Cold

by Moonshine Wing

Induction pt.2

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It was 7:00 and I was now headed for the train station, having just gotten up half an hour ago, not wearing a shirt (as it would hinder my wings, and I'm too lazy to have rarity adjust it.), carrying a bag of bits, my knife, and my gun. I could barely sleep that night, not knowing what to expect. This wasn't a hire for a hit, this was the day I would be crowned a prince! I'm gonna be royalty after today!

And I was nervous. Truth is, it's not the fact that I'm gonna be royalty that had me worried. It's how the ponies that are attending today (on REALLY short notice, but I'm not stressing over that too much) will react. How would the rest of Equestria handle having an alicorn prince when they're so used to being governed by princesses? And the fact that I'm still somewhat human complicates things a bit...

I cut off my train of thought as the train station comes into view, the light from the ticket booth somewhat hazed by the smoke from the train. I approach the booth, and the bored looking mare behind the counter. She doesn't seem to take notice of me, so I clear my throat, causing her to glance up, and her eyes to slam open in shock. She suddenly didn't seem so bored anymore. Her brown coat was starting to dampen slightly with sweat as she glanced at my horn, then my wings.

"I need a ticket to Canterlot." I say simply, reaching into my bag of bits.

"T-that'll be twenty b-bits." she explains. For a second, I thought they were gonna be expensive! i count twenty bits out of the bag and slide them into the ticket window, and grabbing the ticket which was immediately given to me afterwards. I look down at the ticket as I walk into the warm train station, which read,

Train to Canterlot, Departure time 7:20

Well, looks like I got here early. I look around for a bench, finding one near the entrance and taking a seat when I hear,

"Mister Hoo-man!" I hear from behind me, and can't help but smile at the familiar, excited voice. I turn around to see Dinky walking quickly towards me, her usual smile present. She was being followed by Sparkler, and yet not their mother...

"Heya, Dinky! You got up early too?" I ask, looking down at the purple-gray unicorn filly, who just nods eagerly.

"H-hello Frosty.! It's been a while, huh?" Sparkler says as she approaches, trying and failing to keep the shock out of her voice. It was probably what everyone and their mother freak out about when they see me now.

"Yeah, it has. As you can probably see, a lot's happened." I respond with a stretch of my leathery wings, earning me a couple pops, "Are you girls coming to my coronation today?"

"Yeah. You did kind of invite us, after all." Sparkler responds with a smile, relaxing a little, "And Dinky was so excited when you did, how could I say no?"

Said filly hopped up onto the bench, snuggling up to my leg with a giggle. Okay, the levels of adorableness coming from her are gonna give me a heart attack!!

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm a little nervous about how the rest of Equestria will handle having a human/alicorn prince? I know there's already a prince, but he doesn't rule over anything. I so many unknown factors..."

"Aw, come on Frosty, it won't be that bad!" She responds. Before I could argue further, A train whistle goes off, making Sparkler jump, startled.

"I think we need to board." I comment, getting up from the bench. The doors to the almost cartoon-ish train slide open, and a conductor pony walks off, looking around before catching sight of us.

"Three going to canterlot?" He asks, not shocked in the slightest. Huh.

"Yeah." I answer simply, walking toward the now open doors, followed by the two sisters.

He nods, taking our tickets and punching holes in them with his horn, which honestly looked pretty funny to me.

"Enjoy the trip." He says with a nod, which I return. With that, we step inside the train car.

*Dong!*

Correction, I tried to get on the train car but hit my horn on the top of the doorway.

The inside of the train car was lined with cushioned seats on either side, low enough for pony use. I sit down at the one closest to the door, rubbing my sore horn. Man, I wish Flossy could be here with me, but I don't know how politics works here, and this may be safer for him to be with the apple family.

"What's wrong, Mister Hoo-man?" Dinky asks, breaking my train of thought. She currently held the seat to my left (as the only thing to my right was the door) and was looking up at me with concern.

"Nothing, Dinky. I'm fine, don't worry." I smile, patting her head, "Well, except for hitting my horn earlier." she giggles at this. She really is an adorable little filly.

"That was kind of funny." Sparkler admits with a snort. I look at her with mock offense, putting on a dramatic air.

"Oh, my pain is amusing, is it dear Sparkler?" I ask, sticking my nose in the air-

*dong!*

-and hitting the wall behind me with my horn again, making me wince. At this point, Sparkler is rolling with tears running down her cheeks as she tried to catch her breath. Dinky was giggling like mad, almost imitating her sister.

"Okay, the horn is gonna take some getting used to." I grumble, rubbing the tip of said horn gingerly with two fingers. It almost felt like weakly hitting a funny bone, but in your head.

"W-well *snork* you'll get used to it." Sparkler manages to say. At that moment, a voice is heard blaring over the intercom.

"All aboard the 7:20 train for Canterlot! Last call for the 7:20 train!"

At that, the doors open again, and ponies of various colors pile in, filling all the seats in our car (and maybe the next car over). A couple look over at me with raised eyebrows. One mare even calls out to me, good-humored,

"If it's you're coronation ceremony, what're you doing on the train?" Oh, I had to do this.

"I'm just coming along for the ride...and budget cuts are a bitch." I respond simply. After a second, I pick up a slowly growing series of chuckles from the ponies that weren't stunned by my profanity.

"True enough, youngin!" I hear an elderly stallion call over the laughter. I just give my own slight chuckle as the doors slide closed, and the train begins to move, departing for Canterlot.

I glance down at Dinky, who by that point was bouncing in excitement. Her sister was a little better at hiding hers, but I could still see it in the way she was tapping her hoof. I figured there would be more negative emotions and less excitement...

But then again, these are ponies we're talking about here, not humans.

"So, after you become prince, can we come visit you?" I hear Dinky ask over the general background chatter.

"Of course you can! Why wouldn't you?" I respond, playfully poking her tummy, earning me a squeal and giggle.

"Well, being royalty isn't all fun and games, one would think." Sparkler answers for Dinky with a shrug, "Though, what kind of responsibilities you'll be stuck with, who can say?"

"True enough. But if there's one thing I'll never change, is I'll always make time for my friends." I continue, "Because in truth, friends are all I ever had."

"What about family?" Dinky asks, looking up at me, her big, yellow eyes curious.

"Don't have one. At least, not that I remember. It's a little complicated, D." I answer, ruffling her mane.

Sparkler raises an eyebrow at this, but doesn't comment thankfully.

+++++

Finally, after what feels like an overly long ride, the train begins to slow down, and a voice blare over the intercom.

"Now arriving at Canterlot station. Prepare to depart the train."

With that, I stand up from the seat, steeling my nerves. Why was I so nervous? I was a fucking hitman, I still am!

...Maybe because murder was the answer last time, whereas with this, I actually have to work with peaceful people-er, ponies...maybe I'm not a hitman anymore? I couldn't see myself killing any of these ponies for money...

This place really is getting to me.

"Hey, we're here Frosty!" Sparkler says loudly, waving a hoof in front of my face.

"Sorry, got lost in thought there for a second." I say, walking towards the open doors and into the painfully bright sunlight.


Author's Note

The next chapter is when the actual coronation takes place, just a heads up.

Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I'm REALLY tired and wanted to get a chapter out, as I've been meaning to do.

Anyway, see ya in the comments.

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