//------------------------------// // Meet the Withdrawn Writer // Story: No Longer an Enigma // by enigmaMystere //------------------------------// The red pegasus stood in the backstage room, still trying to comprehend what just happened to him. ...okay, so...Vinyl gave me a job...or, rather, forced a job onto me... He thought for a minute about that, a smile slowly forming on his face. ...well, at least I can help her break her drinking habit...but... His eyes widened, his jaw agape with horror. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do!” “I can help you with that.” He whipped around to the source of the somewhat-rough voice, startling the yellow mare behind him. He mentally facehoofed, giving her a sheepish smile. “...sorry about that...” He cleared his throat, looking at the pony in front of him. “So, you know what I’m supposed to do, then?” She nodded, visibly shaking her nervousness off. “Yes, I do. You’re supposed to move her equipment to and from her cart every morning and evening. Oh, and help her with the upkeep of her equipment.” She moved forward, holding a hoof out to him and smiling brightly. “The name’s Glaze. Nice to meet you, Enigma.” The red stallion extended his hoof out to the yellow mare’s, bumping it softly. “You too, Glaze.” He looked around, entirely unsure about what to do or say. Then he remembered the letter he’d been given the day before. He set his bags down, carefully rifling through it to find the aforementioned object. The butter-yellow pegasus moved up next to the other pony, watching him in curiosity. “...what are you looking for, Enigma?” He emerged from his saddlebag, the unopened letter in his teeth. “Thish.” He set it down, carefully opened it, reading the message out loud. “...Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of...Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armor...” He lowered it, confused, and rightfully so. “...I don’t know who either of these two ponies are...” A yellow hoof pressed against the page. “Well, the second one is Twilight Sparkle’s brother.” The hoof quickly jerked away, covering the mouth of the attached pony. “Y-you know, the Element of Magic.” He nodded absently, memorizing the date of said event. He calmly put the letter back in its envelope and the whole thing into his saddlebag. “...okay, then...” He replaced his bag on his back, turning to the other pegasus. “So, you heard about the wedding, then?” She smiled brightly at him once more, putting her forehooves to her chest. “Of course! I was asked to play music during the cere-” She cut herself off, her eyes growing wide. “...um...n-never mind that.” She gently cleared her throat, her smile turning nervous. “S-so, are you planning to go?” Enigma nodded, a small smile of his own on his face. “I think I have to...there were three letters, so that means Vinyl’s gonna be there.” He placed a hoof on his chin, frowning deeply. “...I need to keep her from drinking...” Glaze stared at him, stunned. “...she has a drinking problem?” He sighed, gesturing to the empty hard cider bottles all around them. “...I certainly didn’t drink all these...” The yellow pegasus grimaced, rubbing the back of her head. “...oh...I didn’t mean to imply anything...” He looked over at her once more, freezing in surprise. “...um...you...your hair...” She stared back at him, uncomprehending. “What about it? I mean, I know it’s styled like Vinyl’s, but-” “...it’s pink...” There, on the left side of her face, was a lock of pink hair. The mare froze, her eyes slowly moving to stare at the out-of-place mane color. She quickly turned her head, hiding the little inconsistency from sight. “N-no it isn’t. Y-you’re seeing things.” Enigma moved closer, his eyes narrowed slightly. “...you know, Glaze, you look really familiar...” “I-I have one of those faces.” She sheepishly grinned, a squee emanating from somewhere. He leaped back, bumping against a bookcase, his eyes wide. “What was that!?” A book, previously teetering dangerously on the edge of a shelf, fell and struck him on the head. “Ow!” The yellow pegasus, forgetting herself, immediately rushed over, examining his head. “Are you okay? Oh, I’m so sorry I made you do that!” Her honeyed voice actually made the pain feel like it was evaporating. That’s when the realization struck him. He looked up at the doting mare, confused. “...what happened...to your voice?” She squeaked, holding her hooves to her mouth. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Realizing that this was going nowhere, he sighed, looking down at the book which used his head as a target. He took in the picture of the mare on the back cover, her head resting on her chin, a quill in her mouth. ...wait a minute... He glanced between the pony on the book and the mare in front of him, his eyes widening slightly. ...is it possible? He snatched the book up, flipping it over and staring at the writer’s name - F.S. Braveheart. ...not much help, honestly... “...Glaze?” She hid behind her green-and-yellow mane, nervous. “...yes?” “Is this you?” He held the book up, showing the author’s photo to the mare. “Because she looks almost exactly like you.” Glaze looked like she was considering bolting, fainting or a combination of the two. Finally, after a full ten seconds of indecisiveness, she sighed, looking up at him with what had to be the cutest eyes ever. “...you caught me...” She pulled off her mane, long pink hair cascading free of their hiding place. “...my name’s not Glaze...it’s...” Her already-soft voice went even softer, her mane moving to cover her face. He didn’t need to hear her, though. He remembered her from the time when she was a model. “...dear Luna...you’re Fluttershy...” The timid pegasus looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “...please...you have to keep this a secret...n-not even Vinyl knows...” Enigma just stared at her for a few moments, stunned. Eventually, though, he moved forward, gently placing a hoof on her shoulder. “...don’t worry...I promise I won’t tell her...but I have to ask...” He motioned to the wig, an eyebrow raised. “...why hide this? You obviously enjoy it...” She whimpered, looking down at the floor. “...I do...but...I get so nervous...when I’m Glaze, I don’t get nervous...I...I need her...” She sniffled, smiling softly at the red pegasus. “...t-thank you for keeping this between us...” Fluttershy leaned over, gently kissing his cheek. “...you’re a good friend...” The stallion just sat there, staring off into space. Starting to get worried, the Element of Kindness poked his side, knocking him over. “Oh my goodness!”