The small filly hadn’t know what to expect when she emerged under water - she was amazed that she… well she didn’t really see anything except the swirling bubbles following the bodies of the others who had emerged and the form of one funny looking unicorn hanging upside down like his hooves were stuck on the surface of the water.

Before she could take too much of it in, a voice spoke to her. Well, she couldn’t say for sure whether it was to her alone or not but there was something inside of her head. It was a warm whisper and, though startling, the curious Vastra found it all too easy to trust him. After all, the seaweed did taste rather nasty. She was eager to try something sweeter than the seaweed, though she was careful not to lose the breath-giving piece of plant just in case.

Her brown eyes widened in delight as the tempting, golden piece of something floated before her and she quickly snatched it up with the only thing she could - her mouth. She chewed on it thoughtfully, testing the texture out. She hadn’t really intended to swallow it but her instincts told her to do so and so down it went.

Her eyes widened in surprise as a tingling sensation coursed across her body and she yelped as she realized it was fire dancing across her skin. In the blue-green of the water the fire flashed with brilliant oranges and yellows as it consumed the winged filly. It did not burn but there was other pain and no shortage of fear throughout the entire ordeal.

When the flames died, Vastra wasn’t exactly Vastra anymore - she was a harbour seal. Complete with spotted hide, big, soulful eyes, and fantastic whiskers.

This was... uh... new.

She spun in a small circle, testing out her new limbs this new form that she had taken. Big dark eyes blinked in surprise as she found it remarkably easier to hold her breath (though she kept the seaweed in her mouth just in case, not knowing much about seals) and move through the water.

Vastra-the-seal looked around and discovered that the others had moved along so she quickly swam to catch up, the water cooling as she dove but her slick, fat-lined skin kept her warm. Kisamoa led them to a coral reef, alive with so many creatures that Vastra had never even dreamed of before. As they all gathered, she tried to catch the sea-horse’s eye and flashed him a bright, toothy seal smile - thinking that it was his magic that had enabled her to do this and delighting in it.

His voice spoke in their minds again and she listened with reverence as he bade them to think of a word and send it out to the coral reef.

As she spun and circled in her seal form, Vastra could only think of one - magic. It had surrounded her in a vague way all her life, though she hadn’t even known it. The Throat was alive with fire magic - from the fire-spirits the magician Gaucho could create to the wings that allowed those welcome to soar between Helovia and the Throat. And while this transformation had started out with fire, it was something new something wonderful and the spotted seal girl thought those would be the best thoughts to share with their new reef friends.