//------------------------------// // 02. The Blacksmith // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Rarity gazed at herself in the blacksmith’s body mirror, admiring how fetching she looked even weighed down by all her gear. She was practically better armed than some armies, with a sword, shield, axe, bow, knives—the works. Everything she needed to handle a pack of timberwolves, and then some. She almost mused that she was equipped to fight a dragon, but as her fingers instinctively found themselves wrapped around the dragon fang she wore around her neck, she thought better of such a callous joke. The dragon fang was linked by a silver ring to a choker around Rarity’s neck. Unlike the rest of her armory, there were no spells cast on it, no enchantments or benefits of any kind. It was just a reminder. “I think that’s everything,” Rarity whispered, thinking aloud as she finished taking stock of her equipment in the corner of the tiny smithy. “I should hope so,” Applejack chuckled, and she didn’t see the bemused glance Rarity shot her as her eyes were glued to her work desk, as she sorted through piles of scrolls and parchments detailing what Rarity hoped were the names and orders of her shop’s various clients, but she knew were mostly likely debts and payments to be made. “There’s no such thing as over-prepared, Applejack,” Rarity insisted, flicking a hand through her illustrious mane, taking a moment to appreciate its volume and fullness as she let her hand glide through it down to her shoulder. “Relax,” Applejack said, “I’m just teasin’ ya, Rares.” “Rarity! Rarity!” Pinkie Pie came bouncing into the shop and quickly grabbed hold of Rarity’s arm and relentlessly tugged on it, though the tiny pink puffball had no real chance of moving the unicorn who was half-again as tall as her. “Are you ready to go? Cuz I’m ready to gogogo!” Applejack spoke up before Rarity could reply, looking up from her work desk to admonish Pinkie, “Huntin’ isn’t a game, Pinkie Pie. It’s dangerous.” “I know that,” Pinkie groaned, no doubt tired of hearing Applejack’s scolding for the millionth time, “but I finally get to go on a real adventure and see what the Hunt is all about, and just in time for me to take the Exam next year! Can you blame me for being excited?” “Rest assured,” this time Rarity was sure to speak quickly before Applejack’s admittedly reasonable concern could exacerbate tensions between the two earth ponies, “it will be a grand time for both of us, but I will be doing the actual hunting part alone, thank you very much.” Rarity’s words, while aimed at Pinkie, were intended more for Applejack’s benefit, and she seemed to appreciate them, as she returned to her scroll sorting with nothing more than a small huff and dismissive frown. “I know, Rarity,” Pinkie giggled, “and I’m not gonna put myself in any danger—I’m not stupid, after all—” Pinkie glared at Applejack and although she still didn’t look up from her desk, Applejack’s pursed lips and scrunched up nose were a good indication that she knew where Pinkie’s comments were aimed. “And anyway,” Pinkie said, “I don’t wanna get in your way. I’m going to say hi to my friends in Ponyville and try to make the folks there feel as safe as possible, but I know that you’re the one who’ll be doing all the heavy lifting. “Still though, if we’re gonna go, we should goooooo already!” Pinkie gave another enthusiastic tug at Rarity’s arm before hopping up and down in place. “Just give me one second, darling,” Rarity said and playfully ruffled Pinkie Pie’s soft and curly hair, eliciting a tiny snort from her. “You go on ahead, and I’ll meet you at the station, okay?” “Alright, but if you take too long, I’ll leave without’cha!” Rarity watched Pinkie as she excitedly bounced out of the shop, bursting with energy that made the older mare—not that Rarity was ‘old’, of course—rather jealous of Pinkie’s enthusiasm. To Rarity, the hunting of timberwolves was no more extraordinary than kicking a pest out of the yard, but to Pinkie, it was an adventure. Rarity thought about when she was a child and she accompanied her parents on a mission for the first time, and how excited she was… or at least, how excited she must have been. Truth be told, Rarity couldn’t recall the exact events of that day, or how she felt. It was simply too long ago— almost twenty years— and after having her life slowly consumed by the Hunt over that time, she realized that the idea of hunting being anything more than a familiar drudgery was completely alien to her. “I know I don’t gotta say it,” Applejack’s brusque words broke Rarity out of her trance and she snapped to attention, “but just make sure she doesn’t get hurt, alright?” “Of course,” Rarity said, her voice barbed with contempt at the idea that she should even need to be told such an obvious thing. “I would no sooner let Pinkie Pie get hurt than my own sister, Applejack.” “I know, I know.” Applejack sighed bitterly and, in a manner most unbefitting of such a strong mare, cradled her face in her hands and gripped tightly at her temples, her face marred by a pained frown that made Rarity’s heart weep. Rarity found herself instinctively clutching at the dragon fang around her neck and looking at the musty black cowboy hat hanging by the door of Applejack’s workspace, an item she hadn’t worn since her own short-lived days as a Slayer. Rarity walked over to Applejack’s work desk and gently placed her hands over Applejack’s, who recoiled at first before slowly lowering her hands onto the desk and looked up at Rarity’s eyes. “You need to trust me, darling,” Rarity placed a hand on Applejack’s cheek, “and you need to trust Pinkie Pie, as well.” “I know,” Applejack took Rarity’s hand in both of hers and removed it from her cheek, lowering it onto the desk. She clung to Rarity’s hand for a moment like she didn’t want Rarity to leave, but Rarity slipped her hand out from Applejack’s grip, brushing her fingers across the back of Applejack’s hand once more for good measure, and then headed out the door after Pinkie Pie. Rarity wished she could have simply stayed by Applejack’s side and comforted her— perhaps be comforted by her in return, as well— but there was work to be done, and work took priority over everything. Such was the life of a Celestial Slayer.