//------------------------------// // Izanami // Story: Persona 4: Return to Inaba // by unleashedtwilight //------------------------------// "You went into the T.V. world by yourself!?" Kanji exclaimed at Narukami who was still holding on to Sunset Shimmer. "For Celestia's sake Twilight, you promised you wouldn't go in there alone!" Rarity exclaimed, "And on that note, why did she go with you!?" She yelled referring to Sunset Shimmer. "Because she was already awake, and I happened to run into her on my way to Twilight's room." Narukami answered. "I would have brought Twilight with me regardless. She needs the practice if she's going to survive in there." "Well dude, what the heck happened in there?" Yosuke asked stepping up. "Sunset Shimmer looks beat... Wait. Did she face herself in there too?" Twilight looked at Narukami still expecting an explanation as well. "No," twilight answered. "Her persona just came to her." "Wait what?" Naoto asked. "But..." "That's just like what happened to Narukami though..." Rise finished. "So what, you're saying that Sunset Shimmer got her persona the same way that Yu did?" Chie asked. "Same as..." Twilight slowly turned to Narukami again. "Sensei, is it possible that the source of her power is the same one as who gave it to you in Inaba?" Teddie asked. "It is possible." Narukami answered. "Whoa whoa wait a second." Sunset Shimmer spoke out getting on her own hooves. "You know who did this to me?" Narukami remained silent for a minute. "I think it's best that I don't tell you yet." "Wait, what?" Twilight asked. "If I told you, then you might not be able to defeat the source." "What? Why the hell not?" Sunset asked getting aggravated. "Because we have fought the source before, and she is not to be taken lightly. She is basically a god." The others from Inaba looked down for a moment, while the Equestrians looked at Narukami in shock. "A... God...?" Twilight asked with a hint of fear in her voice. "If it weren't for Narukami forming bonds with the people in Inaba, I don't think that we would be alive right now." Chie said. "Forming bonds? You mean friendships?" Twilight asked. "Yes but not just with your best friends, with others as well." Narukami said. "Sunset Shimmer is the one who needs to form those bonds." "Me?!" Sunset exclaimed in response. "No offense darling, but Sunset Shimmer isn't exactly close to the rest of us." Rarity said bluntly. "You will be." Yu said to Rarity. "Get to know each other better. Go to places so that your bonds can become genuine." Yu sighed. "I feel like this is something Igor is supposed to be telling you." "Igor?" Yosuke asked. "N-nevermind." Yu answered. "Come on, you need to get some rest." "I'm plenty rested..." Sunset said deep in thought. "I need to... Ugh..." She falls over again. "Come on..." Narukami said picking her up, carrying her to her bed. “Narukami…” Sunset said as she was being carried. “Yes Sunset?” Yu asked suddenly feeling a tighter embrace on himself. “Huh?” “Thanks for helping me in there…” “I didn’t really do anything.” “You did, you training with Twilight basically gave me some notes even before I had my persona. Weakening the enemy, finding their weaknesses; that all helped.” Sunset paused for a minute. “When you were talking about that god earlier, you said ‘she’... What was she like? Why did she give you your power?” “Hmph.” Yu let out reluctantly. “To observe what would happen.” “You’re joking…” “To be specific, she gave three people in Inaba the power, myself being included.” “But how did I get it…? I don’t remember meeting anyone other than that guy at the gas station near Canterlot high.” Yu then froze again. “What?? What is it??” “This guy, did he have gray hair? Shake your hand?” “Yes but--” Sunset then froze in shock. “Please tell me that you’re joking… that was a ‘guy’ who I spoke to, and all he did was shake my hand.” “Yeah, me too.” Yu continued walking. “I told you that she is a god, she has the ability to change her form to whatever she wants. Even if it’s the opposite sex.” “So what you’re saying is I already met her without even knowing it…” “You can’t confront her yet. Remember what I told you about forming bonds with others.” Narukami thought for a moment. “And if what you say is true about her being in that world, then I think the others there might be in danger as well.” Sunset Shimmer sighed. “I thought that me leaving would prevent more shit like that…” “Where is the portal you entered?” Sunset Shimmer got off of Narukami, and onto her hooves. “Follow me.” She said leading Narukami through many hallways in Twilight’s castle until finally she found herself in the room with the mirror and the contraption that Twilight set up with it to go through it at any time. “I didn’t think I would have to go back so soon though…” “No, you aren’t going back right now. I’m going to check it out.” “Excuse me??” “You need to rest Sunset. If something does happen, you’d be overworking yourself.” Sunset Shimmer looked down in a bit of disappointment but nodded in agreement. “Just be careful, alright?” “I will, don’t worry.” Yu smiled at Sunset. Sunset just smiled back at him. Suddenly she could hear the same voice that she heard before. Thou art I… And I am thou… Thou has established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the truth… Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Fool and the World Arcana… Sunset then heard another voice. One she had not recognized. “The Persona ability is the power to control one’s own heart… And the heart is strengthened through bonds. As you form bonds by becoming involved with others, your own Social Links will gradually develop. The power of these Social Links is what will determine your Persona’s abilities.” “Ugh... “ Sunset said holding her head, “Okay, yeah I need to go rest.” she said walking back. “Like I said, be careful in there.” Narukami nodded and slowly stuck his hoof in the mirror. “Hold it!” a voice exclaimed from behind. Narukami turned to look who the voice belonged to. It was Twilight. “And just where do you think you’re going?” “I’m going to see Sunset Shimmer’s world. I have a bad feeling that the same danger might be happening there.” “Then I’m going in with you.” “Twilight I don’t think that--” “No, you listen to me. The people in that world are my friends too, and if they’re in danger, then it concerns me too.” Narukami looked at Twilight for a second and nodded. “Fine.” He turned back to the portal and walked inside of it without another word as Twilight followed.                                                       ----------------------------------------------- July 11th, 2012 (Friday) Cloudy Lunch Time A light flashed from the statue near Canterlot High as both Narukami and Twilight flew out of the portal in their human forms. Twilight groaned as she slowly got up to her feet. “Ugh, that’s always a pain…” she said rubbing her head. “Are you okay?” She asked but went wide-eyed looking at Narukami. He smiled at her as he got to his feet. He looked just like himself as when he was in Inaba; skin, hair, eyes and all. “This is what you really look like…?” He nodded. “Come on. Let’s go look around for clues about the case a hand.” Twilight nodded and the two started looking around. They both decided to investigate the school first. As they entered the building, the halls were empty. Most of the students had already gone to the cafeteria for lunch period. “Maybe we should just check the cafeteria.” Narukami said. “No no, I think that would bring too much attention on us.” Twilight answered. “Maybe Principle Celestia can help us.” Narukami just nodded and followed her not questioning who this ‘Principle Celestia’ was. But as they were walking down the hallway, without warning, Twilight was tackled and pin to the ground. “You! I should’ve known you’d come back!” “W-what the hay..!?” Twilight exclaimed trying to look up at who tackled her… It was herself. She screamed and stood up. “I thought I accepted you already!!” “What…?? What the hell are you talking about you little imposter!?” The other Twilight with glasses exclaimed. “Wait huh…?” Twilight looked thoroughly at the other Twilight and widened her eyes in realization, letting out a scream. “What are you doing here!? You never attended this school before!” “Exactly my point! Why the hell are there pictures and videos of me plastered over the internet!?” “Because that wasn’t you, that was me!” “You sick twisted little-- Why were you pretending to be me!?” This worlds Twilight exclaimed. “I wasn’t pretending, I am you!” Twilight exclaimed. “I’m just from a different world!” “You say that to me like it’s completely normal!” “If you knew that magic existed, then it would be normal to you too!” “Oh my effing god, not this again! NO! I don’t believe in magic! It doesn’t exist! If anything, it can only be explained with science!” “And has ‘science’ helped you figured it out yet??” The other Twilight was about to speak until she closed her mouth again, holding her arm. “No, it hasn’t… But come on. Magic?? That sounds like something a 5 year old made up…” Twilight sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Look, I know it’s confusing but right now, we’re doing an investigation.” “Investigation?” The other Twilight asked fixing her glasses. “About what?” “Has anything strange happened lately here?” Narukami asked. “Strange how?” The other Twilight asked. “Like… any disappearances?” Twilight asked. The other Twilight placed a hand on her head trying to think. “Now that you mention it, there was that disappearance of a student from this school a couple days ago. Her name was Carrot Top I believe.” “And was she found?” Twilight asked getting a little nervous. “Yes but…” The other Twilight choked a bit. “She was found dead unfortunately… So nobody could question her.” “Just like in Equestria…” Twilight sighed. “The people in this world really are in danger…” Suddenly a loud clap of thunder could be heard. The three looked outside the window to see that it had started raining. “Looks like it’s going to be raining all night…” The other Twilight sighed. “Twilight, have you heard of something called the Midnight Channel?” “You mean that show that comes on at midnight when it rains and the T.V. is off, right?” The other Twilight asked. “Please, just another rumor.” “Well actually I think that--” Twilight stopped mid sentence. “Wait, did you just say ‘another’?” “You and magic being the first one.” “You still don’t believe me!?” “And I’m not going to believe you until I see scientific proof.” Twilight thought for a moment to think of a way to prove it. “Well I don’t think it’s really scientific but…” Twilight then grabbed the other Twilight’s hand and dragged her. “Come with me.” “H-hey!”                                                       ----------------------------------------------- This worlds Twilight was then dragged to the statue that Twilight and Narukami entered through. “Yes, I’ve studied the statue. There is no portal.” “Well I don’t always keep the portal open!” Twilight exclaimed letting go of this worlds Twilight. “Now… try not to freak out.” The other Twilight raised an eyebrow and took out a notepad ready to take notes. Twilight sighed and slowly put her hand through the portal with ease… which caused this worlds Twilight to drop her notepad slack jawed. “What…..??” Twilight then took her hand out again, letting the other Twilight put her hand through herself. “How.. can this be…?” she pulled her hand back out as well. “I know it’s hard to believe Twilight, but everything I’m telling you is the honest truth.” Twilight said placing a hand on her Canterlot high counterpart. The other Twilight just stared and finally nodded. “Alright, I believe you…” The three just walked back into the building while this world’s Twilight was lost in thought. “You told me that it was the something in your world… does that mean that someone died there too?” “Yeah, and her name was Carrot Top as well.” Twilight nodded. “I’m starting to think that the source of the problems is from this world.” Narukami finally said with the two Twilights looking at him. “Sunset Shimmer told me that she met a certain person with similar characteristics as the one who gave me my power.” Twilight thought for a moment. “So what do you think we should do?” “I think for now, we’re going to need to spend the night in this world. And look at the midnight channel.” Narukami answered. “I might as well check that out too.” The other Twilight nodded. “Hell, if a portal to another world exists, this might actually be true too. If you’d like, you’re welcome to join me in my research lab.” “You’re not going to be doing this from home?” Twilight asked. “If I find any strange anomaly, I’m going to record it.” “Alright we’ll join you.” “And one more thing.” the other Twilight said. “I realize you made friends with those girls in this world, but I suggest you don’t mention this to them.” “Why not?” “As far as we know, they aren’t involved with this case. Then again I shouldn’t be either but-- look! the point is, it’ll be a lot hard if more people are involved.” “Alright…” “Come on, let’s at least go out to investigate more.” “You both go ahead, I’m going to check something myself.” Narukami said walking off without another word.                                                       ----------------------------------------------- Narukami walked around the town until he found the closest gas station to the school. “You look lost.” A voice familiar to Narukami said. “What are you doing here?” Yu asked bluntly. “Same as always Narukami.” Izanami smirked using her real voice this time, but still hiding her true form. “I should be asking you the same question.” “I thought you learned from my world that people don’t need the fog to be happy.” “Are you sure about that?” “What are you talking about?” “I’ve seen what has been happening in these worlds. Chaos. Disharmony in both this world and in Equestria.” “It’s how life is. It isn’t always perfect. Why can’t you see that?” he turned to face Izanami. “And this time, Sunset Shimmer will be the one to prove it to you.” “You seem overconfident, don’t you think?” She grabbed his hand showing him visions he had never seen before. Visions of Sunset Shimmer as a demon-like creature. “What.. what was all that?” “Sunset Shimmer. When she tried to kill Twilight and her friends here.” Narukami held his head in disbelief. “I can see it in your eyes already. You don’t want this to be the truth.” “Shut up! I know it’s the truth but the Sunset Shimmer I’ve seen now is nothing like that!” She smirked letting go of his hand. “We’ll see about that…”