Two Days Later...
I slammed the hammer down on the molten steel. Making armor was an old past time of mine. Usually, I would be sending it off to the front lines, that way our soldiers would be protected. But that was back in Amareica. This was Ponyville. I haven't seen anypony who would be in need of armor here, except maybe the Royal Guards. I set the plating down in a tub of water, allowing it to cool as it gave out a large hissing noise. Walking over to my window, I looked up the road to my new town. It was definitely peaceful, which was fine with me. Over the past two days, the girls had made sure that I had gotten used to the town, and the town got used to me. The only thing anypony ever said about my eye anymore was how it was doing. I was kind of glad really, back home, I would constantly be bringing in injured civilians, and hearing screams of pain. Either that or besides my allies in the PSF (Pony Strike Force). I wonder how they are back there, has anypony else joined my brother and my former fillyfriend in the Meadow of Memorial? I sigh and walk outside, inhaling the fresh air. I smiled as a flock of birds fly past me, and a gentle wind blows through my mane. I close my eyes and can see their faces, my family, and my friends. My thoughts are interrupted by a slightly growing noise of screaming. I open my eyes and look around in confusion.
Falling next to a strange device was Pinkie Pie. Instantly I'm up and running, desperate to catch her. Sliding to a halt, I catch the mare as I leap into the air, grabbing her just before she hit the ground. I shield her as the device blows into a heap of fire, sending shrapnel all over the place. "Wow! Thanks Tinder Spark!" She shouted as she got up. Looking at her, I can only wonder what the heck she was doing. "Pinkie, what's going on?" I asked, my one good eyebrow raised. She looked at the ground with an aggravated look. "It's Gilda!" She shouts as she angrily trudges toward me. I back my head away and stare in confusion. "Who?" I ask. Pinkie sighs. "It's this griffon that's hanging out with Rainbow Dash. She's a big meanie!" I close my eye half way in annoyance. This was just like Pinkie to overreact about something. "You seriously are angry over that?" I ask. Pinkie shook her head. "You don't understand Tinder! She called me names and destroyed this machine I worked so hard on, AND she told me to bug off!" I placed my hoof to my mouth and looked down in thought. That wasn't very common, Pinkie had only been my friend for a few days, and I was already used to having her around. "Isn't she the biggest meanie you ever heard of?" Pinkie said with a sad look on her face. I glared at her. "Oh... right..." She said with a nervous smile. It vanished as soon as it arrived. Walking closer, I try to give her suggestions on what to do. "Have you gone to Twilight with this?" I ask. Letting out a long gasp, she leaps into the air and just floats there. I stare in shock, how was she defying physics? "THAT'S A GREAT IDEA! I JUST KNOW SHE'LL UNDERSTAND!" She shouts at a deafening level. I check on my ear to make sure it isn't bleeding and watch as the hyperactive pony literally launches like a rocket towards town. I stare wide-eyed and mouth agape for a few minutes, what the heck was going on here? I push it out of my head and try to forget about it as I walk back into my home and check on the armor.
I eventually decided to go into town, my home had run low on some materials and I needed to make sure I was stocked up. Throwing a few bits onto the stand, the pony thanked me and asked about my eye. "Terrible, as usual." He chuckled and wished me a good day. As I carried my supplies I noticed Pinkie sitting at a table, looking very down. Concerned, I walked over to her and set my groceries down. "Pinkie?" I asked. She looked up with a depressed look. "Oh... hey Tinder Spark." Her voice lacked her usual hyper attitude and cheeriness. Raising an eyebrow, I take a seat next to her. "Something up?" I ask. She sighs as she puts her head back on her forelegs. "Twilight thinks I'm overreacting, and that I'm just jealous." I give a somewhat agreeing nod as I consider this. I hear somepony talking behind us, turning my head, I see Fluttershy leading a family of ducks through town. "Alright little ones, this way, this way." She says softly. In front of her is a mother duck along with a griffon slightly ahead of that. "Mama Duck, you're free and clear." She says just before she bumps into the griffon.
"I'm walking here!" It shouts angrily and rudely at Fluttershy. I growl in anger, it was an honest mistake, nopony should be yelled at like that for something so trivial. The ducks waddle away in fear as the creature continues to walk up to her, causing Fluttershy to back away fearfully. "That's her! That's Gilda!" Pinkie whispers to me. "Oh, um, I'm sorry... A... A... I was just trying to..." She said trying to apologize. Infuriated, I get up and march over to the griffon. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The creature said in a mocking hostile tone. "Why don't you just watch where you're going doofus?" She said, growing more hostile by the minute. I walk up in front of Fluttershy and stand there, staring at Gilda with cold, unforgiving, angry eyes. The griffon inspects me, letting out a chuckling noise. "Just what are you supposed to be?" She asks mockingly. I don't respond, continually staring. The griffon's grin vanishes and turns to a frown. She already looks uglier. "Hey, stupid! I'm talking to you!" She shouts. I intensify my glare, remaining silent. "What are you deaf? Wouldn't surprise me, with your eye being so..." "Shut it." The griffon backs away, clearly surprised that somepony has fought back to her. "Tinder..." Fluttershy says from behind me. Gilda angrily brings her face within inches of mine. "Why don't you just move it punk?" She says. "I don't think so." I say with a solid voice. Clearly frustrated, she rears up and takes a long breath. I plant my hoof firmly in the ground, ready for what she has to throw at me. Opening her mouth, she gives a deafening roar, wind blowing past thorough my mane at lightning speed.
Chuckling, I shoot back a witty remark. "You got quite a case of bad breath there." I say with a smug grin. Snarling, the griffon brings her face closer, staring at me in my one good eye. I am not moved. Staring back, eyes just as hard and unforgiving, I clench my teeth and growl out the words; "Leave her alone." Groaning in what can only be annoyment, she backs up. "All these lame ponies are driving me buggy. I gotta bail." She says as she soars into the air. I stand there for a moment before I hear a quiet weeping behind me. Turning, I see Fluttershy on the ground crying. Heartbroken, I place my hoof on hers. "Fluttershy..." I say quietly. She just continues to cry. I lift her face and wipe away the tears. Still sobbing, she wraps her forelegs around me and holds me tight. I hug back, being strong for my hurting friend.
"Pinkie, I hate to sound rude but... are you crazy?" I ask as she hangs up the final streamer for Gilda's party. I almost pulled my head away in disgust. Gilda's party? I would never understand this pony... "Do you really have to ask that?" Rarity whispered to me. I shrugged. "Come on guys! This'll be fun!" Pinkie shouted as she leaped off the stool she stood on to place the streamers. I rolled my eyes. Somehow the words "fun" and "Jerk" just didn't mix for me. Fluttershy walked up to her friend and asked if she really thought the party was a good idea. To which Pinkie just told her to let "Auntie Pinkie Pie" take care of it. "Isn't Fluttershy a year older than Pinkie?" I ask Applejack. She nods. Within a few minutes, Gilda and Rainbow Dash arrive at the party. After having a little, "talk" with Pinkie Pie, she notices me and frowns. "You again?" She says. I stare at her coldly. "Just stay away from my friends and you'll get out of here without getting hurt." I say harshly. "Ooooh, I'm so scared. Pheh! Loser." I growl in anger as she passes. Twilight walks up to me and asks if I'm okay. I don't want to worry her, so I say I'm fine. Throughout the party, Gilda is pranked constantly. I can't help but chuckle when she keeps trying to blow out re-lighting candles. Eventually, Pinkie says it's time for some pin the tail on the pony. Rarity asked to go first, but Gilda shoved her aside and took the tail that she was about to use. Outraged, I began to step towards Gilda, but Twilight held me back.
"Easy Tinder, just relax." She says with a calm voice. Again she looks at me with those gemstones of eyes, and I sigh. "Sorry Twilight, it's just... I can't just stand by and watch that... that..." I say as I clench my teeth and feel the rage boil inside me. Twilight takes my hoof and looks at me with pleading eyes. "Please..." She says. Darn she's adorable when she does that... We hear a crashing noise and watch as Gilda crash into the dessert table. I can hardly contain my laughter, while others are unable to. Pinkie instantly begins to shout at Pinkie for setting up so many pranks, and is unbelievably rude to her. It's takes every ounce of tolerance in my body to stand by. Rainbow surprises even me when she reveals that it was her that set up all the pranks, although not all were intended for her. Gilda still insists that it was Pinkie Pie that set up the pranks. Enraged, Rainbow yells at the griffon, telling her to leave. The griffon points at the cyan pegasus accusingly, saying that she is a "flip-flop". I growl in rage. I can't take anymore of this. "That's it, either leave, or I make you leave." I say through my grit teeth. Gilda just stares at me, she looks about ready to strike before Twilight takes to my side. "You mess with him, you mess with me." She says with a sturdy tone. "An' me." "And I as well." "Me too." "Gilda... don't do it..." The others say as they stand next to me. Aggravated beyond her comprehension, Gilda growls one final time and leaves. Rainbow Dash apologizes for bringing Gilda, and asks if they can forgive her. Needless to say, we all can.
I walked out of Sugar Cube Corner and stared at the sky, admiring the vast array of stars. Princess Celestia brought forth the day we roam in, but Princess Luna... What delicate care it must take to place those stars in the sky... one by one... "Hey Tinder Spark." I hear from behind me. Turning, I see Twilight walking towards me. I smile and invite her to sit next to me. "It's beautiful isn't it?" She says as she gazes at the sky. I nod my head. "You know Tinder..." She says, her voice fading. I turn to her to see her rubbing a foreleg. "What is it Twilight?" I ask. She smiles and places her hoof on mine. "I really appreciate you helping out my friends today. It was really nice of you." I smile. I saw so much of Galaxy in Twilight, was that why I was feeling this way? "My pleasure." I say quietly. We stare into each other's eyes for a moment. The stars in the sky don't sparkle nearly as much as hers. Eventually we do part, and I head off for home. I can't help but smile as I climb into my bed. Those eyes... that smile... that sweet... tender voice. I roll over and continue to smile. I hope this feeling doesn't leave me.