Cloud Waltz, a young pegasus colt, were at work in his father's smithy. A usual day of work, staining his otherwise light-grey coat with soot and grease from working metal. He himself forged small blades alongside his father. A father teaching his son to be a blacksmith.Just like any other day, it were the simple routine of heating metal, forging it, cooling the product, and selling it for a well-earned sum. Waltz had gone through three blades in the early morning, and he was well into the fourth when his father interrupted him. Took the hammer from him, moved him aside, and continued working on the small blade.
"You'll miss lunch. Go eat, I'll take care of this one."
Being the young colt he were, he gave a simple, "Ok!", and threw his smith's apron off, bolting out the shop. Who knew exactly where he was headed, like giving an answer to a question he'd heard plenty of times before. The usual way there wasn't a road, no. Following the road would take much longer, he'd basically be circling around the city block. Instead, he took his route there. A climbing, leaping run through the alleys and over rooftops of the block he lived in. He had to stop about halfway through, hit something in the dead middle of the air, and plummeted several stories. Luckily enough, a collection of old discarded blankets and clothes were awaiting them below. Time and rain had packed them hard, but they were still soft enough to break the fall.
Waltz rolled off the pile, hitting the brick wall of the building that ran the length of the alley, and whatever he'd hit was still on top of the pile of cloth.
"What in Equestria's name..."
"Hello?", Waltz stood straight up.
"Hm?", the rich colt looked at Waltz. Waltz woudl say rich. He bore gold-hemmed tunic, and a pair of woven silk trousers. His feet, instread of shoes, were wrapped in bandages, and they'd seen quite a bit of wear and tear.
Waltz looked up. "What were you doing on the rooftops?"
"I should ask you the same.", the young colt hopped off the mound of cloth.
"On my way to the market just across the city block. Faster than walking around.", Waltz confessed.
The rich colt sighed, "I literally was up there for no reason. Exploring and all, trying to stay out of the city streets. Don't wanna be seen. In fact, please forget you ever saw me, and don't tell anyone I'm here. I'd rather you not."
"Why? I mean, I can understand that you don't want to be recognized, but chances are, no one here will know who you are."
"Really?", th eyoung colt asked. "What's my name?"
Waltz shrugged, "I jsut met you."
The young colt smiled, "Then let's leave it that way! Call me...James."
"James?"
"James."
"Alright then, James it is. I'm Cloud Waltz! I be a smithy!", he threw his arms up. "It's a well paying business. Hungry? I'll pay!"
"Er...I'm not really one for simple meals."
"Why?", Waltz paused, putting his hands on his hips. "Are you some pompous rich kid?"
"Huh? N-no! I promise!"
"Ok."
"I'm surprised you know what pompous means."
"I don't, dad says it a lot when some rich guy walks in looking for a decorative sword. We've both turned away our fair share of good money because we have pride in our work.", Waltz put a fist to his chest.
"Wow...that's...actually impressive. Let's get out of this alley at least, I don't like dank dark places."
"Come on, to the bakery!", Waltz grabbed James' hand, pulling him out of the alley. And straight into a busy street. Carts, carriages, everything were moving so fast on this road it was phenomenal. Waltz crossed it without so much as scraping anything or anyone.
"Waltz! Here for another loaf?", the baker turned towards his sales counter.
"Two! Fresh, please?"
"Can do. you know it's extra for fresh."
Waltz tossed fourteen bits onto the counter, the baker swept them into his hands, and dumpe them into a strongbox. Which he flipped closed. Turning around, he swept two out of the six loaves of breads bvaking freshly in the cobblestone oven behind him, and slipped them right onto the counter. Waltz wasted no time in grabbing his and tearing a bite out of it.
"Slow down, don't wanna hurt yourself, do ya?", the baker asked.
"S'alright, Barley! I work with hot metal all day. If that doesn't burn my hands, nothing will! Except fire.", he deadpanned. "No amtter how many times I work with it, it's always the fire."
"Well, be careful, then."
Waltz grabbed the second loaf, offering it to James, who grabbed it gingerly, changing which hand actually held the bread until he tore a piece off and threw it into his mouth. Straight out of the oven, he woudl envision that it were the best baked bread he would ever test. He was right. Bested so many other skilled bakers in taste and texture. Fluffy, warm, and it had that perfect taste of roasted wheat.
"Heheheh! Can't say I've ever seen anyone react to my bread liek that! Which part of the royal family are you from, anyway? I'd expect that they'd have the best chefs available."
"Uh...", James paused. "I'm uhm...I..."
"Royal family?", Waltz asked.
James sighed. "I am of the royal family, but you said no one would know!", he turned to Waltz.
Who in turned shrugged. "I didn't know."
"Hiding? running away? exploring?", Barley Bread asked.
"Thank you for the bread, don't tell anyoen you saw me."
"I have no intentions to. But uh...next time, bring a change of clothes. The tunic embroidered in gold is a dead giveaway. Especially the royal family crest."
James looked at the upper corner of his tunic and sighed. Dead giveaway.
"I can help you get a change of clothes!", Waltz piped. "You look about my size!"
"Yeah. Truly do.", Barley agreed. "If my eyes fail me, then bummer, but you two look exactly the same height and size."
"So, whaddaya say?"
James looked at his high-society outfit and nodded. "Please?"
"We can take the quick way again."
And just like that, they left. Climbed the side of one building, and began walking across the rooftops to Waltz's home. Halfway through, they had finished their breads completely.
"So, why hide?", waltz asked.
"I'd rather not say."
"Ok."
"That's it?"
"What?"
"you're not gonna try to press for information."
"Uhm. No. Not really. you don't want anyone to know who you are. I'd probably be the same if I wanted to get away from...whatever it is you're trying to get away from. I'm sure I would. I don't know, actually, what is royal life like?"
"That's why I didn't want anyone to know who I am. I'm tired of it. I don't want to be pampered anymore, I don't want to study anymore, I don't want money, either. I just want to relax and have fun."
"We can have fun together."
"Actually, that's exactly what I want. No one rich or powerful. Just a common colt in a common part of the city."
"We can get you a new set of clothes, and then we can go to the fountain! You'll love it."
And liek that, they became good friends. Long time friends. Each day he had a chance, James would disappear out fo the castle and find his way to the commoner part of the city. He didn't even need to find waltz, waltz woudl find him! A bit of money went a long way to get himself a few sets of commoner clothes, and he found the perfect stash spot. Days turned into weeks, and into months. Years began passing, and everything finally began to slow down. They day-to-day playdates were getting old and less common. Three years had passed and they both found themselves changing. Waltz, growing like the stout pegasus he were, gained a wonderful set of massive wings envied by quite a few pegasi, adults as well. He kept them well. James had grown as well, but not by much. While Waltz was stout and built well, James stayed lithe and thin. He wasn't weak, though. He continuously proved that to Waltz out of pride for hsi ability to do so much withotu such huge muscles.
The first month where James was no where to eb seen, came to pass. An entire month that waltz was without his best friend. He has pelnty of friebnds, min you. Who doesn't? But he didn't forget. The day James did reappear was with a few guards at his side. He didn't bother arriving in secrecy. As he approached the smithy, Waltz's father could only gasp and miss a strike of his hammer, knocking the blade right off the anvil.
Waltz appeared with a few lengths of metal right after, and paused right outside the doorway. James dismissed his guards to the edge of the premises with a wave of his hand. "Did something happen?", Waltz asked.
"Can I talk to you alone?", James asked. The amount of silence he put into his words was unnerving. Waltz barred himself, though. If it were grave news, he'd be prepared.
"Yes. Father?", Waltz presented the lengths of metal. He actually slotted each one into the forge. Waltz and James both entered the smithy-home.
"Business, Waltz."
"What business?", Waltz asked.
"I'm not buying anything, that's for sure. But I will soon. I'll bring a hefty sum of gold, and you forge me the best blade you cna out of the best materials you can get your hands on. With your knowledge, that should be a blade worth forty thousand bits."
Waltz tore his gaze away, shocked at the amount offered. Before he coudl say anything, James continued.
"That's not why I'm here, though. Mother and Father haven't paid much attention to my absences over the years, and now they are restricting me to my own home for...reasons I won't explain to you."
"Why does that matter?"
"Ah-", James halted. He couldn't beat aroudn that one.
"You're a young stallion. You can literally only impress your mother and father and even then, they can't be mad at you if you're enjoying yourself."
"Well...That's why you and I are on two totally different pages, Waltz. I'm not a stallion. Never was.", he...she grabbed the binds holding her hair in one solid piece, and her locks flowed freely. She shook her head, ruffled her mane, then swept it back. Now Waltz saw it. "Speechless?", she asked.
Waltz sighed. "No. It makes sense now. All of it. We were good friends for the past few years, you could have at least told me sooner."
"I was. But I wanted to do it...romantically."
"That-that...that...was...I didn't expect that at all."
"If I popped the truth on you on a late night while the moon was full and high...What would be your reaction?", she asked.
Waltz looked away for a second, then back. "First, what's your real name?"
"Rose."
"Well, I would have definitely asked you that exact question. I would fall in love, just as I have now. And be as completely overwhelmed as I also am at this moment.", Waltz took a breath. "This changes a lot of things."
Rose grabbed his cheeks, holding his gaze steady to hers, "Focus, Waltz.", she smiled gingerly.
"It's a lot to take in..."
"I know. But...it doesn't stop there."
"I don't know if I can take anymore."
"Good news out. Bad news in."
Waltz spoke not a word.
"Mother and father have decided to keep their princess in check. They found out where I've been going every day, and that my guards are part of it. They're still my guards, but we have rules to follow now. I'm lucky I was even able to come here."
The door flew open and eight soldiers filed into the room. Waltz and Rose gave them heed, but nothing else. they didn't do much else than to make way for a well-decorated stallion easily two head heights taller than Waltz. Large, bulky armor made of bright shining metal and gold trim. It bore the royal insignia on the front. This stallion were serious with his gaze, but didn't have the sneer Waltz had expected.
"Father couldn't trust me?", she asked.
"No.", he answered.
"Meet the young 'smith I requested to forge my personal blade."
"He will not. He is but a young apprentice, and we have master blacksmiths at our disposal. I don't believe you came here for a sword at all."
"I'm the princess. You don't make decisions for me."
Waltz looked away, taking a breath. "That's...a lot to take in.", he said absentmindedly.
"I take it you're the reason why she was absent for so long.", the large knight approached Waltz. Waltz looked up at him. "Hmph. Not too rough around the edges. Actually. You're very impressive. I'm drafting you. Now."
"Why?", Rose asked, crossing her arms. "If he is drafted, I don't get my desired weapon. Long thin blade. Bastard sword, by the way. Light enough, if possible, to use with one hand like a longsword. Get decorative if you can."
"Your weapon will come from much greater skilled ahnds than this...youngling's own."
Waltz huffed, then hmphed. "I'm a blacksmith, not a warrior. My skill lies in crafting arms and armor. It'd be a waste of talent to give me a sword and shield."
Which actually did catch the knight's attention. "You...have a point there. But my decision is my decision. To the ranks."
"I say no. And you cannot disobey my word."
"By clause of military contracting made by the king, if I draft him, he is in my ranks. If you say...no...after the declaration, it is rendered void. He already belongs to the military."
"I don't care.", Rose approached the knight. She had to look fairly far up to meet his gaze. "Tell me no again, and I will definitely be a spoiled bitch and leave to you the shame and dishonor of having your rank taken from you, your legacy removed from our military, and you definitely cannot do anything about it. I own one third of the military. I even hold the rank that you answer to, just above your captain."
The knight did not respond. He could not. He knew not to. He did not want to test the princess. So he fit the playing field for a low blow. "Why do you defend this stallion so much?"
"I want my sword. I want a sword made from his skill and labor. I will not explain why, it's rather complicated."
"How did you come by this smithy?"
"Waltzing these streets three months ago. Noticed his father and his work, decided to take a gander, found he had a son apprentice. I watched as he expertly flattened out and refined metal into a mirror's edge. Your father could not even manage that with a knife."
The knight kneeled so to bring himself eye-level with the princess. "Then once he is finished, he will become part of my ranks. You ahve no reason to defend him beyond that."
"Hmm.", she looked at Waltz. Acted as if sizing him up. "Who is our master smith?", she asked.
"Iron Boullion."
"Do the kingdom a favor and put him under Iron's apprenticeship alongside Kite Shield and Claymore. Have either finally ascended yet?"
"Aye. Kite now has his own forge."
"Alright. Send him to Kite first, let him get the lay of the land, then send him straight to Iron. He could be another fine blacksmith.", she smiled. Then stopped smiling as ehr features turned serious. "I don't care what you do with him beyond that. But I will not permit you one thing. You cannot, with any reason, send him to fight until after he ascends. At that point teach him yourself. He will be your Squire."
The knight looked at Waltz, then stood up. "Alright then. Are you done here?"
"Come to escort me home?"
"Indeed."
"Cloud Waltz, I request one last feature of this blade. I want to see my reflection in it's flat. It doesn't need jewels."
"I'll remember that.", he nodded.
"Onwards then, soldiers.", the knight turned to take his elave. "Steel Fist and Castle, escort Cloud Waltz here to the castle smithies. You heard the princess, you know where to bring him."
The day after, or rather the night of that day, Waltz got to work on that sword. He spent hours beating the metal and reheating it, ended up with one red metal blade and a golden metal hilt and handle. Mind you, it wasn't gold. Gold is horrible to use for making weapons. This was golden titanium and Red Steel. for the scabbard, he turned a single piece of leather into a work of art in less than an hour, fitting the blade perfectly and slinging over his shoulder even better.
As he left the forge, he took flight, headed to the castle.
the castle was as beautiful up close as it was from the distance. The architecture was perfected, no flaws, not a single stone sticking out, and it had such ine lines between each block of masonry, it fit perfectly. The guards at the front halted Waltz. He told them he were delivering a sword to the princess. Presented the blade for inspection, allowed hismelf to be searched, then continued on. Grandeur halls were everywhere, high ceilings stretching far above every door, stone masonry like a god's palace should have. This palce was beautiful. and must have equally costed multiple fortunes.
The throne room was a straight shot from the front door, albeit behind eight large metal doors. Guards let him pass, but as he approached the throne room, guards halted him again.
"State your business.", one commanded.
"Cloud Waltz. I am here to present a valued, skillfully made sword to his majesty, the King."
After a few seconds, the guards parted. "You may pass."
Waltz did. Walking up the steps to approach the king on his throne. an old stallion draped in velvet red robes embroidered in gold lace. Atop his head rested the crown of the kingdom. And at his side, his queen. "You're majesty.", he bowed.
"What brings you here, young stallion?"
"I am Cloud Waltz. I am a smithy. Yesterday, Young Rose approached my father's shop and asked of me for a weapon. A weapon made of my best materials, and forged from my greatest skills. This sword is the single most valuable and well-made blade I have forged thus far. I request to present it to the princess myself."
"No."
Waltz continued smiling. Tis fine. Tis fine.
"I will deliver it to her for you."
Waltz stopped smiling. "Apologies your majesty, but I will not allow that."
"Hmm? Why?" He was none too happy to hear that.
"This is the single most greatest piece of metal I have forged by hammer and anvil. I would not accept any less than to deliver it myself."
After a brief pause,t he king sighed, and waved over one of the guards. "You may. Kite. See to it that he finds her chambers. Both of you return here afterwards."
"Yes your majesty.", the guard bowed.
"Yes yoru majesty.", Waltz bowed.
Both left, taking a normal pace.
"It's going to be quite a walk from here, young Waltz."
"I have time."
"And I am restless and grow bored easily. Weren't you that stallion that were talking to Young Rose yesterday?"
"Indeed. You were there. I admitted to it."
"Is that all you spoke of was a sword?", he asked.
Waltz glanced back. Far from any other guards. Kite turned down another hall. Empty of guards.
"I don't need you to answer. I know now."
"She did request this sword. It was the first thing she mentioned. One weapon made from the best materials I had, and made from the greatest skill I can muster. Made the scabbard myself."
"Take pride in your smithing?"
"Sometimes. The droll repetition of making blade after blade does not deserve my pride. I do make something worth reckoning every once and a while. This blade...being the greatest I ahve achieved."
"And what of the second conversation, after the sword?"
They began up a set of stone steps that spiraled perfectly upwards.
"A story I'm not sure I should tell. You know we spoke of something else, I'd rather leave it at that."
"It's my job to be concerned for the princess. Plus. I'm Kite Shield her longest employed personal guard. the king is just none too happy about the fact that we...decieved him so that his daughter may run freely as she pleased for a good few years."
"Has she ever told you anything?", Waltz asked.
Indeed, there were times where Rose would get hurt as they had their fun, or that one time rose actually got in a fight. Rose and Waltz fought together though. they won, but not without a few cuts and bruises.
"Were you the reason she got in a fight?"
Waltz didn't answer.
"I promise to never tell the king. Her secret is safe with me, your secret is safe with me."
"We fought..."
"Hmhmmmm. I knew it was you."
"We fought together against a group of older colts. We won. But it started when they hit rose first."
"My. Protective of your friends. Good trait."
"What about you? Secret for a secret? What did you do while she ran off to play?"
Kite stopped, breathing a bit heavily as he took a seat on the steps. Waltz joined him. This staircase must go realy far up. "We spent our time guarding something else, really. We didn't know what else to do. We did...guard a pub or two. Doesn't hurt to enjoy talking to a pretty mare every now and then."
"How much further?", Waltz asked.
"Oh, we're halfway up. She just has to live in a tower. King won't let her have a room anywhere else. She has to climb these steps daily."
"That must be horrible."
"Oh, we never make it up or down without resting a moment. Lets go.", Kite stood up, continuing back up the steps. Waltz followed.
They rose to the top most step, finally stepping onto flat ground.
"And what about her clothes? She never returned wearing any dirt, yet she looked as if she had been rolling in mud. Many times."
Waltz chuckled. "We did have mud fights, but she bought her own clothes. Didn't want to be recognized. Barley Bread helped us with that one."
"Bread? How?"
"He married a seamstress."
"Oh, I thought you were talking about food."
"It happens a lot."
"Her majesty's room.", he stopped in front of a set of heavy solid wood double doors. They arched upwards.
Waltz knocked loudly, and it even echoed throughout the halls for a moment before the door shifted open loudly.
"Waltz!", Rose exclaimed, hugging him. She had the weapon in her hands as she parted. "Oh! Nice craftsmanship.", she drew the blade. "Perfect. The blade is just thin enough."
"I actually didn't have much of this material to work with."
"Well, it's exactly what I was expecting! Kite.", she greeted the stallion. He nodded in turn.
"I do need to say before you two continue, the king is expecting us back in the thrown room shortly. You may continue.", he walked off. Down the stairs, actually.
Rose immediately lunged at Waltz, grabbing a hold of him tightly and locking lips with him. For a good few long moments, that's all they did. Enjoy the sweet embrace of one another until she broke the kiss, take a few breaths and straightening her thin dress. "That's all I wanted."
"A sword and a kiss?"
"Just the kiss. The sword was a memento. I expected to not see you after yesterday. At all. Going there again, father would have more than likely said no."
"Understood. What now Rose? The secret's out, I've...fallen in love with you."
"And I love you too."
"I don't want to just let this go."
"Neither do I. But I have no idea what to do."