Hammer & Anvil

Current time: 11:01 AM, Thursday

“Okay, that’ll be twelve bits, Miss…” Jackboot said to the gray mare in front of him. He had just finished repairing her mailbox. “…what was your name again?”

The cockeyed pegasus didn’t answer. Instead, she planted bits onto the counter.

As Jackboot thanked the mare and gathered the bits, the mare suddenly produced a muffin in her hooves.

“Muffin?” She asked.

Jackboot wasn’t expecting anything else other than bits.

“Oh…” He said. “…thank you.”

He then accepted the muffin and the mare left, giving Jackboot a smile before walking out.

“Nice mare.”

Jackboot took a bite out of the muffin as he dropped the nits into the jar. Since Tuesday, he had gained a total of eighty nine bits. He still had a long way to go in order to gain the glass domes he needs for the Electric Pentagon.

“This is a good muffin.” He said before taking another bite out of the muffin.

As he finished the muffin, he returned to the workroom where under a tarp in the corner of the room were two of the outer modules of the Pentagon. He had finished the second one earlier that day, and had just gotten started on the third when that gray mail mare came in.

“Alright. Back to the work.”

He picked up a piece of metal and was about to bend it to make it into one of the panels for the module, when somepony out front rang the bell.

“Hello?” That somepony said. “Is a Mr. Jackboot here?”

Jackboot sighed and put the metal onto the anvil.

“Coming!”

Jackboot walked through the door and saw a blue earth pony standing at the counter with his back turned.

“Can I help you, sir?”

The stallion turned around. He had a very short gray mane, a scruffy tail of the same color, yellow eyes, and a cutie mark that consisted of a pencil drawing a line.

“You must be Jackboot.” The older stallion said as he extended his hoof in greeting. “My name is Blue Collar. I’m the building owner.”

Jackboot shook Blue Collar’s hoof.

“Nice to meet you.” He said. “What can I help you with?”

“Well, I saw that help wanted sign you have over at town hall.” Blue Collar asked. “So I got somepony for the job.”

Jackboot was surprised. Somepony wants a job?

Blue Collar looked over his shoulder and saw somepony coming.

“Here he comes.” He said. “Ballpin in here!”

Jackboot couldn’t see who Blue Collar was talking to, until that somepony walked through the door.

The pony was a pure white unicorn stallion, with a short blonde mane; a blonde tail cut short, violet eyes, and wore a red handkerchief around his neck.

“This is Ballpin, my grandson.” Blue Collar said. “Ballpin, meet your new work partner.”

Jackboot walked from behind the counter.

“Nice to meet you Ballpin.” He said as he extended his hood in greeting. “I’m Jackboot.”

The white stallion flinched when Jackboot stuck out his hoof. This took Jackboot by surprise. Was this stallion that timid?

The stallion then finally shook Jackboot’s hoof.

“I-it’s n-nice to m-meet you.” He said with a quiet stammer.

Jackboot then noticed his cutie mark. A ball pin hammer. A good sign, Jackboot thought.

“Since you had taken this job, I presume your good with metal?” He asked.

Ballpin answered with smile and a nod.

“That’s good, very good.”

Jackboot then thought of an idea.

“Follow me.” He said. “Let’s see what you can do.”

Ballpin and Blue Collar followed Jackboot into the workroom. He then took the piece of metal he was working with before and bent piece in half.

“Can you make this straight again?”

Ballpin the nodded.

“Then I’ll let you get to it.”

Jackboot then back away from the anvil.

Ballpin picked up the metal with his magic. He thought about how he was going to do this. An idea came to mind. He took the metal and brought it over to the forge and placed it into the fire. After several minutes, the metal began to glow hot. After allowing the metal glow hot, Ballpin then took the metal to the anvil and picked up a straight pin hammer. He took the hammer and bent the metal straight and pounded the crease until the metal was flat. He then took the metal and quickly put it into the vat of water, instantly cooling the metal.

Jackboot then looked at the repaired piece of metal and saw that it looked the exact same as it did before it he bent it.

“Ballpin…”

Jackboot then approached the newcomer and put his hoof onto this shoulder, causing him to flinch.

“…welcome to the Ponyville Metal Shop.”

Ballpin produced a gentle smile.

“I-I’m…” He took a breath. “…I’m glad to be of s-service.”

He then shook Jackboot’s hand.

Blue Collar chuckled.

“You two will get a long perfectly.” He said. He then looked over at the front counter. “What do you do when you get a customer?”

Jackboot looked over at Blue Collar.

“Well usually I head out and see who it is, obviously.” He answered.

“What if you’re in the middle of repairing something?” Blue Collar asked. “Wait, don’t tell me. You stop what you’re doing. That doesn’t seem very resourceful.”

Jackboot caught onto what Blue Collar was saying.

“You want to work front counter don’t you?”

“Well, it would increase your productivity immensely. Especially since you got a new partner.” Blue Collar explained as he gave his grandson a wink. “After all, an old stallion like me doesn’t have that much else to do.”

Jackboot thought for a moment. He had a partner for the workroom and now somepony to watch the front counter. How could he say no to that?

“Blue Collar, you got a deal.”

The two stallions then shook on it.

Suddenly there was a ring at the front.

“I’ll see who it is.” Blue Collar said.

“Let’s get to work.” Jackboot said. He then turned to Ballpin. “You ready?”

Ballpin nodded.

“L-let’s do it.”

Almost two hours had passed since the three stallions got to work. After fixing and forging several items from cookware to ventilation grates, Jackboot’s Dome jar had increased to one hundred and nine bits. Not only did he get several bits closer to his goal, he also got to know Ballpin a little more. Ballpin had similar upbringing as Jackboot. But, unlike Jackboot, Ballpin was much more timid than he was.

Jackboot and Ballpin were now almost finished with the third outer module.

“Y-you made th-those other two by yourself?” Ballpin asked as Jackboot set the module in the corner along with the other two modules.

“Yes I did.” Jackboot answered as he covered the modules with the tarp. “Took me a while. I got started on Monday. I need to make a total of five of these plus a large core module.”

Blue Collar poked his head into the workroom.

“Jackboot, there’s a lovely young mare here to see you.”

Jackboot turned his head so fast, his neck made a loud pop.

“Ow.” He said, feeling the immense pop. He then realized what Blue Collar said. “A lovely young mare? I’ll be right up.”

Jackboot trotted through the doorway to the front counter, only to screech to a halt upon seeing who was speaking to Blue Collar.

“Jackboot, darling!” She said upon seeing him. “So this is where you hiding.”

Jackboot smiled and gave a quiet chuckle.

“Well you found me.” He said. “Is there something you need fixing?”

“You will not believe this.” Rarity said. “You know that new oven you and Spike installed in my kitchen?”

“Yes, I remember.” Jackboot said. “How is it working, by the way?”

“It’s working like a charm.” Rarity said. “Well, unless it did until the door fell off.”

“You’re joking?”

“I couldn’t believe it either.” Rarity said. “If it’s not too much trouble, could you come over and have a look at it?”

An invite to Rarity’s house? Granted it’s for business reasons, but still.

“Of course, Rarity.” Jackboot finally said. “I’ll grab my tools.”

Jackboot trotted into the workroom, right passed Ballpin. As he put on the saddlebag full of tools, he got Ballpin’s attention.

“Ballpin, I got to go make a house call.” He said. “Can you handle everything while I’m gone?”

“Where are you g-going?” Ballpin asked.

“This mare’s stove door fell off.”

“Oh.” Ballpin said understandingly. “Well h-have fun.”

“I’ll be back later.”

Jackboot then gave Ballpin a quick smile and then trotted out the door.

Rarity opened the door to the boutique with Jackboot in toe.

“I was working on a dress for a client and all of a sudden, THUD!” She explained.

She led Jackboot into the kitchen where the oven door lay on the floor.

“Let’s see what we have.”

Jackboot set his tool bag down and looked at the door.

“Hmm… …doesn’t look completely broken.” He said. “In fact, it doesn’t look broken at all.”

The screws holding the hinge together were not there, but on the floor.

Jackboot then looked at Rarity, who gave him a wink. And action that almost made him melt. But that feeling went away when a question entered his mind. Did she loosen the door on purpose? But he didn’t want to think about it too hard; he had a job to do.

“So it just fell down like that?” Jackboot asked. He was skeptical about how it happened, but he successfully hid it.

“Like I said, it just wen THUD.” Rarity said.

THUD? It’s hard to believe that a mare like Rarity would use that kind of vocabulary.

Jackboot then looked back at the hinges.

“The screws just need to be put back in their proper places.” He said. He then reached for his screw driver. “Could you hold up the door for me?”

Rarity nodded and used her magic to levitate the door.

“A little more up.” Jackboot said. “A little more. Hold it there, perfect.”

Jackboot then proceeded to screw the screws into their proper places.

“How have you been lately?” Rarity asked. “I’ve barely seen you since Monday.”

“I was just busy.”  Jackboot said as he screwed in the last screw. “I just got done making three of the outer modules. Well not by myself anyway.”

“I noticed you gotten some help.” Rarity said as she let go of the door. “I shouldn’t be surprised. After all I did see that help wanted poster down at town hall.”

Jackboot stood up as Rarity closed the oven door.

“Jackboot, I was wondering.” Rarity said. “Have you been doing alright?”

“I have.” Jackboot answered as he turned to her. “Why do you ask?”

“Because the last time I saw you, was when you told to story about how… …well...” Rarity seemed to have trouble saying what she was going to say.

“About when my father passed?” Jackboot said. “And don’t worry, I’m alright. In case you didn’t catch on, that’s why I hesitated when you gave me that gem when we first met.”

“And again, I’m really sorry for your loss.” Rarity said as she put his hoof on Jackboot’s shoulder.

The two exchanged a warm smile.

Suddenly, Rarity’s face lit up.

“Oh, that’s right.” She said. “I’ll be right back darling.”

She then trotted away and up the stairs.

“So beautiful.” Jackboot said.

Suddenly, he put his hoof to his mouth.

“I hope she didn’t hear that.”

Rarity then returned with a purple gem in hoof.

“What’s that for?” Jackboot asked.

“Your tip.” Rarity said.

She then took the gem and put in Jackboot’s vest pocket.

“Thank you Rarity.” He said. “But you didn’t have to do this.”

“But I have to.” Rarity said. “You now run a business, so I need to give you some sort of payment. After all, you can use the gems I gave you for your Electrical whatchamacallit.”

“As much of a good idea that is, but that blue gem you gave me is too small, and this gem right here is the wrong color.” He explained. “But I do appreciate the payment though.”

“Maybe you can sell those gems.” Rarity suggested. “Gems can go for a lot depending on the size and color.”

Jackboot thought for a moment.

“That’s a very good idea.” He said. “But where can I sell these gems?”

“There’s a jewelry store here in Ponyville that can take them.” Rarity said. She then made her for the door. “Follow me Jackboot.”

Suddenly an idea came to his mind.

“Rarity!” He said, unintentionally being loud.

Rarity turned in a hurry.

“What is it sweetness?” She asked with concern.

Jackboot almost forgot to speak as he looked Rarity in her sapphire eyes.

“I was…” He said. “…I was wondering. I haven’t gotten lunch yet; do you want to grab something after we get the gems sold?”

Rarity smiled

“How can I say no to such a sweet offer?”

“There you go ma’am.” Blue Collar said as he handed the headphones to the white mare. “That’ll be ten bits.”

The white unicorn put ten bits on the counter as she put the headphones on her head.

“Have a good day.” Blue Collar said as the mare left the shop.

Blue Collar put the bits into Jackboot’s jar.

“I think that’s…” Blue Collar did the math in his head. “…one hundred and thirty three.”

He suddenly felt his stomach growl.

“Lunch time.”

He then poked his head into the backroom.

“Ballpin, I’m going to grab something to eat.” He said. “You want to come with or do you want to stay and watch the store?”

Ballpin thought for a moment.

“I-I think I’ll just stay here and watch the shop.” Ballpin said. “If that’s okay…”

Blue Collar nodded.

“Sure, alright.” He said. “I’ll bring you back something. Will you be okay here by yourself?”

Ballpin nodded.

“Alright then, I’ll see you in a little bit.”