//------------------------------// // Subject 190: Underwater Mission Part VI // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// I hatched a plan rather quickly. This serpent was huge, okay? Like, we’re talking as big as several buildings. Terramar had a sword that lent itself well to spacing abilities while Silverstream’s gauntlets would allow her to strike the enemy fast and hard before it could realize what we had in store. The bigger they were, the harder they fell. However, it would be difficult as all heck to coordinate since I had to either constantly run on water. Or… “Trust me on this,” I pleaded, “Gimme a lift and things will go smoothly.” “That’s not a problem at all, but…” Silverstream raised me up, and put me onto her back. “What’s your idea, Draw--AH!” She flew out of the way of another jet-like water blast from the monster just in the nick of time. I had to hold on for dear life to avoid being thrown off. There wasn’t any time to debate things, so I needed both of them to trust me on this. Terramar swooped in front of us, and blocked another attack with his sword. “Ghh...this is getting difficult. If either of you have an idea on how we can pierce this thing’s armor, now would be a good time!” “Distract it for us!” I shouted, “I have an idea. Just hold on!” “What?!” his eyes grew wide--wide as dinner plates. He glared at me as if I just told him that pigs could fly. Silverstream soared upwards while I held on tight. “Trust her, bro! This is gonna be good!” “Ah man this can’t end well…” I heard the Hippogriff prince mumble under his breath. The serpent let out another mighty roar and swung its tail downwards. WHAM! With a thunder-like crack of its tail, the waves in the ocean were parted with enough force to generate forceful, tidal expanses of water that raged and flew outwards on either side of the beast. ...Except, they started to slowly converge on us. This thing had complete control over the water it used against us! “Dammit! Silver, drop me on its back!” I yelled as I watched the waves chase after us, “There’s no way we can get a good position like this!” I put my trusty butterfly knife between my teeth, and got ready to make my entry. “But won’t that hurt you?!” she cried out in return, but the wave had started to cast a shadow over us by that point. It was that massive. “There’s no time! Go keep your brother safe!” I let go of her, and tucked my limbs inwards so that I could get into a more accurate diving position. There was absolutely no way I’d drag this out for too long and keep her apart from her brother. If it was Pale and I, I would’ve rushed to his aid in no time flat. So I expected Silverstream to do the same. And as soon as I stuck my landing, she did. But then I had another problem. I had to do my best to stay on such an enormous creature without falling off and into the ocean. Easier said than done. It was like dealing with a bucking buffalo...except, you know--a hundred times bigger and more slippery due to the scales! “Grr! I can do this...come on Quick...get up there…” I practically forced myself upwards. My hooves gripped onto the scales of the beast as if nothing else mattered in that moment. I needed to do this. Failure was not an option. From the other side of the serpent, I could see Terramar and Silverstream fly and swoop back and forth to evade its attacks. The tidal waves continued to chase them down, but they refused to give up. Terramar cut one of the waves completely in half with his sword which allowed his sister to dive bomb upwards and fly around the sea monster’s head. “Over here, fool! Come get me!” she shouted. This gave me the opening I needed. I soon managed to climb up to the top of the serpent’s head with enough time to spare. All I needed to do now was shut its lights out. Permanently. But then...things took a turn for the worse. SMACK! Without warning or any noise whatsoever, The serpent’s tail came around from behind, and smacked me off of its head. It hit me so hard that the last thing I remember was hearing the royal siblings cry out. “QUICK!” Then I felt my body splash into the water. I was out cold, and couldn’t feel a thing. I suppose that, in the end, it might have been a necessary sacrifice to keep my friends safe, right? Well… At the shoreline… “...Do you see that in the distance?” I mumbled to Vinyl, “My friends are in trouble...they need me. I can feel it.” The white unicorn stretched out in her chair. “Ergh...are ya sure, kid? You’re not gonna feel stressed out or in pain or anything? A sea monster threatening your friends lives…” My metal wings flapped as anxiety pulsed through my veins. I swallowed my fear, and got ready to get back into gear. “...I don’t care. My friends need my help. And I’m going to be strong for them. Now isn’t the time to lose hope and start wasting time.” “Then get going, girl,” Vinyl replied casually, “I’ll be here.” With a swift updraft, I took to the skies with my trusty wings at my side. I just hoped that I wasn’t too late.