//------------------------------// // Chapter 30 // Story: I Love the Star in You // by Twilyx360 //------------------------------// After six months had past Argyle had an interesting idea to give Shining Star for winter wishday. He got a log out from the woods and carved it down into the shape of a pony with a horn and wings, sanding it down. Next he got some paint and colored the figure’s body purple. And the mane a very dark blueish-purple with some streaks of darker-purple and bright pink. Finally he wrapped it in a white package with rainbow colored ribbons. Then, winter wishday finally arrived. Argyle opened his present a large metal sheet of the mane six ponies together. And Shining opened hers. A wooden figure of Twilight Sparkle. === One more month passed and another year had come and gone for the secret couple. Their research, officially completed. And as the new year began. So did a new project. Given what they knew about the crystals now. They figured they could do something else for them. A device that could contain them and protect them until equestria was reunited. Shining and Argyle were fully aware of what they were. And what would happen if they fell into the wrong hooves. But they would never restore magic to equestria if the spark of friendship did not happen when equestria needed it the most. They dubbed the device “the harmonic apparatus” the device could fit all three crystals together in the structure they were meant to be. And nopony could ever remove them from it unless they knew the right pattern of buttons and symbols to press. Otherwise the device would deadlock the crystals in place for a long time. They would be safe and sound. And if equestria reunited, it would be in the device they would stay. Drawing the device from scratch and building it up was an intimidating task. The couple went through many blueprints and design choices in the end they were able to successfully draw up the mechanical masterpiece that would reside atop the lighthouse. “Woah.” Said Shining looking over the blueprint they created. “So where do we get the parts for this?” “Canterlogic.” Said Argyle. “They’re also a shop for engineers.” “Alrighty.” Said Shining. “Oh hey I wanted to show you something!” Shining ran to her room and brought out a wooden figure that looked like an earth pony wearing a stetson hat. Argyle’s face lit up. “That looks amazing! Is that Applejack?” Asked Argyle. And Shining nodded yes. “We’re going to be crafting all the six ponies.” And she hugged him. “I guess I did encourage this. So how do you want to do this?” Asked Argyle. “Well you gave Twilight to me. I’m crafting Applejack. How about you craft Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash?” Asked Shining. “Sure. And you craft Fluttershy and Rarity? I guess that’s fair. I mean one of them was an Alicorn. I’ll give you a warning though. The wings are going to be hard to carve,” Said Argyle. “How about we work on Fluttershy and Rainbow’s wings together. And specifically the wings sound good?” Asked Shining. “Sure sounds great.” Argyle smiled. “Great! Now let’s put that project aside for now, and let’s get those parts first.” Shining said, hopping over to the door. Putting on her hat as she opened it up. “For the apparatus? You mean right now?” Asked Argyle. “Sure. I’m so excited to build it!” Said Shining pulling him out. And shutting the door. “Uhhh. Ok then.” Said Argyle awkwardly, smiling. === “Are you sure you can really get the parts without canterlogic looking at the blueprints?” Asked Shining. “Positive. It’s like a store but for machine parts. Why are you so excited for this?”Asked Argyle. “Well it’s actually because I was curious if they’d allow it or not. So I just wanted to get the hard part over with.” Said Shining. “Well not really. They won’t ask to look at your blueprints, unless you specifically ask for them to build your project.” Said Argyle. “And we’re just building it ourselves right?” Asked Shining. “Yes,” said Argyle. “Ok good. I have a copy of the blueprints under my hat.” Shining showed a blue tab under her hat. “Just pull it if you need it.” “Well done love. That way we could possibly get all the parts we need in one single trip.” Said Argyle. “What about budget?” Asked Shining. “We have the bits. It takes a lot to run that lighthouse. I’m sure I can get it to them the next day.” Said Argyle. “Here we are.” Said Shining. They walked inside the building and towards the front desk. “What are you here for?” Asked the receptionist. “Parts for our latest project.” Asked Argyle. “Ok, the shopping area is over there.” His hoof pointing to a hallway nearby. When they walked in it revealed a large space full of different machine parts. An engineer’s dream. “Welp let’s do this.” Said Argyle. === It took a while but they did indeed get everything. And if not it was a good start. Argyle would pay for everything the very next day. And work began. Argyle and Shining were very highly motivated to keep going aside from having each other they had a feeling they were doing something great for equestria. Like they mattered a lot to the world. Even if nopony knew it. Four weeks passed. So far so good. But then the hardest part had arrived. The hardest part was the locking mechanism. Several gears needed to be placed in certain positions below the lock pistons. Then they needed to react when certain buttons were pressed. Each engraving on the top had a set of pins that would connect to the pistons when pressed down. It was a challenge. Worst case scenario they would accidentally activate the lock mechanism early. The stress really got to them and so they temporarily stopped. And it didn’t help that the carving job they were working on didn’t get anywhere. “Ugh… I want to work on it again. But everytime I try to do it. My anxiety peaks!” Shouted Shining recoiling into the fetal position. “You too huh? Does it feel like something just overtakes you? And you just freak out.” Asked Argyle. “Yes! But why!?” Asked Shining. “I don’t know Shining. I want to work on it as much as you do.” Argyle said. “But it’s not that hard right. We worked on this thing for weeks and we had no problem with it!” Said Shining looking at the device. “I know, I know we worked on this thing and we loved it now we can’t stand it! It doesn’t make sense! It just took off so well then the locking mechanism came in and we had to put this here, exchange that, place this and…” Argyle paused. “What?” Asked Shining. “I think I know now. Shining very rarely does creative burnout have an answer. But I think we got one for this. It’s the locking mechanism. It’s the hardest part when everything before came so easy to us. And now we have this part that’s harder than most. That’s what’s keeping us from doing it now. It’s so hard and it makes us so stressed.” He finished. “I think you make a point. So how do you propose we keep going? Do we just keep going regardless until it’s done? Then we can get back on easy street?” She asked. “No, we shouldn't force ourselves. That’ll just make it worse.” Argyle said, looking over to the apparatus. They both sighed and looked at each other. “Well leaving it like that doesn’t make me feel any better. I can’t stand leaving work unfinished.” Said Shining. “I agree. You and I are both completionists. It’s just going to be a distraction if we don’t. And yes, makes our anxiety peak.” Finished Argyle. “What a vicious cycle.” Shining facehoofed. “Yes…” said Argyle. Both laid down on the sofa. Heads in hooves.