Rusty's Journals or How I met my best friend

I left the blacksmith's store, holding Twilight's crown in my hoof. Before I wanted to give it to her, I had to find Grubber. It's easy, because he goes always to the same place, when we separate. Sugar Cube Corner.

When I walked in that direction, I still had in mind that blacksmith. Including Twilight and her friends, he's the only one, who doesn't bother about my past. His voice is little cute. When he talked about metal, I got confused. He doesn't look like an egghead. Well, he's a metal egghead. I wanted to stop, but he stuck in my mind. His voice, his look and his talent. I've meet blacksmiths in my life, but not that good. But it doesn't mean, I like him. I mean, he's nice and cute, but I'm not really sure, if he just did it to don't loose a client and earn some money. Although, his proposition interested me. Maybe he really likes me? I will keep an eye on him. If he did it only for money, he will pay with his teeth or in different way.

Before i noticed, I was in Sugar Cube Corner. Then, I heard the most evil think, what lived in Equestria.

"Fiiiizzieeeee!" Pinkie Pie screamed, like she didn't saw me in years. I hate, when she calls me, like that.

"Hi, Pinkie." I sighed with frustration. I saw Grubber, eating strawberry cake. It wasn't a single piece. It was three-layers strawberry cake. How something that small can eat so much? "The usual, please." I said and sat opposite Grubber.

Grubber is, kinda, my first friend. When I joined the Storm King, me and Grubber became very effective crew. He was the only one, who knew my real name. Maybe he's small, but brave and smart. He can be annoying, but I got used to it.

"So, how's the crown?" He asked, with mouth full of cake. "You were there for 2 hours." I showed him crown.

"It's like a new one. This Rusty Anvil knows, how to do this." I said, putting it to Grubber's backpack.

"Here you go!" Pinkie said, putting in front of me blueberry pop milkshake. I don't know, how she makes it, but I like it. I took a straw into my mouth and started to drink.

"This guy seemed nice." Grubber said, licking frosting of his hands. "Have you talked about something interesting?"

"Not really..." I lied, scratching back of my head.

"You told him about Ursa Minor, haven't you?" He asked.

"Yes..." I admitted. "He had similar adventure with timberwolfs. I think that they killed his father."

"This sucks." Grubber sighed. "But, at least you found friend." I sighed nervously.

"I'm not sure, if he likes me."

Grubber snorted. "Come on, Tempest. Who would not like someone, like you?"

"All Equestria plus borderlands around it?" I sighed with obvious tone.

"Well... you have a point." Grubber ended and returned to his cake, when I returned to my milkshake.

In the corner of my eyes I saw familiar hippogriff, talking with my 'favorite' party pony. First party freak, now shell-phile. This day couldn't be better. Maybe, if I will pretend, that I don't see her, she might don't see me as well.

"HIIII POOOOOPIEEEEE!" Skystar called me. Celestia's bucking dammit! It's even worse, than Fizzie.

"Let me guess... You recognized me by mohawk?"

"That's too. I also recognize your fur and face 'I don't see anypony here'. But, it's nice to see you, again. Even if you destroyed my home, but it was long time ago. Shelly and Sheldon are always saying me, that everypony has a good heart." Is she insane, or I just see world like this?

"By the way, how are they?" Pinkie asked. Correct, they both are insane.

"Can I drink my milkshake, without talks above my ears?" I asked, with voice full of anger.

"Okey-dokey-loki!" They both said. Why do I come here everyday? Right, for this purple, little drops of heaven.

"But, before we leave..." Pinkie said.

"What?"

"Who's Rusty Anvil?" She asked. I finished my milkshake, paid and left.

"None of your business." I said, walking through the door. When I turned my head to the street, Pinkie was already in front of me. WHAT THE...

"I won't tell anypony. Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." She made Pinkie Promise. Buck, now I have to tell her! Why do I even make so much trouble about some blacksmith?

"He's just a simple blacksmith." I growled.

"I don't think so." Skystar said, like it was singing. "You acted pretty weird." Said half bird, who's talking to shells with fake eyes. "Do you like him?"

"Is he your new friend?" Pinkie asked excited.

"Can we speak somewhere private?" I asked.

Pinkie smiled, knocked on the ground and... opened secret trapdoor.

"For a better effect, please scream with fright or fun." Skystar said.

"BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...CK!" I screamed. "So... this is your..."

"It's my Party Cave!" Pinkie screamed right into my right ear. Around were decorations, sweets and files. On the ceiling was ice cream or cotton candy. More possible is second option. Pinkie and Skystar started to look into files.

"We have a winner!" Skystar called, putting a folder on the table. "Rusty Anvil's papers."

I opened the folder. It was more compete, than any in Storm King's archives.

Name: Rusty Anvil
Age: 24
Birthplace: Hollow Shades
Special Talent: Blacksmithing
Look: Long, brown mane with red tips; rusty brown coat; short beard, amber eyes.
Likes: Blacksmithing.
Don't likes: Peanut Butter.
Favorite dessert: Chocolate cake with cherries and rum.

"How did you get that?" I asked, little scared.

"You have no idea, how much can you learn from one party." She said. This sounded pretty weird. But, with Pinkie and Skystar everything is weird.

"Okay, thank you for informations, but I have important deliver for Twilight." I said, closing the folder and walked upstairs. Luckily, Grubber managed to finish his cake. I won't ask, how many did he ate, when I was at Rusty's. I walked to my hedgehog companion. "Ready to go?"

"I was born ready." He said with determination.

We arrived to Twilight's Castle. After defeating the Storm King, I started to live here. It's cozy. Sometimes I read books, sometimes I talk with Twilight or Starlight Glimmer, Twilight's other friendship student. But mostly, I'm grinding my martial arts. I liked to be always ready for any occasion.

When I walked inside, it was quiet. Too quiet. I checked the library. Empty. I walked to the cutie map room. Inside was Starlight Glimmer, sitting on Twilight's throne, balancing a pencil on her nose.

"Good morning, Starlight." I said.

"Hi, Tempest! Hi, Grubber." She returned the favor, still balancing a pencil.

"Do you know, where's Twilight?" I asked.

"She's solving a friendship problem with Applejack in Fillydelphia. She left like an hour ago." She explained the situation. Just. Perfect.

"Starlight... you look bored." Grubber noticed.

"Since Storm King's attack, 3 months ago, nothing happened." Starlight murmured bored.

"I won't bother you." I said and walked to Twilight's room. I left inside her crown and note.

When I walked to my room, I decided to read old journal, what Twilight wrote with her friends. I wonder, if I will find a new friend.

I was very deep in lecture, that I didn't noticed Grubber, lying next to me.

"Do you sometimes miss those times?" He asked.

"What do you mean?"

"When we were fighting for Storm King. Everyone was afraid of us. I, honestly, like to be nice and friendly, than mean and scary."

"Yeah, me either." I said with smirk. "Do you think, that my parents still remember me?"

"I thought, that you don't like to talk about this." Grubber said, surprised.

"I don't, but... I think, that I should visit them, someday."

"Bring them cake with 'I'm sorry' written on it and they will welcome you with open hooves." Grubber said. I laughed a little. It's nice to have someone to talk with. "But, I have to find friend."

"What about this Rusty Anvil?"

"If he didn't do that for money..."

"What do you mean?" Grubber asked confused.

"He had the same, scared look in his eyes. Like the others. Even, if he said nice thinks, his eyes told everything. He's afraid of me, like everypony else."

"Are you crying, Tempest?" He asked me.

"I just want to fix my mistakes." I said through tears. "If I will find friend, who's not afraid of me, it would help me very much."

"Did I say, that I'm afraid of you?" I head familiar, cute voice. Is that him? I opened and looked through the window. I saw the same pegasus, what I met earlier, flying in front of my window.

"Rusty?" I said surprised. Like very surprised. "What the hay are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see, if Princess Twilight likes the crown, but also I wanted to ask you out." He said with smile. But, he still had fright in his eyes.

"Well, Princess Twilight's out, so you should come later to check this." I straighted it up. "And, what do you mean about 'asking out'?"

"You were crying?" He asked.

"She cried, like beaver." Grubber said. I couldn't resist and I hit him in the shoulder. "Sorry." Why he always say, what he shouldn't?

"If it's wrong time, then I will..."

"Wait." I interrupted him. "I will go with pleasure."

"Then, I'll back tomorrow noon. I have some nails to straight up." He said and left. "See ya."

"Goodbye." I said and smiled. I looked at Grubber. He had a weird look on his face.

"You like him, don't you, Tempest?" He said.

"Maybe, but it's not a reason to you to grin, like an idiot." I said to him with anger. "It's just nice, that he asked me out."

"Looks like, you found a friend." I heard another familiar voice.

"Twilight?" I asked surprised. "Starlight said, that you are in FIllydelphia."

"Well, I forgot to take something." She said and hugged me. "I'm so happy, that you found a friend."

"Actually, I'm happy, too." I said with small smile.

"Can you tell me about him?" She asked, while breaking the hug.

"I'll better show." I said and went with Twilight to her room. I picked up a crown, what I left here earlier. "He's very good blacksmith. I met him, when I looked for someone to fix your crown. He agreed and made it even better."

Twilight picked crown with her magic. "Wow. It looks even better, than earlier." Twilight said surprised. "But, you didn't had to."

"I wanted to thank you for what you did for me." I explained. "And I met friend, occasionally."

"Have you told him already about that 'accident'?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, I did. He had similar adventure with timberwolfs. He also lived in the same village, like Starlight." Dammit, I forgot to ask her about him.

"Maybe you should ask her about this?" Twilight proposed.

"Sure, why not." Thank you, Twilight's head. "But, I want to grab something more filling to eat than milkshake."

"Okay, your choice. Thanks again for crown!" Twilight screamed, while leaving.

I made my way to the kitchen. Inside was Spike, Twilight's assistant. He was cooking something with gems.

"Hi, Tempest." He greeted.

"Hi, Spike. Don't mind me, I just want to grab something to eat."

"In fridge is some chili from yesterday, if you want." Spike gave an advice. I opened a fridge. Inside was a bowl of chili. I took it and put into the microwave. After a few minutes, chili was warm, but not hot. I took it with me and went to the cutie map room. Starlight was still there, still balancing a pencil. She must be very bored. I sat on only throne, what belonged to the least crazy pony from Twilight's friends. On Fluttershy's throne.

When I finished my chili, I decided to break this awkward silence. "Starlight, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead." She responded, still balancing a pencil.

"Does name 'Rusty Anvil' rings any bell?"

"Well, there was a colt in my village named like that. I barely knew him. I can't even remember, how he looked like. Why do you ask?"

I decided to don't play half measures. "I've met a pegasi pony by this name. Here, in Ponyville. I just wanted to know, if you had any relationship with him."

"I was only friends with Sunburst." She replied. "But, how did you know about his place of leaving?"

"Pinkie Pie." It's an answer for every question.

"I get it."

"And why do you balance this pencil all the time?"

"It's a time killer."

"Aha" I responded and left. Well, he wasn't friends with Starlight, so he has a clean account. I hope so.