Ulterior Motive

by Sketchpad and Mason

Chapter 1

Sketchpad: "Woo, 1st chapter is finally up!"

Mason: "Woo, no one cares!"

Sketchpad: "Shut it. Hope you all enjoy it and I sincerely apologize for the extended wait."

Mason: "I don't. We wrote it for you so enjoy the free entertainment."

Link to chapter on DA: http://korutokumori.deviantart.com/art/Ulterior-Motive-Chapter-1-302809394

I do not claim ownership is the franchise MLP: FiM or any of the characters portrayed in this work of fiction. Except for my character. He's mine.

Chapter 1:

I was about to call out to her. To everypony. I was going to tell them they had nothing to fear. Before I could get a word out though, I felt a powerful force strike my jaw, accompanied by a blur of rainbow taking up my vision. I felt myself knocked back and smacking into another table. I pulled myself up to see Twilight comforting Rose, before Rose ran off in the opposite direction. I wanted to call out to her, but I couldn't I had barely enough time to move out of the path of another rainbow colored strike. I rolled off the table, watching it smash to pieces as a pony with a cyan coat and rainbow mane landed right where my torso had been seconds ago. That was all I needed. No more calling out, I had to run. I took down the road before thinking it wiser to start weaving between houses. I would have tried to fly, but even amongst other changelings I wasn't a very fast flier. I'd never escape this pony. I needed to stick to evasive movement to try to lose her. I looked back to see if I had lost her. Nopony... good. I turned my attention back to where I was running when...

SMACK! I had run full force into something. Reeling back I was able to keep myself standing, though that wasn't that case for what I'd run into. I looked up to see Lyra, sitting on her flank and rubbing her head. I noticed Bon Bon turn the corner towards us as well. I quickly tried to focus my magic back into my disguise. “Lyra! Bon Bon! Are you alright? What's going on, why's everypony panicking?” I moved forward to help Lyra up.

“I'm fine. Sorry about running into ya, we heard there was a changeling at the dinner though so we came to check on yo-” She finally stood up and stopped once she looked up.

“Lyra?” I took another step closer. I saw her horn glow, picking up a nearby trash can lid. I saw Bon Bon run up beside her before gasping, “What the hay?”

I feared the worst. I tried to take another step forward only to find the lid smacking me in the face. I looked down into it, and saw my reflection. It was even worse. My horn was still there, but my mane was back as well as normal pony ears. I still sported my shinny black exterior instead of a coat, my eyes remained solid purple, but my fangs were missing. My disguise only half worked. That purple light from before must have been a spell to ruin my disguise. I quickly tried to amend things. “Lyra, Bon Bon, listen. Please. I'm not going to hurt you, or anypony.” I did away with my broken disguise. It was more unsettling than my changeling form. They stood their ground, but didn't run or scream. “It is me. Monochrome Masquerade. The pony you had breakfast with just hours ago.” They seemed to consider my words, glancing at each other then back at me. Bon Bon spoke up first.

“Why should we believe you?” She was rather harsh about it. If I recall though they were pretty adamant about not liking changelings. I tried to think. Why should they believe me? How could I prove I wasn't just taking their friends place, that I was their friend? I looked around, hoping to find something to jog a memory. Anything. My eyes landed on Bon Bon's cutie mark, and I had it.

“Because if you don't, I'll never be able to have any more of that new zap apple candy you made.” I spoke with a smile, hoping if I changed my demeanor, they would. They seemed shocked for a moment, looking at each other again, then focusing their attention back on me. Lyra's horn stopped glowing. Lyra slowly closed the distance between us, looking me in the eye. After a moment she finally spoke.

“Where did I first meet you?” She was serious. None of the bubbly, happy tone she normally sported was showing now. I smiled though.

“Outside the Everfree forest. You didn't trust me at first then since I'd come out without any cuts or bruises.” Her eyes grew wide and she seemed honestly confused. She backed up a couple steps before speaking again.

“... Mask?” I nodded. I saw Bon Bon walk up to her, just as confused. I took a step forward, when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in the side of my head. Everything went dark.

∆∆∆∆∆∆

My head hurt. Oh Celestia, my head hurt! I tried opening my eyes, finding the action too difficult. I tried again, my head protesting at the strain. I was finally able to get my eyes open though, only to be greeted by a wall of books less than a foot from my face. I looked around, only finding more books. An attempt to move my limbs was fruitless, though I wasn't sure if it was fatigue or a spell at this point. After a few seconds of trying to get my bearings, I heard a voice. It sounded young, but I wasn't sure if it was male or female.

“Twilight! It's awake, Twilight!” I heard it run across the room before the sound of hooves on wood accompanied the sound. I found myself forced to turn around against my will to stare into a pair of rather unhappy looking purple eyes. She seemed to size me up for a moment before speaking, her voice firm and serious.

“Where is the pony you replaced?” I tried to think of what she meant. Replaced? I hadn't replaced anypony. Not in years. I tried to speak, finding that action difficult as well.

“I... I haven't replaced.... anypony.” I said simply. Apparently this was the wrong answer because I felt another shot to the side of my head and greeted the floor. I nearly blacked out again from the pain, but was left conscious this time. I heard the voice of the purple eyed one speak up.

“Rainbow! You're hear to play bad cop, not executioner!” I felt myself rise again. She must have a telekinetic hold on me. Once I was up I saw what must have been a flash of concern in her eyes before she seemed to calm down.

“Ok, let's try a different approach. My name is Twilight Sparkle.” She motioned to her right towards the same cyan pegasus that had knocked my unconscious before, and had apparently tried to now. “This is Rainbow Dash.” She didn't look too happy to be here. “What's your name?”

I was surprised she wanted my name. “I'm... M-Monochrome Masquerade.” She looked angry for a moment and I say Rainbow prepare to strike again.

“Not the name of the pony you replaced, your name.” She wasn't being biting, but I could tell by her voice that she thought I was playing with her. I couldn't help my answer though.

“There is... no pony I replaced.” I saw Rainbow get even angrier.

“You mean you killed him?!” Now I was getting mad. Killed? I'd never kill anypony, that's just wrong.

“No! I never killed anypony! Ever!” Speaking was becoming easier at least. That was good. I didn't have much time to enjoy it as the accusations piled on though.

“Horse feathers! You're another one of those disgusting things, I'm sure you've gotten orders to take a few ponies out! Who knows how many lives you've ruined? How many hearts you've probably crushed?” I wanted to protest. I wanted to tell her everything she was saying was wrong... but I didn't know. I wasn't sure what all I had done while still under The Queen... no, Chrysalis' rule. I decided the best course of action would be to explain myself, and hope for the best.

“Listen, please. To my knowledge, I have never done physical harm to anypony. I won't deny I've taken the place of somepony and probably caused, at worse, a very nasty argument at the end of the day. In the hive though, I tried to avoid any collection jobs that required anything other than covert temporary replacement.” I omitted that Chrysalis could simply send the order directly to you and play puppet master. The thought sickened me sometimes. Having somepony in your head, playing with your actions. Every time I thought of it I was glad to know I'd blocked off the signal... I couldn't change. My magic didn't work. “Did you block off my magic? Or just my ability to change?” I couldn't hide the concerned note in my voice.

Twilight looked taken aback, not expecting any of that. She straightened. “I've put a stopper on your magic, yes. We can't risk you causing any damage.” I was beginning to panic now. A mass order could come up at any time, and I'd never convince them. I tried to stay calm while speaking though.

“Please, let me use my magic. In a confined space if necessary. But please it is imperative I be able to use my magic.” She seemed to contemplate this for a moment before surprising me.

“Promise to behave. You are fully aware you won't be able to escape?” She made her magic flair for a moment to emphasize her point. I made a nervous gulp before answering.

“I promise. No funny business.” I needed to get my block back up. Thankfully, I felt the hold on me weaken. I realized though she was keeping me up most of the time, so I found myself collapsing to the ground. I was still weak, so I hoped I could put the block back up as well. When I stood back up, I found the world around me tinted a light purple, realizing I was now in a small bubble. I focused my magic, and found just enough to set up a temporary block. I looked back to Twilight and gave her the most sincere look I could. “Thank you.”

Dash seemed apprehensive, as if I could bust out and attack at any second. “Why are you trusting it?! For all we know it's just an act to start replacing one of us!” She wasn't taking her steely gaze off me. “I say we just turn it over to the Princess now like the others we've found.”

“Dash!” She snapped at her. I wasn't sure if she was concerned about my feelings, or about information being divulged. It was probably the later. She turned back to me. “This is just an interrogation, and I'm willing to trust anypony at least once.” She sat down, relaxing. I took that as a sign and started trying to relax myself. As much as one can inside of a magic bubble shield. “Now, what did you mean there was no pony you replaced?”

“I mean, there never was an 'original' Monochrome Masquerade. I made up the name and the disguise myself. Everything from the white wings to the cutie mark.” Easy enough question at least. Nothing too major.

“Uh huh, sure.” Interjected Rainbow. “Where's your proof?” That stopped me. Where was my proof? I honestly couldn't think of anyway to prove that I wasn't just replacing somepony else. Thankfully, Twilight seemed to be on my side again.

“I'll ask Princess Celestia if she has any records of anypony named 'Monochrome Masquerade'. She can be the final word on that.” I was glad things seemed to be getting easier. With Twilight at least. “So, did you have any plans or missions here in Ponyville?”

“Aside from 'live a normal life'? No. I didn't like the way The Qu... Chrysalis was running things, so I left. I cut myself off from the hive.” Best decision of my life. Things only got better after I left. Better home, better company, better food.

“Now I know that's a lie.” Rainbow was just trying to find some way to fault me now. “Changelings feed off of love, and you were on a date with that red pony when we spotted you!”

“Her name is Rose!” I don't know why it irked me that she didn't use her name. I do know that her accusation hurt though. “And it's not like we just suck somepony dry! We feed through the simple sharing of the emotion. If somepony shares their love with us, it's like a steady food supply... It is possible to siphon more than normal amounts, but it requires controlling the other pony. Then it's not even love anymore, not real anyway.” Twilight seemed to pay a bit more attention when I mentioned control. I was afraid I had struck a nerve before the unthinkable happened.

The world lost it's light purple tinting and I found myself fully mobile again. Rainbow looked ready to charge before Twilight held up a hoof. “I think we can trust you. I won't alert the Princess to you, however you will be under 24/7 surveillance.” She turned her head towards another room. “Owlicious!” A second after her call, a brown owl flew in and landed on her back. “Owlicious here will keep a close eye on you, and let me know if you try anything unsavory.” Rainbow looked livid. Clearly she didn't think I deserved any of this. I wasn't sure why she was trusting me either, but I wasn't questioning it. “Do you have someplace to stay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, a little cabin just outside the Everfree forest.” She seemed surprised that I had already established someplace to stay.

“Well then, you are free to go. Keep in mind though, you are being watched.” She stepped aside, revealing a staircase down to the exit. Before I left though, I tried to change into my pony form. I felt the magic flair for a moment, but nothing worth while. I turned back to Twilight, a sheepish grin on my face.

“Um, my magic is a little weak right now and I can't put my disguise back up. You wouldn't happen to be able to use illusory magic, would you?” She seemed to think for a second before pulling several books from a few different shelves. She flipped through them before shutting them all and placing them back where she found them in only a minute. I saw her horn flair with magic, before I felt a hazy feeling fall over me.

“I don't think it's exactly what you looked like, but that should last at least 24 hours. Long enough to let your own magic return.”

“Thank you.” Owlicious flew off of Twilight's back and onto mine as I made my way downstairs, Twilight and Dash following behind. The sight I was greeted with was rather surprising. Standing by the entrance was a small purple dragon in front of Lyra and Bon Bon. It looked like they were trying to convince him to let them pass. “Lyra? Bon Bon?”

The dragon turned at my voice with a start. He glanced at me and up at Twilight quickly, obviously not expecting me to be here. She gave him a reassuring nod and he stepped aside. Lyra and Bon Bon took a few tentative steps toward me as I reached the bottom of the stairs, looking unsure.

“Mask? That you?” Asked Lyra. I guess Twilight really hadn't gotten the look right.

“Yeah. It's a disguise from Twilight since my own magic is acting up.” We stood in silence for a moment before I finally thought to say something. “I'm sorry. For lying to you two. I just figured you wouldn't handle the truth very well.”

Bon Bon responded with mock indifference. “Handle it? Why in Equestria would we even care? As long as you keep blindly taste testing for me, it doesn't bother me.”

Lyra responded the same. “Besides, you couldn't be evil if you tried. You're too much of a softie.”

I couldn't help but laugh, breaking their facades. They were still my friends. Even after everything that happened today. “Well, that's good to know. I've had kind of a rough day though, so I'm gonna head home.” I made my way to the door and found them trotting up beside me.

“We'll come with you.” Said Lyra. “I've got a new piece that I think you might like anyway.”

“I say it sounds too generic.” Bon Bon looked over at Lyra.

“And I say it sounds classic.” They were bickering like the friends I knew, only serving to brighten my mood. As we left the library, I couldn't help but think that things might be just fine from here on out.

Chapter 1: End

Mason: "And that's that. I'd like to say that the wait for Chapter 2 won't be as bad, but if you have seen anything on my Deviantart-"

Sketchpad: "OUR DeviantArt!"

Mason: "It's mine, you just commandeered it. Anyway, I have a bunch of other stories that need updating, so I plan to work on those for a while. Check em out if you like, or don't. Have a nice day everyone."

Sketchpad: "Everypony."

Mason: "I don't care!"

Comments

[SomeRandomMinion]

Awww, he's still cool with his friends.
Great chapter, though Rainbow seems a bit...crazy here. As in, borderline murderous.
Granted, she'd be REALLY pissed at the Changelings for attacking Equestria, but I dont think she'd attack a helpless prisoner just because they were a Changeling.

I wonder how Celestia will play into Mask's situation. Twilight's gonna have to tell the Princess about him eventually, methinks.

[Sketchpad and Mason]

609561

Sketchpad: "Really think Dash is being out of character? I tried to emphasis that she didn't even view him as a him, but an it. I figured her mindset wasn't so much prisoner as "very smart trapped animal". I'll give it another looky-loo though and see if I can do anything."

Mason: "Mindest, shimindset. You just can't write Dash for crap."

Sketchpad: "I'm getting better, leave me be!"

[Mothykins]

This is one of those cases where Dash could be written one of two ways. She can be hard to convince of anything when she gets an Idea in her head (Not as Bad as AJ gets though!)

This is a situation where they're picking off stragglers from an invasion, she's already all riled up and would be a pain to convince that they're good.

If she bumped into him and found out by accident however, they'd most likely be fine, so long as he kept his head.

I halfways want to do some editing to this, but my workload is as loopy as the lunar goddess.

[Sketchpad and Mason]

609731

Sketchpad: "Thanks for the input, everything helps!"

Mason: "And Arceus knows you need it."

Sketchpad: "Who the BUCK is Arceus?"

[Scorpion]

I must say that this is shaping up to be a great fic. Kinda curious about how rose will react though.

[Sketchpad and Mason]

614304

Sketchpad: "Me too!"

Mason: "What do you mean, 'me too'?"

Sketchpad: "Oh, you think I plan this stuff out? I just open up the story and see what happens next!"

Mason: "... You're an idiot, you know that?"

[PonymianRhapsody]

Can't tell if two people, or just insane...

Anyways, quite enjoying the fic so far. My only complaint is that Monochrome Masquerade sort of breaks the four syllable rule, but he seems like a very interesting character. My only qualm is that Twilight did seem a little easy to convince, though I commend you for not wasting too much time on the interrogation. Quite a tricky little thing you had there, tough to write your way out of perfectly, but you seemed to handle it fairly well. I eagerly await to see what happens to our friend next.

[Sketchpad and Mason]

617747

Mason: "Might I just say, I love the name."

Sketchpad: "... Creeper."

Mason: "Shut it! Anyway, no we're not insane... sometimes."

Sketchpad: "And I get what you're saying about Twi. It will be explained later, but after hearing him speak up about Rose and how he seemed to disprove of the method used to siphon more love power, she feels he deserves ONE chance."

Mason: "Or you just can't write for Dash OR Twi."

Sketchpad: "... When are you leaving?"

Mason: "Never."

[Cleopatra]

are you done with the second chapter? also, why is there a changeling that not feed on "love?" is twilight happy about letting him go?
will celestia pretend there is a monochrome masquerade?

[Sketchpad and Mason]

622586

Sketchpad: "Second chapter isn't even started yet."

Mason: "He does feed on love."

Sketchpad: "She is not happy."

Mason: "And we have no idea."

Sketchpad: "We cover everything?"

Mason: "I think so."

[Cleopatra]

623082 *rolls eyes*you need a PARTY CANNON!
Pinkie, I don't think that's what they need. Then what do they need?
A motivation. HIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA * slams sledge hammer into Mason's leg* I will keep doing that every Monday until you finish the second chapter.See ya.

[Sketchpad and Mason]

624858

Mason: "OH SWEET MUFFINS YOU PONIES ARE F***ING CRAZY!!!"

Sketchpad: "Celestia! The buck, AJ?! You can't use a sledgehammer to get rid of writer's block!"

Mason: "I'M NOT EVEN THE ONE WRITING THIS ONE!!!"

Sketchpad: "Alright, let's get you to Redheart. Geez, girls are buckin' crazy."

Mason: "Agreed."

[Cleopatra]

625183
Hey! Ah didn't slam a hammer in the poor guy's leg! Dawn did!
Yep. I did.
Now you two apo.. aplog...argh darn these buckin' long words...say sorry ta me.

Commentor's notes: Dawn is my OC. Also, what the ponies add will be bolded.

[Sketchpad and Mason]

625223

Sketchpad: "I apologize AJ, but I still say girls are crazy."

Mason: "Pretty pony..."

Sketchpad: "That'd would be the hospital drugs."

[Necroshade]

I really like where your story is going

But maybe you should get a better cover picture for it,
your story will get more attention when the picture looks good.
Yes, we humans are picture whores

[Sketchpad and Mason]

640175

Mason: "What can I say, I love to draw my own stuff. I'll look into at least getting it drawn up in flash though."

Sketchpad: "You?! Please, you can barely use a tablet as anything other than a coaster!"

Mason: "You're seriously starting to irk me."

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Very interesting, gonna follow this one.

[Cynderfall]

MOAR!! Um... If that's not to much trouble...

[Coli Chibi]

Pretty decent so far. Keep it up.

[Teraunce]

too bad this is dead.