Frozen Heart

Chapters

Under the Free Sun
Under the Enslaved Sun
Reunion
Night Out
Flash Appearance
Empire

Under the Free Sun

Michael "Mike" Chin had a life under the free sun once. His last hours living that life was vivid as if he was reliving it in real time.

The less important parts were a bit of a blur, which involved a car and foot chase ending with a shootout, but his last moments after that were memorable.

"Good work, Mike," his partner said, watching as two uniformed policemen escorted the beaten up fugitive from the asphalt floor of the hot Seattle street. Mike stared at the young man, Hispanic, bald, in his twenties and already with a criminal record, the blood from the cuts and scrapes he went through covering the massive amount of tattoos covering his body. It was a stark contrast to Mike's matching navy blue sports jacket and slacks. The lifelong partners watched as the police car drove off, carrying their catch.

"That guy is going to have a hell of a story to tell his cellmates," Mike chuckled as the two men walked to their unmarked police cars. Another day, another takedown meant another round of beers and hooking up with attractive women at the bar… for one of them at least

"Still not going to enjoy yourself for once? I'll buy all your booze!" Mike's partner asked.

"Sorry, I really want to go home with the wife and boys," Mike answered.

"Suit yourself. Catch you later, bro!" His partner said as he drove off in his hot red sports car.

Unlike his partner's taste in fast cars, faster women, and alcohol until it made things blurry. Mike was more traditional, preferring his sedan, wife, and children. From Downtown Seattle he endured the rush hour traffic to his modest two-story bayside home in a sleepy town called Yarrow Point that included a pool and a small dock for his small pleasure boat they used in the summers. When he pulled into the driveway, the front door swung open. His two sons, ran out to greet him. They were hyper, and they were asking about what happened earlier that day.

I guess it made good television.

He looked to the doorway of his house and his heart skipped a beat. Ever since the day they met, his heart would flutter every time he would see her. Her name was April Quong… well, April Chin now. They met at church when they were in college, and it ended up with them getting married and having children years after. She had long, flowing hair that reached to her lower back, her soft, pale skin made mike happy to come home to every night.

"Dinner's ready," April said as they shared a quick kiss. He ignored his son's "Yuck" sounds and went in.

Wait until you get puberty, guys.

His house was modest as well, a simple living room decorated with everyone's achievements, whether being his service awards, April's former decathlon photos and awards, and his son's soccer photos and medals. The food, which was pork chops, rice, and steamed vegetables were waiting for him in the dining room. Their dinner was uneventful, save for a few laughs from the dinner conversations and stories. He had to tell the story of his takedown earlier, the shootout, the car chase, the downside of the chase being he had to miss lunch, which was why he had a rare second helping of dinner.

The after dinner cleaning also became a family event. April and Mike washing the dishes while the boys took the newly clean dishes and placed them where they needed to be in the dishwasher for an extra clean. April would talk about her day there. Although being a stay at home mother was not what she expected in life, she found the joys of it, especially seeing two other women at the local market nearly get in a fist fight over the last premium brand cereal.

April was dumbfounded "I still don't get it! Why can't you just get the regular brand? It's the same thing!"

"One of the mysteries in life," Mike chuckled.

The leftover food was put away for everyone's lunch the next day and came the next thing: homework.

The boys were on their knees next to the coffee table, using it as their desk. His older son, John was in the fourth grade and was working on his multiplication while Adrian, the third grader was doing state history. Mike and April would sit on the couch behind them, watching over them and making sure they were on track. The news was on the television, which would bore the boys enough to keep their head in the schoolwork.

The world seemed to be marching to war over the middle east, an election involving the two most disliked candidates in history, protests, and riots over police-involved shootings in the streets, news of an upcoming financial crisis from Europe that might plunge the world into another great recession. The boys were uninterested since it wasn't cartoons or the Seattle Sounders game, but their parents were.

"The World is going to you know where in a handbasket," April sighed.

"Yea, but at least we have each other, and that's all that matters," Mike said as they shared a kiss. Mike was on the front lines of fighting the chaos as a detective, so he knew he was doing his part.

"Speaking of that," April said as she reached up to his ear. "Tonight… this time it better be a girl."

"Really?" he whispered.

"I don't mind," she said with a seductive grin.

"Alright, but you know how teen girls are in their rebellious years."

"My grandmother knew how to handle my mom in her rebellious years, it made the belt look like a walk in the park."

"Kinky" he quickly whispered in her ear

"Shush!" she laughed as she playfully hit him with a throw pillow.

It was still sunny out, so everyone went to the backyard to enjoy the warm sunset, right after Mike changed to a collared shirt and shorts. As Mike looked out to the Puget Sound, other leisure boats sailing in the bay, and his family joining him outside, he knew he had the life. It wasn't the millions or billions he set out to do when he was a young man studying criminal justice, but he was happy. When you are happy, the economic sedan was a Porsche or a Rolls-Royce, the simple four bedrooms, three bathroom family home was a multi-billion dollar mansion.

"Hey, dad! Catch!" John cried as he threw the football at him. He turned around and caught it as the boys charged at him to tackle him in the grass. April chose to have a glass of iced tea and watched on at the patio. It wasn't a real football game, just 'tackle dad and fail'. They ran around the grass, missing him or grabbing on, only to have their finger slip and watch as their dad continue to dodge them. The boys were relentless, and mike still had plenty of stamina left in the tank.

Mike knew something was up when the boys suddenly let go and waltzed next to the pool. He turned around in a smile but saw that his family were jaw dropped.

"Mike… you're starting to glow," April said as she got up.

Mike looked down and saw that he was glowing, and he started to lose the feel to his extremities.

He was disappearing.

"Dad!" the boys cried out to him as he started to go.

His wife ran out to him, crying in fear "Whats going on! Don't go! Don't leave us!"

He tried to reach out to her, but realized he had no hands, whatever was dematerializing him was already to his neck, which only gives him time to say only last thing to his perfect family, and the woman he loved so dearly.

"April! I love you!"

Author's Note

I have a skype group for fans, writers, and editors. If you want to join the madness here is the link https://join.skype.com/MkJbzfI1D8o2

Under the Enslaved Sun

The first thing to greet Mike in the morning was the lightly molded ceiling above him. He stared at it as the morning sun crept in through the window. He got off his bed, which was two old twin sized beds placed together, and looked out through his window at the rising sun. Below him was the loud, bustling slummish streets that the humans occupied in their new world. He always thought back to the first day in Equestria: waking up naked and afraid in the middle of a Canterlot Street, being part of thousands who arrived in the first 'rapture event'.

Even when stripped of the old world technology and thrown into a land of magic and talking horses, he found out that people still kept their old habits, hence the 'human slums' of lower Canterlot. He couldn't blame the ponies: he wouldn't trust a race of aggressive, thieving bunch. Still, even with their faults, they managed to make a living out in the magical world. With the exception of a few, many took work as maids, butlers, landscapers, and general menial jobs for the upper crust of the Canterlot elite, which angered the blue collar ponies already struggling for work, so, even more, resentment was piled on. Every morning was a crowded herd of hundreds of people marching to the trolleys, to begin their day of scraping money to feed, clothe, and shelter their new families.

For the skilled workers, they managed to make a somewhat better life for themselves, like doctors, lawyers, merchants, and chiefs. They usually had shops and stalls on the ground floor of the slums and kept the economy of the slums thriving.

As for Mike, he opened a small private investigation business, seeing how he wasn't the right species for the royal guard when he first applied. With it, he helped many and made enough to continue to do what he knew best.

He wasn't alone.

He had an apprentice for his trade, who in fact woke awoke him with the smells of what she was making in the kitchen.

He got up, and walked out of his room and straight to the small, run down like kitchen. Although a young tween at the age of thirteen, Danisha "Danni" Whiley was already a budding investigator herself, earning the tools and knowledge of the trade through her hard work and study under mike.

“morn's’,” she said with her urban twang.

“Good morning” Mike raised his voice, reminding his apprentice of the “proper” way to speak.

“'s the same thing,” Danni said in annoyance as she set the plate of food. Even if he didn't have it all in that strange new world, he was at least successful and grateful enough that he was able to afford the most luxury of food for humans: red meat.

The meat came from naturally deceased cows, seeing how the ponies didn't want to slaughter and them being able to talk scared off even the most experienced butchers.

With their quick argument still on his mind, he smiled and playfully ran his finger through her coarse, nappy, hair.

“Who we got today? Danni asked, ready to continue her flip on the other side of the law compared to her pickpocketing days in Los Angeles.

“Copper Bit, we are finally going to have him confront his daughter. Good work finding where she is hiding by the way.”

"It's nothin, poor fools always think I'm part of their cleaning staff!” Danni gloated as she played with her scrambled eggs.

***

They both went to their rooms to get ready. For Mike, he had his "funny cowboy clothes" as Danni would call it. His brown slacks were the first ones on, then his holster. He took his tan long sleeve as he looked at the morning over the slum, preparing himself for that day. After that came the matching brown vest. His boots came next, then came time for the mirror. His wild rag tie was the same color as his slacks and vest, which took almost a year to get the materials for. Not because of the lack of cash but not many ponies wanted to do business with the human tailors, including the textile sellers.

The next thing was his revolver. It was plain, it was crude, and it was not as accurate as the ones back home. Only a few gunsmiths were carried over, and all but one refused to bestow the knowledge of gun making, stating that the humans shouldn't know them to protect lives.

The one who did was old and died before passing on his full knowledge.

Guns were few and far between on who had them, and it was only logical that Mike had to have one in order to do his job. He loaded his revolver and had a few speed loaders and loose bullets in his breast pocket. In the same cabinet as his gun and ammo, was a small golden cross necklace that resembled the one his wife wore. He took one look at it and sighed, before closing the cabinet and leaving it there.

All he needed was his black bowler hat, and he was ready to go.

Danni was waiting for him in the office, which was the only way in and out of the house. A small room with two desks, and peeling wallpaper. She had a pair of tan knickerbockers and a gray hoodie

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Yep! Let's go!"

They were not alone in the business/home setup. The many shops and stalls in the building were crowded with both families of business owners and shoppers alike. The small, white, hallway was crowded and was a struggle to move through. Danni took the lead, while Mike was right behind her, tipping his hat to his neighbors and looking out for trouble.

"You're not wearing the cross again, are you," Danni asked in the chaos

"No,"

"Why not, you said it looked like hers and you still loves her?" Danni replied.

"It's not the fact my wife wore something like it, but what the symbol is," he grunted.

"I get why you stopped believing, but you should wear it for your wife."

"You'll understand when you get older," Mike sighed

They took the stairs to the open streets, where the overcrowding was ever relevant. The cobblestone streets were packed with people walking to where they needed to go, not allowing carriage traffic to move through efficiently. They elected to take the main streets to the hotel, which was halfway across the human slums. Taking the alleys where the deplorable and the general filth of the human ghetto would reside, ready to mug any poor passerby who thought it would be easier to go cut across a city block.

"Hey Mike, there's a cafe 'cross the street from the hotel," Danni asked.

"We just had breakfast, child!" he snapped.

"I know, but some hot chocolate sounds good right now! And they make those lattes you like" she replied.

"Ah, the rare art of latte making. Alright, you win kid," he grinned.

Author's Note

I have a discord group for fans, and people who want to help edit. If you want to join the madness here is the link https://discord.gg/uAk5aAP

Reunion

There were a few things in the new world that made Mike happy, a latte was on that short list, an old memory of his past life since he would have a large hazelnut latte every morning before work. Danni was happy as well, since no matter what the weather, how hot or cold it was outside, it was always the right time for hot chocolate, especially with marshmallows and whipped cream.

Every part of the human ghetto was the same. The march of people headed to work, the same amount headed from work. The human children playing, the occasional pony child also joining in. There were a few ponies living in the ghetto, too poor to afford even the poor pony areas.

The shopkeepers were busy with what was needed, and the occasional ten pony armored clad royal guard patrol moving by. It wasn't the guards in broad daylight that people worried about, it was the ones who raided and dragged people away in the middle of the night that people worried about.

They waited for their client to arrive, still unsure how he was to get there. Ponies, in general, were not welcomed to the ghetto, even those who lived there for years. Now, one with money would attract thieves and muggers. So, for that client, he would have to play private detective and bodyguard.

They waited for what felt like a lifetime and was unsure of what to look out for. Their speculation ended when they saw the carriage come up the street, struggling to move against the foot traffic of the slum's streets. The carriage was old, it was rotting, and it looked like it had at least being one or two years of service before being used for firewood. The carriage was drawn by four muscular men, struggling to move forward due to the traffic.

"That's our client," Mike announced.

"How you know?" Danni asked.

"You mean how DID I know? Simple: everyone around here knows that the carriage is a guaranteed time waster,"

"oh I see,"

"Yep, finish your drink. It's time to put in work." mike commanded as he dropped his newspaper on the table.

***

The pony stepped outside of the hotel. He had a sophisticated look that screamed money, an older stallion, was a green oasis in the ocean of poverty. He was inviting himself to get robbed, so Mike and Danni had to move quickly to make sure he didn't get dragged to an alleyway by the local scum.

"Hey, Cash!" Mike called out to Cash Money, his hand on his gun.

"Mike!" Cash hollered back. The two man exchanged a hoof shake, with mike flattening his hands against Cash's hooves. The smiles immediately turned to frowns, and business was started.

"So you're sure she is here?" he asked.

Both sets of eyes turned to the young girl in the hoodie.

"Yes'm. Few folks told me she was around here, and I saw her go inside room 404's. I assume it's hers' "

Mikes frown turned back to a smile.

"Good job kid," Mike said as he turned to Cash. "Stay here, I'm going to get Danni to cut off the fire escape."

Mike and Danny did the one thing they knew they were not supposed to do: enter the alley. If being a man entering the alleys were bad, women had it worse due to what the men would do to them. But, she had protection, in the form of her guardian and a nasty looking six shooter. In fact: they reached the fire escape and found themselves confronted by an older, pepper haired Hispanic man and a pegasus brandishing knives.

"Hole up, this is a mugging," The pegasus barked. "hand us your girl and your cash and no one gets hurt."

Danni and Mike looked at each other and laughed. Mike pulled his jacket to show the gun he was carrying while Danni pulled out her switchblade.

The two would be thieves' face turned from sinister to afraid in a split second, and they chose to run than fight.

He helped Danni up to the fire escape, whose ladder was out of both of their reaches. Once she got on, she was climbing on her way to the fourth floor. Staying silent, she peeked into the window of room 404 and got out of sight, pressing her back against the faded brick wall. She gave a smile and a thumb up down to Mike to know that Cash's daughter was there. Mike kept his hand on his gun as he walked out of the alley, and with a flick of his head, he invited Cash Money to follow him. The hotel was run down, the wallpaper was peeling off, and the ground was dusty. The human desk agent didn't care about the human and pony walking buy, rather choosing to chat up the maid that was as young as he was.

They took the stairs to the fourth floor, being silent. With Mike's luck, an old housekeeping cart was there, and he pushed it even if the wheels were uneven to the point where one wheel was not rolling, all the way to room 404. Mike gave three sharp raps to the door, but at first, it was silence

"W-who is it?! " the young voice cried out.

"Housekeeping! Need any towels or toilet paper?!"

"Yea! come on in!"

He spotted the master key and used it to get inside. She was also an earth pony, with a curly mane and tail. Her white coat and baby blue mane took Mike aback since it was the first time he considered a pony "beautiful,"

"Oh-um… There was someone here looking for you as well," He said as Cash walked in.

" Diamond!" he shouted with glee.

"Father!? How did you?!" she said as she started to turn and run from them and to the fire escape. She stopped to see Danni sitting on the window sill.

"Heya! you and your dad need to talk this one out!" Danni said in cheer.

"There's nothing to talk about! you drove my beloved away because you couldn't let me go and be an adult!" she cried.

"I know. You are not wrong, I put what I thought was best for the company, our family, over what you wanted. I decided to make it up to you,"

"How can you?! He is gone!"

"Not at all. Turns out he is working on one of the merchant ships we get our shipments from. He is waiting for you back in Manehattan!"

Diamond Ring was stunned by the news. She bowed her head and began to cry. Cash walked up to her and allowed her to cry on his chest.

"It's okay sweetie, it's okay. It's going to be okay." Cash softly said.

In the meantime, Mike and Danni were standing and watching the heartwarming moment, Mikes hand around his apprentice.

"You better not find yourself a boy and run off," He whispered.

"And she gets to?" Danni replied.

"Yes, because she doesn't make my job a whole lot easier."

Author's Note

I have a discord group for fans, and people who want to help edit. If you want to join the madness here is the link https://discord.gg/uAk5aAP

Night Out

When Mike walked out of his room to the living room, he had his formal clothes on, like the formal western style, but his slacks and vest was black, with his rag tie being a silky maroon. His gun and holster still at his side, because even when he was not "on duty". There was probably one instance or another he would have to act like the law.

Danni was in the living room as well, reading an old, stained book. the pages had turned an old yellow by the years of exposure to the elements. It was a simple story, nothing that interested Mike anyway.

"Okay, I'm heading out. We have food so no going out to eat."

"Oh come on! You can get fast food and I can't?!" Danni protested.

"No. It's a full moon and I don't want you walking the streets. Where is your gun?"

Danni groaned and pointed to a drawer net to the door that leads to the kitchen.

"Good. Also, don't bring any boys over, pony or human, less you want to see them take a bullet," he said as he walked out. "Take care!"

Danni did not look away from her book, electing to throw a peace hand.

Mike locked the door behind him and started his walk from his home office to the front of the large complex. The kids were running around in the halls as their shopkeeper parents started closing the garage door sized openings with movable metal gates that reminded Mike of the indoor swap meets of his old home. He didn't have that door for his since it was not needed. He kept his hand on the holster, making sure that it wouldn't be taken by some kid who was curious to see what was on his waist.

* * *

"Mike, my boy!" Cash said from the seat of his carriage. Mike let himself inside the carriage, which was being pulled by a pony team, who looked uncomfortable taking their client in that part of town.

"Cash, how do you do?!" Mike said as he tried to adjust himself inside the carriage, which was not built for humans so he was a bit cramped.

"Good good!" cash said as the pony carriage started moving back out of the slum and to the pony dominated canterlot. "I have some great news: My daughter and her betrothed are together again, and my wife is helping them plan their wedding. It will be a fun time! So, it will most likely be the last time I will be seeing you since tomorrow morning I will be on a train back to mManehattan,"

"That's good. It's a shame we will have to part ways, but at least we will with the best outcome,"

"Agreed! which is why I am taking you out on the town! I know that these hoity-toity Canterlot ponies will scoff at you being my guest. But, I think getting permission from the restaurant owner will fix all that," Cash smiled as they continued their carriage ride, which even in the evening hours was still a crawl with the graveyard shift headed to their jobs.

***

It turned out that being very wealthy and influential gave ponies a certain mindset.

For Cash Money, it was walking past the reservation desk ad finding the nearest empty seat. It was expected that the waiters would then cater to his every whim, even without a reservation. It was the usual case, but it was different. He had a human with him.

The other ponies looked on with disgust, muffled conversations, with a few leaving the restaurant .

The restaurants manager stormed out of the back almost immediately and made a b-line to their table.

"it's okay, Mike. I got this,"

The manager did not give the two a chance to explain yourself "get your hairless ape out of my store,"

Hairless ape? not like I heard THAT one before.

"Excuse me! I am-"

"I know who you are! Coming in here and taking a reserved seat is one thing, but bringing a human? No, not going to happen."

"I'm sure we can come to an understanding," Cash said as he tossed a healthy brown sack of bits on the table.

"Not going to happen, get your friend and get out!"

Cash picked up the bits with his mouth and placed it back on his vest. After that, he stood. "Well I never, I hope you enjoyed your job. I will be taking to the owner. Let's go mike, maybe we can find a more enlightened establishment."

* * *

After receiving many rejections to eat at their establishments, Mike and Cash ended up going back to the slums. Mike knew a hole in the wall bar that not only served humans and ponies alike, but they did it with a smile. When they walked in, it smelled of cigarette smoke, the lights were dim, and the music was playing some haggard twangs.

Mike and Cash found a table and sat there, looking around to see the semi-empty bar, save a few humans at the bar drinking their problems away.

Their waitress was an earth pony, older, tired, and was waiting for her shift to end.

"What it'll be, boys?" her raspy voice asked.

Cash and Mike ordered their food, and most importantly: their beers. The hour between their food arriving and ordering was rounds of beer, plenty of laughter, and a lot of talking. The rounds continued even after their food.

They heard a commotion outside but didn't pay attention to it. It was only when the commotion made their way to the bar is where Mike was sizing up the five or so thugs entering the bar. Their waitress was the closest to the door, and backed away, earning a painful slap to her rump from one of the human thugs laughing. Mike had his hand on his holster, ready for trouble.

"Anti-pony thugs, we should try to get out through the back," Mike said. In the slums, there were gangs of criminals that made money robbing, extorting, counterfeiting. They also had a self-righteous mission of removing all ponies from the human sections.

They slowly were making their way out of the back while the bartender was getting chewed out by the leader of the thugs. Mike heard snippets: the man was late for this "protection" payment and the leader came to collect. They had almost made it out, but Cash stumbled and fell. That got the attention of the thugs, and that there was a pony patronizing the bar.

"What kind of operation you are running to serve this trash?! Boys, remove him from this bar."

The thugs gleefully walked up to Mike and Cash, hoping to rough up the two, but found out they had lost the second they followed their leader's orders. Mike was hiding a pool cue behind him, and started the swinging when the first guy was close enough, smashing the billiard stick in half and sending the splintered piece flying. The second one charged but forgot all about Cash Money, who was waiting for him with a hind kick to the man's genitals, which dropped him like a sack. The third man took a few swings but was subdued by mike smashing a beer mug over his head.

The guy took his lead pipe from the bar and walked over to Mike, but it was short lived. Mike didn't want to fight, so he decided to end it, by pulling out his gun, which made the thug stop in his tracks.

"Get your fucks and get out," Mike demanded.

The thug grunted and whistled. His men got up and staggered their way out.

***

Mike walked into his brightly lit home and sighed. Danni was on the couch into her tank top and shorts she called pajamas, passed out and was listening to the radio plays that was a substitute for televisions back home. Worst of all: there was a box of half eaten pizza on the coffee table.

"Dammit, child. I told you not to spend your pay on things like this," he muttered as he picked her up and carried her to her room. It was as run down as Mikes, the again every room in the slums were. It was also very bare, save for her clothes all over the floor, and the room being a general mess one would expect coming from a teenager. He laid her on the bed and left, expecting her to find her way under her blankets if she was cold.

He went to the kitchen, pulled out his whiskey hidden behind a counter and changed the radio to a political radio station that was created by a group of humans in the slums called "radio free shantytown"

As the late-night host talked about the news of the many shanty towns across Equestria, Mike took a swig of his whiskey and observed the late night streets below him.

Author's Note

I have a discord group for fans, and people who want to help edit. If you want to join the madness here is the link https://discord.gg/uAk5aAP

Flash Appearance

Weeks had gone by since helping Cash Money, business had slowed down a bit. There was usually weeks at a time between jobs, which was why Mike had always told Danni to save her bits. It helped them in the long run between big jobs. The smaller jobs in between big jobs paid only enough for expenses, but they helped keep the duo busy. The small jobs were mostly to track the near limitless supply of lowlives who skipped town to hide from gambling debt.

On that day, Mike was sitting at his desk. The radio was on while he was reading the daily human-centric newspaper, while Danni was at her smaller, cluttered desk reading an old history book. Her face told the story of a bored girl driven to reading a yellow stained book to keep herself from jumping out the window.

"Hey, Mike, what's for lunch?"

"Hell if I know, we are not getting fast food, though."

"Why not!? less time-consuming!"

"Danni, you are bored out of your mind. Why would you do something to save time when you have too much time to kill?" Mike questioned.

"Because I don't want to actually do it! Why don't you do it!"

Mike sighed and smiled. "I don't think this is a bordem problem, more of a laziness problem.

"Cmon Mike! You're the guardian, you need to feed me!"

"Last time I checked, I don't have a court system to answer to," Mike answered with a smug grin

"Fuck! Fine, I'll cook us lunch!" she growled.

"Can you do it in an hour?" Mike asked.

"Fine! Fine!" Danni snarled as she continued to read the book.

A few minutes later, a new commotion occurred, this time outside. Mike took a quick look outside the window behind him and saw the cause: ten to twelve of Celestia's finest going through the slums. Normally, they would not send any of the royal guards, especially for patrols. When they did though, was execute warrants against people, mostly criminals or pro-human rebels, taking them in. If they were executing a search warrant or an arrest, it would be pretty rare for them to do it in broad daylight, since they tended to drag people off in the middle of the night or so the story went.

Mike watched them walk into their building, and didn't flinch.

"Whats going on, mike? Danni asked.

"Nothing. get back to work."

"What work?"

"Exactly," he answered with a sigh.

Mike still ignored the commotion he can faintly hear in the hallway. Mothers were shoving their children inside, businesses trying to close up shop. It was no secret that most of the businesses had black market goods, but apparently, they were not there for that.

It was Mikes luck that they were arriving for him.

The door slammed opened, and the guards calmly made their way inside. Their leader had an orange coat and blue hair. Mike had only one thing in his mind.

"Danni, go get lunch. Chicken and rice bowls," he said.

"But Mike.."

"Now!" He shouted.

Danni took off from the room. She took a look back as she ran and found that she was not being chased down.

She did, however, see that the last guard to enter the place, while flipping the "open" sign in front of the door to "closed"

"So, you must be Flash Sentry," Mike addressed the leader of the group. "So what brings in the Empire's crier boy to my place?" Mike said with a smug grin. He thought it would at least break the tension, but with Flash's face turning sour, he realized it made things worse.

"Yes, I do announcements, but that is one of the many tasks of the Captain of the royal guard of the Crystal Empire," he replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah," Mike simply replied. "So, what brings you into my office?"

Flash started walking back and forth. "I heard from a 'wealthy' friend of the Empire that you enquired about being part of the investigative wing of the royal guard, a group that is under my command."

Cash Money, you son of a bitch I owe you a drink.

"I have yet to employ a human in that department because a number of people who are qualified are literally nonexistent, or so I believed. But, this friend told me that you were once a royal guard in your world?"

"They were not called "royal guards. But, they were law enforcement. I was a detective in the agency."

"excellent. Yea, I think you will help us with the agency -"

"So what's the catch?"

Flash stopped walking and stared at mike with a smile

"How?"

"Your empire could have sent a letter. Obviously, you need me something or else you wouldn't come all this way and march through a more or less lawless place like the human ghetto."

"You are good. Yes, I came to get you to help us with a few things, and in exchange, you would get to be part of the agency and a citizen of the empire. However, for the things we need your help with, it needs to be just you or not the girl."

"Danni is under my de facto guardianship and my employee, all points considered she is an extension of myself. She is coming with us," Mike sternly replied.

"You are in no position to argue with me, human."

"Really? Because I don't think the Prince and Princess would be happy to see you return home empty handed."

Flash began to laugh."I like you already!"

Author's Note

I have a discord group for fans, and people who want to help edit. If you want to join the madness here is the link https://discord.gg/uAk5aAP

Empire

"Woah," was the only reaction Danni had when the Crystal Empire first came into view. The Crystal Castle towered over the rest of the kingdom, and even the tallest buildings were still overshadowed by the large, white castle.

Even though it was within view, the train still had a half hour left until it reached the station. Mike had to look around to see the kind of people that were on the train. It was mostly ponies, many of them prim and proper. There was a human family, a husband, wife, a son and a daughter. Just like Danni, the children were excited. It turned out, they had reason to be

"So, when do we start school, papa?" the young girl asked.

"In time, sweetheart first, we will have to move our stuff to our new house!" he father cheerfully said.

Lucky bastards Mike thought, hoping that he would able to share a moment like that with Danni.

He did ponder his relationship with her, which was more of a business relationship and a demanding guardian more than a father. Although he wanted to open up more to her and be like the loving father like he was with his sons, the flashbacks and the filling of loneliness without his wife and kids without would freeze him up.

When the train reached the station, the train came to a sudden stop after spending a minute slowing down, which woke everyone up. The family in front of Danni and Mike a laugh. Mike and Danni sat and watched as the rest of the train grabbed their bags and made their way out slowly, mostly caught up in conversation with who they went with. Flash Sentry and the guards that accompanied him were at the back of the train so that they wouldn't scare anyone or bring attention that the chief of security was out of town for important business.

He was the first to get up, then his detail following. Mike felt a hoof nudge his shoulder and he looked back.

"Okay, it's time to go," Flash said, continuing to walk with his guard right behind him.

"Danni lets go," Mike said as he got up. Danni waited for him to give her room before she got up herself. They walked out to the cool, crisp, air that gave the empire a positive reputation. Danni and Mike followed the guards from the train station and began the long half an hour walk to the castle.

It was everything Mike had dreamed it would be: The streets were filled with ponies and humans. Unlike in the city, there was no ponies looking down on the humans, or the human trash everywhere. The humans were dressed properly in clean clothes, they didn't look in fear from harassment from the guards either.

"This is impressive," Mike said in wonder.

"Ah wish I can get some threads like those!" Danni said, mentioning three schoolgirls around her age running past them.

"Humans and ponies do live in the same neighborhoods, but we do have a human district," Flash mentioned it.

"Really? Where at?" Mike asked, preparing for a block or two of slum life he had grown accustomed to.

"We are walking through it!" Flash announced.

Mike stopped and looked around. "The rumors about this place is nothing compared to actually being here!"

"Glad you like it, at least I know you are committed," Flash said. "I have to ask. How can Equestria treat the humans so poorly? The Celestia I know would have heads rolling over the human ghetto!"

"It's not that simple, Celestias handlers have basically been flawless hiding the plight of humans, parade a few who "made it" so that the upper crust of Equestria can feel good about themselves," Mike said. It was a tough situation, but not much can be done but to work hard and wait for the big break, the big break finally falling on his lap.

* * *

They entered the tower but had to stop a minute because Mike and Danni were stuck with how tall it was, how imposing, the one single structure that showed to the crystal empire, to the world of their might.

"I should say we don't have all day, but we actually don't," Flash said, causing his entourage to laugh, observing the two humans who were still staring up from the base of the castle.

"Okay, I think I had enough," Danni said as she rubbed her aching neck. "Mike lets go"

"Just give me one more minute," Mike replied, the smile he had when he first saw the castle from the train not leaving his face."

"I said let's go!" Danny commanded, pulling Mike by his hand.

"okay okay, fine!" he said.

When they entered the castle, they had to be hurried along with Flash because just like from the train station to the front of the castle, they wanted to stop and gaze at the beauty of the castle, which was made of crystal. They entered the throne room, and once again, Mike and Danni had to be bumped along to the two ponies at the end of the room. Before entering the room, he had never considered any of the ponies "beautiful", but he had to admit the princess of the crystal kingdom was cute if his memory was correct: Cadence was her name.

"Presenting, Mike and his accomplice Danni of Canterlot!

The prince of the empire walked to the two humans, a confident looking stallion with wild hair and a million bit grin. The stallion extended his front right hoof out for a shake, which Mike gladly accepted.

"Michael Chin, it's it's finally good to meet you. Your reputation proceeds you!"

"I wasn't aware I had one," Mike quickly replied.

"I bet you know who I am," He said

"Yes, Shining Armor, Prince of the Crystal Empire."

"You got it! Let me introduce you to my wife and we can tell you why we brought you out here," Shining said. He turned to flash "thank you Flash, you can go."

"Sounds good!" would love to see my wife again!" he said with a smirk

"My sister!" Shining snapped.

"My wife!" Flash shouted back with a smug grin