It was a beautiful, hot, & sunny day in the summer of 2010. The family decided it would be a nice day to go to the beach. Stargazia Beach sounded like a perfect and fun idea. It was just a 10-minute drive from where they lived. Arctus, Coral, Arcene, and Arctus’s siblings were all playing outside on the beach on a day like this.
“Hey, Arcene?” Coral would have a question to ask. She sat down next to Arcene and put her stuff down. Arctus sat with her mother while the siblings were playing in the water. Arctus looked down and lonely.
“Oh, yea, Coral.” Arcene would notice Arctus’s behavior. Arctus hid behind her mother, and she was too afraid to play in the water. Arctus did not know how to swim yet.
“I just don’t know how I’m going to teach her how to swim! she is always afraid of going into a pool or the beach. I just need her to learn!” Arcene would sigh in frustration, but she did not want to force Arctus into doing something that could scare her. Coral would think to herself for a second, and she had a brilliant idea. Coral’s eyes would light up, and a lightbulb would appear over her head.
“Aha! I got it!!” Coral said enthusiastically. She picked up Arctus and placed her on her back. Arcene was confused about what Coral was about to do, but Arcene would follow her and trust her gut.
“I am giving you two each a necklace that will turn you into sea ponies. This spell will not only make it more fun for Arctus, but it will help her to learn how to swim. Sea ponies are made for water anyway!” Coral would give Arcene and Arctus a necklace, and she would put it on as well. “You guys will have to say the magic words, though.” Arcene and Arctus would both side-eye each other in confusion.
“What magic word?” Arctus would say, confused. She put on her necklace. “What does it do, Auntie?” Arctus was curious. “And I’m afraid to go swim!”
“Don’t worry, Arctus. I would never put you in danger. I will make sure me and your mother watch you, ok?” Coral would give Arctus a pat on the back, and Arcene, Coral, and Arctus would walk closer to the water. Arctus was a bit nervous about this idea, but she also felt a bit courageous.
“Now, all of us need to say the magic word! Mermaid Power, Transform!” Arcene and Arctus would stand on the water and hold hooves together. “Mama. I’m kind of scared.” Arctus was shaking just a tiny bit, so she stood close to her mother. “Don’t worry, Arctus. I got you, ok? Now let’s transform.”
All of them would stand and hold hooves together, hooves touching the water all at the same time. They would yell, “MERMAID POWER, TRANSFOOOOOOOOOORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” They’d all transform into Sea ponies and dive into the deep depths of the ocean. Arctus would open her eyes. At first, she was confused. She looked all over and saw endless water surrounding her.
“Feel any different?” Coral would start swimming around. “Welcome to the ocean, Arctus! Once a swimmer, always a swimmer!” Coral would grab Arctus’s hoof and start taking her around the body of water. Arctus began to enjoy the activity. “Auntie, I am no longer scared!” Arcene would follow the both of them, and Arctus would start laughing in joy. She would let go and start swimming all by herself with Coral and Arcene close to her.
“This is a wonderful idea, Coral! Look at her go!” Arcene would smile for the first time in a while. She felt so distraught ever since the divorce. But seeing her 3-year-old toddler swimming all by herself for the first time brought joy to her. Arctus was growing up fast, learning to walk, and talk, and now, she knew how to swim independently.
“Seems like you taught her a little bit, didn’t you?” Coral would ask. She was curious as to why Arctus seemed so afraid of going for a swim, but she knew how to swim perfectly fine.
“Ah, yes, every time I bathe her, she experiences how to swim in the water. I make sure not to fill it up too high for her, or else she would drown.” Arctus was still swimming around, with supervision, of course. Arctus was enjoying her time, experiencing more of the world.
“She’s grown up quite a bit since the last time I saw her.” Coral would smile, watching Arctus swim. She was also proud of Arctus’s achievements. Arctus was feeling better about swimming in the ocean.
The three would swim back up and transform back to normal. Arctus was swimming in the water with Arcene and Coral by her side. Arctus would swim towards her twin, Nebula, who seemed to be by himself.
“Twin, do you wanna play with me?” Arctus would ask. Nebula seemed lonely, as every other sibling was playing together. It seemed he was left out.
“Yes!!!” Nebula said enthusiastically. Arctus would pull his arm and go swimming with him. “I can swim now, twin!!!” Arctus would swim to all her sisters and brothers and show off her basic swimming skills. Everybody had fun that day, including Arctus.