Cadence let out a deep yawn, traffic was really slow today at the Cloudsdale Coffee Hut she worked, it may as well have been a deserted island, and worst of all, her shift had just started. Standing behind the counter was so boring, not to mention crampt, due to the back wall, which contained all the tools of her trade, was less than three feet away, and boasted an unnecessarily wide counter that made turning as much as skill as it was inconvenient. The lack of any other employ was also a negative, the manager was usually the only other Pony there, and she mostly stayed in her office, filing papers, working out pay roll, and all around trying to keep the business from sinking. The decorum was nothing to write home about either, white and gray walls, no bright colors of any kind to create a warm atmosphere, cold, metallic, tables and chairs littered the room, and perhaps the biggest turn off of all was the hideous, thick, black curtains that shut out the Sun's radiant beauty. All in all, Cadence hated this place, even the ten bits an hour didn't really offer much in terms of an incentive to stay, and frankly she was ready to just up and leave; that was when she walked in.
Entering the coffee shop was a Pegasi, unlike any Cadence has seen before, standing at three feet small, the mare was definitely the shortest, mature, Pony, Cadence has ever seen, but there was no mistaking her age. In spite of her height, the mare commanded a certain aura of respect, and beauty, emphasized by her gorgeous, flowing, blond mane and tail, as well as her aquamarine coat, and shimmering silver eyes. However, as captivating as the mare was, in terms of natural beauty, it was her attire that took center stage, for unlike most Ponies, this young lady was completely covered from head to hoof. The mare's wardrobe was most unorthodox, yet still pleasing, she wore a tweed, magenta, gown that perfectly hugged the contours of her fore legs, neck, waist and hips, draped over that was a satin, pink, hooded cloak, though she kept the hood down so as not to obstruct her final piece, for wrapped around her mouth was a light purple, silk, scarf that road over her shoulder's and chest in an elegant manner. Lastly, if her wardrobe and natural beauty wasn't enough to catch the eye, then the three hourglasses, of various sizes, she carried, would; one was small enough to be worn around her neck on a gold chain, the second she had secured to her waist by a thin, but strong, piece of string, and the last was almost as tall as her, but she carried it on her back as if it were made of tissue.
Enraptured by the mare's unique attire, Cadence failed to register the mare placing an order, and for two awkward minutes they just stared at each other blankly.
"Hey, lady!? Lady!? You taking my order or not?" the mare impatiently asked, as she placed her giant hourglass against the counter.
"Huh, what?" Cadence retorted with a quick double take. "Oh, right. Hehehe, sorry about that, your attire is just so...breath taking."
"Isn't it though?" the mare happily exclaimed, as she performed a curtsy, and quick spin. "I don't know why more Ponies don't dress up. Clothes can be a wonderful way to express one's self, not to mention adding more color, and beauty to the world. For instance, you undoubtedly would look marvelous in a sky blue gown to draw out the shimmer of your violet eyes, the softness of your purple, pink, and yellow mane and tail, and of course, the gorgeous texture of your pink coat."
"Wow, you really mean all that?" Cadence retorted, blushing profusely after hearing such a nice compliment from a stranger.
"Every word," the mare replied, smiling under her scarf.
"That is most kind of you, Ms...?" Cadence asked, as she extended her hoof across the counter.
"Time Fly, and please, don't call me Ms., I'm not old enough to be a Ms.," Time Fly said, lowering her scarf, and shaking Cadence's hoof. "An what is your name?"
"Mi Amore Cadenza, but it is such a mouthful. So, please, just call me Cadence," Cadence said, reciprocating a smile, as they withdrew their hoof respectively.
"Mi Amore Cadenza? What a regal name, you shouldn't be embarrassed by it," Time Fly said, bowing her head with a smiling grin.
"Again, you are too kind," Cadence said, her face all a flustered. "Now, I'm sure you didn't come here to shoot the breeze, though I appreciate you did, but in any event, what can I get for you?"
"Ah, yes," Time Fly said, as she remembered why she set foot into this dingy shop. "I would like a hot, tall, mocha espresso with whip cream, please."
"Coming right up," Cadence said, as she shimmied about to try and access the espresso maker, and ingredients behind her.
Whilst Cadence battled the cramp space to prepare the desired espresso, Time Fly, regretfully, would not get to enjoy it, for just as the espresso percolated, the small hourglass around her neck shimmered a pale crimson. Grinting her teeth, and swearing under breath, Time Fly pulled up her scarf to cover her mouth once more, and with one final glance at Cadence, she dashed out the door. Completely focused on brewing the caffeinated beverage, Cadence had no idea Time Fly had flown the coupe, until she turned around to present the hot drink to a long gone customer. Letting out a sigh, Cadence placed the espresso upon the counter, for a breif moment she stared off into space, the small plum of steam, coming from the espresso, catching her eyes momentarily, and as the vapors slowly faded, so too did her spirit. Exhaling sharply, Cadence's eyes immediately harden, her brow lowered heavily, her teeth beared ferociously, and with one decisive kick, Cadence shook the counter enough to tip the espresso over, as well as seriously bruise her right fore leg.
Cadence kicked the counter several times, a few tears ran down her face, and eventually she just buried her face in her fore hooves, sobbing away her anger.
"Now, now, crying doesn't help any," an old man's voice spoke.
"Who said that?" Cadence retorted, as she rapidly looked around for the voice's owner.
"Down here, young lady! In front of the counter," the old man's voice replied.
Heeding the voice's words, Cadence loomed over the counter, but it wasn't a Pony she saw, but instead Time Fly's huge hourglass.
"What the?" Cadence exclaimed with a perplexed expression, as she reached over to lift the ornate, and surprisingly heavy, time apparatus. "Wow, you are heavy for some glass, wood, and some sand."
"Humph, I'll have you know I weigh no more than seven kilos," the hourglass retorted, rather offended.
"Oh, so you were the one talking. Sorry for calling you heavy," Cadence replied politely, and sincerely.
"I have to say, you are taking this quite well, and very polite too," the hourglass said, genuinely elated with Cadence's attitude.
"Well the Princess of Equestria raises the Sun and Moon, so why can't an hourglass talk?" Cadence retorted with a snicker.
"You would be surprised how many Ponies fail to make such a correlation," the hourglass spoke cheerfully. "I like you, Ms. Mi Amore Cadenza."
"Oh please, call me Cadence, Mr...Mr...? Um, do you have a name per chance?" Cadence asked bashfully.
"I have many names, in thousands of languages; Chrono Key, Infinity Matrix, Map of Eternity, these are but a few of my names. However, as you prefer to be called Cadence, I too have a favored form of identification," the hourglass said, his serious tone drawing Cadence in, her curiosity ablaze, thirsting to know what regal title the hourglass held above all others. "Hence forth, address me as...Hourglass Gezzer."
"Seriously?" Cadence asked, a blank expression brandishing her face. "No offense, but that name is really lame."
"Dear child, being fancy or creative are luxuries for the youthful. Old farts like me prefer to be blunt, and to the point; we're too old not to be," Hourglass Geezer retorted with a chuckle. "Anyway, it seems to me you have a problem, and if there is one thing old fossils are good at, it is solving problems. So, what has you so flustered?"
Cadence paused for a second, was it wise to just open herself again? Could this geezer really help her? Or was this all some elaborate rouse at her expense? She did not know what to think, but at the same time, she felt as if this was meant to be, and for good or ill, she couldn't just walk away. For the first time ever, something exciting has happened, Time Fly with her unusual attire, and now a talking hourglass; it was more than Cadence ever hoped for. Destiny, at long last, has thrown her a curve ball, and there was no way Cadence was backing down, it was now or never.
"I'm sure to one as you it might seem trivial, but...well...Ah, your owner, Time Fly, was so interesting, and sincere," Cadence explained, Hourglass Geezer attentively listening like a proper gentlecolt. "Her words were so up lifting, and a vast improvement to what I'm usually around. An yet, she just left as soon as I turn my back, without so much as a goodbye, or a peep. I know it may seem petty, but that really hurt, after she had said all those nice things to me....Oh, I must sound silly to you now."
"Hardly, what you feel is normal, and fortunately, easy to remedy. Just find Time Fly, and tell her what you just told me," Hourglass Geezer replied warmly. "Come on, I can guide you straight to her."
"You mean like right now?" Cadence asked with a nervous expression, as she thought of what her manager would say. "I can't, I have a six hour shift today, and the boss will sack me if I just left."
"You can lie to yourself all you want, but deep down you hate this place. I'm offering you what no mere job can, that which you hunger for...A real life," Hourglass Geezer said, as he began to levitate towards the door.
Cadence could not deny the Geezer's words, and without any hesitation, she leaped over the counter, and edited the coffee hut for the last time. Taking to the sky, both Cadence and Hourglass Geezer flew out of Cloudsdale, and down to the ground below. Landing in a small clearing, just a mile or two from Cloudsdale, Hourglass Geezer lead the way into a thicket of oaks, and pines. It was a little late in the afternoon, yet not a single animal was seen or heard, the woods were ominously silent, and a weird sense of vertigo came and went the deeper they went in. For a split second, Cadence felt that she may have made a wring choice, but as if to validate her decision, Time Fly's voice came screaming from up ahead, followed by a child's wailing.
"No, please, don't cry, I didn't mean to yell at you," Time Fly said to a crying Earth Pony filly.
"I want my mommy! I want to go home!" the filly screamed, her eyes running over with tears.
"An you will, I promise, just as soon as I find...The Geezer!" Time Fly shouted, as she finally spotted her hourglass, and flew right over with the filly in tow. "Where have you been!? Some of us have to work you know, and this little filly has been wanting to go home for almost half an hour."
"If I recall, you left me behind, so don't piss in my ear, and say it is raining! You damn brat," Hourglass Geezer snapped back.
"That is quite enough, from both of you!" Cadence bellowed, as she walked past both Hourglass Geezer and Time Fly, before stopping in front of the filly. "Hello little one, and what is your name?"
"Briar Rose," the filly replied with a stutter, through teary eyes, and stuffy nose. "Please, I just want my mommy."
"Briar Rose? What a pretty name," Cadence said, as she kneeled down, and embraced the filly in her wings. "It's okay, we'll get you home, and that is a promise."
"Indeed, and one I can now fulfil," Time Fly said, Hourglass Geezee held tight in her grip. "But first, what year do you think it is, little girl?"
"Huh? 1842, right?" Briar Rose replied, confused by the question.
"One hundred, seventy two years ago? Wow, you really got flinged, " Time Fly said, as she set a dial on top of Hourglass Geezer to eighteen, and then flipped him like a coin, fory-two times. "Okay, now, what is the month, and day?"
"August fifteenth, please I just want to go home now. You promised, didn't you?" Briar Rose retorted, getting ready to cry again.
"Come on Time Fly, I think you've messed with the girl enough. Let's get her home," Cadence said, perplexed, and a tad irritated by Time Fly's apparent nonsense.
"Trust me, I never break a promise," Time Fly replied with a wink, as she flipped the hourglass, she had around her waist, eight times, and then flipped the one around her neck, fifteen times. "Alright, preparations complete, and coordinates locked in. Are you ready, Geezer?"
"Ah, just get on with it," Hourglass Geezer groaned.
"Humph, you have no soul," Time Fly said with a scowl, as she lay her left hoof atop Hourglass Geezer. "Access...Möbius Gate!"
