' freedom?" Daria asked.
"I don't know. But we should keep a watch over Mavis, even when she is to return to the Empire," Wanda said, as they gathered up the berries, and returned to the Grotto. All the while, the Nymphs were saddened, knowing that the first interesting thing to happen to them in centuries would soon be leaving.
9 months after the Nymphs took Mavis in
Sky was teaching Mavis how to properly string a guitar, "Then you tighten the strings by twisting these knobs up here," Sky explained, as Mavis was stringing a guitar herself. She had a little trouble with gauging how much string to use, "Hang on sweetie, let me show you something," Sky said, as she showed Mavis a trick to stringing the guitar.
12 months after the Nymphs took Mavis in,
Mavis was reading some textbooks that Mariah had leant her. Thankfully, the little girl was able to understand all the complex terms in the book, due to the many literature lessons she received over the many months she was here. However, reading the books was making her very drowsy, and she promptly fell asleep. Mariah, who was supervising Mavis, could only chuckle, "Oh Mavis."
14 months after the Nymphs took Mavis in,
"Hey Mavis, I've been wondering something," Dana commented, as she was showing Mavis how to decorate a cake.
"Yes?" Mavis asked, as she place a strawberry on the cake.
"When is your birthday?" Dana asked. The response she got was not at all expected.
"What's a birthday?" Mavis asked. Dana then thought about it. Her encounter with the Demon Bus clued her in to Mavis' lack of knowledge of a Birthday. Mavis was neglected all her life, so it was only natural she didn't know what a Birthday was.
"Well, a Birthday is the day you celebrate when you were born. It happens once a year," Dana explained. Mavis thought about it, but couldn't really pinpoint her birthday.
"I... don't know," Mavis replied. Dana also knew that from the abuse Mavis had gotten, she would more than likely react negatively to getting presents, cake, and attention, and chose not to press the matter.
Mavis' last day of training,
"Ok Mavis, now, try to move those boulders," Wanda requested. Mavis concentrated her magic, and focused it on the boulders Wanda was referring to. With a little effort, she was able to move the boulders a few feet, "Well done, Mavis! You've certainly come a long way since you began training under us," Wanda commented. And she was right. The sickly, timid little girl that Mavis was before was gone, and was replaced with a healthier looking little girl.
"Thank you, Wanda," Mavis replied, as a cluster of crystals formed around her bare feet, which grew out into a larger cluster, "Uh, Wanda..... what's happening?" she asked, sounding scared. While Mavis has gained more confidence over the many months she lived in the grotto, she was still scared of the unknown.
"You don't need to worry. If you remember, we offered you a way to gain beauty like ours. This is the process in which it will be finalized," Wanda replied, as beams of light shot at Mavis from the Crystals. They made Mavis feel warm, as fairy like wings sprouted from her back, "Congratulations Mavis, you are now officially a Crystal Nymph. With this, your training is now complete," Mavis looked up to Wanda, as her words carried a hint of sorrow in them.
"Wanda, is there something wrong?" Mavis asked. Wanda motioned Mavis to sit on her lap.
"Well, now that your training is complete, you'll have to go back to the Crystal Empire. That was the deal we made with Cadence," Wanda sadly replied. Mavis had a look of sorrow as well, but there was also a hint on uncertainty and nervousness as well. She had completely forgotten about the princess over the many months she was there.
"B-but I like it here," Mavis replied.
"I know you do, and we loved having you here as well, but we promised Cadence that after we help you get back to proper health and help you come out of your shell, then we were to return you to the Crystal Empire," Wanda replied.
"But..... why didn't you tell me about this?" Mavis asked.
"Well, Cadence asked us not to mention a word about the deal to you at first. She figured that if you knew, that you would try to run away from us, to get back to the Crystal Empire. She wanted you to do all of this training so you could get some rest, and try to attain a healthier physique," Wanda explained. Mavis tried to think of a way out of this predicament, but was unable to formulate a plan. With a heavy sigh, she resigned herself.
"Ok, if you say I must go back, then I will," Mavis replied, disappointed. Wanda wanted to lift her spirits back up, when she got an idea.
"Well, just because you have to go back to the Empire doesn't mean we can't still hang out," Wanda quickly quipped. This caught Mavis attention, "Well, to put it simply, what if I gave you an artifact that lets you not only communicate with us, but can let either you or us transport between locations?" she suggested. Mavis thought about it for a moment. If things were to get undesirable in the Crystal Empire, she could come back to the grotto until the mess blows over. Plus, she could talk to her mentors anytime she wanted.
"Well, ok," Mavis replied, sounding a bit more upbeat than before.
"Great! Now, let's go back to my hut, and I'll get it for you," Wanda said, as they returned to her hut. Inside, Wanda got an amulet from the upper shelves, "Well, here it is Mavis. You're key to staying in contact with us at anytime," she said, giving Mavis the amulet, "All you have to do is pour a little magic into the amulet, and focus in on the grotto. The amulet will transport you to our location. And if you want to go back to where the amulet was, just place you hand on a crystal, and focus on the amulet," she explained, pulling Mavis into a hug.
"Ok. Thank you for this Wanda," Mavis said gratefully, returning the hug.
"You're very welcome Mavis. Now then, it's rather late, so how about we get you some supper, and you can spend one last night with us?" Wanda asked.
"I would love that," Mavis replied, as they made their way to Dana's kitchen.
In a shadowy part of Equestria,
Several shadowy figures appeared, "That cursed child is in this world, it seems," a man's voice came from one of the shadows.
"I can't wait to get revenge on that brat!" a woman's voice replied.
"It's all her fault that we died!" a little girl's voice added.
"Well, no matter what, she will pay for what she did," a teen boy's voice replied, as the shadowy figures disappeared.
Morning dawned over the Crystal Empire, as Cadence and Shining Armor were awakening to the new day, "Looks like it's going to be another great day," Shining Armor commented, as he and his wife went to prepare for the day.
"I'll go and get Flurry Heart, then I'll meet you down in the dining hall," Cadence said. While Mavis was off training under the Nymphs, Cadence and Shining Armor had a foal of their own. A pink alicorn filly with cotton candy colored hair, and ridiculously large wings. When she was first brought into this world, however, the baby almost caused the entire Crystal Empire to be buried under snow. However, do to quick thinking on the part of Twilight and friends, they were able to prevent the Crystal Empire from being six feet under a pile of snow.
"Ok, I'll see you both down there," Shining Armor replied, as he went on to the dining room. It had been over a year since Mavis was taken in by the Nymphs, and the two parents were expecting the child in question any day now. The last they saw of her, Mavis was so sickly, and so fearful of them and their friends, she only spoke to them when she was spoken to first. The two adult ponies hoped that the Nymphs were able to help Mavis out of her shell. Shining Armor soon arrived at the dining room.
"Ah, Prince Shining Armor, is there something in particular you want for breakfast?" a servant asked.
"Just a stack of pancakes will do," Shining Armor replied. Just then, Cadence came in with a little baby alicorn in her grasp. The filly was pink, with cotton candy colored hair, and blue eyes.
"Alright Flurry Heart, let's get you settled into your highchair," Cadence said, placing the baby into a highchair. The servant then came back in, wheeling in a cart with various breakfast items, including mashed peas for Flurry Heart, "Guess what, sweetie? Mommy and Daddy have a special guest who will coming to live with us later today," Cadence said. This caught Flurry Heart's attention, but not for long, as she started sucking on her hoof that was covered in mashed peas.
"Do you think Mavis will be willing to accept our offer? I mean, she's been living with the Nymphs for the past year now, and readjusting to the Crystal Empire may prove to be a big hassle for her," Shining Armor commented.
"I honestly don't know. I'm just hoping the Nymphs were able to help her come out of her shell," Cadence replied.
"Me too. I wonder how Mavis is doing now?" Shining Armor wondered.
Meanwhile, with Mavis,
Mavis was still sleeping soundly in her makeshift hut that the Nymphs made for her on her first day at the grotto. Mavis would spend most of her free time there when she wasn't training with her mentors. Just then, Sky came in, and walked over to the young child. Sky smiled at how cute Mavis looked while she slept, "No matter how many times any of us come in here, you always look so adorable when you sleep," Sky said to herself, as Mavis turned over in her sleep, "Seems like a shame to do this, but you have a rather big day ahead of you," she said, as she gently nudged her student, "Mavis, time to get up. It's morning."
Mavis moaned slightly, as her eyes gently opened up, to reveal Sky, "Good morning, Sky," Mavis yawned, as she sat up.
"Good morning sweetie. I trust you had no trouble sleeping?" Sky asked. Mavis shook her head.
"No. Thankfully, I didn't have any bad dreams," Mavis' tone sort of trailed off towards the end.
"But....?" Sky asked.
"Well, I think I had a dream about how I got my name," Mavis replied. This certainly was a response the Music Nymph was not expecting. in fact, it was a mystery even to Wanda and Cosmo how Mavis got her name in the first place. From what they told their sisters, none of Mavis' foster families cared enough for her to give her a name, so for her to have a dream where she remembered where she got her name came as a surprise.
"Well, in any case, why don't we go get you some breakfast? Dana's making those wild berry pancakes you love so much," Sky said, as Mavis crawled out of bed.
"I would love that," Mavis said, as Sky helped the child get dressed. Mavis grabbed her teddy bear, and left her hut. She felt saddened, remembering that this was her last day living in the Grotto. Mavis really didn't want to go back to the Crystal Empire. She feared the anger of the Princesses, even though she never actually saw any of them angry, but she didn't want to take any risks.
In the darker parts of the mountains,
A horribly foreboding presence could be felt, as it raced through the mountain pass, "So, today is the day Mavis returns to the Crystal Empire. Hopefully, the Princess will treat Mavis with kindness like that one family did", the demon driver said, as the thought of a mafia family entered his mind, "While I didn't approve of their activities, they understood Mavis was a human being like them, and as such deserves to be treated as such," he said, as he rounded another corner, "I know Cadence will raise Mavis right, so why do I still have a bad feeling?" he wondered, as he disappeared in the fog.
Back with Mavis,
The Nymphs were all taking her back to the Crystal Empire, as they all wanted to spend a little more time with their young protégé before they had to let her go back to Cadence. All the while they were fluttering, Sky occasionally glanced over to Mavis, who looked very tense about going back, 'I wonder what Mavis meant by the origin of her name? I know her birth mother never gave her one, and the Demon Bus Driver never had a chance to give her one, so who gave Mavis her name?' Sky wondered, as the Crystal Empire came into view.
"Well, there it is. It's exactly like a remember 1000 years ago," Wanda commented.
"1000 years ago?" Mavis asked.
"Of course. We've been around for a very long time. Since the beginning of this planet, to be more precise," Mariah replied.
"But you all look so young," Mavis commented.
"You'd be surprised at what our beauty treatments are capable of," Dana replied. Mavis knew she was telling the truth, as she experienced their beauty treatments, firsthand. They soon entered the Empire Limits, and neared the Palace. All the while, Mavis could feel her already daunting sense of dread become even heavier. She really didn't want to face Cadence after spending over a year with the Nymphs. They drew nearer to the palace, where they saw Cadence and Shining Armor waiting in anticipation for the arrival of Mavis. They landed in front of them.
"Princess Cadence, and Prince Shining Armor. It's been over a year since we last saw you," Wanda said, in a diplomatic tone.
"Likewise, Wanda. How have things been?" Cadence asked.
"Pretty good, though there is something I want to discuss with you when we have a moment to ourselves," Wanda replied.
"Alright then. Now, where's Mavis?" Cadence asked eagerly. Daria stepped forth, carrying Mavis in her arms. Looking at the girl, Cadence and Shining Armor hardly recognized her. The pale, sickly girl they met last year was replaced with a more healthy young lady, "My goodness Mavis! You look so much healthier!" Cadence said, only to receive a flinch from Mavis. It then became apparent that Mavis was still uneasy being around the Royal Couple, even after gaining more confidence over the past year.
"You all did a great job nursing her back to health," Shining Armor stated.
"We aim to please," Wanda replied.
"We had to give her lots of playtime in the sun, feed her food that was very high in nutritional value, and even let her play in the mud to help her immune system," Dana added.
"And we gave her all the education she could ever possibly need, ranging from standard curriculum, to medicine, the arts, and elemental magic," Mariah added.
"Sounds like you've been busy," Shining Armor commented.
"Indeed. We've also been able to instill a sense of self confidence in Mavis as well. Hopefully, she'll be able to make decisions for herself," Sky added.
"In that case, Mavis, Shining Armor and I have something we want to ask of you, and you are free to decline if you so choose. We won't hold it against you," Cadence said. Mavis tensed up.
"O-Ok?" Mavis asked hesitantly.
"Well, when we first met you, you were in terrible shape. You were so pale, skinny, and sleep deprived, that we couldn't just ignore you," Cadence began.
"To put it more simply, if we were to ask you if you wanted us to adopt you into our family, would you be willing to be our daughter?" Shining Armor asked. Mavis was certainly taken aback by this. She would never in her wildest dreams think a Prince and Princess would be willing to welcome her into their home. She always wanted to feel loved by a mother and father, but there was something that was keeping her from accepting the offer.
"I would like that very much..... but," Mavis trailed off a bit.
"Something?" Cadence asked.
"It's just..... I don't really want to be a princess. I don't want the responsibility of running an entire kingdom. I don't want the attention, or presents, or treats, or any special privileges," Mavis replied. Cadence, Shining Armor, and the Nymphs all took in Mavis' words.
"Mavis, just because you're going to get parents who happen to be royalty doesn't necessarily mean you have to be royalty too," Wanda said, crouching down to eye level.
"She's right. Your life is yours to live. No one has any right to tell you how to live," Sky added, also crouching down.
"You know, you can wait as long as you want before choosing. Something like this is a big change for you," Shining Armor replied. Mavis mulled this over, before turning to the royal ponies.
"Could I have some time to think it over?" Mavis asked.
"Of course. You can take as much time as you need," Cadence replied, before turning her attention to the Nymphs, "Thank you all so much for nursing Mavis back to full health. We truly appreciate it," she said respectfully.
"Of course, Princess. We had a lot of fun hanging out with Mavis, and teaching her everything she'll ever need to know," Mariah replied.
"Before you ladies go, Celestia and Luna are holding a Hearths Warming Ball in just a few weeks. I'm sure Mavis would love it if you would come," Shining Armor said.
"Well, it certainly has been a very long time since we've been to a party. What say you, girls?" Wanda asked her sisters. They all gave their agreements, "Then I guess it's decided. We'll be there. If you could send word to Celestia and Luna and tell them the good news, that would be most splendid," she requested.
"I'll send a letter, informing her, right away," Cadence replied.
"Well Mavis, I guess until the Ball, this is goodbye. Remember what we've taught you," Dana said, embracing Mavis one last time, followed by each of her sisters. Mavis felt inferior, being smothered by the Nymph's massive busts, and sad because they were leaving her, but was happy she would see them again real soon. Once she hugged Wanda, the Nymphs all took off.
"Well, would you like to get settled into the castle?" Cadence asked Mavis.
"Ok," Mavis quietly replied, as they showed her into the castle.
In another part of Equestria, near the gates to Tartarus,
"Ah, it feels good to finally be free again!" Tirek exclaimed, as he stretched. A hooded figure stood before them, having freed Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow.
"But how did you all get us out?" Chrysalis asked.
"That is something even I don't know. Even the author doesn't know how I did it," the hooded figure replied. All three villains shot unamused looks towards the readers, before looking back at the group.
"Ok, but who are you?" Tirek asked.
"I used to work for the Storm King, but since he's gone for good, I needed a new evil master to serve and follow. I figured we'd bust you all out," one of the robed figures replied, revealing himself to be Grubber, a hedgehog like creature.
"Ah yes. We have heard of the Storm King. Pity that such a powerful force was done in by Twilight Sparkle and her friends," Chrysalis bitterly said.
"I freed you in hopes of serving someone very powerful. I even made this potion to help you all regain your power. A little something I learned from his majesty. It can return the magic of any magical creature who had their magic siphoned off. He learned how to make it in the event he lost his magic and needed to regain his power. I heard about what happened with Grogar's bell, and I'm hoping the potion can counteract that thing as well," Grubber replied, giving each villain a flask. They all took a swig of it, their faces immediately contorting with disgust.
"Oh yuck! I've had tea that wasn't this bitter!" Cozy Glow exclaimed. Chrysalis then saw that her magic was back, as made evident by her horn glowing. Tirek saw that his magic was back as well.
"Now we have our power back, we can take our revenge on Twilight Sparkle and her friends for imprisoning us!" Tirek said evilly.
"And I will be here to help in any way I can," Grubber replied.
"Hmm, maybe we can put you to some use. What day is it today?" Chrysalis asked.
"It's the second week of December. The twelfth to be precise," Grubber replied.
"Hmm. It's almost Hearth's Warming. Perhaps we can bide our time, and strike when the opportunity arises," Cozy Glow suggested.
"That sounds so deliciously evil! I love it!" Chrysalis replied.
The last thing Mavis remembered was falling asleep after having dinner with Cadence and Shining Armor. She distinctively remembered being tucked into bed. What she couldn't fathom was how she got into a basement, shackled to the wall with straw ropes. It made her itch something terrible. Looking around, she realized, to her horror, that she was in one of her old foster homes, the one where she was singled out for being treated badly by her caretakers. She remembered how cold the basement she was forced to live in was, how little food she would be allowed to given, and how little freedom she had. She hated it. She hated being treated like a prisoner, being treated like she was less than dirt. She then heard some sort of commotion coming from upstairs. She remembered this too. It was the day she was rescued from her oppressive home. The door to the basement burst open, and a couple of men, dressed in suits rushed downstairs.
"Alright youse mugs, there's gotta be something here they can do without," one of the men said, as they started looking around. It was almost instantly that they saw Mavis.
"Hey boss, what's this kid doin' here?" another man asked, looking at Mavis, who only looked back in fear.
"The hell?! They're keeping a kid tied up down here?! What the @#$#@ is wrong with those @#!#-ers?!" the first man yelled, making Mavis flinch. She had heard several bad words in her time, most of them being directed solely at her, "Well, what are you waiting for!? Cut this kid loose! Even we can't allow this!" he ordered his lackeys.
"Right away, boss!" the second man said, as he went over, and took a knife to the ropes that were holding Mavis down.
"Easy kid. We're getting you out o' here," the first man said, picking up the child in his arms, as they marched back upstairs. When they got there, Mavis saw some other men, ransacking the home she was stuck in, as if they were searching for something.
"Please Tony, I'm good for the money! I'll pay you back, I just need more time!" a cowardly man pleaded.
"Funny you should mention that. Why was this kid tied up in the basement?" the man, now known as Tony, asked.
"She's cursed! Everywhere she goes, people die! I was looking out for my family!" the cowardly foster father explained.
"Curse?! There's no such thing! And why does she look almost starved to death?!" Tony demanded.
"Well, we hardly ever have enough leftovers to give her. Besides, if she dies, she'll take her curse with her!" the foster father shakily replied.
"You know, we was gonna take something valuable as collateral, but maybe it be better if the kid comes with us," Tony said. The foster father looked almost ecstatic. He would be free of a child he believed to be cursed.
"By all means!" the foster father eagerly accepted.
"But make no mistake, we'll be back for the money, in full, by the end of the week. Have it, or you'll be fitted for cement shoes!" Tony said, as he and his gang left the foster father alone.
Mavis then shot up from her bed, looking around, she saw she was back in the Crystal Palace, "Just a dream," she said, as she got out of bed, and walked to the balcony. It was still the middle of the night, as the moon shone brightly over the Crystal Empire. Since her training required her to stay in her birthday suit, Mavis got too used to sleeping in the nude. She wasn't embarrassed about it living with the Nymphs, but she wanted to maintain some degree of modesty in the Crystal Empire, at least when she was around others, "I hope things get better," she said. Within the few days she had stayed in the Crystal Empire, Cadence and Shining Armor took Mavis and Flurry Heart out for a day trip. This turned out to be a somewhat poor choice, as a high ranking family of the Empire's nobility called Mavis out as a "monster", and tried to run her out of town, only to be stopped by both royal parents. This however, turned out to make things worse, as the head of the household threw a somewhat large rock at Mavis, striking her in the arm. Thankfully, her training helped to build her tolerance to pain, but it didn't excuse what the pony had done to her. Cadence issued a warning, stating that if the family ever did something like that to anyone under her care, then that pony's family would be banished from the Crystal Empire. Since then, Mavis has been hesitant to leave the castle.
In the upper class end of town,
The same high class ponies who were harassing Mavis were all walking home from dinner at one of the more expensive restaurants in the Empire, "Quite the lovely evening, darling," the mare said, as the family made their way back home.
"Of course. We need to treat ourselves after being so wrongfully threatened by the Princess like that," the stallion replied.
"Whatever that..... freak is, it certainly doesn't belong in OUR hometown," the daughter added. It was right around then that a heavy mist began to roll in.
"Hmm? The Pegasi must be slacking off again. I'll have to lodge a complaint," the stallion grumbled. Just then, they heard an unfamiliar sound, kind of like a horn, blaring in the darkness, followed by an echoing voice from deep in the darkness.
"Mavis..... Mavis...... where's my baby? I love my baby," the voice said. It sent chills up the spines of the family, because of how eerie it sounded. From the dark mist ahead of them, they could barely make out an odd, rectangular shape, as it closed in on them. Once it was close enough, a blinding red light shone, revealing itself to the ponies.
"Those who harm the innocent are subject to my wrath. They shall know true horror, as they are sent straight to HELL!" the Demon Bus yelled, as long, black tendrils erupted from the windows, and lunged at the snobby family with a scream.
The next morning,
Cadence was up bright and early. She had a lot of paperwork that needed to get done. But she still made time to go check on Mavis, to see if she was up. Knocking on the child's door, she gently asked, "Mavis? Are you up?" before opening the door. Sometime during the night, Mavis had made her way back to bed. Cadence then walked over to the bed, and carefully nudged Mavis, causing her to stir. She had learned since Mavis came back about her sleeping habit, and knew it would be less embarrassing for Mavis if Cadence just nudged her, rather than pull the sheets down.
"Mmm, morning already?" Mavis groggily asked, holding the sheets over her bare form.
"Yes sweetie. It's time for breakfast. We'll all be waiting for you in the dining room. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask one of the guards," Cadence said, leaving Mavis to her privacy. Mavis threw off the sheets, and got out of bed, setting her teddy bear on the lower part of the bed, while she made her bed.
"There, nice and tidy," Mavis said, as she turned her attention to her dress. It was the only one she had on her, but if what Cadence told her was true, Rarity would be making more outfits for Mavis to wear that she would pick up the next time they would all get together. Mavis then slipped on her dress. Thankfully, while it was her only dress, it wasn't the only thing she had to wear. When the dress needed to be washed, Mavis would either confine herself to her room, or dress in a bathrobe that Cadence would provide. Once she was properly clothed, Mavis then left her room, and made her way to the dining room. She got turned around, only once, but was able to find her way there after hearing Cadence's voice. It sounded like she was talking about something important.
"You're sure there were wheel like tracks at the scene?" she could hear Cadence ask.
"No mistake. The only survivor was the mother, but she's gone insane. She attacked several of the other guards, screaming about 'bloody murder' or something. She's already being sent to the Insane Asylum," a guard replied.
"I see. And what about the scene itself?" Cadence asked.
"A hazmat team is already cleaning it up, but they may not get it all done in one go. It's..... not a pretty sight, especially for someone with a weak stomach," the guard replied.
"Very well. Keep me informed of any and all updates regarding the cleanup," Cadence replied.
"Of course, your majesty," the guard replied, as he left. Mavis could instantly tell what they were talking about, as she had witnessed the gory massacres the Demon Bus was capable of firsthand, as well as seeing people driven to insanity.
Flashback,
Mavis was shackled to a post in the backyard of one of her old foster homes. She was cold, and very hungry. She was forced to watch as her foster family gorged themselves on the multitude of food they had spread out across the table, "Hey brat! I bet you want some food, right?" the foster mother asked, in a haughty, taunting manner.
"P-P-Please, just a little bit would be nice," Mavis pleaded.
"Well, too bad! There isn't enough for you, and there won't ever be enough!" the foster mother yelled, laughing cruelly as she went back inside, but not before taking a large bite out of a turkey drumstick she had, slowly enjoying the taste at the expense of Mavis, who just broke down crying from hunger. That's when the last moments of the foster family began to come to a close, as the house exploded, scattering them all across the lawn. From the fires, the Demon Bus emerged.
"There's enough food here to feed an army. Yet you choose to horde it all for yourselves. Now, you will all be sent to HELL!" it yelled, as the long black tendrils erupted from the window, grabbing all of the foster family members. The front grill of the bus opened up, like a large predator, and then began to devour some of the family members, their screams being choked out, and drowned out by the sounds of their blood, splattering all around. Mavis wanted to run and hide, but she was shackled, and was unable to do anything. The foster mother, who tormented Mavis by savoring the drumstick, was the last survivor, being held up by one of the tendrils, "Death is too good a punishment for you! Instead, know eternal fear!" the Demon yelled, as the tendrils forced the woman's eyes open, and held her up to an unbroken window. All color from the mother's hair, skin, and clothing all drained away, as she let out a bloodcurdling scream, as the tendrils let her go. When she hit the ground, she was writhing in pure terror, screaming at the top of her lungs, begging it to stop. Mavis was so scared, so petrified by being in the presence of her greatest fear, that she failed to notice her shackles being broken, just before the Demon Bus disappeared into the smoke.
Real Time,
Mavis shivered at the thought of the memory. Never had she seen anyone or anything be driven to such insanity. It was bad enough it happened in the human world, now the Demon Bus was killing the denizens of this world now too? 'Will I ever be free from this curse?' she thought. She felt her appetite leave as she thought more and more about it, but she knew she had to check in with her future guardians. She wasn't ready to ask them to be her parents yet, but she still gave them her utmost respect.
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.
Mavis sat quietly in the Royal Train car, as the Crystal Express made it's way to Canterlot. She chose to sit away from Cadence and Shining Armor, as she watched the scenery go by. It had been a few days since she heard about the slaughter in the Empire, and though the adults were all trying to keep from telling her about it, she wasn't dumb. She had heard their conversation from the hall that day, and has been making sure she stays out of trouble, staying in her room, and sleeping for most of the time, waking up only to use the bathroom or to get something to eat. During her time of being alone in her own room, Mavis chose to remain au natural, only putting on her dress if she needed to leave her bedroom, as to protect her modesty. It was almost Hearth's Warming, and Cadence and Shining Armor were bringing Mavis with them to Canterlot to meet Shining Armor's parents, and to show Mavis more of Canterlot. Knowing Mavis would feel bad about getting presents, Cadence had sent a letter to her in-laws, telling them that Mavis would rather not get anything for the holiday, as per her wishes.
"Mavis? I know you said you didn't want anything, but I'll ask one last time, then I'll drop the issue altogether. Are you certain you don't want any sort of gift for Hearths Warming?" Cadence asked.
"I-I am, princess," Mavis replied timidly.
"Ok then," Cadence said, as she went back to sitting with her husband.
"She still doesn't want anything?" Shining Armor asked.
"No, but I'm not about to force her to want presents," Cadence replied, as Flurry Heart cooed softly, "What is it, Flurry Heart? You want some attention?" Cadence said in a baby voice, picking up her daughter. She then used her magic to levitate a toy key ring over to Flurry Heart, shaking it over the baby alicorn's head. Flurry tried reaching out for the key ring, giggling all the while. Mavis saw the scene before her, and had a small smile on her face. She had steadily been thinking about agreeing to Cadence's offer to being adopted, but she still wanted nothing to do with being a princess.
'I know she said I was free to refuse being crowned a princess, but I'm still not sure,' Mavis thought to herself, as she felt the train slow down.
"We're here. Make sure to grab your things, Mavis," Cadence said, as the train rolled into the station. The Crystal Family and Mavis gathered their things, and exited the coach, "Alright Mavis, stick close to us," Cadence said, as they exited the station, and made their way to their destination. the home of Shining Armor and Twilight's parents.
On a mountainside, overlooking Canterlot,
"Look at them, preparing for their little Hearth's Warming celebration," Queen Chrysalis commented, as she, Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Grubber looked down at Canterlot.
"Little do they know of OUR gift to them!" Cozy Glow exclaimed.
"Yes, but we should stick to the shadows as much as possible. We can't risk our plans being jeopardized this early on," Tirek replied, as they snuck through the cliffs to get in closer.
Down below, in the streets of Canterlot,
The Mane Six had just arrived a few minutes before the Crystal Express, and were en route to Canterlot Castle, "You girls go on ahead. I want to check in with my parents," Twilight said, as she and Spike diverted from the group.
"Alright. We'll see you at the castle," Rarity said, as the others continued towards the castle.
"So, do you know if Cadence and Shining Armor is bringing Mavis along?" Spike asked.
"Of course. Though, Cadence did mention in the letter that Mavis was not too keen on the idea of getting presents. Apparently, she doesn't want to come off as spoiled or greedy," Twilight replied.
"I see. Well, everyone has their own preferences, I guess," Spike replied, as they arrived at their destination. Twilight went up and knocked on the door. A moment later, the door opened to reveal a white unicorn mare with a purple and white mane and tail, and light blue eyes.
"Twilight, sweetie! So good to see you again! And Spike! You look like you've grown since the last time I saw you!" Twilight Velvet exclaimed, inviting the two of them in.
"Good to see you too, Mom. Is Dad home? Have Cadence and Shining Armor arrived yet?" Twilight asked.
"Your father's out picking up some last minute groceries for dinner tomorrow night. As for your brother, they haven't arrived yet, but they should be coming in any time now," Twilight Velvet replied. Just then, a knock was heard from the door. Velvet went over to open it, to reveal the Crystal Family, and the Sparkle Patriarch, Night Light. He was a dark blue unicorn stallion with bright, yellow eyes. Twilight and Cadence quickly did their little nursery rhyme.
"SUNSHINE, SUNSHINE, LADYBUGS AWAKE! CLAP YOUR HOOVES AND DO A LITTLE SHAKE!" they said, before embracing.
"So good to see the two of you again! Ah, and there's little Flurry Heart!" Velvet exclaimed, embracing each member of the Crystal Family, while Mavis stayed just outside the door.
"Good to see you too, Mom," Shining Armor replied.
"I heard you were bringing a human child with you. Where is she?" Velvet asked. Cadence then saw Mavis timidly standing outside the door.
"Come on in, Mavis. Your grandparents want to meet you," Cadence urged, ushering the young Nymph girl into the house, "Mom, Dad, this is Mavis. While we haven't officially adopted her, she's been staying at the Crystal Palace. Mavis, these are Shining Armor and Twilight's parents, Twilight Velvet and Night Light," Cadence said, introducing both parties.
"My word! She's rather thin! Nothing that one of my homemade hearty meals can't fix!" Velvet exclaimed, examining Mavis' slim physique.
"Yeah, about that.... she's not exactly used to eating large portions like what you always gave me and Twilight growing up," Shining Armor replied.
"The most she'll probably be able to eat is maybe two bowls of soup and some bread rolls," Cadence added.
"Well, I'll still make sure she gets plenty to eat," Velvet replied.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mavis," Night Light said to the young girl.
"Thank you. It is very nice to meet you both as well," Mavis returned the greeting respectfully.
"Well, while you all just got here, you all should go get your things settled, then we can head on to the castle," Velvet commented.
"I'll show you to each of your own rooms," Night Light said, leading them all upstairs.
"And this room is all yours, Mavis," Night Light said, showing Mavis the guest room. It wasn't the most spacious bedroom, but it was enough for Mavis' liking, "I'll leave you to unpack your belongings," he said, taking his leave. Truth be told, Mavis only had a small backpack that had some of the nicer dresses that she recieved from Rarity. Since Mavis preferred to be naked the majority of the time, she had no real need to get any more clothing. She also had her patchwork teddy bear, which she still kept close to her.
"Well, I guess I'm settled in," Mavis commented, as she clutched a tight grip on her bear, and exited her bedroom, just as Cadence and Shining Armor did as well, along with Flurry Heart in her stroller.
"Ready to go to the party, Mavis?" Cadence asked.
"I am," Mavis replied, as they descended the stairs.
"Alrighty then. Be sure to stay close, Mavis. Canterlot may be a wonderful city, it's no stranger to unsightly characters," Night Light warned, as they exited the house, and made their way to Canterlot Castle.
Hey guys, darkmage1997 here, and I've been thinking about something. As you probably saw, in the rewrite of the Journey Through Alola story, I had the group consisting of Will, Fluttershy, Toby, Silver Spoon and Serenity meet up with the Loud House kids, and that has had me thinking for quite a while now; what if the Loud kids came to Equestria to not only celebrate Hearths Warming with Toby and friends, but also bring over Christmas traditions with them from their world? In addition, I've also been thinking of another epilogue chapter after Mavis becomes an Omni-monster, and Lynn wants to test her mettle against her, after hearing Mavis has the genes and qualities of EVERY monster species ever recorded. Basically, she tries to get Mavis to compete against her to prove that she can even beat a monster, even though Mavis has no interest in any sort of physical activity, as she deems it "unladylike" and mistakes Lynn for a boy, just like the Nymphs would. Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below
Epilogue II (pre-Pirate Battle Battle Arc Rewrite)(Part 1): Mavis meets the Louds
It was another beautiful day in Equestria, as everyone was going about their day. In Ponyville, Nathan and Mavis had come down to visit their friends. It had only been a few months since Flurry Heart was born, and caused quite a ruckus in the Crystal Empire, as well as Mavis becoming an Omni-Monster, but now things were back to normal, "Alright-y then Mavis, we'll go check in with Aunt Twilight, then we can go hang out with our friends," Nathan said, as they left the train station, and made their way to Twilight's castle. Since becoming an Omni-monster, Mavis almost instantly became much taller than the rest of her friends, and even the adults, clocking in at a height of about 7 feet, since she was now part minotaur and part ogre. Despite having many of the pros and cons of being every known monster species, Mavis retained her graceful, ladylike image. Although, she has shown to be rather lazy, refusing to engage in any sort of exercise, as she doesn't want to sweat and ruin her hair, or her outfits. Though she will do her share of chores, and help out others.
"Oui," Mavis replied, as they walked through the streets. Eventually, they had arrived at Twilight's castle. Nathan then knocked on the door. In minutes, the doors opened to reveal Twilight.
"Oh, Nathan, Mavis! So good to see you two again," Twilight said, as she invited them inside. Mavis had to duck slightly, as not to hit her head on the doorframe.
"Thanks for having us, Aunt Twilight," Nathan said.
"It's no trouble at all. Let me show you to your rooms, then you can go spend some time with your friends," Twilight said, leading them through her castle. Along the way, Mavis had to swing her head, or duck, as to avoid hitting any of the overhead lamps or archways. Eventually, they had arrived at their rooms, "This one will be yours, Nathan, and Mavis, you can have this one," she said, allocating their guest rooms.
"Thank you, Aunt Twilight," Nathan said.
"Merci," Mavis added.
"You're both very welcome. Once you settle in, you can head on out to hang out with the others," Twilight said, leaving them to unpack. Once they were settled in, both of them exited their rooms, and made their way to the foyer, where they proceeded to exit the castle.
"Alright Mavis, what do ya want to do first?" Nathan asked his towering little sister.
"Well, I would like to go see what our friends are all up to," Mavis replied, as they walked towards town. They figured they'd swing by Sweet Apple Acres, since it was on the way to town. Upon arriving, they saw the Apple Family getting ready for another busy day of harvesting apples. They saw Mike loading the cart with some baskets.
"Yo, Mike!" Nathan called out, catching their friend's attention.
"Hey Nathan! When'd you two get into town?" Mike asked.
"Just a little bit ago," Nathan replied.
"We were planning on heading into town to find the others. Are you busy?" Mavis asked politely.
"Yeah, I kind of am. I'm sort of needed to help out with the harvesting," Mike replied.
"Oh, well, ok then. Ah guess we'll see ya 'round then," Nathan said, as he and Mavis continued onward to town. They got into town. Sometime after the Monster Kingdom was brought to Equestria, many monster citizens decided to try and take up entrepreneurship in Equestria, setting up their own stores around the land. Ponyville was no exception, as several new businesses run by Monsters were opened up, as Nathan and Mavis walked through town, seeing the various stores that were there. The two of them eventually found the rest of their friends, all hanging out at Sugarcube Corner. All except for Toby, much to Mavis' disappointment, "Hey guys," Nathan said, as he and Mavis arrived.
"Hey Nathan, Mavis. I take it the trip wasn't too taxing on you two?" Trinity asked.
"Not at all. The Crystal Express is one of the fastest trains in Equestria," Mavis replied, as she sat down on the ground, being too big for any of the chairs the others were sitting on.
"So, where's Toby? And Ah don't see Serenity either," Nathan asked, not seeing Toby or Serenity among them.
"He said they were bringing some friends of theirs over," Kelly replied.
"Friends? Did he say who?" Nathan asked.
"You remember those Louds that he and the others encountered in the Alola Region? He asked Discord to bring them over to visit for a few days," Nyx replied.
"Oh yeah, Ah remember them," Nathan replied.
"Who are the Louds? And what is this 'Alola Region'?" Mavis asked.
"That's right. You weren't there when it happened," Crystal commented.
"You see Mavis, the Pokemon you have actually came from another world, much like all of us did," Echo explained.
"And there are various regions that have tons of other Pokemon in them, maybe more than we'll ever know of," Melody added.
"The Alola Region is one such region," Conner added.
"As for the Louds, they came from a different world than any of us, and they met up with Toby, Fluttershy, Serenity, Silver Spoon and Will when they arrived there," Charity added.
"They're a family of 11 kids, one boy, and ten girls. They had parents, but something happened, and now they live separately with their aunts and uncles," Nathan added. From what Toby and Silver Spoon had explained, Nathan wasn't too sure about telling Mavis about the "Luck Incident" that broke up the Loud Family.
"My word, I would never have thought a human family could ever be so big! I'm mean, wererabbits naturally have large families, but still," Mavis said, sounding shocked at how big the family was.
"We all were as well," they all heard Toby reply, as he and Serenity walked onto the scene. Mavis blushed slightly, seeing her crush.
"Hey there, Toby," Nathan said.
"Hey Nathan, Mavis," Toby greeted back.
"So, did Discord say when they were going to be coming by?" Kelly asked.
"It should be any minute now," Toby replied. Just then, a portal opened up a few feet away from them, and a bus drove through. The doors opened to reveal Discord in the driver's seat.
"Last stop, Equestria!" he said on the intercom system. With that, the passengers disembarked, being the Louds, along with their Aunts and Uncles, and Lincoln's friends from school.
"Well, here we are, back in Equestria," Lincoln commented, as they all looked around. Lincoln immediately spotted Toby and his pals, "Hey, Toby, long time no see!" he called out.
"Lincoln, guys! How've ya been?" Toby greeted, as he and his friends went to greet their Royal Woods friends, while Mavis stayed where she was at, given her size.
"Things have been great back in Royal Woods! A lot more Duel Monster Tournaments have been held, and pretty much everyone has their own partner Pokemon now," Lincoln explained.
"It's true. Even we've gotten our own," Clyde said, as he, Zach, Rusty, Liam, Ronnie Anne, and Girl Jordan all took out Pokeballs of their own, and released their own Pokemon. Clyde had a little pink Pokemon that looked like cotton candy, Zach had a Magnemite, Rusty had a little bug Pokemon wrapped up in leaves, Liam had a rabbit Pokemon with shovel like ears, Ronnie Anne had a big red dragonfly like Pokemon, and Girl Jordan had a small, purplish pink bird like Pokemon that had a pleasant aroma wafting off of it.
"Whoa, that's some collection y'all got," Nathan commented.
"Yeah, plus, in addition, a lot of Pokemon Battle Tournaments have been held," Lisa replied.
"We've all done fairly well in each one, but not quite enough to win the whole thing," Lincoln added.
"Sounds like you guys have been busy," Josh commented.
"And you guys must've too," Luna replied, taking notice of Mavis, who immediately flinched upon being the subject of attention.
"Ah, yes. This is Mavis Gustou, a new friend of ours who showed up in this world a few months ago. Don't let her size fool you... she's actually the same age as Lucy," Kelly said. The Royal Woods friends were all shocked to hear this.
"But how can that be? Was she like... exposed to some kind of magical growth potion or something?" Randy asked.
"Not exactly. See, Mavis isn't even human. She's what we've all decided to classify as an 'Omni-Monster'. She has the qualities of EVERY known monster species," Crystal explained.
"Every monster?" Lucy asked, sounding interested, despite her gloomy tone.
"Yep. Beastman, the undead, various harpy, reptile and sea creature, even demon and dragon, you name it, and she's got it," Melody replied.
"She must be really good at sports," Lynn commented, sounding like she was expecting a challenge.
"'Fraid not. Mavis absolutely hates playing sports," Nathan replied.
"Wait, what?" Lynn asked.
"She doesn't like playing sports, since she doesn't want to get dirty or sweaty, claiming it to be 'unladylike'. In fact, the only real type of sport I think she actually likes is swimming," Conner replied.
"Ok, I'm hearing words, but they're not making any sort of sense, like, whatsoever," Lynn replied.
"She hates playing sports. How is that not getting through?" Kelly asked.
"I don't think Lynn is physically capable of processing the fact that not everyone like sports," Lisa theorized.
"Well, better to let Mavis talk to you, than having us talk about her on her behalf," Kelly said, as she and the girls went to get their large friend.
"Are they the friends from this 'Royal Woods' place?" Mavis asked.
"They are. We can assure you that they are friendly, but you may want to be wary around the girl in the red jersey. She seems to be thinking of challenging you to some athletic contests," Kelly replied.
"What girl in a red jersey? The only one in a red jersey I see is that one boy," Mavis asked. The girls started giggling, "Did I say something funny?" she asked.
"Well, no, it's just that 'boy' in the red jersey is actually a girl," Crystal replied. Looked to the Royal Woods friends, then back to her friends.
"Really? Because she reeks of body odor," Mavis replied, waving her hand in front of her nose.
"Somehow, she is. She likes every type of sport, whether as a player or a spectator. She also has a bad habit of being overly superstitious. The rest of the Loud Sisters told us about all her good luck rituals, and stuff she believes to be bad luck," Clover replied.
"But it would be better if you came over and met them for yourself," Kelly urged, as she and the others helped get Mavis onto her feet, and pulled her over to the Royal Woods friends, who were shocked to see how much Mavis towered over them, "Guys, this is Mavis, our newest friend from somewhere in France, in a different dimension."
"Bonjour," Mavis greeted.
"Whoa, she's taller than I was expecting," Rusty commented.
"That's from her ogre and minotaur genes. Since the two species are naturally taller than humans, even at a young age, it stands to reason that Mavis is tall herself," Nathan replied.
"Well, we're going to go meet with the other adults. You kids have fun with your friends, and remember Junior, NO BEING OVERLY COMPETITIVE!" Ross stated explicitly, enunciating each word, "Now, where can we go to meet up with your parents?" he asked.
"Just head over to that big crystal castle. Our Mom is inside, awaiting your arrival," Cory replied.
"Well, let's get a move on sibs," Randy said, as the four adults made their way to castle.
"Why is it that they single ME out as a troublemaker?" Lynn exclaimed, only to get annoyed looks from her siblings and Lincoln's friends.
"In any case, I bet there's a lot you guys want to do," Toby said.
"Yeah, what's there to do for fun around here?" Luna asked.
"Well, you guys can probably be given a tour of the Alicorn's Wish Guild Hall, if you ask Silver nicely," Crystal suggested.
"If not, then we can always head to Will's ranch so you can ask for advice on raising your Pokemon," Josh added.
"Then there is the Bowling Alley," Nyx added.
"What about that Monster Kingdom you guys were talking about?" Lynn asked.
"Well, I could take you there if you want, as I can conjure a portal," Mavis replied.
"Why not stick with stuff around here for the time being? I'm sure your aunts and uncles won't be too keen on the idea of you guys going too far from them," Trinity suggested.
"Hmm, that would be a wise decision," Lisa replied.
"Well, why not we split up and tackle the stuff we want to do individually?" Lincoln suggested.
"Great idea!" Luan replied. With that, Lincoln, Leni, Luan, Lana, and Lincoln's friends went with Toby, Serenity, Nathan, Mavis, and the Sparkle kids to Will's ranch, while Conner, Clover, Melody, Charity, Lucky Joy, Echo, and Vibrant lead the rest of the Loud sisters to the Guild Hall.
Chapter 26: The Heaths Warming Ball (Part 1)(Rewritten)
`Later that very evening, the Sparkle Family were en route to the castle for the Hearth's Warming Ball, and they were chatting about what was going to happen there, "So, your roadie will take care of your performance prep work?" Velvet asked Nathan and Josh.
"Pretty much. He's bound to have everything set up for us by the time we get there," Josh replied, as they neared the castle.
"And Toby's guests that he asked to invite should be at the party too," Kelly added.
"What guests might those be?" Night Light asked.
"Some friends he made when we all went to that other dimension, you know, the one with all the Pokemon?" Twilight replied.
"Ah, ok! Are we to expect a lot of guests?" Velvet asked.
"Oh yeah," Twilight replied.
"So, Mavis, I'm most excited to see your mentors again," Cadence commented.
"Oui Maman. They did say they were bringing an extended part of their family with them," Mavis said, as they got to the ticket booth.
"Tickets please," the bouncer said stoically. The adults all gave him the tickets, "Proceed," he said, standing aside, allowing the Sparkle family inside the castle. Mavis remembered her little meeting with the Nymphs before they headed out.
Flashback, about 15 minutes ago,
Mavis was getting dressed up in her Gothic Lolita dress, when she heard the amulet she got from Wanda go off. Walking over to it, she picked it up, "What is going on with this?" Mavis questioned. He question soon answered itself, as a projection of Wanda appeared before her, "Oh, Wanda! Bonjour!" Mavis greeted.
"And a hello to you too, Mavis. I trust you're in Canterlot now?" Wanda asked.
"Oui. Mon family arrived this morning," Mavis replied.
"Good. Now then, I'm sure you have questions in regards to how we're all going to get over there, yes?" Wanda asked.
"Oui. I was under the impression that you were coming sooner," Mavis admitted.
"Alright. I'm going to tell you exactly what to do. Now first, you'll need to get into the castle, obviously. Once you've done that, contact me, and pour just a little of your magic into the amulet. We'll do the rest. Do you think you understand?" Wanda asked.
"Oui. It sounds easy enough," Mavis replied.
"Ok. Well, I'm sure you'll want to talk some more with me and the rest of my sisters, but I think we can wait until we're in the Castle," Wanda explained.
"Oui. I will see you all soon. Au revior," Mavis said, as she hung up the communication.
Present Time,
Mavis' thoughts were cut off when they had arrived in the Ballroom. Looking around, she saw many decorations that reminded her of Christmas. Outside, she could vaguely see what appeared to be stands that one would expect to find at a carnival. She also saw her friends from Ponyville, all mingling with one another, "Well, Mavis, would you like to go play with your friends?" Cadence asked.
"Oui, Maman," Mavis replied, heading over to her friends, just as a tour bus materialized. Mavis saw Discord in the driver's seat. Inside the bus, were a lot of humans she was unfamiliar with. She noticed the one in orange had white hair.
"Last stop, Canterlot Castle!" Discord said, as the humans disembarked.
"Hey, Lincoln!" Toby called out.
"Toby, how's it going?" the orange clad human said, bumping fists with Toby.
"It's been a while since we saw you guys last," Josh commented.
"Likewise. So this is Canterlot Castle?" Luna Loud asked, looking around.
"Yep, and it's time for the Hearth's Warming Ball. To answer any questions you may have, Hearth's Warming is basically Equestria's equivalent of Christmas," Toby explained.
"Well, in any case, how have things been on your end since we parted ways?" Lincoln asked.
"Things have been rather slow on our end, apart from making a new friend," Toby replied. Mavis froze up, when all attention was on her.
"It's ok, Mavis, these guys are friends," Kelly reassured her mermaid friend.
"We can introduce you to them for you if you want," Nathan added. Truthfully, as much as would be poor manners to let others introduce herself to others, Mavis was still squeamish around humans she was unfamiliar with.
"Oui, I think that would be much more preferred," Mavis replied.
"Alrighty then," Nathan said, as he went over to the Royal Woods gang, "Guys, this is Mavis. She's really shy, and may not be willing to talk, so can y'all try not to overwhelm her?" he requested.
"Well, sure, if she's not wanting to socialize too much," Lincoln replied.
"But what about her arm?" Lola asked, noticing Mavis' metallic arm.
"We don't know what happened to her arm, but we also know better than to ask," Crystal replied.
"I'd chalk it up to some kind of accident that happened that resulted in her parental units to amputate it," Lisa deduced.
"Well, like they said, it's Mavis' own business, not ours," Lincoln replied.
"You're right. So let's just let it go, and enjoy the party," Lori replied. Mavis then remembered what Wanda had told her.
"But first, I should call up mon teachers," Mavis said, taking out her pendant. She then tried contacting Wanda, key word being "tried". She looked all over the pendant, but found nothing that showed a function of calling someone. It was when she rubbed her hands over a jewel that was on it, that began calling Wanda. It was a few seconds before she picked up.
"Ah, Mavis. I'm glad you were able to call me up. Are you inside Canterlot Castle?" the head Nymph asked.
"Oui. And I am preparing to pour mon magic into the pendant," Mavis said, as she attempted to summon up her magic, and began pouring it into the medallion.
"Ok Mavis, that's good. We'll take it from here," Wanda said.
Over with the Nymphs,
"Alright girls, you all ready?" Wanda asked. Looking around, her sisters, all dressed in their usual bikinis, all nodded, "Ok then, now then, let's go," Wanda said, as they each poured their magic into the crystals in the Grotto. Within seconds, they turned into light particles, and were absorbed into the crystals, and were traveling at light speed to where Mavis was at.
Back in Canterlot Castle,
Mavis had set her pendant on the floor, and backed away from it, sensing that her teachers would be coming all at once, and would no doubt be filling up the space around her in an instant, "Mavis, is somethin' wrong?" Nathan asked, noticing his sister backing away from her medallion. His question was soon answered, when several flashes of light shone from her pendant, which took the form of all sixteen Nymphs. This got the attention of everyone else. All of the boys, along with Luna Loud and Luan blushed at seeing the Nymphs in their outfits, while the girls looked enviously at the figures of the Nymphs.
"Hello Mavis. I trust things have been well since we saw you last?" Wanda asked.
"Oui, Wanda," Mavis replied, as she hugged her mentor's leg.
"Hello Wanda. It's good to see you and your sisters again," Twilight greeted.
"Likewise, Princess," Wanda returned the greeting.
"Come Mavis. Let us introduce you and your friends to the rest of our family," Marina said, as they made their way to the center of the ballroom, where the other kids were at.
"So, these are your teachers, Mavis?" Josh asked.
"Oui. Mon mentors, Wanda, Dana, Tabby, Kat, Marina, Yuki, Cosmo, and Sky," Mavis introduced. The respective Nymphs all bowed, unintentionally giving the kids a view of their cleavages. This made the girls cover the eyes of the blushing boys.
"And these are our sisters, Daria, the Combat Nymph, Mariah, the Knowledge Nymph, Julia, the Jewel Nymph, Polly, the Animal Nymph, Fiona, the Opera Nymph, Sasha, the Dancing Nymph, Amanda, the Fashion Nymph, and Veronica, the Love Nymph," Wanda said, introducing Mavis and friends to her other eight sisters.
"She is totes even more cute as you described her!" Fiona commented, scooping Mavis up into a hug.
"I can feel a lot of love with that girl," Polly lazily commented.
"I'm glad to see you all love her already," Marina commented.
"Alright everyone! We'll now begin..." the voice of Celestia said, but was cut off. Looking in the direction of where her voice came from, they saw a shocked look on the solar princess's face.
"Uh, is she alright?" Toby questioned.
"Yeah, with Celestia and us, well, let's just say there's some bad blood," Dana replied.
"There's bad blood between Princess Celestia personally, and all Nymphs?" Mike asked.
"Pretty much. They had a bit of a fight a few centuries ago, and have been at each other's throats ever since," Sasha replied.
"Cadence, may I have a word with you?" Celestia asked, sounding irritated. Cadence gulped, and cautiously followed Celestia out of the room. Closing the door behind them, everyone in the ballroom could hear Celestia yelling and ranting at Cadence.
"Why are there Nymphs here?! Didn't I tell you they shouldn't be trusted?!" Celestia seethed.
"Aunt Celestia, I may not understand your distrust of the Nymphs, but they've proven to be a valuable source of guidance for Mavis. She was able to come more and more out of her shell as a result of their training," Cadence stated.
"Wait... so Mavis, actually trained under them?" Celestia asked, sounding like she was trying to get the facts straight.
"Yes. And now, on top of the medicine that Raiden made for her, she's now able to eat more food now. Including sweets," Cadence replied. Celestia, truthfully, didn't like the sound of Nymphs getting involved with the youth of Equestria, but she did like hearing that the newest addition to the family was starting to open up more.
"Well, alright. I'll allow them to stay for the ball, but I will be keeping an eye on them," Celestia stated, getting in Cadence's face, making the Crystal Princess uncomfortable, "Do I make myself clear?" the solar princess asked.
"Crystal," Cadence squeaked.
"Good. Now then, it's time to meet the rest of the guests, and for Cory to unveil his sculpture," Celestia said, as the two reentered the Ballroom, where the kids and adults were all mingling with the Nymphs, along with some of the other pony guests, apart from the really snooty noble ponies.
"So, you know how to talk to all manner of animals I've never even heard of before?" Fluttershy asked Polly.
"Oh sure. It's all a matter of being relaxed and at one with the vibes of the animals," Polly replied, sounding totally chill.
"I'm glad to meet fellow music artists," Sky said to the boys in the Equestrian Mayhem.
"Yep. Ah'm the lead guitarist," Nathan stated.
"I play bass," Conner added.
"I play ivories, either on a grand scale piano, or on my keytar," Toby added.
"I make sure to keep things a little jazzy with my saxophone," Mike added.
"And I'm the drummer," Conner stated.
"What about a singer? You have to have a singer!" Fiona stated.
"Well, we usually all sing when a song calls for it," Josh replied.
"What about you.... Sky, was it? What instruments do you play?" Toby asked.
"Well, just about any instrument," Sky replied.
"Uh... I'm a bit of a musician too," Luna Loud said awkwardly.
"Oh yeah? What kind of instruments to you play?" Sky asked.
"Like you, I can play just about any kind there are, if I know how to play it," the loudest Loud sister replied.
"Is your hair naturally white?" Marina asked Lincoln, bending over to look him in the eye, unintentionally giving Lincoln a full view of her cleavage.
"Yeah, I was always told I got it from my Pop-pop, but I also think it has something to do with the stress of living with ten sisters," Lincoln replied, try not to look directly at Marina's breasts, instead looking at his sisters, who were mingling with other guests as well. Luna and Luan, as well as Lincoln's friends, were also trying to keep their eyes above the Nymph's neckline.
"Uh... Lincoln? What's that word used to describe someone like these babes?" Luna Loud asked, unsure where to look at the Nymphs.
"I believe the term you're looking for is 'thicc', spelled with two c's instead of '-ck'. Major difference," Lincoln replied, just as unsure as his sister as where to look at the Nymphs.
"They ain't thicc! They're just fat!" Lynn Jr. proclaimed, only to get pummeled by her sisters.
"If you have nothing polite to say about someone, then don't speak up," Lori stated coldly.
"Glad to see you all can keep this rude little boy in check," Dana commented.
"Uh... hate to break it to you, but Lynn is actually a girl," Ronnie Anne replied.
"Really? But she's so... unfeminine," Wanda commented.
"She's basically the jock of the family," Lola replied.
"We're not really sure how she can still be classified as a girl," Ronnie Anne added.
"Attention, everyone!" Celestia called the attention to everyone in the room, "In the heart of the cultures of the Human society and our cultures here in Equestria, Prince Capri-Core has made a sculpture to showcase the unification of the merging cultures," she announced, as Cory went on to unveil his latest art piece. Pulling the covers off, everyone in the ball room was in awe. The sculpture was of two trees, decorated in similar, yet different ways. On one side of the sculpture, was a Nativity scene, where the birth of Jesus was taking place, as well as the very symbol of Christmas himself: Santa Claus. The other half had the three races of ponies, all gathering together, with the wendigos circling above them, and an image of a flaming heart in the center.
"As you can clearly see, my sculpture represents the origins of Hearth's Warming, and the human equivalent, Christmas. On the Hearth's Warming half, you can see the leaders of the three races and their right hand... or rather right hoof ponies, all gathering together, and learning to share joy and love, rather than hatred, in order to cast out the Wendigos. As for the Christmas portion, we see the birth of a religious savior, Jesus Christ, in the town of Bethlehem, along with the three kings, who came bearing gifts. In addition, we have the very symbol of Christmas. Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, otherwise known as 'Santa Claus'," Cory explained.
"Hmm, quite unique," Fancy Pants commented, eyeing the art piece with intrigue.
"Why the sudden sculpture?" a noble asked.
"As you heard me say, it is to symbolize the likenesses in our holidays, as well as the coming together of our different races.... including the two guests that the Alicorn's Wish Guild brought with them as diplomats," Cory stated.
"And which guests would those be?" the noble asked.
"We'll get to them at once. But before we do, we ask that you give them the benefit of the doubt. They are nothing like the tales surrounding their race say they are," Celestia said, before she signaled the guards to go and collect Raiden and the guests. Within minutes, Raiden came back in, with the two guests in tow. When everyone else caught sight of two gorgons, slithering into Ball Room, there was an incredible pressure. It was then that Rainbow Dash and Lana said the one thing they could think of at the time.
"So cool!"
Chapter 27: The Hearths Warming Ball (Part 2)(Edited)
"Uh.... hello everyone. I....uh, am Queen Mediah, of the Gorgon Race," the Gorgon Queen said awkwardly, trying to make conversation. The snakes in both hers and Lila's hair even had uneasy looks. It was then that one of the snootier nobles decided to speak up.
"Princess Celestia! How could you possibly invite these..... these... monsters to such a sophisticated Ball?!" he demanded.
"Please understand. We did this as a means of bridging the gaps between our races. We're going to try and make as many friends with other species across the globe as we can. We already have relations with Minotaur's, Changelings, Griffons and most recently Yaks, Dragons, and Hippogriffs. We need to continue expanding our circle of friendship with all manner of creatures," Celestia stated.
"I still don't see these alliances working out in the future. I swear, you're making a mistake!" the noble stated.
"He's right! What if those Gorgon's turns someone here to stone?" another snooty noble asked.
"I don't want to sound like a racist or anything, but they do have a point, and I'd rather not my nieces or nephew, or any of his friends, or us for that matter being turned to stone," Ross voiced in.
"It's alright everyone. They are currently wearing my latest invention: Gorgon Proof Sunglasses! They're one sided lens that block out the eye thing that gorgons use to turn others to stone. As long as they keep them on, they won't turn anyone to stone," Raiden announced.
"And these things work like a charm!" Lila stated. This, however, didn't sit well with any of the nobles. In fact, it only made them more outraged, proclaiming their disapproval.
"SILENCE!" Celestia boomed in her Royal Canterlot Voice. This got everyone to quiet down, "I only ask that you give the Gorgons a chance. Is that so hard? Or would you rather that Equestria is full of racist ponies who view ALL creatures as dangerous?" Celestia asked in an authoritarian tone.
"She does raise a valid point. I'm more than willing to extend friendship with the gorgons," Fancy Pants stated.
"Besides, the gorgons haven't done anything to warrant such unacceptable behavior," Twilight added.
"Not to mention they wouldn't extend a job request to the guild unless they were serious about establishing relations with Equestria," Raiden chimed in.
"Well, it is wisest to give others a chance, as not to be accused of prejudice," Rhonda commented.
"You're right. I say we should give them a chance," Randy replied. The nobles still weren't happy about it, but they decided to reluctantly take the princess's word for it.
"Well, if we're all in an agreement, I guess now would be a good a time to open up the festival that the Alicorn Wish Guild had set up for tonight's festivities," Celestia announced, opening up the doors, leading out to the streets of Canterlot, where game and food stalls were set up.
"Ooh! I just love games!" Kat exclaimed, as she and some of the others exited into the streets.
"What'd ya say, Mavis? Want to go play some games?" Nathan asked.
"Well.... ok," Mavis shrugged, as she and the other kids, and the adults went to go play games too.
"Hmph. How childish that even the Princesses would engage in such trivial activities," the noble pony commented, holding a giant panda bear stuffed animal, and some cotton candy, while also wearing tiger face paint.
"It's kind of hard to take you seriously when you have a prize like those," Luna Loud commented. Mavis looked around, wanting to find a game that she could enjoy. Looking around, she saw her mentors and her friends, all wandering around, playing some games or getting food.
"Could I get one of those 'stir fry' things? They sound tasty," Dana asked Cassidy, who was working a stall with Simon, April, and Sora.
"I'll take one order too," Lana said.
"Make that four," Rachel said, as she and Rhonda took a seat.
"Sure thing. You guys get that?" Cassidy asked.
"Yep. Working on it now," Simon called back, as he began preparing their order, "Would you like anything in your meal?" Simon asked. The five of them then walked him through on what they wanted. Mavis continued to walk around, until she saw something that caught her eye. There, at a stand that Raiden, Stealth, Eliza, and Naomi were running, was a duck plushy that the twice the size of Mavis. With a gasp, Mavis rushed over to the stand excitedly, eyeing her intended prize intently.
"Well, lookie who's come to our stand. How've ya been, lassie?" Eliza asked, snapping Mavis into reality.
"Uh, I've been good," Mavis meekly replied.
"How have things been going with your medicine?" Raiden asked.
"Very good. I took it as you instructed moi to," Mavis replied.
"So this is where you wandered off to," Cadence commented, rejoining the young girl.
"Maman, I think I want that big ducky," Mavis said, pointing to the giant duck.
"Well, if that's what you want, then you can try to win it for your Hearth's Warming Present," Cadence said.
"Alright Mavis. All you need to do is chuck one of these rings onto those bottles," Raiden said, giving Mavis five rings, and pointed to some soda bottles they had set up. Mavis tried throwing the rings, key word being "tried". The first two rings she tossed went no further than the counter.
"Weak! Let a pro show you how it's done!" Lynn rudely said, as she cut in front of Mavis.
"Sorry, bucko. This little girl was here first, and she still has three more rings left," Raiden said.
"So you're denying me the right to prove my skills?!" Lynn then threw a punch at him, only for Raiden to effortlessly block, then, using a little electricity, stunned Lynn, causing her to fall to the ground.
"If ya want, Ah could step in," Nathan offered.
"Merci. I am not, how you say, athletic," Mavis replied, giving the remaining rings to her brother. Without missing a beat, Nathan managed to get the three rings on the bottles. Stealth leapt up to get Mavis' prize of choice, "Merci beaucoup," Mavis said, hugging her giant duck.
"Yer very welcome Mavis," Nathan said, as he helped to pick up the duck. Knowing that carrying something as big as Mavis' new duck would be troublesome, Cadence hailed some guards.
"Could you take this into the castle and set it off to the side somewhere?" Cadence asked.
"At once," the guard said, as he took the duck, and went to put it inside the castle.
"Don't worry, precious. We can pick up your ducky when we're heading home for the night," Cadence said to Mavis. Skyla began fussing, wanting a stuffed animal too.
"Alright, little miss fussy pants, you can get one too," Shining Armor said, as he was given five rings too.
"Ah'd better git goin'. The guys n' Ah are gonna start our gig," Nathan said, as he went to go join up with his bandmates.
"Mavis! Are you enjoying yourself?" Mavis was then approached by Marina, joined by Julia and Fiona.
"Oui. I just got a giant ducky toy," Mavis replied.
"Well, it's good you're having fun," Fiona stated.
"If you want, we're going to go grab some snacks before Dana beats everyone else to them. Care to join us?" Marina offered.
"You go on ahead Mavis. Just make sure you try to stay close by your teachers," Cadence said.
"Oui Maman, but will he be alright?" Mavis asked, pointing to Lynn, who was getting feeling back into her body.
"Eh, I wouldn't worry about this one. She may cause some trouble for us, but it won't be anything we can't handle," Naomi replied.
"Well, ok," Mavis replied, as she went with the Nymphs to get some cookies. She just then thought about what the cat mutant girl just said, "Wait, this rude, red garçon is a fille?" she asked.
"Somehow, she is. Even I can't figure it out," Raiden replied.
"Come on Mavis! I think I see a cookie stand a little bit that way," Marina called out. Mavis quickly rejoined her masters. When they got to the stand, Mavis saw that it was run by Brian, Icezer, Heiru, and Claire. She also saw Lincoln, his friends, and Lola, all enjoying some cookies.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in. How've you been, kid?" Brian asked Mavis.
"Good. Things have been, how you say, quiet in the Crystal Empire," Mavis replied.
"Well, that's good. So, you interested in some Christmas Cookies?" Icezer offered, pointing to some cookies that were shaped like trees, snowmen, and other kinds of shapes.
"I would, but isn't it called 'Hearth's Warming'?" Mavis asked.
"Yes, but our guild prefers to keep thing to our way of thinking of the holidays," Heiru replied, as he readied some sleeves for the cookies, "So, which cookie would you like?" the emo ghost boy asked. Looking at the designs, Mavis decided she wanted a Christmas Tree cookie, as she would feel bad for eating a gingerbread man.
"Could I maybe get a Christmas Tree cookie?" Mavis asked.
"Sure thing," Heiru replied, as she got the cookies for each of them, "There you go. Enjoy," he said, as he retreated back into the shadows.
"Ray of sunshine he is," Marina commented.
"Eh, don't sweat it. Heiru's always like that," Icezer said, as he placed a sheet of cookies into the over, which Brian then ignited.
"Well, come along Mavis. I'm sure there's more fun to have while the night is young," Fiona said, as the older Nymphs led Mavis along. And while everyone at the festival had fun, they never thought their fun would soon come to an abrupt end.
Toby groaned as he woke up. His body ached all over. The whole room felt like it was rocking back and forth, as if he were in a cage, suspended several feet in the air. Opening his eyes, he saw that his suspicions were correct. He was being held in some kind of cage that was suspended in the air, inside what looked to be the storage part of a big boat. Looking around, he saw that Silver Spoon, Serenity, Charity, Season, Lincoln, Leni, and Lana were also in his cage. He looked around to see that the others were all in separate cages too. Looking down below, he saw that the Nymphs and Lila were also in a cage, "Where are we?" Toby wondered. His question was able to rouse the others.
"Ugh, where are we?" Kelly wondered, looking around. Upon seeing they were all in cages, they instantly became distressed. Serenity squeaked, and latched onto Season, upon seeing she was so high up.
"This place stinks worse than Lynn's B.O. after she exercises!" Lola complained, pinching her nose.
"What happened, exactly?" Mariah pondered.
"Well, let's see. I remember that we were all at the festival at Canterlot castle, when...." Josh began, as they went into a flashback.
Flashback, Half an Hour ago,
"And that was our performance! Thank you, Canterlot!" Nathan said, as he and his band mates bowed, before retreating backstage.
"Phew, that was intense!" Mike commented.
"I think we left a good impression on them," Conner stated.
"You dudes seem like you've made it big in the music world," Luna Loud commented, as she and some of her siblings were backstage.
"We really started our indie band as a hobby, but time went on, we became more popular all across Equestria," Toby said.
"What do they mean by 'indie'?" Serenity asked.
"I think it's short for 'individual'. In other words, we're not bound by contracts of some sleazy talent agent who would work us to the bone for profit," Toby explained.
"Hey, what are those?" they heard someone say. Peeking out from behind the curtains, they saw something off in the sky. It looked to be a bunch of flying ships.
"What could those be?" Wanda pondered.
"It can't be the Storm King. We defeated him ages ago," Rainbow Dash commented. Raiden then pulled out some binoculars from his hat. He then looked towards the ships.
"Hmm, they appear to be some kind of ships, nothing like what you see here in Equestria," Raiden commented, zooming in. It was then that he saw the pirates, "What the...? Pirates?" he questioned. Mavis dropped her cookie in horror, and dropped to her knees, holding her head. This incited worry amongst her friends and family.
"Mavis, sweetie, what's wrong?" Marina asked.
"It's happening again! It's them!" she said in a terrified, broken tone. Celestia was about to question her, when explosions caused major commotion, making ponies run for cover. The Nymphs all shuddered, upon sensing a familiar, dark presence on one of the boats.
"Wanda, that magic.... you don't think," Kat began.
"I wish it wasn't, but it is," the head Nymph replied, as the ships all docked, and several pirates leapt off, and proceeded to rob everyone, and take hostages in the form of the children, including Mavis, Lila, the Louds, Lincoln's friends, and the Nymphs.
"Oh no! Toby! Serenity!" Fluttershy cried in anguish, as they were loaded into some cages.
"Come on, we gotta help them!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flying towards the ship. Ross, Randy, and Rhonda pulled out some pistols and went to help out whatever way they can, only for some black crystals to shoot up from the ground, stopping Rainbow in her tracks.
Real time,
"So... after that, we all got caged up, and were brought here," Sky stated.
"The only question now is 'where is here'?" Conner pondered. His question was soon answered, as the cages felt like they were being risen up to an upper level, leaving the Nymphs and Lila in their cages. Once they all reached the surface, they saw a bunch of pirates, celebrating and singing, as the captain made his entrance.
"Aye, that I am!" Markus replied, leaping down in front of the cages.
"Well, if you're trying to recruit us, forget it!" Kelly spat.
"Like any of us would ever join up with you guys! Especially after what you did to our little buddy!" Vibrant added. This made Luke bang on the cage with a beastly growl, making most of the kids cower. Lynn then countered, banging on the cage, growling like an animal herself. Luke didn't even so much as flinch.
"I assure, joining us would prove beneficial to you, as it has been to us," Markus said, in a suave tone.
"Like we said, forget it! You guys have made Mavis' life a misery!" Mike stated.
"Besides, some of us already got in trouble with the law once before, and we'd rather not do it again!" Lori added.
"Really? Is that what she told you? Then I should correct some things, for instance, is was she who did THIS to me!" Markus yelled, showing them his hook for a hand.
"So ya have a hook for a hand, big whoop! That is so stereotypical for a pirate. What does that have ta do with Mavis?," Nathan asked.
"Aye, maybe. But what ye may not know, is that little mermaid friend of yours is also half gorgon! When she turned me into stone, her wretched father broke off me hand!" Markus explained. This caused confusion amongst the children. They knew Mavis was part Mermaid and part Nymph, but part Gorgon?
"And what proof do you have that Mavis is part gorgon? We can't just take your word for it," Nyx commented.
"Yeah, you guys could just be saying this to make us turn against her!" Clyde added.
"Arg, maybe we can't convince ye with words, but mark me words, that little girl will be guiding us to our biggest booty haul ever!" Aoi stated.
"Man, who knew pirates were such pervs?" Crystal commented. it took a moment for the pirates to figure out what she meant.
"N-No-no-no-no! Not that kind of booty!" Markus stated defensively.
"Yeah right. Mavis told us you wanted to, and I quote, 'trade her booty for big booty'," Melody countered.
"Whatever! Take them to separate ships. The same goes with the big boobed fairies and the snakes monster below deck! I will deal with them later," Markus ordered the higher up captains.
"Aye-aye, sir!" Aoi said, taking them all back down below.
"What do you guys even want with Mavis, or us?" Kelly questioned.
"Well, if ye must know, we be using your little friend to help us find the city of the mermaids, the lost City of Atlantis. As for ye little barnacles, you're all our hostages! As long as ye be in our brigs, yer family's won't be coming to save ye, not unless they value your lives," the chef pirate explained.
"We've been in situations like this more times than we can count! They always find a way!" Josh proclaimed.
"Aye, maybe so, but with our partner back in yer kingdom, they may never get the chance," Luke growled.
"So, do pirates have a thing for big butts or what?" Leni asked absentmindedly.
"Just get them out of me sight!" Marcus ordered, as the cages were taken away.
Back in Canterlot,
"Man, this is the easiest battle we've ever gotten into!" Silver commented, dressed as a salsa dancer, as the Alicorn's Wish Guild's elite, the Mane 6, the Royal Sisters, the Crystal Couple, Discord, Eris, and the Loud siblings guardians, all of whom were being unbelievably random, while effortlessly laying the smack down on Sombra, who was looking more than a little mangled.
"How can they be this powerful?! And they're all using such ridiculous attacks!" Sombra was struggling to stay standing.
"Just give up Sombra, your attempts to take over Equestria are more pitiful than that ridiculous haircut," Discord commented.
"Why you...…! Leave my hair out of this!" Sombra demanded.
"But what if I want to get involved?" a black hare asked.
"QUIT JOKING AROUND!" Eris yelled, ramming into Sombra like a torpedo.
"But I didn't say anything!" Sombra yelled, falling to the ground.
"Now that this pest is dealt with, we need to go and save the others!" Cassidy commented.
"But we're going to war against an entire fleet of pirates. We're going to need a lot of fire power to fight back," Rhonda commented.
"That's why I have this," Raiden commented, pressing a button on a remote control. A rumbling could be heard from outside. When they all went outside, they saw that the earth on the outskirts of Ponyville was splitting apart.
"No way! Ponyville has a split personality!" Pinkie Pie yelled, her eyes bulging comically. When the smoke cleared, a large ship was revealed.
"How long has that been there?!" Twilight exclaimed, her eyes bulging the same way.
"I've been working on it for a few months as a hobby, but now we can actually use it!" Raiden proclaimed.
"Well, since we're going to be on water, it makes sense. Plus, if we're bringing the other kids back, we're going to need as much space to bring them back with," Ross commented. Sombra was then heard cackling.
"What's so funny? We just laid the smack down on you," Rainbow Dash stated.
"True, I've been defeated, but I will eventually get the last laugh, thanks to my inside agent!" Sombra laughed boisterously.
"Eris, could you take him to Tartarus?" Discord asked.
"Sure thing Dad," Eris said, snapping her eagle talon, teleporting away with the disgraced king.
"In the mean time, we should get going. We need to save Mavis and the others as quickly as possible," Chris suggested.
"Quite right. We accepted that Toby kid's invitation with the knowledge that it was going to be some kind of Christmas Party, not having to deal with pirates or whatever," Randy commented.
"Good call. Then let's hurry. Round up the guild, and bring them to the ship," Discord told his sons.
"Right away," Stealth said, as the eight brothers went to round up everyone in the guild. All the while, Celestia couldn't help but think about what Sombra had said before being taken to Tartarus.
'What did he mean by an inside agent?' Celestia wondered, as she and her friends all went to ship themselves.
Chapter 29: The Guild Vs The Pirates (Part 1)(Rewritten)
Toby's cage, along with Dana, Marina, Fiona, Tabby, Lincoln, Leni, Luna, and Lola, were emptied out into different cells in the brig of a ship run by the Shadow Pirate's Beastliest Captain, Luke, "Ye scallywags can stay in thar while we find the treasure!" Luke said, as he eyed the Nymphs and Leni like they were big pieces of meat, "Hmm, not bad of a selection, if I do say so me self," Luke said, as he grabbed a hold of one of Dana's massive breasts, prompting the thiccest Nymph Sister to kick Luke in the family jewels.
"Keep your gross hands off the goods, bub!" Dana snapped.
"Gah! I'll... see to it.... yer.... punished for that! Oww," Luke said, holding his private area, limping away.
"Dang, she's good," Lola commneted, impressed at how Dana was able to handle Luke's perverted advances.
"How do we get out of here?" Serenity quietly asked.
"Perhaps the Nymphs could destroy the cage bars?" Charity asked.
"We'd love to, but something's keeping us from using our magic," Fiona replied.
"I'm feeling dark magic channeled into these bars, similar to King Sombra's," Tabby commented, looking at the bars.
"My guess is that Sombra must've given the pirates some of his dark magic, which is why and how they invaded Canterlot and kidnapped all of us," Lincoln commented.
"While we're on the subject, who even is King Sombra?" Luna Loud asked.
"Well, you see, about 1000 Years ago, King Sombra came into power of the Crystal Empire, He was a cruel dictator who treated his subjects like slaves. It took both Princesses Celestia and Luna to banish him to depths of darkness, but not before he placed a powerful curse on the Empire which caused it to disappear for 1000 years," Tabby explained.
"King Sombra uses Dark Magic that feeds on the fear and sorrow of all beneath him," Dana added.
"I doubt that even Lucy would like him," Lincoln commented.
"Hardly any one ever did back then, even to this very day. Even the likes of Queen Chrysalis and Lord Tirek despise Sombra," Fiona replied.
"So, will there be a day when Sombra will actually be likable, like, maybe next Tuesday?" Leni asked.
"No Leni, when they said 'to this day', they mean that everyone right now doesn't like Sombra," Toby clarified.
"Well, will anyone come to rescue us?" Lola asked.
"All we can do is hope," Lincoln replied.
"Wait, don't you guys still have your Pokemon from Alola?" Charity asked.
"We do, and we have them on us, but it may not be a good idea to call on them at the moment," Lincoln replied.
"Why not? We can bust out of here and escape easily!" Lola countered.
"True, but we don't know what these pirate guys are capable of. Even if we have our Pokemon and the Nymphs with their magic fighting off the pirates, what to say that they won't try something to stop us?" Lincoln countered back.
"Lincoln's right. We need to play it safe and hope that someone will come and save us," Luna Loud added.
"I just hope everyone is doing alright," Toby commented.
"By the way, I couldn't help but notice the way you Nymphs were talking about Sombra. It's as if you know him personally," Lincoln commented.
"We do, but we don't take any pride in that. As we said, Sombra was a total creep," Tabby replied.
Meanwhile, in the main flagship,
Mavis groggily came around, slowly sitting up, "Ugh, what happened?" she asked. Once she opened her eyes, she saw that she was in some kind of cage, in an office of some kind, "Where am I?" she wondered.
"Ye be in me office, ye scurvy fish!" Mavis' blood ran cold, as she turned to see the very same pirate that had taken her arm, "At long last! We have our mermaid!" Marcus said, as he circled the cage, like a vulture does with it's prey.
"W-What do you want from me?" Mavis timidly asked. Marcus then agressively banged the cage, getting a yelp from the young mermaid girl.
"Ya see, me crew and I are after the biggest booty haul in the history of the seven seas. We be after the Lost City of Atlantis!" Marcus said. Mavis was shocked. The pirates were after her, and slaughtered her own family, just so they could find the lost kingdom?!
"Y-you'll never find Atlantis! Only a Mermaid can show a human the way, and they can only do it of their own free will!" Mavis stated, trying her hardest to sound brave.
"True, but I'm sure you'll be willing to cooperate with us. Unless of course, ye don't actually care about yer land lubber friends," Marcus said, as he showed Mavis security camera images of each brig on the four ships. Each brig had her human friends, her Nymph Teachers, and the Royal Woods kids, "So, here's what I be proposing. Show us the way to Atlantis, and no harm will come to them. Refuse, and we'll find some kind of uses for them. Especially those bimbo fairies. They'd make fine playthings for me crew," Marcus said, eyeing the Nymphs with a perverted look on his face. Mavis, on the other hand, had a very scared look on her face. She didn't want any of her friends to get hurt by these pirates. She didn't know what her meant by "plaything", but she could tell it would be bad. Mavis then let out a heavy sigh.
"If I show you where Atlantis is, will you let mes amies go?" Mavis asked.
"As long as ye don't try any funny business, then I give me word," Marcus lied through his teeth. In turth, his fingers were crossed.
"Very well. First, we must head to the center of the Atlantic Ocean," Mavis explained.
"ALL HANDS, SET A COURSE FOR THE ATLANTIC OCEAN!" Marcus bellowed over an intercom system, as they changed course. However, it right then that the entire ship began to rock violently, as the fleet of pirate ships came under attack, "Gah!? What in the name of Davy Jones' Locker?!" he yelled.
"Captain, we're under attack! Some new ship just showed up, and started blasting us! We cannot go any further!" a pirate's voice called out. Marcus then turned on the monitor to see what was going on, and to his shock, it was some kind of futuristic ship, "What the...?! Who be piloting that thing?!" Marcus questioned, as he zoomed in on the bridge. There, he saw the Alicorn's Wish Guild, along with the adults from the Ball, all standing in opposition to the pirates, "It's those scurvy dogs again! Attention all hands! Prepare to launch a counter attack!" he yelled on the intercom, before storming out of the office.
"They came for us after all!" Mavis quietly exclaimed, a look of hope on her face.
"How did they even get here in the first place!?" Marcus questioned.
Several Minutes Ago, back in Equestria,
The Alicorn's Wish Guild was getting things ready for the battle against the pirates, and save the hostages, "Hold on!" Silver turned to see Twilight, and the rest of the adults standing before him, "We're coming too," she declared.
"Very well. We're getting ready to head out now," Silver replied, as they quickly boarded the ship. Silver then took his place at a podium, which overlooked the entire Guild, "Alright guys, you all know the situation! A fleet of pirates have kidnapped several of our friends and are using them as hostages. Our mission is to find the hostages, and rescue them!" Silver said, as he pulled up a display of the hostages, with the picture of Wanda being drawn on with marker.
"Really, Sister?" Princess Luna asked in a very annoyed tone.
"She knows what she did!" Celestia barked, only to get hit on the head with a book by Twilight.
"That's enough out of you," Twilight stated. Celestia held her head in chibi form.
"In any case, let's ship out!" Silver declared.
"Activating main thrusters!" Raiden said, punching in some keys, which activated the thrusters, "Alright, we have lift off!" Raiden exclaimed, as the ship began to fly up off of the ground.
"I'll open the portal," Discord said, snapping his eagle talon, which opened a portal.
"Portal confirmed. Flying into it now," Raiden said, as he steered the ship into the portal. Unbeknownst to anyone aboard the Guild's ship, another vessel was nearby, with seven familiar faces.
"Pirates? That doesn't sound good," James commented.
"Care to explain what that transmission has to do with us?" High Heel asked.
"Because I'm the only one who gets to kidnap my son! Those pirates are muscling in on MY territory," James replied.
"By the sounds of that transmission, those pirates may outnumber the guild," Pharoah Phetlock replied. James took a moment to think about it.
"You know, just this once, since it's the holiday season, we'll lend some aid to them. We could help ourselves to whatever treasures the pirates might have," James proposed.
"Ooh, how fiendishly clever," Mane-iac commented, as their ship proceeded through the portal.
Realtime,
"Alright guys, we're going to attack the pirate ships directly! Get to the hanger, and board the fighter jets!" Silver instructed the guild members.
"I've detected a forecfield around the main flagship! Four other ships are generating the power for that barrier! I've uploaded the data to each fighter jet! The top members of the Guild will advance to the four lesser ships, and will proceed to take out the generators!" Raiden said, as jets were released from the hanger. In retaliation, the pirates began to launch a counter attack, firing cannons and blasts of dark magic at the jets.
"That would explain why Sombra was so easy to defeat. He must've given his Dark Magic to the pirates," Twilight theorized.
"Is something like that possible?" Ross asked.
"In theory. Truth be told, humans are much more adept in magic than even alicorns or Discord," Celestia replied.
"Silver, we're taking heavy fire!" Icezer said over the com-links.
"There's too many shots being fired! We can't get close!" Claire added.
"Then maybe this should help!" an all too familiar voice said, as a fleet of flying robots flew in, not only shielding the fighter jets, but also launching their own attacks on the pirate ships.
"Wait, that voice.... It couldn't be!" Silver commented, as an image of James appeared on screen.
"James Mason.... what's a snake like you doing here?" Raiden asked, not even trying to hide his disgust for the man in his words.
"Relax. I have no intention of causing any of you trouble at the moment. The enemies have a common enemy, namely those pirates," James replied.
"And why should we accept any help from you?!" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"Because we both want to stop pirates. I only want to take back Toby, since he is my son!" James replied.
"Who is this guy?" Randy asked.
"He's a real piece of crap. He's Toby's biological father, who abused his own son just because he was jealous of the attention he was getting from his wife, who he murdered in cold blood," Silver replied.
"Is that true?" Ross asked, sounding absolutely appalled.
"It is. Now he's taken up residence somewhere in Equestria so that he can have an easier time kidnapping Toby," Twilight replied.
"In any case, we don't even want your help, James," Silver stated.
"And I'd rather not help any of you, but we can agree on one thing; These pirates must be stopped, so just this one time, let's call a truce until we defeat these pirates," James replied.The Fujiyama Brothers and the Ponies didn't like it, but they knew that James was right. The pirates needed to be stopped.
"Very well. Have your robots focus on clearing a path to these four ships. There's a tremendous amount of power generating a forcefield around the main flagship," Raiden said, transferring the data over to James' ship. Longface then punched in a few keys, which had all the robots focus their attacks on the four ships that were larger than the rest of the ships, but still smaller than the main flagship. This allowed the fighter jets piloted by the Guild's Elite Members to land on each of the four ships.
"Can we really trust James?" Fluttershy asked.
"I wish we didn't have to, but we may have no other choice," Rarity replied.
Chapter 30: The Guild Vs The Pirates (Part 2)(Rewritten)
Pirates left and right were quickly taken down, as the Elite Guild Members led an attack on the ship. They were able to infiltrate the inside of the ship. inside, they saw several bones from what they hoped were just meat based dishes, "Takashi, are you able to use sonar to find our target?" Stealth asked.
"I'M TRYING TO, BUT THE WOOD IS KIND OF MAKING IT HARD, SINCE IT'S ABSORBING THE SOUND WAVES," Echo-Echo replied, as they continued through the ship. Eventually, they arrived in a big metal room, which some kind of machine that looked like a ray gun. They also saw some machinery that looked like lunar panels.
"This looks to be the place," Cassidy commented.
"I'll go on ahead and try to find the hostages," Heiru said, as he phased through the floors.
"So, how about it, Takashi? Think you can destroy it?" Naomi asked.
"ONE GOOD SONIC BLAST SHOULD DO IT," Echo-Echo replied, pointing his arm at the ray gun, getting ready to blast it, when...
"I think not!" a voice called out, as Echo-Echo was slammed into a crate.
"Takashi! Are you ok?" Stealth asked.
"YEAH, BUT WHAT HIT ME?" Echo-Echo asked, as a teenage pirate boy, wearing a wolf pelt dropped down from above, growling like a beast.
"That be me. I am Admiral Luke's First Mate, Stanford! And for attempting to ruin our plans, I'm afraid we're going to send ye landlubbers to Davey Jones' Locker!" the beastly pirate said, growling like an actual animal.
"Ok, this guys is a total creep," Cassidy commented.
"Don't worry. He's just a mutt. We can take him," Namoi said, whipping out her claws.
"Is that so? Well, then how will ye fare against me crewmates?" Stanford questioned, as several pirates, some dress like him, came out of the shadows.
"A bit of a challenge, but nothing we can't handle," Stealth said, pulling out some shurikens, as they all charged at one another.
On Aoi's Ship,
"Man, these guys are pathetic!" Icezer said, as he froze several pirates in place.
"Makes you wonder who they stol from," Claire added, as she used her gravity powers to keep more pirates in place.
"In any case, we should be nearin' the barrier generator room," Eliza said, stepping on a pirate's head. They continued further into the ship, until they came across the generator room.
"Well, that certainly didn't take too long," Sora commented.
"Alright guys, spread oot and find the power supply. Destroy that, and the machine will be as useful as a submarine in the desert," Eliza said, as they searched the room, only for something very fast to strike them.
"Hmm, you scurvy dogs be stronger then ye look," a teen pirate girl with short pink hair said, as she stood before them.
"One of the Captain's flunkies, I take it?" Icezer asked.
"Aye. I am the First Mate to the Weapon's Specialist, Aoi. My name is Beatrice," the pirate girl replied.
"Well, just because you're a chick doesn't mean we're going to take it easy on you. We're destroying that machine by any means," Carlos said.
"Sorry, but not a single one of you will be doing that. None of you will even leave here alive," Beatrice said, drawing her sword.
"Funny. We aren't planning to sit by on our asses and let you pirates get away with your plans!" Lucas yelled, he nails enlongating.
"Hold on Lucas. Why don't you and the other boys head on ahead to rescue the hostages? Eliza and I can handle this girl," Claire said, drawing her own katana.
"Will you two be able to handle things here?" Icezer asked.
"Aye. Now go!" Eliza said. The boys quickly rushed to the door on the far end of the room.
"STAY RIGHT THERE!" Beatrice yelled, giving chase, only to be held down by Claire's gravity.
"Why you...." Beatrice said, using her sword to slice through the intensified gravity.
"Too bad. Now ye git ta play with us," Eliza said, turning her arms into swords.
"You two have no idea what kind of a huge mistake you've made.... Not only will I kill you," Beatrice said, turning to face their with a fierce glare, "I'll make sure you both wish you were never born!" she screamed, as some more pirates came in to join her. One looked like a giant television set, while another looked like a bamboo cup.
"Well Claire, think they'll show us a good enough time?" Eliza asked.
"Only one way to find out," Claire replied, as they lunged into battle.
On Damian's Ship,
A team led by Brian was making their way through a ship that looked like a fancy kitchen, "How did these pirates get a hold of a ship like this?" Brian questioned.
"Who knows? Even pirates have to eat," Takanosuke replied. Just then, Zach smelled something from down the hall, and immediately held his nose.
"Ugh! What a positively putrid odor!" Zach exclaimed.
"What does it smell like?" Simon asked.
"It smells like a mix of expired dairy products and moldy breads," Zach replied.
"Ok, that's beyond disgusting," Brian commented.
"But I can also faintly smell something like machine oil," Zach added.
"Machine oil? Maybe that's where we'll find the barrier generator," Brian commented, as they went down the hall, eventually arriving at the generator room.
"Jackpot! Well, let's get started," Takanosuke commented.
"Way ahead of you," Brian said, igniting his hands.
"Not so fast, ye landlubbers!" a teen pirate with blue hair, dressed as a chef, said, as he came out from behind the machinery.
"Had a feeling there'd be a guard," Simon commented.
"I be Patch, First Mate and Sous Chef to Damian," the pirate said.
"It doesn't matter what your name is. We just want to bring you assholes down!" Brian stated.
"Heh, I'd like to see ye try!" Patch said, as some more pirates came out from the shadows. One of them looked like a bowl of ice cream, while another was a giant churro.
"You're underlings include a bowl of ice cream and a churro?" Brian asked rhetorically.
"Not just any old ice cream. The most evil flavor of ice cream there is; Pistachio!" the ice cream proclaimed.
"No matter. Let's fight!" Brian said, as the Guild Elite charged in to attack.
On Clarence's Ship,
Choosing to sneak around the ship was a smart move on the part of the Guild Elite, as Francisco had warped them into the fourth ship, "Ok guys, let's step quietly," he said, as the last of the Guild Elite snuck onto the ship. Eventually, they had arrived in a big metallic room, where scorch marks adorned the walls, as if a war had been waged. In the dead center was their quarry; the barrier generating ray gun.
"Whoa, this place looks like it's seen better days," Leon commented.
"And it'll look even worse once we're done with it," Maria replied, as they spread out to find the control panel. April shrieked as she rounded a corner, and stumbled back.
"What's wrong, babe?" Francisco asked, as he and the others went to his girlfriend's aid. They soon found their answer, as they saw some kind of ferocious monster, waiting in a cage, "What the hell is that thing?!" the space warping teen exclaimed.
"Impressed by my pet?" a depressed boy's voice asked, as a pirate, wearing a bird shaped mask came out of hiding.
"I take it you're the guard of this place?" Leon asked.
"Indeed. I am the First Mate to Clarence, and the mightiest of all the First Mates," the pirate replied.
"We like to learn our opponent's name before we pummel him. You got one?" Francisco asked. The pirate did a dramatic action pose.
"H," he stated. The mutants were flabbergasted.
'That is way too cool a name for this tool!' they all thought.
"I know why you're here. In order for the main Flagship to be vulnerable to attack, you must first destroy this machine. As a result, I must engage in battle t defend it," H said, as several more pirates emerged from the shadows. Among them was a giant number 6, "And we intend to do whatever it takes to defend our captain's master plan," he said, as the pirates engaged the Elite.
Deep below the ocean's surface,
A pair of colossal, ocean blue eyes opened on a colossal figure, who glared towards the surface.
On the Main Flagship,
The battle between the Guild's Elite and the First Mates were closely monitored by Markus and his admirals, "Hmm, this Guild may be more trouble than I originally thought," Markus commented.
"Those two bimbos fighting Beatrice must be pretty full of themselves, with how their fighting so gracefully," Aoi seethed romantically, as she saw the team of Eliza and Claire taking on Beatrice and her henchmen.
"eep it together Aoi. Don't forget, they be the enemy," Damian replied.
"You're right. At least those two have more dignity than those fairies we took hostage, prancing around in their underwear, showing off their big boobs and fat butts," Aoi seethed.
"Yeah, they are some fine pieces of ass," Luke drooled, only to get roundhouse kicked by Aoi.
"We should still prepare, just in case your First Mates are bested in battle," Markus recommended.
"What are you planning to do to my friends?!" Mavis questioned, still suspended in her cage.
"If they manage to infiltrate me ship, we'll gladly put an end to their pitiful lives. Our First Mates are powerful, sure, but me and me Admirals are in another league entirely," Markus explained.
"And our Captain is extraordinarily powerful himself," Clarence said, as they left Mavis all alone. Mavis felt so helpless.
'I can't believe that all of this is happening because of me,' she sadly thought to herself.
"My, my, such negative emotions," Mavis looked up to see the demonic Mavis from her nightmare standing before her, in an astral form.
"Y-You!"Mavis exclaimed.
"Oui. As a result of your negative emotions mixing with King Sombra's Dark magic, as well as the magic you gained from those bimbos, I am slowly, but surely gaining enough power to soon take over your body," the evil Mavis said, a wicked smile on her face.
"N-Non! My friends and family would never allow something like that from happening! Besides, mon teachers told me that Nymph magic is purely of light, and can never be tainted by darkness," Mavis countered, just as a sharp pain shot through her head, causing Mavis to drop to her knees, gripping her head.
"Hmm, how interesting. My plan may come to fruition much sooner than i originally planned," the evil Mavis observed, as she disappeared, leaving Mavis to tend to her headache.