Long ago, in a magical land, I Discord, lord of chaos, defeated the Elements of Harmony and their bearers. But, a foolish earth pony mare, wielding all six Elements in the form of a magic sword, continued to oppose me. Before the final blow was struck, I tore open a portal in time, and flung her into the future, where my chaos is law. Now the fool seeks to return to the past and undo the future that is Discord.

Applejack stepped off the train and took a deep breath of air. It was warm and salty. She’s been on the edge of her seat for the past few miles when she realized her journey was taking her by the ocean. Sure she’s seen it on her few trips to Manehatten, but this was different. She’d be able to walk along the beach, sunbathe, maybe even go swimming. She’d be able to, but she wasn’t going to. She had a mission.

Still, Applejack felt lighter as she stepped off the platform and gazed at all the coastal ponies milling about... the... Wait a tic... The ponies in town were unlike any ponies she had ever seen before.

They weren’t hairless, they at least seemed to have the same fine coat other ponies had, but they didn’t have manes and their tails were flat and broad, only covered in the fine coat. She had thought they were pegasi at first, but as they moved around, occasionally stretching the appendages on their backs, she saw that they were featherless fins, not wings.

Applejack stood, mouth agape at the bizarre ponies everywhere. They weren’t the only inhabitants, but they were definitely a significant majority.

“First time to the coast?” one, a light brownish yellow finned pony asked her.

“Uh... ye–yeah,” Applejack stammered.

“Don’t feel bad, most of you land dwellers have a similar reaction.”

“What?”

“We do get occasional visitors. They are typically surprised to see us.”

“Well yeah, Ah thought there were only four kinds ah ponies, earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, and alicorns.”

“And sea ponies, and fairy ponies,” the pony added. “Though alicorns and fairy ponies are both extinct I think.”

“Uh huh... So yer the sea ponies then?”

“No, the fairy ponies,” the pony said sarcastically. “My name is Sandbar.”

“Ah’m-”

“Applejack.”

Applejack reflexively grabbed the hilt of her sword.

“Do calm down,” he said, “We have no love of Discord here.”

“Good,” Applejack said, sighing. “So do yah greet all ponies like this or am Ah an exception?”

“You’re the only one here,” Sandbar replied.

Applejack looked around. The station platform was completely empty and the train was already pulling away. True to his word, she was the only one who had gotten off.

“So what bring you to our little port? Need help fighting Discord?”

“Nah, Ah’m just passin’ through, Ah think,” Applejack said. She pulled out the compass and saw it was still pointing out to sea. “Looks like Ah’ll need a boat.”

“You’re out of luck. We don’t have any transport vessels here,” Sandbar said. “Though if you need to get across the ocean, there are other ways.”

“Ah don’t suppose some pegasi can fly me over.”

“No but we have a large number of cities on the seafloor and transportation between them. If you come with me, I can set you up. I work in the transportation system.”

“Okay,” Applejack agreed.

Sandbar motioned and Applejack followed him through the town. The wooden buildings that made up the town were heavily weathered and the paint was faint. Still they were quaint and a rather nice change from the big cities. As they went, Applejack kept count of all the ponies she saw that weren’t sea ponies. She ended up with a hooffull.

Sandbar led her through the town and to the port. On the sea edge was some bizarre glass like structure that stuck out of the ocean. As they got near it, Applejack saw it was what she could only describe as a tunnel that went under the water. It was completely open to the outside but she could see there were two pipes running along the top with a large open area on the bottom with stone steps leading downward. She couldn’t see far because of the angle at which it slopped, but it it was well lit and seemed to extend forever.

“This way to Starfish Crack,” Sandbar said, heading down into the tunnel. Applejack paused hesitantly at the edge. “What? It’s perfectly safe.”

“Excuse me fer not wantin’ tah drown,” Applejack retorted.

“The whole city is dry. You don’t have to worry about air down here,” Sandbar said.

“Well... okay,” Applejack said. Tentatively she followed him into the glass tunnel.

As they walked, her fears waned. Every hundred feet or so there were gates that could seal the tunnel. The glass itself was solid and scratchless. As they walked, she was enthralled with its clarity. She could see fish swimming by and colorful rocks began to appear as they traveled farther deeper. Suddenly she stopped when she saw a pony swim by, using its wing-fins to maneuver through the water like one of the fish.

Sandbar saw her staring and smirked. “What, did you think these were for show?” he asked, flexing his fins.

“Yeah but how do yah breath? Yah dont have gills, do yah?” Applejack asked.

Sandbar smiled. “A long time ago the goddess Aquas gave our tribe the ability to breathe both air and water. Or so the legends go.”

“Huh.”

“I don’t really believe it myself,” Sandbar admitted. “It seems far more likely we just developed this living by the ocean so much.”

“Sounds like a nifty trick,” Applejack commented. “It don’t do much away from the ocean, but still. It must be kinda annoying every time yah come out of the water though.”

“Not at all. See, we have two sets of lungs, one set that works with water and a smaller pair that works with air.”

“Huh.”

“Here we are, Starfish Crack,” Sandbar announced. They had arrived at the final gate, though this one was closed. A pair of sea ponies stood outside. When they saw Applejack and Sandbar approach, they leaped into action and opened the watertight seal. Beyond it was a town as bizarre as the ponies that inhabited it.

It was clearly built upon a dried area of the seabed. Most of the buildings were carved out of stone. Those that weren't were made of wood and built onto the rock. The ground was mostly sand. Far overhead was a glass dome that held back the sea water. It was quite beautiful because the rock was a multitude of colors. The town was quite small too, only about the size of the center of Ponyville in her time. The sights brought a slight smile to Applejack’s face.

“My brother and I work for the air tubes. We’ll be able to set you up with transport,” Sandbar explained as they neared the center of town.

“Thanks,” Applejack said. She was distracted by all the ponies staring at her. She began to feel uneasy. It seemed she was the only one who wasn’t a sea pony. “You don’t get many earth ponies down here, do yah?”

“No, they tend to stay in the port if they stay at all. Hey, there he is. Hey, Storm Surge, look who I found!”

A dark blue sea pony looked over quickly. “And just who have you found, Sandbar?” Storm Surge walked over and looked Applejack up and down. “There’s no way that’s Samurai Applejack,” he said to Sandbar.

“Ah’m Applejack.”

“She looks just like the wanted posters,” Sandbar said.

“I find it hard to believe you’re the one causing Discord so much trouble,” Storm Surge said.

“Look Ah ain’t here tah argue. Sandbar here said he could get me passage across the ocean,” Applejack explained.

“Where are you headed?” Storm Surge asked.

“Well,” Applejack said, pulling out Epona’s compass. She hrmmed when she saw the needle was wondering aimlessly now. “Huh. It seems I’m where Ah’m supposed to be.”

Storm Surge had been noticeably taken aback by the clock and stared intently at it. “Um... may I see that?”

Applejack tilted it towards him but kept it close. “Ah’m not at liberty tah give this away. Ah’m borrowin’ it.”

“That looks a lot like the Aquas' Clock,” Storm Surge said. “It’s a relic kept in Barrier City. I wasn’t aware there were others.”

“Yeah, there are a few,” Applejack said. “It’s pretty useful. It leads me where Ah need tah go."

"If you are where you need to be, why do you need transport?" Storm Surge asked.

"This thing is never clear. Maybe it wants me tah go see your clock," Applejack said.

"Barrier City is several hours away. Why don’t you come over to my house we can work out a travel plan," Storm Surge suggested.

Applejack's stomach rumbled, reminding her that her last meal had been two apples she had eaten on the train ride. "Sure. Ah ain’t in a big hurry."

Applejack followed Storm Surge to his home. It was cut from the stone with a wooden addition on top. Sandbar tagged along. Storm Surge led her inside where she was introduced to his wife, a nervous pale green sea pony named Seafoam. He then showed her to his all wood study where he pulled out a map and began explaining how underwater transport worked.

Applejack didn’t really understand what pneumatic meant. It didn’t seem possible to her that air could move things that quickly. If he was exaggerating or not didn’t matter. She would still get to Barrier City. It seemed odd that Epona's compass had stopped so far from the destination, but even now that she knew where it came from, it was still mysterious.

"Um... dinner is ready," Seafoam said quietly from the door.

"I think we're all set. Do you think you can remember all the stops?" Storm Surge asked.

"Ah’ll probably need tah write them down, but it don’t sound that hard," Applejack replied. "Ah’ll do that now then head out."

Storm Surge put a hoof on her shoulder. "It’s a long trip and you won’t be able to eat on the way,"

"Ah don't want to impose..."

"I cooked with four ponies in mind," Seafoam said.

Applejack frowned then smiled. "Okay. Ah wouldn't mind trying sea pony food.”

Seafoam led them downstairs to a stone room with a wooden table. The meal was quite unusual. The table had several plates with little bits of food in mostly bite sized pieces. There was a lot of rice and what looked like wet reeds but the rest Applejack couldn’t identify. Sandbar was already sitting down. The rest joined him.

Before eating, the three sea ponies bowed their heads and began muttering. Applejack had seen this once when she had joined Rarity for dinner. Applejack joined them but wasn’t sure what to say. She caught ‘Aquas’ a few times.

“Err... Ah’m not sure yer even listenin’, Epona, but Ah’m where yah wanted me tah go. Ah’m not sure what tah do but Ah’ll figure it out,” Applejack murmured.

The others finished and began scooping up bits of food one by one. They seemed trustworthy but Applejack waited for them to start eating first. She’d declared this a personal rule after everything that had happened. There didn’t seem to be any adverse effects so Applejack picked up a disk item and looked at it. It was rice wrapped in a leaf with something she couldn’t identify in the middle. She frowned and sniffed it but still couldn’t tell.

“It’s sushi. A sea pony delicacy,” Sandbar said, noticing her hesitation. “I know you don’t have it on the surface but it’s perfectly safe.”

Applejack gave it a final sniff then popped it in her mouth. “Hey, it’s pretty good.” She quickly grabbed some more and tried them too. It didn’t taste like anything she had ever had before, but it was a nice treat.

“So, Samurai Applejack,” Storm Surge began.

“Just Applejack. Ah don’t know whah they call me a samurai. Ah don’t even know what that means.”

“So, Applejack, what is your story?” Storm Surge asked.

“Nopony knows for sure who you are or why Discord hates you so much,” Sandbar added.

“I heard you survived a war golem attack and swore revenge,” Storm Surge said.

“I heard she’s the last of the royal guards, and she’s come to fulfill her duty to the crown,” Sandbar said.

“I heard you’re actually Epona come to stop him,” Seafoam said.

Applejack nearly laughed at that last one. “No, Ah’m pretty sure Ah’m not her.”

“So what is it then? No one really knows for sure,” Storm Surge urged.

Applejack thought about it. Ah could tell them the truth. No harm in it, but it’ll raise a lot of questions. Ah should probably just give them a simple answer and hope they accept it. Finally she shrugged. “He’s evil. Ain’t that reason enough tah fight him?”

“Yeah but you have a huge bounty on your head,” Sandbar stated.

“Well Ah’ve been causin’ him a bit of trouble.”

“Fine, don’t tell us then,” Storm Surge grumbled.

“Yah know what Ah don’t understand? Whah Ah never see yah ponies in Equestria. Ah’ve been all over the place but Ah never saw a sea pony bahfore.”

The three sea ponies fell silent and shifted in their seats.

“We’re not allowed in Equestria,” Sandbar said, staring at his plate.

“Huh?”

“Aquestria isn’t part of Equestria and never has been. Because we’re a separate country we need to get a passport to enter,” Storm Surge explained. “This isn’t because of Discord, Celestia, the ruler before him, did it too. It was actually only during the confusion when he took over that we were able to build some towns on land.”

Applejack looked at them in confusion. “Passports? Ah’ve never needed one and Ah’ve definitely left Equestria.”

“But you’re not a sea pony. Land ponies don’t like us,” Seafoam said quietly.

“This rule only applies to us,” Storm Surge snarled. “And of course they’ve never once issued a passport.”

“It’s a rather notorious moment in our history when our ambassador was physically ejected from Canterlot. He had gone simply to explain our desire to be a part of Equestria,” Sandbar added.

“Ah don’t understand. Whah would they not like you? Ah thought we had gotten over the whole tribe fightin’ thing when we founded Equestria,” Applejack said.

“Well there are probably a few reasons. Our patron goddess is Aquas, who isn’t one of the three pony deities, and we still actively worship her. She’s still thought to be alive too, which may have caused some jealousy. While we are the descendants of coastal dwelling pegasus ponies, our way of life is fundamentally different to yours,” Storm Surge answered.

“Though the main reason is we’re omnivorous,” Sandbar added.

“Hmmm,” Applejack hummed in thought. “Ah feel like Ah should know what that means.”

“Well a carnivore only eats meat and a herbivore only eats plants. An omnivore eats both,” Sandbar told her.

Applejack stopped what she was doing and let the piece of sushi slide off her hoof and onto the table. She stared at him wide eyed. “What did you say?”

“I’m so sorry, didn’t you know?” Seafoam asked.

“Sushi is a fish based dish. There aren’t many plants that grow underwater or near the shore so we adapted to include fish in our diet,” Storm Surge explained.

Applejack nearly gagged at the thought. “And yah didn’t think tah mention that sooner?”

“You said you wanted to try it, I assumed you knew,” Sandbar said.

“Well Ah didn’t know what Ah was eatin’ used tah be alive.”

Storm Surge rolled his eyes. “Plants are alive too.”

“But they don’t have feelin’s,” Applejack replied.

“Fish don’t have feelings, they’re made of foam latex,” Sandbar said. Applejack stared at him in confusion. “Just a joke. But really, eating meat is fine for ponies and there are no harm in eating it, despite what you might think.”

“If we had told you, you won’t have tried it and learned you like it,” Storm Surge added.

“No side effects, even though Ah ain’t a sea pony?”

“Well if you eat if over the course of several dozen generations, your teeth get sharper,” Sandbar said, opening his mouth wide. His teeth weren’t predator sharp, but they were definitely more pointed than a regular pony’s.

“It wasn’t bad,” Applejack admitted. The table was mostly empty now and they seemed full.

“Are you ready to head out?” Storm Surge asked.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Sandbar and Storm Surge led Applejack through the city to the Pneumatic Tube station. It was a separate section of the dome that was sealed off. It was fairly large with a clear tube in the middle with a sliding door on the top. The tube extended out through the glass into the distance. Along the walls were control panels and there as one on one side of the center tube.

Sandbar trotted off to the side while Storm Surge led Applejack over to the center tube. “Could you call a passenger pod?”

“Sure,” Sandbar replied. He pressed a button on a console on the wall. There was a grinding noise for a few seconds then the door on the tube opened up revealing a second door below it. Storm Surge opened this one, it swinging out. Inside was a small padded seat that was more like a narrow bench and some latched drawers.

“Okay, we’ll have to secure your things,” Storm Surge said. He reached for her sword but Applejack grabbed his hoof.

“Don’t touch it,” she warned. “Nothin’ personal, Ah just don’t like folks touchin’ mah blade.”

“Just put it in one of the storage drawers,” Storm Surge said, pulling away.

Applejack nodded and pulled the sheath off. She opened the one drawer that was big enough and gently placed the sword of harmony inside then closed the drawer. She pulled out Epona’s compass and put it in a different drawer. Her hat was the last thing to be put away. “Now what?”

“You just lay down on the seat and I’ll strap you in,” Storm Surge said.

“Huh?”

“You’re going to be traveling very fast. It’s a bad idea to have anything moving around.”

“Okay...” Applejack said apprehensively but she did as she was instructed, straddling the seat.

Storm Surge then went about binding her legs to the sides of the seat, then for good measure clasped a few more flat ropes across her back. “How does that feel? Can you move?”

Applejack wiggled about. “No,” she replied.

“Great. Sandbar, call him.”

“Er what?”

Sandbar went over to a different control panel and pressed a button.

“Lord Discord,” he said into a microphone.

“You!” Applejack snarled. She began straining against the bonds but it was no good.

“Who is this? What do you want?” came the annoyed reply.

“I’m Sandbar from Starfish Crack. Equestria’s most wanted? We’ve got her all tied up and waiting for you at the pneumatic tube station,” Sandbar said.

“I don’t believe it. A sea pony managed to take down Samurai Applejack,” Discord replied through the radio. “I’m almost impressed.”

“She was really easy to trick,” Sandbar said quietly.

“Fine, I’m coming, but you had better have her,” Discord said.

“Yer a disgrace tah ponies,” Applejack spat. “Can’t yah see Ah’m tryin’ tah stop him?”

“We know,” Sandbar said quietly, avoiding her gaze.

“Discord knew you were coming this way and said if we got you, he’d allow us to go to Equestria. Do you have any idea how it feels to be forced to the edge of the world? We are ignored. We have never been able to join the land ponies in festivals or even in friendship,” Storm Surge said, also looking away. “This isn’t anything personal. I want to take Seafoam to the top of Canterlot mountain. I want to walk through a forest. If turning you over can make that happen, then I’m sorry but we can’t afford to miss this chance.”

“He’s a liar! He won’t keep his promise!” Applejack shouted.

“He does not have the bias the old princess had. He will keep it,” Sandbar declared.

“Bow, subjects!” boomed a disembodied voice. The sea pony citizens looked around in confusion until the misshapen figure appeared towering over the stone buildings. His pony head barely fit under the glass dome. He began walking towards the air tube and he shrank in size as he went. Ponies dove to get out of his way, and those that were already out of the way pressed their faces to the ground.

“Let me go!” Applejack demanded.

“Well hello there, Applejack,” Discord said when he was small enough. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Did you find that gem you needed?”

“If Ah could move-”

“But you can’t. I am impressed these fish were able to best you.”

Sandbar and Storm Surge glared at him but didn’t speak.

“We have her like we said. And we can go to Equestria now?” Storm Surge asked.

“About the deal,” Discord said ominously. “I wanted her dead.”

“She’s helpless and all yours,” Sandbar replied.

Discord looked at Applejack desperately trying to free herself. He reached over and closed the door on her. Then he took a claw and stabbed it through the door, allowing Applejack to hear what was going on, but she couldn’t crane her neck far enough to see out. “Send her through the tube. I’ll take care of the rest,” Discord ordered.

“Yes sir,” Storm Surge said. He did something and a second later the tube slid shut.

There was a tense moment while Applejack didn’t know what was going to happen. Then she felt the pod rocket forward sending her stomach into her tail. The ride only lasted a second before she felt the pod abruptly begin to slow begin to rotate. Water began flooding in through the hole.

“You broke the pipe...” Storm Surge whined.

“The deal?” Sandbar asked.

“I wanted her dead. You failed. You’re not supposed to be on the surface at all. It’s time I put you back in the ocean where you belong,” Discord said.

“You lying, evil, henny,” Sandbar snarled.

“Look who’s finally learning,” Discord taunted.

Meanwhile, Applejack was getting frantic. The water had stopped pouring in but that was only because the water level was now above the hole, leaving her with very little air. She’d also managed to free herself by gnawing through one of the straps and undoing the rest. She’d quickly gathered her things but they were little use now. Now she had a choice. Stay until her air ran out, or open up the door and try and swim to the surface.

Not one to give up, Applejack located the hatch and tried to push it. It didn’t budge at all. She forced all her weight against it but it wouldn’t budge. There’s more than one way tah sheer a sheep. Applejack pulled out her sword and stabbed it through the side of the pod. She then dragged it about in a circle, carving through the metal with ease. With nothing to hold it back, the ocean filled the remaining space.

Applejack held her breath and swam free of the pod and tried to get her bearings. The water was dark and it stung her eyes, but she could make out the lights of the town on her left. There was no way in there, so she headed towards the surface. She wasn’t a poor swimmer but she was several hundred feet below the surface. She couldn’t even see where the sun was.

Suddenly something grabbed her robe and yanked her back down towards the city. She flailed about, trying to get free, but whatever had her wasn’t letting go.

Her lungs were at their limit when whatever had a hold of her dragged her into a metal chamber on the side of the dome. A door closed behind them and an alarm sounded. Suddenly the water began draining away. Applejack took a deep breath of air and looked and who had saved her.

“Storm Surge?”

“I’m a faster swimmer than Sandbar,” he replied, not meeting her eyes. “You were right. Discord tricked us.”

“He’s mighty seductive,” Applejack replied. “Where is he now?”

“He’s off to attack our coastal city,” Storm Surge growled. A second door on the other wall opened, letting them walk into the city. Storm Surge walked off towards the pneumatic tube and Applejack followed.

“Let me at him,” Applejack said, drawing her sword.

“You’ll never catch him,” Storm Surge said.

“Yer pretty fast, could yah swim me there?”

“Are you crazy, he’d kill you in an instant!”

Applejack looked outside at the tube. It was no longer whole, and she could see both segments drifting about. A sharp spire to rock jutted from the seafloor where the two pieces would have met.

“Huh. That ain’t glass?”

“What, the pneumatic tube? No, it’s plastic. If it was too rigid it would break with the ocean current.”

“Then that’s it. Shoot me in another thing at him!” Applejack exclaimed.

“We can’t. With the tube broken it won’t work,” Storm Surge said.

“What are you doing?” Sandbar asked.

“Ah gotta stop Discord and fast. Whah can’t yah shoot me outta that tube?”

“Because you’re sucked through it by the other end. With it broken, it’s useless,” Storm Surge said.

“Actually we might still be able to do it,” Sandbar replied. “If we throw the air pump on this side into reverse, it would launch a pod.”

“Does it even have a reverse function?” Storm Surge asked.

“No, but I can make one.”

“Do it. I’ll round up as many ponies as I can to aim the other end.” Storm Surge turned to Applejack. “I can’t believe you’re still willing to help us after what we did.”

“Stop talkin’ and move! We’re gonna lose him!” Applejack shouted.

Storm Surge nodded and galloped off. Sandbar raced over to one side of the room and opened up a hatch on the floor. He climbed down a ladder, leaving Applejack alone in the tube room.

“Anythin’ Ah can do?” she called into the hole.

“Um... call another pod,” came the reply.

“How do Ah do that?”

“On the third control panel to the right, press the big button labeled ‘passenger pod’.”

Applejack searched around and quickly spotted it. She pressed it and a moment later the tube opened up. She raced over and got inside the second pod. “Do Ah really have tah strap mahself in?”

“Normally yes, but there’s normally a technician on the other end to let you out. You’ll just have to hold on tight,” Sandbar shouted from somewhere below. “Come on, you piece of junk, bend! A little more... Got it! How are things up there?”

“It looks like the tube is pointed towards the shore.”

“Okay I have to manually activate the pump. Let me know when you’re in the pod and I’ll turn it on.”

“Hit it,” Applejack called back. She slammed the door shut as quickly as she could. There was an odd noise, like a gurgling sound and suddenly she was moving forwards. She couldn’t see where she was going and she felt the pod begin to slow as it moved through the water. She was still going incredibly fast.

Applejack slammed into the front of the pod as it came to an abrupt stop. Quickly she forced open the door and looked around. She had made it to the beach, at least. She’d actually ended up several yards up it with no gouge in the sand. Quickly she leaped out and searched around for Discord. She spotted him rising out of the water nearby and galloped towards him, sword at the ready.

“You!” he roared, spotting her.

“Me!” she shouted back. She jumped into the air and swung at his body. As the sword hit him, it didn’t. The blade phased right through his body. However, where it touched began to turn stiff and grey.

“Why won’t you just die!” he shouted, clutching the spot. He flew out of her reach and over to the pod which he picked up.

Applejack looked at him in confusion as he teleported away. She whipped her head about, trying to figure out where he went. Her question was answered when the metal pod was slammed around her. She went to slice through it like the other one, but was stopped when the pod began caving in around her. Discord was going to crush her! The metal walls got closer, pinning Applejack in place.

“Go back to your fish friends!” Discord shouted. He wound back his arm and hurled the pod into the ocean far faster than it had left it.

Applejack was unable to move or see what was happening but she could feel it. The pod hit something very solid and jarred around before hitting something else and finally stopping. There wasn’t any water leaking in but she had to get out. She had to stop Discord.

Applejack twisted and pulled until she had freed her hooves. She pressed them to the door and pushed for all her might. It still would not move. She needed more strength. She pushed harder. She felt a sudden rush of power. It was like adrenaline but many times more potent. With one final shove she pushed the door open, instantly flooding the pod.

Applejack swam free, making use of the boosted strength to move quickly through the water. She tried to figure out where she was but the dark shapes were confusing and she couldn’t make sense of it, so she simply began swimming for the surface. Her lungs burned from the lack of oxygen and her legs became heavy.

She needed air. She opened her mouth in an instinctive act, but that just let saltwater invade her lungs. She paddled and paddled but she wasn’t getting anywhere. Her vision blurred and her head pounded. Finally her legs failed. She dimly registered hitting the seafloor before blacking out.

“Oh dear. We can’t have you perish here. There is still a lot more for you to do. How about I give you a little gift to keep your tale going? I’m sure Epona won’t mind.”

“Applejack! Wake up!”

The voice finally stirred her. Applejack got up and immediately began coughing up water. It went on for several minutes and by the time she felt okay, her throat was raw and she felt sick. But she was alive.

“Thanks fer the save,” she said. “Ah thought Ah was toast there.”

“We thought so too.”

Applejack looked around and saw there were quite a few sea ponies gathered around, notably Storm Surge, Sandbar and Seafoam.

“Where’s Discord? Ah gotta go after him!” Applejack said, suddenly remembering what had happened. She tried to get up but Seafoam gently held her back.

“Discord’s long gone,” Sandbar said.

“But the town!”

“Demolished. Both of them,” Storm Surge replied. “That pod shattered the air dome and flooded the city. It’ll be months before we can make a new one if we ever are able to.”

“Ah failed. He got away.”

“No, we failed for listening to him,” Sandbar said.

Applejack tried to stand up but immediately fell flat on her face. Her front legs were wracked with immense pain. It felt like every muscle had been torn. So this is what she meant by having a good reason not to let us use this.

“Are you okay?” Seafoam asked, worried.

“Ah’ll be fine,” Applejack said, getting up more slowly now. Her legs ached but she would work through the pain. “So if the dome is gone, where are we?” Applejack asked. They were clearly inside an underwater air dome and in a similar looking town.

“We’re in Vent Fissure. It’s the closest town to Starfish Crack,” Storm Surge informed her.

“Well thanks fer gettin’ me here bahfore Ah drowned,” Applejack said,

“Err...” Storm Surge mumbled. “We really didn’t.”

Applejack looked at them in confusion. “Huh?”

“With all the wreckage it took us more than an hour to find you and it was a couple more hours to swim here. I don't really know how you survived,” Storm Surge said.

“Aquas must have given you her blessing,” Seafoam said quietly.

“Huh. Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened, seein’ how you all can do that,” Applejack said. “What are yah gonna do?”

“We’re going to have to rebuild, but we will,” Sandbar said.

“What about you? Is there any way we can help you?” Storm Surge asked.

Applejack pulled out Epona’s compass. The direction needle was now stiffly pointing in one direction. “Well....”

Applejack waved goodbye to the three sea ponies. They waved back then dove below the waves. Applejack trotted up the beach and found a shady spot along the shore, then sat down.

They had helped her cross the ocean from the bottom to where the compass pointed. The last few miles had been through open ocean. There were other surface to town tunnels but they were too far out of the way. It had been interesting when she had first stepped out what they had called an "air lock". She had been hesitant to see if she really could breathe underwater.

Her first... breath if you could call it that had been awkward. She eventually did calm down. The water tickled her nose but she could indeed breathe the water like it was air. The water didn’t sting her eyes either, which was very nice. She couldn't keep up with the sea ponies so Storm Surge and Sandbar took turns towing her along.

She spent the time experimenting and seeing just how well she could now survive underwater. It wasn't perfect. She found she ran out of breath very quickly and her breathing was more shallow. Still she couldn't complain.

When she left the water she expected to have to cough up a lot but found she really didn’t need to. She did feel a bit heavier though, and it wasn’t just the food they had kindly given her.

Applejack made sure no pony was watching before pulling out a securely wrapped package. She opened it up to reveal the last of her sushi supply. This stuff really ain’t that bad, she thought as she chowed down.

If you like this story, you should check out some of my other works:

My tumblr, an alternate universe mixing MLP and Cyborg 009.

The Seven Tribes, a rather long fanfic that, like many stories, tries to explain the past.

Forever a Changeling, my new story starring Rainbow Dash as a changeling.

Night of the Werepony, what I consider to be my worst story, but it’s surprisingly popular. It’s just one chapter long.