Hammer & Anvil

Current Time: 3:31 PM, Saturday

“Ooh, Jackboot look we’re here, we’re here!” Rarity said excitingly. “It’s Canterlot, we’re in Canterlot!”

Jackboot had reached his four hundred bit goal the day before thanks to the dented toaster of a certain mail mare. With Rarity going to Canterlot and the glass domes being made at the city’s glassworks, Jackboot saw an opportunity to tag along. Not only he could avoid the large shipping cost, he could say hello to his mother and Celestia, and also, spend time with Rarity.

The train came to a screeching halt at the station.

“Canterlot!” The conductor shouted. “All out for Canterlot!”

“Come Jackboot let’s go!” Rarity said tugging at Jackboot’s hoof.

Jackboot laughed.

“I’m coming.”

He then grabbed his suitcase and followed the mare off of the train and onto the platform.

“You said that you were staying at the Castle, right?”

“Oh of course.” Rarity said. “In the royal suite.”

“Really?” Jackboot asked. “Well, I hope you like the new chandelier, because I was the one that installed it a couple days before I arrived to Ponyville.”

“Where are you staying at, darling?”

Jackboot thought for a moment.

“Well I had Spike send Celestia a letter for me saying that I was coming to visit.” He said. “And she wrote back saying that she’d have a room set up for me.”

“In other words we’ll be staying at the same place.” Rarity said. “Now come on, let’s get settled in and then I’ll introduce you to Sassy Saddles. I bet you two will get along perfectly fine.”

“Thank you very much again for the help, Derpy.” Ballpin said. “I would’ve used my duplication spell, but I thought I’d ask for help this time.”

He and the gray mail mare had just gotten finished collecting ten tubes worth of twittermites for the Electric Pentagon and had just dropped off these tubes of twittermites at the shop and were now walking through town.

“It’s no problem.” Derpy said. “I’m happy to help.”

As the two walked through town, they heard somepony yelling.

“Mommy!”

The two turned and saw a pail violet unicorn with a grayish gold mane running over.

“Hi Dinky!”

Derpy then embraced the young filly.

“Is this your daughter?” Ballpin asked.

“She is.” Derpy then let go her daughter. “Ballpin, this is my daughter Dinky. Dinky, this is Ballpin. He works at the metal shop.”

“Hi.” Dinky said as she approached the blacksmith. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“And you as well, one little.” Ballpin said. “I mean… …little one.”

“What have you been up to Mommy?” Dinky asked.

“I was helping Bally collect twittermites.” Derpy explained to her daughter. “How about you?”

“I had a great time hanging out with Featherweight and Pip.” Dinky said happily. “And then things got better when the CMC showed up.”

Derpy laughed.

“I bet it did.” She said. “Listen, I’m going to go do some shopping for ingredients for dinner. Do you want to come?”

“Sure Mommy, I’ll come with you.”

Derpy then turned to Ballpin.

“Do you want to join us for dinner?” She asked.

An invite to dinner. That doesn’t happen often, if ever.

“I d-don’t see why not.”

“Goody!” Dinky cheered as she bounced up and down.

“We’ll see you then.” Derpy said with a smile.

Blue Collar flipped through his newspaper as he sat on the porch of his cottage.

“Same old news.”

He then looked up and saw his grandson trotting towards the cottage and saw that he had a big smile on his face.

“Scratch that, new news.”

Ballpin screeched to a halt as he arrived at his grandpa’s porch.

“G-grandpa g-guess what!” He said joyfully. “I invited g-got dinner to…”

Ballpin’s speech turned into a slur.

“Easy there boy, slow down.” His grandpa said. “Take a breath.”

Ballpin breathed in and then let the breath out.

“Okay, now what did you want to tell me?” Blue Collar asked.

Ballpin took another breath.

“Remember that mail mare I met?” He asked. “Well she invited me to dinner. So I thought I’d let you know first.”

Blue Collar’s face produced a face of joy and surprise.

“Really?” He asked. “Good for you Ballpin.”

“I’m just going to get washed up now.” Ballpin said as he made his way inside.

Jackboot and Rarity entered the castle grounds. Each carrying their luggage. Jackboot had his black suitcase and Rarity had an assortment of luggage.

“Hasn’t changed a bit.” Jackboot said. “Granted, I’ve only been away for a week.”

Rarity chuckled.

Jackboot almost melted after hearing her laugh.

The two entered the throne room, where Princess Celestia sat at her thrown, looking through scrolls and papers.

Celestia glanced away from the paper she was looking at and toward the throne room entrance. She then did a double take, recognizing the ponies who entered the room.

“Well, look whose here.”

With the way she said that aloud, she seemed to be rather relieved to stop looking through paperwork for a moment.

She set the papers down and stepped down from her throne.

Jackboot looked over at the stack of papers at the throne.

“I hope this isn’t a bad time.” He said.

“Not at all Jackboot.” Celestia said as she approached the two. “It’s always a good time.”

Jackboot, on reflex, took off his cap and bowed before Celestia.

Celestia and Rarity looked at one another and then at Jackboot.

“It’s alright Jackboot, you don’t have to do that.” The Princess said.

Jackboot, almost immediately, got up and put his cap back on.

“Sorry about that. Old habit.” He said. “And I must say dear princess, you look even more beautiful since the last time I saw you.”

Celestia and Rarity both laughed.

“Thank you Jackboot.” The Princess said. “And you look just has handsome since the last time I saw you.”

Jackboot blushed.

“I thank you again for letting me stay in the castle Princess.” Rarity said. “I really appreciate it.”

“Your very welcome, Rarity.” Celestia said. “Oh, and by the way, Jackboot.”

“What is it, Princess?”

“I’m sorry to tell you but the other living quarters have to go through some renovations.” Celestia explained. “You won’t believe this, but every room experienced a terrible gas leak.”

“You’re joking. Every one of them?” Jackboot asked. “How is that possible?”

“I don’t know.” Celestia said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we have the room for you.”

“Oh, it’s alright.” Jackboot said. “I’ll find myself an inn or hotel somewhere.”

Before Jackboot or Celestia can say something else, Rarity chimed in.

“He can stay in the Royal Suite with me.” She said. “Well, if that’s alright.”

“Why of course.” Celestia said. “That’s perfectly alright. Do you want me to call somepony to help you with your bags?”

“I’ll grab them.” Jackboot said, picking up every piece of luggage with his magic. “I’ll just bring these to the suite.”

As he walked towards the throne room door, he turned towards Celestia.

“And Princess.” He said. “It’s good to see you again.”

Celestia smiled.

“And you as well Jackboot.”

Jackboot then smiled at the Princess and trotted out of the room.

“Isn’t he just the sweetest thing?” Rarity asked the Princess.

Celestia chuckled.

“You’re telling me.”

“Okay, where do I find Derpy’s house?”

Ballpin looked at the different houses, trying to find Derpy’s house. Who of which had invited him to dinner with her daughter.

As he trotted along the road, he spotted an earth pony up ahead.

“Maybe she might know.”

He then approached the mare, and got a better look of her, despite having her back turned. She had a goldish gray coat and a dark gray mane and tail. Her cutie mark was a violet treble chef.

“Excuse, miss.”

The earth pony turned, and upon seeing her face, Ballpin’s jaw almost hit the ground.

Her mane was stylized and had a pair of grayish mulberry eyes. She also wore a white collar with a violet bow tie.

“Yes, can I help you?”

She spoke in a rather upper-class sounding accent, rather similar that other pony Jackboot has a crush on.

The mare noticed that Ballpin had gone quiet.

“Are you alright?”

Ballpin then snapped out of it.

“Oh I’m sorry, my head was elsewhere.” He said. “Anyway, I was wondering. Do you know where a Miss Derpy Hooves lives?”

The mare recognized the name.

“Of course.” She said. “She lives down that way and then you make a left. You’ll see a mailbox with a picture of a muffin on it.”

“Thank you very much, Miss.” Ballpin said. “Have a good evening.”

“And you as well.” The mare said with a smile that made Ballpin’s heart melt.

Ballpin then returned the smile and trotted down the direction the mare pointed out.

As the distance between him and the increased, Ballpin then realized something.

“I didn’t stutter.” He said. “I didn’t even get my words mixed up.”

He then stopped in his tracks and looked back towards where he saw the mare.

“Who she is?” He then realized his mistake. “Is she. There it went!”

“Mmm, that was really good!” Rarity said gleefully. “Do you think so Jackboot?”

“Yes, it was delicious.” Jackboot agreed.

The two had just gotten back from having dinner with Sassy Saddles and Jackboot’s mother, Emerald Button, at the finest restaurant in Canterlot. Like Rarity said earlier that day, Jackboot did actually get along with Sassy Saddles, the latter being really impressed with Jackboot’s fashion sense. She was also impressed with the Electric Pentagon, and had promised to take a trip to Ponyville just to see the device’s demonstration.

The two ponies were now making their way up the spiral stairway that led up towards the royal suite. Due to the other living quarters being under renovations, Jackboot is to sleep in suite with Rarity. How it was going to work out has yet to be disclosed.

Rarity yawned as she opened the door to the suite. It had gotten surprisingly late.

“Somepony had fun.” Jackboot said as he closed the door as the two entered.

“Oh darling, just wait till the dinner party tomorrow.” Rarity said. “I might have to be carried home at that rate.”

Jackboot laughed.

He then looked around the room, and just so happen to notice that there was one bed in the room.

“So, how are our sleeping arrangements going to work?” He asked. “You want me to take the floor?”

“Well actually darling…” Rarity said. “…I was thinking that we could, well, share the bed.”

Jackboot’s heart dropped.

Was it happening? Was Rarity really inviting him to bed? Granted it was because there wasn’t really any other option other than sleeping on the floor. But still, the most beautiful mare in Equestria was inviting him to sleep in the same bed as her.

Rarity noticed the look on Jackboot’s face, indicating that he did not see that suggestion coming.

“Well if you don’t want to, I understand.” She said.

Jackboot then realized the opportunity was going away quickly.

“Of course!” He said, accidently being loud. “I mean, since you offered, how can I say no?”

Rarity chuckled.

“Very well.” She said. “Do you mind if take a shower first?”

“Ladies first.”

Ballpin unlocked the door of his house.

He looked the inside of the house as he locked the door and saw Blue Collar asleep on the couch.

Ballpin smiled and picked up a blanket and laid it down on his grandpa.

“Good night, grandpa.”

He then walked up the stairs and into his bedroom.

Upon closing the door, he plopped himself onto his bed.

“Such a dinner good.” He said, not bothering to correct his sentence. “Good dinner, good company. That stallion said he was a doctor of some sort right?”

His mind then found its way back to that mare.

“I still want to know who that mare was.” He said. “Such a beautiful mare.”

He turned his head toward his desk and saw paper and a feather quill.

“Hmm.”

He then got off his bed and approached the desk.

“I haven’t done this in a while.” He said as he took out a vile of ink from the drawer.

He then dipped the quill into the ink and began to write.

“Dear Princess Celestia…”

Jackboot stepped out of the washroom after brushing his teeth.

He then saw Rarity lying in bed reading a book while wearing a pair of red framed glasses.

“What that’s your reading?” He asked.

“The latest addition of Shadow Spade.” She answered. “This is one where Shadow is…”

Rarity stopped talking upon seeing Jackboot. This is first time she’d seen him without any of his clothes on. He actually had a decent looking body, she thought. After all he does do a lot of physical work.

Jackboot noticed Rarity staring at him.

“What is it?” He asked. “Do I have something on my face?”

Rarity shook her head.

“Oh no, it’s just…” She didn’t really know what to say. “…you look different without clothes on.”

Jackboot smirked.

“Oh really?” He said. “How different do I look?”

Rarity blushed.

“Just… …different…”

She then dug her head deeper into the book.

She suddenly felt the mattress of the bed shift. She then looked and saw Jackboot was about several inches away from her.

“What sort of different?” He asked.

Rarity blushed even redder.

“Very… …different.” She said.

Jackboot then moved his head away.

“Okay, just wondering.” He said, this time more casually.

He then tucked his hind legs under the blankets and laid his head down on the pillow and put his hooves behind his head.

“So what are you going do in the morning?’ He asked. “I have to go and check on the glass domes. Thankfully I remembered to bring the bits with me.”

“Well I have to go down to the boutique and help Sassy with her orders, that way she can make the dinner party.”

“Where is the party being held at anyway?”

“At the home of the one and only, Fancy Pants.” She answered with an excited smile.

“Oh, Fancy Pants.” Jackboot said, remembering the name. “I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“You know Fancy Pants!?”

Suddenly Rarity was the same distance from Jackboot’s face, just as his was from her face earlier.

“Yes, I do know him.” Jackboot answered. “Didn’t I tell you?”

Rarity then realized how close she was to him.

“Oh, of course. You must have.”

She then backed away from Jackboot to her side of the bed.

“Well, we’d better get some sleep.” She said as she set her book aside and took her glasses off. “We both have a lot to do.”

Rarity then turned the lamp off and got comfortable.

“Good night Jackboot.”

“Good night, Rarity.”