I walked in a semi-entranced state through the cold, frozen pavements of this normally bustling town, a dreary, neutral expression adorning my face as I indulged in my music via headphones. Those within my vicinity would find the music emanating from my headphones more than audible.

   What can I say? You can't listen to music without risking deafening yourself, right?

   Eh, forget what I said. It's irrelevant. I couldn't help but look around my environments. For as far as one's eyes could perceive, there were large buildings everywhere. A thick layer of chilling snow enveloping the surface and other exposed areas of the buildings around me.

   To the right side of me, was a road. People with varying intents and purposes in their vehicles zoomed past by me with an audible sound from their cars.

   As I walked, I couldn't help but sneer as I saw someone slip due to some inconveniently placed puddle that he failed to detect in time. The result due to his naivety was, for simplicity's sake, he slipped into some pile of snow. The snow cushioned his fall, but his clothes were now doused with water.  

   Don't mistake me for some sadistic, reclusive bastard, mind you. I genuinely felt pity for the guy, though, my chuckling might protest to that. Oh well, you can't blame me for laughing. It was pretty hilarious.

   Proceeding on walking, a recently formed smirk on my face, a coffee shop emerges into my sight. I hesitated, a well-brewed coffee would be something that I would find that would reinvigorate my currently groggy state.

   Slowing my pacing of my walk, I contemplated. Ah, coffee. Simply one of the many marvels humanity crafted. It'd be a god-sent if I decided to purchase a cup filled with it.

   Though, ultimately, I decided to postpone the acquisition of some coffee for sometime later.

   As I passed by the coffee shop, I couldn't help myself from peering into the glossy, black-tinted windows of the quaint coffee shop. There, I could see a multitude of people taking refuge from winter's frigid embrace in the interior of the shop while helping themselves with a cup of coffee.

   I grew more reluctant as I continued on walking. Though, I persevered, I resisted the enticement of a lukewarm coffee, though, that proved to be difficult due to the fact that the there was a faint aroma of coffee lingering around the structure, threatening to lure me in.

   But then, it wouldn't be wise to keep my client waiting, right?

   Oh pardon me, you don't even have the slightest clue of what I am talking about. Well, if you haven't noticed by now, I have a... meeting with some shady, vague person.

   Yes, I know that does seem vague, but I don't have the slightest clue on who this guy is. Hell, I didn't knew about him until he called me early this morning.

   What does this ominous individual offered me? Well, to be concise, a chance to repay all of my debts.

   In case you were pondering, yes, I do owe a dreadful quantity of money for an alarming number of people that I'd rather not name.

   Why am I so trustful of this person, you ask? Well, to be sincere, I don't have a lot of viable options for me remaining, and besides, this guy seems legitimate.

   He may seem legitimate, however the question still remains, is he actually legitimate?

   Well, I was about to discover the answer to that question; the location that the mysterious client designated for me to go to was just a few feet away from me now.

   I didn't like the look of this, it was a seemingly abandoned building. Some of the windows were missing, cracked, or just barricaded with wooden beams. The door that is traditionally placed on the entrance is non-existent, and finally, there was a miscellany of graffiti of varying styles covering the walls of the building.

   "Oh hell, I am an idiot, but I'm not that much of an idiot that I'd simply walk into that simply because someone promised me a job with a decent pay." I muttered to myself as I began to turn around. I really hope being homeless isn't as bad as it seems...

   "Hey! Over here!" I heard someone call for me, albeit barely due to my headphones obstructing my ears. Had the song not ended, I doubted that I could hear whoever just called for me.

   Dammit, that must be the one who called me... Turning around hesitantly, I saw the origin of the shout, a youthful-looking man with black hair, a jet-black hoodie, he also donned a white scarf, along with a pair of black pants and a pair of black boots. Much to my bewilderment.

   Oh, and most peculiarly, he featured a pair of teal eyes. He must be wearing contacts, or something.

   Eager that he had caught my attention, he swiftly approached me, a grin forming on his face. "Hey! You're the one that I've contracted, right?" He asked.

   I paused for a second, I was having difficulty believing that this is the one who called me. "Uh... yeah. That's me, I guess. Listen, kid, I don't have much time for-"

   "N- no!" He stammered desperately. "I can assure you, I actually do have a task for you, and the reward is staggeringly high."

   "Uh, I might as well play along..." I muttered inaudibly to myself. Come on, this kid is probably no older than me, judging by his appearance. "Alright, kid. What do you want me to do?"

   "Heh, glad you asked!" He chirped, his tone hinting relief. "Well, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. So for now, here. Take this mask."

   He proceeded to retrieve a peculiar looking mask from his bag. The mask had one half of it painted white, while the right half was painted black. There were also some detailed markings on each side of the mask.

   On the white side of the mask, there were black markings. This also applied respectively to the black half of the mask; there were a few white markings on it.

   Amused, I accepted the mask, nodding as I took it from him. "Alright, what do you want me to do with this?" I asked.

   "Well, what do you expect?" He questioned in a tone that implied that the answer was glaringly obvious. "Wear it!"

   Doing what he has requested of me, I began to place the mask on my face, however, just as the mask mask was inching closer to my face, the boy's smile widened.

   What a disconcerting grin... What is this guy up to? I inquired to myself.

   However, I had no additional time to continue on speculating his intentions as the mask made contact with my face, I promptly collapsed to a crouching position, a searing pain embedded in my chest.

   Shallowly breathing, I attempted to ask what the hell he just did to me, but as soon as I looked up, the sly-looking man vanished, he vanished completely from my field of view.

   I struggled to get up, but to no fruition as the pain prevented me from recuperating from whatever is happening to me right now. Slowly, my vision blurred.

   The snow-blanketed buildings around me gradually became more obscured as time progressed. It escalated to a point where I could barely see anything through the shrouds of darkness obstructing my vision.

   Finally, I fell to the pavement below me. Fortunately however, the snow lessened the pain of the impact.

   So I lay there, almost completely motionless. One might've mistaken me for a rotting corpse, but my still beating heart would deny confirmation of that.

   I could see nothing. Understandable, considering that my eyes are unopened. However, I could still hear the snowy breeze traveling through the wind.

   If I don't awaken from this slumber, I'll inevitably succumb to death due to the freezing temperature. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't wake up.

   I've forgotten how long I was rendered unconscious for. Minutes? Hours? I no longer could recall. Dammit, I don't want to accept this, but I am probably going to die.

   Really? Is this the best I could aspire to be? Hmph, I feel pitiful towards myself now, but now's not the appropriate time for that, or is it? I mean, there really isn't anything productive for me to-

   The winds suddenly stopped-- No, the winds didn't cease their wanderings in the air. It's just that I could no longer hear it.

   Dammit! Am I... dead? I dreaded within the confines of my mind.

   Out of sheer panic, I tried to open my eyes. Much to my relief and surprise, I could actually open them!

   Rising up from my prostrate position from the... floor? Hold on, my memory might possibly be hazy, but I am quite certain that I fell on a pavement glazed with snow.

   Regaining my footing, I scanned the room around me. Everything around me... was devoid of any details; there was nothing for as far as one could see.

   Panic completely embraced my mind as adrenaline surged through me. "Dammit... Dammit! I'm dead, aren't I?!" I shouted out in frustration, not worrying if somebody heard me or not.

   Much to my dismay, however, somebody actually did hear me. "Ah, no. You aren't deceased... yet." I heard a familiar sly voice speak from behind me. Also, what does he mean by that I am not deceased "yet?"

   Turning around in a swift motion, I spotted him, the same man that gave me the mask. "You!" I bellowed with a low growl. "What did you do to me?!" I demanded.

   He shrugged, waving his hands casually, "Hm? Isn't it obvious? I rendered you unconscious and transported you here." He pointed to the ground below him as he finished that sentence.

   He added, "Well, you wanted a job, didn't you?"

   "A job that doesn't involve in me getting kidnapped!" I shouted

   Before I could let loose a staggeringly aggressive response, he quickly spoke.

   "Now then, before you unleash a torrent of spiteful words at me, I will attempt to justify my actions." He stated. "Now then, the reason why you're here is because I need some assistance in causing some chaos."

   I stare at him quizzically, prompting him to elaborate further.

   He added, "Well, that's confusing to someone like you, no doubt. Allow me to give you an explanation." He snaps his fingers, conjuring some sort of portal to open on the ground in front of me.

   I peered into the tear within reality in disbelief. The portal was positioned to give me a view of some sort of statue carved in the image of some sort of a serpentine abomination of a mishmash of several animals.

   "You see, that cold, unmoving statue there is my father." He clarified, causing me to look at him with a puzzled glare.

   He added a bit too hastily, "Um, for further clarification, he didn't exactly gave birth to me. He is kinda the God of Chaos, and using his bestowed powers to manipulate reality, he conjured me! Don't let the human look deceive you, this is simply a guise that I used to go undetected in your world."

   "So... the God of Chaos is a statue?" I said in a confused tone. "I've seen very absurd things in my lifetime, but this is just way too nonsensical for me." I glared at him. "Are you just messing with me?"

   He chuckles. "I can assure you, I am not jesting with you."

   I responded, "Alright then, why the hell did you pick me?" I asked him, "I just don't see how choosing me, a loner who has little to no training, would be appropriate for this job."

   He shakes his head, "Ah! I'm glad you asked. Well, the reasoning behind that is because only you have the capability of wielding this!"

   He snaps his fingers once more, and suddenly the mask from before materialized inches from my face, but instead of falling, the mask simply remained afloat, being levitated by some sort of unseen force. I backed off from the hovering mask, considering that it was far too close for my preferences.  

  "Believe it or not, an ancient, and long dead, ancestor of yours created that mask." He said with a smirk of intrigue, "I've no idea how he engineered such a marvel, but he used it to deceive the inhabitants of Equestria." He grabbed the mask, rubbing his hand on it as if it was some sort of pet. "Oh, and he designed in such a way that only he, and his relatives, could use it."

   "So," I paused, taking time to process all of this, "I take it that this has magical properties or something?" I wanted to facepalm due to what I just said, but really, that seemed to be the case.

   He clapped his hands, and confetti abruptly appeared out of nowhere, showering me and the mysterious entity with its vibrant colors.

   "Bingo! You catch wind of things fairly quickly." He said with a grin, "I'm sure that you'll do just fine."

   I shook my head, "Look, I don't really work for free-"

   "Free? Who said anything about working for free?" He snapped his fingers once more, a portal tearing the fabric of reality behind him.

   He stepped out of the way, giving me a clear glance on the portal. What was in the portal made me want to jump directly into it. Within the portal was a boundless river of gold coins. Said coins glistened, their blinding luster made me want to bathe in them.

   "You like it?" He asked me. "That's the currency of Equestria, they are known as 'bits.' They're made out of gold, and if you take the job, you might encounter some of these bits on your quest to cause chaos."

   "I think I'm going to be fond of this 'Equestria' " I said, managing to regain my composure. "Fine. I'll take the job... So, how does one cause chaos, and why does one want to cause chaos?"

   He snickered somewhat condescendingly, "Pft. What a rhetorical question, but if you truly don't know, just cause some fires, cause a catastrophe, murder somepony. There are countless ways of causing chaos!" He continued, "Oh, and to answer that last question, it's because it's the only way to let my father loose from his stony confinement."

   "Somepony?" I repeated.

   "Oh, I should've said this sooner: the majority of the inhabitants of Equestria comprises mostly of ponies." He said, snapping his fingers once more to cause a portal to open.

   This time, the portal appeared just a few feet above me. The portal displayed an overview of a medieval-styled town with rather colorful small equine beings walking, conversing with themselves, and a myriad of other activities.

   I said nothing, simply gawking at the sight before me.

   "Do not underestimate them, the reason for why the God of Chaos is confined in a cold, stony imprisonment is because of them." He said with a grimace.

   Well, it's either that these ponies are really competent, or it's just that the God of Chaos is just really, really pitiful. I thought to myself.

   "Wait, if you want this Chaos God to be freed, why don't you do it yourself?"

   "Simple. I am dying." He said, looking down with a smile feigning sadness. "With the lack of chaos in Equestria, and me being an entity fueled by chaos, I will soon cease to live, and considering that I've utilized a great deal of my energy in finding you, I won't make it another day."

   I regret asking that question somewhat.

   "So, if you want, I'll open a rift that leads to somewhere you might find intriguing; the Crystal Empire, a place where one of your most threatening adversaries is currently having a simple vacation at. That is, if you're willing to take the job."

   He asked, eying at me with pleading eyes, "Please? Do it for a chaos-spawn that is soon to be dead."

   I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, sure. It's not like that I'm going to pay my debts without taking this job anyways... I am out of options, to be concise." I added, "But do tell me, how am I supposed to return once I accomplished my objective?"

   "Simple, Discord, the God of Chaos, would be more than appreciative once you unleash him." He said, "Just simply ask him to warp you back to your home."

   "Hmph, I guess that's reasonable. Very well then, send me there." I answered. Before he could do anything, however, I added, "But I'll be needing a good cup of coffee."

   "But of course." He said, snapping both of his fingers. A cup of coffee with a divine aroma permeating around it materialized in front of me, levitating much like what the mask did. Shortly enough, all of the portals that were once present dissipated and were replaced by a portal that emerged behind me.

   Taking the coffee, I began to make my way inside the portal, sipping the coffee that I was given, but I was suddenly stopped by a shout from behind me, "You're forgetting something!"

   Turning around, I saw the man toss something at me. With exemplary reflexes, I caught the object mid-flight with my free hand. The aforementioned object was the mask. Of course, how could I forget this thing?

   "How do I use this thing, exactly?" I asked, waving the mask within my hand. "You don't mind giving me an instruction manual for this thing, do you?

   "When the necessity arises, I will give you a demonstration." He made a gesture for me to go. More specifically, he waved his right hand at me. "Now go, Equestria needs a troublemaker."

   Shaking my head slowly, I proceeded into the portal. For a few seconds, nothing but a white radiance enveloped my vision, causing me to shut my eyes close. Finally, the accursed light dispersed, and once more, my vision was clear.

   I was in the middle of a frozen wasteland.

   The shivering cold winds battered me with unrelenting pressure. A scarcity of mercy was present in this environment. A thick mantle of numbing snow mitigated my vision, thus, I could only see for a few feet or so.

   Wear the mask. A distorted, shady voice resonated from my mind.

   I couldn't exactly protest, nor question the sudden command due to my brain not being able to form any coherent thoughts due to my body temperature plummeting alarmingly fast.

   So, doing as I was told, I placed the mask on my face.

   Nothing occurred at all, what a surprise. "D- dammit. This thing isn't working." I cursed at nothing, the buffeting winds suppressing the volume of my voice.

   "Of course nothing happened yet." The same voice that spoke with a static-noise stated, "I just wanted you to wear that."

   The garbled voice added, "See that colossal establishment to the left of you?" He asked, prompting me to turn my head to the left direction.

   The display before me astounded me. Just a few feet away from me was civilization, a large one to be more accurate. There were structures constructed out of some sort of gleaming, crystal-like material. The luster of the buildings made me want to just demolish them and salvage the remains, and sell them for a profit.

   "Go there." The voice commanded.

   And so I began to brave the freezing gusts of this barren, frost-enveloped land, intending to arrive at my designated destination...

Next Chapter: Chapter 1. Deceiving One's Form Estimated time remaining: 27 Minutes