//------------------------------// // Ch. 14: Writing letters and misplacing tools // Story: An Island built in the sky // by Brotato //------------------------------// Chapter 14 Writing letters and misplacing tools Celestia's sun began its rise across the horizon to greet Equestria once again. Ponies everywhere awoke to enjoy the new day their Princess brought them, happy to continue their lives with their friends. Up in the sky on a floating island, a single pony wished otherwise. "Ugh," Hammer groaned intelligently as he heaved himself on the floor to rest on his side. His mind felt like an anklegator was digging into his skull after chugging down that entire bottle dreadrum last night. He didn't regret it at all either. After hearing that he would be stuck here, he wanted one more day to be ignorant about it. That didn't mean he didn't enjoy his stay here. The inhabitants in Equestria were the friendliest creature's he's ever met. There were just some things back home he had to fix. People he wished to see one more time. Things he wanted to change out of regret... specifically what he did to Zulf. A book had been found written by Zia's father. Apparently he had worked with the mancer's, Caelondia's greatest minds, to create the Calamity. When Zulf discovered that the Calamity was supposed to be used as a weapon to finish off his people, he sabotaged the Bastion and left. His actions lead him to his demise when Kid found him facefirst in the snow, beaten by his own people. When he first found him, his anger was still fresh and only held malice for Zulf almost destroying Caelondia's only hope. But as he now looks back at his actions, he feels only regret. His anger clouded his judgement. His anger caused the death of a friend. Wishing to not remember anymore of his past, Hammer focused on lifting himself from the floor. He looked around the room of the distillery to find everypony snoozing. Fluttershy and Rarity had found a pile of comfortable large pillows near a corner and were curled up on them. Rainbow Dash was laying on a table to his right, with Applejack under it. Pinkie Pie was on the bar counter laying on her back while Twilight had her face planted near her head on the counter as well. Rucks was nowhere to be seen. Hammer slowly stepped outside and took in the sight of the bright sun peeking over the mountains to the east. The rays gave him a slight headache from the hangover, but he did his best to ignore it. With squinted eyes, he walked over to the center of the Bastion which held the Monument. The black monolithic structure was large enough to block the early morning sun, leaving Kid in the shade. It was his only hope to take him back to Caelondia, but now it was just useless scrap metal. Without the part Rucks showed him last night, his hope crumbled to dust. I won't give up now. There has to be a way back. Surely this land has an equivalent to Burstone Steel. Kid has seen Burstone Steel all over Caelondia. It was a common, but expensive ore located only in Burstone Quarry. Most of the reason it was expensive was the long distance needed to ship it back to town. It had strange properties where it could be forged like the softest clay, but when cooled afterwards it could rival diamond in hardness. This trait was also a curse. While it was resistant to heat, physical force could still pierce it. If it were to bend, break or warp, a entire new piece would be needed as you couldn't remold the leftovers. "Hammer? You're up early." Hammer turned around to greet whoever woke as well. "Hey Twilight. Yeah, I just came outside to get some fresh air. A bit cold since we're so high, but it feels nice." Twilight sat down and looked at him with slight concern. "Is something bothering you? I've learned it's better to talk about it to friends that keep it to yourself," she counseled. "I'm just a little worried if I'll get home or not. After Rucks brought in the broken piece, I wanted to give up," Hammer admitted. "I appreciate your concern though, but Rucks, Zia, and I have always managed to get through anything. I'm sure there's a way." "I just can't imagine what it must be like." She looked at the lush grass around her hooves. "I don't know what I would do if-" A hoof on her shoulder stopped her mid-sentence. "If there's one thing I've learned, it's to not worry about the if's and the past. Focus on the present, but remember your mistakes. Had to learn this lesson the hard way ever since the Calamity occurred." He suddenly remembered what Twilight said when he ran into her in Sugarcube Corner. "Speaking of lesson's, have you learned anything to report about friendship yet?" "How do you know about my reports?" Twilight had a shocked expression on her face, then quickly changed to anger. "Were you snooping through my bedroom?" "What? No, I wouldn't do something like that," Hammer defended himself. "I was just eavesdropping on you and your friends at Sugarcube Corner. Remember?" "Oh... so you know about the spell?" She shuffled her hooves nervously. "Yep. So tell me about these friendship reports." "Everytime I learn something new about friendship I send a report to Princess Celestia, who's my mentor. Lately I haven't learned anything new about friendship." She hung her head in shame, but quickly lifted her head with a hopeful smile on her face. "Which is why I was hoping you would have something to share." Hammer batted his red bandanna thoughtfully. He had an idea for a report, but it was a morbid thing to learn. He agreed it would be ideal to tell Twilight and ask for her opinion. "Remember when I told you about Zulf? How I left him behind?" Twilight simply nodded her head. "Well I learned something while standing out here with my thoughts." "Really?" Twilight's eyes brightened. Hammer finally noticed she had her saddlebags on as she pulled out a quill and scroll of parchment. "Go on..." "I learned that-" He was interrupted by a small cough from Twilight. "Would you mind starting with 'Dear Princess Celestia?'" Asking with a smile on her face. "Uh... sure." Clearing his throat, he continued. "Dear Princess... Celestia." He glanced Twilight's way to make sure it was good enough. "Today I discovered that friendships can be broken through anger easily. Controlling one's emotions and thinking before you act can lead to weather or not you will lose a friend. If someone is angry or frustrated with you, it's best to stay calm and understand what they are going through. Not only will you still be friends, but the bond will be stronger than before." Hammer watched Twilight furiously scribble on the parchment. After poking the end with a dot, she look at him expectantly. "What? Did I miss something?" Twilight let out a sigh. She flipped the parchment so he could read his writing and poked the blank space below with the quill. "Every letter needs a closing," she told like everypony knew it. "Oh, uh... Yours truly, Hammer Whirl?" Twilight scribbled down the last part with a sigh. "Now what did I do wrong?" "Sorry, but I'm sending this letter to the Princess. It's too... informal." "Would it be better if I said 'Your royal subject'?" Hammer joked. "Actually yes... yes it would." Hammer rubbed a hoof at the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "I'll be sure to remember that," he deadpanned. "So I suppose you're going to use magic to send it?" "Of course! Usually I have Spike send my letters, but he's not here right now. I haven't used the spell in a while now so give me a moment." Twilight pulled out a strip of red cloth and securely wrapped the scroll. She set it on the ground between both of them and pointed her horn at the scroll. Hammer watched as it started to glow a light purple. As seconds went by it grew steadily to a deeper color. Twilight felt the spell was ready. All she had to do was release and... "Good morning Twilight!" Pinkie Pie yelled from behind her. Twilight instinctively jumped from the sudden noise just when she released the spell. Her aim got thrown slightly higher than she wanted and hit Hammer on the top of his hoof. The magic quickly surrounded his body and lifted him up a foot off the ground. "Twilight, shut off your horn or something!" "I-I can't, once the spell is cast-" She couldn't finish as Hammer turned into a poof of sparkling smoke and was whisked away toward Canterlot. "Oh no, this is not good!" She turned toward Pinkie who was smiling, though it was now sheepish. "Pinkie! What did I tell you about sneaking up on me like that while I'm casting spells?" "Uhm... not to do it?" "Precisely! Now Hammer Whirl just got sent directly to..." Further realization of what might happen to him and what she had just done settled in her mind. "We need to get to Canterlot. Now!" I only hope she's not doing something to make his arrival that much more awkward...