Fire and Ice

Phoenix POV

I stood packing the last of my things into my duffel. The foster home I lived in would soon be gone. Midnight would come with me if it wasn't for his last paycheck. Corvis and Solstice were both still waiting for their last paycheck. For me I just received my last paycheck and I was out. In the other room I heard Midnight arguing with Francine, the most evil foster mom of all time. She was both physically and verbally abusive and her husband Austin was just as bad. Now the four of them were old enough to leave.

"And where are you going to go? Not even your parents left you anything," Francis shot.

"Doesn't matter, we're done here," Midnight countered.

"You ungrateful little S***," Francis screamed.

"I'm grateful," Midnight whined.

"What are you grateful for?" Francis asked.

"I'm grateful that my parents were kind enough to get busy eighteen and a half years ago! Bow chicks bow bow, chicka bow bow," Midnight shouted in a amused tone. I had to let out a grin when he heard that. It disappeared a second later when I heard the sound of a slap as Francis stormed out of the kitchen.

Francis was a short ugly lady with light brown hair that was already fading. She reminded me of a wet puppy. I knew the real reason why she wanted us to stay. When we were gone she and Austin would stop getting money from the state. The place we lived in was void of life besides the commodities Francis and Austin bought for themselves. The four of us kids under their roof got Jack s***. All my stuff was able to fit in a black duffel bag. Several seconds later Midnight Fade walked out of the kitchen. He was tall, six feet tall and he was the most fast and agile fighter I knew. In fact he was the only one besides our mentor Lesmie, and my foster siblings Corvis, and Solstice who could take me on in a fight. Corvis was a only a few months older than me while Solstice was as old as Midnight. They would be eighteen on November 3rd and November 7th. Midnight was the oldest. Solstice and Corvis were pretty even with each other in terms of skill and both were slightly better than me. Midnight however was on a whole different level. Part of that was my fault. He had dark shiny hair that gleaned even in darkness. They had natural murky green highlights. It came down to the bridge of his nose. Midnight was tall, lean, and slim. Being six feet tall he always had luck with the ladies. He had really pale, but not sickly skin with eyes were dark green and he had high sharp cheekbones and a slightly angled face. His angelic features told his wisdom that went far beyond seventeen years old. However being raised in a abusive home left his personality unpredictable and often violent.

"Did you here any of that?" Midnight asked with a grin. His smile was wide and his teeth were straight and white.

"Hell ya, bow chicka bow bow," I replied with a smirk. Midnight looked up to me and nodded. I was a bit taller than him.

I noticed a red mark starting to appear on his left cheek where Francis slapped him. At the moment I was slightly on edge. It disappeared when I remembered that I was leaving now.

"Come on, I'll walk you to your bus." Midnight said while walking to the front door. I followed him at a short distance. Even though we were always clashing with each other, I was going to miss my big foster brother. He was older than me by half a year. We were both wearing the same thing more or less. Black on black or very dark gray. It didn't matter. Our clothes always started as black. They just eventually faded to dark gray which told us we needed new clothes. The difference between us was he was wearing a ebony carved wolf head on a leather necklace. While mine was a grizzly bear's head.

"When does your bus leave?" Midnight asked me.

"Not until 5:24," I answered.

Midnight checked his silver watch, his most prized possession besides his tanto and glock. "S***, it's only eleven," Midnight said suprised.

"Want to go back to the house?" I offered. He shook his head.

"Nah, I don't want to go back there, let's go grab a bite to eat. I snagged a fifty out of the old ladies purse. I think it's the one I lost the other day." Midnight said while examining the fifty

"Is it?" I asked.

"Yup, this red spot is a old stain from when I accidentally cut myself washing dishes," he replied while pocketing the bill.

"So where do you want to eat?" I asked him.

"Its your day man want taco's?" Midnight asked me. Tacos were our favorite food.

Half an hour and fifty tacos later we both sat in a taco bell. I knew today would be one of those days when we saw an overweight women mocking a special kid who struggling with a straw. I knew Midnight was going to roast this women in the most savage way possible. I couldn't blame him, I was about to do it myself. Growing up the way we did made us take joy in putting bullies in their place. We weren't hero's or anything. We actually thought of it like doing everyone a favor while taking out a rival.

"You shouldn't make fun of people ma'am," Midnight said innocently. I had to smile, right now he looked like he wouldn't hurt a fly. And that would be the fat women's downfall. She was a the moment glaring at Midnight as if deciding if he was worth the effort in putting down.

"I was born with a mouth and its my god given right to use it!" She spat at him. Now Midnight fooled her to where she put her guard down. In a flash he went from looking like a little angle to a full on badass.

"He also gave you your mouth to eat, but I see you abused that right too," Midnight sneered. The whole diner quieted as people were silently debating whether to condemn or praise his brutal verbal assult. From the looks the people were giving, most were siding with him because of her treatment of the special kid. The women was now silent and as pale as a ghost. A hint of hurt was on her face.

"I don't-" she started while trying to make a stand, but Midnight cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Don't talk when there's food on your face, it's f****** disgusting. Wipe that taco sauce off your chin," Midnight said disgustingly. Now I was grinning along with half the diner.

"The women was defeated, but Midnight wasn't done yet. He sneered at her while she was wiping her chin and found it empty. With a evil smile he uttered loud enough or the whole store to hear "Your other chin,"
The women's eyes teared up as she looked at her overweight body and ran out of the fast food place.

The people around us shook their heads in disgust. I was grinning when I realized what we just did. It made me wonder why I was like that.

Several hours later Midnight and I were standing at the bus station. Or sitting at the bus station. It was 5:17 with almost a half hour until my bus would come. The plan was laid out. I would go to a city called Canderlot and finish my last two years there. Midnight, Corvis, and Solstice would follow after they gr8 the last of their money. The thing was though, they would all be living in separate places. As much as they loved each other, they were always fighting.

"Wish Corvis and Solstice had the day off," Midnight said with his arms stretching.

"Tell them I said bye?" I asked Midnight

"I will," Midnight replied.

"Canderlot will begin boarding now," a women on the speaker announced. I stood up and walked to the bus. Before I got on I turned to Midnight and said "This is a new chapter in life,"

"What's that mean?" He asked.

"I'll tell you about it if we see each other again." I replied only half joking. Plans never went the way you wanted them to.

Sunset Shimmer POV

Sunset Shimmer sat on a bench near the bus station. At the moment two associate's of hers were finding info on a particular girl who refered to here's of in third person.

Now all I had to do was wait. As minute after minute passed I bought myself a hot chocolate. While most people prefered coffee, I took hit chocolate for the taste.

While I waited I saw a large black bus come. I knew it was a travel bus from the massive size of it. As I waited I was just bored enough to watch the series of passengers come streaming out. Most were middle-aged people who were coming for a last minute vacation. What suprised me was when a tall lanky boy got off the bus. He had raven black hair with dark blue highlights. I knew he was muscular because even from this distance he looked pretty buff. With his ninja looking outfit he resembled a sleek black panther. Walking without a care in the world. Or walking like he was superior. His eyes were icy blue. His clothes told his taste. They were a black hoodie over black jeans on black shoes. I could instantly knew he was poor when I saw that his duffel was the only thing he grabbed. For a second he looked around before walking away from me. All I could think was who was that guy.

Phoenix POV

'Oh this duffel bag is heavy, but I'm almost to my new home already. I like eating spaghetti," I sang in a parody version of lose yourself.

I stopped singing after a short while. My thoughts were on that girl I saw at the bus station. I lived with my foster siblings long enough to tell that she was one of those girls who looked down on everyone. Midnight always looked like that. However this girl was gorgeous as the sun. The closest thing I could describe to her was a fiery sunset. That leather jacket made her look like a biker queen. They way she carried herself made me think that she was.

When I finally got to my new apartment I smiled. Lesmie helped me find this place. His friend was the owner and hooked me up with a bedroom with a living romm, kitchen, and bathroom or five hundred a month. The place seemed nice enough. It wasn't the middle class apartments, but it wasn't he to either. It was the rich-ghetto. Walking into the building I knocked on the door that said owner. When it opened I was suprised. I expected a middle aged man who knew how to survive the ghetto, but I was met with a Jamacian man in his late twenties to early thiries. He was shorter than Midnight, but had my muscle. And his head was shaved bald.

"Can I help you sir?" He asked in a Jamacian accent.

"I'm Lesmie's guy," I replied.

The manager turned suspicious. "The one who is cruel or the one who is nice?" He asked.

"I'm the nice one," I replied.

Really? The NICE one? It makes me sound like the ugly friend.

The managers face lit up, I wondered what he would have done if I was Midnight.

"Please follow me Phoenix, my brother Lesmie told me about you. My name is Andreas. Come to me if you need anything. And here is your place," Andreas said while open in the door. As I expected it was unfurnished. It was okay though, I prepared for this. Andreas left me my room and mail key. As well as the key to get inside the building.

Grinning I set my stuff down. It was 11:37 P.M. To late to go and buy cheap furniture at this hour. So tonight I was crashing on the floor. Laying down I noticed that the carpet was new. And that it was thick and soft. Closing my eyes I made a mental note to by a carpet shampoo machine because I already knew this thing will soon be full of stains.

When I closed my eyes I saw the fat women at the taco joint. She got what she deserved and then some. 'Was I really that kind of person?' I thought to myself. Midnight was the vicous leader of the family. Corvis and I were the muscle. And Solstice was often the one with the brains. I did what I had to, but I at least showed sympathy. Midnight was evil, vicous, fearless, unpredictable, violent, and my older brother who protected us. Those thoughts kept me up most of the night.

Roughly 12 hours later

I woke up with light streaming through the windows. I made a mental note to buy some curtains. Sitting up I glanced around. My apartment was still completely bare, but in the light I could see just how white the carpet looked. Now standing I checked my phone and nearly did a backflip when I saw it was only 11.

Digging through my bag earned me a tooth brush, tooth paste, and a set of clothes. My current ones smelled like sleep. The new lair was black jeans that were halfway to fading gray, the shirt was a plain black one with my usual black jacket. Taking my clothes to the shower I walked in the bathroom. It was a decent sized bathroom. After admiring my bathroom I took the sketchiest shower ever because of the lack of there being a bathroom curtain.

When I finished I looked at myself in the mirror. Fully dressed I through I looked good. Now there was just one thing I had to do myself. Taking a deep breath I hought about the abuse I went through the years. Despite all of it I was still generally a good person. Or at least I hoped so. I wasn't sadistic like Midnight. None of us were. Midnight took the lion's share of Francis's and Austin's rage for the purpose of them not having enough interest left to beat the rest of us. It worked. We were all bitter and resentful, and each of us had our fair share of scars, but they didn't break us. Now I wondered if they broke Midnight or if he could still live a happy life. After a short while I started to remember how a group of kids mocked Solstice because they thought they could. Even I was vicous to them that day. It was four vs fourteen, but Corvis and I were damn good fighters. Solstice was better while Midnight was a freaking demon. After that they left her alone, by Midnight didn't leave them alone. I admit I turned a blind eye when I saw him slash their tires, blackmailed them to sell each other out. In the end he did seven times he damaged they could ever do. Now they were gone except one who-

I snapped out of my thoughts. I was ashamed of that, but this was a new chance. Walking to the door I checked the time. I at least wanted an air matress for my room, but I would have to hurry. With a quick bow of my head I vowed to never be cruel, violent, or sadistic again. Seconds later I opened the door and accidentally sprinted into a fiery girl in a leather jacket.

'Seriously?' I thought.

When we both stood up I looked at the girl and groaned. With my luck it had to be the biker queen. In our ruble she dropped her book bag which was full of chemistry, science, fantasy, and other novels which I kind wierd since we had several weeks of summer left.

"Way to go stretch," She said. And oh if looks could kill then I will be dust by now.

"I'm so sorry ma'am," I pleaded while kneeling down to pick up the fallen books.

"Leave it alone butter fingers," she said while already shoving books in her bag.

Taking a deep breath I thought about the vow I just made. While she picked up her books i got a good look at her. She was average height, slender, and by all means beautiful. I winced when I realized that I just ruined any chance I had with her. 'What would Midnight do? Never mind he would have charmed her with his silver tounge. Corvis? Nah, he would have seen her and never sprinted into her.' I thought to myself. What would be the best move here? It took me half a second as I dashed out of the apartment. I had tk get out of here before I did anymore damage.

Running down the stairs and out the door I almost ran into a short pink haired girl.

"Sorry," I said instantly not wanting to be chewed out again.

To my suprise she mumbled in a soft voice so low I almost couldn't hear. "Its alright,"

"Really?" I asked while opening one eye.

"Yeah, you look like you were in a hurry," she mumbled.

"Yeah, I was um... what's your name?" I asked the pink haired girl. Now that I had a good lol a her I could see that she was wearing a white tanktop and a green skirt.

"Fluttershy," she replied.

After that I instantly took a bow. "Its been a pleasure meeting you Fluttershy. I wish I could stay and talk more, but at the moment I must run along." I replied. I could have swore that she smiled, but I couldn't tell.

After that I walked to the down town area of Canderlot. By the time of my arrival, it was 12:17 pm. And my stomach was making whale calls. Looking around I noticed a dinner called Sugar Star. It was still a ways off and I was really hungry. "Just a little more Phoenix," I told myself when I heard footsteps behind me sounding like machine guns.

"Hi! I noticed your new here! My names Pinkie Pie! What's your name?" A very excited curly pink haired girl half asked and screamed while appearing out of nowhere. I however let out a scream of terror when she came. As I was screaming in suprise I landed on my butt which ended my scream of suprise.

Pinkie Pie frowned at me. "That's not the answer I was looking for," she said.

"Oh, my bad. It's Phoenix Stella," I said in between breaths.

"Hi Phoenix! It's nice to meet you! You know what? I'm going to throw you a welcoming party!" She annpunced.

Now I jumped up. I needed to save money. "Sorry Pinkie Pie, but I am afraid that I don't have any money for a party," I said hastily. Pinkie Pie just smiled.

"Its alright Phoenix, I already have everything planned!" Pinkie Pie shouted while zipping away. "See you tomorrow night!" She called.

Standing alone I just stared in the direction she disappeared to. "What just happened?" I asked no one in particular.

A second later it hit me that my party that I was not paying for would probably be at my place. Panicked I ran to a store. A old women was talking to three particular boys that were just what I needed. "You three," I said while pointing my index finger at them.

"Us?" One of them asked in a surprised tone.

"How would you like to go to a pinkie pie party?" I asked. By the looks I hey gave each other I learned two things. One was that they would do what I wanted them to, and two. Pinkie Pie's parties are the s***.

Six Hours later.

I let out a series of heavy breaths. Next to me the trio of boys named Rover, Fido, and Spot. The three of them were called Diamond Dogs just as I was a changling with my siblings. Apparently the three of them liked to hunt for gems. And man did I make the right choice in using them as help. I was the strongest and broadest of my siblings. Half a head taller than Midnight and 250 pounds of muscle, but these guys were a lot smaller than me while still being as strong as me. Must be the constant digging. Taking that into mind I realized that that were just as tired as me.

It was worth it though. Together the Diamond Dogs and I somehow scored a entertainment center, surround sound, a fifty two inch, three person couch, two arm chairs, a king sized bed, dresser, cabinet, grand clock (I don't even want to ask), oak table that can fit up to ten people, microwave, and all the utensils. I didn't want to think about all the hustling we did today. Go in from yard sale to garage sale to lawn shop and even a car dealership for my stuff. On the bright side of things it only cost me thirty bucks as all this started with a Nintendo and a bag full of games.

"Mr. Stella, the boys and I were wondering if we can have the last of hose silver coins?" Rover asked me slightly knowing I would say no. Much to his surprise I didn't hesitate to throw them the last of the silver coins we somehow came across. It didn't make me feel like I was losing anything. After all these Diamond Dogs just helped me drag a boat to a pawn shop for some cash. That earned me my plates and real silverware. They were geniune. The three Diamond Dogs appraised them.

"And the silverware?" Fido asked.

"Don't push your luck," I growled at them.

"Yes sir, uh sorry sir," Spot said while backing away with his head down.

'Boss? I liked the sound of that.'

"So tell me, why is it that you three are at Canderlot? Most Diamond Dogs live near Dimondia. And the packs that do leave always stay near that mining city." I stated.

"Um, could we not talk about that boss?" Rover asked with his head down.

"Not even for a silver coin?" I asked While brandishing one from my pocket. 'Like I wouldn't keep some for myself.'

My bribe worked when I saw their greed rise to their eyes. "Yes we will tell you boss," Fido said quickly.

"We normally lived in Dimondia, but we were to rough. Now we and the other Diamond Dogs that were with us were sent here." Spot said.

I flicked the silver coin at them. When I did I accidentally earned the loyalty of these three and their underlings.

"Okay get out of here," I said to them. I had to keep these guys in mind. They weren't that bright, but it would be a lie if they didn't have brute strength. While they were walking out the big one called Fido turned back to me.

"What about the party boss? He asked me.

"Just come back here, if I'm not here then find Pinkie Pie." With that he nodded and left.

After my Diamond Dogs left I browsed my new place. I just couldn't believe that I did all this on my own. Even Midnight would struggle with this, but who said I didn't? After grinning like an idiot for about an hour I decided to retire for the night. Because hustling on the level I did was way to much for the average person.