SplashyHorse

SplashyHorse was back in her splashing pool, splashing as blissfully as she had been earlier that day. With more grace than a swan, she gesticulated wildly in the water, causing a great but beautiful ripple that reverberated around the pool rhythmically. Were someone observing Splashy, they would easily see how magnificent and divine her splashing was and they would ask to join her. In fact, that’s almost exactly what was about to happen.

“Hey, Splashy…”

Splashy slowed her splashing slightly and gave her attention to the voice calling her. Approaching the pool exactly as she had that morning was BookHorse, though Splashy noticed her expression was full of embarrassment. Splashy waited for BookHorse to reach the edge of the pool before responding.

“Hey, BookHorse. Is your book alright?” Splashy asked calmly.

“It’s… It’s a little complicated. The book was ruined, but… it wasn’t the last copy. Princess MoonButt sent it to me with a note saying ‘Important: Last Edition’. I thought it meant the last of it’s kind, but she meant the last version that was published… Turns out there’s several copies in the Canterlot library… I’m sorry, Splashy. I blew up at you for something that was my fault and overreacted. Again… I hope you can forgive me.” BookHorse lowered her head.

“Hmmm.” SplashyHorse hummed slowly, “Well, I suppose… I’m just teasing. Of course I forgive you. We’re friends, remember?”

“Thank you, Splashy. I’m so relieved.” BookHorse’s expression brightened considerably.

“Hehe, that’s good. So, I already forgive you but I think you owe me one thing.” Splashy gave BookHorse a teasing look.

“What do I owe you?” BookHorse’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh, not much. It’s just I remember somepony calling my splashing ‘stupid’, so you have to come splash with me. Don’t judge something until you try it.” Splashy grinned mischievously.

“Oh, I don’t think-” BookHorse rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof.

“Come on. You called my splashing stupid. Don’t tell me you won’t make it up to me.” Splashy gave BookHorse a fake pout.

BookHorse sighed. “Fine.”

BookHorse gazed tentatively at the water. After a while, she gently prodded it with a hoof. Finally, after taking a breath and screwing her eyes shut, BookHorse leapt into the water with SplashyHorse. BookHorse sputtered a bit as she surfaced and looked at Splashy. Splashy simply looked back and continued splashing. After a long and awkward pause, BookHorse finally drew back a hoof and slapped at the water with it. She paused for a moment before repeating the process. Then she repeated it again. And again. And again. A few more repeats and suddenly Splashy and BookHorse were both splashing at equal rates. A slow smile spread across BookHorse’s face as she realized how amazing splashing really was.

“Wow! This is fantastic!” BookHorse splashed happily.

“I’m glad you think so. You know, if you want, you can come splash with me any time you want. I’m here pretty much all the time.” Splashy offered.

“Really? That’d be wonderful! Who knew something so simplistic could be so… amazing. Thanks for showing me this, Splashy.” BookHorse said gratefully.

“No problem. I’d recommend stopping for now though. Splashing is addictive. Any more and you’ll be here all night. Come by and the morning and we can splash again.”

BookHorse nodded and stopped splashing, though her face betrayed the urge to splash. Fortunately, BookHorse seemed to resist the urge and got out of the splashing pool. BookHorse started to walk away but stopped for a moment and turned back to Splashy.

“Thanks again, Splashy. For forgiving me, I mean.”

“It’s no problem. Really. I even got a splashing buddy out of it.” Splashy gave BookHorse a reassuring look.

“Yea. Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for letting me try your hobby. It was a real.. splash.” BookHorse said with a snicker.

Splashy stared at BookHorse with a dead expression. BookHorse gazed back briefly before breaking eye contact and blushing.

“Right, bad joke. Sorry. I’ll just be going.”

And BookHorse left, leaving Splashy to her splashing. And as was told, this tale was filled with joy. It had some woe too, but most of the woe was BookHorse’s bad pun. From those days onward, splashing remained a peaceful event. Splashy no longer had drama (at least any caused by splashing) and she remained happily engaged to JHaller, to be married at a date currently undetermined. And they lived splashily ever after.