A week passed. And the New Year was just around the corner.
That night Argyle and Shining decided to take it easy for a while. And as the evening festivities started. They couldn’t help but think about how Romantic these past eight months had been. At this point there was no point in denying it they were in love with each other. Though there were still some questions and concerns. Was it love at first sight? Was it the spur of the moments? Did they even really love each other enough? All these emotions processed through the mind. And feelings in flux.
However when they did. That night, They hugged and cuddled together on the sofa. Which was their favorite time together.
And in each other’s presence and embrace. These questions and concerns evaporated.
But they still needed a plan right? The time would soon be right to tell each other.
And luckily time would be on their side. The clock was getting close to striking midnight as Argyle excitedly got up and asked Shining.
“Come up to the lighthouse balcony. The fireworks view is amazing up there.” He asked.
Shining & Argyle walked over to the makeshift elevator and was taken up to the balcony. “We have our own firework for tonight. The beacon.” Said Argyle grinning.
“Wow.” Shining said as she saw the beacon had been filtered over to light up differently. “Actually Argyle. Can I light it up this time?” Asked Shining.
“Ok yes. First you turn this crank twice to make it spin. Then you pull this lever here to turn the light on.” Argyle directed.
And so she did just that. She started up the crank until it started spinning on it’s own. “Now wait until we reach midnight for our surprise!” Argyle said excitedly. The two were waiting in anticipation as the clock turned from 11:59 PM to 12:00 AM. The new year had arrived.
And the fireworks started going off like crazy.
“Now Shining!” Shouted Argyle.
She immediately pulled the lever and the beacon lit up. This time instead of a normal light it had a series of words lit up.
The light said “Happy New Year.”
Shining and Argyle looked over the balcony with fascination. Watching the lighthouse words in the sky. Along with the endless beauty flashing lights and colors of the fireworks show before them.
They leaned their heads into each other and watched on. Holding their hooves together again knowing that their fears and concerns either have ended or would end soon.
One month later.
After reading, finishing the second half of book five and all of book six.
They took a stroll throughout maretime bay. Reflecting together, talking together about their time together since the first meeting.
When suddenly they walked very far away from maretime bay. They walked completely straight so they guided back by walking forward again. But the rest of this open valley was unrecognizable.
“Where are we?” Asked Argyle.
“I don’t know.” Said Shining.
As they looked around they noticed something odd about the formation of the land. The grass swirled together into one single spiral in the middle.
In the middle was a single rock.
Nine trees also surrounded the spiraled land almost perfectly. And the more they looked the weirder the area looked.
“Those trees. They’re not just the same species.” Said Shining.
“You noticed it too didn’t you? They’re literally the exact same shape. Exact same branches and knots.” Argyle was bewildered.
“Yeah. All nine of them are the exact same model. All the way down to the tiniest detail.” Shining looked around confused. Then back at the rock in the middle.
She noticed a small hoof pattern on the rock. Big enough for a hoof to press into it.
“Argyle look!” Shouted Shining. Argyle approached and saw the imprint on the rock.
“Is that a coincidence?” Asked Argyle.
The two suddenly looked at each other with affirmation and pressed their hooves down into the rock.
The ground rumble beneath them. Suddenly tree roots emerged from the ground connecting themselves in a similar spiral from the rock to the trees at the end of the circle.
When the roots reached the trees. A rectangular hole opened up in the center of their trunks, Like some kind of compartment. All facing inward towards the circle.
Argyle and Shining were shocked as they saw the technical marvel literally unfold around them.
“What is this?” They both said in unison.
Then something else happened. The rock literally opened it’s top up. And a pedestal emerged. On that pedestal was a giant smooth white stone. About the size of each of their heads.
The stone glistened in the sun and it had small black swirls traveling up the rock. It was beautiful.
“I think it wants us to take it.” Said Argyle.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Asked Shining. She looked around walked towards one of the trees now open compartments. “Hmm, Nine trees.
Nine of these compartments.
What did we find?” Asked Shining. As Argyle also looked around at the roots. The roots seemed to have some kind of visible black tube in them that went from the rock to the trees. “You saw the roots? This is bizarre.” Said Argyle. Shining looked at the roots and scratched her head.
And then they both looked back to the stone on the pedestal. Then at each other. “We’re never going to know until we take it.” Said Argyle.
“Alright let’s do it.” Said Shining. They both walked over to the pedestal and took the smooth white stone off of the pedestal and onto the ground.
Just then the pedestal sank back into the rock. The top of it closed back up. The tree roots disappeared underground again and the trees compartments also closed up.
Everything suddenly looked like it did when they first arrived.
“What?” They said in unison. They placed their hooves on the imprints and then everything came back again. For about 5 minutes before it all went back to normal again.
“We should remember this place. Something about it seems important.” Said Shining.
“You’re right. Let’s get this thing back to the lighthouse. We have a lot to study now.” Said Argyle.
They walked straight back to maretime bay. While rolling the white smooth stone on the ground, forward.
They soon made it back to the lighthouse and put the stone in the back of their research area. Which had grown significantly.
The picture of Twilight that Shining drew hung on the wall. There were sticky notes with drawings of the mane six’s cutie marks. Which were on top of a large map of equestria. Below the map frame was another illustration that Argyle drew of a diamond shaped box described in the fourth book.
The chest they found the books in was right next to the main desk opened wide with books one through six inside. Books seven through nine sat on the side of the desk.
Right behind the chest was a painting of a powerful unicorn wizard described in the books many times in the books as Star Swirled the bearded. They found it at the bottom of the chest, spread out and turned over. So they framed it. And a ton of other notebooks and papers were scattered about.
After they moved the stone in. They figured it was about time they started reading the seventh book. And so they did.
They sat down together reading the book’s first chapter.
One month later
Hearts and Hooves Day
Argyle and Shining were halfway through book seven.
At this point their love for each other was at an all time high. Researching, reading, speculating, even the simplest activities just bought so much fulfillment for both of them.
Their love once again reached an apex when they finished reading the thirteenth chapter of book seven. It was a really romantic story that made them both shed tears. The fact that they were reading it on hearts and hooves day was the icing on the cake.
Argyle dropped the book and hugged Shining. “Are you… thinking what I am…?” Said Argyle crying.
“Yeah!” Said Shining crying. “That was too much! I can’t take that in honesty!”
Argyle stood up. “You need a moment because I need a moment…” said Argyle in tears.
“Yeah” said Shining crying.
After finishing the story, they both retreated to their rooms. And took a moment.
“That was beautiful!” Argyle shouted. Suddenly he took a deep breath and paced around the room. Everything that's happening now rhymed eerily with what happened in that story.
And so, he looked in the mirror and calmed down. And determined.
“Face it Argyle. You love Shining Star. And that’s ok. Nothing at all is wrong with any of this!” Said Argyle to himself.
“And I’m going to give her the gift she deserves today. Like it or not!” He said immediately getting to work as he opened a notebook. And wrote down everything he had just heard in the story. Line for line.
Meanwhile Shining Star was facing a similar crisis all her own.
She sighed and looked down at her hooves. “How can I say it? I love you Argyle.” Just as soon as she said that. She felt good.
“I love you Argyle!” Shining said feelings happy and jumpy. “I love you Argyle!” Said Shining bouncing around the room.
“Yes! I love him! I love him! I love him! And it’s all cool.
Everything is perfectly natural. And oooooohhh! A forbidden love just like the story!” Shining was grinning when she suddenly thought about it.
A present. It was hearts and hooves day. What could she possibly give to him?
“Well…” she said looking over to her nightstand. Opened the drawer and put something in her mane. And she walked out of her room to Argyle’s.
When she got to Argyle’s room they sat on his bed, about to show their presents.
“I actually have a present for you today.” Said Argyle. “But it’s not exactly finished yet.” And so, he reached behind him and grabbed the notebook. And gave it to her.
Shining opened it and looked inside. To see the same words of the chapter in the story. “You made me a copy of the story?” Said Shining tearing up again as she put a hoof over her mouth.
“Y-yeah. I know it’s not finished yet but I will-“ Argyle was cut off as Shining threw herself into him and gave him a tight hug.
“Thank yoouuuuu!” She said. “I could tell you liked it.” Said Argyle. When the hug ended Shining announced her own present for Argyle.
“Argyle I have a present for you too. And well… you know how we have no idea if these stories are really true. And we’ve been searching for proof for so long?” Said Shining.
Argyle nodded yes.
“Well. This thing I found before I left bridlewood. Might just change everything!” She said as she reached into the back of her mane and gave Argyle…
A purple feather.
Argyle looked in complete shock. He took the feather and handled it delicately. “You don’t think… where did you find this?” Asked Argyle.
“I don’t remember. But feathers are rare in bridlewood. So, I kept it because it felt so gentle and adorable… like you.” Shining immediately blushed when she let that slip.
Argyle blushed beat red as well.
They would’ve confessed right there. They could’ve let everything out at once. They had to. Right? But not today.
Even if they did love each other and that was ok. They didn’t need to rush. And if they somehow lost each other in the process, it didn’t matter they would still be together one way or another.
And that is all they needed. They just needed to calm down for a while first. An emotional Hearts and Hooves Day? Would not be as ideal as one may think.
They had a much more casual and more calming day in mind.
“I uhh well… but it can’t be! Is this really a feather from…
Twilight Sparkle…”