//------------------------------// // Everyday Things // Story: Unforgotten // by Riddle-Me-Think //------------------------------// I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic The scratching of a writing filled the large room that was filled with books, beakers, notes and a number of samples in their own dishes and test tubes. Each item had it’s place and was carefully arranged into sections where they could be located and gathered for later use. At one of the table, near the center of the cave like room, held a set of test tubes with a number of chemicals. Nearby these instruments of science was a small pan, bubbling and fizzing while a vile was placed back into place while the scratching went on. “Sample-E shows a slightly volatile response when mixture-D was introduced.” One lavender unicorns voice drifted through the room, almost sounding far off as she spoke, “If tests are to be believed, mixtures that have higher sodium content have respond as such.” Stopping a moment to look over her notes, Twilight Sparkle gave a slightly puzzled hum at her results. Moving the clipboard away from her face to take another look at the sample once more. Pulling the clipboard back before her eyes, Twilight rubbed her chin in thought. Though the mare had been finding more and more out about changelings since their appearance, she still felt she didn't know as much as she could. What little knowledge she had gained was only by other changelings and what little books they were willing to give. This only left her with so many questions, and little answers pertaining to the insect like ponies. "I wonder if I should ask Mask if the Lue clan has any books I could borrow?" Twilight thought aloud, thinking of the changeling stallion that had become her coltfriend over the recent months. "It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask." Twilight muttered to herself, scrunching her face up in thought, “As much as I like to test, it would be nice to have already confirmed information on hoof to use.” Setting her clipboard as she did. With a sudden squeak and slight jump, Twilight found herself being hugged by two black limbs while a head belonging to her stallion leaned over her shoulder asking, “Does that mean I don't have to worry about your lab exploding if I get said books?” Casting a slight glare at the stallions sudden appearance, Twilight could not help but feel Masquerade was in the room the whole time. This was mostly evident to that grin on the infiltrators muzzle, a sure sigh to her if there was ever one. The unicorn mare found her slight irritation leave at that grin, while telling in a sweet voice, “I can’t say my lab wont explode if I do, but it would certainly make your fillyfriend happy if you did.” And begun to lean back into the stallion’s embrace some. Chuckling lightly, Masquerade told, “I’ll send a letter to Bard, see if he can't convince the good old professor into letting you attack one of their libraries.” Flicking his ear as he felt Twilight’s magic flick said ear. “I don’t attack libraries Mask.” Twilight reminded, “Only do extensive research and cross-referencing to find the best results.” Then turned her attention back to the table with her current experiment. With a slight roll of his eyes, the changeling in unicorn form told, “Twilight, you go at those books like a parasprite in a food market. You all but devour any innocent book in your path.” Almost feeling the need to snicker at the embarrassed the mare was generating. Twilight soon huffed to herself when she felt the black unicorns chest heave quickly behind herself. He was apparently trying to hide his laughter at her feelings no doubt. With a sigh, Twilight asked, “Did you have a reason to come down here, or were you just looking for my attention?” Placing a kiss on the mare’s cheek, Mask asked in returned, “Can’t it be both?” Putting on his best grin when Twilight turned to look at him. Those lavender eyes of hers only held a speculative look to them, as if gauging what was really going on in his head. Holding the stare for a while, Mask eventually relented when her eyes slightly fluttered, causing him to say, “Fine, I came down to see if you wanted to join me on a walk through town.” Rolling her eyes, Twilight smiled, “See now, was that so hard to just tell me what you were thinking?” Finding herself giggling as he turned his head away. “But that would be no fun.” The stallion pouted to himself, while Twilight continued to giggle at his antics. This only made him just pout even more, making a rather cute puffy facile expression. “Your silly Mask” Twilight laughed, having a hard time keep a herself from being amused. Looking back to her small experiment, she straighten herself up some and pushed the stallion away some with her hoof. Feeling him comply and back away some, Twilight waved over her current work on the table telling, “I really would like to get back to work though.” Using her magic to lift her clipboard once more to show what she had, “There are a number of test I still want to finish before reorganizing some of the shelves later tonight.” Then turned back to her experiment. Slightly pouting at the mare once again, the infiltrator almost wined, “Does that mean you wont go come and take a relaxing walk with me?” “As much as I would, I really should finish up with these tests.” The unicorn mare told evenly, “Tomorrows schedule already has a few hours for self entertainment.” Using her magic to lift a few vile’s of liquid and swish them about. Pouring them into another vile to use later, Twilight said, “If you want, we can go on a walk then.” As Twilight continued to test with the number of samples before herself, Masquerade just watched from his spot with some interest. This was ended when he gave a slight snort and shake of his head. She works way to much, he thought in amusement while outwardly saying, “Sooner or later I’m going to break your reliance on those lists of yours.” Stopping her work for a moment, Twilight turned to the changing infiltrator with narrowed eyes and challenged, “Oh, and how would you go about doing that?” “I’m smarter then that Twinkles.” Masquerade grinned, “I’m not telling you how I’ll do it, otherwise you’d make countermeasures.” Should have known he might say something like that, Twilight sighed to herself while returning to her project. Though Mask was showing to be a good loving partner, he still had streaks of spontaneous and unpredictable actions. It was nothing harmful to be sure, but it made him impossible to predict and include into any plans she made in advance. It was possibly the angle he might use to break her of her all-knowing schedule she would keep, or a way to distract her from other ideas. In any case, it was just probably going to be another game to the changeling stallion. With a smirk working it’s way to her muzzle, Twilight sat up straighter saying, “Alright Mask, if that’s how you want to play it.” And turned back to her tests, “Expect to have no cuddling time with me while you try to touch my list’s.” Losing his grin, Masquerade Looked on with slight horror saying, “You wouldn't take that from me Twinkles!” Trying to feel out the mares emotions to see if she was bluffing at all, “Right?” Twilight continued to work for a time on her tests, already thinking of a few things to say before settling with, “I will if you try and disrupt my schedules.” Smiling to herself as she heard some grumbling from the stallion. “Cheer up Mask.” Twilight giggled some, looking away from her work to address Masquerade, “It’s not like I’m stoping you from going on that walk.” Masquerade only continued to sulked, looking to the floor and scuffing it with his hoof with, “You’re still not coming with…” Trying his best to look pitiful. Watching him just sit on the floor and sulk, Twilight rolled her eyes at him and told, “You know, I’m sure Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie wouldn't mind a visit from you.” And then returned to her work, “I heard from them, that you have been pranking with them and seem to enjoy it.” Huffing to that, Mask said, “Their both busy too, and I like their pranking because it’s a lot like my infiltration missions.” Gaining a smile at the thought of sneaking around and sabotaging or tricking his opposition. Getting up from his spot and then placing himself next to Twilight, he said simply, “So in short, I have nothing better to do but to pester you.” Casting a quick glance to the apparently board stallion, Twilight just sighed in thought, in other words, he’s board out of his mind. Taking a look over her current work, she offered, “Why not you help me with my test instead.” Passing the clipboard over to the stallion, “I can use an assistant.” Taking the offered item out of her magical grip with his own, Mask looked it over and nodded, “So play mad scientist with you?” Gleaning what he could with the data put down. With a shrug and a grin he agreed, “Sure, as long as I’m not the one on the examining table, I’m fine with the idea.” For an hour the two worked on tests of varying samples and chemicals. During some of the test, Twilight had asked her changeling helper to “provide” some newer samples to test with. Though he did give the mare those samples, the changelings still felt slightly uneasy at the mares giddy fascination over the tests on said samples. Granted, the changeling wouldn't dream of not doing what he could to help the mare any way he could with her testing. Providing little bits of body, such as small wing clippings, some resin and even blood samples were no big deal. But let it be said that it still creeped out the infiltrator at how fixed the mare got from the results from her tests, almost touching the boundaries of what is acceptable in the pursuit of knowledge. So it was relief that Twilight was a rule keeper. Otherwise his crack of her being a madmare with magical and scientific genius abilities left alone…he had quickly dropped the thought after it was made. It was almost and hour before Mask got Twilight to leave the laboratory of a basement in search for food. Both were thinking over what they had discovered or found out. Now they both sat at the table, Twilight going over on what purpose the results might serve. Masquerade himself was just thinking if Twilight would object to him bringing in an assortment of assorted ‘samples’ from any of his missions that had changelings as his foes. Twilight herself was going over the clipboard that held most of the data, only taking meager bites from her sandwich. Masquerade watched her in some amusement, finding it funny that the mare seemed to forget there was food in-front of her. Both eyes of the fake unicorn watched Twilight as she lifted her sandwich once more, only to place it back down to scrutinize over something again. Mask himself took another cherry and popped it into his mouth with little distraction. Again, Twilight took up her food in a pink aura of magic and this time took a small bite, more immersed by her current task. Rolling his eyes at this, Masquerade lit his horn and put a strong magical grip on the clipboard full of data. With a quick tug, the lavender mare lost grip over the object as it was floated away. Following it over to Masquerade, the stallion lightly chided, "Twilight, I know this must be all so fascinating, but try to focus on eating.” Chuckling at the mares bemusement, “That wonderful mind of yours needs the energy to work, and you can’t do that if your distracted.” Placing the acquired object on the table near him. “I’m use to eating and working Mask.” Twilight defended herself, lighting her horn again to grasp the data, “It’s not a big deal.” Before she could even lift it though, a black hoof was placed on the clipboard while the stallion tutted, “Eat first, work later.” Giving a small huff, Twilight did as asked and actually start eating her food more. This didn't mean she still hadn't given up on her recently gained data, currently being held captive by one black unicorn. Masquerade made sure to keep his hoof on the clipboard and keep Twilight from snatching it up again. It shortly turned into a staring contest of wills, neither one wanting to give up on their own objective. While the dating coupled did this, a young purple dragon steadily made his way down the stairs. His claws clicked against the wood beneath him, while he gave a light yawn from some lingering boredom. Reaching the bottom steps, the young dragon known as Spike called out, “Twilight, I got a lettter—” Stopping mid shout when he spotted the two unicorns starring at the other intensely while eating. Pausing for a moment to observe the two, he asked, “Is this a bad time?” Blinking and looking away first, Twilight glanced to her assistant dragon, shaking her head, “Oh, not at all Spike.” Sending a glance to Masquerade, “Just trying to retrieve something of mine form this stubborn mule.” Pulling the clipboard close to his chest, Mask said, “You’ll get it back, after you finish eating.” Pointing to the half eaten sandwich on the mares plate. “It only takes a little focus to eat and read, I do it all the time.” Twilight reasoned once again, trying to use her magic to yank the clipboard away from the fraud unicorns grasp. Mask, seeing her magic in use, tightened his grip, using his other forelimb to keep hold and planting his rear-hooves to the floor, “And I’m telling you that will divide your attention like always, and make you nibble on your food for a few hours.” Feeling himself slightly slide forwards from the mares strong magical pull on the clipboard. Seeing as she wasn't getting the gathered data back any time soon, Twilight stopped her pulling and turned her attention back to Spike asking, “Anyways, you mentioned something about a letter, Spike?” Spike only gave the two unicorns a lingering look at the ever common occurrence before raising one of his arms and waving a letter in his grasp saying, “Yeah, just got it from Princess Celestia and came down to give it to you.” Then held the rolled up message out. Wrapping the parchment in a pink hue of her magic, Twilight took the offered item form the dragons grasp. She lifted a brow at the blue ribbon held in place by a silver wax seal on it, noting the shield with a crescent moon which marked it. With a shake of her head, Twilight told “I don't think this is form Celestia, Spike. If it was, it would be tied in a red ribbon and have a gold seal.” Leaning over some, Masquerade nodded in a agreement, “Looks like it’s from Luna if I had to guess.” Taking a slightly closer look and saying, “Further more, I think that’s a letter usually sent to the anypony that’s part of the lunar guard.” “So this is for you.” Twilight guessed, knowing the infiltrator had accepted an offer made by Luna to be part of her guard. It wasn't a full time job that most of her lunar guard had, but more of a specialist to call on when needed. Tilting his head, Mask mused, “I wonder if it’s anything important.” Then thought better saying offhoofedly, “Probably is, seeing Luna sent a letter.” Lighting his horn in it’s eerie green glow. Feeling the slight tells of Masquerade’s changeling magic trying to get a grip on the letter, Twilight pulled it away saying, “How’s about a trade Mask.” Smiling at the fraud unicorns confusion, “I give you the letter, and you give me my clipboard back.” Right as the stallion opened his mouth, Twilight quickly added, “With, the sheets of data still on it.” Smiling further at his scrunched up face. With a dramatic sigh, Masquerade told, “You drive a hard bargain…” Looking from the clipboard to the letter and back. But after a while, he conceded with, “Fine—” Loosening his grip on the complied data, “—but you better eat your meal before getting back into reading it, deal?” “Deal.” Twilight nodded, levitating the letter to Mask, as he did the same with the clipboard. Once she had her clipboard with all it’s recorded data back, the mare commented, “You know Mask, if I didn't know better, I would say your trying to prepare me for negotiations.” Setting the clipboard on the table. Breaking the seal on the letter and opening it fully, Masquerade told, “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.” Creasing his browse as he read the letter more further, “I mean, your miss Sunshines personal student, which means you’ll have a vary interesting life with such ties and influence.” Swallowing her most resent bite of her food, Twilight said modestly, “I don't hold that much influence.” And reasoned, “True my word might carry a little weight, but it wouldn't get heads turning.” Raising a scaly brow of his own, Spike said, “But you and the princess are close, wouldn't that count for something?” Then thought to himself aloud, “You know, I am too… would that give me the same influence?” And tapping his chin in deeper thought. “A bit.” The rouge changeling said, “You wouldn't have the same pull as Twinkles would for two reasons. First off is your young for your race. And two, your a dragon.” Rolling the letter up and setting it aside for later. Scratching his head, Spike asked, “Why would me being a dragon matter?” After all, ponies didn't show too much of a bias against him. Then again, that can be contributed to his size and young age. It was hard to take him seriously for those two reasons alone. With a now sightly tilted head, Masquerade asked, “What do you know about your kind Spike?” Actually curious how much the young drake knew about his race. Giving a light shrug, Spike admitted, “Not much, besides that their mostly jerks.” Crossing his arms at a particular memory of following the last dragon migration. The only good thing that came out of that was Twilight, Rarity and Dash standing up for him, and getting Peewee. Though, the little phenix chick was currently at Canterlot with Celestia, who wanted to make sure the little phenix would get some proper care before being returned. From what he knew, that was within a few days from now. An amused grin started to form on Mask’s lips as he asked, “Where these ‘jerks’ teenage in dragon years by chance?” And got a nod from the baby dragon. With a now full grin, Masquerade waved off, “That’s natural, most dragons that reach that age act like nothing can hurt them.” Gaining interest of her own, Twilight stated, “Are you familiar with dragons, Mask?” Letting her eyes scan her bookshelves saying, “I only know so much about them, and even then their mostly a mystery…” Then sent a look to Mask, “Like you changelings.” Openly chuckling at the jab, Masquerade admitted, “I may know a good share of dragons, some traditions and tiny bits of lore.” Letting his grin waver a bit saying, “It was something mother liked talking about, since she spent time around them a lot.” “I-I see.” Twilight got out, not sure if she should breach the subject of the still recent changeling attack. Though he had refused it, Twilight could tell Masquerade was still broken up over what happened and being declared a rouge to his clan. From what she understood, it was the pony equivalent of being both disowned and then posted to be killed on sight by the local guard. It was a subject Twilight still felt was a little touchy at the moment. Thinking of a way to change subjects, Twilight said, “Maybe you can tell Spike and I more about dragons later.” Then pointed to the now rolled up letter asking, “Did you see what princess Luna needed?” Masquerade was happy for the change in subject and said, “Apparently she needs me to report to Canterlot for quote, ‘a task in need of your skills’ unquote.” But gave a light shrug, “She was mostly vague on the details, most likely a security measure.” Looking down at the letter, Masquerade muttered, “Speaking of which…” Lighting his horn to first lift the letter, then sent a strong pulse of magic to cover the letter in a burst of green fire. When it was nothing more than bits of ashes, Mask smiled, “Alright, all evidence is mostly gone.” “Was that really necessary?” Twilight asked, eyeing the ash pile that was now on her table. It was times like these she was happy most of her wooden furniture was enchanted to be slightly fire retardant, a foresight for her resident dragon. With a wave of his hoof, Mask assured, “Standard practice for infiltrators to keep any potential leaks in mission information from happening.” And added as an after thought, “Oh, and apparently a carriage was sent to get me, according to the letter.” Crossing his arms in a thinking pose, Spike asked, “Isn't that technically leaking out information?” “Did I say when they were coming, how they might arrive or where I would be going?” The changeling grinned in return, loving the absolute confusion on Spike’s face. Masquerade then got up from his seat, wondering over to his little corner of the room to strap Blades on. After a moment of silence and watching the stallion strap his sword set on, Twilight asked, “How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Already working out some changes she might need to do in her schedule. Though she rarely included him in them do to his erratic behavior, she could still plan out days to just spend with the changeling. Thinking for a moment while he searched his saddle bags for any additional things, Mask replied, “Expect me gone for at least a week, three at the most.” Not finding anything of possible use any time soon, the infiltrator closed the bags and pushed them against the wall. Turning to the lavender mare and her assistant, he grinned, “That is the timespan I’m use to when going on actuarial missions.” Nodding some to this, Twilight smiled softly, “You’ll keep safe, alright?” Not deluding herself about the dangers Masquerade could be put in. That was to say if there was any, but in the changelings line of work, it was a good possibility. “I’m not a master infiltrator for nothing Twinkles.” Masquerade reminded, while turning a serous face to Spike saying, “Spike, I expect you will keep Twinkles in good health during my absents, as she wont have anypony to make sure she takes care of herself?” Before Twilight could say a word, Spike scoffed, “Don’t insult me, I’ve been doing that long before you came here and taking over that part of my job.” “I’m right here.” The mare almost grumbled at the two males in her home. “Oh, we know.” Masquerade grinned once again, “But you have to admit, if it weren’t for us two, you’d go hungry form studying, reading and working too much.” To this, Spike nodded along with the stallion agreeing, “He’s right you know, you sometimes just close things out when your busy with something if nopony reminds you to eat.” Putting her face into her fore hooves, Twilight had to wonder if having both a faithful assistant and a caring coltfriend was good or bad. It was nice to know they looked after her, but at the same time it’ like they smother her in care or tease her to no end. It was worse when they tagged teamed on her. Sometimes I wonder if it’s a blessing or curse.