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Ocean’s Maw

by fourths

Chapter 1: To the Letter

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Princess Celestia sat alone at the desk in her bedroom, reviewing by candlelight her last few scrolls of governmental business for the night. It was but a few minutes until she finished her task, stowed the scrolls inside a drawer, and blew out the candles on either side of her desk, extinguishing the warm orange tones that had filled the room. In their stead, the crescent moon that lay high in the night sky cast an eerie blue glow upon everything within view of the window. Celestia paused a moment, taking in the ambiance of the night, and then ambled towards her majestic purple bed.

It was then that there was a knock on the door. A slight rapping—unsure, as if the knocker did not know whether it were appropriate to knock at this hour.

“Come in,” called Celestia. A cloud of magenta enveloped the bedroom door’s handle and rotated it. The latch clicked and the door gave way to reveal a tiny unicorn filly.

“Hi,” she squeaked.

Celestia smiled. “Hello, Twilight Sparkle. Whatever is the matter?”

Staring at the ground, Twilight shuffled her hooves nervously. “Well, I know that you said I could come talk to you any time I needed to,” she began. “But it’s pretty late and I don't think it’s very important, and…”

“I meant what I said, my little pony. I am here for anything you need to talk about—any trouble you may be having, any information I can give you.”

“Thank you, Princess.” Twilight paused, took a shallow breath, and then went on. “I was wondering... I’m having some trouble going to sleep.” She paused once more before letting out the rest in a quick burst: “Please could you maybe tell me a story?”

This was not what Celestia had expected—she honestly had feared that something far worse was the matter—but that didn't mean that she was unprepared. “Of course, my faithful student. Come here,” she replied, beckoning forward with her hoof. Relieved, Twilight trotted across the room and settled on the bed alongside the princess.

“Let us see... what would be a good one? Have you heard the one about how the three pony tribes came together to found Equestria?” Celestia inquired.

“Well, duh—oh, Goddess, I'm sorry.” Twilight hastily put her hooves over her muzzle, cheeks ablaze. Celestia merely chuckled.

“Think nothing of it. Hmm…” Celestia looked out into the darkened room, trying to think of which stories she hadn't yet told the filly.

“Princess?”

“Yes, my faithful student?”

“Could you tell me the story of Conch Shell and Sand Dollar? I was reading a book in the library earlier today, and it mentioned that story but didn’t go into any detail…”

Celestia was momentarily surprised, but she put a hoof to her forehead as she regained her composure. “Of course—that is an old tale that I know well, and an interesting tale it is. It all started with those two mares, a unicorn named Conch Shell and an earth pony named Sand Dollar. They lived in a small village on the western coastline, an aptly-named town called Seaside.

“Conch Shell and Sand Dollar were as close as two friends could be. They had met back in the beginnings of their school days and hit it off immediately, in part because they shared an interest in studying marine life but also simply because they got along very well. It’s no surprise, then, that the two became roommates after school ended, and started studying the local flora and fauna, cataloguing everything they were able to find. In fact, for a time, the pair were at the cutting edge of marine biology research.” Celestia included that detail in particular only because she knew it would make the small unicorn at her side perk up with interest; as expected, Twilight did.

“However, despite the strength of their friendship, Conch Shell and Sand Dollar also had strong differences. More and more, they began to fight—at first over small things, like how they should organise their house, but then over large things, like the direction of their research. If legend is to be believed they were on the brink of a discovery involving a certain type of fish whose scales contained the secrets of longevity—to live nearly forever. Yet right before they were able to complete their research, their tempers grew too short and they couldn't put up with each other any longer. After a cruel, biting comment made in the heat of the moment, Conch Shell stormed off.

“Naturally, because they had been fighting, Sand Dollar did not immediately go looking for her and instead buried herself in her work. Yet after a few days, she began to grow concerned. She sent letters to everyone she knew who was related to—or friends with—Conch Shell, asking if she had gone to stay with them. However, her friend was nowhere to be found. A police investigation of the case, including a thorough search of Seaside and the surrounding areas, turned up nothing as well. As far as anyone could tell, Conch Shell had disappeared completely from Equestria.

“Sand Dollar grieved and blamed herself for what she saw as her best friend’s untimely death. To cope, she thrust herself further into her work, becoming a renowned researcher and scientist in the field. She began to travel around the coastlines of Equestria, looking for new species and assisting with conservation efforts of endangered species, albeit with a secondary goal: to find Conch Shell. But no matter how long and how hard she looked, no matter where she went, she could find neither hide nor hair of her friend. With no other choice, Sand Dollar grieved and tried to move on, though she never quite gave up hope.

“One day, though, Sand Dollar found herself on a research boat, on a trip sponsored by Manehattan University—not long after the university was founded, actually. The voyage took her out to open sea, past the eastern coast and into an area she hadn't been through before. A few days into the trip, Sand Dollar was looking out into this mists with her spyglass and saw an island that she hadn’t seen before, and that she couldn’t find on any map. She told the crew members that she was going to check it out, and sailed off in a dinghy to the island.

“She didn’t return that evening. At first, the crew members weren’t particularly concerned… until she didn’t come back the next day. But when they sent out a search party, they couldn’t find a trace of either Sand Dollar or the island she said she’d seen. They spent days searching, but eventually gave up and returned home. And so it was that Sand Dollar joined Conch Shell in being lost to the mists of the ocean and, indeed, time itself.” Celestia swallowed, uncomfortably, gazing unfocused into the room as she realised how utterly morbid the end of that tale was.

She shook her head and looked down, greeted by the sight of a slumbering Twilight Sparkle. Celestia smiled and lay a wing across Twilight, before laying her own head to rest and closing her eyes. Although both ponies slept in warmth together, the final words of the princess’s story lingered eerily in the room.


The room smelled of smoke. Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes. “Hmm… wha—?”

Fire. Something’s on fire.

At this realisation, she jumped awake and out of bed, nearly tripping on her blanket in her hurry. The air was thick with a hanging greyness which billowed up from downstairs.

“Spike? Spike?!

She heard coughing. “It’s okay, Twilight, I’ve got it under control.” Spike came into view as she heard this. Twilight had to squint to see through the smoke, but she could tell Spike was holding a blue plastic bucket under the faucet in the sink.

“What happened? Are you alright?” Twilight’s eyes darted around the room.

“It’s all fine, really. I was just making eggs for breakfast, y’know, like I always do on Tuesdays. But then, as I was cooking them with my flame, I received a letter at the same time which I wasn’t expecting so I lost control and, well, you can see what happened…” Spike trailed off, looking around and frowning.

The kitchen was blackened from bursts of flame, and still smoking. The cabinets looked waterlogged but salvageable, and most of the appliances had been spared from the destruction. “Well, I’m glad that you got it under control! Heh… it would’ve been bad to have the fire escape to the library section.” Twilight rubbed her eyes. “Were you able to save the eggs?”

Spike fidgeted nervously. “Sorry, Twi, but they ended up pretty burnt and damp. I’ll have some new ones for you in a jiffy, though!”

“Thank you so much! Now, what was that you said about a letter?”

Spike gestured towards a scroll on the tile, wrapped up in a red bow with a golden seal. “It’s right over there,” he said, walking over to the refrigerator.

Miraculously unscathed, the scroll appeared to have avoided both the inferno and the flood; this, however, was likely due to its nature as a note sent through magical flame. Twilight magically picked it up, removed the seal, unrolled the scroll, and began to read.

My faithful student Twilight Sparkle,

I know not whether you will have heard of such news, but word reaches me that there have been a few troubling disappearances of ponies near Manehattan, and that these disappearances may somehow be connected. I was asked by the local government to assist with their investigation; however, I am unfortunately required here in Canterlot to assist with rebuilding and morale after the incident at your brother’s wedding. Yet the timing and area of these disappearances is most concerning to me and I was hoping that you, my faithful student, could investigate the matter in my stead. If you are able to help, then you will be making the journey to Manehattan by train and then you will be briefed further on the situation by a member of the Royal Guard once you are there. Please respond as soon as possible.

Yours,
Princess Celestia

Cogs turning in her head, Twilight Sparkle set the note on the counter, filled a glass with water, and slowly drank it. The princess? She wanted Twilight to be her representative in this important case? Twilight was excited; this was unlike anything she’d been asked to do. Monsters, sure—she’d tackled dragons, an Ursa Minor, Discord… heck, even the whole changeling army. But a mystery? It would be like Shining Armor and Cadance’s wedding, but nopony would be telling her that she was crazy or that her ideas didn’t make sense.

“So, what’s the letter about?” asked Spike, turning her way. He held out a plate of beautiful, immaculate fried eggs in front of him, which Twilight took with her magic and started eating.

“Mmm… thanks, Spike… these are great,” Twilight mumbled between bites. “Princess Celestia is just asking me if I would go and help with an investigation in Manehattan having to do with some ponies that disappeared.”

“Whoa…” Spike said, eyes widening. “You’ll be just like Batmare from the comics! I wonder which dastardly villain is behind this evil plot…”

“Erm, yeah. Whatever you say.” Rolling her eyes, Twilight finished the eggs and set her plate aside on the counter. “I’ve got a response to write.” With that, she walked out of the room with the letter. Spike remained, continuing to clean up the kitchen.


Rainbow Dash spent most of her time flying, sleeping, or being bored. At that moment, Rainbow Dash was bored.

She had already finished concocting that day’s weather with the rest of her patrol and then planning for the rest of the week and into the next. She already went to Sweet Apple Acres and bugged a grumpy Applejack for an hour and a half before getting bored of that and falling asleep on a cloudbank. But now that she had woken up, she found herself yet again bored.

So, in an effort to stave off this growing boredom, she flew into town and settled onto a fluffy white cloud. She kept an eye on the passersby below in case something actually interesting happened.

It took a little while, but then she saw it: a window on the lower level of the Golden Oaks Library, where Dash’s friend Twilight Sparkle lived, was enveloped in grey smoke. At first, she paid it no mind; Twilight probably had it under control, whatever it was. But although the smoke eventually stopped, Rainbow’s curiosity got the best of her. Without getting up, she piloted her cloud down to the library’s doorstep and knocked a few times on the door. The handle lit up with a magenta magical aura and the door opened, revealing Twilight Sparkle inside looking as she always did, albeit a little more bleary-eyed and a little more bedheaded.

“G’morning, Rainbow,” Twilight yawned.

“Hey, Twi, how’s it hoofin’? Did I just see some smoke or something coming from your window?”

“Oh, I’m fine and that’s all fine,” Twilight dismissed. “Spike just had a little accident with cooking and magical letters but it’s nothing that can’t be cleaned up pretty easily.”

Rainbow Dash paused for a moment, processing what Twilight had said. “Wait, what? Magical letters? From Princess Celestia?”

Twilight smirked. “The one and only. C’mon in.” She stood aside to allow entry to Rainbow, who flapped her wings to bring her cloud into the house. “You hungry?”

“Nah, I already ate. Hi, Spike!” Rainbow waved. Spike looked up and waved back, but he was still focused on sweeping the kitchen floor so Rainbow shrugged and looked back at Twilight. “So, what’s Celestia asking you to do this time?”

Twilight rolled her eyes and proceeded to explain the whole situation, while at the same time writing a short reply. By the time she finished explaining Celestia’s summons, Rainbow’s eyes were wide and her muzzle was agape.

“You’re gonna be a detective? I have to admit, Twi, that sounds pretty darn awesome.”

“Heh, thanks…” Twilight replied, rolling up the letter. “But I’m sure that either it won’t take very long or I won’t be able to do anything. There are plenty of cold cases all over Equestria—which probably will never be solved due to a lack of evidence—and I’m sure this will just be yet another one; Celestia’s really only having me go to sate the locals.”

“But still… I’m pretty jealous. I’d love to be a badflank superpony, prowling the night for villains and trouble.” Rainbow paused, lost in thought, and then looked up once more. “Wait... Twi, can I come with you?” she asked excitedly.

Twilight had just handed the scroll to Spike and he was about to blow it away. In response to Rainbow’s statement, the unicorn blinked and held out a hoof to temporarily halt the dragon.

“Oh, I don’t know… there’s not really much to do,” Twilight said, mulling it over. “I’d have you and the rest of the girls come with, but it’s probably not going to take very long no matter how it goes down. I wouldn’t want you to get bored.”

“Pff, whatever! It sounds super fun!” Rainbow exclaimed, her wings flapping about with excitement. “How about I come along and if it’s boring, I can just fly back to Ponyville and leave you to it?”

“Well, alright; I don’t see why not, if you really want to come,” Twilight replied with a smile. “I mean, it’ll be good to have some company—I’d bring Spike, but he’s got to stay here to help Rarity set up for a fashion show in a few days.” Spike blushed and pulled away from the two, walking around in a circle and mumbling to himself.

“Awesome! So, when are we gonna go?” Rainbow asked. “I can just go back to my house and get my stuff, and I’ll be ready.”

“I’m not quite sure yet, but I think it’ll be later today.” Twilight looked over at her desk, where Spike had placed the letter before wandering off, and then looked back to Rainbow. “Come back once you have your things together, and I’m sure I’ll have a reply from Celestia by then.”

Rainbow Dash hopped off her cloud and ran out the open door, taking off into the sky. She was gone in a rainbow blur. Twilight giggled, and trotted to her desk, looking over her reply to the princess.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am most definitely able to make the journey to Manehattan and help the local government with this case. I really appreciate the chance to help wherever I can, friendship problem or not. Let me know when I should take the train over there.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

She picked up a quill with her magic and dipped it in an inkpot.

P.S. My friend Rainbow Dash asked me if she could come along to help, and I said that was okay. I hope that is fine with you.

Twilight set the quill down and rolled the letter up again. “Spike!” She heard a thump in the kitchen, and then the little dragon ran into the room.

“Yes, Twilight?”

“I need you to send this letter to Princess Celestia.”

“Sure thing!” He took it in his claw and puffed out a lick of green flame from his mouth. The letter vanished.


“Good luck, you two! I do hope you’re able to find those missing ponies post-haste.”

“Thanks, Rares!” Rainbow replied with a grin. “But you know that I can totally take care of whatever evil pony has been kidnapping those poor, innocent, helpless townsponies. Oh, and Twilight will probably help too.”

Twilight shot Rainbow a sidelong glare, but laughed her friend’s antics off. After all, Rainbow Dash’s gleeful optimism would do them well on what Twilight saw as a hopeless case in which her role was merely symbolic. She and Rainbow were standing with their friends at the train station that evening, saying their goodbyes in the last few minutes before the train was to leave. The last rays of the sun were disappearing over the horizon as the silvery light of the moon began to peek out.

“I hope that you don’t run into anything too dangerous… or too scary,” said Fluttershy.

Pinkie Pie, with an excited squeal, jumped up out of nowhere into the centre of the group. “Of course they will, silly! Didn’t you hear Dashie? They’re going to be badflank detectives, snooping for clues and solving crime and eating donuts and all sorts of fun and crazy and spooky and wicked stuff!”

“Well, shoot,” Applejack hummed, “I’m sure it won’t be all that crazy. But still, take care, Twi. And don’t get into too much trouble, Rainbow.”

“Aww…! But trouble is my middle name—Rainbow Trouble Dash!”

Off a few feet away, Twilight bent down as Spike draped her saddlebag over her back and then leaned over to nuzzle her assistant on the cheek. “Have fun helping Rarity this week!”

As she stood up, a whistle on the train blew. Twilight looked up at the clock before turning rapidly to Rainbow Dash. “Hurry up, Rainbow, or we’ll miss the train!”

Waving their final goodbyes, Rainbow Dash and Twilight trotted onto the train just as the final whistle blew. The doors closed behind them and, with a puff of steam, the train began a steady chug. After just a few moments, the train had left the station and all that remained were four mares and a dragon waving goodbye.


Rainbow lay between fuzzy crimson sheets on her bunk, reading the brand-new Daring Do and the Monster of Mexicolt. As the train ride was scheduled to arrive the next morning, Princess Celestia had very kindly secured a cozy little cabin with a bunk bed for the two mares so that they didn’t have to sleep in their seats. Rainbow Dash had naturally jumped quickly towards the top bunk, leaving the bottom for Twilight, and had stayed put for the past few hours, making her way slowly yet steadily through the book as the sun had set and the world they could see out the window grew darker.

Twilight Sparkle, however, wasn’t lying in her bed; she was pacing. Back and forth, back and forth, hoofmarks embedding themselves into the off-white carpeting. Rainbow Dash unconsciously put her hooves in her ears for a moment before she realised what she was doing and why; then she looked up from her book to see Twilight trotting back and forth.

“Something up?” Rainbow asked. “It’s funny—normally you’re the one in bed with a book and I’m the one who can’t stop moving.”

Twilight didn’t answer at first and just kept pacing. A moment later, it seemed like she had registered what Rainbow had said and she stopped, looking up. “Heh, you’re right. How things have changed. I’m just a little anxious, that’s all.”

“Anxious?” Rainbow Dash inquired. “About what?”

“Ugh, it doesn’t matter. I’m really just getting all worked up over things that don’t matter.”

Rainbow placed a bookmark in her book and set it down on the bed. She shuffled out from in between the blankets, and fluttered down on the ground. Twilight jumped a little as Rainbow wrapped her wing around the lavender mare. “It’s okay. If you don’t wanna talk about it, that’s fine… but it’s sometimes super helpful when you do.”

“Heh… when did you get all, uh, ‘sappy’?” Twilight asked, surprised.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I’ve been trying to be a better friend. I was talking with Fluttershy a few weeks ago after that whole thing with Iron Will, and she made me realise how much a little kindness can go.”

“Well, jeez… erm… thanks? Eheh…” Twilight trailed off. “I guess I’m just nervous about this, uh, mission that we’ve been sent on. In the past, Princess Celestia has sent me on missions of friendship, and both me myself and all you girls have gotten pretty good at working those out.” She bit her lip. “But a criminal case? Government bureaucracy? How in the hay does she think I know how to deal with that?”

“The princess wouldn’t have asked you to do it if she didn’t think you could handle it,” Rainbow replied, hugging Twilight closer. “We all know that you’re, like, super awesome at figuring stuff out! Why would a case like this be any different? And if you need help, that’s why you’ve got me along.”

“Thanks, Dash… I really appreciate it.” Twilight smiled, putting a hoof around her friend.

“Hey, don’t sweat it! That’s what friends are for, right?” Rainbow shot Twilight a hammy wink. “Now, let’s get some shuteye. They’ll probably want us to get started right away tomorrow.”

Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle parted and each went to their own bunk, settling snug between their blankets. Twilight magically extinguished the overhead light, leaving them in darkness until she drew open the curtains of the window overlooking her bed, letting in the eerie glow of moonlight. It was not long until she heard Dash’s gentle snores overhead. She spent the next few minutes staring through the glass at the night-drenched desert landscape outside, watching the dark forms of sand dunes and cacti going by until she too succumbed to the warm caress of sleep.

Author's Notes:


And thus begins...
Ocean’s Maw
by fourths

edited by Space Jazz
who is really, really cool; check him out

with thanks to NaPoWriMo
without which this story would never have been written


Next Chapter: Looking for Questions Estimated time remaining: 37 Minutes
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