As early as when Aquamarine was born, she was drawn to the water. She learned to swim early in life and was quite good at it.
* "Momma, I wanna go play in the water with the other foals!" Aquamarine joyfully told her mother.
Aqua was a late filly; all the other pregnant mares had had their foals weeks before Aqua's mother did so she was the youngest of the spring babies.
"Aqua, how many times have I told you, you are too small, you would be swept away in the river," said Maji, through bites of grass.
Aquamarine watched the other colts and fillies, only a few weeks older than her, already splashing around in the shallows having fun without her. Aqua thought to herself, "Soon, I will go right into the lake and swim before everyone!"
A few days later, the foals were by the lake again, and Aquamarine was still grazing with her mother in the pasture nearby. Today was the day. Aqua watched her mom, waiting for Maji to be turned the other way, grazing as far away as possible from the lake. As Maji turned, Aqua inched towards the lake, then clumsily cantered down to the edge, where the other foals were playing.
"Heya Aqua! Why are you down here?" asked the oldest colt, CJ.
"I'm here to swim!' Aqua cheerfully responded.
"You are too small to swim Aqua, you can't even canter!" laughed a filly to the left of CJ.
Aqua looked towards her mom, still grazing, then turned to the river. It didn't look too deep, and the water wasn't moving fast. Aqua turned to the foals, all standing still, watching Aqua with her hooves in the water. "I will show them," thought Aqua, and she took a small jump towards the water, which was now up to her knees.
"You can do it Aqua!" cheered the youngest filly of the group, only older than Aqua, and the only one who regularly talked to her.
By this time, Maji had noticed Aqua seemed rather far away and looked up to see her filly belly deep in the river. Maji galloped to the edge, and whinnied to her foal.
"Aquamarine, you get out of there now!" Aqua looked back at her mare.
"Momma, I can do it, I promise I won’t get hurt."
Maji had always had a fear of water, ever since she got swept away from her mom as a young foal and she didn't want the same thing to happen to her filly. Aqua walked a little deeper and she felt the ground slope beneath her and before she knew it, she was swimming. The foals gasped. Aqua swam around in a few circles, and finally swam back to the edge after what seemed like forever to Maji. Aqua shook her mane and felt proud as she saw the amazed looks on the other foals' faces.
"Wow Aqua, that was cool!" CJ exclaimed, as the other foals began to start playing again, closer to the water.
Aqua smiled a proud smile towards CJ and walked over to her mom, who looked disappointed. Aqua’s smile faded and she looked up at her mom.
"I'm sorry momma, I wanted to show you and the other foals that I could do it, even though I'm smaller."
Maji looked at Aquamarine and smiled.
"I know honey, I only held you back because I was afraid you would be swept away from me and I would regret everyday that I let you swim."
"I know momma, I'm really sorry."
"I want you to know you don't have to prove yourself to me or the other foals. You are my little Aquamarine and always will be."
Maji nuzzled Aqua and they walked back up to the barn. From then on, Maji let Aqua swim more often, and let go of her fear from the past. She helped Aqua grow into a strong and confident mare and encouraged her to try new things every day. *
The End :)
Word Count from * to *: 640
