Wednesday, September 13th
Morning

As Sunset Shimmer walked to school that day, she heard a few students talking, both of them boys.

“I heard that another person disappeared.”

“Was it another student at Canterlot High?” his friend asked.

“You know that hot seamstress, Rarity? I heard that her parents called the police saying that she's vanished.”

“Damn, that sucks. I was planning on asking her out. I had a plan and everything.”

“Dude, you do know she bats for the other team, right?”

His friend groaned, “It's always the hot ones. Damn it. Either way, I hope they find her soon. Nothing else so I can keep admiring her assets from a distance.”

“Never mind that she might be in danger, right?” he asked sarcastically. Sunset didn't care to hear the rest of their conversation, so she tuned them out.

Wednesday, September 13th
After School

Sunset Shimmer, Trixie, and Pinkie Pie were walking back to the antique shop. Applejack said that she'd meet them there. As they turned the corner, they saw Applejack step out of Daidara's Metal Works. When she saw them, she smiled and walked over to them.

“Didn't expect ta see y'all here,” she said, “Ah wanted ta surprise ya.”

“What were you doing in there?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Well, Ah figured if Ah'm gonna help y'all, Ah need ta be prepared, so...” she pulled out a set of nun-chucks.

“Is that your weapon?” Sunset Shimmer asked.

“Ah know it ain't as fancy as yer sword or Trixie's staff,” Applejack admitted, “but Ah don't know how ta use any of that other stuff, so Ah went with what looked simplest.”

“Hey, that's fine,” Trixie said, “The only reason I know how to use a staff is because I played with the broom a few times when I was little.”

“By the way,” Applejack said, “How 're ya feelin? Ya ain't too hurt, are ya?” Applejack asked.

“I'm still a little sore, but I can manage,” Trixie asked. Applejack looked down thinking,

“We at least got till Sunday,” she said looking at them, “As long as we make it ta her by then we should be good, right?”

“But Applejack,” Pinkie Pie asked, “Shouldn't we try to save her as soon as possible?”

“Believe me, Ah do,” Applejack said, “As in, as soon as possible. Right now there's only the four of us, an' only three fighters out of that. We gotta pace ourselves.”

Sunset agreed with Applejack. She didn't want to keep Rarity waiting too long, but if they acted too hastily they'd only get themselves killed.

“Also,” Applejack continued, “Ah was thinkin that we need a leader, someone ta keep us straight in there, ya know?”

“You were thinking the same thing as me then,” Trixie said.

“Me too,” Pinkie Pie said, “And I know exactly who that leader should be.”

Sunset Shimmer half expected them to all fight for who the position should be, but she wasn't expecting all three of them to turn to look at the exact same person.

Her...

Sunset couldn't believe it. They wanted her to be the leader?

“Well, you were the first one to get their Persona,” Trixie said.

“You know how to fight the best,” Pinkie Pie continued.

“An' yer the most level headed of us,” Applejack said, “Always have been. Ah think yer the best candidate fer the job.”

Honestly, Sunset wasn't. She actually thought that Applejack would have made a better leader, and she half wanted to tell Applejack that. Seeing all three of them smiling expectantly at her though, she couldn't help but feel a little more confident, and that she had to do this.

If Twilight were here, would she have also asked Sunset to be the leader?

“I won't let you down,” Sunset Shimmer said smiling confidently. Now they felt like a true team.

Fool Arcana: Rank 2

“Applejack is right though,” Trixie said, “We shouldn't rush. I am okay, but if anyone else wants to rest for the day, we shouldn't go in.”

“So what should we do then?” Pinkie Pie asked, “Should we go in today, or stay here to rest longer.”

Sunset Shimmer thought hard about that. She didn't want to take too long in saving Rarity, but they shouldn't rush either. Even if it took a few days, they'd rescue Rarity by the end of the week.

For now, Sunset decided they should head back into the Mirror World. With Applejack now in the front lines they stood a better chance.

Rarity's Castle: 1st Floor

When they arrived in the castle, Sunset noticed something that really disturbed her. There was a turn that she didn't recognize right in front of her. Did the maze change?

“Guys,” Pinkie Pie said behind them, “Something is different. I don't think this place is consistent.”

“Great,” Trixie groaned, “That's going to make things harder...”

“Let's be extra careful going through here,” Pinkie Pie said.

Sunset ran forward, Trixie and Applejack only a little behind her, but Pinkie Pie staying further in the back out of the way. Up ahead they saw a shadow crawling around. It noticed them and charged over to them, but Sunset managed to slash at it right before it took form.

The shadow turned into two more of those pink and purple ball shadows, but there was also a shadow that looked like two cloaked monks held together by sharp poles.

“I think those things are called Lying Hableries,” Pinkie Pie said pointing to the balls, “The other one is called Trance Twins.”

“And ya know this... how?” Applejack asked swinging her nun-chucks.

“Doesn't matter HOW she knows,” Trixie said, “Let's just take em out!”

Sunset started first by summoning Cordelia, willing her to cast Bufu on one of the Lying Hableries, knocking it down. She quickly used Bufu again, killing it. The other Lying Hablerie charged over to Sunset Shimmer, but Trixie knocked it back with her staff.

Sunset Shimmer gave Trixie a thumbs up thanking her.

“No problem Captain,” Trixie said smiling, “Can't have you falling now, can we?”

So now she was “Captain”? Sunset just knew that would catch on, at least with Trixie.

Applejack swung her nun-chucks as her card appeared before her, “Persona!” she shouted whacking the card with her nun-chucks. Artemis appeared in front of her pulling out her cross bow and fired at the Lying Hablerie, knocking it back. That gave Sunset Shimmer the opening she needed.

“CORDELIA!!!” Sunset shouted. Cordelia pointed her clawed hand forward, casting Bufu on the Lying Hablerie, killing it. Applejack willed Artemis to fire her crossbow at the Trance Twins, knocking them against a wall. Trixie ran up to Applejack swinging her staff over her head.

“Go Dionysus!” Trixie shouted, summoning her Persona. Dionysus appeared over her and snapped his fingers, casting Agi on the Trance Twins, knocking them to the ground. The shadow was still alive, but it wasn't getting up anytime soon.

“Captain, you wanna just end this?” Trixie asked. Sunset Shimmer nodded, “Good answer!”

Sunset Shimmer, Trixie, and Applejack charged over to the Trance Twins and wailed on them with everything they had. In a few seconds the shadow was dead.

“Applejack, that was amazing!” Trixie said slapping Applejack on the back.

“Nah, Ah saw how you and Sunset Shimmer use yer Personas,” Applejack said smiling, “Ah don't know how ta make Artemis move all fancy like yers.”

“Well, Sunset's able to actually fight next to hers,” Trixie said, “Speaking of which, you okay Captain?”

Sunset saw something forced into her mind. A series of cards floating in front of her. She mentally picked one out, seeing a picture of an odd creature that looked almost like a brain with eyes and many tentacles. The name Omoikane appeared in her head.

“Sunset?” Applejack asked, “Ya need ta take a break?”

Sunset shook her head, “Let's keep moving,” she said walking on ahead. That was weird, but she wouldn't let that stop her. They had a mission after all, and if they could get to Rarity today, she wanted to.

Rarity's Castle: Floor 2

Sunset noticed that the second floor remained the same. Was that because it was such a basic room, or because shadows weren't present except for Applejack's shadow?

“Wait!” Pinkie Pie called out as Sunset approached the door, “There's something in that room!”

“We ain't turnin back now!” Applejack said, “The three of us can take whatever's on the other side of that door!”

“I agree,” Trixie said, “Captain, let's go!”

Sunset Shimmer nodded to them and opened the door.

Just as Sunset Shimmer thought, there wasn't a change in the room's layout. The only change was in the inhabitant. Instead of Applejack's shadow...

They saw Rarity's...

She was wearing a fancy white dress that had somewhat of a Greek look to it. Sunset figured it was the white dress that she wore when she confessed her feelings to Applejack.

“Hm... I suppose I could put the banners up here...” Shadow Rarity said, her back turned to Sunset's team not paying them any mind, “But those colors will clash with the walls. Maybe I should have thought harder about the color...”

“Um... hello?” Trixie asked.

“Oh, don't bother me right now, Trixie,” Shadow Rarity fussed, “Can't you see I'm busy?”

“Oh yeah, you look so busy keeping the real Rarity prisoner,” Trixie said. That caught the shadow's attention, and she turned to face them.

Red eyes... definitely a shadow.

“Ooh! I see what this is! You all came here for little old me,” Shadow Rarity said smiling.

“We came here fer the real Rarity!” Applejack shouted, “Tell me where she is now!”

“What's so special about her? Aren't I just as good?” Shadow Rarity asked innocently, “I have all of the same thoughts...” she leaned forward smiling at Applejack suggestively, “All of the same feelings...”

Applejack looked away slightly blushing. Sunset, Trixie, and Pinkie Pie all turned to her.

“Damn girl, looks like you two are serious,” Trixie taunted.

“I bet you know all of her sensitive spots, huh?” Pinkie Pie asked with a sly smile. Even Sunset Shimmer had to laugh a bit.

“Shove it y'all...” Applejack said through gritted teeth.

“I can please you in ways that she could only imagine. What do you say? Care for an upgrade?” Shadow Rarity asked. Sunset pointed her sword at Shadow Rarity glaring at her.

“Take us to our Rarity now!” Sunset Shimmer commanded, having her fill of this shadow's mind games. Shadow Rarity laughed haughtily.

“My, so much passion,” Shadow Rarity taunted, “I'm so busy these days, but I'm a generous person. How about we play a game, hm?”

Shadow Rarity snapped her finger, summoning two odd looking shadows. One shaped like a white hand with a blue masked head, walking around on its middle and ring fingers. The other one was shaped sort of like a king, but was small and didn't look too threatening. Actually, neither one looked dangerous.

That didn't mean they weren't.

“If you can get to me by next Monday,” Shadow Rarity said, “I'll take you to “Rarity”. Just so you'll know, I'll be ordering the shadows here to make your trek as hard as possible.”

“This isn't a game!” Applejack asked, “Take us ta Rarity NOW!”

“Sorry,” Shadow Rarity said, “But if you want me, you'll have to chase me. I love playing hard to get. Tootles.”

Shadow Rarity sauntered into the back door. Applejack tried to run after her, but the two shadows got in her way.

“That one is called a Magic Hand,” Pinkie Pie said pointing to the hand shaped one, “and his partner is called a Positive King.”

“Looks like we have to get past these guys first,” Trixie said as she and Applejack ran up to Sunset Shimmer.

“Damn it! We don't have time fer this!” Applejack shouted, swinging her nun-chucks.

Trixie pulled out her staff and Sunset Shimmer drew her sword, ready to fight.

“Be careful guys,” Pinkie Pie urged, “They're small, but I think they're dangerous.”

Sunset charged in first, swinging her sword at the Magic Hand, who jumped away and snapped... well... itself. It then cast Agi on Sunset knocking her back.

“Sunset Shimmer!” Pinkie Pie cried out. Trixie ran up to the Magic Hand and whacked it away with her staff, and was about to cast Agi on it, but something else tackled her. It looked like a green baby with a pink flower on its head.

The Positive King spun around and raised his scepter, and another one of those baby shaped shadows appeared.

“What the hell 're those things?!” Applejack asked.

“The name Secret Bambino comes to mind,” Pinkie Pie said, “I think the king is summoning them!”

“That's just great!” Trixie said swinging her staff above her head, “Cause we needed more of them!”

Trixie summoned Dionysus, who charged over to one of the Secret Bambino's and kicked it back. Artemis appeared behind him and shot at the other one with her cross bow.

Sunset got up and held out her hand looking at the Magic Hand. The shadow jumped into the air and tried to slam down on top of Sunset, but she rolled out of the way.

My attacks should hurt it...

Sunset nodded and held her hand out reaching for her tarot card, “CORDELIA!!!”

She crushed the card in her hand, willing Cordelia to cast Bufu. Cordelia pointed her clawed hand at the Magic Hand, her ice spell knocking the shadow down. As her friends were occupied, she cast Bufu again, this time killing the Magic Hand. She was happy that there was only one. More than one would have been a problem.

Sunset turned to her friends and saw a horrible sight. Trixie and Applejack were surrounded by Shadows. Four Secret Bambino's were around them, constantly whacking and tackling them. Everytime they killed one, another one appeared. Dionysus and Artemis were standing over their summoners, but they were doing most of the fighting as it took everything Trixie and Applejack had to keep their Persona's active.

“Sunset, what are we going to do?!” Pinkie Pie asked, “They're running out of energy!”

Sunset didn't know what to do. Were any of the enemies weak to her attacks? That was the only way she could think to help her friends.

My power will not be adequate...

But the other soul within you might have an idea...

The other soul? Was Cordelia talking about that other card she got earlier? Was it another Persona? If so, could she use it?

She pictured the other card in her head, and it materialized in front of her, but to the side. She pulled it over so it was in front of her, and it clicked as if inserted into a slot. At that moment she felt a little different. She was still herself, she could tell, but she oddly felt a deeper connection to her past self.

I doth be of the Hierophant Arcana...

The past shant help you here...

Look to the future...

The voice was different. It was male, and sounded elderly. Was that the other Persona? Was that... Omoikane?

She summoned her Persona, but instead of Cordelia, she instead saw the brain shaped creature on the card. It's tentacle/eyes looked at all of the Shadows. Sunset felt two spells that would help here. One was called Zio, which she kept picturing as an electric spell. The other one though was the one she really wanted to use for some reason.

Mazio...

She willed Omoikane to cast Mazio. He raised his tentacles, causing four bolts of lightning to shoot down and hit the Secret Bambinos, killing them instantly.

“Holy shit!” Trixie cried out, eyes wide.

“Who did that?” Applejack asked.

Sunset got their attention, and told Trixie to cast Agi on the king.

“R-right!” Trixie said, spinning her staff above her, “Go Dionysus!”

Trixie's Persona appeared, snapping his fingers and casting Agi on the Positive King. He was knocked down from the attack, so Sunset and Applejack ran over to Trixie.

“Captain, you want to end it here?” Trixie asked. Sunset nodded, and the three of them ran over to the shadow and wailed on it. Needless to say, it died instantly.

“Here,” Applejack said to Sunset Shimmer, having Artemis cast Dia on her, healing her. Sunset thanked Applejack and then asked if she was okay, “No, Ah ain't. Treatin Rarity's life like it's a game...”

“Hey, at least we know that she's definitely here,” Trixie said, “And we have until next Monday too get to her. I personally want to save her before then, but like we said, we need to pace ourselves.”

“Trixie's right,” Pinkie Pie said, “The shadow won't hurt her before then, I'm sure.”

“So, y'all think she's safe fer now?” Applejack asked.

“About as safe as she could be considering her situation,” Trixie said with a shrug. Sunset could only imagine how frustrated Rarity was right now.

“We need to keep moving,” Sunset said.

“Right,” Applejack said nodding, “Sunset Shimmer, Ah believe now more than ever that yer the best person ta lead us. Ah'm in yer hands.”

Sunset thanked Applejack, and then ordered her team to proceed onward. They were still on a rescue mission, and now they knew the exact deadline.

Next Monday...

Author's Note

Persona Stats:
Applejack Ambrosia (Strength Arcana)
Base Weapon: Nun-chucks
Persona: Artemis
Specialty: Wind, Physical Attacks, and Healing
Weakness: Electricity

Omoikane (Hierophant Arcana)
Specialty: Electricity
Weakness: Ice

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