Chapters There she is again.
I lift my head up off of my pillow and gaze out the window. The violent pink sky bleeds out into the shimmering blue ocean. On the very edge of the horizon, the two colors meet, blending into a mottled grey color that's rather unsettling among the otherwise pretty colors. But that's not what I'm interested in.
Down at the rocky bottom of the cliff upon which the lighthouse stands, there is a small outlet that opens into a skinny stretch of sand; a pitiful excuse for what you could call a beach. The sand down there is a petty nuisance; it's always so gritty and coarse. It lumps together like cat litter, and takes forever to wash out. It's not even remotely close to the soft, silky paradise that Rarity wouldn't shut up about.
Regardless, every morning, and every night for the past three days I've been here, I see somepony down there. A lone mare, perched on a rock. I think she braids her mane down there. I can't tell; she's almost always shrouded in darkness, as if a layer of treacherous mist hovers over her at all times. I tried going down to talk to her, but every time I did, she was gone without a sound.
It creeped me out to no end. I told Blaze about it as soon as he came back from his daily fishing trip.
"Are you sure you didn't see a Siren?" He had laughed, slugging my shoulder.
I was unamused. Instead of taking him up on his offer to accompany him and his crew fishing (I hate water), I opted to dig into his little study and do some investigating. And wouldn't you know, he had a cute little section on oceanic mythology. Apparently Sirens are magical serpents that use their seductive voices to lure sailors to their doom.
Well, the thing I saw was definitely a pony. Also, I had never heard it sing. I crossed Siren off the list.
Cthulhu, Kraken, Hydra, they were all wrong! I doubt half of them even still exist. Exhausted, I tried to just shove it out of my mind. But every glance I steal down that gorge, she's still there. I wondered... could she be a ghost?
I mean, not like a spooky sheet ghost, but like, a spirit or something. It didn't not make sense. Three days into my stay, I heard a loud wail out from the seaside, and that's when I rolled over in bed to look out in shock. She's still up on that rock, though not sitting up like she usually does. This time, I am finding out who she is, once and for all!
I kick up the salt-stiffened sheets and stomp out the door. I don't worry about waking up Blaze; he can sleep through anything. I stop to put on a rain slicker and tuck my rainbow mane into a gray knit beanie. I will hide outside all night if I have to.
Now ready for anything, I charge outside. I gallop ferociously to the jagged path worn into the rock. I have to zigzag a couple times, but it's manageable. I peek over the hedge-brush every few seconds to make sure she doesn't disappear on me. I smirk when I burst through the dry, cracked bramble.
She's still there.
"Hey! Who are you?" I demand in the most authoritative voice I can muster. I scuff my hind hooves, hoping I look intimidating. When she turns around, I'm at a loss for words.
In the dying light of the sun, I can see her butter-yellow coat glistening over her skin. A flowing pink mane falls over a most pleasingly symmetrical face. A frightened expression vandalizes the angelic features that take my breath away. I stutter, then repeat myself.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" I take a step towards her, then instantly backpedal. Now that I'm really looking, I realize with horror that there's a great big fish tail where her hindquarters should be. "Sweet Celestia!"
It's a sea monster! That's it, I'm out. I am not a mare of many fears, but sea monsters is where I draw the line! I turn to race for safety, when I hear a weak splash behind me. I dive behind a bush, and poke my head out slowly. My gut feels squeezed to see her writhing in a tiny pool, her hooves flailing wildly.
She looks up at me. I consider flying all the way back to Cloudsdale. Before I will my wings to work, I freeze as she mouths the word Please .
Please what?
I cock my head at her. I jump when I hear another eerie wail. She looks even more nervous than I do. Again, she mouths Please . Her shoulders heave, as if she were sobbing, but no tears come out.
"Do... do you need help?" I ask as I inch closer. She perks up, nodding intensely. "So, if I help you, you're not gonna eat me?"
She scowls at me, as if I just said something incredibly stupid. I bite my lip. She's... intelligent. I don't think I can just leave her. I mentally scream at myself as I walk closer.
"Okay, I'm gonna help you," I hesitantly move down to pick her up. My skin crawls at how slimy her bottom half feels. She's a little heavy, but I've lifted larger loads before. "Do you need to go back into the water?"
Her tail whips up to slap me in the face. I yelp, and give her a sour look. She's shaking her head. I frown.
"Why not?" Another gut-wrenching wail. She points her hoof in the direction it emanated from. I gulp. "Are there actual sea monsters out there?" She nods.
What a most unbelievable chain of events. I'm not convinced that I'm not dreaming. I grimace as I turn away. There isn't another body of water close by. I have no idea what to do.
The water churns out in the ocean, snatching my attention. My jaw drops as the dark, spiny fin of some great big creature begins to surface. The pony-fish-thing's grip around my waist tightens. As I zoom back towards the cabin, I think to myself that I'll just have to figure something out.
"Rainbow Dash?"
I jerk my head up when I hear knocking. "Huh?" A small splash of water hits my face. I look up to see the seapony, eyes glinting merrily as she forms a small o with her mouth and shoots another stream at me. This is probably the explanation for why my chest is damp.
"Rainbow Dash, are you okay in there?"
I freeze. Blaze cannot see this. "Don't come in here! I'm taking a bath!" I shout. Out of the corner of my eye, the seapony smiles invitingly, as if to say that I am welcome to do just that.
"Okay. Me and the boys are headed out. I'll be back tonight!"
As his hoofsteps recede, I turn to look back at my guest. "Should I be worried about him and his friends? Cuz the... you know." She considers for a moment, then shakes her head no. I sigh in relief. I didn't really feel like explaining all this to Blaze.
I slide back against the door. My back aches from sitting all night. The seapony, who rests half submerged in the bathtub, stares at me curiously. I stare back.
"So... I'm guessing you can't talk," She shakes her head. I groan. "Can you write?" At this, she gives me a deadpan look.
I groan again, this one more agitated. I curl up on the bathroom mat. "Okay, well, how long do you need to stay hidden? I can't keep you here forever."
She ponders for a few seconds. She grabs a shampoo bottle and squirts a short squiggly line on the floor.
"Uh, one?" She nods. "One day?" I don't think I can keep my cool if it turns out to be one year. Thankfully, she nods again. I exhale.
I caught a lucky break. I can hide her for that long. Speaking of which...
"What was that thing?"
I don't think I've ever been truly terrified until I saw that thing rise up from the depths of the water. I didn't get a good look at it, but my instincts told me it was dangerous.
The seapony shrugs. I glare at her; she obviously knows, given her intense desire to get the heck away from it. Well, if she doesn't want to fill me in, I am more than capable of finding out for myself.
"I'll be right back," I mutter as I climb to my hooves, stretching in the process. I stop, then add, "Don't go anywhere."
She blows a raspberry at me with a spiteful look on her face.
"So... you're a hippocampus." I muse. The newly determined hippocampus raises her head. Ah-ha, so she knows I know. Well, I don't know whatever it was that was, I guess chasing her. But hey, progress.
I am a little surprised, in fact. The hippocampi in Blaze's book are big, powerful creatures. This one looks comparatively puny. I mean, compared to a pony, her upper half looks like an adult mare. I peer at her closely. I must be the first pony to see a hippocampus in a while.
What Twilight Sparkle wouldn't give...
"Well, my name's Rainbow Dash," I wave shortly. "Nice to meet you."
The hippocampus waves back. She lifts the shampoo bottle again; I moan as she begins squirting more shampoo onto the floor that I'll have to clean up. When she's done, she looks at me expectantly. I roll my eyes, and look down.
IM FLUTTERSHY
"You know, that's technically writing."
I receive a squirt of shampoo to my face. I glare at Fluttershy as I wipe it off, taking care not to get any in my eyes or mouth. She shrinks back, smiling innocently. I swipe the bottle away before she gets any other bright ideas.
I go back to the book I had cradled in my lap. It's not as helpful as I was hoping. There's no concrete information about hippocampi in the entire chapter dedicated to them. There are a bunch of drawings, and a few paragraphs with vague statements regarding the origin of the hippocampi. There aren't any stories, references, or documents. And there certainly aren't any notes about the hippocampi having an undersea arch-nemesis.
I look up back at Fluttershy. She's constantly squirming and flopping in the tub. She acts as if she just can't remain still.
"Well, it looks like we're going to be here for a while. Do you mind if we talk?" Another short jet of water hits my face. I inhale, trying to gather my patience. "I'll ask yes or no questions, just nod or shake your head. Can you do that?"
Fluttershy nods.
"Okay then," I turn the book so Fluttershy can see the page I'm on. "Let's do this."
Fluttershy's chin rests on the edge of the porcelain tub. I pace back and forth to keep my limbs from going stiff with pain. I've cleared up a few things already, but I keep getting the feeling that there are things that Fluttershy refuses to let me know.
For starters, I know that hippocampi don't look like the ones in the book. They are meant to be about the size of a pony. According to Fluttershy, she's the last one left, but I don't know if I believe that. They are also magically prohibited from speaking above water.
To confirm this, Fluttershy had me walk over and dip my head into the bathtub so that I could hear her voice. Instead, she had wormed underneath me and planted a sneaky kiss straight on my lips. I growled at her for pulling a fast one. I told myself that I was more upset that I didn't actually get to hear her talk.
Aside from that, hippocampi can live in saltwater and freshwater, can live longer than a pony, are omnivores (that got a shudder out of me), and usually live along the coast.
"Are you ready to tell me what you were trying to get away from?" I ask.
Fluttershy looks up at me and sticks her tongue out. I continue to press the matter.
"Is it one of the creatures in this book?" I wave it in her face. "Is it an angler? A megalodon? What?" She doesn't acknowledge me. I huff.
"Fine," I wave a woof dismissively. "How about this: if you're the only hippocampus, then how do you..." Fluttershy narrows her eyes at me as I trail off. I clear my throat. "Preserve the race?"
Fluttershy crosses her hooves and looks away. I sigh. All of a sudden, something clicks in my mind.
"Is that creature the reason you're-" I stop myself as Fluttershy turns back to face me. Her eyes already flash with growing irritation. I decide not to finish my question, lest I say something that genuinely hurts her. I swallow.
"You know what? How about I just teach you how to play Uno?"
Sixteen defeats later (she is a fast learner), I went out into the living room to check the time. I grimaced as I saw the hands on the face point to 4:00 PM. I trotted back into the bathroom, and tried to pick Fluttershy back up.
"Okay, we gotta go. Blaze is gonna be back within the hour," Fluttershy squirmed in protest while I tried lifting. "Fluttershy, I gotta get you outta here! I will have no explanation for this if Blaze comes back and finds you here!"
Fluttershy shook her head furiously. "You mean, you can't go back until the whole day is over?" She nodded. I wanted to pull my hair out.
"Fine. Fine!" I stormed out, digging my way into Blaze's basement. When I found what I needed, I hauled it back up the stairs. I dragged it into the bathroom, and began to fill it with water, Fluttershy staring at me in uncertainty all the while. Once it was full, I gestured to her.
"Get in."
It took all of my strength to shove that stupid fish tank all the way out of the house and down the cliff path. The whole time I kept thinking about all of the glossy green scales in Blaze's tub that I would have to clean out.
I pant heavily, sweat covering my entire body. I lean against the tank in which Fluttershy comfortably floats. She taps the glass. I look up. She's moving her hoof in a motion for me to move closer.
Concerned by this, I lean in. She motions more frantically, eyes darting. I practically press my nose to the glass. What's wrong with her?
My worry is misplaced, as she only smooches the glass that thinly separates our touch. I groan as she giggles silently. I cannot believe that she decided to rub that in.
"Okay, we're here. Now, how long before I can chuck you back in there?" I lean against the tank. Fluttershy traces a 2 on the glass with her hoof. So, two more hours, I'm guessing. That's pretty close to sunset.
Doable. Well, I think so at first. The next two hour hours spent kicking at pebbles and chasing seagulls leaves my head feeling like a drill just went through it.
"Alright, time for you to go home." I push Fluttershy's tank down to the edge of the beach where the waterline reaches. She gazes out in blissful eagerness. I brace my hind legs against the glass, ready to up it over and send her sliding right into the water.
Just as I begin to push, I hear something. I hear a... a voice. My ear twitches. I turn around to look at Fluttershy.
"What... what is that?"
It's growing louder. Thicker. Fluttershy's eyes are widened in a mix of alarm and confusion. I don't know why; I feel so... happy . I swear, I hear somepony singing.
"Mmm... wow." I giggle. It's a melodic voice, accompanied by a quiet enchanting echo. It's calling to me. It wants me to go into the water. It's funny, I thought I hate the water, but I happily trot forward anyway. I ignore the hippocampus pounding on the glass as she screams inaudibly at me.
My hooves meet the seawater, and I gasp out how cold it is. It doesn't stop me. That voice wants me. It needs me. How could I deny it? The water is up to my belly now.
I keep going. By the time it's above my wings, I see who has been calling for me. I gape at the sheer beauty of her. A slender golden mare towers above me, standing on the water. Her mane shines like an eternal flame, and her ruby eyes look down on me, such a low, unworthy being with outstanding compassion.
I wet my lips. She draws a perfect hoof along my cheek, spreading a cherishing warmth where she touches. Oh, Celestia do I want more!
I sigh when she opens her mouth to bless me with more of her tantalizing singing. I could listen to it all night. That beautiful voice coming from that beautiful mouth, full of those beautiful, razor-sharp teeth.
A bleeding heart makes you easy prey
The first thing I register as I wake is a swelling of pain in my chest. I thrash my forelegs, then cough violently, choking up water. I gag to remove as much of it as possible. Panting, I look around.
I'm in a cave, it looks like. It's dark and damp, and it smells like fish. I don't see an opening anywhere, so I'm doubly confused as to how I got here. I whip around when I hear a shuffling sound. There's a small crevice that I can squeeze through.
I suck in my gut to pinch myself between the walls and pop out the other side. Now, I'm in a tunnel. My heart thumps as I begin to think claustrophobic thoughts. How the hay did I get in here?
Towards the end of the tunnel, I hear that sound again. With no better option, I follow it. The tunnel isn't very long, fortunately. I exit into yet another bulbous opening in the rock, this one lit up by an unknown luminescent material. Blue light paints the outline of a pony- no, hippocampus- sitting by a pool of water.
"...Fluttershy?"
She doesn't respond. I cautiously trot towards her. Before I can tap her shoulder, she swings her tail up, splashing water onto the glowing blue stuff on the ceiling of the cavern. Instantaneously, it turns dew-green, and illuminates the entire cave. I gasp shortly when I see Fluttershy.
Her entire body is riddled with claw and teeth marks. Her hair is torn in some places. She's even bleeding from a couple of wounds. I place a hoof over my mouth.
"What happened to you?"
Fluttershy still doesn't face me. Instead, she lifts a hoof to her left ear, which is torn and bleeding. Hoof now teddened, she takes it and dabs at a spot on the cave wall. Baffled, I look to see what she's doing.
Again, my breath falls short. The entire wall has been painted like a mural. It's a landscape peeking over a cliff to watch the waves crashing in from a wide span of ocean. That's the cliff where Blaze lives. The painting is minus his cabin, but the lighthouse is still there.
That's where Fluttershy smeared blood. At the top of the lighthouse, she colored in the signal; even though it's a glossy red now, I know it will turn dark and murky. Still, it stands out from the soft violet Fluttershy used to paint the sky. I stare blankly, no idea what to say.
"Fluttershy... Fluttershy, are you okay?" I place a hoof on her shoulder. For a moment, I think she's ignoring me, but then I follow her eyes on the mural. Down on the rock, her rock, there's the shadowy orange outline of a pony with their lower half deceptively turned, dipping into the water.
On the beach, there's another pony, this one clearly on four legs. By the smudges of yellow, and the streaks of pink, I put two and two together.
"You used to be a pony?" Fluttershy nods stiffly. I fall back onto my haunches. Whoa. But then... "Who is that?"
I point to the orange figure. "Is that another hippocampus?" Again, Fluttershy nods slowly. "What happened to it?"
Silently, Fluttershy points her bloody hoof up. At the top of the awe-worthy mural, three ghostly beings lurk overhead menacingly. They are serpent-like creatures, with long forked tongues stuck out between jagged, jutting teeth. Their hot-red eyes are like burning coals.
Each of them look alike, except for their color. The one on the left is a purple hue. The one on the right is the color of a clear sky. And the one in the middle, with the most malevolent smirk captured on its face, is a stark gold.
I look back at Fluttershy. She's shaking now. Her eyes are clenched shut, and her chest heaves terribly. I move towards her to catch her in a hug. Her ears fold back as she leans into me. One last time, one of my suspicions about the hippocampus is proven.
She can't cry.
I go most of the day without knowing what happened. Or, I assume it's day. I honestly have no idea what time it is. All I can do is watch Fluttershy slowly heal. It's fascinating, but also really gross seeing her cuts gradually scab over.
But hey, score one for hippocampi. I guess enhanced healing is one contributor to their longer lifespan. I roll over on the stony floor to look at her again.
"This is where you live, right?" She nods. "And, it's close to the beach?" She pauses, then waves her hoof in a kind of gesture. I sigh.
"So, I can go home?" Fluttershy motions at the open pit of water, as if to say, I'm not stopping you . I bite my lip nervously. "But the Sirens, they aren't supposed to still be here," I jab a hoof at her. "You expected them to be gone."
Fluttershy only offers a defeated shrug in return. I tap my hoof on the ground in thought. Before I can comment again, my stomach rumbles thunderously. I look up at Fluttershy sheepishly.
"I don't suppose you keep any hay fries around down here?"
Fluttershy rolls her eyes, then slips down into the water. Just as I begin to wonder if she abandoned me, Fluttershy pops back up. She dumps a pile of small, rocky objects on the ground. I pick up one of the oval-shaped thingies and knock it against the floor.
"What are these?"
Fluttershy takes it from me. She produces a thin, jagged rock from somewhere in the cave, and slips in into a crack in the thing. She yanks harshly, creating a meaty schhk sound. I shudder as she passes one half back to me. Inside the reeky thing is a disgusting bundle of meat.
I look back at her in horror. Fluttershy facehooves, then takes it back. She then demonstratively slurps it down, eliciting a small amount of bile in me to bubble up.
"Thanks, but I think I'll pass." I moan. Fluttershy shakes her head, then dives back down. The next time she surfaces, she carries a tangle of seaweed.
Alright, now that's a little closer to home. I test a bite. It's kind of like long, chewy fettuccine. That's cold. And tastes like stale fish food. I don't complain.
I stuff myself until I can't eat anymore. After all, I haven't eaten in at least a day. Once I'm done, I lick my chops to get all the juice that dribbled down. I notice then that Fluttershy has been watching me. She smiles in amusement.
"What?"
Fluttershy shakes her head in a, Oh, nothing way. I belch, causing her to laugh soundlessly as she recoils.
"Thanks," I nod at her, chuckling a bit. I wipe my chin, then cough. "So, are the Sirens still a problem? I mean, I have to get home."
Fluttershy shakes her head. At this, I am actually surprised. "So, I can go? How do I get back? Can you show me?"
Fluttershy points at the opposite end of the cave. There I see a small pile of junk. I look back at her in puzzlement. She holds her hooves over her eyes, then points again. What is she... oh. Goggles. There's a pair of goggles among the scraps.
I trot over to the pile, and secure them over my eyes. They're kind of old. Fluttershy motions for me to step forward. Eagerly, I obey. She hooks her hooves around my forelegs, then nods for me to hold my breath. I inhale a big breath of air. I grunt as she tugs me down.
The cold water throws me into shock for a few seconds. The underwater cove spills directly into the open sea. I can't help but look in every direction to see incoming monsters ready to eat us. I expect Fluttershy to pull me up towards the beach, but I get a sinking feeling. Literally.
My eyes widen when Fluttershy leads me down. Farther. And farther. I begin to struggle, and her hold on me tightens. Bubbles escape my lips as I begin to scream.
She's trying to drown me!
I flounder and flail wildly in an attempt to break free. Desperate, enraged thoughts fill my head as I approach my fate. Pressure builds up inside of me as my movement becomes even more erratic.
I feel something pressed against my mouth. I open it to defiantly roar my last breath. And I breathe... in? What?
The brightest green I have ever seen in my life fills my vision. I slow, reeling at the glowing aquamarine eyes that meet mine. Fluttershy moves back, a smug look on her face. In my stupor, I release all the oxygen I just received. Rolling her eyes, Fluttershy locks lips with me again. I'm... confused.
It feels hot and awkward, but I breathe in air. So... so she isn't drowning me. I have to say, I am more than glad. I felt a little betrayed when she began dragging me down.
I ogle at her in pure amazement. Her eyes. How...? Fluttershy laughs. It's so... I don't know how to describe it. It has a soft comfort to it, like a breeze nudging at wind chimes. It's fitting, I think.
"You want to go back home?" She asks in that perfect voice. I manage to nod. "I'll take you back. But first..."
Fluttershy air-kisses me again. She smiles playfully, eyes twinkling. She takes advantage of her free reign by snaking up, down, and all around my body faster than my eyes can keep up with her. I'm not an idiot; she's clearly enjoying this.
"Fair is fair."
She grabs me again, and we shoot off like a missile. I can only watch passively as she takes me wherever the heck she wants to. The deep blue sea around us is vast; seemingly endless. The ocean floor, however, is alive with color.
We kick up sand as we race through a jungle of seaweed, over rust-colored corral, and join the every day traffic of marine life. All the while, of course, Fluttershy occasionally stops to let me... well, catch my breath , for lack of better words.
I still can't believe what I'm seeing. Never mind the mind-boggling journey under the sea, or having to make out with a mythical beast to stay alive. Just look at those gorgeous eyes! I swear, I've never seen them glow like that. Not even when she was underwater.
I pretend to be interested in the scenery as we zoom and whirl this way and that. After some time, the two of us devise a more effective system: I cling to her back, forelegs wrapped over her shoulders, and hind legs clamped to her sides as she goes. I give her a quick tap every time I need air, and she turns her head to allow me to refill.
I must say, she is a very powerful swimmer. It takes a while for me to loosen up, but eventually I do put all my trust in her. I tap her shoulder and take her air with a grin on my face. I really don't care where she takes me.
I giggle hysterically as we surface. Just... wow ! If I'm breathless, I can't imagine how Fluttershy feels, and she did all the hard work! My shaky appendages let go of Fluttershy, and I slip free. We're both drifting lazily towards the beach, now.
I kind of hope it takes a while to get there. Fluttershy rolls over in the water, floating on her back while she keeps me balanced on top of her. Her eyes aren't glowy anymore. But now that I've seen them like that, I can't grow any less fond of them. I slip my goggles off so I get an unobstructed view of them.
The wide range of shining stars reflected on her eyes looks so stunning, like an intricate painting mapped over her pupils. I can't look away. Fluttershy smiles at me. Usually when she does, it's one of those cheeky Gotcha smiles. But... not this one.
I clear my throat, then hesitantly bring my hoof up to gently tap her shoulder. Fluttershy raises her eyebrows at me, eyes silently asking me, Do you want to? I chuckle nervously, and nod.
She lifts her head up. I lower mine. This time, I'm not feeling her lips against mine just so Fluttershy could have a laugh. I am, because I want to . All those other "kisses" may have been to keep me from dying, but this one makes me really feel alive.
I feel somewhat disappointed to have to take my lips away from hers. I've kissed one or two ponies before, but nothing ever felt so warm, tender, and heartfelt. The memory of her perfect, plush lips leaves a tingling feeling on my own. I pin my ears back when I realize that Fluttershy can probably feel my heart beating faster.
Some time later, we wash up next to Fluttershy's rock. I purse my lips as I look at the beach. The tank Fluttershy was in is now shattered to pieces. The foam on the waterline has some... ahem, slight discoloration .
It's stupid. I'm stupid for thinking it, but I don't really want to go. And the way Fluttershy holds on to me... I hope that she doesn't want me to go either. I rub the back of my neck as I get ready to speak.
Before I can, I shout in surprise as Fluttershy hurls me clear over her. I land on the sand with a wet thud, and shake the dizzy out of my head. What was that for, I wonder to myself in genuine pain. I thought we were having a moment.
As I stand back up, a ghastly wail fills the air, sending a wave of chills down my spine. Fluttershy is entangled with another creature, whinnying in fury as they fight. I freeze when I see the golden, scaly skin of the thing that is so. Much. Bigger than Fluttershy. How did she manage to take on two of them?!
It's attacking blindly and savagely, as if already endangered, and just trying to take Fluttershy down with it. Well, I ain't gonna let it. I gallop over, and pounce into the tussle. I kick wildly at the thing, chomping down on its neck in the process. I hope I'm doing more than being a nuisance.
Nope, I am entirely nuisance-worthy. The Siren throws me off of its back, and I land roughly on the rocks. I cough. For a few moments, I see doubles of everything. Probably not a good sign that I see two outraged gold Sirens clambering towards me, red eyes burning right through me. I try to run away, but I trip over my own hooves.
With its mouth open wide, I think I'm witnessing my last moments. Instead, out billows a giant cloud of mist. Very briefly, I see the Siren's contemptful look, while behind it Fluttershy stares at me in horror. And then they're gone.
I blink. The mist is too thick to see through. I can barely see my hoof in front of my face as I wave repeatedly to clear it up.
"Fluttershy? Hello?" I call out. I flinch when I hear my voice echo back. I whimper slightly. If there's one thing I truly hate, it's to be alone. And I am alone.
I don't understand. What happened? That Siren. It did something to me. It must have cursed me. I curl up on my rock, where I fear I may have to spend the rest of my life. Just as my eyes begin to water, I feel a glimmer of hope.
Hope in the form of a lick of a breeze. I raise my head. Was I just overreacting? Could I just fly away? The mist starts to clear, and I burst into relieved laughter. Stupid Siren; it thought it got me! Nothing gets the Dash!
Pretty soon, the mist evaporates entirely, revealing the sunshine from above. I dance in victory on my rock. Awe yeah, baby! The Siren is nowhere to be seen, and good riddance. And Fluttershy's okay! She's sitting right on her rock. Funny, her mane looks longer from behind.
"Fluttershy!" I bound over. Fluttershy looks over her shoulder in stunned silence. I wave at her, and I fail to react as she tackles me in a hug.
"Uh, I'm okay," I chuckle. She shuts me up by trapping me in a deep, greedy kiss. I... am confused again. "Hey, hey. I'm okay." I try to assert.
Something feels... wrong, though. Her eyes are tired. Drained. She looks exhausted. What did that Siren do to her?
"Hey," I try to smile comfortingly. "You okay?"
We both jump as a loud horn goes off.
"All hooves on deck, everypony! We found her!"
I stare at the ship closing in to the beach. My ear twitches. I could have sworn that was Applejack's voice coming from the megaphone.
In a panic, Fluttershy dives into the water, desperately swimming to clear away from the ever-nearing ship full of ponies.
"Twilight, send a signal up for Rainbow Blaze. We finally found her."
I stand still in a daze. I can faintly hear voices over the ringing in my ears as they crowd in to hug me. Somepony wraps a blanket around me. There's a wooden spoon put to my mouth; somepony's trying to get me to drink.
"The poor dear is on the verge of dehydration!"
I am? I don't feel thirsty.
"Oh Rainbow, we're so happy to see you alive and safe!"
"We've been searching for over a year! Thank goodness you found your way back to Blaze's home."
A year? But I was only in the mist for a few minutes. I haven't even aged. Have I?
"Rainbow Dash." My eyes focus on the relieved faces of my friends. The ringing dies down.
"What's up?"
"'What's up'?" Rarity scoffs. "Darling, we had almost given up on you! Do you have any idea how much we went through trying to find you? We were just about to circumnavigate the globe again; it was by mere coincidence that Applejack was even docking where she found you."
I lick my lips. My tongue is parched, so it doesn't really do anything. "I'm... I'm sorry, girls."
"Rainbow," Twilight steps forward. "We are going to get you back to your family. Your parents have been heartbroken over your disappearance, and your brother practically drowning in guilt. But after that, you have to tell us what happened to you."
My parents. My brother. A year? How can I...
"Who was with you?"
I look over at Applejack. "Huh?"
"Ah saw somepony with you down on the beach. They done took off faster than a coyote gunnin' fer a plump bite in the desert."
Can I tell them? I want to. Will they believe me? Does it matter?
"Uh... nopony," I swallow. "I was alone the whole time."
"I missed ya, kid." Blaze's voice cracks as he hugs me. He has never been one to maintain personal hygiene to professional standards (but then again, neither do I), but I am shocked when I see him. His rainbow mane is long and frizzed from moisture. His face normally boasting a fine amount of stubble, is hidden away by rugged, untrimmed facial hair.
He has been looking for me all this time.
"I... I missed you, too." I don't want to cry. I don't. But Celestia help me, when that great lug turns on the waterworks, it's hard for me not to join him.
"Mom and Dad were ready to de-feather me if we didn't find you," He laughs. "So, thanks for showing up in the nick of time."
"Yeah," I smile thinly. "You're welcome."
I stumble when the boat rocks again. Twilight flattens her ears in annoyance.
"The water is level. Can somepony explain to me this incessant swaying?"
"Our fishing net's caught," One of Blaze's deckhooves mutters as he peers over the edge. "Probably the reef. We really should have drawn it in before getting this close, cap."
Blaze gives me a noogie. "Nets are replaceable. My sister isn't."
"Whatever the matter, can we please see to it that it's solved quickly?" Twilight asks as her legs wobble.
Two crew ponies begin to work the net in, while a third dives in the water to untangle and salvage what he can. I think to myself for a moment. It's taking me a while to process that I've been missing for over a year. My thoughts are interrupted when Pinkie Pie wraps me in another possessive hug.
"Sorry," She laughs, eyes still damp. "We've got a lot of missed time to make up for."
"Yeah." I nod.
"Hey! Cap, get over here!" One of Blaze's buddies, a blue Unicorn shouts. Hurriedly, he moves over to the side of the ship where the two stallions stare bug-eyed down into the water.
Blaze's face soon mirrors their shock. What are they...?
My stomach lurches when I see the fishing net drawn in and swung onto the deck. Inside the tangled mess, between small amounts of seaweed, a half-pony figure with the yellow top of a mare and green fish tail.
The net is lowered until it drops on the deck. Fluttershy, who has been struggling to get free, now remains still.
"Hey, move that net!" Applejack shouts as she stomps over to it. "There's somepony in there!"
She grabs a portion with her teeth, and tries to work a way to get it off of the "pony" underneath. Rarity rushes off, then returns hastily carrying a first-aid kit. Twilight rubs her chin, eyes narrowing.
Oh no.
All of us stand around her, with the net completely uncovering her. Applejack backs away, mouth agape. Fluttershy's eyes dart from pony to pony. After several long moments, she hurdles for the side.
Using her tail, Fluttershy launches herself up to vault completely over and land in the safety of the sea. I wince when she's caught in a field of violet aura. Twilight's horn glows as she brings Fluttershy closer.
"Fascinating..."
"Twilight, no," I cough. "No, no, no. I know what you're thinking. Bad idea."
Fluttershy looks over to me in worry. She has stopped her futile efforts to wriggle away. Twilight shoots me a curious look.
"This is... this is a hippocampus. This must be the scientific discovery of the century!"
I hold up a hoof. "Yes, yay, cool. All that fun stuff. Just... let her go, okay?"
"Let it go? Are you kidding?" Twilight beams. "We have to get this to Canterlot!"
"Are you insane ?" I screech at Twilight. "This is her home!"
Fluttershy watches me, once again, from behind the glass of a large tank. Twilight looks me up and down with that analytical expression.
"How do you know this hippocampus?"
I rub my foreleg. "I... met her."
"I see," Twilight deadpans. "And how did you meet her? Were you with her this whole time we've been looking for you?"
"I just found her by the beach," I answer. "And yeah. Technically."
Twilight sighs. "Tell me Rainbow, are you intimately familiar with the lore of hippocampi?"
"...No."
"Well, thanks to years of full access to the Canterlot archives, I am," Twilight straightens, ready to go into lecture mode. "Hippocampi, in almost all depictions, are sneaky, self-serving tricksters. They are notorious for luring innocent ponies to the water, and subsequently making them disappear forever."
Looking offended, Fluttershy shakes her head to dispute this.
"Judging by the look of things," Twilight continues. "We were very lucky to have found you. That thing likely would have drowned you if we hadn't arrived, first."
"That thing ," I growl. "Is a person. Her name is Fluttershy."
"Twilight," Applejack pipes up. The rest of my friends had stood silently to the side, watching everything unfold. "I'm not so sure about this. I mean, this kinda feels like, ponynappin' !"
"While this creature may resemble a pony in certain aspects, rest assured, this is an animal. And it is most likely the one who ponynapped Rainbow in the first place."
"No she didn't!" I snort. "Why do you even believe those old books anyway?"
"While I was positive that hippocampi died off ages ago," Twilight raises a hoof. "Those books are based on factual accounts of encounters with them. Their stories are rife with descriptions of heartbroken ponies never seeing beloved friends or family again, all because a hippocampus took them away. That could have been you, Rainbow Dash."
I grumble in return. "Fine, egghead. Believe what you want."
"I believe in facts."
"How about," Applejack interjected again. "We all just calm down? It's been a stressful afternoon for everypony. Let's just go get some sleep. We'll talk all about this once we're nice and rested."
The girls all nod in agreement. They look back at me in concern when I don't follow them. I walk over to Fluttershy's tank.
"Darling, whatever are you doing?" Rarity asks.
I shove the lid off, and hoist myself up, while Fluttershy stares in curiosity. With a carefree smirk, I allow myself to drop back, and splash into the water. Outside, the girls trot closer, worried faces blurred in my vision.
If they want to stay and make sure I don't drown, they better pull up a chair. I grin as I press my lips to Fluttershy's. I'm going to be here for a while.
A thousand miles from the tide
Sploosh
Dripdripdrip
Sploosh
Dripdripdrip
We've gone back and forth like this for about an hour. We'll bob our heads to the surface so I can speak, then we go back down so Fluttershy can. This allowed us to have our first full conversation. I mean, I thought it would do us some good.
She's scared. I would be. But once the girls get back, I will convince them to let Fluttershy go free. And if I don't, well, I don't need their permission. She'll be home before we even break a league.
In the meantime, I decided that we should get some things out of the way. I half-expected her to whip me with her tail, or even just shut me out, but she agreed.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
She doesn't look fine to me.
"What was that all about? On the beach? You looked surprised, and the Siren... where did the Siren go?"
"Rainbow... the Siren was dying. But it had enough strength to use just a bit of magic on you. It tried to take you away, and it nearly did."
"I don't get it."
"Rainbow Dash, believe me, I am sorry that this happened to you, but... you were lost in Bermudan Mist. Most ponies, when they get lost in that, they don't come out for decades, or even centuries."
"What ? It was only a few minutes!"
"For you. A year passed while you were held in there."
"...Why did you wait, then?"
"What?"
"If I could have been gone for that long, why did you wait for me? I would have had to leave, anyway."
"W-Well, I'm over 200 years old. That beach has been my home longer than you've been alive."
"Whoa. Looking good, old lady," There's my smack. "But still, you looked... I dunno. Happy to see me."
"It's a big ocean. I get lonely."
"There's plenty of fish in the sea."
"You aren't a fish."
"What am I to you? And don't just say, 'Super hot'."
"I'll tell you what you're not. You are not the first pony that I found tolerable ever since..."
"...The Sirens?"
"..."
"Why do they have it out for you? I get that they're bad, but why? They can't be doing all that just for the sake of it. Nopony is that evil."
"Yes they can, and yes they are," Fluttershy snapped when she said that. "Sirens are the demonization of everything I stand for! They have no respect for the world, the sea, or its travellers. Centuries ago, there were scores of them spread across the ocean, and they terrorized ponies for game."
"...What about you? What Twilight said, is any of that true? About Hippocampi taking ponies-"
"No ."
"Okay, it's okay. I was just asking."
"I'm sorry. It's just that Hippocampi aren't born; they're made. There are only ever two Hippocampi in the world at any given point."
"So you really are the last."
"...Yes. The Sirens took Ash away from me a long time ago. I hoped that if they thought I had left, they would stop coming back for me. Once they got rid of me, the ocean would have been theirs again. Sirens are destroyers. That is all they have ever known."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I don't know. For everything."
"Well, we're alive."
I don't really know what to say after that. Fluttershy's spent over 200 years hiding from monsters that wanted her gone. Who knows how much of that time she spent alone.
Being a hippocampus must suck.
"That's... wow. I don't know what to say to all that." Applejack takes off her hat to scratch her mane awkwardly.
I shrug as I float on my back. I would probably have a hard time believing it. I'm glad that they only sent AJ to ascertain the truth from me; she's a good, honest pony, and she can tell when somepony's winding a fib.
Fluttershy is drifting right next to me. Her cheek rests on my chest as she nuzzles under my chin, probably pretending to be asleep.
"So, she's like a pony?" Applejack asks. "She thinks like one, I mean?"
I nod. "She used to be a pony."
"Golly. You suppose?"
"Mhmm. Fluttershy," Her ear twitches as she recognizes the sound of me murmuring her name. "Sounds like a Pegasus, for sure."
Applejack stares at me. "Ah hope you ain't just runnin' yer gears because y'all are gettin' too attached."
I wrap a hoof around Fluttershy. "So what if I am?"
Applejack shifts uneasily. "Even if she doesn't go to Canterlot, which believe me, Ah hope she doesn't, she belongs in the sea. Ah just don't see the point of gettin' close if ya can't be together."
I raise my eyebrows. "You're not more concerned that I have a crush on a pony-fish hybrid to begin with?"
"Ah had a weight lifted off my shoulders just knowin' yer alive. You can marry a coconut, as far as Ah'm concerned."
I chuckle. "So, you won't stop me if I decide to take Fluttershy up and out?"
Applejack shakes her head. "None of us should have been okay with lockin' her up and shippin' her off to be studied by a bunch of high-nosers."
"Thanks, AJ."
She tips her hat at me, then turns to go down below deck. I give Fluttershy a little shake.
"Hey, come on. Time to get you home."
I'm nervous. I'm really nervous. Fluttershy takes my hoof, guiding my movement. I hope my letter will be sufficient. It was all I could leave to let them know I'll be okay.
I wanted to explain everything, but all I could force myself to write was Gone. I'm sorry. Tell Mom and Dad. I'll be by the lighthouse. I love you guys.
"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.