Octavia's Legged Woes.

by ponystorylyh

Chapter 1: Arrival and Meet Up.

Chapter 1: Arrival and Meet Up.

XX, May, XXXX

Dear Octavia,

Its our pleasure and honor to invite you to attend our 415th Music Festival held in the great water capital of Marelantis. The music festival will last throughout the month of June with non-stop music, food, and parties.

This event is a great opportunity for musicians to gather, share, and showcase their talents. They are also strongly encouraged to participate in musical events, held at the Marelantis Concert Hall.

All transport, lodging, and food will be fully funded by the Tourism Board of Marelantis. Musical instruments are also fully sponsored, thus you are recommended to travel light. You may need to stay a day or two at the surface resort to attune yourself before proceeding down to the capital city itself.  

We look forward to your participation!

Lord String Tie                        

The grey coated earth pony with a treble clef cutie mark got off the airship and stepped onto the dock of the surface resort town, where land dwellers could access the great underwater city of Marelantis. Her long dark grey mane fluttered with the sea breeze as she took in the scenery, while walking toward the entrance of the town. The town was made entirely out of seashells and sands hauled from the sea, and protected by a large bubble of water created from magic.

“Hey Octavia! Over here!” A voice called out to her. Octavia turned to the source of the voice and smiled at the familiar mint coated unicorn with a Lyre cutie mark waving a hoof at her at the entrance. She waved in return and catered over, stopping where the bubble wall separated the town from the docks. "Just touch the bubble, you be fine." Octavia hesitated for a while before placing a hoof onto the bubble. Sure enough, the bubble opened up, allowing the amazed mare through.

“Hey Lyra. Fancy to meet you here. Are you invited as well?” She cantered up to Lyra and gave a hug to her fellow musician friend, who promptly returned the hug and replied, “Partly, I do have some friends down at Marelantis who I have not met for a few years. And I brought Bon Bon along for the trip as well.”

“Speaking of Bon Bon, where is that sweet-tooth pony?”

“She’s just doing her window shopping. I’ve already warned her that this town is more of a tourist trap than a real place for retail therapy.” Lyra chuckled, “Is this your first time here? If so, I can lead you to the resort where you can get accustom to the sea water before proceeding down to the city.”

“Sure thing Lyra, and thanks. Do lead the way.”

The resort was a large complex built right in the centre of the town. It also functions as the town hall on its upper levels. Once leading Octavia there, Lyra excused herself and left to look for her marefriend.

“Welcome! Are you here for the music festival?” A emerald pelt, blue maned mare at the reception counter greeted the musician as the latter approached her.

“Hello. Yes I’m here for the festival, this is the invitation letter.” Octavia handed the letter to the mare, who quickly went through it.

“The letter looked legit. Again we welcome you Miss Octavia.” The mare attending to her smiled as she returned the letter, “Is this your first time here? If so, I can run you through what the resort offers to get you ready for the underwater experience.”

“I’m ready to listen.” Octavia nodded as she was ushered to a table and offered a drink.

“We have two options you may consider,” The emerald coated mare began to explain, “The first is to get you to learn swimming... Umm... Miss Octavia, are you alright? You seemed a little blue...”

“I... I’m fine...” The grey coated pony shuddered at the thought of deep sea diving, “Just not really used to large bodies of water... especially deep ones...” She gulped nervously, “Go on...”

“Where were we.... ahh yes... once you get the hang of the basic swimming strokes, we will provide you with diving gears so you can try out shallow diving. We will only allow full access to Marelantis once you have completed an assessment and shown the confidence needed for deep sea diving.”

“Uhh... I understand...” Octavia started to regret her decision, however her other self was screaming at her on the opportunities she would miss if she gave up now, “How... how about the second option?”

“I’m glad you asked! Most land dwellers, especially earth ponies, balked once we have told them about the first option, but its actually easy if their confidence level were there...” The emerald coated mare shrugged.

“Seems like you are okay with this... being an earth pony...” Octavia countered. She knew it was a silly comment as this mare seemed to be very comfortable talking about it.

“I see where you are going with this...” The mare chuckled, mirroring Octavia’s comment, “Your comment in question leads to the second option which I’m about to explain to you... Or do you want to see how this option works?”

“Seeing is more convincing...” The musician finished her drink and got up, “Lead the way.”

The resort staff lead Octavia to an empty pool, where the former entered the shallow area; the water reaching up to her sides, “Notice the necklace I’m wearing? For the second option, you do this...” The mare lifted a hoof and gently tapped the gem on the simple accessory. Octavia can actually see the magic flowed out of the gem and enveloped the pony. A flash of light followed, causing the musician to blink, then stared in surprise at the new creature now in the pool, “What do you think? Pretty neat, right?” The sea pony commented in a higher pitch voice as it swam around the deeper part of the pool. Octavia just stood there, jaws gaped wide in shocked, “That look is priceless!” The mare turned sea creature giggled, then noted two ponies walking past, “Is that you Lyra?!”

“I know that voice!” Lyra and her marefriend Bon Bon, whose cutie mark was of three wrapped sweets, trotted over to confirm, “Hello Sea Mint, it’s been a while...” Lyra turned to the still shocked Octavia. “Sea, is this what I think it is?” Lyra enquired as Bon Bon acknowledged the sea pony with a nod.

“Maybe...” Sea Mint grinned, “Has your marefriend beside you been explained on our options?”

“Yea she was informed on both...” Lyra turned to Bon Bon, “Bon, Sea Mint will give us a live demonstration on Option Number Two! Now watch and be awed, like Octavia!” She laughed and prodded the grey coated musician, who was still stunned in shock. “Hold that thought!” The mint coated unicorn interrupted the sea pony before she could revert back, “I’ll demonstrate instead, that gem of yours has limited charges.”

“Lyra, I know you are enthused on going to Marelantis. Shouldn’t you let the professional demonstrate instead?” Bon Bon enquired with a look of concern as Lyra waded into the pool.

“I thought you know me better Bon. Remember the time when I got afflicted with the Poison Joke? Fingers are fascinating!” The mint coated unicorn snickered as she waded deeper, “Really been a while... water is chilly.” She muttered, turning back to face her marefriend, “No worries! I am a ‘professional’ after all.” Lyra’s horn glowed as she mentally versed out the enchantment she had known long ago, “Here we go!” Her body was quickly engulfed by the spell as she released it. Bon Bon had to flinch away as the spell ended in a flash.

“Lyra?” The navy-pink maned pony blinked, realising that the mint unicorn was nowhere to be seen. A splash, followed by a squeal of delight as a familiar mint figure jumped into the air, landing back into the water shortly after, “Lyra?!”

“What’s up Bon? Not used to see your best friend as a sea pony?” Lyra giggled as she pounced over and hugged her friend, fins too short to hug the cream coated pony neck fully.

“Nice job Lyra, we have a match!” Sea Mint laughed pointing her fin at Bon Bon who was pretty much stunned like Octavia. Lyra let go of the hug and inspected the both earth ponies, then falling back into the pool shrieking with laughter...

Shoo bee doo, Shoo Shoo bee doo~   

A splash of cold water woke both ponies from their shocked state, “You two alright?” Sea Mint, reverted back to earth pony form, asked as they shook off their weariness.

“Just wet...” Octavia groaned, recovering somewhat and shook off the water as much as possible, “And a possible mental shutdown...”

“Lyra?!” The first word that came out from Bon Bon as she recovered, only to spot her unicorn friend slouching on one of the beach benches.

“Sea Mint didn’t agree with me on waiting for you all to recover...” Lyra waved a hoof, “I wanted to see how long...” Before she could finish, the navy-pink maned pony was upon the unicorn, “Are there more secrets you are hiding from me?” Bon Bon glared fiercely at Lyra, “All these years...”

Lyra sweatdropped as she stared up at her marefriend, “Well... its kinda complicated right now... I was prepared to share them with you... when we go down to Marelantis...” Her eyes glanced to Sea Mint for help, “We are best friends... right?”

Octavia facehoofed, “I suppose you have somewhere to rest while I make a decision?” She asked the resort staff, who replied, “I have a room prepared for you Miss Octavia, do come this way...” As Sea Mint lead the earth pony away, she turned to Lyra mouthing silently, “Deal with it!” 

The day passed swifty. Octavia was lying on the bed, sub-consciously strumming an invisible musical instrument. Earlier she had taken a shower and a light meal before retiring to her room. Her mind was still conflicting over the two options given to her. At least her decision to visit the underwater capital remained steadfast. A knock on the door broke her from her thoughts.

"Octavia, are you in? It's me, Bon Bon."

The musician reluctantly rolled off the bed and opened the door, "Apologies for the wait, I was thinking about the options given..."

"... for access to Marelantis? I was hoping to get some insights from a fellow earth pony... I hope I'm not intruding anything..." The navy-pink maned pony asked nervously.

"You came at the right time Bon Bon," Octavia smiled as she ushered the pony in, "I could use a brainstorming session as well. Almost gone crazy in making a decision on top of having nothing to do. How I wish I had my cello with me right now." Her hooves are practically itching right now.

"I think I can understand your current plight. Lyra would always have her instrument with her whenever she's bored." Bon Bon giggled, "And speaking of instrument," the cream coated pony dug into the saddlebag she had with her and pulled out a lyre, "Will this suffice?"

"Verily!" Octavia received the lyre and did a test strum, noting the sound quality emitted from it, "Lyra's right?" Bon Bon nodded, "Shows she takes good care of it." She began to play a little tune on it, filling the room with soft music, "Where is that silly unicorn right now?"

"She's probably ‘frolicking’ in the pool." The cream coated pony sighed, "Been edgy and avoiding my questions ever since we set hoof on this resort."

"You should know her better. Lyra never shares much about her past." Octavia finished the tune and started another, “By accompany her to Marelantis, she’s gradually opening herself up to you.”

“That’s good... I hope...” Bon Bon looked down at her hooves, “I really really like her...” This caused Octavia to stop playing and stared at the navy-pink maned pony.

“Run by me that again?”

“I like her... very much...” the beet-red cheek Bon Bon muttered, but loud enough for the musician to hear. Octavia had heard rumours regarding the two of them being very close. Now she was hearing it directly from the pony’s mouth.

“Wow... so its true... that clueless mare actually got a love interest!” Octavia chuckled as she restarted her strumming. For a moment, nothing was spoken between them.

“How about you Octavia? I heard from Lyra that a certain disc jockey pony seemed to have a crush on you.”

“Wait... what?!” The dark grey maned pony stopped playing the instrument and started a second round of staring at Bon Bon, “The only disc jockey pony I know is Vinyl Scratch!” Octavia put down the Lyre, “That mare is loud, rowdy, uncouth, and always annoys me with her antics. I’m amazed of myself how I actually put up with her!” She huffed.

“Because you are her best friend since your filly years.” A voice came from outside the room, causing both Bon Bon and Octavia to squeal and jump in surprise.

“How long had you been out there Miss Heartstrings?!” The grey coated earth pony recognised the voice.

“I could hear your voice across three rooms Octavia.” Lyra chuckled and let herself into the room, seeing the scary glares coming from her marefriend, as well as from an embarrassed musician, “At ease ladies, its Octavia’s rant that brought me here. However, I am surprised to see Bon Bon here as well.”

“We... we were... discussing about the options given to us today... but sorta side-tracked...” Bon Bon nervously replied, where Octavia quickly added, “Actually, we were just finalising...”, trying to divert back to the main topic, “And both of us agreed the first option is not suitable.”

“Of course the ‘professional’ can help us understand further on the second option we had witness earlier...” The cream coated pony caught on the drift and went along with it, ‘expecting’ the only unicorn in the room to fall for the praise.

Lyra grinned as all of them settled down, not before she used her magic to pull a lounge chair for both of them, and a normal one for herself, where she literally slouch on it, “Ask away, The Professional will answer all your questions.” She waved a hoof and stroked her chin as if she had a bread.

“Right...” Octavia rolled her eyes and coughed, the diversion a success by both of them, “Sea Mint mentioned the gem on her necklace before she changed into a sea pony. Might want to explain that to us?”

“In laymare terms...” Bon Bon emphasised. The grey coated pony facehoofed however.

“Processing... please wait...” Lyra crossed her hooves and closed her eyes.

“Is she alright?” Bon Bon leaned in close to Octavia and whispered.

“This is what happens when you ask her to explain in laymare terms...” Ocatvia whispered back with a sigh, “This may take a while...”

“Process completed!” The mint unicorn chimed and opened her eyes, looking at both earth ponies, “The gem is infused with a shape-shifting spell. What the spell does is to swap a pure magic sea pony’s essence with your land dwelling pony’s essence through the gem. Simply put, you get a sea pony form, while your earth pony form is stored in the gem.” She finished with a smile, “Any further questions?”

“Understandable so far...” Bon Bon replied, “What’s the sucess rate in this process?”

“So far from what I know, its 100%. These gems are strictly screened and the spell infused with great care. Even a minute hairline crack on the gem warrants the rejection notice.”

“Seems like this ‘professional’ knows her stuff, “Octavia chuckled, quite impressed with Lyra’s explanation, “Is it hard to adapt to the sea pony form?”

“Apart from having fins and no legs...” Lyra spreaded her front hooves and wobbled them about, “Its easy if you get the swimming motions correct... and shaking a bit of flank isn’t that bad...” She shrugged.

“Shake... shaking... flank?!” Bon Bon looked at the mint coated unicorn with a mixture of horror and embarrassment.

“You asked for laymare terms...” Octavia snickered, giving the navy-pink maned pony a nudge, “I kind of ‘understand’ the process to an understandable level. Very much appreciated on your time... and your Lyre's.” The grey pony returned the instrument.

“So that’s where it went to... sneaky Lyre you...” Lyra received the Lyre and nuzzled it, “Mommy is not gonna let you out of her sight again...”

“Ugh... this again...” Bon Bon rolled her eyes, got off the lounge and bucked the chair, knocking the mint coated unicorn off it, still muttering sweet nothings to her stringed instrument as she laid on the floor, “We good to go tomorrow Octavia?”

“I guess so...” Octavia acknowledged, watching the cream coated pony dragging the light blue-white maned unicorn out of the room before proceeding to tidy up the room for the night.