Hammer & Anvil

Current Time: 10:21 AM, Sunday

Jackboot stirred in his sleep. The sunlight that beamed through the window landed on his eyes. His eyelids quivered before finally opening.

He groaned as she stretched his legs.

“Morning, Rarity.”

There was no answer.

“Rarity?”

He looked around and saw that he was the only pony in the room. As he looked around the room, he saw a piece of paper with writing on it on the dresser.

He approached the paper and picked it up.

It read…

Jackboot nodded after he finished reading the note.

“Not a bad idea.” He said. “The glassworks aren’t too far away. I think I might end up getting there early.”

He then set the note down.

“First, I will brush my teeth.”

He then proceeded to walk towards the washroom door, but then stopped in his tracks as he then realized something.

“Wait a moment.”

He then trotted back to the letter and got a good look at it.

“Did she draw a heart on there?”

He picked the letter up with his magic and took a closer look.

“She did.” He said. “Does that …?”

He thought about it for a moment.

“No, it’s probably a friend heart. She probably signs it like that with her other friends as well.”

He then set the paper down once more.

“I’ll ask her about it when I meet up with her.”

“Such a beautiful day.” Ballpin said as he arrived at the Ponyville Park.

Ballpin had just gotten finished having breakfast with Blue Collar and had gone for a walk.

As Ballpin trotted across the bridge over the stream that ran through the park, he started to hear something in the distance. It wasn’t a noise. Well, yes it was a noise, but it was a pleasant sound.

“What is that?”

Ballpin then put his hoof to his ear, trying to indicate what direction the pleasant sound was coming from.

He turned his head slowly, and managed to lock on to the sound. He saw that the direction was towards a gazebo at the top of a hill.

“That way.”

He trotted along the path towards the gazebo. As he got closer, that pleasant sound was music. And that music seemed to come from a string instrument of some sort.

“I’m getting closer…”

He managed to find the end of the path and he found himself at the gazebo where the source of the music was. In the gazebo appeared to be a cellist. And this cellist, Ballpin recognized.

“That’s her. The mare from last night.”

He looked around and saw that several ponies were gathered to watch. A total of five were present. A mint green unicorn, an earth pony with a cobalt blue and fuchsia mane, and a white unicorn with a blue mane who wore a pair of purple lensed glasses and a pair of headphones around her neck. The other two he had dinner with the night before.

He walked over toward the mail mare and her daughter.

He called as quietly as he could.

“Hey, Derpy, Dinky!”

The pegasus and unicorn turned their heads.

“Hi Bally.” Derpy said.

“Hello.” Dinky said.

Ballpin sat down next to the mother and daughter.

“How have you two been?” He asked, keeping his voice low.

“We’re doing fine.” Derpy answered her voice at the same volume as his. “We had a nice breakfast earlier.”

“Let me guess…” Ballpin said. “…muffins?”

“Pancakes actually.” Derpy said. “We have them every Sunday.”

The two then turned their attention towards the cellist, who was still playing a very pleasant tune.

Ballpin looked at the mare’s face and saw that she had a rather serious look on her face, which showed how focused she was.

He then leaned over to Derpy.

“Hey, Derpy. Who is she?”

“Her name is Octavia.” Derpy answered. “Octavia Melody. She’s the best musician in town.”

The white unicorn looked over at the two, which Derpy took notice.

“One of the best.”

The unicorn smiled and returned her attention to Octavia.

After several minutes, Octavia finished her piece.

Everypony then applauded the mare who bowed.

“You go Octavia!” The mint green unicorn shouted.

The white unicorn then pumped her hoof up and down.

Dinky and her mother cheered.

“Thank you everypony.” The cellist said as she set her cello in its case.

As Octavia stepped off the gazebo, a brown stallion ran up to the crowd.

“Oh no, am I too late?”

If it weren’t the hourglass he had for a cutie mark and the white collar and green bowtie he wore, he would’ve mistaken him for somepony else.

The stallion turned and recognized Ballpin.

“Great whickering stallions it’s you again, hello.”

The stallion then shook Ballpin’s hoof.

“Nice to see you as well.” He said. “What was your name again?”

“My name is Time Turner.” The brown stallion answered. “But ponies often call me Doc. I guess you can call me that as well.”

Octavia recognized Ballpin.

“I remember you.” She said. “Derpy told me you made it to her house. Your name is Ballpin, yes?”

“The only and one.” Ballpin quickly realized his mistake. “I mean, one and only.”

“So you’re the Ballpin Derpy and Dinky told us about?” The mint pony asked. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lyra Heartstrings. This is my friend Bon Bon and that pony right there in the glasses is Vinyl Scratch, or DJ-Pon three, depending on who you ask.”

Vinyl nodded her head in greeting and gave Ballpin a hoof bump.

“So what brings you out here, Ballpin?” Bon Bon asked. “Did Octavia’s music catch your ear?”

“I did actually.” Ballpin said. “She’s pretty beautiful.”

Everypony’s eyes went wide.

Ballpin realized his mistake almost immediately.

“I-I m-mean, you’re beautiful is very music.” He said in a panic, mixing up his words. “I mean... …can I start over?” He asked as his cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

Several of the ponies laughed, with Ballpin, not at him.

“It’s alright Ballpin, we’ve all done that.” Lyra said.

Ballpin blushed still, and to his surprise, Octavia blushed as well.

“Bits well spent.”

Jackboot walked down one of the vast streets of Canterlot. He had just left the glassworks, where he was told that the domes for the Pentagon. To his surprise, since his father had done a lot of business with them, they gave him a discount. This caused him to have a surplus of leftover bits.

Now that the business with the domes was done, he was on his way toward The Cake Plate, the bakery Rarity told him to meet in her note. He was actually familiar with this place, but never actually been here first hand. The bakery looked almost similar to that of other Canterlot establishments, but had a color scheme of light brown and ice white, probably to represent a cake with frosting. The sign above the door was a picture of an assortment of pastries with the words “The Cake Plate” below it.

“Rarity said she’d meet me around half past noon.” Jackboot said as he looked at the bakery. “What time is…?”

Before he could finish his question, the answer came to him almost immediately.

“…oh, right.”

He then looked back at the bakery.

“They must have a clock in there.” He thought. “I’ll have a look.”

He then walked through the doors of the establishment and looked around. He looked and saw the tables and chairs made of maple wood, the marble countertops, the pastries and cakes in the glass display, and smelled the sweet scent of something cooking. In short, he liked the place the moment he walked through the doors. But looks could be deceiving. He wanted to try what they had to offer.

As he looked up at the menu board above the front counter, he sound of somepony caught his attention.

“Heeey!” The somepony said. “Jackboot is that you?”

Jackboot looked down and saw a light brown unicorn mare, which caused him to do a double take. She had a mane and tail that were white and light blue and had a pair of green eyes. He saw that her cutie mark was that of a white piping bag making a line of frosting.

“I know who you are.” He said. “But I can’t place you.”

The mare chuckled cheerfully.

“It’s me, Frosted Cookie.” The mare said. “Remember, from school?”

Jackboot’s eye burst out of his head.

“Now I remember! How are you?”

The mare then ran from behind the counter and joyfully hugged Jackboot.

“It’s so good to see you.” She said. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been doing well.”

Frosted Cookie then let go of Jackboot.

“So, what have you been up to Jack?”

“I came here to meet somepony. Speaking of which do you have a clock here? I forgot my watch back in Ponyville.”

Cookie pointed at the wall behind Jackboot. He turned and saw that it was several minutes before twelve thirty.

“So who’s this somepony your meeting?” Cookie asked. “A date?”

Jackboot heard the bell above the door ring and saw Rarity enter the establishment.

“Ask her yourself.”

“So your domes are ready to go by tomorrow?” Rarity asked as she took a bit of her sandwich.

“They will, yes.” Jackboot answered.

The two were in the middle of a lunch of sandwiches and pastries. Frosted Cookie had joined them while she was on her break. Jackboot had filled her in on the electric pentagon, of which really intrigued her.

“I got to see this pentagon thing in action.” Cookie said. “That sounds awesome.”

“You’re telling me.” Jackboot said. “I got my partner back in Ponyville gathering the rest of the materials. Hopefully I’ll get it functioning by Friday.” He then took a sip of his chocolate milk. “I also hope I can figure out how to keep the charge at a safe level. Otherwise it’ll back fire like it did last time.”

Cookie swallowed the last of her sandwich.

“Didn’t you say that you two will be at Fancy Pants’ dinner party tonight?”

“We will, yes.” Rarity answered as she wiped her mouth. “Jackboot and I will attend. And if I remember correctly, his mother will be there as well.”

“Funny thing is that The Cake Plate is catering the event.” Cookie explained. “So I might see you there. My coltfriend will be there too.”

“You have a coltfriend?” Jackboot asked. “Who’s the lucky stallion?”

Before Cookie could answer, the stallion from behind the counter got her attention.

“Hey Frosty! Break’s over!”

“Okay, be right there!” Cookie then returned her attention to Jackboot and Rarity. “Sorry you two, I got to get back to work. So, I’ll see you two tonight?”

Jackboot and Rarity said their temporary goodbyes to Cookie and made their way out of the Bakery after paying.

“So Jackboot, is there anything else you want to do?” Rarity asked.

“Go for a walk?” Jackboot suggested. “You know, to kill time.”

“Never thought I’d set hoof in one of these places.”

Ballpin looked around the inside of the Ponyville Spa. Normally Lyra and Bon Bon spent some times together at the spa on Sundays. But since Bon Bon had to attend to something urgent, Lyra decided to invite Ballpin to tag along.

Lyra chuckled after hearing what Ballpin had said.

“Don’t worry. A lot of stallions come here.” She said. “I remember when Derpy brought the Doc here with her.”

As the two spoke to one another, one of the spa ponies, a pink mare with a blue mane came into the waiting area.

“Lyra!” She said, spotting the mint green pony. “I haven’t seen you in a long time!”

The pink spa worker kissed Lyra on both cheeks in greeting.

“It’s good to see you too, Aloe.”

Aloe then turned her attention Ballpin.

“And who do we have here today?” She asked. “I’m Aloe; it’s nice to meet you.”

“And you as well.” Ballpin said shaking the mare’s hoof.

“He’s here to fill Bon Bon’s reservation, if that’s alright.”

“Of course darling.” Aloe said happily. “And will you be having your usual?”

“Yep. Hooficure, a message, and a good steam.” Lyra said. “What about you Ballpin?”

Ballpin thought for a moment.

“I think I’ll…”

He paused upon seeing the next pony to enter the spa.

“Hey Tavy!” Lyra called over to the mare.

The cellist approached the two.

“Hello, Lyra, Ballpin.” She said. “Come here for a message?”

“I am.” Lyra answered. “But I’m not sure what Ballpin is having.”

Ballpin then panicked. Would a mare like Octavia like a stallion who coming to a spa? Sure, Lyra had just said that a lot of stallions come to the spa, but that didn’t make said stallions immune to criticism.

“I’m for a…” He said, trying to think of something. “…deep tissue message. Yeah, like the sportsponies get.”

The three mares looked at one another and then back at Ballpin.

“Are you sure?” Lyra asked.

“I-I’m sure.”

Aloe then nodded.

“Alright then, I’ll show you to your room.” She said with a smile. “Follow me please.”

Ballpin followed the pink mare into the back, down a hall, and into a room.

“Bulk Biceps will be with you in a moment.” Aloe said. “Enjoy your message.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Aloe walked out of the room. Leaving Ballpin alone.

As he sat on the message table, he thought about the event that had just unfolded. The prettiest mare he’s ever seen was right there and he panicked. He could have gotten something like Lyra thought, but he didn’t know what Octavia would think.

Another matter came to mind. Who was Bulk Biceps and how bad would a deep tissue message be?

His internal question was answered by the sight of possibly the biggest stallion he’s ever seen walking into the room. He was light gray pegasus with red eyes and an amber mane. What made him even more intimidating was that his cutie mark was a dumbbell. Was this stallion really a message therapist?

“Are you ready?!” He asked loudly.

Ballpin had no other choice.

“I guess so.”

After what felt like an hour of bone popping, Ballpin was finished with his message.

“How do you feel?!” The pegasus asked.

It took Ballpin a moment to even sit up.

“Well I feel different than I did before.” He answered as he got on all of his hooves. “Thanks.”

“No problem!”

Ballpin walked into the waiting area with what almost looked like a limp. He saw Lyra and Octavia talking. The former saw Ballpin and waved him over.

“Enjoy your message?” She asked.

“You can say that.” Ballpin said as he stretched. “How about you?”

“We enjoyed our session very much.” Octavia said. “We just got done with our time in the steam room.”

Ballpin could not help but looked at Octavia. Suddenly, an idea came to his head.

“I’ll ask her out.” He thought. “Jackboot did it with Rarity, so I’ll do it as well.”

He then took in a breath.

“Octavia. Can I ask you something?”

Octavia turned her head.

“Yes, what is it?”

That voice of hers. Such a lovely sound.

“I was wondering.” Ballpin said. “Are you doing anything later?”

Octavia thought for a moment.

“Well I was going to practice my cello more. I’m going to perform at the Celebration this Friday.” She said. “Why? Do you suggest something to do?”

Ballpin thought for a moment.

“I don’t know.” He said. “I didn’t think that far ahead.”