Shadows of a Silent Pony

Wednesday March 4th, 1002 RC(Reign of Celestia)

Weather: Cloudy

Morning

"Mac?" A familiar voice called. The pony in question turned away from it, ignoring the scrapes he got from his makeshift mattress. It was too early to work, for once.

"Mac." It sounded annoyed. He'd get up soon enough either way. What was the rush?

"Mac!" A jolt of ungodly pain shot through his side, roughly in the shape of a hoof. Applejack was giving him a wake-up call. If it weren't for the sore spot on his side, he'd be amused by the role reversal, considering how many late nights she spent on her adventures with her friends.

His eyes fluttered open as he rolled himself onto his hooves, examining his surroundings beyond the orange and yellow blob that he assumed was his sister. He was out in the barn. He'd fallen asleep against a hay bale after that craziness with the comic books. He became more lucid as he remembered the two comic books stashed away in his tool chest. Taking a moment to gather himself, he could even feel in his personal 'pocket dimension' that he had a piece of metal, roughly the size of a medium length blade, stored inside.

Applejack pulled him from his concentration, waving a hoof in front of his face. "Just where in Tartarus were you last night!"

He gave his sister a shrug and confused expression, hoping she'd buy it.

"Now don't you gimme none o' that 'I dunno' business! Ya' ain't no li'l colt stayin' out at a friend's house on no social calls. Yer a grown stallion, and ya' should act like it. Now, get yer flank in gear. It's almost noon, and Twilight's called a town meeting." Even as his sister walked away, it'd been ages since he'd last seen her so mad at him. Still, a town meeting called by Princess Twilight was surely some kind of big news. Or vague premonitions of 'doom' in the future due to time travel.

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Wednesday March 4th, 1002 RC(Reign of Celestia)

Weather: Cloudy

Afternoon

Mac trotted to town hall by himself, caught at the back of a rather large crowd around the usual stage. Mayor Mare seemed to be finishing up an address to the public before introducing Princess Twilight. Mac didn't like getting involved in politics, but Mayor Mare certainly had kept the town in working order despite the seemingly weekly disorder and chaos that blew through town. He'd certainly vote for her again, not that she had much opposition.

His ears perked up as he saw the recently transformed princess take the stage. He'd always liked that Twilight girl. While she was a bit neurotic, she was also skilled with magic, and she used to be Princess Celestia's student to boot. It didn't surprise the apple farmer much that she'd eventually be a princess too. He glanced about the crowd for a moment while Princess Twilight was preparing herself. There was an odd lack of a few ponies he knew.

"Citizens of Ponyville," the young alicorn began in a somber tone, "I'm here to inform you all of a number of occurrences. Before I begin, I want you all to remain calm. No stampeding, no running for your lives, and most certainly no screaming in terror." She glanced over to the local florists, before looking about the crowd once more. "A number of ponies have gone missing."

The crowd erupted into a series of murmurs, only to be silenced as she cleared her throat. "The list is incomplete, but two ponies whom we do know are missing for more than twenty four hours are Bulk Biceps and Berry Punch. If anyone has any information on their last whereabouts, please bring it forward at your earliest convenience. On a more personal note, my assistant, Spike, has been missing since last night as well." She barely managed her final sentence, before clearing her throat and sorting through the stack of papers at the podium once more.

"I also have come to report that Princess Celestia is currently taking a temporary permanent leave of office. She has left instructions to direct all inquiries to Princess Luna in the meantime. A personal statement from her desk has stated that she is not abandoning her ponies, but is taking a vacation so that she may recover from the recent trials of her office." Twilight Sparkle read off with a sullen expression, before stating to her audience once more, "Any and all concerns may be directed to me at the Ponyville Library."

As soon as the princess walked off in a rather uncharacteristically sad gait, the crowd dispersed, the many murmurs from before becoming full-blown conversations. Mac had little doubt that the local rumor mill would have a heyday with the current situation. He couldn't help but think of the night before. Between the scream, the comic book, and the broken flashlight, he knew what he had to do.

Instead of walking back home, he turned toward the library. Mac hesitated for a moment as he reached the front door. He knocked his forehoof against it a few times to announce his presence. Upon opening the door, he found Princess Twilight poring over a pair of books, surrounded by what one could only dub as a 'book fort'. There was that neurotic behavior Ponyville knew and loved. She hadn't quite noticed him yet. He held the back of his hoof up to his mouth, clearing his throat to catch her attention.

Her ears perked up, barely pulling herself from the books. "Yes?" She glanced over to Mac, her worried expression softening, "Oh. Big Mac. It's nice to see you here. Did Applejack send you?"

"Nnnope." He gestured toward what seemed to be a newly added bulletin board in the library. On it were several pieces of paper, each one showing a missing pony. He gestured toward the one of Spike, hoping she'd understand.

Her eyes lit up with joy, her wings fluttering uncontrollably. She lost her page, but didn't mind as she bounded over the desk and in front of Mac. "You've seen him?"

He gave her a sad smile, before letting it fall. He simply shook his head to the question. "Ah can't rightly say Ah have. But, Princess Twilight, Ah promise that Ah'll find him, no matter what it takes."

The alicorn's smile left her face, but a long, stern expression of contemplation. Mac found himself feeling rather nervous under her examining eyes. He asked himself if this was her default thinking face, or if perhaps she was irrationally angry at him over it? Twilight nodded to herself before trotting away to the other side of the library. Her horn lit up as a plethora of books were encased in her telekinesis, each tome floating around her. After a moment, each of them dropped to the floor in neat stacks, save for one she still held up.

"I've been waiting a long time to use this spell. I was going to use it back when I was in the academy on myself if I would've stayed there rather than coming to Ponyville, but this is a bit more important." She opened the book to what seemed to be a set of complex magical diagrams. Mac often wondered to himself if it was simply gibberish written on the pages, or if unicorns genuinely needed pages upon pages of instructions just to make a piece of fabric a different color or turn an apple into an orange.

Twilight held the book close to her before she approached Mac, her expression equal parts concerned and desperate. "Mac, I need to know if you're serious about finding Spike. He's- well- like a brother to me. He's family. You have to understand how important it is to me that he returns safe and sound." She pleaded with the workhorse, her expression faltering to one of worry. Her eyes met with the floor, as Mac presumed she went over every worst case scenario in her head.

He lifted her chin with his hoof, giving her a confident smile, "Ah'm as serious as can be."

With his assurance, Twilight's horn light up brightly as she pulled away from his touch. "Thanks, Mac. With this spell, you will find him. It may be a bit strong for the situation, but things will be made so that you do."

Before Mac could say anything more, the entire library was alight in a bright, purple flash of magic. A familiar magical burning sensation spread across his flank, roughly in the shape of an apple. The one on his hindquarters, in particular. As soon as the magic flare went down, he glanced to his cutie mark. It had changed. The detail on it had grown significantly. Whereas before it was a caricature of an apple, it was now highly detailed, and sparkled in the sunlight even more.

Whatever Princess Twilight had done, it had altered something about his cutie mark on a fundamental level, that much was certain. He didn't question it much. Magic was beyond him, after all. Twilight spoke once more, "Thank you, Mac. Just try to bring him back to me safely."

Mac gave her a nod before turning to the door. The moment he walked outside, though, another of those blue butterflies appeared before him. It drifted purposefully, as if beckoning him to follow. He walked through Ponyville, as vacant as it had become from the frightening news of disappearances and Celestia leaving her throne, following the butterfly. It hovered in an alleyway, behind it a solid blue door of the perfect shade.

It was too perfect to be real. It stood alone, not attached to the wall behind it in any way whatsoever. Mac walked up to it, touching it with his hoof. Once more, his vision went dark, and when it returned, he was once more inside the Velvet Room. This time, however, as he looked over himself, he was dressed in what appeared to be a pinstripe suit. Igor sat across from Mac, in the large sitting room chair that had been vacant for much of the stallion's previous visit.

"Welcome, welcome!" Igor greeted, his face as creepy and cheerful as it was before. "You have visited us once more, only in your waking mind. It seems you have entered into a genuine contract now. Remember this, though: We of the Velvet Room are here to assist you, but only if you take responsibility for your own actions." The human explained as motioned toward Luna, "My companion has something to show you, however."

Princess Luna held in her magic, a vast blue tome, of the same color as the rest of the Velvet Room's theme. "This is the Persona Compendium. As you gain power through your relationships with others, known as Social Links, this book will record your trials and the strength you gain from them. Within holds the most intimate details of every Persona you create from your friendships and other relations."

Mac found himself simply listening to the princess, not a single question on his mind as she explained the concept.

"Whenever you need to call upon a Persona from your past, all you need to do is inquire, and I shall state the price for summoning it once more." The lunar princess bowed her head back toward Igor, allowing the human to continue.

The odd looking creature grinned all the more to his guest, "My job here, similar to Luna's, is to help you unlock the true power of the Wild Card, whose power will be based upon your Social Links, the relationships my companion explained."

"In your world, this form of magic is called 'Harmony'. However, Social Links are just as powerful, and should not be taken lightly." Igor firmly stated, before he glanced over the stallion. "There seem to be other things you must attend to before you can use our services. Until next time, then."

Once the human stopped speaking, Mac realized he was standing before the door again. So much for all of this being restricted to just 'Tuesday weirdness'. He heaved out a sigh and turned back around to head home. The same old streets of Ponyville awaited him, though somewhat more lively. He presumed that his sister's friends had talked to some of the townsfolk.

On the way home, he could clearly see Trixie's wagon. He hesitated for a moment as he walked by it. His thoughts drifted to the night before. After giving up on any serious work for the day after his rough start, he turned to walk up the steps to the wagon's door. With the knock of his hoof, the stable door's top half opened.

"Who is in need of assistance from the Great and Powerful-" the mare began as mystical purple smoke billowed out from around her, "Oh. It's you, Macintosh."

"Jus' Mac." He corrected her for a moment.

Trixie blushed for a moment before opening the bottom half of the door. "I suppose you're here to discuss last night?"

"Eeyup."

"By all means, come in." She stated as her horn lit up with her magic. Mac took note that she was setting on a teapot to boil. "I've done a bit of work on this whole 'Persona' thing, and it seems that when I summon what's-her-face, a card just appears. It just stays there, suspended wherever I decide I want it, and then I have this compulsion to break it. And the moment I do, my Persona appears."

Trixie took a few steps back from her company as she motioned to one of the chairs nearby. "Persona! Circe!" She called out, as a levitating blue card appeared before her face. Her magic reached out around it, the glow surrounding the card quite visible. As the glow pulled the card in on itself, it shattered as if made of glass.

With a blaze of azure flame behind her, Circe burned into existence. "You know, it's getting rather frustrating to just get called by you for just a few minutes at a time."

"Hush, you. The Great and Powerful Summoner Trixie was just showing our guest what she'd learned about calling you." The unicorn flourished her hoof, giving a slight bow to her audience.

Mac, now sitting in one of Trixie's few chairs, clapped his hooves a few times from the display. He calmed himself as he called out, "Persona! Apsaras!" He stomped his forehoof on the seat of the chair, calling his into existence.

The blue skinned woman stood beside him, as calm and unfettered as ever. She still held the same sheer blue scarf as she had before, waiting for her User's commands.

Circe spoke up first between the two Personae, "Blue unicorn thing, perhaps it'd be best to figure out why your little 'book' tried to attack you?" The creature prodded the mare's hindquarters with her caduceus, receiving a harsh glare from the mare.

"Actually, that is a very good question. You see, Mac, I bought the comic from that new comic shop here in Ponyville. It's part of the Canterlot Enchanting Comics Emporium. Their selling point are magical comics that let you live out the story. Some times as a main character, some times watching and assisting them," Trixie began explaining as she pulled the now whistling teapot off of the burner with her magic. She filled her cup before motioning toward her guest.

Mac shook his head politely, simply observing as she prepared a swirling mixture of purple and amber. He assumed from the tiny tea infuser inside the cup that she made her own. Or at least had loose tea sitting around somewhere. That much certainly wasn't expected from her previously haughty demeanor. Though, he tried not to take the Alicorn Amulet incident at face value.

After mixing in several spoonfuls of honey, the mare dropped her magic entirely once the concoction was stirred. She gripped the cup with her hooves, staring into the now murky water, "What's been bothering me is, well, everything about last night." She quickly glanced up to Mac, only to look back down at her drink with the same speed. "You probably already know the content of the comic, but Trixie was using it for predominantly recreational activities. She didn't expect the Shadows or Persona thing at all."

"Did anything odd happen before you used the book?" Apsaras interjected politely, remaining at Mac's side loyally.

The stage performer thought rather hard for a few moments before answering, "Yes, actually. Trixie was rereading it, since only the final page is enchanted, and, honestly, she fell asleep" Mac couldn't help but grin at the rather cute blush that came across the unicorn's cheeks. "Next thing I knew, I was at the start of the 'interactive' portion of the story." That blush only grew deeper, and her expression several shades more embarrassed.

"Is it possible someone opened the comic to the last page to force you inside?" Circe inquired this time, her tone as mocking as ever, despite the legitimacy of her concern.

"No? Maybe. The Great and- I mean, I don't know if anypony in Ponyville would honestly break in to do that." Trixie stared at her tea for a long while before taking a sip from it, never making eye contact with her guest or his Persona.

Mac cleared his throat after the long, heavy pause. "We should investigate then."

Trixie looked up from her table, her eyes with a shine mac had never seen before. Her lips slowly formed a wide, maniacal grin, and her horn lit up to place her wizard hat on her head and her cloak on her body. "Investigating an unknown kind of magic that nopony has seen before and stopping some malevolent force while Twilight Sparkle is buried in paperwork?" With a flash of magical sparks from her horn, her attire quickly changed to that of a deer stalker and a pea coat. "This sounds like a job for the brilliant expertise of the Sly and Deductive Trixie!"

Mac gave her a long, frustrated stare. After a few moments, the mare gave a shy chuckle as her horn lit up again. "Perhaps we should solve this mystery together then?" She suggested, trying to recover from her outburst.

Mac nodded, extending a hoof to shake with her on it. The moment hers wrapped around his, he found the world slowing once more around him. That eerily familiar voice rang out in his head as he stared at Trixie and her Persona. A card appeared within his vision. It depicted a human dressed in what seemed to be a straw hat dancing while he carried a bindle. At his side was a dog, and before the human's face was a blue butterfly.

Thou art I. And I am thou.

Thou hast established a new bond.

May this bond bring thee closer to the truth.

Thou shalt have our blessing when crafting Personae of the Fool Arcana.

Time resumed its normal pace as Mac pulled his hoof away politely. "While you two are getting all friendly, I'll be scrying." Circe stated with the utmost vitriol, her vial and caduceus no longer in her hands. Instead, she held a crystal ball, her face staring into its murky depths.

"Scrying? Inform Trixie what you're scrying for." The unicorn demanded, stomping a hoof at her Persona.

The woman held a palm out to quiet her User, staring into the orb for a while longer. Her eyes started glowing a fierce, bright purple as she started talking. "Candy. Store window. Ribbons. Three days, twelve hours, twenty two minutes." The Persona's eyes returned to their usual appearance as she let go of the crystal ball, the sphere disappearing entirely. "The next victim will be attacked in three days, twelve hours, and twenty two minutes. Unless I'm getting rusty, which I assure you I am not."

Trixie remained silent for a few moments. "Just like that?"

"Just like what?" Circe retorted, her scathing tone dripping from every word.

"You expect us to go out and find whoever the victim is just over some cryptic clues you spout?"

The Persona leaned down to her user, tapping her horn with the caduceus, "I don't expect you to do anything. I was trying to be useful to your little 'investigation club'."

Mac glanced up to Circe, inquiring firmly as an expression of determination spread over his face, "Is that time accurate, ma'am?"

"Yes. Down to the minute. Whatever you two decide to do, it's none of my business." She waved her staff, trying to seem as stoic as possible.

The stallion gave Trixie a nod, as if to assure her. "F-Fine. The Great and Powerful Trixie will trust your information for now, Circe." She relented with a grimace, her horn lighting up as she cleaned the tea cup while she spoke. The unicorn dismissed her Persona almost immediately afterward, her eyes shifting to meet with Mac's.

"Well, we should see what we can find out about the enchanted comic shop, then those clues."

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Wednesday March 4th, 1002 RC(Reign of Celestia)

Weather: Cloudy

Afternoon

Mac stood before a brand new comic store. The glass was so clean it reflected the sun into his eyes. In the window, he could see posters of all kinds of comic books, and just as many cardboard cutouts of characters. He recognized a few from his foalhood. The Timber-Wolverine, some of the other X-Manes, the Scarlet Wither, Captain Equestria, Supermare, and, from recent events in town, the Mare-Do-Well.

Trixie blushed as she looked inside. Mac followed her eyes to a curtain that read 'adults only'. He felt his cheeks understandably heat up as well. The stallion cleared his throat as he motioned his partner to take the lead.

"Y-Yes. Of course Trixie will go first. It's only polite, after all." The unicorn went in with her head down low, as if she didn't want anyone to see her.

Mac followed after her, his steps dainty and awkward. He felt rather inadequate in such a place. By his reckoning comic books and silly things like that were for kids. He tried to act as if he were shopping for one while Trixie talked to the clerk. As he tried perusing through one of the displays, his eyes wandered over to the counter. His jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw the pony at the register.

It was a unicorn mare, no older than Applejack or Pinkie Pie, give or take a couple of years, but she was well beyond what Mac would qualify as just 'attractive'. She was something else entirely. Between the half-shaved mane style, the eyebrow and lip piercings, and the tattoos showing past her fur, he couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated. A pretty mare with a sense of style that clearly screamed out against social norms. He could feel his face growing redder and his heart beating ever faster.

He tried to calm himself down as he analyzed the situation. Was that the same reaction mares had to him when they met him, he thought. Of course, barring her style, and getting down to the more basic traits of beauty and attractiveness, he corrected himself. And unlike those mares that always fumbled over their attempts at flirting with him, he was going to calm down and just talk to her like a respectable pony, rather than some prize to be won.

Just as soon as he could get his legs to start working again. He approached the counter once Trixie was talking to her, trying to listen in on the conversation.

"If you don't mind, could you tell Trixie if anypony from a sweet shop or a really lonely mare has bought any of your enchanted comics, present company withstanding." The showmare tried to politely inquire, her old tone remaining as she spoke, though slightly restrained.

The inky blue unicorn leaned against the counter with her elbows to rest her chin on her hoof. "Lessee... There's that Pinkie chick who keeps buying up a ton of regular comics. Then there's Bon Bon, who only comes in here when her weird marefriend drags her."

The punk looking mare shifted her legs, resting her cheek in her other hoof as the first tapped at the register, "And as far as lonely mares? Isn't that everpony in town?" The clerk let out a perverse chuckle before extending her hoof out to both Mac and Trixie. "Name's Fantasy Ink. Moved in with the store about a month ago."

Trixie idly shook with the tip of her hoof, trying not to seem too terribly excited by someone not knowing who she was. "I am the Great and-", the mare began as she prepared her horn and to bound back onto her hind legs, before looking over her shoulder to Mac, "I mean- I'm Trixie Lulamoon. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"My associate here is Big Macintosh Apple. He's the brother of that apple farmer, Applesack."

"Applejack." Mac corrected quietly, trying to seem as casual as possible.

"As Trixie said, Applejack." Trixie stated before looking back over the other unicorn. "So, you're from where, exactly?"

Fantasy Ink looked up from the comic she'd been leafing through for the mare's introduction, as if coming to out of a trance, "Huh? Oh. Right." She slid the item in question down a ways on the counter away from her. "Canterlot. I used to be one of the interns back at the main Emporium."

"I see. Well, thank you for helping us with that question." Trixie politely thanked the clerk after nudging Mac with a hoof. He gave a simple nod in response, unable to think of why he couldn't compose himself.

The punk unicorn grinned, "No probs. I know how hard it is to find someone to geek out over comics with in a backwoods place like this."

"Y-Yes. Well, we'll be on our way then." The showmare started pulling Mac by her magic as subtly as possible, not stopping until they were well outside of the shop. She turned toward her partner, giving him a hard glare. "For being so strong and wise, you act like a schoolcolt with a crush around mares like her."

Mac gave an innocent shrug, trying to save himself from the unicorn's frustrations. "Anyway, you did hear the ponies she listed off, right? Bon Bon and Pinkie Pie have come in recently, and they both work at sweet shops."  She gained only a doubtful grimace from Mac in response. With a huff, Trixie continued, "We can naturally assume from Circe's 'omens' that the mixture of the terms candy, store window, and ribbon mean that the next victim has to be someone who works at a confectionery."

The two walked back to her wagon, saying very little to each other on the way. "Thank you, Mac. I- I honestly don't know what would've happened if you didn't help me with that other me inside my comic." She pulled her hat and cloak off, setting them inside her mobile home. "So, no matter what, we're going to save whoever gets thrown into these enchanted comics, no matter what happens!"

Mac nodded in response, with the same determined expression on his face, the two knocking their hooves together in agreement.

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Save Data?

>Yes

-No

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Player: Big Macintosh Apple

Current stats:

2/10 Understanding

1/10 Knowledge

2/10 Courage

2/10 Expression

1/10 Diligence

Key Items:

Velvet Key

Trixie's Questionable Comic

Power Ponies Vol. 4

Equipment:

Weapon: Gladius

Armor: n/a

Accessory: Work Yoke

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