The early morning sun glints off the ocean surface, highlighting the distinct outline of a small boat in the distance. It’s sail and backup motor churn along slowly and steadily through the surf. On board, two ponies, one pegasus mare and one pegasus kirin hybrid are beaming with excitement.

“Alrighty… We. Are. Here!” Aegis stops the dive boat and glances over at a nautical map.

“How can you be so certain?” North asks, crossing her hindlegs as she kicks back on a hammock and taps her hooves on the metal alcove. Aegis looks back at his friend and smiles, “Ray wouldn’t intentionally mislead me. Besides-I was in the Coltscouts for the longest time. I can read a map better than you can, Miss Aspiring Wonderbolt!” The two exchange short fits of smiles. Off the boat’s stern, a blue figure darts back beneath the waves.

“Yeah, it’s safe to say we’re here.” Aegis was asked earlier to drop anchor in a very specific spot.

Northstar slips out of her hammock and onto the floor. She picks her equipment up off the deck and makes her way to the waters edge, flexing her wings and feeling completely at home. Aegis sets his green hoofball cap in a lockbox and hurries over to meet her.

“Need help getting your gear on?” The mare inquires dryly as she goes through her mental checklist of donning and tightening her mask, fins, and air tank-She pauses to smile warmly at her friend. “Haha, real funny North-This isn’t my first-fifth, or even tenth dive at this point.” He rests his own tank at his side as he follows the same steps as Northstar, making sure his primary and secondary regulators-As well as his SPG (Air and depth gauges) were in place, and his dive watch was comfortable secured on his left forehoof. He buckles his writing slate and magnetic pen to his belt and does the same for Northstar.

“Spin the cylinder open,” North asks him, “I’ll do yours.” The two equines lean over one another’s shoulders and spin open their cylinders. Instantly their air gauge dials shoot up to full capacity-Much to their relief. They take experimental breaths from them before helping each other into their fins, Aegis tightens down his own mask. At last, they’re ready.

“You look fantastic.” Aegis offers, Northstar playfully jabs him with one of her wings.

“Whatever dude, c’mon- let’s not keep our hosts waiting!” She urges, her face transfixed with excitement. The two bite down on their regulators and go fins up into the sea.

Aegis and Northstar were invited by a merpony princess who befriended Aegis some time ago. They’re her guests of honor in her undersea domain, Pearlean. The princess took a special liking towards Aegis a few months ago and was absolutely delighted when she found out that he could finally visit. Though-It takes some time to drain a bedroom and prepare it for surface dweller use. So they’re stuck waiting.

Aegis and Northstar sit parallel to one another, trying to make conversation to pass the time. Northstar removes her regulator and nudges up against Aegis’ muzzle, taking his own forelegs in hers as little bits of kelp and seaweed adorned with bits of colorful coral wave back and forth lazily on the trellises outside their room. She reaches for her writing slate and scribbles out;

“Dude,”

Aegis arches an eyebrow and cocks his head off to one side.

“What’s for dinner?”

“Don’t ask me… I’m just hoping it’s not seafood.” A cloud of bubbles rises up from his regulator.

“You… Don’t like-Seafood?” Northstar hastily scribbles out, patting the board with emphasis.

“No.” Aegis replies. “No, I don’t-except clam chowder… Which is-Alright.”

Northstar pulls her hooves back and stuffs her regulator back into her mouth, inhaling with a short sigh of relief. She tilts herself back and glances out the window at the scenery outside.

“Then you just haven’t had good seafood.” Aegis smirks and folds his wings up behind his back, scratching away with his magnetic pen

“Then I defy you to try and make me.”