Artist’s Description

A few months have gone by. The summer passing faster and faster, the time for Bubble to return to college nearing closer and closer. To make the best of the time they had, Mako and Bubble spent more time together. More late night meetings, midnight swimming lessons, and not long after, more intimacy.

One afternoon, Bubble accompanied Mako on another one of his boating trips, this time not as boring as the first time she joined. Mako brought up a bag of small sunken objects. Rusted silver spoons, damaged jewelry, decorative items such as candle holders and plates.

Mako: Not a bad find today.

Bubble: I can’t wait to see what they look like without all these barnacles and muck on them. They must be from centuries ago.

Mako: Most likely fell from a trading ship, maybe.

As they looked deeper into the bag, they heard what sounded like dolphins calling out while swimming by. Bubble stood up to look over the edge of the boat, letting out a gasp.

Bubble: Mako!

Mako: What’s wrong?

Bubble: Look! Out there! Points off into the distance, a tailfin splashing about the surface was tangled in what looked like a old net that was dropped from a fishing boat. The squeaks escalated as the tail fin began to slowly sink, the poor creature starting to lose oxygen.

Mako: Fack! jumps off the boat and swims straight for the net

With all his strength, Mako pulled the net above the surface, a stream of water bursting from it. The dolphin seemed to have expelled water from it’s blow hole to breathe. It was still alive… Mako kicked his paws and swished his tail to pull it to his boat. Calling out to Bubble, he asked that she lowered a hook, which he used if he had to pull stray boats back to shore. Lowering it down, she waited til Mako secured the net to it and climbed back onto the vessel. Cranking a handle, the net was pulled up and the two cut and pulled apart the net.

Bubble: You don’t think it’s hurt too badly, do you? Letting out a slight whimper

Mako: Let’s hope not. If so we can call that Nature Conservationist on the next island to have a look at it.

???: Bloody hell, my fin….

Both froze and stared at the net. Did it just… speak? Pulling away the ropes of the net, they soon revealed a Seapony… but there was something… different about this one.. Mako examined the body, not recognizing it, even from any hybrids on the island. It groaned as it struggled to sit up, till a black and white patterned face looked up at him. It was…it was..

Mako: Y-…. You look like me….

???: Blinks a few times Oh! Hello there.. Thank you so much, I thought I was a dead mare!

Bubble: Are you okay? Are you hurt?

???: A little rope burn, really… it hurts like the devil.

Bubble: I’ll get the first aid kit, Mako can you- …. Mako?

The big lug was staring intently at the female Orca sitting in front of him. For years he has never met, let alone seen another that looked like him. He was convinced the species had gone extinct after hearing a large mass of them were gone.

Mako: I thought… I thought you were all… I mean…

???: Are you alright?

Mako: Heh…heheh… heheheh! I’m great! I can’t believe this, I’m meeting another Orca pony!

Bubble’s ears perked, recalling that Mako had never been in contact with other Orcas, and even has limited memory of his parents. She smiled.

Bubble: Mako, why don’t you get rid of that blasted net while I get the first aid kit?

Mako: Huh? Looks to Bubble Oh! Right right! Stumbled over his paws to get the net away from the Seapony. I-im sorry for staring, I’m just really excited..! I’ve never met someone like.. well..

???: Like you? Smiles sweetly

Mako: Yeah, hehehe.. Uh- My name’s Mako, by the way.

???: Nerissa. Pleasure to meet you.~

Bubble watched from the cabin. Mako was stuttering as he asked Nerissa questions. The orca pony’s eyes widened as Mako asked more and more, his cheeks turned pink and his tail wagging. Bubble smiled, happy that Mako had the chance to meet this orca. Mako paused and took a glance down before letting out a started squeak and looking away, his face turned bright red. What startled him? Looking at Nerissa, Bubble soon realized the Seapony didn’t have a breast cover. “Oh boy..” As she left the cabin with the first aid, she heard Mako stuttering even more.

Mako: I-I am SO sorry, I didn’t see that you- I didn’t notice you weren’t wearing a-

Nerissa: What? Looks down Oh, hahahaha! No need to be shy, we don’t normally wear coverings.

Mako: still averting his eyes R-really? Why?

Nerissa: It’s not exactly a problem for us in the pod. Giggles

Bubble: Pod? Opening the kit to start healing Nerissa

Nerissa: Mmhmm! I was swimming with a group, we’re migrating.

Mako: There’s more?! Where are they?!

Nerissa: They’re around here somewhere. They won’t leave without me, so I’m sure they’re still close to the reef. Looks to Mako as Bubble put medicine on a bad rope burn But. Let me ask YOU something, Mako. Why do you have…. Legs? Puts a hand on his knee

Bubble: glances a bit and her ear twitches, eyeballing Nerissa’s hand on Mako

Mako: looks down Heheh, I wish I could give a detailed answer. But to put it plainly, I’m only half Orca. Hybrid, so I can walk on land if I wanted.

Nerissa: That’s quite unusual. I’ve never met a orca with legs before. Looks at his paws

Bubble: patches up another burn What is it like in your pod? We don’t really know much about orca ponies.

Nerissa: You don’t? Oh, well Uhm.. what would you like to know?

Mako: scratches the back of his head Well.. I guess everything, really, heheh… but maybe we can start with the basics?

Nerissa: Hmm.. smiles I suppose I can do that.

Bubble and Mako sat and listened as Nerissa told them of how the Orcas migrated almost constantly, never being in one place for too long. Their hunting tactics in the ocean, their diet… a tiiiiny bit unnerving when the mention of seals came up. The two cringed slightly at that. Nerissa assured them it was only for health reasons!

She moved along to the partnership details, some orcas having more than one mate.

Mako: Sounds like it could be a little… confusing, doesn’t it?

Bubble: How would you be able to tell which mate was the father of a pup?

Nerissa: It does sound a bit strange, I know. But it’s a magnetism thing.. each male greets the pup until one of them has a reaction, knowing it’s their kin.

Mako: Wow.. wags tail again

Bubble: What about the other males? Won’t they be upset if the pup isn’t theirs?

Nerissa: A little bit, yes. But if they have another female for a mate, they’ll have another chance.

Mako: Do you have any pups?

Nerissa: No, not yet. I have one mate, but I’m looking for another. That’s, actually why we’re migrating. It’s almost time for the season to start.

Mako: blushes slightly

Bubble: Huh. Absentmindedly swishes her tail to drape it over Mako’s

Nerissa: looks over her tail I think I’ll be okay now, but I’m beginning to get a little dry up here..

Mako: ears perk up O-oh… you have to leave..?

Nerissa: Yes. Looks at Mako and her ears fold back a little

Bubble: eyes dart between the two as they looked at each other.. there was a bit of an interview feeling growing, but she shook it off Hey, why don’t we meet back here tomorrow? Maybe you can bring the pod here and Mako can meet them.

Mako: ears perk

Nerissa: Oh that’s a lovely idea! I can’t wait for you to meet them Mako!

Mako: smiling widely I can hardly believe it… I hope they like me.

Nerissa: Mako. They’re going to love you! You’re one of us!

Bubble’s chest tightened a little bit at that, but she kept her smile. Helping Nerissa over the edge of the boat, she leaped back into the water with a big splash. Bubble and Mako looked over the edge as she waved farewell for now, then disappeared under the surface and swam away. Mako let out a sigh, a smile still stretched across his face.

Mako: I can’t believe this is actually happening. There’s more of them, there’s more orcas! This is just… wow!

Bubble: rubs his back I wonder what the pod will be like.

Mako: Heheh, from what she told us, I suspect huge. And I thought I was tall.

Bubble: giggles Only one way to find out.

Mako: smiles Thanks for suggesting the meeting tomorrow. Heheh, I was a little dazed I didn’t even think about it. Hugs her tightly

Bubble: hugs back Who knows when you’ll get a chance like this again. I just want you to be happy.

Mako: nuzzles the top of her head, purring Man, I could use a drink right now.. let’s head to Maggie’s and fill her in on what happened! I’m sure she’ll get a kick out of this.

Bubble: Sounds like fun!

Turning the boat around to head back to the docks, Bubble could hear this tiny voice in the back of her head whisper to her, “lets see how long this lasts…”

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Next story arc started!!! There’s more Orca Sea Ponies, they’re not all gone! But it looks like there might be troubling waters ahead.