[ Twelve years later…

The pair of light blue eyes were glancing along the scrolls that were displayed out on the table in front of her. Selene noticed a scroll sitting in the middle of the table that caught her eye. She softly picked it up so she could look it over, even more, causing a smile to glance her lips. She placed the shells needed on the table as she moved on to another stall. The market was pretty busy today as most merponies were getting ready for the ball her father was holding tonight. Her mother was letting explore tonight as most students were out of school getting their scales ready for the night. Selene on the other hoof had another plan in mind. Smiling she picked up a few more items from the market before swimming back to the castle. Swimming through her window she placed her new scroll on the bed as she pulled out a large box filled with different scrolls and drawings she had made over the years. As she was opening the box a soft knock came from her door.

“Yes?” she called out as a tall dark merpony swam through the door her mane was pulled into a bun allowing the silver crown to rest on her head.

“Mother what can I do for you?” Selene quickly hid the scrolls as she smiled towards her.

“I was coming to see if you were joining us tonight.” Selene shook her head as she placed the box on the floor.

“You know I don’t like parties” Selene curled up on her bed staring at her mother.

“I know but I thought that might change since your brothers are hosting” She held her laughter back as her two older brothers were hell for her.

“No I am fine” she rolled the scroll on as she emptied her bags on the bed beside her. Her mother was used to this whenever she bought something new to join her collection.

“Alright. I will tell your father” she leaned over and kissed Selene on the head before swimming out of the room shutting the door behind her. Selene pulled the box out again as she pulled the scrolls out of the box. She placed them in her bags adding a few books and journals to keep track of what she was going through. She took her time to make sure she was able to place some snacks into her bag plus she wanted the ball to start allowing her time to escape. She pulled her trident out as she moved through the castle wearing her bags. She had her trident in her hooves as she noticed her mother was standing at the front of the castle welcoming guest. Many of the kingdom were around dressed in their best. Selene rolled her eyes as she moved behind her mother waiting for ponies to turn their heads. Her eyes rested on her mother who was smiling.

“If you want to leave at eighteen I will give you five days before I get your father after you” she thought back to the memory of her mother. It was her sixteenth birthday and her mother had given her a gold and silver coin. One side had the sun and the other held the moon with the names of Celest and Luna on either side. Her mother told her it was important for her to keep it on her when she left for land. Shaking her head out of the memories she swam out of the castle and through the empty streets to the edge of the town. The guards were pulled from the edge of the town so they could protect the castle while the party was in full swing. Smiling as she swam past the edge of town stopping for a moment as her heart started to beat in her chest. She glanced back for a final time before moving on. Undenounced to Selene she had two pairs of eyes watching her from the distance making sure nothing would fall on her.

The water started to grow dark causing her to light her trident up allowing her to see the creatures of the night scampering away from her torch. She was whistling to herself as she came up to the large trenches billowing trenches. Her heart sunk in her chest as she looked around. This was it this was the last hurdle she had to jump before it was smooth sailing to the mainland. Backing up a bit allowing her to get a running start bolting quickly over the trenches. Her heart was beating quickly as she glanced back at the darkened cavern on the sea floor. Shaking her head she moved on. The pair of eyes glanced towards each other.

“I thought she wouldn’t go past the trenches” a voice came out as a grey shark with a rainbow man appeared from the shadows.

“Well, you know what the queen ordered” a dark zebra fish merpony appeared beside the shark.

“Yep follow here and keep her safe” the shark nodded as the raced to keep up with Selene. She was moving quietly as she noticed a large humming sound coming from above her. Glancing up she noticed a large ship slowly drifting over her causing her face to light up. Moving towards the surface she noticed most of the ship was under water. And it had windows allowing the ponies on the inside to look out into the sea. It also allowed her to look in. She was able to see a large decorated room in gold and blue. Plates of silver and gold were laid out as the food was placed in the middle. Moving from the window she moved towards the top of the ship noticing the deck was quiet. Taking a deep breath she climbed on board.

“How is this still floating?” she tapped on the wood a bit. She tried to walk on the deck but her scales were rubbing against the wood causing her to wince. She swung her hoof around a small puddle of water before moving it to her tail. Selene created a small thin layer of water around her tail allowing her to move about. Placing her trident on her back she started to explore a bit. She stayed mostly on the deck looking through barrels as she moved silently on deck. Her eyes trailed along the deck stopping at a net covering a hole. Moving to the hole she reached out and tested the net.

“Why use a net for a cover? It doesn’t let the fish through?” she tilted her head as she walked out onto the next smiling “This can make a great walkway though” she bounced a bit on it noticing it sprung back in place. Her smile grew wider as she started to jump on it. Unannounced to her the ends of the rope started to give from the edges. As she took one big jump the rope gave away wrapping around her as she fell into the hole below. She crashed through a few floors of crates stopping when the rope around her caught on a few sharp nails and pieces of wood that was sticking out.

“Ow,” she winced a bit as she could hear hoof steps towards her. As Selene was exploring the deck the ponies below were getting ready for dinner. The maids were placing the dishes on the table as two large alicorns moved through the halls. One being a tall white alicorn with long rainbow mane and tail flowing behind her. the second was a shorter blue alicorn with a dark starry mane and tail. Standing between them a light purple unicorn writing on a scroll listing to the ponies beside her talk.

“So Twilight how did you enjoy seeing the different types of ponies that live far from Equestria?” the taller alicorn looked down at the small unicorn.

“I wish we could stay longer. I would so love to learn more about them.” She had a smile on her face causing the white alicorn to laugh.

“I know but we must return. We have more peace talks with the other na” she was cut short as the loud crash caught their attention. Ponies started running towards the deck with ropes and ladders.

“Princess, what was that?” Twilight looked up towards the white alicorn.

“I’m not sure”

“Stowaway!” was shouted by one of the ponies causing the princess to change directions. She started to move towards the deck with Twilight and the other alicorn following behind. As they got to the deck they could see some of the ponies bringing up Selene keeping the rope around her tail and placing her in shackles.

“It’s a monster!” one of the ponies shouted causing others to whisper.

“Princess?” Twilight spoke up as she looked towards Selene.

“Take her to the brig!” a tall dark brown unicorn wearing a white sailor suit sporting captain bars as his cold blue eyes stared down at Selene.

“No, take her to our room” The white alicorn spoke up as the ponies looked up towards her.

“Princess Celestia this is a stowaway” the pony spoke up looking towards his princess.

“And she is injured. I will deal with her” Celestia spoke up as the captain yelled at his crew giving them orders. The crew picked Selene up carrying her through the halls of the ship towards the quarters of the princesses. Celestia and the others followed behind as the crew placed Selene on the bed leaving first aid kits before running out of the room.

“Princess?” Twilight spoke up as she walked towards the bed.

“A merpony? Thy hasn’t seen them since thou sister went away” The darker alicorn spoke up as she moved towards the bed.

“ A merpony? You mean the old tales where they lure other ponies to their death are real?” Twilight was panicking as Celestia shook her head.

“No Twilight. Merponies are completely peaceful. They mostly stay under the water” she walked over moving the rope from Selene causing her to move a bit before opening her eyes. Selene looked around noticing she was no longer in a dark room but a larger decorative room. She could see gold and silver mixing to make the most ornate decorations she has ever seen. White and blue fabrics were draped from the ceiling creating an elegant atmosphere. She shifted her front hooves causing the shackles to move. Her eyes went from the fabric towards the shackles causing her to panic.

“Easy” Celestia spoke up as Selene looked up towards her. She nodded as she stayed still watching Celestia take the shackles off of her hooves. Her eyes also watched as the rope was removed from her tail noticing a few nails were embedded in it. Selene could also feel some pain in her side as she watched her bags be removed from her back. Her eyes noticed Twilight picking up her trident causing her to sit up.

“please be careful with that please” Selene sunk under the gaze of the unicorns.

“Oh, I’m sorry” Twilight smiled as she placed the trident on the floor.

“My pony can you tell me how did you crash into the storage room.” Selene’s fins spread out as she looked up to the alicorns. She was gripping the bed as she tried not to wine as she felt the nails being pulled from her tail.

“I was on my way to the surface. I only stopped on the ship because I never seen a still floating. This ship is still floating and not sinking?” she tilted her head causing Celestia to smile nodding at her.

“This ship was made to look small to confuse others” Selene’s eyes lit up as she winced a bit feeling the last nail being pulled out.

“Ow,” she wined as she sat up a bit. “I have some kelp in my bag” she waived over to her bags on the floor. Twilight looked towards her bags moving them closer to her as Celestia shook her head.

“No we can use bandages” she floated a first aid kit towards them. Selene laid still as she looked towards her bags.

“Brother Nico is buried in the north under snow and ice as I flew myself into the cursed sea. My mother turned to ash by the heavy grief as ponies cheered in glee as my sisters took the throne. Ponies knew that the days of old were gone” Selene spoke her little hymn to calm her down as she kept her head on her hooves looking towards the wall.

“Where did thou hear that?” the darker alicorn spoke up causing Selene to turn her head to look at the ponies.

“My mother taught me that. I always hear that hymn from others but mother tells it the best.” She blinked as she leaned over towards her bags dumping one side out onto the floor. A large book with some sacks full of water fell out along with gold and silver coin. Selene waved her hoof as the coin started to float in a small pool of water. She pulled the coin over towards her as she leaned down picking the book up with her hooves. Opening the book she flipped a couple of pages till she found the picture she wanted. She held the coin out to the alicorn along with a picture of her father and her mother with her in the middle.

“That’s my father and mother with me on my tenth birthday” she smiled as the dark blue alicorn took the picture in her magic.

“Luna are you okay” Twilight looked towards the alicorn as she simply nodded. Selene sat up as she looked towards her tail. She picked it up looking over the bandages before looking up towards Celestia and Luna.

“I should go. I am a couple of days away from the mainland.” She smiled as Twilight looked towards her.

“Why do you want to go to the mainland?” Selene blinked as she noticed the unicorn was starting to panic.

“I am sorry for asking if it was personal” Selene shook her head.

“My aunts the Queens Solarium and Lararium are to rule the land. Mother always tells me stories about them. I just want to meet them. I also want to see what kind of life my mother use to have” Selene looked up towards the unicorn as she reached her hoof out.

“I’m sorry. I am Selene Star and you are?” she had her fins spread out behind her.

“I am Twilight Sparkle and it is nice to meet you” Twilight looked up towards Celestia as she noticed she was sitting next to Luna staring at the picture.

“Princess?” Celestia shook her head as she looked over to Twilight.

“Twilight you told me you wanted to learn about other ponies right?” Celestia placed a warm grin on her face. Twilight nodded as she stood up straight as she looked up towards her.

“Yes Princess I did”

“Well while me and Luna look for her aunts. I think it would be best to place her in your care. Maybe you two can learn from each other” Selene looked towards them as she smiled.

“Does this mean I get a friend?” Selene looked over to Twilight smiling.

“We can become friends” she looked at Selene with a weird look causing Selene to sigh.

“Oh. It’s alright you can tell me the truth. I am used to it” Selene curled up on the bed pulling the blankets towards her.

“Selene is it? Is everything okay?” Celestia leaned down noticing tears in her eyes.

“I don’t really have friends. No pony likes me. many avoid me because of my father. Most of the people my father calls my friends are those he makes stay and play with me. I want to make friends while I am here but I see it's going to be difficult” she felt a warm feathery wing drape along her back causing her to stare up to Celestia.

“Making friends will not be hard. My faithful student can help you with that” she smiled as Selene looked towards Twilight.

“Me princess? I am still learning about it myself” Celestia chuckled as she looked towards Twilight.

“Then how about you two learn together.” She turned towards Selene as she placed a blanket over her.

“You can sleep here for now” she patted Selene’s head as she nodded yawning. She buried her head into her hooves closing her eyes. Celestia lifted a pillow up as she placed it under Selene’s head. She stood up from the bed before walking out of the room. Twilight and Luna following turning the lights down low.

“sister, does thou think?” Luna glanced at the room as Celestia held the picture up. She flipped it over and saw black smudges on the back. She walked towards the dining room on the ship.

“Princess?”

“Follow me” she walked into the dining room pulling an empty bowl in front of her. She poured some water into it.

“See how the words are smudge Twilight” she held the letter allowing her student to glance at it.

“Yes, but why water?”

“Merponies write in magic. The type of magic that can only be seen underwater” she placed the picture down in the water allowing the words to regain their shape.

“Wow” was all Twilight could say as the two alicorns looked towards each other.