Masks of iron and ivory.

Goals, goals, goals. What should mine be? Of course my amusement comes first, but I wonder what I’ll end up doing to achieve that… Mayb-

My thoughts were cut off by the pegasus. What was her name again?

Ah yes, Scootaloo.

“Hey, mister, how did you get here?” Scootaloo was a curious little thing, I could appreciate curiosity.

I chuckled as I thought about what I would reveal. They know that I do magic….

“Well, you see, little one, I’m a mage; a good one too, I do believe. But everyone makes mistakes. I was attempting to go home, but missed by a margin of infinity I believe. How clumsy of me.”

The little unicorn tilted her head slightly. “How do you miss by infinity, sir? Is it even a real number?”

I laughed hard at that.

“AHAHAHAH! Yes, Sweetie Belle, infinity is a number, it’s just ….. an infinite one.” well, it’s more a concept of an innumerable amount, but I don’t really feel like explaining it

The little unicorn nodded. “I guess…”

Applebloom butted in. “Hey, sir, where did ya come from?”

I tilted my head at that and frowned beneath my neutral mask.

“You know… good question, I don’t quite remember….”

I continued to ponder about whether or not the city’s name was really that forgettable. Names aren’t very important, but dammit I should at least know the city’s name… ah well names are just strange labels, never been all that necessary.

The walk continued like this. They would ask a question, I would answer as vaguely as I could, they would scrunch their cute little faces up, and repeat.

I was giggling a little on the inside at that……. I decided on my new personality. A little cheery, comedic….. Mysterious maybe? Ah yes, and very bad at straightforward answers. Few lies, but only vague truths…. YES, that should gain their trust. Judging by these children this world is so sickeningly sweet. Then again, I could be wrong... I wonder if I can spice things up a little while I’m here?

Eventually, they ask the big question. Specifically, the brave little Scootaloo does.

“Sir we get that you have many, many, MANY names, buuut could you at least give us something to go off of?”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle butted in with their own agreement to Scootaloo’s sentiment.

We all stopped as I tilted my head, thinking. Then they started with the large round puppy dog eyes. Uhhuhuhh what is with these equines? Why are their eyes so large and noses so small? Maybe I should just off these malformed weaklings and be on my way...

I shuddered internally as I considered their request. “Very well….. Just call me ol’ Masker.”

Switching to my mask of happiness as I continued, “NOW ONWARDS! I mean, we passed the edge of the forest like ten minutes ago, we do have a destination, and something tells me we’re getting close.”

Hopefully I don’t have to do this much pandering later…. After all, where’s the fun in playing nice?

The three little fillies bounced in place as they started chattering on and on about how wonderful ponyville is.

I sighed. “While I’m sure that this Ponyville is absolutely perfect, I kinda need to get there to experience said perfection.”

If I keep sugarcoating things this much, I’ll end up a diabetic.

Their bouncing stopped, then they started pulling on my cloak trying to get me moving as fast as possible. I decided to oblige by running alongside them.

The sooner I arrive, the sooner I’m finished with these three.

They were all so happy, with grins splitting their faces. We ran upon a cobble road, and passed an orchard as our pace devoured the ground beneath us.

A very short time later we slowed as the town was just in front of us. And I was greeted by quite the sight….. There were ponies of all colors and subspecies. Pegasi flew through the air, while the other two kinds bustled about on the cobble road.

While we walked, Several heads turned towards me with wide eyes. I was forced to throw up my deceit mask to look happy. I hate this…. I Hate This…. I HATE THIS!

My head started to twitch ever so slightly and my eyes were even more pronounced in their frenzy, but they were covered. Fortunately I managed to keep my emotions under control,but I couldn’t last forever. Just as my emotions were starting to swirl into the contours of rage and paranoia, we reached an odd looking tree. The earth pony as I learned they’re called, stepped up to the door and knocked.

Several moments later a tiny, bipedal, green and purple basilisk opened the door. It looked between the three fillies somehow not noticing me. I think he needs to get his eyes checked…..

The lizard thing focused on Applebloom “so uhh, why are you all here?”

The fillies all started talking at once, but after an annoyed response from the basilisk. Really need to figure out what he is, reptile, lizard, basilisk, whatever he is, I don’t like not knowing what to call him. Applebloom took the lead. “Hey Spike. We met this fella while we were walkin’ through tha forest an we thought Twilight would wanna see him.” Seemingly for the first time Spike looked at me.

He jumped as my head twitched into a tilt. “Spiiiike… interesting…. My name’s Masker, a pleasure to meet you.” Spike seemed hesitant, but eventually decided to shake my outstretched hand. He hurried back inside as I stepped in.

A moment later, a larger purple pony, with a horn on their head, flashed into existence directly in front of me. She proceeds to look me up and down slowly, before letting loose a barrage of questions one after another after another. I didn’t bother paying attention. Rude.

I managed to cut open her barrage with a question of my own. “I was under the impression that this was supposed to be a lil meet and greet not an interrogation.”

This violently curious violet pony sheepishly smiled saying “I’m sorry it’s… I’ve never seen anything like you before, not to mention some of your strange customs It’s… It’s just SO EXCITING”

My eyes rolled violently at the squealing young scientist as I donned my neutrality mask. This is going to get real annoying real quick. Before the annoying unicorn could pose another round of questions, I walked out. Enough of this. There’s no fun to be had.
I focused on the coordinates that should be the miniature dimension that I had as a home. However, when my hands ripped open the fabric of space, all I saw was an endless white void… this isn’t good.
I was brought out of my stupor by the previous lavender pony coughing to gain by attention. I forced the hole closed, so I could turn to my interrogator once more. Here we go again.

Surprisingly the unicorn didn’t start spewing forth questions. “Look I’m sorry for overreacting like that, but it’s rude to walk away when someone’s talking to you. You should know this, unless…. Are you a kid?”

A flash of anger came and went in an instant. “No I’m not a child, I just don’t like dealing with interrogations.” She’s got some nerve… screw the cheery persona, these ponies are annoying
The purple pony grinned sheepishly “yea I’m sorry. Can we start over? Hello my
name is Twilight!”
Hmm. Maybe… nah “I have quite a few names as people like labeling me
differently all of the time.. but you can call me masker.” With that I spun on my heel to stalk back the way I came.
The unicorn teleported in front of me. Amateur. I folded space around her as I
walked through the space that she should’ve occupied. After I passed space unwrinkled, pushing Twilight back where she was.
This time she just stared at me while looking confused. “what was that.”
I kept my neutral mask despite my rising mirth “What do you mean dear? I just
walked by you. It’s way too easy to confuse this one… I suppose pinching reality like that can be a little weird, but it’s not that uncommon… right?”

I tried to continue my walk as I tilted my head in thought. Emphasis on tried. A ball of fritzy pink hair cannoned into me, took one look at me, and tried to give me a hug “imsosorrymisteryoulookedsosadandimtheembodiementoflaughtersoIthoughtineededtocheeryouupcauseyoulooksadand…”

She continued her prattling of course, but I tuned it out as I blinked back raising wards and readying my dimensional sheaths

Oblivious to this, she tried to rush me again, and flew right around me as I
curved space.

She turned around and spotted me. “Look mister you need a hug AND ARE GONNA GET ONE.”

Before she could do anything, I blinked away getting to the edge of the town. I
tilted my head before blinking to the forest. At least this place isn’t covered in rainbows and butterfly puke.
I walked into the forest thinking about my next idea. If those three fillies were
right then the ponies around here don’t care much for this forest… well then I’ve been storing an unhealthy amount of anger in Rage recently. I need to let some of it out.

With that thought I walked deeper into the forest. In my several hour escapade, I came across a couple of timberwolves, and even a manticore. A lightning bolt or single slash of scythe sent those creatures on to the next life. Just a little farther… there.

Deciding I was far enough away, I flicked Rage onto my face. My cloak burst
into flames as red hot fury pulsed through me. I flung folds of reality all around slicing trees and pulverizing rocks. I pinched and rubbed folds of existence together to create immense friction and heat. I sent several of these heated cuts into the surrounding forest. My rage fueled attacks sliced dozens of trees each, with the burning cuts in reality leaving behind giant streaks of ashe.

It went on like this for several minutes. Until I decided to finish this with a bang. I began reaching out and grasping the fabric of space, and yanking it towards me. I pulled more and more of space itself into folds upon folds upon folds. I dragged a town sized portion of the forest together. I condensed the space continuing to pull in slightly more area. I squeezed as hard as I could, to bring the rolls of space to a glowing, white, burning state. AND released. Ecstasy poured over me, as I saw a ring of white burst out from me, scattering the fabric back where it was before. The force of this snap would’ve shattered all of the trees within…. If they weren’t already pulverized by the dimensional squeeze. The white ring faded when all the space was restored, but it continued to rip through the treeline while it dissipated.

I sighed in relief as my pent up anger faded…. I haven’t been able to do THAT for a long time… I still shouldn’t make a habit of it. Anger fading, with my neutrality mask on, I walk back to the path that I deviated from as I've finished letting out my anger. I turned my head both ways, shrugged, then picked a way to go.

Either I go back to the town and figure out a plan, or I find something entertaining to do deeper in this forest….

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