A Canterlot Story

"Cloud, wake up. Hey Cloud come on" said Crono as he shook his stepson. Mumbling from his awakening, Cloud groggily woke up. Right after, Crono looked to Octavia and woke her up as well (she fell asleep right after Cloud did). "We're home" added the unicorn.

The mansion they lived in was awe inspiringly high. Aside from the huge trees that lead to the front doors, numbers of fountains surrounded the property and custom stone arches structured the foundations. Jaw dropping views from the uphill home granted plentiful views. Wether the sight was meant to see clearly onto Ponyville, Cloudsdale or Phillydelphia, it had a beutiful view. With the bodyguards opening the doors to their castle-like mansion, Crono and Cloud were greeted by their butlers and maids.

"Oh we are so happy and joyus that you have returned!" said  the head butler.

"I can tell you are" commented Crono.

"I hope the authorities didn't trouble you too much sire?" continued the elderly stallion.

"Nah fossil took care of himself back there." commented Cloud.

"Oh yes of coarse, how could I concern myself with that? Master Crono can easily handle himself"

Before the conversation was able to continue, a mare wearing a maid uniform had rushed herself too quickly and crashed into Cloud's side, toppling the both of them to the ground.

"Mr. Cloud I'm so sorry! I heard you returned and I wanted to see for myself. Forgive me!" panicked the earth pony.

"Its quite alright. No harm no foul play" chuckled the Pegasus. As the earth pony rose up, Cloud noticed that her hindquarters were aimed directly at him. One quick glance and he found himself staring right at her flanks. The Pegasus found himself unable hide his reddening face from Octavia. Angered she caught a grip of his coat with her teeth and soon started to pull him away from the surrounding servants.

"Be easy this time Tavi! He couldn't get out of bed the last time you had him!" guffawed Crono. "Help me Pops!" panicked Cloud before a closing door echoed in the building.

"Sir, I do not enjoy being the bearer of bad news but some unhappy "business" ponies arrived earlier today." stated a maid pony.

"Did they leave anything behind?" questioned the unicorn.

"Yes, but we placed them in your office." answered the butler.

With his information taken to mind Crono traveled up to his second floor office mansion. In his office his viewed large stacks of paperwork. The unicorn let out a large sign. "This will be a long day" spoke Crono.

For what seemed to be an eternity, Crono reviewed the stacks of legal documents concerning his businesses. Taxes seemed to enjoy him a bit too much. "I REALLY need an assistant" groaned Crono. A large splash of water sounded outside his window. A quick peak was all he used to see Octavia and Cloud in their swimming pool. Octavia's smile made her look much different than earlier.

"Youth..." yawned Crono. Before he could wake himself, he dozed off his muzzle over the paperwork.

"Mister Crono!" yelled a panicked voice entering his office. The suddenness had snapped Crono from his slumber and caught his full attention.

"The High.......Moon Family....... isn't gone they.......are still up...and..." huffed the exhausted Pegasus.

"Whoa there champ. First catch your breathe and then say what you need to say." replied the unicorn. After a minute of calming himself, the Pegasus regained control of his heart and explained away..

"The High Moon Family has one survivor left. He escaped the house fire and is getting ready to retaliate" spoke the subordinate.

"The High Moon Family?!" roared the Crono. The unicorn turned quickly and opened the windowsill. "CLOUD GET UP HERE NOW!!!" bellowed the angered Crono. only a moment passed before Cloud flew up to the window.

"What's going on? questioned Cloud.

"Remember those "associates" we once met back in Baltimare?" said Crono.

"Yeah, they couldn't take the heat" answered the Cloud.

"One actually survived it." commented the messenger.

"That's not good...." yelped Cloud.

"Which is exactly why I will be ending it!" stated Crono. After moving a ceramic bust from his desk to a bookcase, the wall beside them had slid open and revealed an array of weaponry.

"Pops that's crazy talk!" complained Cloud.

"You just figured that out? When I plan on taking out an annoying group I make sure they're ALL gone!" retorted Crono. "You could just hire some others to whack them....You don't have to do it yourself!" stated Cloud, obviously trying to convince his stepfather to take another choice. With every attempt, Crono only became more determined to rid themselves of their problem. He knew the unicorn tried for years to settle their feuds with the High Moon Family but they would never budge or pay attention to the nonviolent approaches. Cloud himself knew how mentally twisted they were and how easily they would threaten others to have their ways.

"Well, I can't stop you from chasing after them. So the least I can do is back you up so you wont get yourself killed quickly." said Cloud as he slipped on his prized bracelets.

"Thank you son" commented Crono.

"Citrus Glide, do you know where he was last seen?" questioned Crono.

"Our sources tell us he was planning a comeback outside of Ponyville" answered the messenger.

"Alert the offensive team" said Cloud.

"Understood sir" replied Glide while exiting the room.

"Cloud you do know what you're getting yourself into right?" questioned Crono.

"Yes, I know what they've done to innocents and I don't care how "dangerous" they are" countered the Pegasus. "When you violate their innocence you have gone way too far and don't deserve to continue living."

"That's my boy!" elated Crono.

With their henchmen armed to the teeth and their destination set they went onward to Ponyville. Cloud's heart ran a million beats per minute and he began to sweat profusely. He knew he hadn't gotten into a fight in a long time but he knew what he had to do. Should he not wipe out the remaining High Moon Family survivor, Canterlot will plunge into violence and uncontrollable disaster. The number of individuals they've harmed was staggering enough but upon return, that was something that Cloud didn't want to find out.

Crono noticed one of their guards was unsubtly nervous. "At ease big guy" spoke Crono. "This wont be the last fight you'll be in" added Cloud.

"Aren't you at all nervous that we're heading into their place? I mean there could be traps laid out for us! " explained the uneasy pony.

"Traps? Out here?" questioned Crono.

"How long has that High Moon been out?" chimed the unicorn.

"Well we tried to take them out last week. So unless we rounded up all of them but one, a week maybe?" theorized Cloud. A train of thought enveloped Crono. Did he get all of The High Moon? Did he miss one? But most importantly, were they blindly entering a trap? "I really believe we should check for traps or at least road hazards!" panicked the broken pony. Before he could think anymore, a sudden force from below their carriage shoved them upward with a severe burst of fire.

Cloud woke up in a daze, unable to see with the black smoke emanating from the burning carriage. He tried to call for Crono but his voice was only a silent rasp. Arising, he moved away from the warmth, careful not to trip. Once he was sure he was away from the wreck, he cleaned his face with his lucky bandana. To his horror his associates lay dead, bloodied from the carriage's shrapnel, and burning from the ball of fire that erupted. Fear soon stuck the Pegasus. Despite the burning pain all over his body, he dashed to the wreckage frantically searching for his father.

"Dad?! Pops?! Fossil?! Crono?!" called the panicked pony. With no response, tears began escaping his eyes. "No...No...NO!" bellowed Cloud. He continued to search amongst the dead bodies for Crono. Along the way he discovered a few other survivors who joined in searching for their leader.

"Sir....I think found him..." said one of his familiars. Cloud soon stood over Crono. He laid on his side, his body charred. He wasn't moving, and neither was he breathing. "Father...." wheezed Cloud. His hoof met his father's.

"Dad...get up. We got to get you medical help..." his voice breaking. "Come on....stop playing around....Octavia is going to be worried sick...."

"We got company." alerted a companion. Cloud ignored his statement and only cried more while holding his father.  "Sir, we have to move!" As much as he tried to pry Crono and Cloud apart, Cloud refused and only held on tighter. With that they found them selves surrounded by armed patrols.

"This is gonna look REALLY good on our pay!" commented one of them. Cloud was oblivious to what was happening.

"Get that little filly away from that stiff!" said another. At that moment, Cloud became fully aware of what was happening. He gently lay down his father as a sword was drawn unto him. He backed up counting how many steps he took.

"So, YOU'RE Cloud huh?" said the enemy. Cloud didn't speak. Nor did he raise his head. "I asked you a question!" roared the foe, swinging the sword's hilt to Cloud's muzzle. Before it contacted, Cloud dodged and leaped onto him, his teeth tearing into his attacker's neck. Like a mad beast he bit repeatedly and stomped his hooves to his face, cursing in the process.  In his blind fury, a mallet connected to Cloud's head, knocking him back and away from his overkill. He tried to arise and swing again but multiple guards came to him and savagely beat him with mallets, batons and hammers. One of them clenched Cloud by his mane, pulling him up and readying his axe. Before the axe came down a muzzle full of blood escaped him. Soon enough a sword tore through his body. Behind him stood Crono, his horn glowing the same color as the aura around the sword. "GET THE BUCK AWAY FROM MY FAMILY!!!" bellowed the unicorn.

His chance ready for the taking, Cloud grasped the axe and swung at the enemy guards; killing one of them. A rumble soon proceeded and the enemy guards lay dead. One however tried to crawl away to which Crono halted.

"Trust me, I'm not in the mood for 20 questions" stated Crono. He jammed the sword to the ground before the injured guard. "WHERE is he?" As a response, the injured pony spat at Crono. Cloud withdrew the sword from the ground. He went to the fire and allowed it to redden with heat. Returning, he displayed it to the hostage.

"Where?" said Cloud. His question unanswered, Cloud hurled the sword into the pony's back hoof. The silence around them was broken by pained outcries. "Be thankful that you won't bleed out" chuckled the Pegasus. After a few more stabbings at non vital areas, the tear stained earth pony confessed. "That's more like it" said Crono. Before the earth pony could collect himself, he began to be dragged away to the fire by Crono's allies. The night time muteness then sounded with the pained cries of being burned alive.

"We should probably get back up" said Cloud.

"No, those guards not showing up will stir up suspicion. By then we'd lose them" corrected Crono. Outside the small hut they readied for the attack. "Just head in and kill anypony that ain't us?" questioned Cloud.

"Yeah make sure they don't get back up" answered Crono. "Everypony ready?" With nods from their four remaining companions, they stampeded to the entrance. From the inside, several adversaries took up their weapons and retaliated. Amongst the struggle Silverstreak, The High Moon survivor escaped into another room. He didn't go unnoticed though. Cloud shut the door behind him.

"What a coward" commented Cloud. Before exiting out the window, Silverstreak eyed Cloud carefully. Just then he shut the window and locked it.

"Says you" retorted Silver. The unicorn licked his muzzle and looked at Cloud with hungry eyes.

"I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to them!" shouted Cloud.

"THEY LOVED IT!" replied Silverstreak.

"YOU BUCKING SICKO!" yelled Cloud as he flew at Silverstreak. Just before he contacted him Silverstreak leaned away, dodging the angered Pegasus. Silverstreak then grasped Cloud by his mid section and slammed him against the wall. Cloud tried to recollect his bearing until he saw Silverstreak levitate and set a blade to his neck. Cloud froze at it's cold touch. The unicorn breathed on Cloud's neck let a bit of his saliva drip on the young Pegasus.

"How many foals have you violated?" growled Cloud.

"Too many to count" answered Silverstreak. At that moment the unicorn pressed the knife to Cloud's neck and in a split second, Cloud swung one of his front hooves to Silverstreak's horn. His sleeve produced a long thin blade which in turn severed Silverstreak from his horn. Blood covered the both of them and shards of aura spouted from where Silverstreak's horn used to be. The sensitive nerves in his horn stump jolted and jerked from the rush of blood and pain. Silverstreak couldn't sound any cries of agony due to the mind numbing pain he felt.

Cloud knew enough from Crono that a severed horn can cause a slow and painful fatality without the use of medical help. A sneer on his face, he lowered himself to the pained unicorn. "You feel that? That's nothing to what you did to your victims."

"Even I wouldn't wish that upon him" commented a voice. Turning himself, Cloud noted Crono standing at the door and looking away from the horrible sight upon him. "He deserves it. Maybe even worse." remarked Cloud.

"Sir, the area is clear but the explosion probably alerted nearby civilians and the fire will attract attention." sounded an ally.

"Burn this place to the ground" ordered the unicorn.

"Right away, sir" sounded the other only companion. With nearby flammable cleaning products and cooking materials, the whole hut was readied for its fate. "Sunrise will be here soon" stated Crono. He passed his personal lighter to Cloud. The Pegasus looked at the small building and remembered Silverstreak.

"There's a special place in Tartarus for you" thought Cloud as he set the hut aflame.