Storm tried to get to the forges, she really did. However, it took her about three minutes before she finally admitted to herself that she was completely lost. The castle was a big place after all. She wandered around for a bit until she finally bumped into somepony.
“Ow...” Storm groaned, “Sorry.”
“Don’t be, I was just on ma’ way to the forges.”
“Wait, it’s you again!”
The rusty pony smiled, “Yeah, I just came back from the little fillies room. But what are you doing all the way over here? The forges aren’t that close to the stadium you were practicing in”
“I was told to go to the forges. Some special weapon for me or something.”
The pony looked surprised for a moment, “Oh, a special order? Yeah, everypony in the forges had ta pitch in ta make it. I guess I should have realized it was for you when they mentioned lightnin’.”
“It wasn’t too much trouble was it?” Storm asked, slightly shocked. I hope I wasn’t a burden to anypony.
“Nah, do ya want me to take ya to the forges?” the rusty pony asked, looking a little concerned, “Ya don’t wanna get lost. This castle is buggin' huge!”
“Oh yeah, that’d be awesome. Thanks.” Storm replied, relieved that she wouldn’t have to wander the long hallways, trying to find the forges.
Storm walked with her until they reached a metal door. The rusty pony caught her looking at the door, “It’s flameproof. That way it’s safe in case any...accidents happen.”
“Have any accidents ever happened?” she wondered.
“There’s been some rumours but how should I know? I’m a new recruit too, I just came here today, same time as ya did.”
“Oh...right, I forgot. You already seem so familiar here, while I feel like I barely fit in here at all.
“Nah, well, I guess I’m used to moving around.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, I’m a traveler of sorts.”
“A traveler?”
“Yeah, I never seem to stay in one place too long. I want to stay here though, preferably for more than a week or two.”
Storm was about to reply but was interrupted as the metal doors swung open.
“Recruit, you better not be chatting.” he said gruffly. He squinted at Storm, “Who’s this little lad you brought with you? You can’t just bring random ponies around to the amazing forge.”
He was a pretty intimidating pony but the rusty pony just rolled her eyes and chuckled, “You already said earlier I had good sense when I was better than every other recruit who signed up to be a blacksmith today. You know I brought her here for a good reason. This is the pony who we’re making the special order for.”
“Ah, Miss Electric Storm I presume. Please, come in and prepared to be amazed by the best part of the castle, the forges!”
The rusty pony smiled and whispered in Storm’s ear, “That would be Ironhoof. He likes makin’ everythin’ more dramatic. You get used to it when you spend a few hours ‘round him. He’s really kind, even though he’s a bit loud and extravagant.”
“A bit?” Storm asked, incredulous.
The rusty pony chuckled, “Let’s go before he catches us chatting again. He’s a big believer in hard work.”
Storm and the pony rushed into the forges. The second Storm walked in, her mouth fell open. Hundreds of forges lines the walls, the whole room had an orange glow in it. Ponies sat on metal tables that could move and a few machines got drinks for them. Everypony was laughing and having a good time. They were games with metal cards that had gears that turned in it and game pieces that moved on their own. This is a place ahead of its time. So many machines, some no pony has never seen before.
Ironhoof caught her looking and told her smugly, “Princess Celestia and Luna gather the best blacksmiths around. It’s for the royal princesses after all, the most important ponies in Equestria, or hay, the world.”
“Y-yeah I guess that’d make sense.” I didn’t realize how powerful the princesses were, they get the best of everything.
“And me being the one in charge, I’m the best blacksmith around!”
A few ponies around the forges laughed, including the rusty pony, “Ya ain’t the best blacksmith, just the best ‘bout bossin’ us ‘round.” That earned quite a few hearty guffaws the room while Storm struggled to stay polite and keep her face neutral.
“Careful, recruit or I could demote you.”
“Ya can’t, being the newest recruit I’m already the lowest unless ya want me to be a cleanin’ pony to scrub the tables but you wouldn’t waste that with somepony that has such amazing talent as me.
Ironhoof’s eye twinkled, “Well, maybe I was thinking about promoting you, but with that attitude, maybe I shouldn’t...”
The rusty pony’s eyes momentarily shown with shock and excitement before she quickly hid it under her cool demeanor, “Of course ya were thinking about promoting me, I’m the best blacksmith ‘round.” Storm started to yawn slightly.
Ironhood laughed heartily, “With spunk like that, maybe one day you could surpass me. For now, I’ve still got the title of best blacksmith.”
The rusty pony smiled playfully, “Then I’ll have to wait until that happens. Meanwhile, I think somepony is gettin’ a little impatient.”
Storm went red. I wasn’t that obvious was I?
Ironhoof chuckled once more, “Alright, we shouldn’t keep a customer waiting. Recruit, could you bring the special order over here?” he demanded as he snapped is hooves and a walking table with metal legs scuttled up to him. He cleared off some of the bolts and screws on it as the rusty pony placed something wrapped in an oily cloth on the table.
Storm looked at him, “Well?” Ironhoof asked, “Don’t look at me, it’s for you so you should open it. Happy early or late birthday, I have no idea when your birthday is but I believe you get the point.”
Storm unwrapped the cloth to get a beautiful shining...rod. A hilt to be specific.
“Err...there’s no blade...” Storm speculated,confused. Is this a prank?
“Of course not! Crystal Edge told us you were more of a speed fighter so a heavy blade wouldn’t work for you as most pegasi...flying ponies are. There are some light durable blades but probably not durable enough to withstand your lightning.” Ironhoof responded, rolling his eyes, “But only blacksmiths would no that I guess. That is why blacksmiths are superior to guards. Without weapons, they’re useless."
“First of all, a lot of guards know hoof to hoof combat. Second of all, what do you mean?! My lightning is weaker than static electricity!”
“I’m aware of that. I’m pretty sure that’s the reason why everypony is not running away from the sight of you thanks to the rumours that you were more powerful than Princess Celestia. Somepony told us about the rumours. It was Corda? Corde?”
“Cordial Streak!” Storm exclaimed, making Ironhoof jump slightly.
“Yeah, I think that was it. Green pony right? So you’ve met? Well, I guess that’s how she figured out the rumour was false, though Princess Celestia has also been spreading the word that the rumours are false too. I heard that even Princess Luna is telling some of her Lunar Guards, just in case”
“Really?” The princesses would do that for me? I guess it’s true when they say that the princesses care for everyponies wellbeing.
“Still, if this doesn’t have a blade, how am I supposed to use this thing?” Storm questioned persistently.
“With an magic amplifier.”
“But this hilt is so small-”
“Its a small magic electric amplifier”
“And my power is so weak so-”
“Its a small powerful magic amplifier.”
“And they’re so expensive-”
“The goddesses of the sun and moon are sponsoring us.”
“I...I got nothing.”
“Good, now try channeling all your electrical energy into your hoof again. I know you’re probably doubtful because the lightning thing you do is so weak but just give it a shot.”
“Alright.” Storm sighed. She concentrated everything she had into her hoof. She tried really hard, she really did and then...nothing happened.
Storm looked disappointed and so did Ironhoof. Even the rusty pony who had been working on some little project while Storm and him where talking, seemed surprised it didn’t work.
“Maybe my lightning isn’t strong enough...” Storm started. Then all of a sudden, two twin bolts of pure lightning surged out from the rod. Storm yelped in surprise and almost dropped her sword with a blade now(if lightning counts as a blade) but managed to hold on.
“It works!” Storm laughed, amazed. Now that she got a closer look, she realized how beautiful her sword was. The rod was a glassy dark blue like obsidian with shiny white flecks dotting the black and made it look like the night sky. An intricately designed guard that had beautiful curves, two looking like crescent moons. The pommel was made out of blue diamond, in the shape of a crystallized crescent moon. But the blade, the blade was the real eye candy. Twin bolts of white hot lightning were crackling, casting a white glow for a hoof or two in every direction. Storm stared at it admiringly.
“Everypony who worked on it, thanks so much!”
A chorus of “your welcomes” echoed in the room as all the ponies who were sitting around smiled at her. I guess everypony really did pitch in to make this.
“Don’t waste our hard work though. Great things are expected of ya, otherwise nopony would’ve bothered ta make this” the rusty pony reminded her.
“I know, I won’t let any of you down. Oh,” Storm faltered as she realized something, “Isn’t this design more for the Lunar Guard? Not that I’m complaining, I love the design, but will everypony be okay with this?”
“Of course.” the rusty pony assured her, still smiling, “The two guards are working on a common goal now, so besides different break times, the two guards should be fine with it, at least unless old hostilities rise up again.”
“You mean the Lunar Rebellion?” Storm asked.
“Yeah, that. A truly bloody war.”
“You make it sound like you were there.”
“Who knows, mebbe I was.”
“You can’t be more then a few years older than me!”
“Looks can be deceiving.” the rusty pony chuckled.
Ironhoof whispered in Storm’s ear, “Don’t worry, I think she’s being mysterious on purpose. She refuses to tell anypony her name or what she did before coming here today.” Raising his voice, Ironhoof grinned, “I’m sure nopony will mind the design. You are a bat pony after all.” he assured her.
“Well, thanks everypony.”
“Don’t sweat it. Try not to break your new sword though. It’s extremely durable because it has to withstand your lightning, it has quite a few durability enchantments and made out of the best material, but I’d still be careful. Best part is that, when you’re not channeling energy to it, it becomes a normal rod so it’s more portable and you won’t accidently electrocute yourself or anypony else with it.” Ironhoof reminded her.
“I’m actually almost immune to lightning...almost, but that’s still awesome. Thanks again!”
“Alright now, recruit? Can you take the lad back to the stadium?”
“Yeah, right on it Ironhoof.” the rusty pony replied.
“You mean boss?” Ironhoof put in, trying to correct her.
“Nope, I’m pretty sure I mean Ironhoof.” she replied smugly then walked out the metal doors, Storm right behind her with her sword tucked behind her scaly wings.
As they were walking back to the stadium, Storm spent the time admiring her new weapon. She wondered how they were going to let her practice when she could accidentally electrocute somepony at any time.
Finally, they reached the entrance of the stadium. Just as Storm was about to go in, she looked back at the rusty pony. “Hey, what’s your name? It feels strange to keep calling you rusty pony in my head. Actually, why have I not asked this earlier?”
The pony chuckled, “I can’t answer your question since I dunno the answer but I ain’t telling you ma real name, I don’t think anypony here knows it, but you may call me Cogs. That’s what everypony is calling me”
“Cogs it is then.” Storm confirmed, “See you around, Cogs.”
“See you ‘round too Storm. Its not that big of a castle.”
With that, they parted ways, Storm stepped out into the fading sunlight and into the stadium while Cogs headed back down the long hallways and back to the forges.