//------------------------------//
// Of Mares and Mosquito Men 
// Story: The Masks We Wear 
// by the7Saviors 
//------------------------------//

A unicorn.

An honest-to-god, tiny, purple, talking unicorn.

And it's freaking adorable.

"H-hello?" the unicorn called out nervously. She walked in slowly, taking in her surroundings. It looked like she couldn't decide between fear and awe at what she was seeing.

"Ah, Miss Sparkle I presume?" Reedus asked, every bit the cordial and professional bartender.

Where the hell was all that when I first showed up?

The unicorn - Sparkle - looked back to Reedus with a suspicious eye, "How do you know who I am?" she trotted closer to the bar and her look changed to one of curiousity, "and I don't mean to be rude, but who - and what are you?"

Reedus chuckled, "Well you see Ms. Sparkle-"

"He's a human," I interrupted, deciding to make myself known.

The unicorn yelped and looked over to where I was standing near the bar.

"Heya," I said with a friendly smile and a wave.

"Um..." she blinked and took an uneasy step back.

Apparently I wasn't doing a good job of coming off as friendly. "Hey," I said in what I hoped was a calming tone, "if it helps I have no idea what's going on either."

She did seem to loosen up a little at hearing that, "Right, um..." she cleared her throat and looked back up at me with a polite smile, "my name is Twilight Sparkle," she raised a hoof as if to shake my hand, "what's your name?"

I raised an eyebrow at the gesture but shook her hoof all the same.

"Terrence. Terrence Thurston. People call me Terry, whether I want them to or not," I said with a grin.

"What do you prefer?" she asked curiously.

"Terry is fine," I said with a dismissive wave of my hand, "I take it your good with just Twilight?"

She nodded with a small smile. She seemed to be a bit more relaxed now that introductions were made. 

"So you said that pony was a 'human'?" she asked.

"Person," I corrected, "that person over there is a human, yeah. Same as me. And I take it you're a pony then?"

"Yes that's right," she affirmed, "you also said you didn't know what was happening," she furrowed her brow in thought, "did you happen to come here through-"

"A glowing blue door that popped up out of nowhere?" I finished.

She blinked in surprise and nodded.

"Yup, replaced my bedroom door, so I couldn't really go anywhere other than here. You?"

"The entrance - or exit in my case - to my tower," she replied with a grimace, "I wanted to ask the Princess about something I was researching, but there was a blue glow surrounding the exit. I thought somepony was trying to keep me trapped in my tower with some kind of new magic I had never seen before, but when I went to probe it with my own magic, nothing happened."

I nodded, filing my ever growing list of questions away for the moment, "So you decided to try actually opening the door, and here you are."

Princesses and towers, huh? I thought with some amusement and a growing hunch, if I add in the apparently magical unicorn and the 'Ye Olde' Tavern, all of this starts to paint a very interesting picture.

Twilight nodded slowly seemingly lost in thought, then she looked at me with what I think was... growing excitement?

"Um..." I started, a bit weirded out by her sudden intense gaze, "what's up?"

"I think with everything that's happened, it's only now starting to occur to me but," she took an eager step towards me and I swore I could see literal stars in her eyes, "there's no known documentation of your species anywhere in Equestria - not that I know of anyway," she took another step forward, I took a wary step back, "If you don't mind, I have several questions I'd like to ask you. Is that okay?"

"I, uh... Equestria?" I sputtered, caught off guard by the sudden scholarly zeal.

"No wait, hang on," she continued. Before I could say anything, there was a weird humming noise and her horn started to glow.

I blinked, Well, there's the magic I guess.

After a moment of nothing happening, she cut off the glow with a worried expression, "I can't access my notes," she looked at me with growing panic, "my magic's not working!"

Oh boy, I thought with growing concern, she's one of those types of people.

"Hey, hey chill," I said raising my hands in a calming gesture, "I've seen, read, and played through a lot of scenarios like this one, so trust me when I say that whatever's happening with your magic is probably temporary."

She looked at me strangely for a second before shaking her head, "You can't know that for sure," she started pacing back and forth, "for all we know we could be trapped here in... wherever this place is indefinitely. Spike's not here so I can't send a letter to the Princess-" she stopped and gasped, her eyes widening "-the Princess! Oh no. Nononono, what will she think? What is she gonna do? What am I gonna do!?" she started hyperventilating.

Oh god, she's losing it.

She was a complete mess by this point. Her mane was ruined, her eyes were wide and bloodshot, and she was - almost violently - twitchy.

I was honestly kind of scared for her.

Before I could say anything to comfort the distraught mare, there was a loud clearing of a throat.   

Twilight and I glanced back over at Reedus, who looked a bit put off at being interrupted and ignored. When he saw the both of us looking in his direction he quickly switched his expression back to a cordial and somewhat sympathetic one, "Ms. Sparkle, Mr. Thurston, if you would head through the door in the back, I'm sure the Tavernmaster would be happy to answer any questions you may have-" he gave a significant look to Twilight "-as well as put your obvious fears to rest."

I breathed a small sigh of relief, grateful for the easy out, "see, there ya go," I said with an encouraging smile to Twilight, "all we gotta do is talk to the man in charge and he'll sort it out," my smile turned sheepish, "I actually kinda forgot about him when you showed up."

I looked back over to Reedus, my sheepish smile turning apologetic, "and sorry for stealing your thunder there, Reeds."

Reedus furrowed his brow at the nickname, "Not a problem, Mr. Thurston," he replied flatly. His tone clearly indicated it was a problem.

I turned back to Twilight, "So" - I clapped my hands together - "You ready to go see the bossman?"

Twilight took a few moments to get herself back under control, taking some calming breaths while holding a hoof to her chest. After a minute she looked at me and nodded, "Let's go," she replied with a resolute smile.

We walked behind the bar and headed to the back door. I turned the knob, opened the door, and held it open for Twilight.

"After you," I said gesturing towards the doorway.

She gave me a nervous but thankful smile and cautiously stepped through.

I straightened up and was about to follow her inside when she let out a cry of surprise and quickly backpedaled out of the room.

"Whoa!" I cried, stepping out of the way. She ran behind me, peeking out from behind to stare at whatever was behind the door in fear.

I looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. What the hell did she see in there? I thought with a bit of apprehension. Without a word, I walked into the room; Twilight following close behind.

"Hello - GAH!" I yelped taking a startled step back.

Sitting at a desk across the room from us was a man I would hesitate to call human. He had some very... mosquito-like features. I could tell, even with him sitting down, that he was tall and way too thin, much like Reedus actually. Really, everything about him screamed 'spindly'. Arms, legs, hands... everything. He also seemed to have a hunchback as well. Oh, he was dressed nice sure; black suit, red tie, and white gloves. The thing that probably freaked Twilight out and made me jump though, was his face.

It was somewhat rounded and he was balding with white hair in the back. Those were about the only human qualities his face had. His ears were pointed, he had big, buggy, bloodshot eyes that sat below some crazy eyebrows, and a too-wide mouth that was currently fixed with an amused grin aimed at the both of us.

Oh, and he had a long nose. Like, really long. Inhumanly long.

Dude had nose for days.

For a long minute, none of us said a word and the mosquito looking man behind the desk just sat there grinning. 

He finally chuckled that sinister chuckle I'd heard earlier, "please, there is no need to be afraid," he leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the desk - fingers steepled, "I'd like to properly welcome you both to the Velvet Room." He raised a hand towards two chairs in front of desk, "come now, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

Twilight looked up at me nervously, an unspoken question in her eyes. I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Hey, you wanted answers-" I nodded my head towards the chairs "-he's willing to talk."

She looked back towards the chairs and the patiently waiting man behind the desk. After a brief moment of indecision she let out a sigh of resignation, "I guess you're right," she looked back at me with a bit more confidence, "let's find out what all this is about."

I nodded and we both walked over and sat down - Twilight a bit more awkwardly due to her shape.

"Excellent," the man said with a smile, "now then-" he clasped his hands together dramatically "-my name is Igor-" he rested his hands on the desk "-and as I said before, this is the Velvet Room. A place that exists between dreams and reality, a place that resides between mind and matter."

Twilight raised her hoof like she was a student trying to ask the teacher a question.

This isn't a classroom, I thought with some amusement.

Igor nevertheless nodded his head towards Twilight, prompting her to ask her question.

"Why did those doorways appear and how were they able to bring us here? I tried using a magical scan and it came back with nothing. Something about this place seems to block my magic," she frowned, "it's like I can activate it, and it feels like something is happening for a moment... but then my magic just stops before the spell can take hold."

Igor chuckled again, "your concern is understandable, but there is nothing to fear. The magic you wield is tied to your world and cannot reach this realm. Once you return, you will be able to access your magic once again."

Twilight visibly relaxed and breathed a small sigh of relief.

I poked her in the side getting her attention, "told you," I said with a smirk.

She was about to retort when Igor spoke again, "to answer your questions regarding the doorways, they are simply a means by which this realm can be reached and are normally only visible to those who have entered a contract."

"Contract?" Twilight asked in confusion, "I don't remember signing any contracts." She looked over at me questioningly.

"Don't look at me," I said raising my hands, "I didn't sign any con... tracts..." my response grounded to a halt.

Wait a minute, I furrowed my brow in thought.

"I'm gonna need you to sign these termination forms and turn in your VisuaFone ID badge and headset."

Out of all the call centers I've worked at, not a single one asked me to sign any kind of termination form. And being the idiot I am...

My eyes slowly widened in realization.

I never once looked anywhere on the papers but at where I was supposed to sign.

"...Oh, shit."

"Terry?" Twilight asked, concern in her voice, "are you okay?"

I turned to Igor with a sheepish grin, "So, as it turns out, I may have actually signed a contract when I got fired from my job."

Twilight gave me a flat look, "...seriously?"

I held up my hands defensively, "hey it's not like I knew I was going to be whisked away to another dimension, and I had no reason to suspect my manager was some kind of devil offering me a deal! Besides I don't know for sure if that is what caused me to be here. I didn't read the forms I signed."

Twilight groaned and put a hoof to her face, "I don't know what a devil is, but I'm willing to bet your lack of attention to detail is exactly what they were counting on," she looked back to me, "seriously, why would you not read any kind of form that requires a signature before signing it? Who does that?"

"I do, obviously," I snarked back.

She gave an exasperated sigh and shook her head. "That still doesn't explain why I'm here, though," she said turning back to Igor, "I didn't sign any contracts."

Igor raised a massive eyebrow at Twilight, "are you sure about that?"

Twilight opened her mouth - probably to confirm that yes, she didn't sign anything - but Igor continued speaking, "as I understand, you were the one that was supposed to arrive here in the Velvet Room first."

"WHAT?" Twilight cried incredulously.

"Oh yeah," I said absently, "Reedus did mention something about that..."

"B-but that's impossible!" she stuttered, "I-I haven't signed anything!"

"Twilight!" I yelled, trying to get her attention, "stop freaking out and think! Think back to what you were doing yesterday."

If my hunch is correct, she probably signed some kind of contract around the same time I did.

Twilight made another effort to get her breathing under control, once again using the same technique as before. Once she finally calmed down enough to think properly, she closed her eyes and hummed to herself in thought.

"I had planned to do some last minute studying on the various magical artifacts of Equestria before the Summer Sun Celebration the next day," she hopped out of her chair and started pacing again, "I'd finally gotten permission from Princess Celestia to check out some books from the Royal Archi-"

She stopped pacing and stared straight ahead, eyes widened in shocked realization - mirroring how I looked just moments ago.

Yep, there it is.

"And how would one check out a book from these Royal Archives, Twilight?" I asked with a grin.

"We use check-out forms given by Royal Archivists that we have to sign... in triplicate," she said in a hollow voice.

"And - being the diligent scholar I'm assuming you are - I'm sure you read through all the forms they gave you... right?" I asked, my grin growing more smug by the second. 

Twilight looked away and mumbled something under her breath.

"I'm sorry, what was that, Twilight?" I asked in a mocking tone.

She let out a frustrated groan, "I might've gotten a little too excited about finally being able to check things out from the Archives and because of that I... might've... signed without looking at the forms..."

I laughed a little, leaning down to give a her a reassuring pat on the shoulder... area.

"It's alright, Twilight," I said with another encouraging smile, "we all make that mistake at one point or another."

She just huffed and hopped back in her chair to face Igor, "so apparently I also might've signed a contract," she said sourly.

Igor nodded, "indeed. Now-" he turned to me "-it seems the both of you have quite a journey ahead yourselves."

Twilight and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows, "A journey?" Twilight said, looking back to Igor skeptically.

Igor nodded again, "a grand adventure, if you will." He leaned back in his chair, legs folded and arms on the chair's armrest, "For the threads of fate to pull not one, but two contracted individuals into the Velvet Room at once is quite unheard of - and across two different dimensions no less," he looked around the room contemplatively, like he was taking in his surroundings,  "perhaps this explains the form the Velvet Room has taken," he concluded after a minute.

"Form?" Twilight inquired curiously, then her eyebrows raised, "wait, the Velvet Room can change it's form?"

Igor nodded, "Indeed, Ms. Sparkle, the Velvet Room shapes itself in accordance with the heart of the one who enters, although..."

"Since there's two of us, it became a tavern instead because... why?" I asked, legitimately curious, "I mean, I don't drink. I've never even been to a bar." I looked over to Twilight.

"I don't drink either," she confirmed, "not many ponies do. I mean, there's a few bars and taverns in Canterlot, but most patrons are from other nations outside of Equestria."

I looked back to Igor and crossed my arms, "There you go," I said with finality, "neither of us drink."

"Ah, but keep this in mind," he responded, raising a finger, "taverns are much more than their mead," he leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk, "they provide rest for the weary, information for the careful listener, and most importantly-" he waived an arm towards the both of us in a grand gesture "-a chance for new meetings."

I rolled my eyes at that while Twilight just looked contemplative.

"I... guess that makes sense," she said carefully.

"Yeah, I can see that," I agreed, then leaned forward in my chair and gave Igor a serious look, "but at the end of the day the biggest question I'm left with is.. why are we here? You told us we were supposed to go on this 'grand adventure', but why?"

Twilight didn't seem to have anything to add and just waited for Igor's response along with me.

Igor closed his eyes and lowered his head thoughtfully for a second before opening them and looking at Twilight, "Ms. Sparkle, it seems your journey has already been set in motion, by one who is dear to you."

Twilight leaned forward, planting her forehooves on the desk, "Really? Who was it? What does this journey entail? When-"

Igor raised a hand, interrupting Twilight's interrogation, "I am not able to speak of specifics regarding your destiny, I can only be a guide and a provider of certain... services."

I raised an intrigued eyebrow, "what kind of services?"

He waved a hand at me dismissively, "All will be explained in due time. Now then, Ms. Sparkle-" he turned back to Twilight "-if I may continue?"

Twilight sat back in her seat, slightly abashed, "Right, sorry."

Igor nodded and began speaking again, "the beginning of your journey will not be an easy one.  You will face a great darkness in the near future, but you will not do so alone. With newfound allies by your side, you must find a way to unlock a great power," his expression grew grim, "or your world will be swallowed by that darkness for an eternity."

Yeesh, no pressure, I thought with a frown.

Twilight just gulped nervously and nodded.

"Keep in mind however," Igor continued, "that the ultimate goal is not the defeat of this great darkness, but rather the acquisition of something very important - something you've neglected to obtain in years past."

I could see Twilight visibly struggling not to ask the obvious question.

From the look on her face, it seemed to be a very tough struggle.

I should probably change the topic.

"So..." I began, standing up and popping some joints, "what's my role in all of this?" I stretched a bit and sat back down with a sigh, "I mean, I wasn't even supposed to be here apparently and yet, here I am."

Igor turned to face me with a dark chuckle that - quite frankly - made me regret asking, "make no mistake, Mr. Thurston, If you signed a contract, you're supposed to be here."

Wait a minute... oh, dammit.

I gave Igor a flat look, "I'm gonna have to help Twilight fight this darkness somehow aren't I?"

"In a manner of speaking," he responded, "you will accompany Ms. Sparkle on her journey in order to face a different kind of threat," he chuckled again, "this is actually where things get a little interesting."

I blinked in surprise, "O... kaaay. Interesting, how?"

"Make no mistake, Mr. Thurston, you will have your own trials and tribulations to undertake. The path ahead will not be without its dangers, but at the end of the road - should you choose to walk it..."

His gaze turned intense and for a moment, I could feel his giant, buggy eyes boring into me.

I shivered.

"...You may either become a great hero or a villain the likes of which we have never seen."

"..."

...What?

"I, um... wow... I... honestly don't know what to say to that other than, okay? I guess?" I said, very unsure.

I looked over to Twilight for help, but she just shrugged helplessly, a look of unease etched across her face.

I turned back to Igor with my own helpless shrug, "I guess I'll just have to do my best not to go down the villain route then."

"Only time will tell, Mr. Thurston. Now then..." Igor stood up. Twilight and I took that as our cue to get up as well.

"As I've stated previously" - he clasped his hands behind his back - "I provide a certain service to contracted individuals. It is not yet time for you two to know what that service is, but you will return here again in the future. Once you've gained the strength to face your inner demons - and you will need this strength - we will find you.

We remained quiet for a time, mulling over everything that was said, when Twilight suddenly spoke up.

"What about the contracts?" she asked, "what about the ponies - er-" she looked at me for confirmation "-persons?"

"People," I corrected.

"People," she nodded and looked back to Igor, "what about the people who gave us the contracts?"

"You may or may not see them again," Igor replied, "that is not up to me to say. As for the contracts," he chuckled that trademark sinister chuckle, "that is also for you to find out."

I tried to hide an amused smirk as she growled in frustration at the vague response.

"So is that it? We done?" I asked turning to Igor.

"For now," Igor responded, then turned to fully face me, "Know this Mr. Thurston, once you leave, you will arrive in a very different place than where you came from."

I gave a nod, "Yeah, I figured as much. To Equestria, I assume?"

"Correct," he affirmed, "though the physical form cannot normally enter this realm, it appears you two are an odd exception, given the circumstances. Because of this, the entrance to the Velvet Room will act as more of a literal gateway between dimensions."

"Oooh, this is so exciting!" cried Twilight, clapping her forehooves together while somehow remaining upright, "I've actually traveled to another plane of existence AND-" she pointed a hoof at me "-I have walking proof of the multiverse theory!" she started prancing around the room, "yesyesyesyesyesYES! Oh, I can't wait to tell the Princess when I get back! I have SO many questions! So many notes to take! SPIKE! Take a lett... oh, right, Spike's not here." 

She seemed to realize we were staring at her and cleared her throat awkwardly. "Sorry about that," she said with a weak chuckle, "I guess the reality of what I've discovered finally caught up with me and... well... yeah... so, um... should we go?" she asked, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Without waiting for an answer she quickly trotted out the door.

I just laughed and followed her out.

I'd be more offended at being seen as some kind of scientific curiosity, but that was so damn adorable I don't even care.

As we walked out of the back room, Reedus turned and gave us a shaky smile.

"W-welcome back Ms. Sparkle and M-Mr. Thurston, I t-trust your talk was f-fruitful?", he asked with that same nervous stutter I had heard before. His eyes shift from me, to Twilight, to the backdoor, and back to me again.

The fuck?

"Yeah," I said slowly, narrowing my eyes, "talk went fine. Learned a lot."

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked in concern, walking over to the fidgeting bartender, "You don't look so good."

Reedus, who had been looking at the backdoor again, snapped his gaze back to Twilight with a nervous grin, "E-everything is fine M-Ms. Sparkle, I assure you," before she could ask any further, Reedus quickly rushed on, "so y-you'll be taking your l-leave then, I as-assume?"

Okay, yeah. This is extremely suspicious.

I thought about calling him out on his fishy behavior but decided against it for now. I didn't know for sure if he was up to something or just had some weird behavioral quirk, so I let it be.

"Come on, Twilight. Leave the man alone and let's get the hell outta here," I called back over my shoulder as I walked to the exit.

Twilight gave one last indecisive look over to Reedus and turned to follow me out of the tavern.

Once we were back on the stony pathway I stretched and let out an exhausted groan, "Jeezus, that took forever," I complained.

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," Twilight responded with a happy smile. She pranced forward towards the exit, "after all, I got the opportunity to learn some incredible things!"

Whoa, hey," I cried running after her, "wait up!"

Giggling, she slowed her pace and I walked up beside her, hands buried in my coat pockets.

"Sooo..." I looked down at Twilight with a grin, "tell me a bit about Equestria."