Author's Note

Fuck

I'm back.

That isn't a good thing.

Y'all probably doomed.

Story time. Also foreshadowing.

4/14: A Rare Encounter

Home
4/14
Daytime
Clear

It's 12:30 when I woke up. I overslept. Shit.

Smacking myself awake, I (quite literally) roll my way to the bathroom to freshen up. This took longer than expected, and now it's 5 past 1. Fuck. Before I leave, I quickly raid the fridge and pantry to get something to eat. Milk and some cookies. A classic combo. After my quick snack, I cha-cha-slide my ass out of the house, greeting this new day with about as much optimism as Neptune had when she learned that she wasn't gonna be the lead in Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart. Good game, btw.

'Today's gonna be slow,' I thought.

I forgot that I need to talk to Rarity Belle-san and thank her for the costume from yesterday until now. I also might be able to use the costume in that Cognition place...

Costume "(Remix!) Dancing Uniform" Obtained

Now, where is Belle-san? It won't hurt to ask around, will it? I spotted a grey pegasus with bubbles as her cutie mark, might as well ask her. "Excuse me, miss?"

"Yes?" she said in a slow and innocent Baltimare accent. I swear, if she's like Plutia from Hyperdimention Neptunia... Turning around, I saw that her eyes looked in two different locations, but I still felt that those yellow eyes were focused on me.

"Do you know where Miss Rarity's home is?"

"I don't know where her home is, but she's probably in her Boutique right now." The mare pointed somewhere to the Southeast. "It's a blue and pink building over there. You can't miss it."

"Thank you, Miss...?"

"Call me Derpy! Derpy Hooves!" Derpy exclaimed.

"Thank you, Derpy."

"Say, do you want to talk more often?"

"Sure. Where can I find you."

"Hooray! You can find me around here on Mondays and Fridays after school's out. Hope to see you then!" She gives off a cute smile, then waves as I go to Belle-san's Boutique.

Making it to Belle-san's Boutique, I notice a few things. One, it's like a carousel on the outside. Two, it's two fucking massive to just be a boutique (she must live here). And three, I'm starting to wonder if this was really worth it. But, it's too late, because Belle-san spots me and opens the door.

"Welcome to Rarity's Carousel Boutique," she exclaims with energy and with an indiscernible accent. I can't pin it down... I can't tell if it's fake or not. I think it's fake, but I don't know. "Where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique! To whom do I owe the pleasure of meeting?"

"Hello, Miss Rarity. My name is Mikata Yuki. I just wanted to drop by and say "Thank you!" for the dancing uniform Pinkie handed me with."

"Ah, so that's why Pinkie asked me that. Well, come in, darling. We shouldn't talk outside. How does some tea sound?" My stomach growling gave her the answer. "Come, follow me." I follow her in.

The place screams "seamstress". Design ideas and dresses everywhere. There's even some male designs. It all seems... expensive.

"Woah..." I mutter.

"Amazing, isn't it?" I can hear the whistle of a tea kettle. "Ah, the tea's ready. I was about to have some before you arrived."

Taking a sip of the tea, I revel in its simplicity. Over the past 6 years (after graduating), I explored all of Neighpon that I could, sampling some of the richest food and seeing amazing sights. From Tokyo to Kyoto, from Neighasaki to Hokkaido, from Fox Village to Dog Island and Rabbit Island and Cat Island*. The teas of Neighpon were so amazingly high quality. Compare that to the simplistic citrus flavor of Earl Grey. Sometimes simple is better.

(*actual location in the world)

"So, Miss Yuki. I can tell that you are new to Ponyville. Why have you decided to come here in the first place?" Rarity questioned.

"Compared to the complications and confusion I had in Neighpon, coming to the countryside seems better for me. I don't like the crowded streets of Tokyo nor the dreadful history of Neighasaki. Although I wouldn't say I wouldn't mind to visit Fox Village and hear them go 'Kon~'."

"Ah, so you're Neighponese? The land, from what I've heard, is beautiful. And so is the kimono. If you wouldn't mind showing me how one makes a kimono..."

"To be honest, I don't know. Mitsuru-senpai put me in one back in a summer festival in Tatsumi Port, but that was 8 years ago. Although, I can let you talk to my friend, Yukari, who likes reading about fashion. She most likely knows."

"Why, thank you, dear. Do you know where she lives?"

"Yeah, she lives with me." Rarity looks at me with a questioning expression. "...long story short, my friends, we call ourselves SEES, found it easier to live with each other since we all lived in the same dorm back in Tatsumi Port until 7 years ago when the dorm closed its doors for good. Anyways, here's my address. Don't hesitate to come to us in case of anything." I hand her a business card with my current address. It's almost mandatory to have business cards with you whenever you need to do business with others in Neighpon, and since I moved here less than 2 weeks ago, I'm still in that mindset.

"Thank you, darling. Say, I saw you with that pony my little sister, Sweetie Belle, is obsessing over. What's his name? Umm..."

"Lotus Juice?"

"Yes! Thank you. Such a strange name for a pony like him."

"It's his stage name. My friends call him Narukami, since his first name is Yu, spelled Y-U. I call him Naru. Anyways, what about him?"

"Can you ask him or Miss Kujikawa who made those outstanding uniforms? I simply need to talk to that pony."

"I think it's their agency, the... uh..." I fumble to my phone to look it up. "...Takura Productions, based in Tokyo. That's quite a ways off. Are you sure you wish to talk to Takura?"

"I guess it can wait, but as soon as I have time, I'm heading to the Takura Productions office! Can you give me their location?" I guess it wouldn't hurt, so I gave her the address to the office building. "Thank you! Now, I need to have somepony to translate for... me... Wait. Mikata, if at all possible, can you come with me to Tokyo to translate for me? I'll pay, of course."

"Sorry, but I can't. It takes forever to get from here to Tokyo. Maybe Kirijo-san... I mean Mitsuru-senpai may be able to help you. Here." I give her a photograph of me and Mitsuru before we left for Equestria. "This is her. If you find her, which is easy, since she'll be wearing a fake fur suit over a skin-tight fake leather jumpsuit, ask her to translate for you, and don't forget to mention my name. She'll agree to help."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know her. She gives in quite easily when it comes to learning. She'll get to learn about Equestrian culture and mannerisms, you'll learn about Neighponese culture, everypony's happy." Honestly, I'm clinging to the fact that Mitsuru owes me one, and she's gullible.

"Well, if you say so. Alright, I should prepare for that soon. ...How does it go...? Ah, yes. Arigato."

"Tondemo naidesu. What I did is really no big deal."

"No, see. You're helping me expand my creative reach and producing more clothing options for my customers. They'll be happy to see something exotic." She looked at a wall-mounted clock. "Would you look at the time! It's getting quite late! Perhaps you should return home?"

"Well, like I said, don't be frightened to drop by, friend. See ya!" I trot out of her house. "Oh, and thank you for the tea! It was wonderful!"

"Y-You're welcome!"

Trotting away, I reflect on what happened. I just made friends with one of the Elements, outside of a hostile situation. I may want to ask for her help in the future.

[GLASS BREAK SFX]

I am thou, Thou art I
Thou has forged a new bond

It shall guide thee closer to the Truth
And shall assist in dispelling Falsehood and Death

We grant thee the power of the Empress
Use this power wisely

Well then, new Social Link. Nice.

Home
Evening
4/14
Clear

I'm way too tired today for some reason. I crashed in my bed and passed out almost immediately.

The Velvet Room

"Welcome to the Velvet Room" stated the long-nosed guy named Igor. I nod at him.

"You have made a powerful link with that of the Empress Arcana," Lavenza begins with. "Her name is Rarity. As the Element of Generosity, she'll risk everything for her friends and allies. She's really into gemstones and fashion, to some points in a creepy way, but go past that and there's a generous and genuine pony. Personas of this Arcana may have Bufu skills along with some basic healing skills. Use them carefully."

As she said that, Igor spread out some tarot cards to read my fortune. "Mikata. A massive event is about to occur." He flipped a card which showed the Hanged Man in the inverse position. "If you do not succeed in the next few days, the pony that would be the Hanged Man may lose faith in his life, for..." Igor flipped another card, showing the Death arcana in the upright position. "...Someone close to him will die. Please help this lost soul to continue on the path to the truth. Until we meet again, Yuki."