Hooves of ice
Chapter 6
Another one. What about you? (part 4)
World: Equus. Land: Equestria. Location: Everfree forest. Year: 1001
“Come on, Applebloom. Admit it… We’re lost!” One of the voices said.
“We aren’t lost, girls! We’re just taking a shortcut!!” A second voice responded to the first.
“Yeah, a shortcut that has had us be trotting around in circles.”
As the three voices approached the clearing, Jack and Anson could see who was talking. They were three young fillies that Anson saw as the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The only difference is that the Cutie Mark Crusaders he knew were a bit older than these ponies, not to mention that he never saw them as ponies before.
“What the hell-?” Anson said to himself, thinking that nopony could hear him. However, all three ponies looked in the direction of where they heard the voice just now.
“Girls, did you hear that?”
“Yeah I did, Sweetie Belle. Do you think that was a ghost?”
“I don’t know, Scootaloo… Hey, if it was, do you think we could get a cutie mark for Ghostbusting?”
Meanwhile, Jack was face-palming at himself, forgetting to warn Anson about the enchantment not silencing the voice, only making him invisible or intangible. Jack didn't want to accidentally force his new friend into the same position he had been himself. Walking over to where he could feel his enchantment taking place, and the position of where the voice had come from, he started to whisper to Anson and Discord while revealing himself to the two.
“Dude, the enchantment only works on light, not sound. So… I think it is best if you helped them get out of here. Seeing as they are lost. Discord, Are you able to make Anson look like a pony? I don’t want the crusaders to think he is a monster and try to get a cutie mark in monster fighting or anything equally stupid.” Jack said, confident the Cutie Mark Crusaders could not hear him as he already knew they could not see him from previous experience. He had never seen so much tree sap on one pony.
“I believe I can give it a shot.” Discord said as he did a quick snap with his eagle talon. Soon, Anson turned into a light red Earth Pony stallion with a Cutie mark of the Sigil that would normally appear when he would cast certain abilities and attacks when he was in combat.
Anson himself looked a little irritated, seemingly having a conversation with Discord in his head. Jack could probably listen to it if he so wished, but he decided to give them their privacy, he was thinking about how to convince the CMC to leave the forest before something else finds them.
Anson sighed, seemingly having lost the internal argument with Discord and then looked back towards Jack. “Now what do we do?”
“Well, what about giving three small fillies a little scare from the Everfree?” Jack grinned while looking at the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who still where unable to see Anson hiding behind the tree, his invisibility having dropped from transforming.
“You got any ideas?” Pony Anson asked.
“Plenty.” Jack said as he started walking towards the unknowing fillies, who were arguing about how one would go about capturing a ghost so they can be “Cutie Mark Crusaders: Ghostbusters”.
Walking up right next to the fillies, Jack filled his lungs with plenty of air before exhaling it in a steady yet soundless stream straight upwards, resulting in a fog as the ice induced air collided with the warmer atmosphere creating small water droplets in the air. The sudden fog making the fillies grow wary and huddle together, expecting something to jump at them.
“Eh, girls. I think this might have been a bad idea…”
“How so?” Scootaloo asked, trying her best to be brave.
“Well, isn’t it usually much warmer outside during this time of year? It’s getting colder just as we speak.”
A few moments later, Anson decided to walk into the clearing. The young girls could only see his shadow as they stared at him with scared expressions while Jack could barely hold his laughter. It might have been a bit mean of him to have suggested such a prank, but it would be fun for all involved afterward. Especially the girls once they realized how much they let their fantasies get to them. Although this was Equestria, and they were in the Everfree. Maybe their paranoia is justified after all... Jack thought realizing that his long life of 'immortality' had dulled his senses for danger.
Speaking of the girls, they began to shiver in place once they saw the two swords that the figure had holstered on its back. Their fears began to elevate when they saw this pony's eyes glow red. Anson didn't even get the chance to say anything by the time the three fillies began to scream and gallop out of the forest with their tales in between their hindquarters. When they were far enough, Anson said something for comical effect.
“Wait! I just wanted to be friends!!” At this, Jack burst out laughing and walked over to Anson.
“We should probably make sure your ‘friends’ make it back to Ponyville safely. We don’t want any blade-wielding maniac trying to get them, do we?” Jack joked as he had seen how intimidating the light red pony had looked from his position behind the CMC, he wanted to assure them as fast as possible as to not give them nightmares, he didn't want to give Luna any more work than she already had.
“Hehe… Good point.” Pony Anson snickered as he began the unfamiliar process of learning how to trot on four legs towards Ponyville. Which happened to be the exact direction the fillies had galloped off to. To their clubhouse. From a distance, Anson could see them inside the makeshift treehouse, shaking a little as they scared themselves to death.
“You think we took it a little overboard?” He asked Jack as he floated right beside him.
“No, I think it’s gonna be alright if you introduce yourself, and show them you’re no bad pony. Then they will only be able to look back at this memory and laugh at themselves in the future. Don’t you think?” Jack said, quite sure that they would. He had after all been studying and observed ponies for nearly sixteen thousand years.
“Alright, if you say so.” The Stallion sighed as he trotted up to the clubhouse. He was still trying to think through what to say inside his head. But by the time he reached the tree, he was a little more confident than a few minutes ago.
“Excuse me, would you happen to be the three fillies that were in the Everfree just now? I didn't mean to frighten you.” Pony Anson tried to initiate a conversation.
Scootaloo, hearing the voice, peaked a little outside the clubhouse and saw the earth pony. Despite earlier, this… stallion, looked a bit cool because of his armor and gear. “W-who are you?” She asked.
“I’m Anson Nocte. Who are you girls?”
“Hold on, how do you know that there were three of us?”
“I heard three voices in the forest earlier.” Pony Anson told the young pegasus. “I was going to say hi, but then you three began to run away from me like I was a ghost.”
“Oh my gosh! You were the ghost pony!?” Another voice squeaked as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stuck their heads out the window. “Ah’m sorry if we ran away from you. We were just scared!”
Soon, all three fillies began to climb down and circle Pony Anson. The ones who originally feared his shadow were now in awe of his presence. He looked as strong as a royal guard, but didn't wear any specific armor or gear that would show that he was with them. This now got the three fillies curious. “Are you some kind of Guard, Mr. Anson?”
The Earth pony shook his head. “Nah, just a traveler.”
“What kind of traveler?” They asked, even more curious now.
“One who searches… for legends.” Anson smirked, looking back at Jack. “Are you three interested in a story?”
Jack smiled, understanding what Anson was trying to do. The Infinity Sword took a deep breath as he heard the girls plead a little for the “story” that he was going to tell them about. “This is a story of a friend of mine who is responsible for many things. Some would consider him as a guardian for what he does and what he is capable of. He is the one to bring forth the first snow, the one to start snowball fights and he is the one for making frost as beautiful as it is.” Anson said, making Jack just a little suspicious about what Anson meant, the stuff he said was fairly spot-on, yet he hadn't heard such things from Jack himself. But he decided he rather trust and regret, than doubt and regret.
“What is your friend's name?” The girls asked in unison.
“Jack,” Anson told the girls. “Jack Frost. Now, girls. Can you do one thing for me? I’m sure you’ll like what happens afterward.”
“Oh really? What’s that?” Sweetie Belle asked as she tilted her head.
“I want you to close your eyes…… and believe…… in Jack Frost.”
The girls were skeptical at first, but followed his directions anyways. The Snowboy took this as his cue while the girls were keeping their eyes closed. Jack used his magic to form a thin layer of misty clouds above the trio; making it snow lightly just as the girls opened their eyes. Soon, all three fillies were surprised by the surprise snowfall above their heads, only to see Jack smiling at them when they looked up; him hovering above them.
“Oh my!! Y-you’re real!!?!”
“Indeed he is,” Pony Anson nodded as Jack descended to the level of the three small fillies. “He’s been around for a very long time. But hasn't had any friends at all. Which brings me to a question for you.”
“Yes?” Scootaloo asked.
“Could you three be Jack’s friends?”
“It would mean the world to me if I could have three such wonderful fillies as my friends,” Jack told them with a genuine smile, showing his snow-white teeth.
All three of them eagerly nodded their heads as they jumped towards Jack, hugging him as soon as they landed on the boy. The Fillies were smiling; just as happy as Jack was. Jack now had more friends. The young boy with a special gift no longer had to be alone.
“Hey, Jack. Mind if I ask you something?” Scootaloo asked while looking at her new friend.
“You just did, Scootaloo.” The Snowmancer teased the little pegasus.
“No, I mean like a serious question.”
“Sure, I don’t see why not. I mean, I haven't talked to anypony for quite a while until Anson came along.” Jack responded, still smiling at the fact that he was now able to speak to ponies.
“What are you? I mean, you don’t look like any kind of creature I have ever seen or heard of.”
“An excellent question. I am, or was. Depends on how you think about it, a creature known as a human. That is until I decided I wanted to be so much more. I had decided to become someone meant to protect and cheer up children. And so, I became the spirit of frost. One meant to protect and amuse the young. A Guardian If you like. I became who I am, Jack Frost.”
The Girls marveled at the details Jack told them. They were liking their new friend even more! Anson himself smiled as he saw of the four of them cheerfully enjoy each other's company. Jack noticed that while he was further entertaining the CMC by showing them a few more of his magical powers, like animating two-dimensional frost paintings into three-dimensional projections, Pony Anson was once again in a mental conversation.
Jack left them to it. They were probably debating about something important that he did not need to hear, he was busy with his new friends after all and they wouldn't be talking behind his back. Anson was too good of a person to do that.
As Jack was still talking and somewhat teasing the CMC by telling them he had seen their previous adventures, Anson began to walk over to Jack to get his attention by waving a front hoof. “Sorry to interrupt, but I must get going. I have some people that I care for waiting for me back home.” Anson said as Jack noticed that Discord had not adapted Anson's speech to Equestrian but had let it stay as it was. Only minor differences, but ones that usually ended in questions, especially as Anson was meant to play the role of a pony. Fortunately the CMC didn't seem to notice.
“Ah, yes. Of course, but before you leave, I think I got something I have to do. Could you wait just a moment?” Jack asked Anson.
“Sure.”
“Great, It should not take long. Could you just give me my token for a short while?”
Anson nodded, handing the snowflake to Jack with his hoof. Taking the snowflake, Jack stared at it for a while before starting to speak to himself.
“Right, let’s see what this little bugger can do.” He said as the snowflake started to shine brightly, making everypony in the room shy away from the light. Once the light died down the snowflake was gone, instead Jack was holding something new, vaguely reminding one of a very beautiful snowflake.
“Ah, brilliant. Now for the next step.” Jack said as he cleared his throat. “To those of you to find this token, to those of you who need a friend, a Guardian or just someone to talk too. I let you know, that I am here. Either come to me or call me. I will not refuse. I am the one of legends, one long forgotten and alone. I am ageless and young. I am the one they call Jack Frost. Call me if you need me, for I am one to abide.” Jack ended his speech as a hole opened right in front of him. Jack, getting the memo, tossed his new token into the hole and saw it divide into many copies, finding themselves worthy Displaced. But before the hole could close Jack reached out and caught one to give back to Anson.
“Well said,” Anson told him. He reached into his side pockets to pull out the Dark El Shard that he had and gave it to Jack. “For you. If you need me by your side. I believe you know how it works?”
“I think I do,” Jack replied, taking the Dark El Shard, while handing Anson his own, now renewed token.
“Alrighty then. Thanks for everything Jack.” The Earth pony thanked him before he began to trot back into the forest. He did so for him to be out of sight when Discord turned him back to normal and for when he sent them both back. Despite his time with Jack feeling a bit short, Anson enjoyed being with his new frosty friend. With a snap, the two of them disappeared in a bright flash of light.
Jack was quite saddened by the departure of Anson Nocte. Their meeting might have been short, but Jack had felt a connection to Anson, like reuniting with an old friend. "See ya." He said, looking in the direction Anson had gone. Before turning around back towards the CMC.
"Okay, who likes snowball fights?"
5802735 Also, this is being uploaded 1 min before midnight in my timezone... on a monday. I really shouldn't be up this late, but yet I do to bring you people what you deserve.
I love ur storys also 1st being author does not count xD
5802786 Well, thank you so much. It warms my heart to see people enjoy my work.
5802750 oh gosh where are you because where I am it's about 6:30 pm.
5802880 Sweden. The country where some schools prohibit kids from putting up the Swedish flag, because it's racist. Yes, that actually happened.
Welp I wanted to go to sleep, but you just had to update this right before midnight did ya.
Aaaahhh well sleep never bothered me anyway.
Good thinking, using another displaced to tell the others of your existence. Kinda of like when Piccolo suggested that they tell the world to believe the voices in the Kid Buu arc of Dragon Ball Z.
Luna x Frost pony, best otp.
5802906 I'm tired. I have no idea what you just said. And therefore I'll be linking one of my favorite videos.
5802914 Strike. Not like in bowling, but like in baseball. It's a swing and a miss. Sorry. But... not a bad Idea...
5802917 I just told you that you did a great job figuring out how to get the main character to interact with other characters when he's practically invisible. Oh and
That help?
5802974 Yes.
5802921 Meh. Besides, Jack can poke fun at her for her old speech style. Until she notices the snow cloud following her. Then he has to be good at dodging more than snow.
Hmmm... not sure what the ship is going to be, so I'll take a wild guess.
One half has to be Jack since it's his story, as for the other... can't be Luna since someone already guessed that, and we haven't met all that many other characters yet let alone ones who know about him, so I'll guess a grown up CMC (since he is immortal anyways, a few years of waiting won't bother him). I'll guess Sweetie Belle then (with a side order of time skip).
Is it LunaxJack? Juna maybe?
5804177 Juna? why not Luna Frost?
have to say I'm loving what you have so far, I can't wait to read more, and as for the shipping, would it happen to be frost light?
5804547
5804177
5803501
One half right, one half wrong...
Keep those guesses coming.
5804177 Juna would be a bit awkward, seeing as that's Finnish for 'a train'.
5805187 You're right that is awkward.
5804937
5804547 What about Lack?
Maybe I should drop another hint? I know one person who already has some knowledge and would get it right away...
Oh BTW, Solarkness,you're out of this competition. Unless you PM me the answer instead.
5805281
You are soooo mean...
5805670 You are still on for the competition, but only if you send your answers to me directly. Wouldn't be fair otherwise + spoilers, duh. You will still get the price I have in store if you answer correctly though.
Also, I didn't mean to be mean.
Ehh, what the heck. Next chapter will include another hint. It won't be to apparent thou.
I hereby ship Jack frost with Twist!
For no reason other than I can!
Jack Frost x snowdrop
More please :D
5830623 On it's way, just a nasty writer's block and me being lazy. Then the story will continue on.
5830639
Yay ok :D
Well, nice for Jack to finally have some friends.