For a sea serpent such as Steven, the uncountable empty hours of swimming through freezing and filthily murky waters, even when the current was running starkly opposite to his direction, seemed of little issue for a well-travelled reptilian such as he. No, the real issue for a fashioniste such as Steven Magnet was deciding what to pack! Unfortunately, hydrodynamics weren't very forgiving when it comes to wagonfuls of baggage - one containing sufficient necessities for the prescribed amount of time at sea on the letter, and the rest twenty-nine totally individual outfits -, so the night before today was long dead by the time Steven had come to an equivocal decision to pack *gasp* only three outfits! Oh, mixing and matching wouldn't help remove the stain of blah that would certainly befall it! With a hypothetical tear, Steven neatly packed the puny clothes (only the finest clawmade, of course) into also-custom saddlebags, which were not only designed to ebe big enough to securely befit his tail and protect the items inside from the raging waters, but to perfectly compliment his moustache. That was quite an accomplishment in his opinion! The sea serpent was late, no doubt about it. It was odd, though, because Steven oft travelled this route, if not a longer one, but it would never take him this long to swim there. Surely the saddlebags had nothing to do with it... But anyways, Steven had taken off as soon as he had received the letter. And boy, was it hard to get mail when you're a sea serpent living in the middle of the Manebrush. Hey, maybe that's why he was late, only getting the letter by a very dishevelled-looking mailstallion (what was so scary about a manicured sea serpent!?)? No matter the purpose, Steven had at least gotten the letter. The serpent could really only read exceptionally rudimentary sentences, owing to his distinct lack of equine education, but Steven certainly recognized the last word: Zecora. Ohhh, how that zebra had helped her! Mr. Magnet was more than eager to set off post-haste to help her back. Apparently, they were doing something in "Ooh-knee-yah-see", and Steven was sure it would be fabulously fun! As the Everfree forest slowly crept into view, the scribbled note left at the bottom of the well-printed page - something about drinking a bottle at the edge of the river - crawled into the front of Steven's mind just for a moment. Within minutes, Zecora's humble hut was in sight, and the serpent put his very tired tail into an exhausting full-throttle beeline for it, shamefully acknowledging his tardiness once more. In the afternoon sun, many of the strange instruments within the zebra's abode shone smartly - along with a little something on the riverbank, just as foretold; but with Steven panting and wheezing as he was after the journey, terra firma seemed to snickeringly shunt itself backwards as he slowly advanced, but finally his chin fainted upon grass, and Steven took a final breath. His journey was over! Zecora's signature stripes caught his attention through the window. Thing is, how was he to get inside...? Whilst thinking on that, wandering claws subconsciously but gingerly grabbed a vial of some colourful, translucent fluid in a simple glass jar. Steven's mind was much too tired to consider the tackiness of the stuff's hue in the sunlight, so down the hatch it went. What would it do? Just then, Steven's underside felt... odd to say the least. In the most dramatic way possible, Steven rolled over onto the shore, hoping to relieve any pressure befalling it. Ooh, it hurt so much it looked like it was bulging in a couple places - or was it? Oh no, oh no, this is bad, this is bad! What did Zecora do to him? Was it his guts, preparing to burst into a meaty firework of pain? Or were they... Legs! Landworthy, walkable legs! How wonderful! With the pain gone, and the legs fully grown, Steven was fully inclined to give them their first test. With a mighty heave, Steven was on his feet. He noted that ponies often had to practice and put lots of effort into achieving their first steps, but somehow these new appendages felt natural. Sure, the first few shambles were rigid and odd, but by picturing ponies in his mind, he soon got into the groove. He'd be sure to thank Zecora for them - now he could talk with ponies all he liked! But, Steven noted, they would likely be temporary , seeing how he would need to swim. [colour=purple]"Yoo-hoo, Zecora! It's Steven!"[/colour]