//------------------------------// // Majora's Mare // Story: Back To Equestria // by DubleTruble96 //------------------------------// Austin was sitting with Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity at the library over some tea (which Austin refused to drink because he doesn't like tea.) and discussed something that the three mares have been meaning to talk to him about. Twilight was in it for the science, Rarity was in it for the fact that she helped design the objects in question, and Pinkie was the one who started the whole thing. And Austin wasn't sure he wanted any part of it. "So remember that day you mentioned that one game to Pinkie? What was it again? Majaka's Mask?" "Majora's Mask. And yes....why?" "Well, we were hoping you'd help me test a new enchantment." "....firstly, what enchantment? Secondly, what are they enchanting because I am NOT wearing another dress." "No no, don't worry darling! After that last.....incident...." Rarity shuddered as she said that. "I don't think I'll be making you model anymore human dresses." "....That doesn't answer my question, though." "Some masks." Twilight smiled and pulled out a burlap bag and emptied the contents onto the table. The table was now littered with 6 rather familiar looking masks of some very familiar ponies. "......Those are the scariest freaking masks I have ever laid eyes on. The eyes are so huge and.....EMPTY." "Well, we wanted them to be accurate, but at the same time....wearable." "I'm not putting on any of these masks." "Aw, Austin!" Pinkie's ears wilted. "I thought you said you WANTED magical masks like in that game!" "I do, but not....THESE ones...No offense girls, it has nothing to do with you or your faces, but I was expecting things like the Bunny Hood, or the Captain's Hat, not.......erm....you!" "We're not asking you to wear them all day, just to test their capabilities. It's for science!" "......Only for today?" "Unless you change your mind, yes!" ".....Fine...." Austin stood in Pinkie's pocket dimension with the girls watching from a safe distance behind bullet-proof, magic-proof, Austin-proof glass. Simply put, the tests were very simple. Put the mask on and navigate the obstacle course using the mask's powers. Pinkie was even nice enough to theme the courses after the pony who was to complete it. Austin stared into the very rustic course, the smell of freshly baked apple pastries at the end of the course, as a reward for helping test the mask. The orange muzzle of the mask and the huge empty holes where the eyes were supposed to be stared at Austin as he held it up to look at it. He glared at it, then turned it around, and donned the mask. He felt the magic course through him, the magic flowing mostly through the muscles in his legs and arms. He stared through the eyes of the apple farmer and then set off. Twilight timed and graded his performance as he went. He leapt over wooden fences, running through the mud and then using a rope to swing from one platform to another. Once at the end he took the mask off and picked up an apple tart and ate it, signalling the end of the course. "No offense, Applejack, but I don't think I want to wear this mask again! It makes me feel really weird!" "None taken, sugarcube!" Austin sighed and donned the next one, a cyan mask. He suddenly felt a pair of wings materialize onto his back and his bones become lighter. He shuddered at the bizarre feeling and looked at the course ahead of him through the big holes the mask had for eyes. The course was mostly made up of clouds and other weather hazards. "Ten seconds flat....WHY'D I JUST SAY THAT?" "Just relax Austin! Now.....go!" Austin flew off into the course, dodging lightning bolts and other potentially harmful hazards, and then barely avoided a tornado fly-by. He kicked a thunder cloud and it sent lightning everywhere, signalling the end of that course. He made sure to land before removing the mask and shuddered once more as his bones had to regrow to their original density. "I'd like to go on record and say that these masks are really creepy!" "Noted." He stared at the white mask, unsure of what to think of it. The orange and cyan masks already made him act strangely. He really REALLY didn't want to do the remaining 4. But he would never hear the end of it from Twi if he didn't...So he swallowed his pride (and lunch) and slipped on the white mask. He suddenly felt an urge to go find an outfit that better matched his complexion, but he resisted the urge and went to work. It was very magic based, but it was mostly basic spells. He also happened to notice his once gold magic had turned into a bright blue colour. After completing this mostly magic and logic puzzle, Austin waved to the girls and they smiled. "How are you feeling, Austin?" Twilight asked. "Absolutely fabulous darling-.........I swear to Celestia if you record that I said that-" "Don't worry, Austin, I didn't....Now go!" Austin took the mask off and grumbled as he made his way to the next chamber. Twilight smiled as she scribbled down her notes. "No." "Come on, Austin. You said you'd help!" "I'm not doing it." "Pleeeeeaaase?" "No! There's no way I'm putting on this mask!" "Pretty please?" "........" "We'll pay you!" Austin slipped on the pale yellow mask and looked out at the course covered with flowers, bunnies and other critters. He shivered at the feeling of becoming lighter and the wings reappearing, then had to really push himself to resist the slowly growing urge to take care of all the animals in the room. He also did his best to be as loud as possible to further resist the power of the mask. "You okay, Austin? You do realize this is just an experiment, right?" "I'M JUST FINE TWILIGHT!" Twilight and the other girls had to cover their ears from how loud he shouted. Twi just nodded and motioned for him to carry on. This course was the easiest of them all. Fulfill the needs of the assigned animals and see if they will accept him as their 'leader'. The mask was much like the Bremen Mask. Upon doing so, he removed the mask as soon as he could. ".....Ohhhhh my Celestia." "What?" "I've never even SEEN some of these symbols!! How on earth am I supposed to figure this out?!" Austin stood in the middle of the room, staring at the course. The object of the course was simple. Finish the math equation. He stared at the chalkboard covered with mathmatical symbols, numbers, and words. "Just put the mask on and you'll figure it out." "I'm not sure how this mask is supposed to help....I thought I would be getting a magic test or something." Austin slipped on the mask as he continued. "I mean, you are the element of magic. I'm not sure what math as to do with-" He suddenly gasped. "The velocity of the apple multiplied by the length of that rectangle, carry the 335, plus the height of the canterlot castle at it's highest point brings us the answer to this equation as.....6." Twilight smiled. "You're right!" Austin removed the mask and looked the sudden flurry of work he had completed. "Whoa." "Okay that's it, I'm putting my hoof-......foot.....down. I'm not testing this mask." "Austin, come on! It's the last one to test and we need accurate results." "I'm not doing it." "Austinnnnn." "No! No! Look! Bad stuff happens when I mingle with Pinkie Pie's powers. Dresses, cupcakes, pranking...." "It's for science!" "Hyperactivity, dimensional rifts, 4th wall breaking...." "You said you'd help!" "Extremely strange physical properties, girliness, bounciness...." "You wouldn't disappoint your favorite pony, would you?" Austin stopped listing things and looked up at the window and saw Pinkie's hair had deflated. He furrowed his brow and frowned, looking up at her. He sighed heavily. "Fine..." He lifted the mask toward his face and stared at the back of the mask. A strange pink sheen flowed through it. He swallowed hard and put the mask to his face. Suddenly, lightning sprayed out of him and an ominous hyperactive laughter filled the room. The smoke cleared and in his place stood a strange man in a yellow suit with a bald pink earless head and a yellow hat with a feather on it. He grinned. "It's time to P-A-R-T....WHY? Because I GOTTA!" Suddenly he spun into a tornado started to wreck havoc in the course. Dear Princess Celestia, Our findings on the new magical masks was very informative. They told us that Equestria (and humans, for that matter) are not ready for their power. We're requesting the masks stay in the Canterlot Archives in the Forbidden Section. Forever. Austin is still in therapy at the Ponyville Hospital. He's doing quite well, but we still have yet to cure his bizarre hot-sauce-covered cupcake addiction.....We'll write back to you with more information later. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. P.S.: Do not attempt to put on the masks, especially Pinkie's Mask.