1000 Upvotes!!! And Progress report. · 5:14am Jan 6th, 2014
Hi everybody. Is that number right, because I think there's been a serious mistake. Oh, it is right. Well, that was unexpected.
In all seriousness folks I can't thank you guys enough for your support. When I first posted this story I thought I'd get a few views and fade away, but low and behold I managed to do something you all liked. Anyway, thank you all!
Now for the news you want to hear. The Masks We Wear is still being worked on and is most certainly not dead. If I were to give up, I assure you all I would say so. Masks is a personal project of mine that I hope to complete to the best of my abilities which I will admit I haven't been doing because of some bumpy real-life events lately. I don't believe in whining to others, so I'll leave my troubles at that.
Here's hoping I have something to post soon and don't be afraid to drop me a P.M. and tell me to get ass in gear. That sometimes helps. Well, this is Al, signing off.
...Is he gone? Hi guys, it's Ike! I managed to snatch a treat for you while Al wasn't looking. Hope you like it!
There is always something added, never taken away, and I am ignorant of it for as long as I allow it.
2.2
Twilight gently raised her muzzle as a cool breeze drifted through the misty air. As the sun gradually rose in the east, the distant rumble of Canterlot Falls droned in the background of the plaza. She rested her forelegs against the railing that separated the ground from the sheer drop off the side of the mountain. From here, anypony could see the Falls as they tumbled down the craggy mountainside and to the rocks below. She watched as millions of gallons of water poured over the edge, forming false rainbows in the clouds they produced.
This was her favorite part of the city, besides the castle library of course. It was the perfect place to simply relax and enjoy the view Equestria had to offer. She watched as the waterfall flowed from the channel that cut through the heart of the city. Somewhere along the way it turned the turbines that gave Canterlot its power, and without it's enchanted riverbed the water would have eroded the city off the mountain long ago. Her heart swelled with pride at the genius of it.
A beautiful balance of nature and pony ingenuity.
Looking the other way, she could see to the mountains far to the south. In between, there was an immense mosaic of green. The grasslands and forests seem to blend together like a massive puzzle, and the southwestern border was made of a thick deep green, almost black line that was the edge of the Everfree Forest. Even from the top of Canterlot Mountain, she could sense the wildness of the forest, and how it seemed to be a dark mirror of the land around it. Of course on the very line that separated the two she could see small patch work of shapes that contrasted with green.
It looks so small from here.
Her home (it was sometimes funny how easily she could call it that now) was barely noticeable to the land around it. Ponyville was a speckled patch among a sea of green. However, part of her thought that if she were to look hard enough she could see individual buildings. At the very least she could make pretty good guesses. A particularly large lump might have been Town Hall, and the green roof among the tan ones might have been her library. Regardless, it was peaceful to see her new home from her old one. She smiled contently.
I have to bring the girls here sometime.
She gently pushed off of the railing and trotted to her bench. On it sat a paper bag which she unfolded and levitated out a one of Donut Joe's prized donuts. She settled onto the bench, drawing a book from her saddlebags, and munched on the pastry. Flipping to the marked page, she fell into the words before her.
Next to the Royal Library, the Falls Plaza was the best place in Canterlot to enjoy a good book. The far off roar of the Falls was just loud enough to make it a less than ideal place for a conversation, but soft enough to not be overbearing. This made it a perfect location for a little quiet contemplation. If she were to look up, she would have seen several other ponies immersed in their own books and another mediating in the morning light. It was the most peaceful place in the city, except for the distracting music. Wait - music?Twilight looked up from her book curiously. Looking around she couldn't find the source of the sound. It had started as a few lone beats, before being joined by a full brass section. There had to be several musicians, and they had to be close by because the sound managed to cut right through the usually overpowering noise of the Falls. Glancing from side to side, she couldn't find the source anywhere, and from the look of everypony else, she was the only one who seemed to notice it.
The music grew louder, and she sprang up onto all fours on her bench. Her front hooves slipped in her sudden motion, and the entire plaza seem to blur and melt away as she fell forward. As the world fell apart, Twilight did the vertigo inducing act of opening her eyes, unaware that they weren't already open.
She jolted in her bed as the last afterimages of her dream faded away and the ceiling of her bedroom came into focus. Her heart fluttered for a moment as she took a few deep, calming breaths before sitting up. She was about to roll back over and try to go back to sleep when her ears twitched. She could still hear the music."Spike, I thought I told you not to play with the record player without my permission?" she said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. He didn't answer. "Spike?" Twilight got out from under her covers and leaned over the foot of her bed. The little dragon was still dowsing in his basket, completely deaf to the world. Also her record player sat unused in the corner of her room, obviously not playing any music.
Twilight looked up confused and crawled out of her bed. She walked to the balcony and heard the music grow louder. She quirked an eyebrow as she went down the stairs. Halfway to the bottom she heard two voices singing. One she had never heard before, but the other immediately made her feel wide awake.
Oh yeah, how did I forget, but where did he get the music?
Quickly trotting across the foyer, she moved into her kitchen and saw Ike standing at her stove. A pan was simmering on the stovetop, giving off a smell of cooking eggs. Ike was dancing/preparing breakfast, all of it in time with the music. Casting a glance around, she still couldn't see where it was coming from until her eyes finally stopped on a small, rectangular device propped on her counter. Based on the sound, the music seemed to be coming from it.
Some kind of record player?
A cord led from its base to a square panel that had been placed on the windowsill above the sink. The panel was tilted up into the early morning sun, and she could see light reflecting off of it like a mirror. Of course, she couldn't get the best look at it as her dancing, alien houseguest kept stepping in front of it.
His movements were limited to rhythmic bobbing back and forth and an occasional shuffle by the confines of her kitchen. His hands, however, were flying across the cook top. One held a spatula which he beat against a coffee tin, and the other tapped a pepper shaker against the counter. His voice matched the other singer to the point that it provided a smoother harmony to the invisible stallion's (or likely man's) rougher voice. That is until Ike broke away from the lyrics."I've been in the right world, and it seems so right, right, right, right, right!"
Twilight smiled at that.
At least he seems to be feeling better than last night.
The song suddenly came to a break, and Ike let go of his cookware. He made an exaggerated gesture with his right hand, and a flash of blue light left Twilight blinking and stumbling back a few steps. She shook her head clearing her vision of spots. When she turned back to Ike she saw the guitar from the night before cradled in his grasp. He was providing an animated acoustic back up to the electric guitar solo that was now playing. She stared at him, her mouth hanging open in shock.
How did? I thought he said humans didn't have magic?
The guitar solo ended, but Ike continued to twirl around with the guitar in his hands. His eyes were closed, and he remain blissfully unaware of his audience. The song began to fade into silence, and Ike made a final half turn and with a flourish dismissed the guitar in another flash that Twilight managed to shield herself from this time.
Ike stood with his back turned to the stove with his arms held wide like entertainer basking in applause. His face had looked similar until he opened his eyes and saw the unicorn standing across the kitchen.
She gave him a hard look and let out a quiet, "Ahem?", that sounded like a question and an accusation at the same time.
He smiled nervously like a colt caught drawing on his bedroom wall and let out a choked chuckle. "He he. Hey, Twi! H-how do you like your omelet?"
Might be a little tweaked when all is said and written, but you people definitely needed something. Imagine how I feel. This is my story, dammit, and I want to get to the fun parts. Oh well, see ya around. Hopefully soon.
I imagine he's gonna fight other humans or something?
what else would Twilight be dreaming about!? this is gonna be awesome!
I need this. We need this. You're excellent.