I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Dinner had gone smoothly, or as smoothly as Twilight could have made it. It turns out that the only thing worst then a teasing Masquerade, was a teasing Masquerade with a nosey adopted brother known as Spike. Together with there super powered collaboration skills forged from memories of the one certain lavender Mare, they tease Twilight 'Twinkle' Sparkle to embarrass her to no end!
Thankfully, the two did stop after a while when Masquerade had asked Spike on what he as "Number one assistant" did for Twilight. She was glad the two got together well and not get into a situation of a suspicious Drake and unsure guy eyeing him like a miniature attack dog. Celestia knows how awkward it would be for spike to assume him as her Colt friend!
Masquerade had also told Spike how he use to watch over him at times and practice his acting a bit with both him and Twilight as an audience. When Spike had asked what sort of acting, Masquerade merely lit his horn in what she sometimes felt like eerie green and lifted out a white mask and a white cloak, fastening them on face and neck before sanding up and moving away from the table.
With what she could only describe as carefully practiced ease, he lit his horn again, sending the room into shadows with green mist, making slight illusions of trees with vines and begin to weave out a tail of the forests of everfree. He would narrate his story with his normal voice and ever smiling white mask before his horn flashed and would change both the mask and cloaks, color and form, using a voice not his own to continue the tail. She was surprised at his skill now compared to when he was a Colt. Before his voice would change only a bit, but now it was hard to tell if he was actually a Mare in disguise!
It also didn't help that his skinny frame that was his body worked well, as he would use a spell to make the cloak almost mold around his body to make it seem he had a body of a Mare or Stallion of his choosing. The tail he gave was a bout a demon that lurked in the shadows of the everfree, searching out for foolish guards to torture or virgins to torment, and ending it with a witty jester for a hero in laughing in the face such fear inducing danger.
Over all, when he was done and released the illusion, both she and Spike gave him an applause for his acting and giving them a nice dinner show. And being the performer he was, bowed and said he would be doing acts for free if given a free meal.
However, after the display Twilight had all but attack the poor Stallion as to how he made such well crafted illusions. She had to ask because he had used it to make his cloak mimicked bat like wings while his mask took a demon like shape, scaring Spike and her out of there wits, even more so with a malevolent like voice. He only smiled and asked if she really wanted to know. She nodded and he went to her ear and whispered "It's magic!"
Making her fault to the ground as he laughed at her sheer surprise. Oh he forgot how fun it was to be around her!
After Twilight had righted herself and gave semi-stern glare and the snickering Stallion who gave a smug, but playful, smirk and levitated both mask and cloak back to his bag and return to eating the fruit salad Spike had made. He had complemented the young Dragon on his cooking skills, saying he very much enjoyed the fruit that was chosen for the ingredients.
In the end, they all headed to bed with Spike leading Masquerade to the guest room for the night while Twilight went up the stairs to her own room she shared with Spike. She didn't forget to grab the book she was reading earlier that day when she bumped into her old friend by chance. She was on a rather juicy chapter, and was very much egger to see how in turned out.
It was a time before Spike made his way up the stairs himself and plop down into his basket sized bed, where upon he wrapped himself in a cocoon of blanket and fall asleep soon after. Even to this day, Twilight Sparkle could not contain her giggles at how cute and adorable he looked when he did that. Sure he sounded like any ten year old Colt, but he was still technically a baby for his species. Then again, even if he was ten year old Colt, he'd still be cute and adorable.
With mornings dawning light did the inhabitants wake up and greet the day. Or, most did. In the case for one Dragon, he could really care less about waking up and would rather stay in his little soft den of warmth. This was the common sight for Twilight to wake up and see every morning. Like clock work she'd get up clean up and go down to the kitchen, heat up a cup of coffee, warm up some food, go back up the stairs to wake spike and then come down to eat.
Only, the black lump that was sitting at the table with a book on physiology got her to stop and do a double take. Turning to him and the table, she could only look in some shock at the few book he had. In two neat piles on either side of him were a few books, mostly of psychology, physiology and sociology.
"Masquerade," Both of his ears shot up at her voice and eyes locked onto her from. For some reason, a small smirk worked its way onto her face, making his eyes look a little panicked.
"Are you studying?" She asked with a false smile while walking up to him. Looking left and right as if looking for an escape rout, he said "Well, I wouldn't say study and more like…" Screwing up his face as if to look for the right words and settled for "Curious and fascinated on a few subjects I wanted to go more in-depth on?"
"Mmhmm…" She hummed with the same smirk on her face "It sounds like your studying to me!"
Looking down at the book before him, then back at her and back down, he pointed a hoof accusingly "I blame you for turning me into a more studious Unicorn."
She laughed at that and just continued on to the kitchen to get her morning caffeine. As she left the Stallion behind, she could hear some quit grumbles of "Females and there bossy nature when at a young age." She giggle at that to, as it had something to do with her dragging him off for studying seasons.
Stopping just past the door way she called back "Would you like coffee?" A brief moment past before a thump and a rhythm of clip-clops met her ears as he walked in saying "No thanks, but you did help remind me to eat something."
Sparing a quick look over the kitchen and lighting horn to pluck up a orange, peal it, drop non-edibles in trash and bring it out the door with him in just seconds.
Blinking a few time she asked, "Are you sure that's enough?"
"It'll do!"
Breakfast was interesting enough with having Masquerade around. Normally it was spent in some silence with her going over the daily activities and reminding Spike about tasks or upcoming things. True it was silent for a time, before Masquerade begin talking. He would read the book he had before him a bit, then stop to listen in and comment before diving back into the text and maybe eat some of his orange.
It amazed her that it took 15 minutes for him to eat that one orange- just because he was so lost in the book, it just hang in the air, slowly orbiting his head. Spike found it rather funny and tried stabbing it a few times, only for it suddenly dodge out of the way like it had a mind of its own.
But now, she was just happy to be out and about and leave Masquerade at the library where he had pulled out a map and some bits saying he would like to spend some time planning as to what or where to go next. He might have also mentioned something about finishing the last few books in his reading pile.
Twilight quickly found herself giggling to herself again over his ever strange actions. The Colt did seem to be one pony show in the literal sense. Even more so with his talents being closely knitted with acting.
"Well, somepony's is in a certainly good mood today." A more sophisticated voice said gaining her attention.
Looking in the direction of the voice and putting on a smile, Twilight waved, "Hey girls." And made her way to both a white Unicorn Mare with elegantly curling mane and a butter yellow Pegasus Mare with gracefully long pink mane.
"Hello Twilight." The more shyer Pegasus softly greeted Twilight. The other Unicorn walked up to her with the Pegasus close at hoof and asked "Now, what has you such high spirits today darling?"
Looking to her rather egger friend, she told her, "Well Rarity, I had just ran into an old friend of mine that was also a college at the school I attended as a Filly."
"Really now?" She asked interested "Perhaps you could tell us about this Pony while you accompany us? We just came from the spa and were heading for a small bite." Hoping to pump Twilight of more information as to who this friend of her was. Heavens know they don't know much of there studious friends past.
"I just ate…but maybe I could sit in and chat for a bit." The lavender Mare agreed, soon fallowing the two. Taking a few moments to gather her thoughts on the Pony in question she started with his name.
"His name's Masquerade." garnering both other Mares attention already "And as I said, I knew him back when I was part of University for gifted Unicorns."
"Was he good at magic?" Came the soft chime from the Pegasus. With a smile Twilight said "Sometimes Fluttershy, but if anything, his real strength was his control." And looked to her Unicorn friend "Something like to your magic Rarity, less power but more delicacy in usage."
"He's also nice, if not a bit shy at times. Then again, that was when he was just a Colt, I don't know if he's still like that." For a moment Twilight took her time to think that over. Bringing up last nights activities she decided on, "No, I think he's past his shyness now."
Giving the lavender Unicorn a curious look rarity asked, "What makes you say that?" Getting closer to her home and work place, she began to work out what sort of tea would go nicely for this conversation and what treats that would fit in with such tea.
"Well, he got to meet Spike last night, who didn't remember him from being so young at the time, and seemed to warm up to his more friendly personality." This was soon fallowed by a grin and added, "His little performance during dinner probably helped to."
"Performance?" Fluttershy asked fallowing closely after Rarity who stepped thru the threshold of her home and make her way to the dinning room.
"Yes, Masquerade has a unique talent for acting, and uses his magic to make illusions that help his performance and acting when he told the story." Rarity smiled at what she was hearing and couldn't help but comment, "It sounded like you had a fabulous evening with him. Tell me, is he visiting or something?"
The question made Twilight go quite and think about her old friends predicament. She had thought about it a few times but hadn't try to pry into his business on the matter. She wasn't sure it was her place to really ask when she thought about it more and more.
Only when Rarity came back into the room with three cups of tea and some snacks did Twilight hesitantly say, "Not exactly." Trying to find the right words to say.
Fluttershy, picking up on her friends distress asked, "Is everything alright Twilight?" The Pegasus wasn't sure what brought up the shift in mood over the question, but it seemed a little upsetting to her.
"I'm not sure Fluttershy." Twilight relented, "When I ran into Masquerade yesterday, he was apparently looking for a place to stay. He told me he had left home because of some…Family matters." And floated the offered tea to herself before taking a light sip and setting it on its scarcer.
Concern seemed to come over Rarity's features gasping, "I hope the dear's alright?"
Waving a dismissive hoof Twilight assured, "He's fine from what I can see. Not to mention just as stubborn and annoying as always." At this point she had looked to the side making a mental note not to let it slip about his tendency's on teasing her. She wasn't sure if she could live with that level of embarrassment.
Both yellow and white Mares looked at the other over there lavender counterpart and the reason behind her interesting choice of words. She had said he was nice earlier, and now stubborn and annoying? Rarity decided she would ask, "Twilight, I thought you said he was a nice fellow?"
Almost snorting at that she replied, "He is, but sometimes he can be difficult in trying to be proper or less burdensome."
"Maybe that's how he was raised?" Fluttershy offered while watching the lavender Unicorn work that line of thought over. Only to shake her head, "I wouldn't know. I don't know anything about his family."
Taking another sip of her own tea Rarity said "In any case, you should introduce us to this Stallion some time?" And got a negative shake of the head.
"He was only passing thru when I saw him, so I doubt he'd stay around for long." Twilight told them both, while they looked at the other with Rarity asking once more, "Has Pinkie Pie met him yet at least? The poor dear would feel heart broken knowing she missed greeting a Pony."
Rolling her eyes at that Twilight just said, "Rarity, plenty of Ponies pass thru town, I doubt Pinkie can set up a party for every single new Pony that sets hoof in town." But then got a sudden twitch in her mind, "That reminds me, have either of you seen her lately?"
"Not I." Rarity denied, not seeing hide nor hair or the pink maelstrom of party mayhem rushing around as of late. Both turning to a not surprisingly quite Fluttershy, who only said, "I think Rainbow Dash mention something about a day out with her."
Some distance away in an apple orchard, Apple Jack bucked away at the surrounding trees gathering bushels of apples and piling them into a cart before repeating the process. Once it was full, she could head back to the barn and have a nice lunch and deserved nap before getting to work on one of the old rotten fence posts in the west side of the orchard.
She went up to the next tree and readied her rear legs for another strong hit- and suddenly shot them out in a miss-fire when a set really loud horns went off and scared the hebby-gibbis out of her and fall to the ground. This was soon fallowed by two distinct laughing forms in both tree and cloud, with ear protectors and air-horns in both hooves.
"When my ears stop ring'en, Ya'll better get out 'ere and 'xplain yer selves!" The apple farmer shouted, still partially deaf and vainly searching for the direction of the dull laughing that had suddenly restarted after her irritated shout.
"I'm sure what ever there doing wont get them into trouble." Fluttershy nodded with rarely shown confidence and returned to drinking her tea. The two Unicorns were a little doubtful on the two most rambunctious of there little circle of friends to stay out of trouble when working together, but there was nothing they could do but drink there tea.
So, drink there tea they did. After all, they might as well enjoy the peace and quite while they-
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: ENTERER DESIGNERS! YAY!"
They all let out a sigh as the peace and quite was shattered into tinny little bits.
Spike watched with some minor interest as Masquerade looked thru multiple books on Eqestrias Cities, Towns, Villages and even well known Camping areas while looking over his map, scrutinizing it before looking back at the books. The Orange from that morning was long gone and the books he had were read thru, leaving him left to his traveling plans. So far he had yet to decide what to do as he would trace it out, count his bits and repeat the process in slightly different ways as if planning for a different scenario.
It was almost like watching Twilight plan out her time away from home, only his was more focused and heavily considered. a lot less of the ste planning that one does when there sure, and more of the I can do this if this happens, but if not I could do this type of planning when there unsure.
"Do you even know where your going?" Spike finally asked, ignoring his comic book for the time being. It was a nice read, but watch what he could almost see as slight variant of Twilight work was more engaging then the comic at the moment.
"Not really" Masquerade admitted after a brief silence, moving one of the book orbiting his head to his face, where he proceded to trace out a path with his eyes and count out bits again.
Curiosity finally taking a strong hold over him, Spike close his comic and placed it on a small table near his seat before getting up and walking over to the larger Pony and watch him work. Lifting a scaly brow he asked, "What are you doing exactly?"
Sparing the younger and curious mind next to him, he explained, "Plotting possible paths, expecting possible weather conditions, possible breaking spots, possible sleeping spots, possible monetary costs and earnings as well as set backs from other possible problems."
He stopped all work when he felt two eyes just look at his in confusion and heard, "Your planning all that out?"
"Maybe," He replied, "But I'm starting to think I'll be stuck settling here." And looked back down at the map before him trying to find something that could work out.
"Something wrong with Ponyville?" Spike asked almost offended and crossed his arms. Yet, even after that, the Stallion continued to work with the same level of speed and efficiency as before as if he didn't hear him at all.
"Oh, quit the opposed my young friend." He stated, counting out the bits he had again as he traced a new path. "It's rather nice here." Counting out an amount of bits into a pile before pulling them back and running the success of the idea working, but finding it lacking.
"Nice Ponies, friendly atmosphere, clean air, open fields." He continued to name off the things he had seen, "this place also has a nearby group of the Apple Clan, that's a plus no matter what!"
"You know Apple Jack family?" Spike questioned.
With a shake of his head he said, "Not personally, only met her yesterday when getting a few apples to snack on. But my family knows of them and likes to purchase food goods from them."
The young dragon nodded to that, more then understanding that line of thinking. "There's also you and Twinkles," Masquerade added, making Spike snicker at Twilights nick name, "You both live around here, so it might not be to bad to live around some familiar faces."
With that final bit he folded up the map and floated it to his saddle bag, packing it away. The future was looking rather peaceful for now to him. Maybe he can start something new after all?
Casting his gaze outside to all the Ponies milling about there lives and there constant smiles, he could only confirm to himself Yes, perhaps this little sleepy town will do just fine.