I looked out over the vast expanse of ocean. The gulf of northwestern Equestria was wrapping around from the spot I'd stopped in. The deep water teetered my boat. I had no idea if I was deep enough, but I'd painted the underside a bright white. I could only sit here and wait for Orchid to show up and we could get back to the compound.

I stretched my neck, my hoodie a bit damp from the sea spray. "Come on Orchid...it's cold out." I walked back to the cabin, I'd kept a surefire way to get her out in there. The boat probably wouldn't fare very well, but it never did. I hurried into the cabin and grabbed the bag I needed. A krinkly bag of chips came along as I walked to the stern and looked over into the water.

My heart jumped for a moment as I saw a massive glowing eye staring up at me, the other one a few feet if not a few yards away. "Jesus, Orchid...you really gotta stop that."

Orchid blinked and swam off the bow. I held my breath as the water crowned upwards, a hill forming up under Orchid's head as she breached. Her ears shot out first, dripping water and seaweed. A massive hoof pressed against the bow, tilting it downward slightly. She hung over me completely, head shadowing a large portion of my boat. She let out a loud churl, groaning at me, staring down at me with her glowing eyes. "Hi Chris" Her voice matched her size, rattling my bones with her heavy tone. "Chips?"

I stared up at the giant sharp toothed mare. "Orchid, have you been eating squid again? You smell like squid." I put my hands on my hips, the glowing blue mare shrinking down slightly, taking her hooves off my boat as she sank back down. "Orchid...."

She slunk down into the water until only the upper half of her head was above water. She opened her mouth, letting water rush in. She drooped her nose down and force a few bubbles up from the water's surface. "Orchid look at me!" She sank deeped into the water, keeping her eyes focused on the landfall to the east. "Orchid!"

Orchid threw her head out of the water, rearing up high over me. She let out a disgusting roar, spitting seawater and saliva past my boat. I stared up at the colossal creature as it loomed over me. I held my arms out. "What?!"

Orchid sank back into the water, making sure to keep her entire hut sized head above the waves. "...They taste good."

I shook my head. "Sure. And Orchid, don't try and bluff me." I reached into my pocket and drew a pistol. "It won't work." I pointed it at the base of her ear and squeezed off a few shots.

Orchid shook her head as the rounds ricocheted off and into the water. "I'm not itchy."

I sighed loudly and put my pistol away. "I know...I still like that I can shoot you and nothing will happen." I walked up to the edge of my boat and stuck my hand out. "Now come here."

Orchid floated over, offering the tip of her armor plated muzzle to me. "Chris, they said I had to stop eating the ugly fish."

I scratched my upper lip before reaching up and scratching the tip of her rubbery muzzle. "Did you?"

Orchid's cheeks started to glow as she sank down, keeping her muzzle above the water. "Maybe."

I shook my head. "I know the ones they're talking about, magical mutations of sharks or something. And you shouldn't be eating those, they're right!"

Orchid's antenna slid over the edge of the bow as she sank back down. She popped back up, strange mane dripping seawater. "I like them though."

I looked towards the coast, Sea-Saddle sitting bright on the dim afternoon sky. "And? I know ponies who like fish, doesn't mean its good for them!"

Orchid shook her head. "I'm a pony...."

I reached down, a long pole sitting across my bow with a sharp rake on the end. "Yeah, but you're a big, big special pony." I swung the giant rake up and brought it down across her muzzle. "Orchid, who's my big pony?!" I brought the rake down across Orchid's muzzle.

Orchid's ears flicked, shooting water across the boat. "I am--"

"Louder." I scratched my mare's nose. "Come on, who's my good pony--"

Orchid pulled her head back and shook herself. "I am!" Her tail whipped over the surface as she reared up, the thick shark like tail unweildy. "I'm a special pony!"

I pulled my rake away as the boat started to rock. "Alright! Orchid-- chill!" I held onto my boat as her tail threw my boat about. "Orchid! Stop it!"

Orchid snapped her head towards me and stopped. She sank back down into the water, my boat bobbing slowly out away from her. She swam after me, lurking under the water like a shark. "Sorry." She reached up with her chin and rested against the back of my boat. "Too big...."

I took a deep breath and put my hand on her nose. "It's okay sweetie...it's not your fault." I rubbed her nose a little, the mare's glowing eyes buried in my skull. "Orchid...I know that look."

She looked away. "Sorry."

I shook my head. "Urges?"

She churrled again, her throat slowly filling with water as she opened her mouth. "Hungry."

I looked over at the deck, the bag of chips missing already. "Let's got to Altan, I'll feed you once we get there."

Orchid grumbled loudly. "Mean ponies...don't like them, mean to me."

I shook my head and patted her nose. "I know, but I'll be there." I pointed to the west. "Now, you gonna keep me safe?"

Orchid swam back and snapped her jaws at me, thick, sharp teeth crashing together and letting off a thick smell of blood. "Yes. I'll chew on them if they get too close."

I nodded. "Good girl." I went back to my helm and looked around the Equestrian ocean. "Hopefully it wont come to that again." My mind shot back to the magically curse or deformed creatures that roamed the seas. Ponies turned into monsters, normal fish deformed and turned into dark blood thirsty creatures the size of whales. "Well, come on then."

The giant fish mare swam beside my boat, glowing head slick and shiny in the falling sunlight. I couldn't wait to get back under the water and get back to work with the ponies trying to rid the seas of these monsters. And as much as I didn't like them using Orchid like a weapon, she was bulletproof, stab proof, and giant, there wasn't much that could hurt her.

I watched her swim, the filly had grown up from a modified pony embryo, into this massive apartment building sized monster with skin so thick she couldn't be killed by conventional means. I had to wonder how many ponies gave up life and limb to get her here, and she was still just a filly, or minded like a filly. I dreaded the day she became a mare for several reasons, but for now I could treat her like she deserved, like the curious young mare she was.

Only a mare bound to the seas due to her size. I had to talk to the ponies at Altan about size reduction and issues that might rise of her changes. But right now, I could just sail along with a sea mare guiding my way with her glowing body. "Pretty filly, aren't ya?" I sighed loudly, screaming would have felt better but solved a lot less.

Author's Note