//------------------------------// // Dreams of a Musician - Part I // Story: Magic Wands and Hourglasses: A Time Turner's Adventures Story // by Whammy //------------------------------// Several Days Later “So this is what you call a grand adventure into the exotic unknown?” Trixie said as she just looked up dully at the towering gate standing before them, the frame of the arch glistening with gold in the afternoon sun. “Well we didn’t know the road would end up here now did we? So it still counts as traveling towards the unknown,” Time Turner responded defensively. The effect of his defense was weakened, however, by his not even looking at her. He was obviously far more interested in watching the water of the moat cascading down the mountainside into the rivers far below. An exasperated sigh brought his attention back towards her, his face in a sheepish grin as if to apologize. “You promised that if I came with you we would be doing things that nopony has ever done before and wonders I’ve never would have dreamed of. Instead you,” she said, hoof halfway off the ground to poke him in the chest. “Move it along you two. You’re disrupting the flow of traffic.” Before she could finish her sentence, a pegasus dressed in golden armor called out to them from the end of the drawbridge. Not wanting to deal with the Royal Guard, Trixie and Time Turner picked up the pace and made their way to the end of the bridge. “Sorry about that,” Time Turner said with a polite nod as Trixie simply made her way inside the city. “No problem. Enjoy your stay in Canterlot,” the guard replied before turning his attention towards the rest of the tourists and merchants following behind them. Once through the gateway, the two ponies were greeted with the sights and sounds worthy of the capital city of Equestria. The paved stone streets were bustling with ponies of all kinds, from the street vendors hawking their sales to the upper elite chatting as they took their afternoon strolls. Up in the skies, pegasi were busy delivering mail. There was the occasional glimpse of one of the Royal Guards on patrol, their eyes watching the stone-paved streets like hawks. Alongside the streets were shops of every shape and size with just about any product you could buy. And from the look on Time Turner’s face, Trixie could tell he loved every minute of the chaotic scene before him. She bet that if she turned her head for even a second he would run off like a foal in a candy shop. As for herself… “Here’s the thing Time Turner, I’ve already been to Canterlot! It’s honestly not all that exciting for me,” she said, her lack of enthusiasm being enough to stop Time Turner, who was halfway through taking a step into the crowds like she had expected. “You’ve been here before? When exactly was that?” he said, bringing himself back towards her. Trixie could see a bit of a grin on his face, and by now she had learned that was never a good sign for her. “A few years ago. I used to put on shows in some of the nightclubs before I took my show on the road. But I honestly don’t see what that has to do with anything now,” she replied, gaining a confused look as Time Turner chuckled. “It has everything to do with it! Really Trixie, I expected more imagination from you. What, did you think the city froze while you were gone?” he said, the grin getting larger and her getting more nervous. “N-no, of course not. Still, it’s not like,” she replied, backing away a little bit under the now-getting-obnoxious grin of Time Turner’s. “It’s not like what, the city doesn’t change? This is Canterlot my dear, the most fashionable place in all of Equestria. They hardly go a week without changing out wardrobes let alone a few years. I can guarantee you five bits that everything you saw before is probably outdated and unfashionable…well okay there might be a retro club or two. But other than that…” Trixie just put up a hoof and sighed. It was both a sign of both surrender and a sign to Time Turner to let him know to just be quiet. “Okay, okay, I get your point. I guess there might be a new club or restaurant something we can go to.” “Excellent. We can go search one out…right after we go to the Canterlot Center for the Performing Arts,” Time Turner said as he started digging into his saddlebag. Trixie just put her hoof to her face. “You just went on a spiel about everything in the city being new, and so you decide to go to one of the oldest places here and…you’re not listening to me are you?” Trixie said, watching as Time Turner continued digging in his saddlebag. “What, did you say something?” he said, voiced muffled from inside the bag, “Just give me a moment, looking for something. Let’s see...trail mix, flashlight, my time sheets…I wondered where those went…, a pocket watch, map of Equestria…ah ha, there they are!” Trixie watched as Time Turner pulled out a pair of tickets. He handed her one of them, and she looked down. It was a ticket to a concert starring somepony named Octavia set for…this afternoon. So that’s why he was so upbeat about being in Canterlot and…wait a moment. “Hey, I thought you said you didn’t know where that road went!” she yelled, pointing an accusing hoof at him. Time Turner, who had been busy looking at his ticket, just looked up at her. “Oh, did I now?…well I didn’t. I did, however, ask directions to Canterlot at that inn we stopped in. Good thing we were on the right track. I’d really hate to waste these tickets after all. I even bought two of them just in case I found someone to go with. How lucky am I to have run into you then?” he said with glee. Trixie just looked at him for a second before just shaking her head and walking onwards into the crowds, her foal-like companion following right behind. It had been several days since she met Time Turner and she still couldn’t believe about half the things the brown stallion said. She would go along with his little concert thing for now, but later she would drag him to a location more suitable for herself. As for their destination, the city may have changed, but she still knew where the Performing Arts Centre was. You kind of learned such things after being rejected by them a couple dozen times. And if news travelled as fast as it normally did, she probably wouldn’t even be let in the door at this point. At least they couldn’t reject her as a paying customer. Speaking of which, looking down at the ticket, she didn’t recognize the name of the performer at all. “So who is this Octavia anyways?” Trixie asked as Time Turner joined beside her. “A cellist, and a wonderful one at that. She’s one of the few Earth Ponies to ever join the Canterlot Fillyharmonic. Since I do enjoy the occasional classical piece, I figured that a performance by her was something I just had to see.” “I guess that is kind of…impressive,” Trixie replied, grudgingly admitting the fact. She knew that non-unicorns had trouble with instruments; magic simply made manipulating them a lot easier. That was a fact, of course, she took full advantage of in her show to humiliate amateur musicians who challenged her to a musical duel. Even with her minimal music experience she could win just by being able to play the music easier while her opponents, distracted by the crowds and her intimidating presence, messed up more. Still, as a fellow performer she had to give credit to this Octavia for getting into such a prestigious group like the Fillyharmonic, handicapped though she was. Time Turner just looked at her for a moment as if about to say something, but his attention was soon turned towards the building that was looming in the distance. Even with the crowds blocking some of the view, the façade was hard to ignore. Pure white arches, large windows to let in a flood of natural lights, and a large line of ponies waiting to get inside. Just as Trixie was about to join them, she heard Time Turner mumble out a, “This can’t be right…” “Is something wrong?” she asked, her gaze joining Time Turner’s on the large, framed poster advertising the newest show. Considering their tickets were for Octavia, it was a great surprise that instead the pony on the poster was labeled ‘Mezza Voce.’ For a moment both of them thought they might have just had the wrong day, but a double checking of the ticket confirmed that it was indeed Octavia who was supposed to be performing. “Meh, it’s not anything to worry about. Performers get replaced all the time. Probably just got sick and couldn’t make it or something,” Trixie said with a shrug. She had been through all that before after all. “You’re probably right. It’s just I’ve never even heard of this Mezza Voce,” Time Turner said, still glancing between the poster and the ticket as if hoping one of them would change their wording. “Never heard of Mezza Voce? I say, you two must not be from around here to have never heard of the fastest rising star in all of Canterlot.” Trixie and Time Turner turned to face the new addition to their conversation. They found themselves facing two unicorns, a couple from the looks of it. The voice had belonged to the stallion, white coated with a slicked back blue mane and matching little mustache. Joining alongside him was a mare, also white coated but with a luxurious light-pink mane. From the looks of the two, the stallion in a black vest and sporting a monocle and the mare looking very well groomed, the two were probably near the top of the elite. “The name is Fancy Pants, and this here is my wife Fleur de Lis,” Fancy Pants said, pointing to the mare that was currently hanging on him like an accessory and not really paying any attention to them. At the mention of her name, however, she faced them. “Charmed to meet you my dears,” she added before fixing her glance on Time Turner with a smile, “Especially you…” “Time Turner. It’s Time Turner my lady. And it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Fleur, Fancy Pants,” he said, giving a polite bow to the two of them before gesturing towards her, “And this here is my companion…” “I am capable of introducing myself,” Trixie said, causing Time Turner to back off just a little as she shot him a sideways glare. “Anyway, I am Trixie,” she finished, ignoring the temptation to add in the ‘Great and Powerful’ to herself. Even after her little burst at Time Turner the night they met, she still didn’t believe herself qualified enough to introduce herself as such. Still, Fancy Pants seemed pleased enough with their introductions, although Fleur was busy giggling to herself for some unknown reason. “You seem to have quite a bit of spunk in you Trixie, a very useful trait to have. Isn’t that right dear?” Fleur stopped her little giggle to herself. “Oh of course it is darling. Always useful when there’s a bit of gossip going around about you,” she said before seemingly getting lost in her own thoughts again. Trixie simply rolled her eyes. She had seen these kind of mares before in her own time in Canterlot, the space between their ears being mostly air yet attractive enough to catch the fancy of a stallion like, well, Fancy Pants. Ah well, nothing she could do about it…at least nothing she could do without Time Turner probably lecturing her afterwards. “Now then, may I suggest we keep moving? It seems the crowd is moving forward, and it would be terrible to be late. Would you two care to join us in our private box? It’s almost right above the stage, and away from all the noise of the floor seats of course” Fancy Pants asked as he moved past them towards the entrance, Fleur following behind like a puppy. “P-private box?” Trixie asked, surprised at the offer. Normally the only way she’d be able to get close to the stage at all was by being on it. And of course she never got to be in a private box, with all the comforts and prestige of one. Her previous dislike of the two disappeared rather quickly when presented with the option. “Why of course, it’s the only way to truly appreciate the magnificence of Mezza Voce to its fullest extent.” Fancy Pants said, obviously proud of his box. “And you get such a lovely view of the stage too. Fancy Pants and I just love it, getting comfortable together and enjoying the show. It is such a snug little box,” Fleur said, Fancy Pants blushing a little in response. “Now, now dear, no need to discuss some of our more…intimate moments with our new friends,” he replied as he calmed down, “So then, shall we?” he said as he gestured towards the stairs. Trixie of course was fully willing to go. Even if she wasn’t sure about performing again in the future, she knew the advantage of knowing ponies in high places. That advantage was worth it, even if she would have to deal with watching Fleur being all lovey-dovey with Fancy Pants. Time Turner, however, seemed a little more reluctant for some reason, a reason that soon became apparently stupid to her. “While I appreciate the offer, I really was looking forward to using these tickets and…wait a moment,” Time Turner said, alarmed as his body had the light faint glow of magic around him… the same color as Trixie’s horn. “Trixie! Put me down right this instance,” he added, flailing a bit as Trixie lifted him up with her telekinesis, dragging him along in the air behind her as she stomped off. She ignored the looks of Fancy Pants, Fleur, and pretty much every other pony in the line as she headed up towards the boxes. There wasn’t even a need to look back in order to guess the look of confusion on Fancy Pants’ face as she heard him say, “Well…I take it that is her way of saying yes for the both of them then.” ------- Several minutes later, they were all seated rather comfortably in Fancy Pants’ private box. Fancy Pants and Fleur were sitting quite close to each other, with Fleur leaning in rather comfortably on him. Meanwhile, Trixie and Time Turner were busy whispering to themselves in a rather heated argument. About the only part of themselves that was anywhere near the other was their muzzles, if only for the sake of keeping the conversation between the two of them. “All I’m saying is there was no need to magically drag me here,” Time Turner said, waving the tickets in Trixie’s face, “Besides, I had two perfectly valid tickets for this show.” “We’re in a private box. That’s way better than some cheap back row…” “They’re mid-row seats thank you very much,” Time Turner interjected, looking insulted at Trixie’s suggestion he was cheap. “Mid-row, whatever.” Trixie said, putting a hoof to her head. Whenever Time Turner got like this she got a headache; he could be so aggravating at times. Before she continued on, however, she was interrupted by the sound of applause as the lights dimmed and the curtain opened. At this point there was no reason to keep on about it; the show was on and they couldn’t change seats now. “And there he is, Canterlot’s newest star,” Fancy Pants said, pointing towards a stallion who was making his way to the center of the stage. Leaning forward to get a better look, Trixie looked over this supposed wonder. He was a unicorn, much to Time Turner’s disappointment from the slight frown she noticed on his face. His coat was blue, but barely. It was like it was a blue almost on the verge of turning gray, giving it a bit of a silvery look. His mane was a darkened gray, almost kind of like smoke, and every last part of it was slicked back down his neck. Like Fancy Pants, he was wearing a black dress vest with coats, a white puffy shirt underneath it. Levitating behind him was a cello case, so at least Time Turner would get his cello pieces. “He’s at least dressed the part,” Trixie said, leaning back into her chair. Time Turner was still looking him over, probably still upset he didn’t get his Octavia show. His personality seemed more befitting a foal than a grown pony sometimes. “Oh he’s more than dressed the part, he’s probably the best cellist in Canterlot right now. No one is really sure where he came from though. He’s kind of secretive about that, but there are theories that,” Fancy Pants said as the applause started to die down. “Means he probably came from some town in the middle of nowhere or something. But mysterious past sells better so he doesn’t say,” Trixie interrupted. There was a smug smile on her face as she did so; she still enjoyed the chance to knock someone else down a bit. And revealing some of the ‘magic’ behind a performer was one of the best ways to do so. “Yes, well…the point is that he’s had a very impressive rise to the top. Every pony I’ve heard has had nothing but good things to say about him and…oh look, it seems the show is about to start.” The sounds of a cello playing were soon filling the air as the audience quieted down. Time Turner had finally sat back down in his seat, his curiosity apparently satisfied. He still seemed a little tense at first, but as the music waxed and waned he seemed to calm down and relax, and even a bit of a smile appeared. The same could be said for Fancy Pants and Fleur, who were cuddling up against each other. But Trixie just couldn’t help but feel as if there was something just a little bit off about the music. It sounded okay to her, though she wasn’t much of a judge on quality music, but there just seemed something not quite right with this scene. While the music was soft and quiet, almost like a lullaby, there was a slight tingle to the air that she normally only felt when in the middle of an exciting fireworks show or a particularly powerful magical stunt. Poking Time Turner in the side, she whispered over to him. “Hey, are you feeling anything odd right now?” Time Turner, who seemed almost half asleep, stumbled back into the realm of the awake, “Hmmmmm, nope, nothing. But I say, this music is absolutely wonderful don’t you think? It’s so easy to get lost in. Are you enjoying yourself?” Looking him in the eyes, Trixie saw he seemed a little lost in a daze, which wasn’t exactly abnormal for him. Glancing over at Fancy Pants and Fleur, however, she saw the same dazed look, which she figured was not quite so normal. Still feeling a little unsure about it, Trixie figured to keep quiet for the time being and just enjoy the show. It may have just been her own nerves messing with her or something. “Yeah, sure. I-It’s quite good,” she said, a nervous smile apparently enough for Time Turner to nod and just drift back into a pleasant state of relaxation. Leaning back in her own seat, she simply looked down at this Mezzo Voce, who continued to play on, that suspicious tingle lingering in the air all the while.