//------------------------------// // Beginnings and Ends // Story: Shin Megami Tensei: Equestria // by donceluzza //------------------------------// “My faithful student something bad is happening in Equestria. My sister and I have noticed strange spikes of magical energy in the Everfree forest. I know that many of your friends aren’t with you at the moment, so I would like to ask that you simply investigate what is happening in the Everfree avoid making a confrontation with the spell caster at all costs.” Princess Celestia Ever since receiving that letter Twilight Sparkle had been running through the Everfree forest looking for clues as to the source of the mysterious magic that had the princess so worried. She did wish that she had the full elements of harmony with her but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Applejack had been called out to Appaloosa to deal with a small disagreement that had erupted between the settlers and wouldn’t be back for another week. Pinkie Pie was off visiting her family at the rock farm where she grew up, and Fluttershy was also visiting her family. Rainbow Dash was off at a tryout for the Wonderbolts and therefore may not be back for a month depending on how the trials go. Rarity on the other hand was still around Ponyville and despite Twilight’s urgings that it was to dangerous had decided to come along keeping Twilight’s ridiculous running pace and keeping her complaining about the damages being done to her coat to a minimum at the moment. The lavender unicorn had been following a small trail of magical residue throughout the forest believing it to be the source of the Princess’ distress and will lead them straight to the caster. Rarity spoke up “Twilight dear, the princess told us not to engage the caster of this spell, you don’t want to Disobey the princess’ orders.” Rarity hated to resort to such low tactics as playing upon Twilight’s perfect student attitude to get them out of this forest but it was necessary, they had been in their for three hours and Twilight had analyzed the spells trail and confirmed that it was a summoning spell of sorts and clearly a very powerful one if she could tell what it was without even being nearby. “Rarity we need to find out who is doing this, whoever they are they’re at least as strong as me in magic, the princess needs to know this, besides it will be fine, we won’t ‘engage’ them we’ll just find out who it is and report back.” Rarity wondered if what Twilight said was true or not but continued to walk with her, she wasn’t about to let some horrible wizard get the drop on Twilight and hurt her, Rarity looked up and saw that the had arrived at their destination, she recognized it as the Castle of the two Princesses. Twilight looked over their destination to make sure that she was right, her horn glowed as she analyzed the magic in the surrounding area and found that it was in fact being drawn into the castle. “Whoever this spell caster is they’re drawing power from the Everfree itself.” Twilight marveled at the spell, absorbing the natural chaotic energies of the Everfree was difficult enough, but then simultaneously harnessing that energy and converting it into a spell, marvelous. Twilight began walking towards the castle only to be pulled back by her tail. She turned around and saw Rarity spit her tail out “No” Twilight stepped back as Rarity raised her voice to Canterlot levels. “If this unicorn is powerful enough to use the magic of the Everfree Forest, one of the most dangerous places in all of Equestria, the two of us aren’t going to do much, lets go back have Spike send a letter to the Princess get our friends back and come back here Elements of Harmony blazing” Rarity stopped as she realized her language choices and coughed slightly before saying “Please Darling.” Twilight simply turned and continued walking towards the castle, “I can’t go back without knowing who did this” Rarity followed behind her shouting about how they needed to go home but stopped once they reached the door to the castle and looked inside. On the ground in the middle of the room were some etchings in the shape of a star but with lines. Around the star were lines of an arcane dialect that Twilight couldn’t quite understand and they were all locked within a circle surrounded by candles at each of the stars points, in the middle of the circle was Trixie Lulamoon speaking in a strange language. Before Twilight or Rarity could call out to Trixie she finished the spell. The lines of the star lit up with a dangerous looking red glow Trixie stepped out of the circle and shouted “Yes, give the Great and Powerful Trixie her power” as she said that the ground underneath the circle crumbled and gave way to an empty black void, which began pouring out a strange red mist seemingly in the shape of different creatures. Twilight and Rarity both could hear strange voices in their heads speaking incoherently but continued to stare forward at Trixie who found one of the red misty creatures she wanted as she reached out and said “Yes contract with me demon” as she said this she stood on her back hooves and raised her others in the air in a grand gesture as the red mist surrounded her left fore hoof and the strange star appeared on it along with some of the arcane writing. That was when Trixie turned to see her unwitting audience. ------------------------------------------------ Princess Celestia was pacing nervously around the throne room, mentally beating herself for sending her apprentice into the Everfree forest to investigate the source of the mysterious magic. The door opened to reveal Chrysalis being escorted by the royal guards including Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Celestia put her inner flogging on hold until she finished with the royal business she currently had to attend to. This was the reason that she could not go and visit the Everfree herself even though she wished she could have, Chrysalis of the changelings had wished for an audience with the two Princesses and she had decided to oblige her request. Luna entered the room at around the same time. “So Chrysalis what is it that you wished to speak to me about.” Celestia attempted to keep herself cordial even though worry for her student was causing a great deal of pain. “Celestia," Chrysalis sneered, "I’m sure you’ve noticed that lately there has been a great deal of magical activity from the blasted forest of Everfree.” Celestia’s eyes if others had noticed this as well then the situation was far direr that she first expected. Luna was the next to speak, “So even the changeling queen has noticed the magical flux” her voice downcast, this wasn’t going to end well. “Yes, and I assure you it worries my people just as much as yours” Chrysalis sighed before continuing a slight tone of apprehension in her voice. “We believe that the… energy is well… Demonic.” The word hung over the Palace as the three leaders finally realized the danger that was to befall them. Celestia didn’t want to believe that Chrysalis was right however she was. Celestia began to prepare a teleportation spell so she could help her student only to feel a sharp pain through her horn as she tried. “Argh” the pain of the attempted spell wracked Celestia’s body as she nearly collapsed on herself. “Sister” Luna ran to her sister’s side as the look on Chrysalis face changed to one of horror. “No, its begun” Shining Armor’s eyes darted from his fallen princess to her sister to his wife and finally asked “What has begun.” The alicorns and Chrysalis simply responded “The Shin Megami Tensei; Reincarnation of the True Goddess.” --------------------------------------------------- Trixie could barely believe her eyes, and couldn’t contain her laughter. “Bwahahaha,” she called out, “so Twilight Sparkle and one of her miserable friends shall be my first opponent, life is good to the Great and Powerful Trixie sometimes.” Twilight called out in the nicest way possible at the time “What did you Do? What in Celestia’s name have you done!” Trixie’s laughter stopped and she frowned a little. “This little setup isn’t completely because of me you know” Trixie adjusted hat before continuing “A mysterious pony gave Trixie and several others the details of this spell and told us where to cast it, said it would give us immeasurable power, enough to crush our greatest enemies.” She hissed those last words sneering at Twilight and Rarity all the while as she giggled to herself. “Now feel the wrath of the great demon Ose” the symbol on her hoof began to glow as the small star in the center disappeared and a creature appeared in front of Trixie. The creature appeared in the form of a Leopard standing on it’s hind legs and wearing a green cape around it’s neck and in it’s paws it holds two large blades as long as it’s arms. Twilight could barely believe what she was seeing Trixie summoned some kind of creature, but her horn didn’t glow; she summoned this thing without unicorn magic. Trixie cried out “now kill Twilight Sparkle Ose” she pointed her hoof at Twilight and the creature darted towards her Twilight threw up as powerful a barrier as she could possibly manage as the creature brought it’s sword down upon her shield. The creature’s blade bounced off but at no small cost to Twilight who nearly collapsed from the wave of pain that came with the blow, the creature was so powerful it nearly broke through the barrier of the Element of Magic in a single hit. “Impressive Twilight Sparkle” Trixie gloated “To block a demon’s blade, I’m glad that you’re my rival.” Suddenly a blot of magic shot out at the creature, Rarity stood tall and fired more bolts at the monster, barely phasing the creature. “Please, no simple unicorn magic could really harm Ose” Trixie burst into fits of laughter, she was about to have her revenge and had a powerful demon at her disposal, yeah life is good. -------------------------------------------------------- Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, and Applebloom had been playing in the area near Fluttershy’s cottage ever since Rarity and Twilight had left. Oh sure, they had been told to stay in the Boutique but how could they find their cutie marks in there. They were playing around near the entrance to the Everfree when Sweetie Bell felt something. “Hey girls I don’t think this is a good idea anymore.” She backed away, whatever the feeling in her horn was it wasn’t good. “Aww come on we’ve barely started” cried Applebloom. “Yeah totally just started” mimicked Scootaloo. “I have a bad feeling, it’s like something bad is here.” Sweetie Bell was starting to get scared now. “Look I’ll show you” Applebloom walked further despite Sweetie Bell flailing in protest. “Stop," Urged Sweetie Bell, "really something is happening here.” “Don’t be such a chicken, we have Scootaloo for that” Applebloom joked, her two friends eyes widened Applebloom gulped loudly and looked behind her to see a large creature that looked like a wolf standing on it’s hind legs with a large club over it’s head “Grwar” Applebloom could only look in terror, the others screamed -------------------------------------------------- Ose’s blades came down once again on Twilight’s shield, Twilight cried in pain but still didn’t falter, something that was beginning to annoy the Great and Powerful Trixie. “Give up Sparkle you’ll never make it out of here alive” she parroted, she had lost interest in taunting her rival around the fifth time her shield blocked Ose. “Alright Ose Gale Slash” Ose clasped its hands and its swords together and wind began to encircle it two blades Ose then swung and the wind rushed forward off of his blades and against Twilight’s shield. Twilight’s shield dissipated as she fell to the ground. “No!” Rarity cried and rushed forward blasting energy at the creature. Ose simply kicked her out the way slamming her against the wall. Twilight looked over at Rarity’s body as she tried to get up to blast the monster again, she looked over at Trixie whose face bore a wide smile as she witnessed what would surely be the end of greatest nemesis, that was when Twilight heard the voice. “I wish for you to make a contract with me” Twilight didn’t understand what the voice meant, “What do you mean?” she asked groggily. “I mean I’m going to kill you” Trixie yelled, clearly she had been performing a monologue about her plans and Twilight hadn’t been listening. “I wish for you to become my master, I wish for you to live through this ordeal” Twilight knew there was only one answer to the voices request; she was going to die if she didn’t. “I’ll make a contract with you” She saw Trixie’s eyes widen. “So it shall be, I’m Virtue, of the clan Divine, I am yours Twilight Sparkle” A brilliant light flashed and the same symbol which had been on Trixie’s hoof now appeared on Twilight’s only now she could read what it said Divine Virtue. The star symbol disappeared from Twilight and in front of her appeared a creature. The creature had wings as white and as big as the princess, its body was seemingly made of jade with a glowing red heart at its center. The creature let loose massive blasts of lightning blowing Ose back several feet. “Simply Marvelous” Rarity whispered as Virtue hovered in place in front of Twilight. “So what of you have a demon of your own, Ose her shield is down use Heat wave” Ose held its blades in an X in front of itself as they began to glow Orange. Twilight was told by Virtue telepathically “Command me” Twilight didn’t understand, “My abilities are Zionga, Diarama, and Mahama, command me.” Twilight looked at it “I don’t know what those words mean!” she shouted. She didn’t get a response this time as Ose swung its blades out blasting her and Virtue back and slightly wounding her with a cut along her side. “I don’t care how just defeat that thing” Twilight screamed. “Zionga it is” the creature blasted out more lightning all of which connected with Ose making it stumble as it rushed forward to attack the demon, its blade connected but Virtue simply blasted it with lightning again. Ose collapsed on the ground defeated as it disappeared into red mist, which swirled around Trixie’s leg. The star symbol reappeared there and it glowed a deep red. Trixie’s face blanched as she looked at Virtue, “Shall I kill her master, or would thine like to deal the finishing blow” Trixie started backing off looking over to a small hole in the back of the castle she could use to escape. “No, you can’t kill her," Twilight remarked, "there is no killing.” Trixie ran for the hole as Virtue spoke again “I assumed that for hurting your friend you would be angrier at her.” “What are you talking…” she looked over at Rarity who was lying in a pool of blood with a gash across her side. “RARITY.” Twilight screamed. -------------------------------------------------- “APPLEBLOOM” Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo rushed to their friend who had been knocked out by the wolf creature. She was bleeding slightly from her head but seemed as though she would be ok. Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo heard voices in their heads. “Hee-ho, you all seem really fun” “Yes, Ho-hee perhaps we could contract with you and help you defeat the Kobold.” Sweetie Bell hesitated and asked “You could help us?” Scootaloo wasn’t in the mood for thought “Sure whatever you want just Help.” A light materialized around Scootaloo and a creature appeared in front of her it was a pumpkin floating in midair with a cape and a hat and a lantern “Now let’s asphalt this asshole” the pumpkin waved its lantern and a blast of fire burst from it enveloping the Kobold it and it fell to the ground and burst into mist. “Hee-Ho so how about miss Bell” “Ok," Sweetie Bell responded "but can you help Applebloom?” “Hee-ho course” the light appeared around Sweetie Bell as well and a small snowman with arms and legs appeared in front of her who waved its arms and a small light appeared over Applebloom and somehow sealed the wound on her head. “Hey guys what happened” Applebloom woke up as both of friends hugged her. “So who are you two?” Scootaloo asked. “I’m Hee-ho Jack Frost!” the snowman responded. “Ho-hee I’m Pyro Jack!” the pumpkin-headed creature responded. “we’re both demons Hee-ho”. The girls couldn’t believe their ears, these two were demons, creatures from bedtime stories and nightmares and they served Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo. “Wow so that must make us…” “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER DEMON TAMERS YAY!” ---------------------------------------------------- Princess Celestia looked out over the balcony the allowed her to see most of her kingdom. Her eyes fixed on the Everfree where the demons would first arrive, and where her student was. “Princess the castles been locked down as you ordered.” Shining Armor reported to her. “Good, we can’t allow any demons in the castle, I want Canterlot sealed off as well and make sure that night guards are doing their jobs, another summoning circle could be placed here as well.” Shining Armor nodded and went off to do his duties. Celestia went back to overlooking her kingdom. “I’m so sorry, to all of you.” She whispered, “I should’ve been more prepared for this inevitability.” Celestia left the balcony back to her room and closed the window behind her as Shining Armor’s shield went up once again, Celestia simply laid in her bed and looked at the pentagrams on her hooves that her usual royal garb covered. “Nothing lasts forever” she allowed the demons to come forth into her room she would be prepared now, the Shin Megami Tensei was upon them and she wasn’t about to be counted out now.