Smith looked around the corner to the interior of the workshop. They’d been arguing since before he’d showed up, and he had no idea how much longer it was going to go on. Then again, it wasn’t often he saw his boss and a member of royalty fight.
“Your highness, the answer is no!” Ironshod turned away, the grey earth pony trying his best to keep calm. “I will not be known as the stallion who endangered his princess!”
Luna sighed. Half an hour of arguing and she was still getting nowhere. “My sister and I are not made of glass, Ironshod. We have lived for millennia, and faced foes the likes of which exist no longer. I personally fought half the demons sealed in Tartarus to this day. And I did so in armour crafted by a master smith, your predecessor. It is presumptuous of you to tell me what I can and cannot do.” As Ironshod paused for a moment, Luna struck. “You would be the first to create a set of armour meant for a princess in generations,” she added, trying to appeal to his sense of pride and ego.
“I’m already responsible for every set of armour the guards have used for the past ten years. Personal glory isn’t important to me,” he argued back. “Besides, I’m already responsible for the dozen suits of Knight armour, the most magically advanced personal protection Equestria has ever seen.”
“Yes, I am aware of that,” Luna cut in calmly. “I personally went over the designs myself to make sure that it was viable. I even added the retractable hoofblades some of them have.”
The blacksmith blinked. “Oh. I thought the prince was being vindictive when he showed me that.”
“No, it was me being practical. Sometimes, blunt force isn’t enough in a close quarters combat situation.” Luna looked around the workshop for the tenth time. “And surely it wouldn’t be a challenge for a stallion of your skills to use the materials here and make me something.” Her eyes stopped when she caught sight of a beaked head poking around a frame. “You there, griffon, what is your opinion?”
“You ain’t bringing Smith into this,” Ironshod interjected angrily. “He’s only my assistant - ”
“And his input is just as valuable as anyone elses’,” the princess countered.
Smith nervously stepped forwards and looked between his boss and the alicorn. “Well, your highness, um...” He took a deep breath. “The soldiers would no doubt be honoured to have you grace the battlefield with your presence and fight beside them. What’s more, you have centuries of experience, and that’s a resource we’d be stupid to ignore.”
“Exactly. I may be out of practice, but my experience shall more than make up for any shortcomings.” She turned to the earth pony, who groaned.
“I can’t see any way out of this,” he grumbled. “Smith!” he barked. “Get the measuring tape!”
“Measuring tape?” The princess watched as the griffon disappeared into a store room.
“If I’m gonna be making you a set of armour, your highness, then it’s gonna be a good set of armour,” he stated. “Smith! Hurry up, boy!”
“It’s not in here!” the griffon yelled back.
“It should be!” Ironshod shouted. “Look harder!”
“After this, I wish to spar with several griffons,” Luna calmly stated.
“You sure about that?” Ironshod looked at her worriedly. “They won’t go easy on you.”
“Which is exactly what I want. There is no point in fighting if you are given a victory,” she said, glaring at a wall.
“Are you sure you’re not a griffon, your majesty?” Smith asked jokingly, stepping out of the storeroom with his goal in his clutches.
“Seeing I was partly responsible for helping the warchiefs of old unite, I am in fact an honorary Aerie Reckoner.” Luna sighed before going on. “A shame this title is no longer recognised.” She calmly held her wing out so the pair could go about their work.