The White Tail

-Present Day-

“Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosshh!” repeated a local mail mare as she darted across the sky, knowing she was going to be late for a delivery. She was already tallied twice for delivering packages late, and this was no exception. The only other mare they say is clumsier than she is living in a town called Ponyville…wherever that is.

Glancing at the box in her bag, she saw that it was to go to the Palm Family. She had heard about their famous coconuts, but she never got the chance to try them because she was always so busy.

“Oh, my boss is going to kill me!” the mare moaned out loud, flying as fast as she could.

“Eeep!” She narrowly dodged a palm tree just to slam against a huge sign that read, “Welcome to the Palm Family Farm.” As she slid off the sign and landed with a thud on the sand, she heard the sound of coconuts hitting the ground coming from somewhere nearby. Recovering from her not-so-graceful landing, she looked over to the source of the noise to find a certain ice-blue Pegasus rounding up coconuts into a cart.

“Ummm, excuse me!” She called out, startling the young stallion. It was like he didn’t even hear her hitting the sign. Slightly annoyed by this, but keeping calm, she asked him,

“Do you know where I can find a member of the Palm Family? I have a delivery for them!” The stallion recovered and flew over to her, and landed just a foot away from her.

“I’m actually a member of the Palm family! Is that for me?” said the stallion, pointing to the box sticking out from her bag.

“Umm, yes it is! I don’t think I’ve seen you in town before; what’s your name?”

“Seaponeh, but you can just call me Sea for short. And what is your name?” asked Seaponeh, bowing politely. Taken aback by his name and his manners, she timidly replied,

“Well Seapo… Sea, my name is Bright Light. No offense, but my boss told me that the Palm family were all earth ponies.”

“Ah, well that is because I am adopted.” said Seaponeh, still carrying that enthusiastic nice smile. Bright Light couldn’t help but wonder why she felt like she had seen him before as she took the box out of her bag.  As she placed the package next to Seaponeh, she noticed that he had a white patch of fur on his rear end.

“OH MY GOSH, YOU’RE THE ONE WITH THE ERASER BUTT!” She yelled, and then quickly shoved a hoof in her mouth before she could say anything else embarrassing. Seaponeh blushed a little bit from hearing the all too familiar remark.

“Yeah, that’s right. Everypony picked on me because of this eraser butt of mine…” The mare regretted saying that to him instantly. With a chuckle, Seaponeh pulled the mare’s hoof from her mouth.

“It’s ok, it doesn’t bother me anymore.”

“I am so sorry, it’s just that you looked familiar and…Wait, so is it true?” asked Bright Light with a curious look.

“Hm?”

“Everypony claims that you can walk on water!” exclaimed Bright Light getting a little excited.

“Um…yeah, I can…” Seaponeh was not sure about this at all; he was convinced that she hit the sign a little hard.

“Before I go, can you show me real quick?” She got a little closer to him, eyes getting bigger as he nervously backed up.

“Um, yeah, sure thing. I’ll just go over here…” Luckily, they were right next to the ocean, so he quickly trotted over to the ocean, which was pretty calm.

With a gasp, the mail mare stared in amazement as he stepped on the water, casually going further out until he was a good fifty hooves from the beach, still standing on the surface of the water.

“That…is…so…AWESOME!!!” yelled Bright Light, clapping her front hooves together in delight as he flew back to her. “So, is that your special talent?”

“Eeyup, walking on water is apparently an exclusive ability that only I possess.” Seaponeh smiled as the mail mare was giggling with joy.

“Well umm…oh geez! I’m about to be late again! I guess I’ll see you around Sea!” She quickly ran out of the front gate and flew off, making sure not to hit a palm tree…or the sign.

“So, I see that you’re slacking off on the job again, eh Sea? And flirting with a mare, no less!” Seaponeh turned around to find his stepfather walking over, smiling at him.  This was the very same stallion that saved Seaponeh’s life that fateful day fifteen years ago, Magnus Palm. Seaponeh blushed a little from Magnus’ remark.

 “Ah no not really eheheh…just accepting a delivery.”

“Well, I guess I can accept that excuse, and the delivery too.” said Mr. Palm. Seaponeh felt a little embarrassed. Looking over to the box, Mr. Palm stated,

“Aaaah so my new set of coco-cleaners are here; lovely! Well Sea my boy, you can take the rest of the day off! How about you go check out what’s going on in town today?”

“But what about these coconuts?  Don’t you need me to do all of the heavy work?” asked Seaponeh, pointing to the cart full of ripe coconuts. Mr. Palm looked at him with the blankest stare ever known to exist, and then he went into big ego mode.

“Does it look like I carry a cane wherever I go, boy? The day I stop working my farm is when I can’t use my legs anymore. When that day comes I will use my teeth to grab the coconuts. When all of my teeth fall out, I’ll use my gums! I don’t even know how I would manage that!  Then when that doesn’t work anymore and I am dead, I will haunt you AND this farm to make sure it is running properly. Is that clear, son?!?” Seaponeh could only laugh and nod in agreement, knowing that it was a stupid question to ask.

“Now get outta here before I make you clean the bathrooms, boy!” after Magnus said that, there were nothing but feathers left where Seaponeh was just standing. “Hehehe, works every time…” Magnus thought out loud.

Flying over the town, Seaponeh noticed that everypony was in a rush today. Some were getting a bite to eat at a local bakery, while others were surfing along the coastline, enjoying the sun. The market stands were already swarmed, despite the fact it was the middle of the day. Something familiar caught Seaponeh’s eye, so he flew down to investigate and came across Doctor Clover’s clinic. Over the years, he had become good friends with Doctor Clover, or Uncle Clover as Seaponeh called him now.

“Uncle Clover? You in there?” After hearing a crash from inside, he got a response.

“Oi! Can’t ya see that my sign says closed?!?”

Checking the sign Seaponeh added, “It says that you’re open and ready for business…”

The door opened, revealing Doctor Clover, who looked like he hardly aged at all.

“Darn it lad, why do you have to ruin the moment for me with facts, eh?”

“Sorry uncle, just coming by for my weekly checkup…”

With a hardy laugh Doctor Clover replied, “Oh really? A checkup or maybe perhaps an order to go?” He smiled with a twinkle in his eye, “You can’t fool me that easily, lad.”

“I want to know how you make that…that…treasure from above taste so good!” said Seaponeh, drooling at the thought of having that delicious nacho burrito again.

“Heheheh, It seems nothing has really changed about you lad. Besides, you know I can’t tell you how I make those. It may break the rules of the universe or something. Well then, let’s have your checkup first and then you can have your date with Ms. Burrito.” They walked into the lobby and straight into the check room, and Sea figured it was a good thing that Uncle Clover wasn’t getting any business today, or anytime nowadays. The only business he usually got was the occasional drunk.

“So, what do you think of Princess Luna coming back from those old mare’s tales, eh?” Doctor Clover asked as he fumbled with his medical drawers as Seaponeh decided to take a seat on the examination table.

“I think she looks beautiful, being out of that “Nightmare Moon” phase and all that crazy stuff.”  Seaponeh gave a shiver, remembering how Nightmare Moon attempted to bring all of Equestria into eternal night.

“Ah yes, crazy stuff indeed, lad.” Doctor Clover finally brought out his clipboards showing Seaponeh’s medical condition, which was clean by the way.

“Let’s see if there were any changes today then…” with an orange glow from his horn, a black portal formed in front of Doctor Clover, Seaponeh on the opposite end. It was an x-ray portal, which could not only see Seaponeh’s bones but his muscles and organs.

“It seems that everything is where they should be, not that was a problem anyways. How’s the “birthmark” there lad?” as the portal disintegrated, Seaponeh stood up on the table, looking at the mirror behind him.

“It’s doing fine, I guess.” replied Seaponeh. This was normal routine to him, as he’s been doing this same old thing for fifteen years. In school, where his classmates would call him eraser butt, they would tease him a lot and would want him to erase words from a sign or something like that. While the Palms felt bad for him, Doctor Clover laughed hysterically every time Seaponeh mentioned an eraser butt story.

“Well, I guess you earned yourself a date with, *chuckle* Ms. Nacho Burrito.” Doctor Clover opened the fridge and fumbled through it. Seaponeh sat back down and asked,

“Did you ever find anything about…my water-walking talent?” Doctor Clover paused for a second before continuing to fumble with the fridge…what in the world does he keep in there, a food court?  “AH! Here we go!”

Seaponeh’s eyes widened with anticipation when Uncle Clover brought two wrapped delicacies that would make angels jealous of. With a quick use of magic the two can already smell the beauty of the nacho burritos overwhelming their nostrils as the magic warmed the food. Doctor Clover grabbed one from the plate and floated it over to Seaponeh who was all too happy to take it. About to take a bite, Seaponeh suddenly heard

“Wait lad, wait!” He was so close to taking a bite as Doctor Clover stopped him “Let’s savor this moment.” They both paused for a second.

“Alright, lad let’s do this!” and they both chowed down on their nacho burritos with determination and years of skill. If an unfortunate pony wasn’t being careful, it could stick to the roof of their mouth. Seaponeh’s wings slowly spread out as he ate, making Doctor Clover nearly die from choking in laughter. After they were done, Seaponeh remembered something and said,

“Uncle…” Doctor Clover looked back at him with a questioning look. “You didn’t answer my question earlier…” Doctor Clover stared at him for a second, twitching an ear, before he took a deep breath and answered.

“No lad, I haven’t discovered anything new, sorry for disappointing ya.” Seaponeh lowered his head a little, having to wait a little longer for his answer. Doctor Clover then walked towards the door and said, “Also, your wings are still up.” He closed them quickly.

“C’mon lad, it’s about time for you to get outta here. I may have actual customers today!” Seaponeh glanced at the Doc with guilt on his face as he followed him out the door.

“Are you sure I can’t pay you for this? It’s the least I can do to show my thanks.” Doctor Clover dismissed that almost instantly, saying,

“Lad, how many times do I have to tell ya that I will check on you for free? I’ll be fine! Geez, you’re just like your father sometimes.”

“Are you sur-”

 “YES YES, I will be fine now get outta here lad before I beat ya with a stick, and tell your folks I said hello!”

With that, Seaponeh walked outside as the door slammed behind him.

“He sure did hesitate when I asked him about the water thing…” Thinking for a second, he shrugged and came to the conclusion that it must be an old pony thing. With that conclusion in mind, he took off again.

Doctor Clover went into the back, where his office was. Opening the door he looked at an old, worn book with a bookmark in it lying on his desk. On the cover was the symbol of a pony and a deer, side by side. Closing his curtains so that he would not be disturbed, Clover opened the ancient book to look at the bookmarked page.

“Ah lad, if only I could tell ya...” He said as he began to read the pages before him. Beside him was a message from a pony called Twilight Sparkle, telling him to be sure to send the book back to the Princess.

Flying over the docks Seaponeh noticed a familiar mare with pink hair doing something with a sailboat. Smiling, he quietly landed on the water behind the boat. Making sure she didn’t notice him, he slowly crept over the railing and with a dramatic pause, he leaned over behind her left ear and simply said,

“Boo!”

Mayflower immediately shot off the ground, all hairs spiked up from being scared. Landing down face-first, she grumbled to herself, and then quickly got back up with a look of murder in her eyes.

 “Seaponeh…I hate you right now.” Saying that only made him laugh harder. With this she did her counter-offensive, and she kicked him over the side of the ship. With a sudden splash of water, he quickly jumped out and landed beside her.

“Aaw c’mon sis; I was only playing with you.”

Mayflower stuck her tongue out at him, with that murderous look still in her eye.

“Sea, that was not called for…period.” Branching lectured as he walked over the bridge onto the center of the ship, wearing what looked like a business suit. His hair was all slicked back, as if saying hello ladies the line is to the left, too bad he is a bit of an annoyance sometimes. Mayflower suddenly went into ninja mode without Seaponeh noticing as he started to talk.

“Oh, hi Branching, I see you just came back from a meeting of some kind.” Seaponeh pointed out as Branching snorted at him and replied,

“It just so happens that I was in a meeting with the Mayor having to do with our sales right now. Don’t even get me started on apple sales…” Mayflower had gotten behind Seaponeh without him noticing and was ready to strike. “It also seems that our sister has you trapped.”

“Wait…what?” is all Seaponeh could say before Mayflower started to tickle the living stars out of him. She kept tickling him as he fell to the ground dying from laughter.

“O-o-okay! S-s-stop p-p-please! Teeheehaa!” Seaponeh begged as Mayflower smiled and said,

“Say that you are sorry.”

“W-what?!?”

“Say that you are sorry!”

“Okay okay I’m sorry, now please, stop it!” Mayflower eased up, smiling as she stood on top of Seaponeh in victory.

“You can get off me now…”

 “One more second, I just beat you by tickling; don’t ruin the moment.”

“Wwwwhyyyyyyyyy?” His whine would make a famous fashion pony proud.

 “Well, fine then.” Mayflower stepped off of him.

“Aren’t you supposed to be bucking Palm trees for coconuts right now, Sea?” Branching straightened up his tie, making sure not to get any seawater on himself.

“I was but Dad told me to take a break, sooo I’m here seeing you guys!”

 “Aaaw isn’t that sweet, little Seaponeh actually cares about us.” Mayflower teased as she went to fix a rope.

“I also got word that the Lunar Guards are currently coming to our town.”

This got Seaponeh and Mayflower’s attention. The town never really needed protection at all, so why are they getting it now?

“

Wait? You mean Luna’s guards, as in Princess Luna, the princess of the night? What are they doing here?” Mayflower was as curious as always. Branching waved them in closer and whispered,

“It seems as though there may be searching for a threat running about the countryside. Considering the Elements of Harmony just…well…turned Discord back to stone no more than a week ago, his creatures are still here.” Seaponeh and Mayflower were shocked, but slowly had smiles appearing on their faces as they looked at each other.

“Don’t you even think about it…” Branching warned.

“But chocolate rain, brother! CHOCOLATE RAIN!” Mayflower and Seaponeh both said in unison. With a groan, Branching stopped before he could face-hoof.

“Look, just stay in the town and everything will be fine, ok? Ok.” With that, he walked off, nearly tripping on his tie, which had loosened again. With both Mayflower and Seaponeh trying to hold back their laughter, he walked away as he muttered something to himself.