I Feel...

"When you're not performing your duties, do they keep you in a little box? Cells."

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Rebooting.

The crashing of the ocean’s waves slam against the rocks consistently.

I hear a soft snoring next to me as I feel a hoof stretched out across my chest. Something I’ve come to accept after two months of sleeping in the same spot as Areia.

Optics online.

I’m facing the cavern ceiling, and turning my head to my left, I see her fast asleep, holding me close. Drool escapes her mouth.

I nuzzle her gently, as to not disturb her, before I carefully slip out from under her hoof. She groans softly for a moment, before quieting down, still in her slumber.

I turn and quietly walk to the wooden wall we had built in the mouth of the cave as a means of keeping the water out, before opening a wooden chest I had built next to the door. Inside are several fish that Areia had caught the night prior, still submerged in sea water.

I take a net beside it and reach in, easily obtaining one of them, before pulling it out and bringing it over to a flattened boulder. As it panics within the net, flopping around at a futile attempt of escape, I come to a still.

Error.

Negative…

I shake my head, trying to avoid it.

…

She thrashes underneath me, trying to escape as I pin her small, frail form to the ground. She knows she’s not strong enough, but that does not stop her from kicking at my stomach.

“Stop resisting.”

“Mommy!” She cries out, looking around frantically. “Mommy, help!”

I turn to look over my shoulder as a mare runs up to me, screaming and crying.

“Let her go, you monster!”

“CM-115. Apprehend your subject immediately.”

“Affirmative.” 115 says as he trots into view, coming up from behind.

All the while, she tries in desperate attempts to shove me off of the child, who continues to weep.

115 pulls the mare away from me forcefully. She cries out as she’s thrown to the ground, and before she can get up, her head is slammed into the steel flooring twice, rendering her unconscious.

“Subject 089 is due for Orientation and Reassignment.” 115 states as he lifts her limp form onto his back. He turns to me at once. “Terminate the false compliant, CM-108.”

“Affirmative.”

…

I stare down at the fish as it fights relentlessly to be let free.

Something isn’t right…

I raise my hoof over its head after setting it down on the flattened stone surface.

Something is telling me not to comply…

Similar to data corruption. But worse. Much worse.

I quickly slam my hoof down over its head.

Error.

Anomaly detected.

…

I pound the fillies’ head into the ground repeatedly, even after she has gone silent. Even after her skull has been crushed, and her brain has been caved in with the rest of her head.

Her blood stains my hooves as more flows from her twitching corpse, forming a puddle.

False compliant terminated.

Corpse disposal in progress.

…

I stare down at the dead fish, realizing I’m holding my forehoof in front of me. My focus is turned to it as chunks of its head stain my plating.

Malfunction detected.

Anomaly detected.

I pick up the fish and place it on the stone tablet that had been positioned over the fire pit, before picking up the flint beside it and smacking it against my free hoof, over the wood and leaves.

With one strike, the sparks slowly begin to develop into fire. Growing bigger and stronger in second’s pass.

They slide along the bottom of the tablet like fingers, before tracing up along the sides.

The meat begins to sizzle against the stone’s surface.

…

I watch through the airlock window as the fillies’ corpse blisters and boils to the outside climates; her hide, mane, and tail singing away like a fuse from the extreme radioactive temperatures. Her flesh pops and cracks, slowly tearing her apart, before she will eventually become nothing more than ash, mixing in with all the others before her.

Scattered like the memories of those before her. Lost to time.

Forgotten.

I step away from the fire immediately as I feel something in my core pull on itself. More than a glitch or corrupted data. More than a virus.

Areia claims I have a soul. A heart. If that’s true… how do I make this… whatever this is… stop?

I sit on my haunches and bring my forehooves up, looking down at them.

I have so much blood on them… and I can’t wash it off…

“Stop.”

This is bigger. Deeper. Commands aren’t going to make a difference against this. Programs can’t fix this. This isn’t a program. This is the cost of living…

I hear Areia groan softly for a moment, before I hear her hooves clumsily trudge across the cavern floor towards me.

I lift my head in silence. Something is tearing itself apart inside me. I don’t…

I don’t understand…

What have I done…?

“Mm…” Areia hugs me from behind, nuzzling the back of my head. “Good morning!”

I look over my shoulder in time to see her eyes light up with excitement as she looks at the fish I’m cooking.

“Breakfast smells wonderful!”

“It’s mine.”

She gives me a look of disappointment, before confusion sets in.

“B-But… you don’t eat!”

“Correct. But it’s mine. To give to you.”

She narrows her eyes at me, pausing for a moment, before bursting into an uproarious laughter. She holds me tighter as her head rests against my neck.

“You got me there for a second!” As her laughter subsides, she speaks softer. “Thank you, War. It means a lot to me that you do things like this for me.”

“I’m made to serve.”

She sighs and lets go. “War… you’re not a slave. You’re my friend.”

I get up and approach the fire before flipping the fish on its other side.

“War, what’s wrong? I can’t help but feel like something’s on your mind.”

I hang my head down before sitting again, to which I look over my shoulder, regarding her. “Sit with me.”

Quietly, she does as I tell her and takes a place at my side. Her eyes are locked onto mine.

“I think I’ve done a terrible thing…” I state, before turning back to the fire. “Back where I was stationed. It’s… destroying me…”

Areia places her hoof on my shoulder, rubbing it as an attempt to console me.

“Do you… Do you want to talk about it? I’m here for you, War. You know that.”

My core hums softly, deep within my body as a warmth overtakes me. I turn to her slowly, and her bright, magenta eyes filled with life stare deep into mine, snapping back and forth as her muzzle remains inches from mine.

Initiate soft chuckle.

Soft chuckle initialized.

“Heh… You know, it’s weird… The idea of a robot wanting something. What’s weirder is that I find that I do… want. And I feel like I’m sinking because of it. Sinking in a pit, perhaps. A pit of nothing. And there’s something that I find deeply… wrong. I don’t know how else to word it. It sends me spinning… I’ve never experienced this before.”

“Despair…” She speaks in a soft, caring tone.

I hang my head down, nuzzling her shoulder. “I’ve done a terrible thing…”

She leans her head against mine, turning so that her muzzle is pressing into what would be my cheek.

“What did you do, War? What did you do that made you so… despairing? Melancholy?” Her hoof briefly presses against my chestplate, over my core. It hums louder with a radiance to her touch.

“If I tell you…” I whisper, running my thick, steel hooves up and down her spine in a gentle caress. “Will you run?”

After some pause between us, she whispers back in the same volume as I. “I… want to say no, but honestly… I don’t know, War… It all really depends on what it is…”

“I’ve… killed. I was following orders. I was doing what I was made to do. Secure the facility. Maintain order. Keep rebellious activity from happening. By any means… And…” I pull my head back, looking at her again. “I murdered a child…” I shook my head as I descended deeper into the pit.

Why was it destroying me just to say…?

She stares silently. There’s no fear. No anger. No happiness. Just… worry. Her heartbeat is calm. Why?

“I don’t know how many I’ve killed. I don’t know if she was the only kid I’ve taken. I… can’t seem to recall many of the other victims. But now, I feel… I feel everything. And it…” I pause, looking down at the tight space between us. “I think the word you would use is ‘hurt,’ It hurts. And I don’t know what to do.”

Areia wraps her hooves around me as much as she can, and gently attempts to pull me towards her. Something within me lets her control my body, and I meet her physical request to bring me closer, as my heavy weight is too much to handle. She speaks no words, yet… somehow, her close proximity speaks to my core.

Interstellar Communication online.

Signal found.

Awaiting further activation per order of CM-108 W4RH0R53.

My core grows quiet as I slowly back away, letting her go.

Proceed?

Negative.

She looks puzzled by my actions for a moment. She looks slightly… hurt…

That tears me apart inside.

“Areia.” I come back to her, nuzzling her cheek as I take her hooves in mine. “I have a question.”

Her head tilts slightly. “Yes?” Her eyes lock on mine as her smile comes back.

“Would you like to see where I came from? The stars I traveled amongst? Tonight? With me?”

Her eyes light up with what I perceive as joy, as a shark-toothy grin spreads across her face from ear to ear. “Y-you mean… you have a way to go up there? To visit the stars?” Her tail whips around slightly in her excitement.

I nod. “In a manner of speaking, yes.” I wrap my arms around her again, lifting her up and bringing her in close, almost cradling her. “One that won’t jeopardize anyone’s safety.” I look down at her as she smiles up at me. “More importantly, yours.” I whisper before nuzzling her nose.

A scarlet shade grows on her cheeks as she gazes up at me with stars of her very own twinkling in her eyes.

I feel. Strongly. For her.

She’s…

She’s gorgeous…

I’m getting lost in her eyes, but not like how I was out there in space. This sense is full of warmth, somewhere inside me that doesn’t exist in the material world. Full of something… deep and powerful.

I just can’t find the proper word for it…

“Boop!” She beams as the tip of her forehoof presses against my nose.

“Wh-” My eyes flash red for a moment, before returning to blue as I look around frantically. I soon return back to her, shaking my head as I’m brought back to reality. “What was that for?”

“Tactical boop!” She rolls out from my grasp with surprising ease and lowers herself close to the ground, her tail swishing from side to side. A wide, toothy grin spreads across her face as she looks back at me.

“Oh yeah?” I stand up and spread my wings out, before charging for her. “Shark snatch!” I swing my wings around, scooping her off the ground by her barrel and putting her on my back, before spinning around and bolting for the door.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” She shrieks. “WAAARRR! PUT ME DOWN! NO! NO, NO! NOT...!”

“Hang on tight, sand shark!” I spin my rear to the door, before bucking it open and resuming my course to the mouth of the cave, flapping my wings rapidly. “We’re gonna fly!”

“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!” She holds on tightly, pressing her muzzle into the back of my neck. “War, I mean it! Put me down! Please!”

“Negative!”

With that, I bend down at the lip of the cave entrance, and just as water is about to wash up, I lunge to the sky, letting my wings take us further off the ground and guide us to the bright blue like a rocket. Her grip tightens around my neck even more as the winds push against us, but I resist gravity’s bindings, flapping my wings faster at second’s pass, taking us farther, faster.

Within mere seconds of take off, we’re well above the clouds. Within the timeframe of two minutes, if I want, I can breach the ionosphere. Though, that isn’t in my current interest, with the shark pony I have in tow.

I continue straight up, arching my back as our elevation increases at what some would label an alarming rate.

But not me.

It is in my design to fly like this.

I feel a strong urge for this. A rush of excitement, of need.

I spin around in a twirl, letting my outstretched wings come to a still as our elevation comes to a crawl. With the speed we’re going at, there is no need to continue working them for some time.

Areia is still screeching on my back, to which I reach around and pull her in front of me, holding her close in my arms.

She flails, but after a moment, she calms down enough to look at me. Her eyes are stricken with fear. Her heart is racing again, but it’s gradually coming to a calming pace.

“Do you trust me, Areia?” I ask softly, running a hoof along the back of her head tenderly.

She gives a little snort as she shakes her head, as if to rid herself of something. Only then, does she answer with a confident nod. “I trust you.”

“Then look down.” I say as I myself take a glance down at the oxygen rich globe below us.

Our island is the size of a pea from up here, and all around is nothing but ocean.

Hesitantly, she turns her head. A small gasp escapes her as she gazes at the sight that lays before her.

“What do you see?”

“I-I… Oh… it’s so…” Her eyes now wide with awe, she looks back at me. “It’s amazing! I’ve never seen the ocean - hah! - let alone the world, like this before!” Wrapping her forehooves around my neck, she gives me a tight squeeze. “Thank you… Thank you for bringing me up here.”

“I ask one more thing of you while we’re up here.” I nuzzle her nose gently, looking into her magenta pearls once again. “Close your eyes. Feel the wind… While I can feel it, I can’t feel it the same way a living creature can. But I’ve heard it’s a pleasurable experience. I want you to have it.”

Smiling, she tightens her grip around me and closes her eyes, the gentle rush of wind blowing through her mane. I feel her tail wrap around my waist as she releases her grip around my neck, spreading her forelegs out wide.

“What’s it like? I whisper, as to not disturb her peace as much as possible.

Optics offline.

“It’s… eheehee! I-I can’t describe it! It’s like… the most wonderful feeling ever… The wind in my mane, the rush… The free feeling of it. Oh, I wish you could feel it like I do!”

She lets out an ecstatic giggle, finally bringing her forehooves back around my neck. Her tail and hind legs loosen their grip as her weight evens out.

Optics online.

“Oh, War…” She murmurs, pressing her muzzle into my cheek as a deep growl purrs from her gills.

That feeling envelopes my core again as I regard her. The warm, alive feeling I have whenever I’m around her, whenever my sights are on her. Whenever I hear her voice; her happiness.

“I feel it, Areia.” I pull back a little, regarding her again. “Not the wind, not like you do. But the most wonderful feeling.” I run a hoof along her cheek as I continue to study the beauty of her nature. “I feel it.”

A deep shade of red grows on her cheeks as her mouth hangs open for a moment, looking back at me.

Then, without warning, without any words, she leans in and presses her muzzle to my cheek. This time, I feel the most… strangest sensation overwhelm me. Like a desire I didn’t know I had has been met. Her lips purse against my plating before she pulls away, looking back up at me with a smile as I hold her close to my body, in my embrace.

Our ascension finally comes to a still, before we start to descend back to gravity’s cause. Second after second, our descent back to Equus’ surface becomes a fast plummet.

I carefully navigate Areia to my back, and once I feel her cling tightly to my form, I flip backward, working my wings once more, before going in for a nose dive.

The wind roars as we come down like a bullet, and within approximately ten seconds, I’m already gliding along the shores of our island, leaving a flurry of sand in my wake as I dart across the land mass, back to our cave.

I swing into the mouth of the cavern before coming to a running landing, folding my wings as I slow to a trot, proceeding through the open door with Areia still in tow.

The first thing I notice is the charred meat on the slab of rock over the fire.

“Uh oh.” I stop dead in my tracks as Areia’s hooves press against the top of my head, perching herself up. A gasp escapes her, implying she’s seen my mistake.

“Uhm… I think we forgot something…”

“Affirmative.” I continue my approach. “I’ll make a new one for you. Do you comply with my proposal?”

She rolls off of me and lands lightly on her hooves, a slight giggle escaping her.

“Yes, I do comply!” She replies, bumping her hip against mine.

Malfunction detected.

I turn to her and swat her firm, tones flank lightly with a wing, before spinning around and lifting the burnt fish off the hot surface, only to toss it in the receptacle I provided near the fire pit for occasions such as this.

“E-eep!” I look over my shoulder just as I drop the crispy meat into the trash to find her standing there, blushing hard. Her legs quiver beneath her as she stares at me in what I assume to be shock. Her mouth hangs open only for a moment, before she bites her bottom lip, looking at her now reddened flank. Her heart is racing in her chest with excitement. “W-War!” She huffs behind a faint moan.

“Areia.” I reply softly.

Note added.

Social testing results details she enjoys it.

“W-what was t-that for…?” She turns to me again, lost in a daze. Her form seems restless now, tail swishing side to side.

“I’m testing the waters, as they say.” I reply, before grabbing the net and going for another fish in the container near the door. “I’m curious where your interests lie on a certain matter.”

She tilts her head in confusion, her face still red with blush. “A-and what’s that?”

“That’s confidential.” I turn around as a fresh fish squirms within the confines of the net. I lightly press my muzzle to hers for a moment as I pass by, adding in a low, sultry, teasing tone. “... For now.”

I proceed to crush the fish’s head against hoof and rock before I have time to think on it.

Even still, I get the image of that filly…

I shake my head abruptly, turning away from it as my visor flickers between red and blue for a brief moment.

In doing so, I face her again. Her soft, gentle smile looking at me behind her enticed blush. Her beautiful magenta eyes lock onto my visor projection.

“Areia?”

“Yes, War?”

“I find what I believe is called appreciation in meeting you. Knowing you. I’m… appreciative that you consider me your friend. I would like to think that I see you as my friend, too.”

Areia’s smile widens. “I’m so glad that you consider me your friend. Before you came… before I saw that great flash in the sky, I…” She pauses, and her smile falters for a moment as she puts a hoof over her golden necklace. “I can’t bear thinking about it, the loneliness. The misery… but now?” Her smile slowly creeps back in. “You’re here, and my life is better for it.” She leans in close, bringing her neck around to nestle against mine, laying her head on the back of it.

I hold her close to me in a gentle embrace as I lean into her a little bit, speaking softer in a near whisper. “Go back to bed, Areia.” I chuckle quietly. “You weren’t supposed to wake up. I was going to try and give you breakfast in bed.”

“Negative.” She replies in a bubbly, mocking manner. “After that flight, I’m more awake than ever. I wanna swim!” She beams, pulling away as her tail sways back and forth excitedly. “I wanna see what’s out there!”

“Oh, alright.” I lightly bap her on the nose as she did to me earlier today. “But stay relatively close. I’d at least like to serve your food to you while it’s still hot.”

She puts a hoof to her forehead in a salute that I had shown her in our time together, before releasing it, sticking her tongue out in a playful manner.

Something I have noticed in her actions, at least since we met, is that she hasn’t gone into the ocean much. For a shark pony, I find that rather odd. For the most part, she’s stayed by my side. On land. Rather than her natural habitat. She shares stories of her life in the ocean, yet I hardly see her go in it…

What does that say about her?

I watch as she trots away, her hips swaying with her movement as the fins at the end of her tail zig zag along the cavern floor, giving me brief hints to her sweet spot. A hidden treasure that I find myself taking deep interest in…

Her toned, fit body speaks to me in ways that…

Error.

I shake my head abruptly as my visor flickers red for a moment, then spin around back to the fish, slapping it on the stone tablet over the fire pit.

Well, that’s not right. Robots don’t feel lust! They can perform pleasurable - or in some cases, not so pleasurable - duties to sentient creatures, but for a robot to feel lust for another creature was unheard of!

What is wrong with me?

“Calm yourself, Warhorse…” I mutter, watching the fish begin to cook on one side.

I feel a tingling sensation in my core. It’s traveling down my body, through my stomach and straight to my groin. I have the urge to… do things to her. I want to take her right now…

I sit down on my haunches, shaking the ground a little in my action.

“Stop it.” I say as the simulation built inside me presses against the inner plate of my groin. “You have no authorization to commit acts of your own accord. This is treasonous activity. Comply with the mainframe. Disengage. Something, anything, please…”

… It wasn’t…

I feel the pressure growing underneath the plating to discomforting levels.

I need a distraction.

I hastily flip the fish over on its other side, waiting for all this to be over so that I can shut down until she comes back. I don’t want to risk burning the fish again.

Curse you, Areia, for being so… attractive.

Distractions… let’s see…

I pick up a piece of charcoal from the fire and smear it across the lower half of my face in an upward curve, like a smile.

Distractions, distractions… Need a distraction. This isn’t working…

I sway my body left to right. The pressure is too much…

“Fine…” I look up at the ceiling as I shake my head.

Open groinal plating.

If I give it just a little bit of air, maybe I’ll calm down.

The compartment slides open and I feel the pressure release as the once hidden part of me resides on the floor between my forehooves in full length.

My memory keeps jumping back to the view I received of her backside as she left for a swim.

Get out of my head.

A new thought invades my mainframe.

The thought of her sweet, powerful body returning after a long swim, fire light reflecting off her wet coat as she trots up to me with that beautiful smile of hers.

The things she does to me...

Get out of my head!

As I regard the fish, the statistics report its currently proper for consumption.

And not a moment sooner…

I grab the fish and set it aside before trotting to a corner in the cave, sitting down.

Optics offline.

I keep my back to the rest of the room as my appendage continues to throb with excitement.

CM-108 W4RH0R53 shutting down 97 percent of primary systems.

Auditory scans on backup.

…

“Warrrrr! I’m back! You’ll never believe what I just-”

Optics online.

I’m still staring at the cavern wall, before I turn my head over my shoulder to where her voice comes from.

Areia stands in the entrance; concern etched on her face, before she resumes her slow and steady advance.

Her body is wet with ocean water, her hide reflecting the light of the fire. Just like I imagined…

Not again…

I glance down at my groinal region and find that my excitement has returned to its compartment, and the plating has slid back into place.

I stand up and turn to her, approaching in a calm manner. “What were you saying, Areia?”

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!”

She jumps back, scrambling for the exit for a moment, before panting and keeping her eyes locked on me. Her heart is racing with fear again. What did I do?

“Areia, what’s wrong?” I tilt my head in a curious manner.

“Wha… Ah… Th…” She stutters, pointing a trembling hoof at me.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand. Please, can you tell me what’s wrong?” I take another step forward.

“Y-you… your face! What happened to you!?” She practically shrieks at me, her tail curling up against her body.

“My… face?” I lift a hoof up to my head, stepping closer to the fire so as to see my reflection on the glossy plating.

Acknowledged.

I remember now. I smeared a smile on my face. Wasn’t this supposed to be a gesture of appreciation?

I lower my hoof and look back at her. “I rubbed charcoal on my face. I’m smiling now. Like you.”

“Guh…” She stands there with a look of disbelief etched on her features. “Um… War? Y-you do know how creepy it is, right?” She finally says after a period of complete silence. Her ears fold back against her head.

“Oh… I… wasn’t trying to be… creepy…” I stand firm and uniform. “Acknowledged. I’ve made you uncomfortable. Please excuse me.” I spin around and grab a pile of leaves I had scrounged from the trees on the island as additional materials for my rain suit and wipe down my face, cleansing the smile after a thorough scrub.

I step back to the spot beside the fire pit and use my hoof as a mirror once more to find it’s gone. I look back at her.

“Better?”

“M-much…” She shivers and looks back up at me, a small smile spreading across her face. “You know, if you wanted a mouth, we could figure out a way to make you one.” She boops her nose against mine.

I sit down and shake my head abruptly. “Negative. Your planet lacks the proper resources to construct such things. It doesn’t matter.” I hang my head down as the hurt within me spreads. I am wanting to show my appreciation the way she does. The charcoal drawing was a desperate attempt to distract myself from other things initially, but… I want to smile too… “What is it you were saying when you walked in, Areia?” I ask softly in defeat.

“War? What’s wrong?” She leans forward, a hoof reaching out to me, as she regards me with concern.

“It doesn’t matter.” I reply quickly. “Please. I want to talk about something else.” I run the tip of my hoof up and down along her chest as I study her smooth, damp hide.

“It matters to me, War… But, if you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll respect that. Just… if you ever want to, I’m here for you, War.”

I take her hoof in mine and nuzzle it gently.

Optics offline.

“And I’m here for you, Areia. Forever.”

I pull back slowly.

Optics online.

Areia, smiling wider than she was before, perks up slightly. “You wanted to know what I saw?”

“Affirmative.” I state with a nod.

“I found another metal… er… I mean, ship. I found another ship!” She taps her hooves against the ground in excitement. “I think I’ll go back tomorrow! Just to see if I can get inside! Though…” Her brow furrows. “This one was weird. It was still floating, but… underwater… I mean, what’s up with that?”

“The closest description that matches this is a submarine.” I place a hoof on her shoulder, looking deep into her eyes. “Be careful, Areia. There might still be creatures inside.”

Her eyes grow wide with wonder. “Y-you mean, I might actually get to see more ponies? Er… creatures?”

“It’s a possibility, but you still need to tread carefully. They could be dangerous.” I wrap my arms around her, bringing her in close as I press my muzzle into the side of her neck. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“Aw…” A gentle blush forms across her face as I pull my head back. “You’re not gonna lose me, I know how to take care of myself! The ocean is full of dangerous creatures, and I live in it!”

I let go only to get up and grab her cooked fish, to which I return back to her, holding it out in a wing. “Eat, Areia. Your breakfast is getting cold.”

She giggles. “Thank you, War! You’re the bestest friend a pony could ever have!” Taking it in her maw, she leans back and gulps it down, barely chewing on it.

I paw a hoof at the rocky ground for a moment, before speaking again. “You mentioned that you live in the ocean.” I tilt my head, looking back up at her. “But I hardly see you go down there. Why is that?”

Areia turns back to me, surprise on her face. “O-oh… you noticed that?” I nod, and her ears fold back against her head.

She looks away towards the door, as if looking out at the ocean through the obstacles in her optical path. Sighing softly, she turns back toward me.

“I don’t belong on land. My hooves itch to walk the ocean floor, my gills seek the caress of the cold water. My body yearns to dance through the currents. The sun burns if I stand on land for too long. But you know what? I find that…” She pauses, thinking to herself for a moment, before shaking her head. “I find that I don’t care. Because I found you, here, on this island. And yes, I’ll always have to go back to the ocean, but then… I feel e-empty…” A tear forms in her eye, trailing down her cheek. “I don’t go, because I want to be with you.”

Malfunction.

Anomaly.

Affirmative.

“Areia.” I run a caring hoof over her cheek, breaking the stream of her tear as she studies me. I spread my wings. “I might not be able to go in the water with you, but I can stay above it. We can explore the ocean together. Not the way I’d like, but… if I’m going to show you my world, you should show me yours. So long as you don’t splash me…” I chuckle softly. “How does that sound?”

Areia grins widely, exposing her teeth. “I’d love that, War! I’d love that so much! Eehehehee!” Giggling, she nuzzles into my neck, purring happily. Pulling back, she grabs my hoof and starts pulling me toward the door. I grant her authority over my body. “Let’s go find the subma-rine thing! I can hoof you whatever I find! Let’s go!” She swings the door open, trotting through.

“Under one condition.” I reply as I start flapping my wings, walking with her through the doorway.

“Anything!” She laughs happily.

I lift off the ground and bolt forward, shouting.

“YOU RACE ME THERE!”

She gives a startled squawk, her voice already going quieter from the distance between us. “Hey! No fair, War! You can fly! Wait! Wait for me! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!”

I come to a sudden halt, lifting myself up over the ocean so that the crashing waves don’t reach me. I look back at her as she canters to the lip of the cave, glaring up at me.

“Yes, Areia?”

“You don’t even know where it is…” She stares flatly, her ears folding back again.

I study the skylines all around.

Scan initiated.

Scanning…

I look back down at her with a single nod. “Found it.”

“Uugh!” She pouts at me.

Plan B.

I swoop down to her and wrap my arms around her barrel tightly, pressing her back into my stomach as I lift her off the ground.

“W-wait, War, what are you-” She flails in my grasp a bit, but she’s secure.

“Here we goooooooooooooooooooooooo!” I burst from the cave ascending over the canal with her in my grasp.

“AHHHHHHHH, WAR! AGAIN!?”

I dart across the sky to the open sea and dive back down, as I am now clear of the waves from hitting me.

Just before we’re about to hit the water, I pull up and elevate ourselves inches above the water.

“Warn a mare next time!” I soon hear laughter coming from beneath me.

“Negative! I like catching you by surprise!”

Her tail wraps around my back leg as the very tips of her forehooves lower to trace along the surface of the water as we race across like a bullet. Her cheerful laughter delivers a strong feeling to my core.

Something I am starting to understand more, the more time I spend with her.

I believe the word is happiness.