Out of the city, back in the town

“Hooooo… COULD YOU TWO SLOW DOWN!!!????” A dark blue unicorn, Masquerade Eclipse yelled out to his two flying siblings, his black and white mane whipping about, his horn sticking through the unkempt hair, and the prominent black sun that was his cutie mark on his flank stuck out among the blue. Their parents were a unicorn and Pegasus, hence the mix between types.

“Sorry bro! But you need to learn to keep up!” Black Scoundrel, the third-born, laughed from where he was on high, his black and red mane windblown to craziness, his black coat shining like it always did.

“WELL EXCUSE ME FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FLY!” Masquerade yelled back.

“At least it’s half and half.” Lightning Dasher sighed, trotting alongside her older brother, pink and light blue mane waving about, and pink coat in its usual groomed state, winged lightning bolt cutie mark shown proudly.

“I guess you have a point, it’s still unfair.” Masquerade sighed.

“INCOMING!” A familiar raspy voice yelled.

“Oh you’ve got be kidding me.” Masquerade sighed as he ducked, a familiar rainbow streak flying by, “NOT TODAY RAINBOW DASH!” He yelled as the light blue Pegasus landed ahead of him, skidding to a stop right up in his face.

“Nice to see you’re as perceptive as ever Masquerade Eclipse!” Rainbow Dash snickered, “Where’s Dark Scoundrel?”

“You’re missing one.” Masquerade laughed.

“What do you mean? You only have two siblings!” Dash said with her eyes narrowed.

“That’s three dummy!” Lightning Flicker, the youngest of the bunch, red and black were his coat colors, and his mane the opposite color scheme of Scoundrels, squeaked as he flew down.

“Since when was this little guy around?!” Dash said when she saw the filly.

“Since a few years before we got back to Canterlot.” Masquerade pointed out.

“Did I ask you?” Dash bit, shooting back around.

“Technically yes.” Masquerade stated, narrowing his eyes slightly, shifting his bags slightly.

"Rainbow Dash!” Dasher yelled as she ran right into the Pegasus. Masquerade shook his head, mane flipping about, his tail fluffing up from irritation, the white streak sticking out among the black like a sore hoof.

“Guess some things will never change.” He chuckled as he levitated Flicker onto his back, seeing as the filly had fallen over from exhaustion.

“So what brings you guy’s back to good ol’ Ponyville?” Dash asked as she hovered next to Masquerade as the group made their way into town.

“Our parents decided to send us here again. They’ve got way to much stuff to take care of back in Canterlot and figured it would be easier for the four of us to stay here. And of course that means I’ve got to keep an eye on them.” he replied, sighing as Scoundrel zipped about without a care in the world.

“Yeah, I remember how fun it was to bust him out of his room and let you track us down!” Dash laughed.

“IT WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR! You guys always hid up in clouds! And you know I can’t get to you guys when you’re up in the clouds!” Masquerade snapped.

“I see your temper hasn’t changed.” Dash laughed

“Oh shut up.” Masquerade groaned, “Oh hey we’re in town! Let’s get to the house!” he said quickly, moving up to a trot.

“As anxious as ever.” Dash chuckled.

“Yup, he still doesn’t like overly long trips either, so he’s a little jumpy.” Dasher snickered as she walked through the door.

“Coming through!” Scoundrel yelled as he zipped through after Dasher, “It’s good to be back!” He laughed as he flew around.

“Dark Scoundrel, how many times have I told you not to fly that fast inside? If you break something you’ll be the one fixing it!” Masquerade yelled.

“Oh come on Eclipsey, give him a break!” Dash laughed as she zipped around along with Scoundrel, who was knocking over various objects which Masquerade caught with his magic.

“I thought I told you not to call me that!” Masquerade growled, his left eye twitching from irritation as he placed a vase back on it's stand. His eyes widened when a large crash sounded out, and debris flew by, some getting stuck in his mane.

“You’re all back! YAY!” Pinkie Pie laughed, “It started to get boring here without you guys! Well, not that much.”

“Pinkie Pie!” Dasher giggled as she trotted over to the bubbly pink pony, whose signature party cannon sat outside. Masquerade shook his head back and forth, shaking the debris out.

“Did you have to bust down the wall with your party cannon!?” he shouted at Pinkie, “And since when was anything boring for you!?”

“Yep! But you guys missed out on so much here!” Pinkie laughed.

“If you’re talking about Nightmare Moon and the Elements of Harmony, we know! It’s not that hard to figure stuff out when we live in Canterlot!” Masquerade stated bluntly, starting to pick up the debris, a cobalt aura surrounding the pieces as he levitated them and began replacing them.

“Aw, that ruins the surprise.” Pinkie huffed, a silly sort of pout on her face.

“Yeah, well I’m not one for surprises.” Masquerade sighed as he held the busted wood in place.

“Masquerade Eclipse, I’ll finish this up. You go and take care of the other two, I got this. That, and they’re driving me crazy!” Dasher stated.

“Flicker’s asleep, how is he bothering you?” Masquerade asked as Dasher took over fixing the wall.

“He SNORES! And he talks, in his sleep!” Dasher complained. Masquerade looked down at the sleeping filly on the sofa.

“Muffins… Angel Cake leave me alone!” Flicker said in his sleep, his legs flailing around.

“Who’s Angel Cake?” Dash asked into Masquerades ear, whose eyes narrowed and ears flattened onto his head.

“Don’t ask.” He groaned, face-hoofing while shaking his head.

“Oh, just this cute little filly who just so happens to have a crush on Lightning Flicker, she doesn’t like to leave him alone. She goes coo coo whenever she sees him.” Dasher giggled.

“How coo coo?” Dash asked, eyes widening.

“Even worse than Pinkie Pie coo coo.” Masquerade growled.

“Oh, that’s not good is it?” Dash asked with wide eyes.

“Nuh uh.” Dasher replied, shaking her head “But I let her chase him!”

“Why!? If she’s as crazy as you say she is you should, I don’t know, keep her away from Flicker?” Dash suggested, “Do you allow this?” she asked Masquerade.

“No, I don’t really even have a say since Dasher is Angel Cake’s foal-sitter.” Masquerade sighed dejectedly, “But she is a pegasus, and being only a filly she tires quickly, although Dasher will let her take naps in OUR HOUSE!” he shouted.

“Do her parents even she’s with you guys most of the time?” Dash asked, a little bit shocked.

“Yep! Their usually very busy, so she gets to come over whenever she likes!” Dasher giggled, “Done!” she snickered, stepping back and gesturing to her handiwork.

“I feel sorry for the little guy now.” Dash sighed.

“I’d like to meet her!” Pinkie Pie laughed, optimistic as always.

“Pinkie Pie, follow me.” Dasher said, leading the earth pony out the door, but not before Scoundrel zipped over and caused her mane and tail to poof up like crazy. Dasher started breathing heavily, an angry look on her face, “DARK SCOUNDREL!!! YOU LITTLE DEMON! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!” She shrieked, dashing after the laughing Pegasus.

“We almost got… out the door…” Pinkie sighed. Rainbow Dash was rolling on the floor and laughing hysterically.

“Oh that’s too good! HAHAHAHAHA! This is hilarious!” she laughed.

“Rainbow Dash!” Dasher growled.

“Umm, I’ll see you guy’s later! Buy!” Dash said quickly, zipping out the door.

“Umm, Masquerade, what are you gonna do about… that?” Pinkie Pie asked, gesturing to the entire room.

“What do you mean?” Masquerade asked the pink pony.

“Turn around.” Pinkie snickered, quietly laughing to herself as she made a circle with her hoof. Masquerade rolled his eyes and turned around, and then his eyes widened and his jaw hit the floor. Lightning Dasher was standing amidst stacks of overturned furniture, and dozens of scattered books.

“Pinkie Pie, please take Lightning Flicker up to his room while I fix this. I’ll be done in about an hour.” He groaned, placing his hoof on his face, an angry look on it, “Good grief why do they always do this?”

“No problem!” Pinkie said, saluting, picking up the red and black sleeping filly and trotting up the stairs.

“He messed up… my mane… I’m going to kill him.” Dasher growled.

“No you’re not. You, missy, are going to help me fix this, and then, I’m going to have a talk with you and Dark Scoundrel.” Masquerade bit, starting to levitate various objects, the cobalt aura on his horn rather bright.

“Great, now my day is ruined! My mane is messed up, it’ll take hours to fix to make it the way it was before, and now I have to clean!” Dasher complained, speaking dramatically, a turquoise aura surrounding her horn as she levitated books back onto the shelves.

“Quit whining!” Masquerade snapped. I seriously need to get them in line. He muttered in his head, taking off his bags and placing them in a corner. A loud yawn sounded from the stairs.

“Hey, what’s going on down here? Dasher, what’s up with your mane?” Dark Scoundrel said sleepily.

“You should know! You’re the one who messed it up!” Dasher shrieked, all the items she was levitating falling to the floor.

“I was sleep flying, and trying to beat Rainbow Dash.” He said casually.

“Wait, you had a dream with Rainbow Dash in it?” Dasher asked.

“So? It was just about a race.” Scoundrel said, sounding a little angry.

“Does that mean that you…?” Dasher pried.

“No! What gives you that idea?” Scoundrel said quickly.

“Haagh. Can you guys clean this mess please? I need to take a walk.” Masquerade groaned, walking out the door and closing it, leaving the other two with dumfounded looks as they started complaining and snapping various threats and names. He let out a breath.

“I get two steps out the door and their already at each other’s throats.” He sighed as he walked through town.

“Let me take a guess, Lightning Dasher and Dark Scoundrel again?” a mare’s voice with a country accent asked. Masquerade turned around and saw the ever familiar Applejack, her hat sitting in its usual spot.

“Applejack! Uh… hehe… yeah… we just got back… and uh… you know how they are… ehehehe.” Masquerade stuttered. Why do I start stuttering like an idiot whenever I’m around Applejack? He groaned in his head as the mare walked up to him.

“Well, it’s nice to see ya’ll are back in town! You what brought ya’ back?” Applejack asked the nervous stallion.

“Uhh…. Parent’s sent us back… you kn0w how busy they can be… so… yeah… ehehehe…” Masquerade stuttered again, doing his best to hide the blush that was forming, rather hard to do considering he had a blue coat.

“Masquerade are you okay? You’re stuttering more than a chipmunk in the middle of winter, and you’re also red as a beet!” Applejack questioned, taking a closer look at Masquerade.

“Um… yeah… I’m fine! No problems here! Hehehe…” Masquerade chuckled nervously.

“If you say so.” Applejack sighed, “Sheesh, sometimes you worry me to no end Masquerade. What with your odd way of switching between being a stressed out older brother, a stuttering wreck, and one of the nicest ponies I know this side of the Apple family farm.”

“Uh… yeah… sorry…” Masquerade sighed, feeling embarrassed at his little display. Sheesh, I’m such an emotional cliff diver he groaned inside his head, “So, uh, how have you guy’s been?”

“We’ve all been fine and dandy, well, unless you count when Nightmare Moon showed up.” Applejack sighed, falling into pace besides Masquerade.

“Yeah I guess so.” Masquerade sighed, his cool having been recomposed, “But my stress levels are still at an all-time high.”

“Well, when you have siblings as active as yours it’s understandable, especially since you have to deal with the two on your lonesome.” Applejack stated, “If you ever need it I’d be willing to help.”

“Thanks. And its three now. Pinkie Pie’s helping out by watching the little one.” Masquerade stated with an almost tired sigh, “That, and Pinkie Pie busted the wall with her party cannon. Again.”

“How long did it take you to fix this time?” Applejack chuckled.

“Ten minutes.” Masquerade stated proudly.

“Is that who I think it is?” a stallion’s voice said from around the corner, a rather enthusiastic sound to it.

“Hijinks!? Is that you!?” Masquerade called out only to move out of the way as the white earth pony shot by, his light blue mane and tail sticking out all over the place as always, a wild humor in his silver eyes. Hijinks cutie mark was a light blue musical note, reflecting Hijinks’ musical talent, though Masquerade would dare say it sounded like a collaboration of bells and brass and various other instruments that was somehow entertaining along with his very elaborated pranks.

“The one and only!” Hijinks declared with a comic bow.

“And just when I thought I’d lost you Hijinks!” another stallion, a grey Pegasus with an orange mane and black tail, along with glasses and a beret on said as he landed, his cutie mark a cloud with a bolt through it.

“And Cloud Chaser! Sheesh, might as well see if we can find Night Watcher, Kink, and Gemmio for crying out loud!” Masquerade laughed, only to be bowled over by three other stallions: A black Pegasus with equally black mane and eyes to match with a cutie mark shaped like a search light, a turquoise earth pony with an orange frizzy mane and a cutie mark similar to Hijinks, seeing as how Kink and Hijinks are brothers, and an orange unicorn with a straight green mane and tail that had black streaks on the right side, sporting a black pocketed vest and a cutie mark that was two art brushes crossed behind a crystal.

“DID YOU ALL HAVE TO TACKLE ME AT ONCE!?” Masquerade yelled as his friends piled off and he stared at all five of them with an angry glare.

“Dude, we’re just saying we’re glad you’re back after… how many years was it?” Kink asked Cloud Chaser.

“Three years, five months, twelve days, ten hours, twenty minutes and fifteen seconds.” Cloud Chaser said as he moved his glasses up on his muzzle a little, getting bewildered looks from the other five stallions and Applejack, “What? I always keep track of the time that goes by.”

“That’s kinda creepy Cloud Chaser.” Night Watcher sighed.

“Not as creepy as running into you at night.” Gemmio laughed.

“Shut it gem hoarder!” Watcher bit.

“Nice to see none of you guys have changed!” Masquerade laughed.

“YES! We cheered him up!” Kink declared as he slapped a high-hoof with Hijinks.

“I’ll just leave you boys to do whatever it is you’re going to do.” Applejack said as she trotted off.

“Alrght, now that your back, how about we throw a celebratory party!?” Hijinks laughed as he put a hoof around Masquerade.

“NO THANK YOU!” Masquerade yelped as he moved a few steps away from the white stallion, “Whenever you try to throw a party you always wind up pranking me and breaking something in the process!”

“But that’s where all the fun is!” Hijinks chuckled.

“Eclipsey here has a point Hijinks.” Chaser stated.

“Have you been hanging out with Rainbow Dash again?” Masquearde asked with an angry sigh.

“Yep.” Chaser laughed, feeling thankful that Rainbow Dash had taught him all the ways to mess with Masquerades temper for some fun.

“But come on Masquerade, I think you need to have a little fun considering you must be out here because of your siblings.” Gemmio stated with a somewhat mischievous grin.

“I guess so yeah, but if you guys pull anything I won’t hesitate to hurt you.” Masquearde laughed.

“That’s the Masquerade Eclipse I know!” Watcher snickered.