Chapter 3
Steel woke up and glanced over at the calendar it read Saturday the twenty fourth.
Ugh, what am I doing up? Saturday’s are my day off.
He decided to try and go back to sleep, he couldn’t. Steel decided to open the newspaper and began reading. He glanced at the clock, 9:15 AM. Steel put the paper down and trotted out the door into Ponyville. He dropped by the library to pay Twilight a visit. As he entered the library he noticed that the lavender unicorn had company, the marshmallow white unicorn Rarity.
“Hey Twi, hi Rarity.” he said as he walked over to the two mares.
“Steel, how wonderful to see you dear.” the white unicorn said with glee. “What brings you to the library?”
“Just decided to pop by for a visit.”
“Well good timing, I was going to ask if you would like to go star gazing with us tonight.” Twilight said as she used her magic to levitate a book.
“Sorry girls but I have a date tonight.” he said with a small blush on his face. Rarity’s jaw hit the floor, and Twilight lost her concentration and sent the book falling to the ground.
“WHAT?!” both mares exclaimed.
“I have a date tonight.” he said again as he raised an eyebrow.
“How long have you been dating?” Rarity asked.
“Tonights our first date.” he said with a grin.
“Come darling we must help you prepare.” Rarity said as she took Steel by the hoof and dragged him out the library with Twilight following close behind.
“Rarity, I don’t thinks thats necessary, it’s just a calm, casual date.”
“How many dates have you been on?” she asked as she eyed him with a condescending look. Steel’s just realized that this was his first ‘real’ date. “I thought as much. Now let’s get you cleaned up.” she said as she opened the doors to her boutique.
“So who’s the lucky mare?” Twilight asked
"Applejack."
“What’s that?”
“Applejack.”
“Didn’t quite catch that.”
“Applejack.”
“Oh for the love of Celestia, just spit it out already.” Rarity said with aggravation in her voice.
“I’m going out with Applejack!” he said loudly while blushing. Rarity and Twilight’s expressions were a mix of excitement and shock.
“Oh the two of you would make such a cute couple.” Rarity said as she laughed in delight.
“Yes, and I would appreciate it if you kept it on the down low.” he said as he eyed the two mares.
“Mums the word.” Twilight said as she made a zipper closing motion over her mouth.
“Of course, not a word.” rarity said as she went through the traditional Pinkie Promise motions. “So tell me darling, where are you two going tonight?”
“Sugar Cube Corner.” he said as the two mares looked back at him with a scared look on their face.
“ARE YOU CRAZY!?” Twilight exclaimed.
“What? It’s a nice place.”
“That’s not the problem dear.” Rarity said.
“Then what IS the problem?”
“I believe that it’s pink colored and has a spring in it’s step.” Steel then understood what she meant.
“Pinkie Pie.” he said as the two mares nodded in agreement. “How could I have over looked that?” he said as he face hoofed.
“It’s alright darling. We’ll help you.” Rarity said as she put a hoof on Steel’s shoulder.
“We?” Twilight said.
“Yes, you and I are going to be on Pinkie control while Steel is with Applejack.”
“No, I can’t ask you to do that, I’ll just reschedule.”
“NO! If it’s one thing a mare hates it’s having a date rescheduled.” Rarity said with an angered look in her eye.
“Alright, fine you can help me, just be discreet.”
“Of course.” Twilight said. “So when is this date?”
“7:00 PM.”
“Excellent, that should give us just enough time to prepare.” Rarity said with an eager look in her eye.
“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” Steel said as the two mares converged on him.
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Across town at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was working hard, her head filled with thoughts of a certain unicorn blacksmith. She was as giddy as a school filly. With her head in the clouds she didn’t notice a certain cyan colored pegasus trot up next to her.
“Hey Applejack what’s up?”
“Oh, nothing Rainbow.” she said with a heavy sigh of happiness.
“You okay AJ? You seem kind of goofy.” Rainbow said as she cocked an eyebrow.
“I’m fine hun. I’m just excited is all.”
“Excited about what?” Applejack then began to giggle, she drew her friend close.
“Promise not to tell any-pony?”
“Sure, what is it?” Rainbow said as she listened close.
“Pinkie promise?”
“Fine! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! Now tell me what’s got you in such a good mood!” Applejack drew her friend closer and whispered.
“I gotta date tonight.” Applejack said as she blushed in delight.
“WHAT!? WITH WHO?” the cyan mare exclaimed in anticipation.
“Steel Hammer, the unicorn who works the forge in town.” she said with a giggle.
“Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh! He is such a good catch!”
“Ah know! Tonight were going to Sugar Cube Corner and-” Applejack was cut off by a frightened Rainbow Dash.
“WHAT! WHY ARE YOU GOING THERE OF ALL PLACES?”
“Why not?”
“Have you lost it! Who works at Sugar cube corner?”
“Well there’s Mr. Cake, Mrs. Cake and Pink-......Oh sweet Celestia.” Applejack said as she just realized the issue.
“Now do you see? If Pinkie sees you two on a date, you can bet your hat that she’s gonna wanna throw some big party!”
“Well, maybe she won’t this time.” she said with a weak grin.
“AJ we BOTH know how Pinkie gets.” Dash said with a blank look on her face.
“Yer right, I guess I’ll tell him to cancel.” Applejack said as her ears dropped in disappointment. Rainbow then rushed in front of her friend
“Wait, what if I help you out?”
“Girl, what in the hay are you talking about?” AJ said as she tilted her head in confusion.
“You just focus on Steel and I’ll deal with Pinkie Pie.” she said putting a hoof around her friends shoulder. Applejack grinned at the offer.
“You mean it RD?”
“Course I mean it! I’m not gonna let my best friends first date be ruined. I just want details afterwards. Deal?” Dash said as she held out a hoof.
“Deal.” AJ said as she shook the cyan hoof.
“Great! When are you two going to Sugar Cube Corner?”
“7:00 PM.”
“Great, I’ll see you there and don’t worry about Pinkie you got the best flyer in Equestria helping you out.” Rainbow said as she took flight and shot off into the sky. With that Applejack couldn’t wait until tonight.
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“Well darling how do you feel?” Rarity asked gleaming at her ensemble, she had put Steel in.
“Ridiculous.” Steel said with a huff as he said looking at the the light blue jacket and the insane hair style she had selected. “If I had wanted to dress up like a pony with a superiority complex I would have stayed in Canterlot.” he said as he took the outfit off.
“You’re from Canterlot?” Twilight said in surprise.
“Yeah, born and raised unfortunately.” he said with a low grumble.
“What made you come here?” Rarity asked chiming into the conversation.
“Wanted to get out of the city, find a small town and start my forging business.” he said as he started to mess up his mane.
“Ya know there was a forge in Canterlot run by a really nice stallion his name was...”
“Iron Sword.” Steel finished.
“Yeah, you know him?”
“He’s the stallion that taught me everything I know about forging. I’m surprised that you know him though, he prefers to keep a very low profile.” he said as he eyed the lavender mare.
“Well, when my brother, Shining Armor got promoted to captain of the guard he had Iron Sword make special armor for him.” she said with a smile.
“Your Shining’s sister? I recall him saying that his sister moved to some small town. Didn’t know it was this one.” he said with a chuckle.
“Small world isn’t it?” Rarity said.
“Yes, and Rarity thanks for your help but I think I’ll skip the outfit this time.” he said with a weak grin. Rarity’s lower lip started to quiver.
Oh great she’s gonna cry. Gotta find a compromise.
Steel’s eyes darted around the room until he saw a small black bow tie. “But, I’ll sport this bow tie. Bow ties are cool.” he said with a grin as he put it around his neck. Rarity smiled in approval.
Whew, crisis averted.
Twilight then took a step forward.
“Now that we have that out of the way it’s time to focus on the hard part. Dealing with Pinkie.” she said with a serious tone.
“Right, how are we gonna deal with her?” Rarity said while scratching her mane. Steel racked his brain looking for answers. His gaze drifted to Rarities clock 6:50 PM. Steel’s eyes became the size of pin heads.
“GAH! I’M DUE AT SUGAR CUBE CORNER IN TEN MINUTES!” he hollered.
“WHAT!?” the two mares said as they glanced at the clock and saw he was correct.
“OH NO, OH NO, OH NO!” WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?” Steel said as he started to panic. “I’M GONNA BE LATE! THEN MAKE A COMPLETE IDIOT OUT OF MY SELF AND THEN-” Steel then felt a white hoof slap across his face.
“Thanks Rarity.” he said with a surprise look on his face. “I needed that.” he said as he began to rub the sore spot.
“Anytime darling, now hurry along or you’ll be late! And don’t worry I have a plan for dealing with Pinkie.” she said as she pushed Steel out of the door.
“Thanks guys, I owe you big time!” Steel said as he galloped to Sugar Cube corner with haste. Twilight and Rarity stood there with smiles on their faces waving goodbye.
“You don’t have anything planned do you?”Twilight said as she held the awkward smile.
“Not a damn thing.” Rarity said holding the same expression.
Authors note: Yes, that was a “Doctor Who” reference concerning the bow tie.