Argyle and Shining eventually got back to maretime bay.
That night they were sound asleep together. Mentally and physically exhausted from their experience.
Now it was time to slow down.
And for once in so long. Focus on what they wanted.
Throughout the next six months Shining Star and Argyle Starshine’s lives largely returned to normal.
And their research continued.
After failing to obtain the Unicorn crystal and the Pegasus crystal to reunite equestria. They were discouraged.
Why? Could they not do it?
How? Could they have done it?
Were they even destined to save equestria? Was equestria doomed to an eternity of hatred and division? What would this mean for them?
With all these thoughts, questions and sadness. Argyle and Shining resumed their research in search of answers.
For now, they will understand what the saying of “Friendship is Magic.” Really means.
“Ugh… this is getting us nowhere.” Said Argyle.
“I have to agree. It’s not that I doubt it or anything, it's just I don’t understand it I guess.” Said Shining.
“You’re right. And I think I know what it is.” He said preparing to speak his mind about recent events.
“Look, we have more than enough proof that Twilight’s stories are true. Everywhere we went we saw the six-pointed star.
Artifacts from the six ponies and their friends.
Photographs of them. Journals written by them.
The crystals were hidden in places that they built.
And that feather over there is living proof! How much proof do you need after that?
These ponies and their stories are real. It is a fact.” He finished.
“Speaking of artifacts, look at this thing.” Shining pulled out a rock from her mane. On the bottom was a fossilized footprint of a small dragon claw.
Argyle was shocked. “Shining… where did you find that?”
“Back in Zephyr Heights. When we saw the temple, I found this on one of the rocks.” She handed it over to him.
“You don’t think this could be… Spike’s, right?” He asked.
“I don’t know. But if it was his it had to have been when he was little. He clearly grew up at the end of the books.” She explained.
Argyle put the fossil on his desk. “You’re right. It still doesn’t make this any better. I guess what I don’t understand is. Why is it all gone?” He asked.
“You mean magic?” Asked Shining.
“No, I mean everything in the books. Canterlot, Ponyville, the tree of harmony, the everfree forest, the crystal empire, the other creatures and where they live.
Surely, they left something behind, right?” Asked Argyle.
“You make a good point. So, the question you're looking for is what happened between then and now?” said Shining.
“Yes, that’s it. And well… I think I had a bit of an answer from this book right here.” Argyle moved to a shelf and got out five books all part of the same story. And handed them to Shining.
“Fallout Equestria?” Asked Shining.
“Yeah. Remember how ponies talked about a big fight? I think these books are that fight.” Said Argyle.
“You never read them?” Asked Shining.
“Not completely. It’s a very long story. It has over 660,000 words.” Said Argyle.
“Oh dear… uhh. Ok I think we’ll put these to the side then and solve those another time.” Said Shining, putting the books on the table.
“Yeah, that would be a better idea.” Said Argyle.
“Let’s talk about what we know first.
We know the books basically ended without a continuation. But there’s still so much more we don’t know. Much more questions that beg an answer.” Said Shining, preparing her own questions.
“Absolutely. Tell me and I’ll write them down.” Said Argyle getting out a small handbook.
“Thanks love.
Anyways, first of all. Who made the three crystals? And why? Why contain the world's magic within them?
Second of all. The sun and the moon. In the books it was said that the Alicorn princesses Celestia and Luna raised and lowered them accordingly. Celestia the Sun & Luna the Moon.
If only their magic could move them. Then why are they suddenly moving on their own now? Without any magic?
Third of all. The books imply that the Alicorns are basically immortal.
So where are they?
And fourth. And this is probably the most important one. Why do all three pony kinds hate each other? We know they were cut off and went to different lands thus isolating themselves between the three.
But what caused that division in the first place?
And fifth I… actually that’s about it. For the big important stuff.” Shining Finished.
Just as Argyle finished writing. “Phew! Wow those are some good points love. You are really good at rationalizing.”
Shining blushed and smiled. “Thanks love. I did learn from the best.”
“Aww does somepony want cuddles?” He asked, jumping on the sofa hugging her close.
“Hehehehe~” Shining giggled, making Argyle giggle too. Suddenly the prism stones on the desk lit up. The two looked over and saw them glowing.
“Sometimes I almost get sentimental about those things. Those things aren’t even supposed to be the main crystals.
They’re just little stones that can somehow be powered by love. And yet I feel a strong connection with them.” Said Argyle.
“Yeah, it makes me wonder what the prism stones really are? Guards of knowledge to protect the main crystals… wait a minute.
Main crystals?
Prism stones?” Shining questioned.
“What is it?” Asked Argyle.
“Love. We still have the earth pony crystal right?” Asked Shining. “Quick! Get the crystal and put it over the light of the prism stones!”
Argyle went over to the desk and got the earth pony crystal out. He put both prism stones right next to each other and put the earth pony crystal on top.
Suddenly a burst of light revealed something amazing.
On the ceiling there was a new light of a specific shape. Two pink wings around a crystal heart.
The same one described in the books from the crystal empire.
Argyle and Shining were taken aback.
“A cuite mark?” Asked Argyle.
“The books!” Said Shining. She ran and got all nine of them and held each one of their covers over the new light.
But only books four, five and six had something to show.
Surprisingly it didn’t show the same map that took them to the three shrines. But instead new writings.
Argyle and Shining put the books on the ground and used a magnifying glass to make the light shine down on the book covers. And started reading.
“Congratulations, you found the secret of the crystals.
They contain the very magic of equestria itself. I am writing this message to reveal the truth so it never gets lost to time again.
To clarify these crystals are not powered by an energy in equestria or the universe. They are not powered by love or the sun or moon.
When equestria was falling into the darkest depths of war. My aunt Twilight and her student’s daughter Luster Dawn came up with the plan to create them.
It was risky, costly. And a sacrifice…
Luster Dawn figured out the only way these crystals could possibly contain equestria’s magic. Were the power of souls.
In the end. Myself, Princess Cadence, and Twilight Sparkle had ascended. And our spirits had literally become the three crystals.
And the three crystals are us.
We are the souls and the guardians of magic. And our souls can only be brought back together again when we sense equestria is reunited. The magic of friendship indeed.
-signed Princess Flurry Heart/Spirit of the Earth pony crystal.
P.S. Message continues on books 7-9 and 1-3 from my mother and aunt. See you two later.”