A Heart Like The Sea

Chapters

Chapter Fourteen
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fourteen

At least fifty enormous black figures arced through the water, straight to the platform on which Cassie and the other princesses stood. Neoma bit her lip nervously as the orcas swam toward her, their blowholes puffing loudly. The largest male orca in the group, who weighed at least seven tons and was well over ten feet long, surfaced in front of Cassie and rolled over onto his back for a belly rub.

“Oh, Triton,” Cassie chuckled, “you are the biggest teddy bear I’ve ever met.” She rubbed the massive creature’s white underside affectionately, grinning from ear to ear as she did so. Triton slowly rolled over underneath Cassie’s hooves and took a deafening breath, expelling a huge puff of mist from his blowhole. The sound startled Neoma, who jumped. Cassie gave her older sister an encouraging smile.

“It’s okay, Neoma,” she said. “You’re completely safe. I feel safer with these guys than I do with other dolphins. They’ve rescued me from sharks before.”

“Your sister is right, darling,” Luna added, reaching out to stroke Polaris’ back. “They’re so sweet and friendly. See? Good girl,” she cooed to the gigantic animal as if the orca were a puppy. Little Elara stayed close to Polaris, eyeing the newcomers shyly as she pressed against her mother’s side. Docile, gentle Polaris approached Cassie and Neoma slowly and nuzzled Cassie's wing, clicking and whistling softly. Neoma eyed the orca cautiously as Polaris gave her a gentle nudge. She stroked Polaris' back tentatively, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

"She likes you," Cassie said, mirroring her sister's smile. Neoma began to relax, and she rubbed Polaris just in front of her dorsal fin. The orca sighed contentedly and rolled over onto her side in the shallow water. Luna chuckled as Triton leaned into her touch.

“Yay, now it’s a party!” Flurry Heart whooped, scrambling out of the water as a bright red Pegasus trotted out onto the beach. Flurry galloped into the Pegasus’ hooves and he lifted her, twirling her around as he kissed her deeply. Cadance waded onto the shore to greet the young stallion, who hugged her and bowed respectfully. Cassie felt the air around her thicken as Neoma's dreamy smile was replaced with a grimace. Her light blue eyes were suddenly drained of the life that had just returned to them minutes before. The turquoise thestral alicorn turned wordlessly and walked out of the sea, then spread her wings and took off to the balcony of her bedchamber.

"Shit," Cassie muttered, following her older sister. When she entered the room, Cassie was surprised to see that Neoma wasn't crying. The princess of the northern lights lay motionless on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

"How in Equestria will I ever move forward when I can't even look at a cute couple without feeling like my heart is breaking all over again?" Neoma groaned. "Cassie, I'm pathetic." She sighed heavily, buried her face into her pillow, and released a muffled scream. Cassie rubbed her sister's back.

"Give yourself time to heal," she said softly. "It hasn't been long at all, Neoma. Please stop being so hard on yourself. I'm proud of you for coming out to swim with us; that took a lot of courage. I really hope it helped. I'm so sorry if I pushed you too hard or upset you."

"No." Neoma sat up, sniffled, and wiped her eyes. "Cass, being with those orcas was amazing. I can't wait to go out again; I felt free for the first time since Silver left. I'd love to do it again tomorrow, if you don't mind. I just... can't look at Flurry and Fireblood together without feeling sick to my stomach, and I hate myself for that."

"Then why don't we swim at sunrise?" Cassie suggested. "Nopony else has to come with us if you just want some alone time with your little sis." Her grin coaxed a chuckle from Neoma, who rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Okay," she agreed. "Let's do it. I want everypony else to join us, though. It'll be like an orca party."

"Sounds good!" Cassie said, prancing excitedly.

Chapter One

Canterlot Castle was dark, its grounds lit only by the lanterns held by the Royal Lunar Guards who stood sentinel on either side of the drawbridge. Princess Cassiopeia took a final drag on her joint before tossing it into the river below, wincing slightly at the faint hissing sound it made when it hit the water. Then, she retrieved a bottle of perfume from her saddlebag and sprayed herself with a generous amount, hoping the fragrance would effectively mask the strong odor of alcohol and weed if she got caught. The pink alicorn pricked her ears, listening intently for any sign that her presence had been detected. When she knew the coast was clear, she spread her wings and flew silently through her open bedroom window. The moon was a waif-thin sliver in the velvety blue expanse outside, so Cassie knew her mother had not yet concluded her nightly duties. With a sigh of relief, Cassie slipped into her bed, her sheets rustling ever so slightly as she did so. Just as Cassie rolled over, the room flooded with light, which revealed Princess Luna, who had clearly been waiting for her.

"Welcome home, daughter," the larger alicorn said in a deathly calm voice that coated Cassie's legs with goosebumps. "Would you care to explain why you decided to sneak out while you were already grounded for doing the exact same thing last week?" Cassie rolled over, turning her back on Luna, and pulled her goose down duvet over her head. Luna's magic hummed, and the duvet was ripped violently from Cassie's body. Cassie leapt up, glaring at Luna.

"What the hell, mom?" she yelled. Luna returned Cassie's icy stare with an even colder one of her own.

"Cassiopeia," Luna said sternly, "you will not ignore me when I speak to you. Now, I will ask you one more time: Why did you sneak out tonight while being grounded for pulling this stunt last week?"

"Because I wanted to," Cassie grumbled, huffing. Luna's eyes narrowed and her tail twitched, signifying that her patience was running thin. Cassie snorted defiantly and flopped backward onto her bed.

"Cassie," Luna murmured, "why did you sneak out?"

“I don’t know, Mom. I already answered your question. Are you dumb?” Cassie replied, rolling her turquoise eyes. “Ask Neoma, since she seems to know everything.”

“Oh, no. This is not your sister’s fault, Cassie,” Luna said. “Don’t you dare blame Neoma for any of this. She has a husband and a toddler to look after. Neoma isn’t the pony who used her name and title to try to weasel her way out of trouble. You did all of those things on your own. This is all your fault.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t be like this if you hadn’t given her all of your attention when we were fillies!” Cassie cried. “I’ve had enough of this. I’m leaving Canterlot right now, Mom, and you can’t stop me!”

“Cassiopeia, those are dangerous words,” Luna warned in a deathly calm tone. “You need to calm down and let me speak.”

“No!” Cassie yelled, her horn glowing. “You have no idea what it’s like to be me, Mom.”

“Oh, I don’t?” Luna replied patiently but firmly. “Don’t forget, sweetheart, I was the younger sister, too. The jealousy and bitterness I directed towards your auntie Tia turned me into Nightmare Moon. You will not make the same mistakes I made. Take responsibility for your actions, Cassie. Own your choices.”

“I’m leaving!” Cassie screamed, spreading her wings.

“Fine,” Luna said quietly, “then I’m afraid you’ve left me no choice.” She took off after her daughter as Cassie streaked across the sky. A dark blue bolt exploded from her horn, cracking the sky like lightning as it hit Cassie. The pink alicorn cried out and dipped lower as the bolt paralyzed her. Luna swooped after Cassie and caught her daughter as she fell onto her back. She landed and sent a healing spell through Cassie’s body, and Cassie immediately took off again. Luna sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes.

“Cassiopeia,” Luna yelled in her Royal Canterlot Voice, “I command you to land at once! I am no longer speaking as your mother; this is an order from your Princess!” Cassie groaned loudly and landed, stopping to wait for Luna on a grassy knoll that overlooked the palace. She heard the powerful beat of Luna’s wings and felt the gust of wind that encircled them as her mother landed beside her.

“Now,” Luna said gently, “are you ready to talk about it? What troubles you, my sweet one?” She nuzzled Cassie gently, and the young mare flopped down onto her back in the cool grass as she finally allowed her tears to flow freely.

“Mom, what’s wrong with me?” Cassie sobbed. “Why is Neoma so perfect, and why am I even a princess? I should never have been born into this family! I don’t even have my cutie mark yet! I’m probably the oldest pony to ever live without a cutie mark!” Luna reached out her hoof and gently lifted her daughter’s chin so that their eyes met.

“Cassie,” she said slowly, “I can assure you that Neoma is far from perfect. As I said earlier, I understand what you’re going through. I was the younger sister, too, sweetie. It would serve you well if you listened to me. Now, you just told me you feel that you should never have been born into the royal family, but I strongly disagree. You are my beautiful little storm, Cassie. You’re a free spirit, and you’re wild in the best way. You simply need to learn how to harness your power and let go of any resentment you may feel towards Neoma. Don’t make the same mistakes I did, honey. You are right that Neoma is much calmer than you are, but there is a beautiful wildness in you. You remind me so much of myself when I was your age. You will find your place as a princess, I promise.” Cassie looked up at her mother and felt a small smile lift the corners of her mouth.

"I'm sorry I yelled, Mom," the young alicorn sighed. "I shouldn't have lost my temper at you." Luna gave her daughter a soft smile, and Cassie immediately knew that all had been forgiven.

“Now,” Luna said, draping her wing over Cassie’s shoulders, “are you looking forward to our family trip to Silver Shoals next week, my little storm?" Her voice overflowed with motherly affection.

“Yeah, I can’t wait,” Cassie squealed, her spirits lifting. “It’s going to be so much fun to be so close to the ocean, and to hang out with Neoma, Silver, and little Edelweiss. We're gonna have a blast with Auntie Tia, Uncle Sombra, Suimmer, and Idalia. too.”

“Don't forget Twilight, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart. You’re going to spend every second in the water like you did last time, aren’t you?” Luna said, smiling lovingly when her daughter nodded. “You know, when you were little, you would cry every single time I took you out of the tub after bath time. When we took you to the beach for the first time, we practically had to drag you out of the ocean. You’ve always been a water baby.” She chuckled, then said, “I’m not trying to stop you from being yourself, honey. There is just a certain manner in which a princess is expected to behave. Try to find a way to use your interests for the good of Equestria instead of acting foolish just to rebel. You’ll find your place, my little storm. I promise.”

Chapter Two

“Oh, no, Della, don’t go near the water without Nana Lulu,” Luna called to her little granddaughter as the foal galloped towards the ocean. She had been playing in the sand with the filly until two-year-old Edelweiss had caught sight of some seagulls near the water’s edge and taken off towards the white birds. Luna used her magic to pick up the white filly and set her on her back. Giggling, Edelweiss leaned over to hug Luna’s neck, and Luna trotted over to where Neoma, Silver, and Cassie were lounging.

“I think I might take Della for a swim,” she said. “Anypony want to join us?”

“I’ll come,” Cassie said, reaching up to tickle her niece. “Let’s go!” The three of them waded into the calm, clear blue ocean.

“Hold onto Nana, Della,” Luna gently reminded Edelweiss. “We don’t want you to fall off and get swept away.” They walked until the water reached Luna’s stomach. “Oh, this feels so nice,” Luna sighed. “We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.” Edelweiss squealed as the water gently lapped at Luna’s sides. Cassie swam up to Luna and held out her hooves.

“Come on, Della,” she coaxed her niece. “Jump to Auntie Cassie. I’ll catch you.” The foal’s eyes widened, and she giggled as she jumped into Cassie’s hooves.

"Nana Lulu, Auntie Cassie, I did it!" Edelweiss yelled excitedly.

“Yay, Della, you did it!” Cassie cheered. Edelweiss squealed happily and kicked at the water, and Luna magically picked the filly back up and lifted her onto her back. This time, Edelweiss jumped without hesitation, laughing as Cassie caught her again. Cassie left her niece with Luna and swam out to where she could no longer touch the bottom. The ocean was a brilliant turquoise, so clear that Cassie could see the white, sandy bottom as she treaded water. Diving underwater, Cassie spun and twirled as she swam, relishing the feeling of weightlessness that the water gave her. As she surfaced, she caught sight of a triangular fin cutting through the water as it rushed in her direction and began circling her. Cassie immediately recognized it as the blunt dorsal fin of a shark, and she froze with fear. Looking towards the beach, she could see that Luna and Edelweiss had left the water quite abruptly. She was trapped. She remained motionless for a few seconds, knowing that she would be killed if she panicked.

All of the sudden, the tip of another dorsal fin sliced the water as it headed towards Cassie, but this one had a gentle curve to its shape. The soft puff of air that followed as the fin broke the surface made Cassie sigh with relief. She dipped underwater and came face to face with a dolphin. Squeaking, the dolphin took off towards the shark, chasing it off. Cassie swam to the beach as fast as she could and was relieved when she saw the dolphin resurface nearby, accompanied by his pod of well over forty others.

“Cassie!” Neoma cried, giving her sister a towel. “Are you okay? We saw the shark, and we saw how that dolphin saved you. That was incredible!”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Cassie breathed as Luna trotted towards them with Della on her back.

“It does not surprise me that a dolphin rescued you, Cassie,” Luna said as she levitated a giggling Edelweiss from her back and gave the filly to Neoma. “I have seen dolphins in most of your dreams. You swim with them quite frequently.” She gave her daughter a knowing smile. “For thousands of years, dolphins have saved ponies from drowning. There is an ancient Equestrian legend that says if you are rescued by a dolphin, you will be blessed with wisdom for the rest of your life. I have swum with them quite a few times, myself. They have the softest, smoothest skin I have ever felt. They love my moon because it changes the tides, sends them food, and gives them waves to play in at night. I have watched them frolic under my moon many times.” She smiled and gazed out at the water dreamily as the dolphins leapt and splashed nearby, the bright sunlight glinting off their backs. Cassie tilted her head. Even from the shore, she could hear and feel the dolphins’ high-pitched whistles and clicks; shockingly, she could also understand what they were saying to each other.

“Oh, wow,” she gasped. “Mom, they’re talking about me! They’re asking that dolphin why he rescued me.”

“Cassie,” Luna said, surprised, “you can understand them? How? That ability is usually only reserved for aquatic ponies.” Cassie shrugged and took another few steps towards the water as she listened

“They… they want me to come play with them,” Cassie said. “They’re calling me.”

“Don’t keep them waiting, then,” Luna urged her daughter. “Go and join them. I'll come with you; It's been a long time since I last swam with dolphins. Neoma, why don't you and Silver bring Della? She loves animals."

"As long as we only go in up to our waists," Neoma said cautiously. Cassie scoffed.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of dolphins, sis,” she teased. “They’re the puppies of the ocean. They won’t hurt you.”

Cassie paddled out into the water and was immediately surrounded by the dolphins, who greeted her with excited chatters and squeaks. She turned around to look at Luna, who was cooing over a very young dolphin and stroking his soft, smooth belly. The baby dolphin wiggled under Luna's gentle touch as the princess of the night spoke to him in a high-pitched singsong voice, making Cassie turn away and simultaneously cringe and try not to laugh at Luna's baby talk. Neoma swam up beside Cassie, her eyes wide as a dolphin surfaced next to her.

“They’re… magnificent,” she marveled. “Their eyes are so expressive, and awww, listen to their little sounds! You were right, Cass; they’re like ocean puppies!”

"Only much smarter," Luna interjected, giggling as the young dolphin she had been showering with affection suddenly flipped over and swam back to his mother, who gave him an insistent shove back in Cassie's direction, content to leave her rambunctious baby in Cassie's care while she hunted nearby.

"Cassie, that's amazing," Luna gasped. "The fact that she trusts you enough to leave her little one with you speaks volumes about your relationship with these creatures. Are you sure you've never met them before?" She smiled knowingly at her daughter, waiting for Cassie to connect the dots.

"Wait," the pink alicorn said slowly. "No, that can't be right. Are these dolphins... from my dreams?" She inhaled sharply as her eyes widened with realization. Luna grinned and nodded.

"Our dreams can sometimes give us glimpses into the future," Luna explained, "like 'deja vu,' but in reverse."

"So, did you know this was going to happen today?" Cassie asked. Luna shook her head.

"I can honestly say that I had no idea," she said, glancing at the horizon as the tide began to recede. "I'm as surprised as you are, but I can tell you that you clearly have a deep connection to the ocean and all her creatures, especially dolphins." Luna gestured toward her daughter's flank, and Cassie gasped as she looked over her shoulder at her brand new cutie mark: A cream colored sand dollar.

"Better late than never, I guess," Cassie said with a dry chuckle. "Finally, everypony will have to stop calling me 'blank flank.'"

"See, my dearest? I was right," Luna teased. "You really should listen to your mother more." Cassie rolled her eyes, and Luna responded to her daughter's sarcastic look by splashing her in the face.

"Come on," Luna said, grinning. "It's starting to get dark, and I think it's time for us to go get some cocktails. This summer is going to be so much fun!"

Chapter Three

"Okay, ladies," Cassie said the next morning as she, Neoma, Della, and Luna were joined for breakfast by Celestia, Summer, and Idalia, "why don't we go to this beautiful little cove that I found online last night? Only the locals really know about it." She pulled up a picture of the beach and began to pass her phone around.

"Oh, wow," Luna exclaimed, clapping her hooves excitedly. "Cassie, this looks divine! I'm in!" Everypony else hastily agreed, and about an hour later, they met in the front courtyard of the Silver Shoals Palace. After about an hour's flight, they landed on a small, secluded, picturesque, tropical beach in front of a crystal clear turquoise cove.

"This. Is. Gorgeous!" Neoma squealed. "Cassie, you did such a great job. You must have searched online for hours to find this place!"

"Actually, I only needed to search for about an hour," Cassie admitted. "Everypony says it's a hidden gem." She sighed contentedly and looked out at the water, which sparkled like a giant aquamarine in the warm, bright sunshine. Luna promptly laid out her towel and spread out on her stomach to sunbathe while Neoma crouched in the sand to play with Della.

"So," Cassie said, looking at Idalia and Summer, "are you two coming in the water with me, or would you rather stay up here and relax?" Celestia's two daughters looked at each other and shrugged.

"Sure, Cass, we'll come with you," Idalia said to her cousin.

"Great," Cassie giggled. "Hey, I have an idea: Let's race to that platform out there. Losers have to do six tequila shots tonight. Who has the lady balls to accept my challenge?"

"Oh, you are so on," Summer said, smirking. "You aren't that fast of a swimmer, Cass. I could beat both of you in my sleep."

"Six tequila shots?" Idalia repeated, her eyes widening. "Is it even possible to drink that many shots without throwing up?"

"I don't know, Lia. Do you wanna find out?" Cassie teased.

"Challenge accepted," Idalia said. "Here's our starting line. Everypony has to wait behind here." She drew a line in the sand with her horn, and the three mares backed up, assuming their positions.

"Too bad Neoma's gonna miss out," Cassie snorted. "I love my niece to bits, but I miss my fun older sister." Her face fell for a moment as she looked over her shoulder at Neoma, who was helping Della build a sandcastle alongside Luna.

"Are we gonna be sappy, or are we gonna fucking race?" Summer asked. "Everypony knows you're gonna win, Cassie; you're a stronger swimmer than all of us combined. You always win."

"Oh, shut up and leave Cassie alone, Summer," Idalia chided, rolling her eyes at her sister. "Ready? On your mark, get set, go!" All three ponies took off, laughing as they splashed into the warm ocean. Summer hit the water first, closely followed by Cassie, who dove underneath the waves, gliding effortlessly as she propelled herself through the water. Cassie won easily and climbed up the ladder onto the floating platform, then raised her hooves above her head victoriously.

"All hail the undefeated swim race champion, Princess Cassiopeia!" she whooped, letting out a high-pitched, triumphant whistle.

"You only won because we weren't allowed to use our wings," Summer huffed as she climbed out of the water. "I guess we'd better prepare to get absolutely plastered tonight, Lia." She and Idalia exchanged smirks, and Cassie lay on her back on the sun-drenched wood of the platform, enjoying the ocean's calm rhythm beneath her.

"What a perfect day," Idalia sighed dreamily.

Without thinking, Cassie sent out a high-pitched signal from her horn, and within seconds, the alicorns were surrounded by the same pod of dolphins that Cassie and Luna had swum with the day before. Cassie's jaw dropped as the dolphins poked their heads out of the water, greeting her with happy little clicks and squeaks.

"Oh, my goodness!" Summer gasped. "Look at all of them! There must be at least a hundred. Cassie, how in Equestria did you do that?" She and Idalia both looked at their cousin, shocked.

"I.. I have no idea," Cassie said, almost stunned. "Why are you guys here?" she asked one of the dolphins. Suddenly, the dolphin released a stream of little clicks and squeaks, and Cassie understood everything the dolphin said as clearly as if he had spoken to her in Equestrian.

"I... I called you?" she repeated his words, still not fully believing that this was happening to her. The dolphin whistled, and Cassie clearly understood a "yes."

"Oh, wow!" Cassie squealed. "This is so awesome!"

"Uh... Cass?" Summer said. "Who are you talking to?"

"The dolphin! I can communicate with dolphins! This is the most amazing thing ever! Can I pet you?" Cassie asked the dolphin, who chattered happily with a resounding "yes." Cassie reached out and gently stroked the dolphin's back, smiling at the wonderfully soft smoothness of his skin as Summer looked on in awe.

"You're the one who saved me, aren't you?" Cassie asked as the dolphin rolled over on his side to be stroked. He responded with an affirmative answer that the others only heard as a few whistles.

"Then we owe him much gratitude," Luna said, smiling as she swam up beside Cassie and reached out to rub the dolphin's side. Immediately, the baby dolphin that Luna had showered with affection the day before shoved Cassie's rescuer out of the way, clearly jealous and wanting Luna's undivided attention.

"Well, hello again, little one," Luna cooed in a singsong voice, chuckling and stroking the young dolphin's back. "You're just a little prima donna, aren't you? I cannot blame you, though; if I were as cute as you are, I would demand everypony's attention, too. How could anypony resist your sweet little face and your huge eyes? You are the most adorable thing I have ever seen, yes, you are." Neoma and Cassie turned their backs to Luna so that she wouldn't hear their laughter.

"Who are you, and what have you done with our mom?" Neoma giggled as the baby dolphin swam in a circle around her, splashing her with her tail.

"She has done nothing with me, Neoma," Luna said defensively. "It is perfectly permissible for the princess of the night to admire one of the most adorable creatures in the ocean, is it not?" Cassie covered her mouth to hide her laughter at her mother's reaction to Neoma's teasing.

"How can you resist this little one's cuteness, Neoma?" Luna continued. "I fear for your sanity if you do not see how utterly precious a baby dolphin is. Are you ill, darling? Do you have a fever?" She held the back of her hoof against Neoma's forehead as the turquoise thestral alicorn rolled her eyes. Cassie lost it, bursting into a fit of laughter as Luna messed with Neoma, who joined her mother in stroking the dolphin. Summer and Idalia returned to shore.

"Hey, I wanna try something," Cassie said thoughtfully. "I've done this plenty of times in my dreams, so I wonder if it will work now." She sent a hot pink bolt from her horn. The bolt exploded with a loud, high-pitched burst of sound. The dolphins all swam off at top speed, and a few moments later, Cassie, Neoma, and Luna were surrounded by a massive pod of orcas.

Chapter Four

Cassie's eyes widened as the huge orcas approached her, rolling over like puppies and nuzzling her gently.

"These are the orcas that I swim with every morning!" she gasped, looking over at Luna, who was visibly nervous.

"Mom," Cassie said, "it's okay; these guys know me. I sneak out of the palace every morning at sunrise and come down here to swim, and they all join me. These are my orcas. They all have names." Cassie's eyes grew large with excitement. She sent a signal from her horn, calling over the largest female in the group, who approached Cassie excitedly, taking a breath through her blowhole and expelling any excess water with a loud puff as she surfaced between Cassie and Luna.

"Polaris!" Cassie squealed, wrapping her hooves around the massive orca, who squeaked happily and nuzzled Cassie's side. "Hello, pretty girl." She reached out to rub under the orca's huge flipper. Luna made a beeline for a nearby outcropping of rocks, climbing out of the water as quickly as she could.

"Cassiopeia, art thou crazy?" Luna called. "These are orcas! They are not puppies; they are the ocean's most feared apex predators! What art thou doing? We command thee to come out of the water this instant!" Cassie giggled at Luna's sudden use of the "royal we" and the traditional Royal Canterlot Voice.

"Mom, it's okay, these guys are my friends," Cassie reassured Luna. "As long as I am in the water with them, they will not hurt you; besides, there has never been a documented case of a wild orca attacking a pony. These guys are so intelligent, and we understand each other; I have bonded with all of them, so there's mutual respect between us. Come over here, and I promise you will change your mind about these orcas." Luna slipped into the water warily, recoiling a bit as Polaris rolled over on her side to look at her.

"Polaris just had a baby a few days ago," Cassie said, smiling as she rubbed the orca's back. "Where's your little one, mama?" she cooed, continuing to rub Polaris down. "I don't see her. Oh!" Cassie pointed to an incredibly small baby orca, who surfaced next to Luna, startling the dark blue alicorn.

"That's Elara," Cassie said, giggling. "She's Polaris' youngest baby, and she's only about three days old. See the little white marking right under her dorsal fin? It looks like a clover. That'll help you recognize her." Luna tentatively reached out to stroke the young orca's back, smiled at the soft smoothness of Elara's skin, and received a cheeky splash from Elara in return. She laughed, clearly beginning to relax in the presence of the orcas.

"Who are these two?" Luna asked, looking over at two other female orcas, who were swimming up to greet Cassie.

"This one is Domino," Cassie said. "See these little black spots under her chin? The other one is Aurora, and she's Polaris' middle daughter. She is quite the little troublemaker. She loves to mess with me. Polaris' eldest daughter is named Hoku, and she has a little black star under her chin. All of these guys love to get rubdowns. I always try to give individual attention to each one of them. Elara, can you lift your flipper up for me, you little cutie?" Cassie smiled as Elara lifted her pectoral fin so that Cassie could rub around it and underneath it. The orca made a low purring sound as Cassie reached the sweet spot under her flipper.

"Ohhh, I know. That feels sooo good, doesn't it? What a good girl," Cassie cooed to the baby orca. "Mom, how would you feel about swimming with them?" Luna's eyes widened, but she nodded.

"I may never have this opportunity again," she said firmly. "Let's do it!"

Chapter Five

Luna treaded water, staring in awe at the orcas that swam around her and Cassie. Domino nuzzled Cassie lovingly, and Cassie smiled down at the killer whale, stroking her back.

"Aren't they gorgeous?" Cassie said, giggling as Aurora gave Luna a cheeky nudge, knocking the ruler of dreams slightly off-balance. Luna chuckled and rubbed the young orca's side, grinning as she regained her footing.

"They are magnificent, Cass," Luna marveled. "They're so gentle and intelligent. I can see why you love them so much. Ah!" She shrieked as Aurora gave her a harder nudge, causing her to fall over completely.

"Aurora, you little brat!" Cassie said, still grinning. Aurora replied with a stream of triumphant squeaks and clicks, clearly proud of herself. Luna chuckled as she resurfaced.

"Push her back the next time she shoves you, then reward her with a rubdown," Cassie told Luna. "A little roughhousing won't hurt her; in fact, it's good for her. We should encourage her to do this, and we should also teach her that if she shoves us really hard, there will be some kind of reward. Orcas play with each other like this all the time. It will be like a game for all three of us."

"What a brilliant idea, Cassie," Luna said. "Why don't we have a little shoving match with her? We can go into water that's just shallow enough for us to touch the bottom so that we can present her with a greater challenge." The two alicorns swam into slightly shallower water, and the whales followed. Cassie planted her hooves into the sandy bottom of the cove and began to gently tap at the surface to coax Aurora over.

"Aurora," she cooed, "come here. Come push me as hard as you can, little one. Bring it!" Aurora dove under the water and shoved Cassie roughly, and Cassie returned the killer whale's playful push with a slightly harder shove of her own. Aurora squeaked with joy and nudged Cassie a little more forcefully in her side, promptly knocking the alicorn over.

"What a good girl!" Cassie said, immediately rewarding the young orca by rubbing her back. "Ohhh, I know, you're so vicious, aren't you?" Aurora rolled over onto her side, clearly loving all the attention she was receiving.

"Aurora, come here, sweetie," Luna called. "Give me your mightiest shove. I can take it. Come on, girl!" Aurora flipped over and sped towards Luna like a black and white bowling ball, knocking the alicorn over as effortlessly as if she were a bowling pin. Luna grunted as she fell backward, but she quickly regained her footing.

"Good girl," Luna cooed, rubbing Aurora's side. "Whew!" she said, wrinkling her nose as Aurora took a breath, exhaling from her blowhole directly into Luna's face. "That is quite possibly the worst thing I have smelled in my thousands of years of life, Cassie; it smells even worse than any of the most disgusting diapers I had to change when you and your sister were little. How do you stand it?" She gagged as Aurora turned her attention to Cassie.

"You'll get used to it eventually if you spend enough time with these guys," Cassie assured her mother. "It doesn't really bother me anymo--AH!" She gasped as Aurora delivered a paralyzing blow to her rib cage, momentarily knocking the air from her lungs. Cassie was unable to return the killer whale's powerful shove, so Luna did it for her.

"Are you all right, Cass?" Luna called, swimming over to her daughter. Concern was written all over the lunar princess' face, and she reached out to gently push a few wet strands of mane out of Cassie's eyes.

"Yeah, Mom... no," Cassie admitted sheepishly. Luna frowned and cast a spell that gave her X-ray vision, then looked at her youngest daughter.

"You have two broken ribs," Luna said. "Here, let me help you." She cast a healing spell that immediately repaired the fractures and alleviated any pain in Cassie's body.

"Thanks," Cassie said, then her eyes widened. "Mom, please don't try to keep me from swimming with the orcas because of this. They are like extended family to me. Please don't keep me away from them." Her voice became higher as she started to become visibly upset.

"I would never do anything of the sort, Cassiopeia," Luna said soothingly. "I have no doubt that you can hold your own with your magic. You know how to cast the healing spell that I just used, do you not?" Cassie nodded, embarrassed.

"I guess it just slipped my mind. I think I went into shock for a few seconds. Aurora has never been that rough with me before. At least her mom is telling her off, though." Cassie giggled softly as she looked out at Aurora, who was receiving several brutal shoves from her mother. The larger orca's rapid squeaks were so loud, sharp, and intense that they could be heard from the shore. The concerned look on the princess of the night's face was replaced by an amused grin as she followed Cassie's gaze.

"Polaris is definitely giving the young one a taste of her own medicine," Luna said with a chuckle. "I can tell you from personal experience that the tone she's using is universally understood among moms of all species."

When Aurora returned, she was much gentler with both Cassie and Luna, who rewarded her with long rubdowns and play sessions for the rest of the day. As dusk began to approach, the young orca grew tired, and the two princesses left the water to rest, eagerly anticipating the next day, when they would play with Cassie's "extended family" again.

Chapter Six

Cassie yawned and peered out her bedroom window. The sun was rising over the ocean, and the breeze was warm and gentle. Smiling, Cassie hastily pulled her unruly mane into a ponytail, opened the window and swooped onto the beach, inhaling the salty air as she landed. The sky was clear and ice blue, streaked with every shade of orange, red, and pink. Cassie closed her eyes, reveling in the recklessness of the breeze that tousled her mane and tail. She stood still for a few minutes and enjoyed the simple sensation of the foamy spray on her coat, then waded into the ocean, paddling out beyond the breakers to where the water was calm. Cassie rolled over onto her back and tucked her front hooves behind her head, floating easily. It wasn't until she was nearly crushed by a surfboard that Cassie realized she wasn't alone.

"Hey, what the hell?" she cried, flipping over quickly to glare at her assailant. A stallion who looked about Cassie's age sat up and offered her an apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't see you, I swear!"

"It's fine," Cassie grumbled, "nopony ever sees me, anyway."

"Oh, I highly doubt that," the stallion said, his mouth curving into a smile that revealed two adorable dimples. "You are way too pretty to go unnoticed, which is why I'm so ashamed to admit that I haven't seen you around here before. What's your name?" Cassie felt herself blush a bit as his crystal blue eyes met her turquoise ones. He was a pale yellow Earth pony with a tousled pale blue mane and tail, and Cassie had to admit to herself that he was incredibly handsome; still, he wasn't supposed to be there, and Cassie knew she had to draw his attention to this fact.

"Don't you know you're trespassing?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes at him. "Are you one of those photographers for the tabloids? Who do you work for?" The stallion looked genuinely confused, then his eyes widened.

"You're Princess Cassiopeia, aren't you?" he gasped. "Please forgive my disrespect, Your Royal Highness." He hastily bowed from the neck, and Cassie acknowledged his gesture with a smile.

"No offense taken," she assured him, "but I am still curious about your name."

"I'm Fletcher, Your Royal Highness," the stallion replied.

"Nice to meet you, Fletcher. Please, enough of this 'Your Royal Highness' shit," Cassie chuckled. "Just call me Cassie. Now, are you or are you not a photographer?" Her voice hardened a bit. Fletcher shook his head rapidly.

"No," he said. "I was just surfing. Your property line is just a few hundred yards from here, so I guess I just accidentally drifted into your waters. Please, forgive my intrusion."

"I wasn't worried about you posing a security threat," Cassie said with a little laugh, "but our guards don't take too kindly to strange ponies trespassing on our property, and you'd be surprised about some of the tactics the paparazzi have used to try to snap pictures of me and my family on vacation. Just be mindful of where you're surfing next time, okay?"

"I'm here with my parents for the summer," Fletcher said. "We live just about three miles from your palace; my dad is a naval officer, and funnily enough, he actually helps to patrol the waters in front of your palace. Your mom, Princess Luna, probably knows him. His name is Sea Swell." Cassie's ears perked up at this new information.

"I'll be sure to mention him to her," she said. "I better head back home now, though. I don't want my mom to worry. Nice meeting you." Cassie turned and started to swim towards the shore.

"Hey, Cassie, wait," Fletcher called after her. "Would you wanna meet up again sometime, off your property? You seem cool, and I'd like to get to know you better." Cassie glanced over her shoulder and gave him a little smile.

"If you're lucky," she said, paddling back to the beach.

Chapter Seven

"'If you're lucky'?" Neoma squeaked, giggling as she and Cassie walked into the welcoming coolness of the palace. "I know that answer must have driven him wild, Cass! Does he surf every morning? Are you going back out tomorrow?"

"Neoma, can you please calm down?" Cassie rolled her eyes at her sister's barrage of questions. "A stallion is the very last thing I want right now. I'm just enjoying life, going wherever the wind takes me. I don't want to be tied down." Neoma nodded understandingly, but felt that she had to share some wisdom with her little sister.

"The right stallion will never tie you down," the turquoise thestral alicorn said with a smile. "Silver encouraged my dreams wholeheartedly."

"That's because your dream was to play it safe," Cassie said, her voice lilting with concern. "No offense, Neoma, but you've never been the type of pony to bend any rules. You've always been the beautiful, poised, graceful, dutiful, perfect princess that everypony expects you to be. Whenever I tried to get you to sneak out to parties with me in high school, you always stayed behind. You never argued with Mom or caused any problems for our parents. You have always done exactly what was expected of you, and I'm happy that makes you happy, but I don't want my life to be like that. I want excitement, adventure, freedom."

"Then abdicate," Neoma said. "I can assure you that I am far from perfect. Regardless of whether you like it or not, Cassie, we are princesses, and as princesses, we have responsibilities, one of which includes maintaining a pristine reputation. We have duties to our family and to our country. Do I ever feel like I missed out on having fun in college? Sure. Did I ever feel left out in high school? Absolutely, but high school shouldn't define the rest of our lives. I'm happier now with Silver and Della than I have ever been, and a lot of that happiness is due to the fact that Silver has opened my eyes to the world beyond the palace gates. I was born to be a wife and mother. I've always envied your free spirit, though, Cass. I'm in awe of the fact that you can communicate with the ocean's greatest apex predator. Next time you swim with the killer whales, can Della and I come with you? I'm not going to lie, the idea of doing it terrifies me, but it just sounds so exciting."

"Of course you can come!" Cassie said, excited for her big sister to join her. "Let's go early tomorrow afternoon. The guys are going golfing tomorrow, so the ladies can all go enjoy the orcas."

"Great idea," Neoma agreed. "I'm so excited! Mom hasn't stopped talking about the orcas since you introduced them to her. We're going to have a blast!"

The next morning, everypony gathered on the dock to meet the orcas.

"Don't worry, sister," Luna reassured Celestia, who was fidgeting nervously on the platform as Cassie summoned the orcas. "Cassie has a special rapport with these beautiful babies. We are in safe hooves."

"They are not 'babies.' They're called 'killer whales' for a reason, Luna," Celestia replied flatly. "They're apex predators."

"They’re smart enough to know what their food looks like. They don’t kill ponies,” Luna said. "Would you relax, sister? Cassie knows what she's doing."

"There they are!" Neoma squealed as the orcas rushed over to the platform. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Polaris surfaced for air, then giggled as she wrinkled her nose at the pungent smell of the air from the massive animal’s blowhole.

"Polaris!" Cassie called, crouching and reaching out to stroke the orca's back lovingly as she approached the platform. "Hello, gorgeous. How's my beautiful girl?" Polaris chirped happily and rolled over onto her side, lifting her flipper so that Cassie could rub it.

'Aww, you're such a good girl," Cassie said, smiling and obliging Polaris' request. "Where's the little terror?" As if on cue, Aurora poked her head out of the water, eliciting "aww's" from everypony.

"Speak of the devil," Cassie chided with a giggle. "Come here, Aurora. Show everypony how cute you are." The young orca dipped underwater, then proceeded to spray Neoma in the face with a mouthful of water. Neoma gasped, then collapsed into a fit of laughter along with everypony else at Aurora's playful antics.

"Yes, the young one is quite the troublemaker," Luna said, chuckling as she reached down to stroke Aurora's side. "She loves to shove me. We engaged in a fierce shoving battle yesterday." She laughed as Aurora leaned into her touch. "Oh, but 'tis so hard to say 'no' to one so cute," she cooed.

“Auntie Tia, I can send the orcas away and summon some smaller dolphins if you’ll feel more comfortable swimming with them,” Cassie offered, noticing Celestia’s apprehension as the solar princess watched Polaris and Aurora.

“Thank you, Cass,” Celestia said warmly, “but I’ve swum with dolphins many times, and each time was an amazing experience. I know I need to get past whatever anxiety I may feel right now and just take the plunge. I trust you to keep us all safe.” Cassie nodded, then turned and dove headfirst into the clear blue water. Aurora coasted near the platform, as if she was waiting for Neoma to join the other ponies in the water.

"Well," Neoma said as she descended the swim ladder and eased herself into the warm ocean, "I knew these guys were big, but they seem so much bigger when you're actually in the water with them. Oh!" she squealed as Aurora butted her playfully in the stomach and knocked her over, then she began to laugh hysterically, returning the baby orca's shove.

"She's so cheeky and naughty!" Neoma giggled, watching as Aurora disappeared underwater. "I love that you named her after my northern lights, Cassie. What a little spitfire she is!" Aurora resurfaced next to Elara, who was staying close to Polaris' side, clearly taken aback by the number of ponies in the water.

"Awww, look at the little tiny one!" Summer squealed as Elara came up for air. "She's so small!"

"I think little Elara might be my favorite," Luna said, smiling warmly as she reached out to gently trace the small white shamrock on the baby orca's back. "She has such a beautiful marking here."

"Are you sure you aren't biased, mom?" Cassie teased. Luna smirked at Cassie, rolling her eyes as she continued to fuss over Elara. Polaris rolled over, relaxed; she clearly trusted Cassie enough to know that the alicorn would never allow anypony to harm her newborn daughter. As Elara swam over to Polaris' side and began to nurse, Cassie straightened up.

"Neoma," she said, "why don't you and Silver bring Della to play with the dolphins? I can send these guys away for a bit. It'll be fun!" Neoma nodded eagerly.

"Tomorrow, for sure," Neoma agreed. "Twilight, her parents, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Flurry Heart are arriving later today. Mom reminded me last night that they're going to stay with us for the next three months of our vacation. We should probably get things ready for them before we do anything else."

"I can't believe all the princesses will be together under one roof for three months," Cassie giggled. "The guys are going to have so much fun fishing and golfing while we relax on the beach, go to the spa, maybe do a little shopping."

"I know," Neoma said. "We're going to have a blast. This vacation is about to turn into a full-blown party!"

Chapter Eight

Cassie smiled as several sets of metal horseshoes clattered in the cobblestone courtyard. Celestia was the first to greet the three alicorns and three unicorns who stood at the foot of the palace's curving alabaster walkway.

"Twilight, my faithful stu--" Celestia stopped herself and blushed a bit. "Forgive me, dear Twilight; sometimes I still forget that you're also a princess!"

"So do I," Twilight said with a chuckle. "I want to thank you and Luna for inviting us on this trip. I've never been to Silver Shoals before. Everything here is so beautiful!"

"Flurry Heart!" Luna greeted her great-niece warmly, wrapping the younger alicorn in a hug. "How are you, my dear?"

"I'm great, Auntie Lulu," Flurry gushed, her eyes sparkling as she hugged Luna back. "I can't wait for you all to meet my boyfriend, Fireblood. He's arriving tomorrow."

"It's his first vacation with our entire family," Cadance added, greeting Luna and Celestia with kisses on both of their cheeks. "If Shiny, Twilight Sparkle, and Night Light haven't scared him off by the time it's over, then our trip will have been a success." Flurry giggled and rolled her eyes at her mother's teasing.

"Mom, Twilight is the literal princess of friendship," Flurry Heart said. "Wouldn't she be a bit of a hypocrite if she tried to scare her niece's boyfriend away?"

"Not if said boyfriend has been given a gag order," Twilight joked, smirking. "In all seriousness, Flurry, you have nothing to worry about. As long as this guy understands that he will face the wrath of four enraged alicorns if he breaks your heart, then we should get along well." Luna snorted and stifled a giggle, covering her mouth with her hoof.

"How about some cocktails?" Cassie suggested. "There's nothing like a refreshing drink after a long trip."

"Oh, yes, please!'' Twilight Velvet agreed as she stepped out of the carriage she had shared with Night Light. Twilight's father walked two steps behind her, and the valets began to unload their massive assortment of Louis Vuitton luggage.

"Well, then, to the bar!" Luna said with a grin. "Your luggage will be delivered to your apartments while we all enjoy a few drinks. The only thing we have to do now is relax; that includes you, Twilight Sparkle," she warned jokingly. The purple alicorn blushed slightly, then they all headed to the beachfront bar.

"Can we get a round of tequila shots?" Luna called. The young bartender nodded and passed out shot glasses.

"Lemme do the toast. I know a good one," Cadance said. "Here's to you. Here's to me. Best of friends we'll ever be, but if we ever disagree, then fuck you, here's to me."

"I'll drink to that," Twilight laughed, throwing back her shot along with everypony else.

Two hours later, Flurry clung to Luna and began to sob.

"Look at this gorgeous pony," she slurred, her tears and snot coating Luna's neck. "Her mane has stars and shit in it. When am I gonna be as beautiful as you, Auntie Lulu?" Luna put both of her front hooves on Flurry's shoulders and shook her gently.

"Look at me, Hurry Flart," Luna slurred. "Look at me. You are already soooo beautiful. If that stallion breaks yer heart, Lestia and I will banish his dumb ass to the sun."

"And... and... and he'll get set on fire!" Twilight added. "I will sic Spike on him. We will make him suffer!"

Four hours later, the princesses stumbled out of the bar and passed out in random rooms all over the palace, unprepared for the massive hangovers that would plague them the next morning.

Chapter Nine

Cassie inhaled the warm, salty breeze and relaxed her shoulders as she exhaled and floated on her back in the warm water. It was just before six in the morning, and all of Silver Shoals seemed to yawn and stretch in unison as Starlight Glimmer, whom Twilight had left in charge of Equestria so that she could enjoy her vacation, lowered the moon and raised the sun. As always, the clear turquoise ocean was as calm as a mountain lake, and the beach was silent except for the calls of seagulls and the gentle lapping of the waves on the beach. Cassie loved this stretch of shoreline because it quite literally belonged to her; this beach was the property of the Crown, so she could swim and frolic in the sea to her heart's content and walk for miles without encountering anypony. She dipped beneath the waves, smiling at a school of small yellow and black striped fish who gathered to greet her with friendly nibbles on her muzzle.

"Well, good morning, everyone," she giggled as she surfaced and realized that the fish had followed her. "How's it going?"

"Better now that you're here, Princess!" one of the fish squeaked.

"We wish you could stay here with us forever," another chimed in.

"Could you tell the sharks not to eat us, Princess? Please?" another fish asked. "We're tired of hiding all the time."

"Oh, my dear little friends," Cassie sighed, "if I did that, I would upset the ocean's delicate balance. You see, you eat the seaweed down there, the sharks eat you--"

"--And the orcas eat the sharks. Yeah, yeah, we get it." An older fish waved her tail dismissively. "You don't need to lecture us about our ecosystem, land dweller. Do us all a favor and stick to what you know."

Though she had taken an aspirin before slipping out to the beach, Cassie groaned as a splitting headache reminded her of the events of the previous evening. Save for Celestia, all of the other royals were either still asleep or nursing their hangovers in bed. Not wanting to wait any longer to swim, Cassie had reluctantly stumbled out of bed and asked a servant to fix her a gigantic cup of coffee with specific instructions to pump said coffee full of as much sugar and espresso as possible. The light brown liquid had scalded Cassie's mouth as she downed the energizing beverage, but the pain was numbed significantly by Cassie's eagerness to commit to her morning swim, which was an essential part of her daily routine; still, even the most caffeinated drink in existence had done little to soothe her hangover. As she surfaced for air, Cassie realized that she probably still had last night's makeup on, so she magically removed it with a glamour spell, replacing it with a soft look made up of nothing but waterproof mascara and a bit of waterproof concealer that hid any evidence of her drunken escapades the night before.

As Cassie turned to swim back towards the shore, she found herself face to face with Fletcher. Startled, she forgot to tread water for a second and dipped underwater, then surfaced, coughing as she tried to catch her breath.

"You know," she huffed, "most ponies know they aren't supposed to sneak up on royalty. What's your deal?"

"Maybe I'm not most ponies," the stallion said, the left corner of his mouth turning upward in a playful smirk. "I'm sorry I scared you, Princess Cassie; well, actually, I'm only a little bit sorry. At least you know I exist now. It only took four years of high school plus what, three years of college for you? I heard you dropped out." His tone held no judgment whatsoever, Cassie noted. Her sudden exit from college had been a hot topic in the tabloids. Cassie had lost so many friends over that period.

"What are you, a stalker?" Cassie grumbled. "I have to go." She turned hastily and swam to shore, leaving Fletcher in her wake.

After her swim, Cassie felt refreshed and completely rejuvenated as she trotted back to the palace, where Celestia, Cadance, and Twilight were nibbling on some pancakes in the dining room.

"Good morning, Cassie," Celestia greeted her niece. "The guys are about to leave for the golf course, and the other ladies are still asleep."

"I had to call Starlight and remind her to raise the sun, though," Twilight giggled, rolling her eyes. "Since it's her first day filling in for me, I'm gonna cut her some slack; I am confident that she can handle all of my responsibilities for the entire summer. Spike is there to help her, so she'll be fine. I wouldn't have put her in charge if I didn't trust her completely." Twilight looked over at Celestia, seeming to want the former ruler to validate her decision.

"Twilight," Celestia said gently, "you don't need to explain yourself to me; you're doing well. Relax and enjoy this vacation, okay?" Twilight took a deep breath and nodded, trying to rein in her anxiety.

"Something smells like pancakes and regret," a cheerful voice called from the top of the stairs. Cassie reacted to her older sister's snide remark with an indignant snort as Neoma, the only pony who had been sober the night before, trotted into the dining room with a smug smile on her face, her multicolored mane falling in loose, tousled waves around her shoulders. The turquoise alicorn's smile turned genuine as her husband, Silver Shield, followed her to the table with a sleepy little Edelweiss on his back and gave Neoma a peck on her cheek before passing the filly to her mother, who took Edelweiss and positioned the foal on her lap. For the trillionth time, Cassie felt a surge of envy as she regarded Neoma's beauty and family.

"Shut up," Summer groaned from the nearby sofa in the living room where she had passed out the night before. The white alicorn's rose gold mane and tail were tangled and messy; clearly, the humidity of Silver Shoals was not doing her mane any favors. "It's too early in the morning to be so happy."

"Why are you talking so loudly?" Luna asked, holding her head as she plopped down at the dining room table. "You all woke me up. I didn't go to sleep until five-thirty because somepony challenged me to a drinking contest." She glared at Celestia, who smirked.

"You're just pissed because you lost," Celestia teased.

"Nana!" Edelweiss said loudly, giggling and reaching for Luna. The little white foal's face was sticky with syrup and pancake crumbs. Luna smiled lovingly at her granddaughter and grabbed a damp cloth to wipe Della's face.

"Somepony needs a diaper change," she cooed, kissing the filly's nose.

"Here, mom, I'll take her." Neoma stood and reached for her daughter, but Luna shook her head.

"Don't worry about it," Luna said as she rose to her hooves and shifted Edelweiss onto her back. "I never get to spend enough time with my darling Della. It is always a privilege to change her. What do you think, my little one? Would you like to go with your mommy, or do you want Nana Lulu to change your diaper?" She turned to look at her granddaughter, who giggled.

"Auntie Cassie!" Edelweiss proclaimed, eliciting chuckles from everypony in the room as she turned to look at her aunt. Cassie chuckled and lifted her niece from Luna's back, then turned towards the nursery with Neoma in tow.

"What do you want?" Cassie asked Neoma coolly as she laid Edelweiss on the changing table. She breathed through her mouth, quickly removed the foal's soiled diaper, and began to wipe her clean.

"I'm worried about you, Cass." Neoma sat down in the rocking chair. "You've been fine since we got here, but what are you going to do after we get back to Canterlot? Mom tells me everything; I know all about your partying, smoking weed, doing who-knows-what-else. I just..." she paused, sighing. "Look, you're my little sister, and I'm only trying to protect you. I'm honestly surprised that Mom is even letting you go off by yourself every morning after everything you've done. I feel partially responsible for your shitty behavior, too, considering how often I covered for you when you were sneaking out. I'm telling you, Cassie, Mom is not a fun pony to mess with."

"And how would you know that?" Cassie asked, trying to control her temper as she changed Edelweiss into a clean diaper and leaned over to tickle the foal with belly blasts, which made her niece squeal with laughter. "You never stepped out of line when we were fillies, Neoma--not once. You've always been the perfect princess, student, daughter, wife, mother. I could go on forever about how much everypony loves you. You've always been pretty and popular. You've never fought with Mom; hell, you've always idolized her, and she constantly talks about how proud she is of you. I feel like no matter what I do, I'll always stay in your shadow. All I can do is talk to sea animals. I'm useless in Canterlot." Cassie waited for some sort of response from her older sister; instead, Neoma's silence spoke volumes.

"Auntie Cassie, are you sad?" Edelweiss asked, a look of worry in her eyes. After Cassie had set her down on the floor, Edelweiss waddled over to her toy chest and grabbed her beloved stuffed frog, which she offered to Cassie.

"Mistuh Fwoggy always make me feel bedduh," the filly said. "You can hab him, but ya hafta gib him back before nap time, otay, Auntie Cassie?" Cassie's eyes began to water at the purity of her little niece's attempt to cheer her up, and she knelt down so that she was at eye level with Edelweiss.

"You are the kindest little princess in Equestria, my sweet Della," Cassie told Edelweiss, kissing the foal's cheek and taking her niece's most treasured toy. "I think I'll take you up on that offer. I promise to take really good care of Mister Froggy; thank you for letting me hold onto him for a while."

"You welcome," Edelweiss replied. "Why you cwying? Are you still sad, Auntie? It gonna be otay."

"Oh, no, Della," Cassie said, laughing through her tears. "Sometimes, ponies feel so happy that they start crying. You've just made my day, my precious little Edelweiss." She kissed her niece's cheek again, wondering how such a kind little foal could have come from a pony who acted so coldly towards her own sister.

"Come to the beach with us this afternoon," Cassie blurted. "Everypony's going. The guys are taking a break from golfing, so I wanted to find a way for all of us to spend time together." Her heart thudded against the hollow walls of her chest as she prayed that Neoma would accept her offer. The cyan alicorn's ice blue eyes widened at Cassie's suggestion.

"I mean, I was planning on watching, but since you scheduled our beach outing for during Della's nap time, I don't think it will be a problem. I can’t remember the last time I hung out with other adults, without any foals," Neoma said slowly. "Okay, I'm in." Cassie clapped her hooves excitedly.

The warm turquoise water sparkled like a massive diamond in the warm afternoon sunshine as everypony trotted out onto the beach. Edelweiss was resting peacefully in the palace under the caring eye of her nanny, so Neoma and Silver seemed much more relaxed than Cassie had seen them in a long time. Cadance flopped dramatically into her lounger and promptly ordered a mimosa while Flurry went for a walk along the beach with her boyfriend, a Pegasus named Fireblood. Celestia rolled over onto her stomach, and Twilight buried her nose into her new book. Luna and Phoebus chatted with Neoma, and Cassie headed straight out into the ocean, body surfing and diving underneath the gentle waves. Her spirits lifted as the sea embraced her like an old friend.

Suddenly, an idea popped into Cassie’s head. She swam to shore and gathered everypony together. Perplexed, the other princesses followed Cassie into the water until they were in up to their chests. Luna exchanged a knowing smile with her youngest daughter, then Cassie spoke up.

“You all have to trust me,” she announced. “Don’t freak out, okay?”

“What are you doing, Cassie?” Caution was written all over Twilight’s face. Cassie chuckled and sent a signal from her horn. A few seconds later, the water’s calm surface was broken by several towering dorsal fins, and the stillness of the afternoon came to an end with innumerable loud puffs as fifty orcas surfaced for air. Cadance’s jaw dropped.

“They’re… magnificent,” the princess of love whispered. “Are they safe? Is it okay for us to be so close to them?”

"Yeah, they're gentle," Cassie assured her.

"Cassie, are you sure this is a good idea?" Neoma asked, narrowing her eyes dubiously. "These are killer whales. Maybe we should start with some smaller dolphins?"

"Neoma," Cassie said, "the dolphins that everypony thinks are so cute, are actually assholes. An orca has never attacked a pony in the wild; these guys are incredibly docile for their size. For once, sister, can't you trust me? This is my area of expertise."

"You studied marine biology for two semesters, Cassie," Neoma snapped. "You're a fish therapist, we get it; excuse me for not fawning over you like everypony else." Wounded, Cassie huffed and turned away from her sister, who sat back down in her beach lounger and took a selfie. The pink alicorn shrugged, then turned back to the huge creatures in front of her as Hoku swam up to them.

"Hello, sweetness," Cassie softly greeted the orca, stroking her side. Cadance was the first to venture closer, asking Cassie for permission to touch Hoku with her eyes. Cassie smiled at the older princess' giddiness when she reached out to stroke the killer whale. Polaris lay on her back, receiving a belly rub from Twilight. Luna was busy cooing over naughty little Aurora, who was obviously enjoying dousing the princess of the night with mouthfuls of water.

Even as she watched her two families play and interact, Cassie couldn't shake the nagging twinge of bitterness that had taken up residence in the pit of her stomach. She knew that Polaris sensed her discomfort; the orca swam to Cassie's side and gave her a soft nuzzle, asking what was wrong.

"My sister," Cassie replied telepathically in the orca's native tongue. "You wouldn't understand. Your entire sense of self is literally owned by your family. You guys have no individuality, really. Life is so much easier for you."

Polaris replied with some empty platitudes about staying positive, and Cassie rolled her eyes. She left the sea, sending the orcas off as the sun began to set.

Chapter Ten

The atmosphere in the dining room was thicker than molasses. All was silent with the exception of the occasional clink of silverware against china. Cassie kept her eyes on her salad. When she finally found the courage to speak, just as she opened her mouth, Edelweiss began to call for Neoma.

"I'll get her," Silver offered, starting to stand up.

"No, I'll go," Neoma huffed, shoving her chair back. Cassie flinched at the look her sister gave her brother-in-law; Neoma's eyes could have cut diamonds. Celestia cleared her throat as Neoma left the room with Silver in tow.

"So," she said, "have we all chosen our dresses for the ball in a few weeks? It's always the highlight of the summer!" The solar princess' hot pink eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Oh, yes, sister!" Luna enthused, clapping her hooves together though she was clearly tense. "I think you will approve of my gown; it sparkles like a starlit sky on a clear evening. What does yours look like, Tia? You don't have to tell us, of course. I'm sure it will be stunning." An uncomfortably long silence followed, disrupted only by muffled shouting from upstairs and the soft sounds of eating.

Cassie excused herself and headed up to her bedchamber, wincing at the yelling that echoed from behind the closed door of the room adjacent to hers. A few minutes later, the door swung open, and Silver stormed out into the hallway. Neoma lay on the bed, crying quietly. The thestral alicorn's pink, purple, and ice blue mane was a mess, and her pretty, delicate face was streaked with mascara. Cassie felt her chest clench as she sat down next to her older sister.

"What do you want?" Neoma sobbed. Cassie draped her wing around Neoma's shoulders and rubbed her back silently for a few minutes before replying.

"If he hurt you, Neoma, I swear to Celestia, I will end his life right now," Cassie whispered, her voice heavy with love and concern for her big sister. Neoma looked up, still crying. She shook her head wordlessly, took a deep breath, then spoke softly.

"Silver lied about wanting another foal," she whispered. "He just changed his mind on me after we've spent months trying to get pregnant again. I've been through so many brutal fertility treatments. I put my body through hell because I thought we were on the same page, but no, he suddenly just decided not to have another foal with me. I thought we could use this trip as a way to reconnect. Our marriage has hit a little rough patch..." She trailed off, and Cassie nodded sympathetically, hugging her sister tightly.

"I just feel like this is all my fault," Neoma whimpered. "I feel like he's so frustrated with my fertility issues that he's just given up." Her voice caught in her throat, and Cassie nodded, still hugging Neoma.

"I would be furious if I were you," Cassie said. "Just go talk to him after everything has blown over. Silver loves you so much, Neoma; give him some time to figure out exactly what he wants. You two will work everything out, and it will all be okay." Cassie hated herself for enjoying her older sister's distress ever so slightly; Neoma was always so perfect, so it felt a little satisfying for Cassie to see the princess of the northern lights in such a vulnerable state.

"I shouldn't take any advice from you," Neoma whispered coldly. "You don't know a damn thing about marriage; all you know about are your stupid fish, your whales, your dolphins, and whatever the fuck else you talk to out there in the water all day." Neoma's words were a hard smack to Cassie's face. She gritted her teeth as anger flared in her stomach.

"Well, excuse me for not making pretty little lights shows or giving ponies a free dose of magic sleep medicine every night," Cassie snapped. "Some of us have other living, breathing creatures from different species to look after."

"You know what, Cass? Fuck you," Neoma spat.

"ENOUGH!" Luna's royal Canterlot voice shook the room, causing the crystal chandelier above them to make a soft tinkling sound as she appeared before her daughters in a flash of white light. "If you two are going to act like little fillies, then I will treat you like little fillies. Cassie, go to your room." Cassie stared at her mother, dumbfounded. She opened her mouth to speak, but Luna's glare silenced her. A sob rose in her throat, and she took off toward the door without looking back. Cassie closed her eyes, waiting for Luna's magic to freeze her in place or suspend her in midair so that she could be berated, but nothing happened. She kept running until she was embraced by the sea and the saltwater mingled with her tears. Cassie didn't even look up when she heard the unmistakable sound of an orca surfacing for air.

Polaris nuzzled Cassie's side, asking her what was wrong. The young alicorn shook her head and sniffled as she wiped her tears, knowing that not even her dearest friend would understand her plight. The orca let out a soft, concerned whistle, then swam off. Cassie climbed out of the water and lay down on her back on the floating dock that extended from the beach. The warmth of the wood and the rhythmic rocking of the dock relaxed her tense body and anxious mind somewhat. The sound of approaching hooves made her open her eyes and sit up, and all of her tension returned when she saw Luna.

"If you're here to lecture me, I'm not going to listen," Cassie groaned as she rolled onto her stomach, tucking her face into the crook of her foreleg. Luna chuckled softly and lay down beside Cassie, then affectionately draped her wing over her daughter's shoulders.

"I am not here to do any such thing, Cassiopeia," the lunar princess said gently. "I only want to talk. I know you've heard this from me countless times, my dear, but I understand what you're going through, probably better than anypony else. Having said that," Luna continued, "I want to--"

"You want to remind me of what led to your banishment so that Neoma and I will put aside our differences. You don't want me to make the same choices." Cassie sat up and finished her mother's sentence curtly. "I went to school, Mom. All of Equestria knows about your little squabble that changed history, but they don't know the real story; I do, though, because you've told me the same tale since I was born, but you know what, Mom? I. Don't. Care." Her tone became venomous. "I hate her, Mom. She started this; I was trying to make amends. Nothing you say will ever convince me to speak to her again. I refuse. I may be named after a star, but it's impossible for a star to shine when it's surrounded by the northern lights all the time." She flopped onto her back. Luna sighed sadly and nodded, her eyes shining with sympathy.

"Why do you think it is necessary for the moon, the stars, and the northern lights to balance their brilliance, my little star?" she asked gently. "Do you think the constellations quarrel with the moon over their positions in the sky? Do they ever accuse the aurora borealis of stealing their thunder? No, they do not, because they know that they each play an indispensable role; though they shine together, each one is no less beautiful than the others. You and Neoma must look at your relationship as if it were the night sky. Shine together and stop comparing each other."

"But all I can do is talk to sea creatures," Cassie huffed. "I can only hold conversations with whales and interpret for fish." She looked up at the sky and quickly found the constellation for which she was named. "Why did you name me after a queen who had such a terrible personality?" Luna chuckled and reached out to gently brush an unruly strand of mane from Cassie's face.

"Do you want the honest answer?" Luna asked. "I named you Cassiopeia because the constellation resembles a queen sitting on her throne; it is a symbol of power. Regardless of her story, Cassiopeia is still remembered as a great beauty, much like you." Luna smiled. "You, however, are much kinder than your namesake. You have a good heart, my little star. While there is an undeniable fire within you that your sister lacks, you are still so sweet, sensitive, and empathetic, and I think your orcas--the unchallenged rulers of the sea, who are so feared, respected, and admired for their strength and intelligence, but are still so playful, curious, and gentle--know that, and that's why they are drawn to you. They consider you to be one of their own, though you are from a different species. Listen, I know that your sister can be... difficult," Luna sighed, "but can you please just try to get along with her so that we can all enjoy this vacation? I know you're already trying, but I just don't want you to make the same mistakes that I did. Ignore her little digs at you and try to give her some grace, okay? Don't push her to talk to you or try to be her friend again yet; just be patient with her, my sweet, and she'll come around." Cassie nodded and hugged Luna, a renewed sense of strength and confidence rising within her.

That night, Silver Shoals was hit by several major thunderstorms. Cassie was kept awake by the relentless crashing of the waves, the hammering of rain and hail against her window, and Edelweiss' constant cries. Frustrated and restless, the alicorn tiptoed into the castle's library and perused the large array of books that lined the shelves. As she was enveloped in the comforting scent of old and new books, leather, and mahogany, Cassie was reminded of her fondness for books. She was a voracious reader, but the sea had kept her attention away from doing virtually anything else since her arrival in Silver Shoals. She grabbed the first romance novel she saw and curled up on one of the many brown leather sofas that were scattered throughout the room. Gradually, Cassie started to allow her anxiety to fade as she lost herself in the story, and she soon fell asleep.

Chapter Eleven

Sunlight painted the mahogany walls of the library, turning them to a shade of gold as rich as honey. The young alicorn groaned as she stretched, blinking a few times to adjust to the morning's brilliance. She trudged to her window and surveyed the surprisingly small amount of damage that the previous night's storms had caused: A few palm trees had fallen, but the swim dock and floating platform were unharmed, bobbing on the ocean's calm surface as if nothing had ever happened. The sky was a cheerful blue. The palace, which was built like a fortress and sealed securely in an impenetrable magical bubble, had also gone unscathed. Cassie smiled and headed down the hallway, ignoring the stabbing pain in her chest when she saw Neoma eating breakfast at the dining table. As she entered the dining room, Cassie silently cursed the glossy marble floor that amplified the clip-clop of her hooves. Of course, I would have to speak to Neoma just after waking up, she thought begrudgingly. Cassie hastily shoved the negative thoughts from her mind; it was a new day, and she hoped Neoma had miraculously softened overnight.

“Hey, sis,” Cassie murmured as she approached the table. Neoma’s thick eyelashes fluttered as she looked up. The bat winged alicorn’s expression was unreadable. Cassie lowered her head respectfully.

“Listen,” she said, “I’m sorry about everything I said last night. I… I want you to know that I’m here for you.” Neoma’s face softened, and she wrapped a foreleg around her younger sister’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, too,” Neoma replied. “I… I found out I was pregnant a couple months ago.” Her voice faltered as she swallowed hard. “I lost the foal last week.” Tears began to flow down her face. Cassie’s throat tightened.

“Oh, no, Sis,” she whispered, holding Neoma closely. “Does Mom know?” Neoma nodded wordlessly, sniffling.

“I’m so sorry,” Cassie breathed. "Why didn't you tell me? You've always come to me about everything. We've always talked about everything."

"Cass," Neoma said slowly, lifting her ice blue eyes to meet her sister's turquoise ones, "I can't really remember the last time we had a deep conversation. Part of that is my fault. After Edelweiss was born, I threw myself into being a mother. I wanted so badly to make everypony happy. I've always been that way, you know? I've always looked after you, I've always been the 'mom friend,' I've always been really nurturing and giving. My entire identity is wrapped up in making sure everypony else is okay, but I have failed you this time. Mom has told me about how absolutely crazy you acted before we came here. I know we've talked about it before, but Cassie, please tell me what makes you think I'm so perfect." She chuckled and shook her head. "You have to learn how to be a bit sneakier, sis. If you're gonna sneak out and party with a bunch of friends, at least take the time to put some pillows and a fake alicorn horn under your covers. I did that shit all the time but never got caught because, well, I knew how to stay under the radar." She laughed again.

"As crazy as it might sound," Cassie giggled, "I'm actually not really interested in partying anymore. I think I might wanna go back to school and get my marine biology degree. I belong near the ocean; knowing what I know now, there is no way I can go back to Canterlot. My heart is here." She opened the large French doors that led onto a wide veranda overlooking the sparkling cyan ocean. The wind flirted with her mane and tail as she inhaled its fresh, salty aroma. Seagulls cawed as they glided across the clear blue sky. A pelican dived into the water and took off again a few moments later, its beak visibly heavy with fish. The palm trees mingled lazily with the warm, gentle breeze, and the ocean lapped softly at the soft white sand.

"What do you think Mom will say about that?" Neoma dismissed a waiting butler with a nonchalant flick of her hoof. The unicorn returned a moment later with two mimosas and a basket of assorted pastries. Cassie's stomach flipped as she was forced to confront the validity of her sister's question. She had made so many stupid, careless mistakes, so Luna's possible skepticism would not be unfounded. Cassie opened her mouth to reply, but no words could be spoken. Neoma gave her a sympathetic smile and placed her hoof on top of Cassie's.

"You don't need to have it all figured out right now," the older alicorn said gently. "So, you made some shitty choices; big deal, everypony does. I think you're being a little too hard on yourself. If you want to prove Mom wrong, I'll support you, and I'll help you however I can, but you can't just sit around and wait for your life to magically get better, Cass. If you want things to change, you're going to have to work. Show everypony what you can do. Believe in yourself, because I definitely believe in you." Cassie smiled and wrapped Neoma in a long hug, then the two sisters giggled.

"Hey, everypony," Celestia trilled, making the two sisters turn around, "I, for one, want to see those beautiful orcas again. Cassie, what do you say?" Cassie smiled at her aunt, then looked at Neoma.

"Join us this time?" she asked, holding a hoof out to her sister. Neoma grinned and nodded, and the princesses headed down to the beach.

Chapter Twelve

Author's Note

TW: SA, r*pe

Chapter Twelve

"Oof!" Luna grunted as she was knocked backwards by Aurora. Celestia, who was stroking Elara's side, burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter that was quickly silenced by a cheeky splash to her face by Aurora's tail. Cassie tutted softly and shook her head, biting her lip to stifle a giggle at the young orca's antics.

"Aurora, you naughty little girl," she scolded, trying not to laugh, "what are we gonna do with you? Ah!" The force of Aurora's shove nearly knocked Cassie's hooves out from underneath her, but she stayed upright and delivered a slightly harder push to the unruly orca.

"Mom, remember to push her back and give her a rubdown," Cassie reminded Luna. "It's a game to her. Does anypony else want to join Aurora's little game of 'let me knock you over, then you can shove me back and spoil me with attention'? Not everypony can say they've been pushed down by an orca." She chuckled as Celestia, Twilight, Flurry, and Fireblood entered the water, then felt a twinge of concern for Neoma, who sat nervously on the beach. Cassie turned and swam to shore as everypony began to play with Aurora.

"Hey," she said, walking to the log on which Neoma was sitting, "come in the water with us. I think it'll be good for you to interact with those guys for a little bit. I promise, they're all so gentle and friendly, and they won't hurt you. I'll stay with you the whole time. You don't have to get pushed over if you don't want to, but I want you to experience how amazing they are. Do you trust me?" Neoma hesitated for a second, then placed her hoof on Cassie's. When the sisters were up to their waists in the water, Cassie summoned Polaris, who welcomed her back with a friendly nuzzle.

"Hi, sweetie," Cassie said, rubbing Polaris under her chin. Neoma eyed the orca warily as the massive creature rolled over onto her side to look at her with a warm, intelligent eye. Polaris dipped underwater for a second, then resurfaced for air. Neoma jumped with a start at the sudden loudness and strong scent of the orca's breath.

"She's... magnificent," Neoma whispered as her eyes swept over the orca's body. "I can't believe how big she is. Can I... touch her?" She turned to her sister, her eyes begging for permission. Cassie nodded, smiling. Neoma sucked in a shaky breath, then slowly reached out her front hoof to stroke Polaris' soft, smooth side. The thestral alicorn's face lit up.

"She's so sweet," Neoma murmured. "What a good girl." The corners of her mouth began to twitch upward. Cassie exchanged an excited glance with Luna. Neoma's body began to relax as she petted the docile orca and spoke softly to her. Polaris lay still and seemed to relish the attention.

Suddenly, Aurora shoved Polaris out of the way and startled Neoma, who trotted out of the water and smiled brightly when she caught sight of Silver and Edelweiss. The little white alicorn galloped over to her mother as Silver's muscles tensed. Soon, Neoma's and Silver's voices could be heard over the lapping of the waves. Luna's face dropped into a concerned frown, and she looked away from the bickering couple. Cassie sighed and waded out of the sea as Neoma's voice rose to cries. The bat-winged alicorn levitated Silver's phone from his beach tote and began to read the messages in question at top volume. The white unicorn stood silently before her, looking furious. Luna's eyes narrowed as she began to realize what had happened.

"He's gonna pay," the lunar princess hissed through gritted teeth as she trotted towards the couple. Within seconds, Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice shook the ground with such great force that the orcas sped away. Silver trembled at her hooves, crying like a colt in grade school. Neoma rested Edelweiss on her back, spread her wings, and took off into the palace. Cassie smirked in the stallion's direction, knowing that her mother was about to unleash the darkness of Hell itself upon him, and followed her sister up to her bedchamber. Neoma gave Edelweiss to her nanny and shut the doors so that she and Cassie could have some privacy, then walked over to the dresser, opened her jewelry box, and took out a diamond necklace with a large round emerald pendant surrounded by large diamonds.

"He gave this necklace to me when Della was born," she whispered. "Right after the doctor placed her on my chest for the first time, Silver kissed my forehead and passed the box over to me." She sniffled, holding the necklace up so that it sparkled in the sunlight that streamed through the nearby window. "He told me our love was like a circle: Endless." Neoma sobbed as Cassie began to comfortingly rub her back. "Do you know how long he told me he's been seeing that mare? Eight months. I guess I should have known when he started spending less and less time with Della. We haven't made love in months, and when I asked him why he never wanted to make time for us, he told me straight up that he wasn't as attracted to me as he used to be. He told me I've let myself go since I had Edelweiss, and that I've become a different pony since last week. He blamed me for the loss of our foal. He said that he wants a mare that will give him two foals, said the miscarriage was all my fault, accused me of cheating." Her voice hardened. "He was cheating the entire time we were trying to conceive. Last night, he..." She sobbed, "...he forced himself on me, then told me he only did it because he wanted to make sure he wasn't attracted to me anymore. We've only ever been with each other, so I'm just... shocked." Cassie began to tremble with rage.

"He's dead," she told her sister. "I'm going to rearrange his insides so much that he'll shit out of his mouth and talk through his asshole after I'm done with him. I'll feed him to the sharks without a second thought. Just tell me what you want me to do with him, sis, and I'll take care of him." She smirked devilishly. "My orcas will disembowel him and engorge themselves on his entrails. What would you like me to do?" Neoma smiled weakly and shook her head, but Cassie wasn't going to tolerate passivity from her older sister this time.

"Neoma, he raped you," she growled. "He is dead. I'm going to cut his dick off and make him eat it, or mom will, once she's heard about this. No. He does not get to assault my sister and get away with it." She sent a telepathic message, and Luna was there within seconds. Tears filled the princess of the night's eyes.

"My Neoma," she whispered, pulling Neoma closely under her wing, "my firstborn, my baby, the one who made me a mother." Luna nuzzled Neoma's forehead, allowing her eldest daughter to cry into her neck. "Ohhh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. Your father and I will make Silver wish he had never been born. Nopony gets away with hurting my daughters. Silver is quite possibly the stupidest pony to ever draw breath. To commit adultery against not only a princess, but the daughter of the Princess of the Night, is an unforgivable offense. Raping a princess who happens to be my daughter warrants an excruciating demise for him. His mistress will also be punished severely. Neoma, I'm afraid you have no say in this, my dear. Silver Shield will pay dearly for what he has done." With that, Luna took off, her powerful wings swishing as she ascended. Cassie draped her feathery pink wing over Neoma's shoulders and gently guided her to the dining room.

Chapter Thirteen

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Fifteen

Cassie dove into the water, followed closely by Luna. Domino surfaced between them and rolled over onto her back, asking Luna for belly rubs. The princess of the night chuckled and massaged the orca's underside. Cassie frowned and lit her horn, scanning Domino's body with her magic. Luna noticed her daughter's concerned expression.

"What's wrong?" she asked, placing a hoof on Cassie's shoulder. The pink alicorn swam up to Domino and placed her front hooves on the orca's belly.

"There are two heartbeats," Cassie murmured, her eyes widening with realization. "Domino, you're gonna be a mama!" Luna gasped excitedly and rubbed Domino's belly once more.

"I thought she'd gained a little weight, but I can't believe I didn't figure this out until now," Cassie squealed. "Congratulations, gorgeous!" she said, stroking Domino's underside. "She must be pretty far along. I'm shocked I didn't notice it before." She smiled as the orca swam off to join Polaris in deeper water, but the sweetness of the moment was quickly shattered when Aurora tried to sneak up on Luna to knock her over. Luna chuckled and planted her hooves, having become familiar with Aurora's antics. The young orca slipped beneath the surface and swam straight for Luna's stomach, but the princess just laughed as she waited for Aurora's assault. Aurora shoved Luna forcefully, and Luna grunted and leaned into the orca's push.

"Good girl," she cooed, rubbing Aurora's back. "That was such a hard push, little one! You almost knocked me over! Yes, you did!” She chuckled and gave Aurora a gentle shove back, and the orca disappeared underwater. Polaris surfaced for air next to Cassie and gave her hooves a soft nuzzle. Cassie leaned against Polaris, resting her chin on the larger orca’s back.

“My pretty girl,” she whispered, rubbing Polaris just behind her blowhole. “You’re such a sweetheart. You’re so patient. Such a good girl.” Cassie giggled as Polaris squeaked a reply, reveling in the warmth and firmness of the orca’s soft, smooth skin.

“We’re here!” Flurry sang, plunging into the water alongside Cadance. Celestia and Twilight meandered behind them, choosing to wade into the sea. Domino dipped underwater and swam towards the four newcomers, eyeing them curiously. Hoku followed her, then shot past the older orca and popped her head out of the water right in front of Cadance, who jumped, startled.

“This one is a little prankster!” Cadance laughed as she reached out to stroke Hoku, who bobbed just out of her reach, as if daring the princess to venture into deeper waters. Elara swam up to Cadance and gave her an inquisitive nuzzle, prompting Cadance to stroke the young orca’s head. To absolutely nopony’s surprise, Aurora pushed Elara out of the way, then gave Cadance an aggressive shove backward. Cadance shrieked as she lost her footing. Polaris turned and swam off, then resurfaced for air next to Luna and blew forcefully. Cassie chuckled at Luna's startled reaction. She looked over her shoulder for Neoma, who had waded into the ocean up to her waist and was staring out at the horizon. Sighing, Cassie joined her sister in the shallower water and brushed Neoma's wing with her own.

"Della wouldn't stop asking where Silver was last night," Neoma murmured, her eyes still fixed on the sea. Dark circles bordered her eyes, and her mane hung in lifeless rats' nests on her neck and shoulders.

"How do I tell my sweet little filly that her daddy isn't coming back?" Neoma continued. Her voice faltered, but she swallowed hard and continued. "How am I going to tell her that he chose some random mare over two princesses who loved him more than life itself? How in Equestria will my daughter ever understand?" A barrage of sobs melded her last two words together. Cassie wrapped her hooves and wings around her older sister and hugged her tightly, squeezing her eyes shut as she fought back her own tears.

"Do you remember what you said to me a while back? You don't always need to have it all figured out," Cassie whispered. "I know you better than anypony, Neoma. I know you always wanted to be a wife and mother, and I know you must feel like your entire world has been turned upside down, but I want you to know that you aren't alone, okay? Mom, Dad and I will always be here for you and Della. You don't have to be strong all the time, and you don't need to have all the answers."