"While I usually do not question your decisions, I do feel the need to ask if you think this is a good idea?" A woman asked Roden as he sat on his PC, learning everything he could about Canterlot High. She had dark grey skin and long emerald green hair. She wore an extravagant green dress that hugged her generous figure perfectly. She was a full head taller than Roden, who was rather tall himself. Her lips and eyelids were shiny and dark green.

"That's why I'm learning all I can before making any decisions, to make sure that I won't make a mistake." Roden replied to his mother, Chrysalis.

Chrysalis nodded. "I know that, but with your age you'd be graduating within the next few months, what's the point?"

"I took that into account as well. It seems by attending this school I will be able to select my next position at many of the successful universities and colleges in the Canterlot City area, and there are a few there I've been scoping out for awhile." Roden answered as he continued to study the schools information page.

"At least you aren't going into this blind."

Chrysalis walked over to Roden and placed a hand on the side of his face. "Well, any college would have to be extremely lucky to have my darling spawn select them."

Roden placed his hand on hers, still somewhat confused as to why Chrysalis had started calling him "her darling spawn." It was something that confused him, but he found no problems with her saying it. A part of him wondered if she had some kind of secret obsession with mythical creatures and demons or something similar, while another part of him knew that it was just her own special way of calling him her child.

"Thank you mother, but I'm fine with going to any of the basic colleges as long as they have a well organised and well structured art program." Roden replied as he turned back to the computer screen.

Around his room there were paintings, sketches and other forms of art lying around or displayed on shelves. "Well, you always know what you're doing, so I trust that you will make the right choice." Chrysalis said in a motherly tone. "Now, I have to attend the next party to try and win over those executives that are attending..." She paused. "Do you, perhaps, wish to attend this party?" She asked with concern.

Roden stopped typing, his hands hovering just centimetres from the keyboard. "No." He said simply. "I'm still not ready...not after what happened seven six years ago."

Chrysalis nodded in understanding. "Fine, promise me that you won't stray too far outside Maretropolis if you're going out again."

"Only if you promise to not flirt with every guy at that party." Roden replied jokingly.

"Oh alright, I think I can restrain myself for one night." Chrysalis added onto the joke before planting a kiss on her sons forehead. "Stay safe, carry a gun if you need to." With that last joke she was gone.

"...she does realise we have a gun hidden in here in case of an emergency, right?" Zanny asked in Rodens mind.

"Appearenly not." Closing down the tab on his PC after learning everything he needed to know he grabbed a backpack and filled it with some art supplies, ready to go out and see if inspiration struck.

"Hey! Maybe a cute girl will notice your sketches and ask you to draw her." Zerlinda said with a cheery voice as usual in the back of Rodens mind.

"Heh, you and your imagination. I doubt the writer would go down such a clichéd path." Yeah I'm not going down that path, not yet anyway.

With his backpack swung over his left shoulder he walked out of his bedroom and began heading towards the large, almost mansion like, apartments entrance.

Meanwhile

Octavia and Mise sat together in the local park, watching the world go by as they enjoyed each other's company. Mise pulled out a flask and took a quick sip of the drink before returning it to his breast pocket. Octavia shrugged and leaned against her significant other, looking up at the clouds and occasionally pointing out shapes that stood out.

The two were brought out of their peaceful cloud watching as they heard two familiar voices coming from the nearby lake. "Ok Ditzy, remember, don't let the hook stay in one place hoping a fish will bite, reel it in for awhile then stop and begin reeling in again." A young mans voice instructed.

"Ok Shard, you mean like this?" Came Ditzy's voice in a questioning tone.

"Yeah, just like that, you're doing great so far. Now just keep slowly reeling it in, not too quick."

"Aww, I still didn't catch anything." Ditzy sighed.

"Well then we won't leave until you catch one. Now, swing it back out, but remember to not swing it backwards or else I'm gonna need more bandages for my face."

"Heheh, sorry." Ditzy apologised.

"You're too adorable to get mad at, so I'll forgive you. Now, swing it out and let's see if you catch anything this time."

Octavia and Mise watched the young couple fishing in the lake. Shard had bright orange hair and eyes, his skin being peach. He wore a black jacket with puffs of orange fur around the wrists and collar. Shard Storm had moved to the school a few months after Mise where he met Ditzy, after awhile they had gotten together. Their love of anime and a mutual understanding helping to keep the relationship at a healthy state for as long as they had been together.

"Hey! I've got a bite!" Ditzy exclaimed excitedly.

"Alright! I'll help you real it in, we won't let this one escape." Shard dashed over to his adorable girlfriend and gripped her fishing pole to add his strength, preventing the fish tugging on the hook from pulling the rod out of Ditzy's hands. After a few moments of stuggle the fish finally broke through the surface of the water and landed on top of Shard, being bigger than his torso. Ditzy just laughed as she watched her boyfriend wrestling a huge fish. "Why, does, a, fish, this, big, live, in, such, a, small, lake?!" Shard yelled as he punched the fish in between words.

Mise and Octavia watched as Shard held up the dead fish in victory, Ditzy laughing at him as he breathed heavily, catching his breath after the fight with his prize. Shard didn't mind the laughter, in fact he enjoyed listening to it. "Those two are just too cute together." Octavia said to her own partner.

"Yeah, they're so close I'm surprised Shard hasn't already popped the question this early on." Mise said as he watched his friends

"You think they'll get married in the future?"

"Oh most definitely, it's clear that they are gonna be together either forever or for a very long time." The two resumed their quiet time together as Ditzy and Shard walked away with their huge prize, going back to Shards place to cook up the fish. Although they had passed Fluttershy on the way out and seeing the large dead fish swung over Shards shoulder caused her to run away in tears, something Shard and Ditzy both just stood and watched, not sure how to react to the situation.

Author's Notes:

Shard is from my other PoME story called Your Beautiful Wonky Eyes (the story is kinda crazy, with all kinds of random things thrown in, it's kind of a tale that I get a little experimental with, having mixed results but it should be a fun read. Hooray for self promotion!)

Taking things slow with this story, learning from past mistakes. I hope you're enjoying so far.