An Angel from the Deep

  Squirt snuggled beside her with much pity. All was interrupted when a creaking of the window was heard. Two mischievous looking sea snakes slid in. Sea snakes were one of the most untrusted creatures in the sea, but made up for it with their cunning use of speech.

  Roxanna and Squirt looked at them with fright and curiosity. "Who...Who are you?" asked Roxanna. "Why, us?" replied one of them. "We are what you could call angels in disguise." claimed the other one. "We couldn't help but notice your dilemma." "What a shame, all those years of treasure hunting, destroyed by that monster you call your uncle." "Now hang on, he's not a monster, he's just very stubborn." claimed the princess. "I think that's an understatement; would you agree, my dear brother?" "Of course, fellow brethren. If only there was a way to make all of her highness' sorrows go away." Sparks seemed to ignite in their eyes when they said together, "Ah, but there is!"

  "What are you talking about?" she asked. "Our master," said one, gliding the tip of his slimy tail under Roxanna's chin, causing her to wince, "she can make everything all better." "Follow us, and we'll take you to her. She's always willing to help anyone...including merfolk." "Wait a minute, you'd better promise not to hurt her. She's much more powerful than you think!" proclaimed Squirt, protecting his beloved mermaid. "Oh, don't worry, we won't harm a scale." one replied. "Now, come with us." Not wanting to stay with Mordecai, Roxanna followed the sea snakes out the window with Squirt gently wrapping two tentacles around her neck like a backpack to hold on.

  They were led to a spooky kelp forest, somewhere they've never been before. After navigating their way through the weeds, they arrived at an underwater cave. The smell emitting from within wasn't pleasant, and a dark, gloomy, misty corridor awaited its visitor. "Master, we have returned with guests." said the two snakes. "Guests? Oh my, I do love company. Do come in." The voice echoed through the cave, having a low and sly tone. As they entered, the water cooled down. The sea snakes swam ahead to greet their master. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" A large figure emerged from the cave's murky mists. "A mermaid? And her little octopus, too? Oh my, how lovely!" The two "guests" stopped in their tracks. "MEDULLA?!?!" "Of course, dearies. Who else would be here? Davy Jones, perhaps? He's a few miles from here, but anyways, of course it's me." Medulla, no other creature was like her. She was half human, half snake. Her big, thick tail was so long, it twisted around the nooks and crannies of the cave. Her grey hair waved menacingly in the water, and her eyes could hurt anyone who dared stared into them long enough. Her pale skin contrasted her ruby red lips, but her fangs and snake tongue ruined its appearance.

  "So, from what it seems, you have quite the problem on your hands." "How did you know?" asked Roxanna. "Why else would swim into the dark depths of the sea? Plus, my precious sea snakes accompanied you. Does that answer your question?" "I...guess." "So then, what's been troubling you, dearie?" Medulla wrapped her arm around the princess, her cold and wrinkled hand making her twitch. "Uh, well...you see, I..." Medulla put a finger to Roxanna's lips. "Ah ah ah! Let me guess." She put her fingers to her chin and hummed a small "hmmm" in thought. "I've got it! Ever since you came here as a youngin', you've been collecting land items with your little pal, here. But lately, your uncle Mordecai discovered them and destroyed everything. Plus, you recently rescued a group of those pony creatures from drowning in a shipwreck. You wanted to standby and guard them until they awoke, singing and playing your harp in your spare time. When they woke up, only one remembered you, and no one else believed her. Now, you want to convince them it was you, but you don't want to put yourself or your kind at risk."

  She stared into Roxanna's eyes, filled with a mix of shock, fright, and amazement. "Guess I was right. Come, follow me." The two followed her into her lair, despite her freakish knowledge of their recent events. "So, from what I've heard, these ponies are looking for something. Something YOU, my darling mermaid, have. And before you ask what it is, let me tell you. When you rescued those ponies that night, you did more than save their lives; you fulfilled a prophecy." "A prophecy?" repeated Roxanna in surprise. Then she recalled what caused the incident in the first place. "Wait a minute. Weren't YOUR sea spirits the ones who wrecked the ship?" "Yes, they were. I've summoned so many of them over the past years that they escape right from under my nose! I can't really keep good track of them." "I see..." said Roxanna, slightly suspicious. "So, what's this about a prophecy?" "Before I tell you, dear, I must ask you something. Have you heard of the Elements of Harmony?"

   "Yes, Mordecai told me about them. He claimed that they were destroyed, though, after the hippocampi extinction." "Lies, dearie, lies." claimed Medulla, as she put an enchanted book on a pedestal. Using some magic, she brought up a hologram-type of image of the six ponies and their elements. "These are the ponies you rescued, yes?" Roxanna nodded. "Well, these ponies were guardians of the elements, until they had to give them up to save their land. The prophecy states that when you saved those ponies, a new Element of Harmony was discovered.  They don't know what it is, yet. But the princess who remembered you thinks you're the one." "Me?" she asked. "But I'm not a pony! Though, if I was this missing element, what would Mordecai think? I'm willing to bet that he'd want them perished! Medulla, what should I do?" The witch smiled a devious grin. "That, darling, is where I come in." She took out another book, this time filled with spells. "How's about we strike up a deal? I was thinking, if you want to fulfill this prophecy, but wish not to harm the merpeople, why not go to them in disguise?" Roxanna and Squirt looked at her, having a slight idea where this was going. "Your point, may I ask?" said the mermaid.

"My point is..." She slithered closer to the princess. "...for a short period of time, I, personally, could turn you into a beautiful pony."

  The two friends' jaws hung agape. Was she serious? "You...could do that?" asked Roxanna quietly. "Certainly!" replied Medulla. "The spell lasts for a week. I'd be willing to do it...but, like I said, I have to make a deal." "What is it?" she asked. "Well, since I definitely believe you are the new element, you, and you alone, must convince the princess and her friends that you are it. If you do, I will be willing to change you into a pony permanently! Though, if you don't, you'll turn back into a mermaid, and you must spend the rest of your days as my slave! You'll be kept in heavy shackles and be treated miserably. Although, the chances of that are unlikely." Roxanna shivered in fright. "Plus, you must also pay your fee." "But I don't have much money..." "Why would I need money, dear? I'm banished, after all. No, I want something much more valuable." She flicked her finger against Roxanna's chin. "I want your voice."

  Roxanna gripped her throat. "My...my voice?!?! But how will I ever tell..." "You don't need a voice to tell them. Actions speak for themselves, darling. Don't worry, it will be safe with me." From out of nowhere, a scroll and pen appeared in front of her. "So, do we have a deal?" Roxanna wasn't so sure. It was very risky, but the positive outcome seemed possible. She looked over at Squirt, who was clenching onto her shoulder. He looked up at her, a small smile on his face. "Roxanna, know whatever you choose, I'll always be there for you, and you'll never stop being my best friend." Roxanna smiled big and hugged her buddy. "Come now, make your decision. I haven't got all day." claimed the witch, snapping her fingers repetitively. She looked over at the floating parchment and took a deep breath. She grabbed the pen and signed her name at the bottom. "The deed shall be done!" With a 'POOF!', the scroll disappeared.

  Medulla opened up another spell book and started chanting magical words. The force of the spell flung Squirt off of Roxanna and onto the cave floor. A hurricane like magic swirled around the two women, blocking them from seeing the area around them. The sea witch opened a fancy bottle, and afterwards said, "Sing, my child! Sing your voice to me!" Roxanna nervously started singing a simple up and down scale, moving up a note every new round. Her voice shook as a pair of ghostly hands rose from the bottle and floated towards her. One wrapped around her tightly, while the other slid down her throat, grabbing her magical voice and taking it away. She clenched her throat as her voice echoed its last noise into the awaiting bottle, which Medulla instantly closed. Her maniacal laugh rebounded through her lair. Squirt saw a silhouette of his best friend being captured in a bubble of magic. He hid behind a rock as he watched on terrified. Roxanna's tail split in two, her fins falling to the floor, along with the same colored skin around her waist. The color of her tail spread through her whole body, minus her hair. All of Roxanna's skin was now an aqua green. She felt her arms and split tail thickening, her hands being forced into fists. The soon resembled hooves. A wave of thick, brown hair grew behind her, above where her belly and tail met, while her ears became more pointy and moved closer to the top of her head.

  All of a sudden, a burst of light emitted from the bubble. The magic field disappeared, leaving Squirt to gasp with his jaw agape. Roxanna finished her transformation, her once mermaid body now completely turned into a pony. She squirmed in the water, not knowing how to swim in her state. Squirt's instincts kicked in and he swam towards Roxanna. He knew what she needed. She need air...now. He grabbed her, and with all his might, helped her swim towards the surface. "Swim for your life, pony princess!" were the last words, along with her wicked laughter, that the two heard from Medulla. Roxanna was getting weak, as they were really deep underwater. When she thought she couldn't hold her breath anymore,

SPLASH!!!

  They broke through the surface. Roxanna gasped for air and coughed. "Come on, Roxanna. We need to get you to shore." The pony was really tired and weak from the transformation, so she simply nodded as she caught her breath. The two made off toward the land, where she could rest until she was ready to explore.