Cory and his friends stared at the edge of the ocean, ready to step into the water. At last the time had come. The time Cory would finally lay his fear to rest. He couldn't believe it was already here. For some reason, he felt as if there was something else to do. But everything had been done in preparation for this. Two Hippogriffs had touched his rib cage and back to check his breathing, which had recovered substantially. Then they checked his eyes, his mane, his hooves, and his skin, which had gained pigmentation after a few hours under the sun on Harmonizing Heights. After this physical examination, they gave Terramar the OK as he linked hoof and claw with his group. Cory stared down at the water that was just barely touching his hind legs. After a few worried breaths, he gave them all the nod of approval, and they started to wade into the sea.
First it was up to their ankles. Then they waited for a few moments walked further out. Next, it was up to their knees. Cory started to panic a little as they lifted off the sandy floor and waded against the water. So he clung tightly to both his mother's hoof and Spike's claw.
"It's gonna be alright son." Twilight reassured him.
So they pushed further into the sea, and were now waist high in water. Cory let out a few weeps and whimpers, begging that he would stay afloat and not drown.
"You're doing great so far." Camden complimented.
Now they were up to their ribcages in saltwater. It was cold to the touch, hardly bearable for Cory's already vulnerable skin. He closed his eyes, wishing he was somewhere else.
"We're almost there. Hang on Cory." Spike said.
Finally, the whole gang was nodded head deep in the ocean, still holding each others appendages. Cory looked up at the sky, and closed his eyes shut, praying for it all to stop. After a deep sigh...
"Alright." He said. "Let's just get this over with."
Terramar smiled as he touched his fragment of the pearl with his claw. Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped the crew, bright enough for Cory to see through his closed eyes. Next thing he knew, he felt the rest of his body submerged underwater. His eyes remained as tight as they could. But strangely, he felt as though he didn't have to hold his breath. So, he opened his mouth, and was able to breathe without suffocating. Through his ears, he heard the delightful laughter and joyfulness that was Scootaloo swimming, while the sounds of Rachel, Camden and Sunburst made sounds of amusement and amazement.
Cory carefully opened his eyes and looked right and left at Spike and Twilight. Only instead of seeing a young dragon, he saw what looked like a cross between a pufferfish, and Flounder from the Little Mermaid. He looked down and saw a fish tail in place of his back hooves. And in place of wings, he had a pair of sail fins for navigation.
"This is unbelievable." He said to himself in whisper.
"I'm just as surprised as you Cory." Camden replied.
"Oh, now I get to really get up close with endangered species." Rachel added with glee.
"TOLD YA THIS WAS AWESOME!!" Scootaloo shouted as she re-tested her new fins.
"Incredible." Sunburst commented while examining the new self. "It's as if I'm in the body of another species."
"Oh dang it, not again." Said Spike as he puffed up.
"Hang on Spike." Laughed Twilight as she de-inflated him.
"So guys." Said Terramar. "Wanna come meet my mom Ocean Flow? She's really eager to meet some of you."
"HEE-HEE!!" Pinkie Pie squealed. "Absotutely. I can't wait to meet my friend Princess Skystar!! And she is just dying to see you all."
Cory noticed he was still holding tightly onto his mother's hoof and Spike's fin. And yet, he started to feel there was a reason not to do so. In spite of being surrounded by his worst fear, he wasn't afraid any longer. Still, he had the paranormal idea that someone was going to push him down and suffocate him.
"Come on little brother." Applejack said. "Time's a wastin."
Cory nodded slightly as he and the gang swam towards a nearby cave. It was dark, yet colorful at the same time. filled with coral, seaweed and other invertebrate creatures. Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, it had remained untouched by the stress of climate change. As Scootaloo and Pinkie Pie gleefully swam around the school of seaponies, Cory took a moment to gaze in wonder at this natural cavern. He had never seen anything so beautiful and unspoiled before. Without even knowing it, his grasp on his mother and Spike began to loosen. For the first time in so long, he was no longer afraid. In fact, he felt right at home with the watery surroundings.
Then, they gazed at the edge of the cavern at what appeared to be a large city of Chandeliers and hanging lights, deeply nestled in a reef, filled with seaponies. Surrounding them were aquatic seapony inhabitants of every size and color. Some were playing, some were laughing, but most were going about their daily routine. Everything seemed happy and joyful, with all the living things in their right place. It was new world that would make Jacques Costeau blush. It was as if Cory and the gang had found the lost city of Atlantis.
It was then Terramar directed them to one of the hanging houses where he lived. Upon realizing Terramar lived in two places at once, Cory remembered how he had that same deal with Applejack and Twilight. Inside was a typical Seapony living space, though, like above, it resembled a gazebo. Clearly the inhabitants that decided to live on the surface had kept some of the antiquities of their world below. In the center of the living room of seashells and memorabilia was a few other female seaponies prepping a meal for their guests, with what appeared to be Terramar's mother in the center.
"Mom!" Terramar shouted gleefully.
"Terramar! Welcome home dear!!" She replied as she gave her son a big hug. "Ah and I see you've brought our guests as planned."
"I sure did." He replied. "Cory, I'd like to introduce you to my mom: Ocean Flow."
"Uh, hello." Cory replied shyly.
"Prince Capricore?!" Ocean Flow replied as she swam toward him. "What an honor to meet such a talented artist. You know, Silverstream has told me soooo much about you."
Cory's face turned to guilt once more as she said her name.
"I think we may have a few pieces of your work at the museum we have down here." She continued.
"Ya hear that little brother!" Applejack commented. "Yer famous even in these parts!"
"That sounds amazing!!" Pinkie Commented. "Well, I'm gonna go catch up with my friend Skystar if anypony wants to tag along."
"I'm with ya!" Said Spike as he swam along with her.
"I for one would love to explore this mysterious place." Sunburst added. "I would really love to study the different undersea treasures seaponies have."
"Terramar." Said Twilight. "How about you give my son a little tour of that museum your mom mentioned."
"Sure thing." Terramar replied. "You're gonna love what I have to show for you Cory."
"Well I'm looking forward to it Terramar." Cory replied. "I'm letting go of my fear already."
So as the afternoon went on, everyone was found enjoying their activities under the sea. Scootaloo was swimming and racing with her new dolphin pals; Pinkie Pie was making sea necklaces for her Skystar, and all the other seaponies; Spike and Applejack were jamming to a few tunes a local band put together, Rachel and Camden were enjoying a little light show spectacle from a school of jellyfish; and Twilight and Ocean Flow were looking at some more baby photo's of Silverstream and Terramar, much to Terramar's disdain upon hearing this.
But that was besides the point. Cory could be seen touring the various sights and sounds Seaquestria had to offer. From their various shops, to their naturally crafted caverns, to the ancient historical jewels and artifacts the inhabitants preserved over the years. Sunburst, being the antique fanatic he was, decided to tag along with them.
The collection of artistic items was more diverse than Cory expected. That being said, their first stop was at the Seaquestria historical society. There, they gazed at paintings and statues of historically significant events in their community: from when they hid from the storm king, to portraits of the leaders and warriors of yore, to battle sequences against Kraken and sea dragons, all the way to the point where the Mane 6 first arrived, to mixed results of course.
Next was the vastly unspoiled majesty of the coral reef gardens. It was like a kaleidoscope of colors splattered into the ocean, making waves against the current. Off in the distance, he saw Scootaloo playing a game of race with a school of anchovies, while to his left, he saw Pinkie and Applejack putting a prank on Spike, causing him to puff up. It was at that moment Cory took a moment to examine a group of anemones with clownfish swimming in and out of their homes. For a few seconds, he thought he had spotted Nemo and Dory from a particular film he recently saw. It was then Rachel and Camden came swimming by.
"So, how you feeling Cory?" Rachel commented.
"I feel as though I'm seeing something from Pixar." Cory commented.
"This Pixar of which you speak of sounds like a place of great power in your world." Terramar commented, to which Cory and his two friends snickered quietly.
"You know," Cory continued. "Being among these natural wonders, it makes me feel a little guilty for the ones in our world."
"What do you mean?" Terramar asked.
"Well, much as we hate to admit it," Camden added. "We're not as respectful to our coral reefs as you are."
"It's become an international issue in our world," Rachel added. "What with pollution, and greenhouse gases and..."
"Rachel," Camden interrupted. "Maybe you should save that when you're not around Cory. We're trying to relieve of his anxiety, remember?
"Oh, Sorry."
Their final stop of the day was at the Seaquestria Museum of Fine Arts. It was a tapestry of every medium imaginable from all over Equestria. The abstracts were magnificent, the sculptures were finely crafted, and the hanging installations melded in with the architecture from above. There was even a video installation of some avant garde film imported from Fillydelphia. All around him, Cory could see Hippogriffs and tourists in Seapony form looking around at the wonders each artist had to offer. This place had really become a hotspot for residents and visitors.
But among all the astounding creations that were displayed for the public to see, Cory's was surprisingly the most popular. In a special room, Cory was surprised to find that the entire area was devoted to his work alone. Some were sculptures made out of junk, others were structures made out of old barn material, and a few were even some jewelry items made out of old straws and toys.
"Gee." He said to himself. "I didn't know I'd be this popular."
"Well, you are more of an inspiration than you think Capricore." Terramar replied.
Since Cory had obviously already seen this artwork, he swam on down the museum for other things to observe. A few had caught his eye, including a recreation of a giant jellyfish and a few mosaics featuring whales and sea turtles. Some of the work even melted into the floor become a part of the carpeting, making an even more surreal experience. Finally, he rested on a chair staring at what looked like a german expressionist portrait of the city. Unbeknowest to him, Sunburst, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rachel, Camden, Scootaloo, Skystar and Spike swam up behind him to look in wonder at the beauty of the art.
"I gotta tell ya this stuff really makes you proud." Cory said enthusiastically. "I could stay down here in this room all day."
"Well it doesn't have to end now." Pinkie Pie commented.
Cory turned around to see the whole gang with smiling faces, as if they were willing to stay a little longer. Inside, he knew he had conquered his fear.
"Pinkie," Cory said humbly. "I think you know the drill by now."
PInkie made a huge smile and started to sing a song everyone was familiar with.