//------------------------------// // Dedication // Story: Forgotten // by milesprower06 //------------------------------// Two days later... Sunny Starscout had started her little expedition in the early afternoon. It had been a half day's trip to Zephyr Heights, where she spent the night with Zipp and Pipp. After that, it was another half-day's trip to get safely down the mountain into the forest. Then once she had found it, it was a day and a half of exploring and camping, which ended with Queen Haven sending down a detachment of guards to keep the ruins safe and undisturbed. Then it was a hike back up the mountain, and an evening spent relaxing in Zephyr Heights before leaving for Maretime Bay the next morning. As she moved through downtown Maretime Bay at a healthy trot, taking in the sights and sounds of her hometown for the first time in nearly a week, needless to say she was happy to be home. She still felt pride well up in her chest every time she saw a unicorn or pegasus on the streets, enjoying the tourism that their city had to offer. She admittedly hadn't seen a whole lot of Sprout around, but maybe that was for the best. She had to assume that there was a decent portion of the town that was none too pleased with him right now. She made a right turn before the main drag towards CanterLogic, towards the older structures of the downtown area, and went down to the third building on the right. 'The Maretime Bay Museum of History' The earth mare stepped up to the front door, where a sign hung on the other side of the glass. The Maretime Bay Museum of History is currently closed for remodeling and renovations. We are very excited to welcome you later in the year when the rest of Equestria has finished sharing their treasures of the past with us, and we with them. Thank you very much for your understanding. Sunny dug into her saddlebag and came out with a silver key, which she placed into the lock, turned once, and pulled the door open, making sure to reset the lock before removing her key. "Mister Cinnamon! I'm here!" She called, her hooves echoing off of the vast empty lobby. Various glass display cases lined the outer walls as well as spaced evenly throughout the rest of the room, creating rows and aisles for patrons to filter through. Half of them were currently empty and open, awaiting new items. Like most of the businesses of Maretime Bay, the town's Museum of History was undergoing something of a culture shock. What was once hall after hall containing relics of solely Earth Pony origins, as well as unicorn and pegasus relics with completely falsified backgrounds, the elderly owner of the museum, Mystic Cinnamon, had reached out to historians in both Bridlewood and Zephyr Heights, offering to share his collection, so that each and every establishment could enrich and diversify their histories. Understandably, it had thrown more than a couple wrenches into operating hours as the logistics were figured out over the coming weeks. "Ah, there you are, Miss Starscout. Just in time." Mystic Cinnamon greeted his newest employee. He was a light gray elderly stallion with neatly combed white hair, and his dark purple-framed glasses matched his eyes. "I'm guessing the gems are ready for me to take over to Canterlogic, boss?" She asked. "Now, Miss Starscout, what have I told you? I am the owner of this place, but I do not consider myself your boss. We are each students of history, you and I." He corrected her in a firm, but friendly tone. "Sorry, Mr. Cinnamon." She apologized. "To answer your question, yes, I've selected three of the gems you've brought me, which images I believe have been sufficiently copied and backed up. But even so, please tell Ms. Cloverleaf to take great care with them. But first, I'd like to show you something. We've been busy while you were away gathering those relics at that old castle." Sunny followed him down the hall, and her eyes widened when she saw what he had done in her absence. The entrance to the left third of the building had been completely re-done. Above the wide open entryway was now the six-pointed star, with the lettering "Guardians of Harmony Wing" expertly carved into the polished wood below. On the right side of the entry arch, a table had been placed temporarily, with two polished oak boxes, one a bit larger than the other. "The larger box contains the gems, but that's not all. Please come here, and close your eyes." The older pony requested. Sunny did as she was asked, and stepped up towards the right side of the entry arch, where something had been mounted to the wall, and concealed with a cloth. He directed her to stand in front of it, and then she closed her eyes. He then silently lifted the cloth away. "And open." Sunny slowly opened her eyes, and her breath was immediately taken away as she saw the oak and gold plaque on the wall. Guardians of Harmony Wing This wing of the Maretime Bay Museum of History is dedicated to the memory of ARGYLE STARSHINE Who never stopped reaching a hoof out in friendship when his surrounding society would not. Sunny felt her throat tighten as she raised her right hoof and softly touched the photo. "I... I don't know what to say." She said, struggling to fight back tears in the corners of her eyes. "Well, I do," Mystic began. "I'm a stallion who's recently entered my twilight years, and I have no qualms about admitting that I, like most of us, have spent the vast majority of my life in the wrong. Argyle had a better heart than all of us." "I'm honored." Sunny said, swallowing her tears again. "No," Mystic countered. "The honor is mine, to share the care of this museum with the daughter of the most kind, selfless pony I have ever known." Mystic Cinnamon took the smaller of the two hinged oak boxes, and presented it to Sunny. "Your tenacity and integrity in the face of the adversity that this town showed you time and again has done nothing less than humble me, Miss Starscout. The honor is mine." Sunny took the box from his hooves, and opened it, and this time, she could not stop the tears from spilling over as she gazed down at the simple golden nametag within. Sunny Starscout Curator Sunny bit her lip and wiped away her tears. "I won't let you down, Mister Cinnamon." She said, her voice shaking. "I know you won't. You never have. Now, get these over to Ms. Cloverleaf and see what she can do." Sunny sniffled and wiped the last of her tears away as she was handed the larger oak box, which she tucked carefully into her saddlebag along with the smaller box that contained her new name tag, and headed out of the museum and towards CanterLogic.