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// Chapter 23 
// Story: I Love the Star in You 
// by Twilyx360 
//------------------------------//

Within hours. Castle guards broke into floor sixteen and arrested many prominent members of Levitz followers.

Prince Levitz himself fled the castle with a significant number of his followers.

In the training grounds and prison cells. Levitz ordered the many pegasi to be beaten and battered before they would flee as well.

However as the guards investigated the prison area and the training arenas. And they found all the missing pegasi.

The missing ponies were rescued. But they were very beaten, tired and bruised.

And as they arrested more of the prince's followers. They almost became medics in the process. And a huge medical team was called in to treat them.

A day after the incident Princess Haven announced the crisis had been solved. And that the missing pegasi were all found. And were in hospital being treated.

Many of their loved ones were relieved but horrified to see their missing friends and family but unfortunately in such a weak state.

The injured victims told their stories.

In complete secrecy Prince Levitz ordered the guards to start kidnapping innocent Pegasi and train them into becoming his own personal army against their will.

Training was long and brutal. Punishments were often barbaric.

How This had supposedly went on for months.

Prince Levitz and some of his followers however were unfortunately still at large. And about a month after it ended. Pegasi went missing again.

And now Levitz and his followers continue their original work. Of kidnapping unsuspecting ponies and training them as soldiers.

As of now no motive has really been found in his plans or otherwise. However since his betrayal it has been suspected he is planning to overthrow Princess Haven.

Princess Haven was beginning to lose hope. And so she did the only thing she thought she could do. She took on searching for him personally.

But she had to put a stop to it. As time went on she got sick for unknown reasons. And needed to stay in bed.

However she found one significant clue to them. They now dubbed themselves. “The sons of the Zephyrs.”

===

Argyle and Shining were completely shocked and overwhelmed. It took them three days to gather all this research and to process it all.

Now with this new narrative in their heads they began to ask.

Why did this whole thing happen to begin with? It was just so much to process. Argyle and Shining thought about it and had since claimed otherwise.

That night they were back in the train station debating if stealing the crown outright was really the best course of action.

“So. You still keen on actually stealing this thing?” Asked Argyle.

“I don’t know. More importantly, how do we even get the crystal off the crown?” Asked Shining awkwardly.

Argyle and Shining sat on a bench and talked it over.

“I feel bad for these ponies…” said Shining.

“I couldn’t agree more love.” Said Argyle.

Both looked at each other trying to piece everything together in their minds.

“Agh!… What is happening here!? This is just stressful!” Said Shining. Tearing up.

Argyle tried to contain himself but he was tearing up too. “Are we even safe!?” Asked Shining.

And then the two broke into tears.

“Aaaagggghhhhh! Why!? Why!?… agh…” screamed Argyle.

“Let’s calm down for a bit…” said Shining, hugging him.

The two leaned into each other and briefly closed their eyes holding their hooves together.

Then they opened their eyes looking at the pretty lights around them.

“I’ve only been here a day. And this is the life of a pegasus?” Asked Argyle.

“They’re just sad love. Sad and afraid.

I don’t know what’s happening. But I do know one thing. They’re not bad. They’re just broken, and so they can be fixed right?

Sadness is a confession of having a brighter side to yourself.” Said Shining.

Argyle smiled at that. And shed happy tears.

“That was beautiful.” Said Argyle.

“I learned from the best love.” Said Shining smiling.

“Thank you. And you’re right, they can be happy. They can be rescued.

They just need to see it. To see past the hate and fear. To see how they really feel, and when they do. They can finally change into something beautiful.

Just like you showed me.

And I always felt as beautiful as you think I am when you did.” Said Argyle.

Now Shining was shedding happy tears. “Thank you.” Said Shining as they leaned in to kiss each other.

“Maybe we’re just putting too much pressure on ourselves again… pressure to solve this mystery and save the Pegasi. And well equestria.” Said Shining, closing her eyes leaning into him.

“Yeah… we will solve it. I know we can. We just need someone to help us in all this too.” Said Argyle. Hugging her.

“I agree. We’ve learned a lot since we’ve branched out.” Said Shining.

After taking a while to calm down. The two went to sleep for the night.

Suddenly six ponies emerged into the train station window and looked around finding them both. Still wearing their disguises just in case.

“Sir! Look!” Said one.

One of them. A Pegasus with a white coat and red mane moved over to see them.

“Take them with us.” He said.

“Sir Levitz. Are you sure that’s wise?” Asked one of them.

“This abandoned train station is our best bet of infiltrating this place. It’s better nopony knows.” He said.

And so the two were hoisted out.