Hammer & Anvil

“And that’s how I beat Spitfire.”

Dive Bomber had pulled up a chair to the table Jackboot and everypony else was. He had just finished telling a story where he challenged and won a race against the captain of the Wonderbolts herself.

“A fascinating story, Mr. Bomber.” Fancy Pants said. “Are you actually a member of the Wonderbolts?”

“I am actually.” Dive Bomber said. “Well, the reserves anyway.”

“Jackboot and I are friends with somepony who is a reserves member as well.” Rarity said.

“Oh really? What’s this pony’s name?”

“Her name is Rainbow Dash.” Rarity answered. “And speaking of Spitfire, Jackboot here told me that he had actually met her as well.”

Everypony’s eyes suddenly were on Jackboot.

“Well, it was only a brief encounter.” He said. His tone wasn’t as vibrant as it was earlier, even for him. “But, yes I met her.”

Rarity and Emerald both took notice of Jackboot’s tone change, but decided to leave it for now.

“That’s cool.” Dive Bomber said. “Maybe I’ll ask about you next time I see. We’re going to perform at the Summer Sun Celebration this coming Friday.”

“Oh really?” Sassy Saddles said, who sat between Golden Gavel and Silver Frames. “Jackboot here is going to doing something for the Celebration as well. It’s called the… …um… …Electro Octagon? I’m sorry what is it called again?”

“The Electric Pentagon.” Emerald answered for her son. “In fact, Celestia herself sent him to Ponyville to help out with the celebration. Isn’t that right?”

Jackboot nodded.

“Well that’s something I got to see.” Dive Bomber said. “Maybe when I’m down there we’ll hang out. How’s that sound?”

“I have no objections.” Jackboot said, still maintaining that same tone.

“Awesome.” Dive Bomber said with glee.

As everypony continued to talk, the music the bad played changed.

“Oh, I like this song.” The red pegasus said. He then turned to Rarity. “Hey, Rarity, you mind if I ask you to dance?”

Rarity put her hoof over her heart.

“Well of course Dive Bomber, how could I saw no?”

Jackboot’s heart dropped. Did Rarity really just accept his offer?

Jackboot merely watched Rarity follow Dive Bomber out to the dance floor.

Emerald noticed the look on his son’s face.

“Sweetheart, are you alright?” She asked. “You look distressed.”

Jackboot then snapped out of it.

“Oh, I’m alright.” He answered. “I just need get some air. Pardon me.”

Rarity and Dive Bomber held one another as they dance. Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee had joined them as well.

“You’re a very good dancer.” Rarity said.

“Thank you.” Dive Bomber said. “I’ve been around.”

The two spoke quietly so they didn’t drown out the music.

“By the way, Miss Rarity.” Dive Bomber said. “Did you notice anything about Jackboot? He seemed a little off.”

“I did actually.” She said. “I wonder what it was that was bothering him.”

“I think I know.” Dive Bomber said. “You see, we used to be classmates when we were colts. And let’s just say I was anything but nice to him.”

Rarity was surprised.

“You bullied him?” She asked.

“Yeah… …I did…” Dive Bomber said with clear guilt in his voice. “…and I’ll tell you one thing, I’m anything but proud of it.”

This caught Rarity’s attention.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” Dive Bomber said. “And I really would like to apologize to him, but I don’t think he’d want to hear it. Can’t say I blame him, especially from the way I treated him.”

Rarity grew more curious. What did this stallion do to Jackboot that was so regrettable? This sounded to be a lot more than the usual antics of a schoolyard bully.

“Maybe I should talk to him.” She said. “What do you think?”

“It’s not a bad idea.” Dive Bomber said. Before he could say something else, a look of realization came over his face. “By the way, what time is it?”

Rarity looked over a clock and saw that it was almost nine fifteen.

“It’s about a quartered after nine.” She said. “Why do ask?”

“It’s that late?” Dive Bomber asked with a panic. “Oh jeez. I forgotten I couldn’t stay too long. I got to get going or else Spitfire will have my head. It was nice meeting you Rarity.”

“And you as well, Dive Bomber.”

Dive Bomber then trotted away to bit his farewells.

“Now where did you go my dear Jackboot?”

Jackboot sighed as he looked up at the night sky as he stood out on the balcony.

“Are you alright, darling?”

Jackboot almost jumped.

He turned and saw the white mare approach him.

“Oh, hello Rarity.” He said. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Indeed I am.”

Rarity then joined Jackboot and looked up at the sky.

“It’s a beautiful night isn’t it?” She asked.

“Yes it is.”

Jackboot looked over at Rarity. The moonlight almost reflected off of her mane and her white coat.

“She is so beautiful.” He thought once again.

“I spoke with Dive Bomber.” Rarity said. “He’s a rather nice stallion.”

“What’s he doing now?”

“He had to leave. According to him, he had to report to the rest of the Wonderbolts.”

She then looked over at Jackboot.

“If you don’t mind me asking…” She said. “…what exactly happened between you two?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well the way he spoke about the history between you two, it seems to be more than simply stealing your lunch money.”

There were no excuses to be made.

“Do you really want to know?” He asked.

“Of course, darling.” Rarity said. “I wouldn’t be out here if I didn’t.”

Jackboot then cleared his throat.

“Well, I remember it all clearly.”

Jackboot stared at his magic book as he sat alone at lunch outside. It was one of the many books his father kept in his library. But his father was gone now, taken from him. The only thing he had now, were the many pictures around the house, his tools, his books, and more importantly, his pocket watch of gold.

As he turned a page, he heard what sounded like hoofsteps and looked up, to his surprise, members of the popular crowd approaching him. Of them was one of the school’s star athletes, Dive Bomber. He also recognized several of the other fillies and colts. These included Neon Lights, Sunny Flare, Indigo Zap, Royal Pin, and Fleur Dis Lee. All of which had a tray of food.

“Watcha reading?” The red pegasus asked.

Jackboot didn’t answer. Instead he placed the piece of paper he used as a bookmark in the spot he left off and handed the book to the red athlete.

Dive Bomber carefully propped open the book and flipped through it.

“Magic huh?” He said. “Pretty cool. I wouldn’t know how to practice it. Cause, you know, not a unicorn.” He then flapped his wings to show that he was a pegasus as he handed Jackboot back his book. “Is it cool if we sit with you?”

Jackboot nodded, allowing the pegasus and his friends sat down at the table.

“I never caught your name.” Dive Bomber said. “What is it?”

“J-Jackboot.” Jackboot answered.

“Well it’s nice to meet you Jackboot.” Dive Bomber said. He then looked as his tray and realized something. “Oops, I forgot to get an apple.”

Before Dive Bomber could slid his chair back, Jackboot got up before him.

“I’ll get it.”

“Well that doesn’t sound so bad.” Rarity said.

“It started out nice.” Jackboot said. “But, let’s just say I got a little too willing to help.”

Rarity didn’t understand.

“What do you mean?”

“Have you ever been asked to perform a favor for somepony?” Jackboot asked. “Like, say, help with homework for example.”

“Oh of course.” Rarity answered. “Many times when I was a filly.”

“Have you ever been the one that did all the work?”

Rarity then realized what Jackboot was getting at.

“Oh.” She said. “I see what you mean.”

“Yep. I was merely a worker for them. The only payment I received was so-called friendship.” Jackboot said with scorn building his voice. “But I was naïve at the time. I didn’t care that I did a bunch of work, I had friends.”

Jackboot sighed before continuing.

“I didn’t realize what was going on until it was too late.”

“What happened?” Rarity asked with concern.

“Well… …no pony came to my birthday party.”

Rarity gasped.

“After all I did for them; they didn’t even bother to come to my birthday.” Jackboot said. “I later learned that it was the result some awful rumor. If I remember correctly, the rumor was that my house was infested with bugs and that the cake was made of coach stuffing. Sure it sounds silly now, but at the time, I felt as if my heart was in a thousand pieces. As soon as I saw that red rat with wings the following Monday I just lost it.” Jackboot explained. “At one point he had the nerve to say, “Dude, calm down, we’re friends aren’t we?”

“What happened then?” Rarity asked with surprise.

“After a second I shouted, “I’m not your friend”, before storming off.” Jackboot answered. “Clearly they got the message because for almost over a month I endured nothing bullying. From glue being poured on my seat, being tripped once in a while, paper thrown at me. You know basic stuff.”

Jackboot took a deep breath.

“And then one day, it ended.” He said. “But not in the way one would imagine.”

“Man I’m so bored!” Dive Bomber said aloud.

It was the last class of the school day and the teacher had to go to a staff meeting, leaving the colts and fillies alone.

“Wish we had a record player in here or something.” Neon Lights said.

“Somepony needs to make a record player you can fit in your pocket.” Royal Pin added.

“Yeah, that would be cool.” Sunny Flare agreed.

The mulberry maned mare looked over at Jackboot who sat at his desk quietly with a book in hand.

Sunny then leaned over to Dive Bomber.

“Maybe Jackmule over there can sing for us.” She suggested.

Dive Bomber thought for a moment.

“Good idea.” He said. “Neon, with me.”

The two approached Jackboot.

After Jackboot turned the page, his book was suddenly snatched from his hooves.

“Hey, give that back!” He said as the opalish gray pegasus looked through the book.

“You can have it back…” Dive bomber said as he stood to Jackboot’s right. “…after you sing a song for us.”

He then looked at the rest of the class.

“Hear that everypony?” He asked. “Jackboot here is going to sing for us.”

Dive Bomber then turned back to Jackboot and tried to pull him out of the chair.

“Come on, get up front.” He said. “Pin, help me out over here.”

Royal pin then trotted over to Dive Bomber and grabbed Jackboot, pulling him to the front of the room.

“Now sing!” Dive bomber said.

Dive Bomber then sat back down next to Sunny Flare after Neon tossed him the book.

“Why do you want him to sing anyway?” He whispered to the mare. “You know he’ll sound terrible.”

“Because dearie, it’ll be funny.” Sunny said. “Come on Jackboot, sing for us!”

“What do I do?” Jackboot thought as he glanced around the room. “I want my book back, but I don’t want to get beat up in the process.” He then looked over at Dove Bomber who was looking through the book Jackboot was reading. “And I don’t want my book torn apart.”

“Come on Jackmule sing!” Indigo Zap shouted from the back of the room.

“You have ten seconds to sing or else Bomber is going tear your book up.” Sunny said as she began to count. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…”

“Think, think, think!” Jackboot said. A song then came to mind. “I got it!”

“…five, four, three…”

Youtube Video

Before Sunny could get to two, Jackboot began to sing a song that she or her friends have never heard before.

“Wow…”

That was all she could say. Not only was it a song she or anypony else has never heard before, it was in a different language.

Royal Pin and Neon trotted over to Diver Bomber and Sunny.

“What in Celestia is he singing?” Sunny asked. “I’ve never heard it before.”

“I think it’s from that set of sheet music and lyrics that came through some portal Celestia made by mistake.” Neon said. “Apparently it’s from another world, from what I heard.”

“You can buy a copy of it.” Royal Pin added. “But its costs a lot of bits.”

Several minutes later, Jackboot was finished.

After a brief silence, the class, to Jackboot’s surprise, applauded.

Dive Bomber and his friends were at awe. They intended for Jackboot to get laughed at, not applauded.

“Well this is awkward, huh Dive bomber?” Sunny asked. “Dive Bomber?”

She looked over and saw that her friend was quiet.

Jackboot then trotted over to the red pegasus.

“Can I have my book back please?”

Dive Bomber wasn’t sure what to do. He merely got up and gave the book back to Jackboot.

But as He let go of the book, he caught sight of the golden chain going into a pocket on his vest. Without a second thought, he dug his hoof into the pocket and pulled out the watch from within.

“Hey what are you doing?!”

Without answering, Dive Bomber ran out of the room.

“Get back here!”

“He really did that?” Rarity asked. “Why?”

“He did.” Jackboot said as he looked his watch. “And to be honest I didn’t know why he did it exactly.”

“Since you have your watch, I assume you got it back, right?”

“I did.” Jackboot said. “But how I did it still haunts me to this day.”

“What happened?” Rarity asked.

Jackboot was silent. He had a look on his face that showed reluctance.

Rarity then put her hoof to Jackboot’s cheek and turned it towards her.

“Jackboot. You can tell me. I won’t think of you differently, no matter what happened.”

Jackboot took a deep breath, deeper than the one he had taken earlier.

“As you know, I can teleport.” He began. “So when I chased after Dive Bomber, I decided to use this skill. When I did, I appeared in front of him. Obviously it scared the tar out of him, because he then threw my watch. I still remember seeing it fly out of his hoof, as if time had slowed down. Time went back to normal speed as I watched the clockwork scatter across the floor.”

Jackboot’s voice started to strain.

“Before I knew it, all I saw was red.” He continued. “Dive Bomber tried to saying something, I turned around, and a blast from my horn sent him careening against the wall. Last thing I remember from that was a couple of teachers pulling me away after I beat him bloody.”

A tear went down his cheek.

“I thought I killed him.” He said as his voice choked. “I honestly thought I killed him.”

Rarity watched Jackboot as he slouched to the ground as he began to cry.

“He really feels bad about it.” She thought.

She then sat down on the ground and hugged him, disregarding her dress.

“It’s alright Jackboot.” She said. “Shh…”

Jackboot sniffed. His sadness then began to thaw as Rarity held him.

“Are you alright?” She asked.

Jackboot nodded.

“I’m sorry if I’m being a bit of a cry baby right now.” He said. “I’m probably just ruining your evening.”

“Absolutely not.” Rarity said. “You’re my friend who is saddened, so I could care less about my evening.”

Jackboot then took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away his tears.

“Are you alright?” Rarity asked.

Jackboot nodded.

Rarity looked back at the doorway that led back inside.

“Jackboot, would you care to dance with me?”

Jackboot turned his so fast towards Rarity, his neck actually popped.

“I know it’s an odd question to ask after sharing such a moment, but I think it’ll be a way to cheer you up.” Rarity explained. “What do you say?”

“I, well…”

Jackboot didn’t see this question coming.

He then smiled.

“…sure, I’d love to dance with you.”