Cold
Induction final part
Previous ChapterNext ChapterAs I stepped out of the train and into the light of day, the first thing that crossed my mind was I need sunglasses.
The streets were bustling with ponies going about their business, some wearing clothes and some not, or getting ready for (I guess) the coronation. Majority of the ponies at the station stopped to stare at me as I passed, mouths open and wide-eyed. A small few bowed as I passed, and I try not to grin at that. Well, maybe this wouldn't be so bad!
I take a look at the buildings, and can't help but stare in wonder at the sight of so many mansions, fancy shops, and beautifully colored buildings whose purpose eluded me at the moment. Sparkler lets out a giggle at my reaction, though it sounded more nervous that anything.
"Yeah, Canterlot is pretty neat, even if most ponies here are completely posh." she comments, levitating Dinky onto her back with a pinkish glow.
"Yeah, the city we lived in on earth wasn't nearly this nice." I comment, looking around again before stopping, my eyes locked onto a green earth pony. He wore a black top hat and suit, had a red mane and green eyes, and the saddlebags he wore bulged slightly, but not in coins. But that's not what had my attention about him.
It was the fact that he was walking towards me, not in the least perturbed by the fact that I was showing my new nightmarish teeth.
"Well I say, it's the soon-to-be prince! Are you excited about your coronation today?" He asks. I glance at his cutiemark and see what looks like a pot of gold.
"Not really." I lie, keeping a straight face. What's this guys angle...
"Well, I'm glad I caught you before the ceremony, my family and I wanted to give you something!" He says happily, before sliding the saddlebags off his back. Is this guy kissing up to me? Using both hooves, he pulls out a white, egg shaped object with a blue and pink spiral.
"The egg of a dragon." The earth pony explains with a prideful grin. Well, that explains the egg shape.
Wait a minute... A dragon egg?
He holds it out to me, so I gently take it, grunting at the unexpected weight. Jesus, this thing is dense!
"Thank you, mister...?" He never did mention his name.
"I'm Emerald Rain, I work with the equestrian bank. If I'm to be terribly honest with you, it's about time we had another prince that doesn't seem like a complete twat." He says with a grimace.
Okay, not gonna lie, I was probably laughing for about 4 minutes, drawing looks from everyone (or everypony, I should say) who passed by.
"So this other prince rub you the wrong way?" I ask, having finally caught my breath.
"You could say that." He answers simply, before looking up at the sky, "Well, I best be off. I do believe I'll see you at the coronation?"
"Well, it is mine, so yeah." We share a chuckle as he walks away and I put the egg under my arm. I turn back to Sparkler, who by that point had her jaw on the ground, staring at the egg.
"He...He gave you a Dragon's egg!"
"What, is that supposed to mean something?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
"Not specifically, but getting one away from the mother is really difficult, and life threatening." At this, both my eyebrow were up. Why go through so much danger just to get an egg for me?
"Well, at least this is better than a chicken egg. Though I'll admit, I've always wanted a chicken." I put a hand to my chin in mock thought.
"Hey, if you don't want it, I'll take it!" Dinky speaks up from Sparklers back. I just chuckle, covering the egg with my other arm.
"No way, it's mine!" At that, she giggles, and Sparkler smiles, shaking her head.
+++++
I was approaching the admittedly HUGE castle, it's golden gates gleaming brightly in this damnable sunlight. Definitely need to see about getting sunglasses before the day is out. With the sun beating down on my pale, almost translucent upper body, and the warm dragon egg under my left arm, I was sweating like no tomorrow. Sparkler looked over at me, raising an eyebrow.
"You're getting shiny there, Frosty. You okay?" She asks.
"Frosty's currently melting at the moment, please try again later." I say, wiping my forehead. I'm surprised I didn't get sunburned yet!
We walked toward the guards at the gate, who were looking on impassively as we approached, holding spears. The guard to the left looks over me and the girls, before opening the gate with the hoof not holding the spear. Huh, I guess some things don't change no matter where you are...
As we approach the doors to the large, white stone castle, I feel...something, coming from the egg. Almost like a baby when it kicks it's mother, you could say. I look down at the egg, expecting it to glow or something, but it looks no different than before. Guess that's what I get for my past interest in the fantasy genre.
"So, how long does i-" I get cut off by the doors opening before us, revealing the regal sisters...my soon to be aunts, I guess.
"Ah, Frosty! I'm glad you came early." Celestia says with a motherly smile. I just squint my eyes at her, still angry for the other day. Sure, I got wings and magic because of it, but it hurt like hell. And she lied to me, on top of that. Now, I may be a killer, a "thug" some would put it, but if I know what I'm gonna do is gonna hurt, I let them know.
Sparkler bows, with Dinky bowing on her back. I just stand there, staring at Celestia.
She sighs, "Well, come. Let's get you ready." before turning and walking back through the doors, followed by Luna, then me. I wave to Sparkler and Dinky before the doors close, then follow after the sisters.
"I realize you aren't happy with right now, but I truly didn't mean harm unto you, Frosty." Celestia speaks up after a minute or two. I don't say anything, just taking my knife and flicking it open loudly *whir* *whir* *chink* and rubbing my thumb along the blade, observing my reflection in the polished metal. My now spliced, unnerving pink eyes gazed back at me, my mouth open slightly, giving me a look at my now razor sharp, white teeth.
"Whether or not you meant for it to happen, sorry doesn't make my monstrous appearance go away." I finally answer, making Celestia look back at me sadly.
Luna looks like she wants to say something, but every time she looked at me to say something, she would look away, losing her nerve I guess. She did mention someone called Nightmare Moon a while back. Do I look like her or something?
The sisters stop in front of a set of medium sized, double doors before Celestia speaks up again, "The tailor will be here soon to take your measurements-"
"Actually, I don't want to wear a shirt for this. You ponies rarely wear clothing, so I think it'd be fitting for me to only wear pants in becoming one of their royals." I cut her off. Luna raises an eyebrow,
"Are you sure?" Celestia asks, almost in disbelief.
"Yeah." I say simply. This could be seen as a step in the right direction for gaining the ponies trust. Although, I'm not going to go out there completely naked just for the sake of earning trust.
"I have been meaning to ask you, sir Frosty, but why did you agree to become a prince?" Luna asks, only this time without the olden-time theme she had last time. Huh, weird.
"I'm doing this mostly for Flossy. If there's a way to get back home, I want to at least make sure Flossy can get back to the hood." I then flick the knife closed *whir* *whir* *chink* "Even if that means I stay stuck here."
"You truly care for him, don't you?" Luna asks, seemingly surprised by my answer.
"He not only saved me, but gave me the closest thing to family I ever had, and never left my side when I needed him. It's only fair that I do what I can for my homie. If anyone deserves to go back, it's him."
Luna, after hearing this, got a thoughtful look on her face, and Celestia just smiles.
"Did Twilight tell you how me and him met?" I ask Celestia, who nods. Luna looks at us, curious.
"How?" She asks simply, looking at Celestia.
"Frosty here was made a zombie through some form of human magic, and Flossy unknowingly freed his mind. He still retains his zombie strength and endurance, as well as his pain resistance." Luna's eyes grow wide at this, looking at me in disbelief.
"I think we've dallied long enough." I say, cutting off whatever it was Luna was gonna say, "Let's get this over with, carrying a dragon egg is tiring."
Celestia just nods, leading the way down the hall. I just follow silently, Luna walks off, probably to sleep. She is the princess of the night, so she really shouldn't be up this late in the day.
I reach into my pocket and smile as my fingers wrap around the cardboard box I knew so well. I open it, taking a cigarette out, and focus on the unlit end.
Light
Well, the once unlit end. As I take a drag, calming down, Celestia looks back at me with a wrinkled nose.
"I was not aware you are a smoker, Frosty." she states simply.
"Well, it helps me calm down. And if I'm still largely dead, what harm could it do to me?"
"While that is true, think of the others who may be in your company at the time. While your lungs may not be affected, somepony else might be in pain because of it."
My small smile drops as she says this and my eyes squint, "First off, it's not like I smoke all the time. Second, you're the last person I want telling me to think of other people's pain." I snap before taking another drag, trying to mellow out. She almost looks hurt at this comment, but says nothing. Is she really this soft all the time? Or am I just some special case?
We now stopped just outside a huge set of double doors, and she motions for me to wait, walking through. As the doors open, I hear the chatter of many, many ponies. Was this the throne room?
Maybe now would be a good time to try something out.
+++++
Having been waiting outside the door for a while, and managing to get my little trick to work, I was actually growing bored. That is, until the door opens and a guard beckons me over. I walk up to him, and he states,
"The princess summons you now, Sir Frosty." Alright, let's see how this goes.
I can't help but smile as the opening riff plays loud and proud, and I step through the doorway, into the throne room filled with thoroughly confused ponies. As I walk to the throne occupied by Celestia, more and more ponies stop what they're doing and look at me. Some ponies actually start bobbing their heads to the music. Looks like there's hope for these ponies yet!
Those that weren't enjoying the music were watching me intently. I had my wings fully outstretched, matching my footsteps with the drumbeat, my face set in what I can only call fierce determination.
By the time I approach the throne, those ponies who were enjoying the music were clapping or stomping along to the beat, ignoring the glares and scowls of those who didn't.
Celestia reaches forward, touching my horn with hers, causing a blinding flash. As my vision clears, I see her levitating three crowns, one of what looks like gold, one of silver, and one of steel. Each one was decorated with a different kind of gemstone. The first was decorated with rubies, the second with sapphires, and the third with some kind of jet black stone. Oh wait, those are jets.
I reach for the crown of steel, plucking it out of the air and putting it on my head before the other two crowns disappear.
I turn again to face the audience, and find that majority of the audience was bowing. To me.
"Frosty, your speech if you'd please." I hear Celestia urge. A speech? I was supposed to have a speech ready?!
Welp, time to wing it!
"Citizens of equestria! Lend me your ears!" I call, startling everyone (including myself) with the power of my voice.
"I know that I am, in fact, not a pony! However, don't think for a second that means I'll turn my back on you!! You have all, in some way, helped me and my best friend to get by while until we could stand on our own two feet! You aided us in our time of need when you could have easily kicked us out, left us to fend for ourselves. a couple even took the time to become our friends, our companions in this foreign world, and I'll never forget it!!"
Ponies were lifting their heads to look at me now, some in awe, some in pride. All were speechless.
"I promise you this, here and now! Never will I turn my back on you, nor your friend, nor your family! I will not push justice aside to fit my own agenda! I will never falter, never stand down! I promise you this, as a prince, as a friend, as a stranger and ruler..."
I take a deep breath
"I know that there are those who would fight, and die, for me, for your princesses, and your country!" I pound my chest with my right hand clenched in a fist "DON'T THINK FOR A SECOND THAT I WON'T DO THE SAME FOR YOU!!!"
Some of the ponies had tears in their eyes at this point, but all in attendance were no longer suspicious of me, I don't think.
"WHAT SAY YOU PONIES?!?!"
The crowd were all cheering and stomping after I said this, and amidst the noise of a throne room of ponies, I could hear ponies chanting,
"Frosty! Frosty! Frosty!"
Though I did wing that speech, I meant every word.
I think I did good today.
Author's Note
For those wondering, I actually did come up with that speech on the fly, if you couldn't tell.
As always, if you see any mistakes or errors, let me know in the comments.
Also, props to Solemn Blade for picking what the next homie will be (the soon to be dragon)
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