Persona EG: Pursuing My True Self

Early Morning

The Velvet Room…

Twilight was once again inside the large room, seated across from the long-nosed man and his assistant. “It is good to see you again,” Igor said. “It seems you have finally awakened to your power. We call this power Persona...consider it like a mask one wears. Each Persona is different and represents one's personality. It's a wondrous thing isn't it?” He then chuckled.

“I called you here because there was one other thing I wished to discuss. You will soon become involved in a great mystery, and in order to reach the end, you must strengthen your power. One can do this through social links.”

“The bonds you build with others will strengthen your powers and your Personas,” Clara said. “That's right, you have a unique ability.” She then had a deck of tarot cards in her hand. She laid it out on a table and drew the first card, putting it on the table. “As I thought… The Fool. The number zero represents nothing, but also endless possibilities. We call your ability the Wild Card.”

“You can wield multiple Personas at your disposal,” Igor explained further. “The next time we meet, you will come of your own free will and I will explain my abilities that will aid you in your journey. Until then, I will return you to your dreams. Farewell…”

Morning

Twilight was on her way to school when she bumped into Pinkie. “Hey,” she said, looking down slightly. “Sorry about blowing up yesterday...I was really worried something happened to you two!”

“It's fine,” Twilight replied. “You want to see it too right?”

“Well...I guess so. Is it...scary?”

Twilight smiled. “I think I'll let you decide for yourself.”

“Ooh you know I hate cliffhangers!”

Lunchtime

When Twilight got her lunch she saw that Applejack and Pinkie were the first ones at the table. “...And that pretty much sums the whole thing up,” Applejack said.

“Wait a minute...I can understand alternate personalities and incarnations of yourself...but a talking pony? Seriously?” Pinkie asked.

Applejack smirked. “That's where ya draw the line? Even Twilight believes it.

“Okay, let's not put words in people's mouths,” Twilight says as she sits down. “Talking equines aside, this other world pretty much has the same laws of physics...at least I think so.”

Applejack glanced over and cleared her throat. “Howdy Rainbow Dash, you're looking mighty happy today.”

“You're not going to believe this,” Rainbow said as she sat down. “So they did the autopsy of that reporter right? Well, apparently, they didn't find any cause of death, no stab wounds, no internal wounds, nothing!”

“And how the heck do you know that?” Applejack asked.

“Apparently a certain detective was willing to spill the beans,” Rarity said as she and Fluttershy showed up. “Honestly, you're going to get that poor man fired darling.”

“Don't worry, Spitfire's used to me asking stuff like this all the time.”

“Still...if she was hanging from the rooftop foul play was obviously involved,” Twilight said. “Interesting…”

“Um do we really have to talk about this?” Fluttershy asked.

“Uh yeah cause it's a real mystery!” Rainbow replied.

“A mystery you say?” Pinkie was suddenly smoking a wooden pipe and wearing a familiar cap. “Very interesting indeed…”

“I mean...there has to be a reason…” Fluttershy argued.

“It's elementary my dear Fluttershy,” Pinkie said.

“... What?”

“Ah think you're all blowing this outta proportion,” Applejack said. “Is that all that's going on in Gossip Land Dash?”

“Eh, other than that I heard Sunset Shimmer's been elected Student Council President again.”

“Was there even a race this time?” Rarity asked.

“Nope. Guess no one wants to face off against her. Student Council is lame anyway.”

“Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight asked.

“Oh yeah, you haven't met her yet have you?” Rainbow asked. ,”She's a... interesting one.”

“I’m not sure how to perceive that,” Twilight replied.

“Look behind ya,” Applejack said. Twilight casually turned around and saw a girl with red and yellow hair sitting by herself.

“Why is she sitting by herself?”

“Well...she actually transferred here a few years ago and there was this nasty rumor that she was quite the bully at her old school,” Applejack said.

“She's actually pretty nice, just kind of distant from everyone,” Fluttershy added.

“She's also probably the smartest student here so I guess you have some competition here,” Rarity stated. Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Well, maybe she just needs a friend,” she said as she got up.

“Wait... you're not…” Pinkie said.

“I wouldn't do it,” Rainbow said. “Not even Pinkie could get to her.”

“Look, I may not know her but maybe we have more in common than you all think.” Twilight took a deep breath and walked over. “Um...hi! Do you mind if I sit here?”

Sunset looked at her and Twilight was surprised to see she was just as surprised to see her. “Uh... sure?”

Twilight smiled as she sat across with her. Of course, the other girls had similar expressions on their faces. “I don't mean to bother you but you were eating by yourself so…”

The girl stared at her for a moment and suddenly smiled slightly. “You're the transfer student.”

“I'm the transfer student.”

Sunset looked amused as she sat back in her chair, arms crossed. “What do you think of CHS so far?”

“It's... different, but not in a bad way,” Twilight replied. “I mean, Crystal Prep kind of has a rough environment…”

“Funny, I had been trying to get into Crystal Prep, but my parents couldn't afford it,” Sunset said. “Went to a school in Manehattan but honestly it was no different from here.” She then took out her phone and looked at it. “Shoot...I have to get going. I have to work on my inaugural speech for Student Council and a bunch of related projects.”

She got up and was about to take off before she stoppedand looked back. “Sorry...I never asked your name.”

“Twilight.”

“Oh. Well it was nice to meet you Twilight. Just one word of advice, from one transfer student to another: people aren't always who they seem.”

She then walked off, leaving Twilight sitting there rather confused. She then got up and rejoined the girls. “I don't believe it...she actually talked to you!” Fluttershy said.

“Now that's impressive,” Rainbow added.

“Is she...really that off-putting?” Twilight asked. Now that she thought of it, her last words before she left were rather odd.

“I dunno, I just know she's an egghead and apparently likes to spend time at the lab,” Rainbow said. She then grinned apologetically. “Er...no offense.”

“Regardless of what she does,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes. “Maybe you're the friend she finally needs. It seems you two have something in common at least.”

Well, Twilight thought, that wasn’t a bad thing right?

After School

“Ah tell ya, Ah don’t know what that Rainbow will think of next,” Applejack said as she, Pinkie, and Twilight made their way towards the girl’s locker room. “Streaming up a lass like a holiday decoration is serial killer motive and no serial killer poisons their victims and leaves them hanging.”

“You mean this has already happened before?” Twilight asked.

“Course not,” Applejack snorted. “Ah watch 48 Hours ya know, they’re all the same: they kill someone and it’s like a rush for them.”

“So uh…I’m guessing we don’t need a rope this time?” Pinkie asked.

“I don’t think so…at least I hope so,” Twilight added.

“Just in case Pinkie you stay behind us,” Applejack told her. “Me and Twi here are the only ones currently who can beat up those Shadows…”

“I guess I’ll go first then,” Twilight said. She looked around quickly to make sure no one was watching and quickly went inside.

The good news was this time there was no gap between where she came in and the ground. In fact, she was standing at the very place they left before. It wasn’t long before Applejack and Pinkie came through. “Wow…it’s darker and…foggier than I would’ve imagined,” Pinkie commented.

“Ah think it’s always dark here,” Applejack replied. “Well…it seems clear here.”

Of course, they weren’t alone for long. “Twilight, Applejack? Is that you?” They then heard the clopping of hooves on the ground and a familiar pink pony appeared.

“Oh Screwball, there you are,” Twilight said. “We brought someone with us, this is-”

“Pinkie Pie who helps run a bake shop where you live and is in the same class as you?” Screwball asked.

“Oooh I like her already,” Pinkie said. “And she is pretty cute but…” Pinkie went up to her. “Come on, how do we know this isn’t just a costume?”

“It’s not a costume I am one hundred percent equine!” Screwball looked offended.

Pinkie did an almost Rarity-esque sniff. “Right and I bet you have a magical pony princess too.” She then grabbed Screwball’s head. “I’m sure there’s a zipper here somewhere…”

“Let go of my head!”

“Pinkie I really don’t think…” Twilight began.

“Come on Twilight, it’s like those cartoon mysteries, you just need to tug a little and-” Suddenly there was a loud pop and Pinkie fell over, still holding onto Screwball’s head.

Twilight suddenly felt the blood drain out of her while Applejack casually said, “Ah think ya killed her Pinkie…”

“Actually no I’m still here…” Somehow, Screwball was still talking.

“W-W-W-What!?” Twilight screeched.

“That is so cool!” Pinkie said to the head. “How do you do that!?”

“I don’t know, I never had somepony pull my head off before,” Screwball said with a bit of attitude.

“Hehe…sorry,” Pinkie said bashfully as she managed to get her head back on. “Okay, I’m convinced! You really are the real deal. Does that make us friends now?”

“Well…any friend of Twilight is a friend of mine,” Screwball smiled.

“Yay!” Pinkie suddenly hugged the poor pony. “Then any friend of yours will be a friend of mine too!”

Applejack smiled. “Guess we found a perfect pair now…”

Twilight meanwhile was trying not to hyperventilate and took a deep breath. “Well anyway…we had to show Pinkie around, mostly cause she’s in on the secret now too. Is there anywhere here we haven’t explored?”

“Well…” Screwball looked around. “There is one place…in that direction.” She pointed east of where they were standing. “But something doesn’t feel right about it…I dunno…”

“Are there Shadows there?” Applejack asked.

“No…not any that I can detect but…it just doesn’t feel right…” Screwball really seemed reluctant to go that direction.

Twilight went over to her and patted her head. “Don’t worry, if anything happens, Applejack and

I can protect you.”

“Sure thing sugarcube,” Applejack nodded. “And ya don’t need to doubt us after what ya saw.”

“That’s true…” Screwball then smiled. “Okay, we’ll go take a look then.”

The four of them headed east and it wasn’t long before they came across what looked like an abandoned cabin. “Er…on second thought Ah think Ah can understand what she meant before,” Applejack said, shivering slightly.

“Y-Yeah my Pinkie sense is going off the charts! And not in a good way either,” Pinkie added.

“Pinkie sense?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Pinkie said. “It’s kinda like…I sense things before they happen. I don’t know whether they’re good or bad but I’ve come to trust it since it’s helped me out a few times.”

“Just go with it,” Applejack said to Twilight.

“Amazing! So we kind of have the same abilities then huh?” Screwball asked.

Twilight then went forward and opened the door. Even she was feeling uncomfortable with this place but something else told her she had to go see what was inside. “Come on.”

As it turned out, there was only one room and once they saw what was inside, Twilight already started to regret her choice. The room was mostly empty but there was paper scattered all over the place. There were also pictures on the wall, but some of them were torn in half or sprayed with what looked like red spray paint in an “X” shape. There was also writing on the walls. There were only two words: “BITCH” and “WHORE”.

“Uh…maybe we shouldn’t be here…” Applejack said. She then looked near the back and took a step back. “Is that…?”

She saw a chair and right above it was a rope that was tied together into a noose. Any of them could have put two and two together. “Um…maybe we should get out of here…” Pinkie said, who was suddenly panting slightly. “I don’t know why but it’s almost hard to breathe in here…”

She was right, even Twilight felt slightly out of breath, as if something was pushing down on her. “Yeah…I think you’re right.”

They turned to go but Twilight noticed Screwball was still staring into the room. “Are you okay?”

Screwball suddenly shook her head. “Huh? Oh…sorry…I just…” She then turned around and followed the rest of them back out. Immediately it felt like the weight was off of their shoulders but Twilight could feel the preceding pain of a headache coming.

“I think from now on if Screwball says not to go there, we probably shouldn’t,” Pinkie said, who appeared to be shivering slightly.

“Just what was that exactly?” Applejack asked.

Twilight thought for a moment. “Applejack, you remember when we saw the barn, the one from your farm?”

“Yeah?”

“Well…what if the places we see here reflect those who come into this world,” Twilight said.

“I think Twilight is right, I felt a familiar presence when we were in there,” Screwball said.

“The one who came into this world before?” Twilight asked.

“Yes…she was…scared…depressed…” Screwball said. “I think what we saw was a representation of her inner thoughts.”

“Who?” Applejack asked.

“I’m not sure but…”

“I think I might have an idea…” Twilight said. “As we saw, the girl, we can assume now she’s definitely female, was being harassed and it drove her to the brink of committing suicide.” She paused for a moment. “This is only a theory but…I think maybe it was that reporter that was killed.”

“Whoa! You figured all that just by that room?” Pinkie asked.

Twilight shrugged. “It’s only a guess at this point. The police haven’t disclosed the autopsy yet.”

“If that’s true then it sounds like our reporter was involved in some scandal,” Applejack said. “But…if she committed suicide, it doesn’t match up with what Rainbow said, assuming what she heard was the truth.”

“Or maybe she had a health issue and somehow was on the roof when she died?” Pinkie suggested.

Applejack snorted. “She’s too young to have a heart attack or stroke or whatever if that’s what yer getting at.”

“I think maybe it’s time we head back,” Twilight said. “Is that alright with you Pinkie?”

“I suppose…other than this creepy cabin it’s actually kind of…relaxing here…” Pinkie said.

“If I may ask…is your world much different than here?” Screwball asked.

“If ya mean does it have people and sunlight then yes it is,” Applejack said. “You interested in checking it out?”

“I…think I’ll pass for now. I know it isn’t much but it’s still home to me…at least I feel that way about it.”

The four of them headed back to where they first entered. “Now remember Pinkie, Ah know its horribly tempting but ya can’t tell anyone else about this place,” Applejack said. “It’s not safe here for others and we don’t wanna give Screwball a heart attack.”

“Oh…I don’t mind the attention…just no pulling off limbs please.”

Pinkie smiled. “Whenever you do decide to come over, I promise I’ll spend the whole day showing everything to you, especially what’s at the Sweete Shop!”

“Oooh I do like sweets…okay I’ll make sure to remember that offer!”

“We better head back then…be careful Screwball and we’ll try to come visit again soon.”

Evening

After the three of them returned, they all went home. Twilight immediately got to feeding Spike and herself once she got home and it wasn’t long before Shining got home as well. Around five o’clock the evening news began.

“Our top story tonight is the mysterious death that took place earlier this week in Canterlot,” the news anchor said. “Local police have recently released details of the autopsy that took place and upon discovery they made a startling discovery: they were not able to find any obvious external signs of homicide nor were they able to find anything in the woman’s system that would suggest anything of foul play.”

“That’s bullshit,” Shining said. “What, she was on someone’s roof and suddenly just dropped dead?”

“You know more about health than I do Shining,” Twilight commented.

Shining rolled his eyes. “I’m no detective but everything here screams murder, of some sort. They probably just don’t want to scare the residents here. Oh yeah, Cadance is coming tomorrow so let’s not talk about any of this okay?”

“I agree,” Twilight said. “She’s going to have plenty of things to ask me as is anyway.”

Afterwards, Twilight went to her room and turned on her laptop. She looked online for the article of the investigation and it offered as much information as was said on TV. Questions were going through her head but there was one even she couldn’t figure out how to explain.

Did the reporter have the same power as she did?