Chapter 6: Mavis' Ophidiophobia

After a few moments of travelling, Mavis then dozed off again. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the middle of a field of flowers, "W-wait, I thought I w-was on a train?" Mavis said to herself. Looking around, she could faintly see two adults. And much to her surprise, she recognized them as her parents, "M-mommy? D-daddy?!" Mavis asked hysterically.

The two looked over towards the little girl, and smiled warmly, "Yes  baby, its us," the woman said. Mavis felt happiness and security for the first time in a while, and quickly ran towards them. But as she continued to run, her parents kept getting farther and farther away. After a while, her overjoyed expression so turned to fear, as her parents were engulfed in a fire, screaming in pure agony.

"No, Mommy! Daddy!" Mavis cried, as she reached out to them. But as she got close to the fire, she could see the bullies that had burned her house down and killed her parents, glaring evilly down at her.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A little bratty baby wanting her mommy and daddy?" Mark taunted cruelly, as he and Kyle circled around her.

"Aw, what's the matter, you want some milky?" Kyle taunted, pouring a bottle of ice cold milk all over Mavis.

"P-please, leave me a-alone!" Mavis pleaded.

"WHAT?! You think you deserve to ask for anything?! You got us in trouble, and its all your fault your pathetic mommy and daddy got killed!" Mark spat.

"B-b-but I," Mavis was cut off with a hard punch to her face.

"SHUT UP! Man we're sick of hearing your voice! Of course, for little rodents like you, I think our pet snake would love to have you for dinner," Mark said, opening a box, which released a mammoth sized snake. Mavis tried to run, but tripped over a rock. Looking back, she became paralyzed in fear as the giant snake loomed over her. Without warning, the snake lunged at poor Mavis, who thankfully woke up from the traumatic nightmare just before the snake could devour her.

Waking up from her nightmare, Mavis looked up to see Twilight and friends looking down at her in worry, "Mavis, are you alright? You looked like you were having a nightmare," Twilight asked worriedly.

"Uh, well I, uh," Mavis was too nervous to say.

"Its alright Mavis, you can tell us, we're your friends," Fluttershy cooed. Taking a deep breath, Mavis then retold what she saw in her nightmare, how she saw her parents, the bullies, and explained her immense fear of snakes, "Oh dear," Fluttershy said.

"You needn't worry about those awful bullies anymore. You're among those who'll protect you from villains like them," Rarity reassured.

"And we'll make sure you don't have to face any snakes while you're here," Twilight said.

"Th-thank you," Mavis quietly said, just as the train stopped.

"Well, we're here," Twilight said, letting Mavis onto her back, and walking out of the train, "Ok, so where should we go first?" she asked her friends.

"How about Sugarcube Corner? Maybe Mavis would like something sweet?" Melody suggested.

"Well, its worth a shot, what do you say Mavis?" Twilight asked.

"Uh, w-well I don't know. Sugary f-foods make me all q-queasy, but I d-doubt it'll be l-like that f-forever," Mavis replied.

"Well, we could make a sugar free cupcake for you, if you want?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"W-well, I guess that w-would be o-ok," Mavis replied, playing with her hair.

"Ok, we'll make it," Pinkie said, as she and the others made their way to the bake shop.

Back in the Crystal Empire, Cadence and Shining Armor were beginning to make Mavis' bedroom. It came complete with a toy box full of toys like a ball, some stuffed animals, and a coloring book collection, a little table for tea parties, some floral bed sheets, and some decorative window shades, "Oh Shining, I hope Mavis will like what we give her," Cadence said.

"I'm sure she will," Shining Armor reassured, as the door opened to reveal Celestia and Luna.

"How goes the decorating?" Celestia asked.

"We're just about done. Good thing I know what to use to help counter Mavis' fearful nature," Cadence said, holding up a book which was named 'Decorating for children with endless fear', "This one chapter explains how the right window shades help give soothing comfort to children like Mavis,"  Cadence said, looking up the chapter on window shades.

"Well, we've just about got the paperwork ready for you to sign, but that can wait until Mavis is ready for a party, as Pinkie Pie said," Celestia said.

"Great! Now Mavis can feel happy and secure, knowing she'll have a loving family to care for her," Cadence exclaimed happily.

'Humph, too bad she'll never get the chance, because I will use the love you give her against her, then I, Prince Blueblood, will retake me rightful place as prince of Equestria, and dethrone all unworthy royals, starting with you, dear cousin Cadence, and that nopony, Twilight Sparkle. Afterwards, I can banish all those apes from Equestria, once and for all,' Blueblood thought to himself, as he lurked in the shadows.