And so as promised. Both Argyle and Shining were sleeping in the same bed that night.
And they couldn’t have been happier. Or more peaceful that night when they slept.
And then the morning came. And waking up next to each other couldn’t have been a prettier and more comforting sight than they ever thought.
And this continued long afterwards. They would never sleep alone again.
4 Months Later
The new couple had long since finished all nine books. And eventually they would revisit them to read the stories, as well as to see the other secrets that were hidden within them due to the new discovery of the prism stone.
However, they largely took a break from research and had instead focused on their own love and dating. Several date nights had occurred for the blooming love of Argyle and Shining. Love that only got stronger each day.
So that led to the question. Were they actually official?
And that is exactly what would happen as they walked back to the lighthouse after this date night.
After closing the door and walking in. They sat on the sofa and talked it over.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Asked Argyle.
“Well… we’ve been dating for a while now. Do you think anypony suspects us?” Asked Shining.
“I don’t think so. Ever since the Winter-wish Day gala. I don’t think anyone thinks of us as anything other than research partners. Just living a life up here beyond the main strip.
But I see your point. What if somepony does? Would we have to explain to them what we are now?” Said Argyle slumped on the sofa pillow.
“Well…. Wha…” Asked Shining.
“What are we exactly?” Asked Argyle. And both ponies buried their faces in their hooves.
“Well, that is what I wanted to say. It doesn’t make it less painful to say it.” Said Shining.
Argyle moved over to Shining and put his hoof around her. And Shining looked at him. “You’re Shining Star and I’m Argyle Starshine. We are who we are.
We’re just more, Intimate now. We are a couple that just… happened.
Is that wrong?” Said Argyle.
Shining hugged him. “No. Ever since new year's I knew it wasn’t wrong.
I guess we just needed to bring ourselves to say it.” Shining said. Smiling.
“Exactly. And I couldn’t be happier. The fact that we help each other sleep at night should say enough about us.” Argyle finished smiling back.
“Actually, I wanted to ask. When did you know you liked me?” Asked Shining giggling.
“Does being the prettiest pony, I ever laid eyes on count?” Said Argyle laughing.
“Oh stoooop” said Shining blushing and smiling.
“But seriously I actually didn’t know at first. Well ok, that first night we met I definitely felt something when I first saw you. But I didn’t really think much of it at first. I was mostly just trying to help you.
But when you got out of that bandage. You just lit up. And then after what we went through on the holidays, I knew there was no point in denying what I felt. Nor did I think it was wrong. When I embraced my feelings, it felt good. Too good to be wrong. And I think it’s because for once I finally let all the underlying fears go away.
Maybe I loved how you are just so cheerful and nice and accepting. I just love that.” Finished Argyle.
And Shining was chuckling. “Love at first sight?” Asked Shining.
“I didn’t know!” Said Argyle laughing.
“Well as for me. I always knew I liked you. Ever since I saw your face, I felt like I forgot my name.
I didn’t care what you were. The way your eyes and smile looked it was just so different. But a different, that I love.
And yeah, when you first bandaged me up, I tried so hard not to blush.
And every day since then I felt it. Every time I saw you, I just felt safe and warm and happy. I didn’t say anything though because I wasn’t exactly sure what I was feeling.
I was feeling everything at once. I was stumped. Until the holidays came and went. On the night of the new year. I actually tried so hard to hold my breath.
If I didn’t, I’m sure I would’ve squealed! Like I did for some nights before.
And for me. I was drawn to your compassion, sweetness and optimism.” Shining finished.
“Oh! I was wondering what that squeaking noise was!” Said Argyle.
“Oh no.” said Shining blushing. “You actually heard my squeals?” Asked Shining.
“Yeah. You were adorable.” Said Argyle.
Shining was giggling. “Argyle. How do you make all the cliché love songs sound real?” Asked Shining.
“I don’t know. But I guess that’s all we needed to know to say we fell for each other.” Said Argyle.
“Oh yes. And well, that’s ok. So we should be ok. With us right?
Argyle. I just want you to know that. I’m not going to push for us to be anything more than just being a couple either.
I’m not going to pin you down. Or demand something you want nothing to do with.” Said Shining.
“I know. And Neither would I.” Said Argyle.
“Good. I just wanted to remind you. I don’t want to change anything about you. I just want to be with you.” Said Shining.
“Thank you. And hey, I’ll make sure to remind you about that too. I don’t want you to change, I just want to be with you. For you.” Said Argyle.
Shining briefly closed her eyes and sighed “You know. That actually means a lot more to me than you think it does.
Because well…” she pointed up to her horn.
Argyle looked on. “Is hiding your horn. Bothering you?” Asked Argyle.
Shining sighed sadly and asked. “Can we take this upstairs? With cuddle time?”
“You don’t even need to ask.” Argyle smiled.
And so the two walked upstairs to the bedroom and laid down. Hugged each other and continued.
“So. What is wrong?” Asked Argyle.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love that hat. I feel like it represents a part of who I am.
It’s the fact that my horn is basically useless. So why do I need it? I feel like I could do more good for us if it just wasn’t there.” Shining said in sadness.
“Shining. Please don’t say that… you know I don’t care what you are. I love you for who you are.” Said Argyle.
“I know… but it’s not so much I have to hide it to be accepted around here.
It's an easy way out. It just eliminates all the trouble and makes me look like… well, you.” Said Shining.
“Shining I understand. But I feel like it would only cause more trouble for you. If you somehow removed the horn it’s just something you can’t come back from.
And well, it would cause trouble for me too… The change would forever be there. It wouldn’t lead to happiness, it would lead to shame, guilt and repression. And that wouldn’t be you.
I wouldn’t want to see you feel the need to take a part of you away for my sake. It just makes you sad and upset and angry and I don’t like seeing you like that. I don’t want you to hate yourself. I love you and I want you to love yourself too, when I show that.
And I don’t want to feel bad about myself for caring about you either. I don’t want to feel bad about paying attention to you.
And yeah that begs the obvious question. What do we do if you’re accidentally exposed?” Asked Argyle.
Shining shivered and held Argyle closer. “I can’t be exposed.
I dread thinking of what would happen if I had to be… taken away from you…” She said snuggling into him.
“I’m not making you feel bad now am I?” Asked Shining.
“Of course not.
It’s only when you get too down on yourself.”
Said Argyle. “How’s about this? Whenever you get too down on yourself for that or anything else we have a cuddle time and we talk it over ok?” Asked Argyle.
“Ok… cuddle times were always my favorite times anyway.
If you promise not to get too down on yourself either. And I don’t want you to be afraid of showing who you really are.
Argyle, you are a beautiful, kind, caring, sweet and loving stallion. I know you’re comfortable showing that to me and I love you for that.
So I don’t want you to hide that away from the rest of the world.”
Said Shining.
“You have my word.” Said Argyle.
And then Shining moved over and kissed him.
Argyle sighed and held Shining close. “It’s just been so hard though Shining…
Do you know what it’s like?
When fear and anger takes hold of everyone in your life. All I wanted was for it to stop.
But I couldn’t… all it would do is just make everyone more angry. But angry at me too.
And even worse, sometimes I wondered if it was really justified. What if I really was wrong?
What else could I have done but hide who I really was? Just being afraid and scared just to live.” Argyle was tearing up.
“And when you came into my life.
Suddenly everything I ever endured was surrounded by a lie… I felt like a complete fool.
Until you showed me I wasn’t.” Argyle snuggled into her.
“I really do mean that much to you don’t I?” Asked Shining.
“Yes. Shining when I started living here by myself I was worse. I was alone and sad rather than alone and angry.
Until you came along. This past year was one of the best in my life because of you. And a lot of it is because you’re so sweet and you always made sure I was happy. Even when I didn’t ask for it.” Said Argyle.
Shining was blushing. “You’re making me blush.
I can’t believe that I mean that much to somepony. But I know you’re not wrong.
It just means so much to me. That I mean something to someone else.
I actually changed your life. Just by being who I am. I never really thought I was capable of doing that. I thought maybe I couldn’t.
But you’re right. I don’t even need proof to see it by now.” Said Shining.
“Why does it mean so much to you?” Asked Argyle.
“Ok so, remember how I said unicorns aren’t really the happiest bunch?” Said Shining.
“Yeah?” Asked Argyle.
“Well obviously that meant it was…hard to impress someone.
I tried getting along with others for years. With little success.
I wasn’t surrounded by so much fear and anger like you. But more of fear and sadness. And it seemed like that sadness was what took over.
At least I didn’t need to be ashamed of being myself. And so I thought I could do just that. I thought I could be myself without any consequences around bridlewood and nopony would do anything.
I mean I did know there were consequences. Like as I’m sure you know, I was told about the bad news of ponies outside bridlewood. And like you I didn’t know it was a lie until I found you.
So for years I did anything I wanted around bridlewood within reason.
But I felt empty. Like I was doing things without a reason. Well without a reason to remember at least.
You can only do that for so long until it feels like it means nothing. And so I tried harder and harder but nopony cared.
And when I started living on my own. I got worse too. I got angry and sad. I was so messed up that I…” Shining stopped herself.
“Well actually. Let’s just say I felt empty in more ways than one, and so I figured I could remove the problem before I decided to fix it.” Said Shining.
Argyle went wide-eyed. “Oh my… Shining…” said Argyle, understanding the severity.
Shining looked right at Argyle and told him. “Argyle. I always knew I was a smart pony. I know I like doing so many different things.
But deep inside. I’m terrified.
And so because I was ‘smart’ I rationalized myself to leave bridlewood. Then I came here and… you know the rest.” Said Shining.
Argyle started to speak up. “I never felt like I was smart. But I was all along. I could never hear who I was though over the screams and shouts. And so if I was a freak I thought maretime bay didn’t need one.
And that’s when I knew… but being intelligent comes with a price.” Said Argyle.
And they kissed each other.
“But now we don’t have to now right? We just need reassurance right?” Asked Shining.
“Yes. And Now we can use it for the better part of equestria itself.” Said Argyle.
“By the way. When are we going to that place again?” Asked Argyle.
“Maybe another month should do it. We don’t know what we’ll be doing there so we should get some supplies. And take a picture of the map.” Said Shining.
“Sounds good to me. This was a good talk. Goodnight Shining. I love you.” Said Argyle.
“I love you too.” Said Shining.