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// Many Years Later... 
// Story: Beyond the Horizon 
// by bahatumay 
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	From his position high in the air, Galvin looked over the horizon. “Land ho!” he called.

Sea Spray rolled her eyes. “That stopped being funny a long time ago, Galvin,” she grumbled.

“No, really!” He swooped down and picked her up, carrying her high into the air. He held her out in front of him at his eye level so she could see. “See? Land! That’s West Griffonstone!”

Sea Spray squinted, and then threw her head back and laughed. “Thank goodness!” She wriggled in excitement in midair, and Galvin had to flap harder to keep her airborne. “Land! Oh, I’m never eating another coconut again as long as I live! I never thought I’d miss bread!”

Galvin laughed as he returned her to deck. “Me neither,” he said. “But you make the best bread I’ve ever had.”

“Aww…” Sea Spray leaned into his neck, rubbing the top of her head against him. “It’s going to be great,” she said. “We’re going back to your homeland. Are you excited?”

“Yeah,” Galvin said, rubbing the back of his neck. “A little nervous about some things, though.”

“Like what? Figuring out how to tell your parents you married a pony?”

Galvin coughed. “I’m still not sure that ceremony was entirely valid,” he spluttered.

Sea Spray tapped her chin. “As I recall, that’s not what you said that night.”

Galvin nearly choked. 

Sea Spray laughed and flicked her tail at his beak. “Just saying, if you wanted to… bury more treasure, then…”

Galvin groaned and placed his face in his claws. Once! He had said that once! And he was pretty sure he had been mildly intoxicated at the time! But Sea Spray had never let him forget it!

Sea Spray scampered around to face him, her two hind legs landing lightly on the deck. She stuck her head under his chin and gently lifted his head up. “Hey,” she said softly. Once their eyes were level, she slowly breathed out.

He’d never understood that, but it was one of the ways she showed affection, and so he slowed his breathing down until it matched hers. 

“It’s going to be fine,” Sea Spray whispered. “I promise.” She straightened up. “So what are you worried about?”

He looked back at the enormous ship they commanded, and thought of the barrels and barrels full of treasure in the hold. “Well, no; but between the restoration pits, the lands populated by bushwoolies, the treasure maps to alcohol stores, fighting pirates with a band of troggles who wanted to kill us just moments before; well… I’m just wondering which part they’ll disbelieve more.”