I do not claim ownership of My Little Pony: Friendship is magic, or any of the characters presented in this work of fiction except my own. Monochrome Masquerade is mine. Ask first and you may use him in whatever works you like though. If you'd like to read this someplace else, it will be updated on my DeviantArt as well. Prologue link: http://korutokumori.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4yybhx
Prologue:
I was rudely awakened by a sunbeam. I blinked in the light for a moment, trying to wrap my still half asleep mind around the concept of “awake”. I began to put two and two together before remembering what day it was. I jumped out of bed and made my way to my full length mirror to check myself over, making sure nothing was out of place. Black coat, white wings, purple eyes, dark and light gray mane with matching tail, and no horn. Everything was looking just perfect. Just before I left the mirror though, I noticed my blank flank.
“Oh, shoot. Can't forget that.” I focused my magic for a moment before an ember of green flame placed an image of a happy drama mask on either side of me. My cutie mark. I grabbed my saddle bag and made my way downstairs, leaving my home near the Everfree Forest just outside of Ponyville. I was glad everything was scheduled for today instead of yesterday. I was plagued yesterday by off and on splitting headaches. I even had to cancel my lunch with Bon Bon. I guess that worked though, since it's more fun to hang out with her and Lyra, and Lyra wouldn't be back until today. I was able to reschedule with them for today before my date with Rose. Today would be different, it had to be. I was getting a bit peckish. I made my way into Ponyville, waving to a couple of the ponies already out an about this morning. “I've got a good feeling about today.”
After another minute of walking and a few 'Good mornings', I finally arrived at my first destination today. Sugar Cube Corner. I walked in, the familiar 'ding' of the front door alerting someone that there was a customer. I was expecting to be met by the ever zealous Pinkie, but instead found myself being tackled by a tiny mass. I tumbled over, hitting the ground before getting a good look at my assailant. A baby pegasus was sitting on me, clapping his hooves and laughing.
“Well good morning to you too, Pound.” I laughed and moved Pound Cake off of me and stood up in time to see Mrs. Cake running in. She quickly scooped up Pound Cake and deposited him on her back.
“Sorry about that. The little guy got away from me while I was fixing his bottle. So, here for your order Mask?” She moved behind the counter and set Pound down, checking off my name on the book of orders they had set for today.
“Yes please. I got that big date today,” I said ruffling the baby pegasus' mane. She moved into the back room and came back out with a box containing a single cupcake with a rose design on it.
“Well I wish you the best of luck. Does the icing look alright?”
“Oh, it's perfect! I'm sure she'll love it.” I reached into my saddle bag and retrieved a couple bits for her. It was a pain not being able to use my magic, but I had gotten used to it pretty quickly. I set the bits on the counter. “Two bits right?”
“It is indeed. One moment.” She took the bits and retreated into the back room again. She returned a moment later with another cupcake. Just a simple green one with an apple slice on top. “Here's one on the house! Good luck to you!”
I thanked her for the cupcakes and headed out, waving good by to her and Pound Cake before enjoying my cupcake and my walk, depositing Rose's cupcake carefully in my saddle bag. I'd never actually had a cupcake before coming to Ponyville, but these things were pretty good. Not that it actually filled anything. Once the cupcake was gone I had already reached my next destination. I knocked on the door and waited for a response.
“One second!” I heard from inside. A moment later the door swung open. Before I could greet her though, I had a candy shoved into my mouth. “How does that taste?” Bon Bon must be working on a new candy recipe. After the initial surprise I took a moment to savor the new candy.
“Hmmm, not bad. Almost tastes like zap apple jam.” Bon Bon smiled and shouted back into the house.
“See? Mask likes it!” She was joined in the door way by a rather sleepy looking Lyra. I waved hello and she returned the gesture.
“Yeah, but Mask is weird. I still say it tastes like a rotten apple core.” She gave Bon Bon a joking push.
“So, you girls ready?” To make up for having to cancel yesterday, I promised we would hang out most of the day instead of just lunch. Lyra levitated their saddle bags over and nodded.
“Yup! We've got to get started showing you around!” Lyra was already out the front door. “Onward!”
Bon Bon and I laughed as she made her way down the road. “Has she always been this enthusiastic?” I asked.
“Yup, it's why I love her.” She said with a chuckle. “So, do you want to go tell her she's going the wrong way or should I?”
Before I could answer Lyra was walking past us, looking deadpan. “No need. Let's go.”
Bon Bon and I both laughed as we joined her to our next destination.
ʭʭʭʭʭʭʭʭʭʭʭʭ
The tour had ended conveniently around lunch time. They had taken me around to see all of the major places in Ponyville: Carousel Boutique, the library, the mayor's office, Cloudsdale (they just kind of pointed it out), the train station, etc. We had a good time and were enjoying listening to a rerun of “The Vinyl Scratch” on the radio in a nice little restaurant.
“And this has been, The Vinyl Scratch!” The usual sound of a record scratching ended to feed.
“Man, now THAT was a crazy show,” said Lyra. She always got into it the most. “That Scratch. She sure has some awesome friends backing her up, huh?”
“Like Octavia?” asked Bon Bon.
“Friend?” I retorted with a chuckle. “I'd say from what I heard, those two are just a BIT more than friends.”
Lyra leaned back in her chair. “Yeah, that's for sure. Oh hey! Did you hear about what happened yesterday?”
Bon Bon perked up. She loved gossip and the latest news. “You mean that fiasco in Canterlot? How could I not, I could have lost you!”
“Fiasco?” I asked. All I knew about yesterday was that my head was pounding so badly I couldn't think straight. “What happened?”
“All of Canterlot was invaded by these awful things called Changelings!” What? “Their queen kidnapped Princess Cadence, took her place, hypnotized Twilight's brother AND me, and set her drones loose throughout the entire town!” … What? The invasion? It was yesterday?! I risked a glance up towards Canterlot, thankful that it looked in to be in one piece. That explained the headaches too. I'd cut myself off from the hive as best I could, but I guess I could still get the signal.
“I'm just glad Twi and her friends were around to stop them.” Bon Bon shuttered as she continued. “Terrible things, I hope there aren't any here in Ponyville!”
I smiled as casually as I could. “Well come one now, they can't all be so bad... right?”
Bon Bon looked appalled. “Mask, how could you defend those... things? Especially after nearly destroying Canterlot!”
I couldn't think of a decent enough response. I decided to side with her, hoping to end the conversation sooner. “Yeah... I guess you're right.” Great, two of my only friends have a changeling phobia.
After a second of silence the clock tower chimed, signaling 3 o’clock. I remembered there was something to do at 3...
“Oh shoot! We should get going Bon Bon, leave mister macho here to his date,” said Lyra. No sooner had she said anything when I saw Rose walking down the road. The two got up from the table and began to make their way home. “Good luck, give us the details later!” With that they were gone, leaving me to my own devices.
I waved goodbye to them, then looked back to see Rose trotting up to my table. She really was nice. Kind, pretty, and so nervous it was adorable. Her whole color scheme just glowed like a warm spring day, too. I couldn't help but sigh a little as she approached. She finally sat on the other side of the table, looking rather nervous. “Hi.” She looked up and gave me a small smile.
“Hey. So, you ready for lunch?” I hadn't eaten anything with Lyra and Bon Bon to make sure I'd be able to eat on our date.
She nodded then looked down at the table. I felt like I wanted to get her out of that shell she hid herself in. I suddenly remembered my gift for her, and reached into my saddle bag. I pulled the box containing her cupcake out carefully. Before I was back up though, I was blinded for a moment by this massive purple light. I blinked for a moment before setting the cupcake on the table. “So Rose, I got you this from Sugar Cube-”
“THE HORROR!! THE HORROR!!!” I heard her scream. I looked up at her to find her cowering in front of me.
“Rose, what's wrong! Do you not like cupcakes?” I was afraid I'd done something to ward her off on our first real date. She still looked terrified though and I started to notice a few other people looking our way. I turned to see what everyone was staring at, but found everyone behind me has looking our way as well. Me? Had I done something? I continued looking around and found my eyes locked on a purple unicorn, staring angrily at me. It took me a moment, but I soon recognized her as Twilight Sparkle. I turned back to Rose. “Listen, Rose. I'm so sorry, but-”
“It knows my name! It knows my name!” She screamed, cutting me off. It? I know I could be a little rude sometimes, I'm a guy. But it? Suddenly, everypony suddenly shot up and started to run from me. Screaming. I looked around to figure out what was going on, when I finally found out.
Staring back at me from a shop window, was a face I'd never wanted to see again. Solid purple eyes, no mane, a curved horn in the middle of my forehead, bitten looking ears, fangs, and a shiny black exterior instead of my black coat. Staring back at me, was a changeling. Staring back was me, without my disguise. I turned back when I heard, “Dash! I found one! Take it out!”
Prologue: End
So... that happened. Any comments are appreciated. Except flames. Those give ouchies.
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!"
