After walking for what felt like hours, I came to the edge of the forest. I sighed as I spotted the town. I guess I better introduce myself properly this time… Maybe I should start with that unicorn, she’s annoying, but she probably know the locale, being at the center of town and all.

I twisted space a little as I walked back through town. Everything around me stretched, and pinched as light had to pass through distorted space to get to me.I passed through the bustling street like a spectre from the great beyond. I got nearer and nearer to the odd treehouse when I heard a gasp

When I spun to face the noise I spotted….the hell?

And all of a sudden the pink menace jumped at me…. Only to pass around me as she did before. I grinned internally as her body seemed to stretch as it passed through elongated space, only to shrink back to normal on the other side.

However, this time she got up with a literal fire burning in her eyes, “No more silly pinkie, IT’S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.”

With that she sprinted around a corner… and popped up right in front of me? No seriously, one moment she’s running away, and the next she just… poofs out from between my legs and out in front of me this is getting ridiculous.

Before I could react she jumped onto me, wrapping her hooves around my shoulders as they stretched comically

I shuddered at the sight, and feel of here stretched out limbs how the hell did she get to me? Why is she hugging me? How is she stretching her forelegs like that? WHY IS SHE T̿ͪO͓̬̍ͦ̕U̢̙̻͈̣̥̓ͧ̚C̻͎̭̣̦̥̫̒́H̺͓̼̼̿̑͢IN̖̤͍̾̇́G̟̞̘̩̥̲͓̟̍̀ ̲̪͎̻̯ͬ̃̋̉͞M͑̏҉͕̯͍̣Eͯ?

My twitching started as I started struggling, even forgetting about my magic. The dimensional twist pulled back to normal, and several ponies jumped the sensation of space flowing back to its proper place. WHY
All of sudden the pink menace got off of me “I’m sorry Maskie, I didn’t realize you didn't like hugs it just looked like you needed one.” Her pink fluff of a main deflated slowly, like a balloon, while she was speaking.

After glaring at her from under Shock, I shook my head switching back to my half and half default mask. “...I forgive you.. Just Don’t. Do. That. Again… Oh and my name isn’t ‘Maskie’ if you have to call me by a name, use Masker. It sounds a little dignified at least.”

She nodded quickly as she bounced back to her hooves and dashed off while saying something about a welcome party.

Again I shook my head as I turned back to my destination. I was pleasantly surprised to find the purple unicorn what was her name again?... Oh yes Twilight… Gah I hate having to remember names…
As I was contemplating this, I was reminded by the pur- TWILIGHT that my spacial twist had failed “um sir, are you still mad about before? If so, I’m sorry again, but could we try at least?”

I put on Deceit to fake a smile “but of course dear, I just had to blow off some steam. After All I’ve found myself in some… strange circumstances.” back at it with the pandering… still, antagonizing the locals before I learn about whats out there, doesn’t sound like a great plan

Twilight beamed at this “then WELCOME to Ponyville, we should discuss your introductory party, before you say anything, its the best way to get everyone to accept you quickly.”

I tilted my head at this as I put on Neutrality. “A party for someone you’ve just met… as a form of mass introduction… eh, if nothing else it sounds interesting.” At the end of that, I swear I could here a teakettle boiling.behind me, but when I turned, I only found hoofprints.

I narrowed my eyes at this creepy

Twilight seemed to catch onto my thought. “Yea Pinkie goes crazy over parties. Actually this is pretty tame for her, usually she’s even more… well… Pinkie from what I’ve seen.”

Keeping my head tilted I turned towards her “why is a reality warper like her so invested in such an inane thing. I mean, I like a good party myself, but getting that excited about parties is… strange.”

Twilight twitched at my remark “Reality….WARPER?” a bunch of strands of hair were starting to pop out of her mane. “But...but… HOW? She’s an earth pony, they aren’t supposed to be able to use magic!”

I shook my head at that. “Little one, everything has magic running through it, hell lots of the mechanics in physics are just a result of magic, everybody has magic. Some just have an easier time accessing it. It just so happens that your pink friend seems to unintentionally tap into her power.”

Twilight started twitching “how did you know this? How did you know she could warp reality?”

I laughed at her frazzled state “I’d twisted a piece of space around me in an oval. I was for all intents and purposes. Outside of your dimension of movement, walking towards me would only get you past me, space was bent in a way where you could walk for entire cycles of eternity and still get no closer to me. And yet, your friend just popped it like it was a bubble.”

The lavender unicorn froze. I waved my hand in front of her, but the only response I got was Twilight falling over still frozen in the same position.

The little dragon huffed “great you broke her, it’s gonna take all day to get her back… and you’re probably gonna get a few questions.”

I briefly flashed my flaming mask, Rage. “that. Would be… unwise”

The little dragon raised an eyebrow “I mean, you did drop quite the bomb on her, it wouldn’t be nice if you didn’t follow her up… Hell if she got crazy enough she might

get Celestia involved, and believe me you wouldn’t like THAT.”

I put on Schadenfreude to enjoy this little game of threats. “Might I ask, why should I care?”

Spike threw a deadpan look my way “last time I checked, wasting a PRINCESSES time isn’t very a very good idea.”

My mask didn’t change. Oh how convenient, maybe there’s something to be had here. “How do I know that Twilight here has such direct access to such a person? Why should I worry even if she was here as I wasn’t the one who called her? And lastly why should I fear Celestia?”

Spikes mouth dropped open “y-you mean you haven’t heard of her… She RAISES THE SUN EVERYDAY. Why WOULDN’T you be scared of upsetting her?”

I tilted my head at that “I’ve heard many a tale of magic users being able to do that young drake, what they actually do is rotate the planet, usually by manipulating a huge wellspring of power, or simply nudging small parts of the world to speed or slow things down.”

Spike shook his head. “Yea whatever you wanna think mister, just sayin, Celestia DOES raise the sun, and even if she didn’t she is known to be the princess of the SUN for a reason.”

Once more I shrugged “very well, I do suppose I could sate some of her curiosity.”

I sighed inwardly at having to deal with Twilight again, but other alternatives were far less desirable. I suppose it’s time for these masks to really earn their keep

Decision made, I switched my mask back to Neutrality “if I’m going to be interrogated later, may I at least step inside while… here let me help you with that.”

Ending my request early, I picked Twilight up in my telekinetic grasp, and walked inside “may I ask where you want her?”

Spike frowned at my antics. “Up there on her bed.”

I turned around to see a staircase leading to a platform, and another staircase. I slowly strolled up the wooden stairs as I admired the collection of books does she really have this many books?... no way she lives in a library… then again.

I turned to Spike as I set the frozen unicorn on her bed gently. “Is this a library?”

The lizard nodded, and I left let out a short chuckle before I clamped my mouth shut. Dammit, I need to can these emotions, and soon.

I shook my head “I apologize, I probably shouldn’t laugh at your living arrangements.”

Spike smiled at me for some reason “don’t worry, we get that a lot actually, anything you’re interested in?”

I nodded “yes, many things, but first, I have a couple… problems that need to be resolved. No worries! I just need to sit down for a moment.”

With that out of the way, I blinked back down to the groundfloor where the couch resided. I sat down comfortably while calling up to Spike “Don’t disturb me until I’m finished, it’s real annoying if I have to pause in the middle.”

The little dragon raised an eyebrow at this, but I ignored him.

I brought my orbiting masks into a line in front of me. I reached out and gently touched Sadness with my index finger, holding it right between the mask’s eyes. I poured my regrets, both old and new, into the mask. I followed with the feelings of loss, and ended the session with Sadness by tossing in any miscellaneous sad feelings I had. With that, I had reestablished my link to the emotional sink that was this mask.

Sighing in relief I leaned back as I basked in the contentment I felt, as all of my regrets were pulled into Sadness before I could even feel their pain. This is nice…. But such an imbalance is unhealthy.

I shook my head with annoyance as I could no longer feel regret. I turned to Happiness and repeated the process from before. After this was complete, I felt a lot more… tranquil, peaceful I suppose.

It took around half an hour to complete the process with all of the masks, except Deceit, that one wasn’t an emotion sink, it was just a lie given physical form.

I breathed in deeply as I stood up… and felt nothing. I searched my mind, and only found traces of my previous emotions, remnants of what was before. I couldn’t find any new emotions either as they were all soaked into the masks.

I’m supposed to feel satisfaction, but that got sucked away into Happiness. I’m supposed to be angry at fate for putting me in this stupid world, but the fires of rage were quenched before they could even ignite. I’m supposed to feel the cold sting of regret for stepping through that faulty portal. I didn’t, I just felt… Hollow
Good… its working.

Author's Note

thought I'd finish the third chapter before I go, but don't expect regular updates guys. (though I'm not going to take more than a week between chapters if I can help it). Sorry, but I've found that writing is like a fart. If you're forcing it, it's probably shit.

In all seriousness I've got lots of stuff that always needs doing, and I run into writing blocks as I try to write Maskie here realistically.

again, any suggestions would be welcome as I'm still new to this

see ya later guys, and I hope you enjoy past and future chapters!