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                        Frozen Soul                        
                       -by Kartexa-                        
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                     The Lone Stallion                     
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The Lone Stallion
Get out of here!
  The frantic pony quickly began grabbing his belongings before rushing deeper into the cave he had sheltered in. The last thing he wanted was to be cornered by bandits in the opening of the cavern. He quickly holstered his personal weapons; an AS50 sniper rifle, a USP .45, and his combat knife. Quickly getting back on all fours the stallion dashed further into the darkness with his saddlebags swinging at his sides.
Thank Celestia those bandits are loud! He thought to himself. He had begun to slow down after taking several turns in the winding turns of the natural labyrinth, after deciding he had best save his energy for later. The pony began walking quietly in the tunnel he found himself in, thinking about world he lived in.
  He was a young stallion, average size, a small build from living in the barren wastelands. He had a blue coat with matching blue mane and tail with navy highlights. His mane looks similar to that of a Mohawk if one looked at him from the side, and his tail was a bit longer than a normal stallion's. Unlike most ponies he'd seen, he wore a black shirt with rolled up sleeves, along with black cargo pants and a gray light-ballistic vest. His cutie-mark was that of a single four-sided frost-colored crystal with simple skeletal wings of the same hue. The one thing that set him apart from most stallions was the fact that his muzzle was more similar to a mare but was still squared in some areas.
  It was all normal to him; find food, have shelter, keep low. There was nothing about the system he didn’t know about. Of course, his way of surviving were different from the other ponies out there that he met. And most of those confrontations ended in a less than pleasant outcome.
  He never noticed that the cave began widening. He had been so caught up in his thoughts that he almost fell into a sudden drop in the floor. Quickly regaining his balance, he scanned the area around the pit. He noticed that there was an opening in the side of the hole, with a glow creeping out of the opening. After several minutes of pondering, the stallion decided to go see what the glowing was, he didn’t have anything better to do anyways.
  After harnessing a rope to a solid stalagmite, he rappelled himself down to the gap in the wall of the pit. Releasing the rope, he walked into the entrance of what looked like a chamber of some sort. He then looked around for what was creating the dim light. He found the source, an indention in the ground with what looked like a pool of a strange liquid. Stepping forward, he observed the glassy liquid until he lost a sense of his balance and toppled into the pool.
❄❄❄
  Apple Jack trotted along with Twilight as they walked done the path out of town leading to Fluttershy’s cottage. They didn’t walk for long when they heard snoring. Both mares had the instinct to look up. They saw Rainbow Dash snoozing away in a cloud above the two. Rainbow Dash woke up and looked down at the mares looking at her.
  “Hey you two! What’s up?”
  “We were just heading over to Fluttershy’s house to help her,” Twilight replied.
  “Kay, I’ll just tag along,” Rainbow said as she got off the cloud and began walking with her two friends. They were about to reach Fluttershy’s home when Twilight noticed someone laying in the grass a few meters away from the road.
  “Hey, I think see somepony over there,” Twilight said, “and there not moving.”
The trio ran over to the motionless pony quickly. They looked over the stallion, curious to how he was unconscious when there was no way of him hitting his head out in the open, and there were no signs of a fight anywhere.
  “Let’s take him to Fluttershy’s house, it’s not that far,” Rainbow Dash said.
  Apple Jack and Rainbow carried the stallion while Twilight carried his belongings. After they got to Fluttershy’s house, they laid the blue stallion on the couch while Twilight spread the items on the floor. They began looking at all of the items in the bags, but what really caught their attention was not in the bags, they were strange objects with a handle and a hole at the ends of the objects. One was large and had a smaller tube attached to the top of it, while the smaller one looked much lighter and had no other tubes attached to it. But they recognized the third item as a weapon, a crude looking knife that looked like it was made for combat.
  “What’s a stallion carrying a knife around for, and what are these things?” Rainbow asked, as she held the USP .45 in her hoof.
  “I don’t know, sugar cube, but we should wait until he wakes up and gives us some answers,” Apple Jack replied.
  “Well, yeah, but it’s not like he’s waking up anytime soon.”
  The stallion was hearing voices, but they were faint.
Oh no, those better not be bandits!
  He began to stir when the four mares heard movement from the couch. The stallion finally opened his eyes wearily and turned his head towards the source of the voice, he wasn’t expecting to be in a house that was in perfect condition, let alone see four ponies looking at him. The mares starred at the stallion while he looked back at them, finally Twilight spoke up to break the silence.
  "Uh, hello, My name is Twilight Sparkle. What's your name?"
  The stallion continued to look at the four, still wondering if he was hallucinating since he couldn't see clearly. His vision began to turn to black and back to reality as he blinked until he could see clearly. He took notice that the four were mares, and then he saw who had spoken as she seemed to be waiting for an answer. After a few moments he finally spoke.
"My name's Frostbite."

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                       Interrogation                       
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Interrogation
  The four mares stared at the stallion for some time before giving and answer. “Nice name,” Rainbow Dash said.
  “Thanks,” Frostbite replied quietly.
  “Umm, I don’t know if you don’t mind, but, the animals aren’t really comfortable with a stranger in the house,” Fluttershy said, pointing at the crowd of critters that were eyeballing Frostbite.  “Oh, why don’t we go to my library? We can get Rarity and Pinkie Pie on the way,” Twilight added.
  “Sure, besides we need to ask him about his stuff anyway,” Apple Jack responded.
  “What about my stuff?” Frostbite asked, curious to what she meant.
  “We’ll ask you when we get there,” Rainbow Dash replied. Frostbite nodded and got off the couch and went to collect his belongings. As he threw his saddlebags over his back, Fluttershy went to get his large items that were laying near her.
  “Hey, be careful where you point that!” Frostbite warned, as he snatched the rifle from Fluttershy.
  “What, oh, okay,” Fluttershy said with her head down.
  “C’mon, we don’t have all day to be fussing over where that things pointing,” Rainbow Dash said exasperated.
  Frostbite let out an annoyed breath, “All right, let’s go.”  The five trotted down the road leading into town. As they passed Rarity’s house, Apple Jack went to get her out of the boutique. They went to go get Pinkie Pie and on the way, Rarity began fussing over Frostbite attire.
  “Oh, but you look horrible in those dreaded rags!” Rarity exclaimed as she kept looking over Frostbite.
  “What’s wrong with it?” Frostbite asked curiously.
  “I mean, what’s with your pants being so baggy? And that vest looks much too solid, even though it matches the rest of your clothes, but still! You had must see me at the boutique tomorrow and get a new set of clothing.”
  “How about, no.”
  Apple Jack looks at the two before interjecting. “Hey Rarity, lay off will ya? He looks fine. Besides, it looks fine on him.”
  “Oh, you have never had a sense of fashion,” Rarity replied as-a-matter-of-factly.
  “Hey guys!”
  Everyone had been caught up listening to the small conflict that they nearly missed Pinkie when she came up on them.
  “Oh, hey Pinkie Pie, we were going to get you. Since we’re all here, let’s get to the library,” Twilight said. All except Pinkie, who bounced along, walked to the library, with Frostbite keeping a distance from Rarity. When they reached the library, Frostbite looked up at the large oak.
  “You live in a tree?”
  “Yes, this is the Ponyville library,” Twilight replied confidently.
  “So you live and work here.”
  “Yeah, you’re not from around here, are you?”
  “What do you think?” Frostbite asked back coldly.
  “Can we just get inside!?” Rainbow Dash questioned loudly.
  “All right, come on,” Twilight responded.
  When they entered the library, Frostbite laid his saddlebags against the wall along with his rifle, keeping his personal USP .45 holstered. The six mares walked over to the center of the room with Frostbite following. They sat around in a group with Frostbite the only one standing.
  “Sit down, we’d like to ask you some questions,” Twilight told Frostbite.
  The stallion looked at her and nodded, and sat as well. “All right, what questions do you have?” Frostbite asked.
  “All righty. First off, where are you from?” Twilight asked.
  “I do not know,” Frostbite replied with his head down.
  “You don’t?”
  “No.”
  “Okay, next, what is your job?”
  “My what?”
  “Your job, you know, as in what you do for a living, what your occupation is, that kind of stuff.”
  “I don’t have a job.”
  The six mares gasped. All of them were blown by the one statement. “But, everypony has something they’re good at!” Pinkie Pie said back, worried.
  “I’m serious.”
  “What does your cutie mark mean then?” Rainbow Dash asked suspiciously.
  “I never actually looked at it.”
  “Oh really?”
  “Rainbow Dash, stop it,” Apple Jack commanded, “He probably just has amnesia or something.”
  “Oh fine.”
  Frostbite looked at the Rainbow Dash with cold eyes when she looked back. Twilight eventually broke the little staring contest with another question.
  “All right, with that aside, what is a stallion like you carrying a knife around for, particularly, a kind that’s made for combat?” Twilight asked.
  “Yeah, what do you do with that knife?” Rainbow Dash added, still suspicious.
  “Well, you never know when one would come in handy,” Frostbite answered without a hint of caring.
  “Yeah, maybe we should hold onto the knife for now,” Twilight said putting away the knife, “anyway, last question, what are those things?” pointing at the sniper leaning on the wall then at the pistol in the holster.
  “Wait, you don’t know what these are?” Frostbite asked.
  “Well, no, we don’t.”
  “Oh well, might as well tell you. These things,” Frostbite said as he pulled out the USP .45, “are dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing with them. But if you only use these in your own defense, no one will blame you if you, say, ‘hurt’ somepony with it. And I don’t mean whack them with it, I mean if you pull this trigger,” he finished, pointing at the trigger on the pistol. “Oh, and if you want a demonstration, what would you mind not being destroyed here?”
  Twilight looked around the library for anything, but couldn’t find anything. “Sorry, maybe tomorrow.”
  “Don’t worry about it,” Frostbite replied.
  Then twilight noticed something she missed before, Frostbite was sitting with his hind legs out in front and was leaning on his knees with his arms crossed. “Hey, I just noticed something. Why do you sit like that?”
  “Because I feel comfortable this way.”
  Just then, the door to the library opened, considering it was still the afternoon. In came a Pegasus who had a light Persian-blue coat and had a pale cerulean mane and tail. “Hey Twilight, Flitter wants to renew this book but she’s busy foul-sitting Rumble,” the new mare said.
  “Of course, Cloudchaser. Let me see book,” Twilight replied.
  Frostbite looked at Cloudchaser for a few seconds then quickly tore his eyes from her.
I have got to stop doing that.
  While the two mares went over to the desk, Rainbow couldn’t help but let out a snicker escape her mouth. “I see you have you eyes on her,” Rainbow said with a smile.
  Frostbite simply looked back into her eyes with a cold stare, and when Rainbow looked back, the two were immediately locked in a starring contest that would take a while for either side to win.
❄❄❄
  Cloudchaser quickly flew back to Flitter’s house to help with Rumble and to give her back the book. When she got inside, she saw Flitter and Rumble chatting away.
  “Hey here’s your book,” Cloudchaser said, getting Flitter’s attention.
  “Oh, thanks!” Flitter said, taking the book from Cloudchaser.
  “Yeah, hey, have you seen the new stallion in town?”
  “No, why? Something going on?” Flitter said with an innocent grin.
  “What? No! I mean, he seems like a nice guy.”
  “Ohhhhhhh,” Flitter said, still keeping the same grin.
  “It’ll probably pass by tomorrow,” Cloudchaser replied, and she turned to leave and go see Thunderlane.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                          Danger                           
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Danger
  “Well, looks like there’s nothing left to do today,” Twilight said, after she got back from the desk.
  “I know! Let’s throw a party!” Pinkie Pie screamed.
  “Not in the mood for one,” Frostbite replied calmly.
  “Not in the mood? But we need to welcome you to Ponyville! No one comes here without a welcome party! And a party would turn that frown upside down!”
  “Pinkie, just stop,” Frostbite said tiredly.
  “Awwww, please?” Pinkie pleaded.
  Frostbite simply starred back with eyes that said ‘leave me alone.’
  “Pinkie, if he doesn’t want a party, he doesn’t,” Twilight said.
  “But at least let me make cupcakes for him!” Pinkie replied with puppy eyes.
  “Alright, Pinkie,” Twilight said.
  Frostbite stayed quiet for several minutes before Rainbow Dash decided to point out. “Hey, Frostbite has something for Cloudchaser,” Rainbow teased. Frostbite responded with only in an eerie silence.
  “Oh is that so Frostbite? Well, then you must simply get more impressive clothing than those rags,” Rarity implied.
  “What is with you and what clothes other ponies wear?” Frostbite questioned with annoyance in his voice.
  “Frostbite, don’t even get her started,” Apple Jack said before Rarity began speaking.
  “Why?”
  “She’s a fashion freak. She’ll go on about those things until sunset,” Apple Jack explained dramatically.
  “Oh Apple Jack, you really need to keep your temper down,” Rarity said back.
  “Girls, calm down!” Twilight demanded. Both mares quickly went back to being civil.
  Frostbite walked over to where his equipment was laying, took hold of his AS50 sniper rifle, then sat down and went to taking it apart for maintenance. He removed the .50 caliber bullets from the magazine for safety, then ejected the bullet inside the chamber. Afterwards, he removed the scope from the railing on the top of the bullet chamber.
  “Oh, I forgot to ask. Why do you have that small telescope on that thing?” Twilight asked as she took notice of it.
  “It’s so I can see my target from a far distance,” Frostbite replied without losing concentration on his work.
  “Target?”
  “These ‘things’ are projectile launchers, such as a crossbow, but more accurate, powerful, and faster in many ways. Not to mention the projectile is much smaller.”
  “But, why carry such a large one if you clearly have a much more compact version in your pocket?” Twilight asked, pointing at the USP .45.
  “That isn’t called a pocket, it’s a holster. And the reason is because the larger ones are either more accurate or carry heavier fire power.”
  “Considering we now know those are weapons, we should hold on to them,” Twilight said, attempting to use her magic to take the firearms away from Frostbite, only to be interrupted.
  “Well considering you don’t know how to handle these things, I’m pretty sure it’s much safer if I hold on to them,” Frostbite replied harshly.
  “Well how do we know you won’t use them for something evil like take over Ponyville with them?” Rainbow Dash asked as if he was a criminal.
  “Rainbow Dash, how many times do I have to tell you to lay off!?” Apple Jack yelled at her friend.
  “Don’t worry, I’ve handled worse,” Frostbite said grimly as he continued to check the interior of his rifle.
  “Rainbow Dash, give him a chance, he only woke up a few hours ago,” Twilight said, trying to calm her friend.
  “Has it been that long?” Frostbite questioned, looking at the cock that read 8 o’ clock.
  “Yep, time sure does fly,” Twilight said sheepishly.
  “Well, I’d better be going back to the farm, see ya,” Apple Jack said as she left the library.
  “Yeah, we’d better be going too,” Rainbow Dash said, then looked at Frostbite, “I’m keeping my eye on you.” The other mares left the library, leaving Twilight with Frostbite.
  “There’s a guest bed that I’ll get out, but first I need to see where Spike is,” Twilight said.
  Just then, the basement door opened, and out came a small purple dragon with green spikes. “Did somebody call my name?” he asked tiredly.
  “Spike, were you napping in the basement this whole time?” Twilight asked.
  “Yeah, I heard you coming in with the others so I figured you needed some time to talk privately,” Spike replied as he yawned.
  “Well, anyways, this is Frostbite, he’ll be staying with us,” Twilight said as she pointed towards Frostbite.
  “Okay, hey, cool mane.”
  “Thanks,” Frostbite replied as he reassembled the sniper.
  “Oh, and whatever you do Spike, don’t even touch his things over there,” Twilight commanded.
  “Oh, alright,” Spike said as he put down the saddlebag. Twilight went to go retrieve the guest bed while Spike went to go get a snack.
  “This is going to be a long night,” Frostbite said to no one in particular.
❄❄❄
  Cloudchaser flew over to where Thunderlane was doing laps on the court. She stood by waiting for him to finish. Thunderlane saw her and went to a halt to see what she wanted.
  “Hey, Chaser,” Thunderlane said as he went over to her.
  “Hey, um, Thunder, I saw this stallion earlier today, and I kinda, want to meet him personally, do you have any advice for me?” Cloudchaser asked awkwardly.
  Thunderlane thought for a moment, then said, “You know, if you want to get to know him, just be open-hearted to him, he’ll get to like you.”
  “Thanks, but, he seems to be the quiet type, the guy that won’t talk unless he has to kind.”
  “Still, it might work. Hey, he wouldn’t be the new guy in town would he?”
  “How’d you know?”
  “I saw him going to the library with Twilight and her friends. You wouldn’t happen to have seen him at the library, right?”
  “Yeah, that’s actually where I saw him,” Cloudchaser said, rubbing the back of her head.
  “Well, I’ll just go pick up Rumble, see ya. Oh, and good luck,” Thunderlane said as he left for Flitter’s house.
  “Right,” Cloudchaser said as she went to go home for a night’s rest.

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                         Talk Time                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Talk Time
  Frostbite woke up refreshed, having to have actually slept in a bed instead of on the ground. He attempted to get up, only to end up rolling on to the floor with a thud. Picking himself up, he groggily walked over to the stairs where he took a moment to get his bearings, then trotted down the stairs and headed over to where Twilight and Spike were having breakfast. Twilight took notice of him and waved Frostbite over to the table.
  “Hey Frostbite, have a good sleep?” Twilight asked before taking a bite out of her pancakes.
  “Best sleep I’ve had in a long time,” Frostbite replied, yawning.
  “Glad to hear. Have a seat,” Twilight said before getting a stack of pancakes for Frostbite.
  “Well, I don’t think I’ve had a proper breakfast for a while,” Frostbite said as he sat down at the table with Spike.
  “Well, here you go,” Twilight said as she put down a plate with a small stack of pancakes in front of Frostbite along with a fork. Frostbite picked up the fork and began eating slowly. They sat in silence for a moment before Twilight asked a question she forgot to ask the day before. “Hey, Frostbite, what was your life like if you can remember?”
  “I actually remember fine. But to be honest, it was pretty simple, just survive.”
  “Survive? Did you live in the wilderness or something?”
  “You could say that.”
  Twilight looked at him curiously, pondering about what he meant. After a moment, she brushed off the thought then went back to eating. After breakfast, Frostbite went over to where his belongings had been placed to check if anything was misplaced. Nothing seemed to be out of place. He checked all the magazines to make sure that the bullets weren’t missing. All ammunition accounted for. He then checked for his knife, after being unable to locate it, he remembered that Twilight was holding onto the knife.
  Frostbite went to sit down on the couch to mess with the mechanism on his USP .45. Twilight took notice after a few minutes. “Hey, you aren’t going to go outside?”
  “Not in the mood,” Frostbite replied while continuing to fool with the parts.
  “You don’t seem to be in the mood for anything,” Twilight said, taking note of the day before.
  “Well, I just don’t feel like doing anything.”
  “You need to do other things than sitting around.”
  “Like what?”
  “Well, you could go meet other ponies in Ponyville.”
  “And if they don’t like me?”
  “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m pretty sure that somepony would like you.”
  “Sure,” Frostbite said drearily. Soon, the two were outside heading for Sugar Cube Corner. After they reached their destination, Twilight let Frostbite enter first. “Why am I going in first?”
  “Just go,” Twilight replied, ready to push Frostbite in if she needed.
  “Fine,” Frostbite said as he trudged through the doorway. As soon as he entered, the lights clicked on and soon he was standing in front of what looked like half the town.
  “SURPRISE!” Pinkie Pie screamed at the top of her lungs.
  Frostbite stood there, dumbfounded. Soon he regained his senses and looked at Twilight with unamused eyes. Twilight responded with a sheepish smile. “Really?” Frostbite asked sternly.
  “Well, I didn’t say she couldn’t throw you a party,” Twilight replied hesitantly.
  Frostbite looked back to the crowd when Pinkie decided to start the party. “LET”S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!” Pinkie yelled, as Frostbite wondered if she could scream any louder as he rubbed his ears. Later during the party, Frostbite saw a group of Pegasus ponies talking. He then saw that the mare from yesterday was among them.
Small world, eh?
  Then, a stallion with a Mohawk took notice of Frostbite, who nudged the mare before directing her attention towards Frostbite. The mare caught eye of Frostbite and nervously looked back at the other stallion, who seemed to want her to go over to Frostbite. He caught on what was happening quickly and turned to leave the group alone.
  “Hey,” Frostbite turned around and saw that the mare was walking up towards him.
  “Hey,” Frostbite replied emotionlessly.
  “Err, I never really got your name,” she said sheepishly, attempting to start a conversation.
  “Name’s Frostbite,” Frostbite answered.
  “Nice name, mines Cloudchaser. Welcome to Ponyville,” Cloudchaser said, holding out her hoof, which Frostbite shook.
  Rainbow Dash looked at the two from a distance, snickering. Rarity looked at her friend, wondering why she was attempting to hide her laughter. “Rainbow Dash, darling, whatever are you laughing at?”
  “Look over there,” Rainbow dash replied, pointing to where Frostbite and Cloudchaser were standing.
  “Oh,” was all Rarity could say, “He really should have seen me before attending the party.”
  Cloudchaser attempted to keep the conversation going, only to have Frostbite try to leave several times. “Look Cloudchaser, it was nice meeting you, but can I just go?” He was answered with silence. He attempts to walk away, only for Cloudchaser to follow.
  “Not much of a talker, huh?” Cloudchaser said as she walked beside him.
  Silence
  “Well, I’ll just be heading back to my friends, I’ll be happy to introduce you to them,” Cloudchaser said smiling.
  “Alright,” Frostbite said boringly.
  The two walked over to where two other pegasi were talking when they took notice of the pair walking over towards them. “Hey guys, this is Frostbite,” Cloudchaser said to her friends.
  “Nice to meet you Frostbite, I’m Flitter,” the mare with the large head bow said as she shook hooves with Frostbite.
  “I’m Thunderlane,” the other stallion said to Frostbite. “I see that you’ve met Cloudchaser.”
  “I can see that,” Frostbite said under his breath. He swore he could hear Flitter giggling.
  “Hey, why are you wearing that heavy vest?” Flitter asked curiously.
  “Why is everypony asking about my vest!?” Frostbite asked loudly.
  “Well, it’s not exactly a kind of vest ponies would be wearing around,” Flitter explained.
  “Alright, it was nice meeting you three but I really should be going. Besides, I’m not exactly in the mood to talk,” Frostbite said as he left quickly.
  “Hey, wait up!” Cloudchaser said as she tried to follow, only for Frostbite to accidently slam the door in her face.
  Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked at the door, dumbfounded. “Well that escalated quickly,” Rainbow Dash said to Rarity, as they walked over to their friends.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Apologies                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Apologies
  Frostbite walked down towards the library, not looking back. He immediately grabbed all of his belongings after barging through the doors. After exiting the library, he looked for anyplace he could go. After several seconds, he noticed the forest. He quickly rushed down the cobblestone path towards the edge of the mass of trees. After leaving the safety of the town and bolting into the greenery, he finally slowed his pace as to save his energy. Following the path, Frostbite noticed that the path had signs that it wasn’t used often. He continued to walk until he saw flowers along the edge of the path. He was about to touch one with his hoof until a shout caused him to jerk backwards.
  “Stop! Do not touch those flowers blue or they will play a joke one you,” the voice said sternly. Frostbite looked towards where the voice had come from. There, standing on the other side of the path, was a zebra. He looked back at the flowers, then at the zebra.
  “So these flowers can play jokes on ponies?”
  “It is true, indeed they do.”
  “Well, thanks for the heads up,” Frostbite said as he got up and began to walk deeper into the forest.
  “What are you doing in the forest so dark where few ponies have left their mark?”
  “Nothing really,” Frostbite replied gloomily.
  “Why are you so blue when there is much to do?”
  “Don’t know.”
  The zebra stood in silence for a moment before giving him an answer, “You must be new, and it is true.”
  “Well, nice meeting you, see ya,” Frostbite said as he dashed off deeper into the forest before the zebra was able to stop him. He didn’t stop until he reached a large crevice. Frostbite looked around for a way across, only to find none. He began to walk along the edge of the cliff to get further away from town. He continued to follow the drop as he thought about what had happened in Ponyville. His thoughts were interrupted by a low growl. Frostbite quickly stood on his hind legs, drawing his pistol as he did so. Swinging towards the source of the sound, he nearly dropped his only ready weapon. In front of him were three wolf-like creatures that seemed to be made of bark. His sudden reaction was all the Timberwolves needed. The middle lunged out directly at Frostbite, only to receive a bullet to the head. The one on the right of Frostbite attempted a charge, only for it to be given the same fate. Frostbite adjusted his attention towards where the final wolf was standing, only to find it was missing. Before he was able to figure what had happened, he felt a sudden shove from the right as he was pushed down into the crevice.
  It took Frostbite a moment to figure that the last Timberwolf had snuck up to where his comrades had been, but he had other things to worry about. Seeing that the canine had followed through with the tackle, Frostbite turned over in the air as he grabbed the wolf’s head and violently jerked it to the side, snapping its neck. With the Timberwolf dealt with, Frostbite turned his attention back to the fact that he was falling. He didn’t get a chance to find his bearings before he hit a ledge in the side of the cliff. He began to roll off the ledge as he grabbed a rock, only to find that it was loose as it gave away and he slid over the edge. Frostbite attempted to hang on to other ledges before he fell further towards the bottom. He was unable to do so, and was rewarded with a brutal landing on the ground, knocking him unconscious.
❄❄❄
  “Are you sure he went this way?” Rainbow Dash questioned as she flew ahead of her friends.
  “Well, that’s what Zecora said,” Twilight responded as they walked along the same cliff that Frostbite had followed.
  “Well, we haven’t seen him yet. Are you sure he didn’t wonder deeper into the forest?”
  “He wouldn’t want to get himself lost, at least, I don’t think so.”
  “Hold on, are those, Timberwolves?” Rainbow Dash asked as she pointed towards two motionless corpse. The group ran to where the bodies lay. Twilight took one look and confirmed it.
  “And those holes in their heads, do you think that’s what those things Frostbite has can do?”
  “Yes, I believe so,” Twilight answered. She looked over to the rest of the group to see that Fluttershy was completely paralyzed, Pinkie’s hair had gone straight, and that Rarity was about to gag. “Well, we found that he’s been here, but Timberwolves usually hunt in packs, and two is definitely not a pack. So where are the others?”
  “Um, Twilight, I think I just found a third one!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she pointed towards the bottom of the crevice. The five looked over the edge to find a third Timberwolf with its head turned at an unnatural angle. Rainbow Dash dropped down to where the carcass was laying, and laying only a few meters away from it was Frostbite, bleeding and motionless. Rainbow Dash rushed over and check his pulse, finding he still had one. Rainbow Dash yelled back up, “I found Frostbite!” She then took hold of Frostbite and carried him to where the others were at. Twilight looked at Frostbite’s unconscious body.
  “He needs medical attention.” The six then rushed him back into town.
❄❄❄
  Frostbite slowly began to regain consciousness. He felt pain in various areas of his body. When he tried to move, he found that he was barely able to. Gently, he began to open his eyes, only to be greeted by a harsh, white light. After his eyes adjusted, he found himself in a bed wearing a hospital gown with bandages instead of his usual attire. After a few moments, Frostbite was able to voices on the other side of the door that lead into his room. The doors soon opened with a stallion in a white doctor’s coat, and following were the six mares that he had met with.
  “Oh you’re awake. Well, I’ll just leave you six with him while I go see other patients,” the doctor said as he turned to leave. After he left, Twilight focused her attention on Frostbite.
  “What were you thinking!? Going into the Everfree Forest is one thing but walking along a cliff where you can fall off easily is a different story, not to mention you just barged out of the party Pinkie threw for you,” Twilight said sternly.
  “Hey, keep your mouth shut, you’re not my mother,” Frostbite said weakly.
  “Hey, Twilight, at least he didn’t hit his head,” Rainbow Dash said.
  “Well, we had to go look for him, and if he didn’t run into Zecora, we probably wouldn’t have found him.”
  “Why didn’t you just leave me in there then?” Frostbite said, frustrated.
  “Because you need to apologize to Pinkie for completely ditching the party and to Cloudchaser for being rude to her!”
  “That’s it?”
  “Well, yes,” Twilight said, defeated.
Just then, a head peaked out from the doorway. Frostbite took notice, and seeing it was Cloudchaser, he sighed.
  “Oh perfect, you can go ahead and apologize right now,” Twilight said pointing towards Cloudchaser.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Wounds and Healing                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Wounds and Healing
  Frostbite and Cloudchaser locked eyes for several moments. Frostbite took a deep breath while Cloudchaser walked over towards him. Cloudchaser stood by Frostbite while he tried to think of a sincere apology.
  “Look, I’m sorry for what happened at the party, alright? I’m just not much of a talker. I’m not used to being in a conversation,” Frostbite said, unable to look at her eyes. Cloudchaser let what Frostbite just said sink in before replying.
  “It’s okay, I didn’t know. But you have friends here that can help you out.”
  “They’re not exactly friends,” Frostbite replied as he turned his head away. Cloudchaser stood in silence for several seconds.
  Rainbow Dash flew over to where the two were and said, “What are you talking about, we’re your friends, right?”
  “I never really had a friend, and any friend I had, they would either turn their back on me or be taken from me,” Frostbite said, still looking into empty space. Rainbow Dash was taken back from his statement.
  “Well, how were we supposed to know? You never told us,” Rainbow Dash said sounding actually sympathetic.
  “You didn’t need to know about it.”
  The other mares watched as Rainbow Dash thought about what Frostbite just said. Twilight looked over at Frostbite who bore an expression void of any emotion.
  “Frostbite, we’ll be happy to help you, but only if you let us,” Twilight stated.
  Frostbite looked over at Twilight. “You’re being honest here?”
  “Yes.”
  Frostbite replied with a smile, a true smile.
  Cloudchaser was glad to see that Frostbite wasn’t completely shut in anymore, but she wondered what her friends think of him after the incident at the party. “Hey, Frostbite, I don’t know what my friends think of you right now, but I don’t think they want me to be hanging around with you if they think you’re heartless.”
  “I don’t think they really liked me in the first place,” Frostbite replied, losing the good mood he had several seconds ago.
  “Can you at least get on good terms with them after you’re better?”
  “I’ll try.”
  “Thanks,” Cloudchaser said as she left the room.
  “Well, at least you apologized,” Twilight said. Soon, the six left, leaving Frostbite alone. He then relaxed and closed his eyes to sleep.
❄❄❄
  Cloudchaser flew over to where Thunderlane and Flitter were having lunch. Both were talking when Cloudchaser landed next to them.
  “Hey guys, what’s up?” Cloudchaser asked.
  “Nothing much,” Flitter responded.
  “Hey, you heard what happened to Frostbite?”
  “No,” Flitter and Thunderlane said simultaneously.
  “Well,” Cloudchaser said hesitantly, “They say he was attacked by Timberwolves and then was pushed off a cliff, he was unconscious and bleeding when they found him.”
  “Seriously?” Thunderlane asked, surprised.
  “Yeah, I wonder what he was doing in the Everfree Forest in the first place.”
  “He did seem in a hurry.”
  “Well, I did kind of made it awkward for him,” Cloudchaser admitted, rubbing the back of her head.
  “It did seem that way,” Flitter commented.
  “Anyways, I talked to him today, he said that he wasn’t a kind of pony to talk. And he also said that he didn’t really have any friends where he came from. He really does seem lonely,” Cloudchaser said, feeling sorry for Frostbite.
  “No wonder he’s a shut in,” Flitter said.
  The three began talking about what was happening in Cloudsdale to pass the time. After several minutes, they headed towards the hospital to see Frostbite. After checking in, they headed towards Frostbite’s room.
  Frostbite cracked open his eyes when he heard the door opening. He saw that Cloudchaser had returned with Flitter and Thunderlane.
  “Hey Frostbite,” Cloudchaser greeted as she walked along Frostbite’s bed.
  “Hey.”
  Flitter looked at the bandages and said, “How did you not break any bones when you fell?”
  “I hit some rocks on the way down, if memory serves me right,” Frostbite replied casually.
  “You’re saying it like it’s not a big deal,” Thunderlane commented.
  “Well, it’s not like I haven’t fallen from high places before.”
  “Where did you live before you came here?”
  “I don’t usually stay in one place, I travel.”
  “Talk about traveling lightly, I saw you carrying your things when you were going to the library.”
  “You’d be surprised by how much extra people carry around,” Frostbite said, chuckling.
  “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
  Just then, a nurse came in and said, “Visiting hours are over.”
  “Well, we’ll be going now,” Thunderlane said, then he whispered to Frostbite, “Treat Cloudchaser nicely.”
  “You ponies still on that?”
  “I said visiting hours are over,” the nurse said sternly.
  “All right,” Thunderlane said as he and the two mares followed. The three left Ponyville Hospital and headed for town square, just for Cloudchaser to turn and fly towards Rarity’s boutique.
  “I just need to go check on something,” she told them.
  “What? Your wedding dress?” Flitter asked obnoxiously, as she and Thunderlane burst out with laughter.
  “Cut it already, will ya?”
  “All right,” Flitter replied, trying to hold down her laughter. Cloudchaser simply turned and continued towards the boutique. After entering the shop, Cloudchaser walked to where Rarity was making designs for a new dress.
  “Hey, Rarity?”
  Rarity looked up from her work before taking off her glasses, “Oh, hello Cloudchaser.”
  “You wouldn’t happen to have Frostbites clothes, do you?”
  “Why, yes I do. I planned on cleaning them for him, since he doesn’t want any new kind of clothing.”
  “Well, I don’t see him as the kind of stallion to where ties and all,” Cloudchaser said, admittedly.
  “Well, what do you expect with that attitude of his?”
  “I guess not.”
  “Although I could make something for him when he’s at a formal event,” Rarity suggested.
  “You think he’ll like it?”
  “Oh, who wouldn’t?”
  Cloudchaser simply rolled her eyes.
  “Oh well, back to work,” Rarity said as she placed her glasses back on her muzzle.
  “Alright, see ya,” Cloudchaser said as she left the shop. She started thinking of what Frostbite meant when he said that some of his friends were taken from him. She then began to think of what his life had been like. Had he been neglected? Had he been living a homeless life? The thoughts swirled around Cloudchaser’s head as she flew home.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                       Helping Hand                        
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Helping Hand
  It was several days before Frostbite was released from the hospital. He followed Cloudchaser down towards the boutique to retrieve his clothes. The two continued down the path until they were stopped by a teal unicorn who had a cutie mark of a lyre.
  “Hey there, my names Lyra,” she said as she held out a hoof.
  “Name’s Frostbite,” Frostbite replied, shaking Lyra’s hoof.
  “I heard you had this new kind of technology,” Lyra told Frostbite.
  “Yeah.”
  “Where did you get it? I need to see it.”
  “Alright,” Frostbite answered, wondering if any new greetings would be easier. The three walked until they reached the boutique. When Frostbite entered, he looked around for Rarity. He found her arranging her dresses for display in the window. “Hey, Rarity, where are my clothes?”
  Rarity looked at where Frostbite was standing and replied, “They’re on the sewing table, I was fixing the torn areas on them.”
  “Thanks,” Frostbite said as he went over to table where his clothes laid.
  “One question, what’s with the vest? It’s nearly solid.”
  “It’s meant for protection,” Frostbite replied as he struggled to get his pants on.
  “Protection?”
  “Yeah, from things flying at me that I don’t want piercing me.”
  “What is with the place you’re from? It’s sounds horrid.”
  “What do you think?” Frostbite answered, equipping the ballistic vest.
  “Well, it does sound like that,” Rarity said, trying to adjust the manikin in a perfect angle.
  As Frostbite exited, he found Cloudchaser talking with Lyra.
  “I tell you, humans are just a myth!” Cloudchaser stated.
  “No they’re not,” Lyra shot back.
  “Lyra, I’m pretty sure that if they were real, they would have shown themselves to us.”
  “They wouldn’t because they’re shy creatures.”
  Frostbite looked at the two before speaking up, “Humans? HUMANS!?” He began to laugh uncontrollably. “Humans!? Now that is ridiculous! There is no such thing as humans!” He said, still laughing.
  “Yeah there is!”
  “Prove it,” Frostbite said, finally calming down.
  “Well, umm,” Lyra stammered.
  “Can we just move along now?” Cloudchaser said impatiently.
  “Alright,” Frostbite replied, beginning to walk towards the library.
  The three trotted down the path. When they entered the library, Frostbite walked over to where his belongings were set. He pulled out the rifle, removed the magazine, than handed it off to Lyra. She examined the weapon carefully, taking note of the trigger. Finally putting down the sniper, she said “Well, it is weird.”
  “And?”
  “This handle here, a part of it looks like it’s meant for a human!”
  “You’re kidding right?”
  “Nope. And besides, how do you use it anyways? You don’t have fingers.”
  Frostbite looked straight into Lyra’s eyes and said one word, “Logic.”
  The two locked into a staring contest for several seconds. The three turned their heads towards the doo when they heard the hinges turn. They saw that Twilight had returned, and was carrying several books with her in boxes, having picked them up at the post office due to certain difficulties there. “Hey, you ponies could help me you know,” Twilight said frustrated.
  “Uh, Twilight, you’re a unicorn, I’m pretty sure you can handle a few boxes full of books,” Frostbite said casually.
  “Yeah, about that,” Twilight said, pointing towards a pile that was sitting near the path leading towards the library.
  “Great,” Frostbite said with a sigh.
  “It’s not that much,” Lyra told Frostbite.
  “I’m not even going to argue.”
❄❄❄
  “Is that all?” Frostbite said, popping his spine.
  “I believe so,” Twilight told him. She checked all the boxes, making sure all the books hadn’t been damaged.
  As she did so, Frostbite asked her, “Again, why did you even need our help?”
  “I wanted to see if you are willing to help some ponies out, those two are,” Twilight replied, pointing at Lyra and Cloudchaser.
  Frostbite stood still for several seconds before saying, “I’m just gonna go to Fluttershy’s house.” He walked out the library when Twilight opened her mouth to speak. He walked down to Fluttershy’s quickly. When he arrived, he knocked and waited, only for a small bunny to answer the door. “Hey, is Fluttershy home?”
  The bunny crossed his arms and shook his head. “Angel, who is it?” Fluttershy asked from inside the cottage. Angel tried to slam the door when Frostbite put his hoof out to prevent the door from closing. Fluttershy came over to door and saw Frostbite. “Oh, hi Frostbite, did you need anything?”
  “No, I just came here to see if you needed any help.”
  “Oh, sure you can lend a hand. It’s the animal’s feeding time.”
  The time they took with the chore was uneventful save for Frostbite “accidentally” falling into the river. As Frostbite went to dry off, Fluttershy went over to ask him if he could help tomorrow. “Yeah, I’m free, as long as Twilight doesn’t keep me at the library to help her sort books.”
  “Great, just be sure to be here on time or the animals might get grumpy.”
  “Alright.” Frostbite continued down the path until he got to the edge of Ponyville. He looked around town until he crashed into a cross eyed mare.
  “Sorry, I’m just in a hurry, Are you okay?” she asked, getting back on her hooves.
  “I’m fine,” Frostbite said as he got up.
  “Alright. Gotta go,” she said as she ran off to town square.
  Frostbite raised an eye brow before walking back to the library.