//------------------------------// // Day Four: Twilight Sparkle // Story: Nightmare Moon's Mask // by yoshiXII //------------------------------// Get up. New day. What did this all mean? Did the mask actually have a change of heart? I would have some hope, but unfortunately I saw what happened at such circumstances. It made me feel as though the mask was a machine like Wall-E. Something inside itself must have a re-alignment of sorts to make sure the mask carries out its task without emotions getting in the way. But that meant that the mask wasn’t in control. Or was it? I was theorizing that there were two personalities to the mask. One was dead-set on completing the mission, while the other acted as the rational part that actually thought. It’s like the id and the superego, only the irrational side was stronger. That was the side I saw most of the time that was programmed to destroy civilization. The rational part tried to justify its actions, but might be persuaded to give in as shown by the lack of awareness for my resistance at Pinkie’s store. Now I wasn’t sure whether the irrational part completely destroyed the rational part or merely suppressed it last night. I wondered if the rational part had to fight in order to gain control of my dreams. But I knew that it was unsure about these current events and wished to discuss with me. That gave me hope. I could tell that now the mask seemed...human. I can’t believe I said that, but it made sense. You can’t have a functioning spirit without having some balance. So the maker did just that. Even if it is inherently evil, it still has some reasoning behind it. Unfortunately for me though, it seemed as if the rational part was gone. Judging by how the mask commanded me like every other day, it probably meant that I was dealing with a crueler mask. I could only hope that the rational part was still alive and it would come back one day. I walked outside so engulfed in my thoughts that I didn’t pay attention at all to the mask’s process. This time it chose the tiara with a dark pink crystal that looked like a sparkle. I groaned. That meant it was going to go after Twilight, the pony who actually welcomed me despite my appearance. I was teleported under Twilight’s vast library in the middle of town. Ponies milled about, blissfully unaware of my mental torment. My hooves started walking to the library on their own accord. Using my magic, I opened the door and peered inside. Apparently I was too early since I heard the soft snoring coming from upstairs. Oops. Not that it would stop the mask. The library itself was amazing. The copious amounts of books easily surpassed the meager amount back at Hyrule. Reading the titles, I instantly found interesting books to read. “The History of Equestria by Starswirl the Bearded”, “Little Mares”, “The Friendship of the Ring”, and etc. I wanted to sit and read. But unfortunately, I kicked a bell next to the door. It resounded throughout the library. I felt sorry for Twilight and her pet dragon. They wouldn’t even have a good night’s sleep before being battered. “Who is it?” I heard Twilight ask from upstairs. She yawned while coming downstairs. “Hello, Twilight Sparkle.” “Hello,” Twilight said while trying to smile. “You’re up early.” She squinted at me. “Isn’t that a mask of Nightmare Moon?” “I suppose. Element of Magic. Bookish and dorky and unsociable. Yet made friends relatively quickly and since then become amiable. Has an OCD tendency and freaks out too much over trivial matters. Keystone to Elements of Harmony.” “I suppose you just described me,” Twilight stated while yawning again. “Now is there anything I can help you with?” I shut the door. “I never get ponies like you, Twilight. They always try too hard to rise above common folk. There must be thousands just like you. All of these ponies never have any free time and feel obligated to be better. For what? Satisfaction is never obtained. Pretty soon, your entire life is just spent working. You’re friends are ignored and stallions are shunned to make way for your dogma.” “I thought Pinkie Pie was the last nutcase of this town,” Twilight muttered. I laughed harshly, like the cawing of a crow. “Me? I’m the reason ponies are better. I’m the reason society exists. You? You live in your own delusional world so much that everything else is a distraction. All of your so called ‘friends’ are worried about you, yet you can’t be bothered. You-” “-I’m sorry, sir, but you have to leave. I’m not going to let you go into my home and insult me. So open that door and move it.” Twilight glared at me. My horn flared and the room went dark. I heard Twilight moan and a few seconds later I saw her horn flow. After glowing for a moment, it was clear that Twilight wasn’t going to be able to relight the room. “What’s your problem?” she asked menacingly. “Celestia’s own protégé. Did you know that Celestia has had thousands upon thousands in her lifetime? To her, you’re nothing. Just another pony who’s bound to fail. Your life is nothing to be proud of.” The silence that ensued only confirmed that Twilight was actually considering this. I couldn’t believe that she would take faith in a complete stranger. “I know I can be insane in my studies,” she admitted. “But it’s all for the better. I’m trying to better my life by learning more every day while other ponies simply sit around, waiting for a shooting star.” “Twilight, you help so much around your community, yet the ponies never appreciate you. While they succumb to the inevitable, you remain tenacious and boldly step forward. But, do you honestly feel as though ponies praise you for your work, or are they secretly jealous of you?” Twilight tapped her chin. “Hmm, I’ve never thought about that.” “That’s right, Twilight, you don’t notice anything around you. Everything is just another test to you and that’s the only thing to keep you going.” “Well, what would you suggest to stop that then?” Twilight asked while rolling her eyes. “Twilight, I think you should live a little. Go outside and have fun all day instead of being close-minded.” Twilight nodded her assent as the grayness took over her body. She shook her head and went outside absent-mindedly. I regained my control and looked after her. She was so nice too. I couldn’t believe someone as smart as her could be corrupted so easily. Not that I could complain. The rational part of the mask was nowhere to be seen. I walked back to my cottage and lay there, trying to realize what this implicated. If the irrational part is the only present side, then would this world be in a worse state? Would the mask cause more widespread destruction? Would I be able to stop it? “Mommy?” A small colt sat up in his bed. His toy elephant started floating in the air before him with a wide grin. What would have been a serene night was interrupted as more toys started floating with the same smile and the colt’s more urgent cries. He finally got up and ran out the door, passing right through me. I followed him to another room in the building and saw his parents sleeping peacefully. He tried to wake them up by shaking them, but they remained asleep. He looked to the hallway to see the toys waiting for him there. He dived out of the window placed conveniently to the side of the parents’ bed. I climbed out of the window with him as he ran towards the center of town. Along with him were other young ponies that were presumably running from the toys as well. They all gathered in the center, just outside of the library. There was about thirty of them panting there. They looked around in terror as they saw the toys float slowly toward them. A random filly started bawling and ran away to the toys. When she reached their line, she dissipated. The remaining ponies looked terrified. They huddled even closer while waiting for the toys. The line was only twenty feet away now. Appearing at the front was the mask. It watched expressionless at the harmless ponies. Then, I could feel it staring straight at me. In the distance the clock chimed. Twelve.