Cryogen

"So, guess you're some kind of a big shot now, huh?" Daring asks as we walk down the dirt path. Ever since the party yesterday she's been hounding me about getting invited to whatever the hell this "event" is supposed to be.

"I wouldn't quite use those words, but apparently so. I guess being the last of your race kinda gets you a little publicity here and there. Hey you're all famous and stuff right? Why weren't you invited?"

"Because not many ponies know that I'm even real. Besides, those who do know me know me as an author, not an archaeologist. Writers aren't exactly going to be invited to a royal party now will they?"

"I guess? Hey, I've been meaning to ask, and I forgot to ask Twilight, but what are the Elements of Harmony? I keep hearing it brought up, yet I have no idea what they are."

"They? More like who. I think you're already acquainted with all six of them actually. Yeah, they are physical objects as well, but your six little friends represent them, at least, that's what I've heard. News travels fast."

"Well what does that mean? Are they special or something?"

"Special doesn't even begin to describe who they are and what they represent. They saved this place more times than many really remember from what I hear, not to mention saving the entire country like three times."

"Really? Them? They aren't even soldiers or anything, and the best they've got is probably Twilight with her freaky magic."

"Well she is a princess after all." Daring say casually, rolling her eyes. I stop in my tracks, causing her to spin around and give me a confused look.

"Whoa whoa whoa. Princess!? The hell are you talking about, I thought there were only two princesses here."

"Well, four technically, but two of them don't actually rule over Equestria, they're just more of a title. Though I hear Cadance is doing well in the Crystal Em-"

"Getting off track here Doo Doo."

"Stop calling me that."

"Answer my question and maybe I won't." I say with a sly smile, flicking her hat as I walk past her.

"Well, Twilight apparently became a princess a while back, didn't even recognize her when I first saw her. Don't know how she got the position, but she did."

"Well that's just fucking fantastic isn't it?" I say sarcastically.

"What?"

"I've been cussin' out a princess for the past week." I say with a nervous chuckle, holding a hand to my forehead. "I'm surprised I'm not dead yet."

"Twilight's pretty chilled out, doesn't surprise me that she doesn't really care."

"Say, speaking of which, I swear around you guys all the time, but you guys never do, yet you don't care when I do. What gives?"

"Just tolerant I guess. I've seen the looks on some of your friend's faces when you do, though it doesn't really bother me. I've heard and seen much worse things than you could ever do or say."

"Well you're pretty cool in my book if that's how you feel."

"Aw, Zacky thinks I'm cool." Daring says in a high pitched voice, nudging up next to my leg.

"Shut up." I say with a chuckle, pushing her to the side, which in turn causes her to laugh.

"Hey guys, ready to leave in a bit?" A voice calls out from ahead of us. I look up to see Twilight with Spike on her back walking towards us.

"Speak of the Devil..." I mumble to myself. "Wait, I thought we left tomorrow?"

"We're supposed to be there by tomorrow, but we're leaving today. It's a long ride, and I don't want to be late."

"Well ain't that swell? What time are we leaving?" I ask in annoyed tone. "I so don't wanna go to this." I mumble down to Daring.

"At about six tonight. You better not be late Zack."

"Yes ma'm whatever you say." I salute to Twilight, causing Daring to snicker into her hoof. I even catch a glimpse of Spike laughing to himself.

"No need for formalities Zack." Twilight says with a smile as she starts trotting away.

"Oh of course your majesty! Wouldn't dream of it!" I call out. She turns around, but Daring and I have already run off before she could see us laughing like two idiots.

"Seriously? You're majesty?" Daring says between breaths.

"It's what I do. I'm good at annoying people." I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time, which thankfully was easy to set since Rarity has a huge ass clock in her office. The year still says 2028 because I doubt 5528 is an option in the settings. "Thanks for getting that solar charger for me." I say with a smile, getting one in return.

"Thank Celestia." Daring says as a slightly warm breeze passes by us.

"Yeah, I can't believe how quickly it's started to warm up over the past couple of days. It's still the middle of January."

"Guess the winter wasn't scheduled to be very long this year."

"Oh right, your weird pegasus magic controls that now. I wonder what happened to make it not work on it's own..."

"Beats me. I've never even heard of weather controlling itself."

"Why don't you go on up there and help?" I ask, nudging her with my foot.

"Eh, weather's never been my thing. It's more for pegasi like-"

"Hey guys!" A voice yells from right above us. I end up tripping over myself, and land on top of Daring who lets out a yelp as I basically crush her. We both groan as we roll onto our backs to see a pegasus hovering above us, and I know her voice all to well.

"Rainbow, what the hell are you doing?" I ask, helping Daring back up.

"I'm off duty for the day, and I'm bored, and- Oh my gosh, Daring Do I'm so sorry!" Rainbow says, pushing me aside to help Daring up herself. I scoff and fold my arms, giving Rainbow an annoyed look.

"I'm fine too, thanks for asking." I say with an annoyed expression, brushing a few flakes of snow off my jeans. I really hope they clear this stuff off soon. It might be ever so slightly warmer, but the snow is still cold as ever.

"Daring, I never got to talk to you yesterday, how have you been?" Rainbow says extremely quickly, the biggest smile on her face.

"I'm... fine?" Daring responds, looking up to me for help, Rainbow obviously making her uncomfortable. It's actually really funny to me, so I simply shrug and laugh to myself.

"Rainbow, leave the poor thing alone. She's fragile y'know." I say, basically dragging Rainbow backwards through the snow. Daring gives me a look that just screams, "Really dude?"

"Besides, we have to get ready to go soon. We've got like two hours before Twilight has our asses on a silver platter for being late."

"Oh, that's right, I forgot we were leaving today. Sorry Daring, I gotta steal him for a bit."

"No problem. I don't want him anyway." Daring says with a smirk. "You guys have fun in Canterlot, I'll be here relaxing."

"Yeah yeah, rub it in. C'mon Skittles, lets get going."

"Skittles? Why do you keep calling me that?" Rainbow asks as we start walking away.

"We had this candy back in my time, and each piece was a different color of the rainbow, like your hair. They were called Skittles, and their slogan was 'Taste the Rainbow'" I say with a laugh.

"Taste the Rainbow?"

"Yeah, though I don't remember Skittles tasting like a pegasus. Wanna find out? Maybe you taste like fruit instead of-"

"I'd rather you not." Rainbow says, pushing me aside a few feet. I catch a little smile though, but she tries her best to hide it.

"So, where have you been all day?"

"I've been working, duh. I'm the head of the weather team."

"Wow, you're actually good for something after all."

"Hey!"

"I'm just messin' with ya." I say, shoving Rainbow to the side. "Learn to take a hit... So, do you work with Fluttershy then?"

"No, she... doesn't really like being in the air all that much." Rainbow says sheepishly.

"Seriously? You're born with wings, and you don't like flying? How can that even be possible?"

"Hey, don't ask me, I'm not the one with a fear of heights."

"Well Mrs. Weather Pony, how about getting your team to melt all this snow? It's still freezing out here and I hate it."

"Winter will end in no time, trust me. And you'll even get to help out a bit."

"What?"

"Yeah, Winter Wrap Up! Everypony in town helps to clean up all the snow so we can get ready for spring. You don't have to be a pegasus to use a plow now do ya Zack?"

"No? But isn't it your job to do it?"

"The help is nice every once in a while." She says with a smirk. "Look, we're already at the train station." Rainbow says, pointing at the tracks ahead of us.

"I guess time really does... fly." I say with laugh as I nudge Rainbow's side, pointing to her wing.

"Wow..." She says in a monotone voice.

"Howdy yall." I look up to see Applejack sitting on a bench near the ticket booth.

"Guess we weren't the first one's here huh?"

"Nope, Ah'm always early whenever Twilight needs us. You'd hate to see her when she's mad at ya."

"I can imagine. There's still like an hour and a half until the others are even supposed to be here. You sure you need to be here this early Applejack?"

"Ah could ask ya the same question Zack."

"Touche." I say as I sit on the bench next to her. Rainbow jumps up, and tries to wiggle her way into the small space between me and the edge of the bench, which only causes me to be squished between the two. I start to protest, only to realize it isn't nearly as cold anymore like this. Can't really complain, even if it isn't all that uncomfortable.

"I'll see you guys in a bit." I say as I lean back against the bench, stretching my legs out in front of me.

"Goin' somewhere?" Applejack asks, tilting her hat down over her face.

"Yeah, to sleep. Wake me up when the others get here." I say as I close my eyes and dry to drift off to sleep. Rainbow's wing jabbing into my side isn't really helping, but eventually I feel sleep starting to overtake me.

It isn't long before I feel and hear the other two shifting, using my shoulders like pillows. I hear Applejack snoring, and Rainbow's heavy breathing just minutes after they began to use me as a human pillow.

"Just great... These damn ponies..." I mumble to myself. It isn't long before I too drift off into a dreamless nap.