//------------------------------//
// 8. Fun in the water with Maura Mermaid 
// Story: Another Summer with the Enchantimals 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

Fluttershy heads to Sweet Apple Acres to see Applejack. The honorable farm girl tells her of meeting a royal Enchantimal.
"You met Falon Phoenix?" Fluttershy gasped.
"I sure did." Applejack replied. "She and her little buddy, Sunrise, perked me up. When Pinkie came by for a swim, she met Mika Monkey and her buddy, Swing. Those guys had a lot of fun."
"I didn't meet a royal. But, I was happy meeting Esmeralda Elephant and her trio of cuddly besties."
Just then, Granny Smith came in with some news. "I'm glad you're here, Fluttershy. I heard one of them Royal Enchantimals is at the lake near here."
This news made Fluttershy's widened. Later, dressed in her usual wetsuit, Fluttershy was looking at the lake.
"Good thing I changed before coming here." Fluttershy thought out loud. "It is kind out warm out here."
Fluttershy enters the water, slowly but surely. Feeling a little relief, she starts swimming. The nature lover enjoys her time in the lake. Then, a young female voice calls to her. "Hi there, Fluttershy."
She turns, and sees someone approaching her. It was a light pink skinned girl with long red hair. She wore a crimson shortie wetsuit,  and is swimming happily. 
"Nice day for a swim." The girl said. "Isn't it?"
Fluttershy soon realized who's talking to her. "Oh my! Maura Mermaid!"
"That's me."
The two girls got out of the water and sat on the dock.
"You came here to do some swimming too?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes, I did." Maura replied. "But, I was called by your farmer friend, Applejack. She told me that you were here."
"I heard of those Royal Enchantimals. But, I never thought I would meet one."
"Neither did Applejack. Believe it or not, I heard that Sunset Shimmer met one of Royal Isle's three queens."
This shocked Fluttershy a lot. "No joke?"
Maura giggled a lot. "No joke."
A floating fish came along to be with the girls. Fluttershy was very happy to see the fish.
"Hello, Glide." Fluttershy said happily. "You look beautiful."
The fish, Glide, blushed. Maura then stood up on the dock. "Ready for some more fun, Fluttershy?"
The nature lover stood next to the visitor. "You bet, Maura."
With Glide behind them, Fluttershy and Maura jumped off the dock and into the water, continuing their day at the lake. Later, Fluttershy and Maura enjoyed some sandwiches on the dock.
"Hazelnut spread and raspberry jelly is a great combination." Maura praised.
"Thanks, Maura." Fluttershy said. "Applejack got me the jelly from a farmers market."
Maura took a sip from a small jug of milk. "That's why it tastes good. I heard fresh food does well with some people."
The girls continue to enjoy the day, and each other.