Their journey soon becomes farther than the ocean mare had expected it to be, but she doesn’t complain. At the stallion’s side she follows, the miles passing beneath their hooves in time that seems to fly by, so great is Nox’s company. She enjoys herself, even more so delighted now that she knows him better—his dark secrets, his haunting mistakes, and his harrowing remorse—and feels closer to him for it. He has not proved her wrong. Tiamat knew the goodness that lay within his heart, as calloused as it might be from the unforgiving world, but it is still there.

And that’s what matters.

Breathing a contented sigh from her nostrils, she raises her pretty head, fluted ears leaning forward when murmurs of her father’s waves begin to whisper on the cool breeze. The blue mare had no idea where Nox was leading her, and she had long since given up on trying to ask it of him. She would allow him his surprise, her excitement all the more enthusiastic as it bubbles beneath satin skin. Now, when long grasses slowly give way to soft sands, she feels her heart beat faster in her chest. It is no wonder why she adores the ocean as she does, and her eagerness to leap into the frothy waters pushes her forward, readily following the stallion when he quickens their pace.

For all her love of the Basin, there is only one thing that Tiamat would change—if there were any way to bring the ocean to the mountains, she would. She misses her father, and tries to see him whenever she can, but it is hardly enough. Still, she cannot allow herself to be so selfish or wallow in self-pity, and so she feels fortunate to at least have her brother lake to connect her to him in her home.

Tossing her head into the air with a buoyant laugh, the blue mare sweeps towards the waves, water splashing up around her when she canters through their foamy fingers. This, if nothing else, has brought her joy—she can’t imagine what else the stallion has in store for her. She slows as he does, trotting a few bouncy strides before coming to a halt. White eyes sparkle beneath her sister stars, glancing to her friend with an eager curiosity.

“Oh,” she breathes a gasp at his words, so kind and generous are they that she feels her heart warm every inch of her. “Thank you, Nox; you are very special to me as well,” her smile softens fondly as she leans closer to him, reaching out to brush his cheek and stroke his forelock from his gray eyes. “You are too kind to be sharing this with me, I feel honored to have the opportunity,” there is an earnest sincerity to her voice, truly privileged that he feels comfortable enough to open up and share with her the deep, vulnerable parts of himself.

Shifting her attention to the rocky rise that he has led her to, Tiamat follows when he climbs, her cloven hooves finding purchase with little difficulty. Nox assures her of her safety, that he will not allow harm befall her, and she casts him a doting grin, speaking gently, “I know.” Her leonine tail arcs and sways to aid in balance, brushing the stony ground when they slip down the other side. Only as soft sands give way beneath her again does the ocean mare glance around, her white eyes widening and her lips parting in wonder. “Oh my goodness,” it is barely a breath, so delighted is she by the glittering sands, lit by the moon like earthen stars. “Nox! It’s beautiful!” She looks to him in elation, her smile widening.

The mare’s lips are parted gently in her awe, the corners curled upwards in a breathless smile. The wonderment in her expression reaches up to her eyes, illuminating them beneath the luminescent glow of night, and the light of her sister stars twinkling above, as though to mirror her amazement. Although she is undoubtedly fond of the ocean and its beaches, Tiamat has never seen a place like this before! It is magnificent, almost a dream with the way the pristine earth sparkles, emulating the glory of the night’s glittery sky.

She lowers her head in curiosity, the pale curve of her engraved horn catching the blushing light of the moon as she does so. Carefully—almost tentatively, hesitant to disturb the enchantment of this spectacular cove—the ocean mare brushes her satin lips against the sand. The grains are soft beneath her skin, giving way easily beneath her weight, much like fairy dust as her breath sends it skittering across the ground. Her smile widens, fluted ears slanting forward to cup the stallion’s deep voice. “There’s more?” It is nearly an exclamation of delight, her head shooting up and her eyes widening in excitement.

It is hard to believe that there could be anything more extraordinary than this, though she waits with baited breath. Stepping forward to the edge of the lapping shores, the ocean mare moves closer to Nox, listening to him when he continues. His words soften her lips into something more tender. “I like the sound of that,” her heart rouses within her breast, warmed by the sincerity and softness of the stallion’s generosity. Any thought that he is—or might have been—a monster, is gone. He is Nox, her dear friend, sharing a bond that she can only assume will last forever. “Thank you, my friend,” she reaches out to press her lips briefly to his neck, “It means a lot to me that you’re sharing this special place; it’s…it’s beautiful.” White eyes glance around them, overwhelmed once more by nature’s beauty.

However, her gaze is drawn back to the black stallion when he (perhaps unintentionally) teases her, taunting her with fantastical mysteries of the waters. “Yes, yes! What is it?” Tiamat laughs lightly, shaking her head and sending the decorated locks of her mane cascading about, before following after him. She lingers on the beach, watching Nox for a moment, too entranced to continue just yet. “What…” her hushed voice fades quickly. There are colors! Colors in the water! How could this be?

And they seem to be dancing!

“Wow—what are they? Is this normal?” Slowly, the blue mare steps into the glistening waters, a cloven hoof hesitating when she lowers her head to inspect the glowing colors more closely. They seem to be living. Tilting her pretty head, white eyes flicker to the stallion when he explains. “Glowing jelly,” Tiamat muses, laughter lacing her voice and a smile returning to brighten her lips. More confident now, and ever trusting of her beloved friend, the young mare wades deeper into the vibrant ocean. She watches with delight as the rainbow jellyfish swim around her, swaying in the gentle tide of the waves, and casting the glittering shores with shifting, prismatic, and brilliant lights.

Tiamat twirls in the water, watching as the colors billow out around her like ribbons of light, the weight of her slender body caressed by her father’s firm and gentle hand. “They’re remarkable, wondrous—beautiful! I suppose nature never ceases to astound us, it’s amazing,” she sighs in her elation, the length of her lion tail coiling beneath the surface, playing softly with the swarm of little jellyfish. It is a moment before she looks to the stallion again, the lines of his coarse features tempered by the rainbow glow. “Nox, how did you find this place?” Tiamat steps towards him, ears pressed forward and a smile on her lips.

The blue mare’s attention is pulled away from the colorful creatures when the stallion speaks, one ear tipping daintily forward to cup his deep voice. He explains what little he knows about these glowing jellyfish, all information—no matter how small—that is absorbed readily, eagerly. Tiamat is ever curious of the world around her, never tiring of learning and studying what she can. Nature has so much to offer them, and she would hate to miss a moment of its incredible beauty; it warms her heart to know that Nox must feel the same way.

A short glance is cast to his rugged face, bright eyes shining with a happy wonder. “You’re probably right,” her voice is mingled with laughter, blending delightfully with his broader tones as the merry sounds fade gently into the warm night. The ocean mare has never seen anything like these little marvels before—her dear friend has certainly stumbled upon a phenomenon. “Wow,” she breathes wondrously, turning her attention again to the colorful waters, “It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? What else might be out there—what other hidden treasures Helovia has tucked away somewhere.” This is a wonder that Tiamat has often entertained.

Of course, there is not a doubt in her mind that there are many other spectacles like this one—somewhere, tucked into the quietest corners, where only those who are searching will find them. Perhaps, some she has already found. Her thoughts drift to the glowing room in the Heart Caves, a beautiful and thriving biome that is sheltered from the outside climate; and the lake that never freezes, forever mirroring the northern lights with remarkable clarity—a phenomenon in her own beloved home.

She sighs wistfully, never tired of admiring her mountain home. Nox’s tender compliment rouses the mare from her thoughts, long lashes blinking slowly over her eyes, and a tender smile lilts her soft lips. “You’re too kind, my friend,” velvet muzzle is extended to touch his shoulder, nostrils quivering with a gentle sigh. Tiamat moves while he continues, illustrating his discovery of this extraordinary place, her slender body parallel to his as they stand shoulder-to-shoulder. His immediate awe does not surprise her. “I don’t see how you couldn’t! Look at them—they are, just—breathtaking!”

It’s almost as if words cannot accurately describe what they are witnessing. The ocean mare feels honored, grateful, and blessed to be able to share this phenomenon with the black stallion. Any reservations that she might have had about his past are simply shadows now. They are forgotten, let go, and chased away by happier, humbler things.

She watches him speak, smiling all the while, the gesture growing excitedly when his words direct her eyes towards the jellyfish. “You really think so?” The dancing lights reach up to highlight her features, the enthusiasm on her face very childlike as she watches them, completely captivated by wonder. A few minutes pass before Tiamat quiets, her expression growing more whimsical. “They remind me of dusk—that moment when the sun’s light is still reaching over the horizon, but the stars have already come out, twinkling with the colors,” an unconscious, tender smile softens her lips, and she rests her head against the stallion’s shoulder, breathing quietly, “It’s like a dream.”

“Aw, yes! Boots!” The ocean mare exclaims with laughter in her voice, her eyes glittering in the dusk of twilight. Memories of the first time she had met the black stallion soften her smile, painting a beautiful picture of magic and fun—a time of ease and play. A time before she had learned of her friend’s dark past, of the horrible things that he had done, and the demons that continue to haunt him. Even so, Tiamat can honestly say that she would not have preferred their friendship to progress in any other way. She feels closer to him now more than ever before, like she really knows him, and that brings her such joy.

Her eyes trail to the rugged lines of his face when he speaks of magic and nature, her heart swelling happily within her breast. “I couldn’t agree with you more, my friend,” the curved tip of her horn inclines forward in a cheerful nod. The trees, the shrubbery, the lakes and rivers, the earth, the mountains, the stars—all of these things are her family. She is truly one with nature, connected with ties that cocoon her soul in a bond that is so beautifully tight. To hear Nox speak such sweet praises makes her smile broaden with delight. Unfortunately, the ocean mare has found that many do not listen to the earth as much as they once have (perhaps as much as they should), and so her friend’s admiration buoys her spirits.

“I understand how you feel,” the blue mare murmurs with a blissful sigh, the corners of her lips turning upwards. She rests her head comfortably against his shoulder, thinking of dreams, and decides that this one would be utterly beautiful. It is almost surreal that they find themselves here now, tucked away in a cove that is framed with glittering sand, and surrounded by these amazing little creatures.

Her eyes close for a handful of seconds, as if she could drift off in this very moment, but the stallion’s voice grounds her to reality. Tulip-shaped ears tilt forward to cup his words, her eyes opening to look at him gently when his tone is much softer and more hesitant than usual. “I don’t think things will ever be weird between us,” the ocean mare laughs lightly, tenderly, hardly able to even fathom the idea at this point.

Rubbing her cheek softly against his shoulder and breathing across his skin, the blue mare lifts her head, angling her neck so that she can look at him a little more directly. “You’re one of my closest friends, Nox—you’re very dear to me, and I hope that never changes,” she watches as the colorful light plays against the sharp lines of his face, his pale eyes, and smiles. There is no doubt that she cares about him so terribly much. “I do love you…” Tiamat allows her voice to fade away, for the first time worried that she might offend the stallion. The last thing she wants to do is hurt him, but—she cannot lie, even to herself.

Tiamat loves; her heart opens to the world without inhibition and without prejudice. However, this love, the love that Nox is asking for, is regrettably foreign to her. She continues carefully. “But to be honest, I know very little about anything more than friendship, personally at least,” her slender shoulders roll with a whisper of a shrug, her eyes pleading for him to understand, for him to not feel rejected or any less special. “I think I have to learn more about myself first,” the ocean mare purses her lips together, brow furrowing as she looks into herself for a moment, into the inexperience there, before focusing again on Nox. With a smile on her lips, she brushes her muzzle against his cheek, “I don’t ever want to lose you in my life.”

notes; OMG I FAIL x_x I'm so sorry it took so long!

The earnestness in the black stallion’s voice ignites a combination of emotions within the blue mare. Her chest swells and throbs, her heart dropping into her stomach only to leap forward again, catching in her throat and shortening her breath. He speaks with such confidence, with such passion, about things that she hardly understands—beneath the bubbling excitement of her usual candor, she feels something churning, something akin to fear, perhaps? Despite her love and inherent zest for life, Tiamat has not exactly considered the possibility of love—this particular kind of love—and she wrestles with her anxiety and wanting to please him.

She is not quite sure what to make of it all, her white eyes growing round and glistening with the reflection of her sister stars. What Tiamat does know—and she grasps this security with an earnest and joyful grip—is that her spirits lift to know that Nox feels again, that she has given him the key to unlock himself from the cage of his demons (because she knows that it is not she alone who has freed him; he has had to step out of it himself). Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience life to its fullest—to not only see its beauty, but become a part of it.

Her eyes close softly when the stallion reaches forward to brush away her hair, the velvet line of her lips curving into a tender, peaceful smile. “I feel blessed to have someone like you, Nox,” her voice lilts as gently as the waves as they lap quietly against the glittering sands, bright eyes opening again when he suggests they depart for the mountains, for their home. The ocean mare dips her lips to the water, trailing a line of ripples across the colorful surface. “Goodnight, little wonders,” Tiamat smiles, glancing happily to the stallion before shifting her weight (almost reluctant to leave her father’s embrace) and climbing to the sparkling shore. The night is quiet and beautiful, the dazzling array of her sisters shining down over them.