Days went by slowly as Selene would hide in the cave watching the ponies try and peak at her. It wasn’t until Twilight or her friends would visit Selene would move from her cave. However, she noticed more scholar ponies were hanging around when Twilight would visit. They were taking notes as Selene was trying to teach Twilight. Huffing she looked towards Twilight and would point to the top of the tank causing the other ponies to grumble. Selene was able to leave after the stitches were removed since her scales started to grow back over the scars. Applejack was waiting outside as Selene limped her way out. The orange mare glanced over to the merpony noticing how bad her back leg was.

“Oh Applejack! I didn’t think to see you here” Selene glanced towards her with a smile on her face.

“Well, I had some dealings with ma family. Twi said you were getting out so I thought I would pick ya up” she smiled as Selene walked over towards her. She wrapped her hoof around the pony.

“Thank you. You are so sweet but what happened to the weather? Why did the warm disappear?” Selene glanced around as Applejack pulled out a large dark blue sweater. She placed it over Selene’s head causing the merpony to fall on her flank.

“Now hold still” Applejack pulled her hooves through the sleeves and her fins out of the back causing her to blush “Better?” the orange mare glanced towards Selene.

“Yes but what is this?” Selene was glancing towards the sweater while running her hooves over it.

“Rares thought you might need. Now come on we will miss the train home” Applejack nudge Selene towards the train station. Selene got up and slowly walked alongside Applejack as she glanced towards the buildings.

“I heard the place I was in called Baltimare. Why is that?” Selene moved her eyes towards Applejack as she was looking up as well.

“Well, I’m not quite sure. You might want to ask Twi on that one. But I can tell ya this is where all the apples get shipped around” she had a large smile on her face.

“Oh, how is she doing?” Selene tilted her head “I was hoping to see her. I wanted to start a plan to head home” once she said that Applejack stopped in her tracks.

“What I thought you weren’t going”

“What oh no! No, I wanted to visit home. I was going to ask you all if you wanted to join. I thought it might help with the peace treaty.” Selene smiled as she looked towards Applejack.

“I’m not sure sug. I don’t think that sounds like a good idea” She moved towards Selene as they kept walking towards the train station.

“Should I wait and give my dad the year he wanted?” Selene watched as Applejack pulled out some bits as she paid for the tickets.

“I think you should sug. It might help things” She picked up the tickets handing one to Selene causing her to stare down at the ticket. She nodded towards the words that Applejack was saying. Selene walked into the car as she sighed.

“Do you think I can help you with anything?” Selene looked towards the mare as she sat beside the merpony.

“Now why would you want that sug?”

“I don’t want to feel like a burden. I want to be able to help with something” Selene messed with her hooves as Applejack nudged her a bit.

“Sug, you are not a burden. We are just worried for our friend and we need to get to know you a little bit” Applejack smiled as Selene nodded.

“Okay. You said you work with apples”

“Right as rain, I did” Applejack had a large grin on her face.

“Can I buy some? I have a recipe I want to make when I return to Ponyvile” Selene looked towards the windows.

“Well of course. I can bring some by later” Applejack had a smile planted still as the train started to move. Selene settled in for the train ride back to Ponyvile. Applejack had settled into the ride moving her hat over her face allowing her to fall asleep. Selene kept her eyes on the scenery watching it move her mind still drifting towards her father. She moved her hoof towards her neck rubbing the mark causing her to sigh.

“You will half to tell her” Star growled as Selene closed her eyes.

“She will hate me”

“Selene you fucking fool! Your body is no longer on pain meds! You will start to feel the pain eat away at you”

“I been through this before! It will not be the first time” Selene huffed a bit as she moved in her seat.

“But you have a pony willing to be with you”

“And I am not so sure” She moved her head towards the window as she rested her head on the glass.

“WHAT!” Star shouted out causing Selene to wince a bit.

“No need to shout” Selene snapped as she looked down at her hooves.

“You told her how you felt. She spent two nights with you”

“Yeah she did. But I don’t Deserve this” Selene wrapped her hooves around her as she noticed Star scream and shout.

“You are a bucking moron!”

“Says my curse”

“Well you are” Star growled causing Selene to rub her head “We will finish our talk later” Selene noticed the train pulling into the small station. She leaned over and poked Applejack causing the mare to jump.

“What?”

“I think we are here” Selene spoke up as Applejack leaned over towards the glass.

“Thought it be longer” Applejack chuckled.

“You fell asleep” Selene smiled as the orange mare got up from her seat. Selene got up and followed her towards the doors of the train. Her back legs were still giving her some issues. She looked towards the town and noticed Pinkie was the only one bouncing up and down waiting on the platform.

“Should I run?”

“I think she can catch you sug” Applejack snickered as Selene shivered thinking about the sugar high she came down off of. Once the train had stopped Selene let Applejack leave first before slipping out of the train and passing the pink earth pony. Selene limped away sighing softly as she looked towards the trees noticing a few leaves on the trees around town were different colors. She noticed a few yellows, reds, oranges and browns mixed into the green leaves. As she was looking towards the trees she limped into the door of the library.

“Ow,” Selene rubbed her muzzle as she looked towards the door in front of her. Shaking her head she raised her hoof and knocked on the door.

“Library is open!” A voice from the inside yelled out causing Selene to push the door open. She was thinking the area would be clean and pristine like she last remembered it. However, all the books were laying in piles as Twilight was glancing through books. Her mane was pulled into a bun as she quickly speed through different books and taking notes at the same time. Selene could only watch in shock as Twilight didn’t even look back towards her.

“Just let me know what book you are looking for. We are re-shelving at the moment.” Twilight kept her face buried into the book before placing it down. She picked up another one as Selene slowly shut the door behind her. She limped her way over towards Twilight glancing at the pile of books around her. They were all about curses and the cures. A green book with gold caught her eye. She reached over and picked the book up and walked towards the couch. She wanted to see how long it would take for Twilight to noticed she was around. Twilight sighed after the third book. She glanced back towards the door thinking she had heard a pony knock. Shaking her head she placed her glasses down as she looked around noticing a book and a sweater lying on the couch. Selene had disappeared into the tank before Twilight had even looked away. Selene was in shock at what she had seen. The tank was filled with bookcases with her items all neatly placed around. Her bed was softer and had blankets and a couple of pillows on it. Her eyes glanced towards the basement and noticed it was set up for a classroom with the desk facing her tank. She sat on her clam bed as she was in shock. Her room back home was nice but this felt loved. She felt like Twilight had cared for her while putting this together. She had a few tears float from her eyes as she moved up to the top of the tank. Poking her head up she noticed Twilight had moved from her spot to make some tea. Spike had started to place some of the books away. Selene pulled herself from the tank changing forms. She limped her way over to Twilight.

“Thank you” her voice was soft causing Twilight to jump.

“Selene!” Twilight was gripping her chest as she was breathing hard. She glanced towards the merpony as she placed the cup down in her magic “You scared me” Twilight glared at Selene.

“Sorry but I noticed the tank. I wanted to say thank you. I loved the tank” Selene smiled as she looked towards Twilight. The purple unicorn smiled as she moved towards Selene kissing her cheek.

“Well if this is going to stay you might as well have a nice room than just a bed” she smiled as Selene nodded “And besides I got really good practice with my tail and magic underwater.” She tapped her hooves together as she picked up the tea kettle with her magic “Tea?”

“Please” Selene moved towards the table taking up one of the seats. Twilight placed a cup in front of her as the door opened up and her friends ran in. Pinkie bounced towards the table and tackled Selene to the floor.

“Your back!” she had a smile as Selene looked up at the pink pony.

“Selene are you okay?” Rainbow looked over at the shaken merpony.

“Is it bad I see two Pinkies sitting on me” Selene blinked as Rainbow nodded.

“Yeah, we don’t need two Pinkies” Rainbow helped Selene up watching her eyes roll around in her head, “I think Pinkie hit her hard” Rainbow whistled as Selene tried to find her way towards her seat.

“I’m fine” Selene waved her hoof as her stomach started to turn “Nope I will be right back” Selene moved towards the stairs and up to the bathroom.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her” Pinkie looked towards her friends.

“We know Pinkie but you half to remember she is a merpony. They probably heal different then us” Rainbow looked towards her friend noticing her mane was flat as she looked away. It took a few moments but she came back down limping still.

“Hey, Selene when is your birthday” Rainbow shouted causing the merpony to think.

“Mother said I was born on the winter star. I am not sure what that translates over to in surface talk” Selene walked towards the table taking her old seat.

“Hearth’s warming eve” her voice was soft as Selene glanced towards her.

“What was that?” Pinkie spoke up as Fluttershy tried to hide behind her mane.

“The winter star only shows up on Hearth’s warming eve. My mother liked stars” She started to blush.

“That’s not too far. You need a party!”

“I never had a real birthday party before. I only celebrate it with my mother and father” Selene looked down as Pinkie had a large smile on her face. She wrapped her hoof around Selene’s neck and pulled her in tightly.

“Then I will throw you the largest birthday party ever!” Pinkie shouted as everypony nodded.

“Thank you” Selene smiled as she tried to hide the pain she was starting to feel creep up through her legs. The evening wore on as the girls chatted on but Selene had to excuse herself once more to run up into the bathroom. She placed her head into the tub coughing up blood.

“You need help Selene”

“I have done this by myself plenty of times Star” Selene sat against the tub as she could feel Star growling “Don’t growl Star. You’re the one who got pissed off at her.”

“I was pissed off at you. For what you did. I wanted to make the pony you gave your life to suffer. I never thought I would like her!” Star shouted as Selene slinked down the wall of the bathroom. Selene closed her eyes listening to the silence till she noticed the bathroom door opening up. She noticed Twilight with her group.

“Star told you” she sighed.

“She just told us you weren’t feeling well still sug” Applejack spoke up as Selene looked towards them.

“I think the potions and the flaked food wasn’t settling with me” She sat up as she stretched her back hooves out.

“Selene!” She placed her hooves in her head as the others tried to fit into the room making causing Selene to climb into the tub. She placed a hoof towards her muzzle as she pulled the curtain hoping it would hide her. Her spell disappeared as her tail reappeared. She bent over and coughed up some blood thankfully she had the curtain covering her. Glancing over she noticed it was completely see-through.

“We need the doctor” Twilight started to panic as she used her magic pulling the curtain open.

“I don’t need a doctor Twilight” Selene sighed as she laid out in the bathtub “This is what happens every year. When I lose a life” she glanced towards the purple unicorn.

“But the year isn’t over”

“The harbor. When you were drowning I didn’t make it to you in time. Your heart was slow and starting to stop. When I placed the necklace around you and put the spell on it you didn’t respond. So I pushed air into you along with my magic to keep your heart going. I gave up a year to restart your heart. It’s just now catching up to me” She placed a hoof over her face scared to see Twilight’s reaction.

“Why didn’t you”

“I was scared. I was scared of your reaction. I was scared of what your friends would do. I was scared of what the princess would do. Star was angry with me after I did that. She wanted to meet you and then you did. I also respect you Twilight. I saw the great things you did while in the castle. I heard the stories from the passing ponies. You’ve done so much why would I matter” Selene looked away as she placed her head into her hooves. Twilight didn’t know what to say at this time and simply looked towards her friends. None of them did as this was the first time they were ever encountered with this. Selene made her way through the group of ponies as she moved towards the tank. Stopping near the entrance she looked down at the water sighing softly. Her ears twitched a bit as she noticed the sounds of hoof steps moving along the stairs. She was tackled by a bright pink blur.

“You and me tomorrow. We will bake cakes and cookies and all sorts of goodies. You hear me” Pinkie was staring at Selene in the eyes causing the merpony to silently nod.

“Good” Pinkie had a bright smile as her mane fluffed up. She walked out of the house whistling as Selene moved into the tank before any other pony could tackle her to the ground. She moved towards the shell sitting along the edge clearing her mind. She looked up and noticed Twilight moving down towards her. Selene’s eyes glanced towards the thank causing Twilight to sigh.

“They went home to allow you to rest.” Twilight floated down in front of her placing her hooves on Selene’s tail. Her eyes noticed the white scales growing along the side of her tail.

“Your scales” Twilight moved her hand along her tail.

“Its what happens when you face a sea witch. I don’t mind having white scales now” Selene smiled as Twilight looked towards her.

“Selene you need to promise me that you will never do that again! I thank you for saving me but. This isn’t worth using the rest of your life up” Twilight glanced towards her.

“Yes, it is! I don’t want to be the merpony who let a surface pony die in front of them! I hear it so much when I was home. It tore me apart till I went and found the poor soul who died. If they were close enough to the surface I left their body on the beaches so the could be found. The rest of them I buried them under the seafloor allowing them to rest.” Selene pulled Twilight into a hug causing the purple merpony to look at her in shock. As soon as she pulled Twilight close Selene felt calm her anger was gone and her hooves were shaking.

“Please promise me you will think about stuff before jumping in” Twilight glanced towards the merpony.

“I will.” Her voice was muffled as Twilight laid her out on the bed.

“Rest now okay” Twilight glanced towards Selene. The merpony looked up and pulled Twilight in for a kiss. She started to blush before leaving the tank. Selene chuckled a bit as she watched Twilight leave causing her to sigh softly. Letting out a small yawn she curled up on the shell pulling the covers over her. As she was sleeping and dreaming of happier things a war as breaking out deep in the sea.

Maremuda…

King Triton sat on his throne as his sons were sitting around him. Ra and Za were standing on either side of the throne staring at the nobles. They had all gathered to discuss the peace treaty. Triton had already laid out the plans and the reason for the treaty with the princesses. He noticed the eyes shifting from noble to noble as whispers grew in the room. Triton could care less about there whispers as his mind was drifting towards Selene and the recent attack on her by a Sea witch.

“If we agree to this then you agree to our terms” a large puffer fish noble stood up.

“And?” Triton sat up his eyes glazing down towards the nobles.

“You renounce your daughter. That demon should not have a claim to the throne. Also, you need to exile her from the kingdom. Since she has no claim that should be perfect right? Or would you take our second term and sentence your daughter to death for the all the crimes you have covered up” the puffer glared towards Triton causing him to sigh. Saluki looked to his father knowing well what was running through his mind. His other brothers were agreeing to the noble. Ra and Za both stayed silent even if they wanted to speak up. Triton looked towards his wife’s place as it was empty. She had grown sick from leaving the sea and was on bed rest from the doctors. Triton knew exiling his daughter would be the same as him killing her.

“Fine, I will exile my daughter. I will also now hand my throne to my son Saluki instead of my daughter. Only after the peace treaty is signed with the surface ponies. Now will do we have a deal and call this bloody war off or should I start throwing each of you in jail for bribing a guard of mine” he stood up growling towards them. The puffer looked towards his fellow nobles. Each of them agreed by nodding.

“We agree to exile. We will also allow the peace treaty to the surface to happen.” Triton nodded as he waved his hoof causing the merponies to disperse. Ra and Za looked up towards Triton both of them were gripping their spears in anger.

“Why would you let them do that!” Za looked up towards Triton.

“You should not talk to the king like that” one of the princes spoke up but quickly silenced as Triton held his hoof up.

“I hate to do that to her. but I am permanently transferring you to Princess Celestia’s guard. I want you two to pack up your stuff and Selene’s. I will have a letter and a package for you to deliver. I will put off exiling my daughter till the peace treaty.” He sighed as Ra and Za looked towards him.

“Are you sure. This means you will miss out on the last years of her life King Triton” Ra spoke up as he smiled.

“As long as you two are near her. I think the last five years of her life will be a good one. I will be sending some documents transferring her to you both. This way she has parents to turn to.” He smiled as they both stares at him “Well shouldn’t you two start packing?” he watched them run off as Saluki moved in front of him. His brothers were looking closely at their father as he would never let the guards speak to him like that without their mother.

“Are you sure father. Selene only has five years till she dies from the curse” he noticed his father nodding “You also know the sea gave her the crown and the gem on her back” he watched as Triton sighed.

“Son I knew already and so did your mother. Before your sister met the stallion she was to marry she fell in love with a surface pony. One I was not hoping to see on the surface but we did. I sealed your sister’s memory and I went and sealed that ponies’ memory of her. When I did that I noticed the gem on her back and the crown on her head. I did not think the nobles would turn on her and that she would be cursed with a short life” Triton stood up “I need to write a letter to the princess. I would like them both to be aware of what is going on” he left the room as Saluki noticed his brothers were starting to gather around him.

“Is what father said true?”

“Dose sister have five years to live?”

“Is she cursed?”

“Can we see her?” a small soft voice chirped up causing the brothers to turn and stare at a white merpony with silver scales and a white mane with light blue streaks in his mane.

“Why do you want to see her Ti?”

“Well if she going to die why not make memories? I feel bad now that I hardly have good memories of her.” he looked towards his hooves as the others were nodding.

“So can we?”

“We need gifts!” one shouted causing them all to scramble shouting different ideas off each other. Saluki just stared at the mess of merponies running around.