Discord questioned while in his sandy throne room, "Are you sure this seapony or hippogriff or whatever he is, can actually be trusted to get you off this island?"
Soarin stated, "He's our only chance of getting off, unless you can somehow give us the ability to breathe underwater then we don't have to wait for him to come back to give us an answer."
"Alas, those powers became limited when I was banished to this fair isle. I know because I try swimming underneath the storm but my gills were only around for a short time before they disappeared without me doing it! Oh how I hated those sisters for covering all their basics."
"As much as I should be glad they gave you the punishment you deserved but I'm beyond upset that they ended up trapping sailors in the process and have done nothing to help."
"Probably because they were afraid I would make an escape attempt by using you poor souls."
"But you've changed! I know you have! You've done so much for us to survive and you gave sanctuary to Capper, Spike and all the rest who needed to escape oppression! So why won't they lift the spell and set us all free?!"
Discord shrugged, "Who knows? Deities have always worked in mysterious ways, I myself did things that didn't make sense at the time but later it did."
Soarin sighed before asking, "So, if he does let us come with him, what will you do?"
"Stay here of course until you come back with a ship to rescue the other ponies. Besides it's just as well I stay put with the other creatures, they'll need a guiding light to keep them from hurting themselves."
Soar rolled his eyes, "You just like the idea of ruling over others."
The draconequus chuckled, "You know me so well."
"Maybe, but I still don't know that much about you, like why did you become a villain in the first place?"
"Like I would ever tell you that, besides you never told me the juiciest parts of your relationship with your fiancée."
"Because there was nothing to tell! We courted just like any other couple! We never did anything scandalous!"
"Oh, poo… that's not interesting in the least bit."
"Hey, we made things interesting enough while we were dating. Dash was always making sure we did something fun and exciting."
"Hm… Sounds like she's quite the catch that are you sure she'll still be available when you get back? It has been over two years since you last saw each other…"
"Don't you dare say that! Rainbow Dash and I made an everlasting vow of love and faithfulness! We shall forever remain loyal to each other! I know deep down that she's still waiting for me!"
"Okay, okay!" Discord held his hands up to shield himself from the pegasus' passionate rant, "Sheesh… ask a question…"
Soarin started to leave, "I have to get going now, it's almost time to meet Terramar."
"Make sure you come back with what the hipposeapony said."
"Naturally, we'll need to think of a Plan B in case the answer is no." on that note he left.
Soarin, Flash, Spike, Capper, Big Mac, and Rumble were back at the waterfall as they waited. Then right on cue, Terramar in seapony form swam in and went to them.
They eagerly looked on as the young seapony got closer.
Terramar gleefully spoke, "I got great news!"
Soarin had a hopeful expression, "She said 'yes'?!"
"You'll see!" he dived back into the water before resurfacing with another seapony that was brightly colored in yellow and blue.
She let out a squeal, "Oh my goodness! Aren't you all amazing! I never thought I would get to meet actual ponies, a dragon, and an Abyssinan in my life! It's such a pleasure to meet all of you! I am Princess Skystar of the hippogriffs, or seaponies, whichever you prefer is fine by me."
The group bowed in respect except Rumble until Flash had to gently push him down.
Capper spoke on their behalf, "And it's an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
Skystar replied, "Why thank you, I understand from Terramar here that you've been trying to get off this island for some time now."
Capper pointed to the stallions, "They are, but Spike and me are fine where we are."
She addressed the ponies, "Well if you wish to get off then we be more than happy to help!"
Soarin, Flash, and Big Mac voiced out, "You will?!"
"Uh-ah! You're lucky, because had your request gone to my mother she would have outright refuse! But she's on a journey right now looking for an important object and since she left the kingdom in my fins or talons I can make the call!"
Soarin beamed, "You have no idea how much we appreciate this."
Rumble said to his sea friend, "Hey, Terramar, that means I can help you with your problem!"
Terramar brightly smiled at this until Flash told Rumble, "It'll have to wait until we get back, sorry."
Both boys groaned.
Skystar mentioned, "I'll have an entourage to personally escort you back to wherever you came from!" she asked Terramar, "Say cuz, do you think Uncle Sky Beak would want to come too?"
Spike pointed, "Wait… you two are related?"
Terramar nervously chuckled, "I guess I forgot to mention that…"
Rumble gapped, "You're a prince?!"
"More or less." he gestured between him and Skystar, "Our mothers are sisters so yeah…"
Skystar whispered loudly behind her fin, "He just doesn't like it when others treat him differently."
Terramar said, "I'm already different as it is, why add to that?"
Capper slightly smiled, "I know how that is, boi."
Spike agreed, "Yup. We've been there too, being the different species that we are."
Skystar declared, "Well, if you're ready, Terramar and I can change you into seaponies and you'll be on your way!" she twirled in excitement.
Soarin looked down to Rumble, "You're sure you want to come? You can still stay with Discord until we get back."
The colt made a determined face, "No, I want to go. Anything to get my brother to wake up faster."
"Okay, but remember you have to do everything we say for your safety."
"I know, you told me this last night. I won't cause any trouble, I promise."
"Alright…" he faced the princess again, "Can we have a few moments to say our goodbyes to our friends?"
The hyper sea princess told him, "Oh! By all means, take as long as you need."
Soarin sighed happily, "Thank you."
The group was back in the village where they told the other castaways the good news. They wished them luck with their journey and some told them to hurry back. Rumble was having a hard time saying goodbye to his best friends and vice versa.
Pip said, "Just make sure you come back as soon as possible."
Button Mash pointed, "Yeah, and don't forget to bring back a ship so we can all go home!"
Skeedaddle voiced in concern, "I hope you don't run into sea monsters or anything."
Rumble laughed, "If I do I'll make sure to teach 'em a lesson they'll never forget!"
While the boys made their final goodbye, Flash, Soarin, and Big Mac had finished their farewells before they turned to Capper and Spike. Flash asked, "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"
Capper stated, "Why should we? You're going to Equestria, it's not like we'll be welcomed there anyway."
Spike nodded, "He's right."
Soarin said, "Okay, we can respect that."
Spike added, "Good luck guys, I hope you have a safe trip."
Rumble joined them then and had overheard, "Wait, you guys aren't coming with us?"
Capper replied, "That's right, kiddo."
Rumble made a pout, "Aw no! I was hoping to spend more time with you two! We were going to have so much fun together!"
Capper and Spike eyed each other feeling stunned.
The young pegasus hung his head and turned away, "But… you know it's fine… I can just do what I can to entertain myself… all alone…" he sighed.
The stallions looked to the cat and dragon seeing the conflict on their faces.
Flash whispered to Soarin, "Should we be discouraging Rumble or encouraging him?"
"Truthfully, I don't know. I want the guys to come, but I don't want to force them."
Mac uttered in, "Eeyup."
Finally Capper inquired to the colt, "Would you be terribly upset if we didn't come?"
Rumble answered with innocent eyes, "Well… um… maybe a little?"
Spike slowly started, "Well then… maybe we can come as long as we don't get too close to Equestria's borders."
Capper agreed, "That could work, good thinking, pal of mine."
Soarin questioned, "So does that mean…?
The cat motioned, "I guess this means we're coming after all."
Rumble lit up, "Really?!" he flew up in delight, "Yippee!"
Flash asked the creatures, "You do realize you two been played, right?"
Capper said, "Oh, we know. Who do you think taught him how to scam like that?"
Spike pointed, "Just knowing he cares about us is enough for us."
Soarin shrugged, "Can't argue with that."
They were back at the waterfall with Flash apologizing to the seaponies, "Sorry we took so long, there were a lot of people wanting to wish us farewell."
Skystar proclaimed, "No problem! I always make sure my subjects get my goodbyes whenever I go somewhere! Like this morning, I had to reassure them that I was leaving for a good cause and not abandoning them or anything!"
Spike winced, "That's… good to know."
Terramar inquired, "So are you ready to go?"
The group glanced at each other with Soarin stating, "We're ready." with him thinking while touching his compass, Me especially…
Skystar announced dramatically, "Then we begin with the transformation!" she took hold of Flash's hoof that was the closest to her, "Join hooves, or hands whichever works for you."
They did as she said with Flash taking hold of Big Mac's hoof and the stallion touched Spike's claw with the dragon grabbing Capper's paw. Capper held Rumble's hoof in which the colt took Soarin's hoof who received Terramar's fin.
The princess exclaimed in a sing-song tone, "Get ready!"
The pearl pieces glowed bright as the magic transferred from the seaponies and onto the ponies and creatures. The glow enveloped them and one by one they grew fins and gills. Once the transformation was done they splashed into the water. Skystar and Terramar joined them underwater to see their new forms.
The stallions marveled at their tail fins, with a fin at the back of the tail sporting their cutie marks. Rumble swam around them saying, "Pretty neat, right?" and wiggled his tail fin.
Flash cried out, "It certainly is!"
Soarin silently agreed and thought that his beloved would have loved this. He pictured them swimming together as seaponies. The idea of Rainbow being a seapony was very appealing to him. Pony or not, his Rainbow Dash would look good in any form.
His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Spike swimming up to them and was shocked.
"Whoa, Spike."
Rumble gawked, "Oh cool!"
Spike was a water dragon with his scales shimmering and his wings were glossed over. His legs were gone and in place was a long tail fin.
Flash said, "Wow, buddy, you look amazing!"
Spike flushed, "Really? You think so?"
Mac motioned, "Eeyup!"
An annoyed voice called out, "Well y'all are lucky. Look at what I got stuck with…"
They turned toward where Capper's voice was and once they saw, they gapped at the sight before laughing like crazy.
Capper had become a large catfish and wore an irritated expression on his face. "Yes, ha-ha, let's all laugh at the cat that's became a fish. Hilarious…"
Spike told him, "Sorry, Cap, but you got to admit it is a little ironic."
The catfish sarcastically replied, "Gee, I had no idea."
Skystar swam up, "It takes awhile to get used to but I'm sure all of you will love your new forms soon enough."
Capper stated, "Just as long as we can go back to our true forms when this is all over, I'll be happy."
The princess gestured, "Well now that we'll all seaponies or sea creatures we can swim under the island and head to Seaequestria. Follow me!" she took the lead and went toward the underwater cave.
The group was right behind her and when entering the cave they marveled at the sight. They swam in the cave for awhile before they saw a light ahead. Skystar and Terramar swam toward it. Soon they emerged from the water followed by the others.
Soarin, Flash, and Big Mac were overwhelmed with joy. They were off the island, they were finally off.
Terramar pointed to a dark cloudy area that was almost touching the water nearby.
"See, that's what your island looks like on the outside."
Rumble gapped, "Wow…"
The grown-ups frowned.
Flashbacks of the storm went through Soarin's mind and he cursed himself for going near the area in the first place. He thought it was just a regular storm he had encountered on the sea before, never had he imagined it was magical just to keep a powerful spirit imprisoned. He promised himself he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice when he'll bring a ship back for the other ponies waiting on the island.
Then he turned to look at the open sea. The horizon was clear and sunny giving Soarin further hope of a bright future coming his way. He touched his compass again and thought with certainty, I'm coming home, Dash… I'm finally coming home…