//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Steel Apples // by Silentpegasus //------------------------------// Chapter 8. The five ponies were waiting in the hospital lobby hoping that heir friend’s were okay. Rainbow and Rarity were doing their best to comfort Applejack that was sobbing in the corner. The doctor soon came out to the five ponies, suddenly two stallions stepped into the hospital and joined the group, one of them wasFancy Pants and the other one was a red earth pony with a sword for cutie mark. Fancy took a moment to apologize for being late. “Doctor are they going to be alright?” Twilight said as the other ponies trotted to her side. “Ms. Pinkie Pie only has a cracked rib and will be up and about in a few days.” “What about Steel?” Applejack said through the sobs. “He had the worst of it I’m afraid. His right cheek bone is shattered, his skull is cracked which is causing massive swelling in his brain and his right hoof has permanent nerve damage.” Applejack then broke down in tears Rainbow took her aside. “I’m so sorry but he has forty-sixty chance at recovery and even then severe brain damage is expected. Honestly it’s nothing short of a miracle that he’s still alive.” the doctor said to the now teary eyed Twilight. The doctor then left the ponies who had all started to sob. Fancy pants was close to tears as well, the red earth pony walked over to the sobbing orange mare. “Who’re you?” Rainbow said to the strange stallion. “My name is Iron Sword, I’m Steel Hammers mentor.” “Why’re you here?” Applejack said through the sobs. “To help my pupil. Did one of you grab the hammer that was used?” he said as he ran his gaze over the mares. “Yeah, I did.” Rainbow said as she withdrew the hammer. Iron took it from her and began to look it over, a smile spread across his face. “Steel should be just fine.” he said with a laugh. The other ponies were now looking at him as though he had grown an extra head. “What are you talking about? Did you hear the doctor’s diagnosis?” Twilight said. “What’s Steel Hammers’ room number?” Iron asked the nurse. “It’s C25 but you can’t-” she was cut off by Iron walking past her. The other ponies followed him with haste to the room. As they opened the door they saw a familiar pink mare laying down half asleep and on the next bed over was a familiar grey unicorn strapped up to a series of machines. Iron walked over to him and put the black ox on the foot of the bed and went over to his apprentice and began to examine him. “Yeah, he’s should be just fine.” at this Applejack couldn’t hold back any longer she marched up to the red stallion and slapped him across the face with her hoof so hard it left an imprint. “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU? YOU’RE HIS MENTOR, STEEL LOOKS UP TO YOU LIKE A FATHER AND NOW SEEING HIM HERE LIKE THIS ALL YOU CAN SAY IS ‘HE’S GONNA BE FINE.’ WELL A’HM LOKING AT HIM NOW AND HE DOESN’T LOOK FINE!!” Applejack screamed as tears were poring down her face. “You must be Applejack his mare friend, and the reason why I’m like this is because I think I can cure him!” he said as he rubbed his cheek where the orange mare had slapped him. “How can you do that when the doctors have tried every thing?” Rainbow said with puzzled look. “Steel’s a forge master, forge masters have this little trick for healing serious injuries by storing some of their power inside their tools, so they should be able to heal him." “Should?” Twilight said with a condescending look. “This process is a bit...risky. If it doesn’t work then he could die.” Iron said looking down at the bed. “But if it does work, then he’ll be the same as he ever was.” “So, let me get this straight. If it works then he’ll come back, if it doesn’t he’ll die and if we sit and do nothing then he’ll be vegetable for the rest of his life.” Twilight said as she scratched her mane. “In a nut shell, yes.” Iron said as he looked over the faces of the ponies crowded into the tiny room. “Listen, his letters said that you guys are his best friends so if you want to take the risk then you have my support.” Iron said looking back at his student. “Mine as well.” Fancy said to the group of mares. Twilight and the other girls looked at Applejack who had finally stopped crying. “Are you sure that this thing can bring him back?” “Theres a possibility, yes.” “Than theres nothing left to talk about. Do it!” Applejack said as she got up and trotted over to her colt friends side. “Alright, It’ll take some time. Fancy I need you to go to his shop and find a hammer. It’s a black hammer it should be in a black wooden box.” “I’ll depart immediately.” Fancy said as he galloped out the door. “What should we do?” Rainbow said to the red stallion. “It looks like your pink friend is awake.” Iron said as he pointed to the pink blob that was starting to wake up and look over to the group of ponies. The four friends then trotted over to Pinkie Pie. Pinkie began to tell them about to fight between Steel and Thunderlane and his goons. “Why that son of a bitch! I’m gonna destroy him.” Rainbow said with fire in her eyes. The other mares managed to calm her down. Iron then walked over to Applejack who was still by Steel’s side. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” “S-sure.” AJ said reluctantly. The two trotted outside the hospital room and sat down in the lobby. “Listen Ah’m really sorry about hitting you earlier. It’s just that I love Steel and I...” Applejack was cut off by Iron. “You have nothing to apologize for, I was only putting on that attitude back in there to reassure Fancy, to be honest I’m scared to death of what might happen to him.” Iron said as tears began to form in his eyes. “Steel is like a son to me, I was there when he got his cutie mark, when he graduated from school and when he showed talent in forging I took him under my wing. When I saw your reaction, I could tell that you love him.” “So can you help him?” “I believe so, I hope so, not just for our sake but for Fancy’s as well. Stallions’ already lost his sister, Steel is his only connection to her he has left.” “How did Steel’s mom die?” Applejack asked as she wiped the tears away. “He didn’t tell you? I guess you deserve to know. Steel was working on the forge when a strange looking stallion came in and bought one of the daggers Steel had made. Later that night his family went out to see a play, on the way back they were ambushed and his mother was killed right in front of him. Luckily a guard was nearby and managed to subdue the stallion before he did anything else. The stallion was the same one that bought the dagger form the shop earlier that day. Since that day Steel never crafted another weapon and has felt guilty ever since.” Iron finished the story and looked back towards the orange mare. “Ah-ah never knew he felt so guilty. It wasn’t his fault it’s not like he stabbed her.” Applejack said as she tried to calm the situation. “True, but he feels guilty that something he made had ended another ponies life. A forge master must take responsibility for their creations, that’s the burden all forge masters share.” he said as he put a hoof on Applejacks shoulder. “I’m glad he met you.” Fancy Pants then burst through the hospital doors carrying a black wooden box with his magic. Iron took the box and went back inside the room Applejack and Fancy followed close behind. Iron set the box on the foot of the bed and looked at every-pony else with a flat look on his face. “Now, we begin.” Authors note: Brony of Truth, you called it.