//------------------------------// // The Search // Story: Twilu // by ladyanaconda //------------------------------// Everfree Forest, 15 hours before wedding rehearsal. He was officially alone. Cadence? She kept telling that he should give Discord a chance and that he shouldn't be making such a ruckus over the Draconequus simply offering snacks and drinks to everypony. He was being nice, she said. Twilight's friends? Now he knew how his little sister felt when she tried to warn them about the fake Cadence three years ago, they were all too caught up in the wedding planning to realize something was off. In fact, they didn't even pay attention to him at all, they were too busy examining the dresses Discord had customized for them. Twilight...? He rarely got to see Twiley at all, she spent so much time with her groom that she didn't have a moment to listen to him. In fact, he almost couldn't see her at all, except when she went to the library to fetch something or check if everything was in order. Shining Armor couldn't take the memory of seeing Twilight drink Discord's chocolate milk out of his mind. Was he using the same spell Chrysalis had used on him, but with chocolate milk? That must be it. But there was something that didn't fit... what was Discord's ultimate goal? What did he intend to do? That was the only thing he was missing. Taking a seat under one of the many to rest a bit, Shining started to feel drowsy. He hadn't slept in one and a half day, he had not eaten, and it was catching up to him. All of this worrying about Twilight was eating him alive, and despite attempting to keep his eyes open, eventually the stallion couldn't help it any longer and he fell asleep. Not even in dreams was he safe from his memories... He would never forget when he went to the Aquarium a few days later after the wedding with Twilu's favorite fish to apologize to her, but the marine researcher, whose name was Sealight, had told him she was no longer there. The arvial had been depressed for the past days, and assuming she was homesick, she arranged everything for Twilu to be released back into the ocean. A part of Shining Armor's universe shattered that day; the arvial had been depressed because of him, because of the way he had spoken to her the last time he went to the animal shelter. When he returned home and told Cadence, the real Cadence what had happened, she was as sad as he was when she learned Twilu had been released. She encouraged Shining Armor to move on, but not because she wanted him to stop loving Twilu, but because she thought that he would stay stuck in the past and wouldn't look forward to the future. Unfortunately, her husband misunderstood her and he decided to go and look for Twilu to bring her back to Canterlot. Although Cadence was initially reluctant, she eventually came to agree with him, and a few days later he had set sail on a ship. It had been two months since they set sail, and they had sailed to the waters of the Frozen North, where Arvials lived. The crew , mostly Unicorns and Earth Ponies, and the captain had helped him locate arvials, but they never caught the one he was looking for. They had caught gray, blue, green, orange and even white arvials, but not any purple arvials. "Seriously, lad." the captain of the ship, a navy blue pony with black mane and tail, and an anchor as a Cutie Mark, told Shining one day, "You should give up, it's been two months and fifty three arvials." Shining Armor shook his head, "But none of them was Twilu." "I'm hungry," an earth pony of the crew clutched his stomach, "I'm so hungry I would eat an arvial." "You're lucky, there's one over there," another member of the crew, cried out, pointing towards a spot on the icy waters, "Would you like it roasted or fried?" Shining Armor's heart started to beat like a drum when he noticed this particular arvial's color was lilac, and there was a mane-like tuft of hair running down her back. He'd recognize those purple tones anywhere... "There she is!" the white stallion cried out in excitement, "Let's go to the boats!" One of the boats was lowered to the water, and Shining climbed on along with three unicorns, carrying a giant net meant to catch large-sized fish... or arvials, in this case. The unicorns rowed as fast as they could, heading to warded the lilac spot on the distance, until Shining Armor started crying out to the arvial. "Twilu!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, hoping she would hear him, "It's me, Shining Armor!" The arvial stopped in the water and lifted her head, recognizing that voice.the looked around and spotted the rowing boat, but what called her attention was the white stallion calling out for her. Twilu wailed softly, as if replying to him, and jumped closer to the boat, emerging seconds later next to Shining Armor with a happy look on her face. Shining Armor wrapped his hooves around Twilu's snout as tears started forming in his eyes. "Oh, Twilu, I'm so sorry!" he cried on her nose, "I'm sorry for talking to you like that! You were just trying to protect me, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings! I missed you so much, but now we'll never be separated again." Shining Armor turned to look at the unicorns, "Now!" At the order, the net was thrown at the purple arvial, but since Shining Armor was still hugging her, he was trapped in the net as well. But he didn't care. Shining Armor opened his eyes and rubbed them, looking around in confusion. How much time had he slept? He looked at the sky, noticed that it was tinted between orange, red and black, and realization hit him. It was about seven p.m., the rehearsal would take place soon, an he needed to tell everypony what he discovered. Shining Armor stood up quickly and dashed back towards Ponyville, not knowing he would commit a grave mistake.