//------------------------------// // You in Wonderland: Chapter 2 (part 1) // Story: Ponysona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth // by Tythen //------------------------------// "You In Wonderland: Chapter 2" The RID looked around in amazement to see that the second floor of the labyrinth contained a whole new atmosphere. The sky was yellow shone an ominous yellow instead of purple, followed with a long light purple cloud, the floor was a checker pattern with yellow and purple instead of light blue and dark blue, and even all the decorations has changed from cards and roses into decorations of large cakes, tarts, sweet pies and all sorts of the sweetest food seen on decoration. "Woah... Things certainly changed quite a lot than from last time..." Twilight inspected "It's not just that." Vinyl added "I'm sensing the presence of a few new shadows, and they seem pretty tough." "That reminds me, you don't seem to use your Personas in battle." Lyra noted turning to the amnesiac duo "care to explain?" "You mean the 'power of the heart' that you use?" The Doctor replied "yes, it's true that Derpy and I are unable to use them, but we are able to stand our ground without them, unlike you guys." "Sounds to me like you're tougher than us. That's a relief." Octavia smiled, "Just to change the subject, how did the Alice in Wonderland story go again?" Spike asked "It goes like this." Pinkie explained "a mare named Alice was sent into a mysterious world through a rabbit hole, and she um... Does all sorts of crazy things, have tea, talk to a caterpillar and dancing with walking cards!" "What?" Derpy gasped with excitement "a mare named Alice was sent into a mysterious world through a rabbit hole to have tea with a caterpillar as well as snacking on walking tarts!?" "I don't think it's dancing with cards." Octavia changed "I know that normally the caterpillar always asks 'who are you?" , and um... Maybe she pricked herself on a cactus?" "It's about a caterpillar that always asks 'you want tofu?' and the girl is picking herself a cabbage!?" Derpy gasped even louder. "Uh..." Twilight stammered "Yer mixing up the stories Octy!" Applebloom sighed "ah've read the book. The gal gets trapped in a maze where she finds and fights loads of bears!" "The girl gets trapped in a haze where there are flying pears!?!?" Derpy squealed with excitement. "NO IT'S NOT!!!" Twilight screamed, creating silence in the room. "Care to explain then Your Highness?" Flash replied "No, I will not." Twilight huffed with frustration. "But one thing is puzzling me Flash. Why do you constantly summon Izanagi? Don't you have the power to change your persona or something?" "Huh, I never thought that through, let me try..." Flash replied and fully concentrated with a deep breath to search the depths of his mind, heart and soul... Coming out with nothing. "I got nothing." Flash sighed, breathing out. "I can't find any other personas with me." "Then what about these 5 blank cards?" Pinkie asked "they do look a bit like Persona cards to me..." "Hmm... If things are getting treacherous up ahead, then I suggest we do something about these cards before going on." Twilight suggested "I wish that I could use another persona." Vinyl said over the comm line, only to receive yet another bonk by Himiko. "Don't worry Himiko." Vinyl comforted while rubbing her head "you're my best persona and you'll never be replaced. After all, you are me!" "Sounds good." Flash nodded "why don't we go climb the stairs again?" "I think a Goho-M would be a much better idea." Applebloom suggested, holding out a small vial. Pouring all of it's contents onto the ground, the puddle turned into a temporary portal that managed to transport everypony back to Ponyville before evaporating. Meanwhile, the SOES were also exploring the second floor of You in Wonderland and, if coincidence or not, worried about the same thing. "From the data of our previous battles." Sweetie analysed "It appears Soarin has only summoned Orpheus." "But what's wrong with tha-- Ohh." Rainbow Dash realised "you can change personas, can you?" "Huh. Never really crossed my mind." Soarin shrugged "Do you think you can do it?" Rarity asked "If we continue at this rate, we may face hard encounters with less variability between our party members." Soarin nodded and tried to search deep in his subconscious and his heart... Yielding nothing either. Soarin shook his head with disappointment. "What about them cards?" Big Mac asked, pulling out the 5 blank cards. "You think they've got something behind it?" "Well, it's better than nothing." BonBon suggested "we do need our leader in our usual form!" "Oy..." Soarin replied, a little offended that the team were being too dependent on him. "You know, ah would love to use another Persona." Applejack replied, only to find out that Polyduces was releasing waves of tears behind her. "But ah'll always stick with you till the end partner." Applejack comforted the immortal twin brother. "We'll never get separated, cause we'll always stand as one!" "As much as this is a touching scene." Rarity sighed "we must hurry back to find out about these cards. Maybe Princess Luna knows?" "Then let's get going!" Rainbow nodded and tipped the contents of a Goho-M onto the floor, to which teleported them back to Ponyville. In the Velvet Room, Celestia and Vinyl greeted the incoming RID. "Hello once again RID." Celestia greeted "Hmm... I still keep on thinking about that lone door." Twilight replied as she stared at the door. "Yes." Celestia nodded "As the door is locked, I couldn't not find anything on where they lead to. However, I can sense the atmosphere behind that door..." "What atmosphere?" "Of our beloved Ponyville." Celestia answered "Hmm..." "I believe this door is our only exit out of here." Celestia concluded "She's right." The Doctor nodded "You do?" Derpy asked "and why do you say that?" Twilight asked "this room never existed until you came." The Doctor explained "to me, this place feels like yours, therefore the doors are also yours. Unfortunately, there's no evidence for that. It's just what I feel... Actually, forget about my comment." "Let me try..." Twilight volunteered and tried to turn the knob on the door, but it wouldn't budge. "It was worth a shot." Twilight sighed "guess we'll leave it for the time being." "I'm absolutely sure the role of this door will reveal itself in due time, as nothing meaningless happens in the Velvet Room." Celestia assured. On another platform in the vast space of the Velvet Room, the SOES were also discussing with Luna about the blank cards and Soarin's inability to use new personas. "Being unable to acquire new personas?" Luna asked "this is certainly some predicament. Rest assured, I shall investigate this matter. Please sit down Soarin." Soarin obeyed and sat in the middle of the chair. "Now we shall need one of you." Luna replied to the rest of the SOES "may you sit next to our guest BonBon?" "Huh? O-Ok." BonBon nodded and sat down beside the pegasi. Luna presented a deck of about 20 cards with a half-mask as a back design. "These are tarot cards. They are used to look into your fates." Luna explained and proceeded to spread the cards on to the table before them and turned over the one in front of Soarin. On the card was the picture of a tower destroyed by a bolt of lightning, while a pony was helplessly falling to his death. The Roman number 16 was present at the bottom of the card. "The Tower... Interesting..." Luna replied "What's that supposed to mean?" BonBon asked "The Tower Card has many interpretations, each to their own liking." Luna explained "I see..." BonBon noted. "But that is the least of my concerns... What's more concerning--" Luna continued "--Is that the Fool was not drawn." Celestia finished. "The Fool?" Lyra asked "The Fool represents the number zero. The arcana that symbolizes the beginning and the endless possibility. As the name implies, Flash can wield endless Personas. This is the 'power of the Wild Card...'" "The Wild Card, huh..." Vinyl repeated "But it seems that the power has changed drastically. It may be due to the influence of this place..." Celestia pondered "in conclusion Flash, you are unable to swap Izanagi for another persona." "So he can no longer change the 'male-who-invites' to somepony else?" Twilight gasped "That is correct." Celestia nodded "But that means we are going to have a severe disadvantage in battle! Now that Flashy's Wild Card power is gone!" Pinkie replied "Don't fear, the Wild Card still remains, but in a different form of power." Celestia comforted " 'endless possibilities' indeed. How unexpected for it to turn out like this..." "Wh-What do you mean?" Applebloom asked, "even though he can't change personas, he has the ability to take on another persona." Celestia explained "The other persona can be summoned freely and can be changed to his liking." Luna continued "You mean Soarin can summon two personas at the same time!?" Fluttershy gasped "However, the changeable one cannot display it's full strength. Instead, it is best used to play an auxiliary role." Luna answered "for example this, Orpheus is Soarin's "main" persona, he will be fulfilling the main battle with his own skill and power. The changeable persona can only be "supporting" the "main" persona through using it's own special attacks with the "main" persona's equivalent power. Though both can be assumed at once, if something happens to the "main persona", it will follow suit to the "sub" persona. I advise you to think about it as such." "Wow! This 'wild card' power seems pretty crazy!" Rainbow exclaimed with much interest and shock. "But a moment please... We believe that there is more to the Wild Card's behavior..." Luna continued Celestia spread the tarot cards on the table once again. This time, she reveals the card that was in front of Octavia, who was sitting next to Flash. The flipped card, was a picture of a pony that was carrying his bag of resources on a stick, accompanied by a dog. The number 0 was at the bottom of the card. "The Fool... I knew it..." Celestia mused "P-Princess? Is there a problem with our Personas now?" Octavia asked "This surge of power in the fool seems to be granted to all of you." "No way! All of us!?" Rainbow gasped "To have one main persona as well as changeable sub persona that can be used in the same time. The power spike of the Wild Card has is now evident on all of you." "Two at the same time? That's quite a lot to take in..." Scootaloo sighed "but on the other hand, that would make me feel stronger!" "All righty." Applejack grinned "two personas? This is going to get real interesting. No shadow will ever defy us now!" "Applejack..." Big Mac sighed. "But it is interesting" Luna mumbled to herself "how did this irregularity happen? If the power of the fool was strengthened, the most likely theory is that yet another with the power of the Wild Card is present in this plane of existence..." "Can the Doctor and I summon personas too?" Derpy asked "Unfortunately, both of you never had any personas to start with, so it will not be possible." Celestia shook her head. "But how?" Pinkie asked "they can easily fight personas and all." "That would be a mystery that is closely tied to this place..." Celestia continued, "this is a haven in the rift, a floating island that's adrift in the collective unconsciousness... It would be no place for a living pony. If a pony has to be here, then they may have taken on the qualities and beings of a Persona and Shadow." "N-No way, so the two of them are personas?" Applebloom gawked "It's just a possibility," Celestia calmed "for now, we've got nothing that we can be certain of." "Does thou happen to have one of these?" Luna asked, showing them a blank card. "I presume that you must have gathered some from shadows during battle." "We've picked up 5 of them." Big Mac replied "Thy should know that these cards are in a state where they have not been guided to any sort of fate." Luna explained "as thou were used to summon a persona that was unique to thou, thy shall be able to summon other personas now. Shall fate desires it, the cards shall accomplish their roles on their own." After breathing for a moment, she changed the subject. "Now, hand us thy evokers" Luna instructed. "We shall modify them so that thou should be able to switch personas." "Oh that's right!" Rarity remembered "you designed and developed the evoker!" "Exactly. We shall also convert these blank cards into personas for you to try." With a flash of light, the blank cards now became normal persona cards with their respective arcana. "We present to you, Slime, Koropokkur, Sandman, Apsaras, and Ukobach. Please share these personas to your liking." "All right!" Rainbow cheered as she received her modified evoker, now we can summon a changeable persona too!" "To you, my guest and his friends." Celestia presented, transforming the 5 blank cards into persona cards "Pixie, Anzu, Agathion, Azumi and Onmoraki. Make sure their powers are put to full use." "Thank you Your Highness." Flash bowed. "Do remember to sell materials to me in the workshop." Celestia reminded "I'm sure I can turn them into something good." As the RID left, Celestia mused to herself. "Those two new ponies... Something's strange about them." "Thank you for selling me those materials." Joe thanked "I've put them to good use and have them into weapons and expendables. If you have the bits for it, come buy some." "Check it out!" Rainbow squealed, picking up and examining a newly made broadsword that's very light. "It is the Iai Katana, broadsword version." Joe described "I'm quite fond of it if I do say so myself." "How much?" Rainbow asked "27 bits!" Joe replied "Wha? That's about 70% of our total funds!" Applejack gasped "It's a deal!" Rainbow accepted "Hold it!" BonBon blurted "we need those funds to restock on healing supplies! Don't be so greedy!" "Aww..." "Can't you rely on your persona a bit more?" Rarity asked "I rely on strength!" Rainbow replied "I want to deal as much damage as I can with my weapon!" "But Hermes' Fusion blast is a ranged melee attack, with fire to boot." Sweetie reasoned "surely, you can rely on him." "Just so you know, your persona's strength is also based on how much damage you deal with your weapon." Joe explained "Really? Oh I guess you can---Woah!" BonBon was ready to give in until she spotted a light bow that was easy to used while curved in an M shape. "A short bow! That's amazing!" "That is also 27 bits." Joe added "It's going to be a tough decision... We can only pick one weapon. Who's?" Big Mac asked "I will!" Rainbow shot her hoof up "Cause I'm a melee person who relies on strength. BonBon on the other hand, is more suited for magic purposes." "Wha? How did you!?" BonBon gasped with embarassment "I pay attention to Personas thank you very much!" Rainbow retorted "It's settled then, we shall get Rainbow the new weapon." Rarity nodded "This is so wicked!" Rainbow gasped as she was handed her new weapon. "Hmph..." BonBon grunted. "Now, shall we get to buying medicine and revival beads?" Soarin asked, "right this way." Joe presented. Back in the second floor of the labyrinth, the RID was happy that they had the bits to buy an ample amount of healing and escape supplies as well as new weapons and armor, while still having a decent amount left over. "Ya look good in that combat dress Octy!" Applebloom complimented. "Why thank you!" Octavia bowed "good thing I chose this over the chain mail. I mean, a unisex armor? Eugh!" "Well Pinkie seems to adore it." Lyra noted "I guess it chains more health to her total vitality right?" "Wait... 'Chains'?" Octavia realised at that moment of the pun and created a face of grinning and smirking. "That wasn't supposed to be a pun!" Lyra roared "don't you dare laugh!" "Ahahahahahaha!!!!" Octavia bursted with laughter. "Sorry, I just can't help-snrk-heeheeheeheehee!" "I'm sick of this..." Lyra sighed as she looked at her Lyre T-Shirt, a freebie armor from Celestia. "I've no intention of wearing another dress. Not what happened during that royal wedding." "Well..." Flash remarked as he looked at his Royal Guard T-Shirt "I too, am content with the freebie. However..." He showed his long sword and Iai Katana. "This is a tough matter to decide. One boosts my Endurance, but the other is more powerful in attack power." "You and all yer weapons." Applebloom sighed "why do you need them when all you have is yer trusty hooves? They can break down anything!" "I admire your strength and confidence Miss Applebloom, but we all have a limit to each other which will take time to expand. Plus, I know you're wearing platform horseshoes." Flash replied "despite making you look a little taller, I can still see that it is also used for combat." "Aw nuts Mr Sentry." Applebloom blushed "you had to give it away eh?" "You could just call me Flash you know." Flash chuckled "All right! Who's ready to get going? I'm itching to rend some shadows asunder!" Spike growled with interest, slicing one of the nearby paper decorations like butter with his new Mewling Claw, a weapon so lethal yet it has a cute name. "We can show off our weapons and armors at any time." Twilight snapped "but right now, we need to get to the end of the labyrinth." "Agreed" the Doctor nodded. "Say, why don't we run into a few shadows?" Vinyl advised "test out our new persona powers!" "Speak of Tirek..." Pinkie noted as she pointed towards a few familiar shadows, and one new one. "Does that look like a fish to you?" Applebloom asked, sure enough, it was a dark black scroll that has been spiraled up like a fish that comes with blue sharp fins, tail and eyes, along with a pink mask that has the roman numerals of 3 attached to it. "Do you think it's weak to electric?" Pinkie asked "Only one way to find out, Izanagi!" Flash yelled, summoning the 'male-who-invites'. "Hold it." Twilight stopped, "why don't we let our 'new' personas take over?" "Do any of our new personas learn an electric type attack?" Flash replied "She does." Twilight nodded as a tarot card glowing blue appeared in mid air above the two. Twilight aimed at the card and shattered it with a bang. The emerging fog created a small blue breezie with a brown mane and tail, along with very sharp-looking wings. "This is Pixie." Twilight introduced, followed with a small giggle from Pixie. "Pixie is a persona from the Lovers arcana" Twilght continued, Pixie pointed to herself before pointing to Flash. She then pointed to Flash and then herself. Flash knew what she was trying to say, 'I am thou, thou art I'. "She has all-rounding skills. Healing, nullifying status aliments as well as causing them, a skill reserved for Vinyl and of course, Zio" Twilight explained before turning to Pixie, "care to elaborate?" And pointed at the Calm Pesce "that might be a good target." Pixie giggled again and with a wave of her hoof, the Pesce received a jolt of lightning, causing it to thrash wildly in pain. "Yep! It's definitely weak to Electricity!" Vinyl analysed "now go nuts with it!" "Then I'll deal the finishing blow. Raikouzan!" Flash yelled and Izanagi slashed the fish with electricity, ripping the scroll fish to shreds, which started to melt into black goo. "Just so you know." Twilight added "Pixie can be very cheeky at times, playing tricks on ponies, animals and pretty much everything, but they can also be hard workers." "I see." Flash nodded "I guess that could explain why Izanagi seems to have chalk marks on his face. Pixie must have been drawing them." "What!?" Twilight gasped as she stared at the naginata wielding persona, who had a mustache drawn on to his helmet. Laughing can be heard inside the ponies minds. "Pixie..." Twilight growled. "Ey! Octy!" Applebloom communicated "anything else ah need to know about them 'sub' personas?" "If I recall, Sub-Personas give us a small health and energy boost only during battle." Octavia explained "if shadow damage is restricted to the amount of health a Sub-Persona gives, it should leave our full proper health intact. The same goes with the amount of energy we consume when using magic attacks." "Okay, ah think ah got it now!" Applebloom nodded with determination. "But ey! Ah didn't get to have mah sub-persona..." "Well, it's just because none of the personas we have seemed to work with your style." Octavia reasoned "you have a lack of energy, and you mostly use physical moves with Tomoe. On the other hand, Konohana and I are weak to Ice and Azumi here seems to offer a little resistance to that dreadful element." After the explanation, the remaining Mayas and Hableries surrounded the two ponies. "I think we should stop discussing now." Octavia advised "let's focus on taking them down." "Sleeper Kick!" Applebloom yelled as Tomoe delivered a powerful buck kick, sending a few Hableries skyward and beyond. "Maragi!" Octavia casted as multiple fireballs rained down on the horde of Mayas, burning them into ash and dust, though a lucky one remains with severe injuries. "Still standing I see." Octavia replied with disappointment "then I will show you my new power! Persona!" And with another shattered persona card, a blue pony with the features of a fish stood before the cellist. Without further ado, Azumi released an icy Bufu attack in order to freeze the remaining Maya and shatter it's exoskeleton with the ice. "Oh my, I never said anything! Are you psychic?" Octavia complemented as the shattered shadow melted into mist. Azumi only made some fishy sounds as thanks before reverting to its card form. "Ah love using personas!" Applebloom laughed In another area of the labyrinth, the SOES were very busy with fighting new yet extremely tough shadows that were in the form of a earthly hand holding a large sword. The sword seemed to have a mask on it's handle. "I told you searching that garbage heap of swords was a bad idea!" BonBon scolded Rainbow as they tried to dodge every slice that the Justice Swords delivered. "It's a pile up of shadows!" "Okay okay! I get it!" Rainbow yelped as she parried an attempted strike. As the SOES fought hard, the Justice Swords fought back harder. One decided to imbue poison on his blade and ferociously struck Big Mac, leaving him poisoned. "Gah!" Big Mac stumbled as he tries to suppress his pain against the poison. "Can somepony cure poison?" "Ow!!!" Scootaloo moaned as she was hit by another Sword shadow "You'll pay for this!" And prepared to use her evoker. However, her legs went numb and was unable to move at all. "Aw no!" Scootaloo cried "that attack paralyzed me!" Winona whined in horror to see the small filly immobilized while numerous shadows were surrounding her. Growling in anger, she summoned Cerberus and casted Mudo on one of the Justice Swords, disintegrating the shadow in a flash. "It's weak to Darkness!" Fluttershy analysed "We need to find another weakness!" Applejack gasped "Winona's the only one currently capable of castin' darkness attacks!" "Then how about this? Agi!" Soarin commanded. The sword recoiled in pain but recovered as the flames die out. "How about this? Io!" BonBon summoned as she fired the evoker at her head. What emerged from the blue fog was a black unicorn wearing a pink short dress with a blond mane and tail looking like the image of a burning fire. The mare had her eyes closed, as she was riding a large mechanical head of a bull. Not only was she riding the bull's head, her hind legs were clamped together, her front legs were chained to the bull's horns and her entire body was restrained to the seat of the bull. "Io, let's blow them away with Garu!" BonBon commanded. Io opened her eyes of green, transfixing a determined glare on another sword. A gust of wind erupts from underneath the shadow and it takes full force of the wind. However, it showed no form of weakness. "This is a pain." Applejack sighed "Zio!" And Polydeuces called down a bolt of lightning against yet another sword. Unfortunately, the reaction of the sword was the same when attacked by fire or wind, but it left only one element unchecked. "Then this should be the weak point!" Rarity grinned "Bufu!" With a gleam from Penthesilea's sword, the fourth Sword shadow was encased in ice and flailed wildly as the ice exploded and shattered. "That's it! That's the weak point!" Fluttershy stated "That's good to know but..." Big Mac replied "out of all our Personas, Penthesilea is the ONLY one that uses ice attacks." "Then we'll need to protect Rarity and Winona at all costs!" Soarin replied as he stepped towards one of the swords "Give me all you've got!" He taunted. In response, the sword furiously swung and whacked Soarin down. "Ouch... That was lucky." He winced. Sword at the ready, he flew forward, yelling as he charged... Only to swipe at nothing. Looking behind him with confusion, was the crumbled shadow, dissolving into dust and sludge. "Oh I'm sorry." Rarity sarcastically apologised, "I thought you were covering me, so I prepared a fast and frosty execution for the shadow." "Hmph... Very well." Soarin sighed. "Winona should be nearly finished with the rest of the Swords." Rarity replied "I am sick and tired of these annoying and powerful swords. I hardly think we would find a weapon here." "Arf! Arf!" Winona barked for attention. As the SOES gathered around her rummaging through the garbage dump, she managed to dig up a polished and fine rapier with her mouth. "What's this? A new rapier?" Rarity asked as she inspected it with great interest "a Flamberge! I could recognize that decorated hilt and the sharp tip! C'est Magnifique Winona!" "Arf arf!" Winona barked happily "Well done Winona!" Rainbow added "I know we could always count on you to find items! Just like I told you to!" "Arf?" Winona barked in confusion. "Hey Flashy!" Pinkie called "did you read the Alice in Wonderland Book?" "Me?" Flash replied "probably when I was young. Why?" "Because can I ask what are the big walking card's role over there?" Pinkie pointed at a Card Soldier FOE, walking back and forth in a hallway. "I can state that it's currently on patrol, of it's own territory." Flash replied "as for reference to the story, card soldiers are normally soldiers for the Queen of Hearts, guarding her with their life." "Ooh!" Pinkie exclaimed "does that mean there'll be a Queen of Hearts here?" "It's highly positive. The stakes and chances are even higher if it's going to be at the end of this labyrinth." "That reminds me, isn't that similar to our role as the RID?" Applebloom asked "guarding all the innocent civiliponies from these shadows?" "One can put it that way." Flash replied as he experiences a few flashbacks. When Flash woke up, he finds himself in a room with a blue atmosphere. Sitting opposite him were two alicorns, one dark alicorn with a white tail and mane with a very long snout, the other he could easily recognize as Princess Celestia. "Welcome to the Velvet Room." The alicorn grinned "It seems we have a guest with an intriguing destiny! My name is Igor, I am pleased to make your acquaintance!" From here on out, Flash had was told the events that were to befall the fate of Ponyville, and that he was the one to put an end to it. But as he regained consciousness on the long train trip to Ponyville, he decided to leave it be for the time being. "Me? A savior of the universe?" Flash thought to himself "yeah, like that's ever going to happen." But when he was busy cleaning the theatre room at midnight, "it" appeared. A picture of white flashed on the screen showing a mysterious pony. As he silently watched the image, a voice started speaking in his mind, causing mental and tormenting pain. "I am thou... Thou art I... Thou are the one who opens the door." "Guh! What the...!" Flash gasped as he clutched his head to suppress the mental pain. As he was a Royal Guard, not only his body was physically trained, but he also had his mind mentally trained as well as the loyalist heart of a soldier to it's superior to resist taking commanding orders from others. "State your name... What is your business?" Flash growled. "I will not carry out your orders!" "I am thou. Thou art I. Thou are the one who opens the door." The voice repeated. This time, Flash could sense that the voice rushed the words a little, as well as an annoyed tone. As Flash managed to calm his mind, he decided to play smart against the annoyed voice. "If you were to be me, why should I follow myself? I am of the Royal Guard and I am loyal to no one but my Princesses, Captain and the ladies of Ponyville. Besides, what good reason is there to 'open the door'? I see no door here" Flash replied. The voice let out a loud growl of frustration and yelled into the pegasus' mind, spurring him with fear. "THOU ART THEE ART THOU! STICK YOUR HOOF IN THE SCREEN! DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!" Flash timidly complied and placed his hoof on the screen. As he applied pressure, his hoof went "through" the screen, bringing shock to the guard. "Holy Celestia... What is going on here?" Flash spoke. A few days later he, along with Applebloom, Pinkie and Spike, were then surrounded by unknown monsters in what was the world behind the theatre screen. The day where Flash's Persona emerged from himself. I am thou... Thou art I... From the sea of thy soul I come. I am Izanagi, the 'male-who-invites'..." The Persona spoke "... Do you get it now?" It didn't take a minute for Flash to know that it was the same voice from before. "... Yes, I do." Flash nodded "we may be different in our kind, but from your appearance and power." Pointing at the coat that Izanagi was wearing. A black coat with an emblem and a few chevrons on either side of the shoulder. "Is evidence enough for me to accept that we are one in the same." Izanagi silently nodded "By the way" Flash added, "permission of neutralizing shadows are granted." With another silent nod, Izanagi was able to defeat the shadows to allow the group to escape the theatre world. From there on out, his role was made clear: As more than a Royal Guard, he will protect the town civilians from the clutches of the Theatre world, not only to prevent anymore innocents from being harmed, but to fulfill and keep promise he made to Pinkie and Spike, his superiors and friends. "Flash?" Pinkie waved "are you all right?" "Huh?" Flash broke from his trance "apologies. I must have been taking a trip through memory lane. Anything else to do?" "Well" Lyra scouted "I see one of those power thingies over there. Want to go hunting?" "Yes yes yes! Me me me!" Pinkie volunteered and dived for the power spot. "Make sure you don't pull out any shadows!" Twilight warned "Hey Winona! Can you help me out here?" Rainbow called as she tried to pull out something from a power spot. "Arf!" Winona replied and helped with the tugging. However, the item did not seem to budge "Let me help." Applejack replied and started pulling with the group. "All right, I'll come too." Big Mac receded and was the last pony in the tug-of-war. With a grunt and a wheeze, a tug and a squeeze, the group managed to unearth the material before the light of the power spot faded. "Aww, how cute!" BonBon examined the piece of page they pulled out "it looks like a little dormouse!" "Another one?" Rainbow sighed "aw man! I wish there was a weapon in there!" "Actually..." Fluttershy informed "it appears that the Dormouse page you have is the rarest of the power spot materials you find on this floor. It appears that there are three distinct materials on a floor each. They also seem to follow a theme..." "So the first floor were pages of cakes, mushrooms and tarts. The theme of food." Scootaloo recalled "And the second ones we found are the pages of a turtle, gryphon and a dormouse. Animal themed." BonBon replied "Yes." Fluttershy nodded "all pictures are part of the Alice in Wonderland story. I'm also sensing another floor below here. So we've still got a long ways to go." "Right. We'd better be ready for this." Rarity commanded "are you sure that you have been mapping the place out Sweetie?" "I have calculated all paths and shortcuts." Sweetie replied "That's good." Soarin replied "now let's go on and--" "Um, Soarin?" Applejack pointed out. As Soarin turned to his companions, he sees them frozen in fear. "Is there anything wrong?" He asked "B-Behind you..." Rainbow pointed out. Soarin turned around to immediately come face-to-face with a bipedal card with a face and mustache. Soarin stepped back wide-eyed as the large card soldier laughed evilly and pulled out his scepter, posed for battle. "Oh crap..." Character Database: Bon Bon (Real name: Sweetie Drops) Race: Earth Pony Character Role: Yukari Takeba (Persona 3) Persona: Io (Lovers) Sweetie Drops (or BonBon in this case) is a pony currently living in Ponyville and has a talent of making sweets as well as a hobby of archery. The only problem is that her roommate and best friend Lyra Heartstrings, is getting on her nerves about her fetish for humans as well as her tendencies getting crazy with things such as her Lyre. When she was recruited into the SOES due to having the suitable amount of psyche and willpower to invoke a persona, she was afraid that her second job comes with dangerous consequences that could mean her life. With that in mind, she was unable to accept that she could "face death" with this type of job, and was psychologically stressed for a period of time. That time ended when a large shadow roaming around town was about to claim her life. Knocking out the evoker from her possession, she was about to accept her fate, until a pony stepped in with his persona invoked for the first time and rescued her. After that, she became confident and unafraid about facing death, boosting and strengthening her willpower, and stands with Soarin and the rest of the SOES to prevent the world's destruction by shadows, though she does have doubts of what they truly were fighting for in the SOES. Special tips: BonBon has a high magic stat and commonly uses Wind and Healing skills (shifts more to heal than wind). Though excelling in various elemental attacks and healing, her strength, agility and especially her endurance is a concern. What's even worse is that she has a low luck stat, which brings forth a tendency to not aim properly or even miss her mark. Therefore, she is mostly a magic user that would fit in the back row with a bow to physically support her (ranged stab). She is weak to Electricity, but is resistant against Wind.