Canterlot was beautiful any time of year but there are always moments filled with a greater beauty that stick out in Rocket's mind even today. Moments that beg to be noticed like a glistening pool catching the sunlight at just the right angle, beckoning you to come closer and investigate, then relax in its shimmering allure.

The time she spent as a filly in Canterlot was always with one purpose, to be with her Father, Tempest Valor. Benig a captain in Celestia's Royal Canterlot Guard, he had many responsibilities that kept him from Cloudsdale almost year round.
But all that time apart vanished in the cooling breeze when she got to visit him.
Those times she remembered as well as a crystalline dream, the sights, smells, sounds.... almost tangible even now after all this time.

"Dad!" She screamed with excitement, no sooner than her hooves began to move her with as much speed as she could muster, tearing through a patchy crowd with little regard. She had only one thing in mind and the chastising remarks of any other pony fell on deaf ears and beneath the clatter of hoofbeats on the stone passing under her. The same as every visit, she raced from the train like a bolt of white hot lightning, locking on the single target she spied from the window whilst pulling into the station. She dashed as quickly as her hooves could carry her, excitement mounting with every step and, the same as every visit, tried her hoof at tackling dear old dad, only to succeed in staggering herself for a moment. The same as every visit.

"How've you been, Gracie?" Valor asked, smiled and laughed, just as excitedly as his pint-size assailant, pulling his cherished cargo close to him in an embrace that melted her cares away. The trip, the tough days at school, the countless stormy nights, none of that was even there anymore, none of it was real. Here she felt safe, and he felt whole, just as it ought to be.

After some time, the two began walking. Or rather, Valor began walking while Grace spent her time bounding around him in a circle, excitedly retelling a dozen stories that melded one into the next with the slightest turn of events - and never taking a breath between.

Those were the moments that made everything alright. Those were the moments that made her smile, both then and now alike. Those were the moments she held onto the tightest. The moments where no matter what happened, she could always hear her Father's voice echoing across the distance as clearly as though he were standing directly in front of her. His message, always so clear, always the same and always exactly what she needed....

"Everything's going to be okay, Gracie. Everything's going to be just fine."