//------------------------------// // To Southern Equestria, Part 1 // Story: A new chapter // by Ponelover //------------------------------// Silverstream, a scientist? Huh, wow! I certainly didn’t expect THAT out of all things to happen! I mean, okay, when I was teaching Silverstream, she wasn’t exactly the type of Hippogriff to just put a lot of concentration into one thing, she’d always have her mind on one thing, get interested in another thing, and then promptly forget the thing she was last concentrating her mind on. Textbook frazzlebrained behaviour. “Oh, and this here is the Rocket Testing Site! Look at IIIIIIIIITT!! It’s pretty cool isn’t it?” Silverstream beamed, outstretching her claws to the gigantic, white tubular thing standing upright, symbols of the Sun and Moon abound. “So this here is what we call a multistage device, this big thing over here, will separate into the ocean and then a much smaller module will be brought into the upper atmosphere, where it will then separate into the crew module and then the ponies inside that big can will be in SPACE. Cool right?!?” “Uhhh, yeah, I guess.” I heard Sunset respond, not sure if her reaction should be awe or confusion. “So uhh. Silverstream! Do you like, work in a specific part of the spaceship? Or something?” “Oh, hey there Headmare Starlight! Gosh, I almost forgot about you in all this chaos! Of course! I work in life support systems, like supplying oxygen and everything! It’s deeefinitely a big responsibility, but i’ve got my Big Hippogriff pants on and we’re making progress on how long we can supply oxygen for the ponies going to space!” I am not sure if I should be concerned or delighted that Silverstream is now working in such an important part of a spaceship. Judging by all of everything, I am leaning more towards concern. “Well, I guess you landed a nice job and everything.” “Oh yeeeaaahhh. I certainly didn’t expect to get this job here when I did my liiiitle exploration party down south, I mean, making friends with Batponies are fun and all, but I ceeeertainly didn’t expect that all that friendship would bring me here, like HERE here! Get it? B’cuz back then this site was really top secret and I had to sign a bunch of NDA’s and everything. But, alright, so I went back to school, with my friends and Queen Novo willing to pay for my education. Gosh, did I tell you that Queen Novo is just the sweetest Seapony imaginable?” We all shook our heads. “Well, see, the Queen was all official like and saying this was ‘a good opportunity to deepen ties between Seaquestria and Equestria.’ But I wasn’t thinking about the whole diplomatic shebangebang thingy when I finished with my degree in… guess what?” “Uhh? Rocket Science?” I guessed. “Nope! Engineering, silly! Rocket science is for the nerds who build the rockets, the rest of us here are Engineers. But, anyway, where was I? Oh right! I think our little tour here is done, now. Can I actually talk with that Blue Seapony? Please please please???” I looked at Sonata’s very uncomfortable face. She was unsure, and definitely uncomfortable with discussing her seaponyness with Silverstream. “Can… Can I opt out of this? I don’t like talking about my past, for realsies.” “Awww you shouldn’t!” Silverstream responded. “You know, growing up in Seaquestria and all that, we wondered what happened to the original inhabitants of the lands downstairs, and wow. Don’t you know that there was an original Kingdom of Seaponies? Like, actual Seaponies?” The Hippogriff touched the gem in her chest, transforming the hippogriff, her form surprising Sonata. “And we also took inspiration from your forms when Queen Novo was busy tinkering with the Pearl of Transformation, we have to thank you for that.” I tried attempting an intervention, since Sonata Dusk seems to be rather uncomfortable discussing everything with the very energetic Hippogriff, but to no avail, she just continuously barraged Sonata with questions, so much that, to a point. The blue Seapony decided that she had enough. “ENOUGH!” Sonata screamed, her voice warping a little bit and much louder than usual. Shocking both Silverstream and all of us into silence. “Fine, Silverstream, if you want to talk about the original Seaponies, then alright, we’ll talk. But not here, and definitely not with all these ponies around. Got that?” We all seemingly nodded our heads. With Silverstream, back in her Hippogriff form, now looking much more somber than usual. Her eyes and face seemingly filled with regret. “Look, I uhh, I have energy problems, that’s what my coworkers always tell me. And I always have to let out steam once in a while.” She said, surprising me with how much deeper Silverstream’s voice can be. “When I see that a creature from rock carvings in the middle of the ocean suddenly appeared…... Well, it has been a long work week, and I thought that I must know all of you better.” “Well, there’s a reason why we almost went extinct.” Sonata replied, drawing the attention of all of us. “And, sorry Sunset, but for realsies? I don’t wanna talk about this in front of you. Can I have some private time with Silverstream for a while here? They seem to have the magic of the Pearl.” Sunset only smiled and nodded. Letting both of the figures go. “So uhh, see you all back in 15 to 30 minutes? Right here maybe?” Sonata said. To a chorus of nods. “Alright, see ya!” As the Seapony and the Hippogriff left. I was left standing with 2 other mares, and a ton of spare time to boot, I certainly didn’t expect that this Sonata girl would scream like that. “Anyway, i’m starving. Wanna go hit up lunch?” I asked, both Sunset and Tempest nodding to my offer. A good break is definitely needed from all those rapid questions from Silverstream and the sudden outburst from Sonata. Maybe a hayburger… Fun fact. ‘Original’ Seaponies can fly, and fly really well. This is a fact that is used to my benefit, as we both flew to the outskirts of the Rocket Launch facility, landing in a nearby meadow. Perfect! This seems like a perfect place to talk some sense into this Silverstream. And it appears that she seems to be the same big ball of energy that I just met when Sunset crashed into her. All very enthusiastic about hearing my story on the sirens. Okay, i’m usually just as cheery as her, but discussing my species’ extinction? That tends to get me in a really bad mood, and I don’t like being in a bad mood. Gosh! Just what happened to me? I seem to talk like Sunset all of a sudden? That sounds really weird! “Okay then, now, whaddaya want to know about me?” I started, better finish this conversation ASAP and move to nicer things, like things for lunch, or maybe more space stuff. Human space stuff is always so fascinating! And I really, really want to know more about this pony space program thingy. “Well, EVERYTHING! What happened to you? It is said that when Queen Novo obtained the Pearl of Transformation from Mount Aris, it allowed us to go beneath the waves and turn into Seaponies! And down below, while we were building our new kingdom because there’s a mean old Storm King terrorizing everything above, we found out these reeeeally unusual sets of rock carvings, depicting the ‘Original Seaponies’ as we called them. They’re being preserved because, y'know, history. But really! What are you though?!? And why aren’t you around anymore?” I sighed. “You know Silverstream. It’s not really nice to ask why your species nearly died, I mean, do you think that it’s a nice thing to ask someone?” Ah! Now she realized what she just asked, and her ears predictably drooped down, honestly I would’ve done the same if I realized the implications of what I'm asking. I placed my fins on Sonata’s shoulders, comforting her. “Hey. It’s fine, we all make mistakes, some of us bigger than others, don’t worry too much about this okay? Maybe next time, try to be more considerate when asking questions?” I took a deep breath, alright, let’s get this little bit out from my head. I guess I also need to get some closure from the extinction of my species. “So, you have this ‘Pearl of Transformation’ right?” “Well, not me specifically, but Queen Novo has it! She just found it lying around in Mount Aris one day, and when she unlocked its powers, BAM! A world of opportunity arose!” “Well, yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised. That little pearl your kingdom has? Probably one of the most potent magical weapons we sirens had, I believe… and sorry, but my memory is very spotty, that it’s called the Seamstress’s pearl. Because it used to belong to a very old, and very powerful Queen of the Sirens, who was also conveniently a Seamstress by hobby! I think she’s called Queen Siren Song or something, sorry, that’s like, ancient history even for someone as old as me!” “But anyway, that pearl is probably one of the reasons we Sirens are extinct by now. How long have you been living in Equestria by the way? Just wanna know.” “Oh! It’s been ages. I actually lost count.” Silverstream responded, her characteristic cheery side of herself showing up once again. “Maybe 10, no, 8 years. Eh, it doesn’t matter.” “So you have heard of the story of the three sirens right? The ones that sow discord and distrust between the ponies? With Starswirl and all that?” “Oh, yes! Definitely! They sure are a bunch of pretty mean Sirens aren’t they?” “Yeah, I reckon…” My suggestion didn’t seem to create much of a reaction from Silverstream. Seriously? Does she not realize that I’m... “You do realize that I was one of the sirens right?” “Oh, yeah… Wait WHAT?!? Seriously?!?” “Yeah, I was one of the sirens who ‘bought chaos and discord throughout Equestria’, and yeah the stories are all true. We were big time meanies, we did reform though! For all that’s worth…” I noticed the gears moving from Silverstream’s eyes. “Ohhhhh, you’re probably that blue siren right? The one with the ‘most insane’ personality, at least that’s how Starswirl writes of you.” “Yeah, i’m that one. Did Starswirl ever mention why we caused chaos though? Like totally? At all?” “Nope! I just read the book and all of it is just Starswirl rambling about how evil you sirens are. I think that’s called a uhhh… what’s that called?” “Biased?” “Yeah! Yeah! Biased! That’s the word! Gosh, I'm learning all these new concepts after I landed here. I mean, professionalism? Biases? Academic Neutrality? What is that?!?” I laughed a bit at Silverstream’s confusion. She reminds me of, well, me after I arrived in the human world, trying to get our bearings together after that fateful battle against Starswirl and his pillars. Man, the human world back then was not kind towards females, let me tell ya, we had a rough time adapting to the social norms and adapting to human culture and all that shebang. I still sometimes wonder why we’re still alive. Especially after all our escapades in the human world. “Anyway, Sonata, why did you cause all that chaos? You don’t seem like a particularly bad siren or anything.” Silverstream asked. Very curious as to my answer. Who wouldn’t be, one close look and a short chat with me is all you need to know that I would never hurt a fly. So why did I do all that? I sighed. “Well, to keep things short, way back in those times, the sirens were dying. There was a sort of plague that was killing all of us, and the Queen Of The Sirens back then ordered the three of us, Adagio, Aria and myself to find a good source of energy to sustain our bodies while the Sirens searched for a cure. One thing led to another, we found that causing discord is a really good source of energy, and we got banished to the human world for a very, very long time.” “Yeah, with us gone, I think we’re extinct at this point.” I finished, closing my eyes. “Don’t worry about me, Silverstream, my only hope is that wherever the Sirens are, they’re fine.” I did a short prayer for the rest of my siren friends that must be departed, I have been over this grief for a very long time. Centuries of living in the human world have allowed me to process my grief and come to terms with it, I was almost about to cry, but I held back, no Sonata, now’s not the time to cry. I opened my eyes and swiveled my head. Only to see a sobbing mess of a Hippogriff standing in front of me. “That’s... that’s so SAD!!! Oh, I'm very sorry for asking you that question Sonata. It must’ve felt really, REALLY bad for you!” She was practically sobbing at this point. Tears were streaming from her eyes and snot was running down from her nose. I patted the pink Hippogriff on the back just to make sure that she is fine. “Hey, it’s water under the bridge now. It’s way too late to do anything, and your Queen stumbling upon the Seamstress’ pearl just like that is very indicative that the rest of us are probably dead. It’s fine Sonata, it’s way too late to do anything anyway.” That certainly didn’t stop the crying of the Hippogriff in front of me. Which, in a sudden move, decided to hug me, still crying her eyes out. Heh, this is new, telling your story and then having the listener being the one crying. Shouldn’t this be the opposite? We returned back to the place we left. That ‘Rocket Testing Site’ Silverstream gushes so often about, and, as expected, we saw our friends. I smiled at Sunset. “Hey girls! You okay?” I asked. “Y’know, we had a nice, good, and very looooong talk with each other. Don’t you know that they’re still discovering several places in Seaquestria that are like ancient Siren settlements? Let me tell ya, that’s a very good trip down memory lane, with all the weird descriptions Silverstream had for things I know about, heheh.” It's a bit funny for me, whenever Silverstream mentions a certain archeological site or something like that. I’m always quick to correct her about the correct term for the place, it’s fun seeing her describe vividly places that would be just like, a toilet or some siren’s house for example. “Anyway, I think that-” “SILVERSTREAM!” The pink Hippogriff suddenly froze up, and turned to see a dark coated mare. “We kinda need you over here. The life support team says that we’ve made a breakthrough in oxygen creation!” She beamed after that. “Alright then! Sorry girls, I’d love to talk to you, but duty awaits! Maybe we can meet with each other at like, sundown? You’re staying here right? Please say yes! Please say yes!” I giggled at her. “Of course we are, silly! We’re not just some random tourists y’know!” “Oh, great! Here, let me scribble something.” Silverstream said, taking a single piece of paper and then scribbling some notes in it. “This here is an amazing restaurant in the nearby town of Portland, I live there by the way, and I’m sure that you’d be staying there, why don’t we talk at like, 6 or 7 at night?” Sunset nodded. “We’ll be there Silverstream.” “Great! Now, I must go back to work, so see ya!” As the Pink Hippogriff left, I saw Sunset turn her face towards the other ponies in the room. I could barely hear her talk. But I did hear one thing though. “She’s Laugher isn’t she?” Sunset whispered. “Oh yeah, she’s definitely Laughter.” Starlight countered. The train platform felt very warm when I stepped out of it. The typical cold weather of home now a distant memory for me. I looked at the sign above, ‘Welcome to the Yucca Island launch site, home of Equestria’s Space Program!’. Smiling, I started walking out of the platform, into the various throng of ponies milling about. For a formerly classified rocket launch site, it certainly is quite lively. Ponies are talking to each other, seeing demonstrations of the current progress of Equestria’s space program, and all around doing touristy stuff. “Well hello there!” I heard a voice greet me. “Are you here to see the sights and sounds of the launch site?” “Well, yes. But I do have my own tour guide, thank you.” I responded, smirking a little bit as the enthusiastic wannabe tour guide deflated and walked past me. Well, let’s get this over with. Tightening my saddle bags, I proceeded to walk past the throng of ponies milling about. I have a job to do. And that white rocket is my objective.