Reflection Nine: Hummingbird
Reflection Nine: Hummingbird
“Magic is what magic does.”
I woke up the next day with a yawn, blinking rapidly as I looked at the clock. 5:49 AM. Wonderful. First quarter wasn't even for another month-and-a-half and I was already waking up early on my own. I blamed the Manehattan lifestyle. There was nothing to do at night in Canterlot, I believed. Just sleep. And so I let out a grumble and turned around under the covers and snuggled back up against Hummingbird.
...
Against...
Okay, my brain was working again! I widened my eyes and my head recoiled back as I realized I was somehow very, very, very close to the pegasus mare. She was snoozing contently, her clogged-up nose causing her to make this... this squeaky sound every time she exhaled. When did I get-
I looked over my shoulder. I was crowded over on my own side of the bed.
Okay, when did she get that close?! She was the one making the fuss about staying on my side of the bed, not me!
... aaand brain was properly working again. First order of business- separate self from Hummingbird before she noticed.
Then she wrapped her forelegs around me and nestled closer against me with another soft squeak.
Horseapples. I was her pillow now apparently.
I know what you're thinking- the hell are you complaining for? You've got a mare cuddling against you! Wrong. I had a mare who was suspicious of me offering my dorm room to her and that was only supposed to be a friend cuddling against me- very, very, very close. In other words: awkwardness, ho!
Okay okay okay, alright alright alright... I reached around and slowly tried to pry her forehooves off and disentangle myself from her. Now- slowly, slowly- I started lifting the foreleg she had on top off me, moving it toward... um, buck. I had no idea where to put it. Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh. I decided to place it down against her side and gradually lifted away from her...
Hummingbird opened her eyes.
She blinked.
I blinked.
She looked down.
I looked down.
We both looked back up at one another.
“This isn't what it looks like!” we both blurted out.
She blinked.
I blinked.
“How about we actually let go of one another?” she suggested meekly.
A few flustered seconds later, I pulled away from her and we both rolled over to our own sides of the bed, turned away from the other. “So...” I muttered.
“Let us never speak of this again,” Hummingbird said quickly.
“Okay!”
* * *
I slipped out of the dorm casually with my hat slipped on, glancing up and down the hallway. I waited a few seconds. No sign of life. I knocked the door twice.
“Awesome, let's go,” Hummingbird whispered as she opened the door and shuffled her wings so her hoodie would settle in place. We quickly, quietly made our way out.
That morning saw us trotting together to the open-air marketplace as the stands started opening up. The morning air was cool, crisp, and fresh. Again I reveled in the beauty of the first rays of the rising sun rolling across Canterlot and peeling back the darkness. All was quiet save for the few ponies starting their day and the larks heralding the new dawn.
“Now since you're pretty much paying for me out of your own pocket, I may as well at least have the decency to help you save a bit or two,” the green mare said as we trotted down the lines of stands. She sounded a little better than yesterday. “First thing you need to know and something that everypony immediately finds out here in Canterlot- unless you came into this city with millions of bits, you gotta be frugal. Now, I know you're not some clueless buck. You already told me you grew up poor and you've already been here long enough to know that, so I'll get to just the specifics of the city. What does that mean? You'll be taking advantage of as many deals as you can get your hooves on- like right here.” She motioned around us. “The marketplace usually has early-bird specials. One stand started them a ways back, then it was dominoes from there. Competition does that to prices. Still...” she sighed, “I can't afford those things, even. Those apples you gave me yesterday? First market food I've had in years.”
I winced. “Well... how have you been eating then?”
“Not much, that's what,” Hummingbird answered. “Don't have an address, so no food stamps. Have to rely on the soup kitchens here.”
“They actually have soup kitchens here?” I stared. “In Canterlot?”
“Yeah, I know,” she chuckled softly. “That was my reaction to learning about that, too. Look, Frost, there are a ton of snobby nobleponies here, but, well, there are some good ones. A hooffull of them run soup kitchens and some of the others actually donate to these kitchens. It's usually just the same thing, this barley broth with vegetables in it, but there's always enough. Thank Celestia that she makes sure of that...”
I tucked my ears back at that. I grew up in poverty, yes, but my parents' talents at least allowed us to have three square meals every day...
“Come on, don't look at me like that,” the green-furred pegasus chided me. “You've already given me enough of a pity party when you let me share your dorm. Don't need any more of that.”
“Still feel bad about that,” I muttered.
“Well don't,” she huffed, smacking me in the back of the head with a wing. It caused my hat to topple off my head, and I tripped a little to avoid trampling my trusty friend. “Pfft, whoops. Sorry.”
“It's fine, it's fine,” I grumbled, replacing it on my head with an ice arm.
“AAAnyway, that's where we're gonna head for breakfast. Hope you don't mind soup.”
“No, but I could easily afford to get a full breakfast.”
“You sure?” She eyed me. “This is Canterlot, you know. I mean, even with the early-bird specials, it's still pretty pricey.”
“No worries- I can afford it,” I said with a confident smile.
“Wasn't it just yesterday you said you couldn't even afford a night's stay at the cheapest place in town?” Hummingbird inquired.
“Well, that was before I remembered they still have banks for me to withdraw from here,” I replied sheepishly.
“... really?”
“Look, I'm not a clever pony, okay?” I covered my face with a sprouted ice arm.
“Clever enough for that,” she said with a grin, poking said arm with her wing. “Whoa, real cold... so, anyway, how much do you have available? I mean, you gotta last through the school year.”
“Forty-eight-thousand-six-hundred-ninety-two bits and eighty-six cents,” I answered. Go eidetic memory.
Hummingbird stared wide-eyed at me. “Wait, what?!”
“Yeah... I probably should've mentioned I'm stinkin'-filthy-rich, right?”
* * *
Le Créme Café was the name of the dainty little establishment we settled down for breakfast. It consisted of a bakery filled with sweet smells that wafted through the crisp morning air. Perhaps it was more for the benefit of the sparse other patrons at this hour than ours that we sat outside.
“Mmmmmm, this is so good!” Hummingbird moaned softly after another bite of her chocolate croissant. That was... the eighth time she said that. She was slowly savoring each mouthful, taking tiny nibbles after her first bite.
“Heh, yeah...” I smiled softly, trying to remain polite. “You do know you have two more, right?”
“Ahhhh, I'm in heaven...” she squealed, going back to that typewriter-fashion nibbling.
I chuckled softly in spite of myself. She was just too cute like this.
* * *
“You know, if you're stinkin'-filthy-rich, Frost, then you're probably the nicest stinkin'-filthy-rich pony that I know, up there with Fancy Pants,” Hummingbird said as she trotted aimlessly along with me through the streets of Canterlot. She had a happy bounce to each step now.
“Well, wasn't always like that,” I said, feebly scratching the back of my head.
“Do tell,” she spoke, urging me on.
“I'd rather not,” I said with a sigh.
“That bad?” the scrawny mare asked.
I nodded. “That bad. You overheard the phone conversation last night, right?”
“Yeah.” She quickly added, “By accident, of course.”
I snorted, “Sure. Well... let's just say I stepped on a lot of people and hurt some very close friends and family with what I did when I was younger. I only recently set the record straight, and I couldn't fully repair my relationship with my parents. I don't want to go into specifics. Just know that I wasn't always like how I am now.”
“Redeemer type, huh?” Hummingbird smiled softly. “That's fine. I won't pry.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” I took a look around. Now that the sun was high, more ponies were milling about the streets. Many of them were lavishly-clothed unicorns with their noses turned high in that 'noble derision'. Even Hokkaido wouldn't have liked any of this. “So Hummingbird, what do you normally do most days?”
She cleared her throat and snorted up a nostril before replying, “Just lie in that alleyway you found me in, really. Not much else since I'm usually sick, so I just try to sleep it off. I try to get up and do a little flying and walking around, though. There are some really nice places in Canterlot, and plus, I have to get some exercise.”
“Such as?” I asked.
She smiled. “Well lemme show you.”
Hummingbird held her head up high as she led me down the cobblestone streets, looking almost proud as we passed by familiar houses. We trotted on by the alleyway we first met each other in, making our way further out down the outer ring. After reaching an intersection and heading for the edge of Canterlot only a short trot away, we reached a small balcony that blistered out of the city walls. It was covered in smooth grass with a Doubtless Fir tree growing from the center, surrounded by a patch of dandelions. It all felt soft and moist beneath my hooves. The balcony offered a breathtaking view of the valley floor below. We could see the Royal River weaving serpentine down the foothills to the distant towns below. It was so lush, so green, so wide, so open. Outside of the walls, I could hear the whisper of the high-altitude winds, muffled by the enchantments in place (I later learned that there were also additional enchantments in place to prevent people from falling from the balcony).
“Wow...” was all I could muster.
“You should see this place at sunset,” Hummingbird said softly. “It's absolutely beautiful.”
I smiled at her. “Well, I don't see why we can't sit around and wait.”
She smiled right back.
We spent the next few hours in that special place of hers. She asked me more about Manehattan, about my abilities. I told her what I could- namely skipping over the Mumei. I tried to paint a picture with her using my words. I tried to explain to her just how absolutely dynamic the city was. You couldn't get bored there. Every day you'd see a new face- pony, zebra, griffin, buffalo, donkey, mule, diamond dog- just walking around the city. I described the various landmarks and monuments- the Pony of Friendship, the Lights and Legends Building, Manehattan Harbor, Central Park. And then my abilities- how I discovered my magic, how I delved forward, how I earned my cutie-mark. I gave her a show, displaying the many things I could do with hydromancy and the precious few cryomancy spells I could perform- ones I developed myself.
“Well, I talked a lot about myself,” I said, finishing up. “Any longer, and I think my throat will get as sore as yours.”
Hummingbird nickered at that. “Alright, alright. I guess I can talk a bit about myself. What did you want to know?”
“For starters, what does your cutie-mark mean?” I inquired.
“Oh, that,” she sighed, wrinkling her nose. “Inspiration.”
“Inspiration?” I parroted.
“Just... inspiration,” she said simply, scratching the back of her head. “You know, new ideas.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Oh, hey, check it out!” The green pegasus pointed.
I arced an eyebrow at that. I'd have to play along for now and find out lat- no, no. Bad Frost. That's Hokkaido thinking there. If she doesn't want to talk about it, don't push it. I looked anyway and was treated to the wondrous sight of the sun setting on the horizon. The rest of the city was darkening already- we were the last ones treated to the dying rays that streamed through the valley. It was as if the sunlight was funneled up the valley, running against gravity to rush up to us.
“Wow...” I whispered in awe.
“You're gonna be saying that a lot here,” Hummingbird chuckled, looking out with me. “I bet you have a certain question on your mind- she's a pegasus, so why doesn't she fly somewhere cheaper and with better welfare? The answer: this.” She nodded forward to the majestic scene before us. “It's experiences like this that make me want to stay. It gives me something to keep hoping for the next day.” She chuckled softly. “I'm not a practical pony.”
I smiled at her and turned back to the setting sun. I couldn't blame her.
* * *
“Ahhhh... delicious...” Hummingbird sighed in content as we left the restaurant, licking a bit of marinara sauce from her snout. Night had fallen across Canterlot, and ponies were already starting to head back inside.
“You realize that's the ninth time you've said that since dinner?” I chuckled.
“You were counting?” she giggled back.
“Inadvertently. So... back home, then?”
“Sounds good to me,” the scrawny mare answered with a nod.
I looked about us as we walked, feeling that odd tension from the silence and emptiness- that sense of wrongness. As we went on, the ponies soon disappeared almost entirely. The few ones we spotted were the poor, sleeping in the alleyways or on the way to a soup kitchen. “Not much happens here at night, is there?”
“Hm? Not among the Canterlot elite, no. Nighttime for them is time spent at home with the family. No, the only nightlife you'll see around here is with the less fortunate and the occasional policepony.”
“Why is that?”
“Well just take a look around. You're not in Manehattan anymore, Frost. There's no nightclubs here because the rich pretty much got a city-wide ordinance banning them. No parties, nothing like that.”
“Really?” I gawked at her. “Banned?”
Hummingbird nodded. “Yep, banned.”
“That's absolutely unbelievable...” I remarked.
“Well, remember that ponies here don't share your same mode of thought. Loud noise at night is a disturbance to the peace for them.”
“Well nightclubs aren't that loud!” I protested. “Well, with decent soundproofing anyway.”
“And what about the drunkards that leave them afterward?” Hummingbird asked.
I blinked. “Oh. Right. Hadn't thought about that.”
“Hey, think about it this way- every city, every town in Equestria has its own things that make it special by day and by night. Manehattan's the City of Lights and Legends, right?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Ever seen those, then?” she asked with a grin, nodding upward. I blinked dumbly and slowly turned my gaze upward.
What my eyes beheld was a sight I will never forget- quite literally. How had I missed this before? I was in Canterlot for three days now, and I've looked up there multiple times already. Manehattan's lights drowned out something special to the night sky. It was the stars. Without all that artificial light, the stars shined brightly in the blackness of the night sky like a tapestry of gems, a sea of diamonds. Some of them pulsed, waxing and waning as if they were a distant candlelight, looking almost alive. I'd seen pictures of them in books both at the library and at school, but the sheer scope of that sparkling expanse made me reel. I stopped right there, sitting down hard with my head turned up to the sky. That same humbling feeling of being dwarfed by the Berrillion Sea at Manehattan Harbor came back in full force, this time magnified to impossible degrees. I was left speechless.
“Manehattan's nocturnal beauty comes in its people,” Hummingbird whispered, as if to keep from breaking the spell the stars had me under. “Canterlot's comes from its more natural wonders.”
* * *
I blinked awake again and glanced at the alarm clock. Six-fifty-six. Really? Ugh, I really needed to start readjusting... I just settled back down and snuggled back up against Hummingbird, closing my eyes.
...
My eyes shot wide open. Again?! Really?! I must have unwittingly jostled around a bit in surprise because Hummingbird groaned awake. She looked from my forelegs wrapped around her chest to me.
And... cue scrambling away from one another, blushing madly.
“Ugh... we've got to stop doing this...” she muttered.
* * *
Next morning.
“Again?! Maybe... put a pillow between us?”
* * *
Morning after that.
“No words. Just... no words.”
* * *
And the one after that.
“I give up.”
* * *
A few weeks later, I was in our dorm lying prone on the bed. I flipped through the catalog, comparing them to a sheet of paper. The bed shifted slightly, and I looked to my side at Hummingbird. She looked much healthier now. She wasn't quite as thin anymore, and I rarely heard her sniff her nose. I offered her a smile before turning back to the papers.
“Hey,” she said softly. “Whatcha up to?”
“Looking over the course catalog and my gen-ed requirements,” I answered, scratching my head. “I'm trying to find out what classes to take this quarter. I'm thinking Astronomy One-Oh-One, but that's it so far.”
“Astronomy, huh?” She scooted closer to look at the catalog with me. “So what, you're gonna become an astronomer? Astrophysicist?”
“Maybe an astronomer,” I chuckled. “I can't see myself being a number cruncher.”
“So seeing stars for the first time inspired that much, huh?” she giggled. “Think you'd like that lifestyle?”
“Only one way to find out, and it'll take out some of the science requirements in any case.”
“Alright, alright. Any other ideas?”
“Well, Writing Thirty-Nine-A is mandatory... I have to complete it by the end of sophomore year anyway,” I murmured to myself. “Astronomy handles science for a quarter... maybe I should do some Quantitative and Qualitative Reasoning. Ugh... math.”
Hummingbird arced an eyebrow. “What's wrong with math?”
“I can do it, sure, but it's just tedious,” I nickered.
“Well how about philosophy?”
“Hm?” I looked at her.
“Here.” She pointed with a pinion feather, and I looked at... feather. Wow. It looked so soft, so tingly, so... so tantalizing. I really liked feathers... nonono, not the time for that. I looked at where she pointed. “Huh...”
The green mare pulled her wing away. “What about that? It's not math, and it'll help wrap up category five of your gen-ed.”
“That's... actually a good idea.” I nodded, looking at her. “How'd you figure that?”
“You know, Northerner stuff. You guys kinda come across as the proverb-spewing type.”
I snorted.
“Don't believe me?” she snorted back.
“You can't judge a book by its cover,” I huffed, looking back at the catalog for a few seconds before glancing at her. “What do you think about His... why are you looking at me like that?”
She had a lovely smirk, declaring in a sing-song manner, “You just said a proooooverrrrrrrb!”
“I... uh, it's just a saying!” I protested.
“Which is a synonym of 'proverb',” she said decisively, pointing a wing at me and nodding victoriously.
I grumbled to myself, glancing at her again as she looked over the Social Sciences section of the catalog. Wow... she looked nice... slender... she was looking very pretty. She was looking very... nice.
She was also looking at me. “Eyes on the book, Frost.”
“Ah, right, right,” I flustered, feeling heat on my cheeks as I returned my attention to the course catalog. Yes... Equestrian History 101 sounded good...
* * *
Everypony was crammed into the Sunbeam Events Center, this massive building within Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. It was all excited chattering from student to student, ponies from all around Equestria- from Califoalnia all the way to the Equestrian protectorate of Neighpon, from Stalliongrad to Tail Aviv- and of every age. The school wasn't limited to just the university level, after all. There was a low uproar as we all talked excitedly from one another- we were all about to see Princess Celestia herself! For many of us, it was the first time we would ever see her in person. I was one of them, and I found my heart racing. I lamented that Hummingbird would be unable to witness such a momentous event.
The storyteller drew in a deep breath as if in anticipation.
You've seen depictions of her, possibly. Posters, postcards, calendars... I'd be surprised if you didn't know what she looked like. But when you think about alicorns, most often those... abominations come to mind. No, she was nothing like that. No.
The room fell silent as she entered. It was almost instantaneous- so powerful was her presence. Tall, carrying herself with regal grace yet with muted dignity, her coat was the purest white and her mane and tail rippled as if suspended in water, gently rolling with the colors of the aurora borealis. Her size and stature- standing up at full height with her massive wings spread wide- gave her an inspiring, dominant grandeur. Yet at the same time, the softness of her eyes, the gentleness of her easy, friendly smile... I couldn't help but feel at ease in her presence despite the power it implied. I felt as if I could approach her at any time and just pour my heart out to her- my past and problems, my hopes and dreams- and she would hear me out, listen attentively, console me, and offer advice. She inspired awe, and yet she seemed... motherly. Even without words, I knew I was in the presence of a true goddess alive.
She closed her eyes and drew in a soft breath and descended the stairs. Her footfalls echoed like the ringing of wind-chimes, and yet her golden, jewel-embedded regalia made nary a sound against her body as she slipped past our row even as it should have jingled against her body. She took center-stage and smiled warmly at us all. Everypony seemed to hold their breath, awaiting her words. When she finally gave them, they were not like whispers of the wind nor a royal decree. Neigh, they were like word spoken between friends, from one pony to another- hearty, friendly, easy.
“Good afternoon, everypony. I hope you are thus far enjoying what the Canterlot has to offer- even if it is a tad expensive.” She paused to let out a soft giggle, then let her smile fade. Her tone became somber but still remained soft- like words from a mother to a child. “Now, even as I stand before you- all of you, know it is not for you to honor me. No, it is but for me to honor you. Many of you have toiled considerably, perfecting your mind and magic just in order to pass the entrance exam. Some of you have sacrificed much in order to be here today. You have had your moments of frustration and your moments of triumph- thousands of them in preparation for just a single test. Some of you may have jumped with joy and rapture as you found a close friend joining you here. Some of you may have given tearful farewells to those who could not follow.” She looked from one end of the audience to the next as she spoke. It felt as though she lingered on each and every one of us. For the brief moment her eyes locked with mine, it was as if she was speaking from her heart to mine alone.
She inhaled softly and continued, “You have invested so much, hoping, dreaming that your chance to shine may be realized and sacrificed so much. Those of you who leave your families behind have sacrificed so much more.” Her eyes closed for a few seconds, then opened, twinkling. “But know this- you did it. You succeeded. You are all shining bright as the sun because as you sit here, you know that you are now attending the most prestigious school of magic in Equestria. It is here that you will follow your heart, sharpen your mind, and cleanse your spirit. Your entrance exam was but one hurdle in the sprint to the finish, perhaps, but you have the momentum building under your hooves. Keep working hard, my little ponies. Keep on hoping, keep on dreaming.
“Because you are now in the City of Hopes and Dreams- your hopes and dreams.
She bowed her own head to all of us, sweeping her wings down. “Welcome to my school for gifted unicorns. I wish only the best for all of you.”
* * *
“Frost!” Hummingbird smiled brightly as she spotted me while I trotted down the steps to the events center. “How did it go?” She paused before me. “Are... are you crying?”
“Yes I am...” I whispered in a hushed voice, wiping the tears away with a sniff and smile. “Yes I am.”
* * *
Lecture halls at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns were much smaller than the ones at Manehattan Magical Institute, large enough only for maybe 200 students. I didn't even have to really push past the students heading on their way out to get inside. I sat down in the front row, setting my hat down on the lip of the legrest and easing back. With a few minutes still remaining before class began, I chatted it up with a yellow, teal-maned unicorn mare from Mountreal. Her name was Crystal Ball, I believe. She was not a Divination major as her name might have implied but rather Political Science. Okay then.
The idle conversation blended into a dull roar that barely hushed as the professor entered the hall. His coat was a smooth mahogany, his hair a distinguished white. He had a neatly-trimmed beard and mustache, and a pair of spectacles topped his snout. His cutie-mark was a series of planets on their orbital rings. It was fitting for an astronomy professor. The hushed chattering drew cut out completely as he took his place behind the podium. We hushed- no, not out of respect but surprise.
Because he was an earth pony.
“You're the professor?!” a mare in the upper rows exclaimed, voicing the question on all our minds perhaps in a more indignant fashion than most of us- or at least I- would have.
“Why yes I am,” he replied in an easy, smooth voice that resonated with years of experience. “There isn't a problem, is there?”
“Well... no...” the same mare replied meekly.
“You're not a unicorn!” a stallion somewhere decried. All eyes on the room fell on him. He was a blue-coated one with a red mane. He blinked and looked around as he suddenly became the center of attention.
“And?” Our professor offered simply, still smiling.
“This... this is Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns!”
He nodded in agreement. “That it is. It is indeed a school for gifted unicorns, such as yourself. But answer me this: where in that prestigious title does it say that the instructors had to be unicorns?”
“Well...” he stammered. All eyes were still on him, and he was clearly sweating as he looked around uncomfortably as if to get someone to back him up.
“Really? I mean it. This is an astronomy course, and astronomers such as myself don't necessarily have to be unicorns, correct?”
“Uh...”
The professor waited a few more seconds. “I'll get back to you on that. Hello, class.” And now all eyes were back on him. “I am Professor Freemane, and I will be your instructor for the next ten weeks. Your class syllabus went online two weeks ago, and I expect you've all read it already, so let's get into more pressing issues. Number one: what is an earth pony doing at a school for gifted unicorns? I'll tell you exactly what I told the kindly gentlecolt earlier. Astronomers don't necessarily have to be unicorns, do they? They don't even have to be ponies for that matter. Princess Celestia does not invite professionals of prospective fields of study to teach at her school because of their race- she invites them because of their expertise.” He motioned to the unicorn stallion from earlier. “So, fine gentlecolt, do you have an answer for me?”
All eyes on him again. He just sunk into his seat.
Professor Freemane merely rose both eyebrows and glanced downward for a moment. “Well, if there are no more questions or concerns, let's delve right in, shall we? Starting off with: why study astronomy...?”
I liked this professor.
* * *
“So, how was class?” Hummingbird asked as we sat down in her special place a the balcony for dinner, bringing a set of sandwiches we made ourselves along for a picnic under the stars.
“Astronomy and philosophy- good,” I answered. “Physics and writing... meh.”
“What's up with them?” she asked as we dug in.
“Just not a fan of the professors,” I responded. “It's just like back in grade school. When the teachers are good, the class is good. When they're bad... well...”
“It's just your first day, Frost,” she pat me on the back with a wing, causing me to shiver a little from the sensation. “Things might get different a week or three in. Give them some time before you make your call on 'em, alright?”
“Alright, alright.” I nodded.
“Besides, if they're still not clicking to you, you can always drop and swap by the end of week three, right?” the green pegasus asked.
“Yeah, I guess so,” I said with another nod.
We fell quiet, finishing our meal in silence. Finally, I leaned back and rested on the soft grass, looking up into the black beyond with its innumerable stars. I heard Hummingbird chuckle softly and lie down beside me, gaze turned upward. I looked at her. I felt... happy that I could do all this for her. It felt good knowing I was helping her. But then I remembered something about her- rather, nothing about her.
“Hummingbird?” I called quietly.
“Yeah?” She still looked up into the night sky.
“I've talked a lot about myself. How'd you end up like... well, how you were before I met you?”
She let out a sigh before turning to face me, and I locked my eyes with hers- a lovely, determined red with a splash of violet. “You really want to know?”
“Yes, I do.”
She kept looking at me for a little longer before turning her gaze skyward once more. “Yeah... you do want to know.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out through her nose.
“I guess I should start with how I got my cutie-mark.” She began. “I got it my during the first year of middle school. I was a bit of a late bloomer, yeah, but nowhere near as late as you.” She chuckled softly. “We had this sort of club, program, whatever. It was called MUN- Model United Nations. In a nutshell, participants emulate the actual United Nations by being assigned to specific committees or assemblies as a country or territory, researching its stance on the topics to be discussed, and coming up with resolutions in a mock debate. It definitely opened me up back then and made me realize just how complex of an international community Equestria participates in, and it also made me realize just how different countries' and territories' positions on certain matters are.
“Anyway, I was assigned as a delegate of Almarinia in the WTO committee- the World Trade Organization. You know Almarinia, right? It's the gigantic island protectorate under Equestria in the ocean to the west named after it, between us and the griffins? Anyway, one of the topics was on how best to approach Equestria's increasing dependence on Zebrican coal and petroleum and Zebrica's increasing dependence on Equestrian gems in turn. Now... Almarinia is an intellectual superpower and has its own coal and precious mineral reserves, but it has no official policy on this topic since its technologies are so unique. Steam power, by the way, is pretty cool.
“I had this epiphany while in debate- completely on the fly. Why not make a hybrid system? Almarinia already has multiple apparatuses in its Clockworks that can accept either coal products or gems, so why not bring that over to Equestria and Zebrica- hay, the world over? Not only would it reduce dependence on foreign energy sources between the two nations while still leaving room for the trade treaty from centuries ago, but it would also standardize powered devices traded internationally.
“I didn't notice my cutie-mark until after debate,” she said with a reminiscent smile. “A flash of inspiration. My special talent?” She tapped her forehead. “Coming up with ideas. How cool is that?
“Gonna skip ahead for you. I decided to get into business for a career. I figured, you know, maybe I could get my ideas across. I went to the Fillydelphia- you know, City of Smoke and Steam- to attend the Hayvard School of Business and earned my MBA there. Graduated early. So yeah, I've pretty much been where you are and done all that- maybe more, depending on what major you declare.
“Now, uh... see, getting into HSB was expensive.” She scratched the back of her neck, looking away. “Yeah... very expensive. I had to get some student loans, and... yeah, they had some pretty high interest rates. I had to land a job the moment I graduated. And... well, I didn't.” She let out a sigh. “See... I have good ideas, maybe, but they're not always practical. See... Equestria's still recovering from the Zebrican recession from around twenty years ago, believe it or not. Our economies are so intrinsically dependent on one another that if one of us tanks, so does the other. So... two years ago, nopony was willing to be adventurous or risky when it came to business, like with my proposal with standardizing hybrid technology. Converting to that technology across the board would be very, very expensive without draining the treasuries of every single nation, and right now, that's just not feasible. Businesses, like ponies, are creatures of habit. They like stability, especially in times of hardship. I have good ideas- please believe me in that. I just came at the wrong time.
“From there, it's not hard to see where things went,” she said with a weak shrug. “I couldn't land my ideas and I couldn't give the right expertise, even when I came here to Canterlot where all the richest entrepreneurs are. I couldn't really do much manual labor with my, well, weak constitution and all that. So... well, couldn't stay afloat. I went into debt and I couldn't dig myself out. You know the rest.”
Hummingbird breathed out a wheezy sigh. “Wow... most talking I've done in years.”
“Wow, that's... wow,” I said lamely.
“Well at least you didn't say you felt sorry for me,” the green mare snorted. “Got enough of that from you already.”
“Maybe you could try again?” I offered. “Economy's gotten better since then. Maybe there are more open ears?”
“Hmph, if you honestly think that any entrepreneur here- hay, in Equestria- would listen to an impoverished mare under a mountain of debt like me, then you're even less practical than I am,” Hummingbird huffed.
“There has to be something-”
“Frost, Frost,” she interrupted with a sigh, scowling. “Look, you're a nice guy. You're giving me a place to stay, food to eat, and somepony to talk to. I think that's good enough. Now can we talk about something else? Please?”
My heart fell at that. I really wanted to help her- really, genuinely wanted to help her more than just what I was doing. But... I relented. “Alright. Alright.” I looked back up the night sky, sharply exhaling the crisp, cool air. Something else, something else... I smiled a little and turned to her. “Hummingbird, what is it like to fly?”
She looked at me and smiled back.
* * *
“You sure this is such a great idea, Frost?”
“Nope.”
It was a few days later at high noon. We were standing on the roof of the dorm hall, just before the edge... three stories above the ground. A couple other students stopped by and watched, pointing upward at me. I shifted a little, feeling a little dizziness and the odd sensation in the pit of my gut that was the fear of falling. Not heights, no not heights- falling. I looked over my shoulders at the icy wings spread out from my sides. I used Hummingbird's own set as a reference, but they still looked so uncomfortably small.
“Then why are we doing this again?” she asked.
“Because what better is there a way to test it?” I gave her a grin even as I felt unsure on the inside.
“Well, in a wind tunnel for one,” the green pegasus answered.
“But we don't have any of those here,” I rebutted.
“Ugh...” She facehoofed. “Have you thought about what to do if this doesn't work out so well? Like, say, if you end up falling like a brick?”
I pointed down. “Bushes.”
“Well...”
“Look, I'm never gonna find out if this is gonna work if I don't try,” I said to her, then faced forward. “So here goes nothing.” I spread the wings just as I remember watching her mid-flight and leaped off.
And then I fell like a brick to the bushes below with a surprised yelp.
* * *
“Ow.” I winced again for the thirteenth time as Hummingbird dabbed at another cut with cheap hoof sanitizer before applying a bandage to it. “Ow.” Fourteenth.
“Oh buck up, will you?” She crossed her forelegs. “It was your idea and you knew exactly what you were getting into. You're lucky you didn't break anything.”
“I know... just expected bushes to be a bit softer,” I grumbled.
* * *
“By now, you should notice the similarities and differences between Classic griffin philosophy- remember, Socrates, Aristotle, Xenophanes, and the like- and Hellenistic philosophers of the A.D. era,” Professor Sprite, a diminutive unicorn mare that preferred to pace about the floor- likely because she had to stand on her hindlegs to show above the podium. I listened intently, absorbing each piece of information with my eyes and ears. Thank the Goddesses for eidetic memory. “Like I said previously, the Hellenistic philosophers do borrow certain aspects from the griffins, though we see new schools of thought such as...” She clicked to the next slide, “cynicism. I'm sure you've heard of it by now, and it's actually pretty close to the original interpretation. Can anypony give me a definition?” She looked around and pointed at the other end of the room about halfway up the rows.
“A belief that everypony's working toward his or her own selfish goals without consideration for anypony else?”
“Everyone and anyone,” Professor Sprite corrected. “You have the right idea though. A cynic believes that all equine beings work for their own selfish goals and either disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts...”
* * *
The alarm woke me up at seven in the morning. I blinked my eyes rapidly to clear the feeling, sprouting an ice arm to shut it off. I heard Hummingbird grumble as she... shifted against me. I looked back down to- yep. She was snuggled up against me again. I... didn't really mind, though.
“Time for you to head to class again?” she asked, rough still a little sleep-roughened.
“Uh... yeah...” I said with a light blush.
“Aw, and I was starting to like using you as a pillow,” she chuckled, releasing me. “Unintentionally of course.”
“Of course,” I coughed, sliding out of bed and heading for the restroom. “Unintentionally...”
* * *
“Bigger, multiple wings?” Hummingbird eyed me as we were back on the rooftop again. There was a bit more of a crowd, some of them snickering a little and others delivering light jabs to silence them. “Really? You think that'll work?”
“It'll work better than last time,” I said, flapping them experimentally. “I think I'll try to see if gliding will work, rather than flat-out flying.”
“Well, that's an improvement at least,” she sighed. “Aaaaand what about the bushes? Namely if you miss and hit the lawn instead.”
“That's what this is for,” I answered with a confident smile, holding our bed's pillows close with a pair of ice arms.
“... you think a pair of pillows will break a three-story fall?”
“Yeah.” I blinked. “Why, you don't think so?”
“Well, I don't want you to get hurt...” she murmured. “Uh... I mean, I don't want you to hurt yourself like last time. I mean, stupidly. Again.”
“Alrighty then...” I blinked some more. “Well.” I turned forward. “Here... we... go.”
I pushed off... and I actually glided!
... just enough to clear the bushes and land on the comparatively harder ground.
“Frost!” Hummingbird cried out from overhead.
“I'm okay!” I shouted back.
* * *
Staggered feathers. Nope. No feathers, smooth wing. Better, barely. But nope. Single, large wings. Nope. Finally, I pushed myself too hard and my ice wings fell away from my shoulders as I landed on the ground.
“Okay, wings aren't working out,” I sighed as I stood up from the grass, shaking myself off and picking up the stained pillows. I winced and tried to form a pair of ice arms, but I only got a dull throb from my horn in response. Magical burnout. Dammit. Hummingbird landed beside me and I watched some of the members of the small crowd exchange bits with grins and grimaces.
“Yeah, maybe not,” she said, patting me on the back. “Look, you gave it your best shot. It's not too bad.”
“Well of course it wouldn't work,” one of the unicorn mares in the crowd who picked up a satchel of bits chuckled. “Pegasi can fly because of their wings and their magic, doofus! What do you think you are? An alicorn?”
I grunted at the mare and was about to say something, but Hummingbird snapped, “Hey, at least he was trying out what could have been an amazing idea! Can you make wings for yourself and try to fly?”
“There are wing spells that also grant pegasi magic,” the unicorn mare snorted. “In fact, I'm wondering why blank-flank over there doesn't just do that.” Murmurs started circulating through the small crowd in surprise.
“Because,” I stepped in, moving around Hummingbird to display that I did, in fact, have a cutie-mark, “hydromancy is the only magic that I can perform. Nothing else.” I was about to reprimand the mare as I felt I so deserved, but... then I remembered. I'm not Hokkaido. Relax. How to Win Friends, Frost. You read it. Practice it. I smiled softly. “That's it. Sorry about it, but show's over, folks. Best be going along now.”
“Whoa, cryomancy?” one of the stallions in the crowd asked as he stepped forward. “Root words... so... ice magic?”
“Of course, dumbflank,” another nickered. “Do you not see his ice... things in class? I don't even know what those are.”
A different mare belted out, “Arms, of course! What, never see a griffin before?” She approached me and asked, “So how does it work?”
“Yeah, what else can you do?”
“Yeah, what else? I wanna see!”
“Hey, back up a little! I want to see too!”
“Now now, folks, I've unfortunately got a case of magical burnout...” I flustered a little, offering an apologetic smile to Hummingbird as I suddenly found myself the center of attention. She just shrugged, looking a bit amused herself.
* * *
Midterm in physics. The lecture hall was quiet save for the scribbling of pencils, the hiss of stressed sighs, and the hoofsteps of the professor and teacher assistants. I looked over the question before me. A ball rolls off of a horizontal table of height 0.4 meters at a speed of 3.2 meters-per-second. Use 9.8 meters-per-second-squared as the acceleration of gravity. How long does it take for the ball to hit the ground and how far away from the table is that point?
Okay, velocity equals acceleration multiplied by time in seconds...
* * *
“That's your costume?” I arced an eyebrow at Hummingbird. “Yourself?”
“A hobo, silly,” she said with a roll of the eyes, giving me a light boop to the nose. She just looked like herself. Her mane and tail were perhaps a bit messier and she was a little dirty and haggard-looking again. “Yeah, I know it's not impressive or all that imaginative, but hey, it's all I got for Nightmare Night.”
“Well, at least you look convincing enough.”
She smacked my flank with her tail, causing me to jump. “Okay, then, wise-guy, what's your costume?”
I grinned. “I'm glad you asked.”
* * *
“Huh, lots of participants this year,” I overheard from one of the unicorn mares attending the costume party in the student center, both dressed in near-identical pinstripe suits with clown-like makeup on. “Wonder how Luna feels about all this after she just got back.”
“Princess Luna,” her friend snapped. “She's still our leader. Still, yeah, you do make a good point. Haven't seen her at all except in the news...” She watched as I passed by, “pa...pers? Twinkle, did a snowpony just walk by us?”
“Yep... totally Frost, right?” Being the only cryomancer on-campus- rather, in all of Equestria as I knew it- certainly lent to everypony catching onto my name by now. The whole 'trying to fly' thing probably helped my recognition.
“Totally.”
Yes, that's right, folks. You few pre-war ghouls out there should- oh yeah, you're laughing right now. You're totally laughing right now. Yes, that's right, folks- Frosty, the Snowpony.
I got tenth place. Points for overall effect but zip for originality. Hummingbird was laughing it up when I told her that.
* * *
“Urrrrrrgh!” I grunted, trying to haul the new desktop terminal through the door to our dorm. They were pretty damn heavy back then, folks! I was pushing against it with all my might- I still didn't have my magic back. Hummingbird was staying out of the way and keeping quiet in the meantime. “Come on, come on!”
Finally, I pushed it through the portal and shut the door behind us, cycling the lock and collapsed panting to the floor. I groaned and rubbed my sore horn.
“Wow,” Hummingbird giggled. “You really gotta work out more.”
“Hey...” I pointed a hoof at her. “These things weigh a ton...”
The green mare just snorted and pushed the box- albeit slowly- over to the desk as I just stared, dumbfounded. “And now?”
“... shut up,” I grumbled. “I got it for you so you'll be less bored when you're in here...”
“Yeah, I know” she said with a smile, leaning onto the box. “And I appreciate it. Besides, I can only move it around because I've been eating well enough.” She flexed like a stallion on Muscle Beach back in Manehattan. “Check out these cannons!”
“Or maybe it's all pudge,” I snickered.
“Hey!” she pouted. “Okay, maybe...” Then she turned around and wiggled her rear. “Besides, you like that pudge.”
I swear I must have turned scarlet at that. “Ah, um...”
“Just teasing you,” Hummingbird laughed, turning back around. “Now come on. Let's get this set up.”
“Well it worked...” I muttered under my breath as I looked for something sharp to split the tape.
* * *
“What?!” one of the stallions nearby exclaimed as he checked out his compact terminal while we were waiting for lecture. “Somepony actually managed to get a hundred on the midterm?!”
“Ugh, great,” the mare beside him sighed, scowling. “That's gonna screw the curve for the rest of us.”
I blinked at them and nonchalantly made sure that my score return was fully concealed in my suitcase's pocket.
Go eidetic memory?
* * *
I pushed through the door with a tired exhale, tossing up my hat onto the coat rack and shutting the door behind me. Hummingbird looked over at me from her seat in front of our terminal, pulling the earblooms out. The sight of her trotting over to me with a smile on her face brought out one of my own as we met in a friendly hug.
“Hey, Frost,” she greeted, pulling away. “How was class?”
“Just fine, just fine,” I answered with a shrug, setting down the food I got for her from the student center on the bed. “Long day, bit tiring without magic, but... hey, what can you do? What have you been up to?”
“Just catching up on new stuff still,” the green-furred, green-maned pegasus showed me over to the desktop. She was on EweTube, listening to a music video apparently. “Yep, music. Missed a lot of new stuff since, well, not having anything to play music on. You gotta give Canterlot orchestras credit when you can listen to them, but that's all I've been able to listen in on here.”
My eyes widened as I spotted the title. “'Catgroove'? You're listening to that?”
“What, got a problem with it?” Hummingbird raised an eyebrow at me.
“Are you kidding me?” I laughed heartily. “That came out in Manehattan while I was still into the clubbing business! Pull the 'blooms out and crank that thing up!”
“Wha...?” she stared, not fully comprehending what I said. I took over and pulled the earbloom jack out, swiped the volume dial as far up as it could go, rewound the video, and clicked play- that much I could pull off with just hooves and mouth.
Ohhhhh, yes, that lively beat started to trickle in. And there came the oldies trumpets.... ohhhh, yes. All fatigue from the long day of class was forgotten- I swung and crossed my legs about, twisting around to the building beat. Stamping and clicking my hooves, I shimmied back over to the coat rack and plucked my hat off, tweaking it and tossing it around in time with the tune.
Hummingbird just watched with a smile and chuckle. “Oh, duh! You're from Manehattan!”
“Born and raised, 'Bird!” I laughed again. “Well don't just stand there! Get those hooves shaking! Hurry, it's gonna fade out!”
My energy must have been absolutely contagious because she joined in, perhaps a bit nervously. She watched in confusion as I paused, a single electric tone sounding out with the drums and trumpets fading. And then I slowly jerked back in motion to the rising music.
“Now lemme show you how a Manehattaner grooves,” I said quickly to fit it all in right before- yeah, there came those trumpets again with that funky beat! I cantered about freely now, tucking my fedora down, jinking and jiving on my hooves and just letting the music move me. The last thing on my mind was what the poor guy downstairs must have been hearing as I just lost myself to the electroswing.
Hummingbird laughed that lovely laugh and tried to join in. My infectious energy breathed new life into her. Sure, she had four left feet, but she was positively radiating now. Even as she swung about in a clumsy manner, she was having the time of her life like this. I couldn't lie to myself then- she looked absolutely beautiful the way she moved- the way her wings whipped her mane and tail, the way her hair fell around her eyes, and the swing of her flank... my hat fell off to the side somewhere as I forgot to look up to catch it as it fell. I just couldn't keep my eyes off of her. We danced and we danced, having a blast. I let my body take over, even as we moved closer to one another, even as I felt her body against mine, even as I felt those amazing feathers.
And when I finally noticed all of that, feeling the song wind down to the finish, I found myself holding her close. Both of us were panting softly, sweat dampening our coats, muzzles only inches apart, eyes half-lidded. It just felt so... so right to be like this. I looked into her eyes- those determined, violet-splashed pools of red- and she looked into mine. Her eyes grew larger, larger, larger, larger.
Or maybe we were getting closer.
Our lips met, kissing one another strongly and passionately. She didn't resist- neither did I. How could we? It just felt so... so right to be like this.
Was there ever any doubt, folks?
The storyteller closed his eyes and breathed out a soft sigh.
Here's your memento, folks. Roanoke, put it on. Perov Stellar. Do it.
The young griffin grinned right back and flicked a tap on the jukebox. A smile played across the storyteller's lips, and he rose as that lively beat started to trickle in.
Come on, folks. Up on your feet. Lemme show you how a Manehattaner grooves.
* * *
After a few long minutes of letting the audience catch their breath, the storyteller continued his tale.
I looked back and forth between the terminal screen and my own ice arms as I reshaped them ever so slightly. I was soooo glad that my magic was back. These ice arms were definitely a blessing, giving how much easier it made terminal use.
I felt a pair of forelegs wrap around my chest, followed by a familiar weight pressing against me from behind, taking care to avoid my ice arms.
“Hey,” Hummingbird said with a smile, nuzzling my cheek.
I nuzzled her right back. “Hey...”
She smirked and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “You know, I thought the terminal was more for me to use when I got bored.”
“It is, but I gotta use it to study, too,” I chuckled huskily.
“Study, huh?” The green mare looked at the screen. “Last I checked, you didn't have to study griffin muscle diagrams.”
“I'm studying for my own magic. I figure I can create shapes with my ice. That led to my ice arms and the wings. That might have failed, but how about ice muscles? Worth a shot, I figure. Gotta be some way for me to move heavier objects.”
“Muscles, huh?” She shifted lightly against me. “Think you can do that?”
“Only one way to find out,” I answered. “Can't use wind tunnels for this idea.”
* * *
“Heyyyy, Frost! Glad you're calling, buck! How're you doing? Not just the 'I'm good' stuff either- I want to hear it all.”
“Heh... I'm doing just fine, Zoleks. I'm still not completely used to Canterlot, but it's getting easier thanks to, well, banks.”
“Hah! Still can't believe you forgot that, by the way.”
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead. Laugh. Anyway, uh... so it seems Hummingbird and I are together now.”
“Seems? Come here, you- I'll show you just how much we 'seem' together now...”
“H-Hey, can I just talk to him for... mmm... mmmmmmmm... wow.”
“Well?”
“So...” Cough. “We're together now, Zoleks.”
“Called it. So totally called it. Get a room, you two.”
“We're in our room.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Just joking around, buck.”
“I still don't know how you call all these things. How do you do it?”
“I really don't know, Frost. I just do!”
“Quick- predict something that absolutely can never happen!”
“Uh, giant... bug things will invade Equestria?”
“Okay, good. If that happens, I'm eating my hat.”
* * *
“Well at least we know one thing,” Hummingbird huffed. “If you get something wrong, you can't hurt yourself.”
We were in the school's recreation center. Open to the city itself, ponies of all kinds gathered there to rock-climb, lift weights, jog around the track, swim, rappel, play sports, practice martial arts and zebra meditation techniques- generally work the body and relax the mind. We were at the weight-lifting room, at the benches. Suspended above me was a set of weights that were definitely above my normal ice arms' lifting capacity.
Hummingbird put a hoof to her chin. “I think.”
“Well, I've got the rack up there and you here to spot me, right?” I asked her.
“Me?” she nickered. “Skinny ol' me?”
“Not so skinny anymore,” I said with a smirk.
“And you like it that way,” she snorted, punching me lightly in the shoulder.
“Ow...” I mumbled, rubbing that shoulder. “Well. Here we go.”
I sprouted a pair of ice arms and grasped the weight bar, pushing up a little. 'Nope,' I mouthed to myself. I fired up an overglow around my horn and licked my lips as I layered on additional ice over my arms, molding them until they looked close to actual muscles for griffin arms. To my surprise, the weight already started pushing up before I properly formed them.
“Whoa!” I blinked as the half-muscled ice arms pushed the weight a couple inches into the air. “Unexpected...”
“Works out, then?” Hummingbird asked.
“Yeah. Still unexpected. How'd this happen...?”
She took a good look at my arms, scratching her head. “Maybe it's just based off of amount and not the shape?” She offered. “Here, forget shaping it like muscle. Just thicken it up.”
I nodded and let the weight bar back down into place on the rack. I sublimated the extra ice and pushed as is. Nope. Wouldn't budge. My horn brightened up and I wrapped additional ice around my arms, this time just plain thickening the arms themselves instead of shaping it into muscle. And just as expected, up went the weight bar.
“Huh... imagine that,” I huffed and grinned.
* * *
I pored over the textbook while lying in bed, scratching my head a few times. Numbers, names, dates, events... maybe history wasn't my thing. It just seemed so flat and toneless. Just a regurgitation of facts, correlations, causes, and effects. Even just reading through it drained all energy from me. History textbooks sucked. No other way to go about it. They just... sucked. There was just no life to them. At this point, I was nodding off to the point that I didn't notice Hummingbird slipping away from the terminal and heading over to me.
My eyes shot widen open and I stiffened as I felt her wing brush along my back. I curled up almost catlike to follow her primary as she traced up toward my neck. I felt her soft warmth press against my side and her wing tuck down across my shoulders. I couldn't help but let out a pleasant sigh.
“Definitely a wing buck,” Hummingbird snickered. “Here, lemme read for you.”
I smiled softly and leaned against her, closing my eyes but keeping my ears open to take in the sound of her voice, the sound of an angel...
* * *
“And that concludes Astronomy One-Oh-One,” Professor Freemane said, clasping his hooves together and smiling almost proudly as he looked from one end of the lecture hall to the other. “Remember, your final exam is on December third at eight-o'clock A.M. Set your alarms and don't be late. If you have questions, I'll still hold office hours at noon today at Social Sciences Tower Two-Twenty-B. That's 'B' as in 'buck', alright? Good luck studying, everyone.”
I breathed out a soft sigh and slipped my trusty fedora back on as I headed back out.
“Hey, Frost, right?” A unicorn stallion approached before I even managed to take a step for the stairs leading toward the doors.
“That would be me, yes,” I answered with a friendly nod and smile. “What can I do for you?”
“Just curious. Kinda noticed that, well, you haven't really been taking notes at all. Have a tape recorder or something?”
“Just my eyes and ears,” I replied with an all-knowing smile, heading away and leaving him looking even more confused than before.
* * *
“Heheyyyyy, Frost! Wassup?”
“Hey, buddy. Doing great. My last final is in two days.”
“And then you're off, right? You're off after that, right?”
“Heh, yeah. I'm off after that, Zoleks. And you know what that means.”
“Just tell me what time and terminal, and I'll be there to see you right off of the train, buck!”
“Hahaah, that's exactly what I wanted to hear, Zoleks! It'll be great to see you again.”
“Same here, buck. Same here. So how's it up there in Canterlot right now? It snowing yet?”
“Yeah, it's been snowing since mid-November. I gotta admit, the city looks beautiful with a fresh layer of snow. Made some extra bits on the side on my off-days clearing the snow out of people's...” Cough. “Sorry, ponies' driveways and doorsteps.”
“Really missing the variety of Manehattan, huh?”
“Hoo, like you wouldn't believe, Zoleks.”
“Plan on taking Hummingbird with ya?”
“Of course. Well, I plan on asking her anyway.”
“Is that so? Well, I'd love to come see Manehattan with you, Frost. 'Course, that's only if it's not too much trouble.”
“Don't worry, Hummingbird. It's no trouble at all. Might have to convince my parents, but I'm sure they'll be okay with it.”
“Yeah, and you could always crash over at my place if you want. Still have that guest bedroom for ya, you know.”
“Thanks, Zoleks. You're... Goddess, you're the best friend I could ask for. Uh, Goddesses, I mean.”
“Heh, don't mention it, Frost. So! How've you and Hummingbird been doing?”
“Just fine, Zoleks... just fine...” Ruffling.
“So... have you done it yet?”
“Zoleks! She's right here!” Light, beautiful giggling. “And no, jeez.”
Hearty chuckling. “Yeah, I know, I know. Just joking, buck. Oh, speaking of your parents, buck, I can't believe I forgot to tell you about this!”
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“Nah, nah, buck. You know how this is actually the twentieth anniversary of the Great Exodus coming up, right?”
“It... yeah, it is. That's right...”
“Well, the Northerners all around Equestria are planning to hold a celebration for it on the fifteenth. It's going on in Burrlin, Stalliongrad, Fillydelphia, Westmanester- all those big cities. Here too! I mean, hay, I think the City of Lights and Legends has the largest population of Northerners. Gonna try to make it a holiday or something.”
“A celebration? For the worst tragedy for ponykind since the Eternal Night?”
“Well... maybe not a 'celebration'. More like a vigil, maybe. Yeah, that sounds like a better word for it. Anyway, I just thought you might be interested since you're a Hokkaidan and all.”
Silence for a bit.
“Hey, Frost? You there?”
“You okay, Frost?”
“Yeah, yeah, just... I'm not sure how my parents would take it.”
“I'm sure they'd be alright with it. I really think you should go, Frost. Hay, I'd like to go with you if you do.”
“I wouldn't mind going myself, if you want, Frost.”
“Hm... alright. I think I'll give it a chance. Yeah, I'll talk it over with my parents. I'll give them a call.”
“Ehhh, I think you should do it in person. I think it'll mean more to them.”
“... Zoleks.”
“Yeah?”
“Stop putting yourself down. You're more thoughtful than you give yourself credit for.”
“Heh, sure, sure. You two take care, alright? Looking forward to meeting both of you soon! And lemme know when you get the date, time, n' terminal, alright, Frost?”
“Sure thing, Zoleks. Sure thing.”
“Peace!”
“Peace, my friend...”
Click. Ending tone rang.
* * *
Footnote: Frost- Level Up! Level 9 Reached!
Perk added: Ice Elemental Union (Rank Two)- Do you feel the cold stirring within you? You are now 30% more resistant to colder temperatures and cryomantic spells are 10% more efficient. However, your body's core temperature is 20% lower and you are 40% weaker to sources of heat and incur a -100% penalty to fire resistance. These bonuses and penalties stack for each rank of this perk.
Spell Mastered: Ice Arms- You are able to create fully-functional arms formed of reinforced ice and can use them to grasp and manipulate objects in the environment around you. Thinner ice arms give a boost to AGI while thicker arms give a boost to STR but give a penalty to AGI (Note: The AGI and STR bonuses including swing/reload speed and recoil reduction only apply while handling objects and weapons. Additionally, rate of fire with semi-automatic weaponry is significantly increased.). Movement speed and maneuverability is penalized while ice arms are active and are more pronounced the larger they are. Remember you have zero tactile sensation from them!
Unlockables added: Inspirational Art- Canterlot Night by Tridgeon
Soundtrack- Theme of the Benevolent, Princess Celestia
Soundtrack- “Catgroove” by Parov Stellar
Soundtrack- Frost and Hummingbird (special thanks to RainbowYoshi)
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i love it. i was so happy when i saw this update and i am really happy with what your doing!
/) great work as always.
1705095 Holy buck, you're fast. o.O Anyway, thanks for the comment. ^^ Aaaaand... (\
like i said, LOVE the story. i try to read it as soon as possible.
1705228 *squee* Thank you... *feels warm and fuzzy inside*
1705642 Heh. Makes me wonder how you'll take Reflection Ten then. It's... gonna be a special one.
Ok, first time I comment on here on your story.
I really like it. Hummingbird is a really great character and really help to make me smile, while reading this.
And damn, I can't wait to see Zoleks again. ^^
There is no better thing to wake up to than to see that there is a new chapter of The Last Sentinel dude. I do not know what it is with is, but no matter how light or heavy your chapters are do they always sink into my brain in a special way, and always a joy to read.
That aside oh boy how do you hit the humour well with this chapter. It is just so natural, if that gave any sense.
And can´t wait to see Frost back in Manehattan, one of the best written cities I have found in any Fo:E story yet.
Oh and it is a nice touch that Zoleks can see into the future, but sad that we now know how Frost losses his fedora
:) glad too see more of the memory arc
1706478 Glad to hear it, though I have to ask- does Frost's return to Manehattan feel... rushed?
1706565 Thanks, doomande. Glad you enjoyed it. And... I think you'll like what I have in store for the return home.
Also, you really think Frost would do that? XD
1706801 Good to hear. ^^
I don't have much to say, except this was enjoyable overall and I like seeing Frost's powers over ice growing.
1709651 Heh, after your previous review, I can't blame you. XD Glad to see you're enjoying this though. ^^
1710227 There's one thing I did find pretty funny in this chapter. Frosty the Snowpony.
I see you're getting into that good old Holiday Spirit. 
1707677 It doesn't really feel rushed, no. The good thing about the whole story is: At first I thought Frost is totally OP as a character. (I tend to judge characters after the current PnP rules for that, because I am a quite active roleplayer.) But now that we see how he developed over the year, it all gets more relative. He IS 217 years old afterall.
And one thing that I didn't like in the reflection chapters: It is sometimes not really clear, if the Frost in the present is speaking to the audience in Stalliongrad or Junction R-7, where it should be. (Or not, if you plan on playing little mind games with your readers ;P ) You should find a way to make that more distinguishable.
1712001 Thanks. Good to hear. ^^
As for the second point, good call. I'll try to make more of a distinction in the future- this is him telling his story from Junction R-7... which is the same he told in Stalliongrad.
I am mildly embarrassed to say how much time I spent searching for where this exercise was supposed to be....
1717000 Perhaps I should've been clearer. It's implied that walking or flying to these places of hers is that exercise.
Good work on writing as usual, but oh man these theme songs. I don't know where you find all of these songs but they were absolutely perfect for their respective scenes.
Also, in case anyone was wondering, a ball rolling off a 40 centimeter high table at 3.4 m/s (neglecting friction and air resistance) would fall for approximately .29 seconds and land 91 centimeters away.
I like physics.
1719968 Thanks. I listen to a lot of music. A lot of music. Exposure helps. ^^ Speaking of which, I need to give credit to people who showed me certain songs...
... clearly!
Ah Ha! Wait... no, those are it... hold on. There they are. Okay, here we go.
Llamas... *facehoof*
Okay, these are it, I got it now.
I don't get why thickening the ice was a huge revelation. I mean I get that it would work, but shouldn't that have been the first thing he tried?
Oops, times up
. GtG
1720588 ... kay then.
Also, I guess maybe because it's Frost. He's smart but not that smart. Hence, bushes. \(o.O)/
1720699
i.chzbgr.com/completestore/2008/10/8/128679602233574364.jpg
1720746 PFFFFFT, well Frost has great aim apparently.
Great story so far, and great humour in this chapter. Looks like Frost's gonna be down one hat pretty soon...
I also really like Hummingbird's character so far. She's only been in a couple of chapters and you've already fleshed her out rather nicely. And as for Zoleks... Well he's the most awesome zebra ever.
Keep up the quite-a-bit-better-than-good work!
1731158 *squee* New commentator! Thanks for the feedback. It's good to hear Hummingbird is doing good so far. ^^
Love the chapter and look forward to continuing the adventure with Frost and company!
Keep up the good work cold and fluffy!
1741349 Heh... thanks. Next chapter is coming along sloooowly...
i really enjoy your story adder iv been with you sice day one but havent gotten around commenting your a really good author and i look forward to future chapters
p.s. I think you just a good a writer as kaykat and no-one
and also im kinda looking forward to frost showing humminbird the nightclubs
im a dumb pony and im sorry i said kaykat when its kkat i have a head cold so ya and no-one wrote heros not horizons but i do suggest reading both thankyou for your time
1746417 Heh... you flatter me. I'd honestly rather not be compared to other authors, especially not Kkat or No One. ^^;
Also... you might not have to be waiting that long. Of course, there's finals getting in the way. And Skyrim, which I just got (curses!).
1705212 Can I /)? If that's okay?
ALso yes do that about midterms, I got semester finals next week.
1749017 (\
So do I. Ughhhhhhhhh. @.@ /firstworldproblems
1749881
yeah...
1793021 Thank you kindly. ^^ Honestly, were you to catch me at any other time, I would have had to decline due to, well, college. And the ten-plus sidefics I'm reading already. Thanks to winter break, though, I'll definitely give it at least a quick look for you.
1798473 Thanks kindly for the chapter-by-chapter (thus far at least) comments.
Yeahhhhh, I am hoping he isn't coming across as... too powerful though. You know. Given he's max level.
And quite the warning indeed. Keep an eye out...
aaaaaaa been so busy with real world problems, but that won’t stop me from pushing on! LET’S DO IT
Reflection Seven – Hm, Frost is off to Canterlot to study, eh? Well, looks like things are going to start picking up here. I foresee a great deal of startling revelation in the immediate future, not the least of which I hope is Frost’s career as a Lunar Guard, though that may just be wishful thinking on my part.
From rags to riches. Frost invested all that time, made all that money and his parents were able to buy one hell of a house with it… and he can’t even enjoy it properly. Sheesh, Frost can’t catch a break, can he? Is there ever a point in time where he’s not haunted by at least one thing from his past?
Ah, the humble beginnings of the ice arm. This part was especially interesting. I enjoyed learning Frost’s process for mimicking a griffon’s arm, as well as his struggle to articulate them without exerting more concentration that what was necessary. Enhancing the structural properties of the ice using diamond as inspiration was also interesting, and explains why he’s able to beef it up enough to deflect small arms fire.
Yay, Zoleks! Good to see he’s doing well. I see you ogling a certain somepony, Frost. Don’t you think for a minute that it’s gone over my head. :3
Still a pretty cold reception from the folks, but it’s progress, I suppose. Better to be acknowledged than ignored. On second thought, it seems like it might be more of a cultural thing to me, so that’s probably normal interaction between them.
Uuuuugh, god damn man, the feels! Stop the ride, I wanna get off! I hate goodbyes, really I do, especially between friends as close as Zoleks and Frost. You almost got me all teary-eyed at this part, and that ain’t easy to do. Hell, even the end of FoE didn’t make me tear up. Calamity giving Littlepip his hat, however… but whatever, I’m rambling! Great scene, tugs at the heartstrings and it’s executed perfectly, I think. It hits harder given the story’s style, as narrated by Frost. You really get a sense for how hard that parting of ways was for him.
Reflection Eight – Fantastic job building up Canterlot, here. Admittedly, I’ve only read two sidefics aside from PH, but this is still without a doubt the best description of Canterlot I’ve ever seen. You really fleshed it out as it was in its heyday; all we really saw of it in FoE was its ruined post-war state. It’s consistent with the elite, high-society metropolis established by FiM, and you’ve taken that and expanded upon it rather well.
I can’t really fault Frost for essentially telling the clerk to go shit in a hat. I’d sooner sleep on a park bench than fork over a decent chunk of my finances for one night in a hotel room. With talents like Frost’s, it was pretty much a guarantee that he’d nail the entrance exam, so why waste money on one night when you can weather it until the next day?
A new city, a new friend. I’m liking this mare already. She’s not your clichéd irritable wino and/or insane hobo, just a pony who’s apparently down on her luck, stuck living on the streets in a city where the least expensive hotel room costs a small fortune in bits. Little nervous about that cough though- hopefully she can beat whatever ailment she’s been stricken with.
Again, a really great job building up Canterlot. Seeing the underlying class-based structure of the city and the plight of the lower class as described by Hummingbird makes it a very real place.
So, Frost aces his entrance exam. ‘Was there ever any doubt?’ Hell no, get out of here, Frost. We all knew you’d nail it. Heh, I got a kick out of his demonstration. I couldn’t help but picture a sort of Doctor Octopus-type interaction between Frost and his ice arms throughout the entire scene. Carnival music also may have been playing in my head during this time.
Snrk. Real classy, Frost. Pretending to be in the middle of hanky-panky while under the watchful eye of a statue of Celestia? You’re a web-weaver, a master of deceit, and that’s your go-to cover? Age discrepancy makes it even more hilariously awkward. From the point of view of the officers, at least. Heh.
That aside, this was a touching moment. Seeing Frost reach out to Hummingbird was great, and just as Zoleks said, a huge step forward for his character. A step that seems to have persisted to the present day, if Frost’s willingness to aid Rig in her quest for a water talisman is any indication. A big turning point, indeed. Here’s hoping being off the streets will give Hummingbird the chance to tackle and overcome that cough; wouldn’t want to see her pushing up daisies once fortune starts to smile upon her.
Reflection Nine – Haha, awkward cuddle scene. This is going places, Frost- whether you want it to or not!
It’s nice to see Frost growing close to a mare; it seems like that’s an experience that was soured for him early on, and he never really devoted time to romantic pursuits given how busy he was in his younger days.
Also glad to see that Hummingbird overcame her sickness, and is generally improving in health given her new living conditions. Crippling debt is an incredibly relatable backstory, and her situation makes a whole lot more sense now in light of this information. Still, maybe she should listen to Frost and give it another shot, maybe she’ll find someone to take a shine to some of her ideas and really turn her life around, granted Frost has already helped immensely in that regard.
Hm, the first time Frost lays eyes on Celestia definitely cements his extreme defensiveness of her and Luna. These are clearly ponies he has nothing but the utmost reverence for, and having actually been one of few people roaming the Wasteland currently to have seen them in person gives him a unique appreciation for them that others (*cough*Mach*cough*) might not.
First the origin of ice arms, and now the ice wings. It’s still a work in progress at the moment, it would seem. Trial and error, taking plunge after plunge in order to figure it out. Considering Frost has perfected it in the present day, I’m curious to see how he’ll overcome the pegasus magic factor. Still, gliding. It’s a start.
Jeez, how heavy are those terminals, anyway? Or is Frost just that scrawny and physically weak? In any event, necessity is the mother of invention, and this experience leads to the development of the ice muscles. Frost seems to be rapidly accelerating in his development of cryomancy. What’s next, ice armor? Bending light to cloak?
Yay, Zoleks again! Looking forward to the reunion with Frost and his folks, as well as his old buddy. Curious to see how his parents react after all this time away, and in light of his developing studies and new marefriend.
Woop woop! One more review and I’m all caught up! And then it’s back to… waiting for updates. Oh man. Well, it is what it is. Toodles!
Enjoying so far, I've been reading this story a lot, I don't read Fallout Equestria stories, but I decided to give this one a shot, happy to say I did, you got me wondering at the moment how it works out with Hummingbird and Frost when there's also Nightingale to throw into the mix here...
Ominous and it's one of the main reasons I'm reading right now, when I first started on the reflections I didn't like them too much, they were well written and all, but it just didn't strike my interest, I got into at around, third reflection or so though, my favourite scenes are with "Her" or Nightingale so far, mysterious but also sorta comforting knowing that Frost will always have at least one pony looking out for him, no matter how far he falls.
Not sure if that's good or bad. Still like it though.
Only because you don't have to rent a place out. At the "least expensive" rate, you'd barely have a roof for three years.
Wouldn't Frost be, well, awfully cold to curl up to?
It would be more fitting if she was an Econ - I mean, Divination - major.
"You can't just ask ponies why they're earth ponies!"
Missing some punctuation there.
Soo... That's 480.692,86 ??
