Forged of Gold

          Flinging open the door to his quarters, Gold began to scurry about in an attempt to find his things to leave.  The room was small, as to be expected for an apprentice.  Books on magic, alchemy, and forging techniques laid strewn about on the floor, scrap metal and various incomplete, as well as completed projects leaned on the walls of his room.  The only "clean" areas in his room were a bedroll next to a small furnace and a small table that he used for magic and alchemy studies.

      "Need, need, need, don’t need, need," rather methodically, he began to pull materials, books, and tools that he'd need from the whirlwind of items he suspended with telekinesis, and throw them into his saddle bags.  "Alright! I think that’s everything!" And by everything he meant his bedroll, his hammer, and a lot of books.  He skimmed the items again, and with a satisfied nod, he closed his saddlebags and put them on as the items suspended by his magic crashed to the floor.

     "GOLD!" The chief roared. "WHAT THE HAY ARE YOU DOING UP THERE"

      Gold let out a snicker, "Sorry chief! I knocked something over!"

      "THAT'D HAD BETTER BE THE CASE!" The chief's voice made the entire building rumble.

     Shrugging, Gold exited his room with a cheerful demeanor, and slammed the door shut.  "You seem happy," A smooth voice chimed from behind Gold.  He turned to face his addressor, "A little too happy at that, what happened that put you in such a good mood Gold?"  An earth pony about Gold’s height was standing a little down the hall from him; the prized smith of the Silver Guild, Black Onyx.

     "Oh, hey Black, the chief gave me an important project to do!" This was a definite reason for Gold to be hyped, the chief rarely if ever, personally gave him a project to do.

     Black chuckled, "You're serious? Chief Grandforge actually gave you a project personally?  That's ridiculous! Why would he give YOU, Mr. Blow-the-forge-sky-high, a personal request!? What is it even for!?"  Gold cringed at the insult that was made at him, sure he would be scrutinized day in and day out for his magical failures, but he never fully got used to the insults.

     Audibly growling, Gold snapped at Black, "He's sending me to Ponyville!  He wants me to forge an item for the contest between our guild and the Bronze Guild!"  He stood proudly; making evident the pride he had in the task he was given.  Black had other ideas, however, and began to laugh hysterically.

     "Ponyville!?  The old coot is sending you to Ponyville!?  What makes you think that THAT'S important?!  That place is a peasant town!" Apparently, the fact that Gold was being sent to Ponyville was almost a demotion to the ponies of the Silver Guild Smithy.  "Why could you possibly be proud for being sent to Ponyville!?"

     Gold took a step towards Black, "Shut up! You only think that way because all you think about is the money!" Black glared viciously at Gold.

     "Oh really now!? How about I teach you what money can do in this world!" Gold shied away from him as he said that.  He knew that Blacks' parents had a lot of bits and were high up in the Canterlot society. All it would take to get Gold kicked out from the forge would be a word from Blacks mouth.

     "Sorry Black... I apologize for my behavior..." Gold said quietly, "It won't happen again..."

     "Darn right it won't!  I'm happy you're getting sent to that peasant town!  Just means there's more room for me to shine here at the guild!" Black gloated.  "Now get the hay outta my sight, you make me sick."  Heaving a sigh, Gold turned and headed downstairs into the main forge.  Chief Grandforge approached Gold as he reached the bottom of the staircase.

     "Are you ready my apprentice?" Grandforge began.

     Gold shook off Black's insults and nodded happily, "Yes sir! I'm ready!"

     Procuring a train ticket from his saddle bag, the chief handed it over to Gold.  "Take this and go to the train station for departure.  You remember what your job is correct?" Taking the ticket, Gold trotted over to the exit and turned to face Grandforge.

     "Go to Ponyville, Find the Elements, Forge the item before Winter Wrap-up," He saluted, "I remember my duty Chief!"

     The Chief saluted back at Gold, "I'm counting on you my young apprentice... do me proud!" With that, Gold finished his salute and trotted outside.  "Alright Ponyville, here I come!”

__________

     Gold galloped into the train station, "Made it!"  He glanced at a nearby clock, "And just in time too!"  Gold wasn’t exactly known for being the best keeper of time, sleeping in too late, finishing a project a couple days AFTER it was supposed to be finished and even forgetting store hours were amongst his "timely" errors.  Brimming with confidence nonetheless, he approached the train just as the conductor began the boarding call.

     "ALL ABOARD!! ONE WAY TRIP TO PONYVILLE!!" The conductor roared. With a final glance of Canterlot, Gold trotted onto the train and began the painstaking process of finding his seat.  He fumbled through two of the train cars before finally finding his seat. "Aha. There it is" He mumbled as he approached his seat, It was a window seat, he loved window seats.  There was something about sitting in front of a window and watching the scenery whip by before his eyes that Gold always found fascinating...

CLANK

HISSSSSSS

     With a jerk and a slow rumble, the train to Ponyville lurched into motion.  Gold lazily looked out the window as the train left the station.  With a sigh, he looked down at his forehooves. They were bandaged from long nights at the anvil; his coat and mane were darker than usual due to the ash and coals from the forge.  He cast his gaze towards the window once again in an attempt to see his reflection.  He grinned as a dirty, worn, sapphire-eyed unicorn stared back at him.  He was always told by the Chief(When he was in a good mood that is) that Gold had his mother’s eyes.  The tragic thing about it, was that Gold's parents died when he was just a young foal.  The last request from his parents was for Chief Grandforge to take Gold in and teach him the arts of smiting.  But despite him not being able to know his parents, his optimism was never clouded.  Gold always looked on the brighter side of life.  Even when he would blow things up with his magic, or fail to complete an order, he'd always find a joke to crack or a way to elevate everypony's mood.

     "I wonder what Ponyville is like..." He mumbled to himself as the rhythmic rocking of the train lulled him to sleep.  In a matter of moments, the young stallion was soon fast asleep...

__________

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCHHHH

THUD

     "AGH!!!" Gold cried out as the train skidded to a stop by the landing platform, the inertia from the train suddenly stopping sent him face-first into the seat in front of him, "What the hay..." He murmured as he steadied himself.

     "WE HAVE ARRIVED IN PONYVILLE!" The conductor hollered.  Gold quickly hopped to his hooves and scrambled off the train and onto the landing platform.  "Made it!" He beamed confidently, but alas, his beaming grin faded as the train left the platform and he was left standing alone.  "Uhm..." He looked around at his immediate surroundings.  "Where am I supposed to go again...?"