I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Edited by: FluttershyTheChangeling, Gambit Prawn
The clip-clop of hooves could be heard in rhythm to the whistling wind and singing of birds as a lone figure made his way down the dirt road to what he hoped to be a new home. It had been about a week since he had left his old home, leaving of his own free will so he might have a new start that would fit in with his views and ideals.
He didn’t bother thinking of such things at the time, seeing as he had more important things to keep in mind— such as where he was.
Stopping for a moment, he looked left and right, spotting only trees in both directions before setting his sights forward, where a there was a fork in the road. Unclasping a saddlebag with green wisps of magic, he floated out a map and unfolded it, looking at it carefully and at the road he was on.
…
With a quirked brow he mentally asked, where’s north again?
Ponyville is considered one of Equestria’s peaceful sleepy town that dot its borders. With long wide green hills full of wild flowers, forests teeming with life and even ponds and lakes with serene settings, one could not find a more peaceful place. That is, if one did not count the Everfree forest being next door. Or the gates of Tartarus being located in said forest. Or the next to weekly or monthly chaos that ensues from either random occurrence or the six mares that seem like magnets for such things.
But --besides all the impending doom brought on by five story creatures, dangerous wayward spells, panicking crowds and the occasional all out apocalypse-- it’s a nice place to live with a friendly community.
This said community bustled about their daily lives, greeting one another with smiles and nods and polite hello’s, maintaining the ever friendly atmosphere. This is something the new arrival could not deny, looking about with some surprise at all the happy and content smiles on their faces.
He didn’t go unnoticed himself, drawing the attention of the townsfolk who all stared at the new arrival curiously.
Black, black as the night was his coat, leavening no actual shine on him as the fur seemed to soak up the suns light. A short cut, dark bluish-green mane and tail is what greeted their sights, with a black horn sticking out of his head with a slight green glow that held a map afloat. Lastly, brightly lit neon green eyes held curiosity while they darted about analyzing everything in sight.
On his flank were two masks, one happily smiling black mask and one sorrowful frowning white mask. This symbol also adorned his brown saddlebags that almost hid his mark.
Regardless of these facts, one thing was for certain: He seemed a bit confused and apparently a bit lost as he continued to look at the map and then the town around him while muttering things under his breath with a knitted brow.
With an exasperated sigh, he refolded his map and tucked it back in pack. Sparing another look around and choosing a random direction, he began to trot through the town for an inn.
For the first few minutes of wandering, he could not help but feel a sense of peace in this town he had just found, mostly by mistake, and wasn’t sure what to think. Well he did know what to think actually, always did, but this town was just different. That was the only reasonable thing he could think of to make him feel…unsure perhaps?
Whatever the reason, it was not something he felt to dwell on. With a soft smile the Unicorn thought, it‘s a new town with new stuff to see and do. Might as well see the sights!
And did he see some sights in town. Such as the well crafted building that look much like a carousel the likes you would find at a fair. With a pointed top and beams around the building, it certainly gave the illusion of it.
Next big thing was a building that looked a lot like a gingerbread house before Hearth's Warming eve, complete with frosting edges, cinnamon stick supports and even a cupcake tower with three candles. Who ever made it was either imaginative- or had an unhealthy appetite for sweets. Much like his sister…
Shaking that thought away, he decided to keep looking around to see anything else worth noting. The market district was one place, selling all sorts of trinkets and foods. Sometimes there were shops, others were carts that were rolled in. the place was even more lively than the rest of town as ponies of all sorts went about their busy lives and paying there bits for each want or need.
Speaking of wants… He thought, eyes catching sight of a cart full of red fruit that had seemed polished with wax, light glancing off with an impressive reflection. Setting a new course for the enticing fruit, he could not help but grin at such a sight. Being on the road as long as he had, had left him wanting something sweet such as the apple that was in sight.
Next to the large grouping of apples was an earth mare with an orange coat that reminded him of a dawning sun and shining golden straw locks mane and tail, both held in a ponytail.
She pushed the last pole into place before turning the small sign around to open and turned to get behind the stall. From the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of something black and turned her head in its direction before donning a welcoming smile.
“Well howdy thar!” Her southern voice drawled out, adding to the already friendly atmosphere, making him feel almost smothered in the feeling it gave.
Throwing that in the back of his mind, he put up a rather charming smile and bowed his head and gave a curt “Greetings.” Looking at the apples and back to her asking, “If I may, could I bother you for some apples, I could not help but see them on the way through and found them appetizing.”
With a chuckle she replied, “Sure thing sugercube, it‘ll be two bits fer ‘n apple!” Reaching for the nearest basket and plucking up one apple to set on the stall table.
“I’ll take three.” He smiled, magicking open his bag to retrieve six bits. While he did so, she ducked back down to get two more of the fruit, setting them with the first and asking, “I haven’t seen ya’ll ‘round here. New here?” Watching as six of the golden coins drifted to her and stacked neatly into two piles.
“Not really.” He shook his head “I was mostly traveling through and might have made a wrong turn.” He told her before smiling “But I’m not complaing to lady luck for steering me to these lovely apples.” he sweeped up the fruit in his magical grasp, adding, “You must be very good to make such wonderful looking apples ma’am.”
Giving a proud smile she said “You bet‘cha, Sweet Apple Acres apples are the best apples you‘ll ever lay your eyes on!” And scoped the bits into a container and putting out her hoof in another welcoming gesture.
“Names Applejack!” She introduced as the Stallion lifting his own hoof, he gave her a firm bump and introduced, “Masquerade.”
Then with a sudden look of recognition the Unicorn asked “By any chance are you part of the Apple Clan?” With a slight bit of hope in his voice.
Quirking a brow at his question she asked, “That I am, why’d ya ask?” The only reply she got at that moment was a happy grin that one would find on a better who won the jackpot.
“My family happened upon some Apple’s before, friendly bunch they are, and their foods are a must!” He elaborated after noticing the look she was giving him. But after that, Applejack could only give off a chuckle knowing how true it was for the Apple family to make delicious foods of all sort, primarily apple-related.
Looking to his left for a moment, Masquerade noted another pony walking to the stand, but unwilling to come over and interrupt them. “Well, as enjoyable as this conversations been, I should be going.” He informed Applejack who seem to nod.
“Eyep, I got customers my self, so you go mosey on.” She agreed giving one final wave at the retreating Stallion. Once he was out of sight did she turn to her right and spot the next Pony come to her stand and could only smile “Why hey there ‘Shy!”
Still walking through the streets of the town, Masquerade had yet to find an Inn to stay the night. He did see a hospital not far behind, a tree that was made into a house…or was it a house that grew into a tree? Which-ever one it was, he was sure it was still a house of some sort.
However, after a few hours later, he still couldn’t find one Inn. But the town was admittedly nice all-around. Maybe a bit over the top with the lovey atmosphere for his tastes, but nice place never-the-less. Not like Canterlot that’s for sure. Sure that place for Gifted Unicorns was somewhat nice, but it still was up-tight-- but Mother insisted he’d go, if not for the educational value then perhaps the social value.
Masquerade heaved a sigh at that. Perhaps he was a little hasty leaving home?
No, he fiercely shook his head while in thought. We had come to an impasse about our views on how that matter should be handled. And looked down with saddened eyes muttering aloud, "I could not divide our house in such a way."
So drawn in his thoughts, he almost ran into another Pony, barley spotting them and coming to a halt. Only, the other didn’t see him and bumped into his body. A clearly feminine yelp was heard as the purple mare fall back on her rump, dropping her bag and book.
“I-I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.” She stuttered with some embarrassment, lighting her lavender horn in a magenta hue to retrieve what she dropped.
“No, no. It was just about my fault for almost-” He began to say before seeing her face rise and meet his and blurted, “Twilight?”
Hearing the name, both ears swiveled to his direction with purple eyes following close and meeting his face. A look of both recognition and surprise touched her features before she glanced down at his Cutie Mark then back up. “Masquerade?”
With a broad grin at this chance meeting, he lit his horn and opened his bag to pull out a full white mask and hold it next to his face almost exclaiming aloud in excitement, “That’s me!”
Still holding his grin, he looked at the now grown mare that he knew as a filly back at Canterlot from several years prier. They were both paired up a few times for a test or two, or he would seek her out for her book smarts for certain subjects. Oh those were happy times indeed, even more so when he occasionally teased her for being a mobile library and she‘d blush to some extent. Perhaps he can start doing something similar again? The very thought made him want to grin even wider.
Twilight herself was also excited to some level. The unicorn mare with an indigo mane and tail with pink strip could remember very clearly the young colt that would somehow find her and study with her every time he had a problem with a test. She also remembered the occasional test she needed a partner for --so said her mentor-- and would be with him as he would go right to work.
Well, almost… She reminded herself, remembering the little moments he would tease her book smarts in good fun. It was disappointing he had to leave the school due to family matters.
Putting the mask back in his saddle bag She heard him say with that same grin, “It’s been years since I last saw you Twinkles!” Making her flush in some more embarrassment at the old nickname he’d call her. She honestly forgot about that one detail she didn’t like about him.
“Masquerade, what have I told you about that!” Twilight said a bit sharply, to which she got a happily “That it‘s a nice pet name?” Making her blush even further.
“Mask!” She shouted, trying to get the grown stallion under control while he laughed. She had really forgotten how hard he can keep under control when he gets excited about something. Although, she could safely say he was happy to see her.
Calming down from his short fit of laughter he calmly said “Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t help but say it.” But still chuckled a bit at he just did.
Letting out her own sigh at his antics, she soon smiled back saying, “I should have known you wouldn’t change.” A firm nod from him seemed to convey the same while she spoke on, “And it has been years, it nice to see you again since you left from the school grounds.”
Masquerade nodded to that, “I know, it was a bit dampening on my mood when I heard Mother tell me I had to drop out early.” Looking at his surroundings he could not help but ask “By the way, why are you here of all places?”
“Huh?” Twilight gave a confused look at his question before it clicked in her head at what he was getting at. “Oh, I live here now.”
Now looking at her more curiously he asked, “Really now? I would think being top student of the Princess you’d stay up in Canterlot.” Where upon Twilight gave a laugh, actually surprising him, but didn’t show it. He hardly noticed it, but she seemed more sociable then when he last saw her.
“I made some friends down here and was asked by the Princess herself to stay with them and study friendship.” She said with a good amount of joy in her voice that was impossible to miss.
With another chuckle and a grin he gave her a look that put Twilight on alert for his next words being “Leave it to you to make friendship into some sort of lab test.” Making her gain only a small tint on her cheeks. The unicorn Mare could only mutter curses to herself on how he could tease her like this.
But the chuckles were cut short by one of his present smiles “It‘s good to know you found some friends to be with since I left. From what I see, It’s done you good.” Then he gained another teasing look and commented “Especially so with how well you’ve grown.” At this, Masquerade mentally patted himself on the back for successfully making Twilight imitate a tomato for a brief moment before she composed herself.
Giving a sharp look to the stallion, she smirked and jabbed “And I see that you’re as thin since I last saw you, did you ever eat?”
Looking down at himself, he did note the lack of anything of himself, still looking like a twig compared to all other ponies. Even though he was healthy as could be, he was still considered underweight and looked it too. Lifting his hoof and shaking it in a so-and-so manner he said “Eh, I was never a big eater.” She giggled at that and nodded, knowing of his eating habits.
Or rather, lack thereof.
“What are you doing here anyways Mask?” She finally asked him, “As I said, it has been years, and last I saw you was at the school grounds. Do you have family here or something?”
Looking to the side for a moment, he said, “No, not in that manner.” Keeping his emotions in check and saying to her, “I had a bit of a problem with my family and some matters concerning the household, if you would.”
Putting her hoof to her mouth, he continued, “I soon came to an impasse with my Mother and decided to compromise with her and leave.” Even if his eyes showed some sadness, he still didn’t lower his head and kept it high, “She wasn’t very keen on me leaving, nor were my siblings, but I had told them I didn’t want to cause more trouble with my views. They soon accepted this before I packed up and left for…” At this point the dropped off to think a bit before saying “Someplace to get a new start if you would.”
She gave a slow nod and took in the information carefully. The only reason he would tell her this much was only because he knew her from the past. She could tell he wasn’t saying everything, but respected what he kept to himself. Masquerade was an old friend that has just reappeared in her life at apparently a hard time. Making a quick look around and noting the other denizens heading for home as dusk approached, she decided to ask, “Do you have a place to stay for the night?”
Making a point to look around, the emptying streets he reluctantly told, “Not at the moment…was looking for an Inn, but…”
With a sudden ring of magic and a tug at his tail, Twilight passed him, dragging him along, “Then I insist as old colleagues, you come and stay at my place until further notice.”
“What?” He almost yelped, “You can’t be considering that!”
Craning her neck to look at him told him all he needed to know. “Twinkles, I can’t ask you to do that, I‘ll be fine, really!” She only gave a disbelieving roll of the eyes and continued to drag him with, “Don’t matter what you say, you’re an old friend that I haven’t seen in some time and needs a place to stay.”
He shook his head and decided not to fight back. Even if he got past her monstrous magical power -that has no doubt grew over the years-- there was still little chance he’d escape.
Mares, what can you do?