Sin abruptly reached inside his cloak and pressed a transfer of his body heat from the palm of his right hand to the back of Rose Spark's neck as a whisper of ancient magic, moving up and down in gentle strokes to remove the chills that nipped her dirty figure. He radiated warmth and was graced with the filly struggling to move under his shirt for extra protection from the cold. His long, thick hair banded with the icy winds as an invisible wave of pure white in the open air. Flames of cold fire were the most accurate to the blending of his hair joining the harsh blizzard. He caught a glimpse of the filly's blue-green eyes deepening as the snow fell faster and heavier, an intense stare that speaks as a plead for escape of this chilly evening.
He was not entirely certain, but he swore he could feel old emotions sparking inside him when Rose Spark whimpered in the crook of his neck, nestling deeply to hide from the cold shoulder of Mother Nature. He stepped through the growing level of snow with ease and continued to work on her neck.
Damn winter is going to give her a cold. I'll have to make a quick stop so she can warm up. If we get there that is," Sin added, "Ah, who am I kidding? I'm just being a pessimistic ass about this.
As Sin approached the middle of town, very few eyes on him, he added, "This beats patrolling an entire city for one king. The last I did that took me an entire hour of using Particle Clones, and that was before the sun rose."
"Mister Sin, I'm really cold." Rose Spark shot through her shivering, in a big way that perturbed Sin's need to reach Sugarcube Corner before nightfall. It was clear the young filly did not share the same enthusiasm most foals have for snow.
Sin nodded and stroked her cheek, a small grin lighting his piercing, green eyes. "Sorry about that, sweetheart. I guess I lost track of things by thinking too much. Let's get you something hot to eat before we go to our new home."
Home, Rose thought. It was the first time she felt love and care from someone who cares, or anyone, for that matter. She was still unsure of the human being her legal guardian now, as if his appearance and attitude gave away small indications of a stone-hearted male, but that was on the outside. The touch of his hand, however, said otherwise. She winced when his fingers scratched her neck, as if he about hurt her; at least that is what drove through her traumatized mind.
The touch. The warmth. The feeling of someone caring for her. The fact that a male—let alone a two legged male with hardly any fur— was both exciting and terrifying for the filly. To have someone holding her so closely to his chest. Rose Spark wished she could have this feeling last forever, but the cold nips of Mother Nature's cold shoulder stole that warmth before she could relish it.
The little filly moved deeper into Sin's hold, almost desperately, pulling his long hair around her body. That small movement seemed to appease the Sin's discouragement enough for him to collect his mind. Unfortunately, that small movement on her part quickly drew the attention of ponies still outside, including that of a stomping purple alicorn, who couldn't seem to stop staring at him. A low warning glare escaped he could stop it.
The purple alicorn looked at him and then at City Hall speculatively.
Why did I agree to this role of parenthood and Town Guard? I should have just remained on the train and went on with my ride to someplace that is more secluded. He looked down at Rose Spark and watched her shiver under his hair. Oh yeah, that is why I accepted the job. Admitting to that weakness even though no one can hear him was one of the most difficult things he'd ever done.
Rose Spark did not hesitate. "Mister Sin, I'm really cold. Are we going to be at the house soon? I don't want to be in the cold anymore," she admitted. "I don't like winter like the others." She indicated the shivers her body made.
Sin followed his gaze to the brightly colored house spreading wider under the mounds of snow it collected throughout the day. He covered the opening of his cloak with his hand. His hand, however, was pushed away by the filly so she could see where they were going.
Sin nodded and pointed at the humble abode known as Sugarcube Corner. He followed the way through the near invisible trail of hoof prints, with Rose Spark close to his chest.
The moment they were out of the snow, under the awning of the porch, Sin shook off all the snow that accumulated on his cloak, and Rose Spark spat some of the snow when it landed on her. "First things first, we get you a warm drink and hopefully some real food before going to the house, then we'll get you cleaned up, " He indicated the smell her body released profusely. "Because, sweetheart, you smell like something that came out of an outhouse."
"Hey!" Rose Spark barked, puffing her cheeks as the human opened the door.
Let's just get this over with, he said to himself. I have no desire to build a crowd because of my appearance or presence.
I really have to go potty. Rose Spark tried not to express the demand, but it came out in her emotions despite her best effort, and Sin sensed it immediately.
The house was quite large, built of wood yet carved into various shapes of sweets you use to make cakes and pies. This one was unique and a one of kind, far from anything else. Ponies inhabited this house, and Sin felt reclusive when they met his gaze. It did not surprise him to catch the various sensations of curiosity, very faint, mingling with that of pony terror-stricken. These ponies had been standing around the fireplace and sharing many stories about their lives at some point earlier in the evening, and Sin was the lucky guy to walk in right before another story was passed around the room.
Sin made his way towards the table furthest from the ponies, but he did not set Rose Spark down until they were in their seats. He set the filly in the chair next to him. The ominous feeling of eyes locked on him were everywhere, and it did not settle with him. Sin had planned ahead and had made the mental note of his plans for the rest of the day. Still, it was uncomfortable that the filly was crossing her hooves and whimpering as the ponies watched.
Sin threw his head towards the bathroom door to his left. "You don't need my permission to use the bathroom. If you need to go, then go."
Rose Spark did not wait for his words to click in her mind. She spun to her right, hopped out of her seat, and made an amazing dash for the vacant bathroom that is calling her name. Still, Sin watched her to make sure she did not venture elsewhere or had a pony stop her. It was protective instinct.
Sin put a hand to the zipper linking both sides of his cloak and pulled it down slowly. He put his other hand over his forehead, just for a moment to rub the mild headache, as he eased out of his defensive suspicions and into his chair. From where he sat in his state of mind, many thoughts ran through his head as the crowd continued to distantly observe him. Some could swear that his skin revealed a canvas of scars linking to a portrait of their own imagination, while others were certain of seeing a strange glow move in waves through his long hair.
Two of the ponies closest to Sin stepped back and whispered to one another, and Sin heard every word, as if it were as clear as a normal decibel in the room.
"What the hay is that thing?"
"I don't know, but it is kind of cute.
"Cute!? It has scars all over, and it is furless!"
"I think it might be friendly. It did come into this place with that filly."
"Doubt it."
"Hey, didn't Rainbow Dash say something about a furless creature being some sort of hero? I think that might be the creature she was talking about."
"I don't know, but let's go ask her."
Holding his breath and his mind steady on the matter at hand, he turned back to the window in front of him to watch the snow gingerly fall to the ground. The snowflakes gathered peacefully in the window. Quietly. Just like in most movies that climax with the season. The silence sent a relaxing tingle across his skin. The emotions he felt opening inside himself returned to their sanctuary and remained dormant. Sin leaned back in his chair and took in a deep breath of what appeared to be joy, one hand stroking hair from in front of his eyes.
"I need a vacation," he said to himself, ignoring the sound of an approaching pony.
There was curiosity in her silence as the two shared a small gap of space. She did not say a word to him, but continued to hold her notepad in one hoof while the pencil remained in her mane. She could hear his gentle breathing and feel that something was off with him, although the goosebumps in her blue fur gave that away immediately. She coughed nervously and caught Sin's attention. Sin, however, did not respond to the older looking mare. He simply opened one eye and gazed from the corner.
"Good evening sir," the nervous mare was between chuckling and backing away with nervous tension as he locked said eye onto hers. "Is there anything you would like from our beloved shop?"
Sin looked away and closed his eye again. He sighed and pondered what to have from Sugarcube Corner, beads of sweat visible on the mare's forehead as she placed the pencil in her mouth. He cleared his throat as the toilet upstairs sounded, informing him that Rose Spark was finished. "Do you have anything other than sweets? Anything that is a full meal for a very young filly?"
"Sweets are what we mostly bake here," the blue mare said. She looked back to her kitchen, watching her husband flip some dough and roll it. "But I suppose I can cook a few vegetables if you'd like."
Sin nodded and pressed his hand to the pouch of bits. "Throw some scrambled eggs in there and I'll give you a hundreds bits on the spot." He began pulling bits out of the pouch, stacking them on the table for the mare to see. "Also, please ready a chocolate cake and a hot chocolate for my daughter, and bring me a large espresso with cream and sugar."
"Right away, Mr..."
"Sin Firestorm. And you are?"
"Cupcake."
"Thank you again, Ms. Cupcake."
Cupcake turned away and proceeded to cook for the human, while pressing her thoughts to her husband and studying Sin for his bland nature. She wasn't sure if this was his way of being professional, or that he is not the mood to be social with the other ponies. She was suspicious of the man, but she wasn't certain of what. Clearly there was something about the human that threw off her usual, joyful, caring attitude.
Was he part of the many foalnappings? The source of the problem? If so, that did not bode well for what she already has planned when someone tries to take her babies. She needed to look naïve and ignorant for the time being; at least until she knows what this man's intentions are.
Sin continued stacking bits on the table as the crowd in Sugarcube Corner grew in size of its gathering. The ponies that were scattered throughout the shop, talking and laughing with friends, grouped together at the fireplace to speak about Sin. Some were nervous to see him at the table, nervous that he was so quiet and mysterious. Others were curious and flustered by their own liking of his figure and handsomeness, but every one of them had the same question running through their heads.
Who is that?
Rose Spark returned from the upstairs bathroom and quickly trotted to the human before anyone could stop her for questioning. She was nervous and very afraid of the human, but he was the most trustworthy being in the entire shop. Though her mind said otherwise about trusting anyone, her heart said very differently about the man. She could not understand it, nor her reason for this, but he is all she has for the time being.
After taking her seat across from Sin, Rose Spark gingerly leaned over the table and watched him finish counting bits before closing his pouch and placing it back in his cloak. She held her gaze on him for as long as she could—that is to say as long as he did not look at her or make any sudden movement towards her. Still, she found it hard to look away and think of anything else. Weird, scary, or not, Sin had her attention with his many qualities and the many objects she dumped from the bag he carries in another pocket. How such a thing could carry such large, various objects astounded her. It had to be some sort of spell that makes it possible.
"Is there something on my face?" Sin asked as he locked his eyes on the filly and stretched his arms, his muscles ensnaring many mares when he flexed to pop the joints. "Or do I have something in my teeth?"
Rose Spark gasped when he spoke to her, a revelation to the curious human how afraid she is of everyone around her. "No, I was just watching you count those bits." she said in a low voice, while shrinking into her chair to avoid his gaze. She looked around the well-kept shop. It was nothing more than many eyes surrounding her and her new father, some so observant that she could not scratch her ear without someone noticing. "Why are there so many ponies staring at us?"
Sin sent her a wan smile before crossing his arms behind his head and propping his feet in the other chair, something Mrs. Cake did not appreciate. She always despised having customers prop themselves in two chairs, just for the simple fact of having to clean twice as much. "It's not you that draws their attention. I'm the one that has everyone staring. They're curious or excited to see me in this restaurant."
Rose Spark gave him a dumfounded look. "Why would everypony here be curious or excited to see you?"
Sin flashed a cocky grin and leaned over the table, his quiet nature receding a little as he relished the filly's ignorance of his reputation. "Because I'm not some ordinary man in a small town. Remember when Mayor Mare talked about all of my recommendations and about my history?"
"Yes," the little unicorn said with a cocked eyebrow.
Sin gave her one last glimmer of his own happiness and shifted to a much more prideful smirk. All ears were now on him; even the ponies that stood from a distance were honing in on his words.
One pony, however, was quietly moving in to do more than listen, for she knew who the man is. Her various collection of cards and action figures told all, and, luckily, she retained the information she read from each item during her fillyhood.
"I'm not your ordinary guy," Sin began, drawing the filly's attention to him. "I've travelled the entire world and lived since the day Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon by Princess Celestia. I have been to every country in Equus and trained with the most powerful ponies to ever exist. Not only that, I have spent many generations bringing peace to monarchs that have passed into history. My reputation is not from doing so much, but from doing each thing for the last one thousand years."
"What?" Rose Spark said incredulously. "There's no way you've lived for a thousand years, unless you are an immortal or a god. But only the princesses are immortal, so you have to be lying."
"I assure you, sweetheart, that what I say is the truth," Sin said with that same cocky grin, his voice dripping with excitement as the filly glared at him. He reached for his bag and pulled out a small album of photos that were taken during his journeys. "But if you do not believe me, then look at all of these pictures that were taken. Some of them were made by citizens who were willing to share their memories. Thankfully I knew enough about magic back then to manifest their memories onto pieces of paper."
The front of the album opened with the same series of ominous, horror film creaks Sin used when he pranked his last superior for replacing his shampoo with yellow hair dye. There was no time for silence when the young unicorn found the first page of pictures to be dating back almost a millennia ago—so it says on the printing in the top left corner. Her heart beat steadily as each picture revealed different creatures from historical times. Griffon, Dragon, Minotaur, and Pony.
She looked at each picture carefully and traced each moment of Sin's history, linking the human's timeline by his images. She blinked in uncertainty as Sin placed a finger on each and explained them individually, his eyes glimmering with many great sensations of his past.
"In that picture I was the apprentice of Chrome Dome: The Unbeatable Minotaur. I was twenty six years old when he took me in and gave me the opportunity to become part of his family. He was so strong that he lifted a full grown dragon and tossed it out of his corn fields after it was killed for attacking his village."
Rose Spark turned to the next page, and Sin explained to her about his history in that era, ignoring his senses telling him that a pony was floating behind him, almost leaning over his shoulder.
"In this picture I was one hundred and three years old, and Chrome Dome passed the title of 'Strongest in Equis' to me. I beat him in an arm wrestling match, but I'm pretty sure he let me win because he was getting old. Back in his prime though, oh man, he could arm wrestle six minotaurs at once and not even break a sweat."
Another page was turned, and so came more of his history. "This is a good one. I was three hundred and nine years old in this picture, and I earned my seventeenth blackbelt in front of the Jayponese Council. I was given an opportunity of becoming a fellow member of the council, but I declined."
"Why?" Rose Spark asked.
"Because I am immortal, and exploring the world became my passion," Sin said excitedly. "I loved travelling the world, and doing so gave me many chances to learn from the greatest warriors in Equis. I have spent my entire life becoming the man I am today. It wasn't until Griffonia had its first war that I became a general. And that was forty years ago, twenty years before King Talon's birth."
"You were in a war?"
"Yes, eight wars to be exact," Sin answered, causing everyone in the cake shop to gasp. Unlike them though, he just kept talking about his past without a shred of regret or guilt in his eyes. "Each of them was with good reason though. There were many tyrants and monsters that needed to be stopped before they could invade Griffonia."
Rose Spark's eyes widened very dramatically. She held her gaze on the human as Mrs. Cake returned with his food and a pink alicorn in the back did the same as her blue Pegasus friend. Approach and listen very quietly, although her mind was screaming to make herself known by him.
The fiery Pegasus behind her, however, had different intentions with Sin. Some of which were best unheard.
"Then where did you get that sword?" Rose asked, pointing at the blade as it stuck out in the open.
"This old thing," Sin picked up his katana and placed it on the table, forgetting that Mrs. Cake was setting their food and drink on the table. "I've had this since I left Jaypan. Her name is Setsuna-Maru, and she was crafted by the greatest blacksmith to live. Soft Cauldron: The Unicorn with the Iron Eye."
"Iron eye?" Rose questioned.
Sin chuckled at her. "He was given that title for his keen sense of producing a good blade. Each sword he crafted was near unbreakable and sharp enough to cut a leaf in half." He unsheathed the blade, revealing its charcoal black color and various, colorful symbols. "This blade, however, was crafted with a very rare metal known as Black Steel. A metal that is unbreakable and so powerful that it can slice through stone as though it were paper."
Rose gasped at the blade, its glossy shine shimmering in her eyes as he ran a finger over the symbols.
"He made this blade as a testament to his daughter's love and loyalty, after she died at the hooves of a greedy shogun that wanted to force him into crafting weapons for war. This blade has much history in it, but the most important history it possesses is Soft Cauldron giving her to me before he died from natural causes."
"Here you both go," Mrs. Cake interrupted the human, her eyes shifting to the human as he returned the sword to its sheath. "Coffee for you and hot chocolate for the cutie here, and two steaming hot plates of stir-fried vegetables with brown rice." She beamed a warm smile at the man, while taking the bits he held out for her. "Thank you, and I will have your chocolate cake ready in ten minutes."
"Thank you, Mrs. Cake." Sin said kindly. He and Rose Spark dug into their food when Mrs. Cake walked away, although Rose Spark had less manners than he did. Not that he could blame the filly anyway. She was probably starving.
Meanwhile, in the midst of eating their meal, a certain alicorn filly drove through the crowd that continues to watch the human and slowly approached with her mother on her tail. She called upon her little heart to build the courage she needs to approach the man who repaired her doll. Curiosity gripped her young mind. Wonder. A need to know more about him. There was no way to deviate from the human. She took a breath and paced herself, pouring everything she needed, everything that is bravery into her chest.
I can do this. I am not afraid. Not all stallions are mean to mommy and me.
The burst of courage was heavy. Her little body went rigid, almost convulsed from the fear that counterattacked moments ago. The air she engulfed was driven from her lungs in one long thought that abruptly ended when her eyes met with the unicorn filly across the table. She couldn't think, the fear beating her courage and turning every nerve ending to ice. Her approach started to slow down, trying to stop her from inching any closer.
She was barely aware of her mother talking to her, of having her chest nudged while the yellow Pegasus behind them watched with curiosity of the outcome she predicted. Cadance moved her daughter from the behind the human's chair and softly told her to return to the other side of the shop.
However...
"Hello," Cadance froze at that word, mostly to his very smooth and masculine voice. "Is there something you need from me?"
The nobles were removing themselves at Celestia and Luna's command and the pain was lessened with much needed silence. Both princesses managed to remove six more problems from their duties before emotional exhaustion took hold. There were several other nobles in next room, waiting behind the doors, most from higher classes while others were still in the middle class of Aristocrats, but neither alicorn cared about them at the moment.
Luna had to move away from her sister to hold onto the ring she has kept safe under her chest piece for the last one thousand years. She pulled it from the platinum chain that was given to her as a final gift of remembrance, backing down that memory lane of agony and regret. She needed rest and peace, but only rest could be accomplished.
She was currently staring down at the gold ring, its shine not a day lost in the many years of secrecy, and sighing to herself as the last tear she could shed fell onto the floor. Today marks his birthday. He should be with us right now, sitting with us to deal with these snobs, but he is...is-
There was more silence. Luna found herself accompanied by her sister sharing the same desire, holding what signified their lost engagement with the one that stole their hearts. She stared up to Celestia and wondered if she was just as mournful as her. The sunshine within the windows glimmered gently over their rings, setting them glowing their engravings. Both alicorns loved the glow their rings gave as the sunlight rustled between different, colorful shards of Equestria's history.
Celestia was the same as Luna. She was ice-cold from guilt, but the feeling did not lay over her as it should. Somehow, even in her emotional state, the Solar Princess managed to hold back tears.
My love. In spite of the pain in her voice, Celestia sounded normal. She'd only fallen deeply into depression twice in her life. Are you happy wherever you are? If you are in the heavens, are you happy there? Is there somepony to be what we failed to in your life?
"Sister, it is the day of our engagement...again." Luna pointed out somberly.
Celestia had known this moment would come, just like it always does every year. She had hoped her sister would bring it up much later in the day. Pressing her lips together she nodded slowly, even though her mind and body was screaming to do otherwise. "Yes, Luna, I know. Today is the day we lost him to our own mistakes."
"The day I allowed myself to become a monster," Luna added. She looked away to hide the growing sparkle in her eyes, but there was no amount of magic that could curtain her sorrow. "He would be so ashamed of us right now. We've allowed ourselves to carry the secrets of our past as false memories."
"It was necessary, Luna. The least we could do is not tarnish his history." Celestia reminded.
"You make it sound so easy to forget," Luna infused absolute anger in her voice. She held onto the past very tightly and glared at the window next to her, tears streaming as she pressed a hoof to her stomach. "I can never forget my mistake. I destroyed the beginning of a legacy for the power to destroy you. I murdered what was to become our-"
"Luna, don't do that to yourself," Celestia pressed quickly, concern shining in her majestic eyes as the Lunar Princess began to sob. "You and I both know that it was impossible to save it. Besides, you were corrupted and unaware of what was going to happen to your body."
"It does not matter if I did not know," Luna sighed deeply, all anger draining from her body while the ring fell out of her hoof. "The fact remains as it should. I took away something that was supposed to be ours, and I destroyed our engagement. I am the reason we are without our mate."
Celestia closed in on her side, wing draping over her sister's back. She lowered herself to Luna's level and nuzzled her lovingly, meeting depression with care and comfort. "Memories and heritage are all that you destroyed. She lives because you used your power to send her into a deep slumber."
"But she is without the truth," Luna hissed. "She lives elsewhere, wondering Equestria while you and I hide her existence like cowards."
Her heart had already gone out of her chest and into her throat. She could not deny that she found him attractive through his appearance and mysterious nature, so of course Cadance knew. She knew that something strange about this man made her feel infatuation at an unfamiliar level. Back in high school she would blush and giggle at Shining Armor after he left Gym Class as a heaping mess of physique and sweat. At first she'd hide from him and watch from a good distance, but this was nothing like the tension she felt in her body. She had become more than what she was as a teenager in love. Infatuated. Absolute. Extremely Curious. Light Headed. Bashful.
He was nearly a man impossible to resist. Well. Alright. Her resistance to this white-haired stranger was very thick for the simple fact of barely meeting the first time. For now, she just needed to build a little confidence in herself in order to start a conversation that will not start or end with her tongue hanging out.
Cadance bit down hard on her lip, wincing a little when it stung. She wasn't there yet, not the emotional part, but that did not matter nor would it ever if she did not respond.
Skyla's curiosity shifted to a long nuzzle that caught Sin's attention. She giggled as the palm of his hand touched her. It smelled like strawberries. Her favorite scent of shampoo. "You're funny looking for a hairless monkey. Why is there only long fur on your head when it should be all over?"
"Skyla!?" Cadance yelped with a swift movement of her hoof pulling her daughter back, and as she moved the filly to her side, she smiled sheepishly at the smiling man, hoping he would not retaliate with words. "I am so sorry about that. My daughter has this tendency to ask things that are much too personal and-"
"It's alright," Sin said with a gentle wave of his hand, his gesture surprising Cadance and her yellow furred friend to the right. "All foals are curious. I use to be the same way when I was just a kid, but I was shy rather than bold like your daughter." He smiled warmly at the filly, his carelessness shocking most of the ponies in the shop. "And I am not a hairless monkey, little one. I am what you would call a human, and my name is Sin Firestorm."
"I'm Skyla," the little princess chirped. She stepped forward once more and pointed at her embarrassed mother. Little did she know that a certain blue Pegasus pushed through the crowd and watched. "This is my mommy, Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire. Why are you so tall and skinny? Do you not eat enough?"
"Skyla!?" Cadance yelled.
Sin held up his right arm and made a fist as the crowd gathered in the moment of opportunity. He flexed his arm and chuckled at the filly, and like all athletic men, the large muscles he has became twice in size, veins bulging as the display made a few mares blush and a certain princess snort with lust.
"Humans do not have the same figure as a pony, and what you see is actually incredible physique I have gained through many years of hard work and training," he explained. Sadly for him, Rose Spark took this chance to snatch a leek from his plate of food. "Remember to eat right and exercise if you want to get big and strong."
Cadance stopped their sudden conversation with a short cough to her hoof. She glanced at the human and noticed his cheeks had flushed after his eyes met with hers, suddenly nervous.
"It can't be true!" a raspy voice yelled excitedly, her wings carrying her to the man as quickly as they can. She stopped in midflight to meet Sin with hardly any space between and a large grin to go with the shine in her ruby colored eyes. "You cannot be who I think you, becausehe lives in Griffonia as the War General for King Talon."
"Retired," Sin said lowly, his eyes meeting with Cadance' once more, but the mare flying in front of him kept getting in the way.
This annoying but very friendly mare was none other than Rainbow Dash, and she was the most excited mare in all of Equestria. She'd seen many things in her journey as the Element of Loyalty, had even fought some of the worst villains, but nothing like this. There was no fitting description for the massive amount of excitement that surged through her entire body. An explosion, yes, she was feeling through every strand of fur. "You-you can't be The Sin Firestorm of Griffonia: War Legend and eleven time champion of the Equus Fighter's Tournament. You just can't be!"
Her voice echoed throughout the cake shop like a clap of thunder rolling across the roof. Sin hadn't realized he was leaning back and holding his breath until she gave him a little space. She ceased hovering in front of the man and landed on her hooves, gracefully. He released the uncomfortable tension in his breath, braced himself for the inevitable and made the next move. Rose Spark stayed close to Sin, not just to hear more about his mesmerizing tales about his travels, but to hide from the crows that somehow gathered and closed in on them during his talk. She did not trust Sin like most foals would, just enough to calm herself down. Still, Sin was the closest thing for comfort and security from the many eyes locked on her.
With every second he took in that worn silence he seemed to absorb into him the same, professional manner he uses to speak with adoring fans. His wisdom. His kindness. His sense of honor and duty to his followers. He felt that old champion within himself rise to the surface and take control of his emotions before the Pegasus could say another word. It was a nice thing to feel, but he could not act that way, not anymore. Somewhere, sometime, many months ago, he felt it was best to remove the mask of his true nature and be bury the champion he once was. The longer he continued to wear that mask, the more it took over, and that was beyond uncomfortable.
As he stared at the blue Pegasus, his heart decelerated from the awkwardness. He became calm and collected from gathering his thoughts. The smile he usually gave to his fans formed naturally, and as it did, raw tension loosened into a soft and gentle radiation of the minor joy he has for this mare. The room became very relaxing, and the aura of his true-self glowed softly around him, something only the mares could see during their swooning of his adorable look.
Even Rainbow Dash could not believe this smile to be so comforting. It was so different from the Sin she knows from her many comic books about him. He seemed so unreal, and yet he was the man she rudely yelled throughout the cake shop.
A wave of lustful sighs progressed from the mares. When it died down, Sin leaned close to the blue Pegasus and reached to her, his palm slowly landing on top of the young mare's head, drawing out a blush from her cheeks. He began to rub her head and down her neck, then to the back of her ears with his thumb and index finger, causing the pony to snort at the sweet sensation of having the back of her ears scratched.
Cadance stood silent, extremely still, much as the mares behind her, but unlike them, she glared at the Pegasus for butting in and hogging all of the attention.
"The one and only," Sin said in a low, soft tone of kindness that seemed to fill the room. He continued to scratched the Pegasus' ears. "And I am no longer the champion. I retired and gave the title away a few weeks ago."
Rainbow Dash looked up very quickly and gasped, her hooves following the urge to give out as she shook with astonishment. She sat on her haunches and allowed herself a moment to process the unbearable thought of her favorite fighter retiring. Her eyes grew into saucers, dilated to the point of pure blackness, reflecting Sin's smile as he looked up to the pink alicorn still glaring at her.
There was no mistaking what Rainbow Dash just heard. Sin definitely stated that he was retired and the title was no longer his. Her ears did not betray her. There was no indication but absolute certainty in the tone of his voice. The words had come to her mind with swift impact at the precise moment of the truth hitting her chest, but was no prepping for such acceptance. She didn't know what to say or do for the time being.
Sin chuckled at Cadance, his hand leaving Rainbow's head to extend towards the pink princess. "I believe you and I have encountered without exchanging names." he said very kindly, his manners impressing not just her but most of the ponies around them. "I would tell you mine but that is pure redundancy since this adorable Pegasus said it very loudly. How are you doing today?"
Cadance gave a little gasp and went silent, staring at the man as if she found the stallion of her dreams being too real right now. She couldn't speak or do anything to respond to the man's extended arm. Within seconds she turned more red than the blush on his cheeks and glanced over to her lustful friend, her eyes saying all that needs to be said right now.
Sin became nervous as this went on, his blush darkening while the Princess of Love mentally screamed at herself. "Miss, are you...alright?"
He's talking to me and holding out his...whatever that is. Come on, Cadance. Say something to him, say anything to him. SAY SOMETHING BEFORE HE LOSES INTEREST IN YOU AND—
"Name's Spitfire: Admiral of The Wonderbolts," Spitfire greeted with a respectful shake of her hoof. The awkwardness ceased, all those raging thoughts that boomed inside Cadance' head. Her friend saved her flank from losing the interest of this man. Cadance became aware of her heart beating too fast, but it was too late to consciously take a deep to calm herself down. "And this tall mare is my high school friend, but you already known her name. Pardon her silence, she is tongue-tied because she thinks you're super sexy."
The tension returned, and Sin blushed as hotly as the alicorn in front of him. If there was ever a moment to die from embarrassment, this was the perfect moment. Cadance darted her gaze to the yellow Pegasus, fire almost emanating in them. Her mouth went dry. Her heart began to pound. She felt the same tension gather low into her stomach, emotionally painful knots forming that she could resist or prevent.
There was deep infatuation here, the same she felt on the train—but there could also be rejection. She was not familiar with this man or his species, but something about him clicked in her mind and heart, something she never felt with Shining Armor—it spoke to her...Nay, it screamed from the deepest part of her soul. Told her to do something before it was too late. If this was destiny telling her to make a move, she would truly be standing in front of her fantasy. Cadance would have a dream come true and the happiness she has been waiting to arrive for many moons. She would have the stallion of her dreams.
The feeling between Spitfire and Cadance went somber. The eloquence of their friendship slowly faded into minor conflict, Spitfire knew she was causing it. She had the idea of making the first move for herself and her lonely friend, because that's what real friends do when both have their eyes on the same stallion. Spitfire was a true friend. Unfortunately she was not certain if it was the best approach, especially when her friend was glaring daggers at the moment.
Sin took a long look at Spitfire and Cadance. It seemed that the yellow Pegasus was rather infamous. Taking seductive action to help her pink friend would be a little daunting. Only a very confident and strong mare would ever be so honest.
Sin smiled sheepishly at both mares, chuckling nervously. Clearly he was not use to a mare confronting him. He was physically fit and moved with the flow of a tiger in the jungle, but his weakness appeared to cute mares complimenting him.
"Look at that, Cadance," Spitfire said teasingly, nudging her friend as the he stood up, ignoring that Rose Spark ate his portion. "I think somepony is embarrassed." She approached Sin, closing all options for him to escape, and fluttered her eyes. "Tell me, cutie, which one of us is better looking? My friend...or me?"
"Spitfire!" Cadance yelled, before hiding behind her mane. Ohhhh...This could not get any worse. How could I forget that she is upfront with stallions?
At once the silence became a dull chuckle from Sin as he began to sweat from embarrassment, and the two mares waited patiently for him to answer, his heart racing into his throat. He gulped and bit his lip as Spitfire's actions grew, her tail swishing in the air with fluid motion that can only mean one thing.
"Come on," she chuckled poking his thigh with her hoof. "Which of us is better looking?"
He felt the weight of his nervousness and embarrassment crash down, his legs body shaking from the uncomfortable sensation of this sexy Pegasus licking her lips and winking at him. He hadn't realized she stole his breath until he gasped for air. Finally he retrieved his belongings and Rose Spark, but his mouth betrayed him at the last second of escaping the awkwardness.
"You're both equally beautiful in my eyes," he threw a hand over his mouth, unable to process where inside himself those words came from. He felt his conscience gather in his mind as the two mares shared a light-red blush.
He thinks I'm beautiful, Cadance thought to herself. She smiled at Sin as he made a quick grab for Rose Spark. Well that is a big relief, I think.
"So we're equal, eh?" Spitfire cooed. "Well aren't you just a sweetheart, making us feel so special with your words."
She's messing with me! Sin mentally screamed, before wrapping his new daughter into his cloak and snapping his fingers. Once he did, both he and Rose Spark disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving no clue as to where he went.
"Whoa, where did he go?" Rainbow Dash asked rhetorically, frustration imminent as she processed his disappearance. "Dang it; now it's going to take even longer to get him to sign my replica cloak he wore during his fight with Scarred Scales!"
"That was fun," Spitfire chirped. She turned back to her friend, finding the glare of death glowing from her orbs. "So, Cadance, I think we should do something before someone else takes him."
Cadance could not bear with her anymore. She pressed a hoof to her forehead and sighed deeply. "I would have been fine without you speaking the truth of my infatuation for him."
"Yeah, lets go with that. But I saw how embarrassed you were when he smiled, and you were tongue-tied the whole time."
"Be quiet, please."
"I like him," Skyla said out of the blue, with a smile. "He's funny looking when Miss Spitfire talks to him, and he seems really nice. Mommy, why are you still blushing?"
"Because," Spitfire chuckled, while lifting the little alicorn onto her back. "you're mommy, like me, likes him. Like me, she thinks Sin is very cute~"
"Spitfire!"
"Oh quit you're whining Cadance and lets get to the house."
Sin dropped into the snow with Rose Spark still in his cloak and his belongings levitating within his magic. His blood ran cold after the touch of Winter moved across his flushed cheeks, removing all signs of his embarrassment. The redness disappeared instantly, leaving no trace. He stepped forward as the winds grew stronger, his feet barely keeping him balanced as he approached the house Mayor Mare gave him, somewhat.
I can't believe she made me blush like that, he whispered in his head, his left hand reaching for the key. I have not blushed like that in so long. How did I allow myself to get this way? Have I gone soft over the years?
His hand stretched to meet with the lock, after grasping the key with a slightly sweaty palm. He was still nervous, filled with that same heavy feeling a person has when their infatuated with someone—or two in his case. After the tumblers clicked and the doorknob turned easily, he walked inside and gently placed the little unicorn to the floor. As he sat his belongings to the floor, the flood of having a new home set inside his body and aided him in obtaining that new sensation of relaxing.
Sin was very observant of the house's detailed surroundings. This was one of the characteristics that allowed him to become the warrior he is today. Everything seemed even more vivid and sharper through his heightened senses; even the minor things that go with his new home felt more broad in his eyes. Blue rested across the walls, flowing very nicely from the nice job the previous painters did. The furniture was burgundy and large enough for him to rest in without the worry of it breaking. A fireplace of black-painted brick sat in the furthest corner of the living, its flame brewing at the command of an enchantment Mayor Mare had a unicorn install.
"Very nice," he said to himself. The kitchen became his next target after hearing his own stomach growl. Everything about the kitchen ebbed and flowed with organization and cleanliness, not a speck to be seen on the granite countertop.
Sin dropped his palm over the countertop and at once, felt the smoothness run across his skin like silk. The feeling ran deeper with each second of him entering the room, impressed and happy that Mayor Mare gave him such a nice abode. He stepped back to allow himself a moment of peace before focusing on what is most important. He was not going to draw it, just to give himself a little clarity of this entire day starting off very awkwardly. In his entire lifetime, he could not remember a single time when his emotions got the best of him, but there, in Sugarcube Corner, he had one mare get the best of him with her charm and looks, and that mattered much more than he wanted to admit.
He leaned against the countertop and pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing out of frustration. "Immortal. War Hero. Assassin. Leader. I'm all of that, and I just had my best poker face easily beaten by two attractive mares." he said to himself in a harsh tone, his mind wandering around the two mares. "Dammit, I need a stiff drink to get this out of my head."
"Mr. Sin," Rose Spark's adorable voice filled his mind with a happier note. He opened his eyes and looked down to the filly reared up with her hooves on his left leg, curiosity beading in her red diamond eyes. "Is this your house or are we spending the night here?"
Sin stayed where he was and smiled lovingly at the curious filly. He could not deny that this little unicorn was the most adorable thing he'd ever seen in his life. But how was it that one filly could make him feel so...happy? How? She does not possess and form of power that can manipulate his mind and heart, but, alas, her presence is more than enough to make his true nature blossom from its stone prison.
How? How was she doing it?
"No, sweetheart, this is our house now. We'll be sharing it with another pony, but this is our home now," he said very softly, almost angelic. Carefully, he leaned down and petted Rose Spark, drawing out a soft snort when he scratched her chin. "Go pick out your room while I run a bath for you."
She smiled and her red eyes seemed to sparkle in the light of the kitchen, although a thousand time softer than the strongest of beams. She nodded her head very quickly and took off, sprinting upstairs for the biggest bedroom there is.
"Hey, no running in the house either." Sin yelled kindly, his words being an echo in the background of her giggles. He folded his arms behind his head and kept his smile, listening to the filly run across the second floor. "She may not trust me to be her father, but she is trusting me to protect her. I better get my act together if I want to be a good father, starting with my number one priority being her."
Sin pulled his thoughts away from Rose and walked upstairs to the bathroom, moving away from his worries of Spitfire and Cadance getting the best of him to start the filly's bath. He radiated curiosity as the door to his new throne swung open to reveal a much more elaborate bathroom than most would find in a two-story house. The tiles were long and thick with black, stretching in a spiral fashion that was too good for normal finish. The mirror and sink were perfectly aligned to the blue wall, fashioned with long shelves that hold many necessities to a good bathe.
Lastly, the bathtub, a large, thick stone finish that can he can fit in very easily. It was not very extravagant, but the way it was made into an oval gave away detail to the previous owner being not so small; at least that's what passed in Sin's mind. He swore he could see his reflection in the base of the tub as he turned both faucets and plugged the drain.
He stepped back and reached for the shampoo and conditioner in the first shelf. Damn, somebody went to work with making this place spotless. He began to open the bottles, when suddenly, his leg was touched with a small splash of very warm water. It was nice to feel such warmth touch him so softly, but the sensation surprised him too harshly.
Sin spun around as another splash happened, ignoring his enhanced sensory of another presence being in the room and preparing to inflict pain on the one that splashed him—or so he thought he would.
Sitting in the bathtub as it filled up, Rose Spark looked up to Sin and waited for him to remove the dirt and grime she accumulated overtime. Her mane fell flat and lost every curl, pure red and without volume as her new father stopped midway from launching a powerful spell at his fingertip. Sin was very quick to retract the spell and remove and sign of aggression, but it was still very shameful to assume that his life was in any danger whatsoever. To think that he was about to use powerful magic on Rose Spark made a knot form in his stomach.
"Rose, you startled me." Sin sighed, only to have senses touched by another presence—three more to be exact. He became very alarmed in an instant but remained calm as the filly waited for him to pour the shampoo.
"You said you would run a bath, so I came when I heard the water," she replied, before tilting her head a little at his strange behavior. "Are you okay, Mr. Sin? You've been really weird since those ponies talked to you at the cake place."
"I'm fine, sweethea—" Sin stopped at the sound of the door opening and spun around as it closed. There was no mistaking what he sensed and just heard. Someone was inside his house, someone he sensed to have deep aggression building as the little filly waited for him to answer.
"Where did all this come from?" he heard downstairs. The owner of the voice was female, and very familiar at best. "None of this is my stuff, and I had the door locked. Must be the roommate Mayor Mare told said I might have in the next few days."
"Whoever they are, they certainly have good taste in cake," another voice added. "Chocolate cake is my favorite."
Sin took in a deep breath, realizing from those words that his roommate is finally here. I better go introduce myself.
Sin stepped out of the bathroom, "Rose, stay here for a minute. I'll be right back.", and made his way downstairs to meet his roommate in the living room.
Making his way to the front door, first, he came to an abrupt stop when his roommate looked up to him with the same astonishment of their encounter. Both he and the mare stared in silence as the two guests in the kitchen gasped in shock of seeing their human acquaintance so soon.
"What are you doing here?" Cadance asked, while taking a slice of cake from the box—the same one Sin bought.
"I live here. Mayor Mare gave me a key." Sin answered, holding his key up for the mares to see.
Spitfire smiled lustfully at the man, her eyes glistening with the same deviousness she carried in Sugarcube Corner. "Well isn't this a nice surprise?" she purred. "The handsome hunk we met happens to be my roommate." She turned to her blushing friend, who happened to be staring at Sin's toned buttocks. "Cadance, you're drooling again. And his eyes are in his head, not on his plot."
Sin groaned at the yellow Pegasus, his expression becoming flat as the pink princess licked her lips. "Fuck me running."
He has such a small rump, like a little colt. Cadance said mentally. ...I want to touch it.