A strange pony visits Ponyville carrying a troubled past, can Twilight and her friends help him?
This is a story about a pony known as Freezor Relic “Frostbite”’s life, from the good times to the bad times.With the help of the mane six, he will learn how to overcome the hard times in his life, and enjoy the good times. The story will have some grimdark and sad parts in it, as shown above, but I hope you enjoy it!
______________________________________________________________________________ “Okay men, we have about fifteen minutes to get him to the doctors before he’s done, let’s move wings!” a paramedic pegasus called out to a group of pegasi holding a stretcher, on it was a black pony that almost looked dead with severe frostbite all over him. Shaking his head as he watched the body be flown to the closest doctors he muttered to himself. “What was that basted pegasus thinking...” ______________________________________________________________________________
It was a bright and sunny day in Ponyville, ponies were going about their daily business. Shopping, working, playing, and for others, trying to make their friends rethink their actions.
“Okay Twilight, here’s the plan!” Rainbow Dash announced while flying back and forth in front of her unicorn friend, Twilight Sparkle. “I want you to use your magic to lift that huge rock over there, and drop it on the other end of this catapult on the count of three!”
“Rainbow Dash, are you sure this isn’t going to turn up like the time you had Applejack launch you off this thing?” Twilight asked, questioning her friend’s idea. Having tried the same stunt awhile back with another friend only landed the rainbow colored pegasus into her home's deck.
“Of course I’m sure it will work, this time I don’t have some sleepyhead doing the job! Besides, when was the last time I tried something that I knew wasn’t safe?” Dash asked, stopping to give off a look of pride, only to have it knocked away by her friend’s reply.
“Are you counting the time you attacked the dragon head-on or not?” Twilight asked, a smirk growing on her face as Rainbow Dash lost her prideful look.
“Well that was awhile back wasn’t it, I can’t think of anything else I did knowing it was dangerous!” Looking past her friend she noticed a hooded figure walking up the street, one that looked rather strange, almost unpony like. “Uh Twilight, what is that... thing?”
“Rainbow Dash, we are in the middle of Ponyville, there is nothing out of the ordinary to ask about. Unless it’s Pinkie Pie, but even still she’s probably just being Pinkie.” Twilight said with a calm voice while turning her head to look in the direction her friend was pointing to, upon seeing the strange hooded figure approaching her expression quickly changed. “Then again, this is Ponyville, strange things do happen here a lot.”
The figure stopped in front of the two, a lone golden light shined from under a hood it was wearing. In a eerily machine like voice it spoke up. “Is this Ponyville, or am I needing to go further?”
“Whoaah, that’s just plain creepy. What are you, a pony that can’t get out of their Nightmare Night costume?” Rainbow Dash asked looking at the figure that stood before them, but was silenced by Twilight.
“Never mind her, I’m Twilight Sparkle. And yes, this is Ponyville.” She said in a friendly voice, while giving Rainbow Dash a disapproving glare. “And this is Rainbow Dash, a friend of mine.”
There was a bit of silence before the figure spoke up again, this time it took a glance around before speaking. “I see, the village is nowhere near like I imagined it. As for your friend, tell her to keep her rude thoughts to herself before she is put on ice.” While speaking the last part he glared Rainbow Dash right into her eyes, his own glowing “eye” turning a bright red color as a warning of sorts. “Now if you excuse me, I need to go find a place to stay.”
“Hey, are you going to leave without introducing yourself, or explaining that creepy eye of yours?” Rainbow Dash asked, quickly flying in front of the figure who stopped dead in it’s tracks.
“My name is no importance to you, or anypony, I am just passing by this place.” Shaking its head the figure walked past Rainbow Dash. Twilight walked back up to it and attempted to get it to be more reasonable, but couldn't get anything out before it spoke up again. “If you two insist on pestering me then you might as well wait until I find a place to rest, I am in no mood for two over talkative fillies following me around when I’ve been walking for about four days, two hours, fifteen minutes, and twenty five seconds.”
Twilight stopped for a moment as Rainbow Dash flew up beside her, the two gave each other a puzzled look as she whispered to her friend. “Something is odd about this, thing, it acts almost like a robot of some sort.” Quickly noticing that the figure had started to pick up its pace Twilight and Rainbow Dash quickly started to make their way back up to it, some ponies in the town gave them odd looks.
After walking for awhile they began to approach the library, the figure stopped for a moment and turned to Twilight. “What are the times for this library, is it open at the moment?” The tone of its voice was very blunt, showing that it was not that thrilled about having the ponies around the town watching them as they made their way through the town.
“Uh, yeah it’s open. But I wouldn’t think this would be a place to rela-” Twilight was quickly cut off when the figure turned away from her and walked inside the library.
Landing beside Twilight, Rainbow Dash gave her a questioning look. “Is it just me, or do you find it creepy that it just happened to pick your house as a place to rest?”
After exchanging a few worried looks the two walked into the library, the figure was already reading a book while sitting next to the bookshelf. Without looking up from the book it spoke up as soon as they had closed the door, causing the two to jump. “It seems this little town is true with all its stories, about you two and your friends. The whole saving Equestria from eternal night, convincing a dragon to take a nap elsewhere, and beating the incarnation of chaos itself.”
“Okay, why are you being such a stalker of sorts mister, out with it!” the technicolored pegasus called out, only to get the thing’s red eye to glare at her once again. “Erm, sorry?”
Standing up, the figure walked up to Rainbow Dash, a glow was now seen from the low parts of the covering it had on. Twilight and Dash both could hear its deep breathing, both knowing it was more than slightly ticked off. “Is this how you treat ALL of your visitors to your trashy so called town, maybe I should have just kept on walking and ignored you two! I had heard this place was welcoming to ponies, but it seems I was wrong!”
Noticing the anger was building up Twilight spoke up, hoping to have it cool down. “Sorry about that, we’re sorta uneasy about this. Since we’ve had a bad past with things in cloaks...” Rainbow gave off a nod in agreement before Twilight went on. “And we would like to know who and what you are, that way we can let the others in town know that you are not a evil enchanter or something.”
Giving off a sigh, the glow started to fade as its eye returned back to it’s normal golden color, lifting one of its front hooves up and undoing the knot on the top of its cloak. The figure was finally revealed, only to lead to more confusion to Twilight and Rainbow Dash as the cloak hit the floor.
The figure was a pony, his coat was pitch black, and his tail was a deep cyan color, about the color of an ice cube. Although you couldn't tell that much because of the fact most of his body had been covered with mechanical parts. Such as a golden cyborg eye, a tube with some sort of cyan liquid running down his head and connecting to his back mimicking a mane of sorts. His entire lower body was encased with a blue metal armor with a gold trimming, where his cutie mark would have been was a piece of metal with ice cubes painted on it. His legs were made up of two parts, an extremely durable cloth, and blue and gold metal boots.
“Whoa, talk about having a killer Nightmare Night costume...” Rainbow Dash said, still in shock as to what was standing in front of her. “You have to tell me how you got it to look so.... real!”
“Rainbow Dash, this does NOT look like a costume!” Twilight scolded before turning back to the cybernetic pony. “So, you are a.... pony with machines attached?”
“Close enough, not that it matters or anything.” the cybernetic pony said, giving off a small snort. “I would have rather have shown this to the town's mayor first, to see what she would have done to help me settle in, but it seems like you two will go blab it about.”
“Why would you be scared to show that off, you look awesome! Do you know how many colts out there would love to have a costume like that!?” Rainbow Dash asked flying up to the cyborg while showing a large smile, although the smile quickly faded when she caught look of her friend’s face. “...I mean if that is a costume, if not then I am cool with you being worried about it.”
“So.... What’s your name? We didn’t get to that part earlier when we introduced ourselves.” Twilight asked looking at the cyborg, who simply sighed before it answered.
“I’m Freezor Relic, just call me Freezor though.” Picking his cloak up, Freezor started to put it back on while he headed to the door. “Now if you excuse me, I need to talk with the mayor.”
“Okay then Freezor, I guess we’ll see you around?” Rainbow Dash asked with a weak smile.
“I would rather I don’t run into you again.”
After Freezor left, having slammed the door in their faces, Twilight and Rainbow Dash sat there for a while. “Well, let’s just hope he doesn’t run into Pinkie. If he couldn’t stand us, I’d hate to imagine what would happen if he met Pinkie.” Twilight said breaking the silence, Dash just gave a small nod before flying out an open window. ______________________________________________________________________________
Walking down the town with a cloak wasn’t Freezor’s ideal situation, but not wishing to make another scene he had to keep it on as he made his way to the town square. Ignoring the looks of the ponies around him he made his way to the middle of Ponyville, but was startled by a voice that spoke up right next to him.
“Hi Zecora, what brings you here today? Looking for some sweets?” A pink pony began to hop around him as he stopped dead in his tracks again, before he could protest the pink pony had began to drag him off to a shop nearby. “Well don’t you worry, Auntie Pinkie Pie knows the best place in town for sweets, Sugarcube Corner! In fact, it’s the best place in town for everything! Except books, you should head to the library for those. And you can’t get flowers here either, unless you want ones made of frosting... ”
After being dragged into Sugarcube Corner and listening to Pinkie’s rant, Freezor gave off another sigh before speaking up to Pinkie as she walked behind the counter. “You know, you and your friends should learn to give a pony their space. Meeting a stranger on the streets and then dragging them somewhere is the quickest way to get yourself beat up, or worse.”
Pinkie stopped dead in her tracks upon hearing the voice, it was a voice she never heard before, and this could mean only one thing. Letting off a loud gasp she ran over to Freezor, pulling the hood to reveal who was under it. “You’re not Zecora, in fact, I haven’t ever seen you before! And if I’ve never seen you before that must mean you’re new here, and if you are new here you must not have any frie-”
“Just hold up a second, what the hay are you getting to?” Freezor asked, after cutting off Pinkie by sticking his metal hoof into her mouth. “I came here to live a normal life, and so far it’s been anything BUT normal”
“A normal life, that sounds sooo boring! Everpony needs some excitement in their life, and a party is just the way to start it off!” Pinkie said, ignoring the fact Freezor was giving her a look of pure rage. Just seconds later, Rainbow Dash flew into the room, catching Pinkie’s eye. “Oh hi Rainbow Dash, have you met my new friend yet, Mr. Boring-Robot-Pony?”
“Hey Pinkie, there’s a new pony in town and Twili-” Stopping mid sentence Rainbow’s eyes made contact with Freezor’s, sending a chill down her spine. “oh, you met him already...”
“Well duh, I’ve met everypony in Ponyville! And right now we are in deep trouble, deep trouble!” Pinkie said stomping her hoof on the ground, this earned a shocked glare from both Freezor and Dash. “I don’t know how long he’s been here, but Mister Boring here needs a party. And I’ll give him one, Pinkie Pie style!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me...” Freezor groaned while rolling his eyes, turning to Rainbow Dash and giving her a death glare. “You or your friend told her about me, didn’t you?”
“No, I was just getting here to tell her not to bother you if she saw you. But it seems I got here too late, now there is nothing I can do to help.” Dash said, turning her face from Freezor’s cyborg eye that had turned red.
“I’m out of here.” Freezor stated quickly turning for the door, exiting out into the streets he began thinking to himself.
“Things are much different here than Cloudsdale, up there I wasn’t bothered every five seconds by ponies. Here I can’t take five steps without bumping into a pony, who then tries to become a friend. Who needs friends anyways, the last time I trusted somepony... I wound up... like this.” looking down to his metallic body Freezor gave off a sigh, looking back up he found himself at the entrance to the town hall. This gave him some relief that his trek around town was coming to an end, or so he thought.
Opening the door to the building he was surprised by the fact everything was dark, it was also incredibly silent in the room. Slowly closing the door behind himself as he walked in, he stared into the darkness knowing something was watching him. “Hello, anypony in here?”
Without warning, the lights suddenly flashed on, followed by party poppers and other sounds flaring all over the place. “Surprise!!!” A certain pink pony called out while popping up from seemingly nowhere, this made Freezor react in a way he didn’t intend to.
“You know Relic, she’s not that kind of a pony. She looks on the inside of a pony and not the outside, and you are a great colt and a hard worker, I’m sure she’ll like you!” “A-are you sure, I don’t want to make her think I am just working hard to win her over...” “Relic, I’ve been here for several years. And I worked with her before she got promoted, if anypony would know her it would be me.” “If you say so...”
A loud gasp echoed through the room as the pink pony was sent flying into some tables with drinks on them, that quickly fell down with the drinks spilling everywhere. Freezor slowly put his hooves back down. While he felt bad for knocking the poor pony into a table, he also felt like she deserved it for scaring him so badly. Glancing over to the group of ponies that was circling the room he gave off a snort, his eye turning red while doing so. “You ponies have NO IDEA how to greet somepony, DO you?! I haven’t been in town for a day yet and you think you should throw me a party, and scare the life out of me the second I walk in!?”
“No wonder why you are all alone, you come walking into town as if you own the place, and then smack Pinkie Pie into a table without even seeing if she alright before you go yelling at us!” Rainbow Dash yelled out, she was standing next to the knocked-out party pony in a defensive stance. “It’s one thing to be an utter grouch to ponies who are being nice to you, but bucking one into a table is going TOO far!”
“Please girl, she had it coming. I gave her fair warning about this stuff at that snack shop, whatever it was called.” Freezor said while rolling his eyes. “Besides, a filly like you couldn’t put a dent in this armor.”
“You wanna bet tough guy, because I’ll stick those hooves you used to buck Pinkie right back into your big mouth if you want!” Dash said while stomping her hoof while giving off a snort.
“Oh please, I’ve seen bigger threats from a newborn foal.” Giving of a smirk, Freezor got into a battle stance. “But I will humor you just to show these ponies what happens when you invade somepony’s space.”
“It. Is. ON!” Rainbow Dash called out, quickly making a dash too the cyborg in front of her as it charged at her. While charging she noticed the same glow she saw earlier coming from his cloak, but before the two could clash a yellow pagusus blocked the two.
“Stoooop!” Fluttershy called out, getting in front of the two in a attempt to keep them from fighting. They both screeched to a halt inches away from crashing into her. “Please, we don’t need to fight. Pinkie Pie could be hurt, and fighting won’t do her any good.”
“You stupid foal, leave her alone!” A black pegasus called out while charging at another pegasus who had pushed a young pegasus into a table, possible knocking her out. “That foal scared the life out of me, asking me to help make cupcakes and then lunging at me with a plastic knife is just wrong! And even if it was a prank she needed to be taught a lesson on what’s good and what’s not!” The other pegasus called back getting in a charging stance. “Now stand down or I’ll put you down!” “Come at me you coward!” The two quickly charged at each other, only to be blocked by a white female pegasus. “Relic, Brandish, stop!” Giving the two a disapproving stare she continued “Surprise could be hurt, and even if she did pull a prank that scared you that much, you should be ashamed of yourself for attacking her, she was only trying to give you a clean scare this Nightmare Night!” turning to the other pegasus she continued her scolding. “And Relic, fighting is no way to settle this. If anything Surprise would be caught in the crossfire, and wind up more hurt than she already is!
Everything started to fade back from white, looking around he noticed he was lying on the floor with Twilight and Fluttershy looking over him. Picking himself up he couldn’t look up at them, only turned to some stairs nearby before walking towards them. “Sorry about that, I... didn’t mean any harm, I just got a little scared by her...”
“Hey, where is Mister Robot Guy going?” Pinkie asked, while hopping up to Twilight and Fluttershy. “There is still punch left, and cake, and games, and even candy!”
“I don’t know Pinkie, but something changed after he fainted. Almost like something struck a chord in his mind...” Twilight said while looking at the ground, trying to figure something out. “Perhaps I should go talk to him, maybe I can get him to be reasonable and tell me what’s bothering him.”
“That would be nice, the poor thing seems awfully disturbed by something. Maybe he had a horrible dream while he was out, or maybe a bad memory.” Fluttershy said, kicking at the ground with her hoof.
On the balcony of the town hall, Freezor was looking up at the stars pondering the image that had played through his mind. He wished he could forget about her, especially after what had happened. But no matter how hard he tried, he could never get her face out of his mind. “Why can’t my mind take a hint, those so called friends were in no way friends, just a bunch of backstabbers! All they wanted me around for was to use me as a tool, not to mention treat me like a foal.”
“Freezor, are you okay?” Twilight asked walking up the stairs, followed by Fluttershy. “We got worried after you passed out and wanted to come check on you.”
“I-I’m fine, just had a bit of a flashback is all. Nothing important, go back to the party, I might be back down there in a bit.” Freezor said, his head still looking up into the night sky. “Be sure to tell the pink pony I’m sorry in the event I don’t make it back down before it’s over.”
“Mister Relic please be more reasonable, we can’t help you if you don’t tell us what’s troubling you...” Fluttershy said walking up to him and looking into his cyborg eye, she noticed that the eye wasn’t a golden color like it was, but it had changed to a light blue color.
“I don’t wish to talk about it, not now, not ever.” Freezor snarled, his eye quickly changing to red while glaring at Fluttershy. Giving of a yelp she quickly scampered back to Twilight.
“Freezor, we want to help you. I know that there is something wrong, and as a friend I wish to help you overcome it.” Twilight said, walking up to Freezor. “I know it might hurt, but just like wounds it won’t heal without being cleaned out.”
“...If I give you a brief run down will you promise leave me alone, and not tell anypony?” Freezor asked while sighing, he knew that they wouldn’t stop bugging him unless he told them something. He could give them a half truth it needed, all he wanted was some peace and quiet.
“We promise.” Twilight said, a warm smile covered her face. Finally her waiting had paid off, she could find out what was troubling the cyborg. And if she was lucky, help him get over it.
“I once was working in the weather factory, the Winter Facility to be precise. There was a Nightmare Night party, where all the workers got together and had some fun, food, and fellowship. That year a young pegasus that was in training was there, her name was Surprise. She was known for pulling pranks, but one of the ponies she pranked didn’t like it and pushed her into a table, much like I did to the pink one. I happen to see this and dashed over to stand up for her, but before I could give him a piece of my mind another pegasus stopped us, much like your friend did. Afterwards he walked out of the party, leaving me and my friend to check on Surprise.” Looking at the ground Freezor continued, his eye turning a blue shade once again. “After I awoke I realized that I had became the very pegasus I had attacked, it’s sad when you become your own enemy...”
There was a moment of silence, Twilight and Fluttershy joined Freezor in looking at the ground. Twilight knew there was more to the story, but didn’t wish to push the matter, seeing that he was already hurting.
“You two should get back to the party, I need some time to figure out how to deal with myself.” Freezor said turning his head back to the stars, his voice being low and soft. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”
“Freezor, you can’t just stay up here and let this party go on without you. Pinkie threw it just for you, and she would be devastated if you didn’t get to partake in any of it.” Twilight begged, in hopes of getting him to change his mind. “We all make mistakes, we just have to learn to get over them and move on.”
“That’s easy for you to say, maybe you should try to become the one you hate” The once soft voice took on a more harsh tone. “Then again, you and your friends live in a happy land filled with flowers and rainbows. Not caring for others’ personal space, or feelings.”
“That’s not true, we do care! Pinkie saw that you weren’t happy and she tried to cheer you up!” Twilight stated, stomping her hoof on the ground.
“Yeah, and you already know what happen! I became the one I hate!” Freezor barked back, his eye now a crimson red. “There is no reason to try to sweet talk me into going back down, what’s done is done!”
Twilight and Freezor stared into each other’s eyes, both trying to get the other to back down. After a while a timid voice broke the silence.
“Mister Relic, maybe you can fix what that other pegasus didn’t.” Fluttershy walked up and looked Freezor in the eyes with a weak smile. “You can ask for an apology and have some fun with the party.”
Taking his eyes off twilight and glaring at her friend, Freezor thought about what was said. Slowly his eye turned to its normal gold color, a faint grin spread across his face. “...You’re right, I can fix this... I don’t have to be my own enemy, I can be who I want to be...”
“That’s right, you can do what he didn’t!” Twilight said walking up, knowing that the once harden emotions had seemingly melted away she felt more at ease talking with him. “Now that you cleaned out, the memory can heal, and you can move on!”
“You’re right. It does feel better now, thank you.” Freezor said while giving off a weak smile, almost unnoticeable. “Let’s get back down to the party, I have an apology to give.”
After the party had ended, Freezor talked with the mayor about finding a place to stay. She offered him a small building nearby that was once a ice cream parlor, after taking a look around he accepted the offer and signed a rent for it so he could get a place to rest for the night.
After the party had ended, Freezor talked with the mayor about finding a place to stay. She offered him a small building nearby that was once a ice cream parlor, after taking a look around he accepted the offer and signed a rent for it so he could get a place to rest for the night.
“Maybe I was wrong about these ponies” Freezor thought to himself while lying in his bed. “Maybe they do care for their visitors, maybe I can fit into this town.”
For the first time that day, Freezor felt at rest. No longer worried about how he would fit in, the ponies at the party seemed to be in awe about the fact he was a cyborg. He had high hopes for his new life in Ponyville, happy he had found a place that respected him for who he was, and didn’t just want to use him like a toy.
For the first time that day, Freezor felt at rest. No longer worried about how he would fit in, the ponies at the party seemed to be in awe about the fact he was a cyborg. He had high hopes for his new life in Ponyville, happy he had found a place that respected him for who he was, and didn’t just want to use him like a toy.
“"Hey Frosty, can I ask you something?" “Sure thing Freezor.” “Do you want to go out to lunch after work?” “Sure, where at though?” The Cloudy Domain?" --- "Wasn't that a cute little filly? I have never seen a pony so into the games before." “Heh, I am still surprised she asked you for some extra bits. Then again, who would doubt such a sweetheart like you, Frosty?" "Oh you flatter.~"
The sun slowly climbed into the sky, seeming into Freezor's window. He slowly started to awake from his long overdue rest, he gave out a yawn and started to make his bed and go about freshening himself up before going out for breakfast. Being a cyborg made his routine a bit different from the normal pony's, he didn't have to worry about getting his mane right since he lost his. He also had to run through a small system check to make sure his cyborg parts were all working, he didn't need his cyborg eye to give out, or one of his legs for that matter.
After getting freshened up he made his way to the door and looked around outside for a good place to eat, he noticed a small cafe that was just a little ways away from his house. "The Daffodil Cafe huh? I wonder if they make their sandwiches like the ones at the Cloudy Domain." He thought out-loud, grabbing his bit bag he headed out to the cafe to get some food before he started to find a job.
"Now Sweetie Belle darling, stay here while I go place our order." Rarity said to her sister, who was waring her home-made Cutie Mark Crusader's cape.
"But Rarity, I was going to go crusading with Applebloom and Scootaloo!" The young filly whined. "You said I could yesterday!"
"Now now Sweetie, you can't go crusading on a empty stomach. So sit here and wait while I get us some food." Rarity said while patting Sweetie Belle's head before making her way to the counter.
"Ohh, why does she always find some way of keeping me from crusading. I told the others I would have been there by now..." Laying her head on the table Sweetie Belle gave off sigh, looking at the ponies around her eating their meals made her realize that she should grab a bite to eat before she went crusading. "I wonder what kind of ideas Scootaloo has come up with this time..."
While she was thinking she noticed Rarity talking to another pony in line, at first she was going to let out a groan until she saw who was with the pony. "It's Applejack, and Applebloom and Scootaloo are with her!" Her little eyes widened with excitement, she also noticed another pony walk up to them. "I wonder who that is..."
“Now just hold on one second there Applejack” Rarity stated while brushing her hoof from off the counter. “You don’t need to get your dirty hooves all over the clean counter!”
“Oh fer crying out loud Rarity! A little bit of dirt ain’t gonna hurt a pony!” Applejack said, while rolling her eyes. “Besides, how else are we going to get our change from off it?”
“Like this darling.” With a glow from her horn, Rarity used telekinesis to levitate the bits off the counter. “See?”
“Yeah, like all ponies have yer fancy magic.” Applejack quickly took the bits out of Rarity’s magic and put them back into her saddlebags. “Now if you don’t mind, ah’m going to go sit down.”
“Fine by me.” The two walked off in different directions heads held high, only to bump into somepony.
“Excuse you, I assume?” Freezor said, looking at the two friends who had just bumped into him. “Would you mind watching where you are going, and not being so up in the clouds?”
Applejack stood there for a moment, she vaguely remembered Pinkie telling her about a new visitor to town. One that ‘had got stuck in a costume’, as she would have said. “Well I’ll be, you must be Freezor Relic! Boy, at first I didn’t believe Pinkie when she said there was a pony with machines attached to his body. But here you are now, standing right here in front of me!”
“Oh now Applejack, don’t be so rud-aah!” Rarity quickly jumped back from what she saw, it was what she would have believed to be a fashion failure. “What on Equestria has happened to you, it looks as if somepony glued you into a tin can!”
“And I thought the rainbow one was an airhead...” Freezor grumbled as he walked past the two, shoving them out of his way. “Why don’t you two go act like you are walking down a stage somewhere else.”
“Well ain’t he a nice pony.” Applejack snorted while watching him leave. “Runs into us and then shoves us out of the way like something Winona left in the middle of the hall.”
“Now now Applejack, we did have our eyes closed.” Rarity stated, knowing that it was their fault. “Perhaps we should apologize, it would be the proper thing to do after all.”
“If you ask me we should go give him a...” Before she could finish, Applejack found herself being dragged along by her friend. “Oh fer pete’s sake.”
Freezor had just ordered his breakfast, and was about to pay when he saw some bits float over to the counter and land. Quickly turning to see who dropped them, he saw the same ones who just bumped into him. “Now what do you want.”
“Just wanting to make up for the bad run-in we had a bit ago, I’m Rarity.” Turning to the orange pony who refused to face Freezor, she continued. “And this is Applejack, we decided to pay for your breakfast and invite you to join us as an apology.”
“Well... I suppose I could stay for a while...” Seeing that they were willing to pay for a stranger’s lunch, Freezor decided it would be best not to try to talk his way out of this. Having remembered what happened the last time he tried it, somepony wound up getting hurt. “But promise me there will be no ponies jumping out from nowhere and scaring me half to death.”
Applejack and Rarity stared at each other for a moment. “Uh... sure, we promi-” Rarity was quickly cut off by Applejack.
“Now wait just one second Rarity, are you gonna just tell this fella that the Crusaders are going to be little angels?” Quickly turning to Freezor she continued. “While we can’t promise there won’t be any, we will try to keep them from bothering you too much.”
“...A voice inside me tells me that what you are telling me is easier said than done.”
“How long can it take to make a few little sandwiches!” Applebloom moaned, she was sitting with the rest of her friends at the table. “We could have found our cutie marks ten time by now!”
“Who is that pony they are talking to? It’s like he got stuck in his Nightmare Night costume!” Scootaloo inquired, trying to figure out what was taking so long. “It looks like they are headed this way though!”
“That means we can eat soon!” Sweetie Belle said while jumping up, she quickly turned to Applebloom. “Hey, do you think we got a cutie mark for waiting?”
The three looked for their marks, only to find none. “Nope, waiting isn’t our talent.” Putting her hoof up to her chin Applebloom thought for a moment, when a idea struck her. “I know! Let’s try to get our cutie marks by trying to be robots!”
“CUTIE MARK ACQUISITION PROGRAM!” Sweetie Bell said in a monotoned voice. “Was that good?”
“Are you sure you’re not a robot, Sweetie Bot?” Scootaloo said while giggling. “Oh, here they come!”
“Hello girls, make room for a guest.” Rarity said while setting a tray down with several sandwiches on it. “Freezor, meet Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo.”
“Hello there.” Freezor said, looking at the three friends who had an unnerving smile on their faces. “I got a bad feeling about this...”
“SET PHASERS TO HUG!” Sweetie Belle quickly called out while jumping onto Freezor, who in turn jumped back in shock.
“I second that!” Applebloom called while joining in on the hug, quickly followed by Scootaloo.
“N-n-now girls! Give the pony some space!” Rarity called out, she was about to pull them off when she saw Freezor gently bend down letting them get off. “O-or he can just do that.”
“Well aren’t these three just the most daring fillies I’ve seen.” Freezor said with a chuckle while sitting down. “I suppose you three were trying to act like robots?”
“Yep, did we do good Mr. Robot?” Sweetie Belle said with a smile on her face.
“Well I don’t know....” He said while looking up to the skies while chuckling. “I am not one to judge, seeing I am only part robot.”
“What do you mean, it ain’t possible for a pony to be a robot!” Applebloom said while shoving off the comment. “You just like wearing your Nightmare Night costume, that or you got stuck in it.”
The once happy face turned to a stone once again, his eye turning a slight reddish color. “Oh, you little...”
“Now just hold up on second there mister!” Applejack said, quickly capturing his attention. “Just because somepony thinks you are in a costume doesn’t mean you need to get angry all the time!”
“Oh, and I take it you KNOW how it feels to have the fact you are an oddball rubbed in your face, no matter WHERE you go?” Freezor said, his eye now a full glowing red color. “If I were you, I’d think twice before assuming you know what the problem is!”
“We know what it’s like!” Scootaloo said while standing up, pointing to her two friends. ”We know what it’s like being the oddballs of the group!”
“And what makes you think that little filly?”
“None of us have our cutie marks yet, and everypony else has them in our class!” Staring into his eyes, she continued. “I’m sure you know what it is like to be poked fun at and used since you’re different!”
Freezor stared at Scootaloo for a while, before finally sitting back down and his eye turning back to gold. “Y-you’re right, I DO know what that feels like.”
“Ah didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, I just didn’t think that a pony could be a robot.” Applebloom said kicking the ground with her hoof.
“And I’m sorry if acting like a robot hurt your feelings too.” Sweetie Belle said, joining in on the apologies. “We were just trying figure out if that was a costume or not...”
“Well, all you had to do was ask.” Pulling his hoof out so the three fillies could reach it, he continued. “I am part robot, try hitting me if you don’t believe it.”
The three fillies tapped on his hoof, the sound of metal hitting their hooves was enough to convince them he was what he claimed to be. “Whooaah, I can’t believe it is real, and yet it is!” Scootaloo said, her eyes growing wide.
“You know what they say, if there is a will there’s a way.” Freezor said, not noticing a pony walking up to him.
“Excuse me sir... do I happen to know you by any chance?”
“Cousin Fwosty, I have something I would wike to give you.” “Aw, Crystal. You shouldn’t have.” “But how could I not give such a gweat foalsitter a gift for doing such a good job?” “Frosty, are you home?” “Oh, Freezor! I forgot that you were coming over today, I would like you to meet my cousin, Christina Clear.”
“Excuse me sir... do I happen to know you by any chance?” A voice asked from behind the group.
Freezor turned around to see who was asking him, he was met by a blue pegasus mare with a yellow mane. “I... Don’t think so, unless...” Studying the look more closely made his one good eye open wide. “You couldn’t be...!”
“Freezor? Y’all know each other?” Applejack wondered aloud. “I don’t recall seeing her at yer welcoming party.”
“Oh, well, I wasn’t feeling up to a party that night, and just went to bed,” the blue mare explained. “And his name is Freezor? That makes it much more likely.”
“Christina Clear, it’s been ages since I last saw you!” Freezor exclaimed, his eye going a bright green color. “I haven’t seen you since the last time Frosty foalsat you!”
“Wow, I must know you from a while back... I haven’t been called Christina since I was six. and... who’s Frosty? It... sounds familiar...” ‘Christina’ replied
“That backstabber doesn’t matter anymore, I am just shocked to see you again”
“Oh, well... alright. To avoid confusion, though... everypony in town knows me as ‘Crystal’.”
“Well, it seems you two need to catch up a bit.” Rarity said while getting up from the table. “We best leave you two, since we have some things to take care of ourselves.”
The three crusaders quickly jumped up after hearing this, quickly grabbing their saddle bags. “CUITIE MARK CRUSADERS ASTROPHYSICISTS, YAY!”
Once Rarity and Applejack left with the crusaders, Freezor decided to try to catch up on what has happen since the time they last saw each other. “So, I see you have turned into a fine young mare after all these years.”
“Oh, well... thank you Freezor. I’ll be honest here, I’m not entirely sure why I remember you, or from where. Things from before I moved from Cloudsdale are a bit fuzzy anymore.”
“Well, let’s just say you borrowed some bits from a friend of mine at the Cloudy Domain. Of course it’s been about, 16 years, 8 months, 1 day, 12 hours,and 42 minutes since then.” Freezor gave off a small chuckle. “I am shocked I can still remember when that happened...”
“Heck of a pocket watch you got there.” Crystal quipped, giggling.
“It’s not that simple, Crystal. I bet you can point out more than one thing that has changed since the last time we met.”
“Like the robot parts in general? Pretty sure I’d remember all that.”
“Correct, this isn’t for show. It’s how I am, let’s just say I had a “accident” on the job thanks to your foalsitter and her friend.”
“Oh, that just sounds awful... are you okay with talking about it?”
“I’d rather not, at least not out in the open.” His eye turned red for a moment as he continued. “You may never know who’s listening.”
“Alright then, we can hide out somewhere if you’d be more comfortable th-- Oh there I go falling into my job again.” Crystal half-offered, laughing slightly at herself.
“Oh, you have a job now? What are you, a medium or something?”
At that Crystal looked back to her crystal ball cutie mark and began laughing once more. “Oh no, I’m a psychiatrist. Destiny just felt like getting in on an in-joke my friends had going around, I guess.”
“Ha, I could say the same about me too.” Freezor looked to his two ice cubes cutie mark. “I guess it knew I would have been a cool guy or something.”
“Hehe, maybe... So, you said my old foalsitter made you like this?”
“...Yes, why do you ask?”
“Like I said, I don’t remember much from before leaving Cloudsdale, I was hoping maybe... you could tell me about her?”
“I would never talk about that foal again, not even her friend.” He quickly gave a death glare to Crystal, his eyes now a crimson red color. “It would be best if you forgot they existed too.”
“...Um, okay. Sorry. I didn’t realize that was a sore subject...” Crystal apologized, blinking as her eyes shifted from a deep blue to a bright turquoise. “There’s no reason to be so... upset.”
“Oh please, EVERYPONY says that. Nopony has any respect for my thoughts, and it seems you don’t either.”
“I’m not trying to make you mad Freezor... please just calm down, forget I asked.”
“Listen here filly, I don’t take kindly to ponies who use me. And I know when ponies try, you are just wanting to sap me into getting me to go to your office for a pointless session where you will just get some bits from me, and give me NOTHING!” Quickly slamming a hoof on the table, Freezor stood up while the liquid in the tubes on his head began to bubble.
In addition to the obvious physical changes... his aura is getting more and more erratic... He could snap any second, best diffuse the situation fast. Crystal thought, watching as Freezor approached his breaking point. “I... I wasn’t Freezor, I swear... you don’t have to say anything you don’t want to. Just please calm down so we can talk...”
“There you go again! ‘Just calm down so we can talk’, You just want to talk about my past so you can nail me with a bill for some ‘help’!” A faint humming sound began to emerge from Freezor’s body. “Well you know what, I COULD CARE LESS! Maybe I should show you what it’s like to have your limbs frozen off!”
“I... I can see you’re in a lot of rage right now... I’ll-I’ll just leave.” Crystal said, backing away as her eyes turned back to their normal blue.
"Oh no, if you want to talk, then I'll let you talk." Freezor said in a faked calm voice. “Just let me show you something I can do first.”
“Um...o-okay?” Crystal answered as she was still slowly backing away.
Across the street, Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash were just exiting a shop. “I told you they wouldn’t sell you more wood after seeing what happened the last time you tried that stunt.”
“Oh come on Twilight, you know it can’t be that bad right?” Rainbow Dash asked, nudging her friend. “After all, you agreed to look over the plans for it this time.”
“More liked you forced me...”
“Either way Dash, this is not something you should be trying. Just think of all the ponies you could hurt by doing this!”
“Oh come on Twilight, when was the last time something dangerous happen he-” Rainbow Dash was quickly cut off by a scream and a loud blast sound. “What in Equestria was that!”
The two quickly turned their head to the direction the sound came from, a group of ponies ran by screaming as the saw Freezor standing next to another pony. But the thing that caught their eye was the large icicle that had made a circle around the pony.
“This is bad, REALLY bad!” Twilight exclaimed as she made her way over to the two ponies. “We better see what’s going on, come one Rainbow Dash!”
“Way ahead of you Twi!” A rainbow blue quickly passed Twilight as an strange humming sound could be heard.
“See Christina, after my ‘accident’ I had some slight adjustments added to make up for what I lost. And to make sure nopony would use me again.” Freezor said while walking up to Crystal Clear with his eye glowing red, as a humming sound could be heard again. “Now then, I would show you mercy, but my current state in life has left me cold to any pleas of mercy you can cry.”
Quivering in place where she was, Crystal muttered only one sentence, knowing if she tried to fly away, Freezor would likely just shoot her out of the sky. “I... didn’t mean to make you so upset...”
“You keep saying that same lie, when will you learn I won’t fall for such a blatant tri-” Freezor was quickly interrupted by somepony slamming into him from the side, leaving a rainbow trail in their wake.
“Alright mister, I warned you when you messed with Pinkie Pie. But now you are REALLY going to get it!” Rainbow Dash screamed at the downed cyborg. “I should have sent you packing at the party like I was going to do, you jerk!”
“Oh you little foal, I told you that I could take you down last time!” Quickly knocking Rainbow Dash off, Freezor stood up again. “Now I’ll show yo-”
*BONK!*
Freezor quickly fell to the ground as a rock floated above his head, Twilight quickly ran up to the rest with her horn glowing. “Rainbow Dash, what were you thinking trying to take him on alone!”
“What, and let him kill this pony? Like I would let that happen!” getting up off the ground she turned to Crystal Clear. “Are you okay, anything broken?”
“N-no... just a little shaken. I have no idea what set him off...”
“Hm, this is the second time I’ve seen him act like this... What were you two doing before he attacked you?” Twilight asked puzzled as she cast a sleeping spell on Freezor. “This should keep him out for a while so we can talk.”
“Well... we were just talking about the past... when we apparently knew each other.” Crystal replied, climbing out of the ice barricade and then sitting at a table.
“Hm... talking about the past, I wonder...” Twilight suddenly had a thought. “Do we have any place we can go that isn’t out in the open? I think I have an idea!”
“Well... isn’t your library closed today, Twilight?”
“Well, sorta. I never really close it as much as I prefer to not let pone in when I re-organize the books.”
“Anyway... that would do, wouldn’t it?”
“It has to be better than being out in the open where everypony is staring at us, let’s go!” Rainbow Dash said as she tried to pick up the downed cyborg, only to find out that he wasn’t as light as she thought he would have been. “Urk, a little help would be nice?”
“Oh, sure... thanks for saving me, Rainbow Dash.” Crystal said as she helped the prismatic pegasus lift the robo-pony.
After taking Freezor to the library Twilight got some tea and sat down with the others to compare clues on what had happen, hopefully she was right about her idea she had. “So let me get this straight, you two were talking about the past, since you were friends, and you happened to hit a sour note?”
“Well... this was 16 years ago... I was just a filly at the time... it sounded more like he knew one of my foalsitters. But yes, something about that set him off.”
“Well... I would like you to know this isn’t the first time he attacked a pony, he attacked a friend of mine just last night at his welcome party.” Twilight stated while she stirred her tea. “And when I talked with him, it seemed to have a connection to his past as well. Almost as if he is wishing to hide something, or is holding a strong grudge.”
“It still doesn’t give him the right to go around taking his anger out on ponies!” Rainbow Dash said, glaring at the sleeping cyborg. “I am about ready to go drag him out to the Everfree Forest and be done with him!”
“Well... whatever it is... I know one more thing... the foalsitter he knew... is the most likely object to his aggression.” Crystal put forth, finally calmed down enough to remember more details of the conversation and think clearly. “Everything went downhill as soon as I asked more about her...”
“Hm, I think it’s time we got some real answers. He seemed to leave a lot of empty holes in his answer to my question, and I didn’t want to push the issue in fear he would flip out again. But it seems that only worsened it.” Twilight walked over to a door and opened it showing a staircase leading downwards. “I don’t normally let others see this area, but you may hold a piece to this puzzle. Rainbow Dash, bring him down will you?”
“Sure thing, care to give me a hoof C?” Rainbow Dash asked as she grabbed hold of Freezor and began to drag him to the door.
“No problem, RD.” Crystal confirmed, grabbing Freezor’s other side and pushing.
Now downstairs, Twilight hooked Freezor up to a machine that connected to another machine with a monitor and printer. Carefully making sure the straps were on tight she started up the machine. “Okay, I am going to wake him up. When he is awake I’ll be asking him some questions, this machine will tell us if he is lying, telling the truth, or is half-lying.”
“Um... I’ll just go over here where he can’t see me... just in case.” Crystal said as she started up towards the door.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure nothing will happen. Besides he’s strapped down, he can’t hurt you!” Rainbow Dash said as she flew up to her. “Besides, I heard you were a good physician.”
“...psychiatrist...”
“Same thing, you help ponies with stuff.”
“Physicians help with the body... psychiatry is about the mind... but I’m worried he might just get angry again and shoot ice at us...”
“Don’t worry, I can just put him to sleep again if he tries.” Twilight said as her horn started to glow. “Now I am going to undo the spell, so get ready.”
“Alright... if you say so...” Crystal said as she reluctantly fluttered back down to the same level as Twilight.
A purple beam hit Freezor’s head, causing him to stir a bit and his eye to open up. “Hrmm, what happen. Did anypony see who was pulling that wagon...?”
“Freezor, we need to talk.” Twilight stated in a serious tone while staring at him. “I thought you were cool after the last talk we had, but your actions today have proven otherwise.”
“Hrmp, you are on her side now?” Freezor asked, noticing Crystal Clear in the side of the room, trying to hide behind Rainbow Dash. “You know, I can bring up your past too, ‘Christina’.”
“Y-you can?” Crystal asked.
“Oh sure I can, why don’t you tell these nice ponies what happened to your mother?” Freezor asked, a twisted grin forming on his face.
As soon as Freezor said this, Crystal’s eyes welled up in tears, and she had to force herself not to break down crying at the only real memory she had of her time in Cloudsdale. “I’d... r-rather not...”
“So then why do you three try to force me to talk about MY past, if she can move on with her life, why can’t I?”
“Because she got over hers I assume, but you haven’t.” Twilight quickly got in front of Crystal Clear. “Now stop trying to get out of this, we just want to know what is going on with your half-truths you told me.”
“You couldn’t tell if I was lying or telling the truth if you wanted to, in this low down town of yours.” Freezor said chuckling, only to be cut off with a loud buzzing sound. “What in Equestria was that?!”
“That, would be a lie detector!” Twilight said while she levitated a clipboard and quill over. “Now, what were you saying about how we ‘couldn’t tell if you were telling the truth or not’?”
“...If I tell you the truth will you leave. Me. Alone?” Freezor asked, his eye a purple shade.
“We will, as long as you don’t hurt anypony else.” Twilight said with a smile on her face.
“Yeah, I don’t want to rough you up again.” Rainbow Dash said as she eyed him from the side of the room.
“Oh you little...”
“That’s enough!” Twilight called out, tapping her hoof on the floor. “Now then, how about you explain what it was about Crystal’s foalsitter that you hate so much?”
“She caused the accident that left me like this, as I have said before.” A short buzz sound was heard. “BLAST IT, turn that thing off!”
“Half-truth there Mr. Relic, what is it really?” Twilight asked, writing down what he said on a paper.
“If you want to know more, then I would have to start a bit farther back.” Freezor sighed, this time a slight ding was heard. “Back from when I started my job at the Weather Factory...”
“Back when I was younger, around your ages, really, I worked in the Weather Factory, I was stationed in the Winter Facility. My job was to watch over the Freezer Reactor, it was the device they used to cool the water to the right temperature to make snowflakes with.” Freezor said closing his eyes and giving off a sigh. “I remember it like it was yesterday...”
It was an active day at the weather facility, and being a newly hired employee, Freezor was going under a debriefing of what his job would be. He was waiting for it to end he was looking around to see all the pegasi he would be working with, that’s when he saw her. Sitting beside the head coordinator was his assistant, a young female pegasus. She had a snow white coat with an icy cyan mane. She was going to be the one who would be over seeing the new employees, making sure they were doing their jobs right.
“...Now Frosty, is there anything you would like to say before I dismiss this session?” The older pegasus asked, looking to his assistant. Waiting for a response, the only thing he got was a small head shaking. “Always the quiet one I see, oh well. Okay boys, you know what to do. Now get out there and make us proud, you are dismissed!”
Making his way out Freezor was stopped by the head coordinator, who asked to talk with him privately. He complied with this and made his way back to his seat, looking back up to the pegasus in front of him as he looked through a folder.
“It says here you have a rare wing condition known as ‘Featheritis’that hinders your flight abilities, is that correct Mr. Relic?” The pegasus asked, briefly looking up from the papers in the folder.
“Yes sir, I had it since I was born.” Freezor was worried, he had wished to be apart of the team that would move the snow clouds into position all over Equestria. “Why do you ask sir, I was told it wouldn’t effect me getting a job.”
“Well, it won’t affect you getting a job, alright.” Setting the folder down on the desk he continued. “You see, you were wanting to move clouds across the sky. And knowing of this wing condition makes it so I am unable to give you the job.”
Freezor’s heart sank, he knew his condition would keep him from joining his friends in flight camp. But he was constantly reassured he would still be able to get a job in the Weather Factory. “B-but sir, you said..!”
“Now hold on a second Freezor, I know what I said.” The coordinator said, interrupting Freezor’s sentence. “I said it wouldn’t affect you getting a job; I never said anything about it not affecting the job you asked for.”
Walking over to the younger pegasus he placed a hoof on his back, he continued. “Now, here’s the job I’m offering to give you as a replacement. The last person who was overseeing the Freezer Reactor had to quit since his eyesight was getting bad, and without the freezer reactor we can’t make snowflakes.” He pointed out the window and motioned to all the land they could see. “And without snowflakes, there wouldn’t be any snow-clouds, and without snow-clouds there would be no snow for the land below us. The job I am offering you is one that will have a connection to the job you asked for, would you wish to take over the Freezer Reactor, Mr. Relic?”
“I-I would be honored sir!” Freezor stammered out, thankful he could still be of use in the team of weather pegasi. “But why did you pick me of all the ponies? I don't know much about the technology used here.”
“Don’t worry Mr. Relic, you’ll be instructed by somepony I trust dearly...” The coordinator said with a smile while patting Freezor on the back. “Dismissed”
“Now hold on one second!” Rainbow Dash called out, stomping her hoof on the ground. “How could an earth pony like you get into the weather team in Cloudsdale!?”
“Now Dash, let him finish his...” Twilight said, before she was interrupted by Freezor.
“Well maybe if you let me finish you would find out!” The cyborg snapped back at the rainbow colored pegasus. “How would you like it if someone said there was no way you could do a Sonic Rainboom if you were telling them the story of how you saved your friend?!”
“How do you know about that!”
“I came from Cloudsdale, you know; I was visiting my parents when that HAPPENED!”
“How can I tell that you are telling the truth, and not lying again!”
“I AM STRAPPED UP TO THIS BLASTED MACHINE THAT TELLS IF I AM!”
“ENOUGH!” Twilight called out, the two fighting ponies quickly turned their attention to her. “Can’t you let him finish his story Dash, he mentioned he had a wing condition, it could be the cause of why he has no wings.”
“Don’t directly...” Freezor mumbled under his breath.
“I guess you’re ri- what was that?” Dash ask glaring at the cyborg pony, only to be given a disappointing glare from Twilight. “...Never mind, continue with your story.”
“Thank you, it was about a week after I was hired on before I got to work. I was given a brief rundown of how to work the reactor worked...”
“Are you ready to meet your instructor from here on out, Freezor?” His instructor asked him, he was around the same age as Freezor, so the two became friends while they were going over how the reactor worked. “I’m sure you saw her when you was in the debriefing a week ago.”
“I’m not sure if I can say I did, Tornado, can you give me a hint?” Freezor asked while they reached a large door that was labeled “Freezer Reactor”.
“Oh I’m sure you will know who when you see her, there’s nopony like her in all the weather team.” Tornado said chuckling a bit, before knocking on the door. “Ms. Diamond, I am here with the new employee.”
“Okay, one second!” A cheery voice called from behind the door, a few moments after, the door opened to show the coordinator’s assistant standing with a smile. “Hello Mr. Relic, I’m Frosty Diamond. I will be overseeing your work here.”
Freezor stood there, while he hadn’t told anypony this, but he had a small crush on her. He never thought he would be working with her though, Tornado could see the expression on Freezor’s face and spoke up.
“Hello Frosty, Freezor here is a bit nervous since it’s his first day on job. So he may act a bit funny, but he shouldn’t be any problem for you.” He turned and gave Freezor a wink. “Besides, I’m sure you two will get along just fine!”
“Wh-where are you going?” Freezor asked as his former instructor walked away. “I thought you were going to help me learn the basics!”
“I already did Relic, now I am letting Frosty teach you the rest.” Tornado chuckled while walking away. “Don’t worry, she won’t bite.”
There was a bit of awkward silence after he left, Freezor stared at the ground while Frosty was trying to think of something to say. “Soooo, I heard you were selected as the new operator for the Freezor Reactor?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Are there any questions you would like to ask before we start?”
“Ye- No ma’am.”
Frosty stared at Freezor for a moment, noticing how much he was shaking she walked over and put a hoof on him. “Don’t worry, you’’ll do just fine.”
Freezor finally lifted his head up from looking at the floor and looked at his new instructor. Giving off a weak smile, he built up the courage to say a sentence with more than two words. “Okay, if you say so.”
---
About two years have gone by, and Freezor quickly worked his way up in the Winter Facility. He was known as one of the most faithful and dependable workers, hardly ever did he call in sick. While most thought it was because he loved his work, Tornado knew the other reason...
“You know Freezor.” Tornado said while walking up to his friend, who was busy checking on the Reactor. “You better act fast if you want to get her.”
“W-what do you mean?” Freezor ask, quickly turning his head.
“Oh come on, don’t act like it’s hard to tell. You have a crush on Frosty!” Jabbing Freezor’s side while giving off a laugh. “Ever since day one I saw how nervous you were around her.”
“B-but what if she thinks I was only working so hard to win her over?” Freezor asked sitting down. “I don’t want her to get mad at me, or think I am not a good worker!”
“Freezor, chill.” Tornado put his hoof on the shaking pegasus and continued. “I have worked with Frosty longer than you have, and I know how she is. She doesn't judge by the outside, but by the heart. She will love you for who you are and not some mask.”
“So you think... she might like me?”
“No doubt, you are an honest worker who tries his hardest. What else could she want?”
“A pony who could fly for longer....” Freezor mumbled while flapping his wings.
“Hey, not everypony is a star flier, I was over at the flight camp the other day and saw a yellow pegasus who could hardly fly at all. But she still had a friend who was willing to help her out!” Giving Freezor another jab as he pointed to a door that was opening. “Her she comes now, why not give it a shot?”
“I-if you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait til lunch break. I need to figure out what to say and...”
“No problem, I’ll be here if you need anypony to talk to though. I have some clouds to clean up, so I’ll catch you at lunch” Tornado flew off leaving Freezor alone, who spent this time thinking of what he should say.
“Wait, seriously?” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “YOU was trying to get a date?”
“...Yes, I was. do you have a problem with that?” Freezor asked with a snarl.
“Well, maybe, maybe not!” Rainbow Dash said flying over to him. “I am just shocked that a jerk like you would even try!”
“Rainbow Dash, not again...” Twilight moaned as she put a hoof on her head.
“Oh, and like YOU are doing so much better? You keep interrupting my story!”
“Oh yeah, and so that‘s worse than attacking two ponies?”
“I never said anything like that!”
“Then what DO you mean!”
“What I mean is-”
“Both of you, please stop.” Crystal interjected, poking out from behind the staircase where she was listening. “This fighting isn’t going to help us understand Freezor’s past, and this w-will go a lot faster if-if you stop interrupting, Rainbow.”
“She’s right, just sit down and let him finish!” Twilight said, growing tired of her friend’s interruptions. “If you can’t sit quietly then please leave!”
“O-okay, sorry.” Rainbow Dash slowly landed on the ground giving off a weak smile.
“If I get interrupted one more time, you won’t be getting anything else from me. Got it?” Freezor stated, he looked around watching each of the ponies nod before continuing. “It was only a little later before lunch started...”
The lunch room was always a active place at the Weather Factory, pegasi would talk and play some games while they ate. Freezor had just found himself a table when he heard a voice call his name.
“Hey Freezor, over here!” Tornado called from another table, seeing he caught his attention he continued. “There’s somepony I’d like you to meet!”
“Who is it?” Freezor asked, while he joined his friend at the table.
“Well, she’ll be back in a bit, she had to go do something.” Tornado said looking over his back, giving a hoof motion. “You may have seen her before...”
Frosty then, almost like she was in a play, walked up to the table. “Tornado, you said there was somepony you wanted me to- Oh, hello Freezor!”
“Uh-um, H-hello Frosty” Freezor mumbled out, glancing to his friend for help. But the only thing he got was a simple grin and a wink.
“Have a seat Frosty, Freezor here has something he would like to ask you.”
“I-I do?..I mean I DO, well. Not THAT kind of a....” Freezor quickly stopped his rambling before he would make a fool out of himself.
“Uh, Freezor. Are you okay?” Frosty asked raising an eyebrow while opening a juice box.
“Yeah, it’s just that I um...” Taking a deep breath Freezor cleared his mind, this could possibly be his only chance and he didn’t want to waste it. “W-would you like to go out to dinner after w-work?”
Frosty was speechless, she glanced at Tornado who gave her nod. “Th-that sound wonderful!”
“How about the Cloudy Domain, I hear they have good sandwiches.” Freezor asked, finally feeling a bit more comfortable about talking to Frosty.
“Isn’t that a bit costly for a dinner?”
“Don’t worry, I got the bits to buy your food”
“Are you sure..?” Frosty asked, Freezor gave her an reassuring look. “I-if you say so...”
---
After work was over, Freezor and Frosty went to the Cloudy Domain for the planned dinner. But before Freezor got there he went to pick up some stuff he had bought earlier. They had a nice little chat while they ate their food, once they were done Freezor reached for his saddlebag.
“Excuse me miss” A little filly asked as she ran up to the table. “Could you give me a few bits? I am almost at the end of a game in the arcade and I just need a few more bits to finish.”
“Aww. aren’t you the sweetest little filly I’ve seen.” Frosty said while reaching for her bit-bag, pulling out a few bits. “Here you go, if you need more just come back and ask.”
The little filly’s eyes lit up, and she quickly grabbed the bits in her mouth. “Thank you so much!”
"Wasn't that a cute little filly? I have never seen a pony so into the games before." Frosty said while turning back to Freezor.
Freezor looked up from his saddle bag for a moment, to watch as the filly scampered off to the arcade again. “Heh, I am still surprised she asked you for some extra bits. Then again, who would doubt such a kind pegasus like you, Frosty?"
"Oh you flatter.~" Frosty giggled, but was interrupted when some flowers landed in front of her. “Oh-oh my, Freezor. Are these f-for me?”
“Y-yes, and umm.” Quickly, Freezor unfolds a piece of paper he had lying next to him. “I have been meaning to ask you this for awhile, but never got the courage to ask you. I've been in love with you ever since I joined the weather team, I was afraid you wouldn't like me so I stayed away. But time has shown me that you are a loving mare, one who looks on the inside and not the outside. So I am asking if you would like to go on another date sometime in the future...?”
Frosty just stared at Freezor for a moment, but her eyes quickly lit up as she gave Freezor a tight hug. “I’d love to go on another, Freezor!”
Freezor gave off a sigh of relief as he returned the hug, his dream finally became real.
---
Several months passed, Freezor and Frosty quickly became close friends. But that’s when the truth finally came out. They was sitting at a bench near the Freezer Reactor, talking away like friends always do.
“...And then I said, Popcorn, are you crazy?!” Freezor said, finishing a joke he was saying. The two quickly broke out into a fit of laughter, not noticing the other pegasus walking up.
“Hey Frosty, guess who.” The pegasus whispered, causing Frosty to jump a bit.
“Storm Dasher, not now...” Frosty said while poking the other pegasus with her wing.
Freezor noticed the other pony, thinking he was another worker at the Weather Factory, he quickly turned around to check the Reactor.
“It looks like you two were just finishing anyways, beside. We are going to be late for our dinner if you sit here and wait for him.” Storm Dasher said, looking at Freezor.
“Can’t I at least tell him I am going to be....” Frosty tried to protest.
“Don’t worry, he’ll understand. Trust me.” Storm Dasher said, while finally convincing Frosty to come with him.
“And that’s when it happened.” Freezor said, glaring at the ponies around him. “I tried to figure out what was going on, and Frosty’s “friend” knocked me into the reactor. It almost cost me my life, that is until that same pegasus saved me. I should have known all along that it was a plan, I was just being used as a fill in until he came back!”
Twilight just stared at him, she had mixed feelings after hearing his story. “I-I’m so sorry... I didn’t know it was that horrible..”
Rainbow Dash felt even worse, she had been so rough on him without listening to his full story. “Man, I guess you do have a reason to be upset at them...”
“But it still doesn’t mean you should take your anger out on others...”Twilight said, looking at Freezor. “But I think I know what you need to do, it should help you overcome this!”
“I doubt it, the images of that haunt my dreams every night...” Freezor said in a more broken voice this time. “I always wonder if there was anything I could have done to have stopped it from ending like that...”
“Now now Freezor, we went over this yesterday. You can’t change the past, but you can change the future!” Twilight said walking over to him, she started to unhook him from the machine. “And all you need, is something to take your mind off the past. Maybe if you can find a job you enjoy you can erase those bad memories with fun ones!”
“Well... I can imagine a few things he could do.” Crystal piped up, hesitantly approaching to an even distance with the other non-cyborgs. “I’ve seen a few Help wanted signs around town, and th-there’s also a few ideas he could do on his own...”
“Hey Freezor, any luck on getting that job at the Weather Factory?” “I don’t know, I haven’t heard back from them yet. So all I can do is just hope for the best.” “Don’t worry, I’m sure you will get the job!”
Freezor slowly awoke from his well-needed sleep, having been questioned for a good chunk of the day followed by looking for work that he could do left him tired. Slowly he got out of his bed and started his system check while looking at the clock, it was just a little past seven. “Well, let’s see what kind of insanity this day will hold.”
After his checkup was done, he went over to his kitchen to make himself some breakfast. Not wishing to have another run-in with the crazy ponies that seemed to fill the town, he decided on a simple muffin that he had found in his mailbox yesterday. While he ate he was still trying to figure out why a muffin would have been put in a mailbox in the first place.
“Who am I kidding” Freezor snorted, resting his head on the table. “If I try to understand what goes on here I’ll fry my circuits, or something as crazy as this town.”
A knock came from the door breaking him away from his thoughts, a voice he was all too familiar with. “Freezor, are you awake yet? Those jobs won’t do themselves after all.”
It was her, the pink hyperactive pony who probably drove the the town to the point of insanity it is at, Pinkie Pie. Groaning as he got up from the table and headed to the door to open it, no less than half a second after opening it the pink pony started to burst out into a song.
“♫Good morning to you, Good morning to you! You silly Robotic thingy, Good morning to you!♫”
“...How many cups of coffee did you HAVE this morning?” Freezor asked, trying to find out how on earth a pony could be so hyper all the time. “You know what, forget it. I think it would be better I DIDN’T find out.”
“Aww, don’t be such a grumpy-pants. I was just trying to brighten up your day with a song!” Pinkie said, an innocent smile covered her face that always creeped the cyborg out. “Crystal is here to help us get you a job, that way you can forget about all those mean things those mean ponies did to you!”
“How did you....” Staring into the eyes of the pink pony while trying to ask his question was like staring into the night sky, it was endless and made you realise you are much smaller than you think you are. “Something about you creeps me out, Pinkie. And if you don’t wipe that smile off your face, Celestia is my witness I will freeze a frown on your face.”
“Whoa there, Freezor... that’s a little harsh.... don’t you think?” Crystal asked, poking her head out from around Pinkie’s voluminously poofy mane.
“It’s hardly as bad as having her tag along...” Freezor said while walking past Pinkie, giving her a gare with his red eye. “So you said there was a job at an... Apple farm nearby?”
“Oh, she must mean Sweet Apple Acres!” Pinkie Pie said, ignoring the previous threat and joining the other two. “I bet a strong robot-thingy would be able to get the apples off the trees in no time!”
“And he could freeze the roots of blighted trees to make removing them before the disease spreads easier.” Crystal added her two cents on the matter.
“Very well then, let’s get this over with.” Freezor started walking down the street and turned a corner, a little bit later he returned. “Um, care to lead the way?” “Wow, you don’t have some fancy map thing that tells you where to go?” Pinkie asked, tilting her head to the side. “I thought for sure you would have one, oh well! Follow me!”
The pink pony skipped ahead of the two while singing a cheery song, Freezor didn’t pay much mind to it, but he knew it had something to have something do with ‘hunting for a job’ or ‘Sweet Apple Acres”
After a while of walking the trio reached the apple farm, Freezor had to admit that the scenery there was amazing. Walking up to the gate he heard the sound of hooves hitting trees, and a wagon’s wheels rolling along the dirt.
“Hey AJ, your new worker is here!” Pinkie called out to her friend who was busy helping her brother put baskets on the wagon. “I’m pretty sure you’ve met him before, I mean he’s hard to miss!”
“While Ah appreciate the offer Pinkie, couldn’t y’all have come a might bit earlier? We already gone and started.” Applejack called back while walking away from a group of trees to meet the group. “So who is it you got? I already told you that coat maker wouldn’t be able to help.”
There was a moment of awkward silence as the earth pony stared at the cyborg, the two gave of a single remark at the same time. “It’s you?”
“What are you trying to pull here, are you trying to get me to join your insane little group of friends?” Freezor asked, quickly glaring at the two ponies who lead him to the farm. “I came here for work, not an infection of insanity.”
“Now Freezor, you aren’t the only one who will be working here. You will be helped by her big brother and her sister, I’m sure you’ll be able to find some fun in this!” Crystal said with a smile on her face. “If it’s okay with AJ, maybe we could help too.”
“Fine, I’ll give him a try. But if he causes any trouble then he’s out of here, ya hear that Relic?” Applejack said, turning around and heading off into the acres of trees. “We’ll start you off with buck’n some trees.”
The group of ponies were busy working away at getting apples down from the trees, the cybernetic pony was clearly going faster than the others. All was going smooth, and Freezor was actually starting to loosen up again. They were making some small talk and passing jokes around while they worked.
“See Freezor, Twilight was right. Finding a job would help you relax!” Crystal said while taking a break from bucking to pick up some apples that fell on the ground.
“I guess you’re right, but the only way to truly find out is when we are do-” Freezor was cut off by a rather upset sounding Applejack.
“FREEZOR, what in tarnation do you think you’re doing!” The orange earth pony walked over to Freezor glaring at him angrily before pointing a hoof off towards a group of trees he was just working at. “Look what you’ve done to the trees, you’ve gone and bucked them so hard you left marks of your hooves in them! You could have killed some of these trees!”
“...Well I can honestly say that I didn’t mean to do that.” Freezor said, staring at the wounded trees. “Perhaps I should try and help with the wagons?”
“I suppose so, but just don’t go breaking them too!” Applejack turned towards a red colt that was about to leave with some wagons filled with apples. “Hey Big Mac, why don’t you take Freezor here with you and show him where to put the apples?”
The colt simply gave a nod and motioned for Freezor to follow him, Freezor hooked himself to a kart and followed him to a barn that was nearby. Inside was an old, grey-maned earth pony sorting out the good apples from the bad ones. “Who’s the friend you got there Macintosh, is he the helper that is taking Applebloom’s place while she’s off on the fieldtrip?”
“Eeeeeeyup” the crimson stallion replied with a thick drawl.
“What’s yer name sonny? I don’t recall seeing you here before.” Looking up from her work she noticed Freezor’s cyborg parts, blinking a few times as she tried to figure out what was standing infront of her. “Is it Nightmare Night again already, I thought we still had a few more months!”
“Actually, this is not a costume.” Freezor said, trying to keep his anger in check over having the fact he was thought to be in a costume thrown at him again. “And I’m Freezor Relic, but you can call me Freezor.”
“I’m Granny Smith, and this here’s Big Macintosh.” Getting back to her work she continued. “All you have to do is unload the apples and I’ll sort them out, easy as... zzzzz”
“Umm, Granny. Ya fell ta sleep again.” Macintosh said while giving her a slight nudge, waking her up again.
The two of them unloaded their wagons and went back to the fields for more, the two of them were working well together and were making good time. As the loads kept piling up in the barn, Big Mac began to try to find ways to slow Freezor down. But finally he had enough when an accident happened.
“Stooop!” Macintosh hollered out while Freezor was emptying his wagon again, this made the cyborg jump since he never heard him raise his voice while they talked.
“What is it?” He ask while getting himself unhooked from the wagon. “Is there something wrong?”
“Oh course there’s something wrong, ya’ll gone and almost buried Granny Smith with all these here apples! You should be more mindful of other ponies around you, working fast is nice and all but you need to show some respect for the ponies who aren’t as fast as you!” Glaring at Freezor angrily he continued his scolding. “First you go and beat up our trees, and now you’ve gone and overworked granny!”
“I wasn’t racing I was...” Freezor was slowly backing away while trying to form a response, when the other ponies came running in to see what all happen.
“What in tarnation is going on in here Mac!” Applejack said, as she dashed into the barn followed by the others. When she saw the large pile of apples next to the overworked Granny Smith, she joined her brother in the scolding. “Relic, what is the matter with you! Can’t you show some respect for us at the farm!”
“Listen here mister, I believe it’s quite clear you aren’t fit for the farm. So how about you take your fancy machine-enhanced self and find some job in the city!” The red colt pointed to the door, Freezor was about to respond but was quickly cut off. “Now!”
“Well THAT could have turned out better...” Freezor said while looking at the ground, kicking a rock while he walked. “I guess he was right though, a robot isn’t suited for a farm.”
“It was mean for you to not check and see if Granny was doing okay with her work before you piled more apples on her.” Pinkie said, for once she didn’t have that smile on her face that drove him insane. This was worse to him now though.
“The least they could have done was let you try and slow it down, or help Granny catch up with the sorting to correct it.” Crystal added with a sympathetic hoof to Freezor’s shoulder.
“Well, it’s too late now. What’s next on the list? Preferably NOT something to do with a farm.” Freezor shaked the hoof off while looking at the other two.
“Well... I heard about a newcomer to town that opened a clothing shop of some sort. How about that?” the blond pegasus offered, slight concern still etched onto her face.
“Oh, I know who you’re talking about!” Pinkie called out, her face all bright and cheery again. “I’m sure he’d be happy with some help, after all he is new to town just like you!”
“Hmm, this doesn’t sound that bad. Maybe he won’t be quite as insane as your friends...” Freezor pondered for a moment on the thought of working in a clothing shop, while it didn’t seem like a job a cyborg could help out much with it had to be better than working with the crazed friends of Pinkie. “I’ll give it a shot, lead the way.”
Inside a small shop in Ponyville sat a steel-blue earth pony with a black mane, he was busy reading a book on the upper living space of his shop. He heard the sound of the bell next to the door ring, putting the book away he quickly made his way down to the front desk to see who it was.
“Hello and welcome to The Coat Rack, the place with the best deals on coats for all the seasons!”
‘Well... Rarity only makes dresses and such... I guess this guy has a market...’ Crystal thought. “Hello. My friend here was wondering if you needed some help around the shop?” She asked before stepping aside to reveal Freezor.
“...Oh my...” The pony stared blankly at Freezor for a long time. “I-i-it’s a-a Cyberp-pony...”
“A what?” Freezor asked tilting his head in confusion. “And before you ask, this is not a costume. It is 100% real.”
The pony fainted and fell to the ground, a goat-like bleat escaping his throat as his legs pointed straight skyward.
“...Well that was strange!” Pinkie called out while walking up to the unconscious pony. “Hey Coat Rack, wake up! He ain’t no evil robotic pony, he’s just a grumpy pony with a need of a job!”
“I don’t think he can hear you Pinkie, he sorta fainted” Freezor said, of all the ponies who had seen him, this was one of the few that had fainted at the sight. “And I can already see how this job will not be working out, so what’s next on the list?”
“Well, there’s this one snack shop worker who is looking for a helper, since the head bakers are going out of town for awhile.” Pinkie said while looking at a notepad that she pulled up from seemingly nowhere.
“A... snack shop, really?” Freezor asked giving a empty stare at Pinkie, whose smile was yet again driving him insane.
“Yeppers, and trust me it’s a good one! Tons of people come in all the time, so fast workers are needed!” Pinkie said while skipping out the door, not waiting for Freezor to respond.
“...Considering how the farm went, that’s a pretty good-sounding possibility, eh Freezor?” Crystal asked, nudging the cyber-stallion.
“...I suppose so, let’s go follow that crazy pony.” Freezor said while leaving the shop, stopping a moment to look at the still out-cold pony on the floor. “I wonder if he’ll be okay...”
“I’ll catch up after I fix him, Freezor. Go ahead.” Crystal instructed, putting on a pair of hoof-boots from her saddlebags and ever so slightly bending her foreleg away from the shopkeeper.
“Okay then, hopefully you know what the place is called.”
*THWACK*
“OW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!” A striking sound and piercing shriek of pain rang out after Freezor was outside. Crystal then quickly ran after the mechanical pony, looking terribly guilty of mischievousness.
“What was that?” Freezor asked.
“Oh nothing~” She sang out as they continued to the bakery.
After catching up to Pinkie Pie, the ponies found themselves outside Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie was waiting for them at the door and let them in, Freezor took a look around the place noting that it seemed oddly familiar, like he had been there before.
“So... where’s the pony I ask for the work?” Freezor asked staring at Pinkie, noticing that her smile got notably larger. “..Y-you d-don’t mean...”
“You bet I do!” Pinkie squealed while jumping back into the kitchen, shortly she returned with two bakers hats. She put one on herself, and tossed the other one to Freezor.
“Don’t worry, Freezor!” Crystal called out as Pinkie was dragging the robo-pony into the kitchen, “The Cakes are actually quite calm!
“Clearly you didn’t hear what Pinkie said!” Freezor yelled back. “The head bakers are gone!”
“...Good luck with that then!” and then the pegasus mare darted out the door.
Inside the kitchen, Pinkie was already getting pans and ingredients from all over to place set up at seemingly impossible speeds. Freezor tried to comprehend how a pony could move so fast, but before he could even get a slight clue the pink pony was standing beside him again.
“Are you ready to start Mr. Robot Pony?” Pinkie asked, looking to her new assistant.
“No, quite frankly I am not ready.” Freezor said staring at Pinkie, his eye changing red once again. “What did I say about dragging ponies around anyways, or is your mind really THAT empty?”
Pinkie looked at Freezor for a moment, he smile fading once again and replaced with a annoyed frown. “Why do you have to be so mean all the time Freezy, we are trying to help you and you are always insulting me and my friends!”
“Clearly you are not doing any better than I am, you keep dragging me around like some Smarty Pants doll.” Freezor snorted, the two were now giving each other death glares. “Maybe you should go and get a real job, and not just eat all these sweets you make. They probably drove you to the point of insanity you are at now.”
“Pinkie, is everything alright in there?” A voice called from outside the kitchen, breaking the two ponies‘ death stares apart. A grey pegasus with a jetblack mane walked into the room. “I was coming in for my box of doughnuts before I start my shift at the Weather Factory, and I heard you yelling at somepony.”
“Oh, hey there Mr. Tornado!” Pinkie said, quickly changing her mood back to her happy self. “Me and my friend here will get right on it, isn’t that right Freezor?”
“I guess so, just don’t try to drag me any more, okay?” The cyborg sighed, knowing all hope of him getting away with his sanity was now gone.
“...Freezor, is that really you?” Tornado asked, walking up to the two ponies as they set to work. “I thought you left to Manehatten after your accident in the factory, how’d you wind up here?”
The sun had just set, two pegasi were standing on a edge of a cloud overlooking a city’s bright lights.
“So Freezor, you are really going to leave Cloudsdale over a simple accident?” Tornado asked Freezor, who was staring off into the city’s lights.
“I don’t see why I would belong here, I lost what little bit of flying I could do from that.”
“Come on, is that really the most important thing you have here? What about all your friends, what about Frosty?”
“Never say that name again.” Freezor said, quickly turning to his friend. His cybernetic eye glowing red. “She was the one who caused the accident, why would I ever want her around again?”
“..Fine, leave. If you are going to hold that kind of a bitterness towards us at factory, then you might as well move on and find a new place to call home.” Tornado said, turning away from his friend. “Maybe next time we see each other you will have your life’s dream made out.”
“It will never happen Tornado, it will never happen.”
Freezor slowly looked around the place, seeing it was only him and Pinkie once again. “W-what happen to the other pony?”
“Well... He was trying to get your attention while you were helping me with his doughnuts, but you were too into your work I guess and you didn’t hear him, or me.” Pinkie said, giving off a giggle while pointing to the ice cream scoop Freezor was holding. “And instead of giving him doughnuts, you put ice cream scoops into the box!”
“...I did what?” Freezor asked, looking down at the ice cream scoop in his hooves. “Oh for crying out loud, he wasn’t upset was he?”
“Oh of course not, he loved the ice cream!” Pinkie said, her eyes lighting up. “And I think I know just the job for you, and you live right near it!”
“Oh, so I didn’t get the job here?” Freezor asked, looking around he quickly saw his answer. Every snack in the shop had ice cream on the top of it, even Pinkie had ice cream on her. “...whoops.”
“Come on, let’s get you to your new job!” Pinkie said skipping out the door, leaving Freezor shocked he wasn’t dragged along again.
“Well, it seems she learned something at least.” Freezor said, putting the ice cream scoop back on the counter and following the party pony.
The sun was starting to set again, while it didn’t seem like the day should have been over yet it was. The two ponies walked down the road, something happen after the flashback that made Freezor more open to talk. As they neared their destination the two were singing a light song together, earning some shocked looks from the ponies who were still outside.
“See Freezor, a song will brighten up your day!” Pinkie chirped as she stopped at the door of the building. “Well, night in our case, but you know what I mean!”
“Ha ha, I guess you’re right, but I still think you are crazy.” Freezor looked up at the building they was at, it was his house. “Um, Pinkie. Why did you take me to my house, I thought we was going to my next job?”
“Don’t be silly Freezor, you should know why we are here!” Pinkie said, hopping into the already open door.
On the inside, Crystal was busy cleaning the glass on the counter. “Well, about time you two figured out what you’d be good at, Freezor!” She giggled as she put the rag away. “I figured it out after you nearly made me a pegacicle.”
“Well, I was turned into a ice cream cone, or pie!” Pinkie said, pointing to the ice cream that was still on her mane. “See?”
“Okay, but who would I talk to about the job?” Freezor asked looking around, noticing the two other ponies was staring at him. “Wait, you mean I will be the one running things?”
Crystal and Pinkie looked at each other briefly before responding in unison, “Well, DUUUUH!”
“Who else would be the boss of a business run from inside your house, silly?” Crystal continued alone.
“I guess all this job hunting has me too tired to think.” Freezor gave off a chuckle, his eye turning a green color.
“Ohh, a new eye color! What does it mean, what does it mean!” Pinkie said jumping up and down.
“Well, it means I am happy.” Freezor said, a full smile was finally seen on his face. “Thank you, Pinkie and Crystal, I guess you aren’t quite as insane as I thought you were.”
“Um, excuse me?” A small voice piped up. “Ah came here to say me and mah family are sorry.”
Freezor turned to see who it was, it was Applejack’s little sister, Applebloom. “Hey, I thought you were gone on a field trip.”
“Well, I was but it got cut short when Sylvia and some of the other ponies caught a sickness that got passed around.” Applebloom said, looking at the ground.
“Sylvia’s sick?!” Crystal cried suddenly before darting out the door.
“Anyways, me and mah family is sorry for giving you such a hard time at the farm, it’s just after they heard what y’all did yesterday had ‘em on edge.” Looking up she continued. “Do you think you could forgive us, and if you want, you can try again tomorrow if ya want.”
“While I appreciate the offer, I found myself a job already.” Freezor said, patting the filly on her head. “Now why don’t you get back home before it gets too late, you don’t want them to worry about you.”
“So does this mean you accept the apology?” The filly asked while heading to the door.
“Yes, it does. I know I should have been more careful when I worked, but I sometimes get carried away. So that’s why I am starting my own job here, a ice cream parlor.” Freezor looked up at the clock, noticing how late it was he continued. “Perhaps you should have Pinkie walk you home, it’s not right for a little filly to be out this late by herself.”
“But I ain’t a little filly!” Applebloom protested. “I can take care of myself!”
“He’s just trying to make sure no mean ponies come along and snatch you up.” Pinkie said walking over to the filly. “How about we stop by Sugar Cube Corner and get a snack for the walk, I’m sure AJ wouldn’t mind.”
“I guess so...” The two earth ponies made their way out of Freezor’s new shop, bidding him farewell.
Freezor was left alone again, he gave off a sigh while looking over the events of the day. He was fascinated by the kindness the ponies had showed him, even after all the rude things he said and did. Maybe he could have benefited from these things before he left Cloudsdale, walking up the stairs to his living space he picked up a picture frame he had set on his night stand.
“Tell me, why did I let you get us hooked into that snowball fight again?” “Well, it’s something we don’t get to do that often seeing as we live in the sky, and because those fillies started it.” “Oh well, at least we can have more hot cocoa.~” “Won’t find me complaining!”
Freezor woke up with a smile for the first time in years, he had a lot of work to get done so he can get his shop up and running. Doing a quick system check he grabbed a muffin he found in his mailbox again and quickly ate it before heading out the door, he made sure to grab a list he had placed next to the door of the supplies he needed.
“Okay, first thing’s first. I need to get some containers to hold the ice cream, might should pick up some new scoops while I’m at it.” He studied the shops around him looking for a place he could find the items he required, luckily for him he was right next to a hardware store. “This should be a good place, Flim Flam Co. Hardware.”
Freezor walked into the store, taking a look around he saw endless miles of ilese of tools and other objects. “How in Equestria will I be able to find the stuff I need in here...”
“Well take a look here brother, our first customer!” A tall unicorn announced while walking up to the cyborg. “And I must say, what a unique taste of clothes you have good sir!”
“Hello my fine fellow, we’re so glad you decided to stop by our store!” A second unicorn came up to his other side, by the looks of it the two were twins. “Allow us to introduce ourselves, I’m Flim!”
“I’m Flam!”
“We’re the world-famous Flimflam Brothers~”
“Hrm, I see.” Freezor said looking at his list. “Well, while you two are here, do you think you can tell me where I could find some large buckets? I’m trying to gather some stuff to get my ice cream shop up and running.”
“Why, you are going to need more than a few measly buckets my fine fellow, and we have all of it here!” Flim said, a smile beaming across his face.
“I know I’ll need more, but I doubt this place would have everything I’ll need...” Looking at the brother’s expressions gave him a worried look, but before he could move on Flim took the list he had been looking at with his magic.
“Why of course we have everything you need, anypony who wouldn’t sell this stuff shouldn’t be allowed to say it was a hardware store! Wouldn’t you agree brother of mine?”
“I do quite agree, perhaps we should lend him a hoof?” Flam asked, a grin forming on his face.
“Why you little...” Before Freezor could give them a piece of his mind, the brothers proceeded to sing the song from their commercial.
After being dragged through the store Freezor stared at the two with his cyborg eye glowing red, the liquid in his tubes were bubbling faster to help signal his anger. “What is wrong with every blasted pony in this town!”
“Whatever do you mean, we simply helped you find everything on your list!” Flam asked, rubbing his chin.
“Last I checked I never asked for a lawnmower, 3 bags of cement, 8 boxes of bolts and screws, 7 pieces of plywood, and 12 alan wrenches!” Freezor called out, pulling each item out of his cart and throwing it on the floor. “I only came here for some buckets, nothing else!”
“I say, you seem slightly upset!” Flim said while twirling his mustache.
“...Slightly? SLIGHTLY?” Freezor quickly overturned the cart, almost hitting the two brothers. “I come in here to shop, and you two drag me around like some wheeled-toy!”
After forcing his way out of the hardware store with nothing more than the few buckets he went in for, Freezor made his way to the next stop on his list, the Carousel Boutique. Walking into the door he found himself in one of the fancier shops in town, not taking notice of the bell ringing behind him when he entered.
“Freezor, what brings you here?” Rarity asked, walking down the stairs.
“I was wondering, do you only make dresses here?” Freezor asked looking around, taking note of all the poniquinn dress forms.
“Well, that is my specialty. But I wouldn’t see you as the type who would want any of them, seeing as you have that... no offence, dreadful armor on.” looking at the cyborg’s armor, she levitated a few clothing pieces off of poniquinns nearby. “I’m afraid I’ll have to make a whole new design, none of these will fit you I’m afraid...”
“...I never said I wanted any clothes, my armor is good enough.” Knocking the pieces of clothes away from him, he pointed to a table with a cloth over it. “Did you make that, and if so would you be able to make a few for me?”
“Why would you need a few tablecloths, I thought you, Crystal Clear, and Pinkie Pie went out looking for a job yesterday?”
“Well, long story made short. I am going to be starting my own business, an ice cream parlor.” Taking out his list of things he needed he continued. “And since there are going to be tables, I figured a few tablecloths would be nice.”
“I see, well you came to just the right place!” Rarity said with a smile, her horn started to glow as cloth and string floated from off shelves. “Just tell me what you want!”
After leaving his order for tablecloths with Rarity, Freezor finished getting the supplies he needed. Making his way back to his soon-to-be shop he stopped by the library, to see if there was any useful books he could use.
“I’m glad to see you are finally starting to settle down some.” Twilight said, while sorting a bookshelf. “Rainbow Dash is still a bit worried that you will flip your lid again, but I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“Well, she was almost right. Two brothers in a hardware store here tried to have me buy a whole bunch of junk, when I only wanted to get some buckets for ice cream.” Freezor said, giving off a small chuckle. “Do you happen to have any cooking books by any chance, I am thinking about getting one to help me get started.”
“They should be under the ‘C’ section, unless Pinkie borrowed them all again.”
“Or unless you had all the books on the floor again re-sorting them, again.” Spike deadpanned, looking down from a ladder he was using to put some books back.
Quickly sorting through the pile of the books on the floor, Twilight managed to find a cookbook. “101 Ways to Serve Ice Cream, by Frosty Aura Diamond.”
“No.” Freezor said, quickly knocking the book away. “That will not help you, or me, or anypony!”
“Hey! Just because the book was written by a pony with the name “Frosty” doesn’t give you the right to hit it!”
“Oh, really now? Perhaps if you weren’t as thick-headed you would understand, but then again, you are an egghead so you love any book.”
“Pinkie’s used these recipes before, and they haven’t caused us any problems.”
“Sure, the recipes may be fine. But that isn’t the main issue, now is it?” Freezor growled, stomping his hoof on the ground.
“How should I know, you haven’t said what the big issue is!” Twilight joined the cyborg in stomping her hoof.
“Clearly if I told you the story again you wouldn’t bother to listen, just like the last time!”
“What’s that supposed to mean!”
“Forget it, you are hopeless.” Freezor said, storming out the door while slamming it shut behind him.
“Well, looks like somepony gots a chip of ice on their shoulder!” Spike said climbing down the ladder.
“The... story...” Twilight thought out loud for a moment, when her eyes widened. “I wonder if he means...”
“Means what?”
“Spike, can you go find Rainbow Dash, I have a few questions I want to ask her.”
Back at his shop, Freezor was met outside by Rarity with her saddlebags in which were the tablecloths he had ordered earlier. After setting them up and receiving her pay, Rarity made her way back to her shop, when she ran into Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, hello girls! What brings you over this way, were you going to help Freezor set up his shop?” Rarity asked, quickly noticing the upset Twilight. “Oh dear, don’t tell me he did something stupid again.”
“You could say that, yeah.“ Rainbow Dash said, flying over to the white unicorn. “Twilight here is having me help her with another one of her crazy clue hunts.
“A while back you mentioned somepony called ‘Frosty’ dropped by your shop, right?” the lavender mare inquired. “I feel it is a very strong possibility that she is the reason Freezor is acting so aggressively.”
“Why would he be so upset over such a sweet filly like her?” Rarity asked, puzzled by the connection her friend was making.
“You mean besides the fact he almost froze a pony to death when he was asked about her?” Rainbow Dash offered. “I mean, there has to be something going on with the two!”
“And I am willing to bet he hasn’t told us everything quite yet, and I won’t rest until we get to the bottom of it!”
“Excuse me, but were you three fillies talking about Frosty Diamond from the weather factory?” A light grey pegasus with a black mane with a dark grey stripe going down the middle walked over to the group.
“What’s it matter to you?” the cyan pegasus asked, quickly facing the intruder.
“Let’s just say I can be of assistance to you, since I am pretty sure I know what’s going on.” The pegasus chuckled. “I am taking a shot into the dark, but would you guys happen to be having trouble with somepony by the name of Freezor Relic?”
“...H-how did you know?” Twilight asked dumbfounded. “Were you listening into our conversation all this time?”
“Well, assuming he’s told you his story, my name should be more than enough of an explanation.” Sticking his hoof out he continued. “I am Tornado Blitz, a trainer at the Weather Factory. I once trained a pony called ‘Freezor Relic Frostbite’, who then went was then put on the team that was overseen by ‘Frosty Diamond’.”
“So let’s see now...” Freezor said with a sigh, looking over the supplies he had collected earlier. “I should have just about everything, save a bell for the door... but that can wait for later.”
While he began to set the buckets inside the glass counter for the ice cream, three fillies scampered in through the door quietly. Each one of them peaked their heads over the counter waiting for the cyborg to look up.
“That should do it, now where did I put the- What in Equestria!” Freezor called out from surprise, hitting his head on the counter. “What are you three doing here!”
“We were wonder’n if ya’ll needed any help!” Applebloom said with a smile.
“Yeah, Applebloom told us how you were going to start a shop, and we thought we could get our cutie marks by helping!” Scootaloo said, pointing to a wagon connected to her scooter that was filled with various tools. “But we didn’t know what you were going to be needing, so we got all the stuff we could think of.”
“I still don’t think we needed to bring the pickaxes or shovels though, they just seem silly.” Sweetie Belle said, looking at the stack of tools. “Hey, is that my sister’s sewing machine?”
“Um, look. I don’t really think you could help out that much, you are just fillies after all.” Freezor said, trying to think of something the three could do.
“Aw, c’mon there has to be something!” Scootaloo said, rolling her eyes. “We aren’t that little!”
“Well, how about you help me set up the tables?” Freezor said, pointing to a box filled with napkin holders and napkins. “You can put the napkins in them, and I’ll put them on the tables, okay?”
“Sure! That means we can get our cutie marks for being, uh, what would that make us anyway?” Applebloom asked, trying to think of a name. “Napkin holder fillers?”
“I guess you would be restockers, not sure why you need to kno-”
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS, NAPKIN HOLDERS RESTOCKERS YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!” The three fillies shouted in unison.
“What have I gotten myself into...” Placing a hoof on his face, Freezor began to unpack the box.
“By Celestia’s mane, it’s you!” Twilight exclaimed, quickly shaking the outstretched hoof. “You’re the pony from his story, what are you doing here in Ponyville?”
“Let’s just say I happen to run into this pony yesterday at a snack shop I visit often, I asked the pink pony there if she knew if he was staying here or not and when she told me he was, I was going to go drop by to give him a visit to seen how well he was recovering.”
“So let me get this straight.” Rainbow Dash said, sitting down while thinking. “Three ponies come into town, each one having known each other in the past. One of them having something against the other, and we just happen to know each of them. And so far Freezor’s story doesn’t line up with how other ponies describe the other ponies in it.”
“What do you think this means, could he be covering something up?” Rarity asked, looking worried.
“If he is acting as bad as you three say he is, then I think I know a way to get this thing settled. But I’ll need your help, do you trust me?” Tornado asked, looking the three friends in the eyes.
A moment of silence passed while each of them thought on the matter, Twilight looked up with a smile. “We trust you, what do you need us to do?”
