Hammer & Anvil

Current Time: 12:21 PM, Monday

The train raddled down the track as it approached Ponyville.

Jackboot looked at the afternoon sky and let out a joyful sigh. A lot had happened since arriving at Canterlot. He had obtained the glass

domes he needed for the Electric Pentagon, he reunited with an old classmate from Magic School, had fun at a dinner party hosted by Fancy Pants, and had made up with an old bully of his. But more importantly, Jackboot got to spend time with Rarity. And that time was well spent as the two of them expressed their feelings for one another which ended with them exchanging a heartfelt kiss.

Jackboot then looked over at Rarity who was resting her eyes as she leaned on Jackboot’s shoulder.

Jackboot smiled as he looked upon the sleeping mare.

As he looked back over at the window, he felt his right front leg being grabbed.

He looked over saw it was Rarity, wrapping her legs around Jackboot’s, and seemed to be mumbling something.

Jackboot didn’t want to ease drop, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him.

He leaned down and listened closely. What Rarity was saying was inaudible, until she started to giggle in her sleep.

Jackboot’s interest peaked.

“Is she dreaming about me?”

Before he could listen more, the train car suddenly shifted, waking Rarity up.

She yawned as she looked at Jackboot.

“Sleep well?” Jackboot asked.

“I did, yes.” Rarity said. “Thank you for allowing me to use your shoulder as a pillow.”

“Not a problem at all.” Jackboot with a smile. “If you want, I’ll be your designated pillow for whatever trips you go on.”

Rarity then chuckled and nuzzled against his neck.

Ballpin looked around as he and Spike waited on the train platform.

“What did you say Jackboot was bringing back?” The little dragon asked.

“He’s bringing back several domes glass for the Electric Pentagon.” Ballpin answered. “I mean, glass domes.” He corrected himself. “It’s a good thing that Rarity had to go to Canterlot. That way Jackboot could bring the domes back with him.”

The air was the pierced with the sound of the train’s whistle.

“Here they come!” Spike said.

The train clattered and screeched to a halt, letting off a large cloud of steam.

Ponies poured off of the train and onto the platform. Among them was a familiar white mare and gray stallion.

“Jackboot, Rarity.” Ballpin said. “Welcome back.”

“Good to be back.” Jackboot said as he and Ballpin exchanged a hoof bump.

“Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to go and claim our baggage. Pardon me.”

“How was the trip?” Spike asked as Jackboot trotted away. “Did you have fun?”

“Oh we most certainly did darling.” Rarity said. “We got to stay in the royal suite; we went to a great dinner party, we…” She let out a joyful sigh. “…we had a really lovely time.”

Spike smiled upon seeing the mare in such a good mood.

Jackboot returned carrying a large amount of baggage with his magic. Among the baggage was a wooden crate that had the word “fragile” stamped on the side in red.

“Are those the domes?” Ballpin asked.

“Yeah they are.” Jackboot answered. “Can you do me a favor? Take it to the shop for me, will you?”

“Sure, I got you.”

Ballpin then took hold of the crate with his magic before trotting away.

“Oh and Jackboot, before I forget…” Spike said. “…Twilight needs to speak to you.”

“Sure okay.” Jackboot said. “Can you tell her I’ll be there later? I’m going to help Rarity get her stuff back to her house.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.” Spike said, giving a thumbs up. “In the mean time I’ll be at Sugercube Corner. I promised Pinkie I’d help her make cupcakes.”

“Careful, careful.”

Ballpin unlocked the front door of the metal shop while holding the crate with his magic. With it containing such fragile contents, he didn’t want to mess up in any way possible.

“There we go.” He said as he heard the click of the lock.

He then entered the backroom and carefully set the crate on the workbench.

“I wonder if Jackboot would mind if I have a look.”

He then thought for a moment.

“Just one look.”

He grabbed a crowbar and opened the top lid with one quick heave.

“There we go.”

He looked into the box and saw the glass through the packing hay, which is used to reduce the chance of harm coming to it.

“Careful…”

Ballpin elevated the glass out of the box with hay scattering across the floor. There were a total of six glass domes. The one being elevated being the biggest, this one made for the core module of the Electric Pentagon, while the other five are for the outer modules.

“Only four days left.” He said as he unpacked the rest of the domes. “Now to get these installed. I’ll have to wait on the twittermites though, as I’ll have to wait for Jackboot.”

He then realized something.

“I didn’t mess up my words.” He said with surprise. “Also, why am I talking to myself?”

He then grabbed hold one of the outer modules from the corner and got to work.

After several minutes, Ballpin was now on the third module when he heard somepony ringing the bell at the front desk.

“Coming!”

Ballpin then set down the dome onto the workbench and into the front room, where a familiar bowtie wearing mare was waiting.

“Oh, hello Octavia.” He said. “What kind I do for you?”

Octavia let out a loud sigh.

“Can I have a hug?”

Ballpin was surprised.

“I’m sorry, what?” He asked. “Are you alright?”

He wasn’t expecting this question.

“I was up before the sun came up trying to perfect this song I plan on playing at the celebration.” Octavia explained. “Essentially, I really need a hug right now.”

Ballpin didn’t need any further explanation.

He trotted out from behind the counter and approached the mare who then pulled him into a hug, in which he willing returned.

As he held Octavia, he heard her calmly breathe in his ear before she let out a sigh of satisfaction.

“Thank you Ballpin.” She said. “I really appreciate this.”

“It is no problem at all.” Ballpin said as he let go of her. He then noticed that she is still latched around him. “Um, Octavia?”

Octavia then returned to reality.

“Oh, sorry.” She said as she let go of him. “Your hug was so calming; I guess I just got caught in the moment.”

Ballpin smiled as he watched the mare blush.

“With hugs aside, is there anything else I can help you with?” He asked. “Anything need fixing?”

“Oh no, just the hug.” Octavia answered simply. “But, since we had such a good time last night, do you want to do that again? Later maybe?”

Ballpin thought for a moment.

“I don’t know.” He said. “I just got back from my break, not to mention meeting Jackboot at the train station, and I have a lot of work to do. Maybe a different time?”

“Alright.” Octavia said, sounding half disappointed. “So tomorrow then?”

“Sure, tomorrow.” Ballpin said.

Octavia then gave a quick hug.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

Octavia then let go of Ballpin and left the shop.

“Such a lovely mare.”

“Are you sure you’ve got it?” Rarity asked as she and Jackboot climbed up the stairs of her boutique.

“It’s alright.” Jackboot said. “After all, I am using my magic to carry all of this.”

Rarity entered her room with Jackboot in toe.

“Just set them down anywhere.”

Jackboot complied and set them down the five pieces of luggage in the center of the room, six if counting his own suitcase.

“Thank you very much Jackboot.” Rarity said. “I really app… …oh goodness.”

“What is it?” Jackboot asked if concern. “Is something wrong?”

“My mane has gone awry.” Rarity answered, seeing herself in the mirror.

She then grabbed hold of a brush and began to fix the tangles in her mane.

Jackboot could not help but look as the white mare brush her mare. The windows were not covered by curtains, allowing sunlight to come into the room, shining off of Rarity’s mane.

As she brushed the tangles from her mane, she saw the gray stallion stood still in the center of the room.

“Are you alright darling?” She asked. “You’ve gone pretty quiet.”

Jackboot shook himself back into reality.

“S-Sorry, I couldn’t help but look.” He explained awkwardly.

Rarity then smiled and returned to her brushing.

“There, much better.”

As she set the brush down, Jackboot got her attention.

“R-Rarity.” He said. “Can I ask you something?”

“Why of course darling.” Rarity said as she approached Jackboot. “What do you wish to ask me?”

Jackboot’s heart began to pound as the mare approached him.

“I was wondering if…” He had a hard time asking what he wanted to ask. “…I was… …never mind, it’s silly.”

“Oh please darling, you can tell me.” Rarity said insistently.

Jackboot took a breath, gathering enough strength to ask his question.

“Can I… …k-kiss you again?”

Spike walked through town holding a small, white package.

“Good thing Pinkie let me help make the cupcakes for the party.” He said as he patted the package. “I just hope Rarity likes them.”

He knocked on the door of the boutique.

No pony answered.

“Rarity!”

No answer.

He then knocked on the door again, this time the door opened slightly. Seeing this as a sign that Rarity might be home, he then opened the door and looked around the inside of the boutique.

Before he could call Rarity’s name, he heard somepony shouted something.

“Oh darling that tickles!”

He climbed up the stairs and found himself at the bedroom door, of which was cracked open.

Before he could even knock on the door, he heard somepony giggling.

Curious, he looked through the crack between the door and the frame and saw the somepony he was looking for. But there is a problem, she is kissing somepony. That somepony was a familiar boot wearing stallion.

“R-Rarity…?” Spike said as his eyes began to water. “…Jackboot, how…?”

He wasn’t sure what to say or what to do, other than rush out of the boutique, leaving behind the package of cupcakes…

…and leaving with a broken heart.

“Oh darling that tickles!”

Rarity laughed as Jackboot kissed her neck.

She and the stallion then sunk to the floor in complete lip lock.

Jackboot’s heart was pounding as he kissed the mare.

“I still can’t believe I’m kissing her again!” He shouted in his mind.

The taste of the kiss was just as great as it was before. No, it was actually sweeter.

The two then broke the kiss for air.

“You’re such a good kisser.” Rarity said as she caught her breath. “Are you sure you’ve never kissed a mare before?”

“Of course I have.” Jackboot answered. “Who do you think kissed you back in Canterlot?”

Rarity laughed as she and Jackboot began to kiss again.

But before either of their lips touched, they both heard a loud slam from downstairs, causing the both of them to jump.

“What was that?” Jackboot asked.

“Sounds like someone’s here.” Rarity said as Jackboot let go of her. “Sorry if I have to cut this short Jackboot.”

“It’s alright.” Jackboot said as got up from the floor and grabbed his cap. “I have to get back to the shop anyway. After I drop my suitcase off at the castle and speak to Twilight about whatever it is she wants to talk to me about.”

Rarity smiled as she opened her bedroom door.

As she walked out into the hall, she felt her hoof hit something.

“What’s this?”

Jackboot walked out into the hall and saw that it was a white paper package.

Rarity picked the package up and opened it, seeing that contents were an assortment of cupcakes.

“Cupcakes?” Jackboot asked. “Where did those come from?”

“I don’t know.” Rarity said. “You think whoever just left, left them here?”

A thought came to Jackboot’s mind, causing his eyes to go wide.

“Spike said he was going to help Pinkie make cupcakes.” He said. “And I think those are for you.”

Immediately putting two and two together, she let out a gasp.

“Oh dear…”

“We need to go make sure he’s alright.” Jackboot said. “Come on.”