“So to make it perfectly clear then, we are completely lost,” Trixie said with a huff. Time Turner simply gave a weak smile as he started looking at their surroundings, Octavia and Vinyl joining in with Trixie at staring at the brown Earth Pony.
“Eh, well, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily lost. We are simply in-route to our destination and in need of readjustment,” he replied.
“In other words, we are completely lost,” Octavia said, her voice completely deadpan as she sat down on the ground, obviously tired from what was supposed to be a heroic charge to battle.
“Oh fine, if you want to see it in a negative light. Yes, we are completely lost. It’s not my fault I actually don’t know where Mezza Voce lives,” Time Turner replied, his face now looking downward as if there was something really interesting in the ground.
To be fair, Trixie did realize they actually didn’t know that information, but she had continued following after him, figuring that Time Turner might have known more than he let on. After all, he had seemed pretty knowledgeable about the workings of Mezza’s spell, or at least had a plausible theory as to how it worked. To her total lack of amazement, however, it seemed the stallion was in fact as completely scatterbrained and impulsive as she had thought he was, the rare moment of brilliance aside. At least he had succeeded in bringing them to a rather posh looking part of the city. While the various houses were still not up to par with the luxurious mansions of the real social elite, the various gardens and golden decorations showed their residents as being of wealthier status than the average pony. Based on how Octavia had described him, there was a good chance Mezza would probably be living in the area to flaunt his new found wealth and fame to compensate for his less than noble history.
“I say we just start banging on these doors and ask until somepony tells us where he is. Or hey, just give me a few minutes and I can get a whole sound system rigged up and we can just ask everyone at once,” Vinly said, her body unable to seemingly stand still as if she was ready to fight.
“For once Vinyl I believe you might have had a good idea. Not the sound system part as I’m sure that is in violation of several Canterlot ordinances, but asking around might at least give us some kind of lead,” Octavia replied, her tone being a lot calmer than her companion was.
“Right, fantastic idea. So then, let’s split up and cover more ground. Octavia and Vinyl, you go that way, Trixie will go that way, and I will go some other way,” Time Turner said, pointing in what amounted to random directions as far as Trixie was concerned. She was tempted to ask why he was going by himself, but figured she would just leave him alone to his impulsiveness this time. Besides, she needed a break from him; ever since they had met he had been stuck to her like glue. Or maybe it was the other way around…
“Hear that Octy, just gonna be you and me all alone,” Vinyl said as she put a leg around the now blushing Octavia’s back, the comment breaking Trixie out of her thoughts.
“V-Vinyl, you do remember we are in the middle of something. There will be time for that sort of thing later,” Octavia replied as she slid out from Vinyl’s grasp before walking off in the direction Time Turner had assigned them.
“Beh, killjoy,” Vinyl replied, secretly sticking her tongue out at Octavia before following after her.
“If you find anything, use your magic or something to send a signal!” Time Turner yelled out to them, apparently oblivious to what had just occurred before turning his attention to Trixie.
“So, anyway, I’ll see you in a bit. Behave yourself if you can,” Time Turner said with a smile, Trixie just looking him.
“You are telling me to behave? I’m afraid if I left you alone the next thing I’ll see is you being chased by the Royal Guards or something,” Trixie responded. Time Turner’s eyes widened.
“Trixie, I am absolutely shocked you would accuse me of that…besides that only happened once and it was resolved very quickly,” he replied, his voice cracking just a little as if he was lacking the confidence to really guarantee he would behave.
Trixie just rolled her eyes, “Just try to not make any more trouble for me.”
“I would never dream of it Trixie,” Time Turner said, matching Trixie’s smile before turning off in a different direction, “Anyway, musician to find, city to save, and possible mare in trouble. Let’s be off then,” he finished, running off down a street to begin his part of the search. As Trixie watched him run, she couldn’t help but smile, just a little bit. Catching herself, however, she shook her head and just mumbled.
“Right, sure thing…you lunatic.”
-----
Half an hour later
“Ugggggh, everypony here is completely useless!” Trixie said, kicking a random rock in the road in frustration.
So far it seemed absolutely no one knew where Mezza Voce had lived, although they all kept talking about how wonderful he was and how they couldn’t wait to play his new record that was coming out soom. Her attempts to try and convince them to cancel the order fell flat.
She still wasn’t sure why exactly why she was doing all this though. Right now she could easily just run off and let Mezza do whatever it was he wanted to do. She didn’t owe Octavia or Vinyl anything, and she definitely didn’t owe Time Turner anything. Besides, he was a complete annoyance, always having a goofy grin on his face, always spacing out, or wandering off somewhere, his eyes always lighted up and bright as if he was still a foal . Yet here she was still following him, helping him trying to stop some crazy love-struck unicorn who couldn’t take no for an answer. As much as she hated to admit it though, there was something about him that was a little endearing about him, but she wasn’t sure what. She especially didn’t know why she smiled watching him run off into the night, that cheesy old grin plastered over his face. Who exactly was this Time Turner?
“Excuse me madame, but I hear that you’re trying to find the home of a Mezza Voce? I may be of some assistance.”
Trixie’s thoughts were interrupted by the voice of a stallion, the accent sounding Canterlotian but having just a slight bit of the accent she heard when she was in Trottingham once. Turning around, she spotted the stallion standing by a street light, leaning against it as he looked at her with a sly little smile. He had a very finely style blonde mane and tail, his coat a dark blue, and the only clothing a bowtie and collar. But there was two things that caught her attention in particular; the hourglass cutie mark on his flank that reminded her of Time Turner’s, and his amber eyes. They were alive with light, sort of like Time Turner’s, but just looking at them she could tell it was…different. For Time Turner, it was like looking at a sun; warm and inviting and filled with life. This stallion’s eyes, however, were like a raging brushfire; chaotic and destructive, as if he was ready to consume everything in sight if he could. Under his gaze, she couldn’t help but be a little bit fearful.
“U-uh yeah, I needed to talk to him about…about teaming up with him for a show! I’m an entertainer, the-the Great and Powerful Trixie!” she replied, rearing back on her hooves with a smile of fake confidence. She just stood there for a second as the stallion looked over her.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie hmmm? Actually, I believe I have heard of you. You were in Ponyville recently weren’t you? Heard you had quite the performance.”
At that Trixie’s eyes widened, lowering herself back to the ground before taking a few steps back. Apparently word had started getting around about her after all.
“So-so you know about the…” she started to ask, but he interrupted.
“Oh, don’t worry about it; I’m the only one here in Canterlot who knows about the Ursa Minor. After all, who cares about some backwards little place like Ponyville? But enough about that, I guess I should be polite and introduce myself, since you have already done so.”
Rising off the lamppost, the stallion approached Trixie, who was still eyeing him rather nervously as he walked up to her.
“The name is Clock Keeper, Lord Clock Keeper if you don’t mind,” he said, giving a slight bow.
“N-nice to meet you. So, uhm…you said you know where Mezza Voce lives?” Trixie asked, hoping to shift the topic of conversation away from herself.
“Oh, right…well I know the reason you stated is a complete fabrication, but if you were to do a favor for me I might be willing to offer the information. You see, there was some gossip earlier today about a pony like you attending the concert with Fancy Pants and Fleur as well as a brown Earth Pony with an hourglass cutie mark. I would like you to deliver this letter to him,” he said as he pulled a letter out of his collar.
“I’m not a mailmare,” Trixie replied, although her horn glowed with magic as she took the letter.
“And yet you’re taking the letter. I guess you’ve grown quite attached to Time Turner haven’t you?” he said. Even though his expression didn’t change at all, Trixie couldn’t help but feel as if that grin just became more sinister towards her.
“I-I’m just travelling with him for a bit is all. Better than walking around without any money or a wagon,” she yelled at him. All Clockwork did was laugh a little before responding.
“Whatever you say Trixie. As for Mezza Voce, his home is located just down this street. You won’t be able to miss it; has a statue of himself located in the front gardens. Apparently fame has brought with it an ego. It is rather unfortunate that you all are going to deal with him; those records of his are absolutely brilliant pieces of magical technology.”
Before Trixie could say anything, she could hear the sounds of dogs barking in the distance, and the click-clacking of hooves running on stone.
“And that is my cue to leave it seems. I would suggest that if you want to stop Mezza Voce, you better get moving. After all, the clock is ticking.”
“Trixiiiiieeee! Could you please help me with these dogs here!”
Hearing the sound of Time Turner yelling, Trixie’s attention was drawn away for a moment. When she looked back, Clock Keeper was gone. Looking at where he had been standing, her mind felt uneasy, and her stomach felt like it was all knotted up. The sight of Time Turner being chased down the streets, however, was more than enough to get her mind off the strange pony and back into the endless world of annoyance it seemed she had found herself in by being with him.
“I thought I told you to behave,” Trixie said as she conjured up a storm cloud, lightning striking the spot between Time Turner’s rear and the dogs ready to pounce on him. Startled, the dogs ran off, finally giving Time Turner a chance to plop onto the ground and catch his breath.
“Make a note…that I now…and forever…hate dogs,” Time Turner said as he caught his breath.
“Do I even want to know what happened?” Trixie asked, just glad that he wasn’t being chased by Royal Guards like she was half-expecting.
“Some ponies…apparently don’t appreciate….being asked questions by strangers….during dinnertime…and the stranger won’t leave,” he replied as he started to get back onto his hooves.
“So then, I heard you talking to somepony. Did you find out where Mezza lives?”
“Oh, right, yeah I did. He’s just down the street it seems, statue of himself in the yard,” Trixie said as she pointed down the road.
“And the letter?” he asked, his eyes drawn to the still floating in the air letter.
“Oh, uhm, the stallion asked me to give it to you. Said his name was Lord Clock Keeper or something. Kind of had the same cutie mark as you did…” Trixie replied. For a split second Time Turner’s face turned into that serious look he got when he was lecturing ponies, but his happy grin returned. It was only half there though, as if it was being put on just for her sake.
“Oh, well I guess I’ll read it later then. Just put it in the saddlebag and alert the others would you?” he replied, Trixie complying and putting it in the saddlebag before shooting up a single firework to serve as a flare for Octavia and Vinyl to find them.
“Fantastic! Now then I believe it’s time to close the curtain on Mezza Voce’s career,” Time Turner said, his smile seeming a little more genuine after saying the cheesy one-liner. She would normally mock such a line, but just this once she would let him have it.