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// Swimming with Stingrays 
// Story: Strange Encounters: Of the Pony Kind 
// by The Dauntless Entrinity 
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Have I told you the time I went swimming with sting rays?

When I took a cruise, we stopped in Mexico. It was a beautiful place to see, and even better to shop. But this story isn’t about how many marble chess boards and shot glasses I bought. This is about the time I went swimming with sting rays, and a pony.

I arrived at a dock with a few boats on it and several groups of people and ponies waiting for their excursions. Looking at my papers I double checked to make sure I was in the right place and as luck would have it, I had a group with the two ponies. There were around ten others people as well one light green stallion with green hair and one pink mare with deep strawberry hair, who wiggled her rump to me with a saucy smile. She had obviously had a few to drink but that was expected when it comes to cruises. At least she was having fun, most ponies are nervous around us, being in a new world and all. 

After a few minutes of waiting and a small bit of mingling, we all boarded the small ship and began sailing out to sea. The same mare from before sat down next to me. She was wearing a black water vest and held her fore-arms together in her lap. After a few minutes of silence she looked over to me and gave me a small pat on the shoulder. “Have you been swimming with sting rays before?” She asked, looking at me enthusiastically.

“No. This is my first time. How about you?” I asked with a friendly tone.

“This is my first time as well. I’m kind of nervous about it… Is it true that their barbs can kill you?” She asked, this time in a less enthusiastic way.

“Yeah, but that won’t happen.” I said, trying my best to encourage her. This brought back her genuine smile and she scooted a little bit closer to me, her tail hanging off the side of the boat as it zoomed through the water.

In all, it took us about an hour and a half to reach our destination. There was a collection of other boats around us, but there was easily fifty yards between us and any others. Our boat came to a stop outside of a sandbar and the captain started telling us about the stingrays and other facts about the ocean. But when it came time to get into the water, there was a certain pony that was still sitting down. 
“Aren’t you coming?” I asked, already on the edge and about to jump in.

“I thought about it, and I don’t really want to go.” The pink pony said, fumbling with her hooves.

“Oh come on, it’ll be fun.” I encouraged, giving a wave with my hand.

“Maybe to you humans but not to me.” She said with a harsh tone.

“Is the horsey scared?” I teased, wiggling my butt in a mocking manner.

“Do I really look like a horse to you?” She asked with an annoyed expression. I bet that if she was a human her hands would have been on her hips at that point.

“Well, not really. You look more like a coug-I-I mean big cat. You’re about the same size as a mountain lion.” I said, stumbling on my words. I could tell the pink mare was curious about humans and I didn’t feel like leading her on by saying cougar. From what my college course taught me she looked to be my age, eight-teen, but I still didn’t dare risk it. 

“The least you could do is watch from the second deck.” I said gesturing to the stairs. The boat we were on had a small second deck that made up the roof with a spiral staircase leading to it.

“Fine.” The pink mare huffed. Hesitantly, she got up from her seat and climbed the stairs. I followed behind, a mischievous plan forming in my head. Arriving on the top deck we both looked out over the vast ocean. It was a few shades darker than the sky and went on forever. You could easily see the stingrays from the top as they flew through the water.

“I admit, it does look kind of fun.” The mare said, leaning up against the railing.

“Told you. So, what’s your name?” I asked, leaning up against the railing as well.

“Cherry Opal. You?” The mare said, showing me her cutie mark which consisted of a cherry shaped gemstone.

“Brandon.” I said simply.

“So are you just really tan or are you some different species?” She asked, tilting her head to side and scanning me up and down. 

“I’m not some different species, I’m just black.” I said, not taking offense from the question. It’s not like she knew. From the three years ponies have been on earth, I tend to get asked what I am a lot. And next as always would be…

“But you’re brown.” she said, her face showing her confusion.

“I know, but for a very long time we’ve just called ourselves black.” I said, being patient with the pony.

“Ah, exotic.” Cherry Opal said, turning back to the railing. Growing tired of the conversation and seeing that Cherry Opal was distracted I decided to enact my plan.

Making sure not to disturb Cherry, I quietly made my way behind the pink mare. “Cherry you can swim, right?” I asked in a low voice.

“Of course, I wouldn’t have gone on this- why?” cherry Opal asked, turning her head quickly. Before she could say anything else I lifted her up and tossed her over the railing, away from the stingrays of course. She was about ninety pounds. The pink mare screamed as she flew over the railing and into the blue water. Splash!

I’ll skip what happened next, as a few cuss words were thrown my way. But by the end of the day Cherry and I were soaked and had a memory to share..

Now we come to the end of my story. Nothing else happened the end….

Okay fine, I may have gotten a kiss from Cherry. But that’s it! Anyway, Cherry and I are friends now and we meet up every now and again and for the rest of that cruise we hung out together, exchanging friends and getting to know each other. So happily ever after. The End.


]Do you have any encounters of the pony kind? Then PM me and I’ll give you my email, I’ll be sure to give you the credit and put your story here on… Strange Encounters: Of the Pony Kind