It was early in the morning and I awoke to a very loud racket going on downstairs. I got out of bed put on my robe, and gazed sleepily at what all the racket was, it was coming from some shed, but the workers weren't here working on daddy's statue.
"HEY!" I called out, but the racket continued, "HEEEEY!" I called louder but nopony could here by cries over the loud clanging and banging of metal. I decided whoever they were, was about to be confronted by a very angry and sleepy pony. I trotted downstairs briskly, trying not to trip over the many winding stairs that made up our second story staircase. I walked over to the big sliding glass door opened it, and then trotted over the many piles of scrap metal and tools lying around.
Ugh, I thought, how could anypony work in such disasterous conditions. I walked over to the shed and knocked on the door.
"HEY!" No response, only more clanging and banging.
"HEEEY!" I banged on the door as hard as my perfectly filed hoof could handle, but still no response. What I did get though, was a creak from the door as it opened
This is going to be one sorry pony. I thought.
“HEY YOU!" The sounds stopped as I saw a pony with a welders mask turn to face me, I lost a little confidence, this colt was a lot bigger than I imagined, "Umm... could you possibly keep it down, some ponies are trying to sleep."
He lifted his welders mask to reveal his grungy, dirty, over-bitten face.
"Sorry 'bout that kiddo, usually nopony distoybs me in here." he said with his inner-city Manehatten accent.
"What is this place", I said gazing at all the red dirty curtains draped over almost every inch of the dark shed.
"Well, it’s my woyk shop uh course." he said proudly.
"Uh-huh... and what exactly do you do around here in this 'woyk shop'." I mocked.
"Well," he said looking around, as if anypony was watching, "ya have ta promise not ta tell a single soul."
"Ya, whatever I guess." I shrugged his promise off. As if it were important enough to be shared as news, whatever it was.
"Ya see this kid?" He asked stepping away from whatever it was he was working on.
All I saw was a glowing blob of hot metal.
"What is that?" I said not attempting to hide my disgust of what this atrocity.
He laughed "Not many ponies can see the diamond in the rough," he said grabbing a pair of big metal tongs; he grabbed the glowing blob and dipped it in water on the other side of the room. I heard it go 'TSSSSSSsssssss' as it cooled.
"But with a little creativity," he glanced back and smiled at me, "you can make somethin' beautiful." He grabbed the tongs and pulled out the metal he had submerged. It truly was beautiful a miniature model of Princess Celestia, and she was quite gallant.
"Now all it needs is a quick buff to bring out its shine," he said bringing the model over to a machine with a big wheel with a piece of fabric on it. He flipped a switch and I watched as he ran the small statuette under the fabric. When he was done he placed it on the table and dabbed it with a wet cloth, it shined almost as brightly as when it was hot.
I walked over to it and gazed at the amazing details of it, the eyes, the mane, the horn, even the golden necklace she wore was perfect.
"Wooooow," I gaped "this is amazing."
Again he laughed, "Yup, it's pretty cool isn't it."
He leaned over the table, grabbed it and placed it in front of me.
"Here kid, you seem to like it a lot not many ponies can appreciate this kind of thing so, you can have it." He told me.
I felt a smile spread across my face as I said "Really?" he laughed his wheezy laugh again
"Ya kid, all yours"
"But don't you want to keep it I mean as a trophy of your hard work and effort." I asked him.
"Haha, don't worry about that kid" He told me. He walked over to a rope hanging from one of the many dirty drapes. "B'sides." He said, pulling on it. The drapes fell to the ground bringing dust with it. I coughed and gagged until it cleared he walked over with and fanned some of it away to help me out.
"Haha, sorry 'bout that kiddo forgot how dusty it can get in here." He apologized.
I looked up at the walls and was immediately captivated by what I saw, dozens if not hundreds of pony statuettes littered shelves on the walls. All of them were a little dusty but still quite beautiful. There was one that caught my eye, one embroidered in a flowing gold and silver dress with diamonds and sapphires all over it.
"Who is this?" I peered closely to the little figure; he walked over with a smile on his face "Was it somepony special? Is that why she's so decorated?"
This pony statuette was quite the beauty, a tall unicorn with the slightest of smiles.
He looked at it and sighed, looked up, gazing at I don't know what. "Ya," he said sounding sad, it made me curious, "She was special... really special"
He looked down and I felt bad asking now as I saw a tear well up in his eye. He rubbed it and turned around sniffing as if to play it off.
"Just got some doyt in my nose."
"Well I guess you should get goin' kid, it's still early you don't wanna be sleepy in school right?" He said.
"Uh, right I said." I trotted towards the door.
"I'll try and keep it down from now on OK, kid? Sorry 'bout that." He turned back to the statue and sat down.
I looked at him he seemed so lonely, and who was the mare in the statue? "Um, sir?"
"Ha, names not sir kid that just what ya daddy calls me 'cuz he doesn't wanna bother himself with names,"
He said looking back to me, "real names Chisel," he said with pride "Chisel Cuts."
"Well Chisel, I was thinking, maybe some time you can teach me how to make those statues? I'd really like to learn."
"Haha" he laughed again "I don’t think daddykins'll approve a his poyfect little girl gettin' a hammer on her flank for Blacksmithing." He laughed.
"I don't care what my father thinks of me," I said "besides who says it’s going to be my special talent I already know I'm taking over the family business." I said smugly, I didn't even convince myself.
Again he laughed "Alright kid, what's tamorra... Friday?"
"Yes." I told him "Why?"
"How about Saturday, early morning, say 8 o'clock sharp, and don't wear anythin' fancy, it’s a doity job" he glared at me seriously and smiled, he knew I had no work clothes. But oh well, I would just wear something from last year’s line.
"You got it Chisel, I'll be here." I was so excited I galloped back to my room. Wow. I would get to make something as beautiful as that statue of Celestia. If I was lucky maybe I would find out whom that beautiful sapphire encrusted Mystery Mare was. For once I was so excited to learn something.