"... and that's why I wanted to have this audience with you privately, Princess Celestia."
Celestia took a few moments to ponder everything I had told her. I knew my brother wouldn't come to her on his own, but I believed he should at least have the chance to try. Of course, it also depended mostly upon Celestia's own desires, whether she would even consider a suitor. I had just finished explaining my brother's feelings both for her and about himself, and I elucidated his fears as best as I could.
"Well, Novalis, I'm rather surprised that of all the ponies in Equestria, two brothers would end up loving both of us sisters. It's a bit romantic, too, when I think about it. I could give him a chance, but I cannot guarantee anything without getting to know him, of course."
"Yes, Princess, perfectly understandable," I said, bowing to her. "I just wanted to give you the details that I could and try to give him a head start."
"I'll arrange a meeting with him later. For now, though, Luna has left instructions for you to head to the Southern Isles. Some Seaponies down there have been sending messengers to us with an issue of their own for the past week, and Luna believed you were ready to begin your new job as soon as possible."
"Understood, Princess. I'll get ready and catch a train down there today."
With that, I made a final bow to her and walked out of the room. Before leaving, I chanced one last look at her, and noticed she was staring out of the window with a thoughtful look on her face.
An uneventful train ride saw me to the southern coast of Equestria, in a quaint town called Seahoof. The locals, after learning who I was, led me to a cove not far from the town limits, where I met a light blue seapony by the name of Shimmer Wave. Her appearance was much as described, with looking mostly like a land pony, but covered in scales, with a voluminous fin around her neck, and a powerful tail capable of allowing her to swim swiftly beneath the waves.
"Thank you for meeting with us, Ambassador of the Moon. My name is Shimmer Wave, and we have a rather large problem under the waves."
"It's my pleasure, Shimmer. My name is Novalis 'Nightshine' Shiningeyes. I hope I will be able to help you."
"It's a simple matter, really. Some seaponies have begun to disagree with the rulings under the sea, and wish to sequester themselves away from our main society. They want safe haven within Equestria, and refuge in some lakes."
"Why the sudden shift in thinking? Seaponies have always been free from our rule, free to live as they please."
"Under the waves, it is easy to get away with much. Even easier for a king to be a tyrant, or worse. King Aquus has been degenerating in his rule, and no longer listens to reason. Since the denizens of Equestria cannot reasonably stop him, due to land ponies being unable to survive under the waves, we have decided to merely adapt somewhere else."
"I see. Very well, but before I make any decisions on this, I need an estimate of how many seaponies will be relocating. I also need your opinion on how much water you will need for this endeavor."
"Well, right now, only five families have declared themselves free from Aquus' rule. Each family holds forty ponies in a communal home, so about 200 in total. Give or take a few. We normally prefer to live close to each other, so if you have a lake with about 3,750,000 cubic hooves of water, we could all live there with enough room to grow and branch out."
"So, approximately 250 hooves across, 150 hooves wide, and 100 hooves deep?"
"Deeper, but not so far across. We need deeper water to birth in, but we don't want to be too far from each other."
"Very well, I need a little while to go over my options."
With a nod from Shimmer, I left the cove and returned to the town. Talking amongst the townsponies, I learned that the seaponies had started coming for help with the problem about a week ago, as Celestia had said. The townsponies had been close to the seaponies for as long as the town had existed, and had been shocked with news that the king of the seaponies had started to become more tyrannical. They had tried getting an audience with the king, only to have a large wave sent towards the town.
After that, the townsponies sent letters to the princesses, and erected a large barrier to prevent seawater from becoming an issue. I needed to solve more than the seapony issue, I needed to get to the bottom of this entire issue. With that thought in my mind, I headed back to the cove.
"Welcome back, Novalis, do you have a place we can stay?"
"I do, but first, I have one request. Take me to your king. Let me speak to him."
Shimmer displayed shock, but quickly recovered.
"You do realize our king lives far lower than any land pony has ever been able to survive, correct?"
"Yes, I do. But I am not just a simple errand pony for Princess Luna. I have my own power as well. I can handle a simple swim."
"Very well, if you think you can, follow me."
Shimmer turned, and with a flip of her fishy tail, disappeared into the water. I charged my horn for a moment, calling upon Silavon. With his knowledge, I was able to swiftly alter my own body to follow. Sporting a pair of gills and a fish tail of my own, I bounded into the water and swam after the light blue blur that was Shimmer Wave.
Three hours later, and about six thousand hooves under the surface, which required more magical modification, I arrived before Aquus' large palace. Seven seapony guards with tri-pointed spears blocked my way until Shimmer explained who I was and what I wanted. They escorted me to the throne room, where the largest pony, sea or land, I had ever seen floated slightly over a massive oyster. The king of the seaponies was a sight to behold, indeed.
"So... The Princesses of Sun and Moon do extend their powers beneath the sea when it so suits them. Welcome, Novalis, to the land down under the sea. Now that you are here, let me reveal our true problem, the problem we would not reveal to any but one devoted to our cause. By arriving here... You have proven to want to help, or else you would have simply proven yourself only willing to get rid of the supposed issue and found a new place for the 'five families',"
I looked up and behind him and saw Shimmer Wave floating behind him. Apparently, I'd been duped for a larger purpose than relocation. This was starting to interest me now.