Shining stopped to catch her breath and look at the prism stone. It was glowing brighter.
“I have to be close!” She shouted.
Running further and further the crystal got brighter and brighter.
At last she found them. And the prism stone was at it’s brightest again.
“HEEEEEYY!!” Shining screamed behind the raiders in a blind rage.
Argyle looked out of his cage and he saw her. He smiled and started crying “Shining…”had never been more relieved than he ever felt in his life.
Shining Star actually came all that way to look for him. And that was all Argyle needed to make him feel like he was special too.
“Oh it’s you. Get lost!” Said one of the hunters.
“I’m not done with you!” She screamed. “Go on! Waste me like you did before!” Shining screamed.
Argyle’s smile suddenly went to disbelief. “Wait! Shining!?” Shouted Argyle.
“Shut up you animal!” Shouted one of the hunters to Argyle.
“Don’t you dare!” Screamed Shining.
The hunters said nothing.
“Stop it! Or I swear!” She screamed.
No response.
“I’ll do anything! I’ll even beat you up for him!” She screamed louder.
No response.
“HEY! Give the earth pony back!” Shining screamed. “Or I swear you’re in for a world of hurt!”
The hunters grinned as they continued. “Get your own live earth pony. This one may not even be worth much.
And what can a worthless mare like you do?” Said the leader.
Suddenly everything went red for Shining. She officially snapped.
She picked up a huge rock and threw it right in the back of one of the hunter's heads.
“Ouch!” The hunter said before passing out.
The other hunters finally turned around.
“What kind of hunter are you? What kind of attention are you looking for?!” Shouted the leader.
“I’m no hunter!” Shining screamed and she immediately charged into the leader and started punching his face.
She grabbed the rock and swung it around to the other colts faces, knocking them out.
That left just the leading stallion on the ground looking angrily at her.
“GIVE, ME, BACK, MY, COLTFRIEND!” Screamed Shining.
He immediately stood up in confusion. “The earth pony? Your coltfriend?!”
She punched him again. Harder.
“YES! NOW!” She screamed.
The stallion uneasily walked over to the back of the wagon. Untied the binder and put Argyle’s cage on the ground.
Argyle looked at Shining. He had never seen her in such an angry blind rage before.
“You got something better in exchange for this animal?” Said the stallion.
“I don’t care! I’d rather keep beating you senseless! Until you got the guts to beat me again!” Screamed Shining stomping towards him.
Argyle was shocked. He looked around and saw all the other hunters laying on the ground. Then back at Shining. He had seen everything “Shining Stop!” He shouted.
And she immediately looked over at him. “Why are you doing this!? I didn’t ask for you to be like this!” Shouted Argyle.
“Please. Don’t hurt yourself for me!” Shouted Argyle.
Shining’s expression went from angry to sad immediately. And she realized everything. She looked around and saw the other colts on the ground were just waking up.
She started panting. And she knew exactly what to do.
“Ok…” she said, reaching into her backpack. And she pulled out the unicorn crystal.
“This is an ancient artifact. Unlike anything else in bridlewood. And is the only crystal of it’s kind.
It will probably be worth so much you’ll never have to work again.” She said softly as she held out the crystal in her front hoof.
The leading stallion smiled. “You got a deal crazy gurl.” He said pushing the cage over to her and giving her the key.
And she placed the crystal in his hoof.
“Ya drive a rough bargain.” Said the stallion walking off. “Come on boys get up!” He ordered. As they all weakly got up and moved along.
And Shining moved the cage backwards.
===
Shining had released Argyle from his cage. When he went out, he immediately put his unicorn disguise back on as it was. Thankfully nothing happened to the horn.
The two simply sat there on the road. Processing what just happened.
Shining broke the silence. “I’m so sorry…Argyle I was trying to save I just don’t know what came over-“she was cut off as Argyle immediately hugged her.
Shining had a mental breakdown and started crying.
“I know you’re sorry. But seeing you in a blind rage like that is very scary.
You actually hurt those ponies. Please don’t do that again…” said Argyle crying as well.
“I promise… I promise. I just couldn’t lose you…Seeing you taken away from me was my worst nightmare come true!…” she shouted crying.
“It was mine too… and it was just scary to see you like that. We lived through it though. And we’re still together. And I still love you. Thank you so much for saving me Shining Star. I will forever love you. I promise I’ll be there for you no matter what.” Said Argyle in a soft voice.
“But the crystal…” Whimpered Shining.
“I know. We still have a month left. We’ll find it.” Argyle hugging her closer. “For now, let’s just calm down.”
Argyle and Shining held each other close as they walked back to Shining’s house.