//------------------------------// // Persona V: A Stolen Heart (part 2) // Story: Sometimes They Call Me Super // by KorenCZ11 //------------------------------// Applejack Later on Sunday, Ah found myself home alone, and it was kinda strange. It’s not like Ah really expected him ta be around me twenty-four seven, but him not bein’ here was weird all the same. Well, especially after he said that… It shouldn’t be though, so Ah couldn’t place why Ah felt this way. Ah set down my bags and opened the big window in my room. It was a bright, sunny day in Manehattan. Not a cloud in the sky, perfect weather ta be outside doin’ somethin’. And ya just spent the last hour fightin’ a monster. Talk about a busy day. Ah figured Ah might as well take a nap, Ah still had ta do school tomorrow and come heaven or hell, it will never stop. Ah had just laid down and pulled the sheets over when my phone started ta ring. It wasn’t a known number, so Ah just answered. “Hello?” “Hey, are you okay? I’ve been trying to call you for the past hour now.” Uncle Blood asked from the other end. Shit, he probably saw the recordin’! “Uh, yeah, Ah’m just layin’ in bed right now.” “I see. I assume since you’re home, you saw that the big battle ended?” Ah nodded ta nopony in particular. “Mmhmm. Where are y’all? Are y’all together?” “We’re at the amusement park in New Jockey. We left a little before the sirens came on earlier. You’re welcome to join us if you feel up to it.” Ah could just say no and lay here. Ah did fight a monster today, Ah really shouldn’t have ta do anythin’. Then again, when was the last time we went ta an amusement park together? Ah haven’t spent time with Macintosh in months it seems. Ah figured Ah could ignore my bruises fer my family fer a while. “Yeah, sure Ah guess. Which one? Ah know New Jockey ain’t that big, but there’s at least two.” We went to one of those parks way back with Dad and aunt Dew, but Ah can’t remember which one. Wasn’t there some other mare with us then? The memory is hazy, but Ah feel like it was more than just us that went… “Over Equestria. Just pull it up on your phone, you’ve got headphones right?” “Ah do.” “I thought so. Provided traffic isn’t crazy, it shouldn’t take you more than an hour to get here. I suppose I’ll see you soon then?” “Yes sir. Ah’ll call ya when Ah get there.” “Good. I’m glad you’re okay. Bye.” And then he hung up. Ah’ll get ta the bottom of this if Ah can corner him at some point. After half an hour down the highway, since all the vehicles were headed in ta Manehattan instead of out, Ah found myself at the gates of Over Equestria. It felt familiar, but they’d clearly updated a few things, and it all looked new from this part. Ah paid my entrance fee ta park and then made my way ta the gates ta call uncle Blood. “Hey, Ah’m here,” Ah said after the line picked up. “Oh, howdy sis. Uncle’s on a ride, you’ll have ta wait a few minutes,” Macintosh said from the other end. Well, it makes sense he didn’t take his phone, and Macintosh has always been kind of a pussy when it came ta theme parks. “Okay then. How are ya? Ah haven’t talked ta ya in a while.” “Oh, Ah’m alright, Ah’m more concerned about you though. Where were ya? Ah mean, Ah guess you're okay now, but did ya make it out durin’ the evacuation? Nopony told me what was goin’ on, so Ah was worried. Never would Ah have believed that the threat from the other day would come true…” Ah wonder, if Ah told him the truth, would he believe me? That Ah’m caught up in the center of all this. If my guess is right, he’s the only one who doesn’t know… Maybe it’s time Ah fill him in, in case the chance never comes. “Uh, Ah’ll tell ya later. Heh, Ah doubt ya’d believe me if Ah told ya now.” He made a sound and Ah could just see him roll his eyes on the other side of the phone. “Sure, Applejack, whatever ya say. Oh, here they come now. We’ll be up there in a few.” “All right, bye,” and Ah hung up. Every time Ah fought a monster so far, it’s always been at night. It’s only two in the afternoon now, and Ah think Ah’m still processin’ everythin’ that happened. It’s like, unreal, somehow. The dream had this scary air of reality ta it, but in life, it’s almost like there’s an air of unreality. How bizarre. Ah’m gonna hurt tomorrow, but the day just plain ain’t over yet. Ah don’t know what ta do with myself. After a few minutes of waitin’, the gang arrived and Applebloom was wearin’ a shirt she must’ve picked up here and Macintosh was carryin’ too many game prizes. A guitar, three different kinda sports balls, some giant stuffed thin’. “Wow, y’all sure got a whole lotta stuff there,” Ah noted. Applebloom raised her chin and said, “Well, that’s just ‘cause Ah’m the best.” Uncle Blood nodded. “You sure are. Before we get you in here, would you mind running all this sh- er, stuff to the car? There aren’t many ponies here today, so we parked not too far away.” He said as Macintosh started passin’ me stuff. Ah passed his car on the way in, since uncle Blood got a better parkin’ spot than Ah and apparently everypony else did. After stuffin’ all the shit Applebloom won inta the car, Ah made it inta the park with relative ease. It was pretty empty as far as Ah could tell, but in the back of my head Ah felt like a memory was just tryin’ ta jump ta the forefront of my brain. It kept happenin’ too, and Ah just couldn’t figure out what Ah was supposed ta be rememberin’. After a few rides and about an hour passed, Ah pulled Macintosh aside ta figure out what it might be. “What’cha need sis?” The other two were on a ride, and Ah think they had a competition goin’ on or somethin’, but Ah wasn’t too concerned about it since Applebloom looked like she was havin’ fun. “Have we been here before?” It was about three now and the sun was beginnin’ ta dip in the sky. “Well, yeah. What about it?” Ah scratched at my ear. “Well, Ah’m havin’ trouble rememberin’ who we were with. Ah know we came once and it wasn’t just us. We didn’t have a car. But Uncle Blood’s old car wouldn’t fit us all, so who else did we come with?” He tilted his head and scratched at his little beard. His was bigger than Goose’s and it looked like he was formin’ a mustache or somethin’ ta go with it. “Oh, ya know what? It was Mrs. Swan Song and her son. Y’all were better friends with him than Ah was though. Damn, what the hell was his name?” Swan Song… Why don’t Ah remember her? That sounds right, but… “Do ya remember what she looked like? The name sounds familiar, but Ah just can’t picture her.” “Mmm, Ah’m not sure. Y’all got a phone, look her up. She’s probably in some directory somewhere. Wasn’t she a singer? Ah swear she was one of aunt Dew’s friends…” he trailed off. Ah quickly pulled out my phone and started my search. It didn’t take long ta find who Ah was lookin’ for though. First article popped up and it made sense as ta why Ah didn’t remember. “Singer dies in tragic shooting protecting children.         2017, May 26th         Gang violence is at an all time high in Manehattan after the disappearance of Red Hoof last year, and now it’s taken one of our treasures away from us. Swan Song, world renowned opera singer for the Manehattan opera, was found dead at her home earlier today with a filly and a colt. As our sources learned, Swan Song was heavily involved with the Shark Tooth gang that supposedly broke up three years ago and this is what caused the initial incident.         Police are investigating the scene as this article is being written, but the current speculation is that this was done by one of the larger color gangs that have sprouted up due to the shortage of heroes in recent times. We’re being told the children have been returned to their parents, yet the colt was supposedly Swan Song’s unannounced son. Further details as they come.”         Ah put my phone away and Ah tried my hardest ta fight back the emotions. Ah was seven at the time. We were playin’, and Ah went over ta his house because his mom was the one watchin’ us. She was such a nice mare. A pretty white coat, a shiny black mane that faded inta orange and yellow at the tips, fluffy white wings and a voice that could put a monster ta rest. She would always have her mane up in a bun, and she made these little rice balls that were just the perfect snack after a long day outside. Ah’d already had so much shit happen by that point, watchin’ it happen right in front of me… she wasn’t even the target, he was. That colt. That pale green colt with the white and black mane that looked just like his mother. “Oh goddess…” Ah spent the rest of the time at the park rememberin’ thin’s Ah’d forgotten about those years. Of course Ah forgot Goose. Ah watched his mom get killed tryin’ ta protect him. He was the only pony Ah talked ta fer a while after, and once it looked like we were gonna be okay, he just up and disappeared on me too. And then it happened ta me, not but a year and a half later. Ah felt like Ah was a death magnet. Everypony Ah care about dies right near me. If Ah was still around, everypony left would die just like them. So Ah was better off… dead. Ah never woulda stopped tryin’ ta kill myself if Ah didn’t forget. They worked me so hard at the farm, Ah didn’t have time ta remember, and soon enough it was fun and the memory just never came back. But… that means that… he never forgot the promise. And he’s gonna ask me somethin’ alone later? Oh goddess, Ah ain’t ready fer this shit. What do Ah do? Should Ah just play dumb and act like Ah still don’t remember? Geez, this is all too much at once. Disappear fer thirteen years and then suddenly show up like nothin’s changed. Ah shouldn’t expect anythin’ else, he was always that way… “Applejack?” Ah shook my head. Ah guess Ah hadn’t been payin’ attention, but we’d already made it back home and Ah was walkin’ inta the apartment with the giant stuffed banana Applebloom won. It was ten PM and Ah was some kinda tired. “Oh, sorry Applebloom. Where do ya want this thin’?” Ah asked. “Just throw it in the corner. Is there somethin’ on yer mind? Ah uh… Ah know ya had a busy day before ya showed up at the park, so uh… if ya wanna talk about it-” Ah grabbed Applebloom, slammed her door shut and locked it, then jumped on her bed. “Ah mean, ‘yes’ would’ve been acceptable too.” “So, y’all were too young ta remember this probably, but do ya remember a colt we called Catchy?” Ah asked. She tilted her head. “Catchy? Like, that was his name?” Ah shook my head. “Well, no, but it was what Ah called him. He had a light green coat and his mane and tail were white with little black patches all around the edges. Orange eyes, uh… don’t think he had his cutiemark back then either.” Geez, he was so cute when he was little too. What the hell happened? Oh, right, the whole shark thin’.         “Uh, not really. Ta be honest, Ah don’t remember much of anythin’ from before… Ah know dad’s death probably hurt ya the most, but part of the reason Ah always wanted ta know about what happened is because Ah can’t hardly remember him at all,” she said with a sullen look. Ah patted her head and shook mine. “It’s alright sugarcube. Well, ta put this simply, he was a friend of mine before dad died. A good friend, a real friend. But uh… well, somethin’ horrible happened ta his mom while we were together one day, and not too long after that he disappeared. Before that happened though, he made me a promise.” And he promised me that one day…         “He promised ya what?” She leaned in and Ah backed off. “He uh… well, ya know what little colts say ta fillies they like…” Ah mumbled. “Ohhh, he said he’d come marry ya, right?” She said, a smile startin’ up on her face. Ah could feel my cheeks warmin’ up. “Uh, yeah, he said that. So, after thirteen years…” She just about opened her mouth enough ta fit a whole bowl in there. “He came back!?” Ah nodded. “Wow! Ah always thought y’all would end up alone the way ya are, but a childhood romance breakin’ through the super mare’s hard shell, it’s just like a story book!” Ah grabbed her and gave her a noogie. “Always thought Ah’d end up alone!? What the hell is that supposed ta mean ya little shit?” She squirmed until it looked like she couldn’t breathe and Ah let her go. “Holy goddess, Ah thought ya were gonna kill me. Uh, yeah, not ta be rude or anythin’, but you’re not the easiest mare in the world ta approach. Yer pretty, but ya got that mean look about ya,” she remarked with a hoof motion after takin’ a deep breath. “Thanks, real confidence booster there. Can Ah continue? Ah wasn’t done,” Ah shot. Applebloom sat back down and nodded. “So, as Ah was sayin’, he came back, but Ah didn’t remember him. Not until today actually, and who he is now makes all this… a whole lot more complicated.” Ah scratched at my head. Way too complicated. She tilted her head. “How so? Does he know about ya? Or did he forget too?” Ah shook my head. “No, he didn’t forget, and yeah, he knows. He was with me earlier today. He was the guy in the black suit.” Applebloom tapped at her chin. “Him? Really? He sounded kinda like a tool when Ah heard him. Wait a minute… are you his boss?” Ah raised a brow. “Well, kinda. Why’s that?” She quickly looked away. “Uh, no reason. Carry on. He is kind of a tool though, right?” Ah rolled my eyes and sighed. “He is. Or he was. Or he was pretendin’ ta be, Ah’m honestly not sure anymore. See, it all starts with our dads. His was Shark Tooth, the gang boss. When he got older and his dad was killed, he took over the gang and he was a gang boss. That’s how we met back up actually, it was in a fight. Neither of us recognized each other because Ah had forgotten and he couldn’t figure out who Ah was under the mask. A whole bunch of shit happened and somehow he ended up on my team. He kept sayin’ thin’s that confused me early on, like how he tried ta comfort me at every turn after… some shit happened… and then again after Ah more or less had a fight with my friends, and then he stopped that nightmare, and he’s kept me from losin’ my temper more than once. It was just so strange that this stallion Ah essentially arrested was so devoted ta me, ya know? The thought came around that maybe Ah was just another one of those girls like the ones he had just about hangin’ off him when we met the first time, but after a while it was… different. Nopony had ever treated me like this before. He wasn’t actin’ like his douchy self, and he wasn’t actin’ like some stallion lookin’ ta get a piece of me. The entirety of last week, Ah spent tryin’ ta prepare fer today and Ah just about worked my friends inta the ground, but he never didn’t take my side on anythin’. Ah was terrified of what we were gonna have ta fight and Ah was havin’ all kinds of nightmares that just about drove me ta tears but… he was there every time. He’d always ask if Ah was okay, and he’d always help me do whatever it is Ah wanted ta do, even if Ah was bein’ unreasonable Ah just… Ah don’t know anymore.” Applebloom shrugged. “Well, let’s be real here, this guy clearly doesn’t have just some crush on ya if he’s supportin’ ya when yer actin’ all crazy. Ah’ve seen that before, it is definitely not pretty.” Ah sighed. “And the more Ah thought, about it Ah realized that. Ah just don’t know how Ah should go forward now. He’s my teammate, and he’s just as important as Ah am in these fights, and we still have five ta go after today. It’s not as if Ah don’t like him but… Ah don’t know,” Ah lamented. “Ah think it should be pretty obvious what ya should do, but since yer you, Ah know ya wouldn’t think about it. Just give him a chance and try daitin’ him.” The words collected in my head and it took a moment for them all ta process. A date… with Goose. A date… with Catchy? Ah don’t think either of the mental images associated with those names is a good one. One is a gang boss with a harem, and the other is a ten year old colt. “Applejack, come back ta Earth.” Applebloom clapped in my face ta break the trance. “What? Sorry, that’s just… that’s not somethin’ Ah ever thought Ah’d hear, really.” Applebloom half smiled at me. “Well, why not? What’s stoppin’ ya? If yer beginnin’ ta suspect he more than likes ya, and from the sound of it he probably does, ya might as well see what it would be like. Ya know what uncle Blood told me when Ah started goin’ out with Taps?” Ah shook my head. “No, what’s that?” “He said, ‘If you find love, don't let it go and enjoy every minute of it.’ Ah figure if anypony deserves ta find a relationship it’s probably miss super hero herself right? Next time ya see him, see what he has ta say about it.” Applebloom was makin’ a whole lot of sense here, and Ah don’t know that Ah like that. Me and him, huh? Ah grabbed her and gave her a hug. “Thanks fer talkin’ ta me about this, Ah guess. It’s gettin’ late, we should probably go ta bed huh?” She yawned and nodded. “Yeah. Tell me how it goes when ya finally do see him. Night sis.” Ah turned her lights off and said, “Night sis,” then closed the door on my way out. Try datin’ him. Ah’ll have ta talk ta him about what Ah remembered today first though. Monday passed and it was almost like the whole day just dragged on. What am Ah gonna say when Ah see him? How do Ah even begin? Sorry Ah forgot ya because yer mother got shot in front of me? Ah’d been playin’ mom fer the house fer so long by that point, some of the thin’s Ah did back then… maybe Ah was just tryin’ ta cope with the scary world, but him… he woulda seen all that different. Ah went fer a drive ta try and clear my head, but the entire day Ah couldn’t get my mind off it. So much fer talkin’ ta uncle Blood or Macintosh about anythin’, Ah practically never saw either of ‘em all day, and even if Ah did, Ah was preoccupied. My best friend and Ah grew up apart from each other. Now that he’s back and tryin’ ta regain the relationship lost… how do Ah just go back ta the way thin’s were? Can Ah? Ah went ta bed with these questions in mind, and wakin’ up didn’t really do anythin’ fer me. Well, that and the fact that Ah slept fer about four hours. How Ah managed ta not feel just completely dead ta the world was unknown ta me, but in all honestly Ah was hardly tired at all. Maybe this whole thin’ was stressin’ me out and that was why. Nothin’ better ta do, so Ah sat down and tried what Applebloom always did when she was mad. Play an angry video game. Everythin’ is tryin’ ta kill ya, ponies are turnin’ inta monsters, and yer weapons are some kinda sword or whatnot and a gun. Man, don’t this seem familiar. Ah really hope this virus doesn’t get out because Ah don’t wanna live this game… My alarm ta leave rang and Ah was suddenly brought out of the video game world. Ah coulda swore it’d only been a couple hours and not fourteen. Ah think Ah ate once, but Ah was hungry now and Ah needed ta go before traffic got bad. What a weird game. Monsters, aliens, blood. All too familiar. Ah made my way through traffic and ta the castle with at least five minutes ta spare before our meetin’. Well. Nothin’ is gonna be the same after today, one way or another… Ah rubbed the sleep outta my eyes and checked the time. The clock struck six, and just as it did, he stepped in the livin’ room.