Chapter 7

'Here's the middle level.' Dashi announced as the lift stopped and she led the filly down the hallway. 'There's the sick bay to your left-'

'Defiantly don't want to see that again in a hurry, believe me.'

The dog laughed. 'Yeah, we don't need a tour of that. Here's the gym.' The door opened and they walked in. 'You want to have a quick go of the treadmill?'

'Sure.' She nodded, following Dashi into the middle of the room. There was a weird looking machine with a black floor that she guessed was the treadmill. 'What do I do?'

'Just step on and I'll control the speed.'

'Okay-' She stepped onto the machine, tossing her head.

'Ready?'

'Ready.'

The treadmill started moving, the filly sliding back and she started to walk. It didn't take long for her to get the hang of it and she knickered with excitement. 'This is fun. Faster please?'

'You sure?'

'Yep.' The treadmill started going faster and the filly began to trot, tossing her mane. Oh it felt good to get her blood pumping again. She tossed her head again, arching her neck. 'Okay, this is still too slow.'

Dashi shook her head at the filly's enthusiasm and sped the treadmill up again. The filly smoothly started to canter, tossing her head and she chuckled. 'Let me guess. You want to go faster?'

'You bet!' She grinned. The treadmill started going faster and the filly began to gallop. Finally! She'd been longing to run for so long, she couldn't remember the last time she'd run. She was running faster, faster. She could feel the wind of her homeland blowing through her mane, she could smell the sweet summer grass. Her father was there, she was racing to catch up with him- She was going even faster now, running in a day dream. She started to tire, dragging her from her memories.

'You want to stop now?' Dashi asked, watching the filly closely. The filly nodded and she started to slow the treadmill down, the filly chuckling as she came to a halt.

'Yeha!' She reared then tossed her head and backed off the treadmill, her front legs dancing as she kept half rearing. 'That felt good.'

The dog laughed again then looked down at the treadmill control screen for the filly's results. 'Oh wow Ashima, you've managed to break every single record! Well done!'

She tossed her head again, holding it up proudly. 'I was the fastest filly in the herd.'

'Well, you're certainly the fastest out of us.' She patted her on the shoulder. 'Onto the rest of the tour?'

'You bet.' She followed the dog out at a trot, swishing her tail back and forth. There was nothing she loved more then running, it always put her in a good mood. Even in her weakened state from her time being injured she knew she still had it in her. She'd barely winded herself or sweated, it was only the fact that her legs were getting sore that made her stop.

'This here is the library-' They walked in, the filly gazing around in amazement at all the books. 'It's big hey.'

'It's huge.' Ashima exclaimed. 'I've never seen so many books.'

'Welcome to the library Ashima.' The octopus greated as Dashi and the filly walked over to him. 'It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Professor Inkling.'

'The Professor started the Octonauts.' Dashi explained after a moment. 'He was the one who started this and brought the crew together.'

'Wow.' She replied. 'That's so cool.'

'We've helped many creatures over the two years we've been in operation and we've never rescued a pony before.'

Ashima chuckled. 'No, I wouldn't imagine so.'

'I am glad to see you up and around though, the Captain has told me about you. Actually-' He fixed his monocle with a tentacle. 'When the Captain returns the two of us would like to speak with you, if you don't mind.'

'Sure.' A shiver ran up her spine but she tried not to let it show. 'Where now Dashi?'

'Shellington's room.'

'See you later Ashima.'

The filly nodded, following Dashi. 'This place is huge.'

'Yep.' She chuckled as they walked into the lab. 'It is.'

'I wondered when you two would show up.' Shellington looked up from his microscope as Dashi and the filly walked in. 'Welcome to my lab Ashima.'

She shivered but as she looked around she couldn't see any cages or torture devices and breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't look like this scientist did experiments on fellow creatures like she'd been subjected to. 'Thanks Shellington.'

'Do you want to come have a look at some algae under a microscope?'

'Sure.' She stepped over, looking in the microscope. 'That's so cool.' She pulled away, turning to him. 'What are you looking for?'

'I'm researching and documenting samples of different types of algae from different parts of the ocean. It helps us understand more about sea life.'

'Co-' Her reply was short lived as some kind of creature/vegetable waddled into the room and she snorted in surprise as she backed away. 'What's that?'

'That's Tunip.' Shellington explained. 'He's a Vegimal.' Tunip waved his flipper at the filly, chirping in his language. 'Tunip says hi.'

'Hello.' She cautiously walked forward, extending her nose towards the 'thing' to sniff it. It was just a little smaller then Remi but she'd never seen anything like it before. It kind of smelt like a fish and a turnip at the same. She nudged it gently then the Vegimal tickled her nose with its flipper. She pulled back in surprise as Dasi and Shellington laughed, snorting.

'Tunip said your whiskers tickle.' Shellington interpreted as the Vegimal chirped. 'That's why he tickled you back.'

'Oh, sorry.'

'Ne hearm done.' Tunip replied. 'You hwungry?'

'I am a little actually.' The Vegimal scurried off and she looked at Shellington. 'Did I say something wrong?'

'Tunip is the Octonauts cook, he'll be bringing you something to eat.'

'Why don't I show you the kitchen now Ashima? You can meet the other Vegimals at the same time.'

'There's more of them?' She asked in amazement then nodded. Today was defiantly throwing a lot of surprises and new things at her that she'd never seen before. She followed her into the kitchen, shaking her head in surprise at all the Vegimals running around the room. 'How many of them are there?'

'There's sixteen, I think.' Dashi replied. 'They don't stay in one place long enough for a proper head count.' She chuckled. 'While we're here, we should go check out the garden.'

'Sure.'

Tunip waddled over with a tray, holding them towards the filly. 'Hwere.'

'Thanks Tunip.' She took a couple biscuits, nodding as she ate them. 'They're very nice.'

Dashi chuckled as Tunip headed back to the others and they started to the garden. 'This here is the garden.'

Another Vegimal was there, watering the garden and it pulled up a carrot, offering it to her. The filly took the carrot, smiling. 'Thanks.' The Vegimal waddled back to the hose and started watering again and she looked back to Dashi. 'Okay, they're pretty cute.'

'It doesn't take long for them to make friends.' They headed out of the garden, through the kitchen and lab and back into the hallway to the lift. 'And the last stop on our tour is the HQ.'

The filly stepped into the lift after Dashi, waiting nervously for them to reach the next level. She really didn't like the motion of it if she was honest. It seemed like an eternity but it was only a minute or so before they reached the HQ.

'Here we are. HQ.' Dashi walked over to the computers and grabbed a chair. 'This is where I am mostly. I'm the driver, the computer technician, the radio controller and the Octonauts photographer.'

'Horsefeathers, that's a lot!' She shook her head in amazement, sitting down on a chair beside her. 'How do you keep everything running smoothly?'

She shrugged. 'I've always been a multitasker, I just do.' She clicked a couple buttons and flipped through the weather report. 'Looks like it's going to get colder shortly, there's a cold front coming this way. Better let the Captain know.' She pressed another button. 'Dashi to Captain Barnacles. Come in.'

'Barnacles here. Go ahead Dashi.'

'There's a cold front coming through soon Captain, temperatures are going to plummet. It might be good for you to start heading back soon.'

'Understood. We're on our way. Barnacles out.'

'What's that on the screen?' Ashima asked after Dashi finished talking with the Captain.

'Oh that's the Gup finder, it let's us know where each Gup is on the map when they go out. That way if they get lost or crash we're able to go find them.'

'Wow-' She was lost for words at how cool everything was. 'I've never seen stuff like this before.'

'These things come in handy-' She checked through the computers. 'Everything looks good here.'

'So what were they doing out there today?'

'Some orcas needed a check up so Peso went out to check them over.'

'Orcas?'

'These.' She brought a picture up on the screen and the filly stood up to look. 'This is an Orca.'

'That's huge.'

'And they're not the biggest creature in the sea.' Dashi flipped back to the map. 'Looks like the Captain, Kwazzi and Peso are almost back.'

The filly looked out the window, watching the sea creatures and spied the Gup A returning. 'There they are.'

'And right on time. Why don't we go down and meet them?'

'And ride the Octochute? You bet!' The filly dashed ahead, jumping down the Octochute. This time as she came out she landed on her hooves, chuckling. At least she didn't land on her head. The Gup A appeared above the water line and she trotted over to meet them. 'Thanks for letting Dashi let me out Peso.'

The penguin chuckled as he climbed out. 'You seem in good spirits Ashima. How are you feeling?'

'Great.' She tossed her mane, Dashi walking up to join them. 'Dashi gave me a tour of the Octopod. It was brilliant.'

'Ashima has had quite a morning.'

'Seen any sea monsters me heartie?' Kwazii asked as he jumped out of the Gup. 'That'd be an exciting morning.'

'No, I didn't see any monsters.' She replied quietly, taking a couple steps back from Kwazii.

'I was hoping you might be able to come have a word with me and Professor Inkling, if you're feeling up to it.' Barnacles exclaimed as he joined them on the launch bay. 'Would you mind?'

'Not at all.' She was glad to get away from the pirate. 'Now?'

'If you want to.'

'Let's go then.'

Barnacles nodded, following the filly to the lift. The filly had been with them for two months now yet he still couldn't make out anything about her. She was unusual, but he didn't mean in a nasty way. She just didn't act her age. She was more mature, more sober. Today was the first time he'd actually seen her somewhat happy. The times he'd tried to interact with her in the sick bay the filly had been extremely quiet and reserved. Peso seconded that too, having observed the same. Add to that the fact that the filly didn't seem to be grieving only contributed to him having more questions. He could see a change in her behavior as they left the lift and walked down the hallway to the library. Her whole body language spoke of a great sadness that she was trying to hide. 'Ashima, are you okay?'

The filly lifted her head suddenly, her mane tossed defiantly. 'I'm going great.' She replied with a little more force then she had expected. 'What about you?'

'I'm good.' Her reply unnerved him a little to be honest. He couldn't quite tell what it was exactly. Was it rudeness or contempt or a way of not saying how she really was? He chose the third. It was clear, to him at least, the filly hid pain and grief deep inside her. The filly didn't say another word and neither did he as they walked to the library.

'Back from your mission already Captain?' Inkling asked as the Captain and Ashima walked in, looking up from a book he'd been reading.

'Just a short one today Professor.' He replied. 'We were wondering if you were free to talk.'

'Oh certainly-' He placed his book down and motioned to a seat. 'Have a seat, both of you.'