Chapters What Lies Beneath the Surface
There’s a point on a western bay, about a hundred miles or so southwest of Vanhoover, that serves as a major harbor for trading ships coming in from the Lands Beyond. The coastline is rather popular with frequent sunshine and calm seas, and the town of Sirena sprung up from families building summer homes or even moving to the place. The place used to serve as many as a hundred ships a day, sailors preferring the calmer seas and less rocky coast than that of Vanhoover, and on many days still is filled to the brim with ponies of all sorts and even a great many other species.
After a while, however, strange things began to happen. Ships that went off to the Lands Beyond never returned. Wreckage and debris and damaged goods began appearing on the shoreline. Mists that never inhabited the region before would mysteriously turn up overnight only to disappear by the following morning. Those who remained on the land or close to shore were safe, but those who went out to sea found themselves met with terrible fates, and were presumed dead.
The amount of trading ships lessened but kept going strong. It was still better than Vanhoover, though spotlights were now added to ships just to make sure everything was okay. The shipwrecks happened less often but still happened on a regular basis.
Of all the ponies that were on a lost ship, all were presumed dead. Which made it a surprise when a small dinghy suddenly arrived into the harbor with the words ‘S.S. Dreamweaver’ on the side. The ‘Dreamweaver’ had left port two weeks ago and was due any day, but a commotion went up when the dinghy came into harbor with four ponies in tow, in the middle of a rather choppy and foggy morning.
The lead was a smart-looking purple unicorn stallion with an aqua mane and eyes and a singing clown fish for a cutie mark. He was not recognized by the rest of the town, though the three other ponies were all recognized as crewmates. None were the captain or any of the major crew, so it was a further surprise when they came into port without their superiors.
What’s more, the unicorn was the only one rowing and didn’t look phased in the slightest.
The little boat sped into the harbor and towards the crowd of ponies clamoring on the pier. Word got out and paramedics were present, ready to take any damaged ponies to the hospital.
The unicorn brought up the dinghy to the harbor and helped get the three ponies out of the dinghy and on to steady ground. He smiled a charming smile at the ponies asking him questions, then blinked away and out of sight without saying a word.
One pony standing at the pier thought he saw a purple and aqua shape darting out to sea, but no one believed him.
Misty Skies stood on the pier looking out over the ocean. There was a light wind and the earth pony’s light blue mane ruffled slightly in the breeze. With his grey coat up against the clear day, he sat so still he could have been mistaken for a statue.
But Mist was merely in deep thought. He’d come out of the hospital two weeks ago after nearly drowning some miles off the coast of Sirena and was deemed fit to go back. He was a skilled navigator even in the most inclement of weather and many ship captains were eager to have him on board. And he wanted to go back out and feel the sea breeze in his mane.
Something prevented him.
It wasn’t PTSD. He was fairly sure about that. He’d taken a minor job going up the coast to Vanhoover and back as a deckhand and relished getting back on his feet so quickly. He’d placed himself as a ‘freemartin’ – available for small sailing jobs if anyone needed an extra hoof – but had no desire to head back out into the open ocean.
He remembered nothing prior to waking up in the hospital. He’d woken up with an automatic breather on his face and hearing an ECG machine beeping incessantly next to him. The doctor had come in, and once he realized his patient wouldn’t be falling unconscious any time soon, removed both. Police had come to question him, but apart from the details of his own work on the ‘Dreamweaver’, he remembered neither the circumstances that had caused his shipwreck or his own rescue.
At night he heard whispers. It wasn’t really hearing voices in his head and he didn’t think he was going insane. But sometimes, on the edge of sleep, he would hear something whispering in his ear, either a sort of humming noise or a song he couldn’t make out the lyrics to. But it would disappear come the morning.
There was the sound of hoofsteps on wood. Mist turned around and saw a large fire-red pegasus with an orange mane coming towards him. He smiled slightly at the sight of the other stallion.
“Hey, Gunport,” Mist said as the pegasus approached.
“Thought I’d find you out here,” Gunport replied. “Seems like you’ve spent the last few weeks out here in your free time.”
“I like staring out at the sea,” Mist said, turning back out to the ocean as the pegasus sat down beside him. “It’s calming.”
“I’m surprised,” the pegasus chuckled. “Most wouldn’t care for it after surviving a wreck like ours. Fifty ponies dead or gone, and only three remain.”
“Yeah,” Mist agreed. He gave a sideways glance over to Gunport. “You’re not too shaken either, it seems. I saw you heading out on the ‘Navigator’ yesterday.”
“Busted up a smuggling ship just outside of port. Got reports from the police the cannon blasts could be heard all around. I’ve got a coast patrol job with them now.”
Mist smiled. “Well, that’s good anyways. I’ve heard they make decent money. Probably better than what they gave you for the ‘Dreamweaver’ job anyways.”
“What about you? I heard you turned into a freemartin?”
“Yeah. Did a small shipping trip up to Vanhoover last week. Haven’t had anything in since then but I’m available.”
“I’m surprised. I thought you’d be on the next big ship out of here.”
Mist’s smile faded. “…do you… do you remember anything about our shipwreck?”
“I remember waking up between you and Hurricane wondering what the hell went wrong,” Gunport said. He was silent for a long time. “Hmm… nope, nothing else. But I heard someone who wasn’t on the ship brought us into port on one of the lifeboats.”
Mist faced out to sea. “Were we attacked, do you think?”
“I mean, it’s as likely an explanation as anything else.” Gunport shrugged. “But pirates are rare around here. Especially if we were closer to Equestria than the Lands Beyond.”
The sky slowly turned orange. The sun was setting and the sea sparkled calmly. The wind became colder but neither of the two ponies shivered; Misty Skies stayed still and Gunport wrapped his wings around himself almost like a blanket.
“I wish I could thank whoever saved us,” Mist said. “I feel inadequate not knowing. And heck, they may know what happened that day.”
“If they were a stowaway, they’d be in jail by now,” Gunport said. “But apparently it was a unicorn and he blinked away before anyone could get an answer out of him.”
“Well, that would explain part of the reason he could have saved us. Spotted us from a distance and teleported over to the ship. Doesn’t explain much else, though.”
“Hey, it’s a theory and probably closer than anypony else has gotten so far. They’re more surprised we came back alive when everypony else has gotten lost.”
Mist nodded.
“By the way,” Gunport continued, “Hurricane was looking for you. Said she wanted to give you something. It washed up on shore by her house not too long ago.”
“Where is she?”
“Salt and Sea Bar over by the harbor. You wanna go? I think she was heading over there. She’s over there almost all the time lately,” he added, mostly to himself.
“Might as well. I’ve got nothing else going on.”
The Salt and Sea Bar was a dingy little tavern made of wood that had to be replaced every few weeks due to rot. But it was the single-preferred spot of any sailor that passed through due to its selection of drinks and rather fantastic-looking hostesses. It had once been petitioned to restore the whole thing and make it brick, but the main proprietor refused, liking the rustic look.
The inside was filled with a bunch of circular tables filled up with ponies of all sizes and shapes, primarily stallions though with the occasional mare among the bunch. The waitresses were dressed up in black and white dresses that were rather form-fitting, and many of the stallions gawked at the waitresses as they passed.
A single dark blue pegasus mare with a mane like a lightning bolt sat at one of the tables towards a back corner. As soon as she saw Misty Skies and Gunport looking around inside the tavern for her, she waved a hoof at them. Gunport noticed and called over to Misty Skies and the two headed over to where the mare was seated and took their seats.
“’Bout time you two got here!” the mare said. “I sent Gunport out to get you, like, thirty minutes ago.”
“And you’ve already had a few drinks, Hurricane,” Mist said. He pointed to a glass of ale in the mare’s hoof. “Seriously, what number is that?”
“It’s only my second of the day. And I can hold my liquor as well as any of you stallions could. Had to if I didn’t want them to gawk at me on the ship.”
“Yeah, but as soon as you hit five, you’d drop like a rock,” Gunport sniggered.
“Five was enough,” Hurricane insisted. “Most of them couldn’t handle more than four anyways.”
“Gunport drunk you under the table easily,” Mist said, laughing. “And I could hold my own.”
“Well that’s because you’re both big motherfuckers,” Hurricane replied. “Anyways, I should do this before I forget about it.”
Hurricane reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a strange little trinket. It was a pendant with a silver chain holding up an aquamarine set in a diamond shape. She pulled it out with her mouth and handed it over to Misty Skies with a single hoof.
“I believe this belonged to you,” Hurricane said.
Mist took it with his own hoof, grinning from ear to ear. “I thought I lost this!” he said. “I remember wearing it before the ship went down, but I don’t know how it came off me.”
“Try tightening the chain next time,” Hurricane said as Mist immediately put it back on.
Mist sighed and shook the pendant around on his chest. “Man, I felt oddly naked without it.”
Hurricane and Gunport’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you aren’t drunk, Mist?”
“It’s an expression I heard during my short time in Canterlot. They all wear clothes up there.”
“Suppose that isn’t any of my business.” Hurricane finished her ale and slammed the empty glass down on the table with a sigh. “Now, do either of you want to join me for a drink while you’re here? We can celebrate my new job.”
“Didn't even know you were looking for one.”
“Well, I got one. I’m on storm watch here in Sirena. Decided to take something a little closer to home than risk it out there on the sea.” She stood up with a contented sigh. “Drinks are on me.” She smiled and trotted gaily over to the bar.
Gunport watched her go with a bit of amusement. “I don’t think she took it well.”
“Let’s just hope she holds the storm watch position,” Mist said. “Though I think getting back into some sort of routine ought to help her.”
“If she can take herself away from the bar,” Gunport said with a definite note of concern.
Hurricane proved herself at least somewhat serious about the position. By the end of the evening, she’d only had three drinks and sipped her third slowly while Mist and Gunport had two. She even bought them a plate of celery and ranch and a plate of chips and salsa to eat as they drank and stayed very much sober.
As she could hold her liquor to an extent, she seemed to be doing alright as she paid the check and they stood up to leave the bar. Misty Skies and Gunport insisted on following her home anyways just to make sure she got home okay without drinking again. They walked out and a fair way down the street back home when Gunport turned to talk to Mist again and stopped in his tracks.
“Mist, your pendant fell off again.”
“Aw, fuck,” Mist said, staring down at his empty chest. “I swear I had it on when I got up…”
“I told you you should tighten the chain,” Hurricane said. “But shit, I’m not going back to look and dive under tables like a weirdo.”
“We’ll come back tomorrow and see if anyone found anything,” Gunport said. “This place is pretty decent about that sort of thing. I bet we come back tomorrow morning and someone will have turned it to the bartender for lost and found.”
“Gun’s right,” Hurricane said, her tone softer. “No one’s gonna steal anything like that. They all know it’s special to you.”
But Mist didn’t like losing it again after having just gained it back. “I’m just gonna go check the table we were at. If there’s nothing there, I’ll hold off until tomorrow. Gun, you can walk Hurricane home without me.”
Gunport nodded. “I hope you find it,” he said. “Come on, Hurricane. How about some coffee back at your place?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Hurricane said. “See you later, Mist!”
Misty Skies trotted back to the Salt and Sea Bar and reentered the crowded tavern. He squeezed his way through the crowds and found their table thankfully empty. He squatted down and began to search.
But no matter how long he searched, he couldn’t find the pendant. The chairs were unmoved from when they left and the floor was clean. Nothing could be found around their table, and when he stole glances under the surrounding tables he found nothing. He checked a few ponies to see if, on the off-chance it happened, someone had tried to pilfer it, but found nothing.
Mist sighed. “Man, it’ll be hopeless to look around at this point. I should just go.”
He began walking out again, deciding Gunport’s decision to come back tomorrow would be the best option.
“Excuse me.”
Mist was stopped by the voice behind them. He turned around to see a purple unicorn stallion with aqua mane and eyes holding the aquamarine necklace in his grip. The unicorn had his own pendant, a silver heart on a sterling chain that looked like a locket. The unicorn held the aquamarine pendant out to him, smiling but inquisitive.
“Is this yours?” he asked.
Mist didn’t know what he was more surprised by, the fact that the stallion’s voice had an almost song-like quality to it or the fact that he’d found the necklace. He wasn’t able to think of much else until the stallion pushed it a little closer towards him, at which point he reached out and grabbed it.
“Y-Yeah,” Mist said. “Thanks. But, how…?”
“I heard you talking about it,” the unicorn said. “I was over there.” As he turned to point at a dark corner, Mist noticed his cutie mark of a singing clown fish.
“Huh…” Mist wasn’t quite sure what to do. “Well, thank you again. I’m… I’m gonna head off.”
“Wait. Do you… do you want to have a drink with me?”
Mist looked at the stallion in confusion. “Uh…”
The unicorn seemed to realize the strangeness of his question. “I’m sorry. You’re the one that survived the wreck of the ‘Dreamweaver’, right?”
“Yeah. Well, me and two of my crewmates and companions.”
“I’m the one that rescued you.”
Mist’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh!” he exclaimed. “Uh… yeah, I’ll have a drink. Just one, though, but yeah.”
The unicorn smiled. “Come on; my old table’s still open.”
Mist walked back into the tavern and went to where the unicorn had pointed while the unicorn himself went to the bar. He ordered two drinks, tossed a couple of bits, and returned with two ales, setting one on the table for Mist while keeping the other in his own aura. Mist sipped his ale; it seemed to smell more like a salty sea breeze than before.
“So… what’s your name?” Mist asked.
“My name’s not important,” the unicorn stallion said. “I’m not here for very long.”
“Well, I’d like to thank you properly for you rescuing me. I don’t even know what happened other than things seemed to be fine and then I’m in the hospital and ponies are telling me this strange unicorn saved my life.”
The unicorn chuckled. “Alright. My name’s Siren Song. I’m… I’m a marine biologist, to put it simply.”
“Nice.” Mist nodded. “My name’s Misty Skies, but most ponies call me Mist. I was the ship’s navigator. You also helped rescue my friends Gunpoint, who worked the cannons in case of pirates or smugglers, and Hurricane, who served as storm watch and deck hand. They survived, too, by the way.”
Siren Song nodded. “I heard the wreck happen off the coast, just over the horizon,” he said. “I can swim pretty good, so I swam out there, flipped over a lifeboat with magic, and helped you. I admit, the whole scene looked pretty bad. You three looked closest to being alive. I’m glad you three made it.”
There was something oddly tender about the stallion’s voice that took Mist off-guard. He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, no big deal, mate. You just happened to be out there and with the right skillset. I’m sure anyone else in that position would have. In any case, I suppose I owe you something.”
Siren Song shook his head. “You don’t owe me anything other than you don’t lose that pendant again.”
Mist nodded and blew a raspberry out of being unable to say anything. “So… what are you down here for?”
“Surveying a local reef,” Siren Song replied. “You know, checking coral samples, looking at local fish colonies, testing for chemicals in the water. Been doing it for a few years now.” He gained a rather interesting look that Mist couldn’t place. “Matter of fact, it’s the one right over where you shipwrecked.”
“Really?” Something seemed off to Mist. “That’s… pretty far out to swim.”
“I usually get there by boat. I didn’t have time during the wreck. But by the time I got out there, the water was much calmer. Odd storm seemed like a freak of nature.”
“That seems to have happened a lot around here lately.” Mist’s eyes narrowed. “You’re a marine biologist. You know what might have caused it?”
“Unfortunately, this is my first time in the area. I haven’t had time to really look at the weather and climate. My best guess is the currents bring up a lot of warm water and it interacts with the colder temperatures here and produces weird storms like that.”
The explanation satisfied him. “Well, I suppose it’s just something we’ll have to get used to, then. But hey, if you ever find out why, you should come back and let us know. That’s valuable information for ponies like me, or any of the ship captains around here.”
Siren Song smiled again. “I will. Um… if you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing now that the ‘Dreamweaver’ sank?”
“I’m a ‘freemartin’. I take whatever jobs come up around the harbor. Someone needs an extra hoof, I’m called over to help. I’ve done some loading and unloading jobs and went with a shipment up to Vanhoover a few days ago, just as a sampling.”
“At least it’s varied. You won’t get too bored with it.”
“Yeah, but...” Mist sighed. “I kind of miss my old job. I liked being the navigator. My special ability was to make my way wherever I wanted no matter the weather. But...” He trailed off, unable to say it. It was like if he didn’t say it, it wouldn’t be true.
Despite this, Siren Song seemed to uncannily read his mind.
“...do you blame yourself for not steering them out of the storm?”
Mist, despite being well aware that was the case, was shocked at actually hearing it said out loud. Even more so by this relative stranger. Mist felt his eyes begin to water and was nearly afraid of crying out in the middle of the crowded tavern.
“It’s okay,” Siren Song said comfortingly. “No one else blames you. As you said, the storm seemed like a freak of nature. You didn’t know it would happen right on top of you, so you did what you could. It’s not your fault.”
This also surprised Mist. But it was more of a calming relief, like being dunked into cool water on a hot day, that filled him this time. He was reminded of something, but couldn’t put a hoof on what it was. He smiled at the unicorn across the table from him, smiling kindly at him.
“...thank you.”
Both of them finished their drinks around the same time. With the drinks already paid for, Misty Skies and Siren Song walked out of the tavern and began to head down the street in the direction of Mist’s home.
“So... how long are you in town for?” Mist asked.
“I’ll be leaving tomorrow for Vanhoover,” Siren Song said. “I’m going to turn in my data to the local institute and see where else I go.”
“Hm.” Mist looked around awkwardly. It was night outside now, and clouds blocked out the sky overhead.
“Why’d you ask?”
“...you seem nice. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out again sometime.”
Siren Song smiled happily and closed his eyes. “I’d like that. And you took more interest in me for me than any other has so far. I’d like to hang out again, too.”
Mist smiled back.
But he was soon taken aback by a large gust of wind and a sudden stinging rain. Both he and Siren Song looked out to sea as they heard thunder rumbling in the distance. They watched for a while, manes already soaking wet as they stared, only shocked out of it by another rumble of thunder and a flash in the distance.
“Another storm,” Mist said.
Siren Song gasped. “I have to go,” he said. “Get inside. It looks like it’ll be a rough one tonight.”
Mist turned to look where Siren Song was, but there was a flash and the stallion disappeared. He looked around to find him, but found no trace of the unicorn.
Mist tightened his grip on the aquamarine pendant and galloped home to bed.
The air was clear and sunny and there were no inclement weather reports coming in over the comms radio. The compass told Misty Skies they were heading north-by-northeast, heading the exact direction they needed to go. They had followed the currents for the last twenty days, and were now on their way home from the Lands Beyond.
The door to the navigation room opened and Mist turned around. Coming in was a weathered orange pony with a white mane in a blue vest. Mist left his business and turned around, bowing to the pony as he stepped into the room.
“Captain,” Mist said as he bowed.
“How are we with the navigation systems?” the Captain asked.
“Spot on, sir,” Mist replied. “No inclement weather to be sighted for a hundred miles, and we’re expected to get home by morning.”
“Excellent. The currents have served us well. How is the radar? Have you detected any ships in the region?”
“None within fifty miles, sir. There’s a frigate coming off the coast towards Las Pegasus, but they’re heading down and away. Suspect it’s a routine excursion from Vanhoover.”
“I expect we have nothing to worry about, then,” the Captain said proudly. “I’ll get her ready for the final haul tonight. I’ll stay up all night and bring her in tomorrow.” The captain put a hoof on Mist’s shoulder. “Go ahead and take the rest of the evening off. I’ll call you if I need anything, but if we’ve got clear skies I expect no problems.”
Mist nodded and headed out and down below decks to the cabins. The room was barely wide enough for a bed and a dresser, but he was eager to sleep and prepare himself for reentry to port tomorrow. He went and put his things away before taking a shower in the common bath and headed down to the kitchens.
The ponies for the night shift were already eating and preparing for the night’s work of keeping the ship steady in the dark seas. Mist was the only navigator on-board; the others were deck hands, guards, engine room attendants, cleaners, loadmasters, and cannon-wielders. Hurricane and Gunport were in the day shift, and would be getting off soon; already Mist could see ponies leaving the dining room for their posts.
Misty Skies went to the cook and got his ration of grilled mushroom burger with gravy, mashed potatoes, and broiled vegetables. He ate quietly but with a group of rather friendly ponies who, while tired, were cheered by Mist’s reports. One by one, they departed, and eventually they were replaced by Gunport and Hurricane, fresh off day shift.
“Home in just under twenty-four hours,” Gunport said. “Man, I can’t wait to take an ale at the Salt and Sea and take a break for a week.”
“Clear skies all the way home,” Mist said. “We’ll be there soon after we wake up. Expected arrival around eight or so. We’ll be home before you know it.”
“Fantastic,” Hurricane said. “My wings will definitely need a rest after this. It’ll be nice to lie on the sand or relax on the beach instead of being cramped in a room or constantly flying around.”
“I’ll join you on the beach,” Gunport said. “You don’t know cramped until you’ve been in the cannon rooms. Half the space is taken up by the damn things. How about you, Mist?”
“I think I’ll stick to hanging around by the port. I’ve been wanting to check out that new shop by the harbor ever since we left. I’ll stop by and get myself some art glass for the home just because.”
“Your dad used to collect art glass, didn’t he?” Hurricane asked. “I remember you showing me the one with the cloud and lightning bolt blown into it. That was fucking awesome.”
“Yeah. There’s one I found that had some sort of pony swimming in water I thought looked really nice.”
“Oh, I know the one he’s talking about,” Gunport said. He playfully nudged Hurricane with a hoof. “It looks just like you! And it really is pretty.”
Hurricane laughed and gently pushed Gunport away. “Later, loverboy. I know I promised you that one date at Haute Cuisine’s place, but you’re getting nothing until then.”
“Wow!” Mist grinned almost like a cheshire cat. “I kind of suspected you two were a thing, but nice to finally know for sure.”
“Well, she promised me before we left, but I think I nearly got her on a date something a month before that.” Gunport gave a similar grin to Hurricane.
Hurricane rolled her eyes but was still smiling. “You guys are suck dorks.”
Mist and Gunport both laughed. And though she tried not to, Hurricane soon joined them.
Nothing much happened the rest of the evening. They played cards in the dining room and were joined by a few deckhands and an engine room attendant for poker and bridge. At almost ten o’clock, they all started feeling tired and started getting ready for bed.
Mist was just about to open the door to his room when the entire ship suddenly rocked and rumbled. Every pony in the hallway suddenly tumbled from one side to the other, and those in their beds were knocked out onto the floor. Just as suddenly, the ship rocked to the other side and Mist felt the waves rolling beneath them. It didn’t take long for everyone to start screaming and a commotion broke out in the hallway as everyone tried to figure out what was going on.
The ship’s speakers suddenly crackled to life. “All hands on deck!” came the voice of the Captain. “Repeat: all hands on deck! Everypony to their positions!”
The group in the hallway scrambled for the door. Misty Skies lost Gunport and Hurricane in the mess, but there was no time to sweat losing them. He quickly made his way up to the Captain’s cabin, where he and the skipper – a brown pony with sea-green eyes and a black mane, where talking amongst themselves, looking out at the stormy skies and pelting rain.
“What’s going on!?” Mist exclaimed. “I… nothing like this came up in the weather forecasts! And our own pegasi confirmed nothing was scheduled!”
“No one blames you, Mist,” the Captain said. “This is no work of pegasi. This is an unexpected force of nature.”
“It’s like it came out of nowhere,” the skipper agreed. “We were sailing smoothly, but just before we turned inwards towards Sirena, the first wave caught us and clouds suddenly formed overhead.”
“Even so, there must have been something to indicate a storm in this area,” Mist insisted. “Where are we?”
“A reef no more than a hundred miles west of Sirena,” the Captain said. “We just entered into Equestrian waters, and had slowed her down to twenty-five miles per hour for the re-entry.”
Mist suddenly felt the breath knocked out of him. “…this is where the ships have been wrecked. We should have entered in further up and come south, or came back into Equestrian waters sooner.”
“Going south is a no-go,” the skipper said. “We wouldn’t have had the fuel to work against the current. And since time is of the essence, coming in sooner wasn’t an option.”
“We would have avoided this,” Mist said. “But I understand.”
“Again, you aren’t to blame, Mist,” the Captain said. “We just have to push forwards and get in now. Skipper, tell the engine room to push ahead as fast as they can. We’ll limp back if we have to.”
The skipper saluted and ran out of the room as the boat crested a growing wave; Mist and the Captain held on to what they could and braced themselves for impact. Water sprayed up the sides as the Captain took the wheel and steered around another wave crest. It wasn’t long before Mist felt the engines kick into high gear and the boat shot off, breaking another wave and passing another before it could grow, the stinging rain pounding on the window of the captain’s cabin. The Captain picked up his own comms radio and spoke into it.
“Sirena Harbor, this is Captain _____ of the ‘S.S. Dreamweaver’, do you copy, over?”
There was a moment of silence. “Captain _____, this is Sirena Harbor, hear you loud and clear, over.”
“We’ve encountered a freak storm off the coastline. Any idea what happened, over?”
“No, Captain. Thunder and clouds formed only fifteen minutes ago. Where are you, over?”
“Hundred miles west over the reef. Planning to come in slightly fast and get out of the worst of it; need permission to come in at high speeds, over.”
“Permission granted, Captain. Slow down when fifteen miles out. Storm is calmer by the harbor, over.”
“Thank you, Sirena Harbor. Over and out.” The Captain set down the comms radio and pressed the button for the loudspeaker. “Pegasi on deck! Do not take flight! I repeat, do not take flight! All others land on deck!”
Mist felt a wave of relief when he saw Hurricane fly by the captain’s window and touch down steadily on the deck along with three other pegasi. That left only Gunport’s position unknown, and he was likely below deck with the cannons. They wouldn’t be used, but they had to make sure nothing got damaged down below.
“Not much farther now,” the Captain said. “We’ll be out of the reef and out of the worst of it soon at this pace. Mist, check your compass and make sure we’re still headed west.”
Mist picked up a nearby compass and inspected it. “West-by-northwest, sir. We’ll come in a few degrees off port, but I think we’ll clear the reef quicker.”
“I’ll take it. If we can get the majority off this reef and we’re forced to turn south, we can at least call for a tugboat to come take us in.”
“Recommend corrections if the skipper is right about fuel supplies, Captain,” Mist replied.
“We have some surplus. Skipper’s right for a long haul, but we have enough for an emergency like this.”
It was at that point Mist suddenly saw two shapes alongside the ship in the water. One was bright red and the other was an almost lime green. The backs almost looked like dolphin fins, but the fronts were clouded and indistinct under the water.
“Sir, we have two unknown figures to port and starboard,” Mist said.
The captain squinted. “What the hell are those?” he asked no one in particular.
“The back look like dolphins, but the colors aren’t,” Mist said.
The skipper emerged from a door on the other side of the ship. He raced across the deck towards the captain’s cabin.
The orange figure shot out of the water and landed right on the skipper.
Mist saw it all happen in slow motion. The thing that leapt out of the water had the back half of a fish but the front half of a pony with hooves. But when the pony-part opened its mouth, it was filled with sharp teeth like that of a shark. It opened its mouth wide and clamped down on the skipper’s shoulder, causing him to collapse on the deck with a spray of blood.
What Lies Beneath the Surface
Misty Skies woke up in a cold sweat, panting. The room was dark with only a window open to let in the moonlight and it took his eyes a while to adjust. A few seconds later, Mist could see his room, the window open to let in the cool sea breeze, and his blankets thrown off to the side.
The nightmare had been rather vivid and more detailed than the usual, and it even took him a few breaths before he realized it was pointless to scream. A few more and he finally felt his breathing return back to normal. It was only a nightmare, but it was hard to shake the idea of it completely when he realized it was about the ship crashing.
But while there were a bunch of mysterious circumstances he saw, nothing confirmed anything about the wreck or his survival. No clear facts were presented as much as he now remembered of it. He didn’t even know how he lost the aquamarine pendant, or when.
Mist decided to go for a walk to clear his head.
It was dark outside and eerily quiet. A clock in the distance rang twice and all went silent again. A light fog had settled, but there was nothing sinister about it and would likely be cleared up with the morning sun. Mist wandered from his house towards the harbor area, and was slightly relieved to hear the sounds of the sea break the silence.
All the bars and restaurants were closed. Sirena Harbor was quiet for being a major trading post, and all the shops had closed by midnight and the town was pretty much asleep by one. Mist wandered the moonlit harbor and pier-side shops alone; a few guards were present by the main warehouses, but they took no notice of the lone Earth pony wandering around.
Mist wandered around, breathing in the clean sea air, and eventually made his way to the pier. He walked out onto the pier and noticed a bright white pegasus guard coming close, but he remained at the edge of the pier and didn’t come any closer. Mist quickly realized he wasn’t on criminal watch but suicide watch, but Mist had no compulsion to throw himself into the sea.
Mist wandered to the end of the pier and sat down. Every once in a while, the guard turned his head to double-check Mist’s position, but otherwise remained at a respectable distance. Mist figured he would only be heard if he shouted.
Mist looked over the fence surrounding the pier and into the water. There was a soft glow underneath the surface, small bioluminescent critters floating lazily around underneath the surface. Mist could see a shelf where the beach dropped off and became the open ocean, and there the water turned hazy and dark. Underneath the edge of the pier, fish played around under the wooden poles, darting in and out of the shadows under the moonlight.
It was rather pleasant to watch. Mist found himself leaning on the fence and smiling as he watched the antics of the fish below. It was neat to see the fish out like this, when no ships were expected and there was nothing to disturb them.
Two more shapes began to emerge from the depths. Mist wondered if he was about to experience a late-night shark or dolphin or orca feeding, but the two shapes looked nothing like them. Their bodies seemed streamlined like a marlin with fish-like tails, but one was bright orange and the other was a bright green; the rippling water and occasional breaking surf obscured his view.
Mist gasped at the two shapes. They came up until they were right underneath the pier and all the fish began to swarm around them. They didn’t seem to be hurting them, but some even rested along the backs of the new “fish”. Mist watched in awe as the figures seemed to go through the fish gently caressing them with their fins. This was rather strange and unprecedented behavior even to Mist’s untrained eye, and he wondered what these new fish were and what they were doing.
It was only once the fog had cleared slightly and the moonlight shown fully did Mist see the third shape.
It was slightly larger than the third one, dark blue or purple-ish with white markings like an oversized clown fish, nearly blending in with the dark waters. The third shape swam lazily around both the fish and the two other, brighter shapes. But it was also serene and peaceful, and seemed to slide swiftly and gracefully around like a Wonderbolt in the air. More fish were drawn to this one than the other two, despite the newcomer seemingly not displaying the exact same behavior.
Mist caught himself laughing, intrigued at the display.
But he soon wished he hadn’t for the orange and lime green shapes suddenly darted away and the darker shape went completely still. Mist wondered if it was staring at him and felt guilty for disturbing the scene. He pushed himself off the bannister and started to walk away.
Something caught his ear before he was more than a few paces away. It was a soft singing, indecipherable and unceasing but surprisingly beautiful. It came from the direction he had just come from, and Mist turned around. His feelings of guilt and surprise vanished and were replaced with a new intrigue.
Mist brought himself over to the railing and looked into the sea.
The purple-and-white shape was there, but now one side had a soft, swirling glow attached to it, a clear aqua that formed and shifted like the aura from a unicorn’s horn. The singing was stronger now, still indecipherable but paradoxically clear and wonderful. Mist sighed almost in happiness at the sound; the voice was wonderful and calming, and he sat down gazing almost entranced into the glowing water at the edge of the pier.
Mist had no idea how long he was sitting like that. He became lost in the song, the profoundly sensual tones and cadences gently waving up at him. They seduced him and soon he felt as though the voice was singing purely for him, that he was receiving his own private concert at the pier. The song seemed to weave a net around him and he remained perfectly still, listening as though whoever was singing was right in front of him, becoming ensnared by the ethereal voice.
Despite not being able to understand what the song was about, Mist found himself filled with strange feelings inspired by the sound and the swirling magical aura. Visions of swimming among the fishes came into his mind, of being down there with the purple shape to see clearly what it saw. Mist saw the sensual beauty and fearsome power of the oceans all at once, the power to cause shipwrecks and the gentle swaddling of the simple beachgoer swimming in the shallows, of ferocious currents and the playful schools of brightly-colored fish. The pier became the stern of a boat gently rocking in the waves, calmly and lightly skirting the ocean’s surface before diving into the water like a submarine and exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of the reefs.
Something about the song resonated deep within him, sweetly calling out to him. The visions he saw of harmony between air and sky would be his, no longer subjected to the tempests. The voice, the seductive and calming voice, would be his companion and guide, and would make sure the seas would bow to him as they passed, the waters parting for him as the fish had parted for it. All the magic and wonder he saw only in vision would be made completely clear to him and just as physically fantastical.
…he wanted to call out to the purple shape, to tell it what he saw. He wanted to tell it everything, and how he wanted to see it for himself. He wanted to reach out, and hoped it would reach back.
Something touched him and the music suddenly stopped. Mist blinked his eyes for a little bit as though clearing the haze and turned around to see the guard, dressed in gold armor, was standing behind him with a single hoof on his shoulder.
“Are you okay?” the guard asked, in the usual gruff tone they had. But beneath the rough exterior, Mist could hear a note of genuine concern.
Mist realized he had been listening to a voice the guard possibly couldn’t hear and decided to go with a route that wouldn’t sound as crazy. “I was just thinking. I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately and thought a nice walk would clear my head.”
“You have been sitting there for twenty minutes. Not much walking to me. But sir, you quite nearly jumped off.”
Mist looked down at his position. One hoof was extended over the edge of the railing, the other was on the railing in mid-push as though to heave him over, while another was right at the edge of the pier as though attempting to kick off. With his instincts back in place, Mist’s entire body froze for a moment before jumping backwards to the safety of the pier.
“I swear I wasn’t thinking of it!” Mist said. “I-I-I’m fine! I wouldn’t do that!”
“I know,” the guard said, and Mist thought he sounded as though he really did know. “Because it wasn’t your own mind. I heard the same voice you did, and it was that voice that nearly made you do it.”
Mist gasped. He looked back over the side of the pier, but the purple shape had gone. So had most of the fish.
Mist turned around back to the guard. “…but what was singing like that?”
“It’s difficult to say, though there is a theory. Sirena was named after the sirens of legend, but modern sirens and ancient sirens are two quite different entities. Modern sirens inspire feelings of hate, discomfort, and discord. But ancient sirens… they are said to be spears disguised as olive branches, declarations of war disguised by feelings of peace. Most are supposed to have varying degrees of resistance against their powers, but not all.”
Mist looked over. “But… how do you know?”
The guard looked away and sighed, and a certain sadness came into his eyes. “Suffice it to say you are not the first to fall for that voice. The last one actually got over the pier railing. We retrieved him, but he was lucky. And so we have learned to assume that is the case.”
Mist looked down and into the dark water, but it provided no answers. The guard turned back to him.
“You had best go home,” the guard said. “You may sleep easier for a while now, for that is what happens upon hearing that voice, but remember what happened here tonight, and do not wander alone again at night. Or at least, stay where we can see you.”
Mist nodded, and immediately and directly headed off for home.
The next morning, Misty Skies was sitting at the harbor with Hurricane. They had gone off to watch Gunport leave for another day of coast guard work and Mist had checked to see if any freelance work had come up. When nothing had, they ended up sitting and watching as the boat sped out to the sea.
The boat was out of sight to the two ponies, but they remained sitting at the harbor for a while. Mist had nothing better to do and Hurricane’s job hadn’t started yet. Mist noted Hurricane seemed to be concerned about something but had yet to ask what and didn’t know when was a good time to bring it up. Mist knew Hurricane put on a tough exterior but was often sensitive about those things, and it was best if she brought it up, not him.
“Did you get your pendant back?” Hurricane asked. “I haven’t seen you since that night at the bar.”
The early morning Mist woke up was the start of the third day since Mist had seen the stallion. “Yeah,” he said. “Someone helped me out.” He wondered if he should tell Hurricane about his meeting their rescuer, but he felt strange and wasn’t sure about him now that they had parted ways.
“That’s nice.” She looked over to him. “You’re not wearing it.”
“It’s on a hook at home, in my bathroom. I only wear it if I’m going out somewhere important.”
Hurricane nodded.
The more Mist thought about it, the more Hurricane sounded like she was holding something back; the little she said was done as though her mind was elsewhere. He figured it was whatever she had seemed concerned about and she was searching for the right words.
The pegasus stretched her wings and flapped. “…you want to go sunbathing?” she asked.
“Yeah, sure.”
The beach was empty, as Mist suspected. It wasn’t holiday season and most regulars would even be scared away by the recent storms and high surf. Mist and Hurricane found a private spot on the beach, and lay out on the sand looking up at the sky. Normally Mist would have brought a towel, but he figured a quick shower at home would clear the sand out of his mane when they were done.
The sun was out and it was a beautiful cloudy day. A seagull cawed overhead, sailing by easily on the gentle currents. Mist heard gentle splashing amidst the high, pounding surf, and wondered if fish were playing and jumping in the sea. It would have been hot with the sun, but a gentle breeze blew by and kept it cool.
“He was trembling.”
Hurricane’s sudden statement nearly startled Mist. “Huh?” he asked.
“Did you see Gunport get on board the ship?” Hurricane asked. “He was trembling. His legs were shaking and his smile was forced. Poor bastard is only on that ship because it’s a fucking job.”
Mist looked incredulously over at Hurricane. “It’s his talent,” he said. “He loved manning the cannons.”
“Yeah, but… I wonder if he doesn’t like it since that night on the ship.” Hurricane gave a shiver. “Gives me the fucking willies, I tell you what.”
Mist looked up at the sky. “…did I ever tell you I watched a pony die that night?”
Hurricane shrugged indifferently. “There were fifty on that ship and only we made it out. I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Not like that... I mean, do you remember the skipper?”
“Yeah. He was…” Hurricane’s mouth stopped, held open, and her eyes went big. “Oh… oh my god… you saw that?”
“Yeah. Big chunk torn out of his shoulder. I still don’t remember what did it, but… it looked like a shark bit him.”
“No shark would have tried that, I’m damn sure. Not even a barracuda would be so stupid.” Hurricane sighed. “I wonder if Gunport saw something like that.”
Mist looked over at Hurricane again. “And that’s why he would be scared to go on the boat?”
“Maybe. It’s not unusual; I’ve heard of it happening to sailors who go through a terrible night like that. I just… I figured Gunport wasn’t as affected as we were.”
“…is that why you drink so often?”
“I’ve been doing good the past few days. I need to keep sober for that job. It starts next week. But… it’s the only way I can drown out the voices completely, screaming and otherwise.”
Mist smiled tenderly at Hurricane. “Hopefully getting back to a steady job will help with that,” he said. “Get lost in the work and you don’t think about it so much anymore.”
Hurricane looked over and smiled. “Yeah,” she agreed, her voice softened. She closed her eyes as though enjoying the breeze through her mane. “You’re probably right.”
They lay there for a while longer, enjoying the sound of the surf and the warmth of the sun on the sand. The feeling made Mist somewhat sleepy and he found himself closing his eyes along with Hurricane as they let themselves relax in the quiet.
“Hey!”
Both Mist’s and Hurricane’s eyes shot open and sat upright. Trotting out of the water was a purple unicorn stallion with an aqua mane and eyes. Mist blinked and rubbed his eyes, but the stallion did not disappear. It didn’t take long for him to recognize who it was, but he was surprised enough that he didn’t even give him a “hello” in return. He did manage to stand up as the unicorn approached, while Hurricane sat up next to him.
“I… didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” Mist said in response.
“I didn’t either,” Siren Song responded. “But I’ve got a new assignment here from the research academy and I’m back for another few weeks.”
“Oh, very nice!” Mist suddenly remembered Hurricane’s presence and gestured to her. “Oh! Siren Song, this is Hurricane, one of my friends you rescued. Hurricane, this is Siren Song. He’s the unicorn that saved us from the wreck.”
Hurricane’s eyes were still wide with shock, though she managed to squeak out an unsteady “Hello…”
Siren Song took out a hoof and grabbed one of Hurricane’s own, gently bowing down and kissing it. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said in his musical tone. “I am very happy to hear you recovered well.”
Mist noticed Hurricane looked almost revolted, but did not pull away and did not say much of anything.
“So, where’d you pop up from?” Mist said. “I thought this beach was deserted at this time.”
“I swam about a mile from here.” Siren Song pointed down the beach towards the harbor. “I just got back in last night and decided to refresh myself. Certainly harder than usual, but I managed. No towel, though; I’ll take a shower back at my hotel.”
“Where are you staying?” Hurricane asked.
“At the one next to the Salt and Sea Tavern. The… uh… I think it’s called ‘Great Western’ or something like that.”
“Uh-huh…” Mist noted Hurricane did not sound impressed.
“Well, it’s good to hear you’re back,” Mist said. “I hope you meet Gunport during this time, too, but he’s at his job right now. How long are you staying this time?”
“A few weeks at least,” Siren Song responded. “I am waiting for a few others to meet us here; we’ve got one more researcher, a captain, and a Princess with two guards coming to visit."
Mist’s eyes widened in surprise at the mention of a Princess. “Quite the entourage,” he said. “What’s the big deal?”
“Well, I’ll explain more later. For now, I wanted to ask if you had any jobs coming up. You said you were a freemartin, right?”
“Yes. And actually, I haven’t had anything come in.” He said it… eagerly? Anticipating something? …hopefully? Where did that come from? “Most of the harbor jobs are on major expeditions but nothing small.”
“Well, I was wondering if you would like to join us. Of course, I’ll make the official request for your services at the harbor, but it would be nice to have a navigator, and I have obtained permission for an extra hoof on board.”
With every word from Siren Song’s proposal, Mist’s excitement and attention grew. “You mean actually participating in the research?”
“Yes. You seemed interested the last time we talked, more than other ponies I’ve spoken to, and wondered if you would like to join us.”
Visions of swimming among the fishes… of being down there to see clearly what it saw… the sensual beauty of the oceans, the gentle swaddling of the playful schools of brightly-colored fish… the stern of a boat gently rocking in the waves before diving into the water and exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of the reefs...
Mist found himself thrilled with the prospect. He broke out into a wide grin. “That… that sounds awesome! So, two days from now?”
“Well, three, technically. Two days waiting for the Princess and the other researcher, then the day after that we meet at the harbor. We’ve already arranged the boat rental. And I hope you don’t mind spending a few days at sea; it will allow for our work to be done quicker.”
“I… I would love that! This is cool; I’ve never been on a research project before. And with a Princess!”
“She’ll keep you in line,” Hurricane piped up.
Siren Song swiftly came up next to Mist and put a hoof around him… almost possessively. “I trust Mist to behave himself despite his giddiness,” he said sweetly. “I’ve heard good things about him at the harbor.”
“…I meant you.”
Mist found himself shocked by the sudden jab at the friendly unicorn. “Really, Hurricane?” he asked. “Siren Song is quite nice. He’s the one that helped me find my pendant.”
“Forgive me for my suspicions, but isn’t rather strange to you that he pops up from nowhere to help you find the pendant, then does it again to ask you about this?”
“Our ship needs a navigator,” Siren Song said before Mist could respond. “I happen to know a navigator from last time I was here. Not strange at all to me.” The unicorn’s horn glowed, and suddenly a piece of parchment popped up from nowhere. “And, if you want proof, here is the assignment Abstract and a listing plus signatures of all involved; Misty Skies will add his name when he officially takes the job as a freemartin.”
Hurricane took the paper in a hoof and read it over. When she was done, she sighed and returned it back to Siren Song, who took it and made the parchment disappear. “I suppose it checks out. But if you dare put one mark on him, I will fucking deck you upside the head so hard you’re going to see more than fishes swimming around you.”
“Not a hair of his mane shall be harmed,” Siren Song said eloquently. “I promise you I won’t let that happen.”
Hurricane nodded, approving but not really at the same time.
“So,” Siren Song began again, turning to Mist. “I shall see you” – he poked his chest with his free hoof – “on the morning of the third day. The official request form will be in sometime this afternoon, as I have already turned it in before I came here, and I shall be eagerly awaiting your response.”
“And I will be eagerly awaiting our little trip,” Mist said.
Siren Song chuckled good-naturedly as he released his hoof from around Mist’s neck. “And now, I am off, as I have other business to attend to before that day. Ciao!” And he began trotting off down the beach towards the harbor.
Mist and Hurricane were left alone for a while, neither of them taking their eyes of the stallion or the direction he was going in until he was out of sight. Mist noticed he walked gracefully and smoothly, his hind end and tail waving almost like a fish swimming through the water, and found himself further intrigued.
Hurricane snorted.
“He’s charming,” she said. “I don’t like him.”
Mist rolled his eyes and looked at Hurricane. “Why don’t you like him? He is nice and friendly, and you gave him quite the introduction.”
“He gives the impression he wants something else. He feels like a con-artist; asks you nicely and politely for one thing then reveals the hidden charge later.”
“Well, I think he’s a rather fine stallion,” Mist huffed. He checked himself before continuing in a much gentler tone. “I suppose we’ll get an answer if I get a request form this afternoon and see what it says on it. If his story checks out, I will trust him.”
Hurricane crinkled her nose. “All the same,” she said with genuine concern, “please be careful.”
The form was there in triplicate when Mist got home – one for the research society, one for the harbormaster as job confirmation, and one for Mist to keep for himself. Mist signed every form where it said he needed to, then walked down immediately to the harbor to turn it in.
The pay he was notified he would get for the job was also rather handsome.
For a moment, Misty Skies and the Captain both stared in shock at the dead body on the deck of the steamer. How quickly the life had gone out of his eyes! And how suddenly, with but one jagged bite from the shoulder that caused blood to spray on the deck in violent red streaks from amongst the dangling flesh! Mist wondered what killed the skipper first: blood loss, or shock.
“That thing killed the skipper!” the Captain shouted, knocking Mist from his reverie. “We’re under attack!”
“What the hell is that thing!?” Mist shouted. But before he could get a good look at it, the boat rocked and a wave splashed over, swiftly pushing the orange figure back into the churning sea.
“We can’t let them get away!” the Captain said. “Go down and tell the cannon and harpoon crews to fire at them!”
“Are you kidding me!?” Mist nearly shrieked. “No way! I don’t know what that thing is, but that’s not natural! That looked like a pony front! We can’t attack them!”
“If they’re going to keep killing my men, I can’t let them get away for nothing!” the Captain said somberly. “I agree they are not natural, but I am going to fight to get as many of them as I can get home.”
Mist stood in the cabin disgusted. “Well, I am merely a navigator. It is not my duty to tell you what to do, but neither is it my duty to engage in combat. If you excuse me, I need to make sure my friends are okay.”
Mist heaved the open and went out into the stinging rain. It was cold and blustery, and as soon as he had gotten out of the door it was shut behind him with a bang from the wind and rain. Mist shivered and made himself as steady as he could as he began walking down to the deck.
“Hurricane!” he called out amongst the scattered ponies. “Hurricane!”
A pony started running towards him, but the lime green pony figure leapt out of the water and rent a massive bite in its chest. There was a scream as the jagged teeth pierced the flesh and Mist was suddenly splattered with hot blood before the cry was cut off like a switch. The rain drenched him and Mist screamed, bucking the thing away from his fallen comrade and heading towards the main deck.
The top deck was in chaos. Ponies were torn between trying to keep the ship under control, avoiding the fierce waves that slapped into the side of the deck, and dodging the orange and lime green monsters that ascended out of the depths. Mist knew he had to find Hurricane fast.
“Hurricane!” he shouted again.
“Mist!” came the familiar responding cry. “Misty!”
Mist realized the cry came from in front of him. He ran as fast as he could across the deck as the cry came again, dodging pony bodies and bracing himself for waves. The ship was being tossed about like a toy boat in a pool, and it seemed not even the pegasus ponies were able to stop it. It was like all the clouds in Cloudsdale broke at once.
Mist saw Hurricane’s shock of yellow mane, and started running towards it. But suddenly the ship was bucked by a wave that threw the whole thing almost over on its side. Mist lost his grip and rolled down the deck as a torrent of water cascaded into his side and mouth, filling his mouth with salt water. He almost thought he was already churning in the dark waves before his back hit one of the metal poles at the side of the boat.
Mist came to his senses and scrambled. Quick as a whip, he shot his front hooves outwards and managed to grab two of the metal poles of the ship’s railing. His feet struggled to get a good grip on the side of the boat as it straightened out, but he flailed on the side. Mist grunted as he tried to get up on deck.
“Hurricane!” he coughed. He spit water out of his mouth. “Hurricane!”
There came a flash of lightning and a deep rumbling of thunder that reverberated all around Mist, like the sea itself was angered and growling. In the flash Mist could see a third shape now below him in the water, circling around like a vulture waiting for prey. Mist’s efforts redoubled but he couldn’t get up.
“Mist!” Hurricane approached him and finally reached out a hoof. “Mist! Grab my hoof!”
Mist let go of the pole for just a moment and grabbed onto the hoof. Pushing on the other pole while Hurricane pulled back with every ounce of strength, Mist finally launched over the side and landed on the deck.
“Mist!” Hurricane exclaimed. “Are you alright!? What the hell is happening!?”
“Something’s attacking the boat!” Mist shouted over the storm. “We have to find Gunport and get out of here!”
“How!?” Hurricane shouted, on the edge of panic. “The wind’s too strong to fly and there’s those creatures swimming around! We’re almost a hundred miles from shore!”
“I’m the navigator!” Mist said. “We’re strong enough, we’ll make it through alright! Trust me! We just need to get Gunport and go before the figures realize we flew the coop!”
A renewed determination came into Hurricane’s eyes. “Come on, then! I think he’s still below deck!”
Mist and Hurricane bolted as fast as they could across the deck and open the door to the lower decks. One of the pony-shark figures was feeding on a pony’s chest nearby and noticed them, but Hurricane threw the door open and they slipped inside. Hurricane slammed the door as the figure leapt at them, and they heard a loud thud as the thing collided with the door, but didn’t stop as they made their way down towards the cannon crew.
What Lies Beneath the Surface
"The Rhyme of the Lost Mariner"
Mist and Gunport emerged from the weather offices for Sirena Harbor and started making their way towards the main harbor. They had seen off Hurricane for her first shift as part of the storm patrol and were now on their way so Gunport could see off Mist and get to meet Siren Song for the first time. Mist had a small cart and harness attached to his back, filled with cases of luggage for an expected week and a half at sea.
Mist was telling Gunport about both his meetings with Siren Song, first in the tavern and finding the pendant – which Mist now wore - and then on the beach with Hurricane. Gunport remained silent while Mist told his story, listening attentively and hardly responding. When Mist finished, Gunport gave a discontented sigh.
“I mean, he seems alright,” Gunport said. “But Hurricane has a point: it is kind of weird considering it almost feels like he sought you out on the beach.”
“In hindsight, I have to agree with you,” Mist said. “But like I said, everything checked out and the forms came through like he said they would. The harbor does pretty extensive checks when looking for freemartin jobs; I’m inclined to think he’s okay.”
Gunport raised an eyebrow. “You know what this is starting to sound like to me?”
It might have been a rhetorical question, but Mist answered anyways. “Hurricane said ‘con-artist’. What’s your take on this?”
“…I wouldn’t go that far. It sounds to me more like that Florence Nightingale effect. You’re inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt simply because he rescued us.”
“Maybe?” Mist shrugged. “But he has been nice both times I’ve met him. I doubt he’d suddenly do something rude, especially in an official capacity like this one.”
“And that’s another thing: you kind of get a faraway look in your eye every time you speak about him. It’s like you really like him… despite having only seen him twice. Especially three days ago at the beach; you had a particular focus on him walking away.”
This made Mist pause, and it took him a moment before realizing Gunport had basically called him out on staring at a stallion’s ass. “…he’s got a nice physique?” Mist offered.
Gunport chuckled. “Look, I’m not judging you for who you like. I am a little confused as to why when you’ve been around him for all of an hour and a half.” Gunport stared off for a moment. “…I’d kind of question it on his end, too.”
They made their way to the harbor and Gunport waited while Mist checked in for his job. Mist got a badge signifying his entry for work and they trotted towards the main harbor entrance. Both flashed their badges – Gunport already had one for his coast guard patrol – and walked towards Dock C, where Mist’s ship was waiting.
She was a beauty. She looked like a small frigate except for a pronounced lack of openings for cannons, though her main body was a pure white that gracefully bobbed on the water. At her mast flew the flag of Equestria and a yellow flag with a dove holding an olive-branch on it, a sign of a purely peaceful ship. At the back stood a small raft powered by a gas motor, as well as a diving platform blocked off by a heavy steel door. Notably, she also had no steam pipes.
“I bet it’s one of those electric ships,” Gunport said as they approached. “They’re not used for sailing in open water yet; still not ready for major expeditions and fine-tuning them.”
“Maybe part of the research team is a group of engineers,” Mist offered. “Keep track of the equipment on board.”
There was a ramp going from the concrete dock to the main deck of the frigate, which looked like polished hardwood. On the dock stood a small group of ponies, including Siren Song, a pony in a white coat that Mist didn’t know but guessed was another researcher, and a purple alicorn accompanied by two white pegasus guards in gold armor.
“She’s small for a princess,” Gunport observed quietly. Mist turned around to notice his eyes trailing towards Siren Song, currently facing away from them while talking with the Princess. “…is that him? The purple unicorn with the aqua mane?”
“Yes. That’s Siren Song.”
“…he does have a nice physique…”
The two approached. The small alicorn noticed them first and waved. This caused Siren Song to turn around and look at Mist with a friendly smile.
“Ah, Mist, you’ve finally arrived,” Siren Song said. “Well, that means we’re all here. But first, let me introduce Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville.”
Mist and Gunport bowed as they approached.
“Oh, you don’t need to be so formal,” Twilight said. “After all, we’re going to be on the same ship for ten days, and I’m really not a stickler for it like Princess Celestia is. What are your names?”
Misty Skies and Gunport each introduced themselves, though Gunport with the reservation he was only seeing Mist off.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Twilight said kindly. “Now, if you excuse me, I must double-check and make sure all my research equipment is on board. See you later!” And she trotted off down the ramp to the deck, the pegasus guards right behind her.
Siren Song chuckled, looking after her. “She was ecstatic when she got the invitation,” he said. “Couldn’t wait for a chance to join in on a research project in a new area to her.” He turned back to Mist and Gunport. “So you’re Gunport, eh? Mist has spoken favorably of you.”
“He’s been a good friend of mine for a long time,” Mist said. He turned to Gunport. “This is Siren Song, the unicorn that rescued us from the shipwreck and helped me find my pendant.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Siren Song,” Gunport said, bowing his head slightly. “Mist has told me quite a bit about you, much the same. And thanks for rescuing all of us.”
“It was nothing. Speaking of which, how have you been since the wreck?” Siren asked, surveying the pegasus stallion with a musical trill in his voice. “You look strong, like you made a full recovery.”
“I can still fly and I can still man the cannons,” Gunport said cheerfully. “No straw on my back, if you get what I’m saying.”
Siren Song chuckled genially. “I think I can. It’s too bad we don’t have cannons; we could have always taken on another hoof.”
“Oh, I’d probably just be in your way in a fancy research expedition like this.” Gunport waved him off with a look that said ‘No big deal’. “And I’ve got my job on coast guard anyways. But how about we all head out for drinks when you get back, eh?”
“I’d be happy to,” Siren Song said, then put a hoof around Mist and added teasingly, “so long as Mist here doesn’t mind me tagging along.”
“Oh, not at all!” Mist said with a slight blush. “It’ll be nice to have another drinking buddy. The one you really have to watch out for is Hurricane.”
“So I gathered,” Siren Song said as he removed his hoof from Mist’s shoudlers. But I promise not to tread on her corns, just as I promised her not to tread on yours.”
“Ah, so it’s one of those agreements, I see,” Gunport said. “Eh, she puts up a strong front, but she’s really nice once you get to know her.”
“And you are quite the gentleman yourself,” Siren Song said as he took a slight, almost teasing step towards Gunport. “I can see why Mist picked you two as his friends.”
Mist saw Gunport actually blush and his wings flare as he brought a hoof to rub his head. He just giggled for a moment without saying anything before biting his lip in an awkward grin.
Siren Song laughed for a moment before turning to Mist. “I need to check something real quick, but I’ll be back in a moment. Head on board whenever you’re ready.” And he trotted down the gangplank to the deck, with both Mist and Gunport following his every move.
“I like him,” Gunport said. “I can see why Hurricane may not have liked him, but he seemed rather friendly to me. A little on the touchy-feely and rather forward for me, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“He was pressed up to you almost the whole time. And… he kind of was a bit teasing towards the latter half.” Gunport soon shrugged it off. “No biggie. I can see why you like him. Still not totally sure why you really like him, but I’d totally hang out with him more.”
This made Mist feel very happy that Gunport approved and he smiled. “Yeah, I was a little unsure myself, but he seems the trustworthy sort.”
“…he does feel like he’s hiding something, though,” Gunport added as Siren Song went into a door and out of sight.
Mist was dismayed, but not totally hurt by the idea. “How do you mean?” he asked, looking at the larger red pegasus.
“Well… I don’t know, really. Maybe there’s something about the wreck he knows he isn’t telling anyone. Ask him if you can.”
“I’d try to anyway. I still can’t remember the details of it, so it’s a good idea nonetheless.”
Gunport smiled at Mist. “He likes you, that much I can see. I’m sure he’d tell you if you asked him. Politely, of course.”
Mist smiled at him. “Yeah, probably.”
The two hugged. Gunport wished Mist farewell and safe travels and insisted he have a day without Siren Song to tell them all about it when he came back. But Mist made no promises as he walked up the ramp and onto the deck of the frigate.
The ship left port an hour later around one in the afternoon, once all the bags were in place and Mist had been shown to his room. A final check of supplies and systems, a roll call courtesy of Twilight Sparkle to make sure everyone was on board, and the ship slowly eased her way out of port and onwards to the open sea.
There were 16 ponies on board. A Captain in charge of another vessel had been hired for some easy work and a few days of sea and sun. Then there was Mist serving as navigator, a cook, a handyman for cleaning and general repairs, a medic, two engineers hired to monitor the technology, and a lifeguard rounded out the crew. The research team consisted of Siren Song, two other researchers, and Twilight Sparkle, who was continuously flanked by two sets of two guards, one for the days and one for the nights.
As soon as the ship left port, Mist went with the Captain to the Captain’s cabin where the navigation things were located and started directing him on an eastward course. Once they were heading in the general direction at a steady twenty-five knots, the Captain made a call for one of the research team to come give them direct coordinates to the first of three locations.
Siren Song was the one who answered the call.
“You rang?” he asked with a playful smile.
The Captain seemed impervious to the unicorn’s charms. “Give us a helping hand, would ya? We need coordinates for the first location.”
“Of course.” He went over to Mist and told him the first set of coordinates. “And now, I sit and watch the master navigator at work.”
Mist was surprised that Siren Song was going quiet so soon, but nevertheless set to his work with pride. Using the charts, compasses, and maps he had available to him, and every once in a while checking his radio for weather reports – clear with mild clouds for miles around – he swiftly and easily directed the Captain in the direction of the first set of coordinates. They would be going approximately sixty miles out and nearly ninety miles down.
“We should be there in just under four hours if nothing goes wrong,” Mist said. “You think you can take it from here, Captain?”
“I got my music and I got my books,” the Captain said with a note of content at the clear and positive report. “Come back every hour or so just to make sure we’re on the right path, but I think I got it now.”
“And now, a tour of the ship,” Siren Song said. “Come on, Mist. Let me show you around.”
The frigate was remarkably similar to the trading ship Mist had been on earlier, but it felt sturdier and sailed smoother and was built on a smaller scale. There was the engine room, the kitchen, the cabins, the storage areas, and even a few lounges for hanging out. The deck even had a shaded pavilion with lounge chairs like those on the beach. It was almost like going on a pleasure cruise.
“We won’t actually start diving until tomorrow,” Siren Song said. “It’ll be too late for us to get a real dive going by the time we get there.”
“So, what do you do before then?” Mist asked.
“Well, we’ll just spend some time hanging out,” Siren Song replied matter-of-factly. “You know, get to know each other, trade stories, share info, that sort of thing. We need to work as a team, you know? Best way to do that is just having a little casual time now and then. But the other researchers and I will probably have to go over the equipment we brought for the dives: air tanks, rebreathers, flippers, sample collection materials, et cetera et cetera, you get the idea.”
“Well, wouldn’t I have to be there to make sure it fits me?”
Siren Song gave a wry smile that Mist could not entirely place the meaning. “In a sense. But I’ll explain more tomorrow. But why don’t I introduce you to the rest of the team for now?”
They stopped in at the Captain’s cabin first so Mist could check the ship’s progress. All was well, so they headed down below deck where the other researchers were setting up their rooms and making sure everything was in order.
Coral Reef was a sprightly and brightly-colored unicorn mare with a Master’s in Zoology with a focus in marine life from a nearby university in Vanhoover; she’d just finished her thesis to high acclaim but was already a star with research, and was a fan of card games. Her partner, Pacific Skies, was a pegasus stallion with a Master’s in Ecology from the same university, graduating three years ago and was in the middle of getting his Ph.D., and liked cloud soccer and pub quizzes.
It was very clear what Twilight Sparkle liked. Mist and Siren Song entered her private cabin and noticed the entire thing was filled to the brim with books and parchment and quills and ink. She’d brought an entire library with her so long as Mist was concerned, and gaped at the room in awe.
“You’re welcome to borrow anything from my collection so long as it’s returned by the end of our trip,” the excitable alicorn replied. “I’ve got a few primers on marine biology to get you started, and I’ve got a few fiction collections if you’re looking to pass the time.”
“…do you really need all that?” Siren Song’s question echoed the same thing going through Mist’s mind.
“This is just light reading! I’m not even sure if I packed enough! But among our other work, I’ll probably be fine.”
“I will take one of those primers, though,” Mist said. “I’m mostly on as navigator, but Siren Song did say I could dive.”
“Ah!” Without looking, Twilight picked one book out of a pile almost as tall as she was and brought it over in front of Mist. “This is a good starter text. It’s high-school level, so it should be fairly challenging but readable and packed with information.”
Mist took the book in his hoof and flipped through it. It was about 400 pages and reminded him of some of his old school textbooks. He put it in his mouth and politely set it on his back. “Thanks. That’ll probably be enough for now, but I may come back about the fiction stuff sometime.”
“Not a problem! Let me just make a note here… What was your name again? ‘Misty Skies’, right? Alright, I have that catalogued and ‘checked out’.” She blushed slightly. “I used to run a library before my ascension. I still kind of use that system sometimes out of habit.”
Mist chuckled. “No worries. I’ll make sure it comes back in good condition.”
They parted ways and headed down a few rooms to where Mist and Siren Song had their rooms. Except for Twilight’s and the Captain’s private suites, each cabin was connected to another by a shared bathroom; the researchers had one, the guards had another, the engineers had their own, the lifeguard and the cook shared one, and the servants had their own. The remaining one, nearby Twilight’s, belonged to Mist and Siren Song.
“Figured it’d help you to have a familiar face nearby,” Siren Song explained. “Well, relatively speaking, anyways. I’m going to go over my things and set my room up. I’ll be there if you need anything.”
Siren Song went to his own room through the connecting bathroom and shut the door, and for the first time since boarding the ship Mist was left alone. His room had a double bed, his own closet and vanity, a few shelves for books, a nightstand with alarm clock, even a radio and television. His bags were packed neatly off to one corner and the bed was nicely drawn down if he wanted to get inside and sleep.
The bathroom contained a shower, toilet, and sink with full drawers including a fresh roll of toothpaste and plenty of towels and washcloths and soaps. Everything was clean and pristine, and gave Mist the impression this was either the maiden voyage of the frigate or the servants and crew had done a more thorough once-over than he was used to seeing.
Though tired, Mist didn’t have much time to sleep just yet. He unpacked his things, placing his toothbrush and special toothglass in the bathroom, organized a few warmer and weather-resistant items for out at sea, and unpacked some of his own equipment; books, weather charts, almanacs, a compass, and a few items for a medicine cabinet. Soon afterwards, he went up to the Captain’s cabin for his second check.
The course was steady. Mist excused himself back to his room, set his alarm clock for a half hour, and took a nap.
They kept an even course and arrived late in the afternoon. The sun was still high and the skies were still clear and cool as the Captain and the crew dropped anchor and secured the boat as well as they could. Weather reports from back at Sirena Harbor showed no signs of storms anywhere around and the crew settled in for two whole days at the reef.
After his nap, Misty Skies had woken to find Siren Song with the others in the storage bay going over the diving equipment. With the unicorn occupied, Mist went over the book he borrowed from Twilight until it was time for the final stretch to drop anchor. Once the anchor was dropped, Mist went to the kitchen and managed to get himself an apple, and went onto the pavilion to eat.
The weather was very pleasant and the gentle rocking of the boat was almost calming. Much like the weather when the ‘Dreamweaver’ set out, he reflected. He wondered if that was an omen of things to come, but shrugged it off. The storm the night the ‘Dreamweaver’ sank was a freak accident. No small frigates for ocean exploration had sunk, only trading ships.
A servant came and reported that dinner was being served in the kitchens. Mist went down and joined the line of ponies getting their food. The cook started serving at six o’clock on the nose, served the Captain and the Princess first, then went down the line.
Dinner was a wonderful stuffed Portobello mushroom with steamed fingerling potatoes and vegetables with a small cup of au jus for dipping. Small personal wine bottles were even given out to help celebrate the start of the trip, and each also got a small slice of chocolate cake.
Mist grabbed his tray by the mouth and started looking for a place to sit. It wasn’t long before he heard his name, and his eyes and ears quickly swiveled to see Siren Song waving him over to a table for two. Mist walked over and joined him, and they both quickly dug into the delicious food.
“You ready for tomorrow?” Siren asked. “Tomorrow’s just an exploration dive; we’ll head in and map out the important places. Then the next day we do our sample collection. You’ll be able to come on the exploration dives.”
“Sounds good to me,” Mist said. “I’m not exactly a good swimmer. I can manage in a pool but not in the ocean.”
“We’re around reefs the whole time. The currents won’t be as strong and you’ll have a set of flippers. And you have me,” Siren Song said proudly, placing a hoof to his chest. “I’m probably the strongest and fastest swimmer here. If you have any problems, I’ll be nearby.”
“Good to know,” Mist said. “I’ve never exactly swam out in the deep ocean before. This is going to be fun. I’ve actually been really excited and looking forward to this for a while.”
“You must have been,” Siren Song commented. He pointed towards Mist’s eyes with his fork. “You seem to have not gotten much sleep over it lately.”
Mist’s smile turned to a frown. “Actually, that’s not from the excitement.”
Siren Song’s own smile became a look of concern. “…is something the matter?” he asked.
“Can I… can I tell you something? And can you not tell it to the other ponies? I mean, Hurricane and Gunport know, but nopony here.”
“Of course.”
Mist gulped. “I… I have nightmares about what I saw on the ‘Dreamweaver’ the night of the wreck sometimes. But I can’t remember what actually happened.”
A look of sadness came into the unicorn’s eyes. “I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t even know…”
“It’s not PTSD,” Mist said, knowing the eventual question that would come up. “I’m not afraid of going out to sea again. It’s just… every once in a while, I remember some of what happened that night and it’s not pretty.”
“Still, it’s sad to hear about.”
Mist shrugged. “They’re infrequent enough and I’m usually able to go back to sleep afterwards. But… I wanted to know, what happened when you rescued us? I don’t remember you being on board.”
Siren Song nodded. “I’ll tell you what I know. Hopefully that will help give you some peace of mind.”
“I heard a news report about being trapped in the storm soon before the wreck,” the unicorn started. “I teleported myself a fair way out close to the position, then swam with the currents until I came into sight of the capsized ‘Dreamweaver’. I flipped over a small lifeboat with my magic, grabbed a few nearby paddles, and started looking around.”
“But it was terrible,” he said with disgust. “Ponies were floating everywhere. Some were just floating lifeless in the waves and didn’t respond to anything. Drowned, I suppose. Others had flesh and limbs torn off, or massive shreds out of their bodies, but I didn’t see any predators about. But it was a reef, and perhaps they’d been driven away when the waves got really strong.”
“You and your three friends were clinging on for dear life to a piece of metal shrapnel just large enough to support you,” the unicorn continued. “You seemed to be going pretty strong but were tiring fast, but Hurricane appeared to have passed out and Gunport wasn’t going to last much longer between holding on and keeping Hurricane afloat. I got Hurricane first to ease Gunport, helped Gunport inside, and that’s when you gave way. I quickly grabbed you with my magic, and balanced you three out among the boat. I paddled until I was out of the worst of it, then checked you all over.”
“You were all half-drowned,” Siren Song continued. “I thought you weren’t going to make it. I quickly did CPR first on Hurricane, then Gunport, then you. You all returned to semi-consciousness, but were in no state to help return to shore.” Siren Song chuckled. “But even half-conscious, you remembered. Skilled navigator indeed! You pointed me in the right direction and saw me off before seemingly falling asleep. Knowing the effort required to stay afloat for who knows how long in the waves, I didn’t bother to wake you up. I simply paddled as quickly as I could in the direction of the harbor.”
“A few minutes later, the storm broke. A few hours later, the sun came up. In the early morning mists, I finally made it back to Sirena Harbor. I would have called for an ambulance, but someone spotted me coming in with you three unconscious in tow and by the time we made it to the dock the ambulance had already arrived. You awoke just long enough to confirm you were home, but passed out again before the dock.”
A few things were solved to Mist. How Siren Song had found them, how they had managed to somehow survive floating on the waves, how come they had all been unconscious, even how Siren Song had managed to get them back to Sirena Harbor.
“That still leaves a few gaps,” Mist said. “I only remember from the start of the storm to finding Hurricane. I still don’t know how we found Gunport, or what finally caused the ship to capsize.”
Siren Song shrugged sympathetically. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. But hopefully some of it will help jog your memory as to the rest of it.”
Mist nodded. “I suppose I owe you something.”
“Consider your debt paid by coming on this. And even then, you’re still getting paid for this.”
Mist chuckled. “That I am.”
By the time Siren Song finished telling Mist what happened the night of the wreck, dinner was finished. Twilight supervised a shift change in her guards, and Mist joined the research team as they went out to the pavilion to watch the sun set and the moon rise. They chatted and a table and cards were brought out and Coral Reef taught them how to play poker. After a while, though, the poker conversation turned to rumors and legends.
“Anyone know any good scary stories?” Twilight asked. “Like, any sea-faring stories or legends? That sort of thing?”
Mist did not offer his. And for a while, no one offered any of their own, and it was suspected they were lost.
“I have one,” Siren Song replied. “It’s a ballad, though I warn you it is very dark. It’s called ‘The Rhyme of the Lost Mariner’.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of that one!” Twilight said, clapping her hooves excitedly. “But I’ve heard only half the text is known. There’s supposed to be twelve verses, but only five verses are in modern Equish.”
“That’s because the whole thing is thirteen verses, and it’s in old Equish,” Siren Song said. “But, it happens to be popular around Sirena Harbor, as it deals with the legends of the sirens that give the town it’s name.”
“Ooh ooh ooh! Let me get my quill and parchment; I want a copy for the library!” And Twilight skittered off, laughing giddily as she did.
It was only when Twilight had returned, and a good portion of the table had been cleared for her writing utensils, that Siren Song began.
There once was a stallion of great Canterlot; A noble content with his life and his lot. He had a great wealth, Good life and good health. When asked what he missed, he would say “I do not.”
The unicorn’s voice was soft and clear amidst the quiet night. He sang slow and almost mournful like he was singing a funeral dirge, with clear and present sadness in every note. And yet there was something beautiful and almost passionate about it, as though he sang not just with his voice but with his heart. And the further it went on, the more Mist began to almost see the lyrics play out like a film in his head.
One day he journeyed out to the great sea For he liked the feeling of being so free. He went out on his boat But was barely afloat When a voice compelled him to a nearby beach.
On land lay a creature, half mare and half fish, Whose fin-tail beckoned with each graceful swish. Entranced by her voice, He soon made his choice; That she become his was his ultimate wish.
He asked for her love and to come home with him. She blushed and she chuckled and she said with a grin: “To have this heart of mine, You must now relinquish thine And let our blood mix in the sea’s ancient hymn.”
But the noble was certainly no common fool And he saw the vile nature of this once precious jewel. “I’d prefer now to live; So my heart I won’t give! Tempt someone else, but to me don’t be cruel!”
He left and returned to his life and his home But what once seemed so full now felt so alone. Something seemed strange, As though life had changed, But what happened to him, he did not know.
He saw, in his dreams, the mare in the night And every last movement set his nerves alight. He looked everywhere, But she was nowhere; Yet her voice had stirred a deep, primal fright.
“She is the one, to her I must go! This obsession is hers, a curse from my foe! But I cannot lie: For her, I will die, Oh how wretched her seed has grown!”
He returned to the beach as though in a dream And found the fish-mare in the bright moon-gleam. “You came back, at last, But not very fast.” Replied he: “Yet nights are one unending scream.”
And so were engineered his terms of surrender: One night of passion, so gentle and tender. His heart she would bite; He’d be hers that night, And become in and part of her splendor.
The stallion sank into the mare’s bliss And she sealed his fate with a passionate kiss. Then his chest she did rent, And to her his soul went And two became one in the sea’s dark abyss.
She chewed on his heart like a delicacy; Her tongue savored his taste so affectionately. With the last gulp of red He came back from the dead Now transformed like herself, hers unquestionably.
The noble disappeared, his wealth is all gone. None knew where he went the very next dawn. Though some have witnessed A new love and mistress Way out to sea; to her, he is always drawn.
For a long while, there was silence. Mist found himself in awe of the stallion before him, who he didn’t know could sing like that. It became clear where he got his name; an excellent swimmer and an excellent voice was the only one capable of bearing the name of a legend, even though Mist now believed the actual siren would make him pale in comparison.
And yet… there came a shiver up and down Mist’s spine that was only in part due to the beauty of the unicorn’s voice. The song’s lyrics were dark and disturbing, and he suddenly remembered what the guard had told him that night on the pier, about how the last one to jump off was ‘lucky’ to have the guards catch him. He wondered whether or not he would have met the same fate as the noble had he jumped off; the guard certainly couldn’t have been playing games with him, not with how mournful he himself looked.
An expletive from just out of Mist’s sight disturbed his train of thought; Twilight had only managed to write one verse of the lengthy ballad. Siren Song promised a full recital for her collection the next evening. But now it was late and they were trying to get an early start the next day, and so it would have to wait.
The others agreed. A few more hands of poker were played just so everyone could calm down from the ghost story, and soon the table and cards were put away and the team went away to bed. Each went to his or her cabin, the guards posted outside of Twilight’s, and slowly the lights were shut off except for the ones in the main hall.
Mist and Siren Song took turns in the bathroom before Mist hopped into bed with the book he borrowed from Twilight. The television, while small, had decent reception, and he was soon watching a variety show from one of the local Sirena Harbor channels while he read.
He wasn’t reading long before Siren Song came and stood in the doorway to the connecting bathroom. Mist looked up at him questioningly.
“You okay?” the unicorn asked gently, almost tenderly. “You seemed unnerved by the song.”
“Yeah,” Mist said dumbly. He nodded. “Horror has never exactly been my thing.”
Siren Song chuckled. “I’ve got nicer ones I’ll sing for you some other time. You can blame the Princess for the request.”
Mist smiled. “Know any funny ones?”
“I know about the pony from Nantucket, though that’s a bit overdone by this point.”
Mist laughed. Not just chuckled, but outright laughed.
Siren Song smiled at him. “Listen, if you need anything, you come see me, okay? I know I’ve said it over and over again, but I just really want you to know I don’t mind.”
Mist smiled and nodded again. He wiped an eye with his hoof. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. I suppose a fair warning that it may happen tonight. Tends to happen if I hear something horror-related close to when I go to sleep.”
“Warning taken. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
But that night, Misty Skies had no nightmares. He drifted off around eleven to a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
Author's Note
Twilight will have a major part to play later, but she's not a main character.
What Lies Beneath the Surface
Author's Note
Slow chapter, no gore.
Pleasure Cruise
Misty Skies woke up the next morning with the breakfast bell, feeling well-rested and refreshed. The morning air as he stepped out to stretch on the deck was cool and the sun was just coming up over the horizon. It would be a warm but pleasant day.
Breakfast was two hardboiled eggs, tomato on toast, and a small fruit salad with milk and coffee. Mist had his coffee black and took it over to an empty table. He was joined shortly after by Siren Song, who Mist quickly noticed had sought him out instead of going to the other researchers. This seemed odd, considering they were likely going over preparations for the day’s dive and he should have joined them.
But the look on the unicorn’s face made it apparent why before he spoke. “I wanted to check up on you from last night. About the horror thing.”
“Well, I seemed to have been okay,” Mist said. “Probably because of the joke you made before bed.”
“Good to know it could be solved that fast.” Siren Song deshelled his hardboiled eggs as he took a bite of his toast. “Well, shouldn’t run into too many more of those before the end of the trip.”
“It’s not your fault,” Mist said. “I just don’t have the stomach for them.” He smiled conspiratorially. “And, of course, we can blame the Princess for the request.”
Siren Song merely gave a chuckle in response. “So, you ready for your first dive?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Well, as ready as I’ll ever be, I think. One last equipment check before we go in, I presume?”
“Yeah. We’ll probably also go out in shifts. Or, at least, only two of us researchers at a time. I’m okay with you coming with me, but it’s advisable you stick close at all times.”
Mist stayed quiet as Siren Song continued going over diving protocol. Mist would be given a set of diving fins for his back hooves. The unicorn would jump in, make sure the coast was clear, and then Mist would come in after him. Mist was to stay close, within a few meters of Siren Song, and constantly check on him for cues. Green meant he could touch the fish he was near, red meant danger, even just from small bites, and Mist would not be able to touch them.
After breakfast, Siren Song and Mist did not go up to the deck, but went with the other researchers plus Twilight Sparkle, the medic, and the lifeguard down to the equipment bay. Out the back of the frigate was the heavy iron door Mist had seen earlier, which one of the researchers opened up to reveal a step onto a small platform and ladder jutting out into the ocean. A nearby scanner noted the bottom was just over forty feet below the ship, though it occasionally fell down to nearly fifty if it got pushed far enough.
The diving equipment was distributed. Coral Reef, Pacific Skies, and Twilight Sparkle each had their own set of equipment, which included a set of flippers, a diving suit, a helmet, rebreather, and oxygen tanks. Mist only had flippers. Most baffling of all, Siren Song had nothing.
The expert swimmer part Mist could explain, but not having air? Even the best swimmers had to come up for air after five or so minutes, perhaps less if they were continually moving and in deep water. And what about equipment of his own if he was supposed to dive? Not only was he inadequately suited for much more than a few meters from the ship, he would get cold fast if he didn’t even have his own suit.
None of the other ponies seemed to have a problem with this. There he was, almost ignored, as Pacific Skies suited up and walked over towards the small dock at the back of the ship. After Coral Reef checked over his diving equipment, Pacific Skies hopped over with a splash and was soon in the clear and calm blue waters.
Siren Song turned to Twilight. “You have the spell I asked for ready?”
“Yes. But, are you sure you don’t need two casts? One for Mist and one for yourself?”
“I’ve done enough training and swimming in these waters I could do a marathon and be alright. Only one is needed.”
“Very well.” Twilight turned to Mist. “Come over here, Mist. You’re going in a little differently.”
Mist sighed with relief. At least he wasn’t being totally ignored. Mist walked over to Twilight, who was forming magic on her horn, a swirling purple aura that was strange if only because not too many others had so rich a purple.
“We’re going to cast a series of spells on you, Mist. I can’t do it for everypony, and neither will Siren Song’s work on too many, but it cuts down on cost if we don’t need to provide you with a full set of equipment. But what I’ll do for you is place a warming matrix that will prevent your body temperature from falling more than about two to three degrees than the normal, active for an hour at a time. Siren Song will have one more, but I’ll let him explain that one. Are you ready?”
Mist was dubious about the exact nature of the spell, but Twilight’s smile was reassuring and he nodded confidently. Besides, this seemed like a mare who knew what she was doing.
Twilight’s horn flared brighter and a small orange globe formed at her horntip. She pointed it at Mist and the orange glow slowly seeped into his body. It felt like sitting next to a warm fire, and soon Mist’s whole body was covered in a faint orange shine and he felt impervious even to the sea breezes.
“Okay, that was pretty cool. That explains why I don’t have a suit, too.” He turned to Siren Song. “And what are you going to do?”
Siren Song said nothing. He merely smiled, then smirked, then grinned as his horn lit up with a surprisingly bright aqua aura and his magic hummed and sparked. A mischievous glint appeared in his eye and he began to chuckle low and steady.
It was a look Mist didn’t like at all. Twilight’s was fine, but whatever the purple unicorn had in mind for him was another thing entirely – speaking of which, why wasn’t she doing anything!? Mist squealed and attempted to run away from the open door before he could find out what was going to happen.
He didn’t get too much of a chance. Siren Song fired off his magic and Mist was suddenly flung out the door screaming. There was a loud crash as his body hit the water and he realized he forgot to take a breath of air before getting pushed. He closed his mouth as soon as possible as the bubbles from his impact began to clear.
He was nearly at the surface again before he realized he had a bubble around his muzzle that was staying pretty solid. Tentatively and without surfacing, he breathed outwards through his nose. Instead of blowing into the water and creating more bubbles, he saw the bubble over his muzzle moving around but otherwise staying put. Freaking out but not quite on the verge of panic attack yet, Mist opened his mouth to check something.
No water. No water came into his mouth. Mist reached a hoof up and tapped the bubble. It jittered and jiggled around a little but didn’t move.
“You can breathe, you know.”
Mist looked up from the bubble on his muzzle and realized Siren Song was swimming in the water not too far from him. He had a bubble around his own muzzle and his own breathing seemed to be almost measured, like someone doing yoga and quite trained at keeping themselves steady.
“You might want to, considering you’ve been holding it in for almost two whole minutes. Come on, follow my lead.”
Mist wasn’t sure about it, but gently began to breathe in time with Siren Song’s more audible breathing. It was tentative and shallow at first, but soon Mist realized he was floating underwater, a few inches from the surface, and breathing in clean air.
“To answer the questions that inevitably come to mind, the airsack over your face functions much like a fish’s gills. It’s a filter; carbon dioxide leaves and it’s recycled with clean oxygen and nitrogen from the ocean. Lasts a few hours, too. As to why I also threw you out the door, I got the feeling you wouldn’t believe me if that wasn’t the case, and of course, learn by doing.”
“But, how come I can hear you clearly?”
“Let’s just say the magic used to create the air sack is a complicated piece of work intertwining three spells in one: shield spell, filtration on the atomic level, and telepathic communication vaguely equivalent to a phone line. The farther we are, the more of a delay there is in when you actually hear me speak.”
“…whoa…” Mist said. “Missed out on something not being a unicorn, I think. I’d love to do this.”
“Well, are you ready for your first dive?” Siren Song reached out a hoof to Mist. “There’s a lot to see down here.”
Still in awe, Mist reached out a hoof towards the unicorn and let him gently lead him down into the ocean, further away from the surface.
It was like a whole other world, at once alien and extremely beautiful.
They’d come across a small patch of coral reef, where the water was just warm enough to support a more diverse spectrum of life. Siren Song gently led Misty Skies down towards the most shallow portion of the reef, still almost forty feet below the surface, and the water went from blue to bursting with color almost like a rainbow before Mist’s own eyes.
Almost immediately, the two were met with a school of bright red fish with blue tips that Siren Song called a Flame Angelfish that barely even paid attention to them. Siren Song even stopped for a moment and gently raised a hoof, cradling one or two fish as they passed and encouraging Mist to do the same. Mist was speechless and managed to do little more than gasp in awe and wonder, though when one fish came up and gently nuzzled his hoof before moving on, he even gave a little laugh.
They slowly kicked over the shelf of the reef by a smaller group of squarespot anthias, small rectangular fish with red and pink patterns, flitting in and out of a group of rocks. After that came a lone black-and-white saddle grouper that tickled Mist with his yellow fins when it swam underneath him. Siren Song pointed out a purple starry blenny eating algae off a bit of coral, while yellow and white raccoon butterfly fish flitted just over the anemone, followed shortly after by a blue and orange saddle wrasse.
Down in a nook in the rock, a cinnamon clownfish darted in and out of a particularly long and wavy anemone, while a group of blacktail dascyllus hovered in a circle above them. Siren Song gracefully maneuvered them through the center just so Mist could see the swirling vortex of black and white, before coming up to a group of brighter blue and black sergeant major damselfish. Siren Song spun them around and headed for a hole in the rock that soon revealed itself as the home of a watchful zebra moray before watching a large manta ray come and snatch up a dot-and-dash goatfish.
After a while, it wasn’t so much the fish that were amazing and wondrous to Mist as it was Siren Song himself. The unicorn moved swiftly and gracefully through the water much like a fish himself, guiding Mist around the reef effortlessly. At times, he would take Mist almost on rollercoaster rides through the reef, diving downwards and moving like a snake through the tight confines of the reef before coming up into a graceful loop-de-loop around some school of fish. Then they would go around another school in a gentle spiral before lazily drifting on the heels of another for a while before Siren Song would make a sharp turn and dive right up towards another fish. All of this was even more surprising whenever Mist remembered he had no diving apparatus whatsoever, not even flippers.
A short ways away, Mist could see Pacific Skies applauding his antics and could see him smiling through the mask and rebreather.
Siren Song also seemed to have a way with the fish that was quite unusual, but allowed for some rather closer encounters than might have been if it was just Mist. He was able to coax an otherwise flighty orange-and-black Achilles tang into basically sitting in his hoof just so he could point out the distinctive markings to Mist, and often had a group of electric orange and blue Carpenter’s flasher wrasse around his head almost like a crown. And once, when a clownfish came by, Mist thought he saw a small trace of magic come around the unicorn, and suddenly his purple body was covered in white and black stripes similar to the orange fish; but it disappeared before he could ask about it.
Siren Song even managed to get a blacktip shark almost as long as Mist was to come over them. He then stroked the creature with a hoof until it was calm enough to flip it over and open the mouth to show Mist the teeth, before flipping it right-side-up; the shark circled them once then went on its way without bothering them at all. Siren Song even got Mist to pet the shark , which was just about the last thing Mist wanted to do.
After the shark, Siren Song asked Mist if he was ready to go back to the ship. Breathless from their adventures and still gaping at everything that was happening to him, Mist merely nodded his response. And so Siren Song gently took him back to the ship.
They spent long enough that Pacific Skies finished his own time diving down below and had switched out for Coral Reef by the time they surfaced. Siren Song hopped out easily and helped Mist, warm but soaking wet, onto the short dock and into the storage bay. The lifeguard brought over large towels for Mist and Siren Song and they dried themselves off before Siren Song helped Twilight with her own suit.
“Did the spells work out okay?” Twilight asked. “You spent quite a while down there.”
“I was getting a little cold at the end,” Mist replied with a large grin on his face, “but thank you very much. It was quite an enjoyable experience while it lasted, though getting some sun on the deck sounds nice about now.”
Siren Song chuckled and put a hoof on Mist’s shoulder. “I’ll join you in a minute to ask what you thought of that little experience, but I’m going to spend just a few minutes with Pacific Skies updating our maps and taking note of a few species of interest. I won’t take too long.”
Mist finished drying himself off and took a bottle of water from the lifeguard and made his way up to the deck. His legs were worn out but not terribly so, and he felt invigorated but peaceful after the bracing swim through the reef, and it felt good to lie on one of the lounge chairs in the pavilion. He opened the water bottle and drank nearly half in one go, then proceeded to sip the rest of it while relaxing.
Siren Song came up shortly after he had finished off the water bottle, carrying two more. He unscrewed the cap off one and offered it to Mist – who took it gratefully after suddenly finding himself very thirsty – and sat down on the chair next to Mist as he opened up his own and took a few sips.
“So, what did you think of your first underwater dive?”
Mist whistled as he looked out to sea. “That was fantastic,” he replied. “Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Certainly wasn’t expecting the whole breathing underwater thing, but… after getting thrown in, the whole experience was absolutely amazing.”
“And you didn’t do too bad for somepony going in for their first time.” Mist looked over to the unicorn for a moment; Siren Song had his smirk on again. “Sorry again about throwing you in like that, but I had the feeling you wouldn’t believe me.”
“And you’re probably right,” Mist agreed. “If someone told me you could cast a spell to let a pony breathe underwater like a fish, I wouldn’t believe them.” Mist looked over to Siren Song; the smirk had softened to a smile that was almost sweet and his shimmering aqua eyes. “Now I do.”
Siren Song put a hoof under his head and rested on it, still looking at Mist. “I’m guessing you’ve probably figured out how I earned my cutie mark by now.”
Mist nodded. “I still can’t believe you ----ing pet a shark. I still can’t believe I pet a shark.”
“Show them you mean them no harm and they don’t usually bother you. Most of the smaller fish and even smaller sharks around here aren’t too volatile. It takes time, but eventually you understand they’re just trying to protect themselves and they understand you aren’t a threat.”
They were silent for a while, Siren Song still lying on the chair and Mist just sort of staring at him, with Mist realizing his admiration of the other stallion’s physique was quite more than just staring at his ass. Siren Song was quite attractive, with a handsome face framed by his aqua mane and a full-bodied chest and yes, a good-looking behind. The stallion looked like he might swim quite often, his entire body rippling with finely-toned muscle, and yet his every movement was so graceful and precise that Mist had the feeling of him being quite delicate and tender.
More than that was a peculiar feeling of safety around the unicorn. The stallion had been nothing but kind and friendly to him, and there was a certain extra feeling of protectiveness during their swim that made Mist feel like no harm would come to him around Siren Song. This was paired with a certain element of trust towards the unicorn, Mist had let himself be guided around by Siren Song and, even before that, agreed to come on this trip with a stallion he barely knew.
There was also a slight undercurrent of possessiveness, of feeling like he wanted the majority of Mist’s attention. Not all of it; he’d allowed Twilight to speak and was quite fine conversing with Gunport at the harbor and was willing to talk to Hurricane. It was a want of approval, of doing things to steadily impress him and zealously making sure Mist enjoyed his time around him. And even just a few moments ago asking him about the dive, it was not about what he learned but about what he enjoyed.
Mist was startled out of his reverie by Siren Song suddenly reaching a hoof over and gently pushing away a piece of the Earth pony’s mane that had fallen into his face. It was small, but rather sweet, and Mist could see Siren Song looking at him almost with adoration.
“What about you?” the unicorn asked, almost a whisper. “How did you get yours?”
Mist smiled. “Got lost one day. Went shopping with my mom in some fog and we somehow got separated. She couldn’t find me, but I walked through the fog and found her. It was like the fog was barely even there.” Mist chuckled and looked away from Siren Song. “Not really fantastic, I know. But remarkably useful.”
“Given your profession, I can imagine so. Speaking of which, how long ago did you start doing shipwork?”
“Well, I worked at the harbor soon after I got out of school,” Mist said, now more comfortable with the reminiscing. “I got a degree in cartography while I was working, and eventually combined it with my cutie mark and got on-board a few ships as an apprentice. Took five runs over the course of six or seven months and eventually got hired as a main navigator for three ships: the ‘Atlantis’, the ‘Great Eagle’, and the ‘Dreamweaver’. That was my usual for just about four years until the ‘Dreamweaver’ sunk.”
Siren Song may have been a bit on the possessive side, but he seemed genuinely interested in Mist describing his own life. He listened attentively and didn’t interrupt him until he was sure Mist was finished. “What was it like? Doing the navigation work for the trading ships?”
It was hard to concentrate with Siren Song rolling around on the chair next to him. The unicorn had changed positions so his head was now lying on his hooves, still looking at him, but with his body stretched out behind him in an almost provocative pose. But Mist endeavored to continue.
“Well,” he said, mildly flustered, “much the same as this. But here we’re going in a straight line, while often I have to check on currents, air flow, storm temperature, and so on and so forth. It’s more work, and I’m often corresponding with both the Captain’s cabin and the engine room to make sure we stay on-course.”
“So this is a pleasure cruise for you, then?”
“Yeah, kind of. Definitely less work.” Mist thought it a good time to divert the conversation away from him. “So… what about you? How did you get into marine biology work like this? I mean, seems kind of obvious, but, what about the specifics?”
“Nothing much to speak of. Went through college in Vanhoover in six years, got both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Marine Biology, started doing field research in conjunction with the aquariums there. Even managed to help them update their aquarium, if you’ve been there in the last two years.”
“Haven’t had much time, lately. It sounds nice, though. Probably won’t compare to the experience I had.”
Siren Song smiled proudly and shook his head. “Never in a thousand years.”
There came the sound of a bell tingling over the radio and the other research team members came up from below deck and started heading for the kitchens. Siren Song finally clambered up and resumed a normal, but relaxed, standing position, beckoning Mist with his head.
“Come on; I think that means lunch is ready.”
Lunch was daffodil and daisy sandwiches with a poison oak and clover salad. The cool and fresh food felt good after spending a fair portion of the morning out on the deck, as well as feeling a little dried out. Misty Skies took a short rest in his room after lunch and Siren Song offered to take him on another dive, which he eagerly accepted.
Siren Song was much gentler the second time going down. Twilight Sparkle did her warming spell on Mist as before, then Siren Song did his water-breathing spell in a similar fashion, simply tapping Mist’s head to activate it instead of pushing him into the ocean. They went to the dock and Siren Song dived in first, surfacing a few moments later to give Mist the okay.
Mist dived in and grabbed Siren Song’s hoof as before and they descended into the reef. More fish were active than before, and they even got to see a slow-moving sea turtle flapping over the reef. Siren Song went slower and explained about more fish and Mist became a more active participant, asking questions and having more of a dialogue about the fish.
Even so, there was something about the languid and lazy but easy movements that once again intrigued Mist more than the actual fish. Siren Song swam underwater as gracefully as a pegasus could fly and moved almost sensually as a Saddle Arabian dancer. Mist felt rather clunky alongside him, but he slowly found himself more accustomed to the unicorn’s groove and as willing to engage in some of the simpler acrobatic movements. He could participate in the gentle downward spirals around some groups of fish, could slip through some portions of the reef like Siren Song could, and wasn’t as dizzy as he thought he would be if the unicorn ever spun him around.
By the time the second dive was finished, Mist was worn out and gracefully excused himself for a short rest in his room. He ended up falling asleep for an hour and a half while Siren Song and the other researchers worked on the map of the reef and organizing the boat’s sample containers hidden in the storage bay.
Mist slept until dinner, when he was awoken by a servant calling him down to eat. He went to the bathroom and splashed water on his face to wake up before heading down to the kitchens. Siren Song called over to him and had reserved a place in line for him. Dinner that night was much simpler, and Siren Song discussed the following day’s collection over hayburgers and fried potatoes with salad; Mist was allowed to watch Twilight, who would be staying on-board to label and properly store samples, but Siren Song would be busy the whole day with helping the other researchers and wouldn’t be able to take Mist with them.
Mist was half-disappointed and half-relieved at the same time. Disappointment came because of how much fun he was having with Siren Song and how much he enjoyed swimming underwater and looking at the fish and the reefs. Relief came after realizing he was still worn out, and he probably hadn’t got that much exercise for quite a while. Nearly three hours was quite enough; he was thankful for a day of rest, and mollified by Siren’s explanation he would be take him out again during the next day’s exploration phase.
Coral Reef asked for the card table to be brought out again after dinner and she taught them all bridge, and a radio was brought out and they listened to music. Mist was a quick learner at bridge and quickly won quite a few games at bridge, while Twilight, Pacific Skies, and Siren Song got into an argument over the finer points of jazz music.
They switched over to Hearts as the station switched to Motown around nine, and Twilight and one of the engineers who had come out after hearing the music switch started dancing; Twilight wasn’t too good, but the engineer had some decent moves and even got Twilight, Mist, Siren Song, and the other engineer to join her in learning some modified line-dancing. Mist found himself laughing and having quite a bit of fun and quite a bit more than he’d expected from Siren Song plus a bunch of what he thought would be stuffy researchers.
After which, Pacific Skies ended up quite nearly sweeping the board at the Hearts games except for one game where Siren Song started humming and distracted him into playing in his favor. There were cries of Siren Song turning into a dirty cheater before the table broke out laughing when Twilight explained about a hagfish shooting some goop at Pacific Skies earlier that afternoon after lunch.
The cards went on until almost midnight. The card table and the radio were put away and the group slowly went back to their rooms one by one.
It was the most fun Mist had had for a long time. He decided to invite Hurricane, Gunport, Siren Song, and two or three of their other friends for a poker tournament at his place sometime. He wrote a note to remind himself of this before climbing into bed and reading for a while before dozing off with the light on.
What Lies Beneath the Surface
The next day was a quiet one for Misty Skies, but so far as he was concerned was well-deserved. He checked the weather a few times and checked radio signals for a hundred miles, but otherwise had a wonderful day resting on the boat.
He woke up with the others for breakfast around seven, but went back to his cabin to sleep some more once breakfast was over. He slept until almost eleven, and once he woke up had a good shower to wash the salt out of his coat and give himself a good scrub down. Instead of a towel, he went out onto the pavilion on the deck and lay in the seat that offered the most sun.
By the time he was dry, it was noon and lunch was being served. Siren Song gave him a quick report of their doings in line for lunch, but joined the other researchers and Twilight and it seemed kept on working; Mist sat close enough to overhear them talking about the other samples they would need to collect and double-checking with Twilight to make sure the storage tanks were a-okay.
The afternoon passed slowly. Mist read the book on marine biology he borrowed from Twilight some more, watched some television from the limited channels they had, and when he got stir-crazy walked the deck and played some solitaire in one of the lounges.
Deciding that at least watching wouldn’t do any harm, Mist walked over to the back of the frigate and looked over the side at where the little dock was. It was quiet for a while, but soon he saw Pacific Skies come up with a plastic bag in his mouth containing a brightly-colored fish. He talked with Twilight for a while but Twilight seemed to disapprove, at which point the fish was released and Pacific Skies went right back down. Nothing else happened, so Mist went back over to the pavilion and got one of his own books to read.
By the time dinner came at six, the group looked rather pleased but – excluding Siren Song – also very tired. They had each been swimming in shifts of two hours, and Twilight had spent her own “down time” while they were underwater starting some tests in a special room in the bottom of the frigate that would have to be checked back on in a few days, testing water quality and contaminant levels.
This, according to Siren Song when they sat in the lounge room after dinner, the most of them too tired to even play cards, was the main point of their cruise.
“Apparently, the big wigs at the research foundation I did my last assignment for found some crucial problems regarding contaminants. They wanted us to check a few areas, bring back a few samples of fish to look at the effects of the contaminants, as well as do a test run of our special frigate. Runs primarily off of electricity and hydrogen gas; should be cleaner than most ‘modern’ gas-powered ships. If that’s the case, and we have evidence of high pollutants, it should be enough to make the switch.”
“Pardon my Prench,” Siren Song continued with an ire that Mist rarely saw out of him, “but shit’s dying down there. Is it so fucking hard to change your course out of the worst areas?” He banged the chair with his hoof as he spat out the words. “Or to trade less and not be dumping shit down the drain? It ruins ecosystems and food sources all in one fell swoop with the rate you greedy bastards are at.” He coughed and gave an almost apologetic look to Mist, who had recoiled in one of the few times he felt repulsed by the stallion. “Present company being an exception.”
Mist realized part of the tirade was against his profession as the ship’s navigator, but understood at least some of what Siren Song meant. “Why not collaborate with a non-profit? You know, use the research to spread the word? Advocate for more of these frigate things to be built?”
“That’s all well and good, but no one listens to us,” Siren Song replied, calmed down from his tirade but still visibly aggravated. “No matter the warnings, and no matter how attractive we make the alternatives sound, there’s nothing to sway them otherwise.”
“What about making pamphlets or booklets and send them out in the mail? It’s kind of cheap if you do it in bulk, and the language is simpler and more direct. Gets ponies involved without leaving home.”
“I don’t know how much the common pony would understand of our plight. I mean, sure, there’s the aquarium in Vanhoover that does some decent work, but really, how many are going to care beyond a tourist attraction? And how much would that do to stop the gas-powered ships?”
Mist had to admit it would do very little on the part of the gas-leaking ships.
“And the frigates are expensive and at least a year in construction,” Siren Song said. “In that time, nearly fifteen thousand gas-powered ships will pass over areas like this, making them worse off.”
“You forget there is a Princess on board.”
Siren Song and Mist turned to Twilight Sparkle, who had walked over to them. “If I can get a look at the diagrams of the frigate, I may be able to get a few more running in, say, three to six months with proper allocation of funding? And if we can get a few more running and take down a few steam-powered ships, it may help. And once we look at those research reports and send them through, I may be able to convince Princess Celestia of the cause.”
Siren Song smiled. “Your suggestion is like the voice of an angel, Your Highness, and most appreciated. It shall take some time for the research, of course, but if we have the backing of a Princess behind it, I have faith it shall succeed.”
Twilight smiled and chuckled. “In the meantime, however, it would do good to do what Mist suggested. At least, some of it. Public support is as much of a spur as that of a Princess.”
“Perhaps. But the oceans are like home to me, and I suppose my cynical side at seeing their deterioration is finally coming to a head. But, if you also think it is well, Princess, I shall run it by my fellows at the research foundation. The non-profit sounds like a good place to start.”
“And I’ll be your first donation,” Mist said.
Siren Song may have been smiling at the Princess, but it was much wider when he looked at Mist afterwards.
The rest of the evening was spent in relative calm, but the next day Misty Skies set out about his work again. He convened with the Captain after breakfast, received the next set of coordinates from Siren Song, and began helping to guide the ship northwards.
Their second stop was an atoll about forty or so miles off the coast of Vanhoover. There would be a long voyage; nearly ninety miles upwards to be parallel with Sirena Harbor, then another hundred and ten after that to reach the site of the Vanhoover Atoll. Seven hours all told at twenty-five knots; they embarked at nine in clear weather, and did not expect to reach the atoll until almost four in the afternoon. The Captain had no intentions of stopping for lunch, either.
“Shall I have the servant bring you up a sandwich?” Siren Song asked.
“That would be helpful,” the Captain said. “Mist, check back in after lunch hour. Shouldn’t be hard to get back to Sirena Harbor area if I just follow the coastline, but I’ll need the guidance after that.”
Mist found himself with a free morning. He decided to use that morning to learn more about Siren Song. And so, when the Captain dismissed him, he was quite pleased when Siren Song offered to take him down to the holding tanks and explain the details of his current assignment.
They were specifically looking for sick-looking fish. The point was to rescue them and take a sample of the water they were found in, place them in cleaner water to see how quickly they recovered, and take the water sample and see what the level of pollutants were. Twilight’s main portion of the research was looking at pollutant levels, Siren Song knew the fish species the best and how to determine which were sick, Coral Reef knew how best to care for the fish, and Pacific Skies knew the ecology of each to keep them in the right setting for transportation.
Once the fish were successfully taken back to the research foundation, they would be placed in the Vanhoover Aquarium, which kept clean and well-designed tanks, in hopes of helping rehabilitate and teach the public about the fish. The findings were to go to anywhere from one to five journals and the Equestrian National Science Foundation, which hosted a compendium and helped write new laws around the research done. According to Siren Song, it was this foundation that helped come up with the new frigate they were on and, if their voyage was successful, would most likely be the first to back the Princess in constructing more.
Mist remained silent until they were up on the deck, relaxing in the pavilion while waiting for lunch.
“It’s almost surprising how something so beautiful is really so sick,” he said. “It puts my whole experience two days ago in a different perspective.”
“Ah, if only we could do more like that. But there are not enough breathing spells or warming spells for everyone.”
“It doesn’t need to be everyone,” Mist said. “Key ones. Ones you know could act as advocates. I mean, you have Princess Twilight on your side now. Why not offer some of the nobility? Do a pleasure cruise like this, offer some diving opportunities, all while teaching them about the ocean and this new frigate.”
“Perhaps, in time, more will come and see, but for now I can’t bring everyone. I had to jump through a few hoops just to get you on here, even with your status as a navigator.”
“I could start helping out by speaking with other Captains. If they hear about the frigate and all the stuff on here and the capabilities, they might be in for switching to it.”
Siren Song smiled gently at Mist. “A few days ago, I did not think I would find someone so enthusiastic and willing to help.”
Mist shrugged. “I don’t know much. But I’ve learned quite a bit over the last few days. I can’t just sit back, after seeing and hearing what I have. I feel like I have to do something.”
Siren Song smiled, but this time there was something sad in his eyes. “Maybe. But not yet. The time isn’t right.”
The bell for lunch rang and the two helped themselves to eggplant sandwiches and fruit salad. Once lunch was over, Mist went up and was in the Captain’s cabin and worked for an hour straight. He reacquainted himself with the position of the boat, made a few radio calls to Sirena Harbor and Vanhoover for weather and traffic checks – which came back as “all clear” – and cleared their entrance to the Vanhoover Atoll.
While still warm under the sun, the weather had become slightly colder and a breeze started blowing, enough to give even the alicorn Twilight Sparkle a chill. Having nothing to do and finally awake from their expeditions the previous afternoon, a few board games were brought out in the lounge room and the researchers were playing Parcheesi and Mancala. One of Twilight’s off-duty guards, a white pegasus stallion with a cutie mark of one black and one white wing, even joined in when a game of dominos was started.
When Mist went back to check after another hour to start guiding the entrance to Vanhoover Atoll, the wind had picked up and the seas became choppy. The games had to be put away because pieces were sliding all over the tables, and the more sensitive members of the crew had to sit down from seasickness. Mist went back up to the cabin and asked if the Captain saw anything.
“Not a thing,” the Captain said. “It just suddenly picked up like this. Never seen anything like it; one moment we’re calm and clear as can be, next the wind suddenly starts up and the seas start churning.”
But Mist had. He wasn’t quite getting flashbacks, but he could smell the danger signs and hoped nothing would turn out as it had before. “Hope we don’t get a storm,” Mist said.
“Maybe you should call to Vanhoover and see if they picked anything up,” the Captain said. He squinted into the distance. “Seems like it’s getting worse, too.”
Mist immediately picked up the radio. “Vanhoover Port, this is Misty Skies, navigator of the ENSF Research Frigate-001, do you copy, over?”
There was a moment of silence. “Misty Skies, this is Vanhoover Port, hear you loud and clear, over.”
“There’s a strange change in the weather here, VP. Winds are going about thirty knots and rising and we’re getting waves about a hoof and a half high. Did you have anything on the weather reports about this, over?”
“Negative, 001. We’re picking up a storm on the radar; seems to be about ten miles away from your position and came up only about fifteen minutes ago, over.”
Fifteen minutes ago… same as before… Mist steeled himself and spoke into the radio again. “Any idea if there’s been any weird weather patterns like this one lately, over?”
“Not around here. They’re more common lately around the Sirena Harbor port. We thought it might fizzle out soon, but it seems to be gaining in strength, over.”
“Well, we’re about fifteen miles from the Vanhoover Atoll. Do you think we should try and make it or should we turn in and see if we can make it to port, over?"
“Storm’s coming in fast. Make for the atoll; there’s no sharp rocks and you can harbor by the beach to the east. Land’s a little taller on that side and may help steady the ship, over.”
“Travelling at about twenty-five knots right now. Do you mind if we bump it up to thirty to get there quicker, over?”
“All clear, 001. Opening for the Atoll is wide enough you shouldn’t have any problems at that speed, over.”
“Alright, VP. Will radio again once we’ve anchored in the atoll, over.”
“Roger that, 001. We’ll keep tabs on the weather and radio if we need a change of action. Vanhoover Port, over and out.”
The Captain acted immediately without Mist needing to relay the conversation. He pressed forwards the accelerator and the ship quickly picked up speed. The frigate sliced through the water easily, but the waves still rocked the boat every once in a while.
It wasn’t long after until Siren Song burst into the room. “What’s happening? Is everything alright?”
“Reports of a storm coming in about ten miles to the east and coming in fast,” Mist said. “We’re trying to make it to the Vanhoover Atoll as quick as possible. How are the rest of the crew?”
“Princess Twilight has them all in the lounge. It’s keeping them out of the inclement weather but it’s an easy escape if Twilight needs to blast a hole and magic us out of here.”
“Shouldn’t need to,” the Captain said. “The atoll isn’t too far. Mist, are we on the right track?”
“Yes, Captain. Keep heading north-by-northwest. We should reach the atoll in a few minutes. Siren Song, do you know if you can secure the anchors in this weather?”
Siren Song looked almost frightened for a moment, but quickly recomposed himself. “Of course.” But he muttered something under his breath that he wasn’t willing to repeat even when Mist prodded him.
Siren Song remained in the Captain’s Cabin until they reached the entrance of the small ring of islands that was the Vanhoover Atoll. Mist quickly found the island the Vanhoover Port had recommended and directed the Captain to it. The sky was now covered in grey clouds and a petulant rain was hitting hard and fast as Siren Song left the cabin and jumped overboard into the ocean. The Captain radioed the lifeguard to standby at the deck to let the unicorn in once he’d secured the anchors, which he dropped right afterwards.
It wasn’t long before Siren Song was back, dripping wet with a towel around his neck. The boat was now partially sheltered by the island and its fifty-foot tall hill and the anchors kept the boat mostly in place. There was still some rocking as the ship swayed and lurched in place, but the frigate held fast as Mist made his return call to the Vanhoover Port.
“No idea how long this will last,” Vanhoover Port replied on receiving Mist’s message. “Bunker down for now. If you’re secured and in the shelter of the atoll, you should be in good shape. Hopefully it breaks by tomorrow morning early, over.”
“Alright. Thanks, VP. We’ll keep you posted. Expect a message tomorrow morning, over.”
“Good luck and stay safe, 001. Vanhoover Port, over and out.”
There was nothing to say and little to do. With the advice of Twilight Sparkle, blankets and pillows were brought into the lounge room and the guards quickly helped sort out the area so that all 16 ponies were arranged in the room to sleep. Afraid of turning on the grill, the chef quickly assembled more sandwiches and all the ponies had a tentative meal though went to bed feeling uncomfortable.
Mist took his blanket and pillow and found Siren Song looking mildly alert but otherwise the only other pony truly calm other than Twilight Sparkle. Siren Song himself waved Mist over, and the two lay near each other in an almost private corner of the lounge room as the ponies settled in and attempted to get some sleep.
“You’re not scared?” Mist asked.
Siren Song looked out the window at the darkening clouds and flashes of lightning around the atoll. “It is only a storm. It will pass.” He said this with such certainty that Mist almost immediately felt better. “But your fear hides courage,” he commented when he looked at Mist again. “For one who has experienced such things before, you are not as scared as I would have thought you would be.”
“So I am,” Mist said. “But it is strange. The circumstances are very similar to what happened that night. I dread it happening again, and it’s all I can do to not scream in panic.”
Siren Song shifted so that he was lying down right next to Mist. He put a hoof around the grey earth pony; it had the same sort of possessive quality as before, but there was also a feeling of protectiveness to it. “I promise you won’t go through that again,” the purple-and-aqua unicorn said softly, gently nuzzling the top of Mist’s head. “Relax, Mist, and go to sleep. I promise it will be over tomorrow…”
Siren Song kept quietly shushing Mist as the ponies drifted off one by one. Afterwards, Mist thought he was one of the last ones awake, only beaten by Siren Song, whose quiet and calming reassurances kept coming until long after he had drifted off to sleep.
Misty Skies and Hurricane quickly went down the stairs to the main hallway of the S.S. Dreamweaver. A huge wave rocked the boat and Mist found himself falling head over heels down the last part of the steps, and Hurricane weaved like a drunkard and smashed into the wall. The two picked themselves up.
“We’ve got to find Gunport now before this thing manages to get even worse!” Hurricane said. “Where’s the cannon area!?”
“I think it’s just down this hall and down the stairs,” Mist said. “Come on; we should be somewhat safe in here from those monsters.”
The two carefully picked their way down the hall, bracing themselves whenever a new wave came to rock the boat. Mist quickly found a directory for the ship and found his sense of direction was still good; they kept heading in the direction Mist had said earlier.
Mist and Hurricane talked swiftly as they went down the corridor, and came up with a solution. They needed to get to a lifeboat as quick as possible to keep their energy and prevent them from being in the worst of the storm’s winds. If that failed, Hurricane could fly swift enough to stay relatively steady, while Gunport’s size and strength made him able to possibly carry Mist and remain unhindered by the winds.
They found the stairs to the cannon room and went down. The door was heavy and difficult to push in; Hurricane had come before and didn’t find it so heavy as it felt now. Even Mist’s earth pony strength was barely enough to start pushing it in, and it wasn’t long after that before a trickle of water came through the crack in the door.
“The cannon room’s flooding!” Hurricane shouted. “Come on, we’ve got to get Gunport out of there!”
The two heaved and pushed and finally got the door to open. Mist quickly found an iron bar and wedged it between the door and the wall so it wouldn’t close on anypony and they searched the cannon area for Gunport.
The cannon deck was comprised of six holes, three to either side of the ship. Each had a cannon and a container of cannonballs at the ready. Every once in a while there was a shout and a boom as a cannon fired, but the screaming and thunder and roaring waves from outside managed to drown most of it out.
“Gunport!” Hurricane called out as they entered. “Gunport! Where are you!?”
“Hurricane!” The large red pegasus was getting thrashed about amidst cannon fire and the rolling of the ship, yet still slowly made his way towards them. “Hurricane! Mist! What’s going on?”
“Something’s attacking ponies on-board the ship,” Mist said. “And this storm came up out of nowhere! We have to get off the ship before it crashes!”
“I’m all for it. We’ve had to beat one of those things back already. Cannonball Run lost an arm and we’re not sure he’s gonna make it.”
“Come on, Gunport!” Hurricane said, panicking. “We need to get out of here!”
“Creature at four o’clock!” one of the cannon ponies shouted. “Open fire!”
A ball was loaded, and the cannon fired. But the monster seemed to have realized it was being aimed at and jumped just under the hole for the cannon, using a hoof to push it to the side.
The cannonball launched into the side of the ship and exploded. One pony was killed in the explosion and had a chunk torn out from his back, the other got knocked back and crushed against the opposite wall from the cannon’s rebound – if he wasn’t dead, he had a severe concussion and wasn’t likely to survive. Shrapnel flew everywhere and hit many more ponies.
Mist and Hurricane ducked behind the door and were saved from the shrapnel and explosion. But then a piercing scream rang out that caused Hurricane to go into hysterics; Gunport was screaming bloody murder. The two ducked back into the room and quickly saw Gunport’s left wing was bleeding and bent out of shape, a small piece of metal sticking out of his wing and another in his right hind leg.
“Gunport!” Hurricane screamed. She and Mist ran over to him and began pulling him through the now empty middle of the cannon deck. They got him through the door and up the stairs into the hall before quickly pulling the metal shrapnel out of his wing and leg, wounds red and puffy and, while not that deep, enough to cause serious damage and for Gunport to scream out even more in pain.
Hurricane managed to control her hysterics before they went to a nearby room and found a spare, unused sheet and scissors. Mist cut two decent lengths of the cloth and they set to work binding Gunport’s wing to his side and covering the wound, while the leg was wrapped up firmly. Gunport began taking a few deep breaths and his screams subsided to whimpering every once in a while.
“Well, there goes the plan B,” Mist said. “We need to get upstairs and find a lifeboat, now.”
Gunport took a few deep breaths. “We should be able to get at least one,” he said. “I haven’t heard any drop into the ocean, nor have I seen anypony get off the ship. Come on. I think I can walk, but not without help.”
Hurricane dropped the hysterics completely and rushed over to help Gunport. She squeezed under his good wing and Gunport clung onto her as best as he could. Mist took the other side to help steady and provide a buffer, and the three started going back down the hall towards the staircase for the main deck.
Misty Skies was startled into waking, but didn’t bolt upright or scream out, despite more of his strange nightmare and visions of the past plaguing his dreams. He merely lay silently on the floor of the lounge room, listening, and wondering why he awoke and what specifically had woken him.
Even in the dim light of the lounge room, Mist quite quickly and clearly realized the situation had changed substantially from the previous night. There was a soft moonlight, for one thing, which meant the clouds had cleared away; this also explained the lack of rain pounding on the ship’s cabin and hull. The boat hardly moved and there was no more howling wind. The storm had passed.
His sleeping companion was gone, too. Siren Song wasn’t around, and nor was he anywhere in the room when Mist checked for his more aqua mane. Mist wondered if he was off checking the samples in the storage deck, and shrugged off his disappearance.
He did need to go to the bathroom, though. Mist stood up and quietly left the lounge room, noticing not another soul was awake. Even when he passed by the two night guards at the door to the main corridor, he noticed both of them looked like they were asleep standing up. Mist slipped out of the lounge room and closed the door quietly behind him, hoping no one would notice his disappearance so soon.
The ship no longer creaked and moaned, and the only sound as Mist travelled down the corridor to the bathroom was that of his own hoofsteps. A few token lights were on in the hallway in case anypony needed the bathroom, but otherwise it was dark and quiet.
Mist took a leak and walked back out into the corridor. He had half a mind to go look for Siren Song and see what he was doing and why at this late hour was he not asleep. Or perhaps he had fallen asleep in the cargo bay. Mist quietly opened up the door to the deck and looked outside.
It was cooler than at the reef but without the breeze blowing it was rather comfortable. The moon, hidden on the opposite side of the lounge room, shone a little brighter and gave the ship a rather ethereal glow, especially on the rather reflective white hull and cabin. Mist could see the ring of islands around the atoll, covered in pine and juniper and ferns, and could almost see the white sands in the shallow area where they had anchored. They were safe and sound; relieved, Mist walked over to the door leading to the storage bay at the back end of the frigate and reached to open it.
He was stopped by a sound. It sounded like a soft singing, but at that point he couldn’t understand the words and so came out as a very tuneful humming noise. Mist turned around from the storage bay entrance and flicked his ears around. It came from the front of the boat, and Mist decided to see what it was.
Mist walked so gently, guided by the sound, that his own hooffalls barely made any noise. He crept up quietly around the right side of the boat and came to where the front was with the pavilion.
Siren Song was sitting at the very front of the boat, his hind end resting on the protective railing surrounding the deck. The moonlight seemed to be doing odd things to his coat, giving it black and white lines amidst the purple that looked like a clownfish, and it looked like he had his legs covered with a sort of blanket. He also looked completely unaware of Mist’s presence, singing upwards to the moon like a wolf howling and having his eyes almost constantly closed.
Mist, his eyes wide in astonishment and gaping at the sight, approached a little further. The closer he got, the clearer the unicorn’s singing became, and the more he could understand what was being said. Much like before, he sang in a slow and beautiful voice, but this time it was less mournful and more plaintive.
My heart yearns for the one who understands; Who will go with me through these distant lands. I look for the one who answers my call, Yet I’m the one who has taken the fall.
My live is lived between the land and sea; Both dear to my heart, and both calling me. I am drawn to the ocean’s calming tides But on land is where my focus resides.
Oh, please, come away, and be one with me! My heart is now thine, forever with thee! But to take you from home won’t do you good. I cannot ask you, though I know you would.
My heart is trapped in a prison it made; I intended to sway, but for you I have strayed.
“…is that another folk legend?” Mist found himself speaking before he could stop himself.
Siren Song, who had opened his mouth as though to sing more, opened his eyes wide and looked around. He noticed Mist, staring in awe at him a few paces away, and smiled, hopping off the deck looking like the normal purple-and-aqua unicorn Mist knew.
“Not exactly,” he said. “It is a love ballad from long ago.”
“What were you doing singing a love ballad on the bow of the ship in the middle of the night?”
“I woke up and found the storm gone. I went to take a look outside and saw the moon and… I don’t know. I guess I felt happy.”
“…you didn’t exactly sound happy. It wasn’t quite so mournful as your other song, but you weren’t exactly bouncing along as you sang it, either.”
Siren Song shrugged. “Perhaps not. But it is a favorite of mine and came to my head easily. Speaking of which, what are you doing awake? You were quite deeply asleep when I woke up.”
“I had another nightmare, about the ship. I came out for some fresh air, and upon finding you missing and the weather calm, wondered if you were in the storage bay making sure the tanks were okay.”
“We did that yesterday evening when we noticed the storm kicking up before you made for the atoll. They are secure.” Siren Song’s voice and face changed to one of gentle concern. “And… aren’t you sure you don’t have PTSD? Having nightmares about the wreck in similar circumstances as that event and all that?”
“I should hope not. Perhaps I do, but I felt safe last night. Safer than…”
Mist realized he was going too far and trailed off. Perhaps Gunport was right and he was falling in love because Siren Song had saved him. It certainly fit the feelings he was having now about being calmed and reassured by Siren Song about the storm the previous night even while on the verge of panic.
And yet that did not excuse the way the stallion paid attention to him, the way he showed him care, the way he seemed so enthusiastic whenever Mist showed interest, and his own interest in Mist himself. There was something inside Mist that said he wanted to know the unicorn better and was willing to let himself become vulnerable around him. …something that made him want to think the ballad had been sung just for him.
“…than what?” Siren Song asked.
Mist could scarcely hear himself breathe as he looked at the handsome face and into the gentle aqua eyes. “Never mind. But… I want to know more about you, Siren Song. I want to know more than just about the research. I want to know what you like, what you do, who you are. I have caught glimpses of it here and there, and I am willing to follow those glimpses down to the depths in hopes of finding what lies beneath.”
Siren Song, for once, was startled to speechlessness.
“You saved me, Siren Song,” Mist continued. “I want to know why you did, and why you came back when you could have disappeared into the great unknown and never done it again. And I want to know why I feel so happy that you did come back.”
For a long time, Siren Song didn’t say a word. But after some time, he finally leaned down and kissed Mist on his lips. It was short and almost felt wet, but it was warm and soothing, and when he pulled away he gave Mist a gentle, embracing, almost seductive smile.
“I would like to know more about you, too, Misty Skies,” he said. “And I will tell you all of that in time.”
Siren Song walked by Mist, slowly and with great emphasis on shaking his hips at Mist. He picked up a hoof and gently stroked Mist’s back almost to his rump.
“We could start tonight,” he said. “We are awake, and we have the rest of the night ahead of us.”
And without saying a word, Mist followed Siren Song back inside, past the lounge room where the rest of the ponies were sleeping, and into their cabin.
