//------------------------------// // Dreams of a Musician-Epilogue/Coming Soon // Story: Magic Wands and Hourglasses: A Time Turner's Adventures Story // by Whammy //------------------------------// A Half-Hour Later “Fleur! Fleur! My dear Fleur, are you alright? Did Violino hurt you in anyway?” Fancy Pants yelled as he ran towards his beloved Fleur, who was had been talking to the Royal Guard but immediately ran to embrace him. “My darling Fancy Pants!” she cried as she began to gently nuzzle him as he put his forelegs around her neck, “I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t help but come over once I heard his music, and it made me so happy to hear him play, but then I heard what he wanted to do and I just…” “Don’t worry my dear, it’s all over and you’re safe. I thank Celestia that all that happened to you was that you got a little giddy.” The two continued to embrace as the barely conscious Violino was being dragged away to be taken to the dungeons to await trial. As he was brought past them, Fancy Pants looked up, anger in his eyes for a as he stopped the guards and turned his attention to Violino. “You sir threatened my wife, attacked my newest acquaintances, and have insulted the good name of music by using unfair hypnotic means to improve yourself. It is fully in my right at this moment to give you a good smacking, though I have been told that the blue-haired mare has already done so.” Violino, conscious enough to recognize who it was that was speaking, glared for a moment before just breaking down again and decided to just look down at the ground. Fancy Pants looked at him with a scowl for a moment longer before it began to soften up into a smile. “However, instead, I figure that a pony in your position is more in need of something else, and so with that in mind I would like to say that you sir are…forgiven.” At that second Violino’s head shot up faster than lightning, confusion plastered all over his face as he mumbled out a series of “Why?”s. Fleur, walking up beside Fancy Pants, spoke up in his place. “It’d be easy to be mad at you, and for a while we will probably remain mad. But we truly hope that having some time to reflect on your actions will make you a better pony, and maybe someday you can put your hatred of Fancy Pants aside and we can all be friends.” Before Violino could say anything, his mouth dropped down in a stunned silence, the Royal Guards began to drag him away. Over by one of the fountains, Trixie and Time Turner simply watched the scene unfold. Trixie’s headache had dulled quite well, in no small part due to the assistance of some of the nurse-unicorns that had come to the scene. When she got the chance she needed to learn some of their healing spells; they could be very useful out on the road. For now, however, she simply watched with confusion as Fleur and Fancy Pants declared their forgiveness of Violino. “Why in the world would they do that? He wanted to break them apart and steal her away, if not outright hurt them if he didn’t get his way,” Trixie said, sitting down on the grass as Time Turner continued standing. “Because there’s no point in remaining mad at him. He’s beaten now and he can’t hurt them so what is there to gain by hating him? The only thing that would happen is that they would waste their time and effort on something that, in the end, is only going to hurt them, eat them up inside until they, well, become like him.” Trixie looked up at her companion for a moment, not really sure what to make of what he had said. “Do you really believe that? Do you not hate anything?” “Well, I have a particular dislike of pears, always get upset when they lose my luggage at the train station, and other small things that we tend to use the phrase ‘I hate’ to describe. But there is a big difference between that and truly hating something. Of the latter of the two I have to say that yes, there are some things that I hate. Cruelty, despair, unrequited love, but most of all, the thing that I hate most of all…wasted potential,” he replied with a smile as he looked over at Trixie. In that moment her mind went to all the things that she figured she hated, or at least she believed she did. Those who mocked her, those who laughed at her, those who believed she was nothing, and then, the biggest of them all, Twilight Sparkle. But listening to Time Turner talk, she wondered just what it was that she was really hating when she thought of those things, and she thought back to the night she met Time Turner. She had already given up hating them all by then, and instead she had begun to hate…had she begun to instead hate herself? “Is something the matter Trixie? You’ve started crying a little?” Time Turner said as he sat down beside her. “N-no, I’m fine. My head still just hurts a little is all. See? Owwww,” Trixie said as she faked some pain and putting her hoof to her head. Glancing over at Time Turner, it seemed that he didn’t buy it, but before he could say anything Octavia and Vinyl were walking over to them. “Thank you two for helping to put Mezza Voce, or should I say Violino Strings, away. I’ve received word from Fancy Pants that I have been rebooked to play at the concert hall again next week, free to anyone who had tickets for me originally. Although he has said that you two are always welcome to join him in his private box if you would prefer.” Octavia said. “Ooooor, you can come on down to the club right now and get some celebration party started!” Vinyl added, punching the air with her hoof in excitement. “How you are able to even think of DJ-ing after the immense headache we just suffered I simply do not understand…and don’t say you’ve played after hangovers before because we both know this was a completely different situation,” Octavia replied, interrupting Vinyl as she tried to say something else. “Anyway, you two are always welcome to come to either of our professional venues, free of charge. And it would be our pleasure to host you two should you ever need a place to stay in Canterlot…although I would highly recommend you stay at my home as Vinyl has issues with keeping her place clean.” “Hey, I threw out that blue mold this weekend thank you miss prim and proper.” “My point proven; fridges are not supposed to have blue mold at any point of their lifetime.” Before the two of them could get started on a fight of some sort about this ‘mold incident’, Time Turner coughed and interrupted. “Thank you two for the generous offers. If you don’t mind, could we take you up on it right now? I had originally planned to be back on the road earlier today but, well, seems that Trixie and I will have to instead depart in the morning.” “Depart to where? I thought we were going to be in Canterlot for a few days,” Trixie replied, pointing an accusatory hoof at Time Turner. “Well I just wanted to come for the concert and then head off to the next destination….whatever that may be. Hadn’t really planned it yet.” Trixie just looked at him with a glare for a few seconds before Octavia and Vinyl mentioned that they heard their laundry calling and that they would meet up with them in a few moments to show them the way to Octavia’s house. For a moment Trixie just kept looking at Time Turner, who smiled weakly at her. When she finally spoke, it was rather monotone. “So you just planned on coming to Canterlot, see a show, and then leave with no plans at all.” “I-I like to make things up as I go. It’s more fun that way.” Trixie’s face softened up for a moment, her thoughts drifting back to her earlier question about whether she hated everypony or hated herself. If Time Turner had no plans, then maybe she could try and solve that problem, and she knew exactly the place to go, and it wasn’t Ponyville. That was just the last of a long line of symptoms; she needed to go back to the source, back to where it all started for her. “So then, you wouldn’t mind if I made the suggestion for our next location.” “No, I guess I wouldn’t. Tell me Trixie, where would you like to go?” he replied, his nervous smile turning into one twitching with excitement. She couldn’t help but catch it as well, her own scowl getting a slight little smile to it, but the nervous flittering in her stomach warned her what she was about to ask could possibly be the most daring task she had ever taken on herself. “I want to go to home” ========== Next Time On Magic Wands and Hourglasses *The scene opens on a hill, panning outwards as a giant circus tent and wagons fill the valley below* Time Turner “So you grew up in the circus?” Trixie “For all practical purposes, yes.” *Scene changes to a filly Trixie standing on a stage, horn glowing as she struggles to lift a ball, a middle-aged white stallion in a top hat and tuxedo coat standing in the background* “It’s where I learned my magic.” *Scene changes to filly Trixie playing with several other foals* “It’s where I made my first friends.” *Scene changes to a slightly older Trixie standing on stage, cards spilled all over the ground and rabbits escaping from hats as ponies laugh at her* “It’s where I first felt the stinging bitterness of being mocked.” *The scene rapidly shifts to the face of an angry Trixie stomping off as the incoherent yellings of the older stallion are heard in the distance* “But the most important thing is…” *Scene shifts again to Trixie standing on stage, dressed in a purple-and-star studded cape and hat, and it’s dark. Trixie has a spellbook on the ground and is concentrating hard as her horn glows brilliantly* “That this is the place that I suffered…” *The flashback Trixie gasps in awe as fireworks shoot out of her horn, but her joy quickly turns to horror as she loses control and the fireworks begin to light the stage on fire* “The worst night of my entire life.” ---------- *Scene shows Trixie and Time Turner standing in a trailer filled with magic supplies, the middle-aged stallion from the flashbacks is there but older, a gentle smile on his face as Trixie slowly walks up to him again* Sleight O’Hooves* “My dear Trixie, it is good to see you again.” *Trixie looks up at him, tears forming in her eyes Trixie “I-I’ve missed you…and I’m sorry.” ”Sleight O’Hooves “And I’m sorry too…but you need to leave now.” ---------- *Scene changes to Time Turner peeking through a door as a green glow suddenly flashes, Time Turner’s eyes grow wide in fear* Time Turner “Oh, now that cannot be good!” ---------- *Scene returns to Trixie, Time Turner, and Sleight O’Hooves* Trixie “Bu-but why?” Sleight O’Hooves “Because…” ---------- *Scene changes to the middle of the circus tent, an Earth Pony with a black tophat, golden vest, and red coat stands tall, shouting out at the adoring crowds of ponies as the spotlight falls on him* Big Top “Mares and Gentlecolts, welcome one and all to the greatest show in Equestria! Remember, your happiness is our happiness, so please stomp your hooves together as loudly as you can.” *the scene zooms in on Big Top’s golden eyes as he finishes speaking, which start to turn light blue and become more insect-like as the screen darkens.” Sleight O’Hooves “…This place isn’t your home anymore” Magic Wands and Hourglasses The Greatest Show ========== Midnight In Canterlot As Trixie slept on the bed on the other side of the room, Time Turner pulled out the envelope his companion had handed him earlier in that evening from his saddlebag. His heart felt like it was stopped as he dragged the simple white envelope from its resting place. This was the moment he had dreaded the entire night; facing down Mezza Voce was easy compared to reading this simple note. Well, of course it was kind of an easy comparison to make. After all, he had been knocked out for most of the fight, and he would find some way to make it up to Trixie for his failure. If she wanted to go home, he would make sure she got to no matter what happened to him. Gulping, he flipped over the letter, his eyes glued to it with the focus and intent he only gave towards the most serious crimes against his morality. Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick Tock Goes The Clock I heard that you found yourself a new companion my dear Time Turner, and she’s quite the interesting one too. Oh I bet you’ll both have a lot of fun, but at some point the clock will strike midnight and the fairytale will end. I’ll be sure to meet you then. -CK Crumbling up the note, Time Turner threw it to the ground in anger. Every time it seemed, every time he finally found someone to share his adventures with he had to get involved. Why couldn’t the lunatic just let him be? The past was the past, why hadn’t he learned to get over what had happened and move on? Looking over at the sleeping figure of Trixie, his eyes softened but still filled with frustration, Time Turner was tempted to sneak out and leave her…but he couldn’t do it. He just. Couldn’t. Do it. She needed him; she needed someone who believed in her and her wonderful and brilliant magic. And, while he would probably never admit it, he needed her. If left alone, Time Turner feared that he would become like Clock Keeper, like Violino, or like any of the other ponies he had met that lived lives filled with anger and despair. If this was all to end once and for all, he was going to have to have her by his side, and all he could do was hope that she would forgive him…