Persona: Canterlot's Dark Hour

8th of April

Mist walked towards the school on his own today, it seemed that even though they lived in the same building and were technically friends they still felt the need to do everything separately from him. As he trotted on he heard two mares next to him speaking. “Hey, did you hear the rumour?”

“The one about the bathroom?”

“No! I mean the story about the first-year student. Not only did she stop attending school but apparently she just sits staring at the walls all day, mumbling ‘it’s coming’ to herself. Isn’t that creepy?”

“Huh. How about that.” She seemed sceptical.

“Wha… you don’t believe me!?” The bell for the beginning of school rang before they had a chance to finish their conversation.

Nothing too eventful happened during school on that day. Mist had to bail Brawny out of a situation when he wasn’t listening to the teacher in class but other than that it was all pretty boring. On a side note, it appears that even helping your friends in class was enough to gain popularity in this place. What a piece of work.

On the way home he passed through one of the many market districts of Canterlot and saw many strange ponies. An elderly couple appeared to be opening a bookstore, a fat teenage stallion was sat alone on a bench and an athletic looking stallion ran past making clopping sounds on the pavement as he went.

Upon entering the dorm Mist noticed a middle-aged stallion with a light brown coat and chocolate brown mane styled in a mullet speaking to Sugar. He had some sort of clownfish as a cutie mark which made Mist wonder if maybe his talent was telling bad jokes.

Sugar turned around upon hearing the door.

“Oh, here he is.” She said cheerfully.

The stallion turned his gaze “Ah. So this is our new guest!” he sounded more enthusiastic than she had been. “Good evening. My name is Bad Pun, I am the chaircolt of the board at your school. And yes, I know my name makes you not want to take me seriously but I take my job very seriously. That’s why I don’t like introducing myself, the name gives ponies the wrong impression.”

Mist nodded, walked over and took a seat on the couch next to Sugar while Bad Pun remained in the armchair. “I do apologies about the confusion regarding your lodgings, but it may take a while longer for us to get you your proper room assignment. Is there anything you’d like to ask?”

Mist considered asking about what he saw the other night but considering his promise to Sugar he decided against it and simply shook his head. “Then I hope you have a successful school year. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He got up from his seat and began walking towards the door before stopping and turning towards Mist “You should get to bed early, y’know what they say ‘the early bird catches the bookworm’.” Bad Pun chuckled “Please forgive the bad joke.” He then turned but instead of exiting through the door as expected he walked towards the stairs.

Sugar scoffed “You’ll get used to the crap jokes.” Mist, seeing nothing else to do went upstairs and to bed.

On the fourth floor Moonlight and Sugar sat at a console in front of a large screen. On the screen was the sleeping form of Mist Twister in his bed. Bad Pun walked in through the door “So, how’s he doing?” he asked the two mares.

“He went to bed a little while ago,” Moonlight informed him “he’s asleep now. Mister Chaircolt, do you think he’s…”

“Well let’s wait and see for now. The Dark Hour is approaching.” After a few seconds the clock struck midnight and the smallest hand stopped dead in its tracks. They could see on the monitor that the moonlight pouring into Mist’s bedroom was now a green colour.

A stallion was on his cell phone on a bench outside. There were others there listening to music on the radio and drinking cider, the music stopped and many began to go home. The mare on the radio started speaking “Thank you for listening to our broadcasts today, on the tone the time will be twelve o’ clock a.m.” Beeping sounded on the radio and after the fifth one the stallion closed his eyes and yawned.

When he opened his eyes he was greeted by the sight of the green moon. Confused, he turned around and came to face several coffin-like objects where the other ponies used to be. He began panicking and turning around frantically only to discover a black goo-like substance slowly making its way towards him.

He stood, not knowing what it was. Something began to ooze from his eyes and when he reached up a hoof to wipe it he saw more of the gooey substance. It began coming from his eyes, nose and mouth and it hurt. It hurt a lot. The burning pain was almost too much for him to take as whatever supernatural entity was hurting him got into his mind and damaged it to the point where the stallion no longer cared about anything. He wasn’t even aware of the world around him.

The three at the monitor continued to stare at the sleeping form of Mist Twister, he had not become a coffin as many others during the Dark Hour do. “As you can see, he’s retained his pony form.”

“Then he must be…” Sugar muttered.

“The only question that remains is whether or not he has the potential. Although, he must. If he didn’t then they would have preyed on him by now. We should continue to monitor him for a few more days.”

“Yes sir.” Moonlight said.

“I feel kinda bad though, spying on him like this.” Sugar added.

Mist awoke in a room, it had a completely blue floor and was seemingly moving downwards at a fast speed. In the center of the room he could see a bipedal being in a chair, it was sat upright in a black suit and was holding a cane with an eagle head on the handle. It had an unusually large and pointy nose and its eyes were bloodshot. Beside it stood a bright blue mare with blonde hair and a blue hat, her eyes were surprisingly blank looking. Her cutie mark was some sort of tarot card. She also happened to be a Unicorn.

The biped spoke in a voice easily identified as male but it had a sinister twist to it “Welcome to the Velvet Room my dear young colt. My name is Igor, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. This is Elizabeth, she is a resident here like myself.” Igor and Elizabeth, what odd names.

“Pleased to meet you.” The mare called Elizabeth said in a flat yet somehow pleased sounding tone.

“This place exists between dreams and reality, mind and matter. It’s been years since we’ve had a guest.” Igor produced a sheet of paper in front of him… it was the contract! “Only those who have signed the contract can enter this place. Henceforth you shall now be welcome in the Velvet Room, you will learn to hone your unique ability and you will require my help to do so. I only ask one thing in return, that you abide by your contract and assume all responsibility for the choices you make.”

“I understand.” Mist said, he was surprised to find that this situation did very little to faze him.

“Hold onto this.” A blue glow appeared around Mist’s neck and suddenly there was a key hanging there, it was the same shade of blue as the room. “’Till we meet again.” Mist began to regain consciousness.

Bonus: Mist Twister's Charm has increased!