Hammer & Anvil

Current Time: 5:21 AM, Tuesday

Rarity stirred as she began to wake up.

“Uh… ….hmm…” That was all she could say. Her vocal cords needed a couple of seconds to wake up as well. She looked at the clock and groaned seeing that it was almost half past five in the morning. With her line of work, she often had to wake up pretty early.

She looked around the room and saw that she wasn’t at the boutique.

“W-where…?”

She then looked to her right and saw that there was somepony in the bed. Even with the lack of light in the room she could make out the chocolate maned stallion leaning on his left side.

“Oh, right.” She said with a smile. “I’m in Jackboot’s room.”

She then glanced back at the clock and then back at the stallion before her.

“Just a little longer.”

She then lied down next to Jackboot and put her front legs around her gray lover.

She let out a quiet sigh as she snuggled up to Jackboot, feeling his chest rise up and down as he breathed.

“Just a… …little…” Her words slowed as she began to drift back to sleep. “…longer.”

Blue Collar put the key into the lock of the Metal Shop.

A drop of water ran off the roof and fell on the top of his head.

“That enough water for ya?”

Blue Collar turned and saw his grandson approaching him, the ground squished beneath him.

“Morning Ballpin.” He said. “Where were you last night?”

“I was on my way home last night but I gotten caught in the rain.” Ballpin explained. “Not to mention I helped a certain somepony get home safely. Especially since she scrapped her knee.”

Blue Collar opened the door to the shop and entered, waving for Ballpin to follow.

“Oh really?” He asked. “Who was this somepony?”

“Octavia.” Ballpin said as he closed the door behind him. “You know. The mare I told you about.”

“Oh yes, the mare who came all the way here for a hug.” Blue Collar said with a smile. “You two seem to get along pretty well. When are you two going to get together again?”

“I’m not sure, really.” Ballpin answered. “Maybe at lunch.”

As Ballpin turned some of the lights on, something came to his mind.

“Speaking of getting together, did you hear about Jackboot and Rarity?”

“No, what about them?” Blue Collar asked.

“They got a little friendly when they were in Canterlot.” Ballpin explained. “Long story short, they’re essentially a couple now.”

“That’s good. Good for them.” Blue Collar said. “Speaking of Jackboot, where is that stallion?”

Before Ballpin could answer, the door burst open and a familiar unicorn came panting in.

“I’m… …I’m here…”

“There he is.” Blue Collar said. “Jackboot, Ballpin just told me about you and Rarity. Congratulations.”

“Tha… thank you.” Jackboot said as he gasped for breath. “Sorry I’m late. I was having breakfast with Rarity and Sweetie Belle and I lost track of time.”

“It’s alright Jackboot, we just got here.” Ballpin said. “With that out of the way, let’s get to work.”

Frosted Cookie trotted through the center of town. She had arrived in Ponyville earlier to help cater the Summer Sun Celebration. She had dropped off her suitcase at the local Inn and was now looking for something to eat. She is supposed to meet a mare named Pinkie Pie.

“Sugar Cube Corner, Sugar Cube Corner.” She said. “Where do I find Sugar Cube Corner?”

Her question was answered by the sight of possibly the most flamboyant looking building she’s ever seen. If she didn’t know better it looked like she could take a bite out of it.

“Answers my question.”

She trotted up to the building and went through the doorway. She looked saw that a short line at the front counter and decided to join it. Behind the counter was a blue mare with a mane that was reminiscent of the icing on a cupcake.

After the three ponies in front of her got what the ordered, it was Cookie’s turn.

“Hello there, what can I get you?” The blue mare asked.

“Yes, I’m looking for somepony named Pinkie Pie.” Cookie said. “I was told I could find her here.”

A look of realization came over the mare’s face.

“You must be Frosted Cookie.” She said. “It’s nice meet you, I’m Cupcake. Pinkie is out doing deliveries; she’ll be back in a while. Feel free to wait here if you want.”

Cookie ordered a piece of chocolate cake and several sugar cookies.

As she went to find a seat, two particular ponies sitting at a table caught her eye immediately.

“Jackboot! Rarity!”

The two looked and smiled upon seeing the Canterlot mare.

“Cookie, when did you get here?” Jackboot asked as stood up.

“Just a while ago.” Cookie answered.

Cookie set her plate down on their table and exchanged a hug with Jackboot.

“It’s good to see you again Cookie.” Rarity said as she gave her a hug as soon as Jackboot sat back down.

Cookie then took a seat at the table with Jackboot and Rarity and began to feast on her sweets.

“So did you come all the way here to see me?” Jackboot asked with a sly grin on his face.

Knowing that it was a joke, Cookie smiled before swallowing her mouthful of cake.

“I’m here to help cater the Celebration.” Cookie explained. “I’m supposed to meet somepony named Pinkie Pie, but she’s out on deliveries.”

Almost on que, the pink mare walked through the front door. She spotted Jackboot and Rarity and trotted over to them.

“Hey guy two.” She said happily. “How’s it going? Enjoying your food?”

“We are, thank you.” Rarity said. “By the way, Frosted Cookie here is here to see you.”

Cookie looked at Pinkie and smiled.

“It’s nice to meet you Pinkie.” She said. “I hope we get along w…”

Cookie was cut off by Pinkie latching onto her.

“It’s so good to meet you!” She said. “We’ll get along perfectly!”

She then let go of Cookie and took hold of her hoof.

“Follow me, I’ll show you the kitchen.”

She then turned to Jackboot and Rarity.

“I’ll see you love birds later.”

Pinkie and Cookie then disappeared into the kitchen.

Jackboot stood up from his seat and wiped his mouth.

“I have to get back to the shop.” He said. “I’ll see you later.”

Rarity then wiped her mouth and stood up. As she did so, Jackboot suddenly let out a loud cough in which he quickly covered his mouth.

“Oh Darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked.

Jackboot took a breath.

“Yes, I’m alright. Just a little tickle.” He said. “Anyway, maybe I’ll see you after work?”

“Of course.”

Rarity and Jackboot the exchanged a brief kiss.

“I’ll see you later, Darling.”

“Two points!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she bashed through two clouds at once.

After the large rainstorm from the night before, Rainbow Dash was making sure the weather was on under control.

She then set her sights on a decently sized to her left.

“Oh, you are so mine.”

She charged at it with as much force as he wings would allow.

Before she even entered five feet away from the cloud, it suddenly burst.

Dash screeched to a halt.

“Did that just happen?” She asked with confusion.

She then saw another cloud.

“Okay, now you are mine.”

She then sped towards that cloud, only for it to burst like the last. This time on the other hand, she managed to catch sight of what appeared to be a red blur.

Dash was starting to get annoyed.

Suddenly, she then thought of an idea.

She set her sights on a cloud that was almost directly over the Metal Shop.

“Oh well, I guess I’ll just go and bust that one.” She said aloud.

She then sped towards the cloud, but halfway there, she immediately stopped. As she stopped, she finally saw the culprit as he rocketed through the cloud. A red pegasus.

Without a second thought, Dash zoomed after the second pegasus.

After what seemed like a minute, Dash managed to get in front of the newcomer.

“Gotcha!” She said, pointing her hoof at him.

The red pegasus stopped in his tracks.

He had a red and yellow mane and tail and wore a six pointed blue and gold star around his neck.

The red stallion produced a smirk on his face.

“Nice to see you caught on.” He said.

He then extended his hoof forward.

“Dive Bomber.”

Rainbow looked at his hoof and shook it.

“Rainbow Dash.”

“Thank you again for lunch, Ballpin.” Octavia said.

She, Vinyl, and Ballpin had just had finished lunch at the Hay Burger

“Yeah, thanks man.” Vinyl added. “It’s nice to finally eat something after a long train ride.”

“Don’t they have concessions back on the train?” Ballpin asked.

“Yeah but they don’t got any hay burgers.” Vinyl explained. “Besides, I’ve been trying to cut down on the sugar. That’s what Minuette told me at my last check up.”

“I thought her name was Colgate.” Octavia said. “Maybe I’m thinking of somepony else.”

“Well, I’d love to stay and talk about names with you ladies…” Ballpin said. “…but I have to get to work. I’ll see you two later.”

The three exchanged goodbyes and went their separate ways.

As Ballpin neared the shop, he saw that there were two pegasi waiting for them. He recognized one of them thanks to her rainbow mane, but he didn’t know who the red one was.

“Must be a new customer.”

Jackboot coughed as a he trotted towards the metal shop

“Geez, what’s wrong with me?” He asked himself.

His question was followed by another cough.

He was about to pull his key from his pocket, when he heard what sounded like pounding coming from inside.

“Guess one of them got here before me.”

He then opened the door and pushed it open, in which he was welcomed with two pegasi.

“Oh hello, Rainbow Dash, hello…” He then recognized the second winged pony. “…Dive Bomber? When did you get here?”

“About an hour ago. The Wonderbolts sent me to hold their reservations over at the Inn.” Dive Bomber explained. “I must say, you got a nice town.”

“Did you come here with Cookie?” Jackboot asked as he closed the door. “Because she’s probably about knee deep in cake batter at this point over at Sugar Cube Corner.”

“I assume so.” Dive Bomber said.

Ballpin came from the back room, carrying what appeared to be necklace.

“Good as new. Next time, look where you’re going.” He said. “Now I just need to weigh it, and see how much you owe.”

Ballpin placed the necklace on the scale and saw that the needle on it barely moved.

“Since it is under a pound, you owe me two bits.”

Dive Bomber pulled out two golden bits and set them on the counter.

“Thanks Ballpin. You’re alright.” He said. “I’ll see you all later, I’m going head to over to that Sugar Cube Corner place I heard so much about.”

“I got to get going to too.” Rainbow Dash added. “Those clouds ain’t going to bust themselves.”

The two pegasi left the shop, leaving the two unicorns alone.

“So, how many modules do we have left to work on?” Jackboot asked. “We have three left, right?”

“Yes, we do.” Ballpin answered. “Then we got the core module to work on.”

“Good let’s get to…”

Jackboot suddenly let out a loud cough, which surprised Ballpin.

“Jeez, are you okay?” He asked. “That sounded like it hurt.”

Jackboot took a breath.

“Yes, I’m fine. Let’s get to work.”