An amethyst pony with a welding mask on stood in front of a forge. She was pressing down on a bellower making the flames grow. Using a pair of tongs, she grasped a stone cup full of silver ore, and placed it into the fire. Again, she pressed down on the bellower. After a few moments, she pulled the cup out of the fire. Its contents were poured into a circular mold about the size of a pony’s wrist. Liquid silver moved through the mold. With a different pair of tongs, she grasped the mold and carefully headed for a nearby trough of water.
“Hi Blinkie!” a voice behind her screamed.
“Gah!” the pony jumped in surprise and dropped the mold. The liquid silver flew from the mold into the water. Sizzling could be heard and steam rose from the trough. Both the intruder and the pony looked at the water.
“Oops,” the intruder said. “I’m sorry.” The masked pony sighed and lifted her welding mask. She looked to the intruder with a smile on her face. The intruder was a bright shade of pink with a poofy mane. At her sides were a pair of saddlebags.
“Hello Pinkie,” she said. “It’s nice of you to visit.” Pinkie was focusing on the water. Blinkie used the tongs to pull a mangled pile of silver from the water. Steam was rising from it.
“Don’t worry about this,” she placed the silver back into the cup. “I can always remake it. What’s up?”
“I need a ring made,” she answered. “This ring is very special.” Blinkie reached for a notebook.
“Alright, I can do that,” she began scribbling in the book. “Can you give me any specific characteristics that you want this ring to have?”
“I think you’re misunderstanding me,” Pinkie said. “This ring is special. I’d like to make it myself.” Blinkie stopped. She looked into her sister’s eyes. In them were determination and a strong feeling of love. A knowing smile appeared on her face.
“I see,” the notebook closed itself. “Who’s the special pony?” Pinkie shuffled her hooves.
“Her name is Twilight Sparkle,” her eyes became glassy. “She’s smart, she’s beautiful, and most importantly, she makes me smile. Not in the way I make ponies smile, in a different way. It’s like a gentle nudge compared to my dragging. I’d like her to stand by my side.” Blinkie placed her welding mask on her work table.
“She must make you really happy if you want that,” Pinkie nodded. “Have you got anything that you want to add to this ring?” Pinkie reached into her saddlebags. She pulled out what looked like a small lily made out of diamond. In the center of the lily was a small amethyst. At the base of the flower were four gems circling it: a ruby, a topaz, an emerald, and a sapphire. Blinkie’s eyes widened.
“Pinkie, this is beautiful! Where did you get this?” the pink pony giggled.
“I made it,” she answered. “I got a friend of mine to help me find the gems I needed. I had this design in my head for a while, but had no way to create it. I could have commissioned somepony to do it for me, but it wouldn’t be as special. So I met with a jeweler and asked her to teach me to cut gems.”
“I’d say that jeweler taught you well, I suppose you want this attached to the ring?” Pinkie nodded. “What would you like it to be made out of?” The diamond flower was placed back into her bag.
“Gold, engagement rings are traditionally made of gold right?” her sister giggled.
“Yes, yes they are,” Blinkie walked to a wall with tools on it. She reached for two mining hats; one was placed on her head. “If you want this to be special, you’re going to have to find the ore yourself. After we find enough ore, I’ll teach you how to forge a ring. Sound good?” Pinkie put on the hat and nodded. The two of them exited the Blinkie’s workshop.
“Could you teach me to write inscriptions as well?”
“Sure. Out of curiosity, what are you planning to inscribe on the ring?” Pinkie chuckled.
“I’ve been accused of being a lunatic, by both my friends and Twilight. Twilight says it jokingly though. But I think she’s right. So I’m going to write ‘amantes sunt ametes’ on the ring.” Blinkie cocked her head in confusion.
“And that means?” Pinkie smiled.
“Lovers are lunatics.”