Chapters The Rainbooms took a thirty minute drive from their neighborhood to one of Canterlot City’s largest aquariums. Novo’s Aris Aquarium. Rarity parked her RV at the parking lot that’s at the other side of the building. “We’re here darlings!” She smiled.
The girls headed outside of the fashionista’s RV as they looked at the aquarium itself. The big sign with two beautiful mermaids representing the signature style of the aquarium. The walls show many different sea creatures in a wonderful mural the employees worked so hard on. And finally, the famous Dolphin Show will take place tomorrow night where all the handlers and the adorable dolphins give the patrons a memorable send off for the tour.
“This is going to be awesome!” Rainbow commented.
“Can’t wait to study all the animals of the ocean.” Twilight added.
“And I’m so thrilled to meet those dolphins with their squeaky fins!” Pinkie squealed.
“Alright, calm down everybody.” Applejack turning around at Rarity’s RV. “We’re only here, because Fluttershy’s birthday is tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” Sunset chiming in. “She wanted to see the many kinds of fish that live in the ocean, so I asked her if she would spend her birthday at this aquarium, to which she happily agreed.”
Fluttershy was the last girl to come out of the RV with Spike in her arms. She had never been so excited to have the best birthday she’ll ever have tomorrow, not to mention the most unforgettable.
“I really want my birthday to be amazing. Seeing so many sea creatures and watching the dolphin show is nothing I could have back at the animal shelter.” She said while looking at the aquarium.
“It’s true.” Spike added. “You have no idea what ocean life is like.”
This made Twilight roll her eyes with her hand on her hip. “Yeah...like talking dogs who never went in the ocean, because they’re just animals.”
“Hey, you know I don’t like getting wet in the tub.”
The girls made a chuckle while getting back on topic. “Anyway, we would argue about what ocean life really is, but we should head inside to what the aquarium has to offer.” Sunset replied.
“Yeah, let’s go meet the COO, that’s what I’m looking forward to.” Fluttershy finished.
The Rainbooms head inside of the main hallway of the aquarium. They see aquarium tanks filled with angel fish, Zebra Danios, Mollies and so many types of fish in other tanks. When they look at the ceiling, they see another painting of whale sharks, beluga whales and of course, dolphins.
“Well I’ll be!” Applejack commented. “No one told me these folks have a passion for sea animals.”
“Then this my cowgirl darling, is definitely your first ever aquarium trip.” Rarity said, adoring the decor.
Fluttershy made her way to one of the aquariums tanks. She saw clownfish, betta fish, Pacific regal blue-tangs, and then her attention was hooked with five rainbow fish. “Rainbow, you have to look at this!” She smiled.
“Yeah, those fish look like you with all the colors.” Spike added.
Before her friends would head across the aquarium floor, they saw a grown woman wearing a uniform representing the establishment. When she saw the Rainbooms, she stopped in place, and backed away. “Woah! Watch where you’re going!” She reacted.
“Sorry, it’s just the aquarium we’re excited for.” Pinkie responded.
Upon hearing the positive reception, it made the woman happy. “Really huh? Then I'm sure all of you girls want to know who I am. I’m Novo, the Chief Operating Officer of the Aris Aquarium.”
“Wait!?” Fluttershy reacted as she came up to Novo. “You’re the COO?”
“You got that right, I’m in charge of all the creatures and staff in this building.”
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Sunset lifted her hand up as Novo accepted the handshake. “We’re here because our friend’s birthday is coming tomorrow.”
“And this is the soon to be birthday girl, Fluttershy!” Pinkie wrapping her arm around Fluttershy’s neck.
When Novo looked at the shy girl with a dog around her arms, she usually doesn’t do celebrations at her aquarium, but for the sake of her authority and image, she’s willing to make a birthday perfect for the individual.
“Well. For the honor of your friend’s birthday,” She then reached into her pocket and took out a backstage pass. “Consider this as my birthday gift for today and tomorrow only.”
Fluttershy became speechless that she had the opportunity to see the employees backstage, caring for the critters. Not to mention the handlers who are part of the dolphin show tomorrow.
“How come she gets an out of nowhere gift during her birthday?” Rainbow groaned.
“Probably because she has a kind perspective on animals just by her looks.” Twilight replied.
“It still makes me confused and a bit jealous.”
While Novo gave Fluttershy the backstage pass, she’s too excited to go around in this aquarium, despite her being with her friends. “Thank you so much! I can’t wait to see the dolphins!” She jumped up and down which made her feel a bit embarrassed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t mention it, I’ve seen so many people react this way during their birthdays.” Novo said, closing her eyes.
“So...where should we go first?”
“You should meet the handlers while we look at the aquariums.” Twilight replied.
“Yeah, I bet the dolphins would love to see you in person.” Applejack added.
“What makes you girls think that?” Novo asked as Sunset whispered into her ear. After hearing everything about Fluttershy’s favorite activity, this made the COO lid her eyes. “Then go right ahead, my welcome birthday guest.”
When Fluttershy saw her friends allowing her to take her own lead, she knew she could handle herself during fairly normal times like this. “Okay, see you all later.” She cheered as she headed to the dolphin aquarium while taking Spike with her.
“Cute dolphins, here we come!” Spike cheered.
“As for all of you, would you be happy to see one of the most dangerous predators in the sea? The Great White Shark?”
“Did you just say Great White Shark!?” Rainbow squealed. “I would definitely love to see those!”
“Well, at least Fluttershy won’t be scared, since she’s on her own.” Rarity feeling uncomfortable seeing such fierce predators in person.
Fluttershy and Spike walked inside the aquarium hallway where they saw hundreds of different fish above them, and to their left and right. Fluttershy loved every bit of it to the point she had one thing on her mind.
“Spike.” She responded while still looking at the sea creatures. “Would it be better to work here to help these wonderful animals?”
This made Spike blink from hearing Fluttershy’s question. “Would you give up on your job at the animal shelter?”
“Maybe. Land animals, sea creatures, they’re similar, except for the land and ocean.” Fluttershy being mesmerised.
Spike felt unsure of Fluttershy’s choice. He spent most of his time watching her taking care of animals, he knew it’s the perfect job for her. While he does like sea creatures, he won’t see Fluttershy again if she is employed at the aquarium.
“You should probably think about it before we leave tomorrow night. We just got here and we haven’t seen the dolphins yet.”
“Oh that actually reminds me.” Fluttershy waking up to reality. “Let’s go to the pools where the dolphins and handlers are at.”
The two head out of the hallway and enter a room with three pathways. One that leads to the octopus, the other leads to the seals outside of the building, and while the other leads to where all the dolphins are located. Fluttershy and Spike pick the third pathway as they open the door and enter inside. As they walk up to the room, they see a large glass window holding gallons of water.
“Oh! This must be where all the dolphins are at!” Spike wiggled his tail.
“Yeah but...I don’t see any dolphins.” Fluttershy walking up to the tank. “I think they’re being taken care of.”
As Fluttershy and Spike continue to look at the tank itself, they hear a door being pushed open, revealing one of the employees. “Hey you.” She spoke which caused Fluttershy to turn around. “The COO told me to find you.”
“What, is she in trouble already?” Spike reacted.
“No, Novo ordered me to take you to where all the handlers are, which is in the dolphin room.”
“Oh thank you.” Fluttershy smiled. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Marline Caper. I’m responsible for checking the sea creatures' health and safety. I’m also in charge of giving tourists everything they need to know about every creature in the various tanks.”
Fluttershy remembered meeting several zoo guides who gave her a tour of each animal enclosure that they were able to go into at the zoo. She’s more than happy to meet another guide who’s taking care of all the animals who once spent their lives in the ocean.
“Really?” Fluttershy asked. “I always like meeting someone who has a heart towards animals because I do when it comes to land animals.”
“That’s always good to hear. No matter what animal it is, I always adore the offers they have to make me happy.” She then looked at the dolphin tank itself. “All the dolphins are in one of the safety pools so we can keep them clean and healthy after the aquarium closes for the night. Come on, I’ll show you where they are.”
Marline takes Fluttershy and Spike up to the outside of the hallway where they see the most popular sea creatures in the aquarium. When they headed outside, Marline saw several girls inside one of the dolphin pools. “The dolphins are over there.” She pointed.
When Fluttershy and Spike look at the handlers helping the dolphins drink their milk, they can’t wait for what surprises they will perform tomorrow night. “These girls look really talented.” Fluttershy commented while still walking. “Excuse me, do you girls have a moment?”
When one of the two girls got out of the pool and looked at Fluttershy, she didn't usually expect a guest the day before the show. “What’s your name?” The light blue hair girl asked.
“My name is Fluttershy.”
“Fluttershy? That’s a nice name. My name is Silverstream.” Fluttershy blushed from hearing a kind gesture from someone, who isn’t one of her best friends. “So anyway, why are you allowed back here?”
“Novo gave her a backstage pass because her birthday is coming tomorrow.” Marline said, while showing Silverstream the pass Fluttershy has around her neck. “She’s allowed to be anywhere in this building until she leaves tomorrow night.”
“Wow, that’s really nice of my friend’s mother to do something so...wholesome.”
Spike blinked several times upon hearing Silverstream. “Wait, you mean to tell me that your mother is the COO?”
“Woah! Did that dog just speak!?” Silverstream exclaimed.
Everyone besides Fluttershy backed away from hearing a talking dog in front of their eyes. “Am I dreaming or is this how real life works?” Marline commented awkwardly.
“Well...I, for one had been in this bizarre situation years ago and I was too...excited to witness this.” Fluttershy looking at Spike.
Spike didn’t expect such a huge reaction from others who aren't from where he lives. “Was that too unexpected?”
Silverstream is still stunned, while Marline is witnessing a talking animal. Something she never had never seen in all her years of working in this aquarium.
“Hey Skystar, you might want to take a look at this.” Silverstream heads to the pool where Skystar is still feeding her dolphin milk. “Did you listen to everything that just happened?”
“I’m sorry, but she loves it when I give her milk.” Skystar turned her attention to her friend.
“Will you please give me the milk bottle and get out of the pool. There’s something you have to see.”
After taking her friend’s suggestion, Skystar gets out of the pool and just before she handed her milk bottle, she saw Spike. While she loves swimming with the dolphins, her view on other animals on land is the same, but when it comes to puppies, she couldn’t resist.
She rushed up to Spike in a close view. “Aww...is that a puppy?” She squealed while pitching his cheek. “He’s so cute.”
“Yeah, he is cute but...you don’t know half of him.” Fluttershy smiled while handing Spike to Skystar.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Because no other puppy has the ability to talk.” Spike smirked which caused Skystar to take notice. “Yep, you’re witnessing one of the planet's only talking animals!”
Skystar didn’t react hard like the others did a moment ago. Instead, she shook in excitement while still holding on to Spike. “Ohhhh! A talking dog is like a gift from nature!” She begins to nuzzle on Spike’s head while wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Fluttershy and the others felt surprised from Skystar’s overexcited reaction. “Has she always felt this way?” Fluttershy asked.
“We felt like this when something new happened. But in a bizarre moment with a talking animal, not much for me.” Skystar replied.
“But I’m actually impressed and I’m not kidding.” Marline added which made Fluttershy giggle.
Back in the main hallways, Novo just finished showing the Rainbooms, the main kinds of jellyfish in their special aquarium tank. Twilight Sparkle was writing notes about each sea creature so she can do more research on their lives under the sea.
“I got to say Novo, it must have taken years to find every fish out there.” She smiled while putting her notes into her backpack.
“Decades of searching.” Novo responded. “The more I find in the ocean, the bigger this aquarium will get. That’s how much of a passion I have with sea creatures.”
After Rarity came out of the jellyfish room, she had a question about the style of this aquarium. “Novo darling, if there’s mermaids part of your billboard outside, how come there are no merpeople here?” This caused Novo to look at the fashionista with a serious look on her face. “Not that it’s a silly question, it made me curious because no other aquarium had mermaids.”
The COO sighed to herself while trying to be nice to the tourists. “For my answer, no. Mermaids only come from fairytales and fantasies, not in the real world that we live in.”
The Rainbooms look at each other from hearing the COO’s confession. “Don’t you like mermaids?” Pinkie asked.
“Actually, I love mermaids.”
“Really?” Sunset added. “Do you wish they existed?”
“Sometimes. If that was the case, I would: A. show them at this aquarium or B., become one and spend most of my life in their kingdom like a ruler.”
“Well, that goes without saying something.” Applejack commented.
“Tell me about it.” Rainbow added. “If I spent my life as a mermaid, I would have been...something merpeople do for a living.”
“Partially because they have tails instead of legs, am I right?” Sunset asked, looking at Rainbow.
“What, you know I enjoy jogging.”
“Anyway.” Novo getting back on topic. “My point is, the reason why mermaids are on my billboard outside is because I adore them from a personal perspective. Even if I had nearly all the creatures in the world in my aquarium, I would have searched high and low to find them and do research on them. That’s how much I love them.”
Sunset and her friends didn’t expect Novo to be so honest when it comes to her somewhat personal feelings. Even if they have the whole day tomorrow to look at the other creatures in the Aris Aquarium, they wonder what it would have felt like if Novo did have mermaids behind a giant pane of glass with water in the tank.
“I think I need some time for myself.” She spoke while walking to her office. “See you all tomorrow.”
While the Rainbooms took their time to understand what Novo is coming from, they then decided to look at the other tanks they haven’t seen yet. “I don’t know if I’m the only one whos a bit concerned about this, but I don’t think we can help her unlike others we’ve helped in the past.” Twilight said.
“Maybe it’s best if we give Novo her space. Literally nothing bad is happening right now.” Sunset corrected. “But I can’t say I would have done the opposite of what you said.”
The sun sets over the town where the aquarium is located. While Fluttershy is spending her time looking at the dolphins with Silverstream and Marline, Skystar is too occupied playing with Spike. Fluttershy placed her hand on the dolphin’s head which made the dolphin happy.
“How does it feel?” Marline asked.
“It feels...so great to touch a dolphin in real life.” Fluttershy adoring the dolphin’s charm.
“Have you ever seen a dolphin before?” Silverstream wondered.
“Yes, when I took a cruise vacation a while ago. I only saw a couple when they jumped out of the ocean.”
“Did they look the same as the ones we had?” Skystar added.
“I think so.” As she continued to look at the dolphin staring at her, she got an idea that would surprise the others. “Which reminds me, there’s something I want to show you.” She then lifted her geode of kindness to Marline and Silverstream.
“What’s that?” Marline looking at the geode closely.
“It’s a geode, with it I have the ability to talk to animals.”
“You mean like how we’re talking to Spike?” Skystar walked up with Spike in her arms.
“Not really, let me show you.” Without anyone interrupting her peace of mind, she closed her eyes and activated her geode. The dolphins then shook in the pool from the magic Fluttershy has in herself. Marline couldn’t believe what she’s seeing with sparkles coming from the geode itself.
“How is she managing to do this?” She asked.
“I don’t know, but I guess a miracle came to her.” Silverstream being impressed.
After Fluttershy opened her eyes, the dolphin lifted her head out of the water, allowing Fluttershy to give her a hug. “Looks like she liked what I feel about her friends.” Fluttershy giggled.
“That’s...actually impressive.” Marline commented. “Can you please tell me where I can find this?”
Fluttershy flinched while breaking the hug from the dolphin. “Sorry to disappoint but...there’s only one and I got it once my friends got them a long time ago.”
“Ohh...well that’s sad.”
“So it’s like a one of a kind?” Silverstream asked which made Fluttershy nodded.
“Yeah, let’s just say it’s a legend that happened at Everfree Forest.” Spike smiled. “We’ve been through so many adventures together.”
As Fluttershy’s friends had to respect the fact there’s only one geode that allows one person to talk to animals, it still didn’t bug them in the slightest. But as for Marline, she decided to sit down on one of the empty chairs by the windows.
“Come on Marline, not everyone deserves magical powers.” Skystar called.
“I know, but it’s still too much of a bummer.”
She looked out the window, continuing to get pitch black in the outdoors. Fluttershy decided to take her feelings towards others who feel depressed. “Why don’t you take care of her? I’ll see I can do something for Marline.” As Silverstream and Skystar took their new friend’s suggestion, Fluttershy sat on another chair by Marline which she took by noticing. “What made you so sad about not talking to animals?”
Marline tried to keep an open mind to one girl she just met today. “Because sometimes...I wish they had the ability to talk so I can understand how they feel.”
Fluttershy blinked several times upon hearing Marline. “Isn’t that something children would think?”
“Well yes, but I’ve had that feeling since kindergarten.” She began to blush in embarrassment while looking in her surroundings. “I couldn’t even grow up that easy after middle school.”
After hearing her confession, the pink haired girl felt dazzled. For so much of her passion for taking care of animals, she met another girl who has the same passion, but way more personal. Like she came across a mirror of herself, but for looking after sea creatures instead of animals.
“Don’t you think you need some help?” Fluttershy asked.
“It’s not that I’m delusional I’m...just in my fantasies when I’m alone. It’s called escapism.”
“I get that, but what I mean is, do you need something that can make your wish come true?”
Marline then looked at Fluttershy’s geode again. It gave her an idea of what she can do tomorrow when she gets the chance. “Is it okay that I can use your geode tomorrow?” This made Fluttershy protect her geode. “I promise I won't break it, I just want to know what it feels to talk to animals for one day.”
“But tomorrow’s my birthday.”
This gave Marline a quick idea. “I’ll find a way to give you the best birthday gift I can find. Please! I’m really responsible!”
Fluttershy took her time to think about Marline’s request, but she’s still unsure. She wants to make sure she has her geode on her at all times whenever something out of nowhere happens. But then she remembered, tomorrow will be harmless without anything in the way. She sighed while making up her mind for the tour guide.
“Okay...but I’ll give it to you in the morning.”
Marline then gave Fluttershy a hug. “Thank you so much!”
As much as Fluttershy didn’t like her final decision, she still accepts the kindful hug from someone who has the same passion as her.
“Hey Fluttershy.” Silverstream called with Skystar holding Spike by her side. “We were thinking about what we can do for your birthday and…”
As Fluttershy paid more attention, Skystar continued the subject. “Do you have your swimsuit?”
“Well, Rarity is responsible with all the outfits so...maybe?” Fluttershy looking outside the window.
Both Silverstream and Skystar both look at each other with smiles on their faces. They turned to Fluttershy again and called. “Wanna go swimming with the dolphins!?”
Upon hearing the request, both of Fluttershy’s eyes turn wide. “You mean...swimming...with those??” She pointed at the dolphin pool.
“Yes.” Silverstream replied.
“Well that’s something you don’t expect before your birthday arrives.” Spike said, liking the idea.
Fluttershy grew a huge smile as she got off her chair and gave both Silverstream and Skystar a hug. “That’s the greatest gift I’ve ever got in my life!” She wrapped her arms tighter.
“Trust us, we know how to make a girl like you happy during their birthday.” Skystar said. “You will swim with us during lunch time, we already have the dolphin show under control.”
As Fluttershy broke the hug from two of her new friends, she headed back to the Rainbooms to tell them what she did with Spike.
The Rainbooms head outside of the aquarium, with it closing in about ten minutes. The sun was nowhere to be found with clouds covering the sky from above. “Looks like it’s going to rain soon.” Applejack looking at the sky.
“At least we’re gonna make it to the RV.” Rainbow added.
“Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain during the whole day tomorrow.” Rarity added.
As the Rainbooms headed to the RV, Rarity took out her RV remote and pressed a button to open the door. As the girls went inside, Twilight and Sunset went in a different direction.
“Hey, where are you two going?” The fashionista asked.
“We have to use the restroom.” Twilight answered.
“You didn’t bother using the aquarium's ladies room?” Pinkie popping out from the RV.
“I thought I could hold it after taking more notes, you know how much I’m into sea life now.” Twilight responded.
“No problem, hope you don’t get too wet!”
As Rarity headed inside her RV, Twilight and Sunset went to the restrooms that’s by the aquarium. The outdoors became much colder with more clouds continuing to appear, colliding with one another.
Then out of nowhere, Equestrian magic that is light blue appeared around the aquarium. It rises up to the clouds, just before it rains, meaning another crisis is about to ensue. Inside the restroom, both Sunset and Twilight are using the restrooms behind the interior walls.
“You know something Twilight.” Sunset spoke.
“Yeah Sunset?” Twilight replied.
“When I heard Fluttershy made two friends who are drivers and allowed a tour guide to use her geode...it made me realize how much she appreciates kindness with other people.”
Twilight grew a smile from hearing that. “Well if she was only into animals, she wouldn’t be best friends with us.”
“True, but I’m just amazed she wants everyone to feel better for her own feelings.”
“You mean like she’s heartbroken if someone gets hurt on the inside?”
“Not exactly but by a little like that.”
The bookworm thought about her friend’s opinion of Fluttershy. “That’s probably what makes her happy to herself even when she’s shy. When she’s not shy, she can see something we don’t. Like how everybody deserves kindness when they earn it.”
Sunset wanted to believe that but on the other hand, she’s still unsure. “I don’t know. I guess after stopping so many disasters, it’s nothing Fluttershy can handle on her own.”
The conversation stopped when Twilight flushed her toilet before she got out. When Twilight turned on the sink to wash her hands, her attention was glued from the windows up at the corner. She can hear the rain pattering on the roof, but the clouds aren’t grey like they should be.
“Sunset, you might need to look at this.” Twilight called just when her friend flushed her toilet.
“What is it?” Sunset asked after heading out.
“Something isn’t right with the clouds.”
“What about them?” Sunset added while also washing her hands.
“They’re a different color than grey and the water is…way darker than before.”
After they clean up their hands, they head outside while the rain is pouring. “You're right, the color is darker than it should be.” Sunset looking at the rain.
“This is impossible.” Twilight commented. “Let’s tell the others.
Before they have the chance to head back to the RV, they notice their lower bodies are flashing a light purple and orange respectively. “Twilight! My body is glowing!”
“So is mine! What’s going on?”
With more rain pouring on the two girls, the flash reached its climax with an unexpected transformation. The Rainbooms didn’t see what was happening after they went to sleep immediately. After what happened to Twilight and Sunset after the transformation, they’re unable to move since they’ve lost their legs, and in their place is a long scaly fish tail.
The sun rises, despite being behind the clouds from last night. Inside the RV, Fluttershy woke up from her sleeping bag, got up and realized all of her friends were gone, on her birthday no less.
“Pinkie Pie? Applejack? Rainbow Dash?” She looked around. Not only is she all alone, but never thought her birthday would start off so disappointing. “Where are my friends?”
After she put on her clothes, she got out of Rarity’s RV and saw that it’s soaking wet, but when she saw the clouds, she couldn’t believe it.
“And why are the clouds blue?” She headed back inside the RV to get an umbrella in case she needed it. When she came out again, she wondered if her friends were inside the aquarium. She made her way inside and noticed her fashionista friend walking by herself through the main hallway, still shocked from what she just saw just hours earlier.
“Rarity?” Fluttershy closing the door behind her.
“Fluttershy darling!” Rarity walking up to the birthday girl. “Sorry we didn’t wake you up, but this is an emergency!”
“An emergency?” Fluttershy reacted. Rarity took Fluttershy into the dolphin room where their friends, employees and even the COO are at. When they looked at Fluttershy, they regretted not remembering her birthday, but after what they saw hours ago, they had no choice.”What’s going on?”
“Take a look of what’s inside the pool.” Silverstream pointing. Once Fluttershy saw who was inside, it was Sunset and Twilight but with purple and orange fish tails.
“Hey.” Sunset feeling uncomfortable.
“Happy Birthday.” Twilight replied.
When Fluttershy saw both of her friend's tails, she thought she was dreaming. “You’re mermaids!?”
“Unfortunately, on your birthday...yes.”
“How did this happen?”
Applejack stepped in on filling in the birthday girl on the situation. “About two hours ago, I saw several employees helping out Twilight and Sunset who were laying on the streets.”
“We don’t understand how they turn into mermaids.” Marline replied.
“We do know what happened to us, but I doubt we'll ever change back.” Sunset looking at her tail.
“After we got out of the restroom, the rain didn’t look the same and the clouds were blue instead of grey.” Twilight added.
“Wait! You mean the same clouds I saw a few minutes ago?” Fluttershy reacted.
“I guess that could be right.” Skystar said, while looking out the window.
“Guess your friends went through a mother of all disasters.” Novo looking at Twilight and Sunset. “We’ve never had this kind of weather since we opened the aquarium.”
“And worst of all, we have a show happening tonight.” SIlverstream looking at the dolphin poster on the wall.
With the situation having reached its highest point, the girls can’t think of a way to reverse Sunset and Twilight's transformation. As for the birthday girl, her plans have been dropped, too depressed to even think about seeing the sea creatures in the aquarium. She turned around and left the room, which took the others by surprise.
“Fluttershy?” Spike called.
Fluttershy is sitting by herself by the front door of the aquarium. She didn’t even bother looking at the fish in their tanks. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack entered the hallway as they saw the birthday girl all alone, with nothing to celebrate.
“Fluttershy?” Applejack walking up to her. “We’re really sorry this had to happen.”
Fluttershy lifted her head up, making eye contact with her friends. “It’s alright, none of you deserve the blame.” She responded. “I’m just too sad to do anything on my birthday now.”
The four Rainbooms look at each other, unable to think of a solution to fix this. “But you can’t just sit here all day doing nothing!” Pinkie said. “I already got your birthday cake ready!”
“Not to mention we still have your gifts.” Rainbow added, but this didn’t make Fluttershy feel any better.
“Darlings, all she ever wanted is to have a normal birthday without any Equestrian Magic getting in the way.” Rarity replied. Fluttershy then looked at the fashionista upon hearing her. “We already know it was Equestrian Magic, we just didn’t want the COO thinking we’re crazy.”
“Not to mention it’s becoming fairly obvious whenever something magical happens, we always get ourselves into it, no matter what.” Rainbow looking out the front door. “Looks like it’s starting to pour again.”
“With more Equestrian rain.” Pinkie added.
Fluttershy also looked outside and saw the drops of water landing on the ground. To think it transformed Sunset and Twilight into mermaids, she’s worried if the rain will never go away. Without saying another word, she stood up from her seat.
“I think I need some time alone.” She spoke, which caught her friends off guard.
“But...you don’t want to be alone.” Pinkie said, while making puppy dog eyes.
“Yeah, when you’re with us.” Rarity added.
“But what are we supposed to do now? If it’s true that the divers can’t perform the dolphin show, I feel nothing but emptiness in my heart.” Fluttershy placing her hands on her chest.
“They’re just trying to help.” Rainbow replied. “I know it’s not fair but still.”
“Come on sugarcube, don’t do this to yourself.” Applejack added. “It’s not going to make anything better.”
Fluttershy didn’t bother to look at her friends even when they’re trying to lighten up the mood. “Sorry...but that’s what makes me calm whenever I’m sad or depressed.” She heads to another aquarium hallway by herself, leaving her four friends behind.
“I’ve never seen her taking this so well, yet her depression is still like from before, when she cries.” Rarity looking at the sad birthday girl.
“I guess she did grow up, but not as much as we thought.” Applejack finished.
Back in the dolphin room, Sunset just finished writing her message to The Princess Of Friendship on what happened to her and her friend. The bookworm kept looking at her tail for the past half hour, with Silverstream by the edge of the pool.
“If you’re really going to spend your life as a mermaid, what are you going to do now?” The diver asked.
“Swimming? Like the other sea creatures?” Twilight guessed with obvious sarcasm. “I came here to study them, not to become one of them!”
“It was just a question.” Silverstream answered, backing away from the bookworm.
“Calm down Twilight.” Sunset said, turning around. “I’ve already written a message in my journal, so just be patient.”
“I would if we actually had feet so we can watch the dolphin show.” Twilight said.
“Well what are we supposed to do now?” Skystar said, holding onto Spike. “We’re just trying to help. We never thought people would ever turn into a creature that only exists in fairy tales.”
“But why do you bother to cancel the dolphin show for us? It’s only Fluttershy from our band you’re friends with.”
“Yeah. Who’s also the birthday girl who deserves better today.” Silverstream said, being nice.
“Even if we did do the dolphin show, it won’t be the same without you with her. You paid for all of your friends including yourself to see all the fish and creatures in the aquarium. That’s the best birthday gift you’ve ever given to her.” Skystar added.
Sunset always knew she made a better gift than anyone else, but never thought it was this important to other people. “You...really want Fluttershy’s birthday to be memorable?”
“Even though you just met her yesterday?” Twilight added.
“She showed us how she talked to animals.” Marline said, while feeding the dolphins. “I thought she was joking, but she wasn’t. If you ever met something who had powers like that, you would feel the same way.”
As Sunset would take that as a compliment, she would understand how that feels if she didn’t save Camp Everfree. Then her journal began to vibrate, which caught her attention. She opened it and read the message her princess friend wrote.
“So what did she reply?” Spike wondered as Sunset read the message.
“Dear Sunset Shimmer,
From what I read about your situation, a piece of the seaponies pearl must have appeared in your world. It’s the pearl Queen Novo used to turn anypony into seaponies.
“Wait, my mother, the COO is a queen?” Skystar blinked.
“Yeah, I’ve seen almost everything once I become a pony.” Twilight replied. “Despite not going to all the lands of Equestria.”
After getting interrupted, Sunset read the rest of the message from her journal.
And the part you said about Equestrian Magic changing the weather last night, I got a feeling it could get worse unless you find the pearl. Once you find it, you can use it to not only stop the weather, but also turn you and your friend back to normal. And when you get back to Canterlot High, head to Equestria and give it to me so I can take it back to Queen Novo. Make sure no other people turn into mermaids.
Your friend, Twilight Sparkle”
After reading the whole message, Sunset put her journal away with a chance to turn this day right side up for Fluttershy’s birthday. “Okay, all we need to do is find a small piece of a magical pearl so we can change back into our normal selves.”
“Well, that doesn’t seem that hard.” Silverstream commented. “We should split up.”
“Okay, I’ll check the outdoors, while you two check the indoors.” Marline suggested. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring an umbrella to keep myself safe.”
“Works for me!” Skystar cheered as she placed Spike down. The three girls left the room leaving Twilight and Sunset alone in the pool.
“It’s only a matter of time to give Fluttershy hope for her birthday.” Twilight smiled.
“As long as they find the pearl in time, she’ll be ready to watch the dolphin show with us.” Sunset smirked.
Outside of the aquarium, Marline headed to one of the pools where most of the sea creatures are at. She knows if it’s true that a pearl appeared at the Aris Aquarium, it must have landed in one of the pools at least.
“First Fluttershy has the powers to talk to animals, then the weather turned her friends into mermaids, and now a piece of pearl appeared out of nowhere belonging to a queen who happens to be Novo except she isn’t COO.” She said to herself. “This day can not get any stranger.”
After looking at nearly all the pools, all that’s left is the dolphin pool. She took out her keys and opened the gate, allowing herself to enter, closing the gate behind her. When she saw the pool itself, there was nothing out of the ordinary, until she saw a small pink object in the corner of the pool.
“That must be the pearl!” She went to the other side to take out a long bait net to get the object out of the water. As she gets to the corner of the pool, she puts the net in the water and captures the object from the bottom. She pulls it out and places the end of the net on the ground. “It looks like it’s sparkling.”
She took out the object from the net and it’s revealed to be the piece of the pearl as well as a necklace. “I can’t wait to show this to Sunset and Twilight now.” As she puts away her bait net, she heads back to the aquarium, locking the gate behind her. Then it began to rain with the blue clouds pouring out the same drops of water from last night. Lucky for Marline, she brought along her umbrella, but the wind continued to get stronger.
“Geeze, the weather is getting worse!” She notices she’s losing her grip of the necklace from her hand. With the wind blowing harder, she decided to put it around her neck to keep it with her.
She managed to head inside of the aquarium with the pearl around her neck. She took several deep breaths to regain her energy while placing her umbrella by the exit door. “Well, that didn’t take long as I thought. Time to give this to Sunset.” She smiled as she headed to the dolphin room.
When she came across an aquarium hallway, she then heard voices in her head. Due to the powers of the pearl itself around her neck, she looked at the sea creatures. “Am I...hearing things?” She got closer to a damselfish and then she heard her thoughts at the moment. “You...don’t like staying here?”
She then went to the other side and heard a pufferfish thinking about the last time he was in the ocean before being placed in the tank. When Marline looked at the pearl, she couldn’t believe it. Just like Fluttershy, she has the ability to talk to animals under the sea. Something she always wanted in a long time. She then looked to her left and right, to make sure no one was around.
“Maybe it won’t hurt to spend an hour using this.” She smiled as she left the aquarium hallway to talk to other sea creatures in the Aris Aquarium.
Pearl Madness, Sadness, Emptiness
Back at the main hallway of the aquarium, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie are sitting by themselves by the front door. “What time is it?” Rainbow asked.
“It’s almost eleven o’clock.” Applejack looking at her phone.
“Well we can’t just sit here and do nothing.” Rarity painting her nails.
“Face it Rarity,” Rainbow retorted. “If we can’t fix this, we might as well drive back home.”
“You’re thinking the same, Pinkie?” Applejack wondered.
Pinkie Pie is hugging a balloon with a drawing of Fluttershy’s face. “No!” She cried. “The birthday girl deserves so much better than this!”
The others placed their hands on their forehead. “I guess not.”
“Well, if you need me,” Rainbow standing up. “I’m gonna go check on Fluttershy. She can’t stay here forever.” As the athlete went to find Fluttershy, she entered the Eagle Ray section of the aquarium. “Fluttershy?”
She didn’t hear a response whatsoever, as if her friend is lost and alone, without anyone to cheer her up. Instead, she saw Marline in the other room. “Hey Marline!” Rainbow called.
Marline looked away from the seahorses and put her attention on Rainbow while blocking her pearl with her hand. “Yes Rainbow?” She asked.
“Have you seen Fluttershy?”
“No I haven’t.”
Rainbow placed her hands on her hips while looking at the celine. “I need to remind her that we’re leaving soon.”
This caused Marline to flinch. “Wait, you mean, you’re not going to celebrate her birthday here?”
“We don’t have any choice Marline, it’s better if we head home and wait for Twilight and Sunset to turn back to normal.”
Marline has already found the pearl that Rainbow’s friends need, but after talking to several animals, she wants to hang on to it for a little longer. “Actually.” She stopped Rainbow from leaving. “Sunset told me that a piece of pearl is somewhere inside or outside of the Aris Aquarium. It can change her and Twilight back to normal and stop the weather!”
“Seriously!?” Rainbow smiled. “Okay, I’ll go find it while you tell my friends about it.” As Rainbow passed by Marline to find the pearl, Marline felt relief. She let go of the pearl around her neck, happy that Rainbow didn’t see it.
“Oh yes, now I can keep using this for a little-”
“Marline?” Rainbow blinked while looking through her reflection from the sea turtle tank. Even in a far distance, she can still see the pearl around Marline’s neck. She turned around and saw the piece of the pearl. “Is that the pearl you’re talking about?”
Marline felt nervous, when she’s caught immediately. “Yes.”
“And you already found it?”
“Yes...”
“Then why didn’t you show this to Sunset?”
The tour guide sighed, with nothing to hide from Fluttershy’s closest friend. “Because...with it on, I have the ability...to talk to sea creatures.”
Upon hearing the truth, Rainbow rolled her eyes while trying to be nice. For so many months of dealing with Equestrian Magic, this isn’t as horrible from before. “Marline, I’m not trying to be rude, but if you don’t give Sunset that pearl, there won’t be any dolphin show tonight. How long did you use that pearl?”
“Umm...almost an hour?”
“An hour? You can’t be serious.” Rainbow raising an eyebrow.
“But this is the first time I’m talking to sea creatures and they want to be released into the ocean!”
“Okay, give it to me now!” Rainbow lifting her hand out. “Otherwise the COO will find out about this.”
Marline backed away from the athlete until she bumped into a tank behind her. “Please, I won’t be able to have this dream come true again!”
“There’s no other option. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
As Rainbow got closer, she got blind from a sudden flash. Marline saw the pearl glowing with sparkles coming out. It shoots a laser on Rainbow with a massive transformation, similar to what Twilight and Sunset went through last night.
“Girls!” Rainbow called with Rarity and the others immediately took notice. “I need some help here!”
Three of the Rainbooms stand up and rush to the room where Rainbow is at. “What’s going on?” Applejack called.
“Yeah, what seems to be the-” Once they entered the room, they saw the athletic girl on the ground. However she doesn’t have her legs and instead, a light blue tail, similar to what Twilight and Sunset have.
“Rainbow Dash?”
“Did you just turn yourself into a mermaid like Twilight and Sunset?” Pinkie asked, noticing the tail.
Rainbow became speechless on what just happened to her after the transformation. “And you were inside the whole time, so how did the rain transform you?” Rarity blinked.
“It didn’t.” Rainbow exclaimed, while laying on the ground, being unable to stand with the tail. “Marline has the pearl.”
“What pearl?” Applejack wondered.
“It can actually turn people back to normal...and also turn them into mermaids.”
“Really!?” Pinkie squealed. “So where is it? I want to be a mermaid too!”
“Oh yeah. We would love to be mermaids, if I actually had the pearl!” Rainbow acting rhetorically.
Behind one of the free-standing tanks in the room, Marline is hiding after the blast her pearl just caused. She’s lucky Rainbow didn’t get her, but it won’t last much longer. She looked at her pearl, shocked it also has the power to change anyone into mermaids.
“So where is she? Did you already see her with the pearl?” Rarity asked.
“All I remember is that after I transformed, she disappeared.” Rainbow placed her hand on her cheek. “The only thing we can do is find her. I can tell she desperately wants to talk to more sea creatures.” They gave her friends a confused look.
“You mean...like what Fluttershy does?”
“Like she’s a mind reader!?” Pinkie added.
“All I know is that she’s about to release all the sea creatures into the sea if we don’t find her. She’s officially losing it!”
Marline shot her eyes open, knowing she’s in serious trouble if someone stops her. “Relax, we’re going to find her and talk sense with her, but you can’t just lay here like this.” Applejack lifting Rainbow up. “I’m not an expert but I still know fishes need water to live.”
“Okay...so how am I supposed to be inside those aquarium tanks?” She pointed.
When the Rainbooms looked at the tank itself with tons of fishes, they realized they’re not allowed in the restricted areas in the Aris Aquarium.
“Fluttershy still has her backstage pass.” Pinkie remembered. “Let’s go find her!”
“Perfect!” Rarity smiled.
“Oh no!” Marline blurted out, which caught the Rainbooms attention.
“There she is!” Rainbow shouted.
Without thinking straight, Marline used her pearl on the Rainbooms, and another transformation occurred.
Silverstream, Skystar and Spike are at the other side of the aquarium, trying to find the pearl before it’s too late.
“Have you found it Spike?” Skystar spoke as the dog looked under the display tables for people to sit at.
“No I haven’t.” He responded. “We’ve been looking everywhere.”
“Well we can’t just give up!” Silverstream looked through one of the tanks. “We have to find it before the Dolphin show tonight.”
“Well…technically it’s canceled at the moment.”
“That still means the show must go on!”
As the two girls continue to find the pearl, Spike enters another room where more jellyfish are kept. Just when he’s about to check inside the tank, he stopped himself. Inside the room with the pink colors emanating from the jellyfish, the puppy saw the birthday girl, sitting all alone on the ground with nothing to celebrate.
“Fluttershy?” Spike spoke which caused Fluttershy to lift her head up. Upon looking at the dog, she had no response. Her heart remains the same as before, only with more emptiness than ever.
Soon Silverstream and Skystar went inside the jellyfish room and noticed Fluttershy all by herself. “Fluttershy?” Skystar looking at the sad birthday girl.
“How long have you been sitting here?” Silverstream added.
Fluttershy looked at her watch to see what time it was. “For about six hours.”
“Six hours!?” Silverstream, Skystar and Spike reacted.
“You didn’t even bother to eat anything since you woke up?” Spike said, in shock.
“I didn’t feel like it, okay! I’m too depressed to feel anything right now. And on my birthday no less.” Fluttershy responded with tears coming down from her face.
Her diver friends felt bad to see her so sad after what they witnessed this morning. As for Spike, he barely saw Fluttershy in a position that made her heart feel so empty. Not only did it make him feel bad, but also depressed in his heart. He walked up to her which caught her attention. He gave her his puppy dog eyes while making a whimpering sound. A noise Fluttershy barely heard from him at all.
“Don’t feel this way. It makes me sad to see you like this.” Spike sniffed. “We know you don’t deserve this and we’re doing everything to turn it around.” He then begins to nuzzle on her arm which makes her feel a little better.
Fluttershy picked him up and gave him a hug. “Thank you Spike.” She cried while trying to grow a smile. Silverstream and Skystar sat by her while giving her the good news.
“Yeah, I know today didn’t plan out the way you wanted, but it’s not the end of the world.” Skystar commented.
“If it makes you feel any better, we can throw a birthday party in the dolphin room where Twilight and Sunset are at.” Silverstream wrapping her arm around the birthday girl. “If we find the pearl that is.”
Just when Fluttershy was starting to feel better, she blinked. “Pearl? What pearl?” She asked.
“We’re trying to find a magical pearl that’s actually from Equestria.” Skystar answered.
“Really?” Fluttershy smiled as she stood up while holding onto Spike. “I can’t believe there’s a way!”
“Well the thing is, we’re trying to find it and we’re looking everywhere. Marline is looking outside and we’re trying to find it inside.”
With the afternoon going on at the moment, Fluttershy still has her chance to make her birthday what it should be. “I can help you.” She said. “I know I’m hungry right now, but I can always have a bigger lunch from time to time.”
“That’s always positive to hear.” Spike commented. “So let’s keep searching!”
Back in the dolphin room, Twilight is eating her sandwich while Sunset is waiting. They barely did anything ever since they transformed into mermaids.
“How long is it gonna take for the divers to find the pearl?” Twilight being bored.
“I don’t know, but we can’t help them since we’re mermaids.” Sunset laying her head on the edge of the pool. “I can’t believe we’re in this situation where we can’t help.”
“Well it’s not like sea creatures can float in the air when they get out of the water. It’s not rocket science.”
As much as Sunset would take those words seriously, she knew Twilight is right. “But I also wish mermaids like us have magical powers of changing into people on our own, but it won’t give King Triton much of a purpose in his kingdom I presume?”
This made Twilight look at Sunset, unamused. “Other than stopping the sea witch from taking over the sea?”
“I don’t keep up with animated films okay, I’m not a film critic.”
“Well look at the bright side, at least it’s just Equestrian Magic and nothing else.”
Just in time, the COO opened the door, catching the attention from the mermaids. “Do you two have a moment?”
“From the last several hours, nothing has changed.” Sunset responded.
“What do you want?” Twilight added.
Novo kept her silence until she stopped in front of the pool. “I know this will sound unusual, but I did find a way to not have to cancel the dolphin show tonight.”
Twilight and Sunset looked at each other from hearing the COO of the aquarium. “What do you mean?” Twilight wondered.
“We can do a dolphin and a mermaid show!” Novo shouted with glee.
“Wait, so you actually expect us to perform a show in front of a crowd as mermaids?” Sunset asked, blinking as she did so.
“Don’t you think people are going to question how you manage to find mermaids?” Twilight added.
This didn’t make the COO flinch at all, in fact it made her calm to take this well. “I’m pretty sure they will respect our work, even if they will ask that very question. The point is, you want Fluttershy’s birthday to be great right?”
“That’s the reason we came here.” Sunset said.
“Then at the very least, give her something before she leaves. Even if it will take time for you two to turn back to normal, at least give her something she’ll remember forever.”
Twilight and Sunset felt unsure about Novo’s idea of celebrating their friend's birthday. “Novo, not to be a downer, but how is that gonna make her feel better?” Twilight asked.
“And second of all, we’re not trained at all.” Sunset added. “You’re seriously expecting us to perform a show with zero swimming skills as mermaids?”
Upon hearing the responses, Novo placed her hand on her face. “Okay I just want a mermaid show!” She confessed. “I don’t have any option to fix this. The sky is pouring, you’re friend’s heart is empty and you can’t change back. What are you two supposed to do?”
The three went silent, while the two mermaids face the reality that they’re in. They know they can’t head back home as sea creatures otherwise it can get much worse if they get caught out in the open.
Sunset took a deep breath while Twilight stopped eating the final pieces of her sandwich. “Nothing.” Sunset responded.
“Nothing at all.” Twilight added. “I guess we just have to face the fact we’re gonna stay mermaids for a long time.”
The COO placed her hand under Sunset’s chin. “You can still make a living in the meantime. It’s better than staying in a pool for the rest of your life.”
“I guess that does make sense.” Sunset replied. “It’s better than having claws.”
Novo let go of Sunset as she headed to the door. “I’ll try my best to make some advertisements. I’ll get the employees to take you two into a bigger tank so you can practice swimming.” As she leaves the room, the two friends look at each other with a new revolution in their lives.
“So...we’re just going to be aquarium attractions?” Twilight asked.
“Novo has a passion for mermaids, let’s just try to make her feel better. She’s at least giving us a place to stay.” Sunset responded.
“Our friends are gonna have a fairly boring time without us then.”
Fluttershy and her friends head inside the only room they haven’t checked in the aquarium. “This has to be where the pearl went.” Fluttershy looking around.
“Yeah, this is much harder than I thought.” Silverstream added.
“This is like the scavenger hunt my mom did when I was so young. But never inside an aquarium like this.” Skystar retorted tiredly.
“Come on girls, at least this is the last room we need to check.” Spike smiled.
“But why hasn’t Marline texted back yet?” Silverstream taking out her phone. “She hasn’t responded in hours.”
“She’s probably double checking everything outside.” Fluttershy said, looking in one of the tanks. “Let’s keep searching.”
The three girls continue to check all over the place as Spike heads inside the aquarium hallway. When he looked up, he stopped in place, and his jaw dropped. What he saw is four of the Rainbooms underwater, but just like Twilight and Sunset, they’re not gonna be leaving any time soon.
“Spike?” Fluttershy asked, looking at the sitting puppy.
“What’s with him?” Skystar added with Silverstream by her side.
When they entered inside the hallway, they saw four shadows covering the puppy. When they look above, all of their eyes shoot open in utter shock. “Rainbow Dash!?” Silverstream shouted.
“Rarity!?” Skystar shouted, stunned into silence.
“Applejack!?” Spike responded.
“And Pinkie Pie!? Also as mermaids!?” The birthday girl finished.
When they saw four of the Rainbooms, they became helpless on what just happened to them. Rainbow knocked the glass several times while Rarity pointed at the exit of the hallway.
“It looks like they want to talk to us.” Silverstream replied.
“From above the tank.” Fluttershy added.
When Skystar sees where the fashionista is pointing at, it reveals to be a restricted door for employees only. “Come with me!” She picked up Spike. “We can go in here, there’s a staircase.”
Fluttershy and Sliverstream soon followed from behind as Skystar unlocked the door with her key. As they arrive at the top of the tank, Rainbow and the others pop their heads above the surface of the water. “What happened?” Fluttershy asked, placing her hands on the bars.
“Marline Caper turned us into mermaids!” Applejack moved her hair out of her view.
“Marline!?” Silverstream shouted.
“Our tour guide!?” Skystar said, in complete shock.
“Yes!” Rarity cried.
“Why would she do that!?” Spike added.
“Because the pearl can also give her the abilities to talk to sea animals.”
“You mean...like I do?” Fluttershy replied. All that Rarity and the others did was nodded from the birthday girl’s confusion. But unlike them, Fluttershy might find a way to set things straight with Marline. “What is she gonna do?”
“For all we know, she’s about to set all the creatures in the aquarium free into the ocean.”
While Silverstream and Skystar are shocked, Fluttershy on the other hand wasn’t. “She’s gonna what!?” Silverstream shouted again.
“My mother is gonna freak out if she finds out about this!” Skystar shaking in fear.
“Girls.” Fluttershy getting the attention from her friends. “I think there’s a way we can stop her.” As her friends waited to hear the solution, she closed her eyes. “I’ll talk to her.”
The Rainbooms are dumbfounded, while the handlers are simply confused. “Just...talk to her?” Spike replied.
“You mean...not fight her?” Pinkie added.
“You do know that Fluttershy isn’t a fighter right?” Applejack commented.
“But how is that gonna work?” Rainbow being serious. “I’ve tried that and all I got out of it is being turned into a mermaid.”
“Don’t worry, I have everything under control.” Fluttershy heading to the door with a straight face. “You four just stay here, I’ll get back to you later.”
“Does...she sometimes act this way?” Skystar asked, taking a backstep from Fluttershy’s serious attitude.
“We don’t see her like that all the time...but we can tell when she’s not happy.” Rarity finished.
In one of the largest rooms of the Aris Aquarium, Marline Caper just used her pearl necklace in front of a tank filled with a variety of fish. She heard that some of them desperately want to head back to the ocean, which made her concerned.
“Ohh my friendly sea creatures.” She praised the tank in front of her. “I promise I will take you back to the ocean in no time. Sea nature is all you deserve in life.” She hugged the glass with fish swimming up to her. “The aquarium just isn’t the place for you.”
Fluttershy went out of the hallway as she turned to her left. She saw the tour guide, hugging against the tank while seeing the pearl glowing. She didn’t bother to even consider getting her into trouble after what she heard from her friends. However, she’s still not happy about it in the slightest. Skystar, Silverstream and Spike stopped behind Fluttershy until they saw Marline after so many hours. They didn’t speak a word, allowing Fluttershy to put her plan into action.
“Marline.” Fluttershy called.
“Fluttershy?” Marline opened her eyes.
The birthday girl walked up to the tour guide with her friends following from behind. “You really need to give us the piece of the pearl, this is getting out of hand.”
Marline knew she would not keep the pearl away from her for too long. But at the same time, she still wishes she could get more time for herself. “Fluttershy...this pearl is all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Do you even realize that you turned my friends into mermaids?” Fluttershy yelled softly. “They’re just trying to help.”
“But do you have any idea what I can do with this on?”
“Yes I know and you're going about it the wrong way.”
Marline backed away, but Fluttershy walked up to her while still keeping a straight face. “But the animals need a place to live.”
“If that was the case, you wouldn’t have got your job at this aquarium.” Fluttershy responded.
While Skystar and Silverstream allowed their friend to make a statement, Spike was surprised. “She’s really on a fresh start, isn’t she?” He commented, until Skystar covered his mouth and shushed him.
“But I talked to the fish and they don’t like the fish food.” Marline pointed.
“Do you wanna know what you're doing right now?” Fluttershy placed her hand on her hip. “You’re overthinking the negatives and not considering the positives.” She then walked up to the tank, watching the sea creatures swimming in pairs. “When I see animals behind strong gates in the wilderness, I fully understand they want freedom. But that doesn’t mean we are terrible people.”
“How do you know much about animals, especially sea creatures?”
Fluttershy then turned to Marline to give her the answer. “Because I love animals. And even on land, in the sea and even the sky, they are all the same to me. Before I got my powers, I adored what they eat, how they slept and most of all...how they can handle living with humans.”
Skystar, Silverstream, and Spike are stunned by Fluttershy’s inspirational words. If there’s anything they don’t know a lot about animals, she has the answer to every question they could ask.
“I know how it feels, because year after year on my birthday, I learn more about the nature of their lives.”
“It’s true.” Silverstream added. “We just put those fish in that tank a few days ago, so they will not like staying here already.”
“And you did much more research about sea creatures than the rest of us.” Skystar added.
Marline stopped herself and took what her friends were trying to say. She got employed at the aquarium years ago when she proved to the COO that she was a professional at explaining and describing sea creatures. And what she’s doing is getting herself fired after she found the pearl just hours earlier. She lowered her head, while also taking off the necklace.
“Here.” She said and handed the pearl to Fluttershy.
“You did it!” Spike cheered.
“Now we can change your friends back to normal.” Silverstream smiled.
“Not to mention stopping the weather.” Skystar added.
Fluttershy didn’t respond to her friends as she saw Marline sit down next to the tank behind her. She knew this would happen at some point, but she’s relieved it didn’t get any worse. As the tour guide became ashamed of herself, the birthday girl sat by her while placing her hand on her’s.
“It’s okay, we’re not going to tell Novo about this.” She smiled.
“You’re not?” Marline blinked.
“Yes.”
“We’re friends right?” Skystar smiled.
“And we want you to be with us.” Silverstream added.
“But what I did was…”
“We know.” Fluttershy putting her hand away from Marline. “But you hadn’t taken any animals out of their tanks, so that’s fine.”
“And trust us.” Spike, being truthful. “We’ve met so many people who took things way too far, we would list them and be here for hours.”
“Okay, but I still don’t feel good about myself.” She lowered her head. “From the way I talk to sea animals, turning your friends into mermaids, and spend all my time staying away from you…I learned how immature I was.”
The tour guide had no words after confessing with her friends. And with all this happening on Fluttershy’s birthday, she took matters into her own hands in the worst way possible.
However, this didn’t make Fluttershy disappointed in the slightest. She got off the ground which took Marline by notice. “You’re not immature. And you didn’t ruin my birthday.” She spoke with kindness from her heart. “I would have done the same thing, if I didn’t have friends who watch my back.”
“You think so?” Marline getting on her feet.
“Yes. That’s how much I love animals and it helps me learn from my mistakes. And for how much you wanted to talk to animals, it’s always a miracle that could only happen once in your life.”
Marline never imagined she would ever get out of a situation she put herself in. Since finding the pearl, it took until almost two o’clock for the others to find her, wearing the necklace they need to turn today around for Fluttershy. She grew a smile and wrapped her arms around the birthday girl.
“Fluttershy. Thanks for teaching me something about animal nature.”
After receiving the gesture, Fluttershy also smiled, whilst also wrapping her arms around Marline. As for Spike and the handlers, they are not only happy that all of this is about to be put to rest, but adored the moment between Fluttershy and Marline. Not because of what Fluttershy discussed, but what she sees in animals unlike anyone they meet.
Fluttershy and the others changed the Rainbooms back to their normal selves while pulling them out of the tank. Then they head to the dolphin room where Sunset and Twilight are still at, turning them back to normal as well.
Sunset’s first objective is to stop the weather above the aquarium before it turns more people into mermaids. She heads outside of the emergency exit with Twilight holding the door. She lifted the pearl in the air as it radiated magic. The clouds slowly, but surely disappear with the remnants of equestrian magic fading away.
In front of the aquarium, the outside employees saw the sun shining, without the rain pouring down. They placed the open sign on the glass door, officially allowing anyone to come in to see the sea creatures again.
As Sunset headed inside of the dolphin room, Twilight closed the door behind her. “I still don’t understand how a small piece of pearl can change the weather that easily.” She looked at the pearl.
“I don’t know, but at least it wasn’t like what happened back on the cruise.” Applejack commented.
“That pearl would have demolished the ship, if that’s all we had.” Rainbow added.
“Well at least I can take this back to Equestria and give it to Twilight.” Sunset responded.
“And now, the dolphin show will be uncancelled!” Skystar cheered, while hugging Silverstream.
The dolphins from the pool splashed in delight. “And I bet those dolphins would love to swim in front of a crowd tonight.” Twilight smiled.
As for the birthday girl, right after her friend changed the weather back to normal, she heads back to Rarity’s RV to get her lunch. She was so hungry, she was surprised Marline did the right thing earlier, otherwise she would have missed lunchtime. When she heads to the front door, she returns back to the dolphin room.
The fashionista turned around and upon seeing Fluttershy, her eyes lid. “And let’s not forget our hero and birthday girl of the day, Fluttershy.” She presented which made the shy girl blush. The girls inside the room gave Fluttershy an ovation.
“And I can’t wait to show her the birthday cake I made!” Pinkie showing the box to her friends. “Not to mention the gifts she’s yet to unwrap.”
Fluttershy continued to blush in the center of attention, something she isn’t used to from her friends. “Just look at her, she can’t even find the words.” Applejack giggled.
“Alright girls, give her some space.” Novo said, getting in front of Fluttershy. “She isn’t the type who enjoys the attention she earns.”
“Actually Novo, I had that back at the Starswirl Festival.” Fluttershy popping her head behind the COO.
“Yeah, she sometimes gets in the mood when she enjoys it.” Rainbow crossed her arms with style.
“Oh...so she isn’t that shy huh?” Novo looking at the birthday girl.
“They’re always right.” Fluttershy replied.
“If that’s really the case, I should really make the dolphin show really interesting.” The COO looked back at Twilight and Sunset, winking at them after they made an agreement.
“What are you talking about?”
“You'll find out tonight.” Twilight smiled.
“Let’s just say it’s the perfect birthday gift from a place like this.” Sunset added.
Novo left the dolphin room, ready for her employees and handlers for the show their customers are looking forward to seeing. The birthday girl sat on the chair while placing her lunch on the table. “What do you mean by that?” Fluttershy wondered.
“Yeah, we still have her gifts in the RV.” Applejack said.
Twilight and Sunset walked up their friends and whispered into their ears about Fluttershy’s gift, including the other handlers. When they heard about the idea, they liked it. Sunset knows the pearl can change them back to mermaids before she can return it back to Equestria.
“Ohh...I see what you’re talking about.” Marline smiled. “But we really need the time we have to make it work.”
“So true.” Rainbow smirked.
“Spike, keep our birthday girl occupied.” Rarity placed her palm on the puppy’s head. “We’re gonna be working on her best birthday present ever.”
The little dog thought they would be throwing a birthday party right away, but considering the aquarium has only just reopened, he can understand what is going on. “Okay, but I’ve been doing that for the last twenty four hours.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll get the best treats we’ve got when we get back.” Twilight smiled. “Let’s go girls.” She led the Rainbooms and divers to the door, leaving the birthday girl alone with only a dog to keep her company.
“Wait!” Pinkie reacted. “Are we supposed to be in here while practicing!?”
The group just stop just before they exit the door, remembering that the dolphins are also in the room. “Ohh, that makes sense.” Skystar blinked.
They pushed Fluttershy and Spike out of the dolphin room so they could organize their plan. “Sorry Fluttershy, but even birthday people like you shouldn’t spoil the surprise.” Sunset responded while closing the door. Fluttershy felt a little upset that she won’t be able to hang out with her friends.
“Are you feeling alright?” Spike looking at the birthday girl.
“Not really, just wish I have someone to keep me occupied on my birthday.” Fluttershy lowered her head.
“You have me, not as a best friend, but a buddy to play with you.”
The birthday girl looked at Twilight’s puppy, looking at his eyes from before. “Okay.”
“And remember, it’s a surprise, on your birthday. That should make up for everything by tonight.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Fluttershy and Spike decided to head back to the RV where all of Spike’s toys are at. But before they left, they heard the door pushed open.
“Fluttershy, you forgot to take your lunch.” Rainbow lifted the birthday girl’s lunch.
“Oh...thanks.” Fluttershy turning around and getting her lunch. “At least I don’t have to starve.”
“Don’t mention it.” Rainbow smiled as she closed the door.
At the end of the day, all the customers in the aquarium head to the room they’ve been looking forward to since they saw it advertised online. The show where they see the handlers with their fully trained dolphins show off their swimming talent and their close bonds. But little did they know, there’s a big change that will only happen once in a lifetime.
Fluttershy and Spike sat at the closest section to the pool, with all the seats taken from all the rows, they’re lucky the show wasn’t sold out. “Man, look at all these people.” Spike pointed at the people sitting down.
“I know.” Fluttershy responded. “That’s because they love seeing the dolphins perform, just like me.”
“Do you think your friends are gonna watch the show with us?”
Fluttershy turns her attention to the door where all the people came in. The show is about to begin in five minutes and as of now, she hasn’t seen her friends in the past five hours. “I get there’s a surprise but...I just want them to be with me on my birthday.”
She sat back down in her spot, waiting for the show to begin momentarily while feeling lonely other than a puppy that kept her occupied for the rest of the day.
With all the customers waiting patiently. The doors were closed with the lights slowly dimming. The windows showing the sunset over the lake, being covered by the blinds with the aquarium’s logo on it along with dolphins around it.
Then silence in the room grew, with the audience waiting for something to happen. When a spotlight from the ceiling turned on, it shined on Marline who just came out from the door to the back. She has a headset with a microphone attached, about to do her job in front of a crowd since her beginning as a tour guide.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” She spoke to the audience. “My name is Marline Caper and thank you for coming to the Aris Aquarium.” She received applause from the audience which she accepted. She notices that Fluttershy is sitting in the front row, giving her the chance to make the birthday girl really satisfied.
“What you’re about to see are some of the most talented handlers swimming with the oceans' cutest sea creatures.” Upon hearing the cue, Silverstream, Skystar and the other handlers came into the room with multiple spotlights on them. “However there’s an addition we added to the show for this occasion. Handlers, release the dolphins.” She requested.
The Handlers opened the slide, allowing all the dolphins to take off in the pool. The audience cheered when they saw the dolphins they knew and loved swimming in the water. “Now what addition am I talking about? I’m talking about...mermaids.”
Then six of the Rainbooms came out, wearing swimming gear like the other divers except Sunset with the pearl around her neck, being more responsible, without losing control when talking to the sea creatures. The crowd, including Fluttershy began to get confused, even with the appearance of her friends on stage. When they’re by Skystar and the other divers, they wait until Marline gets back to her commentary.
“Rainbooms.” She turned to Fluttershy’s friends. “Dive!”
After hearing the instruction, Sunset and her friends jump into the pool and so do the other divers. The crowd saw the Rainbooms swimming close to each other, the pearl around Sunset Shimmer activated, causing a transformation with all six girls.
The crowd took a back from the sudden flash from the pool. They never expected that from their previous trips to this aquarium. Once the transformation is complete, the crowd becomes speechless from what’s happening in the pool. Rarity and Applejack in their mermaid forms again swam towards one dolphin, holding on to the adorable mammal as it began to take off around the tank.
The other Rainbooms and divers hold on to the other dolphins as the tour guide returns back to her speech. “We all know that mermaids don’t exist, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be rejected. Especially if they can do poses like this.”
The dolphin came out with Rarity and Applejack still hanging on without a grip. The fashionista moved her hair, posing in front of the crowd, who are taking pictures with their phones. The country girl smiled, while lifting her tail with her strength geode, impressing the audience before diving back into the water.
“That was amazing!” Spike commented. “Did they spend all that time as mermaids practicing?”
“You may be right.” Fluttershy smiled.
As another dolphin came out of the pool with Twilight and Sunset posing, the water accidentally splashed on the kids, but they were cheering from the presence of the six mermaids. As for Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, they found themselves at the apex of the dolphins speedy swimming.
“This is so awesome!” Rainbow cheered. “Why couldn’t Sunset ask Twilight to bring more small pieces of the pearl?”
“Maybe because they’re from a queen, who mainly gives them to her subjects?” Pinkie added.
“Yeah, guess the COO and the queen are the same other than the fact that Equestria doesn’t have aquariums.”
“Hey, it’s a way of life there!”
Pinkie and Rainbow popped out of the water, posing like her friends did before. Even in the split second, they noticed Fluttershy in the front row who’s loving the performance. As they get back in the water, all the mermaids let go of the dolphins.
“If there’s one thing I know about these creatures, is that if you ever meet them, they’re friendly when they’re in the mood.” Marline said. “And let’s not forget how much they love being adored by all of you.”
Skystar, Silverstream and the other divers begin to hold on to one of the mermaids to perform another stunt. With all the dolphins in formation around them, they moved their bodies into position, with their tails facing the handlers. The Rainbooms landed at the bottom of the pool with the handlers holding their breath. With the amount of time they had to practice, this was the stunt they worked on to make Fluttershy very excited.
They jumped off the floor of the tank, heading to the surface and lifting their bodies out of the water. They made various poses with the handlers hanging on, the dolphins then popped their tails above the surface while keeping their balance in the pool. The audience managed to take their pictures at the right time, including the birthday girl.
“Magnificent, just magnificent.” Fluttershy thought, looking at her phone.
The show continued for another ten minutes with the Rainbooms performing many different tricks with the dolphins and handlers. It was a show that people would never forget, beautiful, one of a kind, and an experience that no other aquarium would ever have.
When everyone left the aquarium after the show concluded, the Rainbooms and the handlers took Fluttershy back to the dolphin room so they could celebrate her birthday party properly. So many gifts were brought and the birthday girl opened every single one of them, loving the support and respect she received from her best friends.
Afterwards, they sang happy birthday as she blushed, blowing the candles while getting applause. Pinkie cut the cake in slices, handing them to her friends and including the handlers. The birthday girl along with all of her friends continue to eat their piece with a scoop of ice cream alongside.
“This is the best birthday I ever had.” Fluttershy eating her piece of cake.
“I knew you would say that.” Pinkie giggled.
“And thanks for saving our dolphin show, or should we say mermaid show,” Skystar smiled.
“Magnificent.” Silverstream added.
Fluttershy couldn’t say anything more and anyone would appreciate her gesture. “Thanks. It just surprised me how you all pulled it off so perfectly.”
“It’s called teamwork, right?” Rainbow eating her ice cream.
“Another lesson that requires friendship.” Rarity smirked.
“Practice makes perfect is one thing, but there’s always more when we’re all getting along.” Twilight closed her eyes.
The birthday girl couldn’t agree more after she saved the aquarium. If it wasn’t for her help, her birthday would have been a pit of nothingness. Then an idea came to her, she knew the pearl would be heading back to Equestria by the time she returned to Canterlot High. She’s the only girl who wasn't transformed from the whole situation, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t let her chances of becoming a mermaid swim away.
“Um...Sunset.” She spoke to Sunset’s attention. “When we’re done eating, can I use the pearl, so I can turn into a mermaid for a while?”
Sunset isn’t against the idea since she knows Fluttershy is smart enough to handle these magical artifacts. “Sure, after all the birthday girl should earn the experience after helping us.”
After hearing her best friend, Fluttershy is eager to feel what it’s like to be a mermaid like her friends went through. She may adore the show she just saw, but knows full well it’s really a one of a kind experience, all thanks to the pearl that appeared in this world.
After eating the rest of the cake and ice cream, Fluttershy changed into her one piece swimsuit in the changing room. Silverstream and Skystar are always willing to join since they know they won’t be able to see the Rainbooms anytime soon when they leave. When Fluttershy headed out, she jumped into the pool along with her two handler friends.
Sunset put the pearl necklace around Fluttershy’s neck, giving her the opportunity to change into a mermaid. Fluttershy closes her eyes and uses the magic from the necklace, Marline and the others look at the birthday girl as the transformation ensues. Magic swirls around her with no feeling in her legs, now that she has a tail like her friends had.
When the birthday girl opened her eyes, she saw that her tail color is pink, not to mention like every other mermaid, it shines in the light. “Oh...my...goodness.” She placed her hands on her face, adoring her tail.
She begins to swim in the pool with Skystar and Silverstream in complete amazement. “She looks beautiful with that tail.” Skystar commented.
“If mermaids do exist, she would definitely be fit to be a ruler of them.” Silverstream added.
“Then she’ll have to learn everything to become a princess.” Sunset said snarkily, placing her hands on her hips.
“Touche.”
The birthday girl made twirls, seeing the bubbles she created in her wave, feeling like what her friends felt during the whole show. “This is more than I can ever imagine as a mermaid.” She thought. “Today was anything I didn’t really want but now, I’m happy it happened. I guess Equestrian Magic isn’t always a bad thing.”
As the Rainbooms and Marline continue to watch Fluttershy having fun, the COO comes inside the dolphin room. She’s too happy after the performance the Rainbooms and her talented handlers put on. And knowing that Fluttershy is the one who saved the aquarium, she’s about to give Fluttershy another gift before she leaves.
“Excuse me?” She called.
“Mom?” Skystar quipped, popping her head out of the water.
“There’s something I want to show to Fluttershy.” Upon hearing her, she tapped on Fluttershy's shoulder after she finished playing with the dolphin. The birthday girl also popped her out of the water as she saw Novo smiling. “I wanted to thank you for saving my aquarium from cancelling the show. Granted I’ve gone through worse situations in the past, but still.”
“You’re welcome.” Fluttershy giggled.
“And I can see you love being a mermaid just like your friends.”
“Well she’s the only one who didn’t turn into one from before.” Rarity added.
“I see that.” Novo then presented a job application form to the birthday girl.
“What’s this?” Fluttershy wondered.
“This is an application for employment at the Aris Aquarium. You would be able to take care of the sea animals in their tanks. Not only that, if you’re good enough, I might take you to the Pacific Ocean so we can go diving, studying more fish and seeing how they live.”
When she handed Fluttershy the form, Fluttershy had no words to describe the chance to work at an aquarium filled with so many interesting sea creatures. Not only she’ll able to learn everything about them, but also hang out with Silverstream, Skystar and Marline and get to know them more.
“Wow, that’s actually a really great deal.” Twilight smiled.
“The sea animals would love to be occupied by her.” Sunset added.
The birthday girl began to smile, starting to like the application Novo gave her. It was a job she was thinking about wanting upon arriving yesterday. But then, she stopped herself before making her final decision. Her smile went away, when she found out about her true purpose in her life.
“Novo.” She responded. “Thank you for the opportunity, but I don’t want a job here.” All of her friends gasped while the COO stood, utterly speechless. “It’s not that I don’t want to work here, it’s a great job but…”
“Yes?” Novo replied.
“I’ve been working with animals who have lived on land since I was a kid. And I already have a job to take care of animals.”
“Ohh…” Both Skytar and Marline said.
“I know you want me to work here and I have no problem with it.” She then looked at the form in her hands. “But I shouldn’t abandon the animals I love so much. Land and ocean animals are the same in some ways, but not completely. I’m sorry.”
She handed the form back to her, officially making her decision final. As much as Novo is disappointed, everything she heard from Fluttershy is true. As for the others, they liked how the birthday girl made a choice for herself.
“There’s no need to apologize.” Novo said, while accepting Fluttershy’s choice. “For me personally, I’m not that interested in animals that live on land, but from someone like you who loves them unlike anyone I’ve met, everyone has their choices for their future. Including you.”
Fluttershy approved from the feedback from the COO, but then she heard crying to her left. When she turned her head, she saw the dolphin sobbing at the corner of the pool. “Oh my goodness.” She reacted from the animal’s reaction.
“Looks like that fella really wanted you to get employed.” Applejack commented.
Fluttershy, still in her mermaid form, swam to the dolphin in order to cheer the animal up. She placed both of her hands under her mouth, giving her a sweet and charming look to make any animal happy.
“Don’t cry, I understand it’s sad, but I might consider coming back when I get the time. And I’ll make sure I’ll play with you to make you happy.”
She then wrapped her arms around the dolphin, giving her a hug like what the other handlers do. The dolphin stopped crying and made a squeak sound, filled with happiness.
“Well that’s something we can look forward to.” Silverstream said, looking at Skystar.
“Keep in mind, we should teach her how to take care of dolphins.” Skystar added. “Since it’s the only sea creature she seems to enjoy.”
“Should I give her a guide on how to play with dolphins?” Marline asked.
“Sure, if she’s really coming back.” Novo looking at the tour guide.
“Be right back.” Marline heading to the library where all the guides of ocean creatures are located.
The Rainbooms all stare at Fluttershy giving the dolphin a hug, while still as a mermaid. Ever since arriving here to celebrate her birthday, it wasn’t what they planned once this day came around, but they found a way to make it better than they could’ve imagined.
“I really think Fluttershy can handle anything this simple on her own.” Twilight commented.
“And we can all agree with one thing.” Sunset added. “She’s a natural to any animal in this world, whether they be from the land or the sea.”
