“And you are sure that this will work?” Octavia looked down at the hole in the ground. Vinyl was lying next to it, recovering after the strain of lifting the huge boulder that had sealed it off.
“Not in the least! But don’t you just love surprises?” Pinkie bounced towards the hole and looked down, then turned to Octavia with a slightly more serious look. “Either way, this is probably your best bet. Come on now, can’t let her wait.” She jumped down the hole, disappearing from sight.
Octavia looked at Vinyl and raised an eyebrow. The unicorn just shrugged in response.
~~~~~
The cellist looked down at her reflection on the water’s surface, slightly hesitant. She wasn’t even sure if anything would actually happen, but that didn’t stop the sinking feeling in her stomach.
“Now, Octavia, do you still remember the rhyme?” Pinkie had turned her back to her, urging Vinyl to do the same.
“Certainly.” Octavia nodded. She closed her eyes and took a hesitant step forward into the water. “And into her own reflection she stared, yearning for one whose reflection she shared, and solemnly sweared not to be scared at the prospect of being doubly mared!”
As she had spoken this, she had walked further into the water. Strangely enough, she wasn’t just dropping into the pond but instead seemed to circle around the ledge she had been standing on, ending on dry ground again and not feeling soaked in the slightest.
She opened her eyes to see a second Octavia staring right back at her.
Octy blinked. “You… brought me back? But how…?”
“It worked, it worked, oh goody, it worked!” Pinkie Pie bounded over to them and somehow managed to hug both Octavias at once.
Vinyl trotted over a little slower, but grinning just as enthusiastically. “It’s really you, Octy? That’s awesome! I knew this whole Mirror Pond thing would work, Pinkie Pie hasn’t steered me wrong yet!”
Octy glanced over to Pinkie Pie and pulled away. “I see. Thank you very much, I thought that I would be gone for good.”
Vinyl grinned at Octy some more, then cocked her head. “So… What now? I mean, having two Tavis around would be undeniably awesome, but it would probably be hard to explain.”
“Indeed.” Octy nodded. “That’s why I have decided to travel around the country for a while.”
“A reasonable decision. But do come by to visit us from time to time.” Tavi gave her a warm smile, then frowned. “We still need a proper name and a story for you, though. Not to sound arrogant, but ponies know me.”
“Indeed. We will have to come up with– Is there something funny, Vinyl?” Both mares turned to the unicorn who was trying and failing to stifle her laughter.
“It… It’s just…” Vinyl took a deep breath, then breaking into giggles before she finally managed to compose herself, more or less. “We already have a name and cover story, you silly fillies.”
Pinkie Pie tilted her head, watching the exchange curiously from the background. Both Octavias glanced at each other before turning back to Vinyl giving her an expectant look.
After a short moment, Tavi’s eyes widened. “Oh no… Vinyl, you can’t seriously be talking about what I think you are seriously talking about…”
~~~~~
The chestnut brown stallion trotted through the small door that lead behind the stage of Dodge Junction’s bar/theater. A grey earth pony mare was just putting her violin back in its case. The mare looked up at the visitor, giving a composed smile. “Can I help you?”
“Indeed. You are String Melody, yes?” The stallion had a light Trottingham accent.
Octavia eyed his dark brown mane, the hourglass cutie mark and the horn poking out of his forehead. “That is my stage name. You can just call me Melodia, or Melody if you want. Say, you look a lot like a stallion I have met once. Are you by any chance related to a Time Turner from Ponyville?”
“Ah yes, Melodia…” The stallion smirked, not replying to her question. “I’ve heard some rumors that you are actually the time-traveling granddaughter of Octavia Philharmonica.”
Octavia laughed. “Oh, those old rumors. If you ask the townsfolk, they will probably tell you that I have several stories going around as to who I am. I am rather fond of that particular one, and apparently so are the townsponies. However, I can honestly say that I am not a time-traveler.”
“Oh, I see.” The stallion didn’t seem very disappointed by this news. “Well, it’s never too late to do something new, wouldn’t you agree.”
Octavia tilted her head, giving him a curious look. “Are you implying that…?”
The stallion nodded, grinning. “Indeed, Miss Melodia.” He held out his hoof for her to shake. “My name is Dr. Timothy Hooves, and I am Time Turners grandson.”