It was an ordinary day for Blue Shell when he was down at the Equestrian seaport. Blue was following his task of collecting beautiful seashells to make jewelry for the Princesses. Getting on his scuba gear, he prepared to go out to his usual spot. He started the boat with his unicorn magic and checked over his equipment a second time before arriving. Blue anchored the boat then put on his scuba tank, mask, and goggles before diving.
Swimming down to a reef, Blue found a few varieties of shells, mostly looking for oyster shells since many had pearls used to decorate the Princesses hair and accessories. Looking around, he found more than he normally found within thirty minutes. He had just found another oyster that was ready to open when something shimmered in the water. Blue looked around, wondering if he had gotten a glimpse of a luminous Dolphin-Shark or even a mischievous fox-fish. Swimming in the direction of the shimmer, Blue Shell looked around, always turning his head when his red and blue mane covered his view.
Venturing further out, he saw the shimmer again and followed it. Getting close enough to hopefully not frighten away what he saw, Blue’s jaw almost dropped. The source of the shimmer was a mer-pony, a breed of pony thought to be a myth. The unicorn mer-pony had a medium red coat with a blue pattern on her back extending down to her transparent tail along with a matching blue spot on her nose, slender arms and dark red hooves with a heart-shaped birthmark on the left hoof, dazzling light red eyes, and a tri-color mane consisting of dark red, blue, and black which gently caressed the gills on her neck. She was also wearing a matching tiara, necklace, and bracelet set and Blue also swore he spotted a tri-bubble cutie mark on what should be her flank. Seeing this mysterious beautiful mare gracefully swim around the gently rolling waves left him in complete awe. It was as if he had found the most unattainable treasures of the ocean. ‘So…beautiful…’ was all he could think as he watched her.
The mare turned her head and looked in Blue’s direction. Blue became startled and his cheeks turned as red as the highlights in his mane and tail. He swam up to the surface and back to his boat as fast as he could, accidentally dropping his bag of shells. “Oh no, the shells! I have to go back, but how can I go back after running away like that!” He climbed into his boat and removed his gear before shaking out his frost blue coat. “Aw man, I can’t believe I embarrassed myself like that in front of such a beautiful mare…and on top of that lost my bag down there too. I guess I’ll have to go back empty hooved to the Princesses.” Blue sighed to himself and was about to start his boat when he heard something drop into his boat and a splash. He looked back and saw his bag behind him with more shells than he had while down there. Some shells he had not seen before. Looking back out into the water, he felt a small grin grow. “Thank you.”
Starting up his boat again, he rode back to the docks and took his precious shell stash home to clean and inspect them. He also took a bath and had a meal before finishing up and going to bed. The next morning, he went to the train station and boarded a train for Canterlot and went straight to the palace to see the princesses. Being escorted by the Royal Guard, Flash Sentry, Blue made his way to the throne room where he was met by Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight. He bowed and greeted them.
“Blue Shell, it is nice to see you. I see you have been successful with your collecting” Princess Celestia said with a bright, approving smile.
“Yes, Your Highness. But this time, I must admit that…it was not done alone.” He said, showing them the shells.
“What dost thou mean? We can see thou hast collected twice thine usual bounty” Princess Luna said in her usual manner.
“Your Highnesses, there was another pony out in the sea with me. A mare. She was…not your usual pony though.” He admitted, walking a little closer. “She was…a mer-pony with the horn of a unicorn.”
Twilight audibly gasped. “A-A mer-pony? A real true mer-pony?! But I thought they were just a pony tale.”
“There are some pony tales that do tend to be true. Mer-ponies are quite rare creatures. They used to appear occasionally. But then when the Great War broke out, it was assumed they sensed the danger and went into hiding. Or maybe even participated in the war somehow and all died. But if you saw one, can you describe her to us?” Celestia insisted.
“She was quite a sight. She had a unicorn horn, a medium red coat with a blue pattern on her back extending down to her transparent tail along with a matching blue spot on her nose, slender arms and dark red hooves with a heart-shaped birthmark on the left hoof, dazzling light red eyes, and a tri-color mane consisting of dark red, blue, and black…and she wore a matching tiara, necklace, and bracelet set. She also looked like she had a tri-bubble cutie mark.” Blue found himself blushing, remembering her. But he shook himself out of it quickly. “But when she spotted me, I didn’t want to startle her, so I swam back to the surface and to my boat…and I accidentally let go of my bag. I didn’t think I should go back down to get it, but before I started my boat, I think she came up and dropped my bag into the boat. And that’s why I have more than what I usually come with.”
“Hm, quite interesting, a unicorn Mer-pony with a tri-color mane, blue markings, and a cutie mark. I wonder if it’s possible that she could be the only one of her kind here. Blue Shell, do you think you can find her again? Perhaps try talking to her?” Celestia asked.
“A fine proposition, sister. Speaking with such a mare would be interesting. But wouldn’t it pose a problem since the mare would need a substantial amount of water to speak with us?” Luna said.
“Hm, we might be able to figure something out. Of course, we can’t rush it. Doing that could frighten her away. So I propose there be no time limit on how long before we meet her. We should allow Blue Shell to as much time as needed to earn her trust.” Twilight suggested, trying hard to hide her excitement and utter urge to do a research paper on Mer-ponies.
“That’s a splendid idea, Twilight. That way she won’t feel threatened or anxious about leaving her home for an unfamiliar land” Cadance smiled. She had watched Blue Shell’s movements and expressions when he spoke about the mysterious mare and she could tell it was small sparks of love.
“Then it is settled, you shall find this mysterious mare and get to know her before we meet her.” Celestia smiled. “And as for the shells, I believe taking some to the Canterlot Boutique for Rarity. I’m sure she can make a dress with them.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. And with the celebration of Princess Flurry Heart’s birthday coming up, I’m sure Rarity will make beautiful dresses with these shells that would only be outshined by your beauty, Your Highnesses.” He smiled and bowed politely. “And I will make a tiara that would be sure to garner everyone’s adoration. A tiara with small pink shells and a pearl.”
“Oh, that’s a beautiful idea. I cannot wait to see it.” Cadence clapped her hooves happily. “She’s going to love it.”
Bowing once more, Blue picked up his bag and escorted himself out. He made his way to the Canterlot Boutique and met up with Rarity. Showing her the shells, she immediately saw the rare quality in them and didn’t spare a moment taking half of the shells. Blue could see the gears turning in her head as she trotted off to the back room mumbling different patterns and ideas. “Well, I’ll leave her to it. I doubt she’ll even realize I’m gone.” He chuckled a bit and left.