“I can see you won't be convinced, so as such it's my duty to get rid of the non-believers! Let Count Taurus guide you straight to Hel!” Svengallop declared.

“Ah’ve heard complete hogwash in the past but this is ridiculous!” Applejack said. “Prophecy or not, Ah won't let you hurt Rara or anyone else so Ah hope yer ready to meet yer maker!”

“Ooh I feel so conflicted about having to fight Countess Coloratura's manager...but he was a meanie anyway!” Pinkie then summoned Comus and strengthened our attack while Fluttershy strengthened up our defense.

“Come on Nike, let's take care of this fruitcake!” Dash said as Nike appeared and attacked using Garu.

“Your attacks are futile,” Svengallop said. “Come Dark Valkyrie, deliver these fools from their cruel fate. Nibelung Valesti!”

Suddenly, as a woman clad in dark armor appeared, beams shaped like spears rained down from above, hitting all of us.

“Ow...that was brutal…” Twilight groaned as she summoned Athena who healed our injuries.

“We can't let up now,” I said. “AJ, Rarity, and I will take up the offensive while Dash keeps him occupied. Twilight and Fluttershy will be our support. Pinkie...you do whatever you do.”

“Okie-dokie!”

I summoned Ares who used Agi and it appeared to hurt Svengallop more than Dash's attack. “Get ready you two, I have another idea.”

Svengallop attacked again, this time using Bufula, I getting the worst of the damage. Twilight healed us once again while Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie boosted our stats.

“Together now!” The rest of us attacked and as I expected, the attacks combined together, this time a large pillar of fire. Svengallop got burned pretty badly, his hair included.

“No way, it's not ending like this!” Svengallop declared. The Valkyrie appeared again, drawing her sword and it seemed to to be targeting me as her blade turned to ice and she attacked.

I felt cold as I was surrounded by darkness. Was I dead? Was I going down this easy? Is this game over?

“No, not exactly…”

I knew that voice right away because it was my own. I then saw my shadow in front of me, an amused smile on her face.

“Your friends will most likely revive you soon enough,” she continued. “Which is fortunate. Sometimes, when the leader dies it's game over for them.”

“...This isn't a fucking video game!”

“I know but it's still stupid,” my shadow said. “But don't mind me, this meeting is temporary anyway.”

“...If this truly is death I want no part of it!”

“That's my girl…!”

I then woke up, gasping for breath quickly. “Phew! She's back with us!” Applejack said.

“...How long was I…?”

“Only ten seconds,” Rarity replied. “Twilight was very adamant about getting you back.”

I looked to Twilight and smiled. “Thanks.”

Twilight blushed slightly. “Just doing my duty, that's all,” she said, dismissing with a wave of her hand.

“This is sweet and all but we still got this guy to deal with!” Dash snapped at them. “Could use some help!”

“Oh don't worry, he's gonna get a taste of his own medicine!” I summoned Ares as Aphrodite and Demeter appeared as well. “Towering Inferno!”

Maybe it was my close encounter (or escape) from death that strengthened my will. Or maybe I was pissed I actually got killed by this asshole but either way the flames seemed to burn just a little bit hotter, burning through Svengallop’s defenses.

From what Philemon told me that first night, your Persona is not some sort of special shield that protects you. It's the embodiment of your soul, but it's connected to your body and the body can only take so much. That being said, I know my soul was burning brighter, much more than Svengallop’s and unfortunately his body could take no more. The screams of a man burning to death were not pleasant.

Applejack sighed and turned away. “Ah wish it hadn't come to this...but ya gave us no choice…” She then went over to the back of the set where Rara was hiding. “You okay?”

“I...think so,” Rara said, standing up. “Uh...what exactly happened?”

“It's hard to explain,” Fluttershy said.

“But uh...yer gonna need a new manager now,” Applejack stated.

“Well he was about to get fired-” Rara then winced at her poor choice of words. “...So he's really…?”

“Yep! Burned to a crisp!” Pinkie said.

“...Really Pinkie?” Twilight stared at her.

“...Well considering he was about to... actually I don't know what he was talking about but if he was involved in the kidnappings perhaps it was all anyone could do.” Rara then looked to Applejack. “I want to apologize…you were right about everything.”

“Of course Ah was,” Applejack said. “But Ah wish Ah hadn't been...are we good now?”

“Yeah we're good…” The two of them hugged as a loud cheer rang out.

“I forgot we were still being watched,” Twilight commented.

“So...they saw everything?” Dash asked.

“Pretty sure they thought it was part of the show,” Applejack said.

“Oh yes, because someone burning to death is entertainment…” Rarity muttered.

“Everyone, I'm sorry for the sudden change of schedule but we're going to finish this concert off right,” Rara then said. “If you'll excuse me for one moment…”

She then went back stage, much to everyone's confusion. “I think we should get to our seats, it's her show after all,” I said.

Shortly after we sat down, the curtains opened up again and there was a large grand piano on stage and sitting there, much to everyone's surprise, was Rara. She was wearing a short black dress with a small silk skirt. I knew at that moment this was the Rara Applejack knew long ago.

“This song was something I wrote months ago, when I was struggling to identify who I was. Now I know, who I truly am is Rara,” Rara said. There were murmurs of confusion in the audience. She then started playing.

I'm here to show you who I am

Throw off the veil, it's finally time

There's more to me than glitz and glam, oh-whoa

And now I feel my stars align

For I had believed what I was sold

I did all the things that I was told

But all that has changed, and now I'm bold

'Cause I know

That I am only human

I make mistakes from time to time

But now I know the real me

And put my heart out on the line

And let the magic in my heart stay true

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa

And let the magic in my heart stay true

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa

Just like the magic inside of you

And now I see those colors

Right before my eyes

I hear my voice so clearly

And I know that it is right

They thought I was weak, but I am strong

They sold me the world, but they were wrong

And now that I'm back, I still belong

'Cause I know

That I am only human

I make mistakes from time to time

But now I know the real me

And put my heart out on the line

And let the magic in my heart stay true

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa

And let the magic in my heart stay true

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa

Just like the magic inside of you

Just like the magic inside of you…

There was a two second pause and then suddenly the crowd went crazy, us included of course. Rara then stood up and walked to the front of the stage. “Thank you, everyone! Today, even as I came here I had forgotten who I truly was. But it was an old friend of mine who I truly have to thank. AJ, thank you for not forgetting when I already had.”

“Aw shucks…”

Once the show was over, Rarity was quick to remind us we had backstage passes. Rara kept her promise about hanging out with us so naturally we went to the first place that came to mind.

“Oh my gosh, I have never eaten a Danish this good,” Rara said, her mouth full. “Nothing in Manehattan comes close!”

“I'd be happy to send you a gift package of our best stuff,” Pinkie offered.

“Listen Rara, Ah gotta apologize as well for not keeping in touch with ya all those years ago,” Applejack said.

“It's okay, we kind of went our separate ways anyway,” Rara replied.

“Ah almost ended up living in Manehattan mahself,” Applejack said. “But Ah just couldn't leave the farm behind…”

“Manehattan is not for everyone I'll admit…”

“So how are you going to do about a new manager?” I asked.

“Hmm...well to be honest the rest of the staff I have didn't care for Svengallop,” Rara explained. “Finding a new manager won't be difficult, but explaining what happened to Svengallop…”

“Oh I don't think you'll have to explain what happened…” Dash said, showing her phone. There was an article titled “Countess Coloratura's Manager Killed in Concert Mishap.” “...Svengallop was part of the concert's sudden improvised act and was apparently set on fire, although the cause of the fire is still under investigation.”

“I'm afraid there's also a video too,” Twilight added.

We all exchanged nervous glances. “And did they see…?” Fluttershy asked.

“The quality isn't that great, so it kinda looks like stage props,” Twilight assured the rest of us.

“Well, it's probably gonna be the biggest highlight of yer career,” Applejack said to Rara.

“You're not going to tell me what happened are you?” Rara asked.

Applejack sighed. “It's complicated…”

Rara smiled. “Don't worry about it, I already owe you for saving me and all those people. It was pretty cool though.” She then looked at her phone. “It's getting kinda late but...say AJ, do you want to hang out at the hotel I'm staying? We never got to do any sleepovers.”

“Yeah, I think after all that we're pretty much all exhausted,” I replied.

“Well...aw heck why not?” Applejack said. “Just need to give Big Mac a call real quick.”

“I'll get my chauffeur then,” Rara said.

“She's got a chauffeur!” Pinkie whispered to us.

“Of course darling, that's the luxury of being famous,” Rarity said. “But I can drop all of you girls off. Sunset, I believe your bike is still on our driveway.”

I snorted. “No one is going to assume anything.”

After getting home, I quickly raided the fridge. After having nothing to inspire me, I settled on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As I was eating at the table, my phone started going off and I saw it was Twilight.

“Hey, this isn't a bad time is it?” Twilight asked.

“Not at all, what's up?”

“Just needed someone to talk to...we did pretty good today didn't we?”

“Considering we stopped another bad guy and saved all those people, I'd call it a victory,” I replied.

“Still...what he said troubles me...I mean everyone talks about the Apocalypse happening but sacrifices?”

“They're a bunch of loons at best…”

“Okay, but they can use Personas as well...which makes me wonder why we were chosen,” Twilight pondered.

“...Did you ever have a dream about meeting someone named Philemon?”

“...Yeah I did. I just thought it was from watching one of Shining’s anime shows.”

“Yeah no it's totally real… But as for other Persona users I'm not sure what's going on.”

“Maybe we can meet at the library tomorrow...since we may not see each other til the weekend,” Twilight suggested.

“It's a date then.”

“...Huh?”

“I'm teasing. I forgot about you being a Crystal Prep student. Can't you just skip?”

There was a long silence on the other line. “Crystal Prep students don't skip,” Twilight said monotonously. I may have accidentally insulted her.

“Not even if the world is at stake?” I asked.

“...Now you're teasing again.”

“Yep.”

Twilight groaned...and then slightly giggled. “I guess I could make an exception in that case. So...is ten a good time to meet there?”

“Sounds good...oh and by the way...I totally saw you checking out Flash tonight.”

Twilight quickly hung up.

Author's Note

So I had to make one little change on the lyrics there...cause come on she's not a pony...if I said I was a pony you'd think I was crazy.

Well, actually crazy.