Chapter 9: A Burning Hate

Nails walked into the Everfree forest. As long as he had lived in Ponyville he had never been inside it. He knew the history of it that barely anypony knew. How it had once been a grand city and even more important to him, the original headquarters for the Black Stallions. He had been told the stories of the original Black Stallions, how they had been the elements of harmony and had fought against the same enemy that he, hundreds of years later, had defeated. He made his way through thick foliage and underbrush until he came to an old ruined fortress. He walked inside something that many ponies were too scared to even make the journey to. He walked along the corridors until he found what he was looking for. The dungeon, positioned at the lowest point possible inside the fortress. He stepped over bones of dead ponies as he walked by each cell, searching.

He came to a cell without a number. This was it. He walked inside and found a stone that was different than the others. To the untrained eye it would have been invisible, but he had known what to look for. He pressed it in and noises could be heard as ancient gears and chains rattled to life. The wall split down the middle and started to open. Once it was fully open, Nails walked inside and let the wall close behind him. As soon as it was shut light began to fill the chamber.

"Magic." he muttered to himself as he watched magical balls of light move around near the ceiling. He walked into the chamber that had most likely been the briefing room for the six ponies that had occupied this building. He began searching through drawers until he found a map. Taking it to a table in the middle of the room, he opened it to see that, as he had predicted, it was an old map of Equestria. It looked brand new even though Nails knew it was centuries old. He sat down on the floor and took out the cigar Delta had given him. He lit it and let the smell of tobacco fill his nostrils before placing it in his mouth. He looked at the map. He saw grand cities such as Canterlot and Everfree City, along with a few smaller specks. One of these specks was labeled Manehatten. Nails chuckled and thought to himself about how much things had changed. He found the border of this map and saw a small portion of Forshan. This must have been one of the last few remaining maps that included Forshan on them. Nails began to look around the room. He found that it had several doors that each led to a different chamber. He looked for the one that led to the reconnaissance room. When he found it he walked through the door to find shelves and shelves filled with books. He began to look through every single one trying to find what he was looking for. It was going to be a long search.

"Ok Rainbow Dash, no flying until a week after your wing has healed. I want you to come here every week for physical therapy, do you understand?"

"Yes mam." Rainbow Dash responded to Nurse Redheart as the six left the hospital.

"Wow Rainbow. You're really lucky that Nails was there to save you." said Twilight as they began walking towards Ponyville.

"You're right Twilight. Nails is a hero! We need throw him a hero party! I need to start planning right away!" said Pinkie Pie as she dashed off for sugarcube corner.

"Ya she was!" said Applejack talking to Twilight, "But it's weird. It seemed like Nails knew exactly what was going to happen and where it would happen. You don't think he got a Pinkie sense of his own do ya? That may be how he survived all those years of war."

"I seriously doubt that Applejack." said Rarity, "Pinkie's is weird enough, I doubt that Nails would have such a trait."

"Ya," said Rainbow Dash, "Besides, we've seen him fight and I think that's a good enough explanation for how he survived."

"Still, I wonder where he went." said Fluttershy, "Did he say anything Rainbow Dash?"

"No, he didn't. I wonder why he left two." said Rainbow Dash.

"Ya, think we could find him back at his shop?" asked Applejack, "He may have gone back for somethin."

"You may be right Applejack, the next time we see him we can ask him." said Twilight.

"Still, I don't think it's like him. Leaving like that." said Rarity.

"Well we really won't know until we ask, will we?" said Rainbow Dash.

The other four nodded in agreement.

Nails tossed another book aside. So far he hadn't found what he was looking for and he was beginning to get angry. He reached for another book and looked through it quickly looking for key words. Nothing. He was about to give up when he noticed a book that looked like it didn't have pages, but was really a block of wood painted to look like pages. He took it off the shelf and examined it. The pages were definitely fake, making this a box; something was hidden on the inside. Nails opened the box to see a scroll. He dropped the box and held onto the scroll before opening it.

He read its contents. With every word that he read he grew angrier and angrier. This scroll was the reason he could not have freewill. This scroll was the reason the borders of Ponyville changed. This scroll was the reason the griffons had sent Delta to that Grand Galloping Gala. This scroll was the reason he had saved Rainbow Dash. He hated every last word on it. He knew that the building was protected so that if something happened on the inside, the only thing that could escape would be ponies. He took out his lighter and clicked it on. He held the paper up and lit the corner of it on fire before tossing back into the room. It landed on the pile of books Nails had made catching them on fire. Nails threw one of the book shelves onto the fire to feed it. He had only been this angry once before. He left the room and headed for the entrance. He exited the building and turned around. No smoke was coming out meaning he was safe from detection. He started to walk back to his house.

"Pinkie Pie, are you sure that Nails would be ok with a hero party?" asked Twilight as the group had gathered at Sugarcube Corner.

"Well, Duh! Of course he would like one because he's a hero! I can't throw a Rainbow Dash got hurt party! That would be negative!"

"I know but it's just that the way he acted after he saved Rainbow Dash that makes me wonder if he wanted to be the hero. I think he just wants this to blow over quickly." said Twilight as she used her magic to help Pinkie Pie place streamers around the room.

All six ponies were gathered there helping Pinkie Pie set up her hero party for Nails.

Normally, Rainbow Dash would have been helping place things high up, but with the cast keeping her from flying she was helping Applejack with tables.

"Applejack?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Yes sugarcube?" responded the farm pony.

"Can you come with me for a second?"

"Sure thing."

Applejack followed Rainbow Dash into another room where Rainbow Dash shut the door behind them and locked it.

"Applejack, I'm going to tell you something and I need you to swear that you won't tell anypony else."

"What is it sugarcube?"

"Swear you won't tell anypony first."

"Ok, I swear. Now could you tell me what this is about?"

"Well, it's about... Nails."

"What are you telling me about him that I needed to swear to... Unless." a huge grin formed on Applejack's face.

"Applejack!"

"Sorry, I'm sorry. It's just that I didn't think you would have feelings for him."

"Well, not at first no, but once I started to hang around him. I could just relate to a lot of the things that happened in his life. We were both orphaned as children and well, I spent a lot of time with him back in Forshan and he was really nice to me. What really made me realize my feelings was when he saved me from falling. I don't know if he feels the same about me though and I don't know what to do."

"Nails was an orphan?"

"Ya, he didn't tell you?"

"No, how did it happen?"

"He didn't tell me, all I know is that it has something to do with griffons."

"Wow, that explains why he hates them so much."

"We're getting off-topic here."

"You're right." Applejack said, "I think he cares about you a lot."

"What makes you think that?"

"Easy. He was willing to jump off a cliff for you wasn't he?"

"I guess you're right, and when he caught me, he took the blow from the wall instead of letting me hit it."

"Ya see? He does care about you. Just don't do something stupid and I have a feeling that you two could become really close."

"Why are you telling me to not do anything stupid?"

"Because I know you would."

Rainbow Dash rubbed her mane with her hoof, "Ya, I guess you're right. When do you think I should tell him?"

"Well, if we're right and he does care about you, I think that the best time for you to tell him would be at the party tomorrow."

"Really? That soon?"

"Ya, I feel that if you tell him while what he did for you was fresh on his mind, he may be more open to a relationship."

"Thanks Applejack, I knew that I could trust you."

"I'm always here for ya sugarcube."

"Just one thing."

"What?"

"If something goes wrong, please kick him in the jaw."

"No problem sugarcube." Applejack laughed as the two returned to the preparations for the party.

Nails returned to his house late that night. He felt bad about what he had done. This was the second time he had let anger control his actions. At least this time wasn't as bad, the last time it happened he had gone into a fit of pure rage. He walked into his workshop to see Applejack's plow sitting there. After all of the day's events he had completely forgotten about it. He had told her it wouldn't take long and now it had taken the whole day. He decided that he would finish it before he went to bed. He got to work cleaning the metal and reshaping it until it looked brand new. Satisfied, he extinguished the furnace and closed his shop. He walked into his house where he got out some bread. He couldn't cook now so this would have to suffice. He ate some of the loaf and put it back into the cabinet. He was about to go to bed when a letter caught his eye. He took a closer look and saw the Canterlot royal seal on it. He used his lighter to light a candle and sat down to read it. It read-

Dear Nails,

I, Princess Celestia of Equestria, am pleased to inform you that the peace talks with the griffons have come to a successful end. The treaty is to be signed in a few days and as soon as Princess Luna returns from the mission, we can carry out the execution of Iron Foot. I hope that this news pleases you and that you can tell your friends as soon as you can. Also, the peace talks with Forshan are progressing very nicely. We may even be able to reopen the border between our two countries and let trade prosper.

Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria

Nails looked at the letter indifferently. He was glad that peace had been agreed upon by the griffons and that peace was about to be declared with Forshan, but when he had attended the Grand Galloping Gala, he had been told that it was expected to be another month or two. This was only a little over a week later. This worried him greatly. He looked back at the door and saw another piece of paper. One that hadn't been there earlier. He picked it up and read it.

Congratulations Nails! You're invited to your own hero party! There will be games and dancing and fun and food and friends and balloons and streamers! Lots of streamers! It's tomorrow at 6:00 P.M. Be there!

Nails understood everything now.