Captain Anonymous - Chapter 20 - An Old Friend
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>”So now the hospital, right?” Twilight asks as you walk.
 
“No. We need to have Shining’s custom armor and saddle made. We need to stop by the blacksmith first. Besides, it’s closer.”
 
>”Ugh. Let me guess, you agree with him?” Twilight asks her brother in frustration.
 
>”He has a point, Twi, we need to stop by and at least get them started. That way, Cadance will be on her way, our armor will be in the process of being forged, and since there’s nothing else to be done but brief the princesses, we can be at the hospital as long as is needed.”
 
>Twilight rolls her eyes. “Why did I even ask?”
 
>Thankfully, the blacksmith Shining mentioned is only a couple of blocks away, so it’s not much of a walk. When you arrive, the three of you enter the shop to find an older grey unicorn stallion, levitating a hammer and swinging it repeatedly against a red-hot piece of metal held against an anvil.
 
>”Hey gramps, can’t you see you got customers here?” Shining barks. You’re about to admonish him for his rudeness, but you aren’t given a chance.
 
>The stallion turns around and angrily yells back
 
>”Can’t you see I’m in the middle of…” he does a double take and blinks a couple times before opening his eyes wide. “Shining Armor? Is that really you?”
 
>Both of the stallions smile immediately, the older stallion setting his work aside and leaving his work area, approaching Shining Armor briskly before the two share a quick embrace and pat on the back.
 
>”Firebrand you old so-and-so, how have you been? It’s been far too long.”
 
>”Indeed, it has, it has. I must say after I heard about the wedding and you leaving Canterlot, I never expected to see *Prince* Shining Armor setting hoof in my shop again. To say I’m pleasantly surprised is an understatement.”
 
>”Hey, I’m still the same stallion you knew when I was Captain, my old friend. Just with more responsibility on my shoulders these days. Sometimes it’s hard to escape my responsibilities long enough to catch up with the ponies I care about,” Shining’s tone changes from jovial to remorseful. “I really do apologize for that, Firebrand. The times I’ve been in Canterlot I could have at least swung by and said hello.”
 
>”Don’t worry about it son, I understand, you’ve got a wife now and a whole Empire to watch over. Hey, when are you two gonna have a foal anyway? It’s not like the honeymoon was yesterday, if you know what I mean, heh! Anyway, you know ol’ Firebrand’s gonna come spoil ‘em, heheh,” the old stallion jokes, nudging Shining’s shoulder a couple of times as he laughs, causing Shining to smile fondly.
 
>”When Cadance is in foal I’ll make sure you’re the first to know,” Shining says with a wink and a smile.
 
>”Good boy,” Firebrand says, patting Shining on the shoulder again. He hesitates for a few moments and his demeanor becomes more serious. “As good as it is to see you, Shining my boy, something tells me you didn’t drop by just to catch up with a grumpy old stallion,” he says, gesturing to you and Twilight.
 
>Shining sighs deeply before explaining.
 
>”I wish we were just visiting, I really do, but I’m afraid you’re correct. Firebrand, my dear old friend, I need – WE need a favor from you. You’re the best blacksmith in Equestria, every piece you ever forged for me and those under my command has always been flawless, and-”
 
>Firebrand flicks a hoof at Shining, interrupting him, “BAH! Nothing I make is flawless, there’s always room for improvement, don’t puff me up so much son, it might go to my head.”
 
>”You’re too modest old friend. You’re nothing less than a grandmaster at your craft. That’s why we’re here. We need you to forge two special sets of armor for us.”
 
>”I’m listening,”
 
>”You remember my Captain’s Armor?”
 
>”Of course I do, that was a fun project. You need another set like that made for some reason?” the old stallion asks curiously.
 
>”Not quite. If you’ve got a quill and ink, some blank scrolls or paper, and those old plans, we need to make some modifications. By the way, are you still into leatherworking as well? I remember you were starting to get pretty good at it just before I left Canterlot.”
 
>”Yes, yes, I’ve still been here slaving over my work, honing my leatherworking skills between orders,” Firebrand says as he returns to his work area and starts shuffling through some papers,
 
>“while you’ve been off in a faraway land, living in the lap of luxury in a great big castle, your every whim catered to by servants,” he grumbles when he doesn’t find the plans he’s looking for and checks another location,
 
>“and frolicking in bed every night with that, mm mmm mmm! Gorgeous sweetheart mare of a wife of yours, ooh hoo hoo,” he says with a shudder, “you lucky son of a jenny. Aha!” he says as he finally finds the old plans for Shining’s Captain’s Armor.
 
>He unfurls the scroll on the worktable in front of him. “It’s a skill that’s had its uses when I craft a piece that needs a leather strap or handle attached to it.” He fetches some more scrolls, quills and inkwells before returning and haphazardly tossing them on top of the old plans.
 
>He looks up at Shining Armor when he’s satisfied he has what he needs. “Since you asked I’m assuming this project of yours is gonna require both of my skillsets, yes?”
 
>”Indeed it will. It’s a rather… unique piece, to say the least,” Shining says as he sits down on a stool across from Firebrand, levitating a quill and dipping it in ink. You and Twilight stand awkwardly in the background, not sure how you can be of any help. You sit down next to Shining Armor, quietly observing as he and Firebrand silently look over the old plans.
 
>Finally, Shining puts the quill to a blank scroll, copying the old plans as best he can, omitting certain parts that will need modifying. Firebrand simply watches him until he’s finished before turning the scroll toward himself and examining it.
 
>”I see, so this is what we have to start with then?”
 
>Shining nods.
 
>”Well son, do I look like a psychic?” Firebrand grumbles. “Go on, start with the details already so I can fill the rest of this thing out!”
 
>Shining laughs under his breath and shakes his head before speaking
 
>”You’ll see I removed a significant portion of the dorsal wither and back protective plating,” he starts. He takes his quill and points to a few areas on his newly-drawn plan. “These two pieces need to extend further backward by about another foot. As for the back… that’s where your leatherworking skills are needed. I need a saddle there in place of armor plating.”
 
>The old stallion raises an eyebrow, “What in blazes for? You take a blade there it’s gonna tear right through it.”
 
>”Not a decorative saddle,” Shining hesitates. “It needs to be padded and designed in a way to make it comfortable to sit on.”
 
>Firebrand’s expression grows more confused. “Sit on? Is this some kind of toy for you and Cadance or something?” he half-jokes.
 
>”Hah… no, I’m afraid not. The saddle needs to be able to accommodate a rider,” Shining hesitates before gesturing to you, “this rider, to be specific.”
 
>”Do I want to ask?” Firebrand asks, looking at Shining Armor like he’s crazy.
 
>”Probably best if you don’t, old friend, it would take a lot of explaining,” Shining says with a nervous laugh before focusing his attention back on the scroll. “The saddle is going to need to be padded in such a way that it lifts him off my back a little bit more so that his feet can fit in the stirrups attached to the saddle.”
 
>”Stirrups?”
 
>”Back where he comes from, stirrups are part of a saddle where a rider places their feet to maintain balance while riding a pony. I’ll draw them up on here for you, they shouldn’t be a problem for a stallion of your skill.”
 
>”Okay,” Firebrand says hesitantly, “what else?”
 
>Shining continues making more markings, “The breastplate needs to be expanded here and here, this solid piece here on each side needs to be broken down into several smaller connected pieces that will give them some flexibility and mobility. The leather stirrups will need an outer protective armor covering of some kind to protect my rider’s legs. I’m also going to need a bridle to slip on my head under my helmet, with reins attached for my rider to hold onto, like this,” Shining says as he adds more and more marks to the diagram. “Finally, for this set, I’ll need a piece that covers the front of each hoof and protects all the way up my cannon bone without sacrificing mobility.”
 
>Shining and Firebrand go back and forth, making more marks, mumbling to each other as they do so. Eventually his curiosity gets the best of him.
 
>”So this fella here is going to be riding you?” he says, gesturing to you but not taking his attention away from the scroll.
 
>”Yep.”
 
>”You’re a strong stud in your prime, but even at that, can you carry him?”
 
>”Without breaking a sweat.”
 
>Firebrand raises an eyebrow and looks at you.
 
“Hey, don’t look at me, I was surprised he could, too. Even did some vigorous exercise while carrying me and, just like he says, he never even broke a sweat. Shining’s a good sized stallion, we probably weigh around the same, my feet are off the ground by a few inches when I’m on his back. I thought maybe he could carry me for a minute or two before getting winded and asking me to get down, but I vastly underestimated him. He told me he could carry me to Canterlot and back, and after the little demonstration he gave me I believe him.”
 
>”Good to hear the royal life hasn’t softened you up none, I guess,” he says, “hope you can keep that strength up, don’t let your ‘royal duties’ turn you into a big weak softie.”
 
>Shining chuckles, “You know me better than that, old buddy. Since when have I ever let my physical fitness falter?”
 
>Firebrand shrugs. “Point taken.”
 
>There’s a long silence as the two of you go over the scroll again.
 
>”Okay, so is this pretty much the final plan now?” he asks Shining.
 
>”Yeah, the only thing you’ll need are the measurements for the seat of the saddle and the lengths of Anon’s legs to make sure the stirrups are appropriately situated - it will help greatly if you can make the length adjustable.”
 
>Firebrand looks at you and then Shining Armor, “No offense Shining, but I’d really rather not get near his hindquarters, or the insides of his legs.”
 
“Not a problem. I already had a pretty little unicorn mare take care of all of that for you,” you say, retrieving a paper you had tucked in Twilight’s saddlebags with all of your detailed measurements written on it and handing it over.
 
“The seat should be sixteen inches from pommel to cantle. Any less and I won’t fit in the saddle, any more and I’ll move around too much in the seat when Shining moves, which will be uncomfortable for both of us. It’s critical that the saddle fits us both perfectly and is comfortable for both of us. I don’t need Shining getting a sore back from this. It’s very important to me that this isn’t painful or uncomfortable for him. Please take extra care to make sure the weight in the saddle is distributed as evenly as possible over his back.”
 
>Firebrand flicks his hoof at you with a “pfft”
 
>”Sonny I’ve been doing this for a very long time. I know how to design comfortable armor – and now pony-riding saddles too I guess. Don’t worry about it, you’ll both have a smooth ride. Now, before I get started, is there anything else?”
 
>”We need two sets. The first one is for me. You’re excellent at detailing so I didn’t bother even trying to draw any details. But the more elaborate, gaudy, and detailed you make my set, the better. The armor can be bronze, but a coat of gold paint along with whatever else you come up with would really help. I guess what I’m trying to say is, really put a lot of effort into making this look like a “prince’s” battle regalia. Make it disgustingly showy and ostentatious, okay?”
 
>Firebrand smiles, “Oh I read you loud and clear there Shining my boy. What of the second set?”
 
>”The second set doesn’t need any detailing, just follow the basic schematic. It will be for one of my troops to carry another rider.”
 
>”Okay then, I guess I have all I need to get started.”
 
>”Firebrand, I need my set first. Can you give me a rough estimate on when it’ll be done?”
 
>”Shining I’ve been making it a habit to keep extra pieces of pre-forged template armor pieces in stock – never know when a guard is gonna wander in here needing something fixed or replaced. Most of the pieces I’ll need for this have already been forged. All I’ll have to do is forge the extra needed parts, take care of all the detailing, build the saddle into the armor, construct the bridle, reins, and stirrups, and I’ll be finished. If you’d caught me out of stock or at a busy time this would have been a week’s worth of work, minimum.”
 
>”But now?”
 
>”HAH! Now? With what I have on hand – and with who my VIP client happens to be, I’ll be motivated and equipped enough to have it finished by the end of the day, easily. I can have the second set for you midday tomorrow.”
 
>Shining leans over the table, hugging the old grey stallion one more time. “You’re the best, Firebrand, I owe you one. We’ll see you soon, okay?”
 
>The three of you turn and leave. As you pass through the doorway, Firebrand calls out to Shining Armor.
 
>”If you wanna pay me back, get to siring a dang foal already, so I can at least pretend to be a grandpa for a little while before I’m pushing up daisies!”
 
>Shining looks at you and Twilight as you begin walking to the hospital.
 
>”You two were awful quiet in there, is something wrong?”
 
“No, it’s just that… well, at least personally I didn’t want to butt in on two close old friends talking and working together when they haven’t seen each other in a long time. I don’t think he liked me much, anyway. Twi?”
 
>”Come to think of it I probably should have just waited outside, there was really no reason for me to be in there. It was kind of awkward, to be perfectly honest,” she nervously laughs, “it was almost like he didn’t even know who I was.”
 
>Shining sighs. “Firebrand might be an ornery old stallion but he’s far from mean, he wouldn’t ignore you on purpose or intentionally treat you in a manner that’s disrespectful – either of you – and I meant it when I said he’s a grandmaster in his trade. I haven’t met another pony yet that’s on his skill level, or even close. Our little ‘project’ couldn’t possibly be in better hooves, trust me.”
 
“I find it hard to believe he’ll have such a complex project finished by the end of the day. Is he *really* that good?”
 
>”Anon, if Firebrand says it’ll be ready by the end of the day, it’ll be ready even sooner than that. The old stallion always exaggerates his estimates to make himself look like a miracle worker when he ‘finishes a piece early.’ He won’t let us down.”