> Strange mutation > by Dark Nightshade > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > How did this happen? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The boat that Fluttershy had rented was speeding towards an island that supposedly had some rare animals on it. Fortunately, she didn't live to far from the beach, because it was almost night, and the island wasn't too far away from the beach. Of course she had told her friends were she was going. It wasn't very likely that she would get lost; after all, she knew the island like the back of her hand. It made a great home for rare animals because of the volcano that was on it. As she got closer to the island, she could see some movement in the bushes. Oh, the motor must be scaring it, she thought. She turned the motor down, partly because she didn't want to scare any more animals, partly because she was getting into shallow waters. When she couldn't go any further, she turned the motor off and jumped out and ran (sort of) to shore. The bushes next to her started rustling, making her jump a little. "Oh, is someone there?" she asked. There was some more rustling, and she started walking towards it. "Hello? You don't have to worry, I'm not going to hurt you," Fluttershy said. Something black streaked out of the bushes and headed to the volcano. Oh my, I think it's going to jump in! Fluttershy thought, alarmed. She started running after it, but it then disappeared into a hole that she had not noticed before. She started climbing and when she got to the hole, she relised that it was big enough for her to crawl though. So that's what she did. "Where are you? I'm not going to hurt you!" Fluttershy called into the back of the hole. There was some hissing, and then the section of rock she was collapsed. She started screaming, but she stopped when she fell into what she thought might have been a small lake. She resurfaced and gasped for air. Fortunately, there was some moonlight coming in. It's already night? Wow, I'm going to need to get home! Wait, is there even an exit around here? she wondered. However, as she thought that, she started to feel strange. The water started to glow, and her legs started to feel weird. "Oh god, what's happening?!" Fluttershy yelled. There was a flash of light, and when Fluttershy's eyes finally adjusted, she looked down and screamed. She had a green tail with pink fins and light blue shells as some kind of bra. "Why do I have a mermaid tail!?!?" she yelled. "It's the water! It's always the water!" someone yelled. Fluttershy jumped. "I-is someone there?" she asked. "Wait, you can understand me?" the voice asked. "Yes! Who and where are you?" Fluttershy asked. "I'm down here!" it called. Fluttershy looked down. "Where?" she asked. "Ok, kind of to your left!" it called. She turned her head and a couple of seconds later she saw a crab. "Your a crab? How are you talking?" asked Fluttershy. "I've always been able to talk. You just haven't been able to understand me," it said. "Wait, so what happened? How did I turn into a mermaid?" Fluttershy asked. "I'm not fully sure, but the light of the full moon does something to this water. And it only affects humans," the crab said. "Ok, that is definitely wired. Wait, what do I call you?" Fluttershy asked. "My name is Bert. You killed my father. Prepare to die!" Bert said, then chuckled. "I'm sorry, I've always wanted to say that." "It's ok. Is this permanent?" Fluttershy asked. "I'm don't know. However, I can take you to someone that knows more about this than me. She might be able to tell you," Bert said. A while later, Fluttershy was swimming with Bert on her back. She was following his directions to the person who could possible help Fluttershy figure out why she turned into a mermaid. "Ok, stop! See that reef right there? That's where she lives," Bert said. "Ok, thank you," Fluttershy said. She swam up to it. "Um, hello?" she called. "Yes?" someone with a Jamaican accent said. "Um, I was told you had some information about the volcano on the nearby island?" she called. "Yes. What do you want to know?" the animal said as she came out. She was a jellyfish. "Oh, you want to know how you transformed, don't you?" she asked. "Yes, and anything else you might be able to tell me," Fluttershy said. "Ok. By the way, my name is Tia," she said. "Ok, my name is Fluttershy," said Fluttershy. "So there's no way to reverse it?" Fluttershy asked. "Not that I know of," Tia said. "But I am able to transform into a human," Fluttershy said. "Yes. However, ten seconds after you touch water of any kind, you turn back into this," Tia said. "Ok, how long does it take to transform back to human?" Fluttershy asked. "About a minute or two, so not too long," said Tia. "And will I be able to understand sea animals when I'm human again?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes, you will always understand us," Tia said. "Well that's good," Fluttershy said. She looked at the sky."Um, I should probably start heading back home. The people that I rented this boat from will want it back at morning." "Ok, you can go. But come back. You might need more information about your new abilities. Take Bert with you so you can find your way back, ok? I don't want you to be getting lost," Tia said. "Ok. Bert, are you ready to go?" Fluttershy asked. "Sure!" said Bert as he got on Fluttershy's back and she started swimming away. Tia watched them and sighed. "I wonder how long this ones going to last." > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluttershy had made it back to her cottage a bit before dawn and had managed to get some sleep. She then started on setting up a habitat for Bert when there was a knock on the door. Fluttershy pulled it open a crack. "Hello?" she called. "Hey Fluttershy!" greeted Rainbow Dash. "Oh, hey Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy said. She opened the door all the way to let her in. "Did you need anything?" Fluttershy asked. "Not really. Me and the other girls were going to go swimming, and we were wondering if you wanted to," Rainbow Dash said. "Don't do it! Remember what Tia said!" shouted Bert. "You're able to understand other humans!" Fluttershy said, surprised. Rainbow Dash looked confused. "First of all, yes. Second of all, don't talk to sea creature around other humans! You'll look crazy!" Bert yelled. Fluttershy was about to say something when Rainbow Dash asked "What?" Fluttershy turned back to her. "Um, sorry. What was the question again?" Fluttershy asked. "Um, me and the other girls were going to go to the pool. Did you want to come?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Oh! No thanks. I just got a new hermit crab and I need to set everything up," Fluttershy said. "Oh, ok. Well, see you later!" Rainbow Dash said, and started walking back to her house. Fluttershy closed her door and sighed with relief. "That was close!" said Bert. "Yeah. By the way, she couldn't understand you, right?" Fluttershy asked. "No," said Bert. "You are currently the only human that I know that can understand us." "Wow. This is cool, yet at the same time sort of freaky," said Fluttershy. She thought for a couple of seconds. "Are you sure I can't tell my friends?" she asked. "No. Wait, is one of them really smart?" Bert asked. "That's oddly specific, but yes. Why?" Fluttershy asked. "She can probably get some more info on how you transform and whatnot," Bert said. "That's a good idea! Should I call her?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes. But make sure you can trust her and make sure no ones following her," said Bert. "Ok," said Fluttershy as she picked up her phone. > Almost uncovered > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hey Twilight," Fluttershy said. "I'm glad you could come." "What did you need help with?" Twilight asked. "Yeah, this is the part you might not believe," Fluttershy said. "So it might be better to show you." She stuck her hand in Bert's tank and about ten seconds later, she transformed. Twilight gasped. "Wow. What happened?" she asked. "I'm not fully sure, but I was at this volcano, and then I fell into this pond in the volcano, and then this happens every time I touch water!" Fluttershy said. "Wow, looks like you already know a bit about this," Twilight said. "Yeah, there was this jellyfish that knows a lot about this," Fluttershy said. "Wait, you could understand a jellyfish?" Twilight asked. "Yes, and also all sea creatures," Fluttershy said. "Like me!" Bert said "Yes, like you," Fluttershy said. "I'm not a sea creature," Twilight said, confused. Fluttershy blushed. "Sorry, I was talking to Bert," she said as she pointed to Bert. "You have a hermit crab named Bert?" Twilight asked. "Yes. You should meet Tia," Fluttershy said. "But I've already met Celestia," Twilight said. "Not Celestia, Tia, the one who knows a lot about this!" Fluttershy said. "Oh, ok. Wait, how? I can't breath underwater," Twilight said. Fluttershy thought for a few seconds. "We could rent a boat! When we get there, we could stop it above or around where Tia is, and you too can talk!" Fluttershy said. Twilight face palmed. "Why didn't I think of that?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy shrugged. They managed to stop the boat a yard or two away from where Tia lived, and Fluttershy dived in. About 2 minutes later, she resurfaced with a jellyfish behind her. Twilight a jaw dropped. "Tia is a jellyfish?" she asked. Fluttershy nodded. "Ok. Well them, we might as well get this started. Can you translate some questions and answers?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded. "HELLO!!!! What are you doing?" Pinkie asked, appearing out of no where. Fluttershy and Twilight jumped in surprise. "Um, nothing," Fluttershy said. "Why do you have a tail?" Pinkie asked. "Um, I'm practicing my swimming," Fluttershy said. "You could have practiced with us at the pool," Pinkie said. "Yeah, this is a new design for a monofin that twilight has been working on, and she didn't want anyone to see it yet," Fluttershy said. "Oh, ok. By the way, what where you saying about talking to jellyfish?" Pinkie asked. Twilight sighed. "How much do you know?" she asked. "Everything you said when you got on the boat," Pinkie said. "I saw you and thought 'what are they doing? Why are they heading out to sea?' So I teleported here!" Pinkie said. "You can teleport?" Twilight asked. "Yes, why?" Pinkie asked. "No real reason," Twilight said. "So, continue with what it was you were doing here, I won't bother you," Pinkie said. "Ok. Plus, this might answere some questions you might have later," Twilight said.