"Come on Spike," Twilight said as she and her assistant trucked along. "We need to get this done so we can get back to Canterlot and convince the princess of Nightmare Moon's imminent return."
"Twilight I'm all for a good scary story but aren't you taking this a bit far," Spike raised an eyebrow. "I mean... you of all ponies should know better than to put stock in fairy tails."
"I know but this isn't just some fairy tail Spike," Twilight whirled around on her heels. "I know it's facts. I found several books in the Canterlot Library detailing different aspects of the fight between the princess and Nightmare Moon. So we need to finish this to do ASAP so we can get back. Graa... why would she send me here to oversee the final preparations of the Summer Sun Celebration and when Equestria's greatest evil is said to return. It makes no sense!"
"Maybe because Nightmare Moon is an old foal's tale meant to scare fillies and colts in line to keep them from steal cookies at night," Spike snarked. "And because it shows how much mom trusts you. So let's get our priorities straight first," he said blowing some green fire as a scroll and quill appeared from it. "Let's see here... First, we need to tend check-in with all the ponies overseeing the individual events and... Huh?"
"What?" Twilight quickly turned around. 'Did the princess change her mind and decide to hear me out?!" she remarked excitedly.
"Not at all," Spike deadpanned. "She says here that you should also try and make some friends while you're here."
"WHAT?!" Twilight said in outright shock causing a few ponies to turn their heads at the outburst, particularly a pegasus with a very light ice blue coat and a mane and tail of shimmering sapphire with teal streaks. "She must think I spend too much time in the library to put that on there! I have friends!"
"Twilight," Spike deadpanned with half-lidded eyes. "Who are your friends? List them off here and now, just three of your closest ponies other than me, Shiny, your parents, and Mom. Me and mom don't count because we're technically extended-family. So list now go!" He pointed at the lavender mare.
"Um... let's see..." Twilight rubbed her chin. "Well, there's Dewy."
"The librarian doesn't count," Spike waved his finger. "You barely ever speak to Dewy other than to see what books are in and new."
"Moon Dancer!" She snapped with a smile.
"And when was the last time you two had an actual conversation outside passing in the library?" Spike placed his hands on his sides with a raised eyebrow.
"Um... her birthday last month, "Twilight nervously chuckled.
"Her birthday is two months away Twi," Spike deadpanned again.
"Okay so I don't have much of a social life," Twilight threw her hands up. "Urgh... let's just get done with the list so we can get back to what really matters! What's first?"
"Fine..." Letting out a defeated sight Spike held up the list. "Let's see here... First, we have to... Oh, look a local say hello at least Twi."
An uber pink mare trotted up to the duo, "Ah... hello.'" Twilight gave a nervous grin and slow-wave.
*GASP!* ZOOM! Went the pink mare as she flew off through the air.
"Ooookay..." Spike raised an eyebrow. "So.... the list says the first thing is to check on the food. Prepped by the Apple family. There's no address, it only says go to the farm."
"That's preposterous, let me see!" Twilight snatched the list with her match. "That is what it says," She said flatly. "HOW THE HAY ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FIND A FARM IN A TOWN WE JUST CAME TO!"
"Um... excuse me."
"I mean it's a town, so we should be able to see it from the air but I DIDN'T SEE ONE!"
"EXCUSE ME!" Came a melodically loud voice knocking the dragon and mare on their butts. The duo turned their heads around to see and the earlier staring blue mare. Spike immediately got hearts in his eyes while Twilight shook her head to stop the ringing in her ears. "Sorry about that but you were making a scene and fools of yourselves," The mare helped Twilight to her hooves and dusted her off then helped Spike up. "I overheard the part where you were supposed to go to the Apple farm."
"Do you know where it is?" Twilight pleaded.
"Mhm..." The mare nodded. "They're my next neighbor's. We actually live outside the town on the edge of the forest." She pointed to the town leading.
"You're pretty..." Spike remarked while pointing at the mare.
"Why thank you little gentle," The mare gave a slight bow.
"Wait a sec..." Spike shook off his love struckedness. "You know I'm a dragon and you're... not scared of me..."
"No," The mare tilted her head. "Should I be? I mean I haven't seen any dragons other than you since coming to town. Are they not common here?"
"No," Twilight said in shock. "Dragons are more or less a mystery to ponies. Wait you said 'common here'" She lifted an eyebrow then thought it over before getting super excited. "Does that mean you come from a place where you have dragons as a common appearance?" She got in the mares face quickly before being thrown on her back "Ow..."
"Oh I'm so sorry!" the mare pulled Twilight to her hooves again. "Reflexes," she said sheepishly.
There was a sudden whoosh and a new pegasus mare with prismatic mane and tail appeared. "Are these guys giving you trouble Crystal?" she said in a raspy voice as she squinted at Twilight and Spike.
"No Rainbow they're fine," Crystal waved her hands in front of herself. "She just got too excited and shot in front of me and I reacted on instinct."
"Oh, okay. So you just flipped her," Rainbow backed off. "Sorry about that, I was clearing the sky when I saw you guys down here. Rainbow Dash, Ponyville's current weather team leader and fastest most awesome pony in all Equestria, not to mention future Wonderbolt."
"Aren't the Wonderbolts the top of the top?" Spike pointed out.
"It's why I said 'future Wonderbolt' little dude," Rainbow gave air quotes. "Well, I gotta get back to work. I would normally be done in ten seconds but we have the whole team today so... eh... Later Crystal," she saluted then zoomed off a rainbow trailed after her.
"She's... ah... yea..," Spike turned to Crystal, "So you think you can take us to the Apple's Farm if it's not too much trouble?"
"No issue at all my kind drake," Crystal smiled causing Spike to blush slightly. "I was heading back home anyways, and we live literally next door to the Apples."
"You think we can hear about some of those dragons from where you used to live?" Twilight asked" "Oh yea," she bopped herself on the side of the head. "My name's Twilight Sparkle, personal protege of Princess Celestia. And this is her adopted son and my number one Assistant..."
"Spike Forgorn Everfree Drake, at your service my lady," Spike gave a deep bow while Twilight shook her head.
"Royals," Crystal scratched the back of her head. "That's a first," Recomposing herself she cleared her throat and spoke clearly. "My name is Crystal Hymn and I am from Stalliongrad. I just moved here to town about a week ago, but if you'll follow me I'll take you to the farm and share some information about the dragons of the north."
"Great," Twilight smileI' This so awesome! Tartarus yea, new knowlegde! A Nordic pegasus and she knows about dragons! Perhaps this trip won't be a waste after all
After a while of hearing the stories of Crystal Hymn, the trio arrive at eh Hammer homestead. They all walked on a quaint little property with a barn and home on it. A trail of smoke coming from the smokestack of the house and another from behind the barn.
"So this where we live," Crystal motioned around. "I just have to drop these off in the house," she held a bag of groceries, "and speak with Mystic Hammer, and then I'll take you two to see the Apples. Feel free to look around but be careful," She flapped off to the house.
A scent caught Spike's attention, " Hmm... something smells good..." He said as he sniffed the air and while his mouth watered, he decided to wander off to the source of the smell, entranced by it.
Catching the lavender mare's attention was a large bear sauntering around with a bucket full of what sounded like pieces of metal, "Uh... well... that's something I've never seen before." She raised an eyebrow, "What do you make of it Spike?" She looked to her side. "Spike, where are you going?" She rushed after the dragon.
*BANG!*
"Woooooooow!" Spike said in awe at what he saw before him.
"Spike I know Crystal said we could look around but I don't... think.." Twilight started to scold the drake but was caught off by the melodic tones of a hammer on hot steel. "Wow... so pretty..."
*Bang!*
A heavy sledgehammer with a handle towards the back and most of the metal of the head forward was in the pony's right hand beat down on a bright orange piece of steel being held on a heavy anvil with a pair of long metal tongs. Sparks and scale flew in every direction with each it. Each blew sounded as if it were an entire symphony all its own. There standing at a hammer in hand stood a ponies glowing bright orange, red, white, and blue as the fire he was standing next to. The silver mane and tail moved and shimmered with each strike as if they were made of flames. The eyes of the pony were cover by thick black goggles and the body cover with a thick leather apron. The pony's arms were covered with thick sleeves and heavy leather gloves.
*BANG!*
"Beautiful..." Twilight commented, while catching the pony's attention was on the bear with the bucket of metal in its mouth from earlier sauntered up.
"Hmm..." The pony looked up from his forge as he placed the hot piece of metal in the barrel of oil next to him, it hissed and boiling instantly from the heat. Pulling it out it was revealed to be a shovelhead. "Hmm...." the pony looked over the work. "Need better light," he said in a masculine tone while he turned around to see Twilight and Spike standing there in awe. "Hello there, how can I help you two?" Looking over his shoulder to the bear. "Just leave them there Grover, thank you," the bear set down the bucket and then stared and opened his mouth. The stallion tossed Grover a treat and the bear then walked off happily smacking his lips. "Back to you two."
"Oh, I'm so sorry we were so caught up in watching you work, my name's Twilight Sparkle, and this my little brother slash assistant Spike," Twilight introduced the two of them.
"Give me a moment," the stallion held up a hand as he then undresses himself from his work attire and cleaned off the soot from his face. Coming out he reveals himself to have shining silver hair and a white coat and horn. "That's better," he pushed his goggles up to reveal a set of burning golden eyes. Overall his body was very toned but Twilight noted that if he were approached from behind before he'd spoken she would've thought her was a mare, yet she couldn't shake the feeling of... familiarity. "So Twilight and Spike, why are you here?"
"Crystal brought us out here cause your neighbors are the Apple family," Spike spoke up. "Sorry but I swore I smell cooking gems in there. This is a blacksmith forge but yet I smell roast gems of all kinds," his mouth water.
"So you're a drake," the stallion state down on a barrel with a stern look on his face.
"I'm sorry we interrupted your work Mr..." Twilight apologized again with a bow
"Bright, Bright Stone is my name," Bright Stone crossed his arms. "As for my work, I'm quite used to your reactions after the last few years of creatures walking in on me while I'm doing it. As for interrupting it, I just finished it. As for you young drake," His gaze shifted to Spike. "I am a blacksmith but I also set gemstones into my works and forge gemstone weapons."
"I feel like I have heard of somepony like you before point," Twilight leaned over to look at the smith better.
"Hard to have met somepony that just moved to town a week ago and one that only just arrived from Canterlot," The stallion let out a snort as he stood up.
"How'd you know we're from Canterlot?" Spike raised an eyebrow.
"You both stink of high-end perfume and posh living," Bright stood up. "Come to me for a commission or something? Cause as it stands I'm just the local smith and not taking requests from nobles," he scowled.
"Sure we're from Canterlot but we're not nobles," Spike scrunched his face. "Well... Twi isn't," Twilight looked like she'd just been slapped with a fart. "But she might as well be with her being Mom's personal student." He scratched his head.
"Do forgive me for being rude then," Bright rolled his eyes. "Who is your teacher Ms. Sparkle?"
"How do you not know who her teacher is?" Spike threw his arms up.
"Spike... they're from Stalliongrad remember..." Twilight got on to the little drake. "Sorry about him. He's loyal and can be somewhat defensive due to his nature as a drake.
"I'm well aware of the drake's honor code Ms. Sparkle," Bright crossed his arms again. "Now who are you and why are you here?"
"Like I said we're here to see the Apple Family about the Summer Sun Celebration's food." Twilight explained. "Crystal Hymn brought us here cause you're their neighbors and we're new here. As for who I am, I am the personal student of Princess Celestia and Spike is my little brother and her adopted son."
"Alright then," Bright shrugged off the annoyance of Sparkle.
"You're... not gonna.. bow to us?" Spike said genuinely at a loss for words.
"Why would I bow to a student and her adopted brother," Bright said in disinterest as he walked into the barn and changed out of his dirty clothes and into his armor and cloak and personal armor. Walking back out he went over to a nearby wall and looked through the long-handled hammers and selected one. "I never cared for nobles growing up in the mountains. We were often overlooked as a Mountain settlement. Sure, my family was much better off than most of the other common ponies but the nobles kept to themselves and only turned to us for when they needed something pretty for themselves or the others in their inner circles." He leaned the hammer on his shoulder revealing his cutie-mark a white diamond on a golden shield with a fire below it and a pair of blacksmith tongs holding one corner of the shield and a sledgehammer beating in the other side setting the gem in place with sparks flying off the strike and the symbol on his breastplate.
"Now I remember," Twilight pointed at the symbol on Bright's chest. "You're the legendary blacksmith of the Reach. I recognize you're symbol from a piece of armor commissioned by a noble and given to the Princess a few years ago."
Spike's jaw dropped. "He's the child of the Conductor. The Most Beautiful Pony Blacksmith... is a dude!"
"Congrats, you found out my secret identity," Bright gave a mock clap. "And keep your big mouths shut about it," He demanded quickly pointing a sledgehammer at the dup. "We came here to get away from... personal reasons and I have a hard enough time keeping things quiet at home. I just want to be a normal blacksmith for a while, if only for a bit." He picked up the shovelhead. "Come on I 'll take you to the Apples, have to drop this shovelhead off anyways." he walked off.
"Shouldn't we tell the upper class he's here?" Spike raised an eyebrow as he looked to Twilight. "I mean his skills are legendary, he'd make a fortune," "He whispers.
"Leave him alone Spike," Twilight held her hand over her chest. "His eyes... they looked so sad. Like his been through a lot. I think it's best we leave him alone. Let's go, we have a job to do."
