//------------------------------// // The Fog // Story: Persona 4: Return to Inaba // by unleashedtwilight //------------------------------//         Time had passed for the hero Yu Narukami, and it was already summer vacation. He remembered making a promise to all of his friends in Inaba that he would visit them whenever he got the chance. Ever since he and his friends defeated Izanami and dispelled the fog from both the real world and the T.V. world, things have been peaceful during his visits. His friends always welcomed him with open arms (or in Rise-chans way of it, a neverending embrace… her and Teddie). Everything in Inaba was perfect… … But the fog of lies do not simply fade away in one world… it moves on to another. July 8th, 2012 Evening Rain Back in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle was still getting used to her new castle. Although she did make a few changes to make it seem like her old home. For starters, she added a public library to the castle replacing most of the books that were in her library originally. Unfortunately, some of the books in her old library couldn’t be replaced either because they were very rare or the only one of its kind. This did upset Twilight Sparkle a little bit, but she moved on from it. One afternoon, Rainbow Dash suggested that they all see a movie together at the theater. At first the others looked like they had other plans to attend to, but they agreed on one thing: They haven’t really been able to spend much time together as they should be. So fortunately they were able to move their previous plans and follow Rainbow Dash to whatever movie she had planned for everypony to watch. “Oh my gosh, I am SO excited for this movie!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed practically flying circles around the group with a big smile on her face. “The first ever Daring Do movie!!” Applejack sighed. “We know, we’ve only heard you talk about it for the past THREE months…” She mused. “Although you have to admit, it is pretty exciting.” Twilight added with a grin herself. “And what surprises me the most is that A.K. Yearling is going to be in the film herself!” “Why would you be surprised by that??” Rainbow asked as if she insulted her. “Daring Do is Amazing and AWESOME!” “It surprises me because I would think that she would want to have more privacy… I’d think that this would just draw more suspicion and attention to her actual life and adventures. Remember, those adventures she wrote about were all true stories.” “As if I could forget something like that!” Rainbow exclaimed. As the 6 were talking, without warning, it started to rain heavily over them. “Oh horsefeathers!” Applejack exclaimed. “Rainbow Dash, why didn’t you tell us that it was supposed to rain tonight??” “It wasn’t!” Rainbow objected in response. “At least I don’t think it was supposed to…” “Oh, let’s just hurry and enter the theater!” Rarity let out. “My poor poor mane is going to get all frizzy if this keeps up…” “Here you go Rarity!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed holding a pink umbrella over them. “Oh thank you darling…” Rarity then paused. “Did you know it was going to rain?” “Nope!” Pinkie simply said smiling cheerfully. “Right…” Rarity smiled and turned her attention back to the theater building. “Let’s hurry inside.” Everypony nodded and started heading for the entrance. “W-wait! Not so fast!” Fluttershy exclaimed quietly trying to keep up with the others. “So… did you hear about the rumor?” Rainbow asked as they were getting their tickets. “Oh for goodness sake, not this again… look, we’re not interested in myths, ok Rainbow?” Twilight said with a dis satisfied look. “But I’m telling you, it’s not a myth!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Ponies here have said they’ve seen it themselves! They call it the Midnight Film.” “Yes, crazy ponies or liars!” Twilight let out obviously wanting the conversation to end. “And really?? The Midnight Film??” “I’m sorry, but what in the wide wide world of Equestria is she talking about?” Rarity asked. “Don’t worry about it Rarity, it’s just some stupid myth that she made up.” “But I told you that it’s NOT a myth! ponies really appear on the theater screen at midnight when it rains!” There was a moment of silence between the six of them. Until finally Applejack was the one to break the silence. “Say what now?” “Ponies say that if you stay inside the movie theater at night on rainy days… A picture comes on, showing what is supposed to be your soul mate sitting in a theater as well, sitting in the same seat you're sitting in…” “I don’t think I like this rumor very much…” Fluttershy said starting to have second thoughts about seeing the movie…” “Relax Fluttershy,” Twilight said to reassure her shy friend. “All that stuff is just fiction and myth… plus it’s not midnight yet.” “Alright then, if you think it’s a myth, then how about a bet?” Rainbow suggested. “Rainbow Dash, I don’t think that--” Twilight was interrupted. “Why don’t we stay until midnight?” Rainbow Dash continued. “If somepony appears, you have to do whatever I say for a month!” “And if somepony doesn’t appear?” Twilight asks. “Then I’ll do what YOU want for a month.” “Rainbow Dash, are you really sure that this is a wise decision…?” Rarity asked in concern. “I really don’t want to wait here at midnight…” Fluttershy said hiding behind Pinkie Pie. “I’ll do it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “It sounds like fun!” She said getting enthusiastic about the whole thing. “Ooohhh… I wonder if my soul mate would love throwing parties as much as I do!” “If anypony, that would be cheese sandwich. Hooves down.” Applejack said. “Oh, I bet my soul mate would be a handsome prince!” Rarity said imagining what her soulmate would look like. “Are we seriously considering this?” Twilight asked in annoyance. “It’s settled then!” Rainbow exclaimed. “We all stay at midnight to prove this rumor to be a hoax or reality!” Twilight sighed. “This just screams bad idea all over…” “Let’s go!” Rainbow said leading the others to the door. “The movie is about to start.” As the movie was going on, multiple times Rainbow Dash couldn’t stop her constant cheering and outbursts. And to make things worse, she laughed louder than most of the ponies in the theater which only brought more attention to the six ponies; 4 of which were blushing in embarrassment. Pinkie Pie being excluded considering she was cheering just as loudly as Rainbow Dash. After about an hour and 30 minutes, the film ended with the credits showing on the screen. “That… was… AWESOME!!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight exclaimed. “I realize you enjoyed the movie, but don’t you think you could have been a little quieter so that other ponies could enjoy? Like the younger fillies and colts??” “I didn’t see anyone complain.” “That’s because the parents got too annoyed to say anything and just walked out with their kids!” “Big deal, the movie will air again tomorrow.” Rainbow Dash said staring at the screen as everypony else left the theater. “You guys ready?” “N-no…” Fluttershy said hiding behind her chair. “Don’t worry Fluttershy, soon midnight will come and you’ll see that there is no pony that appears on the screen.” “It’s almost time…” Rainbow Dash said in a sort of spooky tone. Twilight glared at her trying to comfort her shy friend at the same time. Eventually time passed and midnight finally hit. … Nothing happened… “Ha!” Twilight exclaimed. “You see? There’s your proof! There is no Midnight--” Twilight was then cut off when the theater screen flickered and flashed. “Huh…?” she turned her attention to the screen. “What in the world…?” Her eyes began to shrink. On the theater screen, it showed somepony! It was fuzzy, but they could slightly make out the picture. “Wait a sec… there’s only one pony showing on here…” Rainbow said kind of disappointed. “Does this mean we have the same soul mate or something…? Plus, isn’t that a mare??” “It looks like… Carrot Top…” Twilight said examining the screen. The screen continued to show Carrot Top… who looked like she was running from something. “I don’t like this!” Fluttershy finally spoke out. “Please! Make it Stop!” As if on cue, the screen stopped flashing and flickering, showing the blank theater screen like it always did before. Everypony entered a state of silence… even Rainbow Dash herself was in shock. “O-okay, I’ll be honest… I thought that whole thing was made up too…!” Rainbow said with a hint of fear in her voice. “Let’s… j-just get out of here…” Twilight said trying to process what she just saw. She led everyone out of the theater, passing a pony with a gray mane and coat in a workers uniform for the theater. It was still raining and everyone went back to their homes. Twilight sat down quietly for a moment still lost in thought. “How can this be…? What does this all mean?...” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yu suddenly awoke in a familiar velvet room. Greeted by both Igor and Margaret. “Welcome to the Velvet Room…” Igor finally said. “Do not be alarmed, you are still asleep in the real world. We are simply communicating with you in your dreams as we have in the past.” “It seems that your previous journey forming bonds with the people of Inaba was not your last journey like we thought it was…” She then opened the book she was holding. “It seems that the great evil that shrouded your friends hometown in fog has finally resurfaced in a different world.” She looked into her book. “After all, you did not destroy her… remember, Izanami said that she would return if the humans were not pleased with their true lives. It seems that she expected that to happen and grew tired of waiting, shrouding a different world with her fog.” “I am awfully sorry that we had to meet again under these circumstances…” Igor said in regret. “But as I have said previously, those who have been signed to a contract may be permitted to enter this room.” He placed a deck of cards down on the table. “Now, for your next journey, you are going to need your close friends that you have already formed genuine bonds with. However I see great disaster in your future. Your bonds will be put through trials and tribulations. Do not lose sight of what keeps you and your friends close, and you will be able to succeed in your mission. But, if you fail to do so, your bonds AND your future will forever be lost.” “We will see you again… but for now, farewell.” Margaret said as Yu sudenly woke up on the couch in Dojima’s house. “Was that… all for real…?” Narukami said feeling a chill.  “No, that can’t be right…” Narukami said looking around the room. He heard a loud thunder clap and noticed that it was raining. He then looked at the time… Midnight. His eyes widened at the familiar sight and sound of the T.V. Flashing on in the living room. He stopped and looked at the screen but seemed a little confused. “Is this some kind of joke…?” On the screen showed a small town with different colored ponies with horns and wings. “Why would this be on the Midnight Channel…?” Yu then followed his instinct and stuck his hand inside of the T.V. To him it felt very different. Not like the T.V. world at all where Teddie was from. But it felt like something else… Yu decided to gather his friends at Junes tomorrow and tell everyone what he saw… “I doubt anybody would have seen this, we all thought that the midnight channel was finally over…”                                           --------------------------------------------------------------- July 9th, 2012 After School Rain “Wait, let me get this straight. You saw the Midnight Channel come on last night!?” Chie exclaimed. “I’m sure of it. It was raining and the T.V. was off.” Yu said as calm and collected as ever. “You’ve gotta be freakin’ kidding me. I thought we solved this damn murder case completely!” Kanji said slamming his fists on the table angrily. “Actually, I don’t think it has anything to do with Inaba…” Narukami said thinking. “It showed a completely different town full of multi colored ponies.” Everyone at the table had a look of shock and embarrassment on their faces. “Dude… really?” Yosuke finally spoke out. “What?” “Don’t what me, you were watching a cartoon about freaking ponies last night!” Yukiko then snickered and finally burst out laughing. “Narukami… watching a cartoon..! About Ponies..!!” She laughed out hysterically. “Hey come on, what’s wrong with that?” Kanji said. “If it’s what a guy likes then who cares?” “Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Yu has someone to relate to!” Yosuke laughed standing next to Kanji. “Yeah? How’d you like to relate to my fist??” Kanji said angrily. “Take it easy…” Naoto finally spoke up. “I don’t think that this is a joke… I really do believe that Narukami saw something last night on the midnight channel. He isn’t the type of person who would joke about this.” “I must admit, the thought of sensei watching such things is hilarious!” Teddie laughed. “Coming from the bear in a costume from a different world…” Yosuke mused. “It’s not just a costume!” Teddie snapped. “Anyways…” Naoto continued. “Have you mentioned this to Dojima-san at all?” “No.” Narukami said looking down for a second. “I kind of figured that he’d want to forget about all that stuff. Especially considering it affected him and Nanako greatly.” “Oh yeah that’s right…” Rise said gloomily. “We almost lost her that day…” “Yeah, l-let’s not get into that…” Narukami said obviously holding in repressed emotions from that day as well. “Sensei can I ask you something?” Teddie raised his hand. “Back in my world, the house and ponies you mentioned… I didn’t sense anything like that there.” “W-what?” Yu said in confusion. “I think I would have noticed multi-colored ponies in my world. Then again if that were the case I don’t think I’d even be here right now~” Teddie said getting lost in his imagination. “Dude, that’s just disturbing…” Yosuke spoke out. “Hmm…” Chie then snapped her fingers getting an idea. “I got it! Why don’t we go to the tv world at midnight when it rains again.” “Well, there won’t be any shadows to attack us, so I guess it would be safe…” Teddie said thinking. “But if we all went in from our T.V.’s, wouldn’t we end up in different locations?” “The bear has a point,” Kanji said to Chie. “Seem like that would be dangerous senpai.” “I know!” Yukiko exclaimed. “Why don’t we all go in through the T.V. in Junes?” “Are you crazy??” Yosuke exclaimed. “My dad might be the manager, but there’s no way he’ll let us stay until midnight!” “We can sneak in then!” Chie exclaimed. “Say what!?” Yosuke exclaimed. “I could bring some supplies for the sneak in.” Narukami said in response. “Oh come on, please don’t tell me you’re going along with this bro…” “I’ll even bring my bear suit for stealth!” Teddie said agreeing. “Is anybody listening!? And what kind of stealth would that damn suit give you!?” “Then it’s settled, we go into the T.V. in Junes at Midnight.” Rise smiled. “I didn’t settle anything!!” Yosuke yelled.                                           --------------------------------------------------------------- July 9th, 2012 Evening Rain “Okay everyone, the coast is clear. Everyone come out.” Chie whispered in her walkie from her hiding spot in the grocery department. “This is the stupidest plan you’ve come up with, you know that?” Yosuke said through his walkie. “Hey, you agreed to it.” Narukami said. “I didn’t agree to anything!!” Yosuke yelled out. “Be quiet dummy!” Chie whispered through the walkie again. “Do you want us to get caught??” “I need to find better friends…” Yosuke said in despair. Eventually, everyone went out of there hiding spots and headed for the T.V. section of Junes. “Wow, it’s different being here after hours…” Teddie said looking around. “Dude, you work here…” Yosuke mused. While they were about to get into another argument, the every T.V. in Junes started flashing and flickering. Each one of them showing the same picture. The Picture Narukami described to them. “Ready everyone?” Narukami said looking at everyone. They all nodded. “Ready!” they said in unison. Without another word, they all jumped through the T.V…. though the travel to the world was more painful than they remembered. “What the hell is happening!?!?” Yosuke exclaimed.