Frosty walked along the endless rows of apple trees, picking a dead branch here or there and making sure that the trees were all healthy. He did so by his lonesome, since Applebloom was currently out crusading together with Sweetie Belle, with Scootaloo being grounded by her aunts. Nevertheless, he did his job as good and as fast as he could. After all, the more he got done in as little time as possible, the less time he would need overall. However, the higher workload he put on himself also meant that, when the sun finally set, he was thoroughly tired out.

When he walked into the kitchen that evening to have dinner with the family, he found all of the seats occupied by their respective owners, just as the evenings before. He sat down, levitated his spoon and was just about to dig in when Granny Smith suddenly spoke up.

“What’d ah tell ya ‘bout manners, young colt? Ya gotta wait until everypony’s sittin’ before ya can eat!”

“Frosty, where’s Applebloom?” Applejack asked somewhat scoldingly.

Frosty looked to the empty seat beside him and recalled that he had tended to the trees alone today. “I don’t know, she wasn’t in the orchard today. I thought she was just busy with crusading and such?”

“Consarnit, Ah told’er she has ta come home early! Granny, ya can eat without me, ah’m gonna wait for young missus at th’ door.” Applejack said annoyedly, jumping off her seat and walking into the hallway.

“Well, ah guess that means that everypony’s sittin now. Ya can start eatin’, Frosty.” Granny Smith told him and he dug in. It wasn’t the first time that Applebloom showed up late after being with the crusaders and it likely wouldn’t be the last. After he was done eating, Frosty immediately went to bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

The next morning, he went down to eat breakfast, only to find Applejack leaning against the open door, still fast asleep.

‘Wait a moment…’ Frosty thought, as he went over to Applejack and shook her awake.

“Applejack! Hey Applejack, wake up!”

Applejack slowly opened her eyes, groggily mumbling to herself, as she slowly woke up.

“Why are you still down here? Did Applebloom not come home yesterday?”

Applejack’s eyes immediately shot open and she jumped up. “Applebloom! Applebloom, where is she?! What happened?!! Ah gotta find ‘er, Ah gotta—“ However Frosty stopped her.

“Applejack, calm down! Panicking isn’t gonna help. She probably just forgot the time and stayed at the boutique over night or something.”

“Ye-yer right… we just- we just gotta go ta Rarity an’ get her… And tell her ta tell me in advance.” Applejack said, more to calm herself than anything else. She then sprinted out and down the road towards Ponyville with Frosty only barely able to not lose her completely.

She rushed into town, turned a corner, went over the bridge and slammed into a white-coated mare with a purple mane.

“Ouch, excuse me, what-?! Applejack, darling, are you okay?” Rarity asked, as she recognized, whom she had collided with.

“RARITY!” Applejack shouted, grabbing the fashionista by her shoulders. “Did ya see th’ fillies? Did they stay over tonight?”

“Wh-What? No, I thought they were with you. I was actually on my way to get Sweetie Belle.”

Applejack let go of Rarity’s shoulders, visibly creeping closer and closer to a full-blown panic attack.

“Hey, maybe they went to Scootaloo’s! Y’know, to give her some company while she’s grounded or something.” Frosty quickly offered, before that could happen.

“Yes! Yes, you’re—you’re right! Come on!” Applejack commanded, sprinting off again.

“Well, a good morning jog is good for losing weight, I’ve heard.” Frosty commented, as he went after her.

“Excuse me?! Did you just imply that I’m fat?” Rarity huffed, before running after him.

Aplpejack had meanwhile already reached Scootaloo’s home. She rang the doorbell just before an out-of-breath Frosty and Rarity arrived behind her.

The door opened, revealing a middle-aged mare behind it.

“My, Applejack, what a surprise. What brings you here today?”

“Hello, miss. Did the fillies come by yesterday?” Applejack asked quickly, supressing her still growing panic.

“No, dear, why do you ask? Although that reminds me:” The mare looked over her shoulder and shouted into the house behind her. “Lofty, would you bring Scootaloo her breakfast?”

A short reply came, followed by the sound of hooves ascending a flight of stairs. Aunt Holiday turned back to Applejack, but just as she was about to continue their conversation, they heard a scream from upstairs.

Immediately, everypony present rushed upstairs to see what was going on. However, as they entered the room, they found nothing and nopony but Aunt Lofty…

‘Oh no…’

Applejack sat in the kitchen of the Farmhouse, although not by her own choice. Big Mac and Frosty had to keep her from running outside and tearing through half of Equestria to find her sister.

After they found Scootaloo’s room empty, the guard was informed and they immediately dispatched search parties. Rainbow Dash and the weatherteam volunteered as well, together with Fluttershy, who asked her animal friends for help.

Finally, somepony knocked on the door and before anypony could answer, Applejack was already out of her seat. She ripped the door open, revealing a rather unnerved-looking Twilight on the other side.

“Twilight?! Did ya find them?! Please tell me ya found them!” Applejack pleaded.

“Uh… yes, but… well… you’re not going to like where this is going.”

Applejack, Twilight and Frosty rushed towards the Everfree Forest, where a small group, consisting of Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and some guardsponies, were already gathered. In front of that group, at the entrance to the Everfree, stood another group, which consisted of five stallions… and a tied-up Scootaloo.

“If you don’t immediately let her go then I will personally kick you to the moon and back!” Rainbow Dash threatened.

“Oh, are you? Well, in that case, I’ll sadly have to kill them.” The stallion that held Scootaloo said with unnerving calmth.

“And therefore destroy your only asset. I think you should mull that one over again, mister.” Frosty interjected as he pressed through to the front.

The stallion that was previously speaking glared at Frosty. “You…!”

Meanwhile, Scootaloo’s eyes lit up and she cheered. “YAY, Frosty! You’re here!” Before she turned to the foalnapper. “You see him?! That’s our coltfriend and he’s gonna BEAT. YOU. UP!”

“Coltfriend?” The foalnapper asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking at Frosty.

“COLTFRIEND?!” Three mares from the crowd echoed, followed by the distinct sound of a hoof meeting its owner’s forehead.

“There is a time and place for everything, Scootaloo… this was neither.” Frosty mumbled into his forehoof while Rainbow, Applejack and Rarity were staring at him.

“Well well, young colt, surely you are worried beyond compare about your fillyfriends. How about that: You come with me to negotiate and you get to see them. Huh?” The foalnapper asked almost mockingly.

Frosty kept a straight face, although he was internally giving him a ‘are you serious?’-kind of look. “Okay, deal.” Frosty said, seemingly surprising the group behind him just as much as the one before him. He made a few steps forward, but was stopped by a hoof that suddenly landed on his shoulder.

“Frosty, wait, this is a—“ Twilight whispered to him, but Frosty cut her off.

“Trap? Yes, I know.” He said, continuing his walk. “Although for whom it will snap remains to be seen…”

Frosty followed the foalnappers deep into the Everfree Forest, until they came upon a small clearing. They walked into the middle of it and then, the leader called out in an almost synthetic sounding language.

The result was that several more bandits came out of the surrounding bushes, carrying Sweetie Belle and Applebloom with them. The group leader approached another one and saluted.

“Sir, the Element Bearers are now aware of the status of their sisters. I have also brought an additional hostage, which appears to be the colt that previously found our hideout.” He reported.

“Very good, Pharynx. You may rest and eat now.” The other said.

‘Ah, Pharynx… that would mean that these are Changelings…’ Frosty thought.

“And now to you, young colt…”

“Ah, yes, the negotiations.” Frosty said.

“Negotiations? Oh yes, there will be negotiations. Just not with you.” The leader said, before turning to another ‘bandit’ “Tie him up just like the others and then send a few drones out to watch these ponies.”

The drone saluted and went to fetch some rope.

“It’s a shame, really. I thought I could spare your lives, but apparently, I have no other choice.” Frosty said calmly.

“HA! You, spare our lives? Pff, you better watch your tongue, young colt! Such things can be misunderstood very quickly, you know?” The leader mockingly said to him.

“Yeah, I know.” Frosty replied, just as the drone came back with the ropes. “Yet, it doesn’t make my statement any less true.”

Before the leader could say anything else, the drone with the rope suddenly fell to the ground and its disguise dissolved. The leader looked at it in shock, before looking back at the colt and almost getting a heartattack, for where before lay his eyes was now just a deep black expanse, with two red dots forming floating pupils in the void.

Frosty, meanwhile, was otherwise occupied. For the first time in his short new life had he tasted the soul of a sapient being. The result was a complete overload on empowering warmth. He felt as if he just drunk ten strengthening potions at once, combined with an unhealthy dose of steroids. In short, he felt powerful… and he wanted more.

His eyes fell on a drone, who was trying to close in and tackle him, but Frosty was faster. With one short tap into his soul, he stole the changeling’s energy, empowering him even more.

Two other changelings came from behind him and tried to surprise him, however no soul escaped Frosty’s detection. He spun around and zapped one changeling with an overcharged lightning bolt, while he turned the other into a zombie.

Five more changelings tried to take him head-on, but Frosty simply erected a shield, which was easily powerful enough to block all of their attacks and while they were busy, his Zombie came in from the side and mauled two of them, while the other three were killed by Frosty.

The rest of the changelings suddenly came storming out of the forest, in a vain attempt to fight him off. They all fired their magic at him, but his Zombie jumped between them, getting completely destroyed in the process. Frosty used that moment to unleash a mighty lightning strike that zapped through their lines, killing them immediately.

At last, only Pharynx and the Commander were left. Both of them charged at him, but they were no match. He simply deflected all of their attacks, making some of them even fling back into them.

The sheer hopelessness of their situation reflected in their eyes, making Frosty’s feeling of power grow even hotter. Truly, this was an absolutely glorious moment, it was exhilarating, it was—

“FROSTY!” Suddenly a terrified cry came from behind him.

Frosty turned around and saw the three fillies that he called his marefriends, who were now looking almost horrified at him. This look alone was enough to take him out of his rampage. The red curtain in front of his eyes vanished and he could think clearly again.

He looked at Pharynx and the Commander, who were completely out of breath by now… and corrupted their souls.

“Go to the cave where we first found you in.” He then commanded his new servants, who bowed and vanished into the forest.

Frosty then rushed over to the crusaders, who were still tied up, and cut their ties. Immediately, all three of them jumped at him and hugged him tight, crying their collective relief into Frosty’s coat. He, meanwhile, looked around the scene and winced at the amount of bodies.

‘I should probably clean this up, shouldn’t I?’ He thought, before using his necromancy and forcing the bodies to rapidly decay.

‘There, better.’

He then turned his attention to the three fillies, who were still clutching him tight. “There there, everything’s alright. Come on, your sisters are already worried enough.” He said, though the fillies wouldn’t budge.

“Frosty… what was that just now? Was that really you?” Sweetie Belle asked anxiously.

“I- uh… no… that was not me, at least not entirely. I don’t know, something came over me and then I couldn’t stop anymore… sorry you had to see this.”

Sweetie sighed in relief and leaned into his chest again. “Good. For a moment there, I was afraid I was in love with a serial killer.” She joked, before leaning upwards and giving him a kiss.

“Hey, me too!” Scootaloo protested.

“Me three!” Applebloom chimed in, before both claimed their share.

“I love you too. Now come on, your sisters are probably worried sick by now.”

An hour later, Frosty found himself at a table in Sugarcube Corner. Across from him sat three mares, one of which was giving him a very serious look.

“Alright, Frosty. I’m pretty sure you know, why you’re here.” Applejack said seriously.

“I think I do, yes.” Frosty replied.

“Okay, well I don’t. Why are we here?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Wha- seriously Rainbow? You heard what Scootaloo said back there, right?”

“Yeah, what about it?” Rainbow asked again.

“Seriously? SHE SAID HE’S COURTING OUR SISTERS, darnit!” Applejack raised her tone a bit.

“Woah, no need to be so loud. Firstly: I’m not Scootaloo’s sister, so I really don’t have a say in this and secondly: Even if I had a say in this, I wouldn’t mind. I mean, why would I? This colt is almost as awesome as I am!”

“Really?! What about you, Rarity? Ya have ta say something against this, right?” Applejack demanded.

“Oh darling, I’m very sorry, but I have to agree with Rainbow here. I think our sisters are old enough to make this decision and even if they weren’t: Frosty has shown to be a true Gentlecolt. He is studysome, chivalrous and handsome at that. No, I do not have anything to say against this arrangement.” Rarity said.

Applejack’s face fell into a frown at that. “Are you guys serious? Ah mean, ah’ll tell ya, what I’ve got t’say about this: Frosty, you’re basically Applebloom’s brother, and—“

“But I’m not.” Frosty interjected.

“I know, I mean—“

“Darling, come now, this is not the true reason for this, isn’t it? Be honest, you’re just afraid that they have to go through the same as you did, right?” Rarity cut in.

“What do you mean with that?” Frosty asked.

“Ah yeah, that. Sometime during her last grade, there was this one colt she really liked. She managed to hook up with him and did all this mushy schmoozy stuff, only to find him in bed with somepony else.” Rainbow explained casually.

“RAINBOW! You don’t talk about such sensitive things so casually!” Rarity chided.

“So… You basically just think that I’ll just run off with the next best filly that flutters her eyelashes at me, huh?” Frosty noted. “Applejack, don’t worry. I assure you that’s not going to happen. I love them. All three of them and I be damned if I ever be unfaithful to them.” He assured to her.

Applejack stared deep into his eyes, looking for some sign of deception. When she found none, she sighed and let her head hang.

“Alright… Ah can see yer not lyin’. Ah think Ah’m just a bit overprotective…” Applejack conceded. “An’ ah know ya ain’t a bad colt, Frosty, please don’t misunderstand that.”

“I completely understand Applejack. I promise, I will take good care of them.” Frosty assured.

“Yeah, I know you will. But no foals until they’re 20, ya hear?!”

Snapping a salute, Frosty replied “Yes, ma’am!”

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait, my main project sucked up all of my resources these past two weeks and I actually barely managed to squeeze this one in. Also, I'm sorry if this chapter seems weird in some way, 'cause I was literally writing this from 1- 5am