A Canterlot Story

"I told you not to stay up for so long" stated Octavia as she noticed Cloud falling in and out of sleep.

"Well what can I say, I get paranoid Fossil will do something stupid" commented Cloud.

"I thought that was your job" replied Crono.

Only moments had passed since Chrono was released from the Royal Guards. Currently, the three of them were being transported back home. For days, Cloud would stay up worrying himself over Crono's safety. Ever since they became family, he's worried about his safety, especially since Crono was older than either Octavia or Cloud. While in their carriage, Cloud laid his head to rest before Octavia. Before fading to sleep, Cloud felt Octavia's hoof move through his ink colored mane.

"Octavia..." whispered Cloud as he knocked out.

"RAGHHHHH!" groaned Cloud. "You know I hate orchestras!"

"Oh, come on Cloud! This is a rare occasion! Neightoven will be played! Much better than those dreadful noises you're always blasting in your room!" said Crono with excitement.

"It's called DUPSTEP!" retorted the young colt.

Even with the refusal, Crono still held the shiny tickets in front of Cloud with a giddy smile. An eye roll under his long mane later, Cloud gave in.

"FINE! I'll go but I won't like it. And I'm going the way I want to go!" barked the Pegasus.

While on their way, Crono took  a quick look at his adoptive son. "Damn it, Cloud! You've lived with me for years and yet you act like a spoiled brat! You always take everything for granted and you only call for me when you need me to bail you out for something you HAPPILY ADMIT to doing! What's even worse is that you don't respect yourself! I offer to buy you the most expensive clothes in Canterlot and yet you just wear clothes that you get from flea markets! I thought I was helping you by taking you off the streets...." thought the unicorn.

The orchestra wasn't anymore pleasure for either of them. While Crono tried to enjoy the music, he couldn't shake off the troubles Cloud kept bringing. Cloud's boredom reached a whole new level. Desperately, he tried to find a distraction from the orchestra. While searching, his attention was caught, not by something but by somepony. Being in the front row, he had a full view of the gray coated, mulberry eyed mare playing the cello.

Around him, nothing seemed to have existed to him. His eyes were set and focused on the mare. He saw the pink musical note on her flank and watched her movements as she played her instrument. Carefully, he focused on the musical sounds that would come from her and amazingly, he heard her music. Little by little, he listened and absorbed the orchestra's music and realized it's majestic beauty.

Once the orchestra was done, he joined he the applauses. Unknown to him, Crono caught him watching the gray mare in awe. Before the audience started to leave, he took a hold of Cloud and lead him onstage.  Security almost caught them off if Crono didn't slip a few bits into the guard's coats.

"Octavia!" called out Crono. Dumbfounded, the mare looked at Crono in confusion, wondering how he knew her name.

"It's me Crono Cerberus! You played for my family countless times when you were only a little filly? My family gave you the fame you currently have in your name?" included the unicorn.

"I'm sorry, sir. I believe you have me confused for somepony else" replied the mare.

Without warning, Crono hoisted Octavia with his forelegs, and spun her while singing "Ring Around The Rosy".

Once set back down, Octavia focused herself on Crono until her eyes opened wide with  a huge smile on her face.

"CRONO!!!" shouted the happy mare. She quickly wrapped Crono in a hug and squeezed tightly.

"It's been so long!" continued the mare.

"Too long if you ask me." replied the stallion. "Sweet Celestia! Time sure has been great with you! Your music has improved but not as much as your looks!"

"Oh, you! You're still a charmer like before." blushed the gray coated mare.

"Before I forget, I'd like you to meet my adopted son Cloud." said Crono as he pulled in Cloud. Nervously, Cloud tried to avoid eye contact by hiding his eyes behind his mane.

"He LOVED your music performance and started to get into classical" added the unicorn. "In fact, he mentioned to me that he wanted to have a musical chat over some dinner later."

"Oh well, that sounds splendid." replied Octavia.

"Great then! Cloud will be seeing you at your favorite place.'  said Crono.

"You know me so well" said Octavia as she walked away.

Just as she was out of earshot, Cloud lashed out at Crono. "What was that for?!"

"Don't play dumb. I saw you staring at her during her performance." retorted Crono.

Unable to comeback, Cloud stayed frozen. Soon enough he looked at his stepfather and spoke up. "Thanks...."

"You can thank me later. Because right now, you need a complete change up."

"A what?" questioned Cloud.

"Trust me, you'll thank me for it later" answered the stepfather.

With Cloud behind him, Crono guided the young Pegasus into the shopping districts of Canterlot and began the transformation. The first store they entered was the mane stylist.

"Crono! What are you doing here so late? " asked the cosmetologist.

"My son needs his mane cut and BADLY" joked the unicorn.

"Oh ho ho NO! No pair of cutting tools are coming towards this mane!" protested Cloud.

"You want to impress Octavia or not?" replied Crono. Cloud could not argue with him. Though he had just met Octavia, he really wanted to impress her. So much that he would be willing to change. Sulking, he moved to the chair and muttered "Let's get this over with"

"So, Sugar, how would you like the mane to turn out? I think he'd look great with your usual" said the cosmetologist.

"Hold on, how about you try this......" said Crono as he whispered instructions into her ear. Cloud tried to come closer and hear what his mane will look like, but Crono just pushed him back down into his seat.

Though nervous, Cloud withstood the cutting. Little by little, he would watch as his mane started to gather on the ground below him. Primarily he noticed that his face was receiving a draft of wind and he felt the temperature from his neck and head cool down. The haircut must have taken at the very least, twenty minutes.

"You're all done, Sugar" announced the mare as she spun Cloud to a mirror.

"Whoa." said Cloud. Originally, Cloud's mane covered his eyes and reached the bottom on his neck. He no longer looked like a mare with a terrible mane (which explains why he'd get into fights). While his new appearance still sported long bangs over his eyes, one only reached eye length while the surrounding lengths cut shorter enough to make his jade eyes appear brighter. Plenty of the messy facial hair he sported had been removed, which made him appear younger.

"I think this will cover the expenses and maybe some spare spending." said Crono as he passed a bag of bits to the mane stylist. "Come on, son. You need some more changes before your date." added the unicorn.

A quick trot through the streets and they arrived at the tailor's. The elderly stallion working instantly recognized Crono and went to attend.

"A new suit sire?" questioned the aged stallion.

"Yes, but not for me, for my boy here." answered Crono. With orders given, the tailor measured Cloud's body lengths, body, forelegs, neck, and back. With impressive speed for an old timer, he dashed to the storage and reappeared with multiple shirts. Cloud tried them all, most being too big and a few being tight. One red shirt though fit perfectly nice and snug. Crono levitated a coat and black tie from a nearby section and passed it to Cloud which also fit well.

"Hey, not bad!" said Cloud as he looked in a mirror.

"Hm. Something's missing. " commented the tailor. A fedora soon floated and gently landed on Cloud's head finishing look.

"Perfect!" said Cloud. Swaggering himself into the carriage, the stallion eagerly awaited his stepfather. Once the carriage started to move, the smile on Cloud's face turned into a panicked hesitation.

"On second thought, this date isn't such a good idea! Let's go back!" panicked Cloud.

"No way. Octavia would find and kill you for bailing on her!" commented Crono. A look of fear covered Cloud's face while Chrono only chuckled. Once arriving at their destination Chrono shoved Cloud out of the carriage and locked it before he jumped back in.

"NO! PLEASE! I'M TOO YOUNG!.......AND ATTRACTIVE!" begged the Pegasus. The tiny window on the carriage door opened for a second and in a haste, Cloud tried to stuff his head in but was shoved back out by his stepfather. In his stepfather's hoof's wake was a bag containing money. "Have fun!" said the happy unicorn as h left in the carriage.

Stricken by fear, Cloud debated to either fly away or push forward. Just before he flapped his wings, he looked at the suit Chrono got him, as well as the haircut. He couldn't allow his fear to take control of him he thought. Especially when he was so full of himself just earlier. With, the bag of bits in his coat, he marched into the restaurant. Cloud paid no attention to the other ponies inside and scanned the room for his date.

In the far corner he spotted her. As she continued to stay still and appear bored, he started to walk over to her. As he nearly reached her, he realized that he had no idea how to act in front of her. At the last second, he thought of how to speak.

"Good evening, beautiful." said Cloud.

"Excuse me sir but do I know you?" questioned the mare.

"No, but you ARE familiar with my father" answered Cloud.

"Father?......Cloud? Is that you?" asked Octavia in astonishment.

"The one and only" grinned the stallion as he made eye contact.

"Oh my.....you look....amazing"

"Oh hush silly. YOU'RE the one that looks amazing" replied Cloud. Immediately Octavia blushed and smiled at him. Taking a seat across from her, Cloud continued to imitate his father's charm. His eyes then widened once he realized his actions. The entire time Crono  had pushed him to grow up and act more maturely, he only shrugged it off and continued his reckless behavior. He now realized that Crono only wanted him to join the lavish lifestyle he enjoyed. Regret soon filled Cloud's mind and resent everything he took for granted. Octavia soon caught the look of disdain on the colt's face to which Cloud only played out as hunger.

"I'll be right back I got to go wash up" said the Pegasus. Once in the bathroom, Cloud washed his face and reassured himself that the date is going without a hitch.

"Yes, it is" said Crono. In reaction Cloud swung his left hoof behind him only to himself held down by his stepfather.

"Ha ha. I taught you that and I know how to defend from it. But I commend you for effort.

"Hey Crono? I'm sorry for all of those times I was being careless. I now know why you wanted me to grow up and-"

"You can cut that a little short cause come on, a gentlecolt doesn't make a lady wait."

"Oh Celestia! You're right!" said the colt as he darted for the exit. "But wait, this place will close soon!"

"I think I can..... persuade the manager?" reassured the unicorn.

A smile on his face, he returned to Octavia and continued to enjoy the night with her. Their evening meals as they recalled were as memorable as their time together.  Though the most memorable moment or moments were when they spend time simply talking. Once their check had arrived Cloud retrieved the bag of bits from his coat and paid for them but not before reading the writing on the bottom of the bill. "Kiss her!"

His face reddened once he Octavia questioned why he stood so still. He played it off as a change in temperature and escorted her out and into a taxi.

Arriving at her house, he walked her to her door and gave the mare a warm hug. Just as their eyes met, his memory of the bill came to him. He grew nervous and hesitant the longer he stared into her violet eyes. With steadiness, he leaned in and gave her a light peck on the lips. The mare's eyes became half closed as she breathed on his neck and firmly planted her lips on his. Cloud closed his eyes with Octavia and shared with her their passionate kiss. At this moment, neither of them want to separate and ruin their happiness, though they did eventually to regain their breathing.

"Until next time....." breathed Cloud. A beautiful smile later, Octavia entered her house with her tail gently brushing against Cloud's muzzle. Shakily, Cloud walked back to the street and found Crono waiting for him with the carriage beside him.

"So.....how'd the date go?" huffed the unicorn.

"Date? More like the best night ever!" answered the happy Pegasus.