"Queen Novo... What you and your hippogriffs have done equate to an act of war." Twilight growled, staring Novo in the eyes. while she may not stand as tall, her power radiated her authority.

"I don't think you understand Princess-" Novo began, before promptly being cut off

"No. You let old prejudices cloud your judgement." The purple alicorn began. "Did you ever stop to think about what your doing? No. Tide Pool, The colt who found your 'monster', has said repeatedly that he was a sapient species. When we brought him in to the medical examiner, he was still mumbling complete words and sentences!" She angerly stamped.

"You chased an innocent, and sapient species through Equestrian territory, with intent to harm and kill. For that alone, I should see you ejected from these lands. I should declare this an act of war and terror." Twilight barked.

"When princesses Celestia and Luna hear of this-"

"Celestia and Luna have since retired from the throne. I am Equestria's sole ruler at this moment. You'd know that if you weren't to busy getting a kelp wrap, and payed attention to current events." The young princess continued to growl. "Now because of your subjects actions, under YOUR orders, One of my ponies is seriously hurt, a creature near extinction is in critical condition. Said creature came to Equestria seeking asylum at great personal risk, And I am granting it. This conversation is through. I expect you and your hippogriffs to be on your way back first thing in the morning."

Queen Novo was livid. Princess Twilight was helping a sea monster?! This would never have happened is Celestia was still here.

"Aunt Novo?" Came a small voice. Turning around, She saw Terramar.

"Ah good. Terramar. Pack your stuff. We're lea-"

"No." Terramar interrupted. "I'm not going back with you."

"I beg your pardon?" Novo asked as if she had just been slapped.

"You ALWAYS say we should 'be one with the sea'... Killing off creatures that live in the sea is NOT being one with it... If your hypocrisy is required to be one of the next in line for the throne, find someone else." He said, tears streaming down his face, before joining a disappointed looking Silverstream and her friends.

"C'mon little brother. Let's go see how Tide Pool is doing." Silverstream offered.

~~~~***~~~~

Tide felt numb. He lay in his hospital bed, stitches on both sides of his barrel. When that hippogriff's spear went through Levi, it accidentally pierced him too. He about passed out from the pain alone. Looking to his side, he noticed his family, Redwood, Marina, even his sister River Delta, all sleeping together on the couch set aside for them. They looked like they had been crying.

Sandbar then gently opened the door, and saw Tide. Looking to the side, he noticed Tide's sleeping family, and motioned for those behind him to keep quiet.

"How you holding up little dude?" Sandbar asked quietly.

"Numb from painkillers." Tide responded.

"Who pegasus that kicked hippogriff in head yesterday?" The yak, Yona asked.

"My older sister... River Delta... Don't know when she showed up..." Tide wheezed. He looked over at his family wistfully. The changeling, Ocellus spoke up.

"She probably came in on the train yesterday. I picked up alot of fear and love from her. Right now though... there's the love, yes, but it's tainted with regret."

"Regret?" Smolder asked. "Why regret?"

"Because she's the one who told Novo, and started this whole thing... because she was jealous of me." Tide answered calmly. Yawning, he reached over to his bedside table for the glass of water for a drink. "Did you guys see Levi?"

"Sorry but no. The doctors won't let anyone near him. Especially us sea-ponies. They converted the school pool into a sea water pool just for him." Silverstream answered.

"What all was wrong with him?" Tide asked.

"Multiple stab and impalement wounds that were bordering on fatal. Exhaustion, hypothermia, and hunger to name a few." Smolder listed off. "Last I heard he was in the warmed up pool recovering." Tide let out a relieved sigh.

"Thank Celestia."

"Oh good. You are awake." Princess Twilight said with a smile. "Hello everyone. Now, Tide Pool, I'd like to apologize for doubting you. You came to me and my friends asking for help to save something... someone we thought to be legend. As soon as your able, we can take you to see him once he's woken up." She said, placing her hoof on his.

"What about the hippogriffs?" Tide asked nervously.

"Don't worry about that right now. You have done nothing wrong, And Novo's guards wouldn't dare go near my school right now." Twilight assured. "Your medical expenses have all been paid off. When the doctors discharge you, feel free to come by the school. I'll take you to your friend."

A guard suddenly burst through the door, startling everyone to full alertness, and waking the three sleeping ponies.

"Princess! He's woken up."

~~~~***~~~~

Wha... Why am I... Where am I? Last thing I recall was being hurt... then... Why am I here? Looking around, I notice wrappings all over where I've been hurt... Did... did someone help me? Was it that little land pony Tide Pool?

"Send word to Princess Twilight that he's woken up." A voice calls from above me. Oh great... Am I someone's plaything now? A nearby splash gets my attention as I rapidly turn to face the splash. A Sea-pony!

"Easy there, Levi. My name is Ocean Flow, and I'm trying to help you." She said, slowly swimming up to me. Out of my control, my body makes itself bigger, and I hiss at her.

"Calm down please. I know you have no reason to trust our kind, and you have every right to be angry. I don't hold that against you." She kept trying to calm me. The closer she swam, I swam that much further away.

"Levi... please. I'm only trying to help." she begged, no longer trying to approach me.

"Why should I believe you speak truth?" I hiss, not taking my eyes off her.

"Because I haven't attacked you, I'm not armed, and I'm talking to you." She plainly said. "Now please calm down and let me help. Your surrounded by Equestrian guard, sworn to protect you. You. Not me."

Looking around, I notice she's telling the truth. A lot of land ponies, who look ready to fight, all staring and me and the Sea-pony. I'm still not sure about this... But... I guess I have little choice. Instead of swimming up to her, I slowly use my fins to crawl up to her. My eyes never leaving her.

"I am sorry for what my kind have done to you. It should never have happened." She told me. I didn't respond... I didn't know how... "My son Terramar helped Tide Pool pull you out of the lake you know."

"Your... son?" What was a 'son'? There was suddenly a bunch of splashes, a wooshing noise, and alot of land ponies grumbling in annoyance. Looking up, I suddenly see alot more Sea-Ponies. In a burst of panic, I swim to the opposite side of the body of water I'm in, and begin to hiss some more.

"Goodness!" Ocean Flow cried.

"What's his problem?" And orange looking fish asked.

"When you've been chased and hunted all your life, how would you feel?" A sand colored Sea-pony asked. He sounded familiar...

"Tide Pool?" I ask.

"Heh, You remembered. Or was it the bandage?" He said with what sounded like joy.

Looking him over, It certainly was the same little pony. Why did he need the bandage though?

"What is a bandage?" I ask him calmly. He turns and shows me a white wrap around his middle.

"When that hippogriff impaled you, it went through you and into me. I... I'm sorry..." The little pony explained. I tilted my head and wondered why he said that. "What happened to you. All of... This." He said, pointing a fin at my body. It was covered in a similar wrap that he had... but mine was all over my body.

"Don't. Don't say sorry." I told him. "Why are there so many sea-ponies in here? Where even am I?"

"May I answer those?" A purple sea pony said, slowly swimming up to me, stopping a good distance away when my teeth began to show. When I made no move, she began. "I am so sorry, to start. Now then, I am Princess Twilight Sparkle. Your in my personal school's swimming pool. I do apologize again, but no doctor knew how to operate on you, so we had to get a marine veterinarian." I had no idea what some of those words meant.

"Does this make me your plaything now?" I hiss at her.

"Absolutely not. Your not a prisoner, prey or however you see it. This is just a place we set up for you once we realized you needed the water." She explained. "Gills and lungs... such a wonderful adaptation. May I come closer?"

I gave her a slow nod and watched her every move.

"Now then, As per why the sea-ponies, It's a magic special to them. They can change between Hippogriff and Sea-pony at will, with the help of a special pearl." She explained to me as she moved closer. "I had this pools salinity changed to match that of the ocean and raised its temperature to better match the warmer waters you came from. You have my word, that no-one here is going to harm you." She finished.

"You can trust her Levi." Tide encouraged me. I still wasn't too sure. Keeping my distance, I decide to peek above the surface. Oddly enough... I don't see any creatures, aside from the Land ponies in yellow. I was definitely inside one of their dens, but this one was massive. I even heard voices that sounded... happy.

"Fascinating..." I hear from beneath me. It was that 'Twilight' Pony. Diving back down, I'm still unsure of what she wants from me. "Anyway... We just came by to make sure your doing okay. Please, feel free to ask anyone up there if you need anything. I hope you don't mind, but I had a friend of mine go out to find you some sushi."

"Sushi?" I ask, giving her a strange look.

"Oh. Sushi is a type food. Specifically fish, kelp, that sort of thing. Maybe even some Calamari." She explained to me. I tilt my head at that last one. "Calamari is a type of squid." Another head tilt. "You know, long pointy body, lots of tentacles?"

"Is that what they're called? I was never a fan of it. I only ate it when I really needed to." Looking up to the surface, I begin to wonder what it's truly like up there. I suddenly feel a fin against me.

"If you want to go up there, we can. It's safe. Promise." Tide Pool said, gently smiling at me. "It'll be easier to eat anyway." He swam over to the younger Sea-pony, Terramar, and the whole group left the waters. Looking over at Twilight, I finally ask what's on my mind.

"Why help me?"

"Because, you needed help. You just didn't know how to reach out." She told me plainly, with a smile. With that, she left me alone.

Settling myself back at the bottom of the 'pool', I watch as the sea-pony slowly swims back up to me. I relax as she calmly, and gently pokes, prods, and checks my body over.

~~~~***~~~~

"Princess Twilight, Queen Novo is demanding you see her, again, immediately." A guard said calmly. Twilight exasperatedly rolled her eyes.

"Did she say what she wanted?" She asked calmly, rubbing her mane with a towel.

"Only that 'you're harboring a sea monster that must be destroyed, and if you don't turn it over-" The guard began before Twilight held up a hoof, silencing him.

"I've about had it up to here-"She began, holding her hoof up to her chin. "with her. Fine. My castle, in one hour. And if she keeps up with this 'sea monster' horseapples, She and her guard are to be escorted back to the border. Immediately. Understood?"

"Yes Ma'am." The guard saluted, and turned to the school entrance.

Twilight sighed in annoyance. Turning, she saw her replacement head mare, Starlight Glimmer.

"Do I want to know why you have guards at the pool?" Starlight asked, a sly smile on her face. Twilight chuckled.

"What do you know about sea legends?" She asked.

"Not much. Couple of pirate legends here and there, fisherpony tales, that sort. Why?" She responded. It wasn't often Twilight got so roundabout, and cryptic.

"There's a living sea legend in there right now." Twilight answered. "I just got done speaking to him. He's very skittish so it's best you don't bother him." she warned.

"What kind of sea legend are you talking about?"

"The Leviathan. Probably the last of his kind." Responded the young alicorn.

"So THAT's what the commotion was yesterday at the lake. What's the story?" She asked, suddenly interested.

"That's not my story to tell. You'll just have to be patient. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to deal with Queen Novo whining her feathers off about our guest." Twi grumbled. A heart beat later, There was a new ruckus at the school entrance.

"Lemme in! I need to see him! It's for SCIENCE!" Came a female voice.

~~~~***~~~~

"Okay, that should be all. You're healing at a remarkable rate, but It's best if you keep resting for a while. Your food should be here momentarily." Ocean Flow said to me, trying to sound comforting.

"I... guess the words are... thank you." I say quietly. "But... why help me?" I ask her.

"Because Novo is wrong about you. The legends claiming your kind to be heartless monsters who attack our ships are wrong. You, yourself have done nothing wrong, and so, you deserve to be helped." She explained, slowly swimming to the shallow side of the pool. Looking up she smiled. "Your food is here. Would you like to come out of the water? The air up there is as warm as the harbor in summer." She assured.

Slowly, I swim my way over, waiting for her to leave the water before crawling out myself.

"Hey there!" Came a raspy voice near Ocean Flow. "So your the guy Twi asked me to get Sushi for. We weren't sure what you'd prefer so I brought a selection." She said, showing me a variety of... what appeared to be food.

"What is it again?" I ask carefully.

"Sushi, dear. It's a mixture of Fish, kelp, rice, shrimp, and since you said your no fan of squid, I'll take that." Ocean flow explained to me.

"Split it with you." The strange pony said, her color, a sky blue with rainbow on both ends of her body. "Name's Rainbow Dash. What's Yours?" She asked me.

"Uhm... L-Levi... I guess." I answer, unsure of how close she's getting to me.

"Back up Rainbow, He's still nervous, and recovering." Ocean said to her. She picked something up off Rainbow's back, and placed it on a nearby 'table' I think it's called. Climbing up an item I had overheard land ponies call 'beach chairs', I get a look at the 'Sushi'. It smelled different, but certainly smelled edible.

Reaching out if my clawed fins, I pick up a piece, and begin to eat. Some tasted strange, but it was all pretty tasty.

"What fish is this?" I ask, holding up a new piece of the same fish.

"Tuna" Ocean flow said. "Big open sea fish, narrow fins, blue and yellow in color." She described. I nodded, understanding. As I continue to eat, I find what appears to be kelp, wrapping small white grains and other plants. Before I can ask, Ocean answers. "Sushi Roll. The white stuff is rice, the green is cucumber, and Salmon. There's a few spices in there too to liven up the taste."

Nodding, I continue to eat. All falls quiet for now. Before long, the food is gone, and I find myself asking if there was more to eat out there. The smaller one, Rainbow, smiled.

"I can probably hook you up with something." She said, turning to leave. Laying myself down on the beach chair, which was amazingly comfortable, I begin to fall asleep again.

Author's Note

One thing I don't know is the taste of sushi. I was never a fan of fish as a whole. But Abalone.. Oh sweet baby Jesus abalone is SOOOO good. Especially fresh out of the sea. The farmed stuff is nowhere near as tasty. No comparison.

Yes I know Tide Pool is minimal in this chapter, that will be addressed in the next one; Where I will also finally give details on our young friend.