A tale of sea and river

by Allenorok

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Equestria at War, Alternate Universe, Sad, Original Character, Mystery, Violence
Length: 8349

A warm story about a brave little fish, in a big and beautiful world

Written for a Six Annual Equstria at War Writing contest

River, a poor unfortunate soul fled from a borderline city to go to her family and live more safe. Unfortunately - after a tragic accident she lost her legs but got saved by a kind seapony, who helped a stranded girl on a verge of dead by transforming her into a mer-pony and getting his friend's family to adopt her.

This story takes place in sligtly altered Equestria at War universe. Beside the existence of mer-pony as separate race, all other world and timeline stays mostly the same.

Published 2023-07-18 16:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-07-18 16:30:00 UTC

The last restless night

Nightmare.New?Old?How many times was it repeated?

River was sitting in her place in a train. Around her was a cold, bone-chilling atmosphere,outside the windows was only endless darkness, and everything that gave any light in the wagon - was a bleak, barely-working lamp, on the verge of burning out. Light-blue unicorn was sitting on her unusually hard, almost stone-like, seat, while cold breeze was blowing her silver Mane. Space around her felt unusually empty, as if train was only a merely ghost of itself. Lively places, once occupied by ponies, now was empty, only theirs almost-formless shadows remains

But with the lapse of timethe melancholy of this dream was fading, instead being replaced by the overwhelming feeling of danger she felt. Rumbling of the wheels, which seemed incredibly loud, slowly but surely stated being replaced by painfully-familiar noise, that was getting closer by the seconds, from almost nonexistent, to noticable, to brain-bugging and ear-piercing, not letting any thoughts to form inside River's head. Just as if aosprey flying straight to her head, trying to catch a fish, but instead of catching her with his claws...

This thought was cut-short by the multiple loud bangs, which sent wagon flying, creating a feeling of a flight for a couple of seconds, which quickly was replaced by the dozens painful collisions from River flying from one part of the wagon to another, until a certain especially-painful impact...made it all stop?

Noise seized, replaced by a delightful, absolute silence. There was no more light, leaving her in the dark, which was disrupted only by the light-blue rays from somewhere above, like Celestia's or Luna's majestic giant source's of light where trying to get to her. Unimaginable Agony was replaced by the blissful cold and painful numbness in her hind legs. There was only one problem in these blissful hugs. They where so strong, thatshe couldn't take a single breath...

River's eyes swung open, jolting upwards with a slight inertia, that she got used to already. Was it already a year?...

Trying to breath normally again - her gills were circulating the cold, refreshing sea water right in her neck, making her cool down much quicker. Hooves trying to reach the ground, still having no idea why her lower legs were so numb. There wasn't any - her navel was going straight into a long and thick fish tail. Slowly she was coming to her senses, her comfortable, even if a little small, but still well-furnished room, her cozy bench, which she flew up from just now, light-pink crystal lamps...and a certain-someone clinging to her tail like a fish to a hook.

Salmy, a small fry of eight-ish years, which decided to secretly swim in her room, and now was looking at River with surprise right after waking up herself.

"Ehhhh...morning?" Asked little fry, lazily rubbing her eyes with her hooves.

"You have your own room, ain't you?" Sharply noticed River, which made Salmy start spouting bubbles

"You had nightmares again! And I thought I should be besides you, all the time, like a good sister, because we are sisters, well not entirely, but basically are-" but at that time Salmywas shut by a light-blue magical aura, fixating her in one place, ignoring her squirming.

"Enough. It's ok Salmy, please...just let me...just give me a minute, ok?" After suddenly cutting of a little fry - River finally had some time to think about her dream, or, more specifically, it's final part, while looking at her waving tail. She was terrified out of her offal at first, witnessing the lost of her own hind-legs, but swimming around became more natural for her after this year or so...maybe it was only a scream of her subcontiousness, reminding her about her other home perhaps?

"Alright you little fry, let's get going. I guess it you missed the breakfastas as well," ruffling Salmy's hair uni-fish smiled, still surprised she had a new home, and even became a Mer-pony. And what is mer-pony? Half-pony half-fish, second race after seapony as it turns out, that was inhabiting Seaquestria alongside Hippogriffs, better known as seapony's around here.

As for her dream...either Luna was too busy today to work with commonfoalk...or after becoming a fish River was out of her authority and wasn't protected from nightmares anymore...Anyway - pushing these thoughts aside, she pushed little foal to the door, "Let's hurry up,if you'll be quick enough - you'll win half of my plate"

Funny how despite not being blood related - little fry was still listening to River like she was an older sister for almost a year already. Or maybeshe just knew her a little too much, judging by the fact she was the one pushed towards the exit by Salmy. Seconds later both of them swiped out of the room, heading towards the first floor, which was separated from the rooms on the second floor by the trapdoors, which is surprisingly made sence, why would you need ladders when you are in the water?

From the kitchen itself was heard delightful and energetic music. It was a radio, which was breaking all the knowledge of physics and electricity River was thought in his life. It was almost farcical to think that magic was allowing for the surface-only things to work underwater.

"You're right on time," says a familiar voice. Swimming towards the table River and Salmy saw a colt, which was waiting for them. Dark-grey mer-pony, in his thirty-ish, green eyes which were glimmering a little through the thin lenses of his glasses.

Soft Breeze. Which, by some strange unimaginable irony, in her eyes, was, possibly, the most lovable pony she knew, treating some random girl from the overworld like his second daughter, noteven for a secong looking like there was anything wrong here whatsoever.

River wanted to say good morning, but her stomach decided thatshe needs to "catch a worm", interrupting her thoughts. Shedidn't even need to ask about the meal as Breeze already moved a plate with a little mountain of rice balls, around the size of a hoof each, full of a paste made from a mix of sea herbs. Her favorite amongst all the crazy diffirence of tasty dishes of a mer-pony kitchen she had the pleasure to expirience in this year. Giving a part of these to Salmy, Riverstarted munching on her favorite dinner, frequently looking at happy little fry who did the same.

After the first ball River started to look around for anyone beside Breeze, who was looking through the documents. Asking with some concern, “Eh, where?-“

She barely had to say anything, but the very same moment - was interacted by the Salmy, who still had, like, half of her portion inside her mouth, “Where's mom?“

Ocean Pearl, just like her name, was a a pearl of her family. Golden-yellow mer-pony, was a perfect fit for this family, with a heart the same gold as her scales, which knew every underwater delicious food as it seemed to River.

"She's packing things from the very morning," calmy answered Breeze

"huh?Why?" Asked River, blinking in confusion, even feeling panic building iside her for a second, closing her eyes and concentrating her mind on the cold water going through her gills, to calm down. To her delight - those fears were wrong once again from the next words of the Breeze.

"I thought it would be good to go to the Pearly shallow a couple weeks earlier. I heard the best scenery begins already"

"Pearly sha-" Uni-fish didn't even had the time to finish a fraze, as Salmy already launched herself at the Breeze, hugging his neck with all her little might.

"REALLY? Daddy, you really-really don't lie? Thanky thanks thanks thanks thanks! Do I need to get ready as well?" To make Salmy a little less...exited - took some time, after which she almost flew to her room to get her things, leaving River to blink in confusion, trying to understand the reason for such happiness.

"And what is the-" River again trying to ask the same questiong, only to be interrupted for another time

"Pearly shallow? Oh, yea, I forgot, we never took you there. You will like that place, it's a very beautiful place in swallow water, we may even meet some hippogriffs from the land" with the same warm tone in his voice answered Breeze

River’s fear was stepping back, giving space for a healthy dose of curiosity, which made uni-fish even forget her Breakfast, asking new questions, "And if I have almost no stuff?"

"Well, you can take what you have and go wait for us outside. We still have some time, so there is no hurry," Breeze gently pats River as he says it, making her switch attention back to the food.

Shortly after a good, healthy and nutritious meal, packing his modest bags, River gone out of the home with her new family, getting to watch a scenery of an underwater town once more, where amongst reefs and homes - other mer-ponies were swiming, minding their fish-business.

City streets, painted with the distorted sunlight, which was fighting it's way through the water to get there, are as always full of life. Some mer-ponies were just swimming to do their own business, appearing and disappearing in a corner before River even had the time to see them properly, some where working, and others are just having a nice word with eachother in a cafe, some families were swimming in schools around seaweed. Looking at that River sometimes though, that she was just a little filly with a strong imagination, and there never was any overworld, and she just had a imagined things. That how much it reminded her of Equestria before war, bright and sunny.

Even the town itself looked very familiar to a little mare's heart, difference being only in homes itself, which looked like thet were carved out of the reef itself. Mer-ponies liked to keep the "natural" look of their architecture, what can alsobe seen in a more vast amounts of seaweed around the streets instead of the roads, which they had no need for, even the streets itself were just for more comfortable and easy path from one home or a street to another.

The scenery was so captivating - River couldn't take her eyes of it even after everyone got to a station. Trains that were transporting weights and mer-ponies underwater wasn't of concern for her at this moment. Unifish decided to not question herself about magic technology today at all. At all. Nu-uh. Shewas just enjoying the lively scenery, that was still beaming with life, even after they left a town far behind, leaving River to enjoy life's beautiful pictures through a window. Sometimes she could see working mer-ponies with fish-nets,catching the fish and bringing back home valuable food.

Touching the frame of a window with her hoof River didn't even noticed, how she started leaning on it, and drifting into the world of a Lunar Matriarch of Equestria with an accompaniment of her family having a lovely talk with eachother. And all she could think was...how did she even get here?

"Stop it...again...hah,little foals are going to scatter again…" an old earth pony was mumbling under his muzzle, looking at gold-yelow pony trying to control those riding a train, sighing in defeat.

River was sitting on a green, healthy grass not far from a stopped train. It seemd like it was only a moment ago, when they stopped at one of a numerous amount of Equestria's villages. Of course there was a lot of good ponies, that agreed to take kids under all the official documents to live with them until more peaceful times, but finding a place for everyone was hard anyway, especially if they were heading to a certain place, as a little unicorn herself.

"This time we drove even less than the last. I'll get to my death quicker, then I get to the end of this road," said an old colt in an olive-collored uniform, sitting on a grass besides a small hill, breathing out a tired sigh. Looking at him River always felt...conflicted.

Stalliongrad's pony, before the war she heard about them only through a radio, thinking only about some scary, evil soldiers with the same faces who wanted nothing more than to conquer Equestria. And shortly after - they got into a war with Changlings themselves, so the only soldier she ever saw was...Chernogriv? Trully an Old, so much she didn't even know what to compare to, earth pony with a dark palette, completely white mane and massive mustaches, which made seeing most of his muzzle kinda hard for her. But nonetheless, despite his age, earth pony was still well-built, and was closer to a horse than a pony by his size. Maybe the tallest pony she ever met. Frankly - River didn't found him as much of a scare. Compared to Changlings - he was closer to a funny old pony, trying to get along with the kids while the conductor was away. Plus she sometimes wanted to eat some salad out of a green bowl he falsely calls a helmet. Didn't convince him to try yet, but doesn't means she will stop.

"So how long will this stop be for?" Couldn't contain her curiosity River, deciding to stop looking at breeze playing in a grass, which made an old pony jump in the air from this sudden voice.

"Wha-? River? You're going to walk me to my grave, why are you even here?"

"It's hot as all tartar in there, so I wanna get as much fresh air as I possibly can before going back to baking alive"

"~he he~, can't argue with that, well then let's sit, is it really this interesting to listening to this old pon'?" Asked an old man with a smirk, watching a little unicorn,that moved a little closer, which had to look up to just see his muzzle, after what he gently push her nose in response.

"You are brave even compared to others in here, River. You are one of the few who didn't have any complaints, and you are not scared to talk with pon's that look big and scary. That's a good quality, don't change little tiger."

After that a red apple landed on her muzzle, rolling and falling into her hooves. Making River to question, "oh,thanks...It's for me?"

Chernogriv gave an affirmative nod, which made a little unicorn want to stuff her face with a tasty apple as quickly as possible, but with a little "pfff" she had a thought spring in her mind. "Can I...ask a question?"

"Go ahead, no worries, if I know the answer - I'll tell. What are you interested in?"

"What are you doing In here? Well, I mean in a sense, like..."

"What a Staliongrad's pony doing in here? Or what is such old colt doing here? Meh, answer is similar for both anyway and conected to one another," Chernogriv shook his head, getting more comfortable on a grass. "Just wanted to help. When I heard that bugs decided to launch an attack - I ran to go wherever they will take me, navy or zebrika forces, doesn't matter. And they just...sent me here. [You, Chernogriv, is out of juice, better take care of kids, while others make shake on a battlefield], and then die on it themselves. Morrons, better this old pon' that has, like, five years or so, then foals and colts of basically your age." At that moment something hit River in the chest. Not painfully, but catching her attention. "But who will listen to this old geezer? Bah, if I just was a little younger…"

"Then maybe all Queens instead would've just fought to the death to get their legs on such a fine piece of colt," selectively added a golden-yelow pony, with a Mane the color of hay, quickly getting right besides two sitting pony's.

"Sunny! There's foals here!" Indignantly shouted Chernogryv

Sunflower, a conductor who was answering for control and care for the children, while the train was running its course. Chernogriv gave her a slight slap on the back of the head, which made her tsk a little, rubbing the place of a slap.

"I just wanted totell you two that everything's ready to go. Oh, and they say for you to stay here for some time, I dunno if they need something, or decided to give you a rest. Deserved I must say. I mean - we are in the middle of Equestria - how would Changlings even get there, and even if, then why would they target train with fleeing children?" Said Sunny, pointing on certain wagon with her hoof under the unaproving gaze of Chernogriv, while River decided to ask some more questions.

"Why do we do these stops at all?"

"Something about airplane danger. Needed to check the road and wait for a sky-patrool information. At least that what they say, let's go" Said conductor, hurrying a little unicorn into the wagon, until she was stopped by an Chernogryv, looking at her with some worry.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I feel something strange...like something bad is about to happen," said old colt in worrying tone

"Chill out, I was fine just the way I am before. Plus - soldiers already checked everyting," answered sunflower, much more bold towards future

Hugging an old colt for the last time, these two finally got inside. Sunny sit besides River, when the train started moving. For some time they were peacefully riding, while a little unicorn was enjoying the mountains drown in a sunlight, which a beautiful water surface underneath, like it was all from a painting, while they were going through a coastline.

Suddenly her ears sprung, and she sensed the chills up her spine. From somewhere started an annoying, but weak sound, that was growing stronger and stronger, making River and everyone else stay there in shock.

Sunflower tried helping everyone to relax, but her voice was interrupted by the noise that was still getting louder, making her go back to her place, looking into River’s eyes,until at some point the noise just didn't...disappear? Her eyes were still showing fear, "Haaaa...River,are you all ri-"

River suddenly opened up her eyes, flying upwards from swinging her tail, when it turned out Pearl was trying to wake her up by shaking her elbow, saving her from the worst part of this nightmare.

"Fishy, we're here, you slept through all the road," said golden-yelow mer-pony with a smile, hugging unifish a little, trying to help her out with her panic, which started fading away once she realized she was in safety. "Let's go, move your tail, this place's scenery will cheer you up in no time"

That was true...at first River even had to squint her eyes, rubbing them a little to adapt - that how sunny this place was. Sunlight was getting there crystal-clear through easily seen waterline, right beside them was a clean, almost-white sand, and reefs flashing with all the colors of the rainbow. That was where the resort homes were, just like all of the other mer-pony architecture, looking like they were carved out in them, even thou corals were just grown aroundhouses to give that natural beauty.

Inside their home everything was modestly placed around for a small family to live comfortably. At the door Breeze was distracted by the seapony that was waiting for him. There was no doubt that it was a hippogriff that took a sea-form, unlike mer-pony, he was bigger than the head of this family by, like, another half of him, and instead of hooves - his fore-legs were ending in a fins, which he used to hug the Breezeimmidietly, "Breeze! I almost thought something happened, glad to see you made it"

To a surprise of the River, she felt like she knew this seapony from somewhere, but she couldn't put her hoof on it, until Breeze decided to help her out, "this is Sky Link, our dear friend, which always tags along when we have some time to rest and have fun. Though we would need to finish some stuff...but you can go ahead, we will catch up to you later."

Sky himself decided to gently pet uni-fish on the head, giving her a warm smile, "you've grown up while we didn't meet. Or maybe I'm imagining thing, but Breeze right - you really should go ahead, we might be stuck with work until the night"

Shortly after these two gone to one of the rooms, leaving mares to unpack their things before going to the beach, which was quite quick, because they needed to take much less things to their resort than overworld creatures. The trio decided to stop on one of the seaweed glade, which was spanning for a respectable length, where lots of mer-ponies and seapony's were enjoying their own picnics, both romantic and family ones were present. Above them were swimming schools of fish with all the colors and shapes you can even imagine. Some of them where swimming closer totake some food from relaxing mer-ponies and seapony's, and some were even ready to be pet and caressed. Thought to the touch they were...well, like regular fish. River didn't even noticed how a school of ten or so colorful fishes decided to make some circles around her, making her laugh in her hoof a little.

"They are really friendly. I thought fish is scared when someone swims beside it," with much interest noticed River

"They just know that no one will hurt them in this place, so they are much calmer here." was Pearl's answer, looking at the unifish from the corner of her eye, shortly after changing her center of attention to happily-squeaking Salmy.

Seems like she found an entertainment that drained her energy much better. No far from where they stoped seaweed was going into an underwater sand-bottom, in holes of which where peaceful sleeping oysters, which sprung into the water and tried swimming away once a little filly was swimming closer to them, with a prominent desire to touch and pet every single one of them, jumping face-first into a soft sand, making it flow up and make water more muddy for a short while. Salmy was doing great catching and petting them, until oysters understood, that the best way to make little fish demon lose interest in them - is to pretend they are dead.

"I don't know if I can say [no harm was done]," with a smile pointed out River, watching little fry having fun.

"You should go and play yourself. Mer-ponies and seapony's of your age are also playing in here, no need just sitting here beside me inside all this seaweed," petting unifish on the head - Peral gave her a little nudge toward new highs, to find herself something to do.

River at first found fun in making circles for some time with the schools of fish, getting into a center of this whirlpool every time, like uni-fishwas a perfect part of it, she was having fun, until some unexpected visitor decided to interrupt her by poking her side, making her swim out of the whirlpool.

Unexpected intruder turned out to be...a dolphin?The real one, the one she only seen in books, was swimming besides her, playfully jabing her into her stomach with his nose, whistling something cutely, watching her. River was striking his bald head, enjoying unusual feeling of such a soft and plain surface, until another distressed mer-pony didn't swam to them.

"Oh no, is everything alright? Excuse me, I need to be more careful while watching him. Leave him for a moment and he's trying to ruin resort for others," started explaining mer-pon', while River was trying not to laugh and tell him not to worry.

"It's ok, ok, just a little suddenly. Say...is this dolphin yours? He is really cute. I have never seen one so close before. Is he always so...playful?" Answered River, to calm the mer-pony down

And it seems it worked,because this stranger was looking much calmer while hugging his pet dolphin, "only with those he likes. You can take it as a compliment. Name's Shark"

"River," with some hesitance answered River, not sure where to take conversation form here. "But...the dolphins is really cute"

"Well, cuteness is not his only skill," with a little mischievous smirk answered Shark, letting go of his pet, which started playfully swimming around them at the same moment.

"Just hug him carefully and see for yourself"

Dolphin understood him perfectly, swimming up to River, waiting for her to hug him a little lower than his fin on a spine, "like...that?And what is happening now?"

"And now...the fun part starts. Just don't let go of him"

After this Shark made some sound similar to a dolphin whistle, which made dolphin launched straight, making River scream, while trying her hardest not to slip away, asthey were swimming amongst colorful corrals, scaring schools of fish. And it was on a speed, which made uni-fish's head to spin. Closer to an end dolphin decided to make a final trick - getting to his full speed, dolphin jumped out of the water for a couple of meters, making a spin and staying in the air for a mere seconds. River was feeling everything - from a chilling sea breeze and a fresh air, to an unusual feeling of lightness, which made all her moves much quicker. And of course...warm rays of sunlight on her spine, heating her from within. It ended shortly after though, as they both got back into the water, as River let go of the dolphins and started sinking down, while the dolphins was still playing around and swimming.

"Don't worry, everyone's dizzy first time around", said Shark with a happy smile, swimming from around one of the corrals. Seems he saw all of it. River couldn't said anything, quickly covering her mouth, trying to contain herbreakfast in confinements of her stomach, as that was noticed by Shark. "K', I see you're not ready for a second round yet. Let's try something less...extreme. Like check out how quick you can swim by yourself"

Owner and his pet were extremely similar - River didn't even had time to answer, as one very energetic mer-pony was dragging her towards the sandy part of the shore, where some silver fish was swiming in big schools, almost at the water line.

"Easier than catching a fish. Well, not actually, but you get the point. Racing with these fishes, the first one to catch — win. Got it?" Asked Shark, nudging River a little, which finally got herself together and decided to agree with a nod. "But there's one trick - fish must be out of water to count"

"Wha-? Wait,how do you-?"

"Less talking, more playing, you will see for yourself!" Rivers confusion was ignored, as Shark launched himself at the school of fish like his dolphin, making them swim in diffirent directions, leaving River to just swim besides him. Until at one moment Shark didn't decide to...jump strait up out of the water?! Going after him and enjoying air at her scales - River seen something more magical than underwater radio.

Under her navel, above water level, like a flock of birds, dozens of fish were just...flying! Opening their fins like wings, shining silver under sunlight, like a sea treasure, which is going to go back underwater shortly after.

"That's where you catch them!Let's try it again!" Screamed Shark mid-flight, as they got back underwater, showing River his dolphin-like technique for jumping out of the water.

After understanding the rules - she launched herself,almost catching one of the fishes, as Shark and his dolphin pushed her in her sides, detracting her. With visible displeasure River looked at Shark, who had one of the fishes in his hooves. "Hey,it's cheating!"

"Don't know what you're talking about. I was just heading for the same fish, while Fliper has a mind of his own. Plus - who said he's not playing with us?" Answered Shark with a smirk, getting back to chasing flying fish, leaving River to try catch up to him again, waiting for fish to jump out of water again.

But this time she came up with a little trick herself. While Shark was using his hooves - a group of five fish was in a layer of light-blue aura, getting them back into the water with River. Mer-pony pfff-d in displeasure because of this, looking at the result so much better than his.

"Hey, that's cheating, they are usually caught by hooves." But it still didn't hide his smile on his muzzle, while looking at fish trying to get out of the magic aura around them.

"Don't know what you're talking about. Plus - I won anywa-" River didn't have the time to finish her remark, as Fliper pushed her in the spine, making her loose concentration, allowing fish to swim back to their school, leaving these three alone.

Unhappy muzzle of this mare wasn't stoic for a long time, as she, seemingly first time since the beginning of the war, felt absolutely free of any worries and nerves, just enjoying her earned resort.

"Thou I think we should swim back. I always go to the sand-part when it's a day, Fliper loves it because of all the free space to swim in," said Shark, beginning to swim away, under surprised gaze of a unifish, which finaly though how much time her game taken.

"Wait...already?! What time even is it?"

"Almost sunset, little fry! So don't be here for too long, it seems someone is searching for you."

Shortly after Shark started to quickly swimming away, leaving River in confusion, especially after the last fraze, which made her turn around, seeing a torpedo-like fry, swiming right into her stomach head-first.

"RIVY!" Happily screamed Salmy, making Riverloose her balance and hugging uni-fish neck with her front legs, while River was collecting her thoughts back in place, noticing a new bracelet on a little Frye's hoof, with white pearl's on it.

"He he, glad to see you too little torpedo. What's the braclet?" Asked unfish, as little fry still hugging her - River can’t break away from the hugs even if she want anyway, stroking Salmy’s mane, Ponting at her new toy with her tail, which Salmy shown out proudly.

"Yes! I caught some oysters and they spit them out, and mom made it for me, cool right?"

"Of course, super-cute, but why are you here? I thought you will be with Pearl..."

"But I wanna play with you as well! You've gone for the entire day and just wanna get back after that?!"

Salmy's unhappy muzzle deffinetly wasn't something River could handle,so she had nothing but to give up and swim to the side, using her magic, which was the easiest way to break her bear-hugs. "Okay, but only once, and then we get back to your mother, k'? What are we going to play?"

There was no hesitation, Salmy chose hide and seek without thinking. Of course she was the one hiding, while River had to spin trice and count to ten. The place she chose was corral reefs...deffinetly one of the highest difficulties to play, especially considering she didn't just have to found, but also catch a little fry.

Her tail was seen periodically amongst seaweed, then amongst corrals, and her little laugh was making it even easier to orient in this space. But catching...absolutely another thing. The moment River was close - little fry was swiming away and changing her place of hiding, not leving uni-fish a chance. She was keeping older sister away, until noticeably tired River didn't came up with the plan to catch her with another trick. When she found her away - instead of coming straight to her - she flew up out of water and into the air, landing back into the water right in front of her, hugging little fry with her fore-legs.

"Gotcha! Ok, let's go back to mom," playfully said River, spinning with Salmy in place, listening to her happy laughter. Shortly they got back to the land of seaweed, where Peral was waiting for them with warm smile, letting them sit besides her, while River layed down with her.

"I see you've had a great time," gently said golden-yelow mer-pony, stroking the mane of the uni-fish, which made her smile even more, lazily nodding.

"Couldn't have said better. Turns out there's a lot to do." River didn't even noticed, as she was getting closer to falling asleep right here right now, which Peral soon pointed.

"You should go and sleep for a while. You know it yourself, sea won't swim away from you anyway, our resort only began, you will have time to do everything you want, we will go back as well in a little while." stroking uni-fish on the head once again for the last time said Pearl, letting go of her and waving her hoof in the water for River, who was swiming back into their home inside the corrals.

Uni-fish, in an up-beat mood, decided to use one of the open windows to get in, instead of the door. Not like it mattered in the sea, she could've even gotten inside through a chimney if they had any. Regreting her decision almost instantly, when she heard...a very familiar voice

"How did we even got here...This time her demands have tripled. We're basically selling recourses for nothing," said a painfully familiar voice

Looking into a window a little bit - she could see what was the case. Ocean Breeze and Sky Link were sitting at the table amongst mountains of documents. Mer-pon' was looking deeply distressed, leaving his glasses aside and rubbing his forehead with his hoof, she...doesn't think there was a time she's seen him in such a state...could he have been hiding his feeling with family?

"What in the tartar is this?! They should understand what is their circumstances, they can't not only win in this war, but at least not loose! Don't they have at least something to trade the documents for? Hiding it gets harder and harder by the upcoming months!" Sky on contrast looked...nervous, he was angry because fo how the situation was out of their control, once again looking through the documents with his flippers, trying to find something that can catch his eyes. River's ears were moving in the water, listening with some curiosity towards this conversation, even thou she felt she should get away and quickly, that it's easier to just forget and relax, but...something didn't let her…

"She will only agree to consider this for some ridiculous amount of crystal. It's so big you could theoretically re-arm an entire continent with it!"

"I hope you didn't sent it to her?"

"Of course not! Even for us satisfying her hunger would be imposible!"

"And in conclusion there is no other ways to solve this awful situation..."

Both colts were looking noticeably gloomy, sitting in a depressive silence. River almost thought it was over, swiming away a little from a window...until Breeze didn't interrupted this silence. "All we have left - is to keep sponsoring changlings for as long, as we can stretch out this war. If Crysalis feels she's one step away from Tartar she will take as many with herself as she can…"

When the last words were uttered — River, who was listening to them felt like an entire ocean started falling on her. Shock, fear, panic, all her thought were in chaos, making her fall onto the sand and try to hide in it, trying to get herself to feel more safe. Blocking her mouth with her hooves she was just laying in sand for some time, coping with her fear. Her head was still full of storm of thoughts, but one was more clear than the other - she needs to relax...really needs to.

Getting herself together River swam away form the home using a door this time, swiming past kitchen, where her figure momentarily made adults change their attention towards her with worried expressions. Little mare could almost read the question in the air, putting up a smile, trying g to answer confidently and calmly, ignoring conflicting thoughts about these two.

"Hey, I'm okay, just...a little tired," she said with her waving voice, she swam to her room in a depressed state to think about everything again.

How long was she laying like that in bed, without moving, just laying in her bed and looking into the ceiling? Sometimes she was looking out of the window, at a beautiful sunset, slowly being replaced with a twilight. Conversations in kitchen was much quieter, and was specifically going into the other direction, but she stopped listening already. Underwater was an unusually quite place, so quiet it was calming herthoughts, slowly giving questions in her head a more stable structure. They were...helping those who made the worst time for thouthands upon thouthands of ponies, those mer-ponies...that were trying to help her forget all the nightmares for almost a year already.

Sometimes River wanted to be a Kirin, just to turn into Nirik, to burn, tear and destroy, to release the pain she felt into the world instead of keeping it all to herself. It's just...kirin's needed to feel some strong emotions, anger, hatred, and the uni-fish felt...absolutely nothing. Something like a void. No anger, no agression...no hatred. No matter how many times she tried thinking about mer-ponies in a bad light, trying to hate them, every single time all she could think about was...Salmy. Every time she was trying to get some hate out, to hate at least something, even the world itself - there was always this little fry appearing right in front of her eyes. Does she have any right to hate a little filly who didn't even do anything in this world yet, exept for tackling her in the navel with her head? Her happy muzzle, foalish curiosity, happy foalhood. Was it her fault for what ponies in the overworld were doing? With all those foals who had to grow up too quickly, as River herself. Salmy most likely doesn't even knows how overworld looks. And...was she any better? Uni-fish stayed underwater, first from shock of what happened, but later...she didn't even try to get back to her family. She was happy because of the fact they were in no danger and she could go back to them at any moment, but right now...like an old wound opening up - she felt like if she gets to the overworld all these nightmares will start again, that it will never stop and...that this underwater world was her only chance at feeling safe ever again. This feeling was trying to drain her completely, making the feeling of inner void only grow, trying to eat a little uni-sushi. The last thing she wanted right now is for someone to see her like that, no matter Salmy or not. But of course her luck was not that merciful on her and her chancesof being alone swimed out of the window.

"Can I go in?" Was heard a familiar voice at close proximity. She didn't even noticed as Sky Link swimed into her room, keeping a decent distance to give uni-fish some comfortable space. Though after not getting any reaction everything turned into an awkward pause. "You've...heard everything, right?"

Link decided to don't beat around a bush, which made River turn her head to him, emotions on her muzzle were changing one after another, until her head wasn't flooded by thoughts. She finally started getting...angry? Little mare was trying her hardest to not say anything that could get her in trouble, but...after all she had a question she needed to ask. An easy : "Why?"

Seapony deffinetly wasn't surprised by this question, but took his time to make the right answer. "Mer-ponies are scared of the overworld. In all of history all they got out of it was sorrow, that why most decided to hide underwater. Can't say I blame them, Hippogriffs did the same to hide from conquerors"

"But...why would you help them?! If sea is safe than why don't you just stay here, why interfere with other's conflicts?!" River flew up in anger, almost launching herself at Link, when he got too close, but managed to keep herself in check. That made seapony shake his head, stroking her Mane to help her relax at least a little bit.

"Not just "them", but "everyone". It's...not as easy as it looks. For some times none even knew that we, hippogriffs, were both creatures of sky and water. Only a question of time when instead of a selected few in the overworld about mer-ponies will know...everyone. And if someone wants to own all of sea? Changlings have their own submarine navy, and they very nature is to change their forms for battles. Will it take them a long time to get themselves an underwater form? There would be the same chaos and anarchy as on land and we would've been just another base full of armed and aggressive Changlings. Mer-ponies are bying their safety in the first place"

River was making the water around into a fish soup from how quickly she was boiling inside, the void and confusion were disappearing, filled out instead by stronger emotions, which she really struggled to keep in, especially considering how hard it was to talk because of all these emotions. "And it's better to let it happen to others!?Just let others to suffer instead of you?!"

"To no one, so that it doesn't happens to no one. Breeze...and all mer-ponies for that matter, value themselves, their family, their home. It's...hard for them to grasp the concept of surface and that not everyone there is as violent as Changlings. Sadly they only fully trust us. And both of us are just trying to make this whole thing as harmless as we possibly can!"

Rivers response was to rub her eyes with her hooves, squeaking from a familiar, but not enjoyable feeling...was it the first time she was crying underwater? So...that how it felt here? Her voice was noticeably stuttering as she continued. "If everyone here...everyone here is scared of even ponies free-form up here...why did I got here?! I c-could've just got h-h-home..."

Through Link's changed stare was not signaling anything good,his very voice felt much lower. With every answer there was more and more tiredness and depression, which were trying to get out through the mask of a collected seapony.

"You couldn't have. That's the point. I will never forget this train...this scenery...they are with me until I go to tartar, always reminding me I didn't do enough. When I saw you, miraculously still alive...everything was bad and...it was the only way to save you." His fin was striking a shard of a magical pearl shard, which were sewed into his necklace, which River tried to touch with her shaking hoof. But Link quickly stopped her, pushing her hoof back to her, helping a unifish on a verge of mental breakdown to get back into her bed, answering beforehand her next question. "I...don't think it's possible for you to get back to your earth-form. That why I thought leaving you with them was the best choise. Don't hate them, Breeze and his family...they are good mer-ponies. You can see it from the first sight they really care for you"

River didn't know what to say, trying to keep her cool with all the energy she had, which was harder with every word Link said, just shaking her head like a toy.

"And think about...how important you are to them. Maybe...it's not the worst thing you are here. At least one more family now knows what ponies from surfaceare. Don't forget it, okay?"

Unifish felt as seapony was leaving, managing to ask at the last moment. "Can..can't I go home anymore?"

"Depends on - if you wish to. I thought about it myself, and I'll tell you this... if you wanna get back to the family you've had on surface...just say it to your family here, they will understand, plus...Breeze is a diplomat, he can help you with that, I with help as well, when the time comes. Good night River. I can see you...need some time alone" After a small pause answered seapony,finally leaving the room,leaving River in company of herself…

After some time - the emotions kicked in like a broken dam. Uni-fish taken a ball-like position, hiding her muzzle in her tail, crying her eyes out, not holding any more emotions in. She just...needed to went it out. All the anger, all that pain, all that hatred, towards the world, towards fishes...towards herself...went it anywhere. At last...her emotions started to calm down, leaving in their place tiredness and emotional void...little mare didn't even noticed as she fell asleep, without any dreams this time.

Waking up the first thing, that River could feel was that a certain torpedo was hugging on her tail once again. Wasn't hard to figure out it was Salmy, which forgot to pretend to sleep, so was just looking at her older sister in confusion, until a young uni-fish decided to speak first.

"And our super-fry is on the way to help her sister once again. I see I'm not the only one with sleeping problems today,huh?" With a little smile said uni-fish, stroking a little filly on the head. It was strange but...when she was here...she felt...at peace? At least...if she had someone to be angry at - it was deffinetly not this cute little fry, who's little scales were shining under the moonlight, which, because of a low sea level, was clearly seen even under the water. That picture...gave our uni-fish an idea. "You know...if we both don't sleep...not a word to Pearl and Breeze, but...I think we spend too little time together today, and I might just have something to compensate for it"

Just by looking at Salmy you could see the enthusiasm on her muzzle growing by the seconds, as she start questioning, "and what are we going to do? More hide and seek? Night fish hunt?"

"Tsss, be quite. It will be a surprise, just...don't swim too far from me." ClosingSalmy muzzle with her hooves, little mare checked if her question waked anyone up, after which she shown Salmy a signal to swim after her.

Getting out through an open window was no problem at all, so two little fishes were swiming around, trying to find a rock or a reef of the right structure for her idea, until she finally found one - going out of the water, not very tall and with a pretty smooth platform-like surface, just the thing she wanted. After a couple attemptsRiver finally managed to get on top of it, splashing on it like a fish on a pan, until she found a perfect position for her tail,seeing far from here a little island with green dots flying around. Even on such a small island hippogriffs were flying around day and night, enjoying both botomless sea and endless sky. Though they didn't get here for that. Catching Salmy with in a magic field - River quickly got her out of the water, struggling for a second because of how much heavier this little fry was outside of water, but still gently putting her in a hug.

"I wanna show you something," said uni-fish, with a smile watching how Salmy was spinning her head, trying to find something amazing, not even scared of being brought outside fo water. "No, not in the water. Up"

Her hoof gently guided the head of a little filly up, showing her what she intended to, why she even decided to go search for this rock — Stars. An endless banner of innumerable bright dots, making beautiful and wacky shapes...and, of course, The Moon, the biggest object in the sky, lighting up Salmy's shocked face with it's silver color, while she with a trully foally amazement was looking at the stars.

"WOW! That..that...its amazing! But...what is it?" Asked little fry, fascinated by the picture before her eyes

"This is all stars. You only see those outside of water in a clear sky. I can tell you about them if you wish"

"Is there more of things like this on earth? More beautiful things like that? I wanna see more...we can see more later, right?"

River laughed a little in response, strokingSalmys mane, feeling...lighter after her words. "Undeniably. You can't even imagine how much. If you are so curious - I will show more, later. There is...a lot you should see. Maybe...I will even be able to let you meet someone. I think...we all would want to know more about one another."

Maybe in some way Link was right, and maybe even this nightmare that happened to her...was the cause for something good to happen, something that couldn't have happened otherwise. She was really curious if Salmy would really want to see the surface, how will her parents react...what happened with the family of River herself and what would they say after missing a daughter for a year...And what's the most important...when will she decide to come back...and how much longer will she be in the sea? And if there was still a place for her on land...
But for now - a these thoughts were pushed aside, right now she once again felt the lightness of the surface, delightful warm air was once again blowing into her muzzle. There was an entire night of fun and an endless sky, with the stars and it's formations, all of which she had to Introduce to her younger sister. It was, by far, the best night she had in a very long time, and she was going to enjoy it to it's fullest.