Like a Family
Frost awoke the next morning feeling groggy and stiff. He was contorted in ways he never thought he could manage while awake, let alone while sleeping. When he turned his head and tried to roll over, he met with a rude awakening in the form of rolling off the bed and being helpless against gravity as it brought him to the floor.
He landed with an unceremonious thud and lay flat where he hit, not moving for a moment. When he finally got himself up and got his gears turning, he looked on the bed. It was no wonder he had ended up falling off; Amel took up most of the bed. She was sprawled out like a cat, looking positively graceful as she lightly snored away with an open mouth.
Frost rubbed his eyes and went to the bathroom to clean himself up and fully prepare himself mentally for whatever was in store today. He started with a cold shower to shock himself awake, brushed his teeth, and looked himself over in the mirror. He was growing quite the beard. He’d noticed the same thing on Duke as well. They would have to shave soon.
With his little morning ritual done, Frost threw on his underwear and took all his clothing, which was very little still, and brought it downstairs. After leaving Duke at the library, one of the things he, Amel, and Aprotelese found was an appliance store. They went in looking for whatever they might need; cooking wares, ovens, more refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, anything. The main thing Frost wanted was a washer-dryer combo. They had none in stock, though, and had to order them for the human. For the time being, he was forced to hand wash his clothes with an old roller.
Duke and Aprotelese were still asleep. It was, after all, six in the morning, and Frost had been next to a bed hog, so he was the only one up. It seemed like a good time to get the hard work of cleaning clothes done. When he went outside, the sun was just starting to come up and there were already a few pegasi in the sky.
Frost got to work. It was harder than he expected. When he saw it in the movies, it all looked so simple. To actually use a laundry wringer was different than he thought. He had no idea what he was doing. After almost an hour of unsuccessfully trying his shirt, he gave up and sat in front of it, thinking.
“Frost?” Amel’s voice called from the door. She had also awoken, apparently, and didn’t feel like sleeping in.
“Yeah, I’m out here,” Frost said almost dismissively.
“What are you doing?” Amel asked as she walked out.
“I was trying to wash my clothes,” Frost said, pointing at his shirt. “But I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Amel sat next to him and giggled. “Well, you never did learn, did you?” she asked. Frost shook his head. “I will show you.”
Amel moved in front of him and started doing Frost’s laundry for him, prompting the man to move aside to watch. He normally cleaned his own clothes because he liked to be able to do things himself, but he had to admit, having Amel do it was nice. She didn’t seem to mind and he could just sit and watch. In no time, she was finished with the shirt and carried it to the house.
“I will hang this up inside,” she said through her teeth. “Try to get something done with that.”
Frost nodded and started working at his own laundry. After seeing Amel demonstrate it, he could do it on his own easily. The roller was still a pain, though, and he would be more than happy to have Amel do it if she was willing next time.
When Amel returned, Frost had already finished his laundry. “Are you all done, Frost?” she asked.
Frost stood with his clothes in his hands, stretched out to his sides. “All done,” he said.
Amel stopped and stared for a minute. This was the first time she had seen Frost basically naked in a totally casual setting, and something felt weird about it. Now, she was noticing his level of fitness. She didn’t know the standards of human musculature, but she could tell that he had muscles hanging from the bottoms of his arms. His chest and abdomen had solid builds as well, and he had large muscles in his back that could be seen from the front. She didn’t know what they were, but they were beneath his arms and on the sides of his back.
Frost put the uniform inside and came back out to find Amel looking at the ground, petting at it with her hoof. She didn’t seem to notice when he walked past, but he would swear that she was a little red in the face. He picked up the bucket of soapy water and started back to the house.
“You alright?” he asked of her.
Amel’s head shot back up. “Fine!” she said with a forced smile. “Just a little hot is all.” That didn’t make sense, considering she used to live in a desert.
“Well then,” Frost said, moving his hands underneath the bucket with a mischievous grin. “This should help you cool off!”
Amel saw it coming at the last second, but before she could protest, soapy water ran over her body like a waterfall. It was fairly cold, but not too cold, and suds covered Amel after the water was gone. Frost tried to run back to the house, but his hysterics slowed him down too much.
“You..!” Amel said.
She sprinted after Frost and tackled him ten feet from the door, bringing them both to the dirt. Amel’s tackle got Frost’s back all wet, and when he rolled over, he stood back up with dirt all over him. Not finished, Amel tackled him from the front this time, getting more of the water and now her own dirt onto him there. All the while, Frost couldn’t stop laughing, and Amel didn’t even notice her own giggles of joy.
Amel tired out quickly and rolled away. Frost was standing up, but decided to go and sit next to Amel on the ground. He was already in a position of needing another shower, so he figured it wouldn’t matter if he got a little dirtier.
“You are silly,” Amel said.
“I know,” Frost replied.
At the house, the back screen door opened and shut. “Who’s making such a raucous in my backyard?” Duke’s voice beckoned.
“Just these two,” Aprotelese’s voice replied. “Probably better to let them go at it.”
“You guys are up early,” Frost said.
Duke walked over to him but didn’t sit. “The same could be said for you two.”
Frost chuckled and pointed at Amel. “Well, this one took up most of the bed, and I ended up hitting the floor. I left to do laundry, and like a cat, she followed me, and soon enough, it went right to hell.”
“I did not take up the bed,” Amel defensively said.
“You were sprawled out all over the thing,” Frost replied.
Aprotelese leaned up to Duke. “She wasn’t trying to sprawl out all over the bed,” he said. He and Duke chuckled at the joke, which Frost didn’t seem to notice. Amel did, though, and shot them a look that quickly silenced their glee.
“If you two are done getting each other wet and dirty, there’s still some things for us to do today,” Duke said. Frost put his face in his hands at the comment, but thankfully, Amel didn’t get it. “We have to organize the house when our stuff arrives, set up any rooms that we won’t be living in, and get anything we missed and didn’t order.”
“I can take the house,” Aprotelese said. “I’m fast with that stuff.”
“Good,” Duke said. “Frost, you and I will go into the town and see if we can get our hands on some new clothes. There must be a seamstress here who can make us something to wear other than what we’ve been wearing for...” Duke thought. “Holy shit, how long have we been here?”
“I’ve got the number scratched into the inside of my helmet,” Frost said. “But it’s been a while.”
“I hope command doesn’t think we died,” Duke said.
“They’ll probably think we’re trapped with OGA or something,” Frost said. “When we get back, we’ll just say we were captured and escaped with OGA.”
Duke snapped his fingers and pointed. “Good thinking, man,” he said.
“What should I do?” Amel asked. She didn’t want to be left out of the day’s activities.
“If you could help Aprotelese get the house ready, that would be really great,” Frost said.
Amel looked at Aprotelese. He was trying to smile charmingly, but came off as goonish and silly instead.
She sighed. “I will help him get the house ready. But I want to go out and get clothes sometime too.”
“Sure, next time we go out for something other than official or major stuff,” Duke said. “Frost would go with you.”
“And you, boss?” Frost asked.
“I have other things planned for my free time,” Duke said. “Things that qualify as major.”
Frost shrugged. “Works for me,” he said. He looked to Amel. “I guess we’ll see you later.”
Amel waved to Frost and Duke as they turned and left. “Later!” she said.
“Alright, looks like it’s you and me fixing up the house,” Aprotelese said, walking up and bumping Amel’s side with his elbow. “What’re you thinking of first?”
“I will take the first floor,” Amel said. “You take the top. I will then look for a basement or cellar, because I don't think we found one yet if there is. You take the second floor.”
Aprotelese nodded. “Right away, milady!” he said. He shot back to the house and went right to the top floor.
Amel looked back to the men, whom she could just barely see by now, and then turned back to the house to go and start working. She had liked being around the men almost all the time before, but she could tell that she would really have to get used to them being away for extended periods. But she would wait. She was already being very patient with one of them.
Duke and Frost walked into the town feeling grateful that most of the ponies weren’t out early in the day. There were pegasi in the sky, but no ponies on the ground. The pegasi in the sky were knocking around the clouds and doing aerial maneuvers to warm up for their days. Frost watched them while Duke kept his eyes scanning the area for anything that might tell them where to go.
“You ever wonder what it’s like to fly like that?” Frost asked. “To be up there totally on your own power?”
“Not on my own power,” Duke answered. “Only in jets.”
They kept on walking, looking at signs, trying to find a place to make custom clothing. There were plenty of stores that sold clothes, but none of them were tailored for humans. When Duke or Frost would look in the window, it was a pony mannequin in the window wearing whatever was in style these days.
The men made their way to the town center, where there stood a large town hall. Several benches surrounded the large building, so the men decided to take a seat for a minute before continuing with their search. The air was fresh and clean, the ambient noise was low, and a cool breeze was going by. It was a nice moment to sit.
“Maybe there’s a town map inside?” Frost suggested.
Duke stretched out his legs. “Maybe. Go check.” Frost stood up with his own stretch and then went into the building. When he came out a minute later, he was holding a small piece of paper.
“Here’s a map,” he said. “Though I’m not sure we’ll need it. The mare at the front desk who gave me the map said that the place we’re looking for is about half as tall as town hall and white with a lot of decorations. The owner lives upstairs.”
Duke stood. “Great, then let’s go,” he said.
The men strolled along through the rest of town to their desired location without any rush. Ponies were just starting to get up and leave their homes, and many of them greeted the men as they passed. The men would just wave back with a little smile and keep on going. Some ponies looked like they wanted to talk, but the men weren’t feeling up to it.
When they arrived at their location, Carousel Boutique, they stopped to admire it for a moment. It was certainly ornate. Streamers, frillies, fancy shutters, the owner went all out. If she both lived here and operated her business here, it made sense. Make sure everyone knows what is located here, and you can attract more business.
Inside, the lights were on, so the men went up to the door and knocked a few times. Inside, they could hear some mild shuffling of hooves and a faint groan. The door opened soon after with a grumbling white unicorn mare on the other side.
“What can I help you with?” she asked, mane frazzled and in front of her face. She couldn’t see the men through it.
“We understand that you’re the town seamstress,” Duke said. The mare moved her purple mane aside and took one look at the men, then livened up quite a bit.
“Oh my, I apologize, darlings! I didn’t know it was you!” she said.
“Heeeeeey!” Frost said, pointing at her. “You were up in the castle when we first arrived. Rarity, right?”
Rarity smiled confidently and puffed her chest out. “The one and only, darling,” she said. “What brings you here this morning? Oh, that can wait. Come in, I have coffee and biscuits.” Rarity turned and walked back inside, followed by two hungry men.
Inside, the men were impressed with what they saw. Fancy, over-indulgent outfits lined one wall, with fancy, black tie outfits on another. The room wasn’t filled all the way, and most of the clothes had order numbers on them. There was a stage with mirrors off to one side and changing rooms not far.
They went into the kitchen, attached to the main room of the store, and Rarity had them sit at the table. They waited quietly while she poured them some coffee and pulled out plates for biscuits. When she brought them to the table, she sat down with them and daintily started eating.
“I assume you’re here to replace those unholy outfits,” Rarity said. “They simply have no flare to them at all.”
“These are combat uniforms, ma’am,” Duke said. “Flare is a bad thing.”
“Well, it certainly is a good thing you came to me then!” Rarity said. “I will have you looking spick and spiffy in no time. I can also repair those, seeing as they do look to have some tears.”
The men looked at their outfits. “Yes, you are right about that,” Frost said. “Maybe next time.”
“Of course. I can also make another set so that you aren’t wearing the same thing all the time.” Rarity nodded as she spoke. “You fine men deserve as much after rescuing Applejack’s little sister.”
“Thank you, but that’s what we do,” Frost said.
Rarity waved her hoof up. “Oh, posh. You signed up for it knowing it would be hard and dangerous. That is why you deserve it.”
“Thank you,” Duke said. He took a bite of his biscuit. “How much will we owe you for the clothes?”
“Oh, nothing!” Rarity said. “Free of charge. I make enough on my business as it is. I wouldn’t expect you to pay for it.”
“Wow, thank you,” Frost said. “So how do we go about this?”
“Come with me, I will have Sweetie take your measurements,” Rarity said. She got up and walked into the main room. “Sweetie Belle, come here! We have to take a customer’s measurements!”
Duke and Frost followed Rarity to the stage. They decided that Duke would go first, because Frost would have to rinse himself off. He was still dirty from being tackled by Amel and still walking around in his underwear. Duke hadn’t even noticed until they walked in, but Frost didn’t seem to give a damn.
“Is there somewhere I can rinse off?” Frost asked.
Rarity pointed to a staircase. “Up the stairs, second door on your left,” she said.
“Thank you,” Frost replied. He walked over to the stairs.
Before he went up, another white mare shot down the stairs and leapt up over him, just avoiding his head. Frost looked back, unfazed, and noticed that this white mare had a pinkish mane and a musical note on her flank.
“Hi there,” Frost said.
Sweetie Belle turned and saw him. “Oh, hey! Didn’t see you there. What brings you here?” she asked.
“Duke and I are getting new clothes,” Frost answered. “He’s over there. I need to clean up. I’ll be back down in a minute.”
“Okay!” Sweetie Belle said.
Frost ran up the stairs and Sweetie Belle walked over to Rarity’s stage. When she saw Duke taking his shirt and pants off, she stopped and pointed at him.
“Hey!” she greeted.
Duke turned. “Heeey!” he said, also pointing. “I remember you.”
“You two have met?” Rarity asked, surprised.
“I went to the library, and she was there with the librarian,” Duke said.
Rarity turned and gave Sweetie Belle a knowing look, to which Sweetie smiled sheepishly and blushed. Rarity chuckled and turned back to Duke.
“My sister, the charmer of dragons,” she said.
“Rarityyyyyy!” Sweetie whined.
Duke laughed. “Well, you know what they say about dragons,” he said.
Rarity giggled. “Yes, I do,” she replied. “So is it true, Sweetie, what they say?”
Sweetie Belle’s face was totally red by now. “I-I don’t know!” she said, flustered. “I... He... Let’s take measurements!” Duke couldn’t suppress his chuckles as Sweetie Belle came up with a measuring tape.
“It doesn’t get better as you get older,” Duke warned. “When it’s not family, it’s friends. Get used to it now.”
“Arms up,” Sweetie commanded, ignoring the human. Duke complied. “Alright, let’s see...”
While Sweetie took measurements, Duke talked to Rarity. “So what does the council do?” he asked. “If you’re here, running a business, then how often do you meet?”
“Every afternoon, and longer on weekends,” Rarity replied. “It’s often just social. Celestia and Luna generally handle the most important national and international matters, while Twilight and us run day to day things. Twilight also meets with ambassadors to try to make alliances and friendships, which we will help with at times.”
“Sounds tough,” Duke said. Sweetie Belle was taking his legs, and he had to stand bowlegged.
“At times, but it is fun for the most part. Meeting foreigners, seeing alien cultures, new designs... I love it.” Rarity looked dreamily up into the ceiling. “I even met a great stallion doing that.”
“Does he live here?” Duke asked.
Rarity sighed and shook her head. “No, I’m afraid he is stationed in Stalliongrad acting as an ambassador’s aid. We meet when we can, but that isn’t very often.”
“A tough life,” Duke said.
“Not as tough as yours, I am sure. Or your special somepony’s,” Rarity remarked.
Duke shook his head. “Don’t got one. Neither does Frost.”
“Really?” Rarity said. She looked Duke over. “I wouldn’t have guessed that.”
“We’re busy a lot,” Duke explained. “Not a lot of time to go out dating.”
“How sad,” Rarity said. “If only more humans were here, you would have more free time here than at home.”
“That would be awesome,” Duke said.
Sweetie finished with his measurements and Frost came down just in time to start his. Duke and Rarity continued to chat while Frost and Sweetie Belle talked. Before long, Frost was done, they placed an order, and they were ready to head out.
“Thanks for everything,” Duke said as he left.
Rarity and Sweetie waved to him. “Goodbye! We will have your clothes by two days from now!”
The men walked back to the house glad to know that they would have new clothes soon. Rarity was really generous, which probably explained her seat on the council. She would probably give them high quality stuff. They only wanted shirts and shorts, plus an extra uniform each, but Rarity would likely go beyond what was asked of her.
More and more ponies were out now, often staring at Frost walking around in his underwear. Duke distanced himself a bit from his partner, trying to avoid the gazes. Frost was starting to notice the gazes as well and picked up his pace a little. Soon enough, they arrived back at the house, and Frost eagerly an inside to get his now dry clothes back.
When he ran inside, he immediately went up the stairs, not even noticing a new group sitting in the next room. Most of them didn’t respond to the near naked man running through other than making confused or surprised expressions. When Duke came inside, he saw them in the room and spotted Aprotelese among them.
“Hello there,” Duke said.
“Hey Duke!” Aprotelese said. “The guys arrived sooner than expected, as you can see.”
“Sooner is better than later,” Duke said.
The Nighthawks all stood at attention. “Easy guys,” Aprotelese said. They all sat. “We can take care of introductions when Frost comes back down. For now, they came bearing gifts!”
“Gifts?” Duke questioned.
“Not gifts, per say,” one of the Nighthawks said. “Packages from the princesses.”
There were two boxes sitting on the floor in the middle of the room. Duke walked over and eagerly examined them, picking them up and shaking them. The first was light, and it sounded like there was a lot of stuffing in it. The second was unexpectedly heavy, and when Duke shook it slowly, he heard small metal items knocking around inside a metal box. He could guess what that one was.
Duke opened it, and sure enough, there were two boxes of ammunition inside. They were all standard rounds, nothing special. Each box was split into two compartments by a small barrier. The larger side of each box had the ammo for the men’s primary weapon systems, while the smaller side contained ammo for their secondaries. Satisfied by what he saw, Duke close dup the ammo boxes and moved onto the next box.
The contents of the next box were far from disappointing. It was the sound suppressors that he had been hoping for. There were eight in all, more than Duke thought, but they came with a note. It read,
Dear Duke and Frost,
We hope you are adjusting well to Ponyville. It is a lovely town, and we expect that you will enjoy it and its residents.
There are several more items than you asked for in this box. This is because, while we have an idea of the size of your weapons and the necessary size of the items. Please, feel free to test them outside the town (FAR outside the town) to select the best ones. You may do as you wish with the rest.
Regards,
Princess Luna and Princess Celestia
Duke smiled. “Nice,” he said.
“I guess you like them?” Aprotelese asked.
Duke nodded slowly. “We’ll see.”
Soon, Frost came back down, fully clothed and accompanied by Amel. “What’s up?” he asked as he walked in.
“We got us some goodies,” Duke said, tossing Frost a suppressor.
Frost happily looked the suppressor over. “Sweet. We’ll test them later?”
“Later,” Duke said. “For now, let’s get to know our new team.”
Introductions flew by quickly; the Nighthawks the men didn’t know were Fog, Comet, Moon Moon, Wolf, and Mosquito. They were all friendly and eager to work with the men, which was good, because one of them had a bit of news.
“And just so you know, Luna told us that we might all get called on tomorrow night,” Moon Moon said. “We’re going to be on high alert tomorrow because some Earth Guards are patrolling a notorious area of the border.”
“How long is the flight from here to there?” Duke asked.
“With the guys who’ll be flying us, just about an hour and a half or two hours,” Wolf said. “Magical distress calls will alert us to any problems instantly, so we’ll be able to respond as quickly as possible. If the problems persist, we might get stuck in San Palomino Air Base for a night or two.”
“Very well,” Duke said. “We’ll be more than ready.”