//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: I Love the Star in You // by Twilyx360 //------------------------------// After the performance was over the party was escorted to the second auditorium. Where a variety of food and tables were set up. With a large dance floor in the middle. As they had said. They started asking around to hear what other ponies had to say about Pegasi & Unicorns. Among their responses. “Well, I heard there was a big fight. And several earth ponies were injured.” - “I would like a crab to be my friend too. But that’s an unrealistic expectation.” - “Why would you bring that up now!? We’re at a party. We’re already prepared if that happens.” - “Look, I'm scared enough. I’ll only let it out if a unicorn is staring me in the face.” - “If you’re Argyle’s research assistant why shouldn’t you know?” - “Nothing good has come from a Pegasus. Period.” - “If you can tell me with definitive proof. That the unicorn that showed up here came here to NOT fry our brains. I’ll pay you 1,200 bits for it!” - “The big war told me exactly why they are both dangerous. Even if they didn’t hurt anypony.” - “Don’t you have an assistant now Argyle? You both should probably already know. If your researching the history behind our enemies.” - “Long wings, a horn on it’s head? What else could be more uncanny to look at?” - “Do you know how uncomfortable it is to have your mind read?” - “I’m allergic to regular feathers. So why would I care?” - “We are always afraid. Because if we’re afraid. We’re ready to prepare ourselves for the threat.” - “We try to not be so calm even when we have the situation under control because we don’t want our enemies to get the better of us.” After many different responses from the crowd Argyle and Shining stepped outside to talk it over. “Well?” Asked Argyle. “Well you were right. These guys have no issues bringing up Unicorns and Pegasi. Except for a few.” Said Shining. “Yeah. But even if they didn’t want to talk about it they seemed more comfortable talking about how afraid they were, if anything else.” Said Argyle with a pout. “We’re going to need a history book.” Said Shining. “I think we should ask one pony together though.” She pointed over to a pony with a pink coat and massive blonde mane. “No! Not her!” Said Argyle. “Why?” Asked Shining. “That’s Phyllis Cloverleaf. As soon as she talks about the dangers of Unicorns and Pegasi. She never ever stops!” Said Argyle. “Ok well. How long do you think she’ll be talking?” Asked Shining. Argyle sighed and said. “I don’t know. She complains about everything. She is just never happy! She’s so delighted in bringing ponies down she may as well be hopeless. I have no idea how she ended up with that stallion a while back!” Shining looked over at Argyle. “Well we should still ask.” And she walked over. Argyle sighed in annoyance and followed her back inside. And they struck up a conversation. “Ah Argyle, how are you? And who’s this?” She asked. “Hello Phyllis… this is my research assistant and lighthouse assistant. Shining Star.” Said Argyle pouting. Not that Phyllis really noticed. “Shining Star? Well hello there. You’re almost perfectly dressed. But that hat seems really out of place for you. I can show you a different kind of hat if you’re tired of that one.” Said Phyllis looking over and Shining’s hat as Phyllis flicked it with her hoof. Argyle and Shining tensed up at that. And they inadvertently held each other’s hooves in concern. And they never let go for the rest of the conversation. “Yes well uhh… nice to meet you too. So uhh well. Me and Argyle were curious. Do you know why Unicorns and Pegasi are so…bad? And threatening?” Asked Shining nervously. “Oh please! You don’t even need to read the history books to understand that. Unicorns have magic! Actual real magic! They could read your mind or worse. Fry them up! They don’t even need to do that! They could burn you to a crisp, crush you from the inside, freeze you in a block of ice, bury you underground with no way to get out! They could even make you blind or deaf. Nothing to a unicorn at all. That is just their nature. Oh and the pegasi… ohhh boy they have wings that could take you away and drop you down in seconds! I even heard rumors they could move clouds! Who’s to say they couldn’t move storm clouds and make them into a hurricane!” Phyllis explained her quite frankly exaggerated points. Argyle’s mind simply went blank while Shining thought internally.(It doesn’t take magic for me to read your mind genius.) “And who exactly told you this?.. Phyllis.” Asked Argyle. “Oh well, I mostly told that to myself. But I was mostly told by my parents. They’re motto was also this. Be scared so you can be prepared. And that’s exactly what I’m going to use for my slogan in the election.” Said Phyllis. This finally perked Argyle’s attention. “Election?” Asked Argyle. “Yes! I’m running for president of canterlogic! And boy do I have a lot of things to show off! If I win, Unicorns and Pegasi will never hurt maretime bay again. Between you two and me. I think there’s something else going on with those savages. That I think maretime bay needs to know.” Said Phyllis intently. “What is it?” Asked Shining. “I think the Unicorns and Pegasi. Eat Earth Ponies.” Phyllis said, shaking a little. Argyle and Shining were absolutely shocked. And said a unified. “WHAT!?” Phyllis smiled and explained further. “Think about it. Why does a unicorn fry an Earth Ponies brains? To cook them. Why do the Pegasi take Earth Ponies away? Never to be seen again? They’re hunting. For food!” Argyle and Shining were taken aback. “I mean did you hear about that unicorn sighting that happened a while back?” Asked Phyllis. Argyle held Shining’s hoof tighter. Argyle spoke. “Phyllis, that was eight months ago.” “Oh maybe! But you see that! They’re laying low! They’ll come back when we least expect it! I am honestly shocked you turned out ok since then Argyle. It was right by the lighthouse! That unicorn could’ve ate you!” Said Phyllis with concern. Shining held Argyle’s hoof closer. “Well Phyllis I-“ Argyle was cut off. “It could’ve jumped right in your window and got you!” Said Phyllis. “Phyllis.” Said Argyle now concerned. “You could’ve been that unicorn’s dinner. It could’ve cooked you! And then it could’ve eaten you or worse!” Said Phyllis, getting more exaggerated. “Phyllis…” said Argyle trying to get her attention. “If I knew a unicorn would hurt anypony here! I would’ve done anything at all for that pony to get justice!” Said Phyllis. “PHYLLIS!” Shouted Argyle. “I understand it! I already got my compensation though!” Said Argyle angrily. “Oh you did. Ok good.” Said Phyllis relieved. Suddenly Shining let go of Argyle’s hoof and looked at him. “I…I need to step out.” She said walking outside. “I do too. This was… insightful Phyllis. We will take this under advisement.” Said Argyle. “Vote for me!” Said Phyllis. “See ya! KAREN-leaf!” Said Argyle walking away. Phyllis didn’t even hear the insult though. Outside Shining sat down on the hillside the canterlogic building was on. And Argyle walked by. Shaking. As soon as he sat down next to her. The two started panting and breathing heavily. Shining was whimpering. And Argyle screamed. “Daggghhhhhh! JEEZ THAT WAS CLOSE!” And Shining was crying. Argyle moved over and held her close. Which made her stop crying and calmed her down. “I’m so sorry.” Said Argyle. “I shouldn’t have talked to her!” Said Shining. “I know but… look at it like this. We at least know why even she is afraid. Not only does it help her election results but she also thinks that’s just what you need to do to fit in Earth Pony society.” Argyle Explained nervously. “So you agree?” Asked Shining. “Yes! But we were so lucky she didn’t take that hat off! We were not in control of that conversation at all!” Said Argyle. Shining slumped into his hooves, shaking and panting. Argyle’s hooves were shaking. He picked up one of them and said “look at this Shining! Look at this!” “At least we… learned a lot!” Said Shining. “Yeah, maybe it’s because someone hates themself.” Said Argyle. “Or…or! They were just raised that way right!?” Added Shining. Argyle and Shining sighed. “We need a walk.” Said Shining Argyle blushed and asked. “Walk away from the fear?” “Yeah” Said Shining standing up and offering her hoof to Argyle. Who promptly took it as the two walked into the night starting to calm down with every step. Later that night they reached the other side of the Bay and were in a vast valley with the town below. “Now we know something, right? You think maybe you’re calm enough to. Process it?” Said Argyle. Shining sighed as she leaned into him. “Maybe tomorrow. Right now I just want to dance.” Said Shining. “Here?” Asked Argyle. “Yeah.” Shining smiled and stood up. “May I have this dance?” Said Shining holding her hoof out to Argyle. Argyle blushed and looked into her eyes. As he took her hoof. As the two started dancing Argyle couldn’t help but laugh. “You beat me to it. I was gonna ask you to dance.” “Oh stop, you would’ve been too nervous. Besides, you technically already did.” Said Shining smugly. “I did? Oh right when your leg got out of that bandage.” Said Argyle. “Yeah. Remember what we did. Just hold me, I’ll hold you. And hold each other’s hooves together. Like this.” said Shining in a soft comforting tone. Argyle was speechless. Shining was tying his heart in knots for months. And she wasn’t even trying. And Argyle’s nerves calmed down, blushing as he looked at her. “Just look at me. Dance from the heart.” She said placed her hoof on his heart. “And I’ll join in.” She said, giving a look of reassurance. Just as her excitement and joy came back, she blushed and stared into Argyle’s eyes. Her heart was beating almost as fast as his. And she was right. Argyle held Shining close and Shining held her hoof up to his. The two were quite literally lost in each other's eyes as their amazing dance bought them closer and calmer together. Not afraid to show signs of how much the two felt for each other. Even if they didn’t know it yet. They could’ve lived in this romantic dream forever as they then leaned in and hugged each other closing their eyes as their heads rested on each other’s shoulders. All the while the soothing steps of their dance took them to who knows where while they were literally dancing in the moonlight. When suddenly something incredible happened. A shooting star went across the sky over them. They stopped dancing, opened their eyes and looked with wide eyed wonder. “What is that?” Asked Shining. “That’s the wishing star. It passes over maretime bay every winter wishday.” Said Argyle stepping back. “Woah, it's pretty.” Said Shining. “And look. When it passes out into the bay beyond.” Said Argyle pointing to the star. And in a blast of bright light. The star stopped and made a beautiful eight pointed star in the sky. With rainbows surrounding it. “Now that. Really is a Shining Star.” Said Shining. “Yeah. You are.” Said Argyle. Making Shining blush again. When suddenly her hoof slipped. “Ah!” The two stepped so far back they reached the cliffside above the water. Argyle looked over when suddenly he fell off. And Shining immediately grabbed his tail. “Aaaahhhh!” Screamed Argyle. Shining tried to pull him back to safety this time. But it was no use. There wasn’t anything for Argyle to grab onto. And so she lost her grip and he fell into the water. “No!” Shouted Shining. And she immediately jumped in after him. Suddenly they fell far enough to hold each other’s hooves and hugged each other to save them from the impact. And the two fell into the water.