Hammer & Anvil

Current Time: 12:11 PM, Tuesday

Twilight and Spike approached the building on the edge of town which had a sign that bore an image of an anvil.

“You really think he’s in there?” Spike asked.

“That’s what Mayor Mare said.” Twilight answered. “I hope he’s okay. You told me the last time you saw him, it was when you two installed Rarity’s new stove this morning. How’d that go by the way?”

“It went well.” Spike said. “We didn’t explode.”

Twilight chuckled as the two approached the door of the building. She then knocked on the door.

“Jackboot, are you in there?” She called. “It’s Twilight and Spike!”

There was no answer.

“Jackboot!”

Still no answer.

“Oh no.” Twilight said. “I think something might be wrong.”

“Try knocking again.” Spike said. “Maybe he’s taking a nap.”

Twilight knocked again, harder this time.

Still no answer.

“He must’ve passed out from all that work he’s been doing!” Twilight said in a panic.

She then grabbed Spike and moved away from the building.

“Stay back I’m going to knock the door down!”

She then began to charge up her horn.

“Hello Twilight.”

Twilight jumped, letting go off the charge, sending it straight up into the air, not hitting anything, thankfully.

Twilight and Spike turned and saw Jackboot standing there carrying a large brown paper bag.

He looked up at the sky before talking to the alicorn and dragon before him.

“How are you two today?” He asked casually. He also looked rather tired.

“We were about to ask you the same thing.” Twilight said. “Are you alright? We haven’t seen you since this morning.”

“Of course I’m alright.” Jackboot said as he approached the door of the building. He took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. “Care to come in?”

Twilight and Spike followed Jackboot into the building. They first found themselves in what appeared to be a waiting room and then through a door which lead into the workroom.

“Welcome to the Ponyville Metal Shop.” Jackboot said as he set the bag down on a work bench.

Twilight looked at around the large room. First at the anvil at the center of the room, at the fiery forge, and then at the workbench that had pieces of metal and other tools.

“The Mayor let you work in here?” She asked.

“Yeah, she told me that the previous blacksmith retired recently.” Jackboot explained as he took several boxes of rivets. “So, my being here is actually doing the town a favor.”

“Have you gotten any customers yet?” Spike asked.

“Nope.” Jackboot said as he crumpled up the bag and tossed it into the forge. “No pony.”

Twilight looked over at something covered in a tarp.

“What’s that?” She asked.

“What’s what?”

Jackboot looked over at what Twilight was pointing at.

“Oh yes!”

He then trotted over to the tarp and pulled it off. Revealing a familiar looking contraption.

“Presenting, the outer module of the Electric Pentagon!” Jackboot said proudly. “To be completed.”

The module looked just like the picture, with the exception of the glass dome.

“You spend the past couple days working on this?” Twilight asked.

“I have, yes.” Jackboot explained. “I got the frame completed; all I need to do is get the inner workings completed and get a glass dome.”

“Where are you going to get these domes?” Spike asked. “Do you make glass as well?”

“Glass making is one of the skills I actually lack.” Jackboot explained. “So I would have to special order these domes. With these domes being made of special glass and with one of them being a different size, combined with the shipping cost, it’ll cost me some bits. So with this metal shop now officially reopened at this point, I’ll be able to make said bits.”

“The other day you said your mom is pretty rich from her business in Canterlot.” Spike said. “Can’t you ask her?”

“Well, it’s not that I’m desperate for bits. I just don’t have enough at the moment”

Before Jackboot could explain more, they all heard the sound of a bell ringing.

“A customer!” Jackboot said.

He then trotted out to the front counter, where he found a familiar pink mare.

“Jacky!” Pinkie Pie said with glee. “So this is where you were hiding.”

“Well, here I am.” Jackboot said. “Do you need something?”

Pinkie Pie then reached down and pulled a baking tray, a pot, and a pan almost out of nowhere.

Jackboot was surprised by how dented the baking utensils.

“What happened?” He asked as he examined the dented pan.

“Well, one of the shelves back at Sugar Cube Corner popped loose and a bunch of stuff fell.” Pinkie explained. “These got dented and everything, sooooo… …yeah.”

Jackboot looked at each of the dented objects.

“I’ll see what I can do.” He said. “Feel free to wait out here.”

“Okie dokie!” Pinkie said.

Jackboot returned to the workroom with the cookware.

“You want us to leave?” Twilight asked.

“You don’t have to.” Jackboot said. “I actually want you to watch this.

He first set the tray onto the anvil and took hold of a straight-peen hammer.

“We’ll be out in the waiting area if you need us.” Twilight said.

“Actually I’m going to stay and watch.” Spike said.

“Okay.”

Twilight then left the room, leaving Spike and Jackboot alone in the room.

“I’d cover your ears.” Jackboot said.

Then the loud pounding began.

Several minutes passed since Jackboot began to repair the cookware.

“So the whole shelf just fell?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, one moment I set a pan on it and all of a sudden SMASH!” Pinkie explained. “It made Cupcake jump out of her skin when it happened. I’m just glad Poundcake or Pumpkin were upstairs instead of down stairs when it happened. It makes me sad to see them cry.”

Jackboot walked out from the backroom with Spike.

“Man, it’s loud in there.” Spike said.

“I told you to cover your ears.” Jackboot said as he set the cookware on the counter.

“Ah sweet!” Pinkie said as she hopped over to the counter. “How much do I owe you?”

Jackboot looked around the room.

“Didn’t I have a scale out here?” He asked.

“Oh, I saw it in the back.” Spike said. “I’ll grab it.”

Spike disappeared into the backroom and returned with a large scale.

“Thank you.”

Jackboot then set it onto the counter.

“What do you need a scale for?” Pinkie asked.

“It’s to see how much you owe me.” Jackboot explained as he put the cookware onto the scale. “This is a system my father came up with. You see, depending how much these items weigh as a whole, that’ll show much bits you have to pay. Example, let’s say the item I repaired is a pound, you pay, two bits. If it weighs less than that a pound, you pay one bit.”

Jackboot then looked over at the scale.

“In this case, your items altogether are a total of five pounds. So you owe me ten bits.”

“Okie dokie!”

Pinkie then produced ten bits and placed them on the counter.

“Thanks Jacky!” She said. “I’ll see you later!”

Pinkie Pie then cheerfully hopped out of the shop.

Jackboot then put the bits into a jar.

“Ten bits down. Three hundred and ninety bits to go.”

“Whoa, it’s that expensive?” Spike asked.

“Well it’s a special kind of glass.” Jackboot explained. “And combined with the shipping costs, yes, it’s that expensive. So I have a lot of work to do. As if making the rest of the Pentagon’s modules aren’t enough work.”

“Why don’t you just duplicate the one you already made?” Twilight asked. “I think I can find a good duplication spell and…”

“As much of a good idea that is…” Jackboot said. “…it’s out of the question. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate you trying to make it easy for me, but duplicating it would be cheating.”

Jackboot then chuckled.

“Besides, where’s the fun in taking the easy way?”

Twilight smiled.

“I understand Jackboot.” She said. “Although I think things would go easier if you got some help around here.”

“Yeah, you can post some posters around town to advertise your business.” Spike said. “I can grab some paper and pencils and we can get started.”

“Thank you Spike. Both of you.” Jackboot said. “I appreciate it.”