Sunny couldn’t put the encounter out of her mind.
She knew from Dad’s stories that Equestria used to be a lot more magical. Earth ponies were in touch with nature and could grow miraculous plants and perform incredible feats of strength and endurance. With the unicorns and pegasi around as well, pony magic was everywhere.
This, though… This was something else, and it was happening to her.
That colt. She had to know more. She had to see him again. She had to speak to him.
“Who are you, mystery stallion?” Sunny muttered to herself as she did the dishes after lunch.
“You can’t be all in my mind. I know for sure I saw you in that pool. I have the silly mustache mousse lid to prove it,” she assured herself as she roller-skated around doing odd jobs here and there. She’d hung on to it. Just in case.
“I’m going back tomorrow,” she promised herself that night as she went to bed early.
On the off chance he’d be there again, she had to make absolutely sure she didn’t miss him.
The next morning came as usual, and along came the Glittering Tide. That was what she’d very creatively called it. She’d have to think of something better once she found out what it was all about.
Bingo.
Rollerskates? Check.
Notebook and pen? Check.
Phone? Check.—Too bad the sun right across from the beach made taking decent photos of the tide a no-can-do.
She’d made sure to go out a bit earlier this morning and get an idea of what the glittering looked like from ground level, but it was much harder to make out without a view from on high. No wonder no one else had noticed it!
Hang on to your surfboard, ocean colt, I’m not giving up on you yet!
Before long, Sunny had rolled down the paved path to the beach and tucked away her skates. Determination carried her into a clumsy gallop through the sand, leaving a deep streak across the beach.
The cave was as she’d left it yesterday, minus one detail: The pool was full again, and she could see the other cave, minus the mysterious pony.
“He’s not here. Did I miss him? Did he just… not come back?”
Sunny checked the clock on her phone and reviewed her notes for the hundredth time. It was right about the same time she’d seen him yesterday. He wasn’t there now.
Proximity activated projection?
That was one theory down. She had plenty more to cross off her list.
Alternate universe self?
Couldn't be. No version of her would have missed a chance to investigate a pool of glowy water.
Sunny thoroughly inspected the pool. The water was surprisingly chilly, but her investigation proved conclusive. It was a shallow tide pool, and if there was anything odd, it was with the water itself. No secret underwater passages.
Seapony trickery?
She just had to wait here. To hope he would return.
Fortunately, hoping proved to be enough.
His voice rang from outside of his cave. “Huh? Who said that?”
Sunny shot back up to her full height, ears perked and at attention.
Wait, I haven’t said anything.
Leaves and ferns rustled as yesterday’s mystery stallion crept through the cave entrance on the other side of the reflection.
Yes! A second chance.
“You! Green colt! C-can you see me?”
He looked around the cave, puzzled. “Hello?”
“Hello?” Sunny echoed back. Not this again!
Then, he turned to the pool, and he looked directly… one and a half hooves to her left.
“Huh! Hey! I see you! I hear you!”
Yes! “You can?! Th-that’s amazing! What’s your name? What’s going on with this cave? I have so many questions.”
“Huh?” He tilted his head in confusion. “I haven’t gone anywhere. Wait. Surfboard? But… I don’t have my surfboard with me. I had it…”
Wait. But I didn’t ask about his surfboard… Wait… It couldn’t be… Could it? I did ask about it…
“... yesterday,” they concluded in temporally-displaced unison.
They were a day apart. He was reacting to what she’d said yesterday. Yet, as fate would have it, the answer had dawned on both of them at the very same time.
“I think I understand,” the mystery colt said. “You’re a day ahead of me. Or maybe I’m getting you a day late. You get the idea. If you’re hearing this, girl in the tide pool, come back tomorrow.”
Yes! A day’s delay wasn’t ideal, but at least they could talk.
“Yes, yes, I’ll definitely-” Sunny exclaimed, only to be cut off as he continued to talk.
Right. He couldn’t hear her right now.
“My name is Sandbar, and I… and I… Wait a minute…” Sandbar—At least, she had a name for him now—stumbled back from the pool, with wide eyes and a frightened snort. “... How do I know you’re not one of those changelings playing a trick on me?”
Huh.
“Okay, look. I’ll come back tomorrow, but when I do, I need you to convince me you’re not a changeling. I’ve been told they’re up to all kinds of tricks and making a mess all around! I’ll… I’ll get the town guard if I have to, okay!?”
Sandbar—Did he have a last name?—carefully backed away, and all but vanished out of the cave before she caught her bearings.
This was escalating quickly. She had to think fast. Whatever these changelings were, she had to prove she wasn’t one of them right now so he could see it tomorrow.
“I, but… What’s a changeling? Anyway, look! I swear I’m a pony, and I’ve got the pictures to prove it!”
Sunny snatched her phone out of its holster, flipped it open, and frantically pulled up the photo gallery.
“My name is Sunny Starscout. I live here in Maretime Bay with… Well, I used to live with my father, Argyle Starshine. I don’t know what would prove it to you but… look! Baby! Filly! Goofy selfie! Birthday party!” Sunny chuckled nervously, desperately trying to hang on to any little scrap of composure she could still muster. “Please! Believe me!”
Would this convince him? Sunny didn’t even know what a changeling was. What if they could fake pictures? Would he believe her? He’d looked really frightened.
Would he even come back?
The pool slowly emptied, and Sunny left to think about all of this. Life still had to go on, and she had obligations.
Please, Sandbar… I really, really need you to believe me.