I woke up, as per usual, with the sunlight hitting my face. Hectic day yesterday...I'm really starting to miss my homies... With a sigh, I got out of the bed, shambling down the hall to the comically small bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I take a good look at myself. My matted, white hair was almost passed my shoulders. My slightly glazed, pink eyes staring back at me sadly, irises and pupils seeming to shake erratically, but it wasn't too obvious. God, my eyes fucking hurt....

"Well, this is gonna be a great day!" I say to my reflection, sarcasm practically dripping with every word. I turn the faucet on and splash my face with the cold water before grabbing the brush by the sink and brushing away my bedhead. Well, at least my hair is tamed now.

There's a knock on the bathroom door. "Hello? Frosty?" I hear Lyra call from the hall. I don't even remember how long I was in here.

"I'll be out in a minute." I respond, drying my face.

"The mayor is here to see you." she continues before trotting to the stairs. The mayor? We getting our house already?

I walk out of the bathroom and head downstairs, somewhat curious. In the living room was Flossy (damn morning people) and Bon Bon, along with a middle aged mare with a greying white mane.

"Mister Frosty, I presume?" she asks, looking in my direction as I take a seat by Flossy.

"Yeah, that's me. Just Fuh-Frosty is fine." I yawn "Sorry, just woke up."

She didn't seem to overly mind...she was staring at my hair in disbelief. "Pardon me for sounding rude, but how old are you?" she asks in a tone matching her gaze.

"I'm Twenty six. And the average human lifespan is 80-90, before you ask." I reply. Did she really think I was old?

"Well, I just need you two to sign these forms and we can officially move you into your new home!" She explains with a smile, showing a clipboard with a housing form on it.

"Now, who had the house before us?" I ask, narrowing my eyes slightly. The mayor looks nervous at my gaze, but doesn't let it show in her voice.

"It was an orphanage at one point, but it's been closed and empty for years. No bad history." she explains, meeting my gaze.

Orphanage? Then it's gotta have a lot of rooms.

"....seems legit. And I'm guessing the princesses are paying for this?" I ask, grabbing the pen on the clipboard.

"Yes, most graciously. And even decided to send you two money until you could find jobs." she answers with a smile. I raise my eyebrow at this, and crack a grin.

"Well, unless there're ponies here that want someone dead, I'm a little outta luck with jobs." I chuckle. Flossy facepalms, and Bon Bon glances at the confused mayor nervously.

"Well... jokes aside, here." I sign mine and Flossy's names on the paper. With that, the mayor stands up, holding her hoof out, which I shake, and bidding us farewell. She left the address to the house, thankfully.

"Hey dawg, you a'ight? Ya look like shit." Flossy smirks. I grin at him.

"Crazy day, busy night. What'd you expect?" I reply with a wiggle of my eyebrows. At this, Lyra looks at me shocked, followed by an almost disgusted looking Flossy.

"Wait..." He seems to pick up that I was joking. "Damn fool, ya really had me there!" he laughs along with me, to Lyra's confusion.

"Wait, so you're not into mares?" Lyra asks with a tilt of her head. Then she gets a wicked grin. "Are stallions more your thing, Frosty?"

At this, Flossy starts rolling, and my eyebrow twitches. "Haha. I'm not into ponies. Hell, I'm barely even into other humans. In my occupation, it doesn't pay to make too many bonds."

"True. Every time we brought some hoes home, he's always out." Flossy elaborates with a laugh.

"Well, what was it you did before coming here?" Lyra asks. Didn't I say this already?

"That's a story for another time, girl." I answer, doing my best to sound cryptic. She sighs, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes, poking her bottom lip out.

"Please?" She asks in a pitiful tone. Too bad for her, I'm immune to puppy dog eyes. I just shake my head.

"Alright...can we come to visit?" she asks hopefully.

"Sure!" Flossy answers for me. Sometimes, it's scary how in synch we are. I just nod.

"Well, I'm gonna hit up the town. You coming, Flossy?" I ask. Before he could answer, Bon Bon walks in, carrying a bag of...coins, I think.

"This is from the princess." She says simply, tossing it to me. I catch it, hearing a jingle from it. Yep, coins. Heavy coins.

I look inside the bag, and both my eyebrows shoot up. Shit man, gold coins!

"Gold? How much is this worth?" I ask, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice.

"Enough to get food, and some furniture." She says, nonchalantly. "I counted."

"Well, this'll help." I smirk, closing the bag and pocketing it. Thank god for cargo pants!

"Well, catch you girls lata. Me and mah nigga here goin' hit up the town." Flossy says, getting up. We wave as we walk through the door to the busy streets. Once again, some ponies stop to stare as we start walking. My right hand is on my gun, the other just hanging freely. Ponies made way for us as we walked, looking around at the shops for-

"Found it!" Flossy says, pointing to a booth with unmistakeable little cardboard containers. Sick.

We approach the booth, manned by a light grey unicorn mare with a green mane, and I take out the bag of coins.

"I need two packs." I say to her, getting her attention. She didn't seem shocked at our presence, thankfully.

"Ten bits, big guy." she says simply, in a sleepy tone. I guess a bit is one of these coins?

I take out the money and leave it on the counter, taking the two packs and handing one to Flossy.

"Yo, thanks dawg!" he says happily as I pass him the lighter. After he lights his smoke, we continue walking, now with more ponies eying us. Jesus, take a picture. It'll last longer.

"Excuse me!" I hear to our left. I turn slowly, hands in my pockets and on my weapons. It was Sparkler, Dinky's sis. She seemed a little frantic.

"Yeah?" Flossy responds confused. I have a bad feeling already....

"Dinky's gone! She went off to play with her friends, and I can't find her!" She explains, urgency in her voice. Flossy looks back to me, and I nod.

"We'll help." I say simply, "Where do we start?"

"Let's try the park!" she suggests. Flossy looks at me and shrugs. And with that, we head for the park, my knife drawn and ready. The ponies must be really good at sensing intention, 'cause they moved out of the way the moment they saw me. If anyone laid a hand on Dinky...

"We're here!" Sparkler exclaims, and I immediately survey the area. No sign of Dinky, but everypony (eugh...) turned to look at me in fear. i see a bit of blonde mane by the slide, and immediately move in on it. Yes! There she was... with the pink tiara filly from before... crying...

I immediately draw my gun, "HEY!!!!" I call in fury. They both look at me, Dinky with a teary eyed smile, the other with a shocked expression.

"I'd step away from Dinky, brat." I advise, knife primed. She immediately turns and runs, leaving Dinky. I approach the crying filly and pick her up, petting her comfortingly. I walk back to the now shocked Sparkler.

"What is that thing?" she asks, pointing to my still-drawn gun.

"Something that could kill you before you could even hear the shot fired." I answer, putting Dinky down next to her. "I wouldn't use a gun on children, but it's a force of habit." That's why I have my knife.

"W-well, thanks nonetheless." she says, holding Dinky close. "Diamond Tiara is something of a bad apple, with a rich and connected father, so please be careful..."

I look her dead in the eye, "If he comes for me, or your family, I'll make glue out of what's left of him, his wife, and his daughter." I answer coldly. I'm no stranger to people with connections, I think I can handle myself.

I turn to leave the now horrified Sparkler with Flossy in tow, and we keep walking.

"We gonna check out the new pad?" he asks as we walk.

"Yep." I say simply. He seems a little creeped out.

"Brotha, I know you're supposed to be cold blooded, but.... shit, that may be a little much. Ya didn' hafta scare the poor chick..."

"You're right, I didn't. But these ponies, friends and enemies, are gonna learn very quickly not to cross us." I answer simply, "Besides, maybe this way I can get someone to hire me for what I do best." I smile.

"...I guess, dawg, but be careful." he concedes

"Nigga, how long we been at this? We'll be fine." I say, slipping back into my old street slur. He brightens up a little at this.

"Yeah, you're right."

+++++

We stood in front of our new house. A four story, stone and wood building with a recently repaired roof and windows. Yep, lots of room.

"Well, here we are. Let's take a look inside!" I suggest, heading to the door. When I went to open it, it was, of course, locked. Flossy clears his throat behind me, and I turn to see him holding the key with a grin.

"Ya need a key ta get in, nigga." He says with a chuckle, passing me the key. I take it and unlock the brass knob, finally opening the damn door.

The inside wasn't very different from the outside, grey stone and wood supports, rugs, some chairs, and a light switch that turned on the chandelier in the main room. I thought chandeliers used candles....

"Well, home sweet home." I comment, heading up the stairs to the second floor. I walk into the first room on the left, thankfully a bedroom, and set my gun on the faded, wooden bedside table, followed by the bag of "bits" before heading back downstairs for the lighter.

I could get used to this.

Author's Note

Soon, my children. Soon...

The pieces are falling into place perfectly, and the end result shall not change.