Title:           Story - Shark Ponies - The "Tail" of Riptide
Author:          Plonefag
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/ZFmsFvSg
First Edit:      Saturday 16th of May 2015 05:32:02 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Wednesday 20th of May 2015 01:35:53 AM CDT

>Be Anon
>Living in a small village north of Vanhoover you bust your balls on a daily basis to gather sea shells of all things
>It's a slow, boring job that makes you freeze your ass off in the cold waters
>But it pays well enough so you don't have to work over the winter
>And hell it at least keeps you in somewhat good shape
>Rolling out of bed you zombie walk to the kitchen
"Ugggh."
>Cracking open the fridge to see nearly empty shelves makes your stomach growl more
>With a sigh you open the cupboard and grab the bread
>Toast will have to suffice until you get to work
>One pop and some peanut butter later and your ready to go
>Grabbing your tailored diving suit you start walking
>Takes a good 10 minutes of walking to reach a small vendor near the docks
>You buy a handful of apples and keep /
>Getting on your boat you check to make sure everything's order
>Air tanks? Check. Rebreather? Check. Magical device that pulls air from water (Water breather)? Check.
>You really need to look into a better breather
>This little thing can't support you on its own
>At best is extends the time you have by feeding into your main tanks
>With everything in check you sail out
>The waters are pretty calm today
>Well, It's nothing your wide stance pontoon boat can't handle
>You reach your destination and throw your anchor overboard
"Alright..."
>Grabbing your gear you get suited up
>Fuck wetsuits
>Fuck everything about them
>After pulling the suit on you strap the rebreather and air tanks on
"Here we go..."
>You hit the cool water and start the slow decent to the bottom
>A few fish swim around your feet as you touch the seabed
>There's enough sunlight down here to see at least
>You begin searching the area for shells as the hours drain away
 
>The heavy bag lands in your boat with a thump
>Not bad for a days haul
>You get undressed and look through the shells tossing any broken ones over board
>Looking up you swear you see something on the horizon
>Just floating above the water
>Meh, probably just trash from a careless boater
>You hop into the drivers seat and head back to shore to drop off the shells
>A few other diver ponies take notice of you pulling into the port
>"Anon! Long time no see!"
>The pale blue stallion named "Barrier Reef" trots up to you
>He's your companies main buys or shell exports
"Barrier? Didn't think you'd be back in town already."
>"Waters are warming faster them normal this year so I though I might as well get the jump on my competition."
"Huh, not a bad idea."
>"You get anything worth selling today?"
>You decide to respond by showing him the bag
>"Damn! That's got to be at least 8 pounds of shell! Did you sort the busted ones out?"
"Most of them."
>"Hrmmmm... Bag that size and pre sorted... How's 235 bits sound?"
"A little light. 260."
>His face goes hard
>"That's pretty steep. How about I meet you in the middle with 250?"
"Deal."
>With a grin he pulls his Bit bag out and starts counting
>"250 Bits. There you are!"
>Smiling you take your money and hand him the bag of shells
>"I'll assume you'll be around tomorrow Anon?"
"Depends if I find enough."
>he chuckles
>"Fair enough, I'll see you around."
"Like wise"
>You grab your gear and head home
 
>The next morning plays out much like the first as you go through the routine
>Back on the boat you get ready to dive again
>Then you see it
>Something on the far horizon again
>You reach back to grab your binoculars
>Looking back you notice it's gone
"The fuck...? Maybe I'm just seeing things."
>Unlikely, but it makes you feel better about jumping in
>Grabbing a waterproof torch you push yourself into the water
>The feeling of dropping into the cool water never gets old
>Sinking to the bottom you take note of a nearby trench to avoid before getting to work
>A good few hours go by and you're already doing well
>You turn the torch on and place it next to the bag so it illuminates the surrounding area
>Something moves in the corner of your eye
>Your head snaps to it
>Having been a diver for a good few seasons means you've seen some really big fish
>Based on the size tail that just whipped into the trench you'd have to say this one is at least 5 feet long
>It's about this time you remember your handy spear!
>That's in the boat...
>35 feet above you...
>Fuck.
>You grab the flashlight off the ground to get a better look
>Turning back to the trench was a mistake
>You're pretty sure that wall of sharp teeth was very much NOT there before
>The noise that escapes your mouth is akin to a little girl screaming for her mother
>A very manly little girl
>...
>Shut up
>The part you didn't expect however, was the hell beast of teeth to recoil from your pathetic display
>You fall over out of panic
>The beast in question stays a couple of feet away
>Looking over it confuses you even more
>It looks like a pony with fins
>And sharp teeth
>And gills
>AND SHARP FUCKING TEETH
 
>It stares back at you with startled eyes from behind what appear to be hooves
>Why isn't it eating you
>Why are your limbs still attached to your body
>"U-umm... Hi?"
>Oh
>You get it!
>You're already dead and your brain is trying to find a way t-
>"What are y-you?"
>Never mind it's still talking
>Maybe it's worth reasoning with?
"DON'TEATMEOHGODGETAWAY!"
>Perfect
>The shark thing swims a bit closer
>You can't bear to look
>Seconds go by yet no teeth rip you apart
>Risking a peek you notice two very curious eyes looking over you
>"E-eat you? Why.. why would I do that? I was just wondering why you're hanging out around my home..."
>It takes you a moment to find a way to respond without sounding like a faggot pleading for his life in the Vatican
"Home?"
>"Yeah..."
>She points over to a small cave near the trench
>"Over there."
>She glances over your shoulder and spots your bag of shells
>Swimming over to it she asks
>"Are those shells?"
>Quick recap for you sanity
>You met a talking shark horse... thing
>That's talking to you and asking all sorts of questions
>But isn't eating you
>What in the holy name of fuck is this world and what were it's creators smoking
"Yes..."
>Her eyes dart between you and the bag
>"Can... can I see them?"
"I guess...?"
>She darts over to the bag and opens it
>"I-I collect some of the nicer looking shells for decorating my home."
"That's... neat? I guess?"
>With a smile she pick through it
>Grabbing 3 of the more colorful shells she looks back to you
>"Can I have these?"
>You just nod
>She smiles and rushes towards you
>OHSHI-
>Swimming right by you she heads to her home
>You take the opportunity to grab your things and quickly swim back to your boat before she comes back
>The feeling of safety that fills you as you climb aboard is hard to describe
>Pulling your mask off you sit down
>Letting out a sigh you try to relax
"The fuck was any of that?"
>"Any of what?"
 
"Gahh!"
>You notice the sharkpony's head poking out of the water near your ladder
"Now what!"
>She shrinks back a bit at you raising your voice
>"I-I umm... Wanted to apologize for scaring you. You looked pretty startled to see me."
"I turned around to see your mouthful of teeth in my face! Can you really blame me?!"
>"I guess not... Ummm My name's Riptide by the way."
>Looking over her quickly in proper sunlight reveals her to be mostly a deep blue color with a almost completely white underside
>Her mane is a lighter shade of grey and cut short
>"What's your name?"