Soon. They arrived at the forest square. Tree homes, crystals, restaurants, shops and the occasional bench or rest area were present. With one massive tavern in the middle.
But more importantly were the unicorns. And it was here, where everything Argyle was told about unicorns by his marefriend finally made sense.
Every unicorn they passed looked sad, depressed and tired. None of them bothered looking at them except for a few expressionless glances and immediately looked back down.
Argyle frowned. He couldn’t help but feel bad for these ponies.
Argyle and Shining walked to the side and sat under a tree. “Well, I told you this was a gloomy place. Now that you’re finally seeing it. Do you want to say anything.” Said Shining, wrapping her hoof around his back.
“Well. I kinda feel bad for them. Did anything happen here?” Asked Argyle.
“I don’t know. It’s probably the fear, or the superstition. Maybe both. But it seems like nopony had nothing to really feel for or be proud of. So sadness took hold.
There’s no way to cheer them up…” said Shining frowning.
Argyle looked at one of the children walking slowly by with his Dad. Not even they were happy.
“Maybe they just want to feel special like you. And… I guess you were the only one who had enough confidence in yourself to try.” Said Argyle.
Shining smiled. “Yeah. I guess I did.” And she blushed. “Let’s go to my house.”
===
After arriving at her house and getting some lunch and rest, the two headed out to find the unicorn shrine.
“That was a nice place you had there. It was pretty. And hey thanks for the lunch that was fantastic.” Said Argyle cheerfully walking along.
“Well I did learn from the best.” Said Shining.
Argyle blushed. “Say, Shining can I take this off? I don’t want the paper horn to break while we do this.” Asked Argyle.
“Well I don’t see anypony around. Nopony has really come out this deep in the forest. I think you’ll be fine.” Said Shining.
And so Argyle took the hat and horn off. He placed the horn in the side pocket of his backpack and then looked around for any clues until they found it.
A massive clearing in the forest. After walking into the clearing they found a spiral piece of land with nine trees and a rock in the center.
“It’s just like the earth pony shrine.” Said Shining.
They both walked up to the rock and found the same imprints. “Let’s get to work. You got the books?” Asked Argyle.
Shining nodded yes. “You got the prism stone?” Shining asked and Argyle nodded yes.
They pressed their hooves down and the rock opened it’s top with a pedestal holding another white stone. No doubt another prism stone was inside as it was already lighting up.
The tree roots came out of the ground and the compartments opened.
Argyle and Shining rushed around placing the books in the tree compartments until they finished. The light blue glow surrounded the roots and trees.
The pedestal glowing as well. “We need to get the second prism stone out of that!” Said Shining.
“Hold my hoof! And touch the stone together.” Shouted Argyle as the land started turning.
They held hooves. Placed their other forehoof on the stone and the prism stone inside broke out and landed perfectly on the pedestal.
And it happened again. The land was rising out of the ground.
Tying a rope to a tree branch the two climbed down and into the building.
Now that they had two prism stones they could now light the way better.
Once inside they were walking their way into the central chamber. And the prism stone provided great light.
They reached the central chamber. Designed just like it was back in maretime bay. Circle of imprints and all.
“Remember the dance?” Asked Argyle.
“Oh yeah. We’ve only been practicing for a month for this.” Shining smiled.
And so the two got into position and did the dance just like before on the buttons. Once they reached their ends of the circle it happened.
A pedestal in the center of the floor came up this time revealing a blue diamond shaped crystal gem.
“There it is! The unicorn crystal!” Shining ran to the pedestal and looked at it wide eyed.
“You should take it. I took care of the earth pony crystal.” Said Argyle.
And Shining gently picked it up. And they both looked at it in fascination.
“Woah… it makes me feel…happy. It’s so beautiful.” Shining said smiling. “It is, isn't it?” Said Argyle.
Shining looked at the crystal in awe the entire time they walked out of the shrine.
“Argyle… look at us. We’re collecting the very keys to all of equestria’s happiness and harmony! Everypony will learn to live and love again!” Said Shining excitedly trotting.
“I know. I can’t believe we’re doing this either! It’s so…fulfilling.
It’s like we’re heroes of equestria and this is our origin story!
And to top it all off we are. Lovers too!” Said Argyle.
The two walked out of the shrine. Shining put the unicorn crystal and the prism stone in her backpack.
Climbing back up they took the books out of the trees and the shrine sank back into the land. It was back to normal.
However Argyle took the second prism stone with them.
And they left the clearing.