Gazing to the Ocean of the Sky

Chapters

2 - Just a Turn to the Right
4 - Salvaging Rights
5 - It's What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me
6 - Learning to Swim
7 - Welcome to Ponyville
8 - Equality
9 - Neither Quill nor Sofa
10 - Something Interesting
11 - We're on Our Own
13 - Sisters in the Forest
14 - A Multi-legged Approach
15 - Meeting in Isolation
16 - Fateful Encounters
17 - The Second Episode, or, Clothes Make the Mare
18 - Darling, You're an Absolute Mess!
19 - Measuring Up
20 - The Third Episode, Taking a Dive
21 - Return to the Start
22 - Welcome to the Dry
23 - Angered Sea
24 - End Story
25 - Episode 4, A Very Important Date
26 - They Arrive
27 - I Like Trains
29 - On Our Own
30 - New Friend
31 - The Perfect Tree
32 - Ride Home, End Episode
33 - Episode 5, The Wave Begins
34 - Familiar Faces
35 - Repairs
36 - End Episode, The Tsunami of Prophecy
37 - Episode 6 - In the Mirror
38 - To the Rescue
39 - Race Ya
40 - End Episode - Science makes Right
41 - Episode 7, Harry Situations
42 - Breaking Bread
43 - See?!
45 - Episode 8, Drier Dry
46 - Arriving Wet
47 - Watcha Doin'?
48 - Insecure Footing
49 - End Episode - Dry Power in the Air, Sea Beneath
50 - Episode 9, Rolling Rolling Rolling
51 - Dancing
52 - Horny
53 - Welcome Back?
54 - We Can Do It
1 - Star Gazing
3 - Where Surf Meets Sand
12 - Trees Are Friends, Trees Are Enemies
28 - Graveyard of Machines
44 - End Episode, Relations

2 - Just a Turn to the Right

With a final twist, the hoof came off, but the whole thing looked uneven. She was ready for that though and attacked it with a sharp cutter that she ran along the uneven edge until it came down nice and flat. Then she curled it up and around and banged on it until both sides had a lip to it. The more she worked, the more it seemed like it was just the right size... Had it been made for a hippocampus?

"Why three hooves?" She tilted her head at her half-repaired device. "Maybe that's why it stopped working."

"Cerulean Firstquarter Tide!" came the bellowing voice of her mother. Her full name had been invoked, and that means nothing good.

Cherry winced with fear and looked left and right even as her mother stormed into the room in a flurry of bubbles. "Do you even know what I just got?"

"Um..."

She thrust forward a hoof with a small shell attached. It was her report card. "Always distracted. Doesn't pay attention to lessons. Not living up to her potential..." She scowled at her daughter. "That's it. Enough! You had your fun." She darted forward and grabbed for the machine and Cherry's chest tightened. She was so close, she couldn't even stand the idea of losing it. She swam forward and down, coming up from beneath with her hooves grabbing it even as her mother did and they began wrestling back and forth for it. "Let it go. It's not yours anymore."

"Mom! No!" She pulled once more. Though her mother was larger, she was no young creature anymore, and she slipped. Cherry flew backwards with the device and they crashed against the far wall. Cherry felt dizzy and a little cramped. Looking down, she saw she had managed to catch the device around her barrel, where it had gotten stuck about halfway down. The hooves hung from her like she had four of them. Was that? What was it?

Her mother raised a brow at her. "Are you alright? Look, I didn't come in here to hurt you, Cherry. You're my girl, and I care about you. You know that, right?" She swam closer and reached for Cherry. "Now let's get you out of that thing. We can have a nice dinner and put this--"

"No!" Cherry kicked away with her powerful tail, darting around her mother. "Mom, you're a genius! I think this is what I was supposed to do."

She raised a brow. "Do for what? Dear, you look a little ridiculous."

A sudden ticklish sensation gripped Cherry and she writhed in a fit. The machine slid off of her and sank to the floor. She was glowing gently with an inner light, but it was already fading.

Her mother blinked with surprise. "You... What is that?" She leveled a hoof at the new cutie mark that adorned her daughter. "Those are the things you used on that thing! What even are they?"

She didn't know, not by name. It was the thing that turned things and the other thing that turned other things. "I'm not entirely sure, but if it's my mark, then this is my destiny." She grabbed her fallen machine with her hooves. "You can't argue that, mother."

Her mother looked crestfallen, shrinking a bit on herself. "Cherry... Look, first, congratulations. I'm very proud of you, but I don't know what to do. Please understand. If you'd gotten a mark in swimming, I'd have you in a swimming club in a flash to learn to be the best swimmer in the ocean." She pointed at the alien mark. "I don't know what to do with this! I don't think you even know what to do with it."

Cherry's ears pinned to her head a moment as she held her beloved device and frowned with obvious thought. "I found this by the dryness. Maybe it's from there. Maybe that's where I need to be."

She put her hooves on Cherry's shoulders. "That is no place for any of us... There are no fish. There is no water, no seaweed! What will you do there? Please... There must be something else."

Cherry flicked her tongue over her lips as she looked anywhere but at her mother. "Let me think about it. Alright? Let's sleep on it."

Her mother visibly relaxed. "Yes, sleep on it..." She bobbed her head firmly. "That sounds like a great idea, but first, a little snack. Look, I forgive you. For better or worse, you found your mark. I don't understand it, but you found it. You're still my daughter, and I want you to be happy."

Cherry released her machine. Hugging her mother suddenly felt like the most important thing in the world, so they hugged, tightly and desperately. Somehow, they both knew they would part soon.

Twilight sat down before the terminal that had brought her no pleasure the last time she had tried it. She grumbled as she glared at it coldly.

Spike hopped up on a box nearby. "Why are we back here again?"

Twilight waved a hoof at him. "The pony I rented it from said it was my fault it was lost. He said get it back, and so here we are." She rolled her eyes and reached out, flicking the first screen on. The dot was far removed from where it had been sinking. "Huh, looks like a tide carried it along? I wonder if the camera works."

She reached for another button and she saw a picture. It was the ocean bottom, just as she wanted to see, but none of the controls moved the camera even a tiny bit. All it could see was the ocean, sideways and half buried. The terminal began to beep softly, then the image went dark and a new light flashed sadly, reporting the camera had no more magic to power it remaining.

Twilight threw up a hoof in frustration. "He said it'd run for a day and it was powered off this entire time! Lousy piece of..."

Spike leaned forward from his perch. "What if it's broke?"

She frowned a little. "That would make sense. Maybe that's why the movement didn't work." She tapped at the terminal. "If I'm reading this correctly, the forelegs are busted, but the hindlegs show just fine." She wriggled the controls for them. "Nothing seems to happen though."

Cherry sat upright in her bed, swimming free towards the clanking sound to discover her machine seemingly try to hobble itself around with little success. Its legs kicked and twitched in failed attempts at movement. She tilted her head one way and the other at the curious device. "Does it want to go home?" Was it even alive? Did it have a will? No, that didn't make sense... It didn't cry when she broke it or cut it or the other things.

She grabbed it and held it up so just its hooves touched the ground, and it began to move properly. It seemed to lack the balance to remain upright, but so long as she handled that, it could walk along. It bumped into a wall with her, seemingly unable to see that there was a wall. Her curiosity just swelled with every motion of the thing. What if there were no walls? She hefted it up and darted out the nearest window.

Twilight's face brightened. "It's moving!" She triumphantly pointed to the monitor that showed the blinking dot. "It's not very fast, but it suddenly started responding to the recall. This is great." She clopped her hooves with triumph. "I just had to be a little patient with it."

Cherry held up the hoop of the thing, letting it walk along where it desired. After an hour of it, her legs began to feel tired from keeping it upright. A new idea came to her and she ducked under it, sliding up into it and holding it up with her entire body. Her powerful tail could keep them both upright without trouble and those legs kept carrying her right along. She glanced back towards her village, too far away to even see the light of it.

She had left and didn't even realize it, or say goodbye to anypony. "I'll be back," she weakly murmured to the darkness, ears folded back and down. She just had to know where the thing wanted to go. She had to...

"Hey, Twilight." Spike had taken a turn watching the terminal. "It stopped again."

Twilight looked up from her daisy sandwich. "Have you tried jiggling the controls?"

Spike obediently tried just that, but the dot didn't move much, if at all. "Nope, stuck. Um, I don't think it's that far now. Maybe we could just, you know, pick it up?"

She perked her ears curiously. "That would be a lot faster than trying to control this thing the rest of the way back." She spread her wings and gave them a little flap. "Shame these things don't work underwater. How far is it?"

Together they peered at the screen. It didn't have exact units on it, but it did seem a lot closer than it had been before.

Spike made a swimming motion in the air. "I've swum plenty of times. You know how to, right?"

Twilight raised a brow at him. "Of course, Spike." She pointed at the monitor. "It's not so deep this time, but it's still pretty deep. Hopefully we can just snatch it up and get back to shore. If it's stuck, leave it. It's not worth risking either of us for." She snorted softly. "Pony'll just be out of luck."

Spike moved along with her towards the shore. "It wasn't our fault it broke in the first place. We didn't even get to control it before it broke." He rolled his eyes. "The way I see it, he owes us a refund."

As they began paddling out in the direction of their missing device, Twilight spoke cautiously, "Now we could just dive and hope, but that's not what we're going to do. I don't have proper diving equipment, but this should do well enough for a short jaunt." Her horn glowed with her magic as two bubbles appeared, one around each of their heads. "See? It doesn't have much air though." The bubbles popped.

Spike bobbed his head quickly. "Hey, a few breaths are better than none. I'll pretend I don't have any to be on the safe side." He gave an emphatic thumbs up.

Soon they had arrived where they guessed was close to where the thing had stopped moving. It was time to dive.

Cherry squirmed and struggled. The suit had walked itself right into a mess and she found herself caught in some kind of net. The legs were tangled, her tail was tangled. Everything was tangled! She grunted as she tried to pull herself free as she lamented her recent life decisions. Surely she wasn't destined to follow this thing just to get caught forever in some stupid trap!

"Anyone? Please, help!" She didn't expect much help. She was far from home, and dangerously close to the dry lands, where no ponies lived. There was only dryness and despair this way, and not many fish either.

She heard swimming. She tensed at first, fearing some predator had come for an easy snack, but the swimming sounded... wrong. That was no fish's paddling. She looked up towards it and saw two figures approaching. One was small and scaley. A dragon? She'd heard some dragons had visited her people before, but they were usually much bigger, she thought, and scarier. That one was tiny, not even as big as herself.

The one beside her was even more baffling as it came closer. It looked like one of her people, but so incredibly wrong. Where was her tail? She had four hooves! Four! She swam with less grace than a foal, and a bubble was around her head, and the dragon's too now that she looked for it. What were those for? Maybe they were friendly? Or maybe this net... Was she their catch?!

Cherry began to thrash with renewed terror.

The dragon tilted his head, looking towards the motion. "Hey, uh, Twi?"

Twi, the four-hoofed one, looked where he looked. "What in Equestria...?" Her tone was breathless and her eyes wide.

Were they talking? Cherry slowed her squirming and looked to them with a smoldering mote of hope. "Can you help me?"

Author's Note

And so the two people meet. A more perfect meeting couldn't have been planned!

Cherry is a long way from home, and may end up even further to pursue her destiny. Will her promise, spoken to the dark ocean, be upkept?

4 - Salvaging Rights

Twilight rose to her full height and raised her nose. "Excuse me, sir, but your device was already lost at sea."

The pony raised a brow. "Ya don't say? And here's a part of it." He thrust a hoof at Cherry and her curious belt. "How do you explain that?"

Spike rolled his eyes and grumbled softly, words lost.

Cherry tilted her head at the angry stallion. "Was that thing yours? It was buried in sand when I found it." She pointed at Twilight. "It was missing a hoof."

"Yes! It is mine!" He came closer, hooves stomping through the sand towards the water. "I demand you return it this moment, and who's going to pay for the machine?"

Twilight raised a brow. "Your machine broke before it even reached the bottom of the bay, to say nothing of how far out to sea it ultimately ended up. The way I see it, you owe me the price of the rental."

He stopped his approach of Cherry and turned to Twilight. "What?!"

"You didn't deliver the agreed upon services." She raised a brow. "This is a fairly simple request. Now, according to salvaging rights, it is hers, but since the original owner is present, she is obligated to offer it to you, for the proper price. She rescued a piece of your equipment."

"It's worthless! Look at it! It's in pieces."

"Oh, well then." Twilight smiled. "Then you don't have to pay her anything, and our business is concluded. Good day."

The stallion blinked owlishly a few times before he opened his mouth to speak, only to suddenly receive a spray of briny water across the face. He fell back sputtering as Cherry gave an innocent grin even as a few dribbles of seawater dropped from her snout. "Did she just..."

Twilight glanced at her new friend and the irate stallion. "Oh, that's... just a sign of admiration by her people."

The stallion recoiled with confusion. "W-what? I... uh..." Dazed and confused, he began to backpedal. "Who's going to pay?"

Twilight lifted her shoulders. "If you think you can develop a model that doesn't break so easily, you may find patronage from one of the royals."

It clicked, as if he realized Twilight was one of those. "O-oh, yes, I mean... Yes... I'll work past this and make something worthy of the Equestrian Seal!"

Cherry watched him retreat and turned her eyes to Twilight. "That's not how we say we like ponies."

Twilight shook her head quickly. "Oh, I was pretty sure it wasn't. Please forgive me, I was just trying to defuse the situati--" Her words were sharply cut off as she received her own spray of salty water across the face. She coughed and sputtered as Spike burst into laughter at the sight of it.

Cherry grinned at Twilight. "Now we're even. You dry ponies sure do react funny to water."

Spike hopped off of his perch to his feet. "Nah, just when it's sprayed at them like that. How do you do that anyway?"

Cherry shrugged a little. "I'm full of water. I'm a wet pony, just like she's a dry pony." She dipped her head under the water and came back up with a soft gasp. "So what's it like having four hooves?"

Twilight shook her fur and feathers dry. "You seem to be well on the way to having four yourself." She thrust a hoof at the sand. "Can you come out of the water?"

Cherry stiffened at the idea. "Do I have to?" She eyed the dry ground. Dry and hot... It seemed perfectly designed to cook her.

Spike beckoned with a smile. "C'mon. We'll be here for you if anything goes wrong. You want to see what's up here, right?"

Cherry frowned a little. She did. She really did. "Sorta..." She reached out a hoof and put it in more-shallow water, tantalizingly close to where the surf allowed the sand to touch air at times. Her eyes darted over the beach and she spotted a pony sprawled out under an umbrella. "Can you get one of those things?" She pointed at it. "Then it won't be so hot."

Twilight suddenly smiled. "I have an idea. Rarity would be so proud." She turned and trotted off with an energetic bounce only to return moments later with a cap held in her magic. "Here. It's like one of those that you can carry with you to keep the sun off." She floated it over to Cherry and put it gently on her head. "See?"

Cherry tried to look up and could see the green rim of the cap. The sun couldn't glare into her eyes unless she looked directly at it. It was a little thing, but she already felt just a little better. A smile spread across her snout. "That's really nice. Thank you." With the gift emboldening her, she reached again and pulled herself along the sand towards the shore. The abrasive sand caught her new belt and pulled it down, letting her fins free to wave and wriggle.

They caught Twilight's eye. "Are those fins? Do you use them to swim?"

She looked back at her fins. "Huh? Oh! They help me steer." She splashed at the water with her powerful tail. "This is what gets me moving. No wonder you swam so slowly, your tail is tiny." She squinted at Spike and Twilight's relatively tiny tails. "Is that why you use your hooves?" A thought seemed to tickle at her. "Oh! Could you show me how to do that? I'd like to see how a dry pony swims."

Twilight smiled gently. "Alright, we'll do that. We'll spend some time in the water, but in return, you have to spend some time out of the water." She took a step back from the edge of the sea. "We'll protect you, just like you protected us from that big squid."

"Octopus," corrected Cherry before she swallowed and took another slow slide forward. Her hoof finally touched warm and dry sand. It was... strange. Her wet hoof made it wet and clumpy, but feeling around drew the moisture away and then she could feel the soft siltiness of the sand and it wasn't quite like sand at the bottom of the ocean. It was new, strange, and a little exciting. With one more slide, she emerged from the waters, only the end of her tail still within.

Other ponies began noticing the pony Twilight was speaking to wasn't exactly a normal pony. Staring and gawking were had in equal measures as curious murmurs spread through the forming crowd.

Spike gave an emphatic thumbs up. "See, all good!"

Twilight clopped her hooves together. "Even better than good. You're doing great!" She began to look around quickly. "Now how to get you home..."

Spike raised a brow. "You're not seriously considering taking her that far, are you?"

Twilight turned to him. "How else am I doing to examine her."

"Examine?" Cherry shrank back towards the water.

Twilight spun back to Cherry. "No no no no! I don't mean anything untoward, promise! I just want to learn everything I can about hippocampi and my equipment is at home to do proper observation."

Spike shook his head. "I think something here might work better."

Twilight raised a hoof. "Let's not be hasty in either event. Cherry, for now, let's just enjoy ourselves and get to know each other."

That sounded far better than examinations, and Cherry bobbed her head. "Alright. So..." Her eyes wandered over the crowd. "I think I might be surprising all the other ponies." Not that she was much less surprised. So many kinds of ponies. Unlike Twilight, some only had horns and some only had sky flippers, and some had neither, but none of the others had both. None of them had a proper tail like her either.

Spike gave a dismissive little wave. "Don't worry about them. They're just being curious. You're the newest pony in town!"

Twilight nodded in agreement. She turned to the crowd. "Attention fillies and gentlecolts! This is Cherry, a hippocampus come to see our fair kingdom." The crowd erupted in curious ooos and ahhs. "She comes in peace, we should endeavor to welcome her."

A colt suddenly darted out of the crowd, his little horn shining brightly as he levitated a small inflatable pool with him. "She can borrow this!"

Cherry smiled brightly. What a great thing that held water even in dry places. She dipped a hoof into it, feeling the captive water before she slipped in. "Thank you, this is very nice of you." Maybe her visit to The Dry wouldn't be nearly so bad if all the ponies in it were as nice as these.

Author's Note

What are the odds that all the ponies she meets will be just as nice?

5 - It's What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me

With a combination of magic and helpful dragon claws, they carted Cherry off with her new pool. The crowd allowed them to pass before returning to the other things that drew them to the beach, even if the conversations drifted towards their curious visitor.

Cherry looked over the town as she 'swam' through the above-ocean with the benefit of the water-holding device she was riding in. There were so many ponies! Did being dry make ponies make more ponies faster? Her little town was nothing compared to the vast metropolis that seemed to stretch on forever. "How do you live in such big places?"

Twilight perked an ear. "This isn't one of our larger cities. You should see Manehatten or Canterlot."

They get larger?! Cherry blinked with wide eyes at the very notion of it. "The largest place I know of is rumored to be as large as this place, and it isn't even as large as two of your cities?" She sank a little into the water. "Where are we going?" The ocean was getting perilously far away as they moved. "What if something happens to this tiny ocean?"

Spike snorted from beneath, still supporting it. "Don't worry. We have it under control. If it really did break, we'd get another one."

"Another one?" Cherry tilted her capped head, blue locks bouncing a little. "These are easily available?" She prodded at the sides softly, amazed at its give and how it snapped back into place as soon as she stopped pushing. "What is it even made of? I can't place it."

Twilight reached up to give it a brief prod. "Rubber, by the feel of it." She tapped at her chin, walking along on her other three legs. "I gather your ponies don't have access to such things? Fascinating, but you did a remarkable job modifying the robot you found. How did you manage that?"

Cherry looked down at her belt. "I just did what felt right to do. I even got this mark for it." She displayed her flank over the side of the pool for Twilight to see. "Behold!" A thought struck her and she smiled. "Maybe you could tell me what they are? The pictures, I mean."

Twilight tilted her head at Cherry's displayed flank. "A wrench and a screwdriver. Very appropriate tools for working on this kind of machine. Were you using them?"

"Yep!"

"But you had no idea what they were?"

"Nope!" She shook her head quickly. "They made the things turn so I used them to turn the things until it felt right."

"Fascinating..." Twilight frowned a little, amazed and impressed. "Would you say you're comfortable with them?"

Cherry leaned over the edge of her water-holder towards Twilight. "I never felt more alive than when I was trying to make it work again! Do you know how to work with them?"

"A little." Twilight tilted her head as she put all four hooves to work trotting. "But I'll let you speak to some ponies who specialize in that sort of thing. I'd like to observe just how far your instinct takes you. I'd even suggest the pony who made the robot to begin with, but I think he won't be very approachable."

Cherry stuck out her tongue. "Did he really make it? Now I kind of want to talk to him, even if he was loud and angry. There are other ponies though? I want to learn more." She clopped her forehooves excitedly. "They won't mind me taking this with me, will they?"

Twilight pointed up at the tub. "You're going to have to come out of that sometimes. I'm certain you won't be harmed by it. You're in less water than you ever were before, how do you feel?"

Cherry stiffened as she was reminded of her perilous position, but... "You're... right. I'm not drying up and blowing away." She smiled a little. "It still feels funny, and I like having the water." She splashed some of the water with a flip of her powerful tail. "And I get all raspy if I don't keep gulping down some water. Nopony will want to talk to me if I sound like that."

Spike tilted his head from below. "The stories say mer-ponies are supposed to have nice voices, so nice they can lure ponies to jump off their boats and drown or drive their boats into rocks."

Cherry blinked at the very notion. "Why would we do that?"

Twilight waved it off. "They're just fantasy stories. You prove quite nicely that they aren't even the slightest bit true."

Cherry leaned out perilously. "But if you thought I could do that, why did you come rescue me? I wouldn't rescue a monster. I'd swim away!" She leaned a bit too far and suddenly the tub upended. She was dumped roughly onto the sidewalk and the water spilled everywhere.

Twilight gasped with alarm, releasing the tub which fell over Spike as she rushed to help Cherry get upright and look her over for injuries. "Are you alright?!"

Cherry sat up with Twilight's help, head swaying a little from dizziness. "Ow..." She noticed she wasn't in the comfort of water suddenly and went rigid. "Oh no! Oh no oh no oh no!" She wrapped suddenly around Twilight, grasping her with hooves and powerful tail. "Don't let me dry up." Her belt dug in a little painfully into the alicorn's side.

Spike pulled up the side of the tub and crawled out, soaking wet and frowning. "You should be careful about leaning on something like that." He glanced left and right before he started dragging the tub towards a nearby cafe. "I'll get this filled up."

Twilight gently petted the panicking hippocampus with the one hoof she could move. "It'll be alright. You just have to relax a moment. Spike is already getting more water. You'll be safe." With a combination of magic and slow prying, she got Cherry to sit on the ground, trembling as she was. "See? You'll be alright. If you feel any pain or discomfort, just tell me."

She took a raspy breath and squeaked.

"We both know that happens, but it's annoying, not actually harmful." Twilight tilted her head. "Maybe if you got used to it a little, you might not get so raspy so quickly."

"D-do you really think so?" Cherry ran a hoof through her mane before setting it down to help prop herself up. She frowned down at her belt. "You have four hooves. They're like dry-swimmers. They let you swim across The Dry so good." She reached out a hoof and tapped at one of Twilight's legs.

"Well," corrected Twilight. "Ah, here he comes." She pointed at Spike who was struggling to get the refilled tub back to them. "Maybe I should lend him a hoof. Will you be alright for a moment?"

Cherry swallowed loudly, but gave a brave little nod. "If it'll be real fast, I guess." She glanced around for any signs of predators, but The Dry seemed to have no predators, at least not inside their city. Still, even as Twilight trotted over to help Spike, she wanted to not be so helpless. She pushed up as tall as her forelegs would allow, but her tail was just a dead weight and she had nothing to lift it up. She couldn't swim The Dry.

Or could she? She pulled out her wrench and applied it to her belt, turning it carefully.

Author's Note

I kept looking at this chapter and its wordcount. I wanted to go further, but it refused. This is the cliffhanger it desires. Tomorrow, we find out what mischief she manages with her sudden fit of engineering.

What could go wrong?!

6 - Learning to Swim

Twilight arrived beside Spike and her horn glowed with power as she gently lifted the pool into the air. "It's heavier than before, you didn't have to fill it up quite this much Spike."

Spike shrugged softly. "Figured better safe than sorry. Speaking of which, where is she?" He looked left and right, then jumped back.

His reaction got Twilight to turn as well to see Cherry approaching them with a triumphant grin. Her motion was awkward but sure as she mostly pulled herself on her forehooves and the mechanical hooves took slow steps to keep up. She raised a hoof in a vigorous wave. "Look! Look look! I'm Dry Swimming!" She gave a giggle full of delight and pride as she closed the distance. Her powerful tail swayed left and right behind her as if it could propel her, but it was helpless in the air.

Twilight smiled brightly. "You have a real talent for this! We should get you right to--" Her words trailed away as Cherry arrived only to go past her.

Her forehooves weren't trying to walk forward anymore and had swapped jobs with the rear hooves, with the rear hooves pushing her along and her forelegs moving to keep her upright and stable. "They won't stop!" she cried in dismay as she marched across the street. "Help!"

Spike dashed after her and made a leaping dive for the rebellious metal hooves. He managed to get a grip on one of them, but it walked with him attached, carrying him along as if he wasn't even there.

With a growing panic, Twilight let the pool of water splash to the ground and quickly trotted to Cherry's side. "How did you get it moving in the first place, just undo whatever that was."

"I can't!" Cherry pointed back where she had come from. "My, uh, wrench, yes, my wrench is back there and I need it to turn the things to make things happen. I dropped it when it started working and now I can't stop!"

Spike rose and flopped to the ground with every step, giving out a little 'oof' each time he was slapped against the floor. "Why... not... go in... circles?"

Cherry blinked softly. "Good idea!" She veered to the left and started making an uneven oval where she had been making a stubborn line out of the city. She breathed a relieved sigh. "Alright! Spike, you're the best dragon ever!"

"Aw, oof, it's, oof, nothing, oof."

Twilight hurried back with the wrench floating beside her. "Here it is. Do you know what needs to be adjusted?" As she spoke, she was already looking at Cherry's mechanical legs and trying to divine exactly what adjustment would bring them to a halt.

Cherry reached out a hoof for the wrench, but her rear legs had no mercy for her and attempted to move forward. Suddenly there was too much weight on the one hoof and she flopped over out of balance, crashing to the ground for the second time that day. On the positive, her mechanical legs were kicking out into the air, no longer in proper contact with the ground to keep her moving.

Twilight put a hoof gently on Cherry's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I'm alright," said Spike as he stood up and dusted himself off.

"I meant Cherry, but I'm glad you're alright too." She leaned in and kissed Spike's cheek before returning her attention to Cherry.

Cherry wriggled free of her belt. "I thought I had it all worked out." A sour look was on her face at her failure. "Can I have the wrench?" Twilight offered the tool and Cherry took it in her mouth. She shoved it into the whirring gears and gave a careful turn that caused them to slow to a halt. "There." She heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry for being such a big bother. I must look so silly."

Twilight shook her head vigorously. "Cherry, what you managed was amazing, and don't let anypony tell you otherwise, including you. Working with new things will come with failures, but that's just a part of the process." She put a hoof on her own chest. "You may not believe it, but even I sometimes mess up."

Spike smirked at that. "Sometimes?" He ducked under a sudden swat, giggling. "She's right though. Everypony makes mistakes, so I wouldn't get too worked up about it." He put a claw to his chin. "The way I see it, the problem is that you need that big wrench to make your legs stop and start. You need a better way to do it while you're walking."

"Walking?" Cherry tilted her head.

Twilight pointed a hoof back at her hind legs. "This." She made a slow step forward. "Walking."

"Dry Swimming," corrected Cherry as if teaching her friends a new word. She rolled upright, leaning on the deactivated but stiff and supportive hooves. "I think Spike's right. I need a way to tell them what I want to do without the wrench... If I have to swim around with the wrench always in my mouth, that doesn't sound fun."

Twilight smiled supportively. "Well, for now, hold onto that wrench and don't worry too much. We'll get this working for you. With your keen mechanical intuitiveness, I doubt this will even be a problem for long. But first, I'd like to get you somewhere a bit more familiar and capable." She tapped at her chin. "So... I'll only ask once, but I'd really like to bring you to my home."

Cherry frowned with thought and looked to Spike. "How far away is Twilight's home?"

Spike blinked owlishly as he was put on the spot. "Um, well, it was a few hours on the train."

"Train?"

Twilight nodded. "It's a great mechanical device I'm certain you'll love getting a peek at, but no tampering with it please. It'll carry us nicely and comfortably to Ponyville, that's where we're from, and we can even bring the pool with us."

Cherry thrust a hoof back at the sparkling sea. "You'll bring me back here when we're done, right? Promise me."

Twilight raised a hoof and made the arcane gesture of the Pinkie Promise. "I swear. Once you're ready to go home, I'll bring you right back here and get you in the water so you can go. For now, you're my guest and I hope you'll enjoy your time with us." She smiled brightly. "Shall we get going?"

Assurances made, Twilight lifted Cherry up off the ground and carried her back to the waiting pool and set her gently in it. "This reminds me, is fresh water acceptable to your biology or should we be adding salt to this?"

Cherry looked baffled at the question. "Fresh? What do you mean?" She splashed the water lightly. "This isn't fresh. It's trapped in this pool."

With Twilight and Spike working together, they began towards the train station. She looked over her shoulder. "Fresh just means 'water without salt', as opposed to sea water, which has a lot of salt. You can taste the difference, can't you?"

Cherry sank into the water and sampled the water purposefully before she jerked upright. "Wow! How did I miss that before? It tastes entirely different... Is it safe?"

"That's what I was asking." Twilight shook her head. "I'll add some salt once we're on the train just to be safe. Your health is important to us, and I certainly hope to you too. You haven't shown any adverse reactions to it so far, but why take chances? Speaking of which, that was the longest stretch of time you were completely out of water, so how did it feel?"

Spike nodded from beneath the pool. "Mechanical mistakes aside, you looked like you were having a good time."

Cherry darkened in her cheeks a little. "Dry Swimming was kind of... fun, but scary. I think I'll put off trying it again until I get this working right." She tapped at her belt with her forehooves. "It's either that or swim around with my wrench ready or be ready to crash when I want to stop and that hardly seems like a good idea."

"I should think not." Twilight shook her head as she lowered her side of the pool. "Hold on a moment while I get us some tickets and then we'll get on the train."

As she trotted away, Cherry turned to look at Spike. "Where's the train?" Spike hiked a thumb at it and Cherry's eyes widened. Twilight had not been joking when she described it. It was huge, and she could see the mechanical parts that made it work. Just following the pistons she could see in clear sight made her a little tingly with excitement. It put her hooves to shame in some ways, but in others, her hooves were more delicate and precise. Different machines for different purposes. She wanted to rip it apart and see what made it work! But that was exactly what she shouldn't do, so she settled for gazing at it fondly and imagining what it must look like when it was actually running along its thick tracks.

"Here we are, all set to go." Twilight had several tickets floating beside her. "Next stop, Ponyville! You'll get to meet all of my friends and I'm sure they'll be eager to meet you."

Cherry tilted her head curiously. "Are they all like you?" She pointed at Twilight even as her pool was lifted between dragon claws and unicorn magic.

"Not exactly..." Twilight frowned a little as she carefully boarded the train. "Two are earth ponies, which means they have no horns or wings. Two are pegasi, which means they have wings, but no horns, and the last is a unicorn, so she has a horn, but no wings."

Cherry leaned a little on the edge of the pool, but not overly much after her last spill. "Why don't any of them have the air flippers and horn like you do? I didn't see any ponies--" She pointed back off the train "-- that had both at once, besides you of course."

Spike set the pool down in the private carriage they had secured and hiked a thumb at Twilight. "That's because she's an alicorn, which makes her a pretty big deal."

Cherry frowned a little. "So are 'alicorn' families in charge of all the others? Is that why everypony listened when you were talking?"

Twilight chuckled nervously. "Ah heh, not exactly... I wasn't born with both. I had to earn it." She spread her wings. "I'm still getting used to some parts of it, but I've gotten a pretty good grip on it now. See, I used to be a unicorn."

Cherry thrust a hoof at Twilight's barrel. "So you didn't have the air flippers?!"

"She was smaller too." Spike was smiling a bit too widely for Twilight's comfort. "She hasn't changed too much besides all that. She's still Twilight, everypony's favorite nerd."

"Spike!"

Cherry giggled softly, only to come to an abrupt halt as she felt the water and ground beneath her shudder. She could see through a window that the world was moving around the train, or was the train moving through the world? She supposed the second was more likely. Her mind swam with visions of how the great pieces she saw were possible moving to make that happen. "Twilight, can I get a train that I'm allowed to take apart?"

Author's Note

Trains are easy to obtain, right?

Cherry's on her way to adventure in The Dry and explore more of the above-ocean and its mysterious inhabitants. She can't wait!

7 - Welcome to Ponyville

"Twilight?"

She looked up towards Cherry on being called. "Hmm?" She set the book she had been reading aside. "What's up?"

Cherry smiled and pointed at Twilight's head. "The air flippers make sense, but what is the horn for? Do you beat up predators with it?"

Spike snickered at the idea. "I thinks she's tried that once or twice."

Twilight pointedly ignored that comment as she shook her head. "You've noticed how I move things without touching them, right?" With a little concentration, she got her horn glowing brightly. "Our horns are the source of unicorn magic and with it we can move things around, cast spells, or just make some light when it's dark."

Cherry did a flipping flop in the water, her tail slapping the surface. "That's pretty amazing! What kinda spells do you mean? Can you turn Spike into a fish?"

Spike paled slightly and threw up his claws. "Don't even think about it!"

Twilight giggled a little. "With the right spell, it is theoretically possible, but I wouldn't dream of doing that to Spike without his permission. It's not a wish-granting device, keep in mind. We have to study each and ever--"

"You can do anything?!" Cherry sat up on the edge of her tub. "Why didn't you give yourself proper flippers or a tail when you were in the ocean? Oh, I mean, you have a tail, but look at it! It can't help you swim at all." She raised her powerful tail in comparison, swaying it around demonstratively.

Twilight waved it away and looked ready to retort when the rumble of the train adjusted beneath them. "I think we're arriving. Cherry, welcome to Ponyville. You're going to like it here." She hopped up to her hooves. "My friends are going to like you, promise."

Spike flashed a devious grin. "If you like unicorn magic, you should meet Rarity. She's a real talented unicorn that makes clothes and she's real nice."

Cherry blinked curiously at Spike. "Clothes, like this?" She raised a hoof to her green hat, tapping it once. "Do ponies usually wear clothes in The Dry? I only saw some of them wearing any at all. I have my jewelry but that hardly counts..." She gently brushed a hoof against the bright red beads that helped hold her mane in place.

The train came to a gentle stop and conductors cried for those stopping in Ponyville to depart. Twilight took hold of Cherry's pool and lifted it on her own as she energetically trotted for the door. "We'll introduce you to everypony you want to meet, promise."

"Introduce who to everypony?" Pinkie asked, hanging upside down from the door leading out of the train before dropping down to the platform with a big grin. "Hiya Twilight, Spike. Who's your friend?" She thrust a hoof up at the floating pool. "Why's she riding in a tub of water like that?"

Cherry peeked down from the edge of her pool at the eager pink pony and smiled. The mane of the new pony was much curlier than one would think wise in the water, but this wasn't water. This was The Dry. Everything was different! "Hello there."

Pinkie thrust up a hoof at Cherry. "Hiya and nice to meetcha! Oh! I have to go!" She suddenly about faced and pronked away, only for Twilight to barely get a grip on a fleeing tail.

"Hold it. Before you prepare your introductory party, you should know a few things about our guest." Twilight set Cherry down carefully on the platform. "She's a hippocampus and --"

"She doesn't look like a hippo." Pinkie tilted her head confusedly.

"No, Hip-po-camp-us. A mer-pony if you prefer. Cherry, this is Pinkie, one of my friends. She's an earth pony, as you can see. Now--"

Pinkie offered her hoof again. "Hey! Nice to meet you, Cherry." They met hooves and Pinkie shook her leg up and down energetically. "So you're a mer-pony huh? That's pretty cool!"

"As I was saying, she has a few requirements." Twilight cleared her throat. "And she's new to being out of the ocean, so let's not be too loud or exciting on her first day."

Cherry was smiling. Pinkie was a little alarming in her vibrant energy, but she seemed friendly and warm. "I don't think Pinkie will do anything bad, will you Pinkie?"

"Of course not! You're gonna have a great time and meet lots of friendly ponies." Pinkie bobbed her head up and down as she spoke. "What's your favorite flavor of cake?"

"Cake?"

Pinkie's jaw dropped and her eyes went wide as she gasped dramatically. "You don't know what a cake is?! Well, I'll just have to bring a few different ones for you to try. Oooo! You're gonna be so happy!"

Twilight tensed. "We don't know if she has any allergies to our food, so let's take this slow and easy. It would be a shame to get our guest sick on her first day to Ponyville."

Cherry tilted her head. "Are 'cakes' dangerous? Is it like trying puffer fish?"

"Puffer fish?" Twilight tilted her head without understanding.

Pinkie got it though and bobbed her head. "Ponies from Neighpon eat puffer fish, but they have to be super careful or they can get all kinds of sick from it."

Twilight blinked. "Why would anypony eat something that could hurt them?"

Pinkie shrugged. "Maybe they like a little excitement in their dinners? Don't worry! Cakes are totally safe and we use quality ingredients." She bobbed her head. "The hardest thing you'll face is picking which one's your favorite!"

Without waiting for any further questions, she bolted, leaving nothing but a pink cloud in the vague shape of herself from her departure.

Spike gestured towards the dissipating cloud. "And that was Pinkie Pie. One down, and I bet she'll drag a bunch of ponies with her when she throws her welcome party."

Twilight smiled as she hefted the pool up carefully. "Well, let's take advantage of that. How about we get you settled in and let Pinkie come to us? You can get nice and comfortable while--"

The noise of the train pulling away captured Cherry's attention as she watched its powerful mechanisms work so fluidly to make it move. She gawked with an open mouth, mesmerized by the unsung symphony of moving parts. The train was almost painfully captivating for its complexity.

"--erry? You alright?"

Cherry blinked. The train was pulling far enough away that she couldn't easily see its amazing pieces and she turned around to face the concerned Twilight. "I'm alright! Um, so, do you know how that train worked?"

Twilight shook her head. "Not beyond the basics." She clopped her forehooves suddenly. "You really do like mechanical things! We'll have to get you some wind up toys to look at. Why, I bet with your drive you'll be making your own devices from nothing with a little time."

Cherry's expression brightened at the idea. "Do you really think so? How do you even get the parts." She tapped at the belt that adorned her hips. "I found this, but where do they come from? What makes them? Do they just appear in The Dry and you find them?!"

Spike was easily amused at the foalish ideas of suddenly-appearing bits of machinery. "Not exactly. They have to make it all by hoof, or magic, from other stuff they find."

Twilight began the trot towards her castle with Cherry's pool floating above and behind her. "It's a bit of a detailed process, but we have a walk ahead of us, so let's begin. The first step is securing ore--"

"Ore?"

Twilight twitched faintly. She'd have to start further back. "All metal comes from rock originally, but while it's in rock..."

They passed the time pleasantly discussing the basic theory of metallurgy, starting with mining up ores and melting them down into metals for use in machinery. When Twilight set Cherry down in the foyer of her castle, the hippocampus practically leaped from her pool. "I can't wait to see half of these things! When can we visit a mine? Can I melt some rocks myself and make some metal? No wonder you dry ponies have all this stuff. Making things hot enough to melt in the ocean is a lot harder." Her eyes wandered, taking in the deep purple colors of the castle she found herself in. "This is your house?"

Author's Note

Welcome home, Cherry! Or at least a temporary home. We'll probably have to get a more comfy room ready for you, after Pinkie ambushes you.

8 - Equality

"Welcome home, Twilight," came an unfamiliar voice. Emerging from around a corner and from a hallway came a new pony. A unicorn, decided Cherry from the pointy horn she had without any sky flippers in sight. She had an attractive color scheme that would do just fine in the water, but she was clearly a dry pony with four hooves. Unlike Cherry, her cutie mark was not obvious what it meant.

Twilight smiled on hearing the voice. "Ah, Starlight! Since you're here, come here and meet a new friend."

"A new friend?" She trotted closer and her eyes wandered over Cherry curiously. "Well hello there." She offered a hoof towards Cherry. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, and you are?"

Starlight offered a hoof, quivering with the effort of holding herself upright with one hoof. They touched hoof to hoof and shook a little.

"I'm Cherry." Cherry looked between the two rapidly. If they lived together, did they? Were they? "Are you two related?"

Twilight quickly shook her head. "As many similarities as you may find, we're student and teacher, not siblings." Twilight sat on her haunches. "You look uncomfortable, Cherry, let's get you situated."

Starlight flicked her head at the mer-pony. "Where did you find her, Twilight? She's certainly not from closeby." Starlight frowned a little with thought. "She looks like she's half-fish."

"Not entirely wrong!" Twilight was grinning. "Excellent guess."

Cherry blinked owlishly. "What? I'm not a fish! Fish don't have hooves or hair or a cutie mark." She flopped over and waved her powerful tail at Starlight. "You ever see a fish with a furry tail before?"

Starlight tilted her head slowly before she nodded. "You're more like half-dolphin or seal."

Those were a bit closer and Cherry nodded even as she snorted. "I'm all hippocampus, not half-anythings, if you're alright with that." She flopped and floundered a moment getting aligned with the pool before she flopped back into it, spilling water across the crystal surface of the entry foyer as she retreated to the relative safety of the shallow water.

Twilight put a hoof on Starlight's shoulder. "We should always endeavor to be understanding of foreign cultures, which includes not attempting to make them fit our preconceptions."

Starlight shrank a little at the chastising, as mild as it was. "Cherry, I'm sorry if I offended you. I didn't mean to. In fact, you're quite a spectacular po--Are you a pony?"

Cherry blinked at Starlight rapidly. "Of course I'm a pony." She took a little breath, trying to calm herself. "We're getting off on the wrong side of the tail. Hi, I'm Cherry." She offered a hoof as if meeting Starlight for the first time.

Starlight advanced and accepted the gestured with a soft clop. "A pleasure to meet you, Cherry. I'm Starlight, and you have a lovely mane." She reached and gave a single brush through those locks.

Twilight smiled and nodded as she moved past the both of them. "I have to get Cherry's room set up for her. Can I trust the two of you to get along?"

Cherry blinked and looked around. Spike was nowhere in sight. "Where'd Spike go? Wasn't he just here?"

Starlight waved dismissively. "He has a habit of rushing off to his room when he gets home, especially after a long day's work. I wouldn't take it personally. Don't worry Twilight, we'll be fine." Her horn shone softly as a chair moved beside her and she hopped up onto its cushioned top and settled facing Cherry.

With Twilight and Spike gone, Cherry was left with the one pony she knew the least. "So... Do you like mechanical things?" She smiled hopefully even if she doubted she would be so lucky as to be left with such a pony.

"Mechanical things?" Starlight tilted her head. "Like watches?"

"What's a watch?"

Starlight held up a hoof before she hopped down and trotted away. She wasn't long before she came back with a shiny metal thing dangling in her magic. "This is a watch. It tells us what time it is, even when we can't see the sun or the moon." She brought it close to Cherry. "It's not waterproof though, so try not to get it wet."

Cherry was barely listening by the time the warning came. She could hear the soft tick tick tick and see some tiny gears moving. The hands smoothly rotating captivating her, thinking of how many other gears inside there must be, so small, so precise... "Can I open it?"

Starlight suddenly yanked the watch away. "Oh no! It's not even my watch. Twilight would be very cross at the both of us if I let you do that. Looking's alright through, but no opening." As she finished she lowered the watch back down into easy viewing distance.

Cherry pouted a little. Besides the belt she currently wore, all the mechanics she found were forbidden from being explored. How was she ever going to get better?!

"Don't look like that." Starlight sat beside the pool. "Tell you what... Since Twilight's going to be busy for a little while, how about you and me go get something from the market, just for you. If you're going to be visiting for a while, you deserve something to make you feel at home."

Cherry's funk shattered at the offer. With an eager smile she thrust against the side of the pool, nose-to-nose with Starlight. "Do you mean it?! Yes! Please, yes! I want to pry apart something complicated so badly!"

Starlight blinked softly. "Why are you so eager to destroy mechanical things?"

"Destroy? Oh no!" Cherry shook her head rapidly. "I want to learn how they work. Their outsides are made to be pretty, and they are, but they cover up all the little gears and things. I want to see them working, and how they all fit together." She brought her hooves together. "I want to get better at it all, but that means I have to see it working."

Starlight gestured into the castle as she rose to her hooves. "I'm sure Twilight has a few books on the topic, if you'd like to read about it."

That offer had some temptation, but... "Can we still get something from the market?"

Her pool lifted suddenly and powerfully as Starlight turned and trotted out of the door with Cherry floating behind. Cherry gaped with astonishment. Twilight needed help to get her up, and here was this other unicorn doing it without a word. "Wow! You're strong! Wait, is strong even the right word for the things you do with your horn?"

"It's a perfectly fine adjective." Starlight looked over her shoulder. "Are you comfortable up there?" When Cherry nodded, she continued ahead, trotting at a brisk pace away from the castle and down towards the town of Ponyville. "Fortunately, it's not too late in the day, so we should be able to find something for you. I'm going to guess you don't have any bits?"

"Bits? Are those like husks?" She produced a several small but perfect examples of little shells that glittered softly. "I guess dry ponies don't use the same thing to trade with?"

Starlight tilted her head back at the shells. "Well, tell you what, you give me some of those pretty little shells of yours, and I'll trade you some bits so you can buy something. That's fair, right?"

That sounded fair to Cherry and she extended her hoof down from the pool. Two of her collection were gathered with magic to be replaced with flat golden discs of gold with ornate pictures on them. She studied these new artifacts curiously, turning them this way and that. "So dry ponies trade with these?" She tapped at one then tapped at her belt. "Is this metal? By the sea! You dry ponies do everything with metal!"

Starlight smiled a little. "We do use a lot of metal, and crystal, wood, rubber, glass..." She trailed off as she ran out of building materials in immediate recalling. "Oh, and stone and bricks! Welcome to Ponyville market." She waved a hoof grandly.

Cherry looked up from her bit to take in the vista of the market. There were smiling ponies in booths and each booth seemed to have a particular theme. She didn't recognize a lot of what they seemed to be selling at all, but she was a little hungry all of a sudden. Something smelled good enough to eat. "Do they sell food here? I don't see any."

Starlight frowned a little. "Well, yes, a lot of things actually." She thrust a hoof at each stand as she counted them off. "Apples, carrots, cherries, cabbages, milk--"

"I don't know what any of those are." Cherry tilted her head a little. "Can I try some?" Dry pony food! It was exciting and a little scary to consider. Would it be as dry as they were?

Starlight trotted with Cherry floating behind her and approached one stand. "Good afternoon, Applejack."

"Howdy." The earth pony smiled at Starlight from beneath her stetson. "What kin ah do fer ya?" Her eyes raised to the floating pool and the blue pony held in it. "Not t' pry or nuthin', but what's up wit' her?"

"Hello!" called down Cherry, waving a hoof eagerly.

"Pleased to meetcha." Applejack nodded to the new pony, then raised a brow at Starlight in silent invitation to explain.

Starlight turned halfway between the two. "Cherry, this is Applejack, one of Twilight's closest friends. Applejack, this is Cherry, a hippocampu from the sea."

"Hippocampus," quickly corrected Cherry as she pushed up against the edge to see Applejack better. "I'm staying with Twilight for a little while." She thrust a hoof at Applejack's basket of apples. "May I try one?"

Applejack quirked a smile. "'Fraid it don't quite work like that. Once ya try an apple, it's kinda yers ta keep." Despite that, she grabbed an apple without breaking the skin and with a flick of her neck, sent it sailing up to Cherry. "So yer just gonna have to enjoy the whole thing."

Cherry caught the incoming apple in her mouth and bit down easily with her sharp teeth. It was sweet, and tangy. It wasn't nearly as dry as she feared. As wet as fruit from the ocean? Of course not, but it did have some delightful juice. "I like it." Oh! She produced one of her new bits and held it down towards Applejack. "Here."

Applejack blinked at the offer. "Huh, ah'm surprised a sea pony would even know what a bit is, let alone have any."

As she reached for the offered bit, Starlight offered an explanation, "I traded her for some of her money. Sea ponies apparently trade little shells." Starlight produced one of the shells she'd gotten. "Isn't it lovely?"

Applejack smiled gently. "They are. They ain't no bits, but they're nice. Ah hope ya enjoy your stay, and the apple. One bit gets ya three, by the way." Two more applies were sent sailing up to the delighted mer-pony.

"Thanks!" Cherry didn't bite into the new ones, letting them bob in the water. "Do you know if anypony around here sells watches or anything like that?" The offer of mechanical toys had been tempting before, but that watch dwarfed them all. Whereas the train was a grand display of huge parts, the watch was a symphony of tiny precision. She couldn't even decide which awed her more.

Applejack tapped at her chin a moment before pointing. "Quills and Sofas were sellin' some wall clocks. Closest ah can figure."

Starlight seemed pleased with the suggestion. "To Quills and Sofas! Thanks, Applejack. See you later."

Author's Note

I did the update for this story first for a change, and you get a (relatively) longer chapter for it. Enjoy! I think Cherry did.

She's new at dry commerce though, typos are inevitable.

9 - Neither Quill nor Sofa

With a soft chime, Starlight entered the store, already looking around. The proprietor appeared ready to greet her when his expression faltered at the large tub following her. "Ma'am? Water doesn't exactly agree with my quills or the sofas. Can that wait outside?"

Cherry popped up from where she had been submerged a moment. "I can handle it!" Feeling energized being so close to getting a watch all of her own, she launched herself free of the pool and flopped wetly to the ground. The energetic motion sent water splashing dangerously.

Fortunately, it only created puddles and spills on the floors. The quills and sofas were safe for the moment. Starlight tucked the tub of water outside for the moment. "Sorry for the trouble, we're just looking for some clocks."

"You mean watch, right?" Cherry tilted her head a little as she righted herself. "We heard you had wall watches."

The new pony smiled at the exotic sea pony. "Hello there, are you new in town? I'm Davenport and it's nice to meet you." He offered a hoof.

"Oops, one moment!" She whipped out her wrench and got to tweaking just enough to get her hind legs to deploy against the ground before she could offer a hoof without wobbling dangerously. "Nice to meet you too! I'm Cherry, and I'm hunting for watches."

Starlight shook her head. "A watch and a clock are about the same thing, but clocks are meant to remain still, while watches are often worn on a pony for timekeeping on the go."

Cherry frowned with thought. "That means clocks are probably bigger, right?" Starlight nodded. "Then a clock is good. I'll be able to figure out the parts easier if they aren't teeny tiny."

The idea of disassembling a clock made Davenport raise a brow, but it wasn't his bits on the line. "We have a small selection of clocks, meant to add some dignity to the room, this way." He turned away from Cherry, seemingly ignoring her oddness in favor of remaining professional. "Would you like... this? A grandfather clock is both stately, and as you can see, large!" He gestured over the tall instrument with a bright smile.

Starlight followed after Cherry. "Wherever did you get those mechanical legs? They're working really well."

Cherry's cheeks warmed. Being complimented like that by a powerful friend of Twilight's seemed extra special. "Toying with mechanics is my specialty. You can't see it with the belt on, but it's my cutie mark."

Starlight tilted her head slightly. "You're more than your cutie mark. I'm surprised you even have one, but you wouldn't be less of who you are with or without that mark." Reformed or not, Starlight still held to some of her beliefs. "You should be proud of your accomplishments, cleverness, and ingenuity, not writing it up to 'destiny'."

The idea of not accepting a cutie mark as it was? It clearly confused Cherry and she made a little frown, though it faded almost instantly as she looked over that grandfather clock Davenport was indicating. It was large! She carefully directed her legs up to the clock so she could reach out and brush her hooves up and down its wooden sides. It was pretty and she nodded at it. "I like it. How do you open it?"

Davenport winced before he turned it slowly and pointed to the access port in the back, then turned it back around and flipped open the glass front, allowing access. "You can reach inside from either direction, as you can see."

Cherry clopped her forehooves and crashed to the ground in a failure to balance on her mechanical legs. "Oof! I'll take it!"

Starlight shook her head as she approached. "I can't imagine such a large piece is cheap. How many bits are we talking?"

Davenport reached up with his mouth and pulled down a dangling price tag that was attached near the top of the ticking clock, revealing a large number that sent Starlight recoiling several steps.

Cherry frowned at the reaction as she got herself upright. "It can't be that much."

Davenport gave it a light tug, freeing the tag from its string and showing it to Cherry. Even she wilted at how many zeroes were in the number.

Starlight frowned a moment before a thought came to her with a slowly spreading smirk. "Did we mention we live with Princess Twilight Sparkle? She sees all kinds of important foreign dignitaries. I'm sure they'd be so impressed with some Quills and Sofas furniture."

Davenport perked an ear. "Good ole Twilight? She's been a loyal customer for what feels like forever. She keeps the quill part of things thoroughly in business." He glanced between the two a moment. "If it's for her..."

Cherry brightened with hope. "Oh, it is! She said I was a guest."

Starlight leaned forward with a little smile. "I'm sure she'll take care of any reasonable expenses incurred by this important diplomatic guest. Can you have this delivered up to the castle?"

Davenport looked a little spaced out for a moment. "Oh, yes, important guest, of course." He bobbed his head. "I'll have it brought up before the end of the day. Will there be anything else?"

Cherry leaned forward dangerously. "Have anything else mechanical by any chance?" Her eyes darted around the room. Besides a few other clock/watches, she saw nothing obvious.

"Afraid not. That's not really our specialty." Davenport shrugged softly. "I do hope you enjoy it!" He dipped his front in a bow.

Starlight nodded at him. "You're too kind. Thank you." She grabbed Cherry up in a secure field of magic and moved to depart.

Cherry blinked softly from her suddenly higher vantage point. "Are we going?"

"Sure are." Starlight gently set Cherry back in her pool. "We should get ourselves back up to the castle before Twilight notices you're not there and starts to worry where you might be." She leaned towards Cherry a little. "She's especially good at worrying. Let's avoid that."

Cherry did a quick lap around the tiny pool, her tail slapping at the water. "We don't want her to be upset. Let's get back. Besides, the big clock is going to be brought up there anyway! We should be there to greet it." She flashed a smile, likely already thinking of tearing into the machinery and divining the purpose of its countless parts. By the time she came out of her daydreaming, they were already at the castle.

Twilight came rushing out of the castle with a relieved expression and a loud gust of breath. "Oh thank goodness. Starlight, I hope everything went well? Did you enjoy yourself, Cherry?" She looked between the two with bright smiles. "You haven't seen anything yet until you see your new room!"

Starlight perked her ears. "What have you arranged? Oh, there's going to be a grandfather clock brought up from Quills and Sofas."

Twilight blinked. "I didn't order one of those..."

Cherry raised a hoof. "I might have."

Twilight tilted her head at Cherry, then glanced at the nervously grinning Starlight. "You know better than that, Starlight. I'll let it slide this one time, for our guest, but no ordering things 'for' the castle without my express permission." The magic holding up the pool changed in color as Twilight took control of it and started bouncing away with an energetic canter. "Now come on! I'm sure you're going to love it."

Cherry blinked as she was carried. "You must be really excited." Twilight wasn't having any trouble holding her up, or was there less water? Cherry splashed a little at the water, quickly determining that there was indeed less water, lost to splashing and evaporation over time. She hoped whatever room Twilight prepared wouldn't have that... problem? "Wow."

They were at the edge of a submerged room. It was still tiny compared to, say, the ocean itself, but compared to the pool she had spent the day in, it seemed like a small piece of home. Twilight was smiling brilliantly. "This is actually the second story door to this room. I flooded the entire first floor, and it's yours while you stay with us. I even PH balanced the water to the average sea level." She clopped her hooves excitedly. "I plan to get some plants and small fish for you and I even have an aerator to keep the water fresh." Twilight thrust a hoof to where bubbles rose from the depths constantly.

Starlight whistled softly. "You've gone all out." Her expression turned understanding even as her brows waggled. "You always do. You have a book on it?"

Twilight glanced away. "What? I mean... of course..." She lowered the tub until it floated on the surface of the water, from which Cherry launched easily into the water and began exploring her new home.

Starlight shook her head a little. "How do you have a book on what sea ponies need?"

Twilight's smile turned a little nervous as a book appeared beside her. The book was not about sea ponies, but how to create large fish tanks for ocean-dwelling fish. "I figured it was close enough to keep her happy."

Cherry suddenly broke the surface, soaring through the air with her momentum before she came down and surfaced smoothly, her head above the surface and the rest concealed. "I love it! It's not the ocean, but it's as close as any place in The Dry is ever going to be. You're the best, Twilight! Thank you for taking me around, Starlight." Her hooves came up, clopping excitedly. "Dry ponies can be so thoughtful! I'm glad I ran into you two."

Starlight dipped her head towards their guest. "We're both happy to have you. I'm a guest here too, so I know what you're going through, in part. If you have questions getting around, let me know and we'll get it straightened out."

Twilight nodded. "That goes for me or Spike as well. Even if you feel overwhelmed, you won't bother us with your questions, promise."

Once his name was uttered, Spike came running. "Twilight! Letter!" He was waving a scroll excitedly in a clutched claw. "It came from Celestia!"

Author's Note

What could that letter be? You'll have to wait to find out! Let's hope there are no royal typos in it.

10 - Something Interesting

Twilight took the scroll in her magic and unfurled it quickly, her eyes scanned quickly left and right as she muttered under her breath. Her eyes widened with every word she absorbed.

Cherry drifted closer from slightly below. "Is something wrong? Who's Celestia?"

The scroll vanished in a puff as Twilight turned to her guest. "She's the ruler of this entire nation, and she has some bad news for us." She glanced off a moment, her hooves fidgeting with obvious worry.

Spike put a claw against her side supportively. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it. Should I get the girls?"

"No, Spike." She shook her head. "Not this time."

Starlight pointed at herself. "What about me? I'm already here."

Twilight looked indecisive a moment before Cherry hopped up out of the water, making the hallway just outside her new room a bit wet. "Twilight, everypony on the land has baked in the sun to make me feel welcome. Whatever the problem is, I'll help! Stop looking so worried."

Twilight smiled at that. "You're right, all of you. We'll face this together." She put a hoof to her chest and took a slow breath as she extended that hoof. "Alright, so here's the deal. Celestia sent me an old mare's tale, and she wouldn't do that if it wasn't relevant. It says that a foal of the sea will emerge to be greeted by royalty, but in with her comes a tsunami."

Spike tilted his head a little. "Su-what?"

Twilight waved a hoof. "Big wave. I doubt that part's literal. That's the problem with prophecies, they're never literal."

Cherry tilted her head. "I just made a wave when I jumped out of my room. Does that count?"

Twilight quirked a little smile. "I doubt it. There is a hint here. Whatever is coming has to be following you."

Cherry put up her hooves, flopping over in the process. "I didn't do anything!"

Starlight reached a hoof over, placing it on Cherry's back. "Nopony's blaming you. She just means your direction. Twilight, do you think it means something's coming from the sea?"

Twilight bobbed her head then sighed. "Pinkie's going to be upset."

Starlight frowned a little. "I think we're taking what is an admitted old mare's tale a touch too literally."

Twilight perked an ear. "Alright, so what do you think it is?"

Starlight pointed at Cherry. "You are, for better or worse, a huge new thing. Somepony may react to that badly. We should be careful of that, not monsters rising from the depths."

Spike waved it off. "What? Nah. Did you see how the ponies reacted? They were happy to see Cherry, and why shouldn't they be?"

Cherry glanced from pony to pony to dragon and back. "So what are we doing?"

Twilight sank to her haunches. "Nothing. Starlight has a point and we should keep our eyes open, but assuming there's a huge monster or a wave of creatures is silly, I have a hard time be--"

The castle shook suddenly, making all of them wobble before it stilled. Spike looked in the direction of the noise downstairs. "What the hay was that?"

Twilight frowned. "Maybe our tsunami came to us instead of waiting." She set off at a gallop, vanishing around a corner.

Cherry twisted upright and got her wrench into position to get her mechanical legs working, walking in tandem with them to get herself moving, but she wasn't going nearly as fast as Twilight.

Starlight stayed with Cherry, her magic plucking up Spike and dropping him on her back. "Come on, we'll find out what's going on."

They came downstairs to find Twilight facing a literal angry mob, torches and pitchforks at the ready and unhappy frowns across every face. Before them was a battered-but-intact Pinkie Pie. Twilight was already addressing the crowd. "What in Equestria are you all thinking?"

One advanced, with a grey mane and spectacles. The mare nodded at Twilight. "We hear you have a siren in your castle, is this true?"

Twilight thrust a hoof at Pinkie. "I think we have far more pressing questions! What'd you--"

The grey-haired mane pointed past Twilight. "There she is! She's controlling the princess!"

The crowd roared into action, pressing around their wizened leader and starting to cram through the door towards Cherry. She squealed in surprise and dismay and started to turn in place, only to flop over as she lost her balance in the heat of the moment.

Starlight clopped her forehooves as her horn began to glow brightly. Several of the ponies slowed to a stop with glazed looks in their eyes as others rushed past them, the angry shouts only getting louder.

Twilight shot Starlight a sour look at the mental magic, but it was short-lived with the crowd shoving its way to her and right past her.

"Stop this!" she cried, but the ponies weren't listening to her at all.

"We'll save you, Princess!"

"You just wait right here." A pegasus dropped down on Twilight from above and tried to force her to the ground. "We'll take care of that monster and free you in no time at all!"

Spike cringed with worry. "I think it's time to get out of here."

"You got that right." Starlight plucked up the panicked Cherry from the floor. "Ponyville's not safe right now." With a bright surge of magic, all three of them vanished, leaving behind a crowd that cheered and whooped at their victory.

Their princess was safe.

Author's Note

At the insisted outcry of several demanding this story live up to its adventurous tag, I now begin the adventure arc before Cherry is ready for it, but hey, when does adventure wait until you're prepared? At least she has company in the form of Starlight and Spike. It could be worse, right? There could be typos...

11 - We're on Our Own

With a loud crackle and a wave of energy, three figures appeared at once and collapsed almost in unison. Bits of smoke rose from the edges of their bodies and they looked just a little crispy for their journey.

Spike was the first to stagger to his feet. "Everypony alright? That was a rough trip, sheesh I haven't had a teleport that rough since Twilight got used to casting it."

Starlight looked up from where she landed and started to sit up. "Everything was happening so fast, so I wasn't thinking clearly."

"Nnnn," was Cherry's addition to the conversation. She rolled over, heaving for breath as her tail gave a weak slap. "What was that?"

They all rose upright, Cherry getting her mechanical legs working after a few twists of her wrench. "Where are we? What are these?" She walked over towards one of the many towering trees and ran a hoof along it before a splinter carried the tree's objection directly into the frog of her hoof and she keenly cried, wrenching the hoof away. "It bit me!"

Spike hurried to Cherry's side and took a look at her hoof, held in one claw as he leaned in. He could see the pesky splinter. "Hold still..."

"It has barbs?!" Cherry recoiled a little at the idea. "I didn't see any at allLLll, thank you." She pulled back her hoof, sore but no longer intruded upon.

Starlight gave a slow look around. "I wasn't really planning where we were going besides 'away'. Spike, do you recognize where we are? I can't see Ponyville from here."

Spike flicked the splinter away before shrugging. "Looks like the Everfree to me, but since we teleported in, I couldn't say which way is out. Starlight, you can fly, right? Go up and you should be able to see where we are."

Cherry frowned a little. "She doesn't have sky flippers, Spike. Why should she be able to fly?"

Starlight began to glow, her magic wrapping around the entirety of her form. "I'm a unicorn. We're notorious cheaters." She lifted off the ground several inches despite her lack of wings. "Spike, stay close to Cherry, I'll be right back, alright?" Spike gave an emphatic salute before she darted up through the foliage to survey their situation.

Twilight scowled from the chair she was tied to securely. "For the last time, I'm not being mind controlled. I'm not brain washed. Let me go this very instant!"

Mayor Mare shook her head. "I'm afraid that's precisely what a mind-controlled pony would say. This is for your own good, your highness."

Twilight's horn glowed angrily, but the haze of energy cut off about three quarters of the way up her horn where a heavy ring had been placed on it. Her magic would not come.

Emerging from the crowd, shoving ponies aside, came Applejack. "Now what in tarnation are y'all thinkin'? Trussing Twilight up like that, it ain't right." She clopped the ground with an angry hoof before advancing forward. "Ah'll have ya outta there in--"

Bulk Biceps grabbed her suddenly, hefting her off the ground so her hooves dangled and her powerful buckers couldn't get the leverage they needed.

The Mayor nodded at Bulk. "Thank you. Miss Applejack, your friend is under the control of a malevolent siren. Until we can be sure it's gone, we must remain on high alert and Princess Twilight Sparkle remains here, in our care."

With a streak of rainbows, a new pony arrived. "Alright, who's joke is this?" Rainbow frowned, surveying the scene.

"They've gone crazy!" blurted Twilight before a pony beside her stuffed a sock in her mouth.

"Nuh-uh, not on my watch." Rainbow darted forward, only to come to a screeching halt as a filly moved to be in the way. A filly she knew too well. "Scootaloo?! Get out of the way, squirt. I have business to tend to."

Scootaloo shook her head. "Can you prove she isn't being controlled by the siren? If we let her go, she might do something awful."

Mayor Mare nodded in agreement. "We'll gladly release her as soon as the siren is dealt with. We have nothing against Princess Twilight Sparkle. Why, I'd say we love her a great deal, and that's exactly why we'll keep her here, safe, until this emergency is over."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes dramatically. "Fine! I'll bring you the stupid siren you're all so scared of, then you let Twilight go." Without listening for responses, she was gone in the same streak of colors that had marked her arrival.

Applejack looked over her shoulder at Bulk Biceps. "Don't suppose ya could let me go to go looking fer the siren?"

He snorted, but kept a secure hold of her. She sighed and sagged. It promised to be a long day.

Starlight poked her head out of the canopy of the forest, only to duck it immediately back down, narrowly avoiding the slavering teeth of some unidentified flying beast. She hesitated before timidly peeking out without revealing her unfortunately delicious presence. Her view was limited, but it looked like the forest extended a long distance in every direction. Was this the fabled Everfree?

"Do you see anything?" came from below, where Cherry and Spike waited.

She licked her lips softly. "Not so much..." Taking a slow calming breath, she conjured a protective sphere around herself and dared it one more time, only to shriek and flee. The creature was far from alone. It looked like a migration of the many-toothed horrors, and some had seen her.

Starlight burst into the clearing from above with wide and terrified eyes. Behind her came the strange beasts. They had dull-purple scales, narrow bodies and huge leathery wings that propelled them forward. There were three of them and they gave a communal keening shriek as they spread out and moved for the fleeing unicorn.

Cherry gave a cry of her own, but it more of terror than hunting. Spike was far more determined. "Hey, let her go!" He took a sudden deep breath and gave a gust of green flame that tickled at the belly of one of the creatures flying overhead.

It bellowed in pain, causing the other two to wheel around in the air. All three fixed their tiny eyes on Spike as they hissed, showing off their many teeth.

"Oh, um... good... whatever you ares?" Spike gave a nervous little laugh as they suddenly dove at him and sent him fleeing towards the edge of the clearing.

Cherry got moving for the tree line as well, following the unspoken cue of the others. Fortunately, the beasts' huge wingspan did not serve them well in dense foliage, and they did not try to pursue any of the three once they were out of the clearing. They roared and snapped at the trees, leaving rough and terrible marks on them, but eventually turned as one and moved back up to join their peers above the canopy.

It was very dark there, in the embrace of the forest, at least until Starlight's horn began to glow as she made her way towards Cherry. "I'm glad you're alright. Did you see which way Spike went?"

Cherry walked her way over to Starlight just to throw her forehooves around Starlight in a fierce hug. "What were those things? That was like a whole frenzy of sharks, with air flippers!"

Starlight softly patted her on the back. "It's alright. They're gone now, but where's Spike?"

"Right here." Spike fell in from above but bounced to his feet. "Are you sure they're gone?"

Starlight raised a hoof to an ear, listening quietly a moment. "Sounds safe. So, let's try to take this logically. Going up? Not so good an idea. You think those three were bad? There were a lot more of them up there, I promise you."

Spike felt behind his head. "I don't suppose you got a peek of Ponyville while you were up there?"

Cherry softly bonked him on the head. "I'm just happy she didn't get gobbled up." She took a careful step back and looked around in the dark and gloomy forest. "So which way do we go?"

Starlight frowned a little. "I guess, at this point, any direction's good if we follow it long enough. Let's stick together, stay calm, and we'll be fine."

Spike wriggled his fingers. "Why not just teleport back out the way we came?"

Starlight frowned. "Teleporting blindly is how we got here." She rolled a hoof impatiently. "You really want to try that again? I don't, and it's my horn, so let's get walking."

With that matter settled, they began their way, hopefully towards safety. Of course, they had no way to know if they were heading in or out of the gloomy forest and its dangerous inhabitants.

"Rainbow, darling, over here!"

Rainbow looked down to see Rarity in a trenchcoat and glasses, waving her closer urgently. She flew down to her friend. "Hey Rarity. I'm looking for that siren that's got everyone all worked up."

Rarity lowered her glasses a little. "What do you plan to do if you find it? It could mind control you, just like that." She clopped her forehooves. "Then it'd have the fastest pony in Ponyville on its side."

Rainbow blinked. "What? No way! Have you even seen this siren thing?"

"I've heard stories." Rarity frowned a little. "You shouldn't be flying around right now, dear. Come along, let's go inside and wait for this to blow over."

Rainbow put a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "Hold up there. Twilight's relying on us! I'm not going to hide while an angry mob has her tied up in her own home, no way!"

Rarity glanced up at the purple castle before shaking her head. "I'm certain they're just trying to fix things. Mayor Mare would never harm Twilight. Why, the scandal of the very idea."

She left, and Rainbow was left alone. RD snorted with increasing agitation before her hooves crashed together with a loud clop. "Of course!" She knew one pony that may know of scary creatures! She darted off with a new plan.

Author's Note

Things are happening!

Spike, magic is not the answer for everything, much as we may want it to be.

See what magical typos get you?

13 - Sisters in the Forest

Cherry was moving along with increasing confidence. "I don't even know why I didn't realize this before!" She performed a smooth hairpin turn on her cooperative metal legs working in tandem with her natural pair before turning back forward. With her flippers able to control her mobility, it felt much more like the swimming she was accustomed to, rather than a device to lend barely any mobility to a crippled pony.

Spike looked across at her from where he rode his stalwart mount known as Starlight. "Is it that much better? I admit, I never really got much of a look at your, um, fins? You had them covered up most of the time and all."

Cherry bobbed her head quickly. "Oh yes, completely! They don't make me go forward in the water, they help me steer, and that's important. Guess what they're doing now? Ta da, steering!" She made a sudden jump onto a log with a loud giggle that was met with a low predatory growl from deep in the forest.

Starlight held up a hoof for quiet and sank a little as she peered out into the trees. The entire group fell silent for several tense moments before she rose back up. "I don't think it's close by, but we should avoid making noise unless we're that eager to test out how good those hooves of yours are at running."

Spike swallowed loudly from above Starlight. "Eh, maybe we can skip that part." He made a zipping motion over his mouth and went quiet.

Back in Fluttershy's cottage, Rainbow snorted loudly. "So, how are we doing this? You distract them and I'll rush in and bam!" She swung a hoof. "I'll knock them out cold and we have Ponyville back to normal."

Fluttershy shook her head a little. "I... guess we could do that, but what if she sings and then you're under her control too?"

"What do you suggest?" Rainbow raised a brow. "We have to do something! Twilight's counting on us! Everypony is, even if most of them don't realize it yet."

The shy pegasus tapped her hooves together. "We could try talking to her?"

Rainbow's brows knitted together. "So she can put the whammy on you easier? How is this a good idea?"

"W-well, maybe... she isn't all that bad. I'm sure if we just sit down and--"

Rainbow hiked a brow as she leaned in towards her timid friend. "Fluttershy, really? This siren or whatever has the entire town under her control. I think that calls for something a bit stronger than a little chit-chat."

She turned away and moved for the window, peeking outside as if expecting an attack to come. "Somepony in there may remember you live out here and come looking. I think we should am-scray."

"Oh no!" Fluttershy hopped from the ground, hovering about six inches up. "We can't do that, we musn't! Who'll feed the animals?"

Rainbow tilted her head. "This isn't the first time you took off for a few days. Leave them some bowls or whatever and let's get moving." She gestured outside. "The sooner we get moving, the better. We have a town to save!"

Fluttershy frowned softly. "I suppose so, but I don't like it." She landed lightly and moved towards her pantry. "Bad enough with the map potentially calling us at any time to just... leave. They so much prefer to have warning before I go anywhere, and who can blame them?"

"I can?" Rainbow snorted with annoyance. "What did these animals do before you were around? You know what, nevermind that. Just get ready and let's blow this popsicle sta--Hey!" She looked down with a scowl to where Angel, Fluttershy's rabbit, had just given her a swift kick. "I wasn't talking to you, long-ears."

Fluttershy filled different bowls, ranging from tiny to worryingly large with different feeds to please her animal wards then set out a variety of water dishes. "There." She smiled a little, then trotted for the door, only for her mane to be caught from below and tugged on. She turned to see that Angel was trying to get her attention. "What's wrong?"

Angel hopped up onto her back without any words, not that he was known for sharing any.

"Oh, you want come with us? Um, I guess that's alright..."

Rainbow threw up her hooves. "Whatever, so long as we can get going, and that little terror remembers who's in charge here." She pointed to herself as if it wasn't clear who she was referring to. She pushed open the upper half of Fluttershy's door before darting out through it, hovering easily as she spun around to face Fluttershy. "Coming?"

Fluttershy rose at a gentle rate, only to be grabbed by Rainbow and the two shot up into the clouds with Angel attached. They would save Ponyville, somehow.

Starlight let out a squeak as her next step proved far less certain than she thought. The forest quite abruptly ended, leaving them facing the side of a huge castle, which had a more worrying chasm around it that she had almost stepped into.

Spike brightened at the sight. "Hey! I think that's the Castle of the Two Sisters!"

Cherry stepped up carefully beside Starlight. "Looks big. Do you know it, Spike? You sound happy to see it."

Spike bobbed his head. "We cleared it out a while ago. It should be safe and secure, but even better yet! The trail should still be there, so we can just walk home."

Starlight's expression was a curious mix of relief and concern. "Not so fast, Spike. The town could still be crazy about Cherry. I like the idea of a place we can relax though." She turned and began following the chasm towards the front of the castle. "What were you cleaning it out for?"

"Funny thing about that." Spike put a hand behind his head. "I don't exactly recall. I mean, we put a lot of work into it, then we just kinda... stopped. Lots of other things came up, and Twilight has a new castle now, so I guess we didn't really need it."

Cherry shook her head a little. "That's a big place to clean just to forget about it, but I guess we shouldn't complain if it means we'll be safe and can relax for a change." She smiled broadly, only for the smile to wear away. "Uh, one thing... Is the castle sealed?"

"Huh?" Spike looked over his shoulder. "What do you mean?"

"It's just... if a home is left abandoned long enough..."

Starlight huffed out a sigh. "She's right, something may have come in and decided to take up residence. We should make our first priority sweeping through and making sure we're the only guests of the castle before we relax."

Spike pointed beneath the castle. "Oh hey, you can see the Tree of Harmony from here."

Cherry blinked down into the chasm and the tree within it. "It's got shiny things in its, uh, the coral up top."

"Branches," offered Starlight. "Spike, what are those things?"

"Jewels, the Elements of Harmony, to be specific. We had to give them up to save the tree a while ago."

Starlight tilted her head. "Twilight really has been through a lot, hasn't she?" She swallowed softly. "No wonder it made such a huge difference..."

Cherry blinked as she pulled up alongside Starlight. "What difference?"

"Nothing, nothing..."

Spike gave Starlight a single pat through her mane. "It's alright, Starlight."

"No, no it is not." Starlight frowned over her shoulder. "Cherry doesn't need to be bothered with things like that."

The conversation quieted down to an uneasy silence as they came around to the front of the castle, as imposing as ever, but possibly the safest place for quite some distance.

Applejack was tied up beside Twilight with three times the rope to keep the strong mare from busting loose. She scowled at their guard, the wall-eyed Muffins watching them like a hawk.

"To think, ah thought we were friends."

Muffins shook her head. "Sorry. Mayor Mare was very clear."

Twilight smiled at Muffins. "Um, can I use the little filly's room?"

"Oh, okay." Muffins rose to her hooves and trotted towards Twilight. "You promise to be good, right?" She smiled jovially at Twilight. "Otherwise I haveta go with you and neither of us wants that."

Twilight sighed softly. "I promise."

"Good!" Muffins pulled the ropes loose of Twilight easily and pointed to the restroom. "There you go. Come right back after you're done."

Twilight walked away with uncertainty, stretching her legs as she went. She could try to run away, and she certainly considered it, but tricking Muffins like that hardly felt good, not to mention how many other guards may be just out of sight. No, with her magic non-functioning, it would be better to be allowed restroom privileges, for the moment... She emerged from the restroom and returned to her jailer. "So, Muffins?"

"Yes'm?" Muffins was looking directly at her, or so she figured. It was occasionally difficult to be entirely sure. "Everything alright?"

"Oh, I was just curious about a few things." Twilight settled where she had been, but didn't rush to put the ropes back on herself. "Did Mayor Mare come up with this idea all on her own?"

"Nuh uh." Muffins shook her head back and forth quickly.

Applejack raised a brow. "Really now? Well then, who done it?"

Muffins tapped her cheek softly a moment before shaking her head. "Can't say."

Twilight tilted her head a little. "Can't, or won't?"

Muffins frowned a little. "I was never that good at grammar, uh... can't. Uh huh."

"Why not? You're a very talented speaker so far." A white lie perhaps. Twilight smiled hopefully.

Muffins shook her head again. "Can't. I was told not to, so I can't."

Applejack blinked owlishly. "If'n ya were told not to, wouldn't that be a 'won't' kinda thing?"

Muffins advanced on Twilight. "Nope, definitely a can't thing. Sorry. I hope you're not mad at me." She leaned in. "You're my favoritest princess!" She got to tying Twilight back up.

Applejack sighed softly. "You have the darndest way of showin' yer respect. Look, Muffins, this is all one big misunderstandin'. Ain't neither of us controlled by no sirens."

Muffins pouted a little, looking increasingly sad. "I havta, sorry. Please don't be mad at me..."

Twilight folded her wings back up, the ropes sinking against her, not very tight at all thanks to her subtle ploy. "We're not angry at you, Muffins. You're a good pony, and a good friend. We'll work this out, don't worry."

Muffins brightened at Twilight's words. "Maybe when this is all done and we've taken care of that mean siren, we can go have fun somewhere, alright?" She clopped her forehooves together, then looked to Applejack. "That goes for you too, AJ." She leaned closer. "You're my favorite apple farmer."

Applejack rolled her eyes at the dubious praise.

Author's Note

Oh hello castle! The show may have forgotten you the moment it gained a bright purple/pink castle, but I sure didn't.

That would have been a much cooler castle for Twilight, located right over the Tree of Harmony, and site of Twilight's first true battle that set Luna free. It had everything going for it, except Hasbro's approval.

I blame the typos for this.

14 - A Multi-legged Approach

Cherry advanced bravely across the stone bridge that went over the jutting chasm below. "For being abandoned, this thing looks like somepony put a lot of time into." She tapped down at the bridge before continuing on. She was fairly sure it was artificial, as it didn't even remotely fit the look of the rock around it and none of the 'trees' looked like it either.

Spike nodded from atop Starlight. "Getting this bridge set up was quite a chore, but I'm glad we did. It's way better than the old swaying rickety thing that used to be here."

Starlight frowned a little. "It had a rope bridge? Color me glad we're not dealing with that, and I bet it was over a thousand years old too." She rolled her eyes as she trotted towards the massive doors of the refurbished castle. "Huh, maybe there isn't anything to worry about. The door's still closed and looks solid. How were the windows?"

Spike cast his gaze upwards. "All the broken ones were replaced, I think."

Cherry reached out a hoof and pushed on the door, but it wouldn't give. "How do you open it?"

Spike hopped to his feet atop Starlight, bounced across to Cherry's back and up onto the handle on the door. With a great pull, one foot on the opposing door, they began to open with a slow creaking, revealing the dim interior to the two sets of curious pony eyes that peeked within.

Starlight raised a hoof. "Wait here a moment." She proceeded past Spike and Cherry and advanced into the old castle. The air was still and musty from being sealed. She felt increasingly safe from random beasts and monsters wandering past. "Spike?" She turned, horn glowing, to face the front door. "Was everyone safe, inside? I mean, there weren't any monsters inside the castle last you checked, right?"

Spike and Cherry entered quickly with the clip, pitter-patter, and mechanical taps of their varied feet. Spike shook his head quickly. "The worst thing I remember are some creepy spiders, and they looked a lot scarier than they were in the end."

Starlight smiled. "Great, then we should be fine for now." She grabbed the door with her magic and pulled it shut firmly. "We'll stay here until things blow over. I don't suppose you stocked the place with any food by chance?"

Rainbow peered stealthily from a cloud, just her bright eyes visible from her fortress of fluff. Fluttershy was beside her, also peeking at the activity below, with Angel on top of her. The pegasi of the town all seemed to stay close to the ground, which let them sneak around undetected in their fortress of the sky.

"Why aren't they doing their weather duties?" Rainbow scowled disapprovingly. "It's gonna be a real mess to fix it up after this."

"Don't be mad at them," Fluttershy insisted in her timid voice. "I'm certain they would if they weren't being mind-controlled."

Angel suddenly thumped Fluttershy's back and pointed down below. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash both looked to see a growing collection of ponies just outside of town hall, but that wasn't the mayor standing at the podium. They weren't even standing...

The creature that had everypony's attention looked like a pony, mostly, from the snout to their chest, where it transitioned to what looked like a great big fish tail that hovered over the ground. Embedded in the center of that chest was a lustrous brown gem that matched the rest of her. She spoke with a loud and clear voice. "Good day, loyal citizens. I'd love to tell you that all is well, but the interloper, the dangerous siren known as Cherry, is still at-large. We must find her to secure the safety of the town."

Bon Bon raised a hoof in the middle of the crowd. "How can we find her? We've looked everywhere."

The strange pony nodded her head. "It seems unlikely she's still within the town proper. She must be lurking nearby. Your safety is my number one priority, so--" Her statement seemed to make the ponies down on the ground smile, but made Rainbow's snout wrinkle with distaste. "--we'll send out groups in rotating waves to begin exploring the area around until we catch our siren. Does anypony have suggestions as to good hiding places?"

Rainbow clopped her forehooves together. "I can't take it! Wait, I have an idea. You stay here." Before Fluttershy could voice her objection, Rainbow was gone, streaking down to the ground away from the crowd and coming up trotting on the group, "I haven't found the siren yet." she announced to the group as she approached.

Several eyes turned towards her, including that of their new 'leader'. She nodded softly. "You're late for the meeting. As I was saying, we'll go in groups, for safety."

Rainbow thrust a hoof upwards. "Ma'am? I think I know where she is."

That caught everypony's attention in short order. The leader rolled a hoof. "And where would that be?" Her teeth became exposed, sharp and deadly as she smiled. "We can finally catch her and return to our peaceful way of life."

"Yeah, we should totally do that." Rainbow gave her own insincere grin in return. "But she has friends. Can you help me capture her?"

The leader brought her hooves down on her podium. "She's being protected?! She must have brainwashed some innocent ponies, the poor things..." She drifted out over the crowd towards Rainbow Dash. "You'll bring me there, won't you?"

"Of course, let's go, uh, ma'am." Rainbow turned and began leading the way. Of course, she had no idea where Cherry was, or if she even was a siren or something else, but that was far from her goal. A glance upwards showed Fluttershy was still in the cloud, drifting after them sedately.

Nothing could go wrong with this plan!

"How long do ya figure they'll be gone fer?" Applejack leaned off to the right, trying to peek through the thick doors of Twilight's castle. "This may be the best time to get while the gettin's good."

Twilight folded her wings tight against herself and squirmed, causing the ropes to fall to her hooves with a little wriggling. She quickly trotted over to Applejack and started pulling her ropes free one by one.

"Whatcha doing?" Muffins came soaring in from outside.

Twilight tensed. "Applejack needed to go to the little filly's room and I was giving her a hoof." She gave her best, exceedingly false, smile at Muffins.

"Oh, okay." Muffins bobbed her head, seeing nothing wrong with that.

Tensely, but without opposition, Twilight freed Applejack before glancing at Muffins. "Oh, hey, Muffins."

"Yeah?" She tilted her head, eyes rotating in that curious way of hers.

Applejack approached with a smile. "You've done such a good job watchin' us. I'm plum impressed."

"Aw." She waved off the compliment, blushing. "I'm just doing my job!" She frowned a little suddenly. "I thought it used to be delivering letters, but hanging out with you two is fun too."

Twilight bobbed her head. "But are you ready for the next step in your duty?"

Muffins brightened, a radiant smile on her face. "Oh! There's a part two?! Tell me, tell me!"

Twilight pointed to Applejack and herself. "Now it's time to find that siren, and you're going to do it, with us. Imagine how proud everypony will be when they hear you managed it."

Muffins clopped her forehooves with escalating joy at the idea. "Yay! That sounds way more fun, uh, no offense. Let's find a siren!" She hopped up into the air, then suddenly flopped back down. "But I don't know where the siren is..."

Applejack thrust a hoof at Twilight. "Ah reckon she does. That's why you were watchin' her, right? Now she'll lead us right to the critter."

Muffins frowned with sudden apprehension. "Wait... you were being controlled by the siren."

"Was." Twilight bobbed her head. "But you did it. You watched me for so long, I'm not controlled anymore. Let's go find a siren."

"Okay!" She hopped back to her hooves. "Let's go!" She began trotting along, singing about how she'd become a hero as she went and practically radiating joy with her every motion.

Applejack and Twilight followed along. AJ leaned in towards Twilight. "You sure she's workin' with a full basket?"

Twilight nudged Applejack. "Don't be mean. She's our ticket out of here, and we do need to find Spike, Starlight, and Cherry."

"Cherry?"

"The hippocampus."

"Hippowhat now?"

"Seapony."

"Oh." Applejack raised a brow. "Shoulda just said so."

Outside, Twilight directed Muffins away from the town and any other ponies that would stop them.

"But she'll get mad." Muffins pouted a little.

Applejack glanced at the town. "Who?"

"The one I can't say." Muffins shrugged softly. "She said not to leave town without permission."

Twilight rolled a hoof. "How are we going to find that nasty siren?"

Muffins frowned with obvious thought. "I... guess that's true... Alright, but if she asks, I'm saying you told me to."

Applejack smiled at that. "We accept that responsibility. Let's go, partner. We got a siren to lasso." Though she hoped to wrangle the one putting the whammy over the town, not the other thing Muffins seemed to be hunting.

Author's Note

Our curious three-way adventure continues! Rainbow may be onto something here! Or is she? Only the typos know for sure.

15 - Meeting in Isolation

Rainbow strode further and further out of town. She needed to take the siren somewhere where she could Rainbow Dash all over that monster, free Ponyville, and save the day for everypony. She could already hear the wild cheering and the mad stomping of an ecstatic crowd.

Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!

"Why do you have that expression?" The siren was hovering beside her with a raised brow. "Are you well?"

"Huh? Oh! Sorry, let's get to that siren."

The siren suddenly swam through the air in front of Rainbow, cutting off her progress. "My control must be coming loose. That's alright, just listen."

Rainbow thrust a hoof up. "Oh that won't be necessary." She gave a broad fake grin as she began to sweat. "I'm ready to go find that siren!"

The siren's voice became more melodic with each word before she began to sing a soft song and things began to fade for Rainbow despite her best effort to hold herself together. "There, now go on, and no delays. We'll stop that nasty siren."

Fluttershy, hovering above behind her cloud, gave a quiet gasp of surprise as Angel drove a hind leg into the back of her head, waking her from her stupor. She looked around dizzily a moment before she looked down at Rainbow placidly leading the siren away. "Oh no..."

She peeked over her shoulder. "Wait, it didn't bother you, Angel?"

The rabbit shook his head quickly back and forth.

Fluttershy frowned with new thought. "It must not work on animals, or only on ponies. Let's get some help." She fluttered away, propelling her cloud away from the siren for the moment. "I hope I catch them before they do something awful." They were headed towards the Everfree. Even if the place had been a step less dangerous since the Tree of Harmony had been restored, it was still a scary place.

Applejack leaned towards Twilight. "So, how are we gonna find that watery friend ah yers?"

"Hmm? Oh, that's simple." Twilight's horn began to glow, magic coming easily with that pesky blocker removed, as she turned until she thrust a hoof out. "She's with Spike. Spike I can find." She shook her head a little. "I hope they're all alright."

Muffins tilted her head a little. "Spike's a nice dragon, but why is he with the siren?" She looked in the direction Twilight had pointed. "Of course! Duh! They're hiding in the Everfree..." She rolled her eyes, a dizzying act for the others as it seemed for just a moment that the two eyes moved independently. "We shoulda started there. Hold on, we're gonna need a--"

Applejack pounced Muffins to the ground. "Woah woah woah, calm yer horses."

Muffins blinked at Applejack. "Um?"

Twilight nodded at the two of them. "Applejack is right. If we get more help, that's more ponies in danger. I thought you wanted to do this the heroic way, Muffins? We can handle this, the three of us." She gestured between Applejack, Muffins, and herself.

Muffins squirmed her way to her hooves and bobbed her head at Twilight. "You're the princess, Princess." She brought her wing up in a sharp salute, even if her tongue was poking free a little.

Applejack noticed a curiosity. "Muffins, is Twilight in charge?"

"Huh? Of course she is. She's a princess." She shrugged softly. "Who else would we listen to? Mayor Mare isn't here."

Twilight blinked at that. "What about that other pony that was giving commands?"

"Who? Oh! The flying fish lady? She's not a mayor or a princess, so nope."

Twilight let out a soft breath of relief. Muffins was free of control, and they had a vital clue as to what they were dealing with. "After all that, it's a siren making ponies hunt for a so called 'siren' that isn't a siren at all!"

Applejack frowned. "Care to spin that again?"

Twilight pointed back towards the town. "A siren's why everyone was acting so oddly. I've seen them work before, in the human world, but Cherry's no siren. She's a hippoca--" She aborted the word halfway in and cleared her throat. "Sea horse." Both of the others nodded with understanding. "As far as I'm aware, Cherry's completely harmless. Let's get to Spike and the others and we can work out a plan of action."

Together, they advanced towards the Everfree to find Spike, who was hopefully with Cherry and Starlight. All three well and intact, preferably.

"I thought you said the castle was safe!" Cherry ducked to the side just as great slavering pincers came down where she had been a moment before. A spider the size of an actual horse chittered at her angrily as he approached on spindly legs.

Starlight scowled at the beast. "I thought it was. I was clearly mistaken. No problem..." She lowered her horn at the hungry arachnid and let loose a bolt of magic. The star on the beast's back glowed gently and seemed to just slurp up the magic with no harm to the spider. "Or maybe a little problem... Spike?"

Spike glanced at her. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"You're a dragon, Spike, breathe some fire at it? Fwoosh fwoosh?"

Cherry shrieked as she darted and danced out of the way of each frightening lunge the spider made for her. With her legs wired properly into her fins, she had become quite a deal better at dodging. With a sudden lash, she brought her tail around and slapped the creature across the face. "Stop trying to eat me!"

This only served to further infuriate the spider. It raised several legs into the air and propelled itself on the others for Cherry just as Spike lit up its rump with a sudden burst of hot flames. It screeched in surprise and spun around to face the brave and young dragon. "Uh, okay, now it's looking at me." Spike took a slow step away. "Do we have another plan?"

As Spike fled wildly, arms extended in front of himself, Starlight tapped her chin thoughtfully as she looked around. Spying a hanging chandelier, she pointed. "Get it to stand there, Spike, and I think I can handle it."

"You'd better!" He pivoted mid-dash and headed for the spot Starlight had indicated, just to hear a sudden zap of unicorn magic. "Again? That didn--" He suddenly felt the presence of an oncoming chandelier and threw himself out of the way with wide eyes just as the spider dove for him. With a loud crunch, the Spider was pinned to the ground and Spike was safe, if scared. "Next time tell me when you're about to do that..."

Cherry clopped her forehooves softly. "Good job, Starlight. You'd be a great hunter." She approached the spider slowly. "Do you think we can eat it?"

Starlight stuck out her tongue with distaste. "Who would want to?"

"Anything that wants to eat me can also be eaten, code of the sea." Cherry nodded to herself. "We fought it fair and square, right as the waves."

Spike raised a brow. "Is that really a rule?"

Cherry flashed her sharp teeth. "At least in the water it is. Sharks can take a nasty bite out of us, and we can take a nasty bite out of them. Fair is fair. We don't normally hunt sharks or anything. Squids taste better."

Starlight gestured at the unconscious and pinned spider. "Well let's not find out what it tastes like the hard way. It could be poisonous and then wouldn't you feel silly? You survived all that just to get sick now? I prefer some nice greens anyway."

"Gems please." Spike rubbed his claws together, tummy rumbling with memories of exquisite gem dishes provided by his friend and mother-figure, Twilight. "Actually..." He started sliding towards the fallen chandelier, or more pointedly it's fallen and scattered bits of jewelry.

Just as he had popped one into his maw, all three turned towards the sound of the front door opening.

They were getting guests.

Author's Note

Don't you love it when a plan comes together?

It's like the opposite of typos.

16 - Fateful Encounters

The door creaked open, pushed by two ponies, not one. One of them wasn't even a pony, gauging from the fishtail they had for a bottom. Cherry squinted a little bit. "A pisces pony? What's she doing here?"

Starlight raised a brow at this. "Pisces?"

The siren laid eyes on Cherry, a grin spreading across her face as Rainbow stood there passively a moment before speaking, "I did it."

She turned a little towards her mind-controlled minion. "Yes, yes you did. Now, hmm, go back to to--"

With a sudden combined roar of different animals, Fluttershy's reinforcements came barreling in from behind. The largest of them, a bear, grabbed her from the side in a terrific tackle to the ground. Angel bounced up with the others and hopped up, landing foot-first on the side of Rainbow's face in a brutal kick that shook her out of her funk.

"Wha?"

Spike scratched behind his head a little. "Did we just get... saved?"

"Get off me, stupid animal!" The siren thrashed in the bear's grip. "Let go!"

Cherry advanced towards the sudden crowd at the door. "Excuse me, who are you?"

With a sudden pull, the siren popped out of the bear's grip, grunting with frustration. "I'm the pony that's bringing you home."

Cherry blinked owlishly. "What?"

"Did I stutter?" The siren raised a brow. "Your mother paid a hefty sum of husks to have you dragged home the moment you vanished during the night. I had to follow you, which wasn't hard." She gestured a hoof down at Cherry's metallic hooves. "You made a pretty nice trail the entire way, to say nothing of all the noise and fuss when you hit land. No, tracking you was the easy part."

Cherry suddenly broke into a warm smile. "Aw, that was really nice of mom, but I'm not in danger."

Starlight nodded as she moved up beside Cherry. "Besides the danger you created, she's been an honored guest."

The siren shrugged a little. "Look, if she just came along with the ponies I sent, instead of running away, we could have all avoided a whole lot of hassle. Ah, the name's Sand Surprise, and you are Cerulean, I assume? I don't think many other sea ponies are out of the water."

Fluttershy came trotting up from the direction of the bridge. "Is everything alright?" The bear shrugged.

Rainbow shook her head, casting out the webs before she realized who she was standing next to. "Alright, big and fishy! I'm gonna take you down!"

Spike waved a claw quickly. "Easy there, Dash. I think we're cool."

Cherry grinned at Sand. "Are we cool?"

Sand put her hooves on her hips. "I was paid to bring you back to your mother, so that's where you're going."

Fluttershy thanked her animal friends for their timely intervention before joining the conversation. "Um, hello, Miss..."

"Surprise, Sand Surprise."

"Ah, yes, Miss Surprise. Cherry doesn't want to go with you. Can we do..." She rolled a hoof a little. "Something else?"

Starlight pulled out the few shells she had gotten from Cherry. "How about we trade these for you to bring a message back to her mother?"

Sand blinked with surprise and leaned in. "Huh, first time I saw a land pony with some of these, let alone knowing what they're for." She snatched them from Starlight's extended hoof. "Not much, but it's on my way home anyway. What do you want me to tell her?"

"Stop right there!" Twilight was charging at the castle, Applejack beside her and Muffins flying overhead, all three looking ready to come to the rescue that was no longer required.

Rainbow held up a hoof towards them. "Hey, it's alright. Rainbow Dash is on the case."

Twilight stalled, blinking in confusion with the others.

Cherry gestured at Sand. "This is Sand Surprise. She was sent by my mother to bring me home."

Applejack mosied up towards the group. "Ah, alright? So why all the mind control alon' the way there? T'aint neighborly any t' have us trussed up like that fer so long."

Twilight raised a brow. "Is there a time limit?"

Sand shook her head. "Relax. I'm a siren, this is how we solve problems. This was a problem, and I solved it. She wasn't going to be hurt."

Fluttershy frowned at Sand. "That's not a good answer, and not very nice at all. You scared poor Cherry half to death. I thought you were here to protect and guide her?" She didn't mention that she was also terrified of the events of the last day or so. "That is not how we deal with problems." She was glaring at Sand, staring her down like any other ornery beast, whether she could speak or not changed nothing. "Now you apologize to her and no more controlling ponies. If you want something, you ask for it."

Sand blinked slowly at the yellow pegasus before glancing around at the others. "Ah..." She stopped at Cherry. "Look, sorry, alright? I don't normally do land missions, but that's where you went, so that's where I went, and I kinda improvised. I owed it to your mom."

Cherry tilted her head. "Did she pay that much?"

Sand blushed a little. "Y... no. She's saved my fins a few times way back in the day. I wanted to do her a solid in return. Look, you sure you don't want to come home?"

Twilight gave a little smile. "Okay, Sand is it? It's very nice that you wanted to do a favor for Cherry's mom, but she's alright. Would you like to see the room we've arranged for her? She's an honored guest, a diplomat from the sea people."

Sand waved off the statement. "You said something like that before, but she's a filly for the waves' sake. She doesn't have any say, so how is she going to be diplomat of anything but herself?"

Cherry took a little step forward. "I can share stories of home, and they can show me more wondrous things of The Dry. They've been really nice to me, even when things got scary, they were there."

Starlight nodded. "We wouldn't let Cherry be hurt."

Spike gestured broadly to everyone. "Friends protect friends, and we're all friends."

Sand blinked at that. "Even me?"

Applejack hiked a brow. "If ya promise to never mind-control the town again, we can talk."

Twilight was a bit more forgiving from the outset, placing a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Easy. Sand was concerned about her friend's daughter. That's very noble, even if she went about it... interestingly..."

Starlight flashed a nervous smile. "It's alright... I've been there."

"There?" Sand met her gaze.

"The whole, you know, brainwashing ponies thing to get what you want?"

Sand leaned in towards the nervous Starlight. "You're a siren? You hide it well, land pony."

Applejack snorted softly. "She did it, without even a fish tail. A whole town of ponies."

Sand whistled softly. "For how long?"

Starlight shrunk a little bit. "Years?"

Sand barked out with a sudden fit of laughter. "Oh wow! You're good! I couldn't even keep them in line for much longer than a day. Years?" She spread her hooves. "I can't even imagine that."

Starlight put a hoof behind her head. "Well, I'm not doing it again. I'm... better now."

Twilight moved up beside Starlight and threw a leg over her, squeezing. "And now she has real friends, which is a lot better than brainwashed minions any day."

Sand nodded a little. "I'll bear that in mind, but... forgive me, being a siren is kind of what I was born to be. Influencing others is what I do when I'm around ponies."

Fluttershy pointed at Cherry. "You decided on your own to put your talents to work helping a friend. You can decide to do other things, to help ponies."

Applejack nodded in agreement with that. "Th' way ah see it, ya may have caused a lot of mischief, but ya did it fer the right reasons at least. Ah kin respect that, goin' the distance fer a friend."

Sand smiled at the compliments. "Alright, enough squishy stuff, let's see this 'room' you've made up for Cerulean, and it better be good."

The entire party set out from the castle then, hiking along the trail from the castle to the town proper. Spirits were high, and fear was low. The trail between the castle and the town was fairly safe and cleared. While an attack was possible, it was far less likely, and they had numbers on their side.

Starlight put a hoof to her rumbling belly. "I am so looking forward to getting a nibble to eat once we get back to town."

Cherry glanced back at the castle, already lost to the forest. "Shoulda ate that big thing. I bet it woulda been tasty."

While Sand had been gone, the ponies of Ponyville had regained their senses, but that didn't stop the returning party from running into an angry mob of torch and pitchfork wielders. It was just that they were directed at Sand instead of at her behest. "There she is!" called out Mayor Mare. "Capture her!"

Muffins suddenly landed between the two. "Wait! I'm still a little confused, but I heard what they said and I think she's safe." She held out a hoof at either side, as if holding the two groups from getting to one another instead of just being a wall-eyed roadblock. "Her name is Sand Surprise."

Bon Bon raised a brow. "She lives up to the 'surprise' part."

Mayor Mare locked eyes with Twilight. "Princess..." She paled suddenly. "Princess! Please forgive me!" She threw herself at Twilight's hooves. "I was being controlled. Please don't have me thrown into a dungeon forever!"

Twilight shook her head slowly. "If everypony would kindly put away their torches and sharp things, we can move on. Nopony's in trouble. It was all a big misunderstanding."

Mayor Mare sat up. "Controlling the entire town, a misunderstanding?" She looked towards Starlight, then onwards, but the unspoken accusation had been stated.

Starlight colored darkly and squirmed in place while Applejack advanced. "Look, everypony. She was just trying to guard a little'un." She gestured at Cherry. "Cherry here is a filly of her friend. Now, she is sorry for what she did, right?"

Sand internally sighed before forcing a big smile. "I won't mind-control the ponies of this town ever again, promise."

With the matter largely resolved, ponies began scattering around, getting back to what they had to do. Twilight led the way for her friends, new and old, back towards her castle. "This is hardly how I expected to spend the day, but we did learn something for it. So, sea ponies and sirens are aware of one another? Even friends? That's wonderful!"

Author's Note

And things calm down. We could leave it here, lessons learned, or...

We can get back to exploring The Dry.

What say you?

17 - The Second Episode, or, Clothes Make the Mare

It was a fine day in Ponyville. How couldn't it be? With little excited giggles, Cherry slowly pulled a lever out of place with a little shred of metal in her mouth she was using as a tiny pry bar.

Pinkie leaned over her shoulder as she worked. "I don't think it'll work like that..."

"Of course not." Cherry set her tool aside. "Breaking it is part of understanding it." She ran a hoof gently along the massive clock. "Look at how it tries to work now."

Pinkie tilted her head slowly. "It doesn't look like it's working at all now."

"That's where you're wrong!" Cherry pointed into the exposed guts of the grandfather clock. "See, right here. It's trying to turn. If you listen, you can even hear it going tick tick tick."

Pinkie frowned a moment before the expression faded into a smile. "Oh I can hear it! Shouldn't it go tick-tock, not tick-tick?"

Cherry pushed the piece back into place, and the great weight began to swing properly again, the device restored. "I'm still learning how it all works, but I love it. I love every little piece!" She swatted the clock and something fell. Cherry's eyes went wide with horror. "Oh no!" She dove for the ground, flopping as she began searching for the missing piece. "Please tell me you can see it!"

Pinkie picked up a small gear from the ground. "Is it this?"

Cherry sprang up to her hooves, living and metal. She leaned towards the little gear and bobbed her head. "Perfect! You're the best assistant ever." She accepted the gear from the giggling Pinkie and carefully put it where it belonged, her tongue stuck out just a little with concentration until it slipped back into place. "Phew. That's enough clockwork for one day."

"Good! Wanna get a snack?" Pinkie smiled brightly. "I still owe you a cake, and today's the day we fix that, riiiight?"

Cherry carefully shut the front and back panels of her clock. "Let me get wet and I'll meet you in front of the castle, alright?"

They parted ways, only for Cherry to emerge from Twilight's castle, glistening with water, but much more pleased about it than most ponies would be. "Have you seen my room, Pinkie?"

Pinkie tilted her head. "I saw the top of it, but I haven't been in your room."

"You should! You can swim, right?"

"Course I can! I can skate too, but I bet you don't want your room frozen." Pinkie stuck out her tongue a moment.

Cherry was baffled. "Skate?"

Pinkie led the way towards the town of Ponyville. "When water gets really cold, it turns into ice, like magic. Then you can skate on it, because ice is all hard, and slick."

As they wandered through the town and the generally cheerful inhabitants, Cherry veered off towards a familiar face. "Good morning, Applejack!"

"Well howdy there, Cherry, Pinkie. What're you two upta?" She was manning the apple stand that day, with many fresh apples waiting for a good home. "Come t' get some apples?"

Cherry licked her lips. "Maybe one..." She offered a bit and received an apple, even if she could have claimed more than one at the price. She seemed happy to crunch into it as Pinkie approached.

"Hey Applejack. I was about to show Cherry the magic that is cake!" Pinkie clopped her forehooves together excitedly. "I can't wait to see her joyful expression on the first bite."

Applejack laughed at that. "Ah reckon ya would be pleased as punch fer the opportunity. Ah confess Ah felt much the same when she had her first apple. You go on and have a good time, y'hear? Tell me how it goes later."

"Will do!" Pinkie saluted before they departed, heading for the sweet emporium that was Sugarcube Corner.

There were some ponies lingering nearby, nibbling on tasty treats. They looked at Cherry curiously and some offered friendly waves. She was a novel sight, but not an unwelcome one. Pinkie returned the wave, but was focused on getting Cherry inside, and soon they had entered the secret lair of sweets, which wasn't so terribly secret.

One of the ponies behind the bar gave a smile. He was a stallion, dry sort, of course. He seemed a touch skinnier than most of the others. "Well hello there, Pinkie, who've you got with you there?"

"Hello hello, Mr. Cake. Meet Cherry." She gestured between the two. "Cherry, this is Mr. Cake. This whole bakery belongs to him and Mrs. Cake. I just work here."

Mr. Cake offered a hoof. "She says that, but she's an invaluable part of the team, practically part of the family. Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, Cherry. That pronunciation, it reminds me a bit of Prench."

Cherry tilted her head at that even as she offered a hoof, meeting his with a soft clop before she guided her fins to make her metal legs begin walking to take in the sights of the place. Everything was bright and colorful, to say nothing of smelling so sweet. "This is a very nice... um..."

Pinkie quickly supplied, "Bakery."

"Ah, yes, Bakery." Cherry frowned a little. "What's that?"

Mr. Cake's curiosity would go unfulfilled, but Cherry's naked ignorance and curiosity distracted him nicely. "A bakery is where ponies bake. It's how we make all these treats." He waved a hoof over their counter where cookies, muffins, and cupcakes were on proud display.

Cherry approached the glass case and leaned forward, bumping her nose as she misjudged the gait of her metal backlegs just one precious inch. Rubbing her nose with a hoof, she eyed the bonanza of delicacies. "You eat a lot of different things. Whatever they are, they smell good!"

Mr. Cake smiled gently at the new guest. "Funny thing about that, most of what you see is made with the same basic ingredients, prepared in different ways and with different additives mixed or sprinkled in."

Pinkie bobbed her head in swift agreement. "Like those are vanilla dough, but the rainbow sprinkles make all the difference in the world, believe me! But we're not here for cupcakes today, nuh uh. Mr. Cake, permission to make some of your namesake?"

Mr. Cake blinked, at first not getting it before it clicked. "Oh! Of course. Clean up after you're done."

"Roger wilco!" Pinkie trotted past Mr. Cake into the kitchen, looking quite eager to get to work.

Cherry followed along and settled to the ground to watch Pinkie hurriedly get to baking. The entire process was fascinating, but baffling. The idea of cooking that way was foreign to her. How could one cook that way in the water? It was a uniquely dry way to make food. Even the heat it made seemed drier around the ovens than elsewhere. It was the pure power of dry itself that made things happen. "We'll have a drink with this, I hope?" asked Cherry a little worriedly.

"Milk goes great with baked stuff." Pinkie bobbed her head as she pulled open a closed place and retrieved a bottle of white fluid. Was that really milk?

Cherry squinted at the bottle. "That isn't how you use milk normally, and I'm not a foal. Why do you even have that?"

Pinkie blinked with confusion. "It's tasty? You don't have to be a foal to enjoy milk, silly."

Cherry shook her head. "I'm pretty sure you do. Nopony I know drinks milk after they're weaned."

A new mare entered, round and matronly in appearance. Like the stallion up front, she was an earth pony with no wings or horn. "Pinkie, dear, she may be lactose intolerant."

"Lact-what in-what?" Pinkie looked increasingly baffled. "Does that mean she can't have a nice glass of milk?"

"That is exactly what that means." The larger and older mare took the bottle from Pinkie's sad hooves and placed it back in the cold place. "What would you like, sweetie?"

Cherry smiled. The older mare seemed kind and she decided she liked her. "Water's good. Do dry ponies have lots of different things to drink like that?"

"Oh my, yes." She nodded. "An almost countless variety of drinks to wet the whistle, as they say. I don't think we've met." She offered a hoof. "I'm Mrs. Cake. Have you met my husband already?"

Cherry met the hoof of Mrs. Cake. "Nice to meet you. I'm Cherry and yep! He's in front." She pointed the way. "That's pretty amazing. It's so dry that you separate out the kinds of water you like."

Mrs. Cake fetched a glass of water and gave it to Cherry. "Here you are, dear. Let me go check in with Mr. Cake. Pinkie, be mindful of our guest. She's not a normal pony and may react differently to the things we like."

While they had been talking, Pinkie had returned to the process of creating three small discs that smelled great, and only got better when she added some kind of smooth topping to each that hid the original discs beneath. "It's time! I hope your tastebuds are ready, because I'm about to blow your socks off."

"Socks?" Cherry shook her head. The dry ponies had so many new words for so many new things. "Will it work if I don't have whatever those are?"

"Don't be silly! Besides, nopony around here wears socks hardly at all anyway." Pinkie waved it off. "Go on, try some!" She picked up a sharp bit of metal in her mouth and cut out a piece of the first disc. "This one's vanilla with strawberry frosting and topped with kiwi."

Cherry blinked softly at the assault of new nouns, but decided to simply trust Pinkie and reached for the slice provided. Her hoof got dirty instantly with the sticky stuff covering it, but that didn't stop her from taking a big bite of it, her snout also becoming messy with the stuff.

Mmm... Cherry chewed softly, trying to digest the flavor itself a moment before she took a second bite, licking her lips clean as she went.

"Do ya like it?" Pinkie was practically vibrating with excitement. "Best thing or best thing?"

"It tastes weird," confessed Cherry as Pinkie deflated in place. "But I think I like it." Pinkie perked right back up and began to giggle happily. "What's the next one?" asked Cherry as she put down the slice she started with, mostly devoured.

The taste testing proved to be a success. The sea pony palette was unaccustomed to such things, but Cherry liked each flavor enough to eventually finish her share. "Thank you, Pinkie."

"Best part," Pinkie exclaimed as she pointed to the three partially-devoured cakes. "The insides were mostly made of the same thing."

Cherry couldn't believe it. Each had tasted completely different. "You're fibbing. That's not nice."

"I'm telling the truth. Look, I'll show you what I baked with." Pinkie showed off her ingredients, and they ended up making a fourth cake with things Cherry wanted to try. It was... new, Pinkie gave it that, but likely not being added to Sugarcube Corner's regular menu.

Author's Note

And so begins our grand, likely not so adventurous, adventure into the workings of The Dry.

18 - Darling, You're an Absolute Mess!

Cherry emerged from the kitchen. She was dry, yet sticky. She was tired, yet excited. She was filthy... She had no counterpoint to that. She was caked with the various parts of baked goods and walked along in concert of flesh legs and mechanical ones as her thick dolphin tail swayed behind her. She looked forward to returning to her room, but not before she took a bath and got clean. She wasn't going to get the water of her room all gunked up!

"Darling!" Cherry looked up at the voice to see a white unicorn, that's the horny kind of pony, gaping at her. "You're just as enchanting as they say, but it's all hidden under grime and filth. That Pinkie... Come with me!" She reached for Cherry and grabbed her. "This is nothing a quick trip to the spa won't fix!"

"Um, spa?"

The strange pony raised a brow. "Twilight said you were from a different place than us, and I imagine that's quite true, but you've never heard of a spa?"

Cherry shook her head a little. "Are you a friend of Twilight's?"

"I most certainly am." She nodded. "Oh look at me, being so rude. I'm Rarity." She placed a hoof at her chest. "And if I'm not mistaken, you are Cerulean, otherwise known as Chéri. An absolute pleasure to meet you dear. Now, come along. We have a date with some very nice ponies that'll get you nice and clean and more relaxed than you've ever felt before."

Cherry tilted her head at the slightly off pronouncing of her name, but the mare seemed nice, and a friend of Twilight's could likely be trusted. "Alright, but I can dry swim just fine, look." She walked along after Rarity with a smile.

Rarity raised an ear. "Have you learned how to trot yet? That must be awfully slow."

Cherry blinked at that. "Trot? Is that another swimming form?"

Rarity flashed a bright smile. "That's one way to look at it. Watch my legs." She began to trot in place, moving her legs in pairs of front left and back right and front right and back left. "This way is much faster than walking. Can your legs do that? I understand not all of them are, ahem, au naturel."

Cherry beamed at being shown another swimming form. "That looks graceful. Can I see you doing it in practice?" Her eyes were glued to Rarity as she did slow circles around Cherry that slowly picked up in speed. Trotting seemed flexible, capable of moving slowly or quickly easily. However... "My metal legs don't exactly match that form. I'm going to have to play with them until I get them working right." She resumed her walking gait after Rarity. "I'll do that after you show me this 'spa' place."

Rarity gladly led the curious new pony to her favorite place to be, beside her own boutique. "This reminds me, darling. We simply must get you sized. Making an outfit for such a unique shape would be a fitting challenge."

Cherry raised a brow as she stepped up to the building. "Most of the ponies in this town don't wear extra things." She reached up and tapped her hat. "I wear this to keep the sun from being too bright in my eyes, and that's about all I wear usually."

Rarity tapped at Cherry's belt. "Well there are these legs, you're wearing those, to say nothing of those lovely jewels you have in your mane." She raised a hoof to brush the bright red baubles. "Those truly are delightful. Where did you get them from?"

"My mother got them for me..." Cherry glanced around. "I hope she's alright."

Rarity's expression softened. "You poor thing! Is this the first time you've been away from home? I'd give you a hug, but you're still a mess, dear. Let's get that taken care of." Her horn glowed softly as the door swung open with the same colored light. "Aloe, Lotus? I have a new client for you two and you'll simply die when you see her!"

A bright blue dry pony emerged with a little smile that turned into obvious amazement. "Oh! Is that the sea pony that lives with Princess Twilight? We're ever so sorry for all that fuss when you first arrived." She dipped low. "Your first time is on us, as an apology. Come, you look like you've had quite the day. We'll ease that tension out of you and make you sparkle like the sea you come from."

A soft pink pony emerged. They were both earth ponies with no horns or wings. "Lotus, who ar--" She trailed off on seeing Cherry. "Oh my!"

Rarity advanced, gesturing for Cherry to follow her. "We're here to be pampered. Let's get her cleaned up and de-stressed the way I know only you two can manage. Do you have a space available?"

Lotus, the blue one, gestured at the pink one. "I'll handle Rarity, you can treat the sea pony."

The pink one looked Cherry over curiously. "I'll do my best, but I confess, I don't know the muscle groups of sea ponies, so I'll take this nice and slow, and I'll want you to tell me if anything feels uncomfortable. I imagine most of your tension is in that gorgeous tail of yours." She guided Cherry into the back towards a pool of water that seemed oddly warm even from a small distance. The air was slightly less dry.

Cherry took a soft breath of the refreshingly damp air before stepping closer to the tub. "Get in, right? Why's it so warm?"

The pink one shook her head. "Go ahead and take off those legs of yours. You won't need to move while you're in my care, promise." She gave a gentle smile. "Aloe will take care of everything."

Aloe supported Cherry as she slipped free of her belt and nudged it out of the way before easily helping Cherry into the tub. She was surprisingly strong, but Twilight mentioned earth ponies were usually strong for their size.

When Cherry touched the water, she jumped with surprise. The water was even warmer once she touched it! It was like swimming close to an underwater volcano. With Aloe's gentle whispers and calm grip, she slowly allowed herself to be submerged in the hot water. Despite her reservations, it began loosening her grime quickly, and her muscles did relax. She sank a little deeper, but Aloe never let her escape her gentle and caring touch.

Aloe started rubbing Cherry's furry body, cleaning her and working the flesh and muscle beneath with exploring hooves. "I meant it. I've never had the pleasure of working on a sea pony before, but I'm very excited to have this opportunity. You just relax, but if you feel any discomfort or pain, you tell me. You won't hurt my feelings."

Cherry suddenly dipped into the water, letting her head submerge completely. The act was so fast, her hat floated on the surface as she looked around beneath the surface. She tried gulping some of the water and came back up, coughing and sticking out her tongue. "This water tastes funny!"

Aloe blinked softly. "The water is made for safe and relaxing soaking and relaxing, not drinking. Cherry was your name, correct?" Cherry nodded. "Good. Cherry, just relax for me. Do you need a drink of water?"

"Please?" Cherry gave a timid smile, still trying to get used to the idea that there would be water she shouldn't drink, as if water served many other purposes other than living in, drinking... all that stuff.

Aloe didn't keep Cherry long and soon had a tall and cool glass of something mildly sweet with a little hollow stick in it that let her sip from it while she laid back and enjoyed the attention.

Besides her mother, she had never had another pony clean her like that. There was something inherently personal about it and she found herself blushing faintly, but Aloe kept it professional. She obviously cared, but never made it felt like she was trying to be more personal. "Alright, you're clean, but that lovely mane of yours deserves a proper shampooing, and there are so many other ways to relax you, inside and out. Are you ready?"

Cherry gave a gentle smile. This was fun, if new and mildly disconcerting. "Yes, please. Are you sure this is alright? I have some dry shells." She dug out some bits and showed them to Aloe, but the spa pony gently nudged them away.

"If you really like how it goes, at the end, you can give me some of those to say you really thought it was great, but we already promised today is free, so you owe nothing up front." Aloe nuzzled under one of Cherry's legs and hefted her up carefully, using her own hooves to support Aloe's body. "Besides, I get to pamper a real mer-pony. I never thought this would happen..." She sounded almost giggly at the idea. She carried Cherry to a table with strange bumps and even a hole. "Now I'm going to place you down here. You'll look through the hole, and it'll let me access most of your lovely body. Simply relax and enjoy."

Cherry tried her best to help as she was set down, but dry swimming was tough work, especially without her extra hooves. There had to be some way to dry swim on two hooves, but she didn't know that trick. After a little wrestling, she was laying flat on the table, belly down. She couldn't see anything but the floor, but she could hear and feel Aloe above her, gently exploring her body.

"Alright, I'm going to assume you work the same, especially in your upper body, then we'll both discover how this tail of yours works." Aloe pressed her hooves to tense muscles and began kneading and working. Cherry melted, not literally, but she became a quivering pile of sea pony under Aloe's careful ministrations. She was moved several times, but she could hardly care and barely noticed the time going by at all.

By the time grasp of time returned to her, she was propped up in a chair. Her face and eyes were covered, so she couldn't see. But she could hear another pony.

"Ah, isn't the spa wonderful, darling?" Ah ha, it was Rarity. "You certainly seemed to enjoy yourself. You were practically asleep when Aloe brought you in."

"By the seas, yes!" Cherry sat up a little, consciousness returning to her all the faster. "She made me relaxed in places I didn't even know I had muscles in."

"You're welcome," came Aloe's gentle voice. "I'm going to do your hooves now, if that's alright?"

"My hooves?" Cherry tilted her head, unseeing. "What's wrong with my hooves?"

"Nothing at all my dear, but I can make them even lovelier while working the tension free of them."

Her hooves were tense? The very idea felt foreign to Cherry until Aloe's hooves trapped one of her own and began gently massaging. Oh yes, there was some tension there. Cherry sank into the chair with a little sigh.

Cherry and Rarity emerged from the spa some time later, both shining and new, internally and externally. Cherry looked down at her hooves and their bright red tips that matched her mane jewelry. "Is this really normal?"

Rarity waved at Cherry. "Oh don't be silly. I mean, not all ponies put on some hoof-polish, but it is perfectly normal, and perfectly delightful, darling. You look great! Now come along." She gently pointed Cherry towards her own boutique. "We're not done."

Cherry blinked with wide eyes. "There's more? I don't think I could relax any harder without falling apart." Her fins undulated carefully, directing her hind legs and getting herself into motion. "What else is left?"

Author's Note

Cherry has learned the bliss of Aloe and Lotus' spa.

Is it wrong that I'm a bit jealous?

At least the typos didn't interfere with the luxuriating.

19 - Measuring Up

Rarity gestured to her odd-looking house. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique! I'd normally take this moment to emphasize the uniqueness of what I create, but the greatest challenge for that is right in front of me." Rarity looked Cherry up and down. "Tell me darling, do sea ponies wear things, for special occasions and the like?"

Cherry thought back quickly. "I saw mom wearing some very pretty clothes once, for a festival she didn't let me go to. She said it was for adults only." Cherry waved it off with a snort. "I'd go now. I'm an adult now." She hiked a hoof towards her concealed flank. "I have my cutie mark and I'm living on my own."

"Hmm, yes..." Rarity tapped at her chin. "Come inside dear, and I have no doubt to your maturity. To come all this way is quite the challenge. Twilight tells me you basically made those fascinating metal hooves on your own?" The door opened with her magic and she stepped inside. "Why don't you come inside and tell me all about it while I get your basic measurements?"

Despite her invitation, Rarity was barely paying attention to the story of those metal hooves. Taking measurements of her guest was far more important, as well as taking in just how a sea pony was made and moved, in a walking metal contraption or not. "Could you be a dear and show me how you swim?"

Cherry blinked at that question in the middle of her story. "Um, sure... I'd love to, but there's no water around here to swim in."

She heard hoof-steps descending from above and another white unicorn with different colored mane came bouncing down. She was also a horny pony, a unicorn. "Oh! Hello!" She dipped her front while keeping her eyes locked on Cherry. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique... What are you?"

"Sweetie!" Rarity gave her a harsh glare. "Don't mind her, she's my sister. Sweetie Belle, meet Chéri, a sea pony. Chéri, this is Sweetie Belle, my sister."

Cherry tilted her head faintly. "Nice to meet you, Sweetie. You can call me Cherry."

"Sherry, or Chéri?" Sweetie grinned a little. "That's a nice name either way. Did you jus--Oh! You're that sea pony that that whole fuss wa--"

Rarity popped a hoof into Sweetie's flapping snout. "Ah ha, that's quite enough of that, dear. Chéri doesn't need to relive that particular little accident."

Sweetie ducked away from the hoof, dancing back out of range of an easy second strike. "You really do look similar to a siren. The resemblance is striking."

Cherry decided to challenge the filly. "Name two things that are different. I bet you can do it if you try."

Sweetie suddenly frowned, focused on Cherry intently. "You don't have a funny jewel right here." She put a hoof to her own chest.

"That's one," announced Cherry with a wide smile. "One to go."

Sweetie stuck out her tongue a little with obviously intense concentration. "You look... like a porpoise, instead of a fish."

Cherry swayed her powerful tail as she squirmed free of her belt. "That's because I'm a sea pony, not a siren, but that's two, so you win!"

Magic wrapped around her and lifted her into the air, Rarity's horn glowing the same color. "I don't mean to presume, but if I hold you up like this, perhaps you could show me how you swim?"

Sweetie blew a raspberry at Rarity. "Show off." She scampered off towards the door. "I'll be back for dinner! Have fun!" And she was gone with a parting wave from Rarity.

Held in the air, Cherry tried to swim through it, but there was no water to push against, just Rarity's magic, which hardly behaved like an ocean or even a pool might to her motions. "It's not the same." Despite that, she gave it a real effort, undulating her streamlined form and holding her hooves close as if cutting an agile path through the water that wasn't there.

Rarity clopped her hooves with joy. "You must be quite the sight to see, darling. I simply must see you in your natural environment one day." She carefully set Cherry back on the ground. "I think I've seen enough to get started. That tail of yours is far too active to have anything at the end of it, but something nice and clingy to go along the trunk from the front..." She tapped at her chin, gears spinning behind her eyes with thought. "Yes, I think I could work with this. You'll take the breath away from anypony that sees you."

Cherry gasped at the idea. "Don't dry ponies need to breathe? I don't want to take their breath away!"

Rarity tittered softly as she waved a hoof at Cherry. "Perish the thought, darling. It's just a turn of phrase. You aren't going to harm a single pony, this I promise. They'll just be so amazed at you that they might forget to breathe a moment. Don't worry, they'll remember long before anything bad happens." She turned towards her ponyquins. "Now I'll have to get to work. Thank you for lending your measurements for me. I'll let you know when I'm done."

Cherry blinked. She'd never had clothes made for her before, so that was a new experience. "Really? That's it?"

"That's it." Rarity smiled at her. "The next part is some good old-fashioned work on my part. That's no fun to watch, I promise. I'll come by Twilight's and find you when it's ready, promise."

Cherry slipped back into her belt and carefully inserted her fins into the internal controls, regaining mobility as she turned to the door heading out. "Alright. Thanks, by the way. It was really fun visiting the spa."

Rarity moved over and patted Cherry on the back. "We simply must do that again, but for now, I should return to work. These dresses won't make themselves. I'd be out of a job if they did so it's just as well, dear. Now go on, I'm sure Twilight is wondering where you've gone about now. It's time for supper if I know her schedule well enough, or a late lunch depending on the day... Either way, off with you, my lovely sea model."

Cherry stepped out and looked up to see the sun was a good way past its halfway point through the ocean of the sky. She could also see some pegasi using their sky flippers to dart around. She noticed some were moving the, uh, sky ocean glaciers around and were slowly blocking away the sun. Why were they doing that?

One of them noticed her watching them and waved enthusiastically. It was Muffins and she came soaring in. "Hi there!" She glanced side at the Boutique they were beside. "Did you just come from Rarity's? Oh wow! Is she going to make a dress for you? I bet it'll be super pretty. Besides that one time, she always makes the prettiest dresses."

"One time?" Cherry tilted her head a little. "Hello there... Muffins was it? Nice to meet you again."

Muffins bobbed her head. "Hiya! That's me, and you're Cherry the sea pony." She pointed up. "I volunteered to help with weather patrol today and we have to make it rain."

Rain wasn't a foreign concept to Cherry. She'd seen it rain over the waters before, but it was still odd. "You make it rain?"

Muffins looked confused. "How else would we get rain when we need it?"

Cherry tilted her head. "It just rains sometimes over the ocean without us asking for it to or not to."

Muffins waved it off. "That's silly. You're..." She trailed off as the thought hit her. "Oh... Um..."

"What?"

"Well, you live in the water. I guess you ponies don't care when it rains, so you don't need to worry about it."

The logic couldn't be argued with by Cherry, who nodded. "So you ponies with the sky flippers decide when it should rain? That sounds like an important job to me. The Dry needs all the water it can get."

"Exactly!" Muffins beamed widely. "You should go home before it starts raining on you though."

Cherry glanced up towards the sky glaciers that promised to pour on her. "What if I want to be rained on?" She smiled. "That sounds like the wettest time The Dry will ever know."

Muffins tilted her head left and right. "Huh, guess you're right! You have fun then, okay? If you need help, you just call for me and I'll come flying." She made a loud whooshing sound. "We're friends, right?"

Cherry smiled at Muffins' enthusiasm. "We are, and if anything happens, I'll be sure to call you. Hey, what do you do when you're not brainwashed or pushing the sky glaciers around?"

Muffins smiled brightly. "I usually deliver things and help at the post office, but if you mean in my time off, I usually prefer t--"

"Hey, Derpy!" Far above, Rainbow Dash waved at the two of them. "Quit clowning around! We don't have forever, ya know."

Muffins gave a sharp and wall-eyed glare upwards before she heaved a sigh. "She's right, I'm on duty. So, if you need me, shout. Take care, alright?" She lifted into the air easily with her sky flippers. "We'll talk later!" And off she went, scooting back up towards the sky glaciers and the work therein.

Cherry bid farewell with a wave of a hoof and frowned for just a moment. Responsibilities sucked sometimes, but if The Dry needed water, that sounded very important. Even dry ponies needed some water, she'd seen them drinking, and they didn't get too confused when she asked for water. She began walking towards the large purple tower in the sky when the first drop struck her on the nose and she squeaked.

It was like she had just been splashed by somepony playing around, but who? She glanced around before another got her right in the eye, but her eyes were used to water and protected. She shook out, and that's when the wetness came. All the sky glaciers began pouring out the rain and Cherry couldn't help herself.

She laughed.

She laughed and waddled around and even rolled on the ground, despite it growing muddier by the moment. The Dry was wet. It wasn't as wet as the ocean, of course, but it was wet! She laughed and caught some of the rain in her mouth as it came down.

Everything about the rain was perfectly delightful and refreshing. She may have gotten some of her perfectly primped fur dirty, but most of it came clean in the torrential downpouring as she made her way back to Twilight's castle.

She would have quite the story to share with her host that evening.

End Story 2

Author's Note

The episodic adventure of Cherry finishes. She had a grand time baking, got the royal treatment at the local spa, and was measured up for a fancy dress, but how will that turn out and when will she wear it?

And what will the next adventure be in The Dry for her? Perhaps it's time to get more serious about her mechanics, especially now that she knows she has to get trotting down.

Hopefully she will avoid typos there.

20 - The Third Episode, Taking a Dive

Cherry emerged from the water of her room, bobbing to the surface with a soft breath of the humid air that filled her room. Her room was the most comfortable part of Ponyville, or at least Twilight's Castle. If she could get Aloe or Lotus to move in, well...

She shook her head quickly, banishing the thought of daily spa treatments in favor of lowering her gaze to her modified belt. It looked much the same but for two things. It had her cutie mark painted on the side crudely with her own mouth for one.

For another, the metal hooves were covered in big flippers. Moving her own flippers and undulating her tail at the same time let her swim even faster than normal as the mechanical legs and her thick tail worked in harmony to propel her around the flooded room. She went down about halfway before circling sharply and coming for the surface, bursting free of the surface of the water and flopping out into the hallway just outside of her room.

Twilight would probably be a little annoyed at the splashing that came from whenever she jumped from the water instead of climbing out, but that was so much more fun, and Twilight could clean it with a spell. She didn't even understand why Twilight was bothered by it. To be polite, she pushed some of the water back into her room to minimize the mess and nodded. She began flop-clopping down the stairs, her hooves striking the firm surface with a clop, but the fins over then slapping with a loud flop with every step.

"Hello there, Cherry." It was Starlight, smiling at her. "You look like you're having fun."

"Oh, I am! Look look." Cherry quickly worked off her new flippers. "Look!" She was eager to show off, and had to be sure she was being looked at. She began at a normal walk. "See, normal, but now..." She began moving her flippers just so and changed the gait of her living fore-hooves, getting herself into a lively trot around the room, her tail bobbing in counterpoint. "See? I can dry-swim better than ever before."

Starlight clopped her hooves with congratulations. "You've really taken to your legs like you were born with them. That's called a trot, by the way."

"Trot," murmured Cherry softly to herself. "And this dry-swimming gait is a 'walk' right?" She slowed to a normal walk and Starlight nodded her head. "See, I am learning. What are you up to?"

Starlight glanced outside. "I was actually going to go say hi to a friend of mine."

Cherry perked her ears. "Ooo? Can I meet them? Are they nice like you?"

Starlight colored just faintly. Having a pony nakedly praise her social skills was flattering. "She's a very nice pony, but she takes some getting used to. Her name is Trixie." She glanced left and right. "She's a lot like me. We're not... used to having real friends."

Cherry blinked owlishly. "What? No way. You've been a great friend to me."

"She has a teacher." Twilight approached from the direction of the kitchen. "Going off to say hello to Trixie? Good, keeping in contact with your friends is a vital part of keeping friendships."

"She learned that the hard way." Spike followed after Twilight, rolling his eyes.

"Spike!"

Cherry leaned closer to Starlight. "May I meet your friend?" She flashed her best smile, wanting to meet the new pony.

Unfortunately, Starlight shook her head. "Today's a private day, but soon, promise. I'll let her know you want to stop by. Like I said, she's still new to the ins and outs of friendship, and so am I." She looked to Twilight. "I'll probably be out most of the night. See you later." She waved as she headed for the door on her other three hoves.

Twilight returned the wave. "Go enjoy yourself, and do tell Trixie about Cherry. I think the two of them would be good for each other."

Starlight was gone, and Spike was looking at the flippers on the floor. "What are these? They don't look like the right size for you, Twilight. Were you gonna go swimming with Cherry?"

Cherry raised a hoof quickly. "Oh no! Those are mine." She moved to claim them, but they were wrapped in magic and hovered over to float in front of Twilight.

"Fascinating... They go on your mechanical apparatus, I presume? Are they effective?" Twilight raised a brow curiously as she spun the flippers in the air.

"They work great." Cherry reached upwards for them and Twilight let her have them back. "I couldn't say exactly how much faster I am, but I can tell there's a difference. You should wear flippers when you go swimming so you aren't so slow."

Twilight frowned faintly. "I'm not that slow, am I?"

Spike shrugged softly. "You're a little slow, but hey, you're a wizard and can fly. You can't have everything."

Twilight suddenly perked. "Ah yes! This came for you, Cherry." A letter appeared beside her and floated towards Cherry. "Here you are."

Cherry accepted the letter with some surprise. The paper's texture told her it was from the sea. It wouldn't dissolve in water, and should have kept whatever letter was inside safe... But who? "Oh!" She began smiling brightly. "Maybe mom sent it." Twilight made a whirling motion with a hoof and Cherry blinked before turning the letter over to find a name written on it besides her own. It read 'Indigo' and she gasped on seeing it.

"Indie!" She tore the envelope open and wrenched free the letter within, her eyes dancing across the paper.

Heya Cherry-Belly,

I've missed you, but your mom says you're alright and even showed me how to write you a letter, so here it is! If you're reading this, it worked! Unless you're not Cherry, in which case you should stop and put this letter back in the envelope, you big creep!

Okay, now I know we're safe. How've you been?! Are you really in The Dry? That has to be so amazing! I want to see The Dry too, but my mom says that's not 'for' me. Whatever... She can't stop me. You'd show me around, right? I bet you're having loads of fun!

See you soon,
Indigo

Cherry blinked softly. "He's going to get hurt..."

Spike approached curiously. "Who? I guess you know them?"

"He's only like my best friend in the waves!" She threw the letter to the ground. "And he's stupid! Stupid stupid stupid! He doesn't know how to survive in The Dry! He'll get lost, and hurt, and hurt and lost at the same time!"

Twilight tilted her head a little. "You didn't know how to navigate on land either, Cherry."

Cherry went as red as her namesake. "That's different!"

Spike snorted softly. "Yeah, now somepony else's doing it."

"Exactly!" Cherry beamed, seeming to believe Spike was in agreement with her. "We have to save him before he does something stupid."

Twilight shook her head. "Let's not get over dramatic. First, how likely is your friend to actually come ashore."

"Only like a millionty percent." Cherry sank a little. "He knows I did it, and he knows I'm here, so now he's going to follow right after me."

"Then there's only one solution." Twilight pointed towards the train. "We should meet your friend at the beach and welcome them."

Spike raised a brow. "Is that just before we tell them to go home?"

"Spike." Twilight frowned at him. "We will do no such thing."

"Twi, we're talking about a colt. We'll have another panicked mother, and who knows what she'll do? Maybe something a lot worse than that siren." Spike rolled a claw. "The responsible thing to do would be to send him home."

Cherry glanced between her friends, head full of thoughts. "If we shoo him off back into the water, he'll come back, just without our permission, then he'll really get hurt... He doesn't have dry-swimmers! Er, four of them anyway, he only has two."

Twilight's horn glowed as she picked up the discarded envelope. "There's something I need to know, that may make this a lot easier. How did your friend get a letter sent from the ocean to Ponyville?" She flipped the envelope about, before she tapped it with a hoof. "Here we are, a postmark. It looks like the post office in the same town we found you in accepted it, so they would know how it arrived. If we go to them, we should be able to send a letter back and make sure his family knows what he's up to and how to contact him."

Spike nodded in satisfaction. "That sounds like a plan. We should meet him one way or the other while we're there so he doesn't hurt himself."

"Yes please!" Cherry began walking for the door. "He's a nice pony, promise. He's really good at herding fish." She winced suddenly. "He's not going to have a lot of fish to herd here... Stupid Indie.."

Twilight and Spike followed as Twilight tucked the envelope away. "I can't go flooding another room. Is it alright if he stays with you while we figure out what's the best thing to do?"

Cherry blinked with obvious confusion. "Of course it's alright. It's not the first sleepover we've ever had." She stuck out her tongue a little as she pushed the door open. "I told you, he's a nice pony. Besides, I'll have to show him around, and I understand where he's coming from better than any dry pony, so it makes sense I'd do it."

Spike suddenly stopped and pulled out another piece of paper, scrawling on it busily a moment before puffing on it, turning it into smoke that drifted away quickly. Before it was even out of sight, he got to work on a second paper.

Twilight watched the furious writing curiously. "What did you just send to Celestia, and what's on the second one?"

"Letting her know where you'll be." Spike put a few final dots on the page and slapped it down on a table near the door. "And letting Starlight know so she and the girls won't worry."

Twilight threw a leg over Spike, hugging him. "That's my number one assistant! Good thinking. Let's get moving. Who knows how long it took for that letter to get here, or how long her friend will wait if he gets there before we do."

Together, the group walked briskly to the train and secured passage. Growing more used to The Dry, Cherry didn't require a tub, but carried an empty one with her, the original. "We should return this while we're in town. That was really nice of that little pony to let us borrow it."

Author's Note

This can only end well... Just look at all those typos in that letter!

21 - Return to the Start

Cherry leaned, the side of her face pressed against the glass of the window as the town came closer. She could see the glittering hints of the sea that they were drawing closer to and she felt a tension in her chest. She'd forgotten how much she missed home, and being so close to all that water, even just the hint of its shine, was a painful reminder. "It's alright if I get a little swim in while we're here?"

Twilight perked, looking up from her book. "Hmm? Of course that's alright. Our first priority is finding your friend, though that assumes he came here." She tapped at her chin. "That's not a guarantee."

Spike hiked a thumb at the beach. "Taking a swim might be a really good idea. If he got nervous about coming ashore, seeing his friend will bring him right out of hiding."

"Excellent thought, Spike." Twilight smiled with an almost maternal pride. "This is our stop. Let's get that pool returned, then it's off to the beach!" She hopped down from her chair as the train came to a smooth halt. They had arrived.

Together, they all piled off the train, drawing curious looks as they went. A little colt dashed up to them with a big smile. "You're back!" he squeaked with great energy. "And you brought it back! I knew you were a nice pony."

Cherry surrendered the pool to the colt. "Your pool really saved my hide. Thanks for letting me borrow it."

Twilight gave a soft cluck of her tongue. "We really should get one of those for ourselves. Your friend won't be as acclimated to these conditions as you are."

"What?"

Spike hiked a thumb at Twilight. "She means he won't be used to being as dry."

"Oh!" That made perfect sense to her. "Good idea. I didn't like being dry at all. It's still kind of icky, but you get used to it, right?" She glance towards the sparkling ocean. "Maybe we can talk him into going home instead? Then we won't need a pool at all."

Twilight thrust a hoof at the beach. "I'll see about getting one, just in case. In the worst case, you'll have one for yourself. Spike, go ahead with Cherry. You're good at swimming and the sea ponies are familiar with dragons, right?"

Cherry threw one of her forelegs around Spike and hugged him. "He's not like other dragons, he's way better."

Spike was caught in an uncertain place. "What's wrong with other dragons?"

"They're not you." Cherry released him, smiling. "Let's go swimming."

Spike nodded and they faced towards the waterline together. With her new trotting gait, Cherry made a respectable showing. She was still not the fastest creature on land, and the sand beneath her was more difficult to navigate than cobblestone or dirt. It all changed as they splashed into the water and it rose rapidly to the point that she gave a powerful full-body twitch and propelled herself into the water in a dart of speed.

Trailing behind her and staying at the surface, Spike paddled out away from the shore until Cherry popped up beside him, glistening with water and smiling brilliantly. "I forgot how this feels!"

Spike gave an emphatic thumbs up. "You look like you're having fun. Did you want these?" He offered the flippers Cherry had made and she squealed with joy, grabbing them.

Soon she had them on her metal hooves and did a quick spin in place. "Wanna race?"

Spike gave a skeptical look. "I'm pretty sure I'd lose that one."

"Awww, but trying's the fun part, isn't it?" Cherry splashed water at him, giggling. "Come on!"

Spike returned splash for splash, and the race was forgotten for a short time as they splashed and splished at one another in a fruitless battle to make the other more wet in the middle of the bay.

Cherry barely got a squeak out before she vanished under the surface of the water and Spike blinked in surprise. He dunked under it and caught a glint of light off of her metal hooves far deeper in the water. He came up for air, took a deep breath then dove after his aquatic friend as best he could.

He stroked through the water as it grew darker around himself. Just how deep had she gone? He didn't have Twilight's bubble spell for second breaths and began to lose hope he'd find her when he saw her facing another sea pony, a boy.

"What were you thinking, just grabbing me like that?" Cherry crossed her forehooves and looked quite annoyed with the other sea pony. "I thought I was being eaten by a squid."

The other rubbed behind his head with a hoof. "Sorry about that. He's always a bit, uh, eager. So... you alright?"

Spike had a feeling the two were fine, and he needed to breathe, so he kicked back up towards the surface, leaving Cherry to catch up with her friend.

Indigo glanced towards where Spike swam away. "It worked! We're too deep for dragons to bother us here."

Cherry huffed softly. "Indie... He's a friend."

Indie raised a brow. "I didn't know dragons had friends."

"That one does! I'm one of them. Look, you should go home before your parents lose their fur with worry."

Indie stuck out his tongue. "Don't try to sound like my mom, you're way too young for that. Besides, they know."

Cherry blinked softly. "They know? And they allowed it?"

"Well, I told them I was coming to help you, and you you're my friend. It's my duty, as a friend, to help you. They let me go."

Cherry put a hoof to her face. "I'm not in danger. See, look, I'm fine." She did a twirl in place. "All safe and sound."

Indie smiled brightly in the gloom of the water. "Good, then I can come with you. I want to see it too."

Cherry stiffened. She had made it seem too harmless. "You can't!"

"Why not? You're alright, right?" Indie tilted his head a little. "Oh! Did you figure out what those are for?" He pointed to her metal hooves. "You're still wearing it, so I guess you did?"

A new idea came to Cherry and she smiled. "A race."

"Hmm?"

"A race. If you can beat me in a race, you can come with me, otherwise you go back home."

Indigo hiked a brow up. "Why are you so eager to send me home? Are we not... friends anymore?" His face fell with sadness. "Was it something I did? I didn't mean to tease you before."

Cherry's eagerness shattered under the hurt feelings of her friends. It wasn't working, not at all. "It's not that... Look, let's go up and talk to Spike, the dragon. He's a friend, so you should meet him, alright? If you can't manage that, then you really should go home, 'cause he's hardly the strangest thing you'll find in The Dry."

"I can handle one little dragon!" Indie saluted sharply before darting up towards the surface, Cherry just a moment behind.

Spike gasped in surprise as two sea ponies broke the surface fast enough that they arced through the air and landed on either side of him. He looked between Cherry and Indie. "Is everything alright?"

Indie reached out and poked Spike in the chest. When he wasn't roasted for his impertinence, he smiled. "You really are a friendly dragon."

Spike smiled a little. "Indigo, was it? Hi, my name is Spike."

Indigo looked at the offered claw a moment before offering a hoof out for spike to grip and shake a little. "Um, hi Spike. I hope Cherry hasn't been annoying for you."

Cherry went a dark red swiftly. "Indie!"

Spike waved it off. "Her? No way. She's a great guest. You're a friend of hers, right?"

Cherry elbowed Indie. "We've known each other since we were little guppies. He shares my stubborn streak and he won't go home."

"Not until I see what she's been doing all this time." Indie smiled hopefully. "That's alright, right?"

Spike glanced towards the beach, but couldn't pick out where Twilight was. "So long as you follow our instructions, it should be... alright. We want you both to be safe."

Cherry pointed to the beach. "Have you been to The Dry yet?"

Indie paled faintly. "N-no..."

Cherry put her hooves at her hips. "Why not? I thought you were going to follow me."

Indigo swallowed softly. "I was kind of hoping you'd be there, with me..."

Cherry shook her head. "And if I didn't come back here to find you?"

Indie broke into a bright smile. "I was sure you'd come if I wrote about it... Guess it worked, here you are!"

Cherry sagged a little. If she had just not come back, her friend would have been entirely safe. "You're not going to be convinced, are you?"

"Please?" Indie swam a little closer. "I'll do what you say, promise. The Dry isn't that bad, is it? I mean, if it was, you'd come home yourself, right? I want to see what it's like."

Cherry felt defeated utterly. "Alright... Twilight, she's a dry pony, is getting a thing to hold water for you to stay in while we go back to Ponyville."

"This isn't Ponyville?" Indie peered at the coastal city.

"That? Nah. Ponyville isn't near the beach." Spike shook his head in the negative.

Indie paled a little. "It's far away from the water?"

"It's not too late to change your mind." Cherry smiled hopefully.

"No way! If you managed it, I will too." He began slowly approaching the coast. "The dry ponies are alright with you, right?"

Spike shrugged as he swam after them. "Twilight explained the whole thing last time. I think more ponies are curious about you than anything else. Just don't start nibbling on them and they'll be alright."

Cherry swam up beside her friend. "The dry ponies eat mostly vegetables and strange stuff, not fish. I mean, they eat some fish, but not a lot. They have flat teeth too."

"Weird!" Indie exposed his sharp incisors. "Though I guess we're just as strange to them, so I'll try not to stare too hard."

Spike nodded at that. "Good idea. Most ponies are pretty nice, if you're polite to them."

The party approached the beach, the water beneath them becoming shallow as they began to leave the home of the water and began to infringe on The Dry.

Author's Note

Hey there, Indie! Welcome to the story! What manner of typos will he create with his presence?

Day 1/3 of during-con updates!

22 - Welcome to the Dry

As they approached The Dry and the ground pulled up closer and closer to the surface, Indigo's motions slowed with hesitation. Cherry moved closer to him with a little smile. "It's alright if you don't want to finish this. I know it--:

"No!" He popped his head out of the water and began slowly advancing into the sand. "I'm going to do this and you can't tell me not to." The water drew away from him with the lapping of the waves and he was suddenly drier than ever he was before, paling with worry. Despite the fearful trembling, he pulled himself forward several inches.

Cherry popped out, rising on her mechanical hooves and ambling along with her natural and artificial legs working in unison. "You don't have legs. You need at least four legs to dry swim."

He pointed to Spike, who had reached land and was walking along calmly. "Look at him! He's doing it with two." Trying to imitate the bipedal dragon, he threw himself up onto the only two hooves he had and flipped over backwards, landing heavily on his back in the sand with a soft thump of displaced sand.

Spike came jogging over to the fallen sea pony. "Hey, you alright?"

Cherry stopped on his other side. "You can't walk like a dragon unless you're a dragon. We're sea ponies."

He rolled over, bumping Spike as he pushed upright, his front elevated and his tail twitching impotently. "So make me hooves like the ones you have if you have to."

Cherry glanced away a moment. "I... don't know how." Her veneer of confidence became a more genuine fear. "I found these, remember? I didn't make them... I'm afraid I'd mess up if I tried to make another set."

Spike rubbed at his chin. "Well, either way, we have to get you to safety. So, you sent us a letter. Does that mean we can send your parents a letter, so they know you're alright?"

A stallion approached with curious eyes. "Is that another sea pony?"

Indigo shrank from the new face, but Cherry moved quickly to put herself between them. "This is my friend, Indigo."

"Nice to meet you, Indigo," greeted the stallion as if nothing was wrong. "How can we help today?"

Indigo tilted his head a little. "You want to help?"

"Of course." The stallion smiled. "Isn't that what neighbors do? You're a sea pony, right, like miss Cherry here?"

Spike hiked a thumb at Indigo. "Can you help get him up onto a chair where he'll be more comfortable until Twilight gets back?"

"Sure thing." The stallion moved to pluck Indigo by the scruff of the neck and casually tossed the confused colt onto his back before he trotted up onto the warmer, drier, part of the beach and set the visitor from the sea on a public beach chair. "Here you go. Enjoy your stay." He nodded at Indie before trotting off into the sand without a worry.

As the others caught up to Indigo, the younger sea pony shook his head. "The dry ponies are very nice. I feel bad for being scared of him. Were you scared too, Cherry?"

She felt an urge to fib about her first time, but honesty won the day. "I thought they were coming to eat me up, but they helped me get out of the net I was caught in, and they've been helping me ever since. Spike here, and his friend, Twilight." She looked to Spike. "Any idea where Twilight is?"

Spike did a quick scan of the horizon before pointing. "There she is, and she has a pool."

Twilight did have a pool full of seawater and was coming up from the ocean where she had filled up. She spotted them as Spike waved energetically for her and became trotting towards the group. "Hello! Are you Indigo? I'm Twilight Sparkle."

"Hello Miss Sparkle." Indigo peered at the tub she was floating along. "How are you doing that?"

Twilight set her burden down beside Indigo. "I'm a unicorn, and we can do magic, like making things float."

Indie shook his head with wide eyes. "Can all dry ponies do that?"

"Nah." Cherry smiled. "Only the horny ones. The ones with sky flippers can swim through the air, and the ones without either don't do anything special at all." She pointed up to where a few pegasi flew overhead.

Spike peeked at the pool full of seawater. "Skipping the fresh water this time? I guess that makes sense. Did you already send a letter?"

Twilight shook her head quickly. "Not yet." She looked at Indie. "I actually figured if you two found him, he'd probably tell us what we needed to know about sending a message to his home."

Indigo gave a sheepish look as he flopped out of the chair and began dragging himself towards that pool. "It's really hot... Cherry,aren't you hot?"

She was, but she wasn't going to admit as much. "The Dry lives up to its name. I had to get used to being, um, dry a lot of the time. It's not too--"

"Stop that!" Indie frowned at her. "Are you that upset I'm here? I thought we were friends."

Cherry started in surprise at the outburst, then raised a hoof to rub behind her head. "I didn't mean it like that... Look, I'm super glad to see a friendly face." She stepped up beside Indigo and threw a leg around him, hugging him. "Why do you want to come to this dangerous place so badly?"

Indigo went quiet for a moment before he took a slow breath. "Because I like you? I always liked you, then you just vanished one day like a wave, poof, gone. I was so worried at first, but your mom's friend came and said you were alright, more than alright... She said you were a guest of a dry princess and were being treated like a princess yourself."

Cherry blinked at that. "Were you... jealous?"

"Maybe a little..." Indie flopped into the pool, relishing in the cool relief of it and swallowing a mouthful of briny water to wet his whistle before he popped his head out again with a more comfortable expression. "But I didn't follow you for dry princesses, I followed you for you. Where is this dry princess anyway?"

Twilight gave a soft cough before nodding. "We've already met. My proper name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, but just Twilight is fine, really. I trust the pool is to your satisfaction?" When he nodded, she lifted the whole thing up carefully. "Now, I respect the reason you came, but I must repeat that it is likely to be uncomfortable and troublesome for you to get used to land, but Spike and I will do our best to help you along."

Spike gave a sharp salute before moving to help hold up the pool without being asked. "We already helped Cherry, what's one more sea pony? You're safe with us! So, hey, you herd fish I remember, right?"

Indigo peeked over the side of the pool so he could see Spike. "I like fish of most kinds. They understand me, and I understand them. So, um, thanks, both of you, you're really making me feel welcome." He stuck out his tongue at Cherry. "Unlike some ponies."

"Hey!" Cherry easily kept up with the others as they began to move. "I'm not trying to be mean, Indie. I'm just worried, about you, and, uh, myself. Look, I'll try to make another one of these, really. You have to promise to do what we tell you to do though. We're The Dry experts."

Indie sank a little into the water with a devious expression. "I'm not sure you're a master compared to Twilight and Spike here."

Twilight tilted her head faintly. "By merit of hours spent in our respective environments, Spike and I can't help but have more experience navigating on land, but I confess, Cherry has shown considerable talent with mechanical devices, their operation and alteration."

Spike gave a little blink. "Twi, you want to try that again in a way anypony can understand?"

"Huh? Oh! I mean we've lived here all our lives, so we know a lot about the land." Twilight smiled sheepishly, her cheeks a little red. "And that Cherry is good at machines."

Indie nodded quickly. "That's what I meant, um, what's a machine?"

Cherry curled on herself and knocked on one of her metal hooves. "These, but also clocks and trains and oh! You're going to see a train right now! You've never seen one of those, but they're amazing big huge machines that carry dozens and dozens of ponies all at once across The Dry super fast to wherever they wanna go!"

Indigo smiled as a new sort of relief flowed through him. Hearing Cherry excited for something instead of being a downer was a joy and he splashed over to her side of the pool, watching her perform her dry swimming. "Will you show me the 'train'?"

"Show you?" Cherry grinned. "I'll do one better, since I'm pretty sure we'll get to ride it again." She reared back and clopped her forehooves together before resuming her walk. "I'd love to get myself a train... But they're kind of huge."

The sudden cry of an alarmed pony rang out from the beach as others scattered from a single point in the water, retreating onto dry land with worried faces. Their words were lost in a sea of exclamations as all four of them looked towards it. What was going on in the water that was causing such an uproar?

Author's Note

Day 2 of convention, and you get a slightly shorter chapter, sorry about that.

And a cliffhanger! I'm less sorry about that. You should be used to that particular typo from me.

23 - Angered Sea

Amid a froth of agitated water, a huge beast rose, looming over terrified ponies that scrambled away towards hopeful safety. It gave a terrible screech as it reached with grasping tentacles far too long for normal ponies to comprehend and snatched a mare just before she reached a door and pulled her into the air with a fresh roar of defiance.

Indigo's ears fell. "Oh no..."

Cherry gaped at the huge monster. "Please tell me it's one of your friends."

"Friends?!" Twilight looked between the two seaponies. "How?! Nevermind, just tell it to let that pony go if it is."

Indigo waved his hooves in the air. "Bring me closer to him. He's probably scared for me and looking for me, so if you show him I'm safe, he'll calm down. He gets like this when he's nervous."

As the great creature snatched up another pony from the emptying beach, Spike shook his head. "I hate to see it when it's really angry..." He began sprinting in the direction of the beast, but Twilight wasn't moving and he slipped and fell with the tub held in her magic.

She shook her head. "We have to be careful. That huge thing's easily capable of hurting all of us if it wanted to. Cherry, can you talk with it at all?"

Cherry shook her head quickly. "All I can 'say' to fishes is 'I'm going to eat you' and 'don't eat me.' She frowned faintly a moment then pointed a hoof up at Indigo. "I think he's right. We have to get him over to talk to his friend."

"That's what I said." He crossed his forelegs, looking agitated enough to consider flopping over to his friend. "Get this thing over to him right now before anyone gets hurt, including him."

She suddenly jumped up and bumped into the pool in her moment of freedom from the still-largely-alien force known as gravity. Colliding with the pool, it tipped off to the side just a little, but it was enough to send Indie sliding, which made it tilt all the more. Cherry came to the ground with a flop, missing her landing as her friend flopped down beside her with an annoyed and mildly pained squawk.

Twilight blinked at the both of them. "Have you gone mad?"

Cherry wasn't listening. She got back upright with the whirr of her mechanical legs getting themselves in order and ran for Indigo. Her head lowered, she slipped underneath him and got him onto her back. Fortunately, he grabbed at her with his hooves and clung as she took off running towards the angered sea beast with him.

The roaring and thrashing monster had managed to get four ponies before the rest fled out of its range and was shaking them around like musical instruments. Instead of the sound of beads rattled, they wailed and shouted with terror as the music of the day. When Cherry charged into range, the beast turned one of its large eyes towards her and her passenger.

It quieted a moment, then burst with anger in a blubbering wail of fury.

Indigo waved a single hoof wildly. "I'm alright! I'm alright! This is Cherry, she's a friend."

The monster slowed a moment, its mighty tentacles pausing mid-air with the ponies held within looking hopeful but terrified.

"I promise, I'm alright, look." Indigo let go of Cherry and flopped to the hot sand. "See? Look. I came here to explore, not because I'm hurt, I swear, now you're a good boy, and thank you for coming for me. Please put those nice dry ponies down."

A querying toot like a horn came from the beast.

"No, don't eat them, even the fatter one. Rule of the waves, they aren't a part of the sea, and they aren't part of your sea especially. Besides, you're a good hunter, I know you'll find better, less screamy, lunch."

The beast made a sad toot and began setting the ponies down one by one, patting each on the head just after releasing them. It made a querying whistle and clacked its great beak, eyes settled fully on Indigo.

"I'm not coming back, not right now. Go on, go back home. I'll see you when I come back. I want to explore this place." Indigo balanced perilously on one hoof while waving wildly with the other around the city of The Dry. "I want to--"

The beast gave a final piercing toot and retreated into the water, sinking swiftly beneath the waves and out of sight as if it had never been there.

Spike arrived at a light jog. "What did it say?"

Cherry nodded at that. "That's what I want to know. You have such a powerful talent, Indie."

Twilight arrived shortly after Spike. "You'd probably love a friend of mine. She has a talent very similar to yours, but she usually deals with animals that live on the land."

Indigo frowned at Cherry. "As if you don't? You're a master of those, um, meckianiacal things." He flopped down onto his aquatic body, poorly suited to navigate on the sands. "I'd love to meet her, but first I hope you brought the water with you."

Twilight glanced aside to her thoroughly emptied pool. "One moment and I'll have this addressed." She trotted down towards where the waves lapped at the shore.

Spike stayed with the seaponies. "Were you sure that thing was going to calm down when you came over here?"

"Mostly." Indie smiled. "I can't promise anything one-hundred percent with him, but he likes me, and I like him. I never saw him that angry before. He really thought I was hurt or foalnapped or something."

Spike shook his head. "Remind me not to upset random sea monsters."

"Oh, he's no sea monster." Indie shook his head as he rolled over, trying to find a more comfortable position. "He usually stays out of seas and in oceans. He needs deep deep waters to be happy."

Twilight returned with the pool refilled and set it just beside Indigo. "Sorry, Indigo, Cherry. I should have listened to you both instead of trying to figure out your own life better than you, especially in such an emergency situation. I'll try to listen better to you both."

Indigo slipped gratefully into the cool water and shook himself thoroughly in its embrace, working free the gritty sand that had collected on him during his stay. "It's like The Dry is trying to cook me!"

Cherry suddenly smiled. "I've cooked with The Dry before, it's amazing! I'll show you after we get back to Ponyville. Pinkie and her friends, the Cakes, are masters of dry cooking, using the power of The Dry to make super tasty things."

Twilight carefully hefted the pool up and began moving towards the train with Spike taking up his position of helping the pool without prompting. "It is a particularly warm day, but you should be safe in there. Cherry, how are you doing? I know you say you're 'used' to it, but it's much warmer here than Ponyville typically becomes and you've been very active."

Cherry began to follow after them even as she considered herself and that. She was well and whole in large part, but her fins did ache a little and felt chapped inside their sleeves. Chapped was actually a great description of a lot of patches of her body and she hurried to catch up with them. "I think I'm looking forward to getting back to my room too," she said, demuring her desire to claim everything was perfectly alright.

Twilight gestured with her horn up at the pool. "Do you want to ride with Indigo and get out of the sun a little while?"

Cherry licked her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe after we get on the train. I know how heavy it is with all the water and one of us. You don't need to carry both of us."

Decided, they made their way through the town towards the train station. Indigo peered curiously at everything around himself. "A lot more dry ponies wear clothing, and they all have four hooves." He looked down from his perch at Cherry and her extra hooves. "I hope you can get me some extra hooves so I can try dry swimming like all of these ponies."

She smiled nervously. "I'll try my best, promise, but really... I never did this before." Her head lowered a little. "Please don't be angry if I can't do it."

"But you can do it." Indie leaned a little closer to the edge, the pool wobbling. "I saw you working on those, and I bet you didn't stop just 'cause you reached The Dry. You have to trust yourself and I bet you'll make it happen."

Twilight gave a gentle smile. "I'll make sure you have metal to work with." She might have been thinking of witnessing how far Cherry's understanding of mechanics had come. "There's a smith in town and she can make sure your pieces are shaped right if you tell her what you need."

"This town?" Cherry glanced left and right.

"No no, Ponyville." Twilight blushed a little at her imprecision. "Spike, hold this a moment while I get us tickets." She trotted off.

Spike wobbled dangerously and quickly let the pool come down as gracefully as he could manage, only spilling some of the water to his credit as he got it to the ground in a sort of controlled fall under his insufficient muscle mass. "You alright?"

Indie nodded at him quickly. "I feel much better now that this... what is this?"

Cherry tapped the side of the pool. "This is a pool. The dry ponies use it to hold a lot of water at once. They also have glasses for little bits of water and buckets for a medium-sized bits of water."

Indigo blinked with wonder. "Why do dry ponies care about water at all to have so many things to hold it?"

Spike shrugged softly. "We don't live in it, but we do need some water to live, and we like it on hot days."

Indigo let out a low, impressed, whistle. "Even dry ponies... We are all truly connected by the water, no matter how far away we are."

Cherry tilted her head. "That was the most religious thing I think I ever heard you say."

"What? It's true! We're all part of the same sea, even these dry ponies. It's kind of humbling to think about..."

Twilight returned with the tickets held in her magic. "Alright, we can get going to Ponyville. I'm certain they'll be happy to meet you, but before we do that, is everypony related to you aware of this trip? We don't want... complications."

Indigo bobbed his head. "Promise! Unlike some ponies, I didn't go running off in the middle of the night."

"Hey!"

Author's Note

Disaster averted without any ponies being munched upon.

I vendored for 8 hours yesterday, then did demos for 4. I barely got any typing done yesterday, but woke up today and this happened. Typos may have resulted. Day 3 of the con begins!

24 - End Story

Safely aboard the train, Cherry parked herself beside the pool. "This is the train I was talking about. Isn't it amazing? This whole thing moves, using the very power of The Dry, making dry things so hot they release some of their magic which makes its mechanical parts work."

Indigo sat up in the water. "It is a little scary to think of, but I trust you and our new friends that it's perfectly safe. I'm sure you were scared of my friend and had plenty of reason to think he could harm you, but you trusted me. Have you learned how this, um, train works already?"

"Are you kidding?" Cherry leaned towards her friend. "These things are as valuable as they are large to the dry ponies. Even Twilight, a princess, can't just give me one."

Twilight tilted her head slowly. "Actually..."

Cherry's ears perked bolt upright. "You can get one?!" She scrambled to her hooves and rushed for Twilight. "Please please please get one! I'll be careful with it and put it all back together when I'm done."

Twilight decided to take a risk with a slow nod. "Alright, how about this... You create something to get Indigo around and I'll see what I can do about--" She paused as the ground lurched and the train began to move. "About your train."

Spike hiked a brow curiously and leaned in closer to whisper, "Can you really get one?"

Twilight replied in a harsh whisper, "I should be able to get an old and retired train. I'll look into it while she's working."

While they were talking about that, Cherry had rushed back to her friend. "Indie, did you hear that?! I'm going to get a train all to myself to work with! Ooo, which part would I look at first? I think I'll save the Dry magic core for last, and I'll see how everything leads back to it. Oh, waves above, the pieces must be so huge and powerful to make something this big move so smoothly. I can't wait!"

While she rambled excitedly, Indigo nodded patiently with every few words. When she finished, he rolled a hoof. "I know you'll have fun with that, but aren't you dry? We're safe now." He moved to the side, making as much room as there would be in the small pool. "You'll have those hooves made in no time."

Cherry cringed with renewed worry, but a sudden thought tickled at her and she looked at Twilight. "Twilight? What do dry ponies do if their back hooves aren't working? I mean, you know, if they get hurt."

Twilight blinked owlishly before she brought a hoof up to her face with a groan. "Of course! We usually give them supporting wheels so their front legs can pull them while their back legs are healing. I'll see about that when we're back in Ponyville."

Satisfied, Cherry took a slow step over the lip of the pool and joined her friend in the comforting embrace of the water there. She sank down into it with a happy sigh, nose twitching faintly as she detected the soft tang of sea water. However hard Twilight tried to make her room a new home, that smell could not be perfectly replicated.

Indigo watched her with a mild blush. A voice whispered quietly to him, "You should tell her." He looked towards the source quickly and saw Spike grinning at him toothily.

"Tell her what?"

Spike shrugged. "That you like her. It's kind of obvious. You don't want to follow her around like a love-sick puppy. Go on, tell her." He entirely missed any connection to his own enduring and one-sided love life. "Maybe she likes you too, or would, if you do."

Indigo settled into the water, gazing at his friend fondly a moment before he cleared his throat. "So, you like it?"

"Like what?" Cherry looked over towards him.

"This, The Dry?" Indigo waved a hoof out of the water. "I imagine you're having fun or you would have already come home. You don't do things you don't like for long."

Cherry colored a little. "There's so much to see and do... And all the dry ponies are nice to me, after the first little problem but we got that sorted out. Oh! Did you see Sandy?"

"Your mom's friend?" Indigo tilted his head. "I don't talk with a lot of sirens, but I did see her when she came back to tell us all where you swam off to. I didn't believe her at first, but your mom did, so I kinda did too after a while."

Cherry bobbed her head. "I'm glad she's alright." She pointed to a window. "Take a look. See all the places we're going past? I want to explore all of it some day."

Indigo glanced about with building nervousness. "I could... go with you?"

Cherry tilted her head at her friend. "I thought you didn't like doing scary things, besides talking to things like that friend of yours."

"I-it'd be... you know... worth it." Indigo forced a sheepish smile as he sank up to his snout in the water. "Show me what makes The Dry special."

She giggled with undisguised joy and threw a leg around him in a hug. "I will! Once we get back, I'll show you my new room, and introduce you to some of my new friends. You'll like them, promise. Starlight's nice and lives with Twilight. She's a little less super cheerful, but really, she is nice, just a different kind of nice."

The train began to slow and Twilight rose to her hooves. "I doubt Pinkie will tolerate missing throwing a party for both our visiting seaponies, so expect her to show up. Are you alright with energetic celebrations?"

Indigo opened his mouth to reply when his vision was obscured by pink and he squeaked, recoiling as a new dry pony fell into the water with him and Cherry. "Hi there! I'm Pinkie Pie and you're a new pony." She leaned in. "Let me guess, you never had cake either?" When he shook his head, she began to giggle. "Alright! We're gonna have a cake-tasting and welcome to Ponyville party and you're gonna have so much fun you won't even know what to do with yourself!" She hopped free of the pool, hooves slapping the ground with the large flippers she was wearing. "I'll meet you up at Twilight's castle and bring some guests, be ready!" She was gone without waiting for a single word in edgewise from any of the ponies present.

Twilight cleared her throat as she slowly hefted up the heavy pool. "That was Pinkie, one of my friends and soon, one of yours. Let's get moving."

Author's Note

He isn't the only one headed home. It's time for me to get back home as well! Convention successful! I made so many typos this weekend.

25 - Episode 4, A Very Important Date

Cherry had reduced the poor clock to a veritable explosion of parts. It did not tick, sway, or show any signs of life. How could it, with all its vital pieces laid out carefully side-by-side for Cherry to take in with wide, curious eyes?

Indigo leaned in over them, his curiosity more tempered than his friend's, but quite present. "Why did you break it?"

Cherry waved him off. "It's not broken. I know where every last piece goes, mostly." She stuck out her tongue a little and grabbed the first part to be returned in her mouth, carefully stepping between parts back to the main body of the grandfather clock and slipping it into place. "I see how it works now. It really is very amazing, considering how many parts it has, and they all work together!"

Indigo crept a bit closer, his forelegs pulling him along as well-oiled wheels held up his back section, powerful tail swaying a little as he looked over Cherry's work. "It's amazing that you understand any of this. It feels like countless little parts."

"I guess it is a lot." Cherry tilted her head before grabbing the next piece and slotting it in. "That's what makes mechanical things so amazing in the first place. I want to make something so complex, but smooth. To have a thousand million parts, but feel like it's all one part, dancing in harmony."

Spike suddenly came running in, holding a scroll. In his hurry, he tripped right over Cherry's pile of parts and went sprawling. Cherry squawked in dismay at the mess and threw up a hoof. "My baby! If you bent anything..."

Indigo moved to help Spike up to his feet. "Did something happen? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Spike nodded at Indigo. "Hey, sorry about that. I have to get this to Spike."

Indigo tilted his head. "You are Spike."

Spike shook his head quickly. "I mean Twilight. It's a letter from Princess Celestia, top priority!"

Perhaps attracted by the noise, Twilight appeared suddenly. She laid eyes on the scroll and her horn lit up as she grabbed it with her magic and unfurled it quickly.

As Twilight read it, Indigo smiled at Spike. "You did it, good job."

She let out a gasp, the scroll vanishing with a pop. "She's coming tomorrow!"

Cherry took another piece and carefully examined it for damage before carefully putting it in its place. "Who is? The other princess? Are you friends?"

"Friends?" Twilight rolled her eyes. "She was my mentor for years! She's more then a 'friend'. Besides, she's Celestia! Of all the princesses, she's the biggest and most respected."

Indigo tilted his head. "Oh, it goes by size? I suppose that's as reasonable as anything else."

"No!" Twilight began to frazzle around her mane with worry. "It's not that. Look, you know the sun, right?"

Cherry waved a hoof even as she worked to get her clock re-assembled. "Of course we do. It's hard to miss it."

Twilight nodded quickly. "Great, well there's one pony in charge of waking it up and putting it to rest. Celestia controls the sun! That's kind of a big deal, even to aquatic races I imagine."

Indigo nodded at that. "Without the sun, a lot of things in the ocean would die. First small things, then bigger things that ate the smaller things, then things that ate those things..." To say nothing of freezing over eventually, but he knew nothing of that. "She really moves that thing? It looks so far away..."

"It is!" Twilight clopped the floor with a snort. "She's also the ruler of Equestria, alongside her sister." She suddenly swallowed and re-summoned the letter, her eyes scanning furiously. "Who... is also coming." Twilight sank to her belly.

Spike gave her shoulder a soft patting. "It's alright. It's not like she has a quiz for you. You really are friends, Twilight. Why are you so upset?"

Twilight leveled a hoof at each of her guests. "They don't know how to address a princess, let alone have a discussion with one! What if Princess Celestia thinks I've been shirking my duties? What if she takes my crown and makes me go to royal kindergarten?"

Spike hiked a brow. "There is no such thing, and she wouldn't do that anyway. You're making a big deal about nothing."

Cherry carefully got the main arm of the grandfather clock into place and screwed it in before nodding at Twilight and Spike. "We'll be polite. They're nice ponies, right?"

"Being 'nice' is not enough." Twilight rose to her hooves. "That's it! I'll show you both how to act around them before they get here." She turned towards the dining room. "Let's go!"

Indigo and Spike began to follow, but Cherry was focused on her clock, at least until Twilight's magic wrapped around her and began hauling her along. "Wait! I'm almost done!"

She was dragged away by an uncaring Twilight and soon all four of them were in the dining room. Twilight set Cherry beside the table and Indigo wheeled himself to sit beside her obediently.

"Good." Twilight nodded. "Let's begin with how to set a table."

Spike hiked a brow. "I doubt the princesses are going to ask them to do that."

Twilight put a hoof to her chest and let out a slow breath as she extended it. "Right, but proper etiquette starts here." She trotted over to the table, her magic hovering over a set of plates and various forks, knives, and spoons and setting it in a pile. "Let's begin."

Indigo reached for some of the implements, poking them curiously. "What are these for?" He grasped the knife in his mouth and set it closer to himself. "I recognize this one, useful for getting into hard shells and things."

Twilight gave a nervous laugh, her mane frizzing all the more. "Yes, that's a knife. You use it for cutting harder parts of food into bite-sized portions. And this..."

Cherry raised a hoof. "Are we eating with your friends? Will there be cake? I bet she'll like that."

Indigo rubbed at his belly. "I'd like that... How does The Dry make such delicious things?"

Twang, another of Twilight's hair began sticking out at an odd angle. That wasn't working. "Alright, let's try something else. I'll pretend to be one of the princesses." She sat across from them at the table and cleared her throat. "So--"

Indigo smiled at Twilight. "Which of them are you? Are you the sun pony? How do you do that?"

Twang. "Her name is Celestia. Her sister is Luna. Please address them by their name, with 'Princess' in front."

Cherry nodded slowly. "Yes, um, Princess Twilight. May I finish putting my clock back together?"

Twilight let her head hit the table with a dull thunk as she heavied an exasperated sigh. "Go ahead..."

Cherry and Indigo went off together back to her work. Spike patted Twilight's defeated shoulder. "I'm sure they'll both like Cherry and Indigo. They're nice ponies. Besides, it can't be worse than when you left Celestia with Cranky of all ponies."

Twilight let out a choked sob and Spike gently comforted her as she wept.

Back in the other room, Cherry eagerly resumed putting the pieces into her slowly-mending machine. "Hey, Indie, how're the wheels working out?"

Indigo looked back at them and pulled himself forward and back as if testing them. "They seem to work pretty well. I think I'm faster with these than your fancy mechanical legs."

Cherry blinked at that. "What? But mine are much more advanced." She closed the hatch on the clock and wound it up. The clock began to tick softly, making Cherry beam with pride. "There's no way."

Indigo pointed to one of the mechanical hooves. "You can only move as fast as they move, and they don't move that fast. The wheels will move as fast as I pull them, and I can go pretty fast. We could have a race to prove it?"

Cherry frowned. "Fine, but whoever loses buys the other a cookie."

Indigo licked his lips with fond memories of Pinkie's baking prowess. "You're on. In fact, why don't we race to Sugarcube Corner? That way we can get the cookie right away."

They lined up besides one another and Cherry pointed at the clock. "When it rings, we go!"

Together, they waited, with only the ticking of the clock to interrupt the silence.

Tick tick tick... Dong! They took off as quickly as they could.

Cherry engaged her mechanical legs into trotting mode and made good time, but Indigo wasn't entirely wrong. She could only go exactly as fast as they went. Her face fell as her friend made early swift progress along the smooth floor of the castle and wheeled himself out with an excited cry.

She had a reprieve when they hit a rough patch of ground between the castle and the bakery. While she could easily step over bumps, his wheels loved getting stuck in furrows and ditches whenever they could, slowing him down severely as she made up for lost time. Unfortunately for her, the roads of Ponyville were flat, and he began to speed up the moment he made it past the rough ground and caught up with her all-too-quickly before bursting ahead of her with a whoop of victory.

The last she saw of him was his eagerly swaying tail until she came trotting up to the bakery to find him smugly grinning with victory. "See? Fancy doesn't always mean better."

Cherry stuck out her tongue. "Yeah yeah, you won this one, but you would have been so helpless in the forest."

"What's that?"

Cherry walked past him into the bakery. "I'll tell you all about it over that cookie I owe you."

Author's Note

Poor Twilight. This whole thing feels like a typo, and you hate those even more than some of my commenters.

26 - They Arrive

The next morning found Cherry and Indigo both uncomfortable and frowning. They had good reason, as Twilight had dressed the both up in formal attire, with a tuxedo draped over the both of them, neither made specifically for them. Indigo plucked at the alien clothing. "You're not wearing anything."

Twilight gave a wide smile. "I just want the two of you to give a good impression on Celestia and Luna. I'm sure they'll love you both, but getting off on the right hoof would be ideal."

Cherry looked to Spike, who seemed far more calm than Twilight was working herself up to being. "Hey, Spike. Are they really hard to get along with?"

"Nah." Spike waved a claw dismissively. "Celestia likes basically everypony, and Luna's a little shy, but she's nice too. You'll like 'em both!"

"Good, than I'll take this--" Cherry was interrupted by a manic Twilight appeared before her in a flash of magic.

"No! Keep them on until you've at least said hello and made formal introductions."

Starlight raised a brow at the antics. "I think you may be blowing this just a little out of proportion."

Spike smirked a little. "That's our Twilight."

Twilight didn't walk, it seemed her tense nature made her more prone to flashing around. Appearing before Starlight, she leaned in at her. "I'm not blowing anything up! If they don't approve of our guests, it could mean any number of things. We could go to war with the sea ponies, or she might take away my crown, or take away my castle, or--"

Starlight put a hoof on either of Twilight's shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "Do any of those things sound like something Princess Celestia or Luna would actually do?"

"... Maybe?" Twilight sank to her haunches with a dazed look. "I just want this to go well."

Spike gave an emphatic thumbs up. "Well I'm sure Cherry and Indie want to give a good impression, right guys?"

They both nodded vigorously, even if Indigo was busy wriggling free of his uncomfortable clothing.

Twilight sank a bit more, the mania slipping from her. "Alright... We'll do it your way." She took a slow breath, drawing in until her chest was full before slowly letting the air free. "I'm ready."

"That's good." Celestia strode in from outside with Luna beside her. "I trust everything is alright?"

Luna cast her gaze down at Cherry and indigo with a curious expression. "Are these the ponies from the sea? A pleasure to meet you." She offered a hoof, which confused Indigo, but Cherry raised a tuxedo'd leg to clop a hoof against the offered one.

"Hello. I'm Cerulean, but you can call me Cherry, and this is Indigo, but Indie's fine." Cherry smiled and Indigo waved a hoof in greeting.

Luna seemed amused. "We are not certain why we thought you would react differently. I am Princess Luna, and this is my sister, Princess Celestia. Are you two related?"

Indie shook his head quickly. "We've been friends for a long time, but we're not siblings. Nice to meet you, um, Miss Luna."

Celestia raised a hoof. "We will all be friends today. Our given names are enough. You're not even one of our subjects, which reminds..." She tapped at her chin softly. "Do you have a leader? Somepony who makes the larger decisions of your underwater home?"

Twilight was smiling, a little forced as she floundered internally at the sudden appearance of the Royal Sisters. She spotted the dropped tuxedo and her horn flashed, banishing the suit of clothes from the floor to somewhere out of sight.

Cherry shook her head a little. "I don't think so? At least, mom never told me about it." She frowned a little. "Mom did like only telling me things she thought I really needed to know. Imagine her surprise when I went running off to explore The Dry."

Indie snorted at that. "You made your mother cry. I wouldn't be too excited about that part, but you're alright and she knows, so it's alright now." He poked Cherry in her clothed chest. "I think it's more a case of you not paying attention."

"Oh? Fine, then tell Celestia who's in charge." Cherry crossed her hooves, rearing up to let her mechanical hooves support her weight for a moment.

Indigo nodded quickly. "I will." He looked up at the massive form of Celestia and her eternally waving mane. He felt no wind and blinked softly. "Are you alright?" He looked over at Luna and saw her mane was much the same, constantly undulating under the effects of a wind that wasn't there. It was sort of like they were underwater, their hair being tugged gently by invisible currents. "Is that supposed to happen?"

Spike shrugged softly. "That's normal, for them."

Celestia smiled gently. "We're perfectly fine. Think of this as a physical sign of our connection to the celestial bodies we watch over. Now, you were about to say?"

"Oh, right!" Indigo blushed faintly. "All sea ponies must obey the Master of the Waves. He, or she, is the one that's proven themselves wise and powerful enough to rule us. Gaining the title is a life-long thing until they retire and a new Master is found."

"Is that why we say that?"

"Say what?"

"By the waves."

"You really didn't know that?" Indigo squinted a little at his friend before giggling. "You should pay more attention."

"I pay plenty of attention! Just to things I care about." Cherry looked up towards the princesses. "Oh! I made a cake for you! Pinkie helped." She turned and began leading the way towards the dining hall. "You'll like it, promise."

"I helped too," proclaimed Indie proudly as he followed along.

"Putting on sprinkles is hardly helping." Cherry stuck out her tongue. "But you did help, yes. I'm sure they'll appreciate it."

Starlight swatted Twilight out of her daze and pointed to the dining room, getting her moving before Starlight gave a little smile and wandered off, trusting in Twilight to take it from there.

Spike was first to the table and hopped up into a chair. "Would you believe neither of them had a cake before Pinkie introduced them?"

Luna frowned with thought. "We would imagine it difficult to bake underwater." Her eyes moved to the offered cake. It had three layers with chocolate frosting and bright rainbow sprinkles applied liberally. "It looks delightful. Twilight, could you get some tea to accompany?"

"Oh, of course!" Twilight took off running and came scampering back with a tea set hovering. She didn't make it to the table as Celestia put a hoof in the way.

"Twilight, my cherished friend, relax. Nopony is here to judge you today. You've done well to be a caretaker to two exotic ponies." Celestia looked to the two sea ponies. "Has Twilight been a good host?"

Cherry pulled at her tuxedo gently. "Besides making me wear this, yes. She's been great." She settled on a chair and sank onto the soft cushion. "Everypony in town's been nice and I've got to see and do so much. There's still plenty I want to do."

Celestia nodded a little. "Then I see nothing wrong." Her magic gently took the set from Twilight's grip. "Now come and sit with us."

Defeated, but far less tense, Twilight hopped up and joined the others around the table. "So, how was the trip?"

Luna nodded at Twilight. "Uneventful, which is just as well." She accepted a cup when Celestia set it before her and took a little sip. "I think our guest should be permitted the first cut."

Cherry perked her ears up, then looked to Indie. "Go ahead."

"Me?" He looked around before grasping the cake knife in his mouth and making a quick slice into the soft and increasingly tasty-smelling cake before a second formed an actual slice to be taken.

Magic wrapped around the cut and set it on a plate before it landed before Celestia, who's horn was glowing gently. "I hope nopony minds if I take the first nibble. I wish to tell our guests how they did." Or maybe she just wanted some cake. Either way, she picked up a fork in her magic and carved off a piece before it was gone down her large snout. "Mmm..."

Soon the others had their own slices and were enjoying the baked confection between sips of tea. The energy of the room became far more relaxed than it had started. Indigo looked up at the larger of the two. "Celestia, right?" She nodded. "Nice to meet you. Do you like the cake?"

"It's perfect." She set down her fork on the empty plate. "Pinkie's very good, and I can taste her attention in it, but your own personalities show through."

Luna hiked a brow. "Are you implying, sister of mine, that you can taste effort in cake creation?"

"Perhaps." Celestia looked to Indigo. "Would your Master of the Waves be troubled if we wished to meet them?"

Indie frowned a little. "Oh gosh. I never met her personally. She's so busy taking care of the whole sea, it's not surprising she wouldn't rush to meet a random sea pony like me."

Celestia could sympathize with that and gave a light nod. "Is there a formal way of sending a message to her?"

Luna nudged her sister gently. "You would scold me for this. Let us pay attention to the guests before us instead of focusing on others we may want to meet."

Celestia colored faintly at being called out. "You are correct. I'm sorry for being rude. Cherry, what was it you wanted to see next?"

Cherry saw an opportunity and clopped her hooves together. "My special talent is working with mechanical things, and I really want the chance to take apart a train."

Celestia raised a brow. "That's a significant request."

Cherry sank a little. "If you can't, I understand, but I'd really like it..."

Celestia considered a moment. "Would the train have to be functional?"

Cherry perked right up. "You have broken ones? I'd love to even have one of those! Maybe I could fix it..."

Luna nodded, seeing where her sister was going. "When trains become too old and unreliable, they are retired. Some get used for scrap metal, but we should imagine there are other trains that have not met that fate. Perhaps you--" She was cut off as she had a seapony hugging her tightly.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Indie smiled a little at the happiness his friend was showing. "I think she likes the idea."

Twilight coughed softly. "We don't have room for that here, in the castle."

Celestia nodded. "Which is precisely why we won't bring it inside, but it should be fine nearby, in easy reach."

"Oh please, yes!" Cherry hopped up and down, her mechanical hooves working with her forelegs to propel her into the air several inches.

Luna reached out and poked one of those shiny hooves. "Did you construct these?"

Author's Note

Twilight's bubble of panic has been thoroughly popped.

Train incoming? Cherry strongly approves. We'd better make sure the proper forms are free of typos.

27 - I Like Trains

Cherry tapped at the ground with a metal hoof, raising and lowering it as she looked back at it. "It was part of a metal pony a unicorn made to explore the water. It broke, and I found it and made it into a dry swimmer. It helps me explore The Dry instead of helping dry ponies explore my home. That's fair, right?"

Celestia offered a little smile. "Very fitting." Her eyes darted to Twilight. "I trust you were involved with this?"

Twilight tensed a moment. "I smoothed things out with the pony in question, but it was entirely Cherry's efforts to enact the actual modifications. She really is a natural at mechanics." She walked around Cherry and pointed at her brightly-painted cutie mark. "It's her calling."

Luna gave a soft mmm as she rose to her hooves. "Living on land or in the sea, all ponies are bound by purpose. It is comforting in a way to see that even such distant relations are so similar in important ways."

"Excellently said." Celestia rose up to her own hooves. "Now let's see what kind of train we can get our hooves on."

Cherry's face split in a newly energized grin. "We can do it now?!"

Luna nodded towards Celestia. "As Sister implies, there is no better time than the present. This is something you clearly desire very strongly."

Celestia raised a hoof, showing off the metal-clad end of her limb. "There is one condition."

Cherry's ears spun backwards. Indigo stepped forward. "Don't be discouraged, Cherry. They seem super nice. I'm sure it's nothing."

Celestia nodded. "I hope it's nothing at all. We understand you two are just foals, exploring the world with wide eyes. We wish you both the best in your adventure, but I would like to speak to your leader. There are important matters to be discussed that would affect the future of both of our tribes."

Indie glanced between Cherry and Celestia. "Well, Cherry didn't even know we had one, so I guess it's up to me." He took a little breath before smiling. "I'll find them. Give me a letter and I'll get it to them." He looked back to Cherry. "I'll come back as soon as I'm done."

With a magical pop, Twilight appeared between Celestia and Indigo. With a nervous swallow, she rose to her full height. "I won't allow this."

Celestia raised a brow in silent question.

"They're friends, best friends. I won't let them be broken apart like this." She licked over her lips. "I... I'll find this Master of the Waves. You two, stay here. This is a royal affair and I'll take care of it."

Luna set a hoof on one of Twilight's shoulders. "That is very brave of you, but how do you propose to explore the ocean? You are very talented, but you are an alicorn, not a hippocampus, as our guests are."

Twilight gave a smile. "I planned to show this off later, but since we have one right here, I can use them as a template." She turned towards Cherry and Indigo, light sweeping from her horn over the both of them. "And..." With a bright sparkle of magic, she flopped to the floor, hindlegs gone, replaced with a new and powerful tail. She was sleek and ready for water. Twilight was a sea pony. "Spike, I expect you to keep the castle in order and keep an eye on our guests. You're the caretaker of the castle while I'm away."

Spike gave a salute. "I'll make sure nothing goes wrong. Good luck, Twilight."

Celestia bowed her head to Twilight. "This is no small task. Thank you, Twilight." Her horn began to glow as she hefted the aquatic Twilight into the air. "Please be careful. The ocean is full of peril and wonders you've never seen before. Err on the side of caution in your journey and return to us with good news." A smile spread. "Not that you've failed us in this regard before. I'm sure you'll be fine."

Spike hiked a thumb towards town. "You may want to bring some of the girls with you. Two heads are better than one." He snapped two fingers suddenly. "I bet Fluttershy would be perfect for this."

Twilight perked up. "Fantastic idea! Fluttershy would not only be a huge help, but she'd probably enjoy getting to meet so many new animals." She pointed towards Fluttershy's hut. "Onwards!"

Celestia began to trot off with Twilight held in her magic, bound for Fluttershy's cottage.

Luna nodded lightly. "While my sister is occupied, why don't we get to work? We promised to look into one train, did we not? Spike, will you be coming?"

Spike shook his head. "Twilight trusted me to watch the castle. I'll keep this place ship-shape for her. Go ahead and find that train."

Luna nodded towards him before turning to face the two sea ponies. "Very well. Shall we be off?" She led the way with certain steps towards the train station.

Cherry and Indie hurried to catch up with her, flanking her on the left and right. Cherry glanced in the direction Twilight had gone. "Is this really alright, for her to go and do this, for us?"

Luna raised an ear at Cherry. "This is hardly the first danger she has faced. We trust she will be safe in the end, with perhaps an important lesson on friendship in her hooves at the end of it."

Indie blinked softly. "I thought she's going to talk to the Master of Waves, not learn about friendship."

Luna snorted at that. "Everything is an excuse to learn about friendship around that pony. She is not the Princess of Friendship out of vanity. Her friend, Fluttershy, is truly a natural with wild beasts. She will keep Twilight safe from predators."

"I never got to meet her." Indie pouted a little. "When they come back, I would really like to meet this dry version of myself. I wonder which of my friends she'll run into..."

Cherry rolled her eyes. "Hopefully none of the hungry ones. It still amazes me how you can hang around such dangerous animals all the time without being the little bit scared by them."

"For a select few, it comes naturally to expose oneself to such hungry beasts of the land, and to not feel fear. For such ponies, there is no harm to be found among many dangerous animals." Luna tilted her head a little. "For most, however, it is specialized. I recall Fluttershy did make no attempt to befriend the hydra of the local swamp. Your own talents may not work so well on animals not born of the sea. An angry bear may be just as dangerous to you as any other pony."

"What's a bear?" Indigo frowned a little. "And a hydra? May I meet them?"

Luna gave a little smile. "You are brave. We can appreciate that quality. Fluttershy has a friend of a bear. Harry if we recall correctly. When she returns, surely she will gladly introduce you to him. That will be a safe way to test your empathy with the beasts of the land rather than to begin with something enraged or famished."

Cherry clopped alongside the new princess. "You're larger than Twilight, so you're more important, right?"

Luna paused a moment, blinking at that. She thought about the size of the princesses. Celestia was the largest. She and Cadance tied for second place, and Twilight was the smallest, though larger than many other mares. Size did seem to correlate somewhat to importance, even if they had never intended on it. "That is not how we determine significance. There are larger ponies in existence, with no title to speak of. Were I to gain or lose stature, my own title would remain the same."

"So are you less or more important?" Cherry tilted her head a little.

Luna gave a bemused smile. "My sister and I rule over Equestria together, so I suppose we could have a higher station than Princess Twilight, but we are peers. Here we are." She gestured at the train station, glad for the distraction. "We will ride to the central station and browse the locomotives they have retired. With luck, we'll find one that is not in too degraded a condition to be of use for your research and bring it back to Ponyville."

Cherry's expression brightened significantly as she stepped up onto the platform. "Do you think it'll run? We could ride it back here."

Indie answered quickly before Luna could, "That seems like a bad idea. What if we hit a train going the other way? Besides, they're not our tracks."

Cherry pouted a little at that. "I guess you're right... How will we get it back to Ponyville? Do trains work on the ground?"

Luna cocked a brow. "They do, but very very poorly. We do not recommend that. Neigh, we will hopefully find a small engine to claim and commission a team of ponies to transport it safely to Princess Twilight's castle." She didn't buy a ticket, and simply walked onto the train headed in the right direction.

When Cherry and Indigo moved to follow her, the conductor was less allowing. "Woah, hold your horses. Where's your ticket?"

"They are with me," spoke Luna with stern officiality. "Come, this way."

The conductor moved aside as the two stepped up onto the train. Cherry helped Indigo navigate the steps, hefting him up with a grunt to reach the smooth walkway inside.

With a soft lurch, the train began its rolling motion and they were on their way. Cherry and Indigo parked themselves by a window to watch The Dry rush past. They'd never been that particular way, and watching the exotic landscape scroll past was exciting enough to keep them entertained.

To say nothing of Cherry's musing of what sort of train she might secure. "Imagine if we find one that was just too old, but ran fine? That would be perfect! I could fix it up nice and good, take out one part at a time and replace it with a new one until I eventually had a brand new train!" She clopped her forehooves together from where she lay on her cushion. "I can't wait to see how all the parts inside work!"

"Such an effort would be more costly than effective for most," said Luna with a serious tone. "But you have the advantage of doing this for reasons of passions, rather than commercial. There are many places where one might miss one old part and risk a breakdown between stations if it fails. If I am told correctly, this is why trains are retired instead of rebuilt so often. We look forward to seeing the fruit of your labor."

Indie tilted his head. "One thing... How are you going to use it? You don't have tracks, and Luna said it won't work so good just on the ground."

Cherry opened a mouth to explain her great idea, only to realize she didn't have a great idea for this.

How was she going to use the train?

Author's Note

Twilight's off on an adventure! That we will probably not even glance at besides what she tells us when she gets back.

Meanwhile, Cherry and Indie are off with Luna to fetch a train! What typo awaits them to get in the way of securing a locomotive?

29 - On Our Own

Cherry and Indie wandered down the street towards the place they were told they could rest in while waiting for their train ride. Indie glanced over at his friend. "Did you notice?"

"Huh, notice what?" Cherry directed an ear but kept her eyes forward.

"That princess we just met. She kept talking funny." Indie rolled a hoof before pulling himself back into line.

"Oh, I wasn't sure." Cherry tilted her head a little. "Maybe that's just how they talk where she's from, like an accent?"

"She was nice though." Indie smiled. "Funny talking or not, she got you your train."

Cherry's confusion faded instantly into that face-splitting grin. "Just a few days and we get to bring it home. Until then, we... stay here?" She tilted her head up at the building they arrived at. A sign declared it as 'Iron House Bed and Breakfast'. "Huh, at least it comes with breakfast."

Indie produced a few shells. "Do they take these? I don't have much..."

Cherry waved a hoof. "Weren't you listening? Watch me." She trotted inside confidently. It was cooler and quieter, blocking out the sounds of work in the trainyard. She spied a counter and made her way for it quickly. "Excuse me?"

The stallion there looked down at Cherry from beneath especially bushy eyebrows. "Huh, you're an interesting slice of pony, ain'cha?"

Cherry dipped her front. "Nice to meet you. One room with an extra large tub of water, largest you have, for two, meals included." She raised a hoof to tap at her chin. "Fish preferred if you have any."

He blinked at her rather pointed list of demands. "Huh, alright. You got the bits?"

Cherry raised a hoof. "Deduct it from the royal account. We're here under protection of Princess Luna."

He crossed his forehooves, rising up on his hind legs with a scowl. "Now, you wouldn't be trying to play a trick on me, wouldja?"

Indie shook his head as he joined Cherry at her side. "She brought us here, and had to go do important things while we wait for our ride back to Ponyville."

"We're getting a train." Cherry beamed with joy. "They're getting the schedule ready and then they'll take it and us to Ponyville."

He nodded lightly as he fell back to all fours. "If'n you say so, but if you're lying, they'll find you. The Princesses don't like people pretending like that." He fetched a key off the wall and slapped it on the counter with a flick of his neck. "Room 205, upstairs."

Indie paled a little. "Don't suppose you have one on the ground floor?"

The shopkeep snorted softly, looking back at Indie's wheels that supported most of his body. "Huh. What even are you two?" As if he hadn't noticed just how exotic his guests were until that point. "Look, I'll see if one of the guests want to exchange, but no promises. Go hang out in the common room." He pointed a hoof inside, to a room where a dry geyser, otherwise known as a fire, crackled large and intimidating. "I'll find you with an answer."

Cherry got to moving towards that curious source of dry. "Why would they have this just... like that?"

Indie wheeled beside her, also examining the crackling and snapping source of warmth and anti-wet. "They must feel safe from it to have it so close."

"What're you two talkin' about?" asked one grizzled unicorn. "The fire? Ain't nothing unusual about a fire."

Cherry pointed at the fireplace. "I thought the power of The Dry was used to do things, like cook food, or make trains work. What's this one doing?"

The unicorn shrugged a little. "Keeping the room warm, and looking nice enough. They cook in the kitchen. This one's here for us."

Indie leaned his platform back to clop his hooves together quickly. "We get dry power too? This is a remarkable place." He glanced aside at his companion. "You could start working on the metal you need, right?"

Cherry frowned a little. "I never learned how to do it right... Twilight said she knows a pony who's really good at metal shaping."

The engine-working unicorn laughed at the suggestion. "That fire ain't anywhere near hot enough for metal work. You need a smith for that."

Indie pivoted in place to face the pony. "The, uh, fire? It comes in different sizes?" It felt plenty warm and drying to him. The idea of a more intense variety was a little scary.

"You betcha." He nodded firmly. "Hell, you're getting a train? You'll have a fire in there if you're actually operating it, and it'll put this little fire to shame."

Cherry wobbled a little at the realization. She would be a wielder of the power of The Dry, and no small one at that. From the size of the train she selected, she would get a big, um... fire? Dry power sounded better in her head. She would wield it! She giggled a little manically at the thought before clearing her throat. "This one's big enough to cook, if we wanted to?"

"Oh sure." He shrugged. "Why, you plan to cook meat? You two look kind of like fish."

Indie stuck out his tongue. "I met plenty of fish and they're not like us. They're not ponies."

"Huh, guess they wouldn't be."

The innkeep came walking in beside a well-dressed pegasus mare. The mare locked eyes on Cherry and Indie and came for them. "You weren't pulling a leg... What marvelous creatures!"

Cherry tilted her head up at the pegasus, taller than her and, by nature, more comfortable on The Dry than ever Cherry was to be. "Hello?"

"Hello to you." The mare offered a hoof as her wings extended slightly. "A pleasure to meet you both. I'm told you need a room on the first floor."

Indie bobbed his head, rushing towards the mare a few steps. "Oh yes, please. Stairs are very difficult to deal with." He tried to meet that hoof, but his platform tipped forward mid-hoof-bump and he ended up falling face-first into the ground with an oof.

The innkeep gave a new key to the mare. "Here you are, that's what I was about to give 'em."

She passed a key to Cherry, but her attention was focused on Indie. With a strong wing, she helped him get upright. "You poor things. Are you here alone?"

Indie righted himself, balancing on his wheeled platform. "We're not alone, we have each other."

Cherry giggled softly. "Besides that, yes, we're alone until we go home."

She raised a brow slightly. "Where is 'home'?"

With an internal click, Cherry realized the mare wasn't dressed like the others, or talking much like the others either. "We're staying with Princess Twilight, of Ponyville. Are you traveling too?"

The mare leaned in a little. "I heard you were with Princess Luna?"

Cherry shook her head. "Luna brought us here, to get a train, and went back to where she's from. Twilight we're staying with." She looked over the pegasus' air flippers, realizing she never had a lot of chance to see one of those. It wasn't as if Twilight didn't have a pair, but she was usually busy. "Excuse me, miss, may I see your air flippers?"

The pegasus blinked owlishly. "Air flippers?" She looked back over herself as if to find the named part. "Whatever do you mean, dear? Oh! You wish to see me perform? I'm no Wonderbolt, but I could show you a few things if you'd like." She began striding for the outside. "Come along, there's hardly any room in here."

Indie wheeled after the pegasus. "What's a Wonderbolt?"

The pegasus paused, looking over her shoulder. "I guess they wouldn't have any Wonderbolts where you're really from." She gave a little smile. "Where are you really from, before Ponyville?"

Cherry stepped back outside, into the noise of trains being worked on, assembled, and torn apart. It was, in some ways, a haunting sound. At least her train was safe from being carved apart. Only she would do it, and she would be gentle.

While Cherry was lost in thought, Indie provided an answer. "We're from the sea." He pointed where he thought the ocean was from there, though he wasn't entirely sure what direction that was. "Cherry came out onto The Dry first, and I kind of followed her."

"Aw, that's so sweet." She smiled down at Indie. "Love drives us into things, even dangerous places. She must be so proud to have you."

Cherry snapped out of her thoughts and began to blush quite brightly, realizing what had been just said. Indie didn't argue, at least, not coherently. He mumbled and squirmed and looked quite helpless. She moved between the pegasus and her friend. "You were going to show us some tricks?"

"Oh! Yes, watch this." She gave her air flippers a powerful flap and she lifted from the ground easily. "Like I said, I'm not a Wonderbolt, but I know a few." She started with a somersault in the air, then spun the other way, keeping her head straight forward while her body rotated the long way.

Cherry and Indigo both clopped with applause. The act of aerial swimming was quite impressive enough for both of them.

The mare seemed pleased at their attention and launched higher just to come crashing down in a blur and pull out dangerously close to the ground, her hooves brushing against the dirty road before she evened out and landed, wings fully flared. "Ta da!"

Indigo wheeled up to her with a smile. "You're really good with your air flippers."

"I like flipping in the air," agreed the pegasus.

Cherry shook her head and pointed at the pegasus' sides. "Air flippers."

"My wings?!" She looked back at them, spreading one out into view. "I never heard them called air flippers before. You two are too adorable. If you weren't already snatched up by a princess, I'd keep you for myself." She reached with one of those wings and patted both of them on the head. "Now you go and relax, you both look tired. How long will you be in town?"

Indie pointed off towards where Cherry's train was. "They said they can get Cherry's train back in two days, which is when we'll go back with it to Ponyville. Are you here for long, ma'am?"

She folded her wings against her back as she nodded. "They del... Oh!" She burst into a laughter. "It's your fault. The train I would have caught in a few days was postponed for something and they wouldn't tell me what it was." She sat before the two. "I was so angry."

Cherry blinked with growing worry. "We didn't mean to mess things up for you."

She waved it away. "It means we get to hang out that much longer. This seems as fine a way to spend a day as any other. Now go, rest." She started with realization. "Oh, I'm Cloud Skipper! Nice to meet you both."

"Indie."

"Cherry."

They exchanged hoof bumps in parting and the two tired sea horses retired to soft beds and big tubs of water to recharge for the next day.

Author's Note

Day 1 completed, 2 days to go before they can ride back to Ponyville!

What typos await the duo?

30 - New Friend

When Cherry and Indie emerged from their room the next morning, they found Cloud waiting for them. "Hello! Now what did you two have in mind for today, hmm?"

Cherry considered that with a little frown. "I was mostly going to wait."

"Tell me, why did you come to get a train?" Cloud leaned forward. "You didn't come just because you like the way trains look, did you?"

"A little." Cherry smiled. "Mostly what's inside of them. I like mechanical things." She sat on her haunches and tapped one of her mechanical legs gently.

Indie pointed at Cherry. "I'm here to help her out."

"Of course you are dear." Cloud flashed a smile at Indie before looking to Cherry. "Well, if you came to look at complicated gears and things, why don't you come with me? I know where they throw things waiting to be melted to bits. I bet we might find something worth looking at."

The very idea had Cherry's ears perking, but she heard a soft rumble come from Indie, only to be echoed by her own body. "How about we get some of that breakfast first, then we can check out that place." She led the way into the main room, following the curious but pleasant smells. The table had a small assortment of food on large platters. It was clear others had come and taken some before.

Indie sniffed softly before wheeling up beside the table and licking his lips. "Some of this smells like what Spike would make, but a lot of it smells new."

Cloud tilted her head a little. "You've never had this?" She gestured with a hoof. "Potatoes, grilled with black and bellpepper and charred to a nice and crispy layer." Her hoof moved. "Thinly sliced tomato, cheese and toast with a light sauce. It's quite lovely." Her hoof continued. "You really should try some of this. Crushed and pulped apricot, delicious."

The idea of a new drink brought Indie over and he nodded to Cloud. "Could you pour me some please?"

"Of course." She carefully tipped the jar over into a mug and slid it over to Indie. "Here you are. Have you had fruit before?"

Indie dipped his snout right into it, lapping up the sweet and sticky juice with a happy noise.

Cherry offered a more coherent answer, "I've had oranges and apples before. Are apricots more like oranges, or apples?"

Indie came up with a soft sigh. "It's not like either. Try some!"

Cherry eyed the apricot with obvious temptation, but pointed instead to the potato dish. "I'll try that first." They were the one clearly most shaped by the power of The Dry, burned and caressed by that heat to create the food before her. What was the limit of that power the dry ponies seem to take for granted?

It also tasted great.

Filled and energized, they set out with their new friend into the noise of the train yard. They crossed the tracks, Cherry and Cloud helping Indie get across and then they were surrounded by scrap and metal of all varieties.

Cherry's eyes wandered eagerly. "I could use some of this..."

Cloud shook her head. "None of that. Stealing from the yard is a serious crime. Look, touch, but take nothing with you." She gave a powerful flap of her air flippers and did a circle in place before coming back down and pointing. "That way."

Indie pulled himself along Cloud, looking to her. "What if we pay for it?"

"You have bits?" She raised a brow. "I suppose if you're ready to pay for it, then they wouldn't be so angry."

Cherry flashed a bright and sharp smile. "We could do the same thing."

"Same thing?"

Indie got it and grinned. "Charge it to the royal account."

Cloud glanced between the two giggling sea ponies and raised a brow at them. "You do realize that means your host will have to pay for everything you take. I doubt they'd be too happy about that..."

Cherry opened her mouth to oppose that, but the thought of it settled on her. "I don't want to make Twilight sad, or angry." She settled to her haunches, then produced her pittance of bits. "Is this enough for anything?"

Indigo dropped his small collection of shells to join the tiny pile of bits. "Here. Is that enough?"

Cloud leaned forward over the offering and quickly counted with her eyes darting over them. "That's not really enough to take anything. Look, today we'll just look. Looking's fun, isn't it?"

Cherry passed back Indigo's shells before tucking away her own money. "We're with you, sky swimmer."

Cloud raised a brow at that. "Cloud Skipper."

Indie pulled himself in the direction Cloud had pointed in. "What's a cloud?"

Cloud burst into a fit of titters before pointing up at one of the air glaciers. "That is a cloud. Surely there are clouds out at sea, aren't there?"

Cherry craned her neck back to look up at the air glaciers, er, clouds. Cloud was an admittedly easier word to say. "There are, yes, but we don't really... interact with them. They're just kind of... there? They rain sometimes, but that doesn't mean anything. When everything is wet--"

"--nothing is," completed Indie in agreement. "I didn't even know what they were for, but I do now."

Cloud smiled at her guests. "And what are they for?" There seemed a good chance the answer might be hilarious.

Cherry quickly thrust a hoof out and waved it wildly. "They water The Dry so there's enough water so you dry ponies don't go all the way dry and blow away like dust."

Cloud blinked. "That's about right. You two, how long are you planning to stay in 'The Dry'?" She snorted softly. "That's a silly name for land. We're not that dry."

A little squeak drew their attention to a family of squirrels making a home in all the discarded metal. One was proudly waving a nut he managed to find and the rest seemed happy enough about it.

Indie smiled brightly and wheeled closer. "Hello, fish of The Dry. What sort of fish are you?"

The lead squirrel turned to face Indie while tucking the nut behind its back and squeaked at Indie as if in reply.

"Oh. You're cute and fuzzy." Indie smiled at the family. "Are you doing alright? This hardly seems like a good place for a family."

The squirrel squeaked and shook a tiny fist at Indie before pointing away.

"What, really? Is it that bad?"

The squirrel nodded firmly.

Cherry stepped up beside Indie with a raised brow. "What's it saying?"

"He," corrected Indie. "He said their old home got knocked over when they were moving one of the trains." He pouted a little. "I wish we could help..."

Cloud considered a moment before perking her ears. "What if we just got them a new tree?"

Indie glanced at Cloud and nodded before looking back to his new squirrel friends. "How about that? Would you like a new tree?"

The squirrel took a hesitant step towards Indie, chittering and flicking his tail before darting back to his family.

Cherry nudged Indie. "Well?"

"He said they'd love a tree, but it has to not be taken by any other squirrels." He pointed a hoof at their makeshift metal den. "Until then, they're going to make do here."

Cloud raised a brow at it. "This is no place for squirrels, or any other critter, really. I'm surprised he even found that one little nut." She flashed a bright grin. "Alright, let's be heroes and find a tree!" She looked positively delighted to be drafted for the little adventure.

Indie easily nodded, ready to help his new friend.

Only Cherry showed some hesitation. "I thought we were going to look at the parts..."

Indie nudged Cherry gently in the side. "I do what you want every day. Just this once, we do my thing. Alright?"

Cherry waffled a moment before she let out a sigh. "For you." She smiled. "What are friends for? Let's find a... tree, just be careful, they can bite." She frowned at the memory.

Cloud blinked at that. "Trees don't have teeth, dear. How did you get bitten?" Despite her question, she lifted into the air and circled in place, scouting quickly. "There are trees that way!" She pointed before landing. "We'll want to skip the first few. It would be a shame if they had to move too quickly."

Indie turned towards the potential trees. "We should get far away from all of this. I don't think they belong here. This is not their sea."

Cloud tilted her head slightly as she got walking. "I should think it wasn't their sea. They don't live in one of those."

"Not like that." Indie waved it off. "We all have a sea, a home, that calls to us and keeps us relatively safe. This is not theirs."

Cherry snorted loudly as she ambled along. "We're a far ways away from our sea."

Indie nodded. "And we would be in a lot of trouble if we didn't run into such nice ponies ready to give us a hoof. Fishes out of water in the most literal way possible." He sucked in a slow breath before sighing and working himself over a clump of metal. "Let's find a tree."

Cloud threw a leg over Indie, holding his front-body up while giving him a quick hug. "And who could resist such an adorable pair caught wandering the world? Are you two as young as you look?"

Indie, colored from the sudden contact, glanced around nervously. "I'm almost a stallion..."

Cherry snorted softly. "In a little while. Let's find those trees so I can get back to looking at parts." Her powerful tail was swaying with anticipation, clearly ready to finish the tree hunting task they had just begun.

They emerged from the field of broken trains and abandoned parts to find themselves already half in the wilderness. There were many trees to choose from. The harder part appeared to be selecting just the right one.

Indie rolled up to one and reached out cautiously.

"It bites!" warned Cherry with a frown.

Indie's hoof drew back nervously. "They can't bite too hard or often, or the land fish we're here for wouldn't stay here."

"Squirrels," offered Cloud with a gentle smile. To settle the argument, she reached for the tree and gave it a patting. "See, no biting. Trees are lovely things that shelter many critters, including those squirrels relying on you."

Indie moved in closer and rested both of his hooves on the mysterious and silent creature known as a tree. Looking up into the bough of its branches, a slow smile spread over his face. "The coral of The Dry, sheltering fish and creating a place of life and splendor..."

Author's Note

Indie finds his first tree, and he kinda likes them.

He'll get along just fine with Fluttershy, I think.

Cherry is told she suffered a typo, but she isn't fully buying it.

31 - The Perfect Tree

Cloud spread her wings slowly before she lifted several inches into the air and hovered easily. "So we have to find a tree that doesn't already have squirrels, right? How hard could that be? We'll have this done in time for lunch."

Indigo glanced back into the field of metal and noise. "They must have been living in the one tree in the middle of all that..."

Cherry shrugged a little as she proceeded. "That's a bad place to make a den."

"It was working for them until now."

"Because they were lucky, until they weren't."

Indigo frowned a little, then thrust a hoof back at where Cherry's train was being prepared for transport. "I suppose they should have planned for a seapony to come asking for their huge... things... to be dragged across their field."

Cherry blinked at that and looked to her train, small as it was in the distance and at her friend, back and forth. "Wait, are you saying they knocked over the tree because of me?!"

Indigo nodded once firmly. "You owe them an apology, but first we should find them a nice new tree."

Cloud came back from where she had scouted. "I found a nice and big one, and I don't see any squirrels climbing it. It should be perfect for your little friends."

Indigo brightened at the news and soon all three were headed towards this potential new home. It was a bit taller than some of the trees around it, reaching tall into the sky. Its scales were also a little different than the trees around it. He approached some squirrels in a tree close by. "Excuse me, do you have a moment?"

Many of the squirrels fled, but one turned to address Indigo and chittered at him softly.

"Thank you. Does any family live there?" He pointed at the large tree. "We have a family that needs a home."

The squirrel gestured up at the other trees as it 'spoke' in words that only Indigo seemed to understand.

Indigo blinked and looked dismayed. "Why is that tree special? Can you point us to a better one?"

The squirrel shook its head with a final squeak, then dashed off.

Cloud tilted her head at the exchange. "That didn't sound good at all, darling. What did the little creature say?"

Indigo heaved a sigh. "The squirrels think that tree is very special and is not to be touched. Bringing the family here would just make all the other squirrels angry at them." He turned in place slowly. "He said there are a lot of squirrels around, and competition is fierce. He... doesn't want a new neighbor."

Cherry frowned at the news. "That's not very nice of them. Fine! We don't need them anyway. We'll just go farther, past these rude, um, whatever they ares."

"Squirrels," provided Cloud. "My, I never figured they had such a detailed little hierarchy. They always seemed like simple little tree rats."

Indigo blinked. "Rats?"

Cloud waved. "Just another, how do you say, 'Fish of 'The Dry'?'" She landed lightly on the ground beside them and they got to walking away from the concentration of squirrels. "Don't be discouraged dears. I'm certain we'll find something just right for them soon."

The sun drifted across the sky as they pushed further away from town. Cloud produced a sandwich with a little smile. "It's not much, but it's all I have." She split it in three and offered to the others. It was peanut butter and jelly, and both seaponies strongly approved of its mix of flavors, even if it left them licking at the inside of their mouths with its stickiness.

She smiled at their antics over even eating such a basic staple. "What do seaponies have for a snack?"

Cherry tilted her head. "Whatever mom packed for me, usually fish, but she likes to put in some seaweed in there when she thinks I'm not looking." She stuck out her tongue. "As if I don't notice."

Indigo nudged Cherry gently. "That's because she loves you, li--" He suddenly cut off, turning red. "My mother makes me these little things, like these sandwiches, but with vegetables instead of the bread and all kinds of things inside." He let out a soft mmm in memory of the delicious meals. "Are there other kinds of 'sandwich'? Why do you call it that anyway? I don't see any sand at all in it or tasted any."

Cloud waved it off. "There are more kinds of sandwiches than I could ever hope to name. Just put something scrumptious between two slices of bread and you're done." She stood up and did a slow turn in place. "Let's get a move on. We simply shouldn't spend the entire day on this task when we ha--"

"An entire yard of cool parts." Cherry grinned, energized by the memory of it. "Come on, Indie. Do you see any trees they might like around here?" She gestured about. "I don't see as many squirrels."

Indie began inspecting the trees with a grave energy. He picked up a nut from the ground and turned it around slowly before putting it back. "I think this is a good place. The fruits the squirrels eat are here, and not too many squirrels." He smiled with relief. "They'll be so happy here."

Cherry stuck out her tongue. "Those aren't fruits; they're drift seeds."

Cloud nodded at that. "They are seeds, dear, but I doubt they'll be drifting anywhere anytime soon. Do you think they'll come with me if I go pick them up?"

Indie nodded quickly. "They aren't stupid. They saw you with me, so they should come along if you don't scare them."

"Good." Cloud nodded. "I'll pick them up and carry them here quickly." She clopped her forehooves. "Just like that. Then we can head back to the yard. I want to see what Miss Cherry can do with those parts." She lifted up with sudden speed, then darted back in the direction they had come, leaving the two seaponies to themselves.

Cherry glanced across at Indie, who was looking back at her. "Why've you been staring at me so much lately?"

Indie went red and looked away. "S-sorry, didn't mean to bother."

Cherry blinked at that and shook her head. "You're a silly colt, Indie." She sat down and pulled out her wrench, taking the time to tinker with her legs while they waited.

Cloud came rushing back with the family of squirrels clinging to her tenaciously for their little furry lives. She came in for a smooth landing and they hopped free instantly. "Here you are dears."

Indie wheeled up to the family with a big grin. "There's food and you can pick almost any tree here."

The entire family seemed dumbfounded, circling and staring at their surroundings. The father of the family squeaked at Indie before giving off a chitter.

"I know it's a lot of trees, and seeds. Isn't it great?"

The squirrel picked up a nut from the ground and gnawed at it suddenly, getting to its meat and tasting its inside. He made a little noise of approval and his family rushed to claim their own nuts, acorns and anything else they could get their little paws on. They warmed to their new environment quickly, and soon vanished up a tree.

Momma squirrel chittered at Indigo before she went, joining the others.

Cherry glanced between the parting squirrels and Indigo. "What'd it say? Don't leave us drifting."

Indigo, bearing a big happy smile, turned to Cherry. "She said 'Thank you'. I think they'll be fine here."

"Marvelous." Cloud pointed back towards the yard, hidden as it was behind the portion of the forest they had passed. "Shall we?"

Together they strode through the forest, a little lighter on their hooves for getting their task completed. Cherry looked up, seeing the sun still moving. "How much time did we spend on that?"

Cloud shrugged. "There's still time left to get some work done. I simply must see how you work with metal, dear. Do you have any talent with smithing?"

Cherry quickly shook her head. "I like putting metal together, but I don't know how to make metal. Besides, you need a dry power source for that, and a big one."

Cloud blinked at the curious phrase. "Dry power source? Come again?"

Indie spread his hooves quickly before he could tip. "A fire!"

"Yeah, that." Cherry bobbed her head. "You need a big, um, fire to make metal. I don't really know how to work with fire... I mean, all that dry power, it, um, dries me, and then I get uncomfortable and chapped." She frowned at the very idea. "I'll let dry ponies master The Dry."

Indie tilted his head. "You're getting a huge thing powered by The Dry. You're going to have to learn to use it, or what are you going to do with it?"

Cherry paled a bit at the idea. Her beloved train would become a source of heat and, well, dryness. What would she do indeed? "I'll... figure it out. If we can get all that dry power to stay inside the dry engine and not come out, then it won't be a problem." She smiled as they re-entered the yard proper and her eyes swept over the field of metal, looking for interesting parts.

It didn't take long for her to find one. What did it do? She had no idea, no wait. She perked right up as it came to her. It was a part that attached to the great wheels of a train. If one followed that part there...

Cloud sat down close by. "What are you doing, dear?"

"I'm trying to figure out how this would have worked, when it worked." She trailed a hoof along the rusted metal. "I think this was attached to the dry power. Not directly, I don't think? It made the wheels move. Without this, the train wouldn't have gone anywhere." She tipped the part over so it fell with a loud clang and she began pulling and pushing at it, making it flex at her will and show her just how far it could bend. "I wonder if it fell off the train?"

Cloud nodded. "That happens more often than they like to admit. They aren't too gentle on trains they're ripping apart like uncultured brutes to melt down back into metal. What would you do with that part, if it was yours to keep?"

Cherry gave a little smile. "I'd compare it to the one my train should have. I can't say for sure if mine uses the same one or not. If it does, having a backup isn't bad. Maybe it still works..."

Indigo wrinkled his nose. "Did you forget? You have to make all the parts from nothing at all."

"Not nothing!" Cherry stomped a hoof. "I get to copy all the parts that are already there." A grin spread over her face. "That'll be fun."

Author's Note

Project Squirrel complete with only a minimum of typos, yay!

32 - Ride Home, End Episode

The time had arrived.

Cherry bounced on her way to the train station behind a train worker and beside Indie and Cloud.

Cloud wasn't quite as cheerful. "I had a lot of fun, getting to know you two. I hope you have a safe trip back, and if I find myself in Ponyville, I'll be sure to stop in."

Indie gestured in the general direction of the lay of the tracks. "We're not hard to find. The big purple tall building made of stone, that's the one we're staying in."

Cloud quirked a smile at that. "Is it just as imposing as the rumors? Never mind that, Princess Twilight has clearly been looking after you two, so get on back to her." She waved them off gently. "I'll catch the next train on to Canterlot, dears. If you end up in that grand city, do look me up. I'd love to share a proper cup of tea, and I'll have some new tricks worked out for you." Not that she had ever been much of a stunt flyer, but for those aquatic friends, she would manage it.

Separating from Cloud, Cherry had her eyes on her foal. It was huge and metal and a bit rusty, but it wouldn't be after she lovingly nursed it back to health. A grin was spread across her face and she couldn't make it go away, not that she particularly wanted to. "I don't even know where to begin..."

Indie's eyes moved to the smaller, but much newer, train before it. "That's going to pull this big thing?"

The engineer peeked back. "That's what she's best at doing. She's far from the fastest, but she can haul just about anything, including the Red Rocket here." He moved past the red train, though its red was hard to see with its decomposition. "You'll be riding up front."

Cherry pouted at that. "Why can't I ride my train?"

"Mess of reasons, starting with the fact that it's falling apart. If something snaps or busts, we don't want a pony inside while it's happening."

Cherry continued pouting, but followed along. A steep set of stairs took them inside, which required her giving Indie a hoof up.

The inside was spartan in design. The smaller train was built to drag heavy things, and that was all it'd do. Indigo settled himself against a wall as Cherry sank to her haunches. "Alright, we're on and ready. When do we go?"

The engineer began pulling levers and the train lurched beneath them, struggling a moment to get going before it started to gain speed, older train hauled along behind it. "Then we're off! Next stop, Ponyville."

Indigo clopped once in joy. "How long should it take us?" He had to shout over the noise of the engine. It wasn't nearly as calm and relaxing as being on a passenger car. The engine was also spewing floating ink into the air in little puffs from its blowhole. "And what's that?" Indie pointed up at the floating ink, befuddled by its presence.

The engineer's eyes rose to the black stuff being pointed at. "What? That?" He pointed as well and Indie nodded. "Well, y'see, depending on how the engine's doing, you get a nice mix of steam and smoke billowing out of there."

Cherry frowned a little. "And those are?" Why did dry ponies have so many confusing words?

"Well, steam's what happens when you heat up water too much. It's a big part of what gets this thing mo--"

"What?!" echoed Cherry and Indigo together.

Cherry leaned forward. "I thought this was powered by The Dry, you know, fire?"

He gestured ahead at the engine. "Well, it is. The fire heats up the water nice and good until it turns into steam, then the steam does the actual pushin'. Get it?"

Cherry wobbled in place. "T-the dry uses... water? But..." She sank to her belly, her mind aching with the sudden contradiction of it all. "How?"

The engineer held his hooves close together. "Water starts off like this, see? Then you heat it up and it turns to steam." He spread his hooves apart. "Steam is bigger than water, so that makes a lot of pushin' power, so it pushes, bam, train's moving! Just like that, see?"

"But if The Dry touches the water, doesn't that dry the water?"

He shrugged softly. "Sorta does, that's steam. I ain't no teacher, but do ya get it?"

Cherry rubbed her cheek with thought. Indie moved forward with clear ideas behind his sharp eyes. "You can't destroy it."

"Hmm?"

"Water, or anything." Indigo spread his hooves a moment. "You can eat something, but then it's part of you, not really destroyed. The Dry can 'eat' water, but that makes steam, it doesn't destroy it. We are all from the same sea."

He raised a shaggy brow. "Curious way of sayin' it, but that about explains it, yep. You got a good head on those shoulders, uh, what was your name again?"

"Indigo."

Cherry gestured at him. "You can call him Indie." She sat up in place, peering at the engine with newfound wounder. "So it eats water, makes steam, and that pushes the engine, so it eats more water?"

"Well, we'd like to keep what we got, but that gets complicated..." He tapped his chin softly. "See, to make steam back into water would take a lot of effort, so we just let it go. So you can think of water just like another type of fuel we have to make sure we have lots of."

Indie tilted his head, looking up at the puffy clouds of stuff. "So what happens to the steam?"

"Most simply, it turns into clouds."

"Oh." That made sense enough to Indigo.

Cherry stepped forward, eyeing the levers and dials that dotted the inside of the train. "Can you show me how to work it? Everything you can show me would be a huge help with my own train."

The engineer raised a brow. "You're a brave and foolish sea lass to think you can monkey with a locomotive like this." A smile spread on his face. "I like that. So sit down and pay attention." He started pointing to levers and explaining what they did, while warning to not actually pull or push anything. He showed the meters and dials and how they helped keep an eye on what was going on in the engine, even if looking made him pull a lever one notch while he was talking.

It was a long trip back to Ponyville, but it was an educational one. Cherry's day was made ten times better when she was given permission to pull on the part that made the whistle on the train shrilly cry out.

Indigo wheeled up opposite the engineer. "Excuse me. You said it eats water, and that was one of the things it ate. What else does it eat?"

The engineer nodded. "Smart question. It mostly runs on coal."

"Coal?"

He popped open a bin and reached inside, coming out with a black and sooty rock that he set on the ground. "There you go, coal. It burns really nice, uh, you could say its full of 'The Power of The Dry', as you like to phrase it."

Cherry frowned a little. "I'm going to have to get some of that to feed my train."

"That's hardly the first thing you need, but yes."

Eventually, they arrived at Ponyville station, slowing to a gentle stop with the squeal of brakes being put to the test. "Last stop!" He smiled at them both. "Ya made it, in one piece too. I'll see ya 'round on the tracks, alright?"

They both waved as they got off the train, Cherry assisting Indie to the platform. There were a lot of familiar faces gawking. The green horny pony approached, Lyra? "Wow, that's a big train!"

Cherry beamed with pride and turned to it. "It's mine now."

A mare beside Lyra with a beige coat and colorful mane tilted her head a little. "What are you going to do with it? You can't keep it here."

As if in answer for that, a team of burly earth ponies pushed through the crowd. "Where's it going?" asked one as they swarmed over the train, detaching it from the smaller tugger.

Indigo pointed up at Twilight's castle. "Five minutes past that."

Off they went, lifting it with a communal grunt and slowly making their way right down the main road with their oversized load. Cherry took off after them, keeping an eye on her newest possession and soon-to-be project. "Be careful!"

The crowd began to disperse as the train was removed, but Lyra and her friend remained. Lyra nodded at Indigo. "What's your friend going to do with something like that? I mean it's huge! They must not use that for passengers, 'cause I never saw a train quite like that before."

"Lyra." The other pony nudged her. "That's clearly a cargo train."

"If you're so smart, Bon Bon, what's it called?"

"A Red Rocket." Bon Bon rolled her eyes.

Lyra's jaw dropped. "How do you know that? You make candy, not play with trains."

Bon Bon snorted at the idea. "As if a mare can't have hobbies." She focused on Indigo. "Your friend has a real piece of history there. I thought they already retired all the Red Rockets. Nasty problem with the steam regulation."

Indigo blinked at that. "Steam what?" He wheeled himself closer to Bon Bon. "Can you tell me about it?"

Bon Bon shrugged softly. "Well, I did say it was a hobby. I don't know too much about it, but if you ran the engine too hot, it had a nasty habit of exploding. Be sure to tell your friend to be careful."

Indigo shivered at the idea of Cherry being caught in an explosion of dry. "I-I'll tell her, promise."

Lyra reached out and patted Indigo right on the head. "You're a good friend, following your marefriend around like that."

Indigo darkened swiftly. "I-it's not like that!"

Bon Bon gave a gentle smile. "Even if you're not ready to tell her, we have your back. Now you'd better catch up before they get out of sight." She turned to the procession with the huge train. "Though that may take a while at the rate they're going..."

Indigo nodded at both of the mares before taking off, wheeling himself swiftly down the smooth road to move alongside Cherry, who was focused steadfastly on the careful moving of her train. "Everything alright?"

Cherry smiled. "They're so strong! I didn't know dry ponies could be this strong. Look, just the five of them, moving that huge thing..."

Indigo nodded. "Yeah... that is impressive, oh! Lyra's friend said to be careful."

"Of?"

"Don't let the engine get too full of dry power or it'll explode."

Cherry blinked softly. "I'll be careful..."

Author's Note

So there is a reason the Red Rocket was retired, all due to a typo in its design.

That's the end! Of the episode at least.

33 - Episode 5, The Wave Begins

Cherry beamed at her massive train, broken and rusted as it may be. "Today's a fine day to work!" She pulled out a wrench with a manic grin and practically dove into the poor engine of the ailing locomotive.

"Wow, you must be the best at mechanical things," praised Indie, watching her work furiously. "I can't imagine another sea pony being half as good."

"It's what I was born to do~" sang Cherry as she pulled out a part and studied it carefully as it balanced on her hoof before she set it aside. "You just watch and see. I'll have this thing fixed by dinner time!"

"I doubt you'll be quite that fast..." Indie wriggled free of his wheeled chair and flopped to the ground, only to rear up. "But I bet you'll have fun doing it."

"With a friend at my side, and a train all of my own, what more could I ask for?" Cherry clopped her hooves. "Life is good!"

An angry banging on the door of the castle summoned Spike to open it. "Yeah?" It was a familiar pony. The stallion they had rented the sea-exploring device that Cherry eventually re-purposed. "Oh, hey, what's up?"

"Another!" The stallion stepped in, fuming. "Another of my precious machines has been stolen by sea ponies!"

Spike raised a brow. "She didn't steal it. She salvaged it, and you didn't want to buy it off of her, remember?"

"The camera didn't fail this time." The unicorn's horn shone, projecting a picture on the wall of a dark sea bottom before a sea pony of bright purple rushed the camera and it went to static. "See? It attacked my device! It didn't break down. What is Princess Twilight going to do about this?!"

It wasn't quite the right purple for Twilight, so Spike dismissed the idea that it was her. Another sea pony? "Huh, well, it wasn't Cherry. She's been here the whole time."

"Good for her. Where's the princess?" He scowled at Spike.

Spike held up his claws. "Hey, she's out at the moment and she left me in charge."

"So what are you going to do about it?" He raised a brow at the baby dragon.

Spike raised a finger before letting it fall. What was he going to do about it? "Uh... hold that thought." He flashed a nervous smile.

A metal hoof propelled its rider forward as a shrewd smile spread across its owner's face. "You think you're the only one that can play this game? I think not." She let out a peal of laughter as she emerged onto the sand and amidst the confused land ponies that gawked at the purple sea pony. "I'll have my little Indie back in my hooves by the end of the day."

She looked to one of the surprised land ponies. "Hey, you! Where's Indie?"

"Indie?"

"Sea pony, just like me?" She pointed at herself.

"Oh!" Everyone in that town knew about the other sea ponies. It was hard to forget. "They went to Princess Twilight's castle."

"A castle?!" She snorted loudly. "Tell me how to get there!"

Another pony shook her head at the sea pony. "Is this about the sea ponies?"

"Of course it is." She rose to her full height. "It's of utmost importance."

Certain that this was a diplomatic affair, the people of the town showed the sea pony to the train and got her on her way to Ponyville. They had done their civic duty for the day and they returned to their peaceful lives, unaware of what exactly they had set in motion.

Riding on the train, the new sea pony gazed out the window at the dry land moving past. "Cherry, you went far to take my stallion away from me, but even The Dry won't keep me away." She raised a hoof, waving it at the window. "Sea Berry's coming, so you'd better be ready!"

Cherry trotted along with Indie into town. They both bore a basket full of rusted parts in their mouths but looked quite cheerful despite it. They approached the driest building in town, the forge. The pony inside basked in heat all day and seemed toasted for the effort. How could one weather such long exposure to dry's power without becoming dry?

Despite that, the mare smiled at them. "Twilight mentioned you might be stopping by. What have you got for me, sea ponies?"

Cherry set down her basket. "We need these, but new."

Indie set down his own basket. "Mine too. We have more parts, but we'll start with these."

The dry pony approached the basket. She was neither horny nor had air flippers, but she looked strong. She grabbed one of the metal pieces, turning it one way and the other. "Delicate little bits here. What is this for, an engine?"

Cherry lit up. "Yes, that's exactly what it is. A train engine."

"Steam?"

Cherry and Indie both nodded emphatically.

"I'd better be extra careful with them then." She set the piece down. "I'll have the batch ready by the end of the week."

That was the second time caution had been specifically expressed and Cherry frowned a little. "Is steam that dangerous?"

The mare pointed to her forge and its blazing dry power. "See that? You get a bust in a steam engine and that'll seem cold in comparison. It'll burn you clean in half before you know what happened." She looked over the sea ponies. "I'm new to sea ponies. You two look like you're barely adults, if that. Are you sure it's safe to be messing around with this kind of thing?"

Indie wheeled forward. "She's been warned and she'll be extra careful, promise."

Cherry smiled at Indie's defense of her, but gently waved him side. "He's right. I'll take every precaution. We're a long way before we get to the part when it starts moving, promise." She blinked with a sudden idea. "You can come and see it if you want."

The smithing mare leaned forward, suddenly interested. "Don't suppose it's that Red Rocket that was marched through town?" Cherry nodded with a grin. "I'd love to have a peek at that..." She tapped her chin. "Restoring that would be quite a feather in my hat. Fine, I'll help, but I get to inspect it before you go lighting any fires in it. I will not be responsible for cooked ponies!"

Author's Note

The story's wrapping up. Could it go on? Well, of course it could. Forever! But this is a paid story and they want me working on another story, so this will be the last episode. Did you know you can hire me to lovingly craft typos for you? It's true! $10 per 1000 words.

34 - Familiar Faces

Berry stepped off the train and took a moment to stretch before she swept her eyes over the horizon. "The journey here was long and tough, but I made it, and it's time to find a castle..." Her eyes fell on the huge purple structure outside of town. "Figures..." She began walking towards it. "I'll conquer any distance to reach you, my dearest Indie. Don't worry, I'm coming!"

Indie shivered for no particular reason.

"Cold?" asked Cherry as she sorted through the replacement parts and got to slowly inserting each piece in the gradual process of replacing the engine. One piece at a time and turning it from a mass of rust to a gleaming network of new metal. "You should ask Spike for a blanket."

Inidie blinked at that. "The dry hardly gets half as cold as the ocean gets. I'm fine, just... felt funny for a second there. Need any help?"

With Cherry's guidance, he was soon holding up a part as she detached it and slowly worked in its replacement tightly, connecting the two tubes together with turns of her wrench. "This is looking great! I can't wait to see it working."

Indie backed away a step. "You never did explain how you're going to use this without tracks."

Cherry tapped her hooves together too quietly to make much of a sound. "Well, I was saving that for last. No point in worrying about it rolling until the engine's working right."

"And the brakes." Indie nodded severely.

"Brakes, right, of course we'll look at those." Her eyes darted around as she mentally added brakes to the list of things needing a look at. "Anyway, the real problem are the wheels. They're made to roll on tracks. There's no reason we can't put on different wheels with the same attachment so it can roll on other stuff."

Indie sat up at the news. "That would be pretty amazing, Cherry. What if it could swim? Just give it some flippers!"

Cherry pointed at the engine. "It's not so simple as that. Even if the wheels were turned into flippers, the engine's made to run on dry, which means it needs to be dry. If you take it underwater, poof, no more dry!"

Indie frowned at the arcane machine. Most of its functions were alien to him, but... "What if you made it closed, so the water couldn't get to it? You'd have all the water you need, you know, being in the water..."

"Yeah..." Cherry perked her ears and frowned a little with thought before she grabbed the next part in her mouth and got to replacing the old version of it with it. "I'll think about it, but it won't be easy. Let's get it working at all first."

Spike opened the door hesitantly and looked up at... Cherry? No, it was the wrong colors for Cherry. "Uh?"

Berry kicked open the door. "Hello, dragon. Are you here to prevent me from reaching my love?"

"No?"

"Oh." Berry frowned a little. "That would have been romantic."

"We could pretend if you like?"

Berry perked up. "Could we? You're a nice dragon. Oh, wait, I shouldn't get distracted. Do you know where my precious Indigo is and that traitorous Cherry lurks?"

Spike hiked a thumb. "They're out back, working on Cherry's train."

"She has a train?" She'd only just learned what a train was. "You win this round, but this fight's far from over..."

"Uh, hey, so you are...?"

"Berry, Sea Berry." Berry stood proudly, turning to the side to show off her full profile, metal legs included. Unlike Cherry's screwdriver and wrench mark, hers was three interlocked cogs. "And I'm here to get my Indigo back."

Spike looked her over. She looked about the same age as the others, so parent was right out. "How is he... yours?"

"He's my coltfriend, of course." She frowned at Spike. "It wasn't obvious?"

Spike blinked slowly. "Not really..."

"Why not?!" Berry stepped forward towards Spike.

"Well, he's kind of trying to get the attention of Cherr--"

"What?!" Berry stomped a forehoof on the ground and turned, storming off.

Cherry wiped her brow as she sat back. "Plenty more to go, but let's take a break. What'd you bring for lunch?"

Indie pulled out a bag and set it down before nuzzling into it and pulling out two wrapped sandwiches. "They call it a 'tunafish melt'. I tried one, it's delicious!" He set one before Cherry. "Try it."

She didn't need to be sweet-talked into trying whatever was producing that lovely scent. She reached to pull it closer with a hoof when the door to the engine suddenly burst open.

"I have arrived!" Berry came in with purposeful steps. "Now come on, Indie. It's time to get you home."

"What? Berry?" He blinked at her as his sandwich fell from his mouth to flop to the ground.

"Yes, 'tis I! I've come to rescue you from the foul siren, Cherry, AKA, Miss Cerulean."

Poking in her head over Berry, another familiar face appeared. "I take offense to that." Sand smirked a little. "What's with extra legs and running away from home? I'm getting a reputation for foal retrieval."

Berry spun around to face the actual siren. "Another obstacle! You won--"

"Enough." Sand held up a hoof. "You didn't even have the manners to get caught in the net like Cherry." Cherry went red at the memory. "Now what are you doing up on dry land? This is the home of the other ponies, and sirens sometimes, not you hippocampi. Your parents went running to the Master of the Waves and off I went to follow you, and here we are."

Indie tilted his head a little. "Was I the only one who told their parents where they were going?"

"Yes," replied Sand in a matter of fact tone. "So why are you here? You weren't dragged here by your extra legs, the way I saw it."

Berry cleared her throat. "Ah, yes." She turned to Indigo and thrust a hoof. "I've come to free you from her--"

"She's not forcing me to be here."

Berry frowned. "Stop interrupting!" She stomped a hoof before snorting. "Indigo, I, Sea Berry, do declare my undying love for you."

Indigo blinked emptily a moment before he began to pale, the importance of this statement settling on him. "B-berry, really?"

Cherry clopped her forehooves together. "Aww! You have an admirer!"

Sand glanced between the three of them. "I think everypony here but me has an admirer. I presume you'll be staying then?"

Berry waved her hoof at Indigo. "I either go with him, or I stay, also with him."

Sand let out a little sigh. "That's what I figured."

Cherry approached her 'rival' with a smile. "Where'd you get those legs?"

Berry glanced back at her mechanical hindlegs. "You think you're the only seapony with mechanical talents? Ha! I made them in half the time and I got here without the help of some fancy princess along the way."

Cherry blinked softly before she leaned in to study the legs. "Did you already get the different dry swimming modes down?"

"Huh?"

"Watch." Cherry began to walk, then trot and even a bit of cantering and galloping to show off all the different ways her four legs could work together. "I used my fins as--"

"I use my fins too." Berry waved it off, even if she did look a little intrigued at the idea of all those different gaits. "I didn't know dry swimming had so many different ways to paddle."

Sand shrugged softly. "Don't look at me, I float. Slow float, fast float, it's all the same float in the end. Anyway, you kids are having your fun, so keep at it, just be sure to send a letter home to your folks, alright?"

Indigo looked between the two mares, the one he wanted, and the one that wanted him. Why did life have to be so complicated? He settled on Berry's cutie mark, or at least, what she had drawn as one. "Is that your mark?"

Berry gestured to it. "Isn't it great?"

Cherry tilted her head at it, paying proper attention now that focus had been placed on it. "It's actually pretty cool."

"Then you admit that I will win?"

Cherry reared back at that. "What?"

"You'll let me take Indie." Berry waved a hoof. "He's mine."

"He's his own pony." Cherry frowned a little. "He can make his own decisions."

Berry glanced over at the lost looking stallion and back to Cherry. "And he hasn't. He's still confused, so I'll just have to show him which path is obviously better and which mare he has to choose."

Sand shook her head. "Right, well, enjoy yourselves." Without waiting for the drama to deepen, she tipped a hat she didn't wear and scooted off to report the whereabouts of the missing foal she'd been sent to find.

Indigo took a slow breath. "Berry, why don't you join us?"

Berry began to burn brightly. "Is that how they do it in The Dry?"

Indigo blinked in confusion before the blush spread to him and burned hotly. "No! Not like that! We're doing a big project. You're good at mechanics too. Why don't you join us, as a friend?"

That caught her attention, and in a way that had little to do with romance. She approached the steam engine and let her eyes wander about to take in all the complex mechanisms that made the train work. "Why does some of it look so much newer than other parts?"

Cherry smiled brightly. "We've been restoring it. It's a great train, but it's old. We're going to make it run like new again! If you want to help, that'd be great. Every hoof would be good to have." She offered a hoof out in potential friendship.

Berry considered that hoof a moment before she reached one of her own to clop against Cherry with a loud sound. "Very well. Let this be the real competition. We'll restore this machine, and by the time it rolls, I'm sure Indigo will realize his mistake and we'll go home, together."

Indigo jerked with a sudden thought. "Where are you going to stay while you're with us?"

Berry tilted her head. "Where do you stay?"

Cherry pointed out to the castle closeby. "Twilight made us a nice room to sleep in, all full of sea water and everything."

"Great!" Berry smiled. "I'll stay there too."

Author's Note

An old friend briefly stops by. Meanwhile, welcome, Berry. I'm sure your presence won't make anything awkward at all.

I hope you like her. It's a bit of a call back to the many 'like Twilight, but not really' antagonists that the show loves using. Similar name, similar talent, different outlook on life. I rather like her, but what do you think?

Have I typod? Grill me in the comments now.

35 - Repairs

Sleeping arrangements became slightly awkward. Cherry and Indie had slept comfortably apart within the room, with Cherry unaware of any attention she may have received from the lovestruck, but polite, Indigo.

Berry wasn't so reserved. When she saw their usual slumbering spots, she picked one right beside Indigo. She didn't attempt to force herself on him, but made no subtlety on being near him. She was more casual about keeping his eyes in the right direction, at least until he went to sleep, which was the only time she would slip off.

In the morning, they would rise from the pool/bedroom, have breakfast, and prepare for a new day's work.

"I'll cook tomorrow," promised Berry.

Cherry tilted her head. "You know how?"

Spike raised a brow. "Uh, thanks, but I can handle it."

Berry waved off Spike's decline. "Of course I know how to cook. You just sit back, relax, and watch as I prepare some real sea treats."

Together, they strode out towards the train. Berry glanced over at the other two as they went. "Hey, this reminds me of school."

Indie quirked a smile. "I suppose, yeah, swimming together in the early morning like this."

Cherry bobbed her head. "Sorry I was so spaced out near the end there."

Berry waved that off. "Forgiven. Besides, if you hadn't..."

Cherry perked an ear. "If I hadn't?"

Berry raised a hoof behind her head. "I wouldn't have been able to copy your design?"

Cherry blinked softly before the magnitude dawned on her. "They look familiar because they are familiar!"

Berry reared up and put out her forehooves a moment before she came down. "Hey, easy there. Besides, thanks to that, I have a gift."

Indie perked up. "Gift?"

Berry nodded. "I used a metal pony like you did for the parts."

Cherry looked confused at the notion. "Another one? Where did you find it?"

Berry waved off the idea. "It was being stupid in the water, so I took it. I may even know where there are two more legs. They have four you know."

Indie looked excited a moment before the brightness dimmed. "Wait, but those would be forward legs, not the extra legs, right?"

Berry thrust a hoof at Cherry. "Nothing a pair of talented mechanical ponies can't fix, right?"

Cherry's jaw worked as she figured through the adjustments that would be required to make it work even as she nodded. "We could... work with that. It has most of the parts we need. Indie, do you want to dry swim like we do?"

Indie brightened right back up, his thick tail swaying to and fro across the board he was wheeling. "Yes please! You'll show me how to, right?" He wiggled his fins. "I'll be using these, right?"

They chatted animatedly. The competition between the mares was set aside in favor of the work ahead of them. When they reached the train, that consumed them. Hours went by as they replaced part by part, until all the new parts were exhausted.

Cherry turned for the door. "Let's go back to the castle, get a snack, and then head down to the smithy to pick up whatever parts she's finished."

There were no objections, and soon they were eagerly on the way. Spike had made them all a big bowl of what he called salad, but it lacked entirely in seaweed, to the seaponies' confusion. The dry seaweed wasn't bad though, and the vegetables and fruit mixed in with it were tasty, so they ate up quickly and continued their way down to Ponyville.

Berry tapped her chin. "If this friend of yours is that good at bending metal, maybe we should ask for the parts we'll need for Indigo while we're there."

Cherry nodded in easy agreement. "But she's already working on the train parts. Maybe after that?"

"She can put that on hold for a moment to get our precious Indie properly mobile." Berry huffed softly.

Indie found himself agreeing with Berry. The notion of dry swimming seemed more immediately compelling than finishing the train. "It's not like we'll stop working on your train, Cherry."

Cherry pouted, but didn't argue it further. They arrived at the smithy, source of dry power.

Berry gasped as she stepped into the heat of the place. "This is like The Dry given life..."

The smithy-mare smiled as she set down her hammer from her mouth. "Well hello there! When did you get another water friend? Nice to meet you, I'm Even Stroke."

Berry nodded at Even. "Sea Berry, but Berry's just fine. Do you really control all this Dry?"

"Oh, not you too!" Even laughed merrily at the sea ponies' curious dialect. "But yes, all this fire is under my control, or I wouldn't have a smithy for long. Now, what brings you here? More parts?" She raised a hoof towards a basket. "That's what I have done right now."

Cherry stepped forward eagerly and began to sift through the parts.

While she did that, Indie smiled up at Even. "Excuse me, miss, could you stop that project for a moment to make a few other pieces?"

"More?" She raised a brow. "You fish are becoming my best customers. What do you have in mind?"

Berry described a few needed pieces, gesturing with her hooves to better describe them. Cherry joined in, adding a few pieces to the order and working together to better describe their needs.

Even Stoke made a little scribble in her notepad. "Alright, nothing too complicated. I'll work on those first thing and you can stop by tomorrow for them."

Indie picked up the basket in his teeth. "Thanks, Even. You're the best."

Even waved it off. "I'm the only smith in town, so being the best isn't hard. Now go on, before the three of you turn to jerky."

They fled the power of The Dry, intact and with their parts secured. Berry pointed towards the train. "We may want to go get the legs."

The train project was postponed for the day, with some mild grumping from Cherry. They dropped off the basket back at the castle before heading to the station and going to fetch the legs.

All three eagerly dove into the water once they reached the beach. Swimming was a joy, as fun as dry swimming could be at times. They circled and danced an aquatic melody before they were interrupted by a meek voice, "Excuse me?"

They turned together to see another sea pony, a stallion, smiling at them nervously. "Excuse me, you came from The Dry, right?"

Cherry nodded. "That's where we live."

"So it's not... dangerous?"

Indie did a spin in the water. "It can be, but it's full of wonderful things too, just like the sea." Where was anypony completely safe? "Why?"

"Oh, I... I wanted to see it..." He rubbed behind his head, looking increasingly awkward. "I figure, if some foals can do--"

"Berry is no foal." She crossed her legs and snorted out a few bubbles.

"I meant no offense, promise." He smiled a little. "If you could tell me how, I'd appreciate it."

Cherry brightened with an idea. "Well we're about to get a dry swimmer. Why don't you take Indie's old dry swimmer for now."

He blinked. "You'd do that? You're the best!" He swam off to claim the wheeled device and begin his own adventure in The Dry.

Indigo pouted a little. "How am I going to get back to Ponyville?"

Berry swam around him quickly. "Have no fear, precious Indie. I'll carry you back and we'll get those legs working for you, promise."

They heard a soft stomping approaching them and turned to face a new intruder. It was a metal pony! Berry clopped her hooves together as a devious smile spread over her face.

"Stay away," warned the metal pony with the voice of the unicorn engineer that had started it all. "You two. I wanted to talk to you."

Cherry tilted her head at the metal pony. How was it talking like that? She didn't even see its mouth move. "Alright? We're here."

"You two love to tear apart my lovely machines for making walking aids for sea ponies, and I got to thinking..."

Berry raised a brow but was otherwise silent.

"Why don't I sell you the legs directly? You leave my machines alone, and you can get all the legs you want."

Cherry clopped her hooves at the idea. "That'd be fantastic! There are other sea ponies that'd like to see The Dry. If we could get dry swimmers to them all, they could visit whenever they like."

"And you can stop tearing apart my machines. Deal?"

Berry thrust a hoof a the machine. "We need more than the legs. Look." She did a slow turn, gesturing back at the belt that held the legs in the proper place. "And there's a part inside where our fins go and help control it."

Cherry swam up to the mechanical pony. "We could show you how it's made, then you could make them, right?"

Indie glanced between them, confused, "Does this mean I can get my legs sooner?"

Berry shook her head at Indie. "We'll still need to make yours. I doubt this mechanical pony will learn and have one made by the end of the day."

"I am not a mechanical pony. This is my machine, and I'm talking through it." The pony looked at Cherry. "We've met before, with Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Cherry bobbed her head. "You were really angry before."

"Tell me truthfully, did you break my machine?"

Cherry crossed her heart with a hoof. "By the waves, I promise I didn't. It was broken when I found it, with only three hooves."

"I did," admitted Berry easily.

"I know you did, little sea-based vandal." It was curious hearing angry words from the impassive face of the metal pony. "Let's put aside past differences, however. If you're both willing to work with me, we can all come out of it ahead. Show me how to make the modifications and we can share the profit from sales of the walking harnesses to other sea ponies."

Cherry fished out a shell and held it out to the metal pony. "But land ponies use different money than sea ponies."

"We can work out an exchange. You, vandal. You seem to know your way around. Do your people make useful things?"

Berry perked her ears. "All sorts of things. It depends what you consider 'useful'. Also, my name is Berry, Sea Berry."

"Great, and would your ponies mind carrying scientific equipment?"

"What?" Berry tilted her head.

"If they would be willing to carry pieces of my machine into the deeper parts of the ocean, I would gladly pay for that." A hopeful tinge came into the voice. "We can work it out, trading, um, goods and services. Just no more vandalism, right, Miss Sea?"

"That's Berry." She nodded. "Fine, I won't hurt anymore metal ponies, promise."

Indie circled on her. "Swear."

Berry frowned at him before she let out a bubbly sigh. "Fine. By the waves, I swear I will not harm another of your metal ponies."

"Or other equipment," added the metal pony.

Berry rolled her eyes. "Or other equipment. There, happy?"

Author's Note

They're still going to grab those forelegs and modify them to be functional hindlegs for Indie to use, but what a bright future this promises to be! Sea ponies can come to The Dry whenever they want! All they need is a way for dry ponies to come into the sea and full cultural exchange can begin.

What typo have we unleashed?

36 - End Episode, The Tsunami of Prophecy

They found the engineer up on the docks, where he was apparently controlling his metal pony at a distance. He kept eyeing Berry suspiciously, but that faded as they began going over details. He was pleasantly surprised at the mechanical aptitude of both the sea mechanics. "The modifications you made are quite ingenious, even if they were made without my permission."

Cherry had the dignity to blush at that, even as Berry rolled her eyes.

Soon he knew how to make a proper seapony 'dry swimming' belt. "That's walking aid," corrected the technician, not that any of the three minded him much when it came to terminology. "Are you still staying with Princess Twilight?"

Indie nodded firmly. "Oh, yes, though she's out there right now." He pointed out into the water. "I hope she's alright..."

As if conjured from the depths, Twilight and Fluttershy appeared in the waters with a soft splash from below. They paddled for the dry beach, clearly returned to being quadrupedal and chatting with one another animatedly and with big smiles. Had it gone well?

Berry leaned over the side of the dock a little. "Who's that?"

Cherry giggled a little. "That's Princess Twilight, you know, the one who's house you're staying in."

"Oh. I suppose we should go say hello." Berry began walking down along the dock to meet the two dry ponies coming ashore.

All three met her as she came up on land. Both the dry ponies shook water from their fur. The yellow one, Fluttershy, let out a sigh of relief. "That was quite a journey..."

Twilight nodded. "But we did it!" Her eyes scanned over the beach, easily spotting the new sea pony stallion, not to mention Berry. "You've been... busy as well?"

Cherry waved to Berry. "Say hello to Sea Berry, but she goes by Berry."

Twilight offered a hoof. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Twilight."

Berry met the hoof with a clop. "Nice to meet you. You are?" She looked at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy suddenly froze until Twilight nudged her. "Oh, yes. I'm Fluttershy..."

Indie suddenly flopped forward. "Fluttershy! I've been waiting to meet you!"

Twilight blinked. "Why is that stallion over there using your wheels instead of you? Did he take them?"

Indie shook his head. "We gave them. The girls are going to make me some real dry swimmers. Fluttershy, how did your trip go?"

Fluttershy seemed surprised that somepony would focus on her so intently. "Um, it went... well? Nice to meet you, Indie."

Indie propped himself up on his forelegs. "Did you talk with the fish?"

"... Yes?" She tilted her head a little.

Indie squeed with joy. "We can both speak with creatures from all oceans! I'm a fish speaker as well, but I've been talking to dry fish, um, what were they called?"

"Squirrels," provided Cherry.

"Those!"

Fluttershy brightened a little. "Aw, squirrels are so cute!"

"They are!" Indie tried to clop and ended up flopped in the sand. "We should talk." He pushed himself up again. "Later, when I have my dry swimmers."

Cherry's attention was more on Twilight. "How did your trip go? Did you fi--"

"We sure did!" Twilight smiled so wide it squeaked. "She agreed to come meet with Princess Celestia and was quite reasonable, once we found her."

Cherry tilted her head. "Oh, they're a her?"

Berry blinked at the two. "Really? You don't know?"

Cherry looked over to Berry. "What?"

Berry put a hoof to her face. "Your mom is the Master of the Waves, that's why I didn't want to say that stupid promise. Swearing on your rival's mom feels weird."

Cherry and Indigo's jaw dropped together. Twilight joined in placing her hoof to her face. "That would have saved quite a bit of ordeal, and explains her oddly-specific request." She pointed at Cherry. "She said that you're to be kept safe and happy."

She rolled her eyes at that. "Mom... How was she?!"

Twilight gave a gentle smile. "She was alright. She loved hearing about some of the things you've been up to. Come on, let's get back to Ponyville."

Berry pointed up to the dock with the dry and horny pony engineer. "When she comes, she should talk to him about getting a dry swimmer. He'll be making them for all the sea ponies that want to visit."

Twilight blinked up at him before shaking her head. "You've all been busy. That's fantastic! This is exactly the sort of thing I think Celestia was hoping to see." She stepped away from the ocean. "But, if you don't mind, I'm exhausted." Her horn began to glow as she hefted Indigo into the air. "Is he making Indigo's new legs?"

Cherry looked to Berry, then they both dashed out into the water a moment, returning with sand-encrusted metal forelegs. "Ta da!"

Twilight shook her head. "Well..." She glanced between Cherry and Berry, taking in their mechanical marks. "Are you two friends?"

"Rivals," corrected Berry. "But for sweet little Indie, we'll be working together."

Cherry rolled her eyes. "She's also helping with my train."

They began moving for the station as Twilight tilted her head faintly. "You got a toy train?"

Cherry reared up and threw her forelegs wide. "Think bigger!"

Twilight swallowed nervously. "I... I'm sure it's lovely..."

Fluttershy walked along the floating Indigo. "So... you talked with squirrels?"

"Oh yes! They're very excitable, but they had a lot to say. They lost their house."

"Oh no!" Fluttershy brought up a hoof in dismay. "What'd they do?"

"We found them a new tree." Indigo nodded. "Now they're all happy."

Fluttershy smiled at that. "It wasn't too close to other squirrel families, I hope?"

"Oh no no! They were very insistent about that." Indie made a few vague gestures. "We had to swim far and long, but we found a tree with plenty of food and not many squirrels around. They should be happy now."

"What a relief." Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief. "Have you met many other animals?"

"I heard you have a dry fish called a 'bear' for a friend? May I meet them?" Indigo smiled brightly.

Berry suddenly went red as she realized another mare was getting attention from Indigo. Her battle had just gotten more complicated...

Author's Note

That's it! End of chapter, end of story, unless someone else wants to commission it forward.

I hope you all enjoyed this wet adventure with me! It was fun writing it, and I loved every character in it.

I hope you'll come with me on my next journey of typos.

37 - Episode 6 - In the Mirror

Twilight sagged with a little sigh, seated across from the rest of the Mane Five. "You let them put it there?"

Applejack shrugged. "Ah was busy farmin' when it happened and ah figured it was yer idea."

Spike shrugged softly. "I heard it coming and went out and saw a herd of stallions just carrying it along. I tried to tell them to stop, but they weren't listening to me..."

Twilight put a hoof to her head.

Elsewhere, Indigo enjoyed the mobility afforded by his customized dry swimmers. He explored Twilight's castle with a little smile and a curious look in his eyes. Twilight had so much to look at! He nudged open a door that led into darkness and he squinted at it. His eyes were more suited to the dark than a pony and he slowly advanced into the collection of boxes with only the clip-clop of his hooves, biological and mechanical.

He saw a large pedestal and began to grow curious about it. It seemed attached to a lot of... were they mechanics? He wasn't really sure, but he knew exactly who to ask! He galloped out of the room in search for his friends that happened to be mares, not to be confused with marefriends.

Cherry and Berry were brought in, both confused. Cherry looked around with growing curiosity. "This doesn't look like she uses it that often."

"That's putting it mildly." Berry blew off some dust from the top of a box. "The dry is gathering. Did you know dry collects on things that don't move?"

Cherry stepped up beside Berry. "I did not know that." She reached out and left a hoofprint in the dust. "Neat!"

Indigo pointed at the strange pedestal. "Take a look at this. I think it's mechanical." He looked mildly miffed at his friends becoming easily distracted. "The dry will wait."

Cherry stuck out her tongue a little. "Don't be so upset, now what do you have?" She wandered closer, eyes wandering over the platform and following the wired to the grand mecha... "I don't think this is mechanical, at least not entirely."

Berry nodded quickly. "There are a lot of parts I don't get, and if we don't even understand the start of it, it's not mechanical." Both mares crossed their forelegs and nodded with finality.

Indigo shook his head. "So what is it? Is it too complicated for either of you to figure out?" He looked towards Berry as a devious look overtook his face. "Bet Cherry'll figure it out before you."

Berry gasped with offense. "What?! No! I can figure it out. Just you watch and see." She advanced on the machine, as odd as it was, and began to poke and prod at various pieces of it, trying to figure it out.

Cherry looked over Berry's shoulder before leaning towards Indigo, "Sneaky boy." He blushed at her words but didn't argue it. "Berry, have--"

"I almost have it!" She threw a lever and something crackled to life. "We're missing a part. I think I turned it on, but it needs... something."

"It needs unicorn magic." Twilight entered on the surprised sea ponies. "What are you doing in here?"

Indigo recovered first and pointed at the device. "What is it?"

"That..." Twilight trailed off a moment. It'd been a while since she used the portal. "It's dangerous."

Spike rolled his eyes as he followed Twilight. "It's not that dangerous."

"Spike!"

"What?"

Berry looked to the dragon. "What does it do?"

Spike looked between Berry and Twilight, one looking hopeful, and the other demanded silence with a glare. He squirmed in place. "I... shouldn't say."

Cherry decided to take the fight to Twilight. "We'll just get more curious until we figure it out. At least tell us what it does before you tell us not to use it."

Indigo nodded quickly. "We just want to know what it's for. It looks interesting." He turned back to the machine. "You're a unicorn, you can turn it on, right?"

"I could..." Twilight let out a sigh. "But I shouldn't. Look, it's a portal to another world."

Cherry raised a brow, but Berry let out a sudden laugh. "I knew it!"

Indigo blinked at Berry. "You knew it?"

Berry gestured at the arch the device formed. "It looked like some kind of door or something. I just couldn't figure out how to turn it on."

Twilight's horn glowed, throwing the switch back to the off position. "Good, now that we--"

The device flared to life, fed by her magic and crackling to life, but only for an instant with the switch being toggled to the off position. It was long enough. Indigo vanished from the platform.

Twilight gaped at the spot Indigo had stood in.

Cherry pointed at the spot. "Is he alright? Bring him back."

"I-It's not that simple!" Twilight took a step back.

Berry advanced on Twilight. "You sent my precious Indigo to Waves-knows-where, bring him back!"

Twilight shook her head. "I can't just... summon him. He has to walk back."

Cherry smiled. "Oh, that's simple. We'll just wait for him."

Twilight imagined the aquatic Indigo landing in Canterlot high and swallowed heavily. "I... should fetch him..."

Berry waved between Twilight and the device. "Go ahead."

"It's not that simple!" Twilight cringed. "My copy is in there, and we shouldn't meet more than absolutely necessary."

Cherry raised a brow. "You have a copy?"

"All ponies have a copy there." Twilight let out a sigh.

"All dry ponies, perhaps." Cherry got a grin. "Turn that back on and let us get him. We'll bring him back, promise."

Twilight put a hoof to her head.

Spike raised a claw. "I could go with them?"

"No!" Twilight clopped the ground. "Your double is there too."

"I have a double?"

Twilight let out a sigh. "Yes, a dog of my copy. Look, let's just..."

Cherry advanced alongside Berry. "We can't leave Indigo alone in a strange place. Let us rescue him!"

Indigo fell through a space that wasn't space and landed with a dull thud, groaning in pain. He pushed to his... feet? His hooves were covered in a strange material. Some kind of fancy shoes? How did they stop being... Where was his tail? He spun around looking for it, but did little but make himself dizzy.

His hooves, his front hooves, they'd changed wildly. They had almost no fur and terminated in wriggly things, like Spike's claws.

"You alright?"

He looked up at a... thing. It was a thing that looked like him, with two-colored mane. A her, he was certain. "Um, just a little... lost?" Indigo tried to keep himself calm. "Where am I?"

She pointed one of her wriggly claws at the building behind her. "In front of Canterlot High. Are you a new student?"

"Um..."

"Wow, you are lost. Look, my name is Bon Bon." She gestured to the school. "Come on, Principal Celestia will know what to do."

Celestia, there was a name he recognized. He nodded and she began to walk away. He tried to follow and staggered clumsily at first before he at least got the basics of bipedal motion down. What was he, and why did they dry swim in such a funny way? On the bright side, he was in The Dry and didn't actually feel dry at all. Whatever he was, it was a dry species.

The stairs were a special challenge, but it had a piece of metal he could grab and hold onto as he navigated slowly.

Bon Bon raised a brow at his curious and awkward ascent. "Maybe we should take you to the nurse first."

"No, no! I'm fine, really." At least, physically. Mentally, he was freaking out. Where was he? What was he? Could he get back to his friends? "I want to see Celestia." Surely that powerful princess would have all the answers.

Bon Bon took him down a hallway floored with some kind of smooth and shiny stone. The light came from magic panels in the ceiling. There were bits of writing all over the walls excitedly reminding any passerby of any number of events that he didn't understand. "What's a Spring Formal?"

She seemed surprised at the question. "Do they not have dances where you're from?"

"Oh! I love to swi--" She looked at him like he was insane. "I mean... Um, yes, we have those." He laughed nervously.

"Well, here we are." She gestured to a door. "Just go on in and ask for Celestia. Good luck, uh, what was your name?"

"Indigo." He blushed at realizing he was being rude. "Nice to meet you, Bon Bon. Thanks for the help."

"Hope you get everything straightened out." She wriggled a few of those fleshy claws. "I have to get going. Good luck!" She returned the way she came, leaving Indigo facing that door.

All he had to do was... He saw a pony do this... He bent over and went after the knob with his mouth, but discovered quickly his new mouth wasn't suited at all to getting around the device that opened the door.

Suddenly, a loud clanging sound filled the hallway. He stood up ram stiff as lots of things emerged and began dry swimming right past him as if he wasn't there. There were so many of them! They came in all colors and sizes, male and female. Most of them were talking with one another animatedly as they swam to wherever they were walking to, and they were swimming to a lot of places! He saw a few dealing with the doors though. They used their fleshy claws to grab it and turn it.

Is that what those were for? Oh! Indigo flushed. Of course it'd be like Spike. He should keep that in mind. What would Spike do? He reached forward and opened the door, slipping into the new room where it was quiet. There was one other... thing... She? was seated at a desk and looked up at him with a raised brow.

"Um, hello. Can I talk to Princess Celestia?"

She snorted softly. "I'm afraid we're all out of princesses, but we have a special on principals." She pressed a button. "Celestia, you have a visitor."

"Send them in," came a familiar voice from the thing being spoken to. Was it like the metal robot?

The female gestured at another door. "Go on in." Her eyes fell back to whatever she was working on.

Indigo advanced past her to face that door, but he knew better! He seized it with his wriggly claw things and soon had it open with a little smile of triumph. That wasn't so hard. He could mana... That was not Princess Celestia.

Author's Note

The story continues with a sudden detour. Indigo! Who gave you permission to go off on adventures on your own?

We must correct this typo immediately!

38 - To the Rescue

Twilight poked at the side of the mirror gently. "Alright, before I turn this on, are you absolutely certain?"

Cherry raised a brow at Twilight. "He's our friend. Of course we're sure."

Berry nodded in agreement. "Stop delaying. We'll rescue our precious little Indie before he gets hurt."

Twilight let out a little sigh. "Alright, so, remember. The goal is to get Indigo and return to the portal. Don't let anything get in your way. You'll arrive as humans, so be r--"

"Humans?" Cherry tilted her head.

"Bipedal simians, mostly furless, clothed."

Berry looked down at herself. "Do we need clothes?"

Twilight gestured at the mirror. "The translation will provide those while it makes you human. It's just how these mirrors work?"

"There are other mirrors?" Cherry perked with curiosity.

"Nnng, yes, but please, focus..." Twilight took a slow breath, making the motion that Cadance had taught her to calm down. "Most of the ponies you meet will be students at Canterlot High, a school."

"Of fish?" Berry tilted her head. "I thought they were 'humans'?"

Twilight put a hoof over her face. "A place of education. If anypony asks, you're exchange students just visiting. If you really need help, look for my friends on the other side, which includes me. They know there are ponies that can come through the portal."

Cherry and Berry both nodded. They weren't going to be any further educated and Twilight threw the switch. "Good luck in there."

With a bright sparkle of magic, the portal opened, taking up all the space inside the mirror. Cherry shoved a hoof in and felt around. "Weird..."

Berry nudged past her and dove in. Cherry blinked and jumped in after her.

Twilight let out a little sigh. Had she just doomed them all? "Think positive," she murmured to herself as she settled down to watch the portal and await their return.

Indigo's mouth opened and closed.

"Yes?" The strange thing looked at him with piercing eyes. "Can I help you?" She sounded like Celestia, but that thing was certainly not Celestia.

"Um, I was... trying to get home?" Indigo tried for a smile. Did smiles mean the same thing to these creatures? He was fairly certain.

"And where is that?" 'Celestia' sat up straight. "I'm afraid we haven't met. I'm Principle Celestia. You are?"

"I-indigo. It's..." Where was it from there? He had no idea. "It's in Twilight's."

"Twilight's what?"

"Her home."

'Celestia' raised a brow. A strange new student that came from Twilight's? Maybe it was a foreign exchange program. Actually, that made a lot of sense. She smiled gently. "Were you told what school you'll be attending while you're here?"

"Oh, uh, no?" School? He was going to join some fish? Maybe they needed him to talk to them or take care of them? He smiled at the idea. Things were looking up. "I'd like that."

"Of course you would. Why don't you enjoy the hospitality of Canterlot High, since you're here? Twilight goes here as well. I'll have a schedule drafted up for you. For now, you should meet up with Twilight."

Meeting up with Twilight? That sounded fantastic! "Yes, please. Where is she?"

Celestia pressed a button on her desk. "Have Twilight report to the principal's office." She looked up as she took her claw away from that button. "She'll meet you just outside. Go with her and accompany her to her classes for today, and I'll have a schedule for you tomorrow."

Twilight was already there? How? "Oh, okay." What was he attending? Head buzzing with questions and confusion, he wandered outside to await Twilight's arrival.

"Get off me," grumbled Berry. She was sprawled across the ground with Cherry flopped over her. They scrambled to their... hooves?

Looking at one another, they had the advantage of being able to take in the alien features they had inherited more easily. Cherry reached out and took hold of Berry's left arm. "Why do you have two sets of legs?"

Berry reached out and poked Cherry in the chest. "Why are you so lumpy?"

Cherry reached up and found her hat was still present and smiled happily, at least something hadn't changed. "We're humans, huh?"

"Guess so." Berry glanced back at where the portal hung invisibly in the side of some statue then back at Cherry. "We should find Indie."

Cherry bobbed her head. "Of course! But don't you want to see this?" She waved a weirdly shaped leg around, its floppy claw-things wobbling. "I mean, look at it all! It's a whole dry world! Imagine what secrets it might be hiding."

Berry waved her floppy claw things at the big building they were in front of. "Like where Indie is? Fine, you go explore. I'll take Indie and we'll get married and--"

"Okay, okay." Cherry snorted softly, nostrils flaring. "Let's find Indie. Maybe we can have a look afterwards..."

Refocused, the two headed toward the building, using one another for support. As they ascended the stairs to the doors, they swung open, admitting a... human? A human that looked like them, but had rainbow-colored hair and a cocky smile.

She seemed surprised to see them. "Oh, hey? Who are you two?"

Berry thrust a floppy-claw thing into the air. "I am Sea Berry! But you can call me Berry."

The human quirked a smile. "I like the way you said that. You transferring into Canterlot High?"

Cherry pointed beyond the human. "We're looking for a friend named Indigo, or Indie. Have you seen him?"

"Nope." The human shook her head. "Look, I'm Rainbow Dash. Who are you?" She looked to Cherry specifically.

"Nice to meet you, Rainbow." Wasn't that one of Twilight's friends? "I'm Cerulean, but you can call me Cherry. Oh! Ohhh! You're Twilight's friend, right?"

Rainbow cocked a brow. "Yeah? So?"

Berry caught on quickly. "We're also friends of hers, from the mirror."

Rainbow's eyes went wide. "Shoot! You're kidd--You're not kidding. Come with me." She waved around the side of the building and led the way away from the doors. "I didn't think that egg-head would ever be brave enough to send other ponies through besides herself, and that only in an emergency. Does this mean something happened to Twilight?"

Cherry shook her head a little. "How do you stand being... this... human thing?"

"Huh? It's kind of what I was born with." Rainbow raised a brow. "I think my body's pretty cool, if you ask me, which you did. Why, something wrong with yours?" She looked Cherry up and down. "You look fine."

Berry ran an elbow into Cherry's side. "She just wishes she had mine."

Rainbow snorted at that. "Don't get too full of yourself." She gestured at the back of the school. "We can wait here for the others to show up. So, uh, you were ponies?"

Cherry shook her head. "Not exactly."

"Not exactly." Rainbow squinted a moment. "What were you if not ponies?"

Cherry ran her tongue over her lips as she tried to conjure the word back up. "Hippo...."

"Sea pony," offered Berry. "We're sea ponies."

Rainbow gave a sudden laugh. "That's too cool! Like sea horses, but ponies?"

Cherry made an odd expression. "Nothing like seahorses."

Berry reached out her strange human forelegs. "Pony up top, with a powerful tail with two flippers at the end, and two flippers at the side. I heard some ponies call it more like a dolphin."

"Mer-ponies." Rainbow grinned. "That is too cool!" She looked over her new friends again. "You didn't get to keep any of the cool bits, though. I wonder if you're still any good at swimming..."

Cherry blinked at the idea. "How do humans swim? You don't have fins at all. Can you breathe water?"

Rainbow waved off the ideas put forward. "None of that. We hold our breath, and we may not have fins, but our hands work well enough."

"Hands?" both asked.

Rainbow extended her floppy claws and flexed them slowly. "Hand. I've swum around plenty. I never really did it competitively, but I bet you two could do it if you still take to the water."

Cherry and Berry both looked to their 'hands' with newfound appreciation. Cherry held up her hand high and spread it wide. "It's a little like a flexible flipper..."

Berry nodded. "You'd have to hold it close, but..."

Rainbow flashed a big smile. "I have to see you two swimming!"

Cherry waved it off, but it was far from a certain gesture. "We shouldn't. I have to find my friend, Indie, remember?"

Rainbow stuck out her tongue a little. "We'll find him, promise. I bet when the others get here, we'll find your friend in ten seconds flat. No reason you can't have a little fun while you're waiting. By the way, what's with the metal pants?"

Cherry and Berry looked down at their pants. They did have a bit of a metallic glint. Berry reached down and tapped at her pants, getting a soft metallic rapping with every tap. Despite being made of metal, they moved well with her.

Rainbow raised a brow. "You weren't, uh, mechanical to begin with, were you?"

Cherry darkened a bit. "Well, a little."

"A little?"

"We don't have the back legs and extra hooves of a dry pony." Cherry waved at her legs. "So I built some."

"I built my own, thank you." Berry stuck out her tongue a little.

"Super cool." Rainbow smiled. "And now they're metal pants? You better hold onto those. You don't want to be missing your legs when you get back to Equestria." As she spoke, she led the girls on towards the school's generous swimming pool. "But for now, I want to see you two in that water. You'll either take to it like two fish, or flounder."

Cherry scratched the side of her head in confusion. "A flounder is a fish..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Just a saying. Come on, why not? You like water, right? You're mer-ponies, of course you like water!"

Berry tapped at her pants. "Are you sure we should do that while wearing metal?"

It was Cherry's turn to taunt. "What? You're afraid of being slow?" She moved to the edge of the pool and sank down beside it. "This is a lot of water to have on The Dry. You have races in the water?" The idea of such an obviously dry species racing in the water amazed her.

Rainbow hiked a thumb at the locker-room nearby. "You two want to get changed into swimsuits first?" They both looked blank. "Eh, or just jump in, that works too. Go on!" Sink or swim, she wanted to see them try.

39 - Race Ya

Rainbow left the two visitors from Equestria, if only for a moment. She returned in a swimsuit to find Berry glaring at Cherry.

"You can't claim to be the faster swimmer if you refuse to swim!"

"I can and I just did." Cherry huffed softly. "Besides, we're here to rescue Indie, not race."

Berry swayed a little. "We're going to meet all of Twilight's friends and they'll know what to do, in the meantime, are you afraid of being shown up in athletics as well as mechanics?"

"Ooo, she's calling you out." Rainbow grinned as she incited the competition. "You gonna accept that?"

"What in tarnation's goin' on here?" Another human had arrived, with a hat that reminded Cherry immediately of...

"Applejack?"

The human looked confused. "We met?" It was Applejack! "Rainbow, who are they and why are ya provokin' a fight?"

Rainbow looked ashamed. "I just wanted to see them swim."

Applejack approached the two with a raised brow. "With metal pants? You want them to swim in metal pants? Sugar, have you lost every bit of your sports-addled mind?"

Berry glanced down at the metal garment. "I've swum with metal legs before. They make for some dr--"

Applejack blinked at Berry. "Are ya defendin' her?! Come with me." She grabbed one arm each of the new students. "Ah ain't allowin' nobody in the pool like that."

She dragged both of the new students into the poolside locker room. "Now ah don't know what Rainbow done told ya, but here." She fished out new clothes from a metal box on the wall. "Put this on, then ya can swim all ya want."

Cherry accepted the article even as she looked Applejack over. Though not a pony, it was hard to miss how the two were related. "Applejack? We're friends of Twilight."

"Huh? Really? Ya from that snooty school?" She pointed one of her fingers. "You don't seem the type ta be honest."

Berry shed her clothes without a trace of shame and began getting into the swimsuit. "Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"Oh!" Applejack perked right up. "Shoot, you two from Equestria?"

Cherry nodded even as she changed with equal lack of shame. It's hard to understand nakedness at times when one usually was. "We're looking for a friend of ours, Indie. He's, uh..." What did he look like as a human? "He has to be around here..."

Applejack nodded to the two before glaring across to Rainbow Dash standing there awkwardly. "Why were you settin' them up fer a race instead of looking fer their friend?"

Rainbow gestured at the two of them. "They're not ponies like Twilight. They're, like, mer-ponies." Her eyes widened as she said the last word. "Come on! Don't you want to see them?"

Applejack cocked a brow before looking between the two of them. "The way ah see it, we could do that, or we could find their friend."

"Fine!" Rainbow sighed dramatically. "Let's find their friend, then maybe they can show us before they go back? I mean, I haven't seen any doubles of them around here, so they should be cool, right?"

"Right." Applejack rolled her eyes as she turned to the main building of the school. "Ah heard Twilight being called to the principal's office. Ya think that has anythin' to do with it?"

"She was?" Rainbow peered in the direction of the office. "That egghead? She probably got an award in something."

"Maybe. Let's find out one way or the other."

Cherry glanced between her friends, new and old. "Should we change back?"

Applejack put a hand to her face. "Yes. Why are ya wearing metal pants anyway?"

Rather than strip and get re-dressed, Berry slipped her original clothes on over her swimming outfit. "They were here when we came. We didn't even have back legs where we came from."

Cherry bobbed her head as she followed suit, putting on her old clothes over her new. "We had a tail, and now we don't. Do none of you have tails? How do you avoid falling over?"

Rainbow smirked at that. "We manage somehow. Alright, everyone dressed? Good, let's find an egghead and maybe your friend while we're at it."

With a communal call to battle, they marched off in pursuit of Twilight.

Applejack raised a brow at Twilight. "Ya sent them through there?" She inclined her head towards the glowing portal. "Why didn't you go?"

Rarity snorted at the question. "For one, Applejack dear, she is a princess. She shouldn't be galavanting off to other worlds on a whim."

Applejack rolled a hoof. "Correct me if ah'm wrong, but ain't Cherry technically a princess-like herself? Ah mean, she is the daughter of the 'Master of the Waves' an' whatnot. Don't that make her one?"

Twilight gulped loudly as she glanced at the portal. "I shouldn't be in Canterlot High while my double's there. I didn't want any of them there, but there was just enough energy to turn it on long enough for Indigo to fall in." She sat down and clopped her forehooves together nervously. "I didn't mean to... Ohhh, this is bad..."

Fluttershy smiled gently. "We should have faith in them." Twilight looked at her a little incredulously. "I mean... they're good friends, and they did alright here, which was just as strange for them, right?"

Rainbow nodded. "I bet they're already finding something to put together or break apart and having a great time."

Twilight gave a nervous laugh. "Well, I hope they aren't doing that... but maybe you're right... Let's--"

Rarity was close to the portal, peering into its swirling depths. "Why don't we go through and lend a hoof?"

Twilight's magic flared to life as she pulled Rarity away from the open aperture to the other world. "Not so fast! We all have doubles in there that we shouldn't be meeting."

Rainbow snorted softly. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Twilight's eyes half-lid as her voice went low and even. "Complete and total integration of realities ending in mutual annihilation."

"Oh my..."

Twilight nodded. "So let's not do that."

The human Twilight looked at the strange person before her with metal pants. "So..."

"I'm Indigo, but you can call me Indie."

"Nice to meet you, Indigo..." She glanced away, then at the secretary. "So what am I supposed to do?"

"You're to let him accompany you to class for the remainder of the day. He'll have a schedule tomorrow."

She opened her mouth to object, but changed her mind on seeing how nervous he was. "Alright, come on, Indie. Let me show you around." She led him out into the hallway. "Where are you from again?"

Did Twilight count as a friend of Twilight? "Um, do you... know the other Twilight?"

The human Twilight's eyes widened. "You're from there?!" She spun on him suddenly and pushed him up against a locker. "I have a thousand questions and you hold at least half the answers." A strange giggle escaped from her. "Come with me." She pulled the scared boy away, making haste down the hallway. She took a left just before Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and the others came down the hallway.

Berry looked around with obvious curiosity. "You built all of this?"

Rainbow shrugged softly. "It was built before we got here."

Cherry reached up towards the lights but couldn't quite reach. "Not you specifically, more like 'humans' you?"

Applejack let out a nervous little laugh. "Let's keep chatter about 'humans' down low, alright?" She grabbed the knob and opened the door to the principal's office. "Excuse me..."

The secretary looked up at Applejack. "Yes?" It was proving to be a 'busy' day, her least favorite kind. "How can I help you?"

Applejack glanced around as the others filled in behind her. There was no Twilight in sight. "Did Twilight already leave?"

She pointed back into the hallway.

"Right, we'll be moseyin' on then." She tipped her hat and everyone began to shuffle out.

In the returned quiet, the secretary let out a sigh of relief just before a voice issued from the intercom, "How long has it been since a magical meltdown of some kind?"

She reached forward and pressed the reply, "At least three months, ma'am."

"Very good."

Twilight's giggles grew worse as she led her newest subject along. "You don't mind if I examine you, do you?"

"Um..."

"Good! What was your name again, Indiana?"

"In--"

"Nice to meet you! Now, what do you know about science?"

The strange... female thing was really making him nervous. He decided it was time to stop letting her pull him along and planted his hind-legs into the ground. "Tell me where we're going."

She blinked at him with obvious surprise before she smiled widely. "Oh, where are my manners? I just want to examine you. It will be completely harmless, I assure, and you'll be advancing the causes of science for just a little time." She held up two floppy claws close together. "You can afford that, right?"

Indie had a hard time denying females, especially pushy ones. She seemed reasonable, as far as he could tell. "You just need to look?"

"Exactly! Just looking. It shouldn't take very long at all." She looked him over from head to feet. "Could you describe your native configuration?" She saw him giving her a glazed look and sighed softly. "Tell me what you looked like, before you came here."

"Oh! Well I had fur, for one, and a nice big tail."

"So you were a pony, like Twilight?" She raised a brow and began pulling him along again, rushing to get him to wherever she wanted to get her testing done. "Were you large, small?"

"I wasn't exactly a pony, not like Twilight." He hustled to keep up with her as she rushed. "I'm a seapony. I have, uh, had, two legs." He wriggled the odd floppy claw things. "Are these even legs?" He was starting to doubt they were legs at all. "We come from the sea."

"Fascinating!" Twilight looked so excited. "You simply must tell me about your living conditions. I wonder what translated over or not..." Her eyes fell to his metallic pants. "Did you get those here?"

He glanced down at where she was looking and saw nothing but his clothing. "Did I get what?"

She reached out and pulled the belt-line of his pants. "These."

"Oh, yes!"

She made a soft noise of curiosity as she pushed open a door into darkness and flicked on the light. They had arrived in a science room, and Twilight was ready to apply science liberally to the situation.

Author's Note

I'm sure Twilight means well.

I'm still sorry for Indie. Hang in there! Resist her scientific typos!

40 - End Episode - Science makes Right

Twilight reached back and casually flicked the lock on the door. Science did not like being interrupted, after all. "We'll start with a basic examination. If you would kindly disrobe and lay on one of the tables, we'll begin."

She advanced towards Indie as he sat down nervously. "Don't worry. This will be completely non-invasive."

A knocking on the door interrupted the flow of things and Twilight frowned at it. "What?"

"Twilight?" It was Sunset. "Do you have the new kid?"

Twilight blinked in surprise. How? So fast?! She moved for the door and unlocked it, allowing Sunset in.

"Hey Tw-- Oh! Are you Indie?"

Indie waved at Sunset energetically. "Hello there!"

Sunset wriggled a few fingers and looked back to Twilight. "Why do you have him locked in here?"

Twilight opened her mouth, a dense explanation ready.

"Nevermind. You know the girls are looking for him, right?" Sunset cocked a brow then looked to Indie. "Your friends are wandering the school looking for you."

Indie hurried to the door as if he could spot his friends. "Are they? They're here?!" A pause. "Do they look like us?"

Sunset smiled as she followed after him. "They do, now let's get all three of you back together."

Twilight gave a faint pout as the science was dashed. "Can't I at least perform a basic examination?"

Sunset shook her head. "Why? He's a human, just like the sirens, and Twilight, er, the other Twilight."

Twilight wriggled a few fingers at Indie. "There are countless ways it could vary. Without a thorough examination and a few other tests, we'll never know. Pony-Twilight will never consent to letting me give her the full battery."

Sunset cocked a brow. "So you decided to take advantage of the boy here? Come on, he barely knows where he is."

"Canterlot High?" ventured Indigo. "Can we go to my friends?"

Twilight let a sigh loose. "Fine. Maybe after they're reunited, they'll be amenable to furthering science." She flashed a hopeful smile. "Do you know where they are now, Sunset?"

Sunset pointed one of her wriggly things at the door she entered from. "I had them wait for us in the band room while I had a look around so we wouldn't lose each other. I had a good feeling I'd find you here." She leaned forward. "Science girl."

Twilight flushed a little. "Aren't you curious?"

"Of course I am." Sunset turned to Indigo. "But we have to be good to friends, new and old, before that. Indigo, Indie, right? Sunset. Nice to meet you." She offered her wriggly claws towards him and he raised his, bumping against her. She smirked at the exchange. "Not quite the handshake I was expecting." She took ahold of his and showed how to grip and shake properly. "Now let's get you back to your friends."

Twilight moved to repeat the gesture. "And I'm Twilight, nice to meet you. Please don't be angry at me. I really just wanted to look..."

Indigo didn't have it in him to be upset at the female, uh, whatever she was. "It's alright. Let's get to my friends and we can decide what to do after that."

Smiles were exchanged. Forgiveness was given. Soon they were moving through the hallways and down stairs until they arrived at a room where four more... whatever they weres, were waiting for him. Two of them broke into smiles. One of them had a familiar hat and jewelry in her mane. "Indie!"

"Cherry?" His eyes darted to the female beside her. "Berry?"

"My Indigo!" Berry rushed up and embraced him tightly, forcing the breath from him.

Applejack shook her head a little. "Good to see them back together. Where'd you find him, Sunset?"

Sunset hiked a thumb at Twilight who was just behind her. "He was with Twilight, as you suspected. Miss Science here was ready to do a full exam."

Twilight huffed softly. "I was just looking..."

Suddenly Berry was invading her personal space. "You had better not have hurt my Indie!"

Indie pulled her away. "I'm alright! Miss Twilight didn't do anything bad."

Cherry smiled brightly. "Well we're all together, and nopony got hurt, that's good. I guess we should head back..."

Rainbow rolled a hand. "Before or after you show me some awesome swimming moves?"

Twilight grinned hopefully. "And I get to do a little examination?"

With hesitant noises from Applejack and Sunset on their way, the group ended up visiting the pool-side. Cherry and Berry shed the clothes over their swimsuits and Rainbow clapped her hands in giddy expectation. "Alright! Let's see how you do!"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "One lap, then they can get on back through the portal before something happens."

Rainbow waved it off. "Yeah yeah yeah. There are no world-consuming monsters involved this time, so we can enjoy ourselves. Go on in, the water's fine."

Cherry decided to be the first one in and dove in, slipping into the water like the dolphin-creature she was born as and barely making a splash. She emerged to see the line of them staring at her as if she had grown a second head. "What?" That's when she felt it. She didn't have legs. She had her wonderful, wonderful tail back. She looked down at the tail in the water and giggled with joy, sinking back into the water and darting off with amazing speed.

Berry suddenly jumped in, soon re-tailed and zipping off after Cherry.

Rainbow clapped her hands. "Look at 'em go!"

Applejack shook her head. "Did you know that was going to happen?"

"No, but it's awesome! Wait a second, let me get my suit on and I'll see how I do against them." She dashed off to the locker room.

Twilight looked like she was about to hyperventilate from the possibilities. Sunset rest a hand on Twilight's shoulder. "Take it easy girl."

"Easy!?" She spun to face Sunset while gesturing at the mer-maids in the pool. "Look at them! The implications! Please tell me I can examine them now."

Indie raised a hand cautiously. "You can look at me?"

Rainbow came dashing back, almost slipping on the slick surface before she jumped in the pool to join the other two. "Just because you have flippers doesn't mean you're the fastest!"

Cherry tilted her head at the human. "I think it does."

Berry shrugged. "My rival isn't often right, but she is this time. You don't have a chance."

Twilight pointed down into the waters. "Does it have the same effect on you? Please confirm."

Indie sank beside the pool and reached out with a hand to swish through the water, nothing happened. "Maybe I have to be in the water..."

Applejack shook her head. "We don't have a boys' swimming trunks."

"Alright." Indie stepped into the pool without warning, sinking into the depths even as his legs became a powerful tail. The metal pants became goofy-looking metal legs that held themselves close to his body. He surfaced, tail thrashing gently and holding him in place despite the weight of the metal. "There." His shirt was entirely soaked, as was any other clothing that hadn't absorbed into his changed body. "Now what, Twilight?"

While Twilight giddily began taking notes, Rainbow and the two sea mares lined up on one side of the pol. "One lap," declares Rainbow, pointing to the other side. "There and back. Ready?" Cherry and Berry nodded, then they all took off.

Sunset let out a sigh and turned away, only to see a person she had been hoping not to see, Vice-Principal Luna. "Oh... hi?"

Luna raised a brow. "Please tell me there are no magical... incidents we should be made aware of, and explain why none of you are in class."

Applejack gestured at the others, making scientific notes and racing in the pool. "We done had some visitors, and, uh, they got a little carried away. If it helps, they're pretty friendly."

Luna nodded at that. "I'm glad to hear that, but these are school hours. Say goodbye to your friends and get back to class." Any other student caught playing hookie might have gotten detention, but she couldn't be sure if their presence spared the school from calamity. "Thank you."

Rainbow Dash lost the race, but not for lack of effort, and not without having a grand time in the attempt. She reached the end to be cheered on by the two who proved to be good sports about the whole thing.

Twilight got some notes, even if she didn't get all the notes she wanted, as if there was such a thing as 'enough' notes.

Ultimately, it was time for all the ponies to go home. Once out of the pool, they became 'normal' humans again and could walk back to where the portal waited for them in the statue.

Applejack tipped her head. "You tell Twilight we send our regards, y'hear?"

Cherry bobbed her head. "We will! It was nice meeting you all."

Berry nodded in agreement. "Maybe next time we can visit without the drama in the way." She offered a hand towards Rainbow. "Keep practicing, maybe next time you'll win."

Rainbow smirked, knowing when she was being patronized. She accepted the hand and gave it a firm shake. "Next time, we race on land. See how good you are there."

Twilight bowed to them all. "Thank you for what examination I did manage. Have a safe trip home."

Sunset gently shepherded the seaponies back towards Equestria. "Go on. This isn't your world. But if you do stop by, we'll be here for you, promise."

With a chorus of goodbyes, the three vanished into the portal, sent hurtling back to Equestria. Cherry landed first, standing on all fours a moment before Berry crashed into her and sent them both sliding. Indie came through last and landed upright. "Twilight, there you are. You're much prettier as a pony."

Twilight blinked softly. "I gather you met my double then?" She pulled the lever and turned off the portal. "Is everypony alright?"

Rainbow flashed a wide grin. "Was she half as cool as I am?"

Berry climbed off her rival and rose to her own hooves. "Hey, Rainbow?"

"Yeah?"

"Wanna race?"

Berry and Rainbow took off, apparently meaning to make good on the challenge straight away.

Applejack chuckled softly at the antics. "Well, ah guess nothing too bad happened?"

Cherry nodded as she shook out. "Your friends were very nice to us. That other dry world is a fascinating place. Can we visit again in the future?"

Twilight paled a little at the idea. "Oh, right. Your parts arrived."

That was enough to make Cherry's mind move from the portal entirely as she wandered off to see her train parts.

Indigo was the last seapony in the room. "The other you was very curious about how things work."

Rarity glanced at Twilight. "I suppose some things are true no matter the world."

Author's Note

And so concludes the episode! I hope I did it well. Like? Hate? Tell me!

41 - Episode 7, Harry Situations

Indigo trotted from the castle with a smile. His dry swimming legs were working quite well and he had grown used to how to move them. He swerved to the left then right, just to show that he could to no one in particular. That day was his, mostly.

He was away from the girls. Not that he minded being with them, not at all. He... still kind of hoped Cherry would notice him. Berry's attention was... interesting...

No matter! Today was a fine day to meet his dry half. He skirted around the town and headed for the small cabin that belonged to the yellow flippered pony known as Fluttershy. It seemed an odd name to him. She clearly wasn't shy, if she spoke to all creatures of all the oceans. That made her a super extrovert! Just like him.

But just because you can, doesn't mean one wants to... Indigo slowed in his approach as he consider it. What if she could speak to anything, but she didn't enjoy it? He hoped he wasn't putting her in an awkward spot. The idea that one could have that gift and not like it was alien to him, but he worried he was being a pain. Fish he understood, ponies... not as easily.

What if he came across as a total burr in her side? What if he pushed too hard? Maybe she didn't want to talk about herself at all!

"Hello?"

Indigo came out of his thoughts to find Fluttershy not far ahead of him, looking at him. "Oh, hello!" Too aggressive, calm down. "I mean, nice to see you."

She gave a little smile. "I..." Her voice failed and she looked down.

Oh no, he'd already failed! Was it what he said? Maybe he was dressed badly? He looked himself over, then her. He wasn't more or less dressed than she was, minus his dry swimming legs.

Silence between them built dangerously as both feared what the other might be thinking.

It was Fluttershy who broke that quiet. "Please, um, come closer." She turned towards the cottage and gestured at it. "This is my home."

"It's a very nice one." Not as big as Twilight's huge thing, but it was... nice, comfortable. "Cozy."

She smiled. "I wanted it... like that. You like it?"

He bobbed his head as he dry swam up alongside her. "So, um... I'm sorry... I have..."

"You don't need to apologize." She tilted her head. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"But I did! I have a thousand questions and I'm afraid I'll be annoying."

Fluttershy's hoof rested on his shoulder. "You can, um, ask, if you want?" She gave him a little smile.

He relaxed under her gentle gaze. They were both scared, he realized. Scared of nothing. "You have a lot of fish friends?" She tilted her head at his question. What was the other word? "The kind that live in The Dry?"

"Oh! Animals!" She bobbed her head. "I have a lot of animal friends. You helped some squirrels, so why don't we start with them?" She turned away from him and walked towards a tree. "Excuse me? Sorry to bother, but a friend of mine wants to meet you. I mean, I'm assuming we're friends. We just met and maybe I'm being too forward..."

A fuzzy head poked out, followed by several others. A small gang of squirrels came down to look at Indigo with obvious curiosity.

"Hello there." He waved at them gently. "It is a pleasure to swim in your corner of the sea."

They said that was a funny way to say hello, but they understood him. They chittered and even offered a nut towards him.

He wondered what the nut was like and reached out a hoof. They placed it in the upturned hoof and he bit down on the hard seed. Ooof! It was tougher than it looked.

Fluttershy shook her head. "If you're hungry, I can make us a snack."

"No No..." He couldn't be impolite to the squirrels by refusing them now. He'd already taken the big dry coral nut and he chewed on it diligently. It had a powerful taste, and he wasn't sure if he liked it, but he ate it. "Thank you for the gift."

The squirrels insisted he was welcome to join them, then scampered by up into the coral they had come from.

Fluttershy smiled at him. "I think they like you."

He giggled a little. "Good. Wait, what are those?" He turned towards her strange white fish with white scales. They looked like they had flippers, but they seemed to not get more than an inch's height with them. Perhaps they were sea flippers? But why would they be on The Dry then? He approached them curiously. "Why are they in a cage?"

Fluttershy kept up with him easily. "Those are chickens. I protect them. The, um, cage is to keep bad things out. Some other animals think that chickens are tasty."

He didn't doubt that. There weren't many things that couldn't be devoured as far as the omnivorous Indigo was concerned. He wouldn't consider eating Fluttershy's friends though. "Chickens... They get eaten. Grey, white, golden colors? They're like the tuna of The Dry!"

Fluttershy blinked softly. "I... never saw it from that angle before... May... I also ask some questions?"

"Of course!" He smiled brightly. "Please." Answering questions felt easier than sounding like a newborn foal.

"You're from the ocean, right? I went there recently... Oh, you know that, um, doesn't it... make you nervous to know you could be eaten by so many things all the time?"

Indigo tilted his head at Fluttershy. "There are many things in The Dry that would snap up a pony. How do you deal with it?"

Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin a moment. "I suppose it's... the same." She smiled at him. "Ocean or land, we're still ponies."

"There's a saying where I come from." Indigo nodded as he spoke, "We are all from the same ocean. We may look different..." He gestured between Fluttershy and himself. "But we're still ponies."

"W-what's the largest, um, fish you made friends with?"

Indigo spread his hooves apart. "Twilight met him! He can hold seven ponies at once and not be slowed down."

"Oh my..." Fluttershy blinked with a bit of fear in her eyes, imagining such a large beast. "How does he hold so many ponies at once? Oh wait, you're not being literal, sorry."

"Actually, I was." Indigo rolled a hoof. "He has tentacles."

"Oh!"

"Yeah! He can grab a pony in each and pick them up."

"He didn't, um, eat any did he?"

"I told him not to and he let them go."

Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Now I know what my friends mean."

"What do you mean?"

"Well.." Fluttershy ran a hoof through her mane. "They say they get scared when I talk to an animal they think is scary, but they aren't scary to me, not when I know what they want."

Indigo felt warmth within him. "I feel the same way... I ran into him when he needed a little set of eyes and hooves to get a rock to roll off of one of his tentacles, and we've been friends ever since."

Fluttershy nodded quickly. "My friends said I was, um, crazy for helping a manticore that had a big thorn stuck in its paw."

"Thorn?"

Fluttershy pointed to the Everfree, not far away. "Little parts of plants. They can be quite sharp."

"Oh." The idea of sharp plants wasn't foreign to him. "What's a manticore?"

It was Fluttershy's turn to spread her hooves wide. "A big animal. It can be a fierce predator, but this one was just hurt and needed help. I saw it was just, um, angry, so... I helped it."

Indigo bobbed his head at the idea. "That was good of you. Even predators deserve some help. I'm glad you're alright though." He looked around curiously. "They said you had a friend who was a big dry fish with brown fur?"

Fluttershy blinked softly before it came to her. "Oh! Harry! He's my largest friend I see frequently." She gestured to the forest. "He doesn't live that far away from here."

"Oh, he visits?"

"Mmhmm." Fluttershy nodded. "Except for his weekly massages, I can't be sure when he'll be over for certain. Did you want to meet him? I could introduce you... if you want?"

"I would like that." Indigo bobbed his head. "But I came to see you." He hadn't meant it the way he said it, but both heard it and turned red. "I mean..."

Fluttershy put a hoof on his mouth. "You're sweet, but you're a little young for me."

Indigo blinked. He really hadn't meant for it to sound that way... wait, how old was Fluttershy? He was about to ask when she shook her head at him. "It's not polite to ask a mare. Old enough to know you're barely a stallion."

Oh... "Um... sorry?"

"No offense taken." She smiled gently. "Have you ever seen a mouse?"

He hadn't. "What's a mouse?"

She held her hooves close together. "They're small and furry and ever so adorable. Follow me."

Indigo got a crash course in small dry animals. He met mice and ducks and chipmunks and even some snakes. "I've only met a few snakes near The Dry," he admitted. "Hello snake." The snake hissed a soft welcome.

Fluttershy tilted her head. "You really can talk to animals."

"Fish? Yes, but so can you." He smiled brightly.

"Do you ever, um, feel you have to?"

Indigo tilted his head. "I suppose, but I like talking to them, so I don't mind at all."

Fluttershy nodded softly. "Does it... take away from what you would... normally do?"

Indigo seemed baffled by that idea. "What would I normally do?"

"Nevermind."

He had missed something. He was sure of it, but prying after it would just scare his new friend away. "Your house, it's far away from the other ponies."

Fluttershy colored. "Y-yes..."

"Mine too..." He rubbed at his cheek a little. "Some of my friends scare the other ponies, and the ponies scare a lot of my friends, so..."

Fluttershy looked relieved. "You understand."

Indigo offered a hoof. "They don't scare me though. You said something about a snack?"

"Oh! Yes, please follow me." She led the way to the interior of her cozy home. "Have a seat and I'll have that ready in two shakes of a tail. She trotted off and Indigo settled to await her return.

42 - Breaking Bread

Indigo's eyes wandered around the cottage until they settled on a small creature. Rabbit. It was called that, he was certain, and it was a kind of small furry dry fish similar to a mouse, but bigger and with larger ears. "Hello rabbit."

The rabbit approached him and looked up at him. It didn't seem happy to see him. Why?

"Hello?" Indigo tilted his head faintly. "I'm not sitting on your spot, am I?"

The rabbit pointed off to where Fluttershy had gone off to, then pointed at Indigo, and made a cutting motion across its small neck.

"What?" He reared back. "I would never hurt Fluttershy." To injure such a nice pony? It was-- "Ow!" The rabbit had kicked him in one of his fleshy legs. Without the support, he fell right over, collapsing from the couch to the floor in a heap.

"Angel Bunny!" Fluttershy emerged with something balanced on her hooves and set it on the table before approaching the rabbit with a deep scowl. "That is not how we treat our guests!"

Chastised or not, the rabbit bounced up to where Indigo had been and settled in the place comfortably.

Indigo sat up and blinked. He had just been defeated by the small fish. "I asked if it was your spot..." The smell of the food distracted him though and he looked over at the table. "What did you make? It smells lovely!"

"Oh, um..." Fluttershy suddenly looked nervous. "I thought... since you're a seapony and all, I would, you know... make something you'd like?"

Indigo made hasty steps over to rear up and peek into the ceramic bowl. The smell was delightful! "You have fish, I mean, sea fish?" He leaned closer. "And you made it so well... Have you made this before?" The idea of a herbivorous dry pony knowing how to prepare any kind of meat, dry or sea, confused him.

"You aren't the only animal I've ever met that liked fish." Fluttershy sat down at the table. "Please, enjoy yourself."

That he intended to do, but... "Where's your food? Are you going to have fish too?" He settled across from Fluttershy. The fish smelled like it had other things in it. A mix of dry and sea foods? He couldn't wait to try it!

"N-no, but thank you." She smiled nervously.

He tilted his head at her. "Well... you wait here!" He hopped to the ground and trotted right past her to her kitchen. If she was nice enough to make him food, he would make her something nice for dry pony appetites... He grabbed the fridge's handle in his mouth and opened it, slowly gathering ingredients.

"Is everything alright in there?" She sounded just a little worried.

"Don't worry!" He cracked a few eggs and put them in a bowl. "Pinkie Pie showed me how to use The Dry to make good dry pony food. Just you wait!"

"You really don't have to..."

"But I want to." He whisked thoroughly with the beater in his mouth and got to mixing in things and getting a good batter going. With a twist, he summoned the power of The Dry beneath a metal pan strong enough to withstand its power. "We can eat together." He poured the mixture into the pan and it started sizzling and popping, transforming with the power of The Dry into, well, a drier substance that he carefully managed and flipped over. "Almost done..."

When it was complete, or at least as close as he could determine, he flipped it right out of the pan and onto a plate. "Ta da!"

Fluttershy flew in suddenly and twisted the knob that banished the power of The Dry, "T-thank you." She reached for the plate uncertainly. "She taught you how to make an omelette?"

Indigo bobbed his head. "I wanted to... What was that sound?"

They both turned for the front where a muffled thump had been heard. Most of the house was filled with a large and brown shape. Harry had arrived, and found the fish.

Before Fluttershy could move, half the prepared dish had been devoured. "Ooo! I'm so sorry, Indigo. Harry! You're not to eat things that aren't given to you!" She waved a hoof up at the large dry fish.

Indigo emerged after Fluttershy, gawking at the massive shape. Sure, he'd seen larger fish, but that was about the largest living thing he'd seen on land. "You're big!"

The bear growled a greeting at him and Indigo waved with far less irritation than Fluttershy had. "So you're Harry huh?" The big bear nodded. "Nice to meet you. We were just having lunch."

Indigo settled on his chair and only then noticed half his food had vanished. He peeked over at the bear, then pulled the bowl closer to himself as if to guard it from further attacks that weren't his own. "He must eat a lot."

The bear asked him if he meant he was fat.

"Oh no! You look powerful, Mister Harry. Not f--" His words were cut off as he stuffed some of the fish into his mouth. Mmm! It tasted just as lovely as it smelled. "Not fat at all." Mmm... Talking and eating was hard, and he focused on stuffing his mouth with the delicious food Fluttershy had made him.

Outside, Berry sank down beneath a bush. "Just meeting, you said. Look at them! They already exchanged food!" She pointed to the cottage. "She's eating Indie's food!"

Cherry raised a brow. "Indigo would cook for anypony that he could. He likes cooking... Is that bad?"

Berry leaned towards Cherry. "You want him stolen away by that air-flippered dry pony?!"

"N-no, but I don't think--"

"Let me do the thinking." Berry put a hoof to her chest. "For now, let's gather more intel."

Cherry raised a brow. "Why did you drag me along anyway? Aren't you trying to win Indigo away from me?"

Berry rolled a hoof. "It's different! We're rivals. When we fight, it's normal. She's the outsider." She peeked out from the bush at the cottage and the ponies inside.

Inside, Fluttershy brandished a napkin. "Oh dear. I'm glad you liked it." She flew in closer, reaching out with the napkin to clean the mess Indigo had made of himself.

Berry gasped dramatically. "Look!"

"What?" Cherry finally peeked out just in time to see Fluttershy leaning close to Indigo. From the angle and distance, it looked like the two were kissing. "What?!"

"See?!" Berry clopped a hoof on the grass behind the brush. "She's stealing our precious Indie!"

Cherry went a nice red color as she backed away from the sight. "I-if this is what he wants..."

"No!" Berry wheeled on Cherry. "We can't give up that easily. I'm going to march in there and demand that dry pony back away from Indie." She rose to her full height and started stomping towards the cottage, only for one of her fins to be caught in Cherry's mouth. She was hauled back out of sight in a flash.

"Hold up! If this is... if he likes her, then we should let him."

Berry thrust a hoof towards the cottage. "She's just taking advantage of him. She can speak to odd fish too, and she's using it to her advantage."

"Oh no, a pony with similar interests is using the shared interest to get closer to a pony." Cherry rolled her eyes. "How devious..."

"See!?" Berry was completely blind to the faults in her logic. "You go if you want to, but I will defend my Indie!"

Cherry grumbled to herself as she trotted off back towards the train. At least trains made sense. She just had to finish fixing that one. It was a lot easier to figure out than colts, or the fillies that chased after them. Not like she even wanted...

Berry scowled at the departure of her rival then cleared her throat before she rose up, ready to face the intruder on her lovelife. "Prepare to deal with Sea Berry!" She emerged from the bush to find a rabbit parked directly in front of it, staring at her. "Hello small dry fish." She moved to skirt around it, but it moved to be in her way no matter which way she turned. "Land fish... get out of my way."

It shook its head.

It understood her, but refused to obey. On one hoof, it understood her; that was good. On the other, it was being annoying on purpose. "Move aside!" She lashed out a hoof and knocked the small creature away as she stomped past, only to find the world spinning around her as she crashed to the ground. She looked back and saw the creature had, somehow, stolen her back legs. How had it even detached them?! "Give those back!"

The rabbit saluted at her before bouncing away, her legs in its dirty little grasp. It jumped into another bush and was gone even as she sat up. She was stranded, in the middle of The Dry, with no way to get around but to drag herself around.

This was far from ideal...

Inside, food was complete, and Fluttershy worked to remove the plates from the table. "Thank you for the eggs, they were very well made."

Indigo blushed a little. "S-she said it was one of your favorites."

Fluttershy blinked and fled with the dishes, coloring as she went.

Indigo looked up at Harry. "So, Fluttershy's friend?"

He growled affirmatively.

"She seems nice."

He nodded at Indigo, then pointed at him. What sort of animal was he, wondered the bear.

"Oh, I'm a sea pony. I came from the ocean." Indigo bobbed his head. "And you are... Harry, from the forest?"

Harry nodded in agreement before reaching for Indigo. Indie didn't move, and he began stroking his long tail, apparently fascinated by it.

Having a bear petting his tail proved to be ticklish and Indie began to giggle as Fluttershy returned.

"Aw, you two are getting along." She approached at an easy rate. "Harry, why don't you take Indigo out for a walk?"

Indie blinked. "Where would we be dr--walking?"

Harry pointed at himself.

"To his home, of course." Fluttershy nodded. "He's a very gracious host."

To see the land fish's den sounded fun and Indigo bobbed his head. "Sure! Oh, Fluttershy? I still want to meet all your other friends, and, um, trade notes."

Fluttershy tilted her head at him as if he'd just suggested an odd thing. "We'll, um, see. I hope you have fun!"

Indigo moved for the door, only for the floor to retreat away beneath him. Harry had hefted him right up to the bear's shoulder and carried him out. It seemed dry swimming would not be req---

Indie blinked as he saw Berry on the ground, devoid of her dry-swimmers.

Author's Note

The episode continues, and Fluttershy misunderstands, which is okay, so does everyone else. Does this count as a typo?

43 - See?!

Berry let out a little nervous titter as the huge land fish and her precious Indie looked down at her. "Um, hi?"

Harry put down Indie, who scampered over to Berry's side. "Are you alright?" He offered a hoof up and soon had her as upright as she could reasonably be without the supporting dry-swimmers. "Look at you, all dusty and, oh, did you fall?"

Berry flushed at the attention. Indie was patting her down and looking for injuries rather closely. "I-I'm fine..." Not that she inherently minded his attention, but... "I'm here to rescue you?"

Indie tilted his head. "From what?"

Berry tried to point, and almost fell over for the effort. "The yellow one. She's stealing you!"

"Stealing me?" Indie raised a brow. "We're going to visit Harry, oh, that's his name." He gestured back to his big and furry friend. "Say hi, Harry!"

The bear gave a soft growl of greetings as he raised a paw at Berry.

Berry blinked in building confusion. "You're leaving?"

"Yup."

Berry sank a little, then flopped on the ground. "Can I come with you?"

Indie bobbed his head. "So long as Harry doesn't mind?" He turned back to the bear, who just shrugged softly. "Looks like it's alright by him. Where are your dry-swimmers? How'd you get all this way without them?!" He looked obviously impressed at the concept of Berry dragging herself from the castle in her current state.

With a loudly blown raspberry, Angel made himself known. He was standing on the stolen metal legs and sticking out his tongue at the both of them.

"It's the land fish that took my, oh, and it has them!" Berry started dragging herself towards Angel, but at the pace she was going, there was no way she would catch up.

Angel hopped off his perch and hefted up the hooves.

"Wait!" Indigo thrust a hoof at the small thief. "What do you want?"

The rabbit perked an ear at Indigo curiously.

"A trade."

"Trade?! They're my dry-swimmers!" Berry was getting closer, but in no particular hurry in her dragging motion.

Angel tapped a chin thoughtfully a moment before it ran a few claws through its headfur and looked at Indigo meaninfully.

"You want me to groom you?"

The rabbit nodded.

"Oh... alright. I'll groom you."

He held up three little fingers.

"Three times?"

He shook his head and held up the three again.

"For three days?"

He nodded.

"Alright. Grooming for three days."

"Don't listen to it! It's probably lying!"

Despite Berry's reservations, Angel bounced right past her and handed him the legs. The deal had been made.

Indigo nodded at Angel. "Please don't take these again. She needs them." He walked over to Berry and offered up the legs. "Now we can go to Harry's."

The sound of thumping brought his eyes over to Angel who was glaring at him. "Or... I can start the first grooming and go to Harry afterwards?"

The rabbit nodded.

Berry rose up, once again endowed with four legs. She looked ready to tell the rabbit off, but swallowed her biting commentary. Instead she looked to the big, uh... "What are you?"

"Oh!" Indigo pointed at Harry. "He's a type of land fish called a bear."

Angel thumped Indigo's side and he blinked. "Oh, um, he wants his grooming now. Do you have a..." A book was shoved in his face. "I guess you do."

Indie settled back and looked over the instructions for how to groom a rabbit. "Where do I..."

Angel was already coming back from a quick sprint with a brush and other grooming supplies.

"Oh..." Sure he owed the rabbit a favor, but at least it was efficient about it. Indie took the brush in his mouth and got to work on the little creature.

Berry watched Indigo pampering the rabbit and rolled her eyes before looking to Harry. "So, Harry was it? Nice to meet you?"

He grunted in what she hoped was a friendly way and offered a paw towards her. She returned the gesture with a hoof and they shook on it. "I guess I can talk to land fish too."

Indie giggled a little. He wasn't watching, but he could hear well enough. "Harry's nice, and is good to ponies. He doesn't count."

Berry stuck out her tongue. "Then which land fish do count?" She strolled up beside Indie. "Does the yellow one count?"

Indigo primped and fussed over his client's fur quietly a moment. "Who? Fluttershy? She's a land pony, not a fish."

Berry grumbled softly, "I bet she kisses like one..."

"What?"

"Indie, we saw you."

"Saw me what?" Indigo tilted his head at Berry, only for a swift kick to return his attention to Angel's needs.

Berry frowned down at the small land fish, but she had learned it was too tricky to underestimate. "We saw you with Fluttershy, K-kissing..."

Indigo went a deep red as he worked. "What?! We did not! Why does everypony think I'm after Fluttershy?" He grumbled to himself as he worked, until a thought struck him. "We?"

It was Berry's turn to darken as she realized she said more than she should. "Um..."

"Who's with you?" Indigo looked around for a moment before a rabbit's foot reminded him he was in the middle of a job.

"Nopony..." Berry glanced away. "I kinda took Cherry with me."

Indigo paled, the brush falling from his jaws. "Did she think... that too?"

Berry pointed a hoof at Indigo. "Think it? I know what I saw! She did too."

"W-what... did she do?"

Detecting he wasn't getting anywhere and looking good enough, Angel departed, likely to bother Indigo later.

"She went back to her train." Berry rolled her eyes. "She may be willing to give up on-- Where are you going?"

Indigo scrambled to his hooves and looked ready to flee. "I have to--"

Berry moved in front of him. "We're talking. It's rude to run off."

Indigo stammered a moment before he nodded. "You're... right... Fine, tell Cherry that nothing happened."

Berry raised a brow high. "You expect me to just lie to my rival?"

"It's the truth!" Indigo screamed it much louder than he intended. Harry grunted in annoyance.

Berry blinked softly. "Do you mean it?"

"Yes... By the waves, yes!" Indigo looked up at Berry with tears threatening to spill. "I'm sorry, but we didn't do anything! We made lunch for each other, that's it, now... I promised Harry we would visit his house, alright? Please tell Cherry."

Berry muttered something that sounded like agreement, but Indigo was already leaving. Walking alongside Harry, he vanished into the forest.

She crashed to the ground, stunned. The rabbit was there, looking at her like it was just so... "Laugh it up..."

She'd really hurt him, and her, both of them... "I have to make this right." She rose to her hooves. "This isn't the kind of fight I was looking for." She approached Fluttershy's house and knocked loudly.

A few moments later, the door opened as Fluttershy looked around nervously for the source of the noise. "Yes?"

"Sorry I thought you were stealing my coltfriend."

She blinked softly. "Oh, um, forgiven."

Berry nodded at the shy mare and got to trotting towards the train. She had two more ponies to see!

The train came into view, further along in its repairs every day. They'd recently replaced the smokestack and it was looking patchwork overall, but well-loved by their combined effort. Berry quirked a little smile as she heard Cherry working hard inside. "Cherry, come out."

"What?" Cherry peeked out the window of her train. "Oh, Berry. Is... he having fun?"

"He's visiting a large land fish." Berry hopped up onto the train, wobbling a moment before she found her balance. "He was never dating her."

"He wasn't?" Cherry tilted her head. "Not that it was any of my business or anything." She gave a sudden laugh that sounded fake even to her own ears.

Berry reached out and put a hoof on Cherry's shoulder. "He's safe."

Cherry stopped still, staring at her friend a moment before she shook her head. "I..."

"We're rivals now, right?"

She quirked a smile and pulled Berry closer. "Bitter rivals."

They gave one another friendly hugs of eternal enmity. Things had changed...

Back in the forest, Indigo walked alongside his large companion. "Do you have any girl-bear friends?"

Harry growled in the negative.

"Just as well. Girls are so confusing..."

Harry lowered a paw to pat Indigo on the head while quietly insisting he was young yet to be making decisions.

Indigo flushed furiously. A land fish was advising him?! ... Maybe it was right... He let out a long sigh. "What should I do?"

Harry answered with a wave at its home, which was a hole carved into one of the land coral's base.

Indigo approached it curiously and peered into it just to be shoved from behind. He half-slid down into the spacious room before the bear climbed in after him.

It was a big space. He saw a little container for dry power, and some stairs curling around the room upwards. For a fish's den, it was quite ornate! "This is a nice place."

Harry grunted his thanks as he lumbered to the side and sat down, then he looked at Indigo, mentioning he looked like a fish.

"I'm not a fish." Indigo looked back at his tail. "I'm to--"

Harry noted he liked fish.

"Oh that's nice."

Especially for dinner.

Indigo squeaked and backed away from Harry. "No eating friends!"

Harry eyed Indigo quietly a moment before shrugging. It wasn't a sure message, but the bear didn't seem to be hunting him. Good enough?

"You already ate half my lunch..." Indigo shook his head. "You really do eat a lot. What else do you eat, um, besides fish?"

The bear seemed to consider a moment before it rose and walked past Indigo. He turned and followed the large creature outside, where it pointed to a dangling... thing, growling that it really liked the sweet stuff inside.

"Why don't you take it?"

The bear pointed up at it again. It was far too high for him to reach.

Indigo considered the situation a moment, then noticed the dangling thing wasn't alone. It had little things buzzing around it. Curious! Indigo wandered over towards it and called up to the small insects, "Hello! May I talk with you?"

One came down to his level and asked him what he wanted.

"Could I have some of the sweet stuff up there?" Indigo pointed up at the curious object.

The insect declined with an angry sound and a buzzing of its wings, with a threat to sting Indigo if he tried to get any.

Harry shrugged as if he were not expecting anything other than that.

Author's Note

The romance, it progressed! Was this a good progression? Even those involved aren't sure.

45 - Episode 8, Drier Dry

The train rumbled softly beneath their hooves as they sat on the wide cushioned chair that they were offered. Applejack smiled at all three of them. "Ah'm glad ya came with me. Now, ah know there ain't a lot of water where we're headed, but there's plenty else to see."

Indigo perked an ear as he glanced outside. The Dry was looking drier by the mile as they went. Coral gave up and there were only a few small bushes to punctuate things. It was truly... dry... "You say ponies live out here?"

Berry shook her head. "I don't see how they can survive."

Cherry looked the most optimistic of the three. "The land ponies are nothing if not clever. They probably bring water with them."

Applejack directed a hoof at Cherry. "Got it in one. We also make sure to collect all the rain water when it comes down. Ah mean, it does rain, just not often."

Berry let out a sigh of relief. "They won't mind if we drink then?"

"Shoot 'course not." Applejack shook her head. "'Course, gettin' a pool together might be a little more tricky... Y'all will be fine without fer a few days, right?"

Indigo put a hoof behind his head. "If we have to, sure. We won't, you know, dry up and blow away so long as we can drink."

Cherry made a little face. "Parts of us dry up. We'll make it though." She tilted her head. "They take baths, right?"

Applejack seemed confused at the question. "Reckon they do or they'd put out a powerful stink."

Berry brightened. "Then we'll just take nice long baths." She nodded to the other two. "A little soak will keep us going just fine. So what made you bring us right now?"

Applejack turned a hoof frog-side up. "Well, ya see, mah family wants my opinion on some of the new farmin' techniques they done figured out. They trust me to give an honest opinion, and ah know my apples plenty good."

Indigo tilted his head. "They grow apples?" He pointed out the window. "Out here of all places?" He shook his head back and forth. "How?"

Cherry shrugged a little. "They must use a lot of their water for it. That has to be a huge chore."

Applejack nodded at Cherry. "It is, and ah reckon that has somethin' to do with what they're hankerin' ta show me, so ah'm looking forward t' seein' it."

Berry raised a brow. "You didn't have to bring us to see this. Especially not so far away... what's your real reason?"

Applejack suddenly looked nervous. "What?! No! Ah..."

Cherry looked at Berry with a frown. "Be nice to Applejack! She's been a good fri--"

"No..." Applejack heaved a sigh. "Ah shouldn't even try... Look, Twilight done figured a little trip wit' me would get you out of the way for just long enough."

Indigo glanced from the mares at his side to looking at Applejack directly. "Why did she want us out of the way? Have we been bad guests?"

"No no no!" Applejack waved her hooves frantically. "We're mighty pleased ta have ya'll as guests, ah promise. She just... wanted to move that big train ya got goin' on."

Cherry and Berry both went slack jawed together. Cherry leaned forward and struck the cushion with a hoof with enough force and bad aim that she almost threw herself from the seat. "Where is she putting it?!"

Applejack raised her hooves in a placating motion. "Easy there, easy. She didn't do a lick of harm to it, ah swear. She's just moving it a little. She didn't like it quite so close to her castle so she's having it moved away just a tiny bit." She put her hooves close together. "You'll hardly notice the difference."

Indigo sided with Applejack on this one. "She wouldn't hurt your train. Let's have faith in Twilight."

Berry let out a loud snort. "Right... faith... She's not a bad dry pony, after all. If she wants to move the train, I guess..."

"It's alright," finished Cherry, nodding before she slipped down to her hooves. "We have a long time before we arrive?"

Applejack let out a little breath as the tense moment passed. "We got plenty of time left. We'll have dinner in the dining car later, then catch some sleep. By the time we wake up, we should be there."

Cherry nodded as she wandered away from the others. She went to see that 'dining car'. She wasn't sure what made it a 'car', but there were dry ponies drinking and eating things. They talked with one another in friendly tones and seemed to be having a good enough time.

"Lost?"

She turned to see a conductor smiling at her. "Sorry if I startled you, ma'am. You just looked lost, is all."

Cherry bobbed her head. "Not really lost, per se, just looking around. This is the dining car, right?"

"Sure is. If you don't mind the question, though I figure you get asked it a lot, but what sort of pony are you?" He gestured over her. "You look like a fish out of water, if you don't mind the pun."

Cherry smiled a little. It was a bad joke, but puns tended to be. "I'm not a fish. You can see me breathing just fine." She took a deep breath of the air as if to demonstrate. "My name is Cherry. What's your name?"

"Oh, uh. I... shouldn't be making friendly with the passengers... I'm on duty."

Cherry tilted her head. "Are you a guard of the train?"

He blinked at that. "That's not a completely wrong way of putting it. Nice to meet you, Cherry. If we ever meet off the train, I'll be glad for the chance. But since we're here, what can I help you with today?"

She considered that a moment then pointed at the collection of bottles behind the bar. "Is that water? Why so many bottles?" If they were all the same bottle, one label would be more than enough, so...

"Nope." He shook his head. "Ah mean, suppose you could call it a sort of water. Fire water."

Cherry tilted her head. "Fire and water are... opposites. Wait!" She sat and clopped her forehooves. "This is a train. Do they have steam?"

He laughed in a good natured way. "Oh no, not quite that hot. They're drinks, I assure you, just don't drink too much or you'll make a foal of yourself."

"There you are." Indigo approached from behind Cherry, Berry just steps behind him, "We were looking for you."

Berry nodded. "We just wanted to be sure you were alright."

Applejack took up the rear. "Well, since we're all here, we might as well get ourselves a bit to eat."

The conductor nodded at the group and moved on. "Have a nice day."

Cherry watched him go before pointing at the bottles as she looked to Applejack. "He said those drinks will make you look foalish. Why?"

Applejack blinked. "Ya don't know? Guess ya don't. Well..." Should she? A little couldn't hurt. "Have a seat all of ya, and we'll try some." She wandered up to the bar and clopped it softly. "Ah'll take some cider. Hard, but sweetest ya got." With the bottle secured, she approached the trio of sea ponies and set the bottle down on the table. "Now he wasn't lying. Ya go drinkin' this fast, it can really be packin' a punch. It makes ya drunk."

Indigo tilted his head. "We'll drink it before it drinks us."

Berry nodded. "I'm not afraid of some odd water."

Applejack slapped her head with a clop of a hoof. "It ain't like that. The stuff in the uh, water, see, ya drink it and it makes ya a bit relaxed, and ya might do stupid things since ya don't think things so scary while yer slowed down. Get it?" They didn't. She could see that they didn't at all. She pulled the bottle closer. "Right. One little sip for ya three and we see how ya handle it before we continue." She carefully tipped the bottle over to form three shot glasses worth of cider. "Enjoy."

All three sea ponies reached for the glass closest to them and pulled the mystery fluid closer. It smelled sweet. Of apples, really, with a little hint of something else.

Berry fixed her gaze with Cherry. "I bet I can drink it before you."

Cherry responded by suddenly lifting her glass and gulping the muzzle-full of liquid, defeating Berry.

While Berry stammered, Indigo lifted his own glass carefully and nursed at the cider, tasting and trying to decipher its mysteries. "I think I like it."

Now the last to try, Berry stuck out her tongue and downed her portion. "Mmm, it isn't bad at all. May I have some more?" She put her glass down and pushed it towards Applejack, guardian of the cider. "I'm still thirsty."

Applejack set out a carafe of actual water. "Yer welcome ta drink some normal water while ya wait, but I won't be givin' anymore fer a little while. Let's see how ya handle what ya got. Glad y'all like it at least."

All three eyed the water and licked their lips. They were thirsty, but they wanted the new stuff... Three pairs of eyes settled on the bar of tasty beverage. Applejack only held the bottle closer, as if to protect it. "How ya feelin'?"

Cherry shrugged softly. "I feel thirsty, but fine. I'm not slow or anything like you said."

Berry nodded in agreement. "I feel fine."

"Nothing here," offered Indigo. "Are you sure we drank it right?" As if there were other ways to do so.

Applejack let out a little sigh as she began pouring another small portion. "Ya barely got any in ya yet. Look, here. I jus' need y'all to believe me, alright? Ah ain't doin' this ta be mean or nothin'."

Down their gullets it went. It still tasted of apples. Liquid apples, which was funny. Indigo pointed at the bottle in Applejack's protective hooves. "You should have some too."

"What?"

"It's not fair that we three get to have some and you don't get any." Indigo nodded, and soon the girls were supporting him and all three were looking at her instead of the bottle.

"Uh..." It's not like she couldn't handle a little cider. Heck, she'd partaken plenty of times! Why not? She poured herself a big glass and swigged it right down in front of the wide eyes of her wards. All too quickly, the cider in the glass was reduced to just a glass and Applejack sat back with a loud and happy sigh. She felt the warmth spread through her of a good drink. Perhaps she'd drunk a scootch too fast... nah... she could handle it...

Author's Note

And then nothing awkward happened at all!

Would that be the typo?

46 - Arriving Wet

Applejack staggered off the train, just to collapse at her cousin's hooves.

Braeburn blinked in surprise, looking down at his downed kin. "Welcome to Appleloosa?" It lacked some bit of his usual exuberance. "Are y'all alright?"

The three seaponies disembarked after her. Indigo waved at Braeburn enthusiastically. "Hello! Are you Applejack's friend?"

"Her cousin, to be specific." His eyes moved over the three. "Are y'all the sea ponies she was all in a tizzy about?"

Applejack suddenly made an attempt to find her hooves. "Ah'm fine!"

Berry put a hoof on one of Applejack's shoulders. "She drank too much cider."

Braeburn's eyes widened with understanding. "Shoot cous', if'n ya were going to throw that kinda party, shoulda warned me." He threw a leg over her midsection and helped support her. "This way."

"Ah don't need... help." Applejack's weak complaints did little to dissuade Braeburn and she was led away from the train with the seaponies trailing behind them.

Cherry glanced at the others. "Did you see her?"

Berry nodded softly. "I think I will avoid the fire water if it makes you act quite that way."

Indigo tilted his head a little. "What we had tasted alright."

Cherry waved a hoof. "But we barely got to drink any at all! Applejack kept it!"

Indigo's head sank. "I thought getting her to drink a little would make her relax and share."

Berry patted Indigo on the pack supportively. "A clever idea, but predicting dry ponies is perilous work at the best of times."

Braeburn looked back at his new, if temporary, wards. "Sorry fer welcomin' y'all this way. Appleloosa has a lot more to offer than just cider on the ride over."

Cherry smiled brightly. "We look forward to seeing it all." Her eyes wandered across the... dry... Was there a word for more dry than dry? It was as if The Dry had focused its power there. It was warm and there wasn't even any humidity in the air. It was dry. "How do you survive in this?"

"Ah shoot, it ain't too bad. Let's get Applejack to someplace safe and ah can show y'all around." Braeburn led Applejack and the others to his modest abode and soon had the cranky Applejack tucked into a bed with a bucket set beside her, just in case. "Now, you drink up plenty of this here water, or yer gonna regret it when you wake up."

The seaponies were baffled even as Applejack accepted the drink. Berry rolled a hoof. "Why does she need more water?"

Braeburn looked uncertain a moment. "Well, um, when a pony goes drinkin' down the sauce, they need water, or they'll get a mighty powerful headache for the trouble. The more water, the better."

Indigo gasped loudly. "It really is fire water! It's drying her out from the inside!"

The other two sea mares looking disturbed at the idea. Cherry shook her head. "Nope, joining Berry. No more fire water for me. I don't want to be dry, inside or out, but especially inside."

Braeburn tilted his head a little. "Well, ah ain't gonna encourage it, but drinkin' in moderation ain't dangerous." He stuck his tongue out at the slumbering Applejack. "The key is moderation... Now, let's see the sights!" He trotted right past them, eager to lead the way.

The seaponies fell in behind him. Cherry approached closest. "Why'd you make a town here, where it's so dry?"

"Well, some come fer the challenge of it." He nodded as he spoke, "others just like gettin' far away from it all. An' others? Well, there just wasn't enough room, so they came out to the frontier, and here we are!" He pointed out across the town. "We got all the comforts right here. Sure it can get powerful hot and dry at times, but ya get used to it."

Indigo raised a brow at the claim. "I doubt that..."

Berry nodded. "Perhaps a dry pony... What did you want to show Applejack?"

"Huh? Oh!" He turned towards the orchard and started trotting towards it. "Well she's in no shape t' see it, but ah suppose showing ya three won't hurt nothin'. Ya ready to be amazed?" He gestured with great dramatic flare at a lever. "Ta daaa!"

Cherry tilted her head faintly. "It's a very nice... what does it do?" It looked like one of the many control levers for her train, but there it was, in the ground. Surely there were no trains nearby, unless... "Is there a machine underground?"

Braeburn smiled brightly. "Guessed it in one. This'll let us water the trees even more effective than before. Watch!" He pulled the lever and metal snakes burst up through the dry coral reef before they began to wave back and forth, splashing water everywhere with their gyrations as if they were made of water.

Indigo swept from left to right before he charged ahead, right into the path of the sprinkling water. He began to laugh and call out with joy as he played in the plentiful water.

At least until Braeburn turned it off. "We can water the entire orchard at once, and keep the water from--"

"Turn it back on!" Indigo bounced up and down.

Braeburn shook his head. "No can do. We save water not having it come above ground until the watering happens, but that doesn't mean we can just go and waste it all."

"It isn't wasting it..." murmured Indigo defeatedly.

Braeburn reached out to pat the sea stallion on the head. "Don't you worry, when Applejack's woke up and it's waterin' time, we'll be sure yer there t' enjoy the whole thing."

Berry cleared her throat softly. "I'm not going to be... as excited, but if you wouldn't mind?"

"Ah'll be sure yer all there t' enjoy the water," he assured. "Now let's see the rest of the town. Ah imagine y'want to see more than a fancy sprinkler."

Cherry stepped forward slowly. "Actually... I want to get a closer look at it. Is it alright if I take it apart?"

Braeburn's eyes widen. "What? Why... No! We paid no few bits t' get this here equipment."

Berry slid in against the stallion. "She may not look it, but my rival's a real pro when it comes to mechanical things."

"Yeah?"

Indigo nodded quickly. "If you let her look at it, she'll find anything wrong with it really fast."

Cherry smiled brightly as she pointed to the spot under the lever. "I'll throw in a free oiling while I'm in there. Machines like to be freshly oiled and greased. Please... It'll work at least as good as when you got it, promise."

Berry thumped her chest. "If she doesn't put it together right, I will. Together, there's no way we can fail."

Brae looked ready to continue the arguing then Indigo slid up against his side. "Besides, we don't want to waste time arguing when you could be showing us your nice city."

"C-city? It's not quite that big. Come this way." He was distracted, enough to not say no again, which sounded like a yes to their devious ears. All three followed him with happy smiles while the mares considered how exactly they would access the guts of the vast machine instead of listening much to what Braeburn was saying about their pony-drawn carriages or even their watering holes, especially since the latter seemed to serve fire water from the look of it.

It all sounded interesting in a vague and detached way, but they had already set their hearts on another pursuit. It wasn't until the tour was over and they were released to Applejack's care, snoozing as she was, that he finally gave them a moment alone.

Cherry looked over at the sleeping Applejack. "Think she'll be alright?"

Berry pointed at Cherry. "After you make her water machine even better before she even sets eyes on it? She'll be happier than she even knows what to do with."

Indigo approached the unconscious farmer and looked her over. "She's just sleeping." He spied the half-full pitcher of water and nodded. "She must have woke up. Dry ponies don't drink in their sleep, right?"

Confident that their friend was well on the way to recovery, they spilled free of the house and made their way ever-so-stealthily towards the apple orchard.

Dry ponies may have noticed them going, with their attempt to be stealthy just drawing more attention to their unusual appearances, but they didn't stop them from creeping from building to building or making mad dashes for cover. Maybe it was just a sea critter game of some sort?

They approached the orchard, cresting the small hill that barred the way with three revealed smiles. That day they would do mechanics! With a giddy little giggle, Cherry was first there to arrive at the lever. "Let's see where this connects and that should lead to the main body of this machine."

Berry nodded in agreement. "It has to, or it wouldn't control it."

Lacking a shovel, all three got to pawing at the earth with their hooves and digging under the lever carefully. Slowly they unearthed along the pipe that ran downwards, seeking the rest of the strange machine and its water controlling parts.

What could go wrong?

"Found it!" proclaimed Berry proudly as she started digging to the side, slowly revealing a large tank, dozens on dozens of spreading tubes, and the main body of the mechanism that brought it all together.

All three gave an appreciative and collective Ooo at the machinery at work. It was no train, but it was worthy of consideration. Cherry only looked more eager to begin. "I can work with this..." It wasn't a train. If she could figure out a train, the water machine would be easy by comparison.

Author's Note

What could possibly go wrong as they dig up the sprinkler system and give it a thorough looking-over and casual dismantling.

They even promised a free greasing, and that was no typo!

47 - Watcha Doin'?

In the hole of their digging, the three seaponies worked together to slowly disassemble the mighty water pump. After a near catastrophe before they managed to get the water tank detached without an explosion or burst, they were practically buried in a pile of pipes as Cherry and Berry went over what went to what.

“Watcha doing?” a young, male inquisitive voice called down into the hole from the edge. A pair of coltish heads looked down at them curiously, eyes wide even by foal standards. Blue mane topped the brownish-orangish furred head of the young unicorn.

Indigo looked up to meet the fellow st-- er, colt's eyes. "Oh, um, hi there." He stood up amidst the pipes, carefully avoiding stepping on any of them. "Nothing bad…" Maybe what they shouldn't be doing, but nothing bad!

The second colt, a pudgy blue unicorn with brown mane nodded to Indigo. “Great! Snails an’ I are always up for nothing bad. Can we join you?”

Indigo tilted his head at the two. "Oh uh." He didn't know the infamous duo, least of all so far removed as Appleloosa. "S-sure, but be careful. We can't break anything." He actually made to climb out of the hole.

Cherry gave a sudden cry of celebration. "Look, right here!" She pointed to some point of the massively complex machine.

Berry nodded in grave agreement. "Very astute, just as I would expect from a rival of mine, now, I see how I would fix it. How would you go about it, hmm?"

“A very good question, eh?” the taller unicorn said slowly as he slid his way down toward the bottom of the hole to join them, looking over the machinery thoughtfully.

Bonk, Indigo collided with a hoof on the way up and was sent skidding down into the pile of pipes, his escape ruined. "Oh, uh…" That was a popular saying for him just then. "Well I guess that works. Do you know anything about machine?"

“Machines? Do we ever!” the stouter unicorn asked. “But uh, what are you three up to with this one?” His cutie mark displayed a machine, a pair of handled blades attached together. His friend’s image of a snail was less encouraging.

Cherry pointed at the machine. "This is a water machine, for making water spray over the dry coral so apples can grow big and wet." She licked over her lips with obvious appreciation for the art of apples. "But I think the regulator is clogged, and the way it's made up, it'll clog itself not long after it's turned on each time… It'll never flow strong enough."

Indigo noticed the machine mark and smiled brightly. "Oh, Cherry, Berry, look! He's a machine pony too!"

“Yep, yep, I can see that,” Snips confirmed. “So what we need is a bigger one so more water can go through, right?”

Berry tilted her head. "I considered that very solution." She sounded impressed.

Cherry thrust a hoof up. "But what if it's that big on purpose? We can't rule that out. The clog isn't right, for sure, but the size?"

“I’m sure they just didn’t have a bigger one handy at the time,” Snails backed up his buddy with a small grin.

“Can you make a new one?” Snips asked, looking at the seaponies curiously, particularly eyeing their shiny legs.

Berry nodded at Snips. "He's full of good ideas. Hey, you two know if they have a, hm, what was it.. A smithy? We'll get a new one made."

Cherry's snout wrinkled with worry. "That'll take too long." Not like they didn't ask permission to do what they were doing or anything…

“Oh? Is this a rush job, wink wink?” Snips inquired, making the gesture as he spoke it aloud. “Why didn’t you say so?”

“We can work fast,” Snails claimed slowly.

Indigo glanced between the two new ponies. What luck that they happened by! "That's really nice of you."

Cherry was more utilitarian, gently working off the trouble piece and hoofing it right over to Snips. "Here you are. If you can make one that doesn't clog up so easily, that'd be good."

Berry held up her hooves together. "A liiiitle bigger won't hurt."

A more savvy pony might find the two colts’ giggling a bit ominous as they trotted away with the piece to work on it out of sight.

Indigo watched them go, even helping them out of the hole before he slid down to rejoin his friends. "We are blessed by the waves today."

Cherry nodded. "Now we just have to wait." She crossed her hooves and soon all three of them were waiting impatiently for the fixed or replacement piece.

True to their word, the unicorns returned in under an hour, amazing by smithing standards. Their new and improved regulator seemed remarkably like the old one but a bit bigger and lacking anything non-metal. “Here you go, this should do the trick just fine,” Snips assured as he floated it down to the sea ponies.

Cherry spun it around on her hoof, it looked… alright. So in it went. She screwed it in tight and got right to placing the other parts where they belonged. "They'll be so happy when it works the way it should, all tuned up and ready to go!"

Berry gave a hoof in the reassembly project, grabbing pipes and turning them against the others as she put them together. "And they never have to even know we were here." Oops! "Not that we're not, um, allowed… here…"

“Oh, gotcha, none of us was ever here,” Snips confirmed. “See you around!” With that he and his companion took their leave, enjoying the head start of being at the top of the hole.

It took some time before the others emerged. With the tank re-attached and all the pipes in place, the machine was as ready as ever it would be for the moment. They didn't flee right away but got to burying the hole they had made in hurried shoves. When their work had been reduced to a mild pile of loose earth, they let out a communal sigh.

They hadn't been caught. Surely nothing but good things had been accomplished that day.

Applejack sat up in bed and pressed a hoof to her skull. Despite the quiet in the room, it felt like her brain wanted to escape her body. She took slow breaths, controlling her nausea and getting her hooves to the ground before she started looking around. The pitcher of room-temperature water was soon dealt with. "Thanks 'Cous.."

Her voice was cracked and broken and she winced on hearing it. What was she thinking overdoing it on alcohol like that? On an empty stomach? On a warm day? It's like she was trying to get herself drunk.

Well… drunk she managed. At least she remembered the events leading up to it. She had kept the bottle away from all of them. All… "Where are they?" She looked around and peeked under the bed as if they might be there. They were nowhere to be seen. "That can't be good…" She didn't see Braeburn either, so maybe they were with him? That wouldn't be so bad… Except… She grimaced a little bit, remembering the last time he was trusted to look after somepony.

"Brae?" Calling for him did no favors for her headache. She gave up on it and approached the door. She counted to three before allowing the full bearing of the sun to gaze upon her. It was like Celestia herself disapproved of her shoddy behavior and was pounding it into her head. "Sorry…"

Not that the sunbeams cared, but she felt a tiny bit better for saying it. She closed the door behind herself and squinted around the town. Where would Braeburn be… She had a good idea where to ask and she mosied towards the sheriff's office at a sedate pace.

Applejack perked up as a voice called to her across the street. A female family member came trotting towards her. "Landsake girl, you look like you rode alon' the underside of the train to get here. You alright?"

She smiled a little. "Been better, but ah'll be alright. Have ya seen Braeburn or a trio of sea ponies?"

"You mean the critters with fishes for back ends?"

"That's the one." Applejack was in no mood to argue specifics. "You seen 'em?"

"They were playin' some kinda game earlier." She pointed across the street. "Half the town saw them skulkin' along, gigglin' and pretendin' to be all sneaky like."

Applejack applied her hoof to her forehead before realizing that the motion was an orchestra of discomfort. "Ugh, which way'd they git to?"

She pointed the way. "That way, towards the orchard. Why?"

"Hopefully nuthin', but ah'm just playin' it safe. Ah'd best get moseying on. You take care, alright?"

She tipped a hat she wasn't wearing. "Sure thing, cousin. You best take care of yourself better than you have been or Ah'll tell granny about it."

That was no idle threat, and Applejack quirked a smile. "Ah promise it won't happen again." She trotted away from her kin, as much as to get some more quiet as she was eager to put her eyes on the missing sea ponies and be sure nothing bad had happened while she was passed out.

As she staggered down the road, a face that brought hope to her came into view. There was Braeburn! She aimed for him with a tired smile. "Hey, cous'! Where are the sea ponies?"

He perked an ear at her before turning a bit red. "Ah left them with you."

Applejack blinked softly. "When? While ah was asleep?"

"W-well, yeah kin--"

"And you thought that was a good idea?" Applejack felt her headache growing more intense and held her skull as if to compress it against the bulging it felt like it was trying to do. "Look, fine, where are they now?" She silently made a note that Braeburn was about the worst foalsitter Equestria would know, only to realize it was her fault he had the choice at all. "And don't let me touch a drop of cider." Ugh, she was normally much better with alcohol. One time! Why'd it have to be while she was in charge of a bunch of young ponies?

"W-well, Ah..." He saw two colts happening past and took a chance. "Say, have ya seen any of three sea ponies 'round here? Kinda hard ta miss."

"Nope," both replied with eerie synchronicity.

"We sure haven't seen them."

"Uhh, nope. They didn't do a thing near that funny stick in the ground."

Applejack raised a brow at the two, then looked at Braeburn. "Kindly tell me this 'stick in the ground' ain't nothing important ah should be worried fer?"

Too late. Braeburn was galloping away towards the orchard to see what had been done to his precious new machine.

That he saw nothing obvious as he got closer did nothing to ease his worries even a little. He wasn't blind, and could see someone had been... digging? "Shoot... Ah done told them t' leave it alone..."

Author's Note

This chapter was partially done with Istaran, who played Snips and Snails in the first half of the chapter. Thanks!

That means I get to blame all the typos on him, yay!

48 - Insecure Footing

Applejack caught up with Braeburn, the excitment erasing her headache, for just a moment. "What is it?" She saw nothing out of place really.

Braeburn leveled a hoof at the lever. "They did... somethin'. Somethin' with the water system."

Applejack looked between the lever and her cousin. "So, what'd they do?"

Braeburn put a hoof behind his head. "Can't reckon... Suppose there's really only one way t' find out." He put a hoof on the lever. "Be ready for anything."

He pulled it into position. Beneath them there was the soft rumble of the machine coming to life. The sprinklers popped up around the orchard and began spraying the trees, but Braeburn quickly turned it off, lest the water cause damage in the mid-day sun. "Ah don' get it..."

Applejack tilted her head. "Well, they are pretty talented when it comes to mechanics... Maybe they did ya a solid?"

"Maybe." Braeburn didn't sound entirely convinced. "Well, it works. Ah can't really complain." He shrugged softly. "Shoot, uh, here she is! This is what ah called ya out here to see, cous'!" He gestured dramatically to the lever that had already lost most of its magic. "Ta da?"

"It's mighty fine." Applejack nodded agreeably. "But if ah don't lay down and wait out this headache, ah may do somethin' crazy." She turned back to Braeburn's place. "You see the sea ponies, make sure they don't get into no further trouble, ya hear?" He saluted sharply, which was good enough to send Applejack fleeing back towards bed.

Braeburn let out a little sigh. "Somethin' just ain't right..." He nudged the lever, but it had no answers to give. "Ah ha! This evenin'. Ah'll giver 'er a real test drive when it's safe and we'll make sure everythin's working right." He nodded, seemingly satisfied, and went off in search of the missing sea ponies. "Now where'd they get off ta?"

Despite their recently learned fear of fire water, the tavern seemed like one of the friendliest places to be.

"Another water please!" Indigo waved at the water master eagerly.

The water bearer approached them, placing a fresh glass before each of the ponies. "Ya know, jus' because we offer free water, we expect ponies ta buy somethin' else while they're here..."

Cherry tilted her head. "Oh, sorry. Hmm, what do you have besides the fire water?"

She produced a small menu and handed it to each. "Most don't come here for a proper meal, but if'n ya want my advice, try the taters n' cheese, and avoid the tomaters."

It was a curious way of referring to both of them, but they didn't already know better. Berry nodded. "We'll try that, what you said. One plate we can share please."

"Comin' right up." She left the menus there, in case they saw something else they wanted, and wandered back to the bar to deliver the order.

Cherry clopped her forehooves together. "Together was a productive day! We fixed their engine and got to look around their town."

Indigo nodded, but his eyes were drawn to a pony playing a piano. The big hooves playing across the little keys seemed like a sort of magic. "I wonder if I can try that..." He slid down to his hooves. "I'm going to ask."

He approached the pony dressed in what looked like animal skin. Indigo nodded at the player, then the piano. "Can I try?"

The player looked confused. "Ya ever tickle the ivories?"

Indigo blinked with confusion. "No, I wanted to play that." He thrust a hoof at the piano. Percussion instruments didn't work so well in the water, or at least differently, so the sound of it sparked his curiosity fiercely. "May I?"

"Well, if ya promise to be careful-like." He slid to the left a little on his bench. "Hop up, little pardner. Ah'll show you the basics."

Indigo bounced right into the cleared position, smiling widely. "That's very nice of you!" He looked over the multitude of keys and at his two hooves and he wondered how to make the lovely sound the player had managed.

"Don't look at it like that. Ah can see yer already gettin' lost." He put a leg around Indigo and directed one of the sea pony's legs into position. "Jus' focus on what needs to be hit, n' stop worryin' so hard. So here's the basic..."

Together they played a slowly increasing notes as he led the smaller stallion along the chords of a piano. "Ya learn this, ya'see, and all the songs become easier. It's like the alphabet of th' piano." He led Indigo back down and up again. "Just takes practice to get it down, get it?"

He released his grip on Indigo and let him free to try his hooves at it on his own. Indie clopped his hooves with giddy expectation before he brought down his hooves in a jangled mess of notes. He blushed and giggled nervously before he got the chords a bit better and began traveling up and down the piano. He wasn't playing a specific song, but he was making music! He was making sounds that didn't hurt to hear, and he felt his heart swell with pride.

Berry clopped her hooves appreciatively. While Indigo had been busy practicing, she parked herself beside the two and was watching the entire lesson with rapt attention. "You're already good, Indie!"

"Y'aint bad, but y'aint good, yet. It takes practice." The player gently nudged Indie's hooves aside and starting playing a little melody. "Ya also want to learn how ta read music eventual-like. 'fraid ah ain't offerin' full lessons."

Indie's eyes widened. "You can write music?"

Berry nudged him. "Silly. That's not a, er, not just a dry pony thing. You never played an instrument before?"

"N-no?" Indie's ears went back against his head as he hopped down from the bench. "Have you?"

"Well, no..." confessed Berry. "But I've seen music written down before, with notes and bars and..." She saw the pianist had some sheet music ahead of him, so she pointed at it. "Like that."

Cherry called out to them, "Food's here!"

Set in a large tray were enough fried potatoes generously drizzled with cheese for all three to enjoy. It was placed right in the middle of the table where reaching it would be easy, no matter where they sat.

Indie and Berry returned quickly, hopping up and sniffing at the food. It didn't smell like meat, but it smelled good, whatever it was. Cherry already had a bit, trailing a long and gooey bit back towards the plate. "Here goes nothing..." She popped it into her mouth and chewed eagerly. It was seasoned with... something, and it was gooey and tasty, and mmm. "I like it!"

Her endorsement quickly won over the other two.

Braeburn opened the door, entering the building and looking around before he started. There they were, devouring the plate of food like a bunch of hungry sharks. They had their faces right in the plate and were tearing into the cheesy potatoes with zeal and gusto, making a bit of a mess as they tore into the food voraciously. As cute as they were, they were sea predators like any other, and the meal before them was their victim, its gooey orange guts sent flying as they tore into it and filled their bellies.

He wandered closer slowly, shyly. Would they turn on him after they finished eviscerating the potatoes? "Uh. feelin' hungry?"

Cherry looked up, face covered in gooey cheese. "Not anymore. Oh hello!" She recognized Brae and waved energetically at him. "You ever try this?" She picked up a lone shred of tater that had avoided the feeding frenzy and offered it to him.

"Oh, uh, thanks, but ah'm on a diet." He gave a little nervous laugh before he nodded. "If y'all are full, we should be headin' back."

Cherry put down a collection of bits on the table to cover their meal. Berry tilted her head at Brae as she wiped her snout clean of their food. "Where are we going back to?"

"I can play!"

Brae blinked at Indie's excited exclamation. "Oh, uh, good fer ya pardner. What can ya play?"

Indie pointed with authority at the piano across the way. "Want to see?"

Brae quirked a smile. Playing a piano seemed fairly safe as things went. "Sure thing. Show me what ya got."

Hopping down from his bench, Indie approached the player there with a hopeful smile. Fortunately, the player was good-natured about it and allowed Indie back up before the piano. He cleared his throat softly as if he were going to sing, then brought down his hooves onto the keys in a slow and methodical playing of the chords.

Cherry tilted her head. "Is that what you were doing? You're good at it."

"Isn't he?" Berry let out a little sign of fancy. "I'd say it's his talent if we didn't already know what that was."

Indie blushed dark and started to play freely. He didn't play a specific song. It wasn't as if he knew how to read or had any songs taught to him, but he let his hooves dance where they wanted, and a song emerged that was a light-hearted and jovial as he felt. He let his feelings be portrayed by the instrument and found joy in how it displayed from within the strange instrument.

The player raised a brow. "Are ya just ticklin' yer fancy along with the ivories or is that a song from somewhere?"

Indie slid to the ground and bowed to the player. "I was just playing. Thank you for letting me borrow your, uh... what's it called?"

He blinked down at the sea pony. "Ya never heard a piano before? Huh..."

"Piano..." He turned to the other sea ponies. "If you get a train, I can ask for a piano, right?"

Cherry raised a brow down at Indie. "We can ask, but I wouldn't be sure of it."

"But you got a whole train!"

Braeburn looked between the seaponies with building confusion. "Ya have a whole... train? We talkin' a model train?"

Berry shook her head. "Oh no. We have a train, a real train." She spread her hooves far apart. "We're still working to make it work again."

A broken down train didn't challenge Braeburn's sense of scale quite as bad and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Well, that was some mighty fine playin'. If'n ya ask Princess Twilight, maybe she can arrange something. Ah can't speak fer her or nothin'."

He led the trio out of the tavern. "Now let's get back t' Applejack. She's come around and--"

Cherry leaned in closer. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine, promise." Brae smiled. "She just needs to sleep off what she drank before."

Author's Note

Brae's big test waits until the evening. In the meantime, cheddar fries and pianos! What a perfect combination!

49 - End Episode - Dry Power in the Air, Sea Beneath

Braeburn led the trio back to Applejack's side and let them in, but didn't follow. "Ah got something t' check on, but y'all gonna stay here, right? No leaving without Applejack this time. Promise."

Cherry sighed softly but settled down. Though not nominated for the position, her concession seemed to echo in the others shortly. "We promise."

He nodded. "Good. Ah'll see y'all later." He closed the door behind him and they could hear his hooves retreating away from the house.

They didn't have to wait long at least. Just as the boredom became unbearable, Applejack stirred with a mumble. The headache of before had settled and she felt renewed, at least compared to before. She opened her eyes to see three other pairs gazing down at her. She blinked before memory caught up with her. "Ah, good. Yer all back." She sat up slowly as to not bonk heads on the way. "We done missed the whole first day."

Indigo pointed back at the tavern they had been in. "I learned how to play an instrument."

Applejack blinked at the news. "Shoot, it takes longer than one afternoon ta learn how ta play proper."

He pouted a little but became all the more set. "I did! I didn't say I was super good at it, but I did..."

"Easy there pardner. If ya say ya did, than ah believe ya. What instrument did ya get playin'?"

Berry inclined her head towards Indigo. "He learned how to 'tickle ivories'."

Applejack blinked with confusion before it hit her. "Oh! Shoot, ya learned how ya play a piana some?" She slid up to her hooves. "Ah wanna hear that, later. Maybe after we're back in Ponyville."

Cherry smiled brightly as she waved a hoof towards him. "Will you help convince Twilight to get him one?"

She didn't immediately shoot down her idea. "Actually... if'n ya suggested a, ya know, underwater piano. Ah bet she'd get real excited."

Indigo clopped his hooves. "I'd love to try a wet piano, but I want to try dry one too. They would sound different, wouldn't they?"

Applejack frowned a little. "Suppose that's true... Well, there's the one Pinkie used. Ah don't think anypony even touches that one no more. Bad luck they say, bunch a hooey if ya ask me. We can probably take that one." She moved for the door. "Ah hear some ruckus outside that sounds like a good time. Let's see if we can't squeeze in some good times today."

They went outside to find the sky crackling and flaring. The power of the dry was so intense that even in the evening, it made the sky explode with its might. Bright colors and loud bangs shook The Dry beneath them with intense washes of its majesty. It was at once both amazing and terrifying and sent all three seaponies scurrying for cover.

"W-wait! Don't go hidin' because of some fireworks."

Cherry peeked out from behind the barrel she had selected to hide behind. "Fire in the sky? How would that be a good idea?!"

"I don't want to be burned!" cried out Indigo as he quaked behind a post far too narrow to serve as cover.

Berry had ducked back into the house. "Tell me when it's over!"

"Shoot, it ain't nothin' to be scared of." Applejack thrust a hoof up at the multi-color display that flared brilliantly behind her. "Ponies done made it fer lookin' at and enjoyin', not hidin' from."

Indie peeked around his post, then raised his eyes as a bright explosion of yellow and blue filled the sky. "P-ponies made that?" He slowly stepped out, approaching Applejack. "They can do that?"

"Sure can." Applejack nodded confidently. "Now let's get a good spot an' enjoy it." She waved for the fillies to come along and got moving. Though they still seemed shocked, the sea ponies all followed along after her, learning of the glories of what she would call 'fire works', though they did no work besides exploding brightly and loudly? Was that work? Applejack insisted it was.

Elsewhere, Braeburn pulled the lever to get the water flowing through the orchard in a dance of undulating sprinklers and pipes that sprayed water over leaves and across roots as was requested. Everything seemed to be fine, despite the interference. Whatever the sea ponies had done, the machine seemed to be...

He turned in place and saw the area surrounding the lever had become a slurry of water and dirt. He was on an island surrounded by mud! "Consarnit!" While the machine was doing its job to pump water, it was leaking something awful. He pulled the lever back into the off position, but that didn't make the ocean he was stranded in go away, and the cool evening was doing nothing to make it go away... He was trapped.

"Help!" he called out, but the fireworks blazed overhead, threatening to drown out his attempts to call for assistance.

While most enjoyed the spectacle, Indigo raised an ear. Watching the dry power was a bit scary and so looking away from it, even if it had brilliant shades, was a nice thing. The noise he heard prompted him to do just that. Was someone calling? He started moving closer. "Someone's calling for help." He was sure of it. A pony, specifically, was shouting for help.

He broke into a gallop with the others trailing behind, including Applejack.

They arrived to find Braeburn stranded on his island, looking worried and annoyed in equal measure. "There you are! Look what you done did!" He pointed at the mess he was surrounded in. "Now ah can't move!"

Cherry trotted up without fear and sank a hoof into the muddy soil, only to lose it for a moment. The dirt had become like silt at the bottom of the sea and she was pretty sure she could navigate that. "Hold on." She squirmed free of her dry-swimmers and into the mire, even if it made a mess of her fur, and swam with the natural grace of a sea creature despite it. It slowed her progress, being partially solid, but could not stop her from quickly reaching the stranded dry pony. "Come on! We'll get you to safety."

Braeburn blushed faintly as the other seaponies quickly joined Cherry at his island, but he'd have to get muddy to get back. But what was the alternative? He let out a sigh and took off his hat, tossing it across to Applejack before he sank into the mess. The three caught him easily and carried him across before dumping him out onto The dry.

Berry nodded. "Well, there's only one part we did anything to. If there's any place to look, it'll be there. One moment."

Braeburn thrust out a hoof to stop them, but they all vanished under the mud before he could stop them. "Blast it..."

Applejack shook her head. "Look, this one thing ah'll trust them with. Let's give them a moment to figure out what's gone wrong."

"If ya say so..."

Minutes later, a lone part was tossed at the hooves of the two. Cherry pointed at it. "We had the mechanical pony make it bigger."

Applejack raised a brow. "Mechanical pony?"

Berry nodded as she shook herself free of mud. "He had a friend with a snail mark."

Applejack brought a hoof to her face. "Tell me, did the mechanical thing look like two things connected in the center like?"

Indigo bobbed his head. "That's the one."

Applejack threw her own hat down. "Consarnit! What are Snips and Snails even doin' here?"

Braeburn looked confused. "Who?"

"Nothin'... Nothin'... Just two more lost foals in need of rescuing. Look--" She pointed to the piece, covered in mud as it was. "--A'hm pretty certain yer gonna have ta replace that. There's no work those two would do to anything that ah'd trust fer a minute."

Braeburn picked up the broken part and shook the mud free of it. "Ah'll do the best ah can. Shoot. We barely got ta use it..."

Cherry sunk her head low, the others following suit. "We're really sorry we caused all this trouble. I thought we could fix it..."

Part of Braeburn wanted to be furious at the young ponies, but their sincere apology made that hard. He instead grunted. "Ah guess it'll be alright... Look, next time somepony tells ya not to do somethin', ya don't do it, alright? Especially when they's somepony that knows better."

"Yes, sir," all three echoed miserably.

Above them, the fireworks covered the town in bright colors and explosions that Applejack continued to insist were entirely harmless to them all.

Author's Note

Not every mistake results in a town-destroying explosion, alas. I came here for the booms though! Is that a typo?

50 - Episode 9, Rolling Rolling Rolling

Cherry wrenched down a lever, conjuring a soft but deep thrumming through their beloved metal beast. "Ready!" she called out to the others.

Indigo shoveled up some of the dried heat and sent it into the hungry belly of the beast. "Ready!"

Berry raised a hoof over the final lever. "And now, I, master of machines, will press the last switch."

Cherry rolled her eyes. "Go on!"

Indigo bobbed his head. "I can't take the suspense."

Berry didn't keep them waiting longer. She pressed down on the lever, forcing it down several loud ratchets before they were all roughly thrown from their hooves.

Their train had moved!

Quickly, they scrambled back to their hooves to see the ground around them was moving in response. The train was rolling without a rail. Sure, it wasn't nearly as fast as a train on a proper set of tracks would go, but they were going!

Cherry leaned out the window that had no glass to give a spirited whoop of delight. "We did it!"

Indigo leaned back and clopped his forehooves with building excitement. "Where are we gonna take it?"

Berry tapped her chin. "I had some ideas for that, but, for now, how about we park next to Twilight's tower there?" She thrust a hoof out at Twilight's big purple monument.

All three worked together to keep the metal beast under control and began piloting it towards the friendship castle.

At that castle, Spike peeked out the front door. "What's all that noise?" He looked left and right before his eyes settled on the red train coming towards him at an uncomfortable rate. "What the?" What could he do? He thrust out a claw. "Stop right there! This is, um, royal property!" It was still coming. "I-I mean it. Stop right there! C'mon!"

Loud grinding whistles came from it as Spike stood his ground, bravely trying to defend his home. He'd already lost one so violently.

When it was too close, he squeezed shut his eyes, unable to watch it smash into him and the tower together.

The sound stopped. Was he flattened? He dared to crack open an eye to see his claw was resting on the front bumper of the train. He had stopped it? He stopped it! He let out a nerve-wracked laugh as he pumped a fist. "Yeah!"

Cherry hopped down from the train lightly. "Hey, Spike. Is Twilight home?"

Spike pointed at the train. "Did you see that?! I stopped it!"

Cherry didn't have the heart to correct Spike. He looked so happy about it. She raised a hoof and patted him on the shoulder. "Good job, but you shouldn't make a habit of that. I don't want my favorite dragon getting hurt."

Indigo and Berry were next off. With a bright flash, Twilight popped into being, gaping at the huge train parked right in front of her house. "Why is this here?" she asked, hoof pointed at the bright red monstrosity that dominated the view.

Indigo turned back towards it. "We got it working. It carried itself here, see?"

Twilight gave a little nod as she approached with slow steps. "I... see. It can't stay here."

Berry pointed at Twilight. "That's why we need your help. It's time the dry lands and the wet lands came closer together." She brought her forehooves together in a mighty clop. "Don't you think so?"

Twilight imagined swamps and deserts somehow getting closer together. "I... don't think I'm imagining this correctly. What do you want to do exactly?"

Cherry moved up beside her rival and threw a leg over her. "We want to ferry ponies into the ocean and out of the ocean."

Twilight slowly sank to her haunches as Spike caught up with her. He scratched at one of his cheeks. "Can this thing work underwater?"

Indigo bobbed his head. "That's why we need your help, to make it work under the water.

Berry smiled from underneath Cherry's leg. "We have a design all worked out, but it's going to need some of that magic of yours to seal the deal, literally."

"Literally?" Twilight trotted to the stairs leading up onto the engine. "You've done an amazing job. From the way they were describing it, I wasn't sure, to be honest, that you could get it moving again."

Cherry blinked softly, following after Twilight. "If you didn't think we could do it, why'd you let us keep working on it?"

Twilight gestured at it. "Because the important part can be the journey, not the destination. You learned a lot working on this, I imagine, right?" The three nodded at her. "And you had fun doing it, right?" They nodded again. "So, even if it never moved, you weren't wasting your time."

Indigo suddenly burst into a smile. "I understand. Still, it's even better that we did get it to move."

Twilight couldn't argue that. She looked over the maze of intricate pipes and multitude of switches and other controls. "I wouldn't even know where to start..." That wasn't entirely true. She'd start with a book. "So... Run that by me again? You want to run this into the ocean?" She raised a brow at the idea. "You do know these aren't made to do that."

"Yet." Cherry stood tall and proud on her dry swimmers. "That's where you come in. The train needs to be kept dry, at least up here." She gestured around the engine car. "The dry power won't work wet. If you can keep it dry, then it shouldn't matter where it is."

"Well, sure, I could do that easily." They smiled hopefully. "But only for a little while."

Berry approached with a frown. "This is the part where you tell us how we do go about it, right?"

Twilight tapped at her chin with a hoof. "A full scale enchantment is no simple feat. It takes time, preparation, and--"

Indigo clopped down a hoof. "Tell us what we have to do, um, Princess." His bravery eroded towards the end, ears dipping, but he didn't back down.

Spike raised a claw in the midst of a shrug. "Maybe we should send them to Canterlot."

"That... actually isn't a bad idea." Twilight nodded. "In fact! I think it's time I showed some faith in your abilities." She sat down on the smooth metal. "Since you've proven yourself so far. If you feel up for it, you'll go by train, not this one of course, to Canterlot. And!" She raised a hoof for emphasis. "You'll be allowed to do it on your own."

Berry beamed with pride, but Cherry wasn't as certain. "Thank you, Twilight, for your faith in us, but..." She pointed at Spike. "I nominate Spike to come with us."

All three seaponies gazed at the startled Spike. "M-me?" He had a claw to his chest, surprised at first. but he began to warm quickly. "Well, I suppose you would pick the best. I'll get you there nice and safe, and I know my way around Canterlot. I was born there, you know."

They didn't know that. Indigo bobbed his head. "Alright, so you know where to get somepony to do the work?"

Spike raised a single finger, only to slowly lower it. He looked to Twilight with a sheepish grin.

She gave a patient smile. "I'll write up a letter to bring with you. I know a few ponies talented enough for the task."

The matter was settled. With a note quickly written and surrendered to Spike, all three were prepared for their journey to Canterlot.

Except for Twilight's soft cough. "You will move this away from the castle, I trust? It's not staying here while you're gone." She hopped down from the engine and pointed back where it had been. "It was safe over there and it can wait--"

"She," corrected Berry. "We'll move her for you, Miss Twilight."

They moved the train back without anything breaking. Spike was duly impressed, riding the machine as it moved. "Wow! You really did fix it!"

Cherry tilted her head. "You sound surprised."

Spike went red in his cheeks. "I didn't mean anything by it, it's just that, you know, seeing is believing."

Indigo tapped at the metal floor. "I think feeling is believing, in this case."

With the train parked, they began their dry swim to the 'official' trains.

Cherry snorted as she went. "They're only more official because they get to have tracks, and stations. We'll get those too! Eventually..."

Spike perked a fin at Cherry. "Yeah?"

Cherry bobbed her head quickly. "Uh huh! We'll have a station up on the dry and some stations down in our bigger cities and then we'll run the train back and forth between them, carrying ponies comfortably into and out of the dry lands." She clopped her hooves as eager visions of the future danced behind her eyes. "Some of the cars would be full of water, and some would be kept dry with the same magic that keeps the engine dry, eventually. At first, they'll all be wet cars, for ponies like us." She pointed at Indigo, Berry, and herself.

"You don't dream small," said Spike in a complimenting tone as he purchased tickets for them all to Canterlot, using the funds Twilight had given him for the trip. "Hey, think I could visit one of your cities?"

Indigo threw a leg over Spike and nodded. "That'd be great! Then we could be your tour guide instead of the other way around."

Berry nodded. "It's only fair that we return the favor. Thanks for the help."

Cherry blinked at Berry. "You're being very nice today."

Berry darkened in her cheeks. "What? I can be appreciative! Besides, he isn't my rival, you are." She stuck out her tongue at Cherry.

Cherry threw a leg over Berry and they hugged gently. They might have been rivals, but it was far from a bitter rivalry between them.

As the train lurched into motion, all three sea ponies moved to the windows to watch the dry move past them. They were fairly sure they'd never get tired of seeing it, especially when going to exciting places. They were raising upwards towards the great city in the mountains known as Canterlot. It was sure to be quite... dry, but also to have horny ponies beyond comprehension.

Cherry gave a nervous giggle. "I can't wait..." She didn't have much choice. Waiting was what they had to do, at least until the train arrived.

Spike had his claws behind his back and was rocking on his dry swimmers. "Don't worry. I'll keep you on track and we'll find that enchanter in no time at all!"

Indigo looked to Spike curiously. "Who is it?"

"Oh, lemme see." He dug out the letter. "It looks like we have to find--"

Author's Note

What pony are they going to see?

Did Twilight triple check that letter for typos?

51 - Dancing

They stood before a somewhat rundown house. Spike gestured at it. "Moon Dancer." He knocked softly on the door. "Excuse me?"

The other three glanced to one another. Was the great and powerful horny pony that would enchant their train really there? Shoot, they needed more than one horny pony if they were going to get the party going properly.

"Moment..." A glow was visible before it opened, revealing the horny pony that lived there. Moon Dancer perked an ear at all three of them before settling on Spike. "Oh! It's been a while, Spike. How are you? How's Twilight?" Her dour expression had brightened like the sun bursting through some thick clouds. "Who are your friends?"

Spike hiked a thumb at the dumbfounded seahorses. "This is Cherry, Berry, and Indigo. They need your help."

"Oh?" Moon stepped out of her house, her magic closing the door behind herself. "What sort of help? In fact... what are they?" Her eyes focused on their unusual anatomy, following the lines of powerful tails that led to flippers. They were more like dolphins than anything else, or so Moon Dancer decided. "They seem clearly aquatic in nature."

Cherry shook off her surprise. "Oh, yes. We're from the ocean. Hello, dryland pony." She thrust a hoof forward. "We were told you are a very skilled horny pony."

Moon went a dark red in her cheeks. "W-what?"

Spike snickered and fished out the letter that Twilight had sent him with. "Here."

Moon Dancer's magic wrapped around it and her eyes quickly swept back and forth, rapidly absorbing the contents of the letter. She relaxed a little. "Oh... Oh! I see... I think? You need a heavy duty thaumic integration process on a heavy metallic shell with complex mechanical parts." She nodded. "It's going to need high heat and water resistance, not to mention tolerance for sodium." The letter vanished with a puff as she sat and looked thoughtful. "This will be quite a challenge."

Indigo leaned forward a little. "Can you do it?"

"No."

Berry reddened with sudden fury. "No?! We came all this way so you could just tell us you can't do it?!"

Moon held up a hoof. "That is correct. I will require some assistance. Another school friend of mine has some talent that would be complimentary to mine."

Spike raised a brow. "Really? Who?"

Moon blinked at Spike. "You should know her. I hear she ran into you and Twilight in Ponyville, twice at least." She lowered her head a little and a colorful flare of magic revealed a holographic horny pony.

"Trixie?!" gasped Spike, pointing at the image. The pony wore a pointy hat, and was gazing at the three as if she were very confident indeed.

Cherry clopped her fore hooves. "She looks like she could do it. How do we get her to help?"

Moon nodded. "Therein lies the challenge. Trixie Lulamoon is a talented spellcaster, but her methods are... unconventional, and she has a few... beha... She has a few..." She kept tripping over ways of explaining it.

Spike rolled a claw. "She has a few issues, to put it mildly. Still, she, uh, seemed to be doing alright, last time she came through. She even made friends with Starlight Glimmer."

"Oh, that's nice." Moon nodded. "Forging beneficial co-relations is quite conducive to efficiency both in and out of duty."

Indigo took a step forward towards Moon. "So you will be helping?"

"Of course." Moon dusted off her fluffy-looking shirt. "Twilight has requested it. I simply cannot proceed without undue difficulty without this assistance."

Berry let out a powerful sigh. "Alright, that's getting somewhere. So where is this 'Trixie'?"

Spike shrugged.

Moon pointed into the city. "Her tour should be taking her through the city in a short time. Tonight, we will attend and, I propose, we approach her after the show concludes."

Cherry brightened at the news. "What sort of show does she do?" Whatever display came from a horny pony, she could only imagine it'd be fantastic to see. "Can we watch?"

Berry tapped Cherry on the nose. "That's what she just said. We'll watch this 'Trixie' and ask her to help afterwards."

"Correct." Moon nodded. "Until then, do you require anything?"

Indigo pointed at Moon Dancer's house. "Do you have a... tub I think it's called?"

Moon blinked. "Yes?" She sounded unsure of why anypony would even ask her about that, at least until all three ponies charged past her into her home. She looked at Spike, befuddled. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Nah." Spike waved his claws. "They're just eager to take a bath and get their fur wet. They are sea ponies, after all."

Moon tapped her chin. "I wonder if they require a specific level of salinity."

Spike assured her that they'd be fine. The splashing and giggling coming from the bathroom didn't sound like anypony having a bad time.

Moon peeked down the hallway towards it before looking back at Spike. "Do they often perform communal bathing ceremonies?"

"Uh."

"With two mares and a stallion... Are they related?"

"I don't think so, no."

Moon frowned with thought, trying to apply the friendship lessons she'd learned. "They must be very good friends." Possibly they'd advanced to levels of friendship she hadn't even dared to consider yet. She began to daydream a moment about some of the books she'd read.

"Moon Dancer?"

She started from her fantasy and shook her head. She was assuming things. "Yes, right. We'll proceed when the time is correct."

Some time later, three dampened sea ponies, a dragon, and a bookish horny pony set out into the evening light.

The city was bustling, as it often was, drawing the eyes of the seaponies this way and that way and every other way to see the sources of curious sounds, admire the bright colors, or follow teasing scents. Every sense was assaulted with something they wanted to know more about, but Moon Dancer and Spike kept them pointed approximately in the correct direction.

Berry veered off from the school and snatched up a small shiny bauble. "This is very nice."

The mare who ran the shop she had picked it up from nodded at Berry. "It would go nicely with your pelt. Would you like to have it?"

"Can I? Thanks." She moved to walk right past the shopkeep without a moment of hesitation.

Spike hurried up to the confused shopkeep. "They're not from around here."

"You don't... say?"

"I do say." He fished out a few bits and slapped them down to cover the price of the bauble. "I hope that makes up for it. If not, send a bill to Princess Twilight Sparkle."

She blinked down at Spike. "Oh! Of course you're that dragon! I will, thank you. I hope she enjoys it, but do try to stop her from just picking up things without paying for them."

Moon Dancer moved to do just that. She tapped Berry on the shoulder. "I believe Spike is handling it for you, but you should refrain from stealing."

"What?!" Berry recoiled at the accusation. "I didn't steal anything! She gave this to me."

Spike hurried up towards the two. "It's alright, Berry, just a misunderstanding. See, when a shop pony asks if you want something, they mean to ask 'do you want to buy this?' She's not mad, you can keep it."

"Oh.." Berry gave the bit of jewelry a guilty look. "I didn't know."

Moon Dancer nodded. "We all make mistakes. As friends... we help each other learn."

Spike bobbed his head in kind. "Exactly. Huh, Twi's gonna be happy to hear how much progress you've made."

Moon blushed at the idea. "You don't... have to tell her." Though maybe that would be nice kinda? "Look, there's the show."

There was a slowly thickening crowd of ponies around a stage. Banners nearby announced that Trixie would be performing and showcasing a brand new feat of reality shattering magic for those lucky enough to be in attendance.

Despite all that focus, one small land filly thought the three aquatic ponies were more interesting. "Hullo." She had to raise her voice to be heard over the crowd. "What kinda ponies are you?"

Indigo looked down at the smiling little horny pony. "Hello there," he greeted in kind, offering a hoof. They met in a soft clop. "My name's Indigo."

"Nice to meetcha Indiwo," she tripped over the word even as she soldiered on by repeating her question. "What kinda pony are you?"

Berry threw a leg over either, drawing her companions close. "We're sea ponies." She wagged her tail for emphasis. "You're a horny pony."

"I'mma unihorn!"

"Corn, dear." her mother corrected, turning to see who her daughter was speaking to just to start at the sight of the three sea ponies. "Oh! Um, hello?" Defensively, she put a leg in front of her daughter. "Nice to... meet you?"

Cherry mouthed the word. She was sure she'd heard it at least once before. "Unihorn?"

The mother gave a sympathetic smile. "Unicorn. That's what we are." She pointed a free hoof up at her horn. "I hope she hasn't caused you any trouble."

Berry waved it off as she got her legs back under herself. "It'll take more than that to rattle me. Nice to meet you, Unicorn."

The filly tilted her head. "I'm Amber Streak. Thas my name. I am a unicorn." She pointed at Indigo. "He is Indiwo, a sea pony. Sea ponies are pretty."

Indigo giggled a little. Being called pretty by a mare was good, but she was a bit young to count. "Thank you, Amber."

The lighting suddenly dimmed, the street lamps lowering in intensity as a booming voice announced, "Welcome, one and all. Fillies and Gentlecolts. Prepare to be amazed! Trixie has a feat of magic for you today that not even the stupendous Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and Element of Magic, could master. But first..." Fireworks exploded in a sudden colorful spray, a blue-furred unicorn appeared in the center of the stage. "The show begins!" A fresh wave erupted to some curious clopping and stomping by the crowd, ready to see the feat of magic.

With scintillating lights and dazzling displays, Trixie kept the crowd hooked as she practically danced across the stage, a perpetual nova of activity. A few minutes into the act, it seemed to die down as she looked out over the crowd. Her eyes widened a little at the sea ponies. "Perfect. You there!" She thrust a hoof at them. "Yes, one of you, with the flippers. Come up to the stage."

Berry moved first, boldly and confidently making her way to the stage. She hopped up onto the stage, a feat she had only recently gotten down. "I am here, Trixie. What do you want?"

"Oh ho! Such confidence... Trixie admires it." She gestured at Berry. "Behold this exotic example of pony kind. Trixie will perform her nigh-forbidden magic on her!" The combination of exotic pony and forbidden fruit had their attention, and Trixie savored every wide eye in the crowd. She loved it. As she looked over Berry, she remembered Starlight mentioning a sea pony. Was this that one? Whether they were or not, the show had to go on. "This is your last chance, if you're scared, to run away, sea pony."

Berry blinked and puffed out her chest, standing defiantly. "What, me? Never! Do your worst, Unihorn."

Was that an insult? Trixie decided to pay it no mind as she focused on the spell, arcane power gathering dangerously as a headache bloomed. The immense force required for that trick always left her dizzy. She didn't have the thaumic reserves to pull it off seamlessly, but a seam nopony else ever saw may as well not be there. She kept a pristine look of showmaresmanship as she focused the beam on the sea pony, bathing her in bright and strobing light. Bright wooshing sounds announced something incredible was happening in the light.

Author's Note

Surely this can't possibly go wrong!

Right about the time I stop harping about typos.

52 - Horny

It grew quiet. The crowd was gaping at the feat of magic performed. Faint whispers went from pony to pony.

"Behold!" cried Trixie, gesturing without directly looking at Berry. "Where once a mare, then a stallion!"

Berry blinked softly as she looked herself over. She certainly felt like a mare. "Are you sure it worked?"

"Of course it--" Trixie finally looked at the target of her spell. She had gained a horn, it just wasn't the sort of horn she was expecting. "Wha? I mean, behold!" She threw her forelegs wide. "Trixie has destroyed the barrier between tribes."

Berry's eyes went up and crossed to look at the curved and pointed spire jutting from her forehead. She was a -- "Unihorn!"

"Unicorn, dear assistant," corrected Trixie. "You are now Equestria's first ever sea unicorn. Everypony give a hoof to our brave volunteer."

The silence was broken with excited babble and stomps on the ground as curious ponies pressed closer to get a look at Berry's altered form. Had what they'd seen been true?

One stallion pointed up at Berry. "Can you do magic?"

Berry had no idea, dazed and confused. "I... can try?" How did it even work?! She focused on the stallion that had asked, grunting and heaving as she tried to access a muscle she didn't have minutes earlier.

Trixie softly patted Berry's shoulder. "Don't hurt yourself. Trixie will magnanimously offer to train you, or she can restore you to your lovely birth form. She is here to delight and amaze, not cause terror. She learned that lesson."

Berry relaxed noticeably at Trixie's word, letting out a sigh of relief. "You can turn me back?"

"It shouldn't be an issue!" Or so Trixie hoped. "For now, rejoin your friends." She pointed down into the crowd where Spike, Moon, Cherry, and Indigo sat watching with different forms of shock on their faces.

The show continued with a fresh wave of razzle and even extra dazzle.

Indigo reached up with a shaking hoof and lightly prodded his friend's new horn. "Are you alright?"

Cherry was leaning right in on it, staring intently. "You look like a narwhal." She flashed a bright smile and threw a leg over her friend. "At least she said she can fix it."

Moon Dancer applied a hoof to her face. "I find that less likely than I would care for it to be."

Berry turned to Moon. "What?" Her eyes widened a little. "She was lying?! Why?"

Moon squirmed faintly. "This is just conjecture, but she did not intend this particular transmutation. She simply wanted you to step aside so she could finish the show without souring it. I predict she will do her best, but it may take more effort than she casually implied."

Spike rubbed behind his head. "Uh, we'll get it fixed, for sure. Are you... alright?"

Berry peered at Spike a little. "No!" She looked up at the horn again. As functional extra pieces went, it had a lot of potential. It was also scary! It was also just not what she was. She was a sea pony. Sea ponies did not usually come with horns. She reached up and tapped it lightly. "I... It reminds me of my grandfather."

Moon blinked at that. "Your grandfather had a horn?"

Berry nodded. "Right in the middle, like this. Just... like a Narwhal." She tapped her horn again. "He's about the only pony I ever saw with one, and he didn't have any magic that I remember."

Moon Dancer frowned thoughtfully. "Your horned heritage may have interfered with the spell. Trixie is going to be upset to hear you are not an entirely new creation."

Cherry tilted her head. "I didn't know there were horny sea ponies."

Indigo softly clucked his tongue. "I've... heard stories." He sounded far from certain.

The magic show wound down and the crowd dispersed, leaving a fatigued but satisfied Trixie to clean up the mess she had made. She saw the sea ponies and two familiar faces and waved to them. "Come closer. Trixie is no longer performing."

Moon Dancer approached the stage. "It is good to see you."

Trixie nodded at Moon. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Moon forced a smile. Smiling was important. "We require your arcane expertise."

Trixie brightened like a light-bulb that had just been turned on. "You need an expert in magic and, of course, you came seeking the best? Trixie is delighted to hear you have such good taste."

Cherry thrust a hoof at her friend's jutting new part. "You made my friend horny!"

Trixie blinked at that, puzzling out the worrying potential meanings before she settled on the most obvious one. "Trixie will attempt to undo the magic, if you wish? Trixie notes that having a horn is a lovely thing." She tapped her own horn. "Trixie could not imagine life without it."

Berry looked to Trixie a moment, then spun on Indigo. "Am I ugly?"

Indigo froze. Did he really get asked that? He looked Berry over. He hadn't really given her that sort of appraising before. His eyes followed the lines of her figure and back up to her horn. "You're pretty." Not as pretty as Cherry, a petulant part of his brain complained, but no, she was a lovely sea pony. Horned or not.

Berry gave a soft smile of relief. "Then I will let it be. It reminds me of my grandfather, and he was a good pony. If you like it, Indie, then I'll keep it." She moved to his side and pressed in tight to her romantic target. Indigo was blushing terribly, caught by a mare, and not the one he wanted most.

Trixie nodded at Moon and looked to Spike. "What brings you here, familiar of Twilight Sparkle?"

Spike blinked owlishly at that. "Familiar?"

"Familiar, a creature created or conjured by a magician's magic, typically to serve as a companion and assistant. Does that not perfectly define you?"

"Wha?"

Trixie rolled her eyes. "You were literally conjured from an egg that would otherwise have laid dormant. Twilight Sparkle made you. You serve as her companion and assistant. You are the very definition of a familiar."

Moon put a hoof between Trixie and Spike. "We are becoming distracted. The sea ponies require a sizable thaumic integration that would require considerable--"

Trixie perked an ear. "Trixie does not mean to demean herself, but why did you not ask Starlight Glimmer? She is a friend of Trixie's and quite talented. Why, if you came from Ponyville, it would have been a lot closer."

Moon blinked. She didn't really know Starlight. "I am not aware of this pony."

Spike did, and put a claw to his face. "Oh yeah! That would have been a good idea."

Trixie waved a hoof. "Go on. Starlight loves using her magic, and she'd delight in the chance to create something spectacular."

Spike blinked at that response. "You don't mind giving up the job to her?"

Trixie shook her head. "Starlight is a good friend of Trixie's. She can afford to cede the spotlight to her, just this once." She smiled gently. "Do tell her Trixie sent the gift, and let Trixie know how she liked it."

With friendly waves, the group was sent back towards the train that would bring them back to Ponyville. Moon Dancer remained with them. "I want to meet this pony."

Spike nodded. "If you like studying magic, you should like her. She's a natural."

Berry followed along, walking between her friends. Her eyes kept drifting upwards to the new, strange, thing that obscured just a bit of her vision if she looked upwards. Both of her friends were quietly supportive of her, and neither made fun of her. That helped. Still, she would need time to get used to the strange thing that had taken residence on her forehead.

As they rode back to Ponyville, Spike looked over Berry's addition. "It's longer and pointier than Twilight's before she, you know, became a princess and all."

Berry blinked down at Spike. "Her horn was smaller?"

Moon nodded. "She has gained significant horn and general stature since she originally left Canterlot."

Berry peeked up at the horn. "Does that mean I could do extra fancy magic?"

Just as Moon was about to reply, Cherry jumped in. "Sure! You'll be extra awesome."

Berry quirked a smile at Cherry. "You do know, if that's true, I'll be an even harder rival to top." She threw a leg over Indigo and pulled him close. "I'll snatch Indie for myself and what will you do about it?"

Cherry glanced between the badly blushing stallion and her 'rival'. "Congratulate you."

Berry blinked. "T-that's not what rivals say!" She thrust out a hoof to lightly kick Cherry in the chest. "Be more angry!"

Cherry snorted. "No need to get violent about it." She circled around to Berry's side. "I'll let you off the hook this time, seeing as they just made you horny."

"That's Unicorn," reminded Berry, puffing up with some bit of growing pride. "How can I tell if it's a magic horn or just a big poking thing like my grandfather had?"

Indigo reached a hoof to gently tap the new thing. "It's pretty cool either way."

Berry darkened at the praise from Indie. "T-thanks."

Spike looked to the side, facing across the train. "Moon Dancer?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think Twilight's gonna be mad?"

She blinked. "Why would she be?"

"I... kind of messed up." He glanced quickly at Berry and away. "I was supposed to keep them safe."

Moon Dancer shook her head. "If she holds it against you, I'll speak on your behalf. It was an accident, and Berry doesn't seem too disturbed by the outcome. If she does have some degree of thaumic control, the repercussions are staggering. As a fellow scientist, she will understand that and forget everything else."

Spike shrugged. "That sounds cool, but how can we tell."

Moon raised a hoof. "With vigorous testing, of course. Twilight should have the supplies we need. Where is this 'Starlight' pony?"

"Oh, she's at the castle."

"Expedient." Moon nodded. "To the castle then."

The train came to a smooth halt and the party hopped off the train.

"Hello!" Pinkie Pie had caught wind of them somehow. She was looking at Berry with a huge grin. "When'd you get another sea pony? Hi! I'm Pi--"

Berry held up a hoof. "Hello, Pinkie. We've met. Surely you recognize me?"

The voice was enough, Pinkie gasped. "Oh wow! You're the second friend of mine to suddenly get a new body-part. Are you a princess now?"

Berry grinned, pleased at the idea. "Princess of the sea..." she sighed out.

Cherry prodded her friend. "My mom's the Queen, so, technically..."

Author's Note

What will Twilight say?

Will Starlight help? Will she be OP?

How effective is that horn?

THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS! At least there aren't any typos, right?

53 - Welcome Back?

As they approached the grand edifice that was Twilight's castle, Moon Dancer looked it up and down. "It looks far more impressive in person. Was it colored after her intentionally?"

Spike shrugged softly. "It just kinda... happened."

Berry waved her horn at Spike dangerously. "Kind of like this then?"

Spike danced away from the sharp tip. "Yeah, actually. Well... guess I better face the music."

As he was about to dash off, Moon's hoof came down on his shoulder, arresting him. "We'll go together."

Spike was quietly happy to not have to go alone, as shown by a nervous smile. Together, the entire group proceeded inside.

A small bell rang out, though no bell could be seen.

Starlight appeared with a pop. "He--Oh! Hey Spike, who's your..." She trailed off, looking past Moon Dancer to the aquatic ponies and seeing that one of them was... different. "What happened?"

"I," announced Berry, standing forward with her horn held high. "--am now a sea unicorn!"

"I... see?" Starlight frowned a little thoughtfully. "Is that real?"

"It is verifiable," agreed Moon Dancer. "I would like to conduct many more examinations and tests to confirm suspicions and expand our understanding, but that would require Twilight's assistance."

Starlight took a step away. "I'll... go get her."

"Wait!" Spike had a claw thrust into the air. "Before you go, now's a good time to meet Moon Dancer." He gestured at the new pony.

Starlight nodded and gave a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you. Twilight had mentioned you a few times."

"In a good way, I hope?" Moon rubbed behind her head, nervousness building. "Starlight Glimmer?"

"Ah, you've heard of me too?" Starlight gave a laugh that sounded as nervous as Moon. "Just who doesn't Twilight know? I guess that comes with the whole, you know, 'princess of friendship' thing."

Spike looked between the two awkward unicorns and smirked. "You two are gonna get along just fine."

Moon perked an ear at Spike. "What was that?"

"Oh, nothing." He made shooing motions. "Just that you two should catch up while I go get Twilight."

Moon looked to Starlight, who grinned at her sheepishly. "What... is there to catch up on with a new acquaintance?"

Starlight shrugged. "Search me, so... You... do anything silly that Twilight had to fix?"

Moon Dancer sighed dramatically. "Sort of. Stupid mare skipped town on my birthday party without even a letter." She let out a slow breath, using a motion that Twilight had passed to her. "I've gotten past that, even if I did spend an unfortunate number of years avoiding social contact... for..." She stopped herself from entirely spilling her motivations and aspirations and clammed up, looking sheepish.

"Oh, no, don't be embarrassed! Please, my exploits make yours look... practically tame." Starlight waved it off. "I... mighta kinda took over a town with brainwashing, bullying, and cultish obedience techniques." She let out a nervous little laugh. "I've... gotten better."

Indigo raised a hoof. "Is that why you cast that spell and left us floating in our tank all day?"

Starlight went a dark red. "You were hit too?! Dear Celestia... I'm so sorry!" She threw herself to her belly, prostrate before the three sea ponies. "You must be so angry with me!"

Berry might have been, but she might have also liked standing over Starlight, taking the dominant pose over the powerful spell-caster. "You can tell me how amazing I am and how sorry you are." She offered a hoof to the fallen Starlight. "Begin."

Starlight blinked with confusion. She was being forgiven, but in a very curious way. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about it. Still, it was her mistake... She sat up and pulled the hoof closer, kissing it gently. "I am very sorry, honored guests. Please forgive me?"

Cherry stepped up and nudged her rival out of the way. She offered her own hoof, but to help Starlight back to her own standing, not for kissing. "It's alright, just don't do that again. I had a headache for days after that."

Indigo nodded. "I was so glad when Twilight freed us. It's alright, Starlight, just, you know, not again, alright?"

Moon Dancer seemed a little relaxed for the story. She was far from the worst unicorn Twilight had to deal with. "So... I hear you enjoy the study of magic?"

Starlight perked right up at that. "Now that's something I can stand behind. Are you also a scholar of the arts?"

Moon smiled. They were entering much safer territory. "Why, yes, yes I am. Perhaps you could even assist in this." She pointed at Berry's horn. "We'll need to determine exactly how thaumically active it is and how much control is being granted to its wearer. Oh! Trixie said to mention that these projects are her gift to you and she'd love to hear how you enjoy them."

Starlight smiled brightly. "Trixie? You ran into her?" The clear affection in her voice was easy to pick up on. "This is quite a gift. I imagine she wanted to do it."

Berry tapped at her new horn. "She already got to make it in the first place."

Starlight blinked. "Trixie did this?!"

"Trixie did what?!" Twilight was descending the stairs with Spike, eyes locked on Berry and her new addition. "What happened?"

Moon Dancer took the role of storyteller. She spoke in clean clinical descriptions of the events, including what she could observe of 'thaumic flows' and the like. "Further testing is absolutely required."

"I... would imagine so," spoke Twilight slowly as she joined the rest. "Berry, are you alright?"

Berry blinked. "Hmm?"

Twilight smiled. "As your friend, which rates more highly than any other bond we share, I want to make sure you're alright first. If you don't want us to proceed, or want us to focus on getting you back to normal, then we'll do that. That's more important than any... world-shaking discovery... we could find..." It was clear that Twilight wanted to proceed, rather badly, but she was employing her own lessons and trying to be a good friend.

Berry tilted her head. "Well, if I can do magic, that would be great! But we did have a project before we even left, and I'm not giving up on that." She puffed out her chest. "As the world's #1 sea pony train engineer, it's my resp--"

Cherry bristled. "Hey! What makes you #1?"

Berry flashed a cocky grin. "Now that is more like a rival." She nodded with clear satisfaction. "We want the train to work underwater, and that's more important."

Twilight and the others seemed shocked at the idea that Berry would rate the train project above herself.

Spike pointed at the horn. "You don't care that you have... that?"

Berry shrugged lightly. "Of course I do. Pfft, it's right there, taunting me, but it's not like it won't be there after this, and if it isn't, well, that means I wasn't going to get much use out of it anyway, right?"

Starlight took a step forward. "Very well then. Let's get this train working. Is it where it usually is?" All three sea ponies nodded. "Let's have a look at it and make a plan."

As they led the way, Indigo moved to walk beside Starlight. "It already works, you know, just not in the ocean. It runs on dry power, and if we get it too wet, it won't work. We need to keep the furnace and the dry fuel, um, dry, all dry."

"Coal," offered Cherry. "That's the dry fuel."

Twilight nodded. Though not asked, she had joined the group as they went. Her eyes kept wandering to Berry's mighty prong. "Right, dry fuel..."

Moon Dancer looked at the train as it came into view with some amazement. "This is yours?"

Indigo pointed at the distracted Twilight. "She and her friends helped us get it."

"It was a princess," offered Cherry as she charged up and hopped aboard the engine. "Come inside and see."

Moon hopped up next and began looking around curiously. "It looks quite old on the outside, but I can see clear evidence of heavy refurbishing. This must have taken considerable effort."

The sea ponies didn't seem to mind being praised on their skills as the three unicorns began poking and prodding at things.

Starlight tapped at the main furnace. "So you need this to be entirely water resistant, even at considerable pressures and depths?"

Moon nodded. "And they'll have to have access to feed coal even while it's in operation."

Twilight followed unseen lines over to the bin that held a good quantity of coal. "Why not connect the coal bin directly to the furnace?"

Starlight tapped her chin with a hoof. "What if the heat caused the coal in the bin to ignite?"

Moon grunted with thought. "That would be a disaster."

The three became absorbed in discussing ideas and entirely forgot about the sea ponies that had brought them there.

Indigo looked to his two mare friends. "Should we be doing something?"

Cherry shrugged. "Not much we can do right now, just give them room to do their unicorn magic."

Berry sat with a little frown. "I wish we could help. I don't like somepony else doing the work for me on my train!"

"Our train," corrected Cherry.

Berry huffed at that, but then nodded. "Right, our train, dear rival." She threw a leg over Cherry and pulled her tight a moment. "Well, maybe now that I'm a unicorn too, I should listen in."

She rose and moved to sit with the three excitable unicorns. There were barely any breaks in the conversations, and the words they were using went over Berry's head as often as it didn't.

She did get one thing. "If you need us to rig a pumping system for the dry fuel, we can manage that."

All three looked to her. She smiled nervously. "What? We can do that."

Moon tapped at the coal bin. "Well, if we can get a reliable pumping system that doesn't permit too much heat transfer..." It descended rapidly into babble that Berry didn't fully grasp, but what she needed to do was clear!

She waved Cherry over and began explaining it to her. Her rival understood her, of course, and soon they were gathering scraps of metal and making drawings and working out how it'd work. They couldn't let the dry power get to the dry fuel ahead of time, so they got to working on that and started making a list of what bits of metal they'd need shaped by the smith into what shapes.

They could do it.

Even as the three unicorns kept debating, the sea ponies trotted off together to place the order for the parts they'd need forged..

Author's Note

Things are looking up, or is that down?

All the technobabble may have resulted in typos.

54 - We Can Do It

Things became hectic. While the sea ponies were drafting up parts and keeping the smith busy when they weren't busy fitting the pieces together and constructing the shared device that would ferry the fuel safely, the unicorns were all abuzz about their portion of the task.

The three horned ponies had used chalk to make countless circles, lines, squares, and other patterns across the entire hull of the thing while chatting in a constant, excited, babble.

Indigo leaned towards his two mare friends. "They're really into this."

Cherry nodded. "Who doesn't like to get something big done? We had lots of fun making this train work, why shouldn't they enjoy their part?" She looked over as Moon Dancer slowly trailed along one of those lines and smudged out a bit, just to redraw it slightly differently. "They're taking it seriously, and I'm glad. We'll make this work."

Twilight dropped down with a flutter of her wings. "About that! There's one thing that hadn't been accounted for, but I think we can manage without too much difficulty, and it gives us a use for the heat the engine produces that isn't being used for the actual driving of the train." She pulled out a strange two-headed beaker. "Water, as you may know, is actually comprised of two kinds of air. One, the kind we breathe, is also what fire breathes. So--"

Berry blinked at Twilight. "Water has air?"

"Why, yes." She bobbed her head. "With this, we'll combine that extra heat and some magic and bust apart the water into the two kinds of air, so you'll have the air you need for the fire. The other kind of air we don't have much use for." She shrugged. "You can just let it go and it'll turn back into water on its own." This wasn't strictly accurate, but was good enough for all the ponies involved.

She wandered off, humming a tune to herself as she got back to work.

Cherry watched her go and looked back to her friends. "I have no idea what half of what she said meant, but it sounds good. Dry power needs air, so if she can make more, that's good." She clopped her hooves lightly. "Now let's get this fuel pump working."

With a shared rallying cry, they got back to their own labor.

It would be several days before all six of them collapsed in a pile of hard worked, but satisfied, pony flesh.

Starlight sat up with a weary smile. "She should be ready to go."

Cherry thrust a hoof into the air. "Then off we go!"

Twilight gently pressed at that leg, drawing it back down with her magic. "Don't be that eager. We should test it before you rush into the depths of the ocean. I don't... expect issues, but better safe than sorry."

The train was transformed. Thin lines of neon cyan and purple ran along its red frame, carrying the thaumic power and along the vital patterns that would protect it and enable it to do as it needed to do. It was a spectacle to see, even when not moving.

Berry shook her head. "The only way to test it is to do just that. We'll go back to the beach where we began and roll it into the ocean and it will work or not." She flashed a grin at the unicorns. "I have no doubt in your performance."

Moon Dancer smile a bit more awkwardly. "We tried our best to account for every reasonable expectation."

Twilight rolled a hoof. "Be that as it may, this is no small undertaking. We can't assume everything will be perfect, even if we want it to be." She pointed at the train. "It's important we be ready in case anything goes wrong. If we're careful, we can fix it and try again. Let's not look at it as a setback, but a chance to learn. We'll do this."

That attitude was more to Cherry's liking and she offered a hoof, to be met almost instantly by her aquatic peers. Twilight met it, clopping her hoof in, soon to have Starlight and Moon clopping in with a show of solidarity.

Moon smiled as she adjusted her glasses. "Well, let's get some rest. We're all fatigued after a day's work. We can set out tomorrow."

So they did that, retiring to the castle where Spike had thoughtfully prepared a dinner for the herd of exhausted workers.

"So, uh..." Spike rubbed behind his head. "Twilight?"

"Yes?" She took a great big bite of the hay burger that had been made for her, chomping a bit messily. "What is it?"

"Am... I a familiar?"

Twilight blinked softly. "What? Who said that? Don't be ridiculous."

Spike squirmed a bit in place. "Trixie said it, 'cause you kinda made me, and I do all the things a familiar would do, so..."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Let's start by looking at who's talking. Trixie? You're taking her word?"

"Hey!" Starlight scowled at her mentor in clear defense of her friend. "It was, perhaps, a bit... harsh, to bring that up with Spike, but it was far from unfounded."

Cherry tilted her head. "Are familiars bad?"

Spike blinked. "No?"

Cherry shrugged softly. "Then does it matter if you are one or not? You're Spike, the most amazing and friendly dragon I ever met." She reached with a leg and pulled Spike close.

Twilight joined the hug. "You are also my #1 assistant and one of my best friends."

Starlight nodded. "Nobody here doubts your worth, as a pony, a dragon, or anything else you care to be. You're great, Spike."

Indigo bobbed his head. "Don't worry about it, Spike. You're Spike, and not many people get to be that."

Berry pointed up at her horn. "I'm a sea pony unicorn suddenly, but I'm still Sea Berry, and that's more important. You, as the others pointed out, are Spike, and that's a fine thing to be."

Spike was blushing in the group-wide admiration and support. "Y-yeah!"

The matter was gently set to rest and ponies resumed their feasting. There was work to be done.

The Red Rocket was pulled along by one of the trains in active service. No matter how loudly they had argued, they would not permit the Red Rocket to roll on its own power on the company lines. That matter aside, they had arrived. It was the city where everything had started.

A pony met them after they hopped off their train.

"Good day," said the familiar unicorn stallion. "I have a present." He moved for Indigo and furnished a set of legs. They looked even better than the others, sleek and finely articulated. Its insides looked finely cushioned and it had a nicely crafted space for fins. It was... enviable.

Enviable enough that both sea mares were glaring at it.

Indigo accepted it with wide eyes. He squirmed into it with some help by Starlight and soon was standing in the new rig. "Wow! Why? I mean, thank you!"

The inventor nodded. "Consider it part of my fee for your idea. I have a feeling I'll be selling a lot more of these. Good luck." He raised a hoof in a salute and trotted off.

Cherry prodded the harness. "It's... better than mine."

Indigo shook his head. "Yours has you in it. That makes it... better." He was blushing as he said what he hoped were smooth words.

Cherry burst into gentle laughter and hugged Indigo close. "That was sweet, but you're going to let me look at that later, no buts."

Berry butted in between them. "Not without me."

Twilight coughed into a hoof softly. "Let's focus on the task at hoof. They're unloading the train from the tracks, then we'll roll to the water's edge. I added some wheels that should adjust to work better on the sandy floor of the ocean and the beach itself. Follow me." She hopped up into the engine and soon all were gathered at the controls, which had several new buttons.

She pointed at the one that looked like a puffy doughnut of a wheel. "This one activates the soft-surface wheel adaptation." She pressed it and a loud humming was heard as the train began to sparkle wildly, magic clearly being put to work. It raised upwards as its wheels inflated like balloons, becoming huge and soft. "There we are. On firm surfaces, just press it again."

Twilight began going over what did what and what let them see what and what they wanted to see, didn't want to see, and what to do if they saw something they didn't want to see. "Does that make sense?"

Cherry gave an unsure nod. "I'm not sure I rem--"

Twilight pushed an operator's manual against Cherry. "Here you are. I made one for all three of you."

Berry blinked in amazement as she flipped through a few pages, then set it down. "I think we're ready."

Twilight began to go over more safety features and procedures, but Starlight gently lifted her mentor. "We'll get out of your mane. Good luck!"

Soon the three unicorns, and Spike, were parked on the beach, cheering among a crowd that had quickly gathered to see the amazing train power itself down towards the water's edge. The big wheels were doing the job, rolling on top of the sand instead of making big holes and getting stuck in them.

It was time.

Berry put out a hoof towards Cherry. "Well, rival, let's show the world what our combined might can do."

Cherry met the hoof with a clop. "Let's bring the dry to the ocean, and the ocean to the dry!"

Indigo bobbed his head. He wasn't as invested as the other two were, but he was invested in them. He would not abandon his friends. "Let's do it."

They assumed their positions and turned on the air seals. The coal bin snapped shut and a new humming came from deep within as air began to be manufactured for the train. The rest of the compartment would flood, but none would get into the places it didn't belong.

It would be a very wet engine of dry. The idea pleased all of them.

With a lurch, the train started forward and began rolling into the water. A new sound reached them as sea water began to be sucked up and fed into the air-maker to keep things going. The metal around them quickly grew damp, wet, then flooded as water rushed into their cabin.

But the engine kept rolling.

"It's working!" cheered Cherry as the entire train submerged and kept right on rolling, powering out towards the sea.

Twilight looked towards her friends. "Well... That went well, but our work is just starting."

Spike blinked. "Huh? I thought that was it?"

"Oh no." Twilight shook her head. "The prophecy starts now. We have to get the station ready to receive their train when it returns, and they'll have friends with them, I suspect. The tsunami begins now. The ocean rushes to the land in a mighty wave." She nodded softly. "Though I think we'll like this wave."

Author's Note

And so ends the story.

They did it, and that prophecy mentioned many chapters ago comes true, proven to not be a big fat typo.

Did you like this journey? Let me know! I get especially nervous around endings.

1 - Star Gazing

The cool rush of the waters flowed in a dull roar around her ears as she propelled herself through the sea with powerful undulations of her tail. Her hooves were pulled up close to her barrel to keep the drag down as she picked up speed. Light filtered in from above, waving and sparkling with the enchanting effect of the waves on the moonlight that offered some illumination in the night.

She pulled up and suddenly she breached the surface. She was wet. Before, everything was wet, so nothing was. As she soared through the air, she was properly wet. A new chill stung at her even as she willed herself higher, but her momentum only carried her so far. She could see lights from the dry place, sparkling and twinkling like little stars. What were they? She fell back into the embrace of her ocean home, answers denied.

Her restless energy got her moving quickly, but she didn't make a loop to try again. She made her way swiftly into the depths. Her large eyes swept carefully. Though it was her home, the ocean had many dangers. A careless hippocampus such as herself could become many thing's snacks. As if in response to her thought, a shark made an almost idle grab at her with a sweeping lunge and terrible teeth. She did a quick roll out of its way and it swam off, looking for less attentive food.

Bioluminescent algae grew in thick clumps, cultivated and held close to their houses to keep their little village lit at all times. She swam past the first batch and felt relaxed. Attacks beyond them were quite rare. This was their village. She reached out a hoof and trailed it along some of the sparkling corals that made up their city. "I'm home!"

A head poked out of one of the little rocky houses. "Cherry! I made dinner, come inside." The older hippocampus beckoned with a hoof before darting back inside with a flash of her own tail.

"Coming, mother." Cherry followed the mare, even if her name wasn't really 'Cherry'. It was Cerulean, but Cherry was a cute pet name, and her mother wouldn't be shaken from it. "I was just looking at the above-ocean."

Her mother rolled her eyes. "You need to stop doing that. What good's the above-ocean? We can't swim in it. There's no food up there. It's dry. It's got everything we don't need." She ladled out some tasty smelling stew, some of it spreading out through the water even as she tried to move it. She set the bowl before Cherry. "Eat up before it scatters."

That was no idle threat. Uneaten food was gone food. Cherry grabbed her bowl in her hooves and began slurping/gulping the delicious mixture into her eager mouth. "You're the best, mom."

"I'm glad you think so, so no more above-ocean, right?"

"No promises." Cherry stuck out her tongue and set the empty bowl aside, her hunger abated. "I'm going to do one little look around before I come to bed, alright?"

"Make it fast. You have school tomorrow."

Cherry made a quick noncommittal noise as she darted right back the way she came, leaving her slightly frazzled mother behind.

Her mother shook her head. "I have to keep reminding myself I was just as bad..." She let out a little sigh, bubbles drifting from her snout before she got to cleaning up after dinner.

Cherry swam to the edge of her town and did a slow spin, looking for her friends, or anything else. That night, it would be anything else. A faint glint reflected off the glow of her town's lights and drew her eyes. She focused her blue eyes on the tiny speck and took off like a torpedo towards it curiously. The ocean flowed around her, retreating smoothly across her aerodynamic form as the light drew closer. Though it wasn't so much as a light, as it was just a dim reflection up close.

She reached out a curious hoof and tapped at it. It gave off a low odd noise, tink tink tink it went with every touch. She hadn't had many metal things in her life, but that's what this was. She pushed and pulled and slowly worked out the tangled mess from the seabed where it had gotten mostly buried, but not very deeply. It seemed... new. Where had it come from? It was a mess of connected parts and little bits and bobs.

She had no idea what it was, but she wanted it. She began collecting every fragment she could find. Every little shard was quickly scooped up and put into a makeshift basket of seaweed to keep them together, then she hefted up the large main bulk of the device and slung it over her shoulder.

Whatever that thing was, she was going to find out. With determination, she darted back home and showed off her find to her confused mother.

"Just keep your head on your grades. I don't want to see them falling." Her mother gave her a soft hug. "Please."

She may as well have asked Cherry to not be wet. Her grades fell, but she was learning. She was learning something her school couldn't offer her.

Spike raised a brow. "Is it supposed to do that?"

Twilight scowled at the console, her wings fidgeting anxiously. "No, it's not supposed to do that." She tapped at the console with a hoof. "Maybe it'll recover..."

Spike pointed where she was looking. "The dot is where it is, right? It's only going down, that can't be good, can it?"

Twilight sagged a little. Spike was telling the truth, as painful as it was. "They promised it would work. I was going to look at the bottom of the very ocean! Nopony's ever been that deep! Just think of what sorts of wonders await us?"

Spike shrugged a little. "Nothing, apparently. At least not with this thing." He hiked a thumb at the screen that reported the still sinking device.

Twilight spread her wings wide in sudden fury. "You could at least try to be supportive."

Spike held up his claws. "Hey hey, I didn't mean anything by it. Say, I heard this town has a really big telescope, one of the biggest."

Twilight perked at that. "You don't say?" She glanced at the console before reaching to flick the view of the doomed machine off. "Well, let's not cry over spilled milk. Stargazing is one of my favorite things to do this side of books." She flashed a bright smile, her funk fading away quickly.

He let out a little sigh of relief that he'd avoided Twilight's short-lived fury. "Let's go!" He had no special desire to look at the stars, but it was far better than watching Twilight be angry at the failing gizmo. "I bet I'll pick out a constellation before you."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "As if. I've already picked out four while we were waiting here." Despite that, she smiled and walked with him side-by-side. "Thanks, Spike. Maybe next time it'll work."

Spike smiled at that. "I bet it would've worked if you made it."

Twilight tilted her head a little. "You know what, it probably would have, but that's not really my specialty... There are only so many hours in a day. I'm a princess after all, so I can't be a perfect machinist on top of all my other hobbies and duties."

They went to the observatory and enjoyed watching the depths of the night sky instead of focusing on their doomed machine. Perhaps another day. Perhaps...

Cherry turned a wrench held in her jaw and a limb of the curious machine twitched spastically before she quickly turned it the other way. Every thing she had, she had to make herself, or enlist her friends to help make or even find. It wasn't unknown for alien objects to turn up closer to the dry land, and some of them seemed to fit the great metal thing she had quite well.

"Watcha doin'?" asked a high-pitched male voice.

Cherry looked over her shoulder to see a blue and soft orange hippocampus. One of her friends. "Oh hey there, Indie. I can get it to move, look." She pressed the wrench onto the nut and turned, making it wriggle and dance before she pulled it back. "I think I'm getting closer."

Indie raised a brow at her. "How do you know you're getting anywhere at all? Do you even know what it is?"

Cherry tilted her head to the left and right quickly. "It's... Well look." She thrust a hoof at one of its limbs. "Look, it has a hoof, Three even. I think it used to have four but one broke off.

Indie shook his head. "What's anything need four hooves fer?" He spread his two hooves wide as his tail fidgeted through the water. "Maybe the third hoof's an extra. You should take it off and see if it works better."

Cherry frowned at the thought. It was true. There was really no good reason for anything to have more than two hooves. Maybe her machine had a lot of extra parts... "I'll give it a try. Thanks, Indie." She gave him a quick peck and darted off to get more parts. She'd need more than her wrench to enact the next part of her plan.

Author's Note

What's this? A new story?! Canary in the Coal Mine convinced me to give this adorable tale a try. The trick was he just showed me the picture you see above for the story picture. After that, it's all up to my muse!

My muse is a dangerous thing. It makes typos for breakfast and plot holes for dessert!

Like, hate? Let me know either way. I know we haven't arrived at the 'meat' of the plot yet, so I hope folks will subscribe to the story and take this journey with me and your fellow readers.

Do comment, I love comments!

3 - Where Surf Meets Sand

Spike approached the strange pony despite the obvious bewilderment on his face. His strong claws grabbed at the net and he began tearing with them and gnashing teeth.

Twilight was a little more doubtful. "Um, hello? What's... your name?"

"Most ponies call me Cherry." Cherry flinched back as a claw came close. "Please tell me your friend is a nice kind of dragon?"

"Oh, Spike?" She waved a hoof through the water dismissively. "He wouldn't hurt a fly. Oh, he's Spike, and I'm... running out of breath."

"Running out of breath?" The idea seemed alien to Cherry, but Twilight was already ascending as quickly as her awkward hooves could carry her. What good was four hooves anyway? They were lousy for swimming, that much was sure.

Spike nodded at her. "I'll be right back too. Don't worry, we'll get you out of there!" He darted up after her. His claws seemed superior to hooves for propulsion, but he was a dry creature too. What were they even doing in the water at all?

Cherry swallowed quietly and gave a pull. The net had been compromised by the dragon's tearing and she had enough room to at least get her limbs in order instead of awkwardly tangled. Should she trust these strange creatures? Trusting or not, Spike had given her a good idea and she sank her sharp fish-eating teeth into the ropes binding her, worrying it diligently to work through it thread by thread. Freedom no longer felt miles away.

Above, Twilight broke the surface with a loud gasp of air even as her spell collapsed and allowed the stale air to escape. "Spike?"

He popped up a moment just beside her. "Right here."

She grabbed him at the shoulders. "Did you see that?! Was I just, was it really? I mean... A hippocampus!"

Spike couldn't get a good response while he was being shaken by the overly excited alicorn. "Calm... down... Twi... She seems nice, but she needs our help." He pointed down into the water. "She's gonna drown if we don't move fast." He dove down without even a fresh bubble and was lost to Twilight's sight.

Twilight made a bubble for herself before she submerged after him. "Spike! You're not going to help her if you go drowning yourself trying to help her." She paddeled after him, but he was going faster than her. She wasn't even sure her words could reach him with no air around him. It was probably a garbled mess, or so she figured, though the hippocampus had understood them quite well.

Cherry heard the two noises of her would-be rescuers approaching. The dragon didn't have a bubble that time. He was completely submerged. He opened his mouth but nothing but bubbles came out instead of words. With a look of pure determination, he started working at her, but he was clearly getting slower, and weaker.

Was he sick? Maybe dry creatures shouldn't be all the way wet, or so she figured. She pulled and gnawed at the ropes, squirming her way to freedom and grabbing the limp dragon. She shot right past his friend towards the dry above-ocean. If wet creatures did well in the water, surely a dry creature would do better in the dryness.

She broke the surface of her home and water flowed through her fur, running free of her and leaving her feeling wet and cold. She wasn't thinking about the strange sensation of the salty breeze playing across her, but to the small form of the brave dragon in her arms. "Come on, be alright!" She shook him a little and held him up in the dry air, propped up in her hooves as if the water as a whole were poisonous to him, which may have been the case for as little as she knew.

Twilight broke the surface as her bubble popped. "Spike! Um, Cherry, was it?"

Cherry turned in place to look at her other would-be rescuer. "Oh, uh, he was like this when I got there, I swear. Is he alright?"

Spike suddenly convulsed and spat up some water before taking a ragged breath. "W-what happened?"

Twilight drifted closer to the two with a relieved smile. "Sounds like he's alright. Set him down, please." Once Spike was put back in the water, he was hugged by the thankful Twilight. "You're a very brave dragon, but please don't do that again."

Spike pointed a claw at Cherry. "But she musta been drowning too."

"What's drowning?" Cherry tilted her head. The above really was dry! She dunked under the water before coming back up with a little sigh of relief. "Is it like the opposite of dry? I mean, what dry creatures feel in the water?"

Twilight raised a hoof from the water to tap her chin. "That's actually fairly accurate. Can you breathe in air?"

As if to demonstrate, or test, Cherry took a big breath of the dry air. Her face contorted with distaste. "Ugh! It's dryer with every breath. How do you stand it?"

Spike shrugged a little. "It's pretty damp here near the beach. Uh, so, hi! How'd you get caught in that net."

Cherry suddenly started. "Oh no! I left my thingie below. Be right back!" She dived beneath the waves gracefuly.

Twilight raised a brow curiously. "Thingie?"

Spike shrugged. "I learned not to get between a mare and her things, whatever they are."

"Excellent advice, more often than not." Twilight raised a brow lightly before she suddenly vanished beneath the surface of the water with barely a squeak.

They weren't entirely out to the ocean, but they were far enough out for some creatures to be drawn to them. Lashed around her hind right leg was a slimy tentacle as an octopus reeled in its curious catch, perhaps for a taste. Thinking quickly, Twilight looked over her shoulder and let loose a brightly-colored bolt of force.

The creature gave a warble of pain and released her, only to snag her other hindleg with another grasping feeling, and a front leg an instant later.

Spike gave a bubbly war cry as he charged the watery beast with his claws at the ready, only to be swatted aside with another tentacle. It seemed to have countless many of them to confound the two.

With a rush of water, Cherry charged onto the scene and crashed into one of the tentacles grabbing at Twilight. It recoiled with an angry roar, but she was already diving at the other that held her new friend. "They aren't fish, leave'em alone!"

It grasped for her, but she dove around it, curling even as it did to do a graceful loop just out of its reach. "Surf off!"

What had seemed to be an easy snack was turning into a significant effort. The octopus glared balefully at the kindred creature of the waves before it drifted away from the scene.

Twilight quickly paddled to the surface beside Spike, with Cherry popping up an instant later. With a loud huff of breath, Twilight smiled. "Is everypony alright?" That's when she saw it. Cherry was wearing an odd thing around her waist. It was made of metal and had two hooves coming out of it. "What is that?"

"You don't recognize it?" Spike pointed at it. "It's a part of that stupid robot."

"What's a robot?" Cherry tilted her head. "I found it! It's mine now." She put her hooves over the belt protectively.

Twilight waved her forehooves in the air, dripping water. "Nopony is trying to take it away from you. Look, can we get out of the water? All this swimming is tiring."

Cherry looked left and right before her eyes settled on The Dry. "On there?" She shrank away a little with obvious fear.

Spike put a claw on her shoulder. "It's not so bad. You're not a fish. You'll be alright for a little while. We'll stay by the water, promise."

She followed after them as they began to go closer and closer to The Dry. "Look, I saved both of you once, so if I start dying, you'll throw me back in the water, alright? I'm not scared or anything!" She glanced around as she made her bald-faced lie. "I'm just playing it safe, you know?"

Twilight gave a gentle smile. "Don't you worry. We're friends now. Oh! Silly me. In all that excitement, I neglected to share my name. I am Twilight Sparkle, and it's nice to meet you."

"Princess Twilight Sparkle," corrected Spike as they swam.

"Princess?!" Cherry stopped a moment, though catching up with her new friends was easily done. "You're a princess?!"

Twilight flushed lightly. "I didn't want to intimidate you. Please, just consider me a friend. You're not even a citizen of Equestria, technically, so I'm not your princess."

"One thing." Cherry thrust a hoof out of the water. "If I can swim in here, I always thought dry creatures swam in the above-ocean. I've seen dry creatures doing it before. Why aren't you two?"

Spike looked dumbfounded and clammed up, but Twilight frowned sharply with obvious thought. "What did you see that 'swam' in the air?"

Cherry looked around before she spied a seagull and pointed at it. "There! See, it's swimming through the above-ocean quite well. You even have parts that look like its flippers." She reached out and brushed a hoof along one of Twilight's wings. "See? Why aren't you swimming? Spike doesn't have flippers, so I guess I understand him."

Twilight giggled a little at the confusion. "Oh! We call that 'flying'. I never got the hang of taking off from water before, but I can 'swim' in the air."

Spike snorted softly. "Some dragons have wings. I'm not just any dragon though."

Cherry flashed a sharp-toothed smile at him. "You're a hero dragon, the best kind."

Her statement quickly mollified and brought a burning blush to Spike's cheeks. "Aw, I was just doing what I had to. Anypony woulda done the same."

Twilight reached with a wing and hugged Spike close briefly. "You can be so modest sometimes. I can count on Spike when things get really chancy." She put down her hooves and rose from the water as they got into shallow enough water to stand. She was a tall pony though, growth encouraged by her ascension.

Spike quickly paddled another foot to find his own footing, but Cherry wasn't so fast. She could feel the ground beneath her, and the water... It was so shallow. It was truly The Dry. She was facing it. Her breathing felt raspy, but she was breathing. It was uncomfortable, but... She licked her lips anxiously. "Can we talk here? I'll stay in this little water and you can sit on your dry not-ocean."

"Hey!" came a sudden agitated voice. A unicorn stallion approached them from the boardwalk with a scowl. "Who's that, and why do they have a piece of my machine? Where's the rest?! Did you damage it? That cost no few bits, I'll have you know!"

Author's Note

Time for a convention! Meanwhile, somepony's a bit miffed to see his machine in pieces.

Somepony's gonna have to pay for this!

12 - Trees Are Friends, Trees Are Enemies

Soaring on determined wings, Rainbow consumed the distance between herself and Fluttershy's cottage in a rush of wind and fury that would be dizzying for other ponies. Stopping was harder than the quick flight there and she skidded to a stop, nose tapping the door as she came to a halt. She looked left and right without spying her friend so she raised a hoof to knock firmly on the door. "Yo, Flutters! There's something serious going on and I need your help!"

The corner of her friend's head, pink mane visible, peeked up around the corner of her window a moment before ducking away. "How do I know you're safe?"

"Safe? Rainbow Dash is never safe." She spread her wings. "But really, what's that question for? Come on!"

"Why are you here?" came the timid question, trembling with fear.

"To... learn about sirens? Look, the entire town's gone a bit nutso and we ha--"

The door suddenly swung inwards. "Oh thank goodness!" Fluttershy hugged Rainbow tightly. "I was afraid you were like the others."

"What? Me? Pfft, as if." She patted Fluttershy gently on the back. "Now come on and pull yourself together. We have a siren to bust."

"You know about it?" Fluttershy released her friend and sat on her haunches, tilting her head at Rainbow.

"How could I not know about it? They wouldn't shut up about it. Oh no, the siren's controlling Twilight! We'd better catch it!" Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Whatever. If the siren was so powerful, why wouldn't it just control the whole mob of them?"

"That's exactly what happened." Fluttershy tapped her hooves softly together, looking nervous. "What siren are they looking for?"

"Come again?" Rainbow squinted a little. "They said Twilight had a siren with her that got away."

"The seapony?" Fluttershy let out a sudden breath. "I'm glad she's okay. I always wanted to meet one of those. They're very rare, and not sirens!"

Rainbow rolled a hoof at her friend. "So if she's not the siren, why does everypony think she is?"

Fluttershy pointed past her friend towards the town. "Because they are being controlled, by a real siren! I heard her singing before, but she was too far away to put me under her spell. Rainbow, where were you earlier today?"

Rainbow considered that a moment, tapping her chin. "I was visiting Cloudsdale. I came back and went to say hi to Twi when everything was totally crazy."

"See? You didn't fall under its magic either."

Rainbow clopped her hooves together. "We have to break our friends free! I thought they were all crazy, but they're just being messed with, and nopony gets away with that with Rainbow Danger Dash on the case!"

Cherry carefully stepped up onto a log. Though this had been far from the way she would have chosen to do it, she was getting used to navigating on hooves and making quicker adjustments, she even had an idea... "Starlight?"

"Hmm?" Starlight turned back to Cherry, Spike on her back and light from her horn shining over Cherry. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, but I have an idea." Cherry thrust a hoof back to point at her belt. "This thing keeps my fins pinned all day, what if the fins did the turning instead of my wrench?"

Spike raised a brow. "Can they do that?"

"Not right now." Cherry rolled suddenly onto her side. "But I think I could make it work..."

Starlight glanced around nervously. "Are you sure this is the best time to do that? Who-knows-what could jump out and try to eat us at any moment."

Cherry frowned a little. "No, no it isn't, but we need every advantage we can get." She pulled free her screwdriver even as she wriggled free of her belt. "Cover me and I'll try to get this done quickly."

Spike saluted, but Starlight seemed less certain. She began to slowly circle, casting her light out into the gloomy forest, scanning for threats to their well-being.

Cherry pried off a panel in the side of the belt she had only realized was there after seeing the grandfather clock's hatch popped open. It wasn't a part of the structure, but made to come loose. She could see where it attached internally to the pieces she tweaked with the wrench and her mouth moved silently as she traced each with her eyes, trying to figure out the best place to put where she wanted.

Spike suddenly pointed. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Starlight frowned apprehensively, turning to face where Spike had indicated. The forest as a whole was oppressive and dark enough, but she didn't see anything rushing, slithering, charging, or otherwise moving towards them.

Spike's yelp echoed as he was lifted right off of Starlight's back. "Let go of me!"

Starlight looked up with a gasp, seeing that a tree was moving and grabbing Spike quite well with a thick branch. After a moment of surprise, she directed her horn at the branch after where it had Spike. With a bright blast of magic, Spike fell to the ground with a thump.

He scrambled to his feet just in time to dive out of the way of another oncoming branch. The first one regrew the missing part Starlight had blasted off and reached for the unicorn. It was thwarted for a moment by a suddenly summoned shield. "Spike, cook it!"

Spike ducked under another grasping branch and exhaled a rush of green flames. The branch curled and withered on contact and didn't immediately heal. "Ha ha! I have this ha--" The other branch suddenly swung in and caught him in the chest, knocking him down and the breath right out of him.

Starlight blasted the branch as it reached to grab Spike. "Don't worry, I have you covered. I'll take care of... this?" She felt something slithering along a leg and tensed. Slowly turning, she could see a wild mass of roots were growing up along her leg and flank, literally rooting her in place as she trembled with fear. "This forest is crazy!"

While all this happened, Cherry was focused on her job, carefully wedging in little bits and bending others with care. "Almost have it..." So focused was she on her task that she didn't even register the battle raging close by.

Spike fought his way upright, panting and wheezing with lost breath. As a branch swung for him, he tried to scorch it, only for a tiny little speck of green to emerge. He dove to the side, rolling out of the way of the angry wood just in time to avoid another painful blow.

The roots continued their ceaseless spread over Starlight, but she frowned, almost a sneer. "Stupid plant! You think you can win that easily?" She flashed brightly, energy pouring from her in all directions in a sudden explosion that sent the roots scattering and freeing her. She staggered away, heaving for breath after the dramatic display. "Take... that..."

Cherry slipped back into her belt and worked her fins into the new openings she had fashioned for them. She wriggled her left fin just for the internal gears to turn right over it. She squealed with pain but managed to get the gear reversed swiftly. There was more work to be done.

Spike made a sudden charge and hopped up onto Starlight. "We can handle this."

Starlight gave a determined nod. "Your flames recharged? It's time to cut down this rebellious ivy." She gave a scowl at the tree as her chest rose and fell. "Let's do this."

Together they charged, with Starlight providing the speed as she dodged and wove around a worryingly increasing number of branches on her way to the trunk of the tree. Spike drew in a deep breath as they got closer. Just as the branches converged on them, he let loose, scorching the branches between them and the trunk before the whole thing seemed to catch ablaze for a brilliant moment. It burned all too quickly, reduced to ash and leaving a shaft of light pouring in from above where the canopy had been compromised with the missing tree.

Spike let out a triumphant whoop. "We did it!"

Starlight offered a hoof that Spike met with a balled fist, both relieved that their foe had been defeated.

Cherry gave her own satisfied cheer as she rolled upright and began moving forward and backwards without holding a wrench. "See?" She looked up at her winded friends and tilted her head. "What have you two been up to?" She approached them with a satisfied smile on her face. "I got it working right, so we can keep going now."

Starlight nodded at Cherry. "Very nice job, but I think Spike and I need... just a moment." She sank to the ground, panting softly. "We'll get moving after that. That reminds me, how are you doing? I mean, this is pretty dry for you, isn't it?"

Cherry winced faintly at being reminded how long it'd been since she felt the cool embrace of water. "I'm alright, I think. I'd rather be swimming, but I don't think I'm dying or anything." She waved it off. "I'll be alright."

Spike gave a thumbs up as he caught up from all the excitement. "Good to hear. I think we have a lot more walking ahead of us. This is bothering me though."

Starlight perked an ear at him. "What is? This forest? I'm with you there."

"Not that, I mean, not just that. Twilight should have calmed the crowd and come to get us by now, but she hasn't. Do you think something went wrong?"

Cherry reached for his shoulder. "I wouldn't worry, Spike. Twilight's a very clever pony and the ponies obviously respect her. They wouldn't hurt her."

Starlight nodded in quick agreement. "She's safer than we are right now, the way I see it."

Spike looked around the forest slowly. "I wish we knew which way was Zecora's..."

Cherry blinked. "What's a Z-core?"

Spike snorted softly with a smile. "Zecora, a zebra that lives in these woods. She's nice, and she knows lots of stuff. I bet she could help us get this straightened out."

Starlight hiked a brow. "She lives in this forest? Why would anypony do that willingly?"

Cherry shrugged a little. "As scary as it is, everywhere has scary things. The ocean's full of things that'll make a snack out of you. You get used to it. I'm just not used to, uh, forest sharks just yet.

Rested and ready, they drew themselves upright and resumed their hike, hoping that grabby trees would be the worst thing they'd find.

But what were the odds of that?

Author's Note

The adventure continues! Exposition, delivered!

I hope this makes more sense for everyone? There was no warning because... there was no warning. Everyone was acting out of character... because they were out of character.

28 - Graveyard of Machines

The train came to a smooth halt. Indigo peered outside at the town they had arrived in. It was small. It made Ponyville look like a bustling metropolis. "Is this the right place?"

Luna rose to her hooves. "The movement of trains is loud, to say nothing of the work they perform tearing one apart, so they selected a small community. It was once even smaller, but the workers needed basic things and they formed in response to the demand." She began to lead the way off the car.

Cherry jumped off the car and looked around. Her face brightened as the train drew away, because right behind it was a vast sea of broken and abandoned trains. "Look!" She thrust a hoof at the glorious display of dry machinery. "Can we just take any we want?"

Indigo wheeled up beside her, facing the collection. "I doubt it. Some of them already look like they're being taken part."

"He is correct." Luna gestured for the stairs down and resumed leading the way. "We may have royal authority, but this is hardly a matter of emergency. We will consult with the workers and determine which engines they can reasonably part with."

Before they knew it, they were standing before three half-formed engines, each missing huge chunks of what made them work and clearly in the process of dismantling.

Cherry raised a brow as she looked between them and the lanky pony that had led them out to it. "Are these the only three you can offer? What about... that one?" She pointed at a nice and almost-new looking train with a hopeful smile.

He rubbed at his cheek a moment. "Can't do that one. It's scheduled for tear down tomorrow. Engineers say it can be salvaged."

Luna glanced between the disappointed look of her guest and across the junkyard of trains. "Surely there is one train you could part with that hasn't already been dismantled." She waved over the sea of metal. "Something too old and unreliable to be reasonably repaired."

He frowned with obvious thought. "Well, there's one..."

Indigo wheeled forward instantly. "Show us!"

"Alright, alright, this way." He waved as he turned and began leading the way. "Watch yer step, metal's sharper than it looks."

The sharpness of the metal was less of a concern for the two-legged sea pony and more of an obstacle. Cherry gave her friend some assistance over the first big bump, until Luna's magic glowed around him and lifted him several inches into the air, right over the majority of the debris.

Cherry stuck out her tongue a little. "Not so fast now, are we?" She could step over the obstacles. It slowed her, but never stopped her. "Dry swimming done right."

Indigo rolled his eyes at her. "No fish is perfect at everything." He was set down as they reached a relatively clear patch and he resumed pulling himself forward. "Let's find that train."

The train-tender showed them to a rusty hulk of a machine. It was old, beat up, and old. Did we mention old yet? But, it was intact. "We were considering donating it to a museum. About as useful as it'll ever be, outside of melting it down for scrap."

Cherry reared up and clopped her hooves excitedly, blind to its weathering and age. "It's magnificent!"

Luna cast a critical eye over the machine. "It's a bit... worn."

The engineer shrugged softly. "You asked for something too old to be repaired reasonably, here it is."

Cherry waved dismissively at Luna. "Don't mind her, it's lovely!" She stepped up towards it reverently, eyes tracing the lines of the mechanics she could see easily, which wasn't much. "I can't wait..."

Luna gestured the engineer to the side. "We will need this transported to the town of Ponyville, can you arrange this?"

The engineer whistled softly. "It won't roll itself, and that'd require re-scheduling of the tracks..."

"Can it be moved without the tracks?" Luna tilted her head faintly.

"It could... But it'd actually be easier to do the reschedule and tug it with a working engine down to Ponyville. It'll be up to you to get it from there to where you want it. We'd just drag it over there and get it off the tracks."

Luna gave a grave nod. "Very well, begin planning that, and arrange for a small team to move it once it's there. Charge it to the royal account."

"Yes, ma'am." He saluted, perhaps a bit happy at the idea of having access to the royal account. "We'll need at least two days to clear the schedule and get your train on the books, then we'll get her on the tracks and get her moving."

Cherry tilted her head. "It's a girl train?" She looked up at the old train and reached a hoof, brushing gently along the rusted metal. "Hello... grandmother train. I'll have you sparkling just like the young ladies, don't you worry. Does she have a name?"

The engineer smiled. "You really have a thing for trains, don't you? I feel better knowing she'll be in good hooves. She's the last of her line. Only reason she hasn't already been scrapped. I couldn't bear to see history erased like that." He gestured over the train. "Say hello to Red Rocket. In her prime, she was the fastest thing on the tracks, at least with a full payload." He tapped at his chin. "You see, other trains could go faster, empty, but what use is an empty train? It took real engineering to get an engine working that hard when it was weighed down with tons on tons of cargo."

Cherry nodded with almost every word. Her train had such a glorious history, and she ate it all up with a growing smile. "I'll make her relive her prime days." She patted the solid-iron cow catcher on the front of the train. "She must be so sad, just laying around here for so long. We'll fix that."

Indigo wheeled up beside her. "It looks amazing... are you sure you can fix it?" He was clearly awestruck by the great machine, but intimidated wouldn't have been a bad word to use. "It's a lot larger than your clock."

"It is, but it's still the same thing." Cherry shook her head. "Take it apart, one piece at a time, learn how it fits, and put it back, repeat until I have the whole thing. But then..." She clopped a hoof on the ground. "We get to the fun part. I have to replace the parts."

"Just about every part," agreed the engineer as he walked away to arrange things.

Luna nodded at her guests. "It appears we are successful in our endeavor." Her eyes scanned up over the old train. "We confess, we do not see this with your eagerness, but we came for your satisfaction, not ours. We trust you will be responsible with this?"

"Yes!" Cherry started circling the machine. "I will take such good care of it. Twilight said she knows a pony that uses the power of dry to bake metal, just like a cake, but less tasty." She turned towards Luna. "You dry ponies use dry's power for so much! It's amazing."

Luna hiked a brow. "What, precisely, is the power of the dry?"

Cherry tilted her head. "The power of The Dry is hot and, well, dry. We have wet heat at best in the ocean, and only if you go to special places. In The Dry, you can summon its power wherever you want, but it works best in ovens and things."

Indie shook his head. "She's the expert on this. I'm still learning how The Dry works."

"You realize, this is land, not 'The Dry'. We have plenty of water, or we would not survive well." Luna shook her head a little. "Your perspective on land living is charming, but somewhat inaccurate."

Cherry wasn't listening. Examining her new train took precedence by far. Fortunately, Indie was still looking at Luna. "From our point of view, it makes perfect sense. You probably think of some silly things with the water. We promise to not be angry at you if you won't be with us."

Luna offered a hoof. "A sound proposal." They met with a soft clop. "We should be going. We will inform them that you need to be put up for the night and ride with the train back to Ponyville."

That caught Cherry's attention. She rushed back, her back legs almost falling out of sync with her excitement. "We'll get to ride it!?"

"It shall not function, not until you repair it," explained Luna. "They'll attach it to a functioning train in a couple of days--"

Cherry saw Indigo looking confused and leaned in. "A day is while the sun is high and a night is when it is sleeping."

"Ohhh." Indigo smiled thankfully at Cherry.

"Yes, precisely so. You will wait in this small town until then and ride your train back to Ponyville. You will also oversee its movement to near Twilight's castle, close enough that you can work on it easily, but not so close as to displease Twilight. Use your discretion."

"Discretion is my middle name," claimed Cherry, already ogling her train again with little giggles of excitement.

Luna sighed softly and looked to Indigo. "Of the two, you are less emotionally invested in this project. May we charge you with overseeing its satisfactory conclusion?"

Indigo almost jumped at suddenly being given a task of what seemed great gravity. "Oh, um, of course! I'll make sure they put it kinda close but not too close." He paused a moment. "How close is that?"

Luna gave a little smile. "We should think a five minute walk away from the town from the castle would be a fine placement. Thank you, young seapony. We must attend to other duties. Please watch over your friend and see to this."

Author's Note

Train, obtained, mostly? We still have to get it to Ponyville, and Luna is splitting back to Canterlot to do royal things.

It's up to a starstruck Cherry and a hopefully aware Indie to make this have a happy typo-free ending.

What could go wrong?!

44 - End Episode, Relations

Indigo considered the coral quietly a moment, along with the buzzing little insects that guarded over it. There had to be a solution... One that didn't end with a lot of angry insects. "What if we traded?"

One of the insects buzzed before him, asking him what he'd give in return for it that'd possibly be an even exchange.

A great question... Indigo scanned around slowly. "What do you need?"

They needed flowers, to avoid another kind of insect that looked sort of like them but weren't, and they needed peace to do their job. Indigo was not helping with the last part.

Indigo smiled brightly. "What if Harry, that's the bear there." He pointed. "What if he brought you new flowers and watered the ones that were here, so you ended up with a lot of new flowers.

Go on, or so the insect invited.

"Well then you'd have lots of flowers, and a guardian." Indigo sat up, nodding quickly. "You give him some sweet stuff in return, and that would be a fair trade, right?"

They weren't so fast to believe.

"I'll get him to bring some flowers first, just to show he can." Indigo hopped to his hooves and dry-swam over to Harry. "Hey! Good news. I think they'll trade the sweet stuff to you."

That perked Harry's interest, but what would he trade?

"Yourself, I mean, you just get flowers." Indigo moved his hooves to show the approximate size of a good flower. "Bring it and plant it here, where the insects can reach it easily. Water them and care for them, and they'll give you sweet stuff in return."

Harry glanced up at the insects before looking back at Indigo with obvious uncertainty.

Indigo shrugged softly. "Bring a nice batch of flowers and plant them and either they do their part, or at least your house has some more flowers around it. That's not so bad."

It was a deal. Harry rose up and wandered off in pursuit of flowers. As it turned, that part of the forest didn't have as many flowers as other parts, and Harry had to go far to get a real armful.

That made him all the more welcome when he began planting the flowers, and the rejoicing among the insects got louder when he watered them all. He had just made their lives a lot easier and safer.

Coming down with a small bucket held up by a swam of the insects, they set the bucket down beside the bear and buzzed away without a word. Not that words were required. Harry accepted his gift with a happy grunt and moved to his home to enjoy it.

Indigo had done well. Sure, Harry hadn't said thanks, but fish were funny that way. He turned back for the castle and got to dry-swimming home, whistling along the way with building self-satisfaction, at least until he remembered the mess with his friends. He swallowed heavily as he went, hoping that Cherry wouldn't be too sad about whatever they had seen that upset them so much.

Maybe a gift would help? Yes! Indigo redirected himself and approached Ponyville proper at a good trot. "What would she like..." He trotted right into the marketplace and began to look around.

"Hey." A unicorn, green in color, was looking at him. "You're one of the sea ponies that lives with Twilight, right?"

Indigo leaned a little, seeing the unicorn had an odd thing on her flank. Something with... were those bones? He couldn't tell. "Yeah, say, I'm looking for a gift for a mare."

She colored a bit and burst into giggles. "Oh my! Such a daring colt you are. What sort of gift?"

He wasn't that young! Indigo colored a little at being called a colt. "A very special gift for a special friend of mine. She's... been a friend forever, and I kinda hope eventually more?"

"One of the other sea ponies?" The pony tilted her head.

"Don't tell her!" He raised a hoof to his mouth. "But yes. The blue one."

"Brave."

"Huh?"

"Getting a gift for one without one for the other. She's going to be jealous."

So what if she was?! For a moment Indigo just didn't care what Berry thought, but he reconsidered it. Berry hadn't done anything that wrong besides decide that she liked him, and... was that a bad thing? "O-okay, maybe one for both?"

The unicorn nodded. "Let's pick something nice. Oh, my name's Lyra." She offered a hoof. "How about some jewelry? Haven't met a mare yet that doesn't like something shiny that goes with her fur or mane."

Indigo clopped one hoof against hers. "That's a good idea. Where do I get those around here, and do I have enough, um, bits?" He dug out his collection of coins and showed them to Lyra.

She examined his collection with a raised brow. "Maybe jewelry is a bit out of your reach..." He pouted and she hastily raised a hoof. "Easy there, scout. We'll get your lady-friends some candy instead."

"Huh?"

"Candy, nice and bright and still colored right." Lyra turned away. "Come with me. They'll forgive you if you give these to them with a big smile and a sincere apology." She looked over her shoulder. "You did make a mistake, right?"

He did, but what it was... "I think so. I'll do that then, if it means they'll be happy." Indigo raced to be beside her and soon they were approaching a store he hadn't been in before. "What is this?"

"This is my best friend's shop." Lyra gestured broadly. "Welcome to Bon Bon's Sweet Shop, where every bite is sweet, unless it's sour." She rolled her eyes. "Worst tagline, best candy. This way." She opened the door with her magic and trotted inside. "We'll brighten both of their days."

Soon, Indigo was heading back to the castle with two bags strapped to his sides, brimming with the sweet and sour mix that he was assured would win him forgiveness.

He was whistling again, confident and happy. He would give them the candy and apologize for... whatever he'd done to make them think he was doing something awful, and then they could be friends again!

He found them both in the kitchen, preparing something. So they were hungry? Perfect! He approached them with a smile. "I got a gift for you."

Berry glanced at Cherry then back at Indigo. "For who?" Her voice made it plain that the answer was very important to her.

Getting one gift would have been a mistake, or so Indigo silently decided. He pulled off one bag. "Both of you for both of my special friends." He revealed the brightly-colored candy for them. "I'm sorry I made you so scared before." Even if he still had no idea how he had. "Please accept this as my token of apology."

Cherry leaned in over the bag with her own colored candy and peered at it curiously a moment before she sniffed it. "What is it?"

Indigo waved at it proudly. "They're candy. Some are sweet and some are sour, but they're all tasty, promise."

Berry snatched one from Cherry's bag and chewed on it thoughtfully a moment before she nodded.

"How is it?" asked Cherry curiously just before Berry stuffed a candy in her mouth. "Mmf!" She started chewing the candy a moment before she let out her own mmm and settled down. Soon both mares were exchanging candies back and forth with one another.

He had succeeded! "All forgiven?"

Cherry leaned across. "Berry told me it was... kind of a mistake."

Indigo bobbed his head. "I swear, we did nothing wrong."

Berry shook her head. "I wouldn't believe him if not for the way he said it..." She popped another candy into her mouth. "He's innocent, I'm sure of it."

Indigo reached shyly for one of the candies, only to be warded away by Cherry's hoof. She snagged one and popped it right in his mouth. "Ours, you get some only by being a good boy."

Cherry leaned in closer. "Speaking of which, we've been talking."

Indigo tensed. Their conversation could mean a lot of trouble for him. Mmm, that candy really was good...

Berry nodded. "We have decided to make our competition formal, and you are the judge. You will decide which mare wins."

Indigo blinked softly. Wait, did that mean... "Cherry, you?"

Cherry held up a hoof. "You have to make a choice."

Indigo crashed to his hooves as the implication became clear. He had to pick a winner, and with it, a loser. He could just--

Berry shook her head. "And no picking for at least one full turning of the moon."

Cherry nodded. "I have an advantage that's unfair. You have to decide as if you didn't already want to be my coltfriend."

How could he pretend not to? He co--

Berry took his cheeks in her hooves. "Give me a chance at least. If you decide, fairly, you want Cherry, then I'll accept that."

Cherry bobbed her head. "A fair chance."

"B-but... you.. will you?"

Cherry smiled. "I think I care about you, Indigo..."

Indigo felt his heart racing as he looked back and forth between the two mares. He leaned back against the table for support as he tried to regain his breath.

Things had taken a turn...

Berry rose to her hooves. "You'll give me a fair chance, right? This isn't a fight if one of us already won."

Cherry nodded firmly. "You have to promise to be fair. Berry deserves a chance."

Indigo didn't understand it. If Cherry really wanted him, why would she even want Berry to have a chance? Everything felt dizzy and confusing. "I need a swim..."

He staggered off towards their room, leaving the two of them together.

Berry glanced aside at Cherry. "Do you think he'll do it?"

Cherry wriggled her nose. "As your rival, I will give you a few pointers to get on the right side, then we can compete fairly." Cherry nodded firmly before taking a candy and chewing it. "These really are nice."

Berry took one for herself. "He's a thoughtful stallion..." She reached and tapped Cherry's nose. "And you are a thoughtful rival." She flashed a bright smile. "Win or lose, it will be an honor to face you on the field of battle."

Cherry burst into giggles at that. "I hope... win or lose, you keep being my rival."

Berry blinked at that. "Can you be a rival forever?"

"Why not?"

"What would we be rivals for?"

Cherry gestured in the direction of the train. "We could do mechanical things? We have that going, don't we?"

"Oh yeah." Berry smiled. "I'll show you how good my mechanics are, starting with this engine of yours. How close are we to finishing it?"

Cherry waved it off. "Close, but I need a few parts that broke clean off and I need a copy that isn't broken to copy from."

Berry rose to her hooves. "Watch. I'll get those!"

Author's Note

Episode end, with a redrawing of the battle lines, as it were. Cherry and Berry decide they were just a typo and decide together where it should be.

No, Indigo doesn't get a vote. The mares are talking! Just like a stallion, trying to add typos to it.