All things considered, a hammer is a curious tool. It can be used to both create, destroy, and remake. It is the quintessential tool from which all others flow. It can be as humble as a lump of rock used to chip away at another, or as elaborate as a mammoth piston-driven contraption striking with the combined force of thousands of men. A hammer can even be a powerful symbol, in the hands of politicians representing unrelenting force, or in the hands of the humble blacksmith representing his trade. However, at the end of the day, a hammer is nothing more than a heavy lump. The man who wields it determines it's greatness.

Pinkie Pie was happily pronking through Ponyville on a pleasant Sunday when she heard a curious sound.

*tink* *tink* *tink* *shhhhhhhhhhh*

Now what could that be? Though the pink pie mare. Maybe something fun!

Her curiosity getting the better of her she turned and pronked down a side alley which she had never been down. There before her at the end she found the curious Blacksmith hammering away in front of a small smithy that had been set up. She watched in fascination as he deftly worked a bit of raw steel. Over time she smiled widely as the inert metal slowly formed in to the shape of a large cooking spoon. For hours she sat fascinated by skill on display, in fact some would be more fascinated by Pinkie Pie sitting still and not speaking.

After a final quenching and polishing the Blacksmith deigned to take notice of Pinkie Pie, "Step closer Avatar of Mirth have a look at my craft."

With wide eyes Pinkie strode forward and inspected the large spoon, it was almost two feet in length and quite heavy. The metal gleamed with a beautiful Damascus pattern. The Blacksmith smiled as she hefted the spoon with a gleaming smile as she exclaimed, "This would be awesome to use to mix frosting in my big pot! The weight would make stirring chilled cream so much easier!"

With a smile the Blacksmith scratched Pinkie between her ears and said, "Then it is yours Avatar of Mirth, use it well to bring joy to others."

If it were possible, and with Pinkie most things are, her eyes grew even wider, "For really?! You're just giving it to me!?"

The Blacksmith nodded, "I have no need for coin, I craft because it pleases me to do so. If someone can enjoy the fruits of my labor then I feel even more joy."

"You have to let me throw you a party! I still haven't thrown you an official Welcome to Ponyville and Thank You For Saving Twilight Party!", Pinkie exclaimed with unbridled enthusiasm.

With a shake of his head the Blacksmith proclaimed, "I would rather you did not Avatar of Mirth, I have said before I am a private man. I ask nothing more than peace and...well...a place to practice my trade." while gesturing to his humble looking smithy.

With drooping ears and sad eyes Pinkie asked, "Not...not even a little party?"

"No, not even a little one. I know it hurts you and I am very sorry. I value my privacy too much and I dislike being around too many people, or ponies, at once." he said solemnly.

Pinkie opened her mouth to respond when she was cut off by a loud scream, "THEY TOOK MY SISTER! THEY TOOK SWEETIE!"

One Rarity Belle stood in the town square wailing as if all the banshee's of old Ire were streaming from the depths of her soul. "Please someone help!" She cried, "They foalnapped Sweetie Belle!"

Though many gathered none lifted a hoof to help the distressed mare, none save for the unusual Blacksmith and a panicking pronking Pinkie Pie making their way out of a seldom-visited alley and quickly to the screaming mare's side.

Pinkie immediately wrapped Rarity in a hug and looked around in distress, this was not the kind of unhappiness she knew how to deal with. Finally with a pleading look she locked eyes with the Blacksmith and mouthed please help...

With a small sigh the Blacksmith knelt before Rarity and brushed her disheveled mane from her eyes, "Tell me what happened Lady of Generosity." he spoke in a soft but firm voice.

Sniffling and trying to compose herself Rarity shakily answered, "W-we were out in the g-gem fields. We were j-jumped by D-d-diamond D-dogs...they t-took Sweetie...they s-said she would make a g-good s-slave...oh please! Please save my sister!"

Without a word the Blacksmith stood, he reached in to his tool belt and pulled forth a small hammer. He looked to the hammer and then gave a deep sigh as if a heavy burden had been placed upon him. After a moment of deliberation he spoke, "Avatar of Mirth, make haste and find your friends. Comfort the Lady of Generosity. I will return within the hour with her sister."

Without waiting for a reply he strode off in the direction of the gem fields, his hammer in a white-knuckled grip by his side. No one, not even the Blacksmith saw the luminous alicorn standing in the crowd with an expression somewhere between anger and curiosity on her face.

The Gem Fields outside Ponyville were usually a good hour's trot one way. This did not deter the Blacksmith once he left sight of Ponyville. If one had been watching it would have seemed as if for a brief moment the world held it's breath and where once was a tall, muscled, blacksmith, was now just an empty stretch of road.

Many miles away three Diamond Dogs of lazy work ethic and questionable morals stood around a cowering unicorn filly. The unfortunate fill lay, bound, gagged, and crying at the feet of her captors as the malicious mutts discussed her fate.

One dog, a rather hulking brute with the face of a pit bull spoke up, "Eh, she don't look like she be much good for da mines. I say we ram a spit through her and cooks her up real good."

Another dog, slightly smaller with the face of a shepherd replied, "Are you daft Greasebone? You know the trouble we would bring down on us if we ate a pony? I say we ransom her for more gems!"

After listening to his companions the third diamond dog, not as large as the others, but immaculately groomed and dressed with the face of a black lab spoke up, "Greasebone, Reichtail, both of you are daft." he stated quite matter-of-factly.

Both named dogs turned from their argument to look at the smaller dog. After a pause Reichtail spoke, "Well Blackrover, what do you thinks we should do?"

As Blackrover drew in a breath to answer a fourth voice spoke from behind them, "I think you should be good dogs and untie her and send her on her way home."

With a collective yelp all threedogs turned towards the voice while drawing vicious looking knives from their belt. Before them was a creature unlike any they had ever seen. It was almost as large as Greasebone, powerful corded muscles rippled under the skin of it's hairless pinkish arms. It had no hair nor fur save for a pair of bushy eyebrows and a patch of salt-and-pepper beard around it's mouth. It stood before them with an air of contempt, tapping a small hammer in the palm of it's beefy hand.

With a muffled growl Greasebone lifted Sweetie Belle by her scruff earning a pained cry from the distressed filly and further cries as a wicked blade was placed at her throat. "You stay back or I swears I will paint da ground wiff pony guts."

Blackrover spoke up, "Indeed good sir, no need to be a hero here. My comrade will do as he says. If your mission is one of rescue it will be for naught should you make a wrong move."

No further words were spoken for the span of many breaths. Finally with growing impatience Reichtail growled, "Well, are you deaf and dumb, say something."

After yet another pregnant pause the Blacksmith slipped his hammer back in to his tool belt and spoke softly, "I made a promise, long ago, to never again take a life. I have taken so many. Were they to be counted they would number more than your entire race."

The dogs exchanged glances and the hulking Greasebone spoke derisively, "Ifin you wants her. You gots to take her weirdo."

With a raised eyebrow the Blacksmith replied, "So you wish to fight me? Don't you think it is a little hot for that."

The dogs watched curiously as they heard the word "hot" yet the mouth movements did not match. Their curiosity turned to pain and surprise as the steel knives in their hands suddenly glowed red hot forcing them to drop them. Once disarmed the Blacksmith strode forward and spoke, "With a word I could rend the flesh from your bones, with a gesture I could turn your brains to liquid, with a thought I could erase you from time itself..." he trailed off as the dogs backed away.

Bending down he undid Sweetie's bonds and picked her up, cradling the crying filly close, "Be quite and close your eyes Little Crusader, this will all be over in a moment."

With a nod the little filly nuzzled her face to his broad chest and scrunched tight her eyes. Returning his gaze to the dogs he spoke with barely contained rage, "I have made this world my home. The town this gentle soul belongs to is part of my home. An affront to my home is an affront to what is mine."

All three dogs cowered before the flinty stare of the Blacksmith cradling the terrified filly. Summoning a remarkable amount of courage for a diamond dog Blackrover spoke, "Yeah...well what are you going to do, you said you weren't going to kill us."

Without a word the Blacksmith turned and began walking back towards Ponyville cradling his precious cargo. Once out of sight the three dogs relaxed. Looking over to Blackrover, Reichtail said quietly, "I don't think we should take anymore ponies. Too much trouble...I think we gots off easy that time."

As he drew breath to reply the voice of the Blacksmith came from behind them, causing all three to slowly turn in fear, "I said I would not kill you. Gravity however...does not play favorites."

With a gesture all three diamond dogs shot in to the sky as for a brief moment the effect of one of the fundamental forces upon them was reversed.

As promised the Blacksmith returned Sweetie Belle to Rarity within an hour's time. Many tears were shed and many hugs were given by the collected Elements and Crusaders. As an impromptu Pinkie Party began the Blacksmith quietly slipped away only to hear a small voice call out to him once he was away from the festivities.

"Hey wait!" called out Sweetie Belle.

With what could only be called surprise the Blacksmith turned and looked down to the little filly, "You saw me leaving? Curious. What can I do for you Little Crusader?"

Rubbing her hooves together bashfully Sweetie Belle smiled up at the imposing Blacksmith, "I wanted to thank you...you know...for saving me."

With a genuine smile the Blacksmith bent down upon his knee and ruffled the filly's mane, "Think nothing of it Little Crusader."

Sweetie giggled and swatted at his hand and after a moment looked thoughtful, "Hey mister, can I ask you something?"

"Certainly." Came the reply.

"How come you use those flowery sounding names from my sister like 'Lady of Generosity' and 'Avatar of Mirth' wouldn't it be easier to just call them by their names?" she asked with all the innocence of youth.

Arching an eyebrow the Blacksmith asked cautiously, "And tell me little one, what have I been calling you?"

Scrunching her muzzle Sweetie Belle replied, "Um Little Crusader? I kinda like it acctually."

"Facinating..." Intoned the Blacksmith.

He took a moment to look at the mark on her flank, a musical note on a hearld sheild. In that moment many parts of a grand puzzle came together for him. Queitly he asked, "Tell me Little Crusader, do you ever hear music that you cannot find the source of? Do you ever know words without ever having heard them before? Are you good at remembering the names of those you have only met once?"

Sweetie looked perplexed and after a moment nodded in the affirmitive.

The Blacksmith smiled a wide and genuine smile, "You are a very special pony Sweetie Belle."

Something about hearing her name from his lips made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. The world went all wibbly wobbly for a moment and then back to normal. "Wha...what was that?"

"What was what Little Crusader?" the Blackmith asked.

"Oh, nothing. I think today has just been to exciting. I'm gonna go back to the party. Thank you again for saving me mister! Please don't be a stranger!" and with a cheerful wave Sweetie Belle scampered back off to the party.

The Blacksmith stood at the edge of his half-acre staring down the luminous alicorn.

"I am disappointed in you. You were going to let her die."

The alicorn tilted her head to the side, scorn obvious in her features.

"Do not presume to lecture me on fate! Above all others I am intimately familiar with it. You knew when you granted me leave to set foot on your world I would act with my own agency!" He growled, anger leaking in to his normally calm voice.

The alicorn snorted and pawed at the ground.

"I was a protector of my charges. I kept the horrors at bay and when the end came I fought time and time again to save them, and continue even now to do so, before I enact the final mercy! They were and are like my children. I never, never in any iteration, treated their lives as some damned social experiment!" He bellowed.

With a purposeful stride the luminous alicorn crossed in to the Blacksmith's half-acre. Her form rippling and becoming that of a fair, red-haired woman. Calmly she walked to the hulking Blacksmith and wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest.

"Such pain in your heart S-" She said in a soft, musical voice before she was cut off.

"Don't say my name. Even here in this pocket of Creation it is not safe." He quietly said wrapping her in his own embrace.

After a time in silence The Woman spoke, "Forgive me. Like my little ponies I am fallible. I should have nudged events to intervene. Not every crisis should be a lesson in Harmony."

With a heavy sigh The Blacksmith rested his chin on The Woman's head while the two still held each other tight. "She has the Gift of Names. I will be taking her as my apprentice."

The Woman said nothing, letting her silence be her consent. Time slowed and the two beings with the weight of worlds on their shoulders stood in a verdant half-acre taking comfort in one another for eternity and a day.

Author's Note

I apologize this has taken so long to get out. My life has been one crisis after another the last few months.

I am bloodied but unbowed.