Hammer & Anvil

Current time: 12:31 PM, Saturday

Jackboot looked up at the chandelier of the throne room. He, Twilight, and Spike had spent all of Thursday afternoon, all of Friday, and all that morning reorganizing the library. So now he was finally having a good look around the castle.

Twilight had explained to him that the chandelier was made of the same roots of the Golden Oaks Library, which amazed Jackboot. Twilight had also explained that each of the gem ornaments which hung from it are memories of all the times which she and her friends spent together, all the way back from when Twilight first came to Ponyville. Not to mention back to when Twilight was still a unicorn, as opposed to the alicorn she now is.

Twilight entered the throne room and saw Jackboot marveling at the chandelier. She smiled upon seeing the young stallion joyfully glare at each of the shining gems.

“Like what you see?” She asked.

Jackboot jumped.

“Oh, Twilight. Hello.” He said.

“I’m sorry did I scare you?” Twilight asked as she approached Jackboot.

“A little bit, but’s that’s alright.” Jackboot answered. “And yes, I really like that. Hard to believe that your friends managed to put this in without you knowing it.”

“Well, Spike managed to keep me away from the castle long enough for them to do so.”

Jackboot chuckled.

Jackboot then noticed something on the roots of the chandelier.

“Hey, Twilight.” He said. “I think one of the ornaments came loose.”

Twilight gasped upon hearing what Jackboot just said.

“What? Where? Which one?” She asked frantically.

Jackboot pointed at the lowest root, where Twilight saw something shining.

“I got it.”

Jackboot then brought it down carefully with his horn.

“Here we go.”

Jackboot took the ornament in hoof and saw that it was bright yellow with a small red circle in the middle.

“What memory does this represent?” He asked. “With it being this color, I hope it was a pleasant one.”

Suddenly the two heard somepony’s voice.

“Well that’s just rude.” That somepony said. “I’m always a pleasant memory.”

Jackboot looked around.

“Is somepony in here?”

“Of course, somepony is here!” The voice said. “Look down!”

Jackboot then looked back down at the supposed gem and saw that it, to his surprise, blinked.

“Whoa, jeez!”

Jackboot jumped backwards, dropping the gem to the ground.

The gen stopped in midair. Suddenly, a second smaller, but identical “gem” appeared next to it. The gems were not gems. They were eyes.

Then those eyes became part of a larger body which looked to have a head of a pony and a body of all sorts of things.

“Greetings dear Princess!” The creature said. “How have you been?”

Twilight sighed.

“Discord, what are you doing here?” She asked.

The creature, named Discord, seemed to be rather offended by that.

“Why Twilight!” He said. “Can’t I come and see how and old friend is doing? That’s what friends are for, right?”

There was that word again. This time it was said two times in a row.

Discord then turned his attention to the welled dressed stallion in the room.

“Oh hello, the reason I’m here.”

Discord then reached down and shook Jackboot’s hoof. Rather roughly, Jackboot thought.

“You must be Jackboot." He said. “Fluttershy told me about you.”

Jackboot was at a loss of words. Right in front of him was the spirit of Chaos himself. And he was shaking his hand! Wouldn’t he turning his clothes into chocolate or his boots into paper? Suddenly Jackboot’s memory jolted. Celestia had told him that Twilight and her friends had reformed him. However that worked. Either way, that explains why Jackboot’s cap hadn’t turned into a live raccoon at this point.

“Uh, nice to meet you.” Jackboot said, still with concern. “So, Miss Fluttershy told you about me.”

“Oh yes she did.” Discord explained. “It was during our afternoon tea when she told, so I thought I’d come down here right quick and meet you.”

Jackboot grinned nervously. He knew that Discord had been reformed, but the stories about him still lingered in his mind.

“So you came all the way down here just to meet me?” He asked.

“Why of course.” Discord said. “After all, it’s nice to see that Twilight had adopted a new pupil.”

Jackboot and Twilight looked at one another and back at Discord.

“Actually she’s not my teacher.” Jackboot explained. “Celestia sent me to help with the Summer Sun Celebration.”

“Oh, really?” Discord asked with interest. “Why don’t you tell me this over tea at Fluttershy’s?”

Jackboot was surprised. First the spirit of chaos shakes his hand, now he’s inviting him for tea. Then again, the tea was with Fluttershy, and Jackboot has been meaning to speak to her more since their brief encounter the day before yesterday.

“Well, I don’t see why not.” He said. “After all I hadn’t had a good cup of tea in a while.”

He then turned to Twilight.

“Do you want to come with, Princess? I mean, Twilight?”

“It’s alright. You go on ahead, Jackboot.” Twilight answered. “I’m going to see if we missed anything in the library.”

“Alright then, let’s go!” Discord said.

Discord then grabbed Jackboot by the jacket and the two disappeared in a bright flash.

“And when I turned around…” Fluttershy said. “…I managed to see Angel Bunny do a complete flip into that mud puddle.”

Rarity laughed out loud at Fluttershy’s story. She sat on the sofa wearing a light blue sun hat with a white feather. Fluttershy had invited Rarity to one of her afternoon teas with Discord. Discord had left earlier after Fluttershy had told him about Jackboot staying with Twilight. As Rarity was about to say something, a flash of light appeared and disappeared with a loud proof, with Discord appearing in the light’s place.

“Miss me any?” He asked. “What did I miss?”

“Fluttershy was telling me about how Angel Bunny got dirty.” Rarity said. “By the way, where did you go?”

Before Discord could answer, there was a knock at the front door.

“Speaking of.” He said.

He then snapped his fingers and the door opened. There on the other side of the door was familiar well-dressed pony.

“Oh Jackboot, what a surprise!” Discord said. “What brings you by?”

“You did.” Jackboot said. “You led me to the door, told me to knock, and then you disappeared afterward.”

He then saw Fluttershy.

“Good day, Miss Fluttershy.” He said. “How are you?”

“I’m doing fine, Jackboot.” Fluttershy said. “Please come in.”

Complying, Jackboot entered the house and closed the door.

As Jackboot walked towards Discord and Fluttershy, he then noticed that somepony was sitting on the sofa behind Discord who was standing in front of it. That somepony was Rarity.

Jackboot stopped in his tracks.

“H-hello R-Rarity.” He stammered. “H-how are you?”

“I’m doing great Jackboot.” Rarity said. “Would you care to join us?”

She then slid over to one side of the sofa and patted the spot to her left.

Jackboot, without missing a beat, went and sat down on the sofa. Fluttershy then gave him a cup of tea and Discord materialized an arm chair for him to sit.

“So Jackboot…” Discord began after thanking Fluttershy for his cup of tea. “…you said you’re here to help with the Summer Sun Celebration?”

“Yes, I am.” Jackboot said after taking a sip of tea. “And quiet honestly, I’m not really sure of how I’m supposed to help.”

Discord sipped his tea before he continued.

“Well, how do you think you can help?” He asked. “There has to be a ton of things to do.”

“Hopefully nothing bad happens like the past couple of times.” Fluttershy said. She was all too familiar with what sort of bad things had happened.

“You can say that again.” Rarity agreed.

“I must say this is very good tea.” Jackboot said. “Is this Oolong, is it not?”

“Yes it is.” Fluttershy said.

“Wow, cultured and can make clothes.” Rarity said with interest. “Tell me, how you have such knowledge of cloths making and tea.”

Rarity was looking Jackboot right in the eye with those two sapphires. He almost forgotten to speak, but managed to maintain his composure.

“Well, my mother is actually fashionista back Canterlot…”

Before he could continue, Rarity practically spat her tea all over Discord. In which, the tea turned into tiny bits of tea leaves.

“You’re from Canterlot!?” Rarity asked enthusiastically.

Jackboot almost fell out of his seat. He knew Rarity can be excited easily, based on his experience, but jeez!

“Yes, I am.” Jackboot said, calmly. “I’m actually Celestia’s student.”

“Just like Twilight was?” Rarity asked. Jackboot nodded. “Why my dear Jackboot we must talk more often.”

She then realized that she had cut him off.

“Oh darling, I’m sorry, I interrupted you.” She said with regret in her voice. “Please continue.”

Jackboot then took another sip of his tea before continuing.

He told how his mother had taught him practically everything there is to know about making and repairing all sorts of different types of clothing and how his father had taught him everything there is about forging metal and repairing all sorts of things.

“That’s very interesting.” Fluttershy said with her cup now empty.

“I agree. I knew I’d get along with you the moment I saw your clothes.” Rarity said. “Which by the way, I say again, they’re just amazing. Especially those boots. How do you get those on?”

Jackboot set his tea cup down on the table.

“They go on like this.” Jackboot then used his horn to undo the buttons. He then un-wrapped the leather flap of the boot about three times before his hoof was free. “Like that.” He said. He then re-wrapped the leather and re-buttoned it in place.

“Exquisite.” Rarity said, marveling at Jackboot’s footwear.

Jackboot smiled as he snapped the last button in place.

“Did you come with the design all on your own?” Rarity asked.

“Well, not all on my own.” Jackboot said. “My…”

Jackboot paused for a moment.

“…my father originally created the design.”

“Oh, well I would love to meet this genius of father.” Rarity said with joy. “What is this stallion’s name?”

“His name is…” Jackboot said. “…well, his name was Iron Girder.”

Rarity, Discord, and Fluttershy all put two and two together once they heard “was”.

After several moments of deafening silence, Rarity was the first to speak.

“Darling, I’m so sorry.” She said. “I didn’t know.”

She then out her hoof over his.

Jackboot felt his face heat up upon feeling the mare’s hoof touch his.

“It’s alright.” He said with a smile. “It was so long ago, yet it feels so recent.”

“If it’s not too much…” Discord said. “…how exactly did he, well, pass on?”

“I…” Jackboot felt a lump form in his throat. “…I don’t really feel like talking about.”

Normally, Discord would either coax someone into explaining more, or reach into his thoughts, but this time he decided to leave it be, seeing how serious this was.

“Well that’s perfectly alright.” He said. “If it’s that painful, you don’t have to.”

Discord then drank the last of his tea and set the cup and saucer down.

“Well I think it’s about time for me to go.” He said. “I realized I have something to do.”

He then turned his attention to Jackboot.

“It was nice meeting you Jackboot.” He said. “I hope we can spend some time together again at another time.”

“I hope so as well.” Jackboot said, shaking Discord’s hand.

Discord then bit his farewells to Fluttershy and Rarity before disappearing into and another flash of light at the snap of his fingers.

“Well, it looks like it’s time for me to get going as well.” Rarity said as she set her cup and saucer. “I have to cook those quiches for tomorrow’s

picnic. After I get the proper ingredients of course.”

Fluttershy then looked at Jackboot.

“Jackboot, would you like to come to the picnic with us?” She asked. “We’d really like it if you did.”

Jackboot was being invited to picnic? That doesn’t happen that often, if ever.

“Well, I don’t really see why not.” He said. “What should I bring?”

“Oh darling, you don't have to bring anything.” Rarity said. “Unless you want to that is.”

“I think I will bring something.” Jackboot said. “Just not sure what at the moment.”

“Why don’t you come with to the market?” Rarity asked. “Maybe then you’ll find something.”

Jackboot thought for moment. A chance to spend time with a pretty mare? Is that even a question?

“Lead the way Miss Rarity.”