Chapter - 1
I was startled awake by someone banging on my door. I sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I took off my headphones, placing them around my neck. Looking down at my desk I saw a half finished puppet, 'I must have fallen asleep while working again.' I picked up the doll, 'I hope Mrs. Love's granddaughter likes it.' The banging on the door stated up again. I stood up and made my way to the bathroom, wetting my hair and fixing it. I looked over myself in the mirror. (Does have the gun and goggles. Left arm is a metal prosthetic.)
The banging on the door started pounding with more force. I quickly rushed out the bathroom and down the hallway. It took a little bit because bits and pieces of metal and other projects were littered about the place. I reached the door and took a deep breath and relaxed. Opening the door I got multiple spears pointed at my throat. I quickly put up my hands to my shoulders in surrender. I looked up at my attackers. They were all pony-human hybrids, wearing gold armor. Looking behind them I saw eight more females. Two had both horns and wings and we're taller than everyone else. Everyone rose a brow at me and the spears lowered slightly, but still pointed at my neck.
One of the guards spoke up, "It's just a stallion? Where's your mare?"
It was my turn to be confused, "When you say mare you mean female right?" She nodded, "Ok... There isn't one. I live alone and currently not dating anyone." Everyone's eyes widened and the spears lowered. I put my hands down and let out a breath of relief.
The white alicorn walked over to me, "What is your name young stallion?"
"U-Uh, It's Isaac, but my friends call me Hephaestus."
"Hephaestus?" She asked me.
"Yeah, Hephaestus was the Greek god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture. I always like to build and create things so they started calling me that."
She nodded her head, "You said you like to build things?"
I switched seemed to flip in my mind, "Yes! Yes! Please come in I'll show you." I walked back inside and everyone followed me. They all looked around with slight wonder and awe. A white unicorn with purple hair and a black dress however looked around in disgust. "Sorry for the mess. I wasn't expecting visitors. Make yourself at home." I went over to a box in the corner where I keep some of my smaller completed projects. I pulled out a small clockwork rabbit and turned to everyone.
"I can make just about anything in any style or form. I prefer the clockwork style of creation." I set down the rabbit and turned the key a few times. It's eyes fluttered open and stood up. It used its paws to rub its head before moving around. It hopped around to each person, the nose wiggled a little as it "sniffed" their hooves. It returned to the yellow pegasus with pink hair. She crouched down and held out her hand. The rabbit put a paw in her and was about to jump into it. Before it did, it laid down and closed it's eyes. It's ears flattened, and the key on it's back stopped spinning as it died.
"Aww," her voice was soft and hard to hear. I walked over and picked it up. I placed it back in the box, everyone having a look of awe at what they witnessed. The white and blue alicorns looked at each other for a few seconds before nodding.
The white alicorn turned to me, "Isaac, who have proven yourself to be a great inventor and metal worker. I, Princess Celestia, and my sister, Princess Luna, would like to hire you as the royal blacksmith. A carriage will be here to take you to Canterlot Castle tommorow. May you have a good day." Everyone was starting to leave when I spoke out.
"I don't want to work as a royal blacksmith." Everyone stopped and turned to look at me. While most were shocked, Luna looked mad.
"What do you mean 'you don't want to work as the royal blacksmith.' It is the best work one can find in your field. You will live in a life of luxury and wealth. All the mares you could ever want fawning over you. Are you just going to pass that up?"
I looked her dead in the eyes, "There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I stay with the people because I connect with them, not the high class. So yes, I will be passing it up." Everybody just stared at me. Eventually she backed down and just sighed before leaving.
Celestia turned to me, "Please forgive her, she is still not used to things after returning to ruling Equestria."
"It's quite alright princess, I don't mind one bit." She nodded and everyone left. I went around the house and checked everything. Water, electricity, AC, heat, and plumbing, it all looked like it was working. I looked outside and saw a town not to far away. I gathered some paper, pens, a blanket, and the box of small projects and set out for the town. I also grabbed my tools and the doll I was working on. On my way there women kept asking me if I needed any help. I always said no however.
After I reached the town square and found a nice spot out of the way of everybody else. I placed down the blanket and took out the kids toys and small trinkets. I placed a empty piece of paper in front of each of them. I took out the doll and tools. I put on my headphones, one ear out so I could hear, and started working on it when a woman came by. Everyone near by tried to look inconspicuous while listening in but I didn't pay attention to them.
"Um, I would like the little car, but I don't see a price on it. How much does it cost?"
I gave a smile, "That's the thing, you write down the price you want to pay and put your name next to it. If someone else has a price on it already then you can just cross it out and put a higher one. Come back at sunset and if your name is not crossed out them you pay what you put down and take it home."
Her eyes, along with a few others, widened, "So I can just pay what I want and come get it later?"
I nodded, "Yes, but keep in mind that someone can cross off your name to pay more and get it instead." She took out a pencil and put down her price and name. Soon a bunch of people came to write down prices. I noticed most of them were women. There were guys but they were few and far between.
It's been a few hours. I finished up the doll and even added wings that let it fly. I was about to put it up for sell when I heard sniffling. I got up and turned into the little space between two buildings. Sitting on a cardboard box was a little girl.
"What's wrong little one? Why are you crying?"
She looked up at me, "People keep making fun of me because I can't use magic. I'm 12 but I can't even use the most basic spell. I'm never going to learn how to use magic." Her eyes started to water up.
"When you try using your magic how do you imagine it?"
"I imagine my magic being pushed out my horn and casting the spell."
I chuckled, "Well that's your problem. You're trying to manipulate and control it. Here, follow me back to my little set up and I'll teach you." I helped her up and walked back to my little area. I crossed my legs and told her to do the same. People started looking at us again, not even trying to hide it this time.
"How does sitting down like I'm in second grade again going to help?"
I brought my hands to my stomach, palms facing upwards, "The stomach is the source of energy for the body. It is called the sea of chi. Just like the physical sea you cannot force it to move. You must let it flow through the entirety of your body and keep it in balance. If you can keep it balanced and just let it flow, you can do many things." I tilted my head back and opened my mouth. Flames spewed out and into the air for several feet. I stopped it and looked back down to her, "Like so."
She, along with the others, looked at me with awe. She quickly took up a look of determination. She closed her eyes and focused. She slowly grew a smile on her face. 'She must be getting the hang of-' I was cut off by a blast of cold water. It stopped and I heard the girls voice.
"I'm soo sorry! When I was focusing I felt some other spell and tried it out." I wiped off my face.
"It's quite alright. At least we know your natural element is water, so that's good."
"My natural element?"
"It's the element of magic your more aligned to. Magic of your element is easier to use and more powerful than ones that aren't." She nodded her head, "I don't think I ever got your name."
"It's Dinky. What's your name?"
"It's Isaac, but you can call me Zack. Or Hephaestus, it's my 'artist' name." I handed her the doll and pointed to where I carved my name. She tried to give it back but I pushed it away, "Keep it. It's free. If you ever need anything I live at the house that appeared on the outskirts of town."
"Thanks Mr. Zack." She got up and jogged off. The sun began to set and everyone came by to pay and get there items. I sold out and earn nearly a thousand bits as they call them. I walked back home and saw Dinky at my door.
"Hey Dinky! What are you doing here?"
She looked up at me, "Mr. Zack, I wanted to talk about my element."
I put down my stuff, "What about it." I sat down on the bench I keep on the porch.
She sat down next to me, "It's so lame! I'm mean water? I looked into water spells but most of them are small blasts or shields. Why couldn't I have a cool one like yours. Fire would be so much better."
I looked down at my feet, "I wouldn't think that. Fire isn't much better, if anything it's worse." I heard multiple people walk closer but I didn't look up.
"How could fire be worse than water?"
"Water brings healing and life. Fire only brings destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razors edge between humanity," and rose my left arm, looking at it with pain and anguish, "And savagery." I looked up to see the pink mare from earlier and a gray pegasus with cross eyes.
"Hi, Mr. Zack. I'm just here to get my daughter." Dinky stood up and slowly walked over to her, glancing at me as she did.
The pink one spoke up, "And I'm here to take you to... A PARTY!!!"
I looked up at her, "That actually sounds nice. Where are we going?"
"We're going to Sugar Cube Corner." I stood up and the four of us walked to town. I looked up at the now rising moon.
'I guess it won't be so different here. I wonder I could even find love. I guess I'll just have to find out later huh?'