[I]'Watch out for the seaponies.'[/i] Those had been the last words Guiding Light said to him before the old stallion passed his duties on to Beacon Heart. [I]'Watch out for the seaponies.'[/i] Beacon had just chuckled at the time, believing it to be a joke. Or perhaps the loneliness and isolation of his posting had caused the old stallion to see things? He might have been young, but he was no foal, believing in old mare's tales like mermares and manticores. Nor did he believe that a little isolation would bother a tough earth pony such as himself much. [hr] The Badlands were a strange place for a lighthouse. Or so most ponies would say. Ponies thought of the Badlands as hundreds of miles of uninhabitable desert and wild weather. Nopony gave much thought to the ocean that lay on the other side. Nopony but the sailors that passed the treacherous coastline as they carried trade goods between Zebrica and Equestria. Those ships needed a lighthouse to warn and guide them to safety. And a lighthouse needs a lighthouse keeper. [hr] Time proved Beacon Heart a fool. A fool twice over. Firstly, because it [i]was[/i] lonely enough on his little island to drive a pony to hallucinations. The biweekly pegasi supply runs provided him with fresh food and news, but little conversation. The loneliness was almost unbearable. Secondly, because the seaponies were real. Strange, skittish creatures they were. Earth ponies from the flank up, and naught but fish scales and strange, graceful tails below. Sometimes they would sun themselves on the rocks around his lighthouse. They seemed to enjoy the sheltered waters of a particular small, rocky grotto. At first he kept his distance. The mermares seemed to have the same idea, as they would dive into the deep waters of the grotto should he draw near. But eventually loneliness got the best of him. As strange and worrisome as he found the creatures, they were somepony to talk to. And as skittish and flighty as they were, they eventually grew comfortable with his presence. One seapony in particular was braver than most. Sea Foam was her name. And she had lived her whole life in the ocean around his lighthouse, watching its bright beams cut through the night. [hr] Beacon Heart and Sea Foam spoke of many things. The workings of the lighthouse. The wrecks of ancient ships she found in the depths. The strange things found far inland, or deep in the sea. They gave each other gifts. Small things. A fresh orange, or a bit of sea glass. A silvered mirror, or a shark's tooth. Bits and baubles from two separate worlds. Time passed, and so did Beacon's loneliness. [hr] Time passed. Days turned into weeks, turned into months, turned into years. Occasional visits to the grotto turned into regular visits. Turned into every sunny afternoon. Turned into every day it wasn't storming. 'That strange mermare' turned into 'that nice mare.' Turned into 'That pretty mare' Turned into 'That beautiful mare with the turqouse eyes you could lose yourself in, orange mane like Celestia's setting sun, and lips as red at the most delicious rose.' [hr] Time passed. And after three years, Beacon Heart's calendar had reached its final days. His rotation was over. He would return to the lands of his birth, and a new lighthouse keeper would take over his duties, as he had taken over from Guiding Light. The pegasi drawn carriage would arrive with his replacement soon. His final duty was to pass on his knowledge and experience to his successor, as Guiding Light had done for him. He made sure to leave detailed notes and written instructions inside the lighthouse. He wouldn't be there to speak to them in person. [hr] [i]Watch out for the seaponies[/i] Guiding Light had said. But there was only one seapony Beacon wanted to watch forever. [hr] Beacon Heart stood upon the rocks of the grotto, looking down at Sea Foam. The water here was deep. If he jumped, his hooves might never touch the bottom. If he jumped, his hooves might never touch dry land again. He was afraid. He looked into her eyes, and they spoke to him. They said [i]I love you[/i] and [i]I will keep you safe[/i]. He closed his eyes, taking one last deep breath. Four hooves left the rocks of the grotto. Two hooves and a tail struck the water below. The ocean closed over his head with nary a splash.