Red, White and Orange

by Smokey Glacier

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Sad, Romance, Adventure
Length: 6118

what will this pegaus cutie mark be? can he figure it out with the help of his new family and friends after the loss of his own?

After the loss of his sister, four year-old Smokey Glacier is adopted by a royal family. He faces love and loss, along with grief and tragedy, while learning and overcoming the difficulties of growing up.

WARNING: comments may contain spoilers!

note: This story is not rated mature for gore, or sex, but the reason for the rating is for the language, and suggestive situations

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-10 02:50:03 UTC

Chapter 1: News for Cadence

Chapter 1: News for Cadence

They arrived at shining and cadence's castle a few hours within leaving the hospital, with Smokey sleeping soundly on Shinings back the whole way there. The light warm breath coming from Smokey blew through his mane relaxing him, feeling a fatherly bond he has never felt before.

Shining stopped at the entrance. Well, he was stopped by one of the royal guards. "Um... Sir? Mind If I ask..."

"He's my new son," Shining cut him off, before he could finish his question, and the guard bowed his head, stepping aside, allowing the Princes access with no question for the time being. He thanked the guard, and stepped forward into his kingdom, guiding himself through the halls of the palace to an empty bedroom for Smokey. He used his magic to lightly lift the colt off his back with the same aura as earlier, still sound asleep, a small amount of drool on his lip. Shining disregarded this, though he wondered if any was on his mane, and decided if there was, he would just wash it later. He slowly pulled the blanket back, resting the colt in the bed, smiling as he pulled the blanket to his chin, preforming the entire act slow, in fear of waking the colt. The whole thing was only a few minutes, but felt like an hour. He let out a relieved sigh, turning to the door, stepping out, and carefully closing the door with a quiet click, another few minutes that felt longer than it did. He walked tiredly to the room directly next to the colts, into his own, where his wife laid in the bed with a smirk stretched across the left of her face.

She was laid on her side, her head rested in her hoof propped up by her elbow, and her leg moved to a ninety-degree angle perpendicular to the opposite in a small suit, her pink and white striped socks pulled up to below her rear. He blushed, not sure how to turn the moment down, or how to break the news about their new son, that only he knew about.

Once she noticed he wasn't aroused by her setup, she sat up in the bed, looking at him concerned. "Hun? Are you alright?" she asked worriedly. "This is my favorite outfit, I was hoping you liked it."

shining yawned. "No, no, I love it! I just have been rather busy today, that's all. It's made me rather tired. Sorry to put your hard work to waste, my beautiful princess. Maybe tomorrow night?" He asked, smiling groggily.

She smiled, nodding acceptingly, repositioning her hind legs to where they were parallel, rolling from her side to her back. "what've you been doing all day, my prince?"

He took his spot in the bed next to her, pulling the blanket up under his arm, and her being snuggled under, warmly. "Now, before I tell you this, just realize, I thought about it clearly, and made this decision on my own, and I must ask for your forgiveness for not contacting you about the issue?"

She raised an eyebrow, her head previously rested on the pillow, now her whole body sitting upright in the bed, the blanket on her lap. "Well, it depends on what this 'issue' is, Shining. Her smile was gone, as she looked at him, as a mother would when she knew her young one was doing something he or she shouldn't have been doing,

"Oh, Honey, it's nothing too serious, It's just that, you know how we've wanted a colt?"

She nodded

       "But you didn't want a foal?"

       She nodded again, a little more impatiently.

         Shining took a deep breath and quietly said, "I adopted a four year old, and he is sleeping in the room right next door," followed by the breath being let out of his lungs in a long sigh.

Cadence sat there with a blank expression, aside from her eyes, which were wide open, and slight blush, until she decided to open her mouth to say something. "I-I... you... huh?" Her expression went from surprised to dumbfound, after collecting her thoughts. she didn't look angry, just confused. Really confused. "What made you think I wouldn't have a say in this? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Well, I had to make the decision there and then. It couldn't wait, Cadence. he was at the hospital all alone, and had no way of getting home. and even if he did, he didn't  have anyone to watch over him when he got there."

Cadence blinked at him a few times, shaking her head, and returning her face to a thoughtful look. "Can we please just talk about this tomorrow?"

Shining nodded, also sitting up. "And since he's not a foal, I thought you would be okay with me adopting him as our own."

"As long as we don't need to change any diapers, I am fine with this. But you're still going to have to help me raise him, is that understood?"

"Yes, Cadence," Shining said with a smile.

Cadence leaned toward him, locking their lips for a short number of seconds, and pulling away reluctantly. "Can I... see him?"

"Maybe in the morning, dear."

"Alright." Cadence laid back down in the bed, flopping the blanket over her shoulder to keep warm, as shining did the same.

Shining leaned in, planting another well meant kiss on her lips, this one lingering, placing his hooves around her back, one moving to her rear, followed by her eyes widening. Shining slowly pulled away. "Do we have to wait until tomorrow night?" He asked with a small blush returning to his cheeks.

The smirk returned to her face, moving her leg over both of his in the same position she was in earlier, pulling his lower half to make contact with hers, his blush deepening and a warm sensation of excitement between his legs. "You tell me," she said in a sultry, enticing voice.

Shining smiled, prepared to enjoy the rest of the night, no matter what was in store, as he placed his lips on hers once more.

"

Chapter 2: Home for Four

Chapter 2: Home For Four

Smokeys eyes fluttered open slowly, his memory wiped clean from the previous night. He hopped out of the bed, slightly scared, not knowing where he was for a brief second. the last thing he remembers is his new father. His father! Where did he go? Smokey was worried he left him in a strangers house, not telling him why. But when he opened the door to walk into the hall, his eyes shot wide open. The beautiful scenery of marble, and jewels reeled an opened mouth smile from deep inside him, his heart racing. He has never seen anything so beautiful before! Once he was done enjoying the scenery, (for now) he wanted to find his new father. He took a look at all the doors, and figured that Shining, being royalty, had the biggest bedroom door. He walked to the large door, opening it slowly, and peeking in.

Sure enough, there was shining sleeping with his arms wrapped around cadence from behind, with a smile on his face, and some clothing littered around the room.

Smokey climbed up onto the bed, poking shinings back with his hoof, whispering, "Daddy, are you awake?"

Shining jolted, shocked by his hoof, and turning his head to see the smiling colt, with his mane all messy, knowing he just woke up. "Well, I am now," Shining said with a warm smile. His hoof went from around cadences waist to Smokeys mane, ruffling it, just to mess it up more.

"Hehe, stop it, daddy." he batted his mane back to its previous messiness. Looking at the mare in shinings arms, he reached over, and poked her with his hoof lightly. "Wake up, mommy."

Cadence yawned before opening her eyes, turning her head, and smiling. "Is this the colt you were talking about, Shining? because hes a cutie!" She reached her hoof back booping his nose, and turning her whole body to kiss his forehead.

He wiped the smooch off with the back of his hoof, blushing lightly. Thank you, miss Princess Cadence."

She looked at shining, then back to Smokey. "Just call me mom," She said, followed by a wink.

Smokey, climbed over Shinings body, falling in between the two, landing on his back. "Oof!" he exclaimed, before looking at the two, the smile still on his face. He acted so happy after what had happened the previous night.

"Well, shall we bet up, and stretch our hooves? I know you already did, Smokey," Cadence said, breaking the silence after a few seconds of them just smiling awkwardly at each other.

Shining lifted Smokey with his magic, setting him on the ground at the foot of the bed, peeling the blanket off of himself and Cadence, scooting back to give her room. "I will make breakfast. Smokey, what do you like?"

"Oo! I like oats, if you have any."

"Well, lucky for you, we do have oats!" Cadence said, looking at shining as if to say "You find them, and you feed them to him," as she rolled out of bed, flapping her wings, which were previously asleep, along with her hooves, stretching them as well, cat-style. "I'll be in the bathroom."

Shining walked Smokey through the palace to the kitchen in the living quarters of the castle. Shining pulled a chair out for Smokey.

Smokey struggled pulling himself on to the chair, falling to the ground landing on his hooves, and sighs after the first few attempts. "Daddy? Woah!"

Shining had already known what to do, lifting him up, with his magic. "I gotcha, buddy," he said, keeping his back to him, as he rummaged through the cupboards, looking for the oats for Smokey. Luckily, there was a small amount left, not too much, but not too little either. Just the right amount for a colt his age for a couple more meals. After, closing the cupboard, he multitasked with his horn, bringing the bowl out, placing them in front of Smokey, while at the same time, opening the box, and bag, pouring them into the bowl. "Alright, eat up."

Smokey smiled, diving his muzzle into the bowl, gobbling down on his breakfast.

"Woah there, speedy!" Shining laughed, sliding the bowl away from him carefully, afraid he would get bit in the process.

"Heh, sorry. I'm just really hungry!" He said. "And these were Midnights favorite..." was what he was saying in his head, but didn't want to say it out loud.

"Well... you already wolfed down most of it. Just try to finish the rest at a slower pace, so you don't get a tummy ache, okay?"

"Mhm, yeah, sure thing," Smokey pulled the bowl back, and surprisingly did what he was told, slowing down on his bites, and decreasing the size of bites he took.

"Good boy." Shining took the box in his teeth, opening the cupboard, placing it back in its spot.

Two Weeks Later...

"Well, I guess you're gonna have to have the rest of the oats. There's nothing left for breakfast," Shining said, as Smokey sat in his chair, waiting for breakfast. Once Shining poured the bowl, he took the box in his mouth and walked it to the trash can. He opened the lid, noticing he forgot to replace the bag. "huh... have to use a different one," he thought. Turning to trot upstairs, he saw smokey hop out of the chair, now following shining.

"I'm gonna come with you."

Shining nodded in approval, thinking Cadence should be done in the bathroom by now, continuing his walk. The nearest trash can he could think of was in the bathroom, across the hall. Once he arrived in there, he opened the can, freezing in his tracks, and dropping the box in front of the can, missing the opening, while his mouth remained agape. There was a pregnancy test on the top of all the other items in the garbage. He looked carefully, already nervous, he felt his heart rate increase rapidly, as fear froze his legs, breathing increasing in speed, his fast beating heart rise to his throat. His trance was soon broken by a small nudge at his hoof. "Wh-wha?" He shook his head woozily, looking down at Smokey, who is holding the box in his mouth for shining.

"You mished, shiry!" His speech was corrupted by the box in his mouth. what he meant to say was, in case you need help reading it, was "You missed, silly!"

The box was transferred from Smokeys mouth to shinings, and this time he made it into the can, covering the test, and quickly letting the lid down. "I uh... I need to have a talk with your mother for a few minutes, buddy. You can go back downstairs and finish your oats, before they get stale." Shining avoided eye contact with the colt, for a reason he didn't know why. Without another word, he trotted quickly to search for cadence, leaving smokey. Thoughts were racing in his head on his search for cadence. Was he even ready for this? How would Smokey feel, having a new foal brother or sister? Wait... was the test even positive? All he saw was the box, after all. There was a chance it turned out negative. Shinings heart lifted, calming down, finding her sitting in the bedroom, smiling at the wall strangely. "Cadence?"

Her ear twitched, and she blinked, turning her head to shining. "Hi, shining! come here, I want to talk if you would take the time?"

Shining gladly took a seat  across from her in the bed.

"Remember last night?"

"How could I forget?" shining wiggled his eyebrow, jokingly.

Cadence rolled her eyes, but her smile staying stretched across her face. "Oh, stop it. but anyway...," She nodded to her stomach.

Shining felt the same way he did when he saw the test. "That means..."

She nodded her head, quickly stepping out the chair, pulling him into a tight, close hug. "Smokeys brother or sister is on their way, honey."

Chapter 3: Runaway Prince

Chapter 3: Runaway Prince

Smokey stood in the doorway, watching the two share their happiness and excitement together, confused as ever. "Dad? What happened? are you both okay? Why is mommy crying?"

Shinings ears perked up, hearing his voice come from behind him, and quickly turns his head, not letting cadence go. "Oh, uh, nothing Smokey, we just... got cold?" He mentally facehoofs.

"Oh, Shining, you can tell him, its not like we can keep it a secret from him forever. or at least nine months," Cadence finally broke the hug, and trotted to Smokeys side, crouching down to his level. "Well, you see... mommy has a foal growing in her tummy. and in a while, that foal will be your little brother, or sister," She tried explaining to him in the least scientific way possible, with a smile.

"A new little sibling! this is wonderful!  And that's how my old mommy and daddy..." He cut off, as memories flooded back through his head like a waterfall "Mommy... and daddy..." He said again, sitting down, feeling his heart drop, and stomach flip. Tears formed in his eyes, one slowly tracing a clear line down his left cheek, now beginning to sway.

Cadence rushed to his side, using her hoof to support his weight. "Oh, honey..." She sat beside him, lifting him into her lap, holding him close to her belly with his soon to be little sibling, Stroking his mane lightly.

Smokeys hoofs held her arm close to his body, as he was previously, and opens his eyes, realizing a new feeling he never felt with his old parents. An actual bond with a parent.

Shining rushed out of the room, Cadence scolding him on the way out, but not daring to let go of Smokey. Rolling her eyes, she rubbed his back lightly. "don't worry, sweetie, i'm still here for you, my dear."

His mind was racing with the memories of his sister, and he felt another new feeling he's never felt before. Anger. He was angry that Midnight left. Angry that he would have a new relative to replace her. They were trying to replace Midnight! He remembered that night in the hospital when he first met shining.

"How would you  like a new mommy and daddy?" is what he remembered him asking, clear as day. How could he not see this that night? That they were trying to replace his whole family! Smokey, slowed his breathing, his breaths becoming heavier. He flapped his wings aggressively, Cadence dropping him, surprised.

"Smokey! What's wrong?"

"You can't replace Midnight!" Were his last words to her, before bolting for the door, running under Shinings legs, who came back to the room after a few minutes with a box of tissues now on the floor from being dropped.

"What'd you say to him?" Shining looked confused, and shocked at his behavior.

Cadence didn't say anything, before pushing past him, running after Smokey "Smokey! Stop! I'm not replacing anyone, I just want you to be safe, and live a good life!"

Smokey ran out the front gates of the castle, bursting through, pushing the two guards over with the door as they opened.

Cadence stopped at the entrance, seeing Smokey run away, too far to catch by now, sitting down, as her eyes swelled with tears.

Shining followed up behind her, his eyes also wide with shock. He realized how much he wanted to raise the colt, but wasn't aware of how much he meant until he was gone.

The colt that they knew for a short time, but loved for all of it, was gone over the horizon.

After running for a while, he took a break by the canterlot library, previously inhabited by Princess Twilight Sparkle, to rest. His endurance was surprisingly high, along with his stamina. He didn't go inside, but he just laid himself across the mat in front of the door, as the sun was being lowered. He looked towards the castle, hoping to see Princess Celestia on her balcony. Luckily, there was the glow of her horn lowering the son, while she stood on her balcony. Smokey stood, waving at her, Hoping she saw him.

She glanced at the faraway colt, and waved back, smiling, not paying any mind to what he could be up to, and continued with her work, the sun disappearing over the edge of the earth it seemed. She looked back to see the colt still looking at her, and decided that she would ask him a couple questions. Like, who was he? what was he doing alone in Canterlot?

Smokey stood, and stretched, shaking the dirt off that he got on himself while he was resting. He began to walk in the same direction he was heading when he arrived there, until a large flash of light appeared  in front of him, nearly blinding as the Princess of the sun stood in front of him. His first instinct was to bow, so that's what he did.

"No need for that young stallion," She said with a chuckle.

He raised, embarrassed, and laughed a little. "good evening princess," He smiled at her.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Smokey Glacier."

"And who are you with?"

"I came here alone from the Crystal Empire."

Celestia cocked her head. "Crystal Empire? Whatever made you run from home?"

"It wasn't my home, I was just there temporarily. I originally lived in Ponyville."

"Well, would you like me to take you there? We need to make it quick if so. The skies aren't looking too good, and the weather ponies are all going to sleep soon."

"Yes please, Princess!" He trotted to her, and another beam of light nearly blinds him, feeling himself fly through air at the speed of light, suddenly feeling earth beneath his hooves. He looked around, seeing that the Princess teleported him to Ponyville. "Thank you, Princess!"

"No worries, Smokey Glacier. Now, I must return to Canterlot for my royal duties. And nice scarf," She said with a smile and wink, her horn lighting up, sending her away in a ball of light for the third time, and was gone within a second.

Smokey turned, realizing it was the street he grew up on. Well, that was easy. Now he needed to find the house he grew up in. After a few minutes of searching, and saw the house of where him and his sister would shelter, more than live in. If you could even call it a house. The thoughts of his sister rushed in his head faster, this time more painful, and thorough. He saw himself under Midnights wing, falling asleep, and her kissing his forehead. The burning sensation returned to his heart, and this time his eyes too.  Ducking his head, he began sprinting down the road, the hot tears streaming down his cheeks, along with the cold rain stinging his face, as he tried to keep his head low. Suddenly his hoof came down on his scarf, sending him flying face first on the dirt road. Rising up again in front of a house, the library in the not to far away distance, he looked down, feeling his muzzle flowing blood, a small pool around his hooves, being washed away by the rain.

The door to the house he landed in front of suddenly opened, a white unicorn with a pair of purple lensed glasses on, a wild mane, teal and blue like shining armors, but less saturated. "Woah! kid! What are you doing?" She rushed out, levitating him, onto her back, and rushing back inside, setting him on the couch. "Who are you-" She cut off, seeing his scarf. "What the f... heck are you wearing?" She needed to watch her language in front of his age.

He looked at her funny? "What the heck are you wearing?" He said, pointing at her glasses.

"Don't touch my shades, kid. Anyways, who are you, and what're you doing out at this hour? You look like you're, like, five. and its raining! Not to mention you're nose! Oh Celestia, your nose!" She sighed stressfully. "Hold on, I'll go get one." She left the room, returning shortly after, with a blanket and a box of tissues, ripping it open, and placing the box in front of him. "Plug your nose up with these, so you don't get my floor all bloody, please?" She placed the blanket over his back.

Smokey quickly wrapped the blanket around himself, still shaking from cold, and devastation. "Th-thank you miss," he said, quickly stuffing a tissue into his left nostril. "What's your name?"

"I'm well known as DJ Pon-3 mainly, famous DJ, heh, don't mean to brag or anything but I'm kind of a big deal. But my real name is Vinyl Scratch. Now you tell me who you are."

"Well, I'm Smokey Glacier, this is a scarf my sister gave me, and I ran away from the Crystal Empire."

"Uh huh... Well, I'll tell you what, kid. You tell me all this later, when I'm not too busy to talk. You can stay here for the night if you want, and I will be working on a new remix, there's a guest room down the hall next to the bathroom, if you get hungry, just... Ask my roommate for something. Her name is Octavia, but she'll be fine if you just call her Tavi. It's Sunday, right? Yeah, it's Sunday. You go to school right? Tell Tavi to take you to school in the morning. Goodnight, Smokey Glazy."

"Uh, my names Smokey Glac-"

Vinyl cut him off with her bedroom door, as she left to go to bed.

"Huh... She's funny," he thought, once she was gone. He was so tired, that when he blinked his eyes, he nearly dozed off immediately. But once he laid his head down, he was out.

“S-sissy? P-please wake up! This isnt a funny joke!” The colt cried over his sister laying in the hospital bed, as the heart monitors beeps increased in speed, the colt trying his best to hold the flow of his tears back, but failing as the doctors ran into the room. “M-midnight! Get up!” The colt sniffled as tears ran down both of his cheeks and onto the mare, who's eyes opened halfway.

“I… I am awake, Smokey… just… not for long…” The mare in the hospital bed said weakly. “You… have to promise me something, Smokey…”

The colt sniffled, nodding Quickly.

“Be great… get your cute mark when you are sure of what you want to do the rest of your life... ”

“If I get one”

“When you get one,” Midnight protested against his statement, lightly placing her hoof over his.“You may think you aren’t meant to have one, but I bet you, you will have the most meaningful cutie mark in your class,” she said, her voice quieting. "Here... You can take my scarf to remember me by..." She removed the black scarf she was wearing slowly, and laid the soft strip of fabric in front of him.

“I-I will!” his voice was getting choked up, and shaky, knowing these were their final seconds together. He sniffled again, picking the scarf up, and throwing it over his shoulders, tying it how he's seen her tie it for the last year.

“One more thing Smokey…”

“Anything!

“Make… mom and dad… proud… I love you, brother… ” The mare spoke, as the heart monitor stopped beeping, being replaced with a loud ring throughout the room with her hoof still in the colts, as the grip loosened and her hoof dropped limp, beside her body on the bed.

Chapter 4: A New Sound

Chapter 4: A New Sound

Smokey's whole body trembled, his mouth hanging slightly open. Tears flowed from his eyes, when suddenly, he was touched by a hoof on his shoulder.

“Shh…it's okay, little colt,” said a warm male voice.

The hoof slowly changed to an aura surrounding his body, lifting him into the air, and setting him on the back of a white unicorn stallion with a blue and teal mane.

Smokey immediately wrapped his hooves around the unicorn’s neck, burying his face into his mane, his eyes still wet and flowing.

The white stallion carrying Smokey quickly walked him out of the room, closing the door so the doctors wouldn’t be distracted, and so Smokey couldn’t go in.

The colt, feeling light headed and weak, said “Who are you, sir?”

“I am Shining Armor. I'm assuming your name is Smokey?”

Smokey looked up, smiling. "Yes, that's my name,” he said, wiping his eyes.

He chuckled. “Gee, that's a pretty neat scarf. It looks nice on you. And I am very sorry for your loss. Is there anything you would like that would make you feel better?”

"I-I feel sleepy," he said in a tired, weak voice. His eyelids were closer together than they had been a minute ago, indicating how worn out he was from the stress of the event. "And I also want to go home," he said with a yawn.

"Well, where do you live? I would be glad to take you there, if you'd like."

"I don't know...My sissy would usually take me there if we ever went anywhere."

"What about your parents?"

"They went to the same place sissy is going. They left a couple years ago. That's what sissy told me, at least."

Shining looked at the colt sympathetically. He shouldn't have to live this way at his age, not old enough to deal with it, but not young enough to not know what's going on. An idea suddenly popped into his head. Adoption! But what would Cadence say? Next to losing his wife, there was nothing he feared more than upsetting her. They hadn't had kids of their own yet, and weren't sure if they knew how to raise a colt. This colt was past the diapers stage, and surprisingly smarter and more mature than an average colt his age. They'd always wanted a foal, but had never been sure if they could handle it for the first few years. But since Smokey was a few years old, he wouldn't be so much trouble. The idea suddenly seemed like it was all pros and no cons.

"Well...how would you like to live with me and my wife?" he put a hoof on Smokey's shoulder, smiling down at him.

Smokey lifted his head up, looking surprised, like he had witnessed a supernova. "Like...live with you?"

Shining nodded.

A smile spread across Smokey's face, the previous event already leaving his head. It felt like there was nothing wrong with the world. He nearly tackled Shining with a tight hug. Smokey was soft and warm, like a plush doll, and had a good grip. "Yes, yes, yes please, Shining sir!"

Shining caught him, surprised at his strength, nearly having the wind knocked out of him. "Oof!" he exclaimed, followed by a chuckle. "Yes, Mr. Smokey. With me and Princess Cadence."

Smokey gasped again. "And Princess Cadence? This is amazing! It almost makes me forget about..." He looked at the door, and sighed, knowing that it would be easier to let go now than it would be in the future. When he had discovered his parents death, he had been nearly devastated.

Shining took a step out of the hug Smokey had imprisoned him in. "Oh, I know, Smokey. It'll be hard for you, but my wife and I will try to keep you as happy as possible. So, what do you say? Shall we go, Smokes?"

He smiled, nodding his head quickly, and hopped onto Shining's back, free from the weakness he had been feeling before. He wrapped his hooves around Shining Armor's neck. "Thank you infinity, mister Prince Shining Armor, for letting me stay with you," he said, nuzzling his face into Shining's mane, feeling comfortable.

"You don't have to thank me for anything, Smokey. It's the least I could do for a colt in your situation. Say...how would you like a new daddy? And a new mommy? But you don't have to call us that if you don't want to. You could just think of us as a couple of friends you're living with."

"Oh, yes, please! I'll just call you mommy and daddy."

Shining chuckled. "Well, now you have one. Me, and Cadence," he said, smiling at Smokey.

The colt wasn't able to hold back his warm tears of joy as he laid his head on the back of Shining's mane. He sighed, relieved, as he closed his eyes, quickly falling asleep, the smile still frozen across his lips.

For the second morning in a row, he awoke in a different place than the previous night. He looked down at himself, covered in sweat, and tears from himself, and his dream. Soon after throwing the blanket off of him, he hopped off the couch, walking into the kitchen so see the Octavia with a daisy sandwich, taking delicate, mannerly bites. "Morning, Tavi."

The mare sighed, lowering her head, looking slightly annoyed and muttered, "Already, Vinyl?" She quickly smiles, looking at the colt. "Ah, Smokey, is it? Good morning to you too," She said, setting down the sandwich, hopping out of her seat. "Pleased to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you too," He said, reaching his hoof out for her to shake.

She giggled. "Quite the gentlecolt, are we?" She gladly shook his hoof, and began to walk away.

"Wait!" He followed her, trotting by her side, looking up at her. "How come miss Vinyl was so... fast?"

Octavia sighed, closing her eyes, lowering her head, stopping where she stood, and thought, "She needs to stop with the LSD... It's not good for her health, or the health of others around her. I'll make sure to have a talk with her when she gets back home after her concert." She then began speaking aloud. "Well... she was just very stressed with her new album that she has to finish a few days ago, because she was procrastinating," her voice becoming a little more aggressive, as she stood straight.

"What does she play?"

Octavia wasn't sure if she could call it a real instrument. "The turntables," She said, preparing for him to ask what they were.

"Sounds weird... Do you play anything?"

"I play the cello. a classic instrument, instead of loud vibrant noises that'll turn you deaf, or just irritated in a mere number of seconds," She said, as her legs started up again, this time in a different direction towards her room. "Would you like to hear it?"

He raced to catch up with her. "Why not? It sounds very interesting."

Octavia opened the door to her room, revealing the cello on its stand in the corner with the bow placed in a holder beside it. Octavia let out a relaxed sigh. "There it is. My sweet freedom from Vinyls mischief," She said with a smile.

"Is the turntable Vinyls sweet freedom?"

"Y-yeah, that's it."

"Can you play something?"

"Gladly!" Octavia quickly trotted, taking the bow out of its holder, and the cello out of the stand, plopping herself on the bed, as she quickly placed the bow on the string. She started with a D scale, Smokey sitting on his haunches in front of her, with a greatly impressed smile on his face. Since he was already this excited for just a scale, she thought it would be interesting to see what he would do when she played an actual song. So that's what she did. immediately, she threw the bow back and forth across the strings, as the notes smoothly came out, connecting together to create a beautiful sound.

Smokeys eyes were wide open, as if they would soon pop out. He cracked a small smile that soon grew into a wide grin, the sultry music almost seducing him.

Octavias mind was bringing up all the notes, lengths, and bow strokes, as the hoof positions raced through her head.

The whole score was altogether around five minutes long.

A smile slowly made its was under Octavias nose as well, seeing Smokey clapping his hooves together, and the successful ending to the song she had been working so hard on. It was nice to see for her, that somepony enjoyed the piece. "How was that?"

"It was so pretty!" Smokey stood up, and hopped onto the bed that she was sitting on. "Can you teach me something, pleeeease?"

The smile stayed on Octavias face. "I'll try, Smokey."

The front door suddenly opened and closed, followed by a groan of tiredness, and boredom. "Tavi, I'm home!"

"Be there in a second, Vinyl!" Octavia placed the cello in its stand where she picked it up, placing the bow in its spot also. "I'll teach you a lesson later, okay Smokey?" She didn't give him a chance to respond before leaving the room, and quickly walking to Vinyl. She was very close to her when she spoke, talking sternly with a serious look on her face.

Vinyl placed a hoof on her own forehead, shaking slowly. "I know, Tavi, I know... It's just so hard to kick!"

"Well, try kicking harder. push yourself to end this habit, Vinyl. That colt is too sweet, and kind to be around this, and it is dangerous to have you around him, when you're an addict. Either stop, or leave, because I pay the rent for this home, and I will decide who stays and who wont."

"What about the kid?"

"What about him?"

"Well, I found him on the streets with a bloody nose. He isn't staying... is he? i mean, i don't mind if he does or not, I'm just saying, since neither of us know much about him at all, like where he came from, or even how old he is."

Octavia sighed, and turned towards her bedroom. "I will work this out later, but for now, I have a cello lesson to teach."

"Wait, wait, wait. You already got him hooked on that classical stuff?"

She turned her head slightly, looking over her shoulder. "He chose to get hooked on it, like you chose to get hooked on the beast. and he can make his own choice to get unhooked from it. Just like you should," She said, as she walked to her bedroom, closing the door behind her to teach Smokey his first lesson on music.