//------------------------------//
// Cadance the Sly and a Whole Family 
// Story: Octavia and the Alicorn's peace. 
// by FoxofRarity 
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Octavia and the Alicorn's Peace

By. FoxofRarity	

Chapter. 13

     Disclaimer- My Little Pony Friendship is Magic belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust. 


“Oh the innocence of childhood is so similar to mine but both his and mine have turning points where that innocence dies leading to a turning point of our lives.” Octavia in the back of her mind just wishes she can ask Gold Sky to please stop talking about anything regarding his mother or better yet just stop talking about any notion about mother in general until thanks to her own thoughts her mind shifts to something else. “Was it just me or did I hear Father having a terrible cough in the bathroom?” Her beautiful grayish purple eyes make a sudden move to gaze upon Father while her sharp hearing concentrates on his lungs. “I don’t know how healthy lungs are supposed to sound.” 

Allegro Note senses Octavia is using her hearing to monitor something one him due to seeing her ear twitch in his direction. “Perhaps she caught ear of my muffled cough but can’t figure out anything. Meanwhile, on Gold Sky talking about his parents she’s getting angry with every minute the word mother is ushered. Well, I don’t want to interrupt the nice stallion but the more this continues Octavia might stop making contact with him when he looks like a nice stallion.”
So here comes the interruption. “Gold Sky, that scar over your neck just how did you come to get it?” 

Gold Sky stops then goes completely silent when Octavia’s father asked him about his scar but what he noticed is the tiny sparkle in Octavia’s eyes when that question was thrown out into the air. “I was attacked by a Griffon and he slit my throat, luckily I used my magic to heal myself leaving this scar behind.” 

Octavia nearly gasped to how a nice stallion like Gold Sky can be attacked for no reason and tried to be murdered by a no good assailant. “No Pinkie, I only drink one cup of wine not two, an-an-and Gold Sky why were you attacked! How can a Griffon will want to kill you when you look so nice, innocent, and also walks like a mare…oops.”  Oh dear Octavia has said a bit too much in trying to describe the painted or pinto stallion. 

“What do you mean he walks like a mare? Is that even possible for a stallion to do???” Asks Allegro Note. 

Gold Sky already cloaked the story behind the scar on his neck now he has to throw another cloak over it while predicting once Octavia gives her Father a quick answer to his question then all attention will return to his scar. 

“Well if he can do it then I’m sure others can.” Octavia simply puts her answer in a short spoken answer to get back to Gold Sky’s scar.

So Gold Sky sensing his cue once both pairs of eyes are on him he takes a sip of his drink to take away the approaching thirst. “I got this a while back when I was just on a journey to see the rest of the world outside Equestria. I was near the nation of Airdor, it’s a kingdom of Girffons and as I decided to make a quick stop in a nearby carrot farm to buy some carrots and that was where I was attacked.”

“Oh dear!” Octavia gasped. 

“I being a born fighter figured I only got uh…four yes four minutes before I die and lose too much blood hehe, I fought the Griffon and won then I healed myself with magic with three minutes and fifty seconds to spare.”

Both the father and daughter say whoa at the same time to express their awe in this cloaked stallion’s ability to kill a fearsome creature like a Griffon in ten seconds flat. “Born fighter!??” Octavia exclaims. “You’re more of a flawless fighter to kill a griffon in ten seconds! Uhhh then what happened?”

“I just stood there looking at the dead Griffon and wonder in what state of mind can he have to just come and attack somebody like me who did him no ill. Did he experience a sadness that’ll drive him to seek anyone’s blood or did he just have the desire to seek blood. A life is brought to an end through his own decision and I felt nothing for having to end his life when maybe back at his home he has a family waiting for maybe nothing but nonetheless, there was one question I have and probably will always remained unanswered.” Gold Sky finishes his double cloaked story behind the scar over his neck. 

Allegro Note being more amused with the unanswered question then the calm barely emotional tone of voice asks Gold Sky what’s the unanswered question while Octavia is more amused with Gold Sky’s calm barely emotional tone then with the unanswered question asks Gold Sky how he can be so calm in telling them about this incident. 

Sometimes two questions can be answered with one stone but this isn’t the case here not even by the longest of long shots.  “Two questions I’ve received and both I will answer starting with Octavia’s question. The reason why I’m speaking the way I’m speaking is I don’t feel sorry for ending someone that had malice to drive them to kill me, I just don’t. In fact what I did held that Griffon accountable for its own actions and I, well, I did what needed to be done to ensure my life. For to even bother feeling bad is meaningless no matter what. Now to Allegro Note’s question, the question that’s unanswered is did the Griffon felt fear in his final seconds of life.”

“Fear?” Octavia says the word not Allegro Note which is odd given Allegro Note asked about the unanswerable. 

“Yes fear. Everyone no matter who they are has fear when they are about to die…” Suddenly.

“Yes tell me about it.” Allegro Note unknowingly mutters under his breath which clearly is heard but not understood by the other two. 

“What?” Octavia and Gold Sky say at the same time.

Realizing what he said. “Uh oh uh what!?” Allegro will play the dumbfounded card to escape his little self-imposed predicament. 

“Did you say something Father?” 

“Uhh no, no, no I-I didn’t say anything for real I didn’t say anything now back to everyone having fear.” 

Gold Sky believing Allegro Note continues. “So did this Griffon have fear or did he accept his fate thanks to his doing? While yes everyone feels fear right before they die but at the same time am I right saying that? Still I will never know if he had fear or not.”   

Octavia learns something new today, she learns that killing someone isn’t always an act that’s bad it’s an act that must be done when there is no other option left to utilize to ensure one’s own life. Gold Sky did just that in self-defense from some bad Griffon and perhaps he’s right not to feel terrible when he took the moment to look upon the Griffon to reminiscence about the pillars the Griffons once stood upon. “Say well I’m stuffed how about we leave and go to the Ponyville lake to watch the nature while our stomachs digests everything.” Octavia suggests. 

“Sounds good to me.” Says Allegro Note. 

Gold Sky simply nods. 

Alas after leaving a nice tip for Pinkie Pie all three carefully trot to the Ponyville lake because moving with full stomachs isn’t so graceful like Rarity trotting down the road when she isn’t stuffed to the brim with food well in fact even when filled to the brim Rarity still has gracefulness on her side. “Oh boy I could barely move.” Groans Allegro Note then leans a bit on Octavia. “You don’t mind if I lean myself on you a bit do sweetheart?”  He asks.

“No I don’t mind at all Father besides we’re almost at the lake.” Octavia nevertheless, decreases her speed so Father can help himself. 

Gold Sky observing the Love between the Father and Daughter suddenly hears the laughs of the young Griffon he or specifically was watching over. As for the laughs, with every passing second and more observing the Love the laughs become louder and louder until in the core of his Galaxy he says the words he’s always told the little Griffon he once watched over. “My flesh & blood…This is something I can’t withstand anymore, oh my Great Spirit please stop with the affection I can’t take it anymore!! STOP!! PLEASE STOP!!” His Love releases at tremendous shockwave when it directs itself to what the stallion holds most dear. 

In the Palace, Princess Cadance is polishing Shining Armor’s armor. *TING!* “What the!!” Feeling the tremendous spike of Love, Cadance thinks that Love is touching her shoulder right now but stops herself from reacting as if she was touched for real. “His Love! I think what he loves the most is passing through his mind at this very moment!” With the help of her imagination which isn’t as bad as it sounds. “His love is now past the boundaries of well I  guess in my imagination it’s past the very edge of the universe and it’s going deep into the territory of Divinity.” Meaning, his love if shaped into a bar it is just knocking on the gates of the Heavenly Paradise since it rose from Earth and journeyed into the depths of space. “I can feel his most loving Love and boy does it feel nice to be able to feel it.” 

Fortunately for Gold Sky the trio arrived at the Ponyville and the act of simple affection shared between the father and daughter comes to an end. “Gold Sky come, come.” The gray mare comes by Gold Sky and softly pushes him to the shade of her favorite tree so he can join her father as well. “Okay this is perfect.” Now judging from the eagerness in her voice along with the happiness inside her by having her father and good friend close. “Ever since I was a child.” Octavia begins to explain why this place is so important to her and even though her father knows full Gold Sky does not know of this place of importance. “Father will bring me here as a place to seek solace from any form of hardship we faced given how it was only me and father against the world. Oh there were times when times got too tough but we always pulled through and sometimes when we’ll were here he’ll take out his favorite violin to play me my favorite songs as his way to show we will always be together now as for the lake. The calm show of nature will ease father thanks to how the never connecting sounds of the water rippling will give him peace and for me the sounds of the never rhythmic water ripples provided me with inspiration to write music of my own.”  

Gold Sky using magic grabs a flat stone and throws it at the lake making the stone skip across the mild ripples. “It’s nice how the both of you have a spot that’ll give you peace whenever you seek it and it also reminds the both of you of each other’s Love. And it’s so beautiful in fact if I may say how you two have grown so close together.” 

But in Octavia’s mind. “Oh hell from the way he’s talking, Gold Sky is going to ask about that bloody mare!!?” By bloody mare it is Octavia’s mother. 

However, Gold Sky does not say a single peep about Octavia’s mother instead he carries on with his admiration about Octavia and Allegro Note especially Allegro Note’s paternal instinct. Of course thanks to this Octavia gets the urge to ask Gold Sky about what she perceives as paternal instinct in him. “Gold Sky even though you told me before I just feel like I have to ask you again and this time I can’t help myself so sorry in advance. Ahem, how do I know you were not a father when one’s own paternal instincts can only be manifested when they caring for their children?”  Ah ha! Octavia undoubtedly is thinking she caught the stallion with question he must answer with the truth and nothing but the truth.  

Hapless as the luck on Octavia’s side which by the way isn’t very plentiful to say the least so to present that poor aspect shadowing the gray mare Gold Sky already had his words picked if asked any sort of question regarding his trait that many will see as Paternal. “Like I said Octavia, I spent a while in the Griffon Republic and I have babysat many of their children. Griffons are so unique but their young offspring are so beautiful just like the love between you two and thus I have great experience with children so what you may take for paternal instinct is just my well-earned experience with children who by the way have razor sharp talons. Oh you can imagine how many scratches I received for child I took care of…” But suddenly his high level of caution depletes itself by half when one little Griffon presents herself to his psyche. “But there was one little Griffon that I really cared a lot for, a dear precious little Griffon who take my care and made it into Love, she really loved me very much that precious little Griffon who I saw grow before my very eyes day after day like daffodil. She adored me just like I adored her very much.” 

Octavia seeing she’s been proven wrong in her assumption once again feels pleased nonetheless, that even though he isn’t a father she found a substitute that will give rise to his paternal instinct. “What was the name of this precious little Griffon, Gold Sky?” 
Allegro Note pipes in to. “Yes what is the name of this little Griffon, Gold Sky? Because from the sound of all this I can guess you loved that little Griffon a lot.” 

With his level of caution at half. “Her name is Gil…” He’s lucky he caught himself in the spilt second. “Hilda yes the name of the precious little Griffon is Hilda.” In so little time and with so little pushing, the Loving Stallion was about to say the name of what he holds most dear and what gives him the most pain. “Damn the Razor inside of me, damn the Razor for taking me away from her but damn myself the most.” 

“Hilda.” The gray mare says in the clearest of voices. “That’s a nice a name for a precious little thing…”
“She is not a thing!” Gold Sky almost growls at the gray mare for referring to what he holds most dear as a thing. “She is not a thing, so please don’t ever call her that again. I-I-I-I ca-cared for her deeply and she tssh, tss, ggaaaa aah thsh, love-loved go-going to the meadows with me, everyday she’ll ask me tsssh, go can we please go to the meadows and I caring so much her will take her so she can enjoy herself and I can just smile. Smile for the fact that for every second she’s happy I’m happy.”  In the midst of his random stutters the loving stallion manages to get his point laid before the gray mare. 

“Sorry and that sounds so sweet Gold Sky, you and that precious little Griffon.” Octavia reaches out to lay her arm on the stallion’s shoulders. “You know, you’re very mysterious Gold Sky so mysterious I bet you impress my Father.” 

“Yes he impresses me.” Chimes in Allegro Note on cue. 

Octavia carries on. “So every time you reveal something I can’t help but be amazed hehehe I like that and thank you for being so entranced with my music. Perhaps we can do this again next time or maybe you can invite me!” Octavia removes her arm from his shoulder and carefully elbows him gently on the side. “To practice in front of you and Princess Celestia hehehe, that’ll be nice yeah, really nice I like the sound of that.” Octavia rubs her hooves together like she’s coming up with a plan that’ll get her more recognition of her musical talent and gets a bit carried away in the process which does not happen very often but it did and Octavia is doing it while Gold Sky and Allegro Note look on at the gray mare laugh in a maniacal manner. 

“Uhh why is she laughing like that?”  Gold Sky asks Allegro Note. 
“Eh she’s just coming up with some plan that might or might not work, this is normal.” 

Once the maniacal laughing comes to a complete stop like Rainbow Dash zipping her mouth shut Octavia looks back at Gold Sky. “So what do you say?” 

“I’ll ask her majesty if you can come to the palace so you can practice slash perform for her and me of course. Now I guess from the way this is all going, I think it’s time for me to depart.” He gets up while making it apparent he’s not done speaking. “Octavia thank you for giving me a gift that I’ll never forget, thank you for being so considerate when I don’t deserve it but you were so kind to me, I’m glad to have the opportunity to have a friend like you Octavia. Thank you.” Now to Allegro Note. “Allegro Note thank you for taking my first bit of misunderstanding without offense and for treating me as a friend, thank you.” 

Allegro Note to show how much of a friend he is to Gold Sky just takes the cloaked stallion into a tight hug. “You’re a good fella Gold Sky, sure at first when my daughter told me about I almost had some doubts about you but upon seeing you react to Octavia’s music my mind changed and now I see you with the brightest of hopes as a good fella.” After popping some of Gold Sky’s bones he lets the cloaked pony free. 

“Oh father who knew you’ll be so modest.” Octavia takes her place. “Well Gold Sky the three of us sure had fun today and take care, you good fella you.” In the mind. “Time to hear is heart speed up like a rocket.” Then takes Gold Sky in nice loving hug. “Hehe there it goes, faster than fast if hearts can go that fast, I don’t think he’s having a heart attack? Nah he’s good.” 
With the hug done the cloaked stallion teleports back home. 

Allegro Note stands next to Octavia. “He’s something isn’t he.” 

“Oh father I know what you’re leading to but you’re barking up the wrong tree, he’s just a friend a handsome friend nonetheless, but still a friend besides maybe he thinks what I’m thinking right now and my music career is where I want it.” Well Octavia has spoken her due. “Still I like him. But!”

“But what!!?” Allegro Note’s ears perk up with super wonder. 

“HA! Got you father, still look if you think Gold Sky is the right stallion then I’m amazed you found one so quickly without being soooooo uh so protective but tell you what, if Gold Sky has some kind of an interest in me then maybe I’ll give the time of the day.” She cements her words by gently kissing father on the cheek. “You have my word father.” 

Allegro Note kisses Octavia’s forehead just to give Octavia another kiss given his limited time upon this Earth. “So you do feel something for him?” 

“If I have feelings for him then I know he has feelings for me Father and before you ask I can feel his body heat rise every time I approach him & I can hear his heart beat rise every time I hug him buuuuuut! His smile he has every time he sees me tells me he feels something for me.” Octavia ends it right there and changes the subject. “Father you should come over to my house for dinner, I so want to cook something for you to pay you back for the big lunch you gave me a while back.” 

“Thank you sweetheart.” Allegro Note gives Octavia another kiss on the cheek. “Octavia loves having things on her own accord but it does seem it will do her well.”

With time ticking away, Allegro Note can just hang on to hope that he will at least have a beating heart when his daughter finds love otherwise finding love will not be an option for the gray mare. Just all the more things that makes living life so agonizing to the Father, oh why just why did he have to live every day like it’s his last when he has an approaching last day? Oh the things a Father must do to provide his children or in this case his child with the little thought that he’ll always be with her even when he knows…He Won’t. 
Though if he heeded some of the philosophy of nihilism then to him all of this will be meaningless but he never did heed the philosophy of nihilism because as a Father only one thing means the world to him and it is not his wife.    
But his heart living outside his body. 

***

The cloaked stallion reappears in Princess Cadance’s field of view being completely oblivious to the Princess of Love who for the moment observes him trot around in the gardens while smiling a big smile like he’s eager to share a secret he can’t hide for long. “Tia trust me this will work and I rolled about in your bed plus pillows for like ten minutes to cover myself with your scent oh I also bathed myself with your shampoo as well.” 

Princess Celestia who currently is in her room enjoying some chocolate cake feels a bit worried about the gamble Cadance wants to take. “Do you honestly think he’ll think I shape-shifted into you by covering yourself with my scent? True it’s clever on your part but rather risky if you want to secure any kind of bond with him.” 

Cadance jumps off from the balcony to commence to glide down and land in front of the stallion. 
“You can say that Tia but given how I see his big smile his face he is in a very happy mood so that means first thing he’ll do is look for you and right now I bet he’s sniffing the air to find your scent and with me gliding down he’ll catch your scent on me. And with a bit of confusion but with the happiness in his mind he will think it’s you so here it goes.” 

Princess Celestia doing her part uses magic to conceal her scent and continues indulging in her delicious chocolate cake. “I’ll say no to his question to invite Octavia over but he’ll get saddened and Cadance will get upset plus Luna might also get involved too. Oh in my own reluctance I’ll say yes but perhaps I can play this into my favor by inviting my most faithful student to watch.” Celli tells herself just then. “Oh and good luck Cadance.” 

With only hundred feet remaining until she lays her hooves on the ground Cadance thanks Tia for the nice bid. 

*sniff, sniff* As Cadance undoubtedly predicted, Gold Sky sniffs the air to find dearest mother. “Mother is close.” And just when the last word left his lips, Cadance lands right in front of him. *GASP!* “It’s her majesty Princess Cadance!! How, how, how, how and why, why, why, why is she doing here!!” Yet even with his thoughts saying what is obvious his nose reminds him whose scent he smells. “Is this mother?”

“He can’t tell if it’s me or Tia or he’s trying.” Cadance tells herself. 

“Did mother shape shift into her majesty Princess Cadance as if to get rid of my fear of the mare who knows of my great many sins but yet toys with me by making me wait for her to make her move on me.” His nose sniffs the air picking up mother’s scent come from the cerise mare and picks up the smell of mother’s shampoo. “She smells like mother so it has to be mother…oh mother you and your ways.” In the end Gold Sky completely believes this isn’t the cerise mare he fears, he believes this is mother given how every pony has their own unique scent and this mare clearly has mother’s scent. “Mother why did you shape shift into her majesty Princess Cadance?”

Hearing this Cadance nearly falls to the ground in utter disbelief to see how her little plan actually worked. “Uhhhhm because I wanted to see how you will react and since you didn’t react any differently like you were in front of the real Princess Cadance, I say it’s safe for me to stay in this form for the time being.”  Cadance carefully plays her hand… hoof in this hoping to spend time with the stallion.  

Surprised as well, Celestia with her telepathy looks on through Cadance’s eyes to see if Gold Sky will go along. 

“Mother can shape shift in her majesty Princess Cadance but mother can’t never lose her wonderful scent.” Gold Sky gently while still kind tense chuckles to mother’s little act of fun. “Mother if you think it’s safe to look like her majesty Princess Cadance then it’s fine by me.” 

“Phew…” Both the cerise mare and white mare sigh in relief.

So first before anything else, Cadance does what she always wanted to do. “Well hold on.” She stops to clear her throat but in reality she’s too giddy to even continue but has to continue in order to keep up the charade per se but she will continue nevertheless, and will have to call Gold Sky what Tia calls him. “Ahem, okay, okay, well let’s go my ahem let’s go my son OH! But first are you forgetting something.” Under her breath Cadance conceals a long giggle. 

The stallion thinks for a quick moment to remember what he’s forgetting. “Oh yeah!” He comes up and kisses the cerise on the cheek. “Thank you for reminding me mother.” 

Upon contact of the loving stallion’s lips touching her cheek, a massive jolt rushes through the mare’s nervous system. “So my dear son will you like to tell me how your day went I am very curious and from the big smile you had on your face when you came your day must have went well.”  

Gold Sky nearly blushing from mother’s observation lies belly down on the soft grass to tell her every detail of his day.
Though just prior before laying down next to him Cadance expresses her thoughts to herself. “Love in its physical form just kissed me on the cheek and its love I mean his Love is joining with my love with every physical contact so with this I must take every advantage I can take to figure out how he’s related to me. Still this is so exciting!” With that thought said Cadance sits down next to the stallion. “I think after Tia sits next to him she will cover him with her wing yeah I think she’ll do that next. I think.” Thus Cadance places a wing over the stallion sending more jolts of his love into her system. “With all this Love coming inside of me I think a connection can be established if I keep this up.” 

With her wing covering the stallion Gold Sky is now eased into telling “mother” about his little nice gift given to him by Octavia. 

“Well mother where to start? Uhmmm today uhhhhh alright let me start over Octavia had a gift for me today.” 

Cadance putting on her best motherly voice to keep this real as real can get between the both of them.  “What is that she gave you my son?” Is doing the best she can to imitate every aspect of Tia’s motherly voice. 

Gold Sky who like Cadance also feels giddy to tell “mother” about Octavia’s gift for him. “Octavia practiced her incredible music for me an-an-and her music is beyond words so I can’t fully describe its majesty but I can try by saying it took to the heavenly paradise and I felt like it will never end! Ooooh she never looked so magnificent as she played her music for me, bit by bit, I felt lifted up and when she came to an end my min	d couldn’t face this reality.” 

“How come?” Cadance asks. 

“Her music came to an end that’s why. I wish it went on a little bit longer so I can just feel what magnificence feels…oh Octavia she is just sooooo oh just soooooooo ooooooh boy I can’t find any words to say.” Gold Sky turns away from “mother” to hide the rosy color appearing on his cheeks to which for Cadance is wonderful news to see how the stallion is developing emotions for a such a nice mare while for Princess Celestia she isn’t liking the rosy hue and thus comes more motivation to step up her take in Gold Sky’s forth coming love. 

Again with the giddiness in the cerise mare. “Oh my, it looks like you have the L word for this certain mare.” 

*ting* The stallion’s ears perk up when the notion of a certain L word is spoken from “mother’s” lips. 

But suddenly. “Lobster!” Pinkie Pie just pops up from out of nowhere. “Oops wrong place to pop up and intrude upon, bye!” 

“Uhh what??” Gold Sky turns to the cerise to see if she has an answer for this unexpected surprise from Pinkie Pie. 

“Yeah that’s a normal from Pinkie Pie and no the L word isn’t lobster my son the L word is Love. Love, Love, and yes, Love my dear son.” 

“You’re going too far with this Cadance, don’t encourage love where love isn’t supposed to be.” Celestia pushes away her chocolate cake meaning things are escalating a bit too fast. 

Not heeding Tia’s words and not liking how the white mare plans to destroy this cherishing moment Cadance will just this once overstep her use of telepathy. “Sit down, be quiet, and wait until I’m done here. Thank you.”  

Celestia gasps in shock but does as Cadance telepathically orders and resumes eating her chocolate cake. “Your gambles may favor you now but they never last once I come into the fold.” 

Back to Gold Sky.
“Love?? You think I am developing Love for Octavia?”  Now as if his ears perking up details his surprise for this notion were enough he didn’t stutter when he reacted to the notion when in normal circumstances he’ll stutter like a scratched record on thirty three rotations per minute. 

Instead of trying to imitate every one of Tia’s motherly aspects, Cadance without having any thought turns to her own motherly instincts thanks to the questioning light coming from his eyes. “Yes I think that my son.” Through her own instinct Cadance gently nudges his left shoulder followed by a small comforting smile and comforting like someone can say something true while being so grand about it. 

“You may think so mother but I just don’t know if I even know what this sort of Love is, I-I mean how can I know what love is if…look mother maybe I told you this before…”

Cadance has the need to know what was told before. “I don’t think I remember what you told me my son so please refresh me.”

Truth be told Gold Sky never exactly told mother (Celestia) the things he’s going to tell Princess Cadance right now while inside he’s guarding the very thing he knows he’s love most dear seeing how he became something that normally doesn’t come when being a son is a stallion’s first trait followed by husband then father and for the loving stallion he was son and then became the third trait sealing what he is along with how he has so much experience with children. 
“Through the years of my life mother, I never have fallen love with anypony and I mean I never fallen in Love, had a crush, admired any mare, or even spent time around my own species. I don’t know what love is mother and I wish I knew what love is. Truly mother, nothing will please me than to know what true love is.”

“For being the physical manifestation of Love he clearly has no idea how to interpret his own emotions yet from what I sensed earlier he loves something ever so dearly but that’s something else which I know he won’t reveal to me even if he thinks I’m his mother as for falling in love with a mare that’s the unsolved puzzle that needs to be solved so he can know what love is.” Cadance thinks to herself. “Oh my son, truly you don’t know what love is but never fear, right now I will try to help you the best I can.”

“You will!” The stallion’s ears perk up with delight to get the help he’s been seeking from mother instead of wise but sometimes in the most part cryptic counsel but that’s only on the developing love for a soul mate. 

Cadance says yes by kissing the stallion’s forehead intensifying the jolts she’s already receiving from her wing covering the stallion. “Let me start by asking you, what did you feel when you laid your eyes on Octavia for the first time. Did you feel weird for seeing a mare of your species okay you know what forget that first question. Ahem starting over, did you feel something when you saw Octavia and did your mind start making weird thoughts?” 

Gold Sky explains that it was her music that brought him to her. Her unexplainable music closed out the world took him away from his peripheral senses and brought him the wooden melodies of peace. Then when the music came to an end his eyes opened to gaze upon the beauty who was bringing the wooden melodies to live with every motion of her own will, he being who he is almost had no words to say to such a fine mare like her but luckily he managed to applaud her wonderful talent. “After that we began what I guess is called a friendship she started to look upon me with her beautiful eyes telling me I mean something to her, she talks to me with no hesitation and she will not turn me away. Though what was funny along with amazing me is her willingness to stick with me when the Cakes asked me to foalsit their children, she could have said no but yet she stay with me even though I did all the work oh and the reason I asked her stay with me was well since she’s a mare others can feel comfortable about me foal sitting the twins.” 

“Well with everything you are saying my son, perhaps now you can find something in the words or perhaps the way your voice sounds can tell you something about Octavia.” 

“Uh she’s a really nice mare?”

“Ehhh…” Cadance almost being speechless waves her right hoof around in the air to show her thought process. “Yes, from the sound of it she is a nice mare but seriously you can’t be completely unknowing of your own feelings for this nice mare…” The cerise mare stops herself knowing that if she continues then she might get carried away leading her in territory that does not need to be explored. *Major Ting* “Something tells me Tia is sending something to stop me so I have to be vague but still I won’t let her stop me when the night can also be my ally. No I’m not talking about Luna who I know will be nosy but she has an advantage given how Gold Sky loves being close to her. Still, I now feel ashamed realizing that to be close to Love itself I will have to use deception. Feared in the day, Embraced in the night. Luckily I can cover myself with Tia’s scent while she’s taking her hour long baths.” In the seconds between words being exchanged she thinks up plans for the come future moments where she’ll learn a great many things about the stallion.  “My son, you may not see it now but you will learn that once you learn that, oh man!  Why do you have to be so random about this when I felt something powerful inside of you flair up just moments ago…” Sadly this outburst couldn’t be controlled no matter how hard she tried. “Sorry, Gold Sky, you and Octavia have something that’s yet to blossom but when it does you will know but for now it’s best you gain more understanding by gaining more experiences with other ponies then surely then everything will be much easier for you to understand.” As Cadance thought she senses Luna approaching indicating Tia must sent her. “Well my son perhaps later into the night we can continue this for as of right now something calls me so I have to go but remember my son there is something between you and Octavia just keep that in mind. OH! Are you still afraid of Cadance?” 

With a nod, Gold Sky saddens the cerise mare. “My fear for her majesty Mi Amore Cadenza will not subside not even with you shape shifting into her mother. But on a nice side note her voice sounds extremely beautiful so I can get used to you shape shifting into her more often.” 

Just be to be sure this shape shifting charade will be on her side. “Well just out of curiosity how do you know Cadance is near you?” 

The stallion sniffs the air in case Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is near him or coming close to him. “I can smell her scent from far away mother and if I had time to focus I can sense her but unfortunately when she can anywhere having the time to focus is out of my grasp.” 

With perhaps two minutes left until Luna arrives Cadance will put her luck to the ultimate test by asking one last question. “Why do you fear Cadance my son?” 

Gold Sky’s ears drop and a slight tremble becomes physically apparent when asked about why he fears the Princess of Love. “I know she is waiting for the right moment to strike for when one like her knows of certain horrible things then she will be motivated to put an end to somepony like me and I wouldn’t blame her.” 

“What?” Cadance wishes to press the issue with Gold Sky but sadly cannot thanks to Luna. “My son do enjoy the rest of your day and I’ll see you in a little bit.” With a heavy heart Cadance removes her wing and kisses him on the cheek. “Here I go.” Then flies away for despite being very powerful she does not know how to teleport. Of course in her flight back to Shining Armor, Cadance flies by Princess Celestia who currently is standing on her balcony. “I can practically feel what Tia is feeling through her eyes alone.” So with that information in mind, Cadance gives Tia a smirk. 

Receiving that little smirk from the cerise mare Celestia isn’t very pleased for everything that Cadance has set into the mind of the loving stallion Celestia herself has to go along with them otherwise a telepathic order is well in order and Celestia isn’t one to enjoy being ordered around. “Bloody hell, Cadance has set me in a hamster wheel that I can’t escape from and if I try then I will confuse my dearest son. Oooooh, Cadance has encouraged Gold Sky to think more about that gray Earth Pony now I have to partake in Cadance’s route. But on the bright side I can still travel Cadance’s route but with my most faithful student on my side.” Perhaps that is a bright idea for the white mare. 

*sniff, sniff* “Aunt Luna!” The stallion jumps to all fours to be filled with joy to look up and spot Princess Luna coming in for a landing. “Aunt Luna!” 

“Must make this a perfect landing.”  With her not so shiny landing record in mind Luna rapidly flaps her minds creating the hum so similar to a humming bird and lands carefully next to the loving stallion. “Phew worked out better than I expected, any who, hello Gold Sky now come here so you can sniff my hair, chop, chop!!” The Princess of the Night lowers her head a bit to make the sniffing much easier for Gold Sky. “Gold Sky what are you up to?” 

After smelling the Immortal Mare the stallion looks up while his right hoof rubs his chin. “Well I don’t know what to do now Aunt Luna, I mean just moments ago mother and I were talking and earlier Octavia, her father, and I had a wonderful lunch. So now I don’t know what to do next? Uhh do you have any ideas for what I should do, Aunt Luna?” 

The Immortal Mare too has her right hoof under her chin to think up of a fun activity to partake with her nephew. “Well since you already ate will you like to fly with me…oh yes, high up in the sky so nobody can see your true form? So what do you think?” 

When being suggesting to fly with Luna, Gold Sky remembered how Rainbow Dash is going to teach him to be a better flyer and since it’s been awhile when he last flew around perhaps he can fly with Aunt Luna. “You know what, that’s a great idea Aunt Luna let’s do it!” 

Thus both teleport to the highest cloud but before stretching his wings the stallion remembering the beautiful silk cloak Rarity gave him he folds it up and asks Luna to please place a spell on it so the silk cloak won’t go through the cloud. “Rarity gave you that nice white cloak didn’t she.” 

“Yes she gave me a something only worthy for a Princess like you Aunt Luna and that’s why I take so much responsibility with this magnificent cloak.” 

Luna casts the spell on the silk cloak to keep it afloat. “Rarity is such a pleasant mare my dear nephew she will not hesitate to put the needs of others in front of hers along with being so talented in making clothes so perhaps we can go close shopping. Hehehe, the both of us can go to nice social events looking so classy wait!” 

Gold Sky in the middle of stretching his wings takes the opportunity to speak knowing what will say after wait. “She knows that I am a Alicorn Aunt Luna but never fear I took the necessary precautions with my telepathy to keep her from telling anyone about my true form. Still I trust she will not press the issue about my true form nevertheless, I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this to you but from reading the tone of your voice it only seems the most logical to say Rarity is a very beautiful mare but she is out of my league.” 

“Oh…” Clearly from the oh Luna had intentions to try her hoof at matchmaker for him and for sure as sure can be, he does not want to know why Aunt Luna had that intention. 

“Alright I’m ready, let’s go Aunt Luna!” 
Both Alicorns take flight into the blue sky feeling the wind rush through the fur of their coats like its water from the Ponyville Lake one can almost be taken over by this soothing sensation until an air bump reminds them they’re flying. “Look at everybody down below my dearest nephew, don’t they look so funny doing whatever they’re doing right now and probably the next day most of them will be doing it all over again.”
The stallion who too looks down onto the mortals couldn’t but remember about a philosophy he partially believes when it comes to the things around him. “Can it be so meaningless Aunt Luna? Can they lives their lives every day not knowing what they do in repetitiveness is practically meaningless, their hearts beating that allow them to do what they do when it has no meaning, no purpose, no logic, no core, no spirit, and no point.” 

Luna using the tip of her right wing gently pokes the stallion’s cheek. “Why the sudden insight of the mortals, nephew?”

Gold Sky shakes his head to take himself away from the philosophy of nihilism which try as it may is trying to make itself presentable to the stallion’s psyche though it will never have much success. “Just you know immortality; I’ve been alive for two centuries walking about the earth for a chunk of my life, seeing things, marveling at wonders, avoiding some weird creatures called Xenomorphs but I did manage to take one down though it had four arms heh weird creature, fight wars, kill, end lives, slaughter, more killing, protect the innocent, watch an innocent life fade away as it tried to protect what it loved the most, saving children, fighting, fight, fighting, and just more fighting until finally the other side is completely wiped out.” *sigh* “Makes me wonder since death exists is there really meaning to living by doing these activities when that takes time spent with loved ones away?” 

Luna tilts her head in acknowledgement. “Well everyone needs to scape a living my dear nephew not everypony is Immortal and they need to eat or they’ll die and yes a living is needed so their families can eat as well. By the way what are Xenomorphs?”

Gold Sky quickly shakes his head. “That’s something best to be left in the unknown Aunt Luna for truly a creature like that it cannot be known by many other wise fear will spread like an avalanche among the mortals. Please believe that creature is worse than any nightmare, I mean it they are the nightmares that walk in the light of day.” 

Luna figures maybe Celli should now something about these creepy Xenomorphs. 
“Say have you ever gone a long time without eating?”  

“Yes.” 

“How long?” 

“Sixteen years without food and water Aunt Luna.” 

Luna gets hits by an air bump and nearly stalls in flight until she finally stabilizes herself but the reason why she stalled is her unprecedented surprise to the time gone without any substance. “How could you have lasted so long with a mighty thirst when even I, Luna, Celestia, and Cadance, wait minute, I mean I, Celestia, and Cadance  can’t go three days without water until our thirst becomes unbearable or better yet very irritating as for hunger the growling stomach also gets irritating. So what’s your secret to ignore the thirst and hunger?” 

In just one word. “Insanity.” 

Luna stares at Gold Sky as if to see if prolonged eye contact will make him fess up and tell her it’s all a joke but the loving stallion does not fess nor does he break eye contact as if in his way to prolong his eye contact with her is to show the truth in that one spoken word. 
“Is thou serious my dear nephew?” 

“Yes I am serious Aunt Luna. For sixteen years I roamed the Earth with a collapsed mind hearing nothing but voices of innocent & guilty souls, innocent screams of the end, the voices of my mommy & daddy, the cute squeaking of baby dragons, laughter, growls, cries, and screams. So many voice so many things, the faces their faces their innocent faces begging me, the blood I have shed, just everything I have seen becomes one before my very eyes. Reality becomes irrelevant and the make believe of a broken mind becomes relevant.” The stallion to silence the mare preforms a slow aileron roll like to show he isn’t the one bit ashamed of this long but still temporary irrational state he once was in. “Then after that I became sane and here I am with you flying above the mortals who sadly can’t every minute with their loved ones even though I deeply desire it.” 

“Well…at least he’s right in the coming back to sanity part but I cannot yes my telepathy to find the source of his insanity for how in the world does one clinically insane comes back to sanity. I in all my wisdom didn’t take the time to study the complexity of the mind. Especially the unpredictable and unfathomable mind of the Stallion.”

So what is said is and what is thought is thought both Alicorns resume their pleasantry in the glorious flying that until down below in the Everfree forest the stallion spots something that causes him to lick his chops in utter delight. “OOOOOH! Aunt Luna, my stomach just went empty!!” In the same motion of the Peregrine Falcon his wings fold a bit inward to ever increase his speed tenfold in order to catch his prey before it realizes what coming for it. 

On the dearly other hand or perhaps it’s best by hoof Luna connects the dots to what the stallion is diving down for. “Wait why is he going for that stag??” Well Insanity does create tastes for things Ponies won’t taste. 

Gold Sky tackles his meal causing him to roll out of Luna’s sight.
“Oh Gold Sky my dearest nephew just what did you catch here in the Everfree forest.” Luna standing in the light of the sun peers into the darkness but gets no reply rather she hears some kind of moaning going about and out fear she immediately comes to the conclusion that her dearest nephew is harmed. “Gold Sky!!” So quickly she enters the forest. “What in the dark moon light!?” The Princess of the Night bears witness to her dear nephew biting down on the windpipe of the Stag for a few seconds then giving her the shock in the present state Gold Sky rips out the windpipe and plops down on his rump to await the death of the Stag. “Wha-wha- what did you do!!?” 

The stallion places a hoof over the dying Stag as if to say this is his meal and no one else’s “I’m just going to eat my kill Aunt Luna and after I have my share you can partake in it if you wish.” 

Luna’s jaw drops but not in the offer but in how dearest nephew licks the blood of his lips of his freshly killed prey. “Uhhh don-don’t tell me you are going to eat tha-that deer…? Are you go-going to eat that deer??”

“Very much so Aunt Luna.” Gold Sky gently taps the dead stag to make sure it’s completely dead, upon confirmation he begins to piling up wood to make a fire even though he prefers to eat his prey raw but perhaps Luna won’t like it raw, but without a knife the stallion finds a rock with a sharp edge, and proceeds to flay the stag. 

Luna shakes her head to come with anything to say to the stallion but seeing how a fellow pony…a herbivore…stress herbivore once again. “Go-Gold Sky, you eat, eat meat??” 

With a nice sirloin cooking over the fire Gold Sky turns to the mare. “Yes Aunt Luna, I eat meat in fact my sixteen year hunger came to an end by eating stag after I fell to my knees and looked up into the heavens to feel a warmth that isn’t natural to any us Immortals much less mortals. This warmth transcended the very meaning of the thin red line drawn upon my mind telling me I am needed and I will fail, but there will be a great tribulation ahead for me but the grace of this warmth will carry me on. Nevertheless, what brought me to back to my sanity is after I felt this transcendence I looked to my right and in a thick thorn bush is a stag whose antlers were tangled in the thorns and right there in that moment I realized that was the hand of the Great Spirit. So without thought much less disgust I ate the stag and brought an end to my hunger and just in the right moment too.” 

Luna now completely understands how someone in complete insanity can regain complete sanity through an act of Divine Intervention but nevertheless, for the Divine to provide him with meat as to end is hunger is kind of weird by the way but still she won’t question any of the acts of the Divine. “Uhh what was the right moment?” 

Unfortunately for saying more of what needed to be said Gold Sky will not oblige Aunt Luna until he sees a times that’ll fit him to tell Luna more about the right moment. “Aunt Luna will you like your share to be medium well?” 

“What in thy world is medium well!?” Demands the Princess of the Night.

Gold Sky places his medium cooked share on a large leaf he’s using as a plate then places brings another large leaf to use for Luna’s plate. “Medium well is your share not being cooked to well done so your share won’t be too dry but a little juicy and soft sooooo do you want it medium well or well done??” 
Luna in the same way a young child will do when asked to eat Brussel sprouts shakes her head to be asked how she wants her meat to be cooked. “NO!” She shouts with the Royal Canterlot voice. “I do not partake in the vile consumption of an animal’s muscle fibers!! I-I-I am a herbivore! I am a herbivore!” Luna cringes to see dearest nephew enjoy his cooked meat. “How can you enjoying eating a fellow quadruped!!?”

Gold Sky continues eating even with Aunt Luna’s displeasure looming over his head though he did well sort of expected this reaction from his Pure Immortal Aunt. “It tastes good and besides if it can fill my stomach then there is no harm in enjoying these yummy muscle fibers for everything that the was created is not made to be eaten? Like the grass in the ground, the berries in the bush, the eggs laid by a hen, and the muscle fibers on a stag are they all made to be eaten. I mean what’s the purpose of a stag being so delicious when I can’t eat it, truly Aunt Luna if I am not supposed to eat stag then why will I find one tangled in a thorn bush when just moments before I felt the warmth it was empty.” 

Luna calming down thanks to dearest nephew’s little bit of explained logic still cringes to see him place a second sliced portion on his leaf plate. “But Gold Sky my dearest nephew, you are a pony a herbivore not a carni err I mean you’re not a omnivore.” 

“Well be as it is Aunt Luna, am I still your nephew?” Gold Sky asks.

“Yes! You will always be my dearest nephew and I will always love you without any conditions!” Again Luna shouts her declaration in the Royal Canterlot voice. 

This is all Gold Sky needed to hear before delivering the last word. “Then that means you love me even though I’m an omnivore so we’re good about this. Hehehehehe.” The loving stallion laughs to make Aunt Luna accept his eating habits. “Any who not to put any of this yummy stag to waste give me more of those large leaves so I can wrap this meat and save it for later.” 

“Humph! Whatever you say my dearest nephew but don’t think I’ll ever partake in another animal’s muscle fibers!! Oh! Also wait until your mother hears about this, I-I am so telling your mother about this you hear, I’m telling your mother!” Luna’s horn glows and brings the stallion’s cloak to him. “I’m out of here and it was nice flying with you my dearest nephew. Jump!” *poof*

The stallion dons his cloak while waiting for something. “Right about now.”
*POOF* Luna teleports back. “Love you. jump!” *poof*

Gold Sky simply smiles to himself. “Oh boy, I wonder what mother has to say about the matter?” So after wrapping up the remaining pieces of meat in the large leaves along with donning his white silk cloak the stallion thinks of home and teleports back. 
*


*
“Oh like my son will eat meat Luna.” Celli retorts while shaking off Luna’s claim with a quick flick of her hoof. “You are not one to try to commit jokes sister but nevertheless, I applaud you for such an attempt.” 

Luna groans at how Celli won’t believe a word she’s saying. “Oh older sister you must believe me when I say that your son is a omnivore not a herbivore like us!!”

Again Princess Celestia does not take Luna seriously while Princess Cadance catches ear of what’s being said and starts taking in every word so she can come up with potential ideas to spend under the cover of Tia’s scent.
*Poof* Celestia senses the moment Gold Sky appears. “Well guess Luna, Gold Sky is here so how about we talk to him so this little thing can be resolved once & for all so c’mon.” 

Princess Cadance being curious follows close being Tia and Luna. “So if Gold Sky enjoys eating meat then perhaps I can use this to my advantage though I can’t see why Luna is shocked about this also I wonder if Tia will have the same reaction as well.” By the way once she hears verything she won’t be disgusted if Gold Sky does eat meat for after all in her own judgment Immortality can drive immortals to do things mortals will never have the time to consider. 

“Last piece in the back of the fridge, perfect.” Gold Sky shuts the refrigerator close. “Still odd I’ll have a fridge in my room but I like it! Wait a minute.” *sniff, sniff* “Mother!” 

After knocking on the door Celestia with Luna comes in, Cadance listens in through the crack of the doors to see how Tia will react to the meat eating thing.  “Luna move.”  After the telepathic communication Celli pushes Luna away a bit. “My son.” 

“Mother!” Gold Sky dashes forward to embrace the Princess of the Sun. However, while having his head on mother’s shoulder he sees Luna with a not so docile expression on her face. “Mother is there something wrong?” He asks rather meekly. 

Celestia speaking first with a nice nuzzle on his head then speaks with words. “Why will ask that my son, when clearly there isn’t anything wrong between us.”

“Because Aunt Luna is making that face.” 

Well better now to ask then to answer the question about Luna’s face. “My son, Luna here has been telling me that you hunted down a deer and ate it along with offering a piece to my sister. Is that true or just a joke on her part?” 

Gold Sky now figuring out Luna’s hand in this just decides to say it as it is instead of trying the sugarcoating route. “Yes mother Luna is right, I hunted down a stag and ate it up plus I saved some pieces if you wish to have some.”  

“Oh…” Guess Luna was telling to truth after all.

Cadance on the other hand or hoof. “Well this is interesting, he eats meat heh that’s kind of cool plus I can use that so we can go hunting trips with him in the night.” So much light at the end of the tunnel for the cerise mare. 

Back to Celli.  “Well my son, that’s very weird, yes very weird uhhhh if you like to meat but if that is something you like to eat then, Luna what was it that made him eat meat in the first place again? I didn’t catch it the first time.” 

Luna re-hatches Gold Sky’s story. “Oh dear, that truly sounds like the hand of the Great Spirit and I am will find disgust in my son eating meat for he enjoys eating then let it be. But nevertheless, I will not eat meat so I apologize my son but I just can’t join you in the enjoyment only you can enjoy.”  Celestia kisses Gold Sky’s forehead nonetheless, as to say she is not ashamed and completely accepts him for who he is. “Also I suggest you keep this to yourself just to stay on the safe side for you otherwise, it will be hard for you to find a wife.” Oh Celli said that last thing a little bit too loud. 

“A wife?” Gold Sky tilts his head as to why will mother even bring up the suggestion of a wife when eating meat seems more a calling issue than a wife but at the same time mother is right, for he tells any lovely mare he eats meat then the chances are absolutely high they will be repulsed. “Well if you put it that way mother then perhaps I should keep this between the three of us.” 

“It’s the four of us dang it!” Cadance isn’t very happy to be excluded in the required secrecy. “Still it will be kind delightful to see him hunt.” 

***

In the comfort of his own seeking or more precisely in the need to find some kind of a comfort through nostalgia to bring forth the little joy to see his family whole again even if it’s only in a picture that right he’s smiling at though weakly but yet still a smile to the sight of his family being whole. “My dear daughter, my dear wife, and me all together in this little photo which can only be in this photo.” Allegro Note, continues speaking in his mind while Octavia tides up his home to make things easier for him. “Sadly Octavia hates her with such a tremendous might and will never consider reconciling with Harmonic Breeze and I oh I have made no contact with her as well. Yet to do so now will be futile and pointless. Huh?” His thought ceases when he feels a warm breath touch his shoulder. “Octavia my daughter how can I thank you for tidying up the place.” He refrains from putting down the photo knowing to do so now is useless. 

Octavia seeing Father looking upon the mare who broke his heart kind reaches down, takes hold of the photo with her teeth, and kindly takes the photo away from him. After spitting it out. “Father why do you look upon that foul wretch of a mare?” 

Allegro Note sighs. “My dear Octavia she is your mother and I will look upon her as my wife for as long as I live.” 

The gray mare lifts herself up to be at full stance before her father. “Be as you say father to me that mare is a bloody wretch unworthy of your love.” In a reaping of her emotion Octavia dives deeper into her spite for Harmonic Breeze. “How can you still love that mare!? Ho-how can you not find a wife…Father how come you never remarried after you threw your wedding band at that wretch. Why did seek a new love? This is a question I’ve been meaning to ask for the longest time but I never had the courage until now.” 

Allegro Note chuckles under his breath to be asked the question he’s been waiting to be asked by his dearest Octavia for the longest time. “The answer is simple my dear Octavia, I only had one mare in my life and it’s you. I will waste time looking for another wife when I can use that time to be with you and teach you things that’ll help you in your coming life Octavia. Besides I didn’t want to go through heartbreak once again so I never thought my about my needs I thought about yours and yours alone. For in the end I will always be Father and I will die as a Father.” Allegro Note pauses to touch Octavia’s chin. “There is no easy way in explaining the beliefs a father believes in my dear daughter and there will be no easy way to explain why I did what I did but to sum up everything I did I did it for your benefit because all that matters to me in this world is you.” 

Octavia takes hold of her father’s hoof touching her chin and moves it to her right cheek. “Father am I really so precious to you that’ll ignore your own needs?? You will ignore love to care for me?”  With so much amazement to father’s words Octavia cannot properly connect the words to say her questions though in father’s words she barely comprehends his Love for her. 

Allegro Note blinks his eyes dry when his own mortality cannot be saved by his love for Octavia. “I ignored Love Octavia? Love has always been with me and that love is yours.” *sigh* “Oh dear let me put it this way. Ahem, a father’s love and a father’s will, drives him to put the needs of children above his own so his children can live the life they deserve to live in complete happiness and in the end the Father can go knowing his children will be happy.” No one but him understands the great urge to just fall to his knees and tell the gray mare everyday he lives is a day his body dies little by little but no Allegro Note can’t tell Octavia the news that’ll devastate her when right now in the present she’s getting all the good she deserves. Her music career is skyrocketing just like Harmonic Breeze’s music career, her name is being remembered by many, her talent belongs only to her, and perhaps if fortunate enough then she will reach Immortality unlike Harmonic Breeze who surprisingly destroyed her own music career through pride. Allegro Note just wants to tell Octavia everything but do so will be putting his needs above hers but at the same time given his condition it is completely understandable…being a Father is the hardest thing for him. Why? He will heed is own words, he will not tell Octavia of his condition just yet.  
Not yet. 

The gray mare driven to tears turns her head to look away from father so she can try her best to contain herself while in her mind she understands how much her father loves her and how much he sacrificed for her. “Father, everything you did you did for me. How can you just do that…oh father, you’re right. I don’t completely understand, I-I couldn’t understand how you can’t not look for another wife when all that mattered to you is me…Father…I can’t believe…oh Father I hope I will be a good father like you.” 

“You mean you hope you will be a good mother and be a good parent like me.”

Octavia analyzed the last sentenced to see where she misspoke. “Oh, I mean I hope I will be a good parent like you when I become a mother… I will be a better mother than that bloody wretch, humph, I wish you never met that bloody wretch who broke your heart.” Still with tears in her eyes Octavia manages to express her scorn.  

“Well that bloody wretch gave me you Octavia and that is the greatest thing to ever happen to me. 

Being caught off guard Octavia faces her father so he can see the tears in her beautiful eyes. “True father very true. Without her I wouldn’t have you and without her we are whole.” 

Allegro Note frowns to see his words be twisted by his daughter and to see her dire emotions for Harmonic Breeze come forth like the wind pushing against the sail in the mast. Oh how sad it is but how inevitable for when a child sees one parent betray the other then that child will resent that parent for its betrayal. “I wish we were whole my dearest Octavia, it’s just a father wish to see his family whole. Though as always I love you with all my heart forever and ever from here and here on my dearest, my lovely, my most precious daughter.” 

Now with a much more better understanding of father’s love though not a complete one Octavia embraces her father like it’s the first time she sees him in years. “Oh father I love you very much and we shall always be a whole family…just you and me, complete and whole for here and here on.” Her tears run down her cheeks and pool onto Allegro Note’s shoulders then like from the grayish purple eyes those tears run down Allegro Note’s back. “Believe it or not Father, you mean the world to me.” 

With his head on her left shoulder and his face being perfectly hidden from his daughter’s eyes Allegro Note shuts his eyes to keep his tears from running down his cheeks and pool onto Octavia’s shoulder. He now knows how much his death will ultimately devastate her and how alone she will feel once she places a rose on his headstone. “I need to wait.” 

Oh the strength of a Father will always drive him forward no matter the cost. 
***
Sun set and moon rise brings the new with a setting moon and rising sun. 

***

Princess Cadance decided not to persuade Gold Sky to go hunting and hit the hay early so she can cuddle up with Shining Armor to make up for the hit he got thanks to the tug of war with Luna over Griffie. However, when the cuddling is over the sleep comes, now in the sleep…Cadance talks in her sleep, keeping poor Shining Armor awake. Forcing the poor stallion to get prescribed sleeping pills in order to get a good night’s sleep. 

“Yeah, yeah, a chocolate fountain I like that hmmmm, it’s all mine.” Sleeping Cadance licks her chops for the delectable milk chocolate delight. “Oh come here you peeps!!” From the way Cadance’s legs are going an onlooker can deduce she chasing something in her dreams which happen to take place in land where everything is candy. “You’re not running away from me!!”         

Meanwhile Luna couldn’t help but just take a peek into Cadance’s little candyland dream. “Oh dear!” Oh the dear indeed, for Cadance caught some peeps and while some squirm like crazy in her arms the most unfortunate one chirps cries out in terror as Cadance throws it into her mouth and gobbles it up. “Oh poor peeps, still who can blame Cadance for having a sweet tooth.” 

So while Cadance and Shining Armor have yet to wake up, Princess Celestia is already up & dressed she quietly enters still sleeping Gold Sky’s room to check how he’s doing. “Oh my son.” Under the faintest decibel Celestia voices her affection for him. “Still asleep.” Sadly when she was supposed to speak more words Celestia sense her attendant approaching with a rather tall stack of official papers. “Well I won’t let this occupy me for long my son.” Celestia slowly bends down and kisses Gold Sky’s head. “I love you my son.” With that said she leaves to deal with her Royal duties. 

*yawn* Just seconds after the regal white mare leaves Gold Sky wakes up without a single thought of mother or anypony else but of only the young griffon he called his flesh & blood. “Good morning.” He moves his left arm to gaze upon Griffie. “You look just like her.” Gold Sky rolls over to lay on his back to hold Griffie up to recreate his surroundings to see the young griffon he calls his flesh & blood. “Every morning I will find you sleeping over my heart and you will never sleep in your own bed my dearest flesh & blood…NO, NO, NO!! NOT WHEN I’M ONLY THINKING OF HER!!” Griffie falls to the floor as Gold Sky falls down as well but grasping his head like his mind is attacked by a powerful corruption to which this powerful corruption is the Razor residing inside of him. “Can’t let it take control of me…it took me away from her now it’s trying to prevent me from thinking of her!” If the pain he feels from remembering his parents is bad enough it only gets worse when it is combined with the pain of thinking of the young griffon. “First mommy and daddy then her! What more can I lose! How much more can I take when I lost my most precious thing and the pain from my childhood keeps resurging every now & then.” His magenta eyes suddenly change into the deadly turquoise eyes which Nightmare Moon and the Razor have. “The Razor took me away from her!” Gold Sky curls up in the fetal position while still combating the Razor from taking over. “I am Gold Sky! I am the Last the of my Father’s tribe I am the Immortal bearer of this blood, I am the Soldier of no Sorrow, I am an Alicorn, I am Celestia’s son, I am the King in the sea of spilt blood, I am Immortal, and I am Honor Bound! And I will never let the Razor take control of me!!” 

In the galaxy of the stallion’s mind the black cloud of the Razor is cast away thanks to the powerful light from the core. 
*sigh* “The Razor is gone but it will not stay away but still it will not prevent me from thinking of my dearest & blood it took me away from.” Gold Sky grabs Griffie and cradles her like he will do to a dear child. “I never knew Griffie will look just like you my dearest flesh & blood.” Just before putting down Griffie he kisses the forehead of the plush toy and places her on his pillow. 

In the titles he’s called himself the title which stands out the most is King in the sea of spelt blood, now why will loving stallion such as himself will have a dire title? Well he fought in a six year war to help protect the Griffon Republic just before he found his dearest flesh & blood, shed innocent blood, spelt his own blood, and just killed, killed, killed, killed, and killed like that’s all he knows what to do. And sadly it’s what he’s knows best. For if all the blood he has spelled were form a sea then it will reach his shoulders and to lesser ponies they will be horrified but for him it’s just his doing without a thought of regret nor satisfaction therefore, making it a second nature to him. 

Gold Sky breaking his ritual routine turns on the shower to help himself get his mind off of the Razor. “Hmm perhaps a warm shower can help me a bit. Oooooh this feels so good.”  The warm water rains down on the stallion and with the same action that water does to mud covering a wagon it washes his worries by reminding of some of the moments he spent with his dearest flesh & blood. Like how when his flesh & blood was just an infant he will place his head near the young griffon making funny noises and faces to get the griffon’s attention and once he had the griffon’s attention the youngster will grab his face with oh so great love. “I wish mommy & daddy could have seen her, oh they would love her very much…they never well…and the Razor took me away from her. I am weak for I failed to lead her with strong hooves and stand up when she can’t.” In the end Gold Sky just cries in the warm shower which may seem counterproductive but truly it helps him by reminding him that he stills to embrace the light of forgiveness. 

Which on a side note is like getting a camel through the eye of a needle.

After his shower, quick grooming, breakfast without mother and Luna, Gold Sky goes back to his room to stand on the balcony to look upon the beauty of the kingdom mother rules over, though partially. “Why do I seek to live this meaningless existence when it doesn’t matter to me. My life is just stain that cannot be washed no matter how hard I try and mother will prevent me from doing so as well. Oh why am I even here when this is all meaningless.” The Alicorn looks down at Ponyville. “Pfft mother said that one day I will change the world like that is something to forward to when I am just breathing in the air that does not belong to me while my heart still beats given what I have done especially to her. Humph, while I see I am meaningless, mother sees me as a hope to the future that’s in store for the mortals.” The stallion sighs when he ushers the word hope. “Such a lie so believed by many that even mother will speak like its truth when clearly hope is just a cruel joke much less lie told to children so they can have something to believe in. Heh, hope is nothing just like me.” 
Just then a directionless wind blows through him allowing him to hear the voices of his daddy’s ancestors. “Once again I hear the voices of the language I somehow understand, just how having daddy’s blood makes me even more meaningless.” Nevertheless, Gold Sky passes his hoof over the scar on his neck.  “Huh?” Suddenly Gold Sky notices clouds disappear from the sky. “Hey who’s that?” Upon immediate observation he sees a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow colored mane. “Rainbow Dash!” With the name said a ear to ear smile appears on his face to see such a unique mare. “Maybe taking a lesson from her can help me get through the day.” So shifting his vision to a cloud that’s clearly in her crosshairs Gold Sky pens the coordinates in his mind. “Jump.” 
*Poof*

“Ha just that one last cloud to take out.” Rainbow Dash dashes forward to take out the last cloud. 

*Poof* 

“WHOA!!” Rainbow swerves to avoid flying into the cloaked stallion that appeared from out of nowhere. “What the heck!” She hovers about to get a good look at the pony on the cloud. “Oh Gold Sky it’s you!!” Just like the stallion who smiled when he said her name, she too smiles ear to ear when she say his name. “It’s really you, hey how you sitting on a cloud?” 

To be asked such a question can answered with a simple tilt of the head. “Need you ask Rainbow Dash.” 

*Doink* “Oh yeah, I forgot you’re a Alierrrwechewniwoo…ehhhh I can’t say it but I know it.” Rainbow Dash joins the stallion on the cloud. “So what’s up Gold Sky, how was your morning?”
“Just fine I guess and I couldn’t help but feel like seeing you today Rainbow Dash.” Gold Sky saying something in his mind causes the wind to heed his command and push them to the isolated area where he can be without his cloak. 
As the cloud moves them, Rainbow Dash fails to notice this thus she begins her amazing trait of opening her mouth to say whatever she’s going to say. “Why? Were you feeling lonely today?”  Rainbow chuckles to herself for asking that. 

“Yes I was feeling lonely today Rainbow Dash, heh, it’s something I’ll always feel given I am Immortal.” Alas both reach the isolated area to which Rainbow Dash is still oblivious to. 

Rainbow Dash’s little smile disappears then just when she was about to say something Rarity’s voice comes into her mind. “Well…” Rainbow for once or thanks to hearing Rarity’s voice in her head thinks about the words she’ll say to Gold Sky. “I’m here for you so you won’t feel so alone because that’s what pals are for Gold Sky my friend with a horn and wings.” 

Despite both being plopped down on the cloud Gold Sky is clearly taller than Rainbow Dash prompting him shift his head down to look upon the cyan mare and almost ponder to the kind words she has spoken to him. But the word that struck him the most like an arrow piercing his sciatic nerve as he led the counter-attack in the battle at the Stronghold of Tyre in the second war he fought, any who still with the same analogy of the arrow piercing his sciatic nerve, the notion of being called friend just shocks him to have a friend. Truly loneliness can have quite a toll that interaction is just overwhelming. “Am I truly your friend Rainbow Dash?” Still Gold Sky needs to confirm the metaphoric arrow piercing his sciatic nerve. 

Thanks to her cheeks taking a light rosy hue Rainbow Dash gently nudges the stallion’s shoulder to use this as the ice breaker that’s set in front of her. “You are my friend Gold Sky, a friend who can make sure I can keep your secrets secret and I mean it when I say it Gold Sky. You are my friend and I am your friend. Soooo can you slowly take off your cloak and I mean really slowly!” 

“Oh Rainbow Dash thank you so much!” Touched Gold Sky couldn’t but rub his head against Rainbow’s head not knowing his show of affection is more than the definition he knows and more into the definition a mortal* like Rainbow Dash is define. 

“Whoa man that feels nice, yeah really nice.” Rainbow’s body temperature slowly rises as she closes her eyes to bask in the affection of the stallion she or may not have a crush on well depending on who she asks and Rarity is the only one who can depend. “He must be so touched by this that he hasn’t stopped, oh I can enjoy a bit more…okay maybe I do have a crush on him or I don’t.” Finally after seven seconds give or take Rainbow Dash clears her throat. “Cloak off now please but slowly really slowly let it slide off. Hey we’re here!” Just now Rainbow notices they’re in the isolated location. 

“Oh yes, yes of course.” The stallion unbinds his cloak but strangely enough he can’t see the true motives of why Rainbow will have remove his cloak slowly nonetheless, in this perceived nature of his he is innocent to even see Rainbow’s true motives. 

Enjoying the eye candy the rosy hue on her cheeks takes a deeper shade to her personal pleasure while once again hearing Rarity’s voice in her head though she thinks if Rarity will be blushing right now if the beautiful Unicorn saw Gold Sky’s cloak slowly slide off of him. “Oh yes, yes, yes, I am so liking this and maybe okay maybe Rarity, she has Spike anyway, ooooh yes nothing says he’s hot than his nicely toned flank.” 

What’s funny is Gold Sky taking the upmost notice of Rainbow’s deep rosy cheeks through the corner of his eye. “Say Rainbow Dash just why are blushing like that?” 

Caught! “Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…allergies!” 

“Really!?” Gold Sky nearly gasps. “I-I never knew allergies can cause your cheeks to become so red like blood.” 

Rainbow going along nods her head like it’s the complete truth. “Yeah also you’re hot ERR I mean it’s hot really, really hot here so maybe that’s why I’m blushing…hehe…hehehehe…” Can Rainbow mess up anymore now?

Well with the cloak off, muscles stretched, wings preened by Rainbow which by the way felt nice causing him to tap his left hind leg in comfort, and looks to the cyan Pegasus for her word. “Just what will you teach me today Rainbow Dash.” 

With reality sinking in to why she’s here with the stallion allows her to clear her mind of her sort of curious admiration of Gold Sky. “Okay how about we start with a simple fly in order for me to find where you need improvement and such. Let’s go!” 
Both the majestic Alicorn and cunning Pegasus take to the skies each one flying to their own degree of experience such Rainbow Dash with her talented speed can manage to perform the coolest of aerial acrobatics while Gold Sky having his experience in aerial & land combat can perform the tightest of turns in high velocity along with being able to bank flawlessly as if he’s in a dogfight. 
“Hmmm do something interesting Gold Sky.” Rainbow Dash asks while hovering above him.

“Very well.” Pretending he’s being chased by three enemy archers he commences evasive maneuvers to dodge the arrows by spinning three sixty degrees, then gunning to the right, and with a tight acute angle swoops up using speed to loop behind the enemy to take them out. 

Rainbow amused by this display of skill presented a show more directed to the act of survival than a show more directed to entertainment; in fact she can’t help see an old friend flying in Gold Sky’s place. “The way he spins reminds me so much of Gilda when she dives down after to doing a snap loop. Heh it could be me thinking up random things.” Thus the mare asks or with the right word demands more displays of his aerial skill just to see if Gold Sky’s flight skills are similar to Gilda’s which to even say that name in her mind makes fell a bit sad to remember an old friend that she has not made contact with for a long time. “A side flip by using a cloud for leverage followed by massive boost to make up for the sudden loss of speed thanks to the side flip. Which if I think about it, it was Gilda’s favorite move…surely this is a coincidence.” 

Once done with the moves he felt were up to Rainbow Dash’s standard he flies up to hover in front of the mare and asks for her needed assessment. “What do you think? Too much??” 

“OOOOH you sound just like Rarity!!” Rainbow laughs with joy to see how one of Rarity’s little traits will suddenly be a part of the loving stallion. “Any way for the main part! Ahem, the way you fly is pretty experienced saturated with agility and intermediate speed that also feature sudden bursts of speed which I can’t help but say that when you do those bursts of speed its either to evade somepony or to overtake somepony but hey that’s what I think Gold Sky you hot piece of flan…ACHOO!!” Luckily Gold Sky didn’t catch the hot piece of flank part nor does he even know what hot piece of flank even means. 

“Bless you Rainbow Dash.” Gold Sky even falls for the super fake sneeze to which one can almost call him a Fool of a Took on that one. 

Rainbow couldn’t be more relieved for Gold Sky’s most convenient blindness to certain slang. “Phew, oh I mean thank you Gold Sky also what nearly troubles me the most Gold Sky is seeing you fly reminds me so much of my old friend Gilda.” 

To hear that name Gold Sky becomes engulfed by a complete darkness leaving him under single line of white light. That name means the very existence of his life source along with giving a blurred meaning of purpose when everything else is meaningless and corrupt by dishonor. “Y-y-you tssssssh rgah…ish kn-know isssssh know…” Small gargling vocal noises which is common when he stutters makes Rainbow jerk her head slightly back a bit. “Y-y-y-you kno-know Gilda!?” Well at least he was able to say Gilda’s name without a stutter. 

Rainbow shakes her head to get herself together after trying not to laugh at Gold Sky for stuttering. “Yeah I know err I mean I knew Gilda. She was a friend of mine.” 

Hearing the past tense can only make the stallion feel guilty for what he has done and to what it led to for Gilda. “What happened the two of you?” 

Truthfully Rainbow is still feels bad for Gilda. “We had a bad fallout and she went her way…she I guess had too much pride to mend the things between us…” A small frown appears then disappears just as fast it came. “Hey she was a great flyer but yet that couldn’t be said the same about her in general for being a super stubborn Griffon who just refused to change. Heh if I just put it plainly she was just plain sad excuse of a friend when she will much rather think of herself than to think of others. Pathetic, just plain pathetic and sadly she is a pathetic griffon.” While feeling bad for Gilda is true in Rainbow Dash she also feels the need to say her raw feelings about the griffon as well not knowing one little thing. “Huh?” She looks around at her environment which is right now is turning dark. The sun is blocked out by clouds, the wind comes in like the unexpected shadow of a tidal wave, and the pleasant sounds of the ambient nature go silent like every animal sees the butcher’s blade coming for them. “What the heck is going on!!?  It was supposed to be a sunny day today!” 
It only took a few seconds to pass until Rainbow takes the initiative to look upon the stallion to see his surprise in this change of the environment but no face of bewilderment is present in his face instead one of pure mounting rage is present like the horn on his head. “Uhh Gold Sky why are you looking at me like that??” 

“DO NOT SPEAK ABOUT GILDA LIKE THAT!!” His roar sends Rainbow straight to her back. “Do not take her transgressions as if they are from her own initially developed will when they are from her now ill-developed will. She isn’t like that Rainbow Dash and trust me I know but she isn’t like that now.”

Rainbow still on her back just has one thing going through her mind. “Oh man he’s furious! But damn is he so hot right now!! And why will he say those things like he knows Gilda as well as I do?” Nevertheless, Rainbow continues checking him out especially that hot piece of flank. “You say trust me like you raised her Gold Sky.” 

“I did.” 
Declares the loving stallion.

“What!” Using her wings as springs, Rainbow boings back to all fours then leaps up to hover in front of the stallion just to be at his eye level. “You ughhh, Gilda, uhmmmm, you, but, oooooh uhhhhhhhh well how old is she!!!” Meanwhile in Rainbow’s mind. “How can a nice stallion like Gold Sky raise Gilda when she ends up being mean!” Yes that is a valid argument to be considered by all if Rainbow is to ask others who have met Gilda and Gold Sky. As for asking for Gilda’s age, well Rainbow has to start somewhere in her questioning. 

“She’s forty seven years old.” At least Gold Sky’s fury subsides allowing for the clouds to move and allow the sun light to shine down , upon them. 
“Forty seven! Okay now you’re kidding Gold Sky! Theirs is no way in heck that Gilda is forty seven years old! I mean really if she was forty seven years old than she will look so much older instead of looking like a teenager.” 

Gold Sky closes his eyes thanks to feeling the pain inside his heart. “Rainbow Dash please sit by me.” Plopping down on his rump, Gold Sky out of his unending affection lifts up his wing so Rainbow Dash can take shelter under it. 

*Zoom* Faster than a blink of an eye Rainbow is under his wing. “Okay I’m sitting by you.” 

“Rainbow Dash, Griffons age differently than mortal ponies. You see Griffons age slowly and right now you are right about Gilda still being a teenager it is at fifty seven no fifty eight years old that a Griffon barely reaches adulthood and I stress it again a Griffon barely reaches adulthood at fifty eight years old…” Gold Sky covers his face with both hooves. “Oh Rainbow, you will see my pain, you will see my Love, and because you knew Gilda I will show you something that I will never show anypony else. Then you will understand me much better…please understand everything first before passing judgment.” Gold Sky’s wing brings Rainbow Dash closer to him. 

Automatically Rainbow knows where this is going therefore, getting giddy to be super close to the stallion is just a side effect worth noting. “Are you going to uhhhh OH! Use your telepathy on me!” 

A simple nod is used in reply. “Let take you to where it all began and where I failed thanks to innocent blood I have spelt…”
“For Innocent Blood always gets avenged leading me to succumb to my greatest sin.”  

---

My dearest readers, I thank you for your infinite patience and I as I stated before for after I write two chapters of my other fan fic then I will take a respite from that one to write a chapter for this one. Again my dearest readers I thank you for your infinite patience.