//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: The Hippocampi of Hecate Straight 
// Story: The Five: Into the Beyond 
// by lyra_lover777 
//------------------------------//

	Dinky twirled the small gear around her horn as she traveled below decks to place the newly found gear with the one from the princess. They had looked at the map, and the next gear was in open water, near a picture of a horse-fish looking thing.  Dinky really hoped it wasn't another Shrimpzilla.
It hurt to walk around with her blistered skin. Roseluck had taken the wheel and they had set sail, leaving the cannibalistic unicorns behind, legs slashed.
Spike was currently helping Amethyst by wrapping bandages around her body and rubbing healing cream on her burned coat. Dinky couldn't wait for her turn to be massaged by Spike.
So she was disappointed when the newly healed Amethyst helped her instead of Spike. Spike was helping Coco. Was he avoiding her? Was her crush on him that obvious?
Dinky placed the gear in storage before heading to the deck, Amethyst waiting for her with bandages and cream. She sighed as Amethyst rubbed the cream into her back. She winced and let out a little scream. The cream stung horribly. She looked down at her coat to see the burns slowly mending and merging together, her coat starting to return to its  natural periwinkle shine.
Dinky got up, her skin mending and healing, to see newly healed Coco fixing Spike's cast. Apparently when he had saved them, he had fractured it even more, so much that his arm bone was about to break in half.
Dinky trotted over to Spike, who was getting up, his newly casted arm hanging by his side. She trotted with him to his room. They reached it and Spike went inside, lying down in his bed.
"Uh, Dinky?" asked Spike warily. "I, uh, h-have something t-to tell you."
Dinky looked at him. Was he going to tell her that he knew about her crush on him and that it was creepy?
"Uh, Dinky, I, um, kinda like you."
===
Spike let the words sit in the air. He watched as Dinky's face flipped through so many emotions, rapid fire, that he couldn't tell what she was feeling. Spike started to sweat in apprehension, his eyes opening wider. This was going to be like Rarity again, wasn't it?
So he was happily surprised when Dinky leaned forward and gave him a soft peck on the cheek. Spike feel into his mattress, melting into pure bliss.
===	
Coco trotted down the hall to the armory to sharpen he lance when she saw Spike's door was open. She looked in to see Dinky give Spike a soft kiss on the cheek. Coco held back a snort at the two little lovers. She couldn't hold back any longer and let out a snort when she saw Spike melt into the bed.
Coco took off, trying to reach the armory. She could hear Dinky galloping after her. They both reached theend of the hall. Coco was about to jump into the armory when Dinky used her magic to close the door and lock it from inside. Coco thought the lock spell was hard to master. So how had a cutie markless filly preform it? 
But Coco forgot all of that as she watched Dinky slowly creep towards her, malice covering all her features.
Spike came out of his room and the other two mares came down the stairs. Roseluck had said earlier they were a few hours away from the next part of the weapon and that they were on the open sea for the next hour.
Anyways, Dinky advanced even more and then looked up at Coco, her face displaying pure anger.
"HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF PRIVACY?! MAYBE YOU SHOULD LOOK IT UP INSTEAD OF SNOOPING AND PRYING, HAY FACE!" screamed loudly.
They all recoiled at Dinky's use of vulgar language. Then Spike said "Hey, were all friends. Maybe that was a bit to much, but friends don't keep secrets from each other unless it is really important."
They all nodded. Coco was happy. She had thought she was the only one who had begun to think of them as friends, but apparently everypony else had too. Dinky had retreated to Spike's side, and Spike had put his good arm around her.
"So," Coco said. "Are you guys a couple?"
Dinky was about to scream at her again when Spike shushed her, pressing his lips softly to hers. When Spike pulled away, Dinky fell to the floor, paralyzed in happiness.
After that, Roseluck returned to the wheel while Spike returned to his bed to sleep after helping Dinky up. Meanwhile Amethyst was fanning Dinky, trying to wake her from her fainting episode.
Coco entered the armory and sharpened her weapon. Afterward, she went on deck and sparred with Amethyst, who had recently woken Dinky up. Dinky had also retreated to her bedroom like Spike. Coco was almost tempted to go down there and tell them no funny business, but held back.
After sparring, she swabbed the deck and check ed the ballistae. Amethyst had put on "the Finder." They were a few minutes from their destination.
Two long, thin strips of sandy island enclosed a part of the sea for about three miles, forming a strait like thing.
Coco trotted over to the map. It said it was Hecate Straight. "Looks like the author of this wasn't the best speller." said Coco.
Spike and Dinky emerged from their naps. When Coco inquired about funny business, she got  hard slap on the muzzle from Dinky.
They had now reached the weapon's location. But they weren't on land. No, the part was underwater.
===
Roseluck shook her head. The part was underwater? Sure, they had diving suits, but really? Roseluck was claustrophobic and hated to even put helmets on. They made her head feel cramped. But now she had to go into a tight body suit? No way.
Spike and Coco suited up, having volunteered, much to Roseluck's immediate joy. They were about to jump in when they saw movements in the water. They watched as several feet away, a fish-horse jumped out of the water. It was bright yellow, and had silver mane with a single black stripe through it. On its back was a large portion of silver armor, the words" Hippocampi of Hecate Straight" printed on it in gold plating.
More jumped out of the water, all clutching weapons like tridents and swords. They began to surround the ship, mostly in front of the Five.
One hippocampi that was bigger than the others came in front of the group. His body was gray and his mane raspberry red. A grisly light red beard hung from his chin.
"I am Clammer, leader of The Hippocampi of Hecate Straight." the bigger hippocampi said. "We do not seek battle, just peace. We will allow you to pass through, but do not dwell or we may become restless." Clammer smiled creepily.
"You know straight, like the water one, is spelled s-t-r-a-i-t? Not s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t?" said Coco.
Roseluck face-hoofed. They were doomed.
"Is that what you really want to say to the leader of a small army that could sink this ship in seconds?" said Roseluck sarcastically.
"Yep" said Coco. Roseluck face-hoofed again. Goodbye world thought Roseluck as the hippocampi stared angrily at Coco.