Black Masquerade

By RAGESTAR

• September 30, 2014




Age: 21

Gender: Male

Species: Earth Pony

Appearance: Black Masquerade is a dark, steel colored stallion. With a lean, yet slim frame, and a deep, purple mane, mostly swept back, with a portion of it falling to the side of his face, just shy of covering his left eye. His eyes are a deep, mysterious, alluring golden color. He usually wears a charming, even flirtatious smile on his face.<br /><br />When he's "working" he wears a long, black cloak, with silver trimmings, and a matching black masquerade mask, also with silver trimmings.

Cutie Mark: Black Masquerade's cutie mark is an ornate, black masquerade mask, with silver trimmings and golden eyes. He gained his cutie mark when he was 16, after he tricked the head CEO of a large company, known as Golden Mane Co. He did so with through an elaborate plan involving disguises, blackmail, bribe, and even illusions, or so the rumors have it. Though the details of the story vary, according to who's telling it, one thing is clear: Black Masquerade made himself a crime legend that day.<br /><br />It's interesting to note that, even to this day, nopony knows why Black Masquerade even went through with such a dangerous and seemingly insane plan. Or even what his reason was for wanting to take control of the company in the first place. Because not a minute after acquiring the large corporation, he dissolved the whole company, effective immediately! Why he did this, and many other odd crimes on record, is a mystery to everypony.

Personality: Black Masquerade is very cool, calm, and arrogant to the point of Narcism. Constantly speaking in a low, smooth, baritone voice, with a Prench accent. No matter how dangerous or frightening the situation that Black Masquerade happens to be in, he always keeps his cool, and always stays one trot ahead.<br /><br />He's a ladies stallion and is prone to flirt with any mare within range of conversation. Although, with his handsome features, smooth baritone voice, and his alluring golden eyes, it's usually hard for him NOT to attract the attention of a mare.

Backstory: Black Masquerade was born in Ponis, Prance, to a poor family. His mother was a baker mare named Cream Crêpe, and his father was a freelance magician named Misto Magi. His father died before Masque was born, leaving Crêpe to raise Masque alone. Black Masquerade grew up on harsh streets, hustling thugs and lone-sharks for bits, to take care of his mother, who declined in health with ever passing year, and her bakery, which barely made enough to get by. More often than not, Masque got into trouble, as was the risk of such a life, but he was never caught. Not by the guard, not by the thugs, not by anyone. He quickly developed a talent for thieving, as well as other, more shady skills. So by the time he was 13, he had made a name for himself in the lower district of Prance, as a skilled hustler and thief. Masque's mother didn't know about his illegal activities, and he planned to keep it that way. He knew that she would only disapprove of it, and give her even more to worry about.<br /><br />One day, when prowling the rooftops of Prance's lower quarter, Masque fell through the the rotting roof of an old opera house, and broke his left hind leg, and knocking him unconscious. When he awoke, he was being treated by an old stallion, with a kind smile. The stallion introduced himself as Platinum Applause. He was the owner of the old opera house, and a self proclaimed genius. At first, the old stallion merely annoyed Masque. But after a while of staying with him as his leg healed, he began to grow interested in the old stallion's blabbering. He asked him if he could teach him about theatre and acting, to give him an edge in his criminal activities. At first, Platinum denied, telling him that his beloved art would not be used for such selfish desires. However, after telling him about his motives for resorting to thievery, Platinum reluctantly agreed. Seeing his cause as noble one, committed out of love for his mother. And so, he began Masque's training. Little did Masque know, however, that Platinum's beloved art form would be the key to unlocking his true potential.<br /><br />Nearly a month later, Masque's leg was healed, and his training nearly complete. Over the course of their training, Platinum had noticed something very special about Masque's dazzling golden eyes. Something that he knew would either make Masque a legendary thief, or a prized corpse.<br /><br />Platinum revealed that Black Masquerade had a special, magical pair of eyes. Something he could only get through a long, ancient heritage of magical ancestry. His golden eyes came with many special powers, like making illusions, charming sompony into doing what you want, mind reading, and other such abilities. It was a power lost to modern magic, but it was known in ancient times as the "eyes of the orchestrator". Platinum had a felling that Masque actually won most of his hustling reputation because of his eyes, but he kept that to himself. Masque was skeptic to say the least, but he went out and tested the theory anyway. To his great surprise, and delight, Platinum was right. He truly did have powers within his eyes! He rushed back to the opera house to tell him he was sorry, but when he got there, Platinum was nowhere to b found. He quite simply disappeared. Yet despite the confusion and mysterious circumstances of Platinum's disappearance, Black Mask was determined to make the most of his new abilities, both the magical and non-magical.<br /><br />So he went on to make a lot of money from his powers and his new swindling skills, making more than enough to keep his mother healthy, and their tiny house in one piece. And for a time, they were happy. However, when Dark Masquerade was 16, everything changed. A big company, called Golden Mane Co. monopolized nearly all of the businesses in Prance, making for a competitor that his mother's little bakery just couldn't compete with. She was forced to close up her bakery, and thus became jobless and broke. Even with the money he gained from stealing and swindling could't support them both. Blaming Golden Mane and getting revenge on them was the only course of action Masque saw left to him.<br /><br />So, with a drawn out plan, and some help from his powers, Masque succeeded. He tricked the CEO, Golden Mane himself, into giving ownership of the country to him. Masque then proceeded to dissolve the company entirely. After doing that, Masque became a hero to the poor ponies of the lower quarter, and somewhat of a legend among thieves.<br /><br />Now, five years later, Black Masquerade continues his role as a thief and swindler. Only now, he wears a ball mask and a cloak, hiding his identity from those who would seek to harm those close to him. Going by the the alias "Masque".