The streets of Canterlot City were full of life, people everywhere walking around going about their business from a nice day out to getting the shopping done for the week. In the main section of the city there stood a tall, white, windowless tower. On the edges of the building light blue neon lights led from the bottom of the structure to the top. Two large neon blue 'C's stood back to back above the buildings entrance, the company's logo. This was the Canterlot City branch of a rich company known as CyCorp Industries, a place that seemed straight out of science fiction, the researchers inside those clean white walls developing things people could only imagine. We'll get back to this place later on, for now we're focusing on what is happening across the way from this large building.

Across the street sat a small cafe, nothing fancy just a nice little place where people could stop in for a coffee or a cup of tea. Inside this small establishment sat Octavia Melody as she waited patiently for her childhood friend to arrive. She looked down to her watch and saw the time.

"12:30, now I just need to wait a while." She picked up her latte and took a gentle sip of the hot liquid.

Meanwhile outside the cafe in the street Roden walked through the busy crowd, his hands in his hoodie pockets and his scarf tucked under his arm to avoid it being pulled by any grabby children in the crowd. As he walked his eyes wandered to the huge building across the way from his destination. For some odd reason, he felt that he would be visiting that building soon, like there was something in there he had to find.

Shaking himself he continued walking towards the small cafe. As he reached the coffee shop he looked through the window and saw Octavia idly sipping her drink. He took this chance to look her over, seeing how she has changed in the years they spent apart. 'She's grown to be a fine young woman, beyond what I expected.'

Walking through the door a small bell rang out. Octavias attention was directed to the door where she saw her old friend looking at her with his emerald eyes. She took the time to see how he had development, what once was a thin young boy with dark circles under his eyes was now a strapping young man with a fresher look to himself with the dark circles non-existent. 'Wow, there's so much improvement! He looks really good, looks like he's been working out a little, still a bit on the thin side but still it's an improvement...and he's still wearing the same scarf.'

As Roden approached the table Octavia got out of her seat, once he reached her she immediately brought him into a hug. He remained still for a few seconds, unprepared for the sudden action. He then took his hands out of his pockets and hugged her back. The two stayed like this for a few moments before pulling away from each other.

"Hello again, Roden." Octavia said with a smile.

"Hello Octavia, it's been quite some time since we last got together." Roden replied, still with his tired expression.

"Why don't you go order something then we can get to catching up, it may waken you a bit." Octavia suggested.

"Alright, I'll be back in a second." Roden walked up to the counter and ordered a simple coffee. After his drink was given to him he payed the cashier and walked back to his friend. Sitting down in the seat opposite from Octavia he reached the cup up to his face and took a sip, he did this through a small slit in the scarf, somehow not causing any of the contents to touch the fabric.

"It's really good to see you again Roden, I've really missed you." Octavia said with a sad smile.

Roden set his cup down and looked to his friend. "Likewise Octavia. I've missed your smile."

The comment caused her to blush. "W-Why thank you Roden." She cleared her throat and looked up to him. "I see you're still wearing the scarf I made you years ago."

Roden placed his head on the scarf and slowly nuzzled into it. "No other scarfs were as comfortable as this one, nor did they have the value this one has to me."

Octavia just smiled warmly, thankful that her friend held something she made so close to him. "Thank you Roden. Now, how has your life been so far?"

Roden stopped and looked away slightly. "It's been...tolerable."

"Your mother still trying to turn you into a manipulative like her?"

Roden merely nodded. "Chrysalis still hasn't been able to get me to do what she does, although the skills to do so are there, I've even found ways to use them against her at times."

Octavia just smirked. "So what you're saying is if you wanted too you could seduce me right now with the things you've learned from your mother?"

Roden just stared at her. "...If I wanted to, yes. But I don't, and I will most likely never try to use those skills on girl, I have too much respect for the female gender." Roden shook his head and looked to Octavia. "I take it life has treated you well, considering your smile."

Octavia giggled. "What is it with you and pointing out my smile?"

"You can tell a lot about a person by the way they smile, who they feel, who they are or what they do. Not many people see it, but there is always something behind a persons smile, you just need to learn how to see it." Roden explained. "Now, I've told you how I've been, now why don't you tell me how you've been."

Octavia just smiled warmly. "Well, things have been great, I've met a lot of interesting people, my musician skills have improved and I now have an amazing boyfriend."

That last word caught Rodens attention. "A romantic partner huh...I shouldn't be surprised, with how you act and how you look I would be expecting men to be bowing at your feet."

Octavia blushed. "You don't mean that-"

"I do though." Octavia looked to him shocked. "Is it hard to believe that someone like me finds you enchanting?"

"Well I..,it's just...thank you."

Roden just gave a small nod and took another sip of his coffee. "So, tell me about this romantic partner."

"Oh, well his name is Mise..." The two spent the next hour talking in that small coffee shop, telling each other stories about their lives and asking each othe questions. Then the topic of Octavia's time in Canterlot High came up, and Roden seemed to like the idea of the school. He had to learn things himself, his mother never thought any tutors or schools were good enough for her "Precious little demon spawn" as she put it. "Oh, would you look at the time, I promised Ditzy that I'd meet her for a spa day." Octavia got out of her seat and swung her purse over her shoulder. "I'm sorry Roden but I need to get going...unless you want to come with me?"

Roden shook his head. "No, I need to get back to the mansion, Chrysalis will become suspicious to where I've gone if I'm away too long."

Octavia nodded and looked at him with a sad smile. "We should do this again, just the two of us. This was a lot of fun."

"Agreed, you still have my contact number so we should be able to arrange something." The two of them hugged and Octavia looked up to him, he being half a full head taller than her. "Goodbye for now, make another masterpiece for when we meet again, I want to see how your talent has improved to this point, it is sure to be beautiful like its creator."

Octavia just blushed again and walked away. "I will, goodbye Roden." With that she walked out into the crowd. 'Wait...was he...ooohhhhhh he is good.' She thought realising that the way he complimented her and made her feel special was him showing his skills to her in a subtle manner.

Roden sat in the cafe for awhile longer, thinking over the conversation he had with his friend. 'Canterlot High...'