One thousand years over, the dreaded Nightmare Moon has escaped her imprisonment in the moon. After bringing her eternal night, Four broken friends are left to defend against the chaotic attacks from dragons, Everfree monsters, and even angry mobs.
Chaos. Tyranny. Destruction. Nightmare Moon's return brought these. The Elements of Harmony defeated her, and pushed back her darkness. But the chaos and confusion was stopped by a more humble group: Two broken ponies, trying to pull their lives back together
Cover art by me.
Officially cancelled as of 10-1-16. Thanks to everyone who read this story!
That was the one of the things that came to Royal Guard, Private Titanium Blade. Through all the acrid smoke, screams of terror of the ponies running for their lives and the dying laughter of the deranged arsonist, that is what stuck out.
The only other thing he could think of was; this is my fault. I did this.
The Las Pegasus Traders Exchange lay in ruins, all because he left his post. One minute of investigating a rustling bush, and some twisted pony was able to sneak in, setting fire to many of the buildings.
How did this happen?
How could I let this happen?
In his head, he heard the voice of his battalion captain, Shining Armor, saying "Training before instinct, Blade. Don't try and be the hero."
I should have listened...
Blade was a grey pegasus with the average build of a Royal Guard; stocky and strong, but agile. His silvery mane was obscured by his helmet.
But for even a tough guard, this was hard. He had left his post.
Two words came to his mind, and wouldn't leave:
Blade, deserter... Blade, deserter...
Blade jumped as he was snapped from his thoughts, hearing his name being called, weakly.
"Blade...Private Blade..."
He went toward the faint voice, looking for its source.
"Titan...ium Blade..."
Blade searched for the owner of the voice, ignoring the rubble and destruction around him. He heard maniacal laughter drifting from a collapsed building.
No...
"Thank you... Blade..." the voice gasped.
"No. Shut up!" Blade said.
"You let me in, so politely...That... that thing-in-bush trick worked nicely..."
"No! No! You're a monster! Look at what you've done!" Blade pointed at the destruction further into the town. "You caused these fires; you killed those ponies!"
"Yes, yes... I did... I did well, and so did you...” the voice chuckled, ending in a cough.
"Long... live... the Queen!" It exclaimed, its strength fading.
Blade put all his rage into his spear, thrusting it into the location of the voice. He heard a gasp of surprise and then a groan as the wave of pain hit his victim. He withdrew his spear from the creature he had impaled, hearing the soft pitter patter of blood upon the cobblestone, its greenish tone unmistakable.
Changeling blood...I let in a Changeling!
As if letting in any arsonist wasn't bad enough, He let in one of Equestria' s worst enemies: changelings. A changling splinter cell.
Blade hoped with all that was in him that there was only one.
It was in vain.
He heard the buzz of bug-like wings as another Changeling came through, one second too late to save its comrade. It attacked Blade from behind. Blade wrestled with it, before it finally overpowered him, putting him into a chokehold.
The last thing he saw was the death and destruction, which was his fault.
________________________________________
Titanium Blade's eyes fluttered open. He was in bed. Yellow sunlight streamed through the window.
Oh, thank Celestia.He thought. It was just a dream.
He tried to get up, when a sharp pang of pain shot through his chest. He swore, as he gently laid back down.
My chest...
The fight...
No.
It could not have been real.
Could it?
Blade continued to struggle against himself, as a nurse and the Captain of the Royal Guard, Shining Armor, walked in.
"Private Blade," he said, seeing if the soldier was awake.
Blade gulped as he answered weakly. "Yes, sir?"
The nurse checked Blade's bandaged chest as the captain slapped a sealed scroll down on the stand next to the bed.
Shining Armor sighed. "Can you walk?"
Titanium Blade looked at his legs. There were only minor cuts on them.
"Yes, sir."
"Is that alright, nurse?" Shining Armor asked. "Is he clear to walk?"
"Yes, captain," The nurse said. "Just don't be too blunt or rough. You don't want to make him mess up his broken ribs any worse."
"Will do." The captain sighed. "Could... could you leave us, just for a bit?"
"Yes, captain," she said, as she turned and exited the infirmary.
There was a moment of silence, as the private and the captain looked at each other. Finally, Shining Armor broke the silence.
"What happened out there, Blade?" the unicorn asked. Blade averted his eyes.
"I messed up, captain," The weary private said. "I left my station, just for a second,"
"Why? What could have been that important?" The captain said, obviously frustrated.
Blade hesitated. He thought back to why he had left his post.
A bush. How could a rustling bush distract me?
This must be a dream... Wake up!
His wish went unanswered.
Blade took a breath. "There was something in a bush. I thought it could've been important—"
Shining Armor sighed. "Training overrides instinct, Blade. Day one of training! That's where we learned that! Day one, blast it! You should have remembered that!"
Blade didn't answer.
"Look... The event was not entirely your fault. I want you to know that. Which..." Shining Armor lowered his voice. "Which is why this hurts me." The captain picked up the scroll in his magic.
Blade was worried. After the incident, he thought he knew what that scroll was. He was trying to keep strong.
Captain Armor took a deep breath. "Time to get up."
Blade sat up, cringing from the pain from his wounded chest. "Yes, sir."
________________________________________
As he walked with Captain Armor, Titanium Blade drew stares from most of the other guards around base. Many of them were shocked to see a guard in such bad shape; Equestria hadn't been at war in hundreds of years. Some of them hadn't heard the news of the attack, but those who had didn't know it was that bloody.
Others had heard of the incident with Blade, giving him a mixed look of pity and disappointment. Some were unsure if he was a traitor to the Guard.
Blade walked in silence, thinking what was to happen when they reached their destination.
"Captain Armor, sir?" He asked, breaking the silence.
Shining Armor hesitated before answering. "Yes?"
"Where are we going?"
The captain didn't respond. His silence caused shivers in Blade's body.
As they walked, the wounded private noticed that there were many other guards walking somberly in the same direction.
Celestia have mercy...Not this...
Blade knew exactly what the scroll was.
Please...
As they walked, there was a stage with a beam that protruded skyward. From that beam, a loop of rope ominously swung.
Blade was unsure what to do; run, fight, or accept his fate?
Celestia, have mercy! Please!
Please...
As they neared the stage, Blade was jerked to the right, away from his impending death
"This way, private," Shining said.
Blade tore his eyes from the gallows, and looked in the direction he was now headed.
He saw another stage. There was a crowd of ponies around it. Contained in the mass of equine, Blade picked out some faces he knew;
Lieutenant Swift Sword, sergeant Knight Shade, Prince Blueblood,
...Dad?
No. No, please!
Blade was moved up onto the stage. Shining Armor read the sentence:
"Private Titanium Blade, of the 3rd battalion, 5th division, squad 24, is hereby given dishonorable discharge from the guard, as well as exile from Canterlot, for misconduct and cowardice in battle."
Blade didn't hear it.
Dad...This isn't how it looks...
His father, Crossbolt, didn't hear Blade's silent plea. He walked away sadly.
Blade walked away in disappointment. He was a failure.
The snow drifted downward, gently settling on the ground, which glittered with the flakes which came before. A young mare watched from the manor window in awe, as each individual crystal floated down. On the window panes, the frosted patterns represented the snowflakes in a larger scale. The light blue unicorn reached her hoof and touched the cool panes, but she felt nothing; her leg was one of brass and gears.
Crystal Frost, the sister of the Stalliongrad mayor, was quite different from the other ponies of the snowy city. Along with a missing leg, Crystal Frost had but one ear, and one eye. She was a sorrowful sight, and it seemed as if the only pony who beheld her and did not have pity was herself. Her differences were the memories of her mother's death, bearing her.
She felt that she was no different, that she could do everything that others could, but they did not think likewise.
"This window," she sighed, looking down at the street below, "is a lot lonelier from inside,"
"What did you say?" someone asked from the next room. "Who are you talking to?"
"Myself, brother," She responded. The voice was that of her overprotective brother, Flash Freeze, the mayor.
Crystal groaned with disdain as her brother looked into the room, verifying her statement.
"I am just making sure, sister!" He said, defensively, "It is for your own safety."
That is what you always say.
"Look, Crystal," the mayor said, "You are... different. You need protected from the cruel world outside. They are not as accepting as I am."
The mare turned her head away.
Flash Freeze let out an exasperated sigh; it seemed there was to be no reasoning with her. "You'll thank me, someday."
Crystal returned to the windowsill, wondering what it would be like, to be down among citizens of the rest of Stalliongrad.
I'll get down there, someday.
Crystal Frost awoke with a start; her alarm clock was under her pillow giving off a muffled ringing. She quickly disabled it, as not to wake the rest of the estate.
As she returned the clock to her nightstand, she noticed the time: it was midnight.
Oh, right! She thought. She remembered what she was doing so early. She pulled the covers off of her feather bed, and pulled a saddlebag from beneath it.
The bag was loaded with some food, clothes and bits. She slipped into her magic- enhancing cryomancer's cloak -- the only cloak she owned -- and donned the saddlebag with her telekinesis.
She looked around the room, seeing if she forgot anything.
She saw a glass of water and an apple on her nightstand, obviously from Flash Freeze.
Overbearing as he is, my brother sure takes care of me, she thought.
She felt a tinge of guilt, causing him this grief, by leaving.
She looked from the saddlebags to the nightstand, back and forth.
I guess it would be rude to leave without a note...
She picked up a quill and some parchment, and left a short "thank you" note on the nightstand.
After she was finished, she took a deep breath.
Here goes.
She opened the large bay window; the same one she had looked down at the street from for years. She was finally going down to join the ranks of ponies across Stalliongrad, and all of Equestria.
Her heart was racing as she descended from the window, into the streets. She was finally free of her brother's barrier. She felt a surge of excitement, as her hooves touched the cobblestone streets. It was the first time in a while she had been out, and the first time ever without her brother.
She paused, taking in the situation.
I'm free!
The streets are more lonely than the window.
As she walked the abandoned streets, Crystal Frost began to question the wisdom of her choice. The biting cold wind slipped through her scarf and cloak, causing her to shiver.
I had better find somewhere to sleep.
She wandered the streets for a few minutes, before she found an alleyway, closed on three sides. There was a small fire burning. She noticed a group of three homeless ponies, sleeping around the fire. She slipped past the three snoring bodies, and lay down toward the back of the alley. The warming light from the flames reflected back into the corners, taking some of the bite out of the morning air.
Running away is not as easy as I thought it would be... she thought, wrapping herself tighter with her cloak.
As she settled down into the alley, a gust of wind blew across the mouth of the indent, making an awful racket. One of the other ponies snorted, and started to stir.
"Wha... what?"
The stallion scanned the street, then turned and looked around the alley. He jumped when he saw Crystal Frost, wrapped in her pale blue cloak. In the dark of the alley, she resembled a wraith, waiting for a pony to walk by to prey upon.
"What in... who are you?" He asked, fearful.
The other ponies began to wake, as Crystal shrunk back into the wall.
"I'm... I'm Crystal Frost," she responded, meekly.
"What do you want with us?"
"I... I was just trying to find somewhere to sleep..." Crystal said, growing more fearful.
"Are you a spirit?"
"No!"
"Well, then... a homeless one, like ourselves," the tramp said, "I guess you're welcome here."
Crystal breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
"Here, come closer to the fire, you'll catch a death of a cold in the snow."
Crystal rose and walked toward the orange fire, out of the bitter, wet snow. The rest of the hobos were awake, quietly observing the newcomer.
"There you go," said the stallion." Now, introductions. I'm Picker."
In the group, there we as another stallion, and a mare. They introduced themselves, the mare as Lemon Drop, and the stallion as Smokey.
"Now, that we are all properly introduced, I think it's time for some rest."
The clock tower tolled in approval, ringing but one clear note through the night air.
"Alright, then..." Crystal said, "Good night everyone."
From the street, not much could be seen, aside from four ponies, sleeping around a fire...
But only one was sleeping.
The three hobos were exploring the contents of their "new member's" bag. The standard search, looking for undercover police badges, weapons... bits, et cetera.
The found only one of those: Bits, lots of bits. They also found one other thing which was not on the list, but suspicious; a picture of Crystal and Flash Freeze, whom they knew simply as "the Mayor."
"Hey, Picks, I think this filly is a noble," said Lemon Drops.
"Yeah, me too," Picker responded. "But why is she out here?"
"I don't know, but she can probably get us in there," Smokey said.
"Probably. Lets ask her..." Picker got up, and moved toward the sleeping mare. She yelped as they grabbed her and held a knife to her throat.
"Alright, you. Why are you here?"
"I.. I just needed somewhere to sleep!"
"And why is that, huh?" Picker was mercilessly pounding Crystal with questions. "Was Noble life not good enough for you, huh?"
"I... I don't know what --"
Picker stomped his hoof, indicating to Smokey to show her the picture.
"That's my picture! Where'd you get that?"
"Look, Frosty, we know that you aren't some regular street pony..." Lemon Drops moved closer, and lifted up Crystal' s hood. "So --"
Someone in the group gasped, as they saw Crystal' s face, missing an eye and an ear.
There was a pause, before Picker continued Lemon' s sentence. "...So, my mangled friend, you are going to help us get in to your manor."
Crystal swallowed. There was no way out of this situation intact.
"Alright, Frosty. You're gonna help us get in there," Picker hissed, holding the blade tight against her neck. They had moved through the city, ending up at the manor. Two of them were waiting in the shrubbery behind the house, while Lemon Drops went to observe the guards.
"No... no!" Crystal responded. Picker pressed the knife into his prisoner's throat, almost to the point of cutting.
"Alright," she coincided. "Please, just dont do that..."
"Good," Picker said, basically breathing the words into Crystal' s ear.
"But if you rat us out to the guard..." Smokey chuckled, gesturing with his hoof across his throat.
"Hey, guys," Lemon Drop said, coming back from her scouting run, "I've figured out the patrols. The next one should pass about... now."
As if on cue, a guard passed by their bushy cover.
"Ok, move on my mark," Picker said. "Three... two... one... Now!"
They moved across the path, acting as one mass.
They approached the back door and knocked.
"Who's there?" The guard asked.
"It's me, Crystal Frost."
"Crystal? Wait... what's the password?"
"Snowstorm." Crystal was fearful as she gave the password; what would they do to the guard? To her?
"Alright," the guard said, opening the door. As soon as his face was visible, it was hit square in the middle by a large stick. His body hit the floor, with a thud.
"No!" Crystal ran to the limp form of the guard, making sure he was alright. "You are all monsters..."
"We do what we must, to get through life." Picker said.
"Besides," Lemon chimed in, "he's not even dead."
They stalked through the manor, avoiding or "dispatching" guards.
At last, the finally came to Flash Freeze' s room, where the stopped.
"Why are we here?" Crystal asked, worried.
"Well, this plan was better then just getting loot, we're also gonna get a house, and a city!"
"What? No!" Crystal said, a bit too loud.
Picker pressed the knife into her throat again, barely allowing her to breathe.
"Cystal?" A voice asked from the room.
The four ponies stood completely still, not marking a sound.
Smokey readied his stick, when it was pushed down, by Picker. They exchanged glances, as Picker motioned to the guard's sword he was holding.
The door opened, and Picker thrust his sword into the open room. There was a surprised gasp of pain, as their victim was fully in view.
Flash Freeze lay in the doorway, with a sword protruding from his shoulder. He winced in pain.
"Who in Tartarus are--" he paused as he saw his sister, one of the thugs holding a knife to her throat.
Picker withdrew the sword from the mayor's shoulder. There was a cry of pain, as he prepared to strike again. A hum of magic resonated from Flash' s horn, as a sword came off the wall, toward him. He grabbed it, and rose to his feet.
He raised the sword and blocked the oncoming blow from Picker.
His horn hummed once again, as an ice spike flew through the air, striking Smokey. It pierced his leg, and he dropped the knife. Crystal fled from the idle Lemon Drops.
She heard the clash of steel, and hoofsteps running behind her.
Wait-- I have ice magic too!
She turned to face her pursuer, and realised a wall of ice.
There was a loud Smack and a shocked groan, as the pursuing hobo hit the wall of ice.
She clambered over the wall; over her attacker, and galloped to her brother's aid.
When she returned, Flash was looking at his defeated opponent, holding him at the sword' s tip. Blood dripped endlessly from the mayor's shoulder. Smokey was attempting to crawl away, with an ice spike still through his leg.
"Brother, I'm--"
"What, Crystal? Why did you let these thugs in?"
"--sorry..."
"Sorry doesn't fix it. What were you doing, up at this time, finding, hobos, and inviting them in?"
"I was going to live out in the city for a while..."
"Why... Why? After all I've done for you, after all I've given you, why?"
Crystal whimpered something inaudible.
"I've had it! I can't stand you always getting yourself into trouble, from trusting people! Never listening, never being grateful for what you have! Get out!"
"What?" Crystal said, beginning to cry.
"Out! You wanna live in the city? Go!"
Crystal galloped full speed toward the door, tears streaming down her face.
Out the door, and toward the train station. Never slowing, not caring where she was headed.
She didn't remember what she had said to the ticket master, she just remembered getting on a train...
Green eyes peered over the forbidding landscape. White expanses of stone and dust in all directions, nothing but blackness above.
And to think, what a beacon it is down there...
As her black hooves touched the dusty surface, Nightmare Moon reminisced about her former life on the land below, Equestria.
"We should be down there, ruling our people..." She said, her voice trailing off. 1,000 years, and that thought never left the forefront of her mind. Regrets? Certainly. Remorse for betraying her sister? Occasionally. But mostly, she longed to be back, to rule Equestria.
Princess.
"What is it?"
It is Time.
In the tranquility of the night, nopony noticed the change in the constellations, but some did, as ponies they are not.
"fil los vomedaas dahvulon... vust nii kos tiid?" A lone dragon asked himself, his voice heard by none, and his language understood by few.
The stars are different tonight... could it be time?
He averted his eyes, seeing a change in the moon also.
Oh, yes...
It is time.
Black hooves landed silently on the ground, except it was different, it was green, soft, alive.
Nightmare Moon glanced around the land. it was different, but it was still Equestria.
Titanium Blade was lying in a strange compartment. His broken ribs, the reminder of the attack on Trottingham, throbbed. He looked around his container. He was surrounded by black steel. No light pierced the long, rectangular enclosure, yet he could just barely see. There appeared to be outcrops that resembled seating, on which he was curled. Pillars protruded from the outcrops, the many monoliths breaking the continuity of the container. As he observed this deliriously, he was startled upright by what sounded like a whistle.
He looked around once again; He was in a train. the "outcrops" were, in fact the benches. As his eyes came back into focus, the many forms became ponies, riding the transport. He had no idea where he was going.
"Hey, buddy," A pony next to him said, through a thick Manehatten accent, "You're almost to your stop."
Blade looked about, dazed. He glanced at the bag next to him. The destination tag read "Ponyville". He stared at the tag for several moments, before his mind was set back into motion.
"We're getting off at the Ponyville station, buddy." His neighbor said, placing his hat atop his blue mane.
Blade waited in silence as the train started to slow. Ponies began to get up from their seats.
Dishonorable discharge...
Blade... Deserter...
Dishonorable discharge...
"You gonna get off, or what?" The Manehatten pony said, ripping Blade from his thoughts.
"Oh, uh, thanks... Again."
"You alright, pal?" His neighbor asked.
Blade hesitated. "Uh, yeah," he said slowly, "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks."
As he walked off of the train, Blade stopped. It was the first time he had actually seen where he was going. Ponyville, as the sign read, was a small town, with wood houses lining the streets. Everything was so simple.
"What's the matter, pal?" The Manehatten pony said, "Never seen a city this big?" He began to laugh loudly at his own joke.
Blade said nothing.
The blue-haired stallion's laughing slowed. "Ah, at any rate, have a good one," He said. "And try not to gawk in the middle of the street!"
"Thanks," Blade said, without turning.
Exiled to this little town...
Because you...
Blade... Deserter...
Tears ran down blue cheeks, already stained from the ones that came before. As she sobbed in the corner of the nearly deserted train, Crystal Frost could only think of her brother.
'Get out!' was the last thing she heard from him, before she did as he said.
She boarded the first train to anywhere. With only the cloak on her back, she left to begin anew, without a thought. Her brother was one of the only things she had, and she lost him.
Better anywhere than freezing and starving so close to him...
She hadn't stopped crying since she boarded, eight hours ago, in Stalliongrad.
Frost looked out of the window of the train. She had never been far from the city. The warm, rolling plains of Equestria, golden grass stretching in every direction was much different that the frozen hills of her homeland. As the sun rose over the horizon, she could see forests and mountains in the distance. The beauty of he landscape distracted her from her thoughts.
She wiped her tears; and sat back in her seat. She didn't know where she was going, but she would try and make the best of it.
As she assessed her surroundings, she noticed that most of the other ponies in the train were asleep, or only half-awake. One sleeping pony was close enough for her to reach the destination tag. Picking it up with her brass hoof, she examined the yellow paper. It was emblazoned with the word "Ponyville".
"Oi!" Someone said, agitated, "what're you doin' with me luggage?"
Crystal Frost covered her mouth in embarrassment. "I-I was checking the destination tag," She stuttered.
"Oh, sure," The reddish pony said, sitting up from her slumber. She brushed the cranberry-colored mane from her eyes. "Like I should just believe any random pony who's inspecting me stuff!"
Crystal shrunk back into her seat.
"And besides," the mare's rant continued, " Why couldn't you check your own luggage?"
"Because I don't have any..." Crystal's voice trailed off.
The red mare paused.
"And I don't know where this train is going," Crystal continued.
The mare didn't say anything as she looked over the crying mare next to her.
"You truly don't know where you're goin'?"
"No!" Crystal pleaded.
There was a moment of silence as the agitated mare calmed, her face softening,.
"I'm sorry, then, miss," She said, " For all it's worth, we're goin' to a little town called Ponyville. It's just south of Canterlot."
"Thank you," Crystal sighed.
The train whistle blew, as Ponyville came into sight. It was a small town of thatched cottages, lining the dirt roads.
"I'm Cherry Berry, by the way," The red mare said.
"I'm Crystal Frost."
"Pleasure," Cherry replied, shaking Frost's hoof.
As the train came to a halt, Cherry Berry put a hoof on Crystal's shoulder as she produced a few bits. She placed these in Crystal's hoof.
"Good luck out there," She said. "Maybe we'll meet up again."
"Thank you." Crystal rose from her seat, as the train doors opened. The sleepy passengers shuffled out into the station, with Crystal and Cherry following behind.
Maybe it won't be so bad here...
It is time.
It is time.
It is time
His weary wings stretched to the sky, Fiiksuloth let out a triumphant roar. His mistress had returned.
The dragon's green eyes peered toward the sky, as the sun began to rise. His dark blue dragon scales glistened in the morning light.
My mistress...
My Princess of the Night...
He was a servant of the rebellious sister, a dragon follower of Nightmare Moon.
As the prophecy foretold, "The stars shall aid her escape."
She has returned...
I must find her.
His wings opened, revealing the tears, mementos of a thousand years of waiting and hiding.
As they caught the wind, Fiiksuloth hesitated.
Will she remember me?
Where will I find her?
He tried to push the doubts from his mind, as he remembered the change in the stars, the signal of his Mistress's escape.
She guided me; I must assist her.
With resolve he took to the skies, searching for his Princess.
It's just one of those days...
Birds flew away from the path, as a courier ran through the woods.
I should get paid extra for getting up this early for a message.
His orders were to run messages to the mayor of Ponyville, concerning the Summer Sun Celebration, which was being held the next morning.
A feeling of dread enveloped him as he ran. He slowed his pace, realizing the shadow that had blocked the sunlight trickling through the blowing trees.
"What in Tartarus?" He asked himself quietly, as he looked up through the canopy.
He froze in horror, as he saw green, reptilian eyes glaring at him, the blue wings casting darkness around him.
The dragon roared at the courier. He felt as if he would faint.
Celestia help me...
"Fos dreh hi mindok do faal Krein Kulaas?" The beast roared, "Kolos krein?"
The courier shook with fright, to scared to move or speak.
"Tinvaak!"
The stallion let out a scream of terror as he ran. His tail was lit ablaze by the dragon fire the followed.
Fiiksuloth flew into the blue sky and made chase with the stallion. Even his earth pony legs could not carry him faster than the great beast.
Diving into the canopy, the blue dragon landed in front of the courier, entrapping him with his claws.
The dragon roared questions in his language. The stallion was confused and terrified.
I'm gonna die.
This is it.
He felt a claw touch his side. Taking a deep breath, he thought of his family.
His limp form hit the forest floor with a thud.
Opening his eyes, he saw the dragon flying away, carrying his mail pouch.
He felt weak, as his knees buckled. He fainted on the trail.
Fiiksuloth flew in the direction of Ponyville. He had a Summer Sun Celebration to attend.
Celestia's Sun glared down brightly upon the dusty fields of Dodge City, a small, junction town, northwest of Appleloosa. Through the hot, afternoon air, through the sweet smell of fruits and pastries at vendor's booths, an assaulting, yet refreshing smell was breaking the tranquility of the air.
The smell was not an uncommon one. In fact, right about that time every day it started up. It was the smell of coal burning, but not the smell of trains or refractories, no. This was the smell of love and diligence. Not industry and machines. This was the smell of the local smith, marking a new day's work with fire in the forge. Everyone to just about the farthest reaches of the town could smell the sulfurous smoke coming from the struggling fire, which burned the noses of the young fillies and colts playing in the streets. But, nobody ever complained. The smith, Iron Bolt, made items for all the townsfolk, and often gave trinkets to the children, who loved to watch him work.
"Dinner!" shouted Iron Bolt's mother.
"In a second!" He shouted back. He hastily beat out the final part of his piece, quenched it, then gave the small ornament to one of the little colts that were watching him. He hung up his apron on the rack in the kitchen as he walked inside.
"Iron Bolt!" She scolded, "Look at how filthy you are! Go wash up! And don't track your soot everywhere!" Her motherly command was swiftly executed. All of Bolt's family was very tightly knit. Everyone in the family especially loved the youngest child, Steel Rivet.
Though the family did not have much, they were probably the happiest family in all of Dodge City. Bolt's family, which consisted of himself, his mother and Rivet was dependent on his blacksmithing, which was the majority of the income. His mother wool, cotton and thread into cloth to sell. Their father, Wrought Iron, died in a coal mine collapse shortly after rivet was born, leaving the family destitute. They all got jobs that they could, and tried to make up for what was lost.
Though his mother wanted him to become a priest, Rivet himself wanted to be a smith like his older brother, but his mother would have none of it.
"Blacksmithing is dangerous work. You can get burned, choked or even squished while doing those things. You need to be in the church." She would tell him. She would barely let him near the forge when it was cold, and would not even let him be within 20 feet of it when it was alight. She had already lost one beloved family member in a work-related accident, the thought of anything, anything happening to Rivet crushed her soul with the very idea of it.
Iron bolt shut down the forge after dinner, and headed to go get a bath. Just as he was getting the water prepared, he heard his mother yell, in the way she did when she got stressed out, something about a late delivery. He rushed out of the bathroom, to see what was the matter.
"Iron Bolt! Can you watch Rivet?" She asked, "I forgot about an order by the Unicorn merchants! We need to get the order to the next junction by today!" She scrambled around the house gathering various things for the order. She took her things, and then ran out the door as fast as she could down to the station.
Rivet came out of his little room after they closed the door and left. It was just him and Iron Bolt. He saw an opportunity to show his mother that he could be a blacksmith. He walked up to Bolt, and pleaded with him.
"Bolt, will you please teach me how to be a blacksmith, so I can show mom and make things like you?" He made the most convincing face, that no loving brother could resist.
"Uh... I don't know. It really is dangerous, and mom will -- "
"If you get in trouble, I'll tell mom it was my idea!"
"I... I don't know..." Iron Bolt was weakening.
"Pleeeease?" The way he pleaded was too much for Iron.
"If I teach you, you have to stop getting into my stuff. Deal?"
"Deal!" Rivet said, his face lighting up. It could not have had more excitement on it if Celestia herself appeared and gave him her throne.
They went out and started up the forge, pouring coal onto the stone structure. They got the billows pumping, and the light of the fire brightened up the night around them.
As long as mother never finds out... Iron thought to himself.
Black smoke billowed from the roaring fire, as it gradually turned to yellow, and disappeared altogether. Iron Bolt and Rivet prepared the metal to go into the fire.
After reaching Ponyville, Blade and Frost would have found places to stay, and perhaps work. Locals explain to them that the Summer Sun Celebration was tomorrow, and they would attend.
When Nightmare Moon appears, the Mane Six go after her, but the situation in Ponyville degrades into chaos. Blade and Frost try to calm people, and fend off monsters, such as the dragon seen in chapter 3.
When Celestia returns, all is peaceful again. Blade and Frost, having worked together to stop monsters (because they had nothing to lose), become acquainted.
