//------------------------------//
// Chapter 21 
// Story: Secret of Flying 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//


The streets of Canterlot were as familiar as always, bustling at their best in the late summer.  Ponies all over the place, selling goods in stands or just moving around their lives.

As we approached a certain café, I couldn’t help but smile as the first scent of something extremely tasty hit my nose. Cookies or some kind of cake.

“Man, what is that?” Swift asked. “That smells amazing.”

“That would be Silver Leaf,” I answered with a smile that turned a bit sad after a moment. “She is almost as good as her father was.”

His loss had been a sad one. Not that there were any that weren’t.

Trotting up to the open door, I moved past several packed tables outside to enter the small café. It was mostly like I remembered it.

A warm environment with maybe five tables inside, candles on the tables and a small counter with a great number of baked goods.

There was a line by the counter as ponies got their coffee and baked goods for the evening. Must have arrived in the middle of the after work rush.

Oops.

“Lord Page!”

Looking over, I spotted a silver coated pegasus round the counter with a big smile, moving past the unicorn manning the counter. “I thought that was you!”

I smiled at her. “Hey Silver. How are things?”

“Good!” she answered and gave me a quick hug before dropping back down to all fours. “Had to hire someone to handle the counter to keep up.”

I nodded. “And you?”

She smiled sadly and flicked her braid over her other shoulder. “…Well enough. Daddy wouldn’t have wanted me to stop. He loved this… I love this. He would want me to continue.”

Nodding again, I then blinked. “…Sorry, I’m being rude. Have you met Swift Spear?” I said and motioned to the other unicorn.

Silver smiled and nodded. “I have,” she answered and then winked at him. “Wouldn’t forget him I think.”

Swift cleared his throat. “Nice to see you again, Miss Leaf.”

“Please, Silver,” she said with a grin before looking over at me. “Here for Fern?”

“Among other things,” I agreed. “Some tea would be nice. How has he been doing?”

“Coming right up!” she said and then giggled. “He is adorable. Who would think a big bad Timberwolf could be so cute? Kept trying to get into my food, but he has been pretty well behaved.”

As she trotted off, I looked at Swift with an eyebrow raised. “Wouldn’t forget you? Really?” I asked with a smirk.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing,” I commented and moved over to one of the free corner tables. “Ever brought Minuette here?” That was funny!

That would be amusing. Would have been more fun with Thunder Cloud even.

Of course, it wasn’t my place to meddle really… even if I did need an excuse to introduce Thunder Cloud to Celestia in some sort of non-formal environment.

Hmm. Maybe enlist Luna’s help with it?

Oh, who am I kidding. I’m such an idiot. Cadence! Of course! Who else to ask for help but the Alicorn of fucking Love!

I’ll stop by her dreams tonight.

“…Maybe I should,” Swift admitted. “She does like her coffee…”

“Barbarians. Both of you!”

“…and they do have some pretty good muffins here,” he continued like I didn’t say anything. It was a common argument between us.

Coffee versus tea.

He was wrong of course.

“Wruf.”

The sound of wood against wood and the chlorofiend scrambled across the floor to pound at me. Grinning I caught Fern in my magic. “Hey there, you weed. Have fun with Silver?`”

Fern wiggled in my magic and then licked at my face with his leaf tongue and I nuzzled back before putting him down, rubbing between his twig and leaf ears with my hoof as Silver trotted up with a bag in her mouth and a tray resting on her wing with three cups on it. “Here you go. One spicy tea with honey and milk and one black coffee, strong. And two pieces of steaming hot apple pie. Oh, and here are Fern’s toys and food.”

“Thank you, Silver,” I answered with a nod. “You are amazing. Thank you so much for watching him.”

She smiled as she set the bag down and transferred the tray onto the table. “Anytime, Page. I mean it, I liked looking after him.”

“How much do I owe you for the tea?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know your bits are no good here, so stop trying. Give me a second and I’ll join you two, just need to check on the oven first.”