Hollow Mask

Twilight stirred in her bed. She opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling which was hidden by darkness. The darkness filling the room was uncanny. Different than normal. It was like it was moving, looking at her, judging her, reaching out for her. She cast a spell to light the room but it failed. Twilight's mind filled with panic. 'This is just a nightmare,' she reassured herself. That mental statement did nothing to calm her down.

"I assure you, it is not a nightmare," a female voice said, "However, I must say I don't like this darkness either."

Twilight saw a tall figure move in her bedroom. It stepped over Spike's bed with its two feet and now stood at the foot ending of her bed. The figure moved it's long arms and the darkness fled the room. It was now just dark in a normal sense. Twilight cast a spell instantly and looked at the strange creature as the light crystals glowed dimly.

Twilight could see it was female. She was bipedal, her skin was of a pale pink shade and she was only slightly smaller than Celestia. She wore black pants and jacket. The jacket was open and revealed a buttoned up white, long-sleeved shirt. Her feet were covered by black shoes. Her body was flat without much curves. Looking at her face, Twilight noticed that she was slim and her skin was slightly pale like a plant that needed more sunlight. Her hairs were blonde and combed into a style that reminded Twilight of her own. Large glasses in thin golden frames sat on a small nose. Her blue eyes looked at Twilight, absorbing her as much as Twilight was her. The figure smiled, revealing white and sharp teeth. Her right arm clamped a clipboard to her and in her left breast pocket was a small blue book.

"Are you done looking at me?" the figure asked, "We have things to discuss and Celestia will not wait forever to raise her sun."

Twilight hesitated. She was not used to some random creature appearing in her room and the talking to her like nothing happened. She took a few deep breaths while the creature waited patiently. "What and who are you?" she croaked out.

The smile of the strange creature dropped, "Hmm. I can't give you the full answer you want. I have no real name yet. You can call me the Librarian. That name about fits my job. For what I am, the answer is more complicated."

Twilight frowned, "How complicated?"

"Very complicated," said the Librarian in her soft and quiet voice, "For all intents and purposes I am a human. If you want the slightly longer answer, I have choosen this form not long ago and I quite like it. I designed my hair after yours." The human smiled slightly at Twilight shortly and returned to a more neutral expression. Her voice reminded Twilight of Fluttershy. "Yes. She had a bit of influence in the final pitch and my choice of words. I like her quiet style. Though the basis came from someone other. Fluttershy's kind voice has a more brutal impact on others," she quipped.

"You can read my mind?" asked Twilight bewildered.

"No," the Librarian frowned, "not fully. I can read out some memories or ideas if they are very strong or emotional. I would like to get to business now." She pulled out a pen with her left hand and hold the clipboard with her right. The strange appendage gave Twilight a uncanny feeling. She watched as tendoms and muscles shifted under the pale skin. Hunter had described humans to her. The pegasus mare had told her many unbelievable and strange things the day before.

The Librarian smiled again, "I know her very well, Twilight. She is part of what we have to talk about.

"First, I will give you a short briefing about Hunter and some things surrounding her. Then I will ask you some questions. My... Well... Let's call him my employer... My employer is concerned about the future of Equestria. Part of that is the reason he made me the way I am. Never met him in person, so don't ask. Even his gender is a guess. Sooo.... Shall we begin?"

Twilight stared shortly at the female human before she sat up and got in a more comfortable talking position, "Yes. You seem friendly enough. I'm very interested but also brutally tired."

A cup of coffee appeared on the bed, which Twilight quickly levitated with her magic and took a sip, "Perfect. This is the best coffee I ever had. It is a bit strong but thanks. I didn't know humans had magic too. From what Hunter said I gathered they didn't have it."

"I like my coffe a bit stronger but I already had my share on my way here. By the way, normal humans don't have magic but rules don't quite apply to me," the Librarian smiled, "Sooo... Briefing. Some of the informations you will receive are confidential. I must ask you to remain silent about anything we talk about tonight. You can Hunter that we met but that's it. My employer will not be happy if you spoiled any of what we will talk about. Trust me, you will not like the consequences.

"As you know Hunter was not a pegasus all the time. Not long ago she used to look like me, like a human, except 'she' was male. She doesn't show it, but it was quite a shock to find out. Hmm.. Tangents. She was brought to Equestria for a reason. My employer has the impression that you will not be able to deal with some of the... hmm.. problems that you will encounter. Hunter was one of many candidates to be sent here. He was the one with most potential and was transformed and sent here. Her memory about the transformation was wiped.

"Considering she sleeps on your couch I would say you took her in quite well despite the early troubles. She has told you a bit of her knowledge on physics if I remember correctly. I must say your face was priceless when she dropped the bomb about spacetime."

"I don't see her potential," interrupted Twilight, "How can somepony be a hero, if she is about as empathic as a rock. I mean, look at what she has done at Fluttershy's cottage. She scared her to death and then she didn't even react to the stare. Personally I think she has been abused mentally."

The Librarian sighed, "You could say that. Her mental condition is not... hmmm... great. Her mind has been partly damaged when she was still human. The time will come when the damage will be repaired but now you need her this way. Not everypony or everyone can stare into the abyss and let the abyss stare back like her. You will see what I mean.

"Now. Where were we? Hmmm... Oh. Well I think with your questions everything is said for the briefing. I will now ask some question and then we will be finished." The Librarian looked down on her clipboard and scribbled a few things on them, a chair appeared and she sat down, "Full name? Parents?"

Twilight hesitated shortly, "Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Velvet. Night Light. Why you need to know that?"

"Paperwork. Just answer the questions please. Current job or occupation?"

"Librarian of the Golden Oak Libary. Princess of something," quipped Twilight.

"The princess part will become clear soon. How would you describe your relationship with Lyra Heartstrings?"

"Your questions are very strange. I know her. She is very friendly."

The Librarian scribbled for a minute on her clipboard, "hmm... Good. How is your cooking?"

"What? Errr... Well not very good."

"On a scale of 1 to 10?"

"-2!?"

The Librarian cracked a smile, "Hmmmm... I told you I can fell strong memories. I must say that is a very crude way to try to assassinate a princess. I'll check the minus 6. Very good. Now. When did you eat your last muffin?"

"Hey! It was a total accident! Those noodles were poisoned from the start!"

"Sorry. Nothing personal. Just answer please. When did you eat your last muffin?"

"Errrrr... About two days ago, I think."

"Take a few moments and try to describe Hunter's mental condition to me. In note form please."

"Hmm... Slightly schizophrenic. Not very empathic. Socially awkward. about Twilight Level. Hehe. Errrr... Confused. Has retrograde amnesia. Should seek professional help but refuses to do so. Seems to enjoy brutality, though not towards the inhabitants of this world."

"Okay. Thanks. That about matches what I have here. How would you describe your relationship with her?"

The lavender alicorn thought about that question for a few minutes, "Interested. In a not romantic way. She is brilliant but gives me a uncanny feeling everytime I look her in the eyes."

"Hmmm... To be expected. She had quite a few problems back home as I said. Is she able to fly yet?"

"No. She can't even move her wings yet."

The librarian frowned, "Hmmm... Not good. Has she talked to you about 'the things in the dark' yet?"

Twilight was confused by this question, "No. What do you mean 'the things in the dark'? Is it something important?"

"No. Not yet. You can ask her if you want. Did she have or mention any flashblacks?"

"No."

"Very good. Very very good. Did she mention any sort of excessive pain in her abdomen or head?"

"No. Not that I know of it."

The Librarian looked down on her clipboard, her face showed relief, "Okay. On a scale from 1 to 10 how good is she at walking, trotting and galopping? Please state three numbers."

"Walking would be a solid 7. Trotting is still a bit sloppy. I'd say 4. The last time she tried to galopp she fell on her face in the first meter. A 'good' solid 1."

"Good. Good. On a scale from 1 to 10 how good is your flying, Twilight?"

Twilight responded with a sheepish grin and "about 2 and a half".

"Good good. That would be about it. I will come back and ask more questions in the future. I don't know when. Until then I will observe you, Twilight. I assure you, Hunter's health and safety is my highest concern. I value her life like my own. If you let anything happen to her I will come back. Trust me, you don't want me to see me unhappy."

"Can I ask you a question please?" whispered Twilight.

"You just did. But yes, ask what troubles your mind," replied the Librarian.

"Is this a dream?"

With that, the Librarian stood up and the chair she had sat on vanished. She tucked her clipboard back between her right arm and her chest and secured the pen somewhere in her jacket. She briefly smiled at Twilight, "It is a dream but why should that mean it is not real? Don't worry. Protect her for the time being. It will pay off for you. It was a pleasure talking with you." She merged with the shadows that seeped back in the room and was gone.

A pressure lifted of Twilight's mind. She wondered why she had submitted to her so fast and answered to her questions without any real hesitation. She barely knew her. And how can something be a dream and at the same time be real? She shrugged to nobody in particular and woke up.