“Um, hello there…” Fluttershy practically whispered. They didn’t return her greeting. They barely even blinked. Maybe they hadn’t heard her through her bubble.
“I’m here to see Princess Skystar,” Fluttershy announced, a little louder. “Will you please tell her that her friend Fluttershy is here?”
The larger guard was a deep teal, with huge eyes the color of blueberries. She leaned down and stared at Fluttershy. She noticed Fluttershy’s hooves and frowned.
“What land do you come from, and who is your ruler?” the guard questioned. She turned to her partner and raised a suspicious brow. “How did you find our kingdom?”
“Oh…” Fluttershy felt her cheeks get hot. “I’ve been here before actually…. See, I’m from Equestria. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the rulers there. But I’m friends with Princess Skystar!”
The guard still just stared at her. The other guard, a shimmery white Seapony with giant green wings, circled her. “You’re one of the same ponies from Equestria who tricked Princess Skystar,” the teal Seapony said. “Who tried to steal the queen’s pearl!”
Fluttershy tried to swallow, but her throat was tight. When they were last here, Twilight Sparkle had used Pinkie Pie to distract Skystar. As they were playing around the castle, Twilight Sparkle had tried to steal the queen’s luminescent pearl. It was used to transform Hippogriffs and ponies into Seaponies.
“It was a bit of a misunderstanding…” Fluttershy said softly. “If you’ll just let me—”
“I’m afraid we can’t let you inside,” the teal Seapony interrupted. “We’re supposed to protect Queen Novo and the pearl.”
“B-but I’ve been invited….” Fluttershy’s stomach twisted in knots. Suddenly, she remembered the letter. She pulled it out and showed it to the guards. “Look! This is the letter Princess Skystar sent me. She wanted to see all of us. Maybe my friend did try to steal the queen’s pearl, but she was also the one to defeat the Storm King. Your enemy. That counts for something, right?”
Fluttershy summoned her strength, remembering all the lessons her friends had taught her about sticking up for herself. She watched as the Seapony studied the letter, going so far as to flip it over as though it might be fake. She glanced sideways at the other guard, then turned around. “I guess it does. Apologies… You can never be too careful these days.” She paused, staring at Fluttershy. “I’m Cerulean, and this is Salt Air.” Then she pushed through the castle gates. “Follow us.” She turned around and met Fluttershy’s eyes. “No swimming off when we’re not looking, okay?”
“Of course not!” Fluttershy smiled and let out a deep breath, the bubbles floating up from her helmet.
She couldn’t exactly blame the Seaponies for being so protective. Maybe the who-is-your-leader thing was extreme, but since Mount Aris was ruined by Tempest and the Storm King, they were notoriously on edge. They would have been suspicious of even Spike, who was just a baby Dragon.
Fluttershy swam close behind the guards as they entered through the gilded gates. Once inside, Fluttershy couldn’t help letting out a tiny gasp. The Seapony castle was just as beautiful as she had remembered. There were glittering pillars and stained-glass windows. The great hall had a huge ceiling that you could swim to the top of. She was gazing up at it, lost in the sights, when she heard a familiar voice.
“Fluttershy!” Princess Skystar shot forward and threw her fins around her. “You came to visit! I can’t believe you’re really here! How long can you stay?! Oh, we’re going to have so much fun! We can go to The Aria or see the octopuses dance in the village square, and, of course, we’ll make seashell necklaces. Or seashell picture frames. Or bracelets. Oh, who knows?!”
“Can we also visit the reef?” Fluttershy giggled. “I’d love to meet some new fish!”
“Of course we can! I know sooo many cool fish!” Skystar floated up in the water, doing a few quick spins. Fluttershy couldn’t help but smile. Skystar’s enthusiasm was infectious. She spent most of her time alone in the castle, so nothing made her happier than getting visitors.
“Where’s everyone else?” Skystar said, suddenly noticing Fluttershy was the only one there. “Bringing in the luggage?”
“They wanted to come, but they’re helping Tempest settle in, and we thought, well…” Fluttershy tried to find the right way to say it. “Maybe it would be better to wait awhile before Tempest returned to Mount Aris. They’ll come next time. They all send their love.”
“Oh, they’ll have to!” Skystar replied. She looked only a little bit disappointed. “Tell them I miss them, will you?”
Before Fluttershy could answer, Princess Skystar swam off, waving for her to follow. She wove through the halls of the castle. “We need to get one thing straightened out right away,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at Fluttershy. “Mom! Moooooooom!”
Skystar swam right into Queen Novo’s chambers, not even bothering to knock. Cerulean, the guard who’d greeted Fluttershy at the gates, floated opposite the queen. The two were deep in discussion and seemed tense. Neither took notice of Skystar and Fluttershy hovering in the doorway.
“This is all a misunderstanding.” Queen Novo shook her head and sighed heavily. “I’d like to send another ambassador over to research the claims. The longer we wait to smooth things out, the worse the rumors in Seaquestria will become.” Queen Novo procured a scroll and began to scribble a decree. “We don’t need our citizens panicking in the streets.”
“Your Majesty, I would be honored to represent our kingdom in the search,” Cerulean offered with a deep bow. “If you’ll allow it.”
“Permission granted, Cerulean,” Queen Novo replied with a solemn nod. “But you must remember that I don’t want—”
“Moooooooom!” Skystar interrupted. “I know you’re totally busy, but we just need the pearl real quick! Super-duper fast! For, like, two seconds, okay? Fluttershy’s here, and she can’t wear that silly helmet all night.”
“Very well, Skystar,” Queen Novo replied with a wave of her fin. “But be careful—and put it right back when you’re finished, you hear?”
Skystar swam to the queen’s nightstand and snatched the pearl off it. She brought it over to Fluttershy with a giddy smile on her face. “So you remember how it works, right? Just put your hoof there and—”
“Skystar!” Queen Novo barked. She was clearly on edge. “We have some very important matters at fin! So if you two don’t mind, could you please catch up someplace else in the castle?” The queen turned back to Cerulean and the decree on her desk.
“Yeah, of course, Mom! We won’t get in your way!” Skystar chirped, her big eyes staying glued to the surface of the glossy pearl. It glowed with a swirling, bright-white light. Skystar motioned to Fluttershy, and the two swam back out into the coral-encrusted corridor. “Ready?”
Fluttershy nodded and reached out to place her hoof on the pearl. Within seconds, she felt everything in her body tingle with a strange sensation. Luckily, she had been through this once before, so she wasn’t afraid. Her tail and back legs formed one large flipper. Huge seawings sprouted out of her back. Now she was a Seapony just like everypony else!
Fluttershy swam through the water, faster than she had before. It was easy when she moved her tail fin. She ducked and dipped and twirled, loving how it felt. It was a little like flying, only the water was holding her up. Skystar joined in on the fun, darting across the castle corridor and spinning around the room. The two friends giggled in delight.
“Not in the castle,” Queen Novo yelled from the other room. “You know the rules, Skystar!”
“Come on!” Skystar called back to her friend. “Let’s explore!” Then she shot out the door and down the hallway, racing toward the front gates.
“Coming!” Fluttershy called back, unable to hide her smile. This trip was already smooth sailing.
CHAPTER THREE
Seaweed ice cream with seaweed sauce and seaweed sprinkles on top!” Princess Skystar exclaimed,
passing Fluttershy a cup full of green stuff. Fluttershy hesitated, then dug in her clamshell spoon and took a huge bite. It might’ve sounded weird, but it was delicious.
“Yummmm…” Fluttershy said. She glanced around at the other Seaponies enjoying their seaweed treats. “What’s this place called?”
“The Seaweed Shoppe!” Skystar offered. She gestured to the massive menu. “They have seaweed sandwiches and seaweed pancakes, too, but the soft serve is my favorite! I’m so glad I get to share all this with you, Fluttershy!”
“Me too.” Fluttershy nodded in return. It made her feel good that Skystar was having so much fun already. After their snack, the two friends swam through the village square. Everywhere she looked, Fluttershy was greeted with interesting sights and sounds. There was a craft fair selling sea-glass maracas and other fanciful items. Nearby, an area littered with food carts was being overrun by a small group of blue crablike creatures. They scrambled over one another to get to a cart selling fried seaweed tacos. Fluttershy gave Skystar a nudge and pointed to the critters. “What are those little guys?”
“Beezlebugs.” Skystar scrunched up her muzzle in distaste. “They usually stay in the fields outside the kingdom, but for some reason we’ve been seeing more and more of them around….”
“Seems as if they came for the delicious food!” Fluttershy joked to lighten the mood. Clearly, Skystar saw the Beezlebugs as little pests. They were a little funny-looking, Fluttershy thought, but still cute in their own buggy way.
“Ooooh!” Skystar shouted, grabbing Fluttershy’s foreleg and dragging her over to the center of the square. “This is my favorite!” A pair of octopuses were break-dancing by the fountain, their eight arms flying out in different directions. One grabbed a light pole and swung around three times, then suctioned onto the side of the Starfish Boutique. He let his partner spin on his head awhile before jumping back in.
A small crowd of Seaponies had gathered around to watch, but they seemed distracted. They kept leaning into one another and talking, then turning away from the performance. Fluttershy didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she was floating right next to a pair of Seaponies who were speaking loudly to hear each other over the music.
“Do you think it’s true?” a pink Seapony with bright-fuchsia wings asked. There was worry in her voice. “What Golden Fin saw last week?”
“Who knows? I always thought those nasty creatures didn’t exist!” her friend replied, looking a bit frightened. “But what if—what if they actually do? We’d all be doomed!”
Fluttershy turned to Princess Skystar, wondering if she’d heard what they were saying. What were nasty creatures? Were they talking about Beezlebugs? But Skystar was dancing along to the music. She shimmied around, twirling and laughing. “Aren’t these performers terrific?!” she trilled. “Sometimes my mom lets me come out here to watch. You know, as long as I’m being watched.” Skystar gave a little sigh and rolled her eyes. “Such a pain in the tail fin, right?”
Skystar pointed to the two young guards who had been assigned to trail the princess and her guest everywhere they went. They weren’t half as serious as the others, and sometimes when Fluttershy turned around, she caught them goofing around with each other. Fluttershy didn’t remember so many guards from her last visit. Was this something new?
“Do you have to bring them?” Fluttershy asked. She glanced over her shoulder at the two Seaponies. Now they were tossing a conch shell back and forth.
“Yeah, it’s a real drag, huh?” Skystar sighed. “But my mom has been really overprotective lately. Maybe if we swim quickly, we can ditch them!”
“Oh, I don’t know…” Fluttershy frowned. “I wouldn’t want to upset the queen again.” After the last time, she felt she was navigating some murky waters regarding pony–Seapony relations.
“Don’t worry.” Skystar giggled. “I’m only kidding. We’ll follow the rules…this time. Whoa! Look at that!” They turned their attention back to the show. The octopuses jumped and joined their arms, swinging each other around. Skystar clapped her fins together in delight and tossed a big pouch of sand dollars into their donation bucket. A few of the Seaponies in the crowd were staring at the princess. They’d obviously recognized her.
“Fantastic!” Skystar proclaimed once the dance had ended.
Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “Should we go to The Aria now?”
“Great idea! Actually, we’re just in time for the matinee. If we hurry, we can even grab some seaweed popcorn at the concessions stand!” Skystar exclaimed.
“Oh! Yum, yum,” said Fluttershy, feigning excitement. If she ate any more seaweed, she was going to turn green. Still, it would be worth all the seaweed in the ocean to see the buzzed-about show. “I’ve heard starfish have the most beautiful singing voices!”
“Just wait until you hear the harmonies,” Skystar said, smiling. “Totally unreal!”
As they wove through the crowded amphitheater (with the two guards in tow), Fluttershy couldn’t help feeling a bit self-conscious. It seemed as if everypony was still watching them. It could have been because she was with a princess. But Twilight Sparkle was a princess back in Equestria, so she was used to stares whenever they were together. This felt different, somehow. Was she imagining it?
She pushed it out of her mind and tried to enjoy the magnificent performances. Fluttershy had almost forgotten the strange feeling by the time a huge, curvy starfish took center stage for the final song. She wore a fluffy kelp boa and a long blue gown made of shimmering oyster shells. Her squid-ink eyeliner made her look glamorous, which reminded her of Rarity. Fluttershy would have to remember the style so she could report back to her.
“Feel the rhythm of the deep, down below, pick up your fins and do the ocean mambo, twist to the beat, fast and slow!” she belted out, bringing up two of her arms to clap out the rhythm. A light shone down on the stage, revealing three puffer fish backup singers.
“Do the ocean mambo, fast and slow…” the three fish sang. “Ohhh ahhhh ohhhh…” The fish in the center kept pushing the other two with her fins, obviously trying to get farther out front. She turned to the side, letting the light capture her best angle.
Princess Skystar and Fluttershy bobbed along to the beat. Skystar shrieked at the finale, when the three fish swam laps around the starfish, their scales glittering. When it was over, the two filed out of the theater, caught in the crowd of elated Seaponies. “There’s nothing like a soulful starfish song,” Skystar said, beaming.
“It was wonderful!” Fluttershy agreed. “The whole place was dancing! I loved the second- to-last song, too.”
Skystar smiled, remembering the choir of starfish parading around onstage, singing different parts and clapping their arms together to the music. They’d worn incredible costumes of green and blue kelp boas with dangly shell earrings (of course Skystar had admired the earrings).
As they were swimming out, an older Seapony with neon-green fins came over to them. He wore a shell headpiece that looked rather regal. “Princess Skystar,” he said, giving her a little bow. “It’s so nice to see you here, outside the walls of the castle!”
“And you, Sir Aston,” Skystar replied with a friendly smile. “Sir Aston, this is my good friend Fluttershy.”
“What a pleasure,” Sir Aston said with a smile. He turned back to Skystar, his brows furrowed together. “How is your dear mother doing? There were rumblings around town about a Seapony spotting a”—Sir Aston’s eyes began to dart around in caution; he lowered his voice and finished his sentence—“a Sand Dragon. Is it true? Very troublesome, if so. I wonder what she’s—”
“Psht! Don’t believe everything you hear!” Skystar chirped, not skipping a beat. “But anyway, we’ve really got to swim. We’re heading back to the castle now, actually.”
“Please give Her Majesty my regards.” Sir Aston bowed again. “I may be retired, but I’m always here to offer assistance, if need be.” Sir Aston swam off.
“He used to be my mom’s
adviser,” Skystar explained to Fluttershy. “I think he’s bored or something. Whenever I see him, he’s always trying to rustle up some gossip about top-secret Seaquestrian state business.”
“So that explains what I heard in the village square!” Fluttershy nodded. “Some Seaponies were talking about Sand Dragons. But I guess it’s just a rumor.”
“Well… not exactly.” Princess Skystar glanced around, as if she was worried somepony might hear them. The guards were swimming at least ten tail fins back. “Down here in the water, there’s a legend about great beasts called ‘Sand Dragons.’ Supposedly, they lived deep in the sands of the ocean floor hundreds of moons ago. If they are woken before it’s time, they get very angry. Nopony has ever seen one…. Until last week.”
“What happened?” Fluttershy asked, eyes growing wide.
“One of the guards was exploring the surrounding areas of the kingdom when he found himself in a Beezlebug field. He heard a strange noise,” Skystar explained. “When he went to investigate, he saw a giant creature with huge fangs coming right out of the sand! He was quite shaken when he reported back to the castle. He said the creature looked as if it could smash a whole building with just a flick of its tail!”
“That sounds scary,” Fluttershy said. She’d dealt with her share of Dragons before, but the Sand Dragons sounded really intimidating. And mysterious.
“Don’t worry! I’m sure my mom’s got a plan,” Skystar assured her friend. “There’s always the chance that it wasn’t even a Sand Dragon. Maybe it was just a trick of the light, you know? The ocean can be very dark outside our kingdom.”
“Mmmm hmmm,” Fluttershy replied. She remembered that it had been pitch-black the first time she and her friends had found themselves below the surface. Skystar had rescued them by shining her light.
But now, Skystar just kept swimming, as if what she’d just told Fluttershy weren’t a big deal. But everything was starting to make sense. The village felt different because it was different. Everypony was on edge. Somewhere, out lurking in the deep, there could be a big, angry Sand Dragon. Who wouldn’t be afraid of an ancient giant, fanged beast?
Fluttershy Balances the Scales Page 2