Frost and Amel left Zecora’s hut a short while later after eating some tasty food and drinking their share of her water. Zecora had offered them some potions, but Frost was skeptical and said no, and Amel simply said no thank you. Silently, she was morally opposed to the use of potions, but she had encountered enough different cultures lately to see that just because something was different didn’t mean it was evil.

They returned to town and still had plenty of time to kill, so they walked around to find out what else the town had to offer. They were pretty much silent for most of their walking, with Frost scanning the area and Amel thinking about him.

She still couldn’t get his real name out of her mind. Jack McDaniel... Why hadn’t he told her his real name? Thinking about it, Frost wasn’t much of a name, even if it was plausible. She had no idea what human names sounded like. Was there as much variation as pony, horse, and gryphon names? What did they usually sound like? What was Duke’s name, what cultural significance did they have? But even through all of this, one question ruled overall:

Why did Frost never give Amel his real name?

“Hey, Amel!” Frost said, yanking her from her thoughts. “Check that out!”

Amel looked forward at what Frost was pointing at. He had his finger trained on a sign that said Rodeo Ring, and behind, a dirt track. There were several dozen ponies in the stands cheering for the two ponies in the dirt, wrestling and trying to pin each other on the ground. The two ponies were all too familiar; a cyan blue pegasus with a rainbow mane, and an orange earth pony with a blonde mane and a stetson hat.

“Let’s see what’s going on over there!” Frost announced more than suggested.

When they reached the edge of the rodeo ring, they saw the two ponies in a bitter struggle to pin each other on the ground and claim victory. Applejack had a distinct advantage in weight, but Rainbow Dash was consistently too fast for the larger earth pony to catch. Rainbow was able to push AJ around a bit, but she was unable to totally knock her down at any point.

Frost started cheering on and Amel just watched in silence, curious as to why other ponies found the fighting so interesting. Frost was a warrior, so she got that, but the other crowd was a mystery to her. Maybe they just loved violence; so uncivilized.

“Sweep the leg, no mercy!” Frost shouted.

Applejack suddenly turned to face the new voice. “What?!” she asked. She had been too distracted to hear.

And she was distracted again now, leaving Rainbow Dash with the perfect opportunity to sweep the leg. She ran under AJ, yanking her hooves out from under her, sending her to the ground in an explosion of dust. Rainbow Dash then proceeded to grab AJ’s tail and use it to wrap up AJ’s hind legs, then did the same with AJ’s flailing front legs and her mane. With that, Rainbow took a proud stance over her friend and roared.

“I AM THE IRON PONY!!”

The crowd went wild, and Frost started laughing, now understanding what exactly was happening. Amel let the joyful cheer get to her a bit and started laughing herself as Rainbow untied Applejack. Applejack looked somewhat peeved, specifically with Frost, and when she stared walking over, it was clear that it was all with him.

“Y’all distracted me!” she yelled as she approached.

Frost shrugged. “You shoulda been paying attention to her,” he said casually.

“He didn’t need to,” Rainbow said, floating next to her friend just out of reach. “I woulda won soon anyway.”

“Keep tellin’ yourself that, mare,” Applejack warned. “Next time, I’ll git you good.”

“If you don’t let yourself get distracted again,” Frost said. Applejack shot him a glare. “What? It’s true.”

“You think you’re so good, huh?” Applejack asked, a smile forming on her face. “Why don’tcha jump into the ring, then? Show us what you’re made of.”

“Sure!” Frost replied delightfully. Applejack and Rainbow Dash blinked in surprise as the human hopped over the fence. “Let’s have at it!”

“Now ya see, it wouldn’t be fair fer a big ol’ man like you to wrestle me,” Applejack said. “I got somepony else for you.”

“Bring it on,” Frost said.

“Are you sure?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I know who she’s gonna call, and he’s never been beat.”

“If I don’t try, I already know that I won’t win,” Frost said. Amel smiled at the little phrase.

“Alrighty then,” Applejack said. “Hey, Big Mac!” she shouted, looking toward the crowd.

It only took a moment for Frost to know who she was referencing. A huge red stallion stood out of the crowd, much to the behest of the small yellow pegasus next to him, and walked down to the ring. The whole way, he was talking to the mare, presumably his significant other, probably reassuring her that Frost wouldn’t hurt him too bad.

When he jumped into the ring, though, Frost really got a good look at him, and started to regret his decision. The stallion was the size of a horse, easily, and with every step, his muscles rippled and veins bulged. When he stepped, the dust would kick up in a whirlwind around his hooves and get stuck in his fetlocks.

“You called, sis?” he said. This was Applejack’s brother... not good.

“Ah did,” Applejack said, grinning at Frost. “This here fellah thinks he’s hot stuff. Felt like havin’ a challenge.”

Big Mac looked Frost up and down. There was a hint of recognition in his eyes, like he knew what he was looking at, but he had probable seen Frost in town. Frost stood tall and proud for the stallion to observe him. Amel moved in a better position to see, ultimately ending up in the spectator stands to watch the whole match.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said.

“Damn right,” Frost said.

“You still wanna go?” Big Mac asked. Frost removed his shirt, exposing his bare skin to the rough dirt and rocks.

“Let’s rock,” Frost replied with a smirk.

“Okay then,” Applejack said. “Rainbow, you wanna do the honors?”

“He may be your brother, AJ, but you’re still the Element of Honesty,” Rainbow said. They started heading to the stands. “You won’t give favoritism.”

“Ah know,” Applejack said. “But Ah just wanna watch this.”

“Okay then,” Rainbow said. She flew up to a good position to be the judge, leaving Applejack to walk over to Amel.

While Frost and Big Mac took opposite positions in the ring, Applejack walked to a spot next to Amel and sat down. Amel felt like she was under scrutiny next to such an important pony, but Applejack was initially silent, staring at the coming match. Amel did likewise, until finally the silence was broken.

“So you and Mister Frost, huh?” Applejack asked.

“Hm?” Amel asked.

“Ah saw how you looked at him when he took that shirt off,” Applejack said with a sly grin. Amel blushed hard. “Don’t worry, Ah won’t say anything. But you picked an interestin’ fellah, that you did.”

“What makes him so interesting?” Amel faked poorly.

“Lots o’ things, Ah reckon,” Applejack said. “Like how he’s got them muscles on him, even though he ain’t a pony.”

“Yeah,” Amel said, looking toward Frost in the distance.

“See there? You’re staring at him,” Applejack said. “So how did you two meet?”

“I was a slave in Saddle Arabia,” Amel said quickly. Applejack blinked. “Frost and his friend Duke saved me and took me in.”

Applejack smacked her knee. “Well, that’s mighty fine of them to do that! They should get medals for such kindness.” Applejack turned around and shouted up the steps, “Hey, Fluttershy!”

Amel looked up and saw the small yellow pegasus there, looking to her friend and coming down. She was very pretty, and her long, flowy mane would have made any Saddle Arabian mare envious to the point of theft. Her coat was well-kept, and she had a very worried but quiet look on her face.

“Yes, Applejack?” she asked softly.

Applejack patted Amel on the back. “This here mare was rescued from a real tough spot by those humans; one of the kindest things Ah ever heard of.”

Fluttershy looked to Amel, prompting her to speak. “Uhh, yes, they did,” Amel said. “I used to be a slave-”

“Oh, dear!” Fluttershy semi-shouted with her hooves at her mouth. She rushed up to Amel and held her hooves. “Are you okay? I know that ponies in those situations can suffer permanent damage.”

“I am fine,” Amel said, pulling her hoof away. “Frost and his friend saved me.”

Fluttershy blinked. “Oh, dear,” she said.

“What?” Amel asked.

“I’m conflicted now,” Fluttershy said. “Do I root for my husband, or the man who so kindly saved you from such a horrible place?”

“Root fer my brother!” Applejack shouted. “Now let’s hush up, they’re starting.”

Amel looked up to see Rainbow Dash holding a microphone. Fluttershy took a seat next to Amel and watched in quiet nervousness, much like Amel. Neither knew if their closest someponies was going to come out totally alright.

“In the right corner... the undefeated stallion of Ponyville, taking the championship from Cloudsdale’s own Bulk Biceps last year and even redesigning the physical training regiment for the Canterlot Royal Guard, he’s the stallion you know and love, the king of apples, the father of two and brother to my best friend... Big Macintooooooosh!”

Big Mac stepped forward into the ring as some hard music started playing. He ignored it and looked as stoic and uncaring as possible, but when Fluttershy started cheering him on, he let up a tiny smile and nodded her way.

“And in this corner... the new guy in town, he’s hanging out with some weird set of royal guards, walking through the forest at night like a fool, he’s a member of his own nation’s military, and has no experience fighting a pony... Froooooooost!”

Frost stepped into the ring with new music, shirt off and now only in his underwear, and raised his hands up in the air with confidence. A number of ponies booed him just for sport, but as many cheered him on, throwing in thanks for saving Apple Bloom. Amel waved to Frost, who responded by pointing to her and winking. The crowd “ooh’d” at the gesture, turning Amel’s face to a deep shade of red and making Frost laugh out on the track.

The stallion and man met in the center. “Here we have a match of the ages,” Rainbow said. “Nothing the likes of which has been seen in over a decade, we will finally know, who is stronger; Man, or Pony!” Rainbow announced. The crowd went wild. “Combatants: To ARMS!”

Frost and Mac punched their hooves and fists together before starting and stepped back a few steps. It was just customary; they wouldn’t really hit each other unless they had to. This was a wrestling match with fewer rules than usual, but it was still wrestling.

Fluttershy and Amel cheered on for their respective fighters as they began. Frost knew better than to be the first attacker with a new opponent, so he waited for Big Mac to make a move. The stallion started it off with a speedy charge at the man before him, but Frost just got out of the way and grabbed Mac’s tail. Big Mac responded by whipping around and sending Frost flying, then rolling on the ground.

Frost was covered in dirt now and he was a little scraped up from the tiny rocks, but he was still good. When Big Mac charged him again, Frost decided to jump up instead of to the side. Big Mac went right under him, and Frost landed on the red work horse's back. From there, he tried to turn around to ride the stallion like he would back home, but he fell off and rolled again.

Big Mac stopped for a short breather. “Y’know, yer gonna have to be better than that if you wanna take me down,” he said.

Frost stood with a grunt. “I know,” Frost said. “I’m just warming up.”

Now, Frost charged at Big Mac, hands out, and tried to grab at the stallion’s yoke. He succeeded, and when Mac tried to counter, Frost hopped sideways, draggin the yoke and Mac’s head with it. He threw the stallion to the ground, getting a cry of sympathy from the crowd. Mac just rolled back up immediately, though, and faced down the human.

“Ain’t gonna work!” he shouted.

“I realize that!” Frost replied.

As they charged again, Amel’s mind slipped back to his real name. What did it say about him that he didn’t want ponies to know? This, or something else? Was there a history with that name? What was going on? She brought her attention back to the match just in time to see the final charge.

“AHHHHH!” both the stallion and the man cried.

When they collided with more force than anypony thought was safe, Frost locked his arms around Big Mac’s neck and held on tight, while Big Mac wrapped his forelegs around the human. They spun in the air for a moment as their momentum carried them, then crashed to the ground and fired dust all over the place. They grappled there, on the ground, for some time, vying for control over each other and throwing dust all over.

Frost rolled off for just a moment, but before either he or Big Mac stood up, he dove onto the stallion’s side and pinned him as much as he could. Big Mac proceeded to roll right out of it and went about three yards away. As he stood up, Frost tackled him and brought him to the fence where the spectators were watching from, drawing them all much closer.

Now, Amel got to see Frost’s battle expression. It wasn’t at all what she expected; most ponies and horses and gryphons and the like have angry faces when in battle. Not Frost. His face was clearly showing the strain of the fight, but it betrayed no emotion, no frustration or anger. His eyes were quick and calculating, trying to figure out the best way to get the end result he wanted.

They were cold, emotionless, and ruthless.... and it terrified the young mare. Maybe Frost had lied, and that was the real reason he had that nickname.

Nopony else noticed that, though, as they were too busy making way for Fluttershy to cheer next to her husband.

“Come on, honey, you can do it! Take him down!” Fluttershy yelled, throwing everypony off.

The stallion and man struggled on the fence for a time, then, finally, looked at each other once and let go, patting each other on the side and back in mutual respect for their fighting prowess. The audience was confused by this, even Fluttershy and Applejack. The fighters left from the fence toward the center of the ring, quickly followed by Rainbow Dash, who sought to find out what was going on. She talked with them for a brief moment before addressing the crowd.

“It would seem that our fighters are tied!” Rainbow Dash announced.

The crowd went silent for just a moment, then erupted back into cheer again. Mac and Frost shook hand and hoof, then went back to where they felt they should go. Frost acquired his pants from where he dropped them and then returned to the stands to talk to Amel while Mac hopped over the fence and nuzzled his mare.

“That was impressive,” Amel said.

“My big red stallion is really something,” Fluttershy said in a very different tone. “I bet that Frost can’t match him in every way.”

Amel blinked, then stepped back. “Riiight,” she said. “I’ll just... go over here.”

She turned around and met Frost’s face, right behind her. It startled her a bit, but when she recovered, she couldn’t scold him. She had to look away.

“Hey, Applejack, do you have my shirt?” Frost asked.

“Eeyup, right here!” the mare said. She tossed Frost the shirt, but he didn’t put it on. “Ah gotta say, that was some mighty fine wrestling. Come back any time you like so we can watch you again!”

“Will do,” Frost said. “We were actually just walking around looking for stuff to do when we found this. Getting to know the town, y’know?” Applejack nodded. “What else is there to see?”

“Well, if you’re willing to go for a bit of a hike, you can check out Rainbow Falls,” Applejack said. “It’s a long walk, though, and you’ll want to camp at night.”

“Maybe another time,” frost said. He turned to Amel. “What do you think?”

“It sounds nice,” Amels aid, still not looking.

Applejack grinned evilly. “It’s a great date spot,” she said, drawing more blood to Amel’s face. “Mah brother took Fluttershy there fer their honeymoon.”

“Sounds like a fun place then,” Frost said. Amel just kept getting redder as the conversation went.

“Beautiful, too,” Applejack said. “For now, though, if you’re looking for something simple, you can go see a movie.”

“Ooh, that sounds cool!” Amel said. Her blush faded. “I never saw a movie, even though the masters always talked about them.”

“Never saw a movie?” Frost asked. “Time to change that. Thanks, AJ!”

“You’re welcome!” Applejack said.

Frost put his hand on Amel’s shoulder, getting her to look at him. When she looked, she saw a mischievous look in his eyes and instantly questioned his plans. By the time she knew what was happening, it was too late.

Frost grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder, earning a surprised yelp from her and spun around. “To the movies!” he announced. shirt in one hand and mare in the other. Amel shouted at him to put her down as he ran off, bouncing along, earning all levels of laughter from the crowd behind as they watched him disappear.

“They should just go to Rainbow Falls already,” Fluttershy said to her husband.

“Now, honey, that’s our special place,” Mac said, nuzzling her. “They can find their own.”

Frost and Amel arrived at the movie theatre, and Frost set her down easy. When she was free, though, she started beating on his chest and legs for carrying her all that way and embarrassing her so much in front of the town and just generally yelled at him. Frost looked to the ticket pony, who just chuckled through the whole thing, then turned back to Amel. Again, without warning, he picked her up, this time with his hands just under her forelegs, like a cat.

“You know you loved it,” Frost said with a grin.

Amel frowned and looked away. “Maybe... But I’m still mad at you.”

“As long as you had fun,” Frost said, putting her down. He approached the ticket pony and asked for two tickets to any movie.

The movie was alright, but neither Amel nor Frost understood the plot. It was about some photographer pony who witnessed a murder from his apartment's rear window and started taking pictures of the stallion who did it to catch him. As fun as it was, they wouldn’t see it again.

After the movie, they went to the park to sit down for a bit. Frost was happy to rest his feet, and Amel was glad to sit next to her human friend. But the questions were back, and they were itching to get out.

Frost looked to her and made a little frown. “You have a question in your eyes,” he said.

Amel looked at him. She wasn’t going to hide it any more. She wasn’t going to sit in silence and suffer while Frost went on obliviously, never knowing what the answer would be or if the question was even worth asking. Amel had to know, and she had to know now; lest her relationship never be full with this man.

She took a deep breath, and...

“So how was your day?”

She blurted it out with a sheepish smile and a mind screaming at her for not being brave enough to just ask the right question.

Frost raised an eyebrow. “Good?” he replied. “That wasn’t the question you wanted to ask.”

Shoot. Now he was asking the question. “Okay,” Amel said nervously. “Umm, why did you... what do you think... uhh, what, uhhh...”

“Amel, you can ask me anything, you know that,” Frost said. “Well, almost anything. But you know perfectly well what I can’t answer.”

Amel took in another breath. “Okay,” she said. She looked Frost dead in the eye and asked, “Why did you never tell me your real name?”

Frost blinked, sat back, and blinked some more. He had to think this one over.

“Well... shit, I don’t know. It never really came up,” he said.

“From the beginning, though. Why do you use a fake name?”

“Well, it isn’t fake, really,” Frost said. That’s how lots of people call me.”

“Except those closest to you,” Amel said with clear hurt.

Frost leaned into her and put his arm around her. “Aw, now that isn’t true,” he said. “Some of my best friends are PJs, they call me Frost. They gave me the name. And you know that they’re my real family.”

“But they now your real name, as well. I did not until earlier.” Amel looked away, then back in Frost’s eyes. “Am I not that important?”

“You’re plenty important,” Frost said. “I never really thought about my real name here. Frost is my nickname and my work name. And here, regardless of what I’m doing or thinking, I’m working.”

“So spending time with me is still work?” Amel asked.

“It’s the better part of my workday, that’s for sure,” Frost said, hugging Amel close. “But I still have my duties to fulfill here. When we find OGA and get him home, then I won’t be working.”

“But when will you come back?” Amel asked. “We don’t exactly have a portal to just walk through to bring you here.”

“I’m sure something could be worked out,” Frost said.

“So you would come back for me?” Amel asked. Her eyes teared up and one tear ran down her cheek.

Frost wiped it away and held her chin. “I’ll always be willing and able to come back for you,” he said. He pulled her into a full hug. “Now don’t you go crying; I might cry too.”

Amel laughed. “Ha, the big, muscular, strong, fighting human, crying? Big, tough, Frosty Jack McDaniels? I would pay to see that.”

Frost let go of Amel and chuckled. “You can have it for free if you try hard enough,” Frost said. “So, what did you think of saying my full name?”

Amel looked down, then back up. “I like Frost better.”

Frost nodded. “Me too.”