the ocean loved her and knew everything that made her.

and every time she’d walk to the shore,

she’d smile at the ocean

because the waves told her story.

Little does the ocean mare know just how fragile her world is. Here, standing in front of her as a stranger, is someone who has the ability to shatter all that she knows to be true—and all that she knows about herself. She could be broken, falling to the ground with the millions of pieces of her mangled, fledgling heart strewn about her, and perhaps her mind along with it. Fate has been kind to the child in blue (too kind, perhaps) as the years have sheltered and coddled her, shielding her from anything that would prepare her for a bombshell of this magnitude. Blissfully she smiles, unaware that the threads of destiny have finally intertwined.

All the same, even Tiamat does not miss the strange expression that suddenly overwhelms the larger mare’s features. It is as if she’s seen a ghost—the lines of her face caught between horror and fear. The young Mender leans forward, suddenly concerned, and worried that she might have said or done something to offend who she hoped would be her newfound friend (although she cannot think of how her greeting could’ve been in any way insulting?).

“Is there something I can help you with?” She inquires again, softer this time, hoping to chip away at the ice that so suddenly seemed to form between them. Tiamat’s brow knits together, fluted ears slanting forward in anticipation of a response. There is nothing that gives an explanation, no warning for how their conversation will continue. As quickly as it had appeared, the mare’s terror is gone, washed away by something cooler. The ocean mare relaxes then, though the length of her lion tail is still behind her, dark locks spread across the ground.

Much to her surprise—and joy—this blue-laced mare introduces herself as a former member of the Basin! Tiamat’s eyes are immediately alight with happiness, and she reaches towards the other briefly, eager to become acquainted with her new comrade. “A pleasure to meet you, Ahvelyn! I apologize for not recognizing you, there are so many faces here, I guess they kind of blur together sometimes,” Tiamat shakes her head, almost bashful, and giggles breathlessly to herself. “And Johnny—he’s so delightful!” Her grin widens, ever so fond of the little candy man, “I’m sure he’ll be excited to have you back.” Of this, she has no doubt; she has never seen Johnny as anything but jubilant, and is sure that he would welcome Ahvelyn back with open arms.

With her vigor renewed, the ocean mare gestures to the larger unicorn, pivoting on dainty heels and calling gleefully over her shoulder, “Come, come! Let’s get you settled in again!” She waits for her company to join her at her shoulder, the pocket of water and her precious egg on the other side, before venturing further into the mountain valley. “Did you have a cave before?” White eyes glance to Ahvelyn curiously, ready to follow her should she know where she wants to go (as Tiamat has every intention in giving her new friend a proper welcoming!).

“Speech.”