//------------------------------// // Masquerade // Story: Viva La Lunar // by amf studios //------------------------------// Chapter 12: masquerade “That.. was… Awesome!” Scootaloo said as the end credits to pony rangers rolled in. “Eh, it was fine, although if you ask me Michael Hay movies have been going down hill since the Transformers movies,” Sweetie shrugged. “But it’s just… wow! How did they even do that!” the pegasus filly asked. “Do what?” sweetie asked. “That! It’s like they combined a photo with a play, only so much cooler!” Scootaloo said excitedly. “Well, they take a camera, record the actors, go back and edit it as well as add special effects, and then boom,” Sweetie belle explained. “I’ve always dreamed of being a movie star,” Rarity said passing by the door, “oh by the way, Dinner’s in thirty minutes.” “What we having?” Scootaloo asked. “Well, Dashie said your first dinner with us should be special so she ordered pizza from Jasper Pie’s,” then Rarity thought to herself, “wonder if there’s any relation?” “Um, rarity, remember last time Rainbow ordered from Jasper’s?”  Sweetie Belle said. (flashback) “What do you mean it was under thirty minutes, we ordered 35 minutes ago!” Rainbow Dash said to a red unicorn. “Look lady, I don’t know what your clocks are running on, but I know for a fact that I am here five minutes before my deadline!” he shot back.  The two sprawled into an all-out argument. While Rarity and Sweetie Belle just took the pizza. (back to the present.) “Relax, I’m handling the money this time, can’t have Dashie arrested over night again,” Rarity said. “What’s pizza anyway?” Scootaloo asked. Sweetie Belle just stared at her like she had just killed someone, then turned to rarity, “Where’d you find this kid, she doesn’t know about anything cool!” Scootaloo had a bit of a sad expression, then Rarity said, “Sweetie Belle, could you come talk to me… in private.” Sweetie Belle left the room with Rarity and said, “seriously, what’s with her?” “She doesn’t know about any of these things because she’s from a country still in its dark ages!” Rarity said. Sweetie Belle paused for a moment, then asked, “You adopted her from Equestria?  But I thought we were going to war with them?” “Nothing’s official yet, but it’s very likely,” Rarity started, “And if we’re being honest I’m not sure anyone knows she’s gone.” “So she really doesn’t know how anything works up here?” the filly said guiltily. “That’s why we were hoping you could help her, you know get her up to speed,” Rarity said, “having someone her own age could definitely help her though this.” “Ok, I’ll try and explain every thing to her, the good news is we’ve got all summer,” Sweetie said with a smile, “And come to think of it, were both blank flanks, we could help each other out!” “That's the spirit, now could you go apologize, I’m sure she’d appreciate it,” Rarity asked. Sweetie Belle nodded, then went back in her room, getting Scootaloo’s attention. “Sorry I’ve been a bit of a jerk,” she said, “If you’ve got any questions about anything, just asked.” Scootaloo perked up a bit and said, “Well now that you mention it, I’ve been wonder what that thing on your head is.” “Oh, my headset? Well think of it like-” Sweetie Belle proceeded to explain what it was.  Rarity smiled at the thought of her sister and daughter getting along. Back in Canterlot, Trixie was getting ready for the Summer Sun Gala, for which Celestia said she could preform one of her magic shows.  She was wearing a combination between a magician’s tux and dress, it was a white dress-shirt covered by a black dress, midnight blue skirt that went half way down her back legs, a midnight blue bow-tie, a black and blue top-hat with a bow, and a rose in her pocket.   Spike was also ready in a tuxedo he always wore to these things, it had a similar design to Trixie’s.   “Alright, you sober?” Spike asked. “The great and powerful Trixie is on tonight, Of course, she is!” Trixie yelled in reply. “Whatever, as long as I don’t get sawed in half again,” the dragon said. “Oh, Trixie saws you in half and doesn’t know how to undo it once and that’s all you’re about!” Trixie said, “Come on, Trixie does not wish to be late.”    The two made their way to the main hall, there could be seen were most of the royal court, the Wonderbolts, Countess Coloratura, a number of Canterlot aristocrats, and princess cadence.  Celestia really was skipping it this year and cadence was filling in for her. “Nervous?” Spike asked. “The great and powerful Trixie is never nervous,” Trixie said. She should have been, the show went fine up until the disappearing manticore, nopony was hurt thank, Celestia, but the thing broke several windows, a weird statue of a cross-eyed goat, and then literally jumped off a cliff.  The act went down-hill from there, and so did spike, in fact when Trixie went up to the bar he was likely still in that rolling barrel. (take from that, what you will.) “Hit me with the good stuff, it’s all free anyway,” Trixie said.  Then, next to her sat a black unicorn with a midnight blue mane, blue eyes and a midnight blue tuxedo, his cutie mark was that of a mask. “Sugar water, Shaken, not stirred,” he said to the bartender. Trixie raised an eyebrow, “That’s an odd choice of beverage.” “I’m an odd stallion,” The unicorn replied, “Masquerade, Mask for short.” “Trixie Lulamoon,” Trixie replied shaking his hoof.  Trixie had never heard of Mask before, he must have had ties in an upper-class family, “never seen you at one of these.” “This is my first one, I’m not really from Canterlot,” Mask admitted as the bartender returned with their drinks.   “So why do you like sugar water?” Trixie asked taking a sip of her wine. “Tastes good, and is a good substitute for alcohol, my line of work requires that I am constantly aware, that and I can’t stand the stuff,” Mask replied, “Want some?” “No thanks, Trixie thinks she’ll stick to the actual drinks,” Trixie said. “So, are these always this boring?” Mask asked referring to the party. “Yes, usually, to be honest, Canterot parties are just glorified conversations,” Trixie replied. Mask smirked, “at least you tried to livin things up with that manticore.” “Yeah, sorry that went completely wrong,” Trixie said. “No, I’m serious, that was funny” mask clarified, “rest of the show wasn’t that bad either.” “Uh, thanks,” Trixie blushed, “so… would you like to occompany Trix- I mean, me somewhere else?” “Yes I would,” Mask said, “I’ve heard the gardens are lovely, and have quite the interesting maze of statues.” “Well, then shall we?” Trixie asked.  The two unicorns left the bar and began walking to the gardens, having a conversation on the way there.  Apparently, his name would imply was in the costume business, he was a skilled designer who had become quite famous in Manehatten recently, or so he said. They spent the next hour or so just talking, about Trixie’s part-time shows, how Mask one time had saved several ponies from a burning building, in fact, it was probably Trixie’s first sober night since she became old enough to drink. “So wait, you said what?” Mask asked. “I said, ‘Well how was I to know he’d do this!’” trixie laughed, “Mask, this is probably the most fun I have had in a while, thanks.” “No prob, Trix,” mask said, then took a look at the clock tower, “Oh, would you look at the time, I told my sister I’d be back soon, I had fun tonight Trixie!” “Me too!” Trixie yelled back as mask trotted away.  Mask continued walking on, as soon as he was out of sight of Trixie, he dropped his disguise, revealing the changeling he was, though he still had the same colors, black skin, blue mane, etc.  he walked up to the statue of discord, and broke off the end of the tale. He put his foreleg up to his mouth and said in his insect-like voice, “Agent Spyder to Base, the sample is secure.” “Very good, what about the cameras?” Luna's voice came through the other end. “All in place,” Agent Spyder said. “Good work,” the line went dead.  The Changeling was engulfed in blue light, then disappeared.