How I Became the Sea

"Are you sure you'll be okay? Are there more Sirens out there?"

Fluttershy nodded at me. I didn't know to which question, so I sank my head into the chilly water to meet her glowing green eyes.

"I'll be fine, Rainbow. Those three were the only ones who knew I was alive."

Air bubbled from my mouth as I exhaled. I pulled back. "So... I guess this is goodbye." Fluttershy placed a hoof over the back of my neck, and guided me back down.

"For what it's worth, I really enjoyed my time with you."

I grin, and mouth, Me too.

Our lips touched one more time. And it wasn't so that I could get air.

Fluttershy slowed, and our contact receded, much to my disappointment. When I opened my eyes, I was concerned to see that she was staring at me, eyes popping out.

"What?" I covered my mouth. Did I just-

Fluttershy blinked in disbelief. "You... You actually..."

I pulled my head up and looked back. I was glowing! "Fluttershy, what's happening to m-" I couldn't breathe! I had to dunk my head back down. "What's happening to me?"

Fluttershy stammered. "D-Do you remember when I said Hippocampi aren't born?"

"Yeah. You said they're..." Oh. "Is... is it permanent?"

"Nothing's permanent, until you decide."

I couldn't feel my hind legs.

"Decide what?"

"Hippocampi are made from a pony's love for the ocean."

I felt myself slipping. I could see a ruby-red glow in the pupils of her hopeful, shining eyes.

"I-I don't understand," I tittered. "I'm terrified of the ocean."

She smiled at me as we both began to sink. I swallowed as the initial panic of the waves surrounding us ebbed down, my body warming inexplicably. In the comfort of her embrace, she whispered to me.

"I am the ocean."

Sometimes I think to myself, How crazy was the first Hippocampus?

How crazy must they have been to choose the ocean over anything else in their life? They were probably a shipwrecked sailor that found solace in the inevitable closing of the incoming tidal waves. Poor fella.

It's funny, I still don't fully understand it. Fluttershy told me that ancient water spirits are the ones responsible for creating the Hippocampi. I am the 337th. That makes me the 336th certifiably most kookie pony in history.

I like to think that things like that happen for a reason. The one Fluttershy gave me took a little getting used to.

Hippocampi have a lot of duties, so it seems. In general, we are protectors of the sea. We get to fight sea monsters, so that's pretty cool. But there's also a bunch of little stuff, like helping marine life prosper.

It can get to be a hoofful, so Fluttershy taught me this sweet thing called The Stare. It's pretty funny to do it to sharks. Today, I'm watching over the seahorses as their young leave to begin their own lives.

What a hard life of work I lead. I stretch as I sunbathe on the flat rock. It's so much warmer out East. I don't know why Fluttershy loved the West coast so much.

Actually, I do. It was cold, and desolate, but it was where she met her first love. I think I can understand that. But after my family and friends were gone, I didn't really have a reason to stay there. Especially not after Fluttershy passed.

Since Fluttershy had her little mural, and Ash before her had his wood-carved charm (and so on), I decided to keep the tradition going. Personally, I think it's unfair that there must only be two of us. It's a painful cycle, but it's the way it is.

Fluttershy has been gone for almost 10 years. It took me 5 to complete the carving of her out of her rock. I never call it our rock. It's always been hers.

A hundred years from now, somepony will probably find it and think it's a natural formation. Ponies are silly like that.

My soothing thoughts are rudely interrupted by a loud screaming. I look up. Speaking of silly ponies, there's one plummeting off the cliff right now. I frown. She's a Pegasus; why doesn't she start flying?

I quickly calculate her fall. Once I'm fairly certain that she won't hit the rocks, I slip into the cool water and calmly swim over. I hear a splash, and see her sink a fair distance.

I sigh, then launch downwards to grab her before she drowns. She's gone limp, so now I'm a little worried. I tug her back up to the surface. Once I get her back on the beach, she starts choking up water.

Good, so she's not done for. I drop her safely down, then crawl back to the water. Once I'm close enough, I turn around to look at the pony I just rescued.

She's got a short purple mane over an orange coat. She's got a scooter cutie mark, and- goodness! Were my wings that flimsy? What are they feeding her? The future of Pegasi sure isn't bright if this is the norm.

Well, I guess it would explain why she didn't fly to safety. But seriously, why jump if you can't fly?

I roll my eyes and facehoof for answering my own question. I can still be a dummy sometimes.

She gasps as she begins to stir. That's probably my cue to leave. But for whatever reason, I hesitate. The mare struggles to stand. Yeah, that fall probably broke something.

She looks around, plainly surprised to be alive. Then she sees me. I can't help but grin at her shock. Before I dive back down, I make sure to stay long enough to see her bewilderment at my wink.