//------------------------------// // Hammered Out - ReWrite // Story: Equestria's Outcasts // by TheFullCrumb //------------------------------// Note: Equestria's Outcasts takes place in an alternate version of Equestria, so many things will be different. Ponies are not entirely kind to one another, and many are disgruntled with their lives. The night was cool and calm, the wind from earlier dying down quickly once the sun had laid itself to rest. Most ponies would have been asleep in the tiny hamlet of Innsmouth, a small town on the outskirts of the Forest of Shadows, a place where many dared not to tread. A pony was sprawled underneath a cherry tree, frowning as he wrote on a small pad of paper beside him. “I guess every dog has his day.” He sighed, looking up at the sky. Princess Luna always saved her strength for the splendour of her nights, the beautiful constellations and the moon, the celestial sphere that denoted the royal sister of the night. He turned back to another book in front of him, the spine reading, 'Legends of Valour.' He flipped through until he was at his bookmark once more, removing the worn strip of metal and fabric from the pages of the book. The specific legend he was interested in, however, was the one dealing with what many considered an old pony's tale. The legend of Sol Exuro. The legend spoke of two great sisters, equal in power. The younger would raise the sun, bringing the herald of day for ponies to learn, to play, and to enjoy the light. The elder would bring the moon, her night a boon for the weary and the sick. Unfortunately, the younger sister was jealous of her elder sister, that ponies would gaze up at her stars in wonder and discover what they were. She would not lower the sun, wishing that ponies would gaze upon her orb of brightness and be filled with wonder. As she continued to refuse, her heart darkened, and the younger sister was lost, replaced with the being calling itself Sol Exuro, the Burning Sun. With a great sadness, the elder sister banished her younger to the heart of the sun itself, to wait out her days and keep the ponies safe. The most precious of artifacts were retrieved and activated in the ensuing battle, razing much of the land. Only when they were activated was the day saved, but at great cost. The Palace of the Pony Sisters was destroyed. Hammer looked away. Much of the passage he had re-read was some of his own musings inside the book, as it was his own personal copy, but it still always left him with a need for more knowledge. “What artifacts? Artifacts... artifacts... the Elements of... Combat? But that's impossible! Can't be...” He flipped back to the legend of Sol Exuro, and found the mention of the Elements. It made a note for another reference book, “Legends of a Lost Age.” He sighed. Much as he hated it, he had to use the library. They had the most extensive collection of reference material that side of Canterlot, even though he had only been inside the Canterlot library once in his whole life, and that had been due to his problematic sense of direction. Placing the book within his saddlebags, he trotted through the town, ignoring the glares and whispers of the ponies around him. The library loomed ahead, a large stone structure built onto the ruins of the old library, which had been a dead tree. The elderly librarian was sweeping the porch, her grey coat and white mane in stark contrast to her steely blue eyes. He nodded to her as she stared. “I never expected to see you again. Come inside, Hammer.” ------//|0|\\------ The library was expansive, old books and tomes lining every shelf, but it did not contain any books or reference materials that Hammer had not already read or studied. There was one, however, that he had never had interest in before, unfortunately. “Golden Scroll, sorry to have to ask this, but do you have a copy of “Legends of a Lost Age?” The librarian looked up, frowning. “We have the one copy, but I'm under the strictest orders not to let anyone read it. That's never stopped you, though, so it's behind the locked doors at the back. I'll give you the key, but you had better promise to bring that book back.” Hammer caught the key, quickly sliding it out of sight. He had learned before, quite suddenly, that his discourses with the librarian were often watched, and he would rather she not get in any trouble. ------//|0|\\------ The room behind the locked doors at the back of the library was absolutely bare except for the book on a pedestal in the middle. It appeared to be of little consequence that it seemed that it had never been touched before, asides from the librarian who had placed it there – and the author, of course – but it was as if it had never been touched underneath that glass casing. “This is too easy. It's like somepony wants me to walk up and read it.” Trotting up, he opened the first page, blinking at the dust that was disturbed. He flipped through, coming to a stop with the first page of the information he desired. “Elements of Combat. Huh.” “The Elements of Combat were discovered during the era known as the Hundred Years of Strife. When Sol Exuro deigned to overthrow our beloved Princess Luna, she did not expect the full power of the combined Elements. Powers of five are documented, including Strength, Ability, Knowledge, Duty, and Honour. The sixth is not known, but a spark will reveal the sixth when all Elements are present. Luna herself stated that the Elements were not hers to wield, but she was reluctant to use them on the entity that had destroyed her sister and created Sol Exuro.” Hammer looked up from the book. Whispered voices were echoing into the room. “...no, he's not a servant of the sun. Guardsponies, I implore you! Don't interrupt his study! Don't-” Hammer turned to come face-to-face with a Night Guard, one of the Princess' elite. He narrowed his eyes at Hammer, frowning. “No one is permitted to read from that book. Not even you, Hammer of Innsmouth. Do not let me catch you here again.” Hammer backed away quickly, keeping the book hidden behind his back. His face was a mask of indifference, but underneath it, he was sweating. He had forgotten that the book was likely to be enchanted to alert the guards if somepony were to read it. Another guard approached, staring Hammer down until he plopped on his hind legs. “I know you've read the book. I can see it in your eyes. Just come clean, and we won't have to get-” Suddenly, both guards stood bolt upright, their eyes glazing over for a moment before they left quietly, leaving Hammer with the book, his beating heart, and the fact that they had nearly given him a heart attack. Sighing, he pulled the book beside himself, his eyes still wide as he stood to his resolve to keep the book. “Oh, guards. Leaving now? I guess the life of a Lunar Guard never rests.” Hammer stopped in front of Golden Scroll, heaving a sigh of relief. “Goodness me, Hammer. Are you really taking that accursed thing away from my library?” She asked, staring at him with a sideways glance. Before Hammer could respond, she lifted a hoof to stop him. “Don't bother. The case was the only part enchanted. If I close it, they won't realize it's gone. Just make sure you do not return. I doubt they'll risk a repeat from you.” Hammer nodded, placing the book in his saddlebags. “For your sake, I will not. You have given me a chance that I would never have otherwise. Something is happening, but I can't explain just yet. Goodbye, Golden Scroll. I will remember you.” Golden Scroll silently waved goodbye to Hammer as he exited the library. A couple ponies around Innsmouth stared at him as he left it behind, but he paid them no mind as he galloped towards a building on the outskirts of town – Hammer's Wheelhouse. ------//|0|\\------ Behind the quietly locked doors of the Wheelhouse stood an enormous collection of machinery, parts, and equipment that only Hammer knew of. Inventing was a hobby, and he could never stop. Small flying vehicles based around pedal power which could coast along at an even one thousand meters in height? He had built three, but sold one when he could not afford the cost of materials. He could have sworn he had seen that pink pony somewhere before, but it eluded him. Clearing off his workbench, he placed Legends of Valour and Legends of a Lost Age side by side, opening up both and beginning a comparison. The tale in both was identical, except for Lost Age having a more extensive version. “'Elements of Combat – They give the bearer enhanced durability, the virtue they embody is doubled in strength, and they gain the strange trait of the Sentinels – a certain affinity to 'banish spirits' as it were. During the Shadow Wars, the Elements were exclusively commanded by the princesses, allowing for them to overcome the powerful possession spells that the Shades oft employed when assaulted directly.' Possession spells? Good thing the Guardian Wards are always active. I would hate to- oh my.” Hammer stopped for a minute, before looking outside his window to the location of the totems surrounding the hamlet of Innsmouth. “I'm outside of the protective spell.” He had a sudden urge to curl up and hide, but swallowed his fear, resolving to make sure the books were safe before continuing on his latest creation – a motor that would allow a cart to move without ponies pulling it, veritably creating a ponyless carriage. Of course, the idea itself was sound, but the execution, well, had cost him four workshops to even get as far as he had. Sighing, he looked back at his Cutie Mark, shaking his head. A gear overlaid by a wrench. He had been forced into a job before that ponies thought his mark was for, but he had somehow modified the machine he was supposed to repair, and while the pony who it was for had initially been very cross with Hammer, he had seen the value of the device, though Hammer told him to keep it a secret. “All right. Tighten this bolt here, slap this flap down, and let 'er rip- oh, that's not a good-” He barely had any time to react before he was blasted clear of his workshop, flying past the totems. “Sound!” Skipping on the ground like a stone on water, he came to rest in front of the mayor's hooves, who lifted Hammer to his own hooves. “Right. Ah ain't gonna sugarcoat this, Hammer, so ye bett'r lis'en up. We know ya been kind 'n all, but ye ke'p blowin' up yer shops. Even outside, ye be still a danger ta us all. Gon' have to ask ye to pack up... and find elsewhere ta build yer contraptions.” Hammer looked up at the mayor, tears in his eyes. The town he had known his entire life, and he was being asked to leave because of a few explosions? He sighed, looking back at what would soon be his former home. “Okay, sir. I know when I am not wanted. Just... give me some time to say goodbye to my home.” Hammer slowly walked back, his head down, before some ponies stood in front of him. “Oh, you're not actually leaving your home, Hammer.” Hammer perked up as he heard the statement. “No, we've got a cart all rigged up and ready to go. You can take your house with you.” Hammer lowered his head again. “All right... I guess. Just, well, make sure it is secured tightly, all right? I have a lot of important things in there that must not be-” He was passed by a speeding group of ponies pulling a cart, and could only stare in amazement as they physically lifted his house, tossing it onto the cart in the process. The mayor poked Hammer in the ribs, smiling. “Ye kin be a right pain sometimes, Hammer, but ye gave us some good things. Ah'm gonna miss ye.” The mayor, in an uncharacteristic move, embraced Hammer, the inventor struggling under the mayor's grasp. “Okay, okay, I get it. This was the last place I could work around ponies, you know.” The mayor looked at him oddly, his head cocking to one side. “Oh?” “Well, I'm going to have to go to the Forest of Shadows for safety, then. Largely unexplored, no ponies living there? A dream!” The mayor slowly backed away, letting Hammer moved to his house-cart. While only one story high, it did have five rooms, plus a small common room. He would have to rebuild the workshop, but that was never the issue. “Y-yer gon' go there? Yer crazy!” The ponies all backed away, galloping back inside the safety of the Guardian Ward totems, letting the blue glowing magic regrow the field around the entrance. Hammer sighed, hitching himself up. With a heave, he pushed himself towards the Forest, smiling as he plodded slowly along. “I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid. This is as good as it's going to get.” ------//|0|\\------ The Forest itself was dark, foreboding, and had all of the hallmarks of the superstitions of the ponies of Innsmouth, except, well, the massive amount of horrifying, hideous monsters that they would claim would often lay in wait for hapless ponies to pass by. He always chuckled at their antics, letting himself pretend he was somewhere else. Sighing, he sat down, looking at his house. He had reached a point where the cart had simply given out, the house crushing the poor thing to splinters. He was at the edge, but he was a good distance from Innsmouth and, therefore, out of earshot. With a sigh, Hammer drifted off into a fitful sleep. ------//|0|\\------ “No, no, no! I never intended for this to happen!” “This is all your fault, Hammer! You're a bloody servant of the sun! You should be executed!” “I didn't do anything!” Hammer's dream consisted of him trapped outside the world, watching himself destroy everything he had ever worked to accomplish. Beside him sat the personification of his own soul, a red shadow that loomed over the scene in front of them. “Such a pity. Sometimes, things like this happen, Hammer. The important thing is, well, to never let it happen twice.” Hammer stared at his spirit as its hand reached back, only to snap forward and impale his chest. “No-” He watched as the dark version of himself, complete with a dark green mane and tail, pushed everypony he could count amongst his friends into a position where they would forsake every bond just to get away from him. “Stop it...” “No!” ------//|0|\\------ Hammer awoke with a start, staring around him. While the darkness had shifted to lighter tones, it was still well before dawn. However, that was not what took his immediate attention. In front of the Wheelhouse was a unicorn mare, and a beautiful one at that. Her long, deep red mane and tail were offset by the faded blue of her coat, her turquoise eyes staring at him apprehensively as he approached, darting back and forth across the landscape as if expecting some invisible enemy to come to Hammer's aid. “W-who are ya? What d'y'all w-want?!” The mare began to backpedal, only to come in contact with the Wheelhouse, her hooves desperately banging on the front door as if to summon a pony from inside. Hammer sighed, walking forward and unlocking the front door. Without a word, he turned to the kitchen, starting up his kettle to make a fresh pot of tea. “Won't get you far in the Forest by suspecting everypony of wanting to attack you. Come on in, just put on the kettle.” Cautiously, the mare entered, allowing Hammer to see her in the light of his common room. Her eyes and face were tear-streaked, as if she had been crying for hours. He pointed quietly to one of his couches, pouring hot water into mugs for both himself and her. He half-mumbled a question to her, putting his favourite tea in his mug. “W-what?” “I asked what kind of tea you prefer.” “E-Earl Grey... p-please.” Hammer tossed a teabag of Earl Grey into the mare's cup, walking out slowly with a tray on his back as he set it between them on his coffee table. He was still surprised that everything was still in one piece, considering how they'd handled his house. He sighed, looking up at the ceiling. His fan slowly circled, the dust he had never cleaned off evident in the particles floating around. He moved her cup closer to her, taking his cup in hoof. “So, what brings you out to a displaced pony's house in the middle of the Forest of Shadows?” She looked up, confused at his statement. “D-displaced?” “Yeah, I'm an outcast from Innsmouth. Apparently, they got fed up with accidental explosions, and told me to leave. I doubt it was the mayor's decision, but I never gave much thought to it.” He leaned back, taking a sip of his own cup of green tea. She stared at her own cup, her horn igniting to lift the cup to her lips. “Ah'm from Borderline Station, m-mahself. I kin see that y'all by yourself in this house.” The mare snuck a quick smirk at Hammer before he noticed, sipping her tea with gusto now that she felt a little comfortable. “What happened in Borderline?” The mare began to break down into sobs, prompting Hammer to act. “Sorry! I didn't mean to push a nerve, miss. Can you at least tell me your name, if that's all right?” “P-Pumpjack.” Hammer smiled. He was at least getting somewhere. “Well, Pumpjack, I've got five extra rooms in the house. They're small, but they're comfortable. I've got the one near the remains of the workshop, but any of the others can be yours. From what I can tell, though, you didn't come with anything from Borderline, did you?” Pumpjack silently shook her head as Hammer spoke, eliciting a sigh from Hammer. “Thank y'all very kind-like, Mistah...” “Hammer. My name's Hammer.” “T-Thank y'all very kind-like Hammer.” She left to select her own room, leaving Hammer with two steaming mugs and a lot of questions. He leaned back, breathing deeply. “I guess my questions will wait until tomorrow. Well, welcome to the Wheelhouse,” Hammer whispered. “and may fate guide your hooves to a better path.”