Disclaimer: None of the authors own any of the referenced properties.
Author Notes: This is the chapter that covers the end of the original SMT/Persona loops thread. The final listed snip (the P2/MLP one) was one that was written far earlier but was not crossposted on the original thread. I was able to find it on the thread that absorbed SMT after the first one, but not the original posts. Apparently it's somewhere in MLP comp.
After this chapter the output of SMT/Persona snips drops significantly. Do not expect many future chapters.
[Persona 5], [Undertale]
Another stab-happy kid (title assigned by compiler) – part 1
Author: Garebel
Ann blinked as her younger sibling (they wanted to be referred to as gender-neutral, according to her Loop Memories) for the Loop, suddenly trying to do stuff that they shouldn't do. She did stop them to do things that would be fatal to them though.
"Argh! Where are they?" They yelled out, confusing Ann, but their name soon came to her, she was too busy stopping them to take a closer look, and Ann realized what they meant.
"Chara?" Ann asked her younger sibling, who grabbed a sharp knife and pointed at her.
"Shut up! Where's Asriel!? What did you do to my power of RESETting the timeline?" Chara yelled, confirming Ann's suspicions.
"No, I didn't do anything to both. You can say reality itself is…'broken' for lack of a better term." Ann explained to Chara who dropped the knife in shock.
"No, did my resets erase my home?" Chara asked in Despair. Ann shook her head.
"Nope, I would say displaced would be a better fit for you, right now." Ann explained to Chara, who widen in realization.
"So, they're all right, I'm just in a different world?" Chara asked.
"I reallly don't know all the specifics, but yes." Ann shrugged. "Say, if you don't mind me asking, any likes or dislikes?" She asked.
"Extra Dark Chocolate is one, but I might need to get back to you on the rest of the likes. As for dislikes, White Chocolate is one, don't make me rant about it, but I really HATE People who think they're above the consequences of their actions." Chara growled on that last part. Ann, however, gave a big grin.
"We have plenty of people who think like that on this world…" Ann started, causing Chara to widen their eyes. "But they don't think like that for long…" Ann trailed off. Chara grined at this.
"Do ThEy DiE?" Chara asked, doing his 'melty face'.
"Oh Admins, no!" Ann yelled, confusing Chara into stopping their 'melty face'. "They get their 'desires' stolen, causing them to no longer bear the weight of their actions any more, and wished only to repent." Ann explained. Chara gets shocked at this.
"That actually sounds like a fate worse than death to such people!" Chara yelled out, before smiling. "That sounds like a much greater idea! Where can I learn to do such things?" Chara asked Ann who checked the date and smiled.
"Almost now actually." She said before grabbing an umbrella and dragging Chara out the door with her.
…
(a few minutes later…)
"Aw geez. What's taking them so long? Ryuji asked Akira, who shrugged.
"Wouldn't be surprised if it was Ann, though it could be anyone." Akira commented. He then noticed a new message on his phone. He motioned to Ryuji to check his phone, too.
T.A.: Hey, I'm Awake in both senses! Sorry for the wait.
S.R.: Same, here! What took you so long!? Did that Bastard Kamoshida had a hand in it?
K.A.: Same here, too.
T.A.: Akira, can you smack Ryuji for me? And no, Kamoshida didn't have a hand in this. Found a new Looper, and bringing them over.
S.R.: Ow! Wait, a new Looper? Who is he?
T.A.: 1. They prefer to be referred as gender-neutral.
2. It's Chara from the Dreemer Kingdom Branch.
S.R.: Wait, what!? That murderous psychopath!?
T.A.: They did show signs of being Sucidial, but not killing others. I didn't give them the speech, though.
K.A.: Why are you bringing them, here?
T.A.: They also HATE people who think they're above the consequences of their actions, like Kamoshida.
Ryuji and Akira looked at each other, before Ryuji sighed.
"At this Loop is going to be interesting." Akira tried to cheer up Ryuji without much success.
[Nocturne], [Persona 4]
Dojima's Awakening – epilogue?
Author: Lost Here and There
He floundered around the house. In the back of his head, Kashima sighed.
"Are we doing this or not?"
To his utter annoyance, two more voices emerged from the silence of his mind.
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU FEAR, EPHEMERAL? BEING DENIED? OR IS IT THE VERY SPECTRE OF UNCERTAIN HOPE?
Now, now. It's only natural to fear. Is it not a basic instinct of sentient life? Whatever your resolution, do not forget we will stand with you. For as long as it takes.
Oh, that was it. Arrogant bastards had to play games even here. Ignoring his previous apprehension, Naoki stomped to the door and knocked. It took a minute, but eventually the door opened and a small girl peeked out.
"Oh, eh. Hi. I'm looking for your big brother. Is he in?"
The girl sighed. "He went out for a bit to get dinner. He won't be long. Come in."
Shuffling in, Naoki was shown to the house's small kitchen. Wordlessly, the girl bade him sit, served tea for both, and sat across the half-demon. And stared.
"Um. It's good tea, thanks."
The girl kept staring. Naoki blinked as a possibility occurred to him.
"Oh. I, I should have asked, shouldn't I? Are you… ahem… loopy?"
Leaning back, the girl nodded. "I… wasn't expecting to meeting you like this, I guess. I have something for you."
It was Naoki's turn to sigh. Not the last thing he expected. A cold voice hissed from his shoulder. LO AND BEHOLD, HERETIC, THINE EVIL REPAID ONCE MORE.
…I'm sorry, but the freedom to succeed does come with the freedom to fail. As always I endure at your side, if your quest lasts 'til the end of time itself.
Savoring the tea once again, Naoki closed his eyes and braced for whatever was coming. "Go ahead, then."
Click.
"Well? Don't you want it?"
The Demi-Fiend opened his eyes. There was something in the table. Something white and yellow. Pulling the dish close, Naoki stared at the small cake and the colorful bag at the side. And blinked.
On the pastry, bright jelly lines formed two words.
THANK YOU
"Um. Just to make sure. You do know who I am, right?"
Chuckling, the girl nodded. "Naoki Kashima. Conception Loop Anchor, asshole lunatic, destined slayer of the multiverse, MLE in potentia, and blah blah blah." Following a tense silence, her smile dulled. A bit. "You have no idea of what you did, do you."
He didn't even try to pretend. "Not the faintest."
The girl gestured towards one of the photos hanging on the wall. "Recognize him?"
Blinking, Naoki focused his memory on the man's factions. "Met him only once, in the Junkyard. He'd been in a big fight; lost control of his demon, got flushed away into the sewers and somehow managed to survive. When he got out, he was still high on adrenaline and scared out of his mind. One of my demons nailed him with a sleep spell; I talked to him afterwards." He squirmed. "I… may have vented a bit at him. Sorry."
The girl nodded. "Believe it or not, it did help him in the long run. Sure, it could have gone a lot better, but I don't want to think how badly it would have gone without you."
"There's a story there."
"Yup. I actually thought you were coming to check on that."
"Sorry, but I actually came to talk to your brother because I've got another problem and he's the expert on voices inside your head."
Nanako raised an eyebrow.
"Look, I already have a separate personality squatting in my brain. Do forgive me if I'm not so hot on the idea of having any more."
"I've heard about the demon. Who are the newcomers?"
Naoki uncomfortably fretted on his seat. "Cut-rate Bowie and Mr. Clean."
Nanako could barely hold back the giggles. "They're on your shoulders, right? The angel and the devil?"
The Demi-Fiend opened his mouth to reply, then froze, vainly trying to force words out as the logic behind the unwelcome presences became clear. At long last he managed a good snort. "Fuck. Fuck. I'm not the only one. Please tell me I'm not the only one."
"You aren't the only one."
…
And now remember to always smile, thank the cashier for her hard work and add a 15% tip – and don't forget to pick up the etiquette manual from the library on your way home so we can begin practicing.
RIP THE PAGES! TURN THE WORLD INTO A TOILET! STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE!
Yu Narukami hissed, and once again wondered what vengeful deity had set Philemon and Nyarlathotep as his guardian angels for the Loop.
In fact, I have a great idea! Why don't we stay a bit during recess tomorrow so we can practice situational manners with Hanako and Miss Kashiwagi?
REVEL IN OBSCENITY! BREAK SOMEONE'S LEG! PISS IN THE COFFEE POT!
…
Ryotaro Dojima sipped his coffee as he perused the latest edition of the Daily Planet, and discreetly kept an eye on the Unawake Adachi. An ethereal strongbox buzzed on his left shoulder. He did his best to ignore it, but the words still reached his brain.
killhimalreadywhydoyoupretendyou'rehumanletitoutstopcaringjustdoitdoitDOIT
An irritated, dry voice replied from the other side. Shaddup, Wolfgang. And you big sodding bloke. There was a pause. Good job on keeping the Beast under lock and key. Being your own Watchman, that's the ticket. Policin' could use some work, though. A match was struck. Hope you don't mind, can't live without my cigars.
"Yessir, Mister Vimes."
…
"...Wait a minute. You knew, didn't you? Who's on your shoulder?"
Nanako smiled. "Now that would be telling."
[Persona 5], [Kingsman]
(no title)
Author: Garebel
Eggsy walked into his home, both sad and angry at unable to stop whoever replaced Charlie from stealing the footage. He entered only to receive a call.
"Good day. Please watch the TV in a few seconds." A person told Eggsy, confusing him, but, cut the call soon after.
"What do they mean?" He asked himself, before going to the living room, seeing his sister watching the TV, and his Mom cooking.
"Ahh, hello, dearie. Was your day good?" She asked him.
"No, not really…" was all Eggsy said, before the TV suddenly started to give off a lot of noise, before, a video played, shocking Eggsy.
It was the stolen footage, the footage of Valentine explaining his full plan was being played in front of his eyes.
When it ended, Eggsy was in Shock, before a voice snapped him out of it.
"Yo, everybody! Did you see this!?" a rough-ish male voice shouted out of the TV.
"This guy is planning on committing genocide on a world wide scale." a gentle-ish female voice explained out.
"While his reasons are good, there's still no excuse for creating such atrocious art.". A different, cool-ish male voice said.
"Such an act will not be excused!" a cold-ish female angrily stated.
"it's time that he learns that no one cannot protect him." a calculative female voice stated.
"not every 'elite' agrees with this guy's plan." A young-ish female voice spoke out.
"Indeed, we shall stop such a plan in its tracks!" a odd voice echoed, unmodulated unlike the other voices.
"Don't you agree…Leader?" a faux gentle male voice asked. Suddenly a silhouette of a person appeared on the screen. Eggsy angrily compared it to the person who replaced Charlie in his head. The image changed to an exteme close up of the person, who stepped forward, revealing himself. Eggsy nearly wet his pants in shock. Despite the person wearing a domino mask reminiscent of an eagle, Eggsy recognized the person instantly.
It was Akira, the person who replaced Charlie this time, much to Eggsy's shock.
"Yes! Valentine, by now, you will be hunted. Police all over the world will soon have a list of your allies, who will be captured. This transmission also can't be blocked, either, and is also being broadcast the world over. Your plan is done…" the image soon zoomed out, revealing 8 other people. Every person was silhouetted, except for Akira. "Ruined by us. We are the Phantom Thieves of Heart, and we stole Victory from your grasp." This was the last thing Akira said, before the image changed to a hat and mask with the words 'TAKE YOUR HEART" underneath it, before the TV started to play its original show.
"How, why, when…!?" Eggsy was in severe shock from the message. His phone soon rang, snap him out of it and he answered its call. 'Better not be one of the Kingsmen…' he thought. He was both right and wrong, though.
"Did you enjoy the world wide message we made, Eggsy?" Akira asked Eggsy, whose eyes nearly popped out.
"What's going on? You were supposed to be siding with Valentine, like the person you replaced did?" Eggsy asked, almost loudly, but he forced himself to stay calm as keep the Kingsmen a secret from his mom and sister.
"Replaced…? Tell me, is time repeating for you?" Akira asked. Eggsy's eyes widened in shock.
"How do you know?" He asked.
"Because you're not the only one experiencing these repeats. Look for a brunette girl, riding a grey motorcycle, carrying a black cat with green eyes near Big Ben. She's a friend of mine, and can lead you to me. Let's just the explanation is way too long to speak on the phone." Akira explained before the call ended. Eggsy rubbed his head.
'I get the feeling this is going to be one heck of a day.' He thought to himself.
[Persona 4], [Persona 5]
Sojiro's Awakening
Author: Garebel
Soijro blinked as he looked around & frowned. His memories were all jumbled up. one set was him living in Tokyo, but another set claimed this 'Inaba' was his home. He currently living with two people, Sakura Nanako (who was related to him by blood, despite he never married) & Narukami Yu, who was his nephew, (but he never had any brothers or sisters.)
"Sakura-san?" A voice grabbed Sojiro's attention while he was slamming his head on the head. He rationally thought he didn't know this guy, but his mind told him, he knows this 'Tohru Adachi'.
"Adachi, I need a few stiff drinks." Sojiro told Adachi, thought sounding more like an order. 'I can't deal with this sort of thing, now.' he thought. Adachi nodded before walking off.
'Something's up with him.' Adachi thought as he shifted though his Pocket before pulling out a bottle of cheap sake, which he modified a bit of that truth serum from Hogwarts. He did acted UnAwake at the time of getting the serum, but afterwards...Adachi shook his head. 'Now is not the time!' he thought, before he entered Sojiro's office.
"Thanks, Adachi." Sojiro said, before he drank the entire thing. He then moved weirdly.
'Huh...oops!' Adachi thought, relizing the 'Sake' was actually the sort of thing that would make a person drunk in four shots. "Geez..." he muttered angrily. but before Sojiro knock himself out, Adachi heard him say one word.
"Futaba..." Adachi froze when he heard that word. His own mind began to work almost a mile a minute, before he arrived at his conclusion.
"Well, S**t! Those two are not going to be happy!" Adachi growled to himself, before lifting Sojiro & moving him to his car. On the way, Adachi found the reception area of the station.
"Hey, can you please tell the Chief, that Sakura-san is going to need a few days off? If he asks why, tell him Adachi gotten way too much clumsy, today." He asked a police officer, who nodded. "Thanks." Adachi said before leaving the station, and bring Sojiro to his car. Once on the road, Adachi sighed. "I'm glad that 'Clumsy Adachy' is enough to cover and mistakes I made.'
[Persona 5], [Sonic the Hedgehog]
(no title)
Author: Garebel
A wolf mobian was tossing a Phantom Ruby up and down, looking into the sunset in the meantime.
"Yo!" Sonic chimed in, sitting beside the wolf. "That was a cool move you did, back there. I didn't expect you to shot the sun to bits like that." He complimented the wolf who smiled.
"Well, I took down a god with that move, so a sun would no big deal." The wolf stated, amused at himself.
"Really? If it weren't that this Loop is ending, I would like to hear about your baseline!" Sonic said, impressed.
"Well, see ya next Loop! Hope you will enjoy a Last Surprise I made." The wolf said, before he launch his grapple hook and swung away, after pocketing the Phantom Ruby Prototype. Sonic blinked at the last line, before realizing who it really was.
"See ya Later…'Joker'!" Sonic said knowingly before running off.
…
(Next Loop, Tokyo)
Akira blinked Awake on the train he always rode, into Tokyo on. He leaned back in his seat, before he Pinged. He blinked in surprise when he got 9 pings back, one more than usual. He frowned at the implications, before he arrived at his stop and walked to LeBlance's cafe, already knowing that Sojiro was going to be there.
He didn't expect Sojiro to be cleaning a gun, though!
Akira's glasses tilled to the side, he wasn't sure what was going on with Sojiro. His answer came though, when Sojiro looked at him and a Ping was let loose. Akira quickly put the pieces together and facepalmed.
"You're Looping, now Boss?" Akira asked Sojiro who nodded.
"Yep, Yu and most of his group give me the Speech since I apparently replaced a guy called Dojima Ryutaro." He explained. "Though I got an odd Persona, though. When it evolved, it became Kohryu, and…what's so funny!?" Sojiro yelled at Akira who was laughing at this bit.
"It's just…Kohryu seems to always be the Ultimate Persona of the Hierophant Arcana. And I do have the ability to summon Kohryu, too." Akira explained after calming down from his crazy fit. Sojiro blushed at this, & looked away in embarrassment. Sojiro shook his head after a few minutes.
"Anyway, think you can help me practice?" He asked Akira who nodded, before removing a jewel from his pocket.
"Yes, I can." Was all Akira said, before activating the Phantom Ruby Prototype.
[Persona 5]
(no title)
Author: Garebel
Sojiro blinked as he walked into his home and saw Futaba and an alien like creature talking back and forth.
"Offer's always open!" The creature told Futaba, who just nodded.
"Once I get more experience from the Loops, Sure. Just expect to always be wary." Futaba said. The creature then shrugged.
"Given our reputation, I'm not surprised, there. See Ya!". The creature said before disappeared.
"Futaba! Are you Ok!?" Sojiro yelled out running to Futaba, before giving her a hug.
"I'm fine, Sojiro!" Futaba said, calming him down. "That was actually Cthulhu." She revealed.
"Oh, are you going…!?" Sojiro asked, before Futaba interrupted.
"Nope, I'm fine. All he did was a list of Jobs, for me to do." She told Sojiro, who frowned.
"I thought guys like him are supposed to make people insane…". He revealed, frowning.
"Apparently, having the Necronomicon as a Persona cancels out that effect. Futaba said, shrugging.
[Persona 5], [Undertale]
Another stab-happy kid – parts 2 and 3
Author: Garebel
Akira growled, everything was processing smoothly, until Shadow Kamoshida managed to capture Chara. He scowled at the Monsterious form that Shadow Kamoshida took on as he blocked all incoming attacks, thanks to Satanael's Zenith Shield Skill. He and the other Phantom Thieves, Morgana being Awake when they rescued him, couldn't do anything else as long as Kamoshida threatened to kill Chara, if they did anything else.
Chara cried as he looked on. 'This is all my fault! If I wasn't careless…" They thought to themselves.
Ann growled. She had enough of this. She quickly summoned Hecate
but Shadow Kamoshida noticed this and moved Chara to in front of Ann.
"Chara, are you really alright with this!?" Ryuji yelled angrily. "Do you really want to lose this chance? We didn't let you see it…"
"Skull…!" Morgana tried to stop Ryuji to say it, but He glared at Morgana, before turning back to Chara.
"That bastard Kamoshida tried to force himself on Ann & caused her best friend, Shiho, to commit suicide! If we don't stop him here, what's going happened to Asriel, if Kamoshida finds them!? Toriel, & Asgore, too!?" Ryuji yelled at Chara, who's eyes widened.
'Don't give up, Chara!' Toriel's voice echoed in Chara's head.
'You're the hope of the entire Underground!' Asgore's voice echoed, too, along with…
'Chara, please don't do this…!' Asriel's Voice, and then an evil laugh not from Kamoshida, but…
'Gahahahahahahahahahahaha!' Chara reeled in shock, at Flowey's laugh, before growling…
"Kamoshida…You're the worst bastard of all time, no…worse! Even true bastards would reel at the sight of you!" Chara yelled out in anger at Shadow Kamoshida who reeled back in shock, before growling.
"WeLl, TiMe FoR yOu To DiE!" Shadow Kamoshida said, before Chara pulled out a knife and tried to stab Kamoshida. Unlike the other times in this Loop, where it would pass though a Shadow…
"ARGH!" It actually hurt Shadow Kamoshida who dropped Chara as a result. Ann took the chance and caught Chara before hitting the ground. She then ran back to her other fellow Thieves. Ann then carefully placed Chara in a standing position.
"What the hell!?" Ryuji exclaimed as he saw Shadow Kamoshida reel back in pain. "How did he…!?" Ryuji started to ask only for his question to be answered.
"Finally, 'tis time." a voice mirroring Chara's own echoed in their head. Chara then held their head in pain with their eyes now a pale yellow. "You, who hath committed terrible sins, now have a new chance. Become the hidden Jugde and punish those who hath committed similar sins, but without regrets. Protect those who couldn't! I, too in life, committed the same sins, but I payed for them in the end. You, who is but a child,
shall receive my power, so that you will not follow my same path! I am Thou, Thou art I! The contract is sealed! Now, rip and tear thou enemies till they REPENT!". At the last word, Chara looked straight up at Kamoshida, revealing a mask, that look like it was made from theater masks that express anger and determined.
"Yes. Kamoshida! It's time for you to be judged for your crimes!" Chara yelled before ripping off their mask, blood spilling out as though they removed their own skin, and then engulfed in a blue pillar of light.
"Huff…huff…". Chara breath out, his outfit completely different. He now wore a grey hoodie with a dot with two wings, one on each side, flying over three triangles, one of them upside down, etched into the shirt. Their arms was bare but with tattoos that look to be on fire, one of their hands holding a trident. Their legs had armor on them, but worn in such a way that makes it so that it won't make any noise while still offering protection. Their Persona floated behind them. It was wearing a black cloak in a way that hid all but it's 'head' and a hand. The hand was actually machine-like with the 'fingers' being actual knifes. The 'head' was actually a faceless darkness, with a line of masks, each showing a different emotion, line around the shoulders with a neutral mask being worn.
"YoU lItTle BaStArD, yOu DaRe HaRm Me!?" Shadow Kamoshida yelled at Chara, who just smiled.
"Oh, I dare alright. And We will dare steal your Treasure! Let's show him…" Chara commanded his new Persona, who opened their cloak, revealing a mechanical body that hides the Persona's gender and the second hand that also have blade for fingers, & legs that ended in four knifes each, three in the front, one in the back. "…JACK THE RIPPER!"
…
Chara lended back on Akira's couch. They and Akira were spending time, together.
"Heh, to be honest, I thought you were joking when you said we'll be going after a politician." Chara admited, thinking back to Shido's Place. "I'm starting to think that we may actually kill a god like you said."
"Well, It was an experience one never tends to forget." Akira admitted.
"Said the guy who did it multiple times." Chara countered, with both They and Akira devolving into laughter. "Still, I'm surprised that we changed a person without the Metaverse." They said, referring to Sae.
"It all worked out though." Akira told Chara.
"To be honest, I actually hated Humanity. I thought that there were only people who exploited others, & people who get exploited." Chara admitted, before turning to Akira. "I never thought that there were others who hated the same thing." They said.
"You likely didn't try to connect with them." Akira pointed out.
"That's true…Akira, thanks." Chara said. "Humanity is really more complex then I thought. I'm going have to learn about what they're really like." Chara smiled.
Inside their heart is a different matter entirely. Jack the Ripper became engulfed in a bright light. When it faded, Jack the Ripper was gone. In its place was a man wearing a mix of men & women's clothing. The legs were plant-like and was holding a weapon that was a mix of a trumpet & a gun, with a bayonet at the tip.
Jack the Ripper has given rise to Barbartos.
"Incredible…" Chara breathed out in shock, feeling their Persona evolved.
"Let's make sure this country doesn't get ruined." Chara told Akira who nodded.
[Persona 5], [Spyro the Dragon]
(no title)
Author: Garebel
Spyro looked ready to throw up. All he did teach his new apprentice, how he used magic. He didn't expect the Sorceress to be trapped in a gas chamber with gas that causes her to throw up her own innards, and killing her slowly from the inside out. He turned his apprentice.
"Ok, I know what she was going to was evil, but you shouldn't be allowed to go this far! What were you thinking?" He yelled out at his apprentice, showing signs of anger, shock, and fear in his face.
"Well, I did see my mom get murdered, in a way that makes look like suicide in Baseline…" Spyro flinched at that. "…and the fact that I was on the verge of killing myself over the guilt of me being the 'reason' why my mom took her life, that thing's plan hit WAY too close to home for me." His apprentice explained to him, causing Spyro to frown. He lifted a wing over his apprentice's body.
"Alright, I understand now, but please, Futaba, don't pull a stunt like this again…". Spyro told his apprentice, who nodded.
"Of course…" Futaba said.
…
Next Loop, Futaba and Spyro were laughing at the rest of the Thieves, including Akechi.
"Well, I didn't expect this." Akechi plainly stated, his voice neutral in a way that indicated he didn't know either to be angry or join in on the laugher.
"At least, we don't have to worry about food for today." Yusuke commented, removing the pie tin from his face and licking it.
[Persona 4], [Persona 5]
(no title)
Author: Garebel
"Wow…" Ryuji stated, dumbfounded. Ann was giving an evil grin, while Makoto was stared. Akira turned to the new transfer student.
"How much did you two plan this?" Akira asked Yosuke who smiled.
"Well, we managed to find evidence to show, while Yu gave him that Omnipotent Orb. You seeing the results." Yosuke said montioning to the recorded video.
Mr. Morooka, aka King Moron, was unleashing his infamous rants on Kamoshida, who tried to shut him with physical harm, but the Omnipotent Orb basically stopped that, and allowed Morooka to continue his rant.
[Persona 2]
Jun's Awakening – part 1
Author: me. HelenTheMoon (Lermis)
Again.
Tatsuya found himself holding his katana in a white-knuckled grip, facing again a King Leo whose face was unmarred holding Jun in a chokehold.
Even though he had looked for him before everything else.
Again.
Even though he had gotten Maya off the shrine in time.
Again.
Even if he avoided meeting everyone.
Again.
Even though he had crossed Sides a thousand times.
Again.
The same scene. The same fire. The exact same situation. Maya wasn't here just yet but other than that...
Somewhere, "He" was laughing. Tatsuya knew that.
Once again, Tatsuya Sudou handed to Jun the flower.
"Remember that day...?"
Tatsuya was about to shout words that had become instinctive at this point, "His" brand pulsing and eating away his skin. To tell him to forget everything...
"As a matter of fact, I DO remember".
And in complete defiance of all odds, Jun Kashihara - no, Kurosu - dropped the flower in his captor's eye.
The result was exactly what in another world he'd have expected. Tatsuya barely caught a glimpse of the man's bloody eye socket before he fell.
The sword slipped off his grip.
"...Jun?"
And at the sight of the boy's smile, one that haunted his days and nights along with so many others, Tatsuya felt a silver of something he had forgotten about.
"I haven't seen Big Sis Maya around so I suppose we should take the children before she arrives. Shall we?"
Hope.
[Persona 5], [Call of Duty: Zombies]
(no title)
Author: Awesomedude17
"You Awake, Richtofen?" Ultimis Dempsey asked.
"What is it, Dempsey?"
"I just realized something."
"What?"
"There is endless universes, and endless Loops."
"And?"
"So that means that there's a Loop where a bunch of high schoolers summon Satan to shoot God in the face to save Christmas."
"Absurd," Ultimis Richtofen paused and then sighed in resignation, "But very possible."
"Right?"
Igor blinked as he felt like someone summarized what he just witnessed the Phantom Thieves of Heart's latest actions fairly accurately.
He summarily brushed it with a sense of pride as watched Momentos and the real world separate.
[Persona 2], [My Little Pony]
(no title)
Author: Gamerex27
Twilight rubbed at her snout. "Right...explain...explain what's up with your part of the Loop, again?"
"Nyarlathotep casts a curse on Sumaru City that makes rumors become reality," the mare in front of her, here named Hopeful Heart, said. "No matter how crazy it is, or how impossible, if enough people believe it, it becomes true."
"That...that sounds incredible!" Twilight whispered to herself, her tea having long since grown cold. "Imagine all the possibilities you could do! Experiments with dimensional technology without crashing the Loop! So many new fields of magic you can create with just a few words! So-"
"It also caused the Nazis to resurrect themselves in the city, and for Maya to get killed, fulfilling a rumored prophesy that the world would be destroyed," her companion, a brown-coated pegasus, here called Hot Ride (to his chagrin) told the Anchor.
Twilight abruptly stopped mid-sentence, as she went over the implications of this curse again. "Oh. It's...it that dangerous?"
"It can't do anything to Yggdrasil, since no one in town knows about it," the stallion said. "You'd need to spread a rumor about the Tree for anything to happen at all. Still, Masakado slapped a Read-Only label on it, just to be safe."
"Tatsuya..." Maya said, sighing. "You're over-reacting again. I don't think the curse could do anything to Yggdrasil at all: it's not powerful enough."
"You can never be too sure," Tatsuya replied. "Still, that thing usually follows us around wherever we end up in the Loops."
"Which is why you tried to spread a rumor saying that the Pies sold weapons in this bakery along with food and drinks," Twilight said. She waved her forehoof, gesturing around the ordinary-looking cafe. "Yeah, I don't think that's ever gonna hap-"
"Here you go."
Before Twilight could finish her sentence, Maud Pie wheeled up a silver platter on a dessert cart to them. Grabbing the top of the tray in her mouth, she lifted off the cover to reveal, not food, but a stash of weapons.
"What," the Princess of Friendship simply said.
"One katana modified for wing use," Maud continued, hoofing it over to Tatsuya, "one pair of hoof-mounted pistols," giving these to Maya, "and one military-grade horn enhancer," she finished, dropping the sharpened metal casing next to Twilight's slice of pie.
"What."
"Thank you!" Maya said, sliding the guns onto her hooves.
"By the way," Maud said, as she reached for the other tray, distributing the groups' lunches, "I heard that the gates to Tartarus broke open and demons are running loose everywhere. It'd explain why so many places were on fire lately."
Twilight's face turned a little pale, and she facehoofed.
"Don't worry," Maud said, as emotionless as ever. "It's just a rumor."
With that, she cantered back to the kitchen.
"See what I mean?" sighed Tatsuya. "Guess we better get on it. After lunch, I guess."
"By the way," Maya asked as they dug into their food, "I did hear some more Pings other than you before. Do you think your friends know about the curse?"
"I can only hope not," Twilight said, in between bites of her hay burger. "Ginkophyta knows what they'd do with it."
"Ah really hate ta' do this," Applebloom muttered, "but...ya said rumors are becomin' reality?"
"Yes," Twilight told the Cutie Mark Crusaders, "even the really dangerous ones. And what's the best way to get information out?"
"...Internet?" Scootaloo asked.
"Doesn't exist in our Loop."
"Newspapers?" she tried again.
"Exactly," Twilight said, nodding. "I need you girls to start up the Gabby Gums column again, so that we can get the good rumors out and discredit the bad ones."
"Basically, you need to be our rumormongers, too," Tatsuya added. "Tell us what you hear off the streets, so we can know which ones to spread. Maya's a journalist in Baseline, she'll help you find a big publisher."
"Got it!" Sweetie Belle's eyes glinted, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders huddled up.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS RUMORMONGERS, YAAAAAAAY!"
…
Author: Evilhumour
A few seconds later, there was a mighty THUD as one of Twilight's window exploded, as a rainbow mess known as Rainbow Dash crashed into her home again.
Frowning, Twilight reached to get her squirt bottle and newspaper when the pile groaned.
"Uuugh, sorry Twily," her friend whimpered, clutching something in her hooves. "But I really need your help."
"What's wrong Dash?" Twilight started to run towards her when Dash started to twitch and held up a hoof so quickly that there was a sonic boom inside her home. Thankfully, Twilight's magic was quicker.
"Rumor around I'm the fastest there is," Dash groaned, rolling over onto her side, clutching a bucket to her chest. "And anytime someone moves, I move faster." That was as far as Dash got before filling the bucket with her lunch. "I cannot believe I am saying this, but I am going way too fast," Dash whimpered, her mouth still deep inside. "Please tell me you have something your lab that can help me."
Twilight nodded her head, and responded in the affirmative as she used her magic to slowly carry Rainbow Dash down the stairs and into a special sensor depriving bubble with the promise of soup, blankets and clean buckets for the mare suffering motion sickness.
…
Author: Bliss Authority
Pinkie scratched her chin. "So that rumor about Discord bringing the Smooze to the Grand Galloping Gala-"
"-is a FANTASTIC idea!" Discord grabbed her fetlock and shook it vigorously before swimming off through the air. "Thanks, Pinkie!"
Tatsuya just glared at Pinkie.
…
Author: Harosata
"Hold on! I need to check a rumor!" Pinkie dashed out of the house.
Tatsuya looked around the room.
"I'm back!"
"Gah!" Tatsuya picked himself up from the floor. "Pinkie, where did you go?"
"Oh, I heard a rumor that I show up when someone makes a Pinkie Promise, so I just had to show up and see if that's true." Pinkie explained.
"A Pinkie...Promise?" Tatsuya tried to decipher what Pinkie said. "Wait, if you show up at a place you're rumored to show up, isn't that a self-fulfilling prophecy?"
"Hm, you could be right. I'll check that rumor again!" And Pinkie ran out of the house again. Tatsuya blinked and turned his attention to Twilight.
"Earlier, I did hear rumors that your friend is a bit...funny."
"It's actually a fact."
…
Author: BIOS-Pherecydes
Twilight was really starting to hate this Loop. It had seemed like a simple trip to the market until she had noticed the empty streets, only then recalling the issues that the residents of Ponyville had with Zecora before getting to know her. Combined with Nyarlathotep's curse it had resulted in the sight in front of her.
Directing a swarm of Parasprites and surrounded by ominously moving shadows the Zebra mare stalked forward, her cloak moving in a non-existent wind. However before Twilight could move to cut off the apparent threat she was distracted by a hit from the Element of Generosity from directly in front of her. Relaxing, she gave a rueful grin and went to greet her friend.
"Hey Zecora, how are you? Uh... other than the whole witch thing I mean."
"Hello Twilight, I am doing quite well
Although this Loop is rather odd, as I'm sure you can tell."
Twilight nodded agreement. "So do you want me to try and counter the rumors going around about you?"
Zecora smiled, but shook her head.
"Thank you but no, as there is no need
I am quite enjoying being the Witch of Everfree.
The Parasprites are of an unexpected aid
And there are many new potions I wish to have made."
As if to illustrate her point the swarm of replicating creatures returned at that moment, each loaded with various items from the surrounding shops.
"... I hope you remembered to pay for those."
…
"The reputation of Team Garash echoes far and wide, its leader a cake of spirit, a kick-crust paragon of glucose density! Dig the crumbs out of your wrappers because I've got something to say! He takes the blazing oven in his bare hands and endures the searing heat. A desserts dessert sustained by strength of will. When you hear of the great Kamina Muffin they're talking about me! You'd best remember that! Who the hell do you think you are? Isn't your whisk the one that will pierce the heavens, the earth, and through to tomorrow? Go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb! That's how Team Garash rolls! Don't forget. Believe in yourself. Not in the you who believes in me. Not the me who believes in you. Believe in the you who believes in yourself. Giga Pudding Breaker!
As the small army of desserts crashed a hole in the roof of Sugarcube Corner, Bright Eyes and Pinkie gave each other surprised looks. This was not what they expected when they started spreading those rumors about magical cakes being the source of Celestia's power.
…
Author: Evilhumour
"Luna, stop laughing, and get me the BUCK out of here!" Celestia shouted, placing her hooves on the side of her throne and tried again to lift herself upright.
Luna shook her head, still laughing to herself. "Dear sister, if anything, this should serve as a wake up call to your cake addiction."
Celestia simply flailed her hooves in the air, trying to reach her sister's body, her wide flanks still wedge into her throne.
…
Author: BIOS-Pherecydes
It was times like this that Twilight really wished she had fingers, so that she could try and ease the migraine she was certain she could feel forming. Standing in front of her were two familiar forms, one of whom most certainly hadn't been part of the Loop previously.
"Let me see if I've got this right. You-" she said pointing at the normal pony Lyra "somehow managed to start a rumor with the voices in your own head and thanks to the nature of your glitch it actually caused Yggdrasil to set up a Mikasa Glitch mid-Loop."
Lyra nodded sheepishly.
"Right. Which explains the fact we now have your human self running around the middle of Ponyville, and cedar knows how we're supposed to explain that."
The aforementioned human blushed and awkwardly rubbed the back of her head with a laugh, inadvertently causing a mild panic from the spectating ponies at the sight of her incisors.
Twilight's felt her mane begin to frazzle and her eye begin to twitch, before taking a calming breath and turning around.
"You know what, you figure it out."
Ignoring the protests from the duplicated Looper, she headed off to find something to calm her nerves.
'I need to find something to read. I wonder if I can start a rumor that Daring Do has a new book coming out tomorrow.'
…
Author: Evilhumour
"Lyra!" Dash shouted, rolling over the purple unicorn. "Get your seapony self under control!"
"Hehe!" the mint green mare chuckled to herself, using the bubble as part of her large, weird bicycle made half with water and half of the magical bubble holding the rainbow mare. "Shoo bee doo, this is so much fun!"
…
Author: Harosata
"I'm back. Twilight!"
"Ga- I should stop doing that." Tatsuya grumbled as he looked at Pinkie. "Did you find anything useful?"
"Well, I heard some rumors, but I don't think they have anything to do with whatever's spreading the rumors. Let's see..." Pinkie began to count the incidents on her hoof. "There's a rumor that Trixie defeated an Ursa Major, a rumor that the Flim-Flam brothers make the best cider, a rumor where Celestia is pulling all the strings in Ponyville, a rumor that Cheese throws the best party..."
Tatsuya snapped to attention. "Wait, what was that part?"
"I don't believe it either. I mean, I'm the reason he's a party thrower in the first pl-"
Tatsuya shook his head. "The part about Celestia pulling the string."
Pinkie blinked. "What's so interesting about that?"
"Look, if she's pulling the strings, either she's controlling the power behind these rumors or she's using the effects of these rumors for her own gain." Tatsuya started to head out. "Either way, it's worth checking."
"Not really." Applebloom said as she popped in, her bow occasionally tugging in the direction of Canterlot. "If you happen to see Rarity, you probably don't want her to see her boutique."
…
Authors: Gamerex27, wildrook
Maya cantered down the street, mentally reviewing the notes from her latest interview.
She stopped in place, then backpedaled, tripping over her clumsy four legs in the process.
Looking up, she could see a very annoyed Rarity, hanging by a gigantic spiderweb-esque structure covering her boutique. It twitched constantly, as if drawn by a magnet. Her makeup was running down her face, as if she had been crying, but it was dry when Maya galloped over to her.
"Aren't you usually the type to scream about this?" Maya asked.
"I did," Rarity said, hoarsely. "For several hours. But everypony was too worried about that zebra from the Everfree to leave their homes and help me." The Unawake mare dramatically sighed. "Oh, for a brave stallion to come to my rescue. Or anypony, really."
"I'm afraid I'll have to do," Maya said. "Give me a second. PERSONA!"
Again, she summoned Artemis in a burst of light. But a mere second after she did so, she began to consider exactly how a frightened and stressed mare would react to seeing somepony summon a ten-foot tall, white, hairless minotaur out of nowhere to tear everything near her to shreds.
Rarity tried to scream, but found that she just didn't have the voice for it anymore. "Where's my fainting couch when you need it?!"
Several minutes later, a disgruntled Rarity hobbled down from the window, gently eased down by the Goddess of the Moon. As Artemis vanished, she swayed in place, then clutched at her nose with a hoof. "My word!" she said. "What...what is that revolting smell?!"
Maya sniffed at the air, and instantly mirrored Rarity's action as she recognized the very distinctive smell. "But...that's impossible," she choked out, as her eyes started to water. "Only the Inaba girls should be able to make that!...Did someone spread a rumor to make their cooking worse?!"
Eventually, the mares had staggered their way over to the Golden Oaks Library, staring down the sheepish Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"I know Sweetie Belle's cooking was bad," Rarity growled, "but that odor is REVOLTING! What were you three trying to cook?!"
"Curry," Apple Bloom muttered.
Tatsuya and Maya cringed.
"You didn't," the red stallion muttered.
"That confirms it," Maya sighed. "Right...Tatsuya, could you find some other pegasi to make a storm to blow that smell away? It's bad enough dealing with our usual curse: no need to add Mystery Food X to it all."
…
Author: Evilhumour
"On one hoof, I am really angry at you for getting that gossip out, Dash," Twilight muttered at the bubble where the sick mare was slowly recovering, drinking the soup that Pinkie Pie made for her. The rest of their friends were trying poorly not to laugh, with Dash too ill to do so. "To the point I am tempted to roll you around town, or start a rumor that you always dress in style."
Twilight 'sighed', 'looking' at the bubble. "On the other hoof, I cannot do it as it would be really mean and I cannot do it because I don't have an ELM body anymore!" the purple egg shouted, wobbling angrily, causing the mares around her to laugh out loud. Apparently, rumors that had been put through a round of Chinese Whispers/Broken Telephone worked as well in this loop.
…
Author: wildrook
"Well, I'm not exactly the one walking on eggshells here, Sheldon Sparkle," Rainbow Dash replied, too ill to make a wittier retort.
"'Sheldo-the chick stuck in his egg from that one farm Loop?" Spike asked. "That was eons ago: no one's going to remember that!"
Twilight rolled away and looked at Tatsuya on the sofa.
"You're in my spot," she said. "Best incubation area."
…
Author: Evilhumour
"Where is Pinkie Pie?!" Luna thundered in the middle of Ponyville. "We have traced the source of the rumor that our moon is made of cheese to her, and We wish to have words with her!"
Said mare simply stayed in the background, nomming the stolen moon cheese with a grin on her face.
…
Author: Harosata
Looking at the time, Maya remembered a rumor that she had heard. "Luna? Are you awake?"
The Moon Princess gazed up. "Hm? I am. What do you need to ask of me?"
Maya looked at her from many angles. "Just how are you awake?"
"Is this a trick question?" Luna had to ask.
Tatsuya studied the princess. "Now that you mention it, she is awake."
Twilight looked back and forth. "Okay, what are you guys talking about?"
"Princess Luna sleeps during the day, and yet she has gone to investigate the rumors around the princesses." Maya explained. "Princess Luna, how did you make yourself immune to that rumor?"
"Well, it is simple. When one thinks of the day, they think of the sun, which is controlled by my sister Celestia." Luna explained as she pointed at the bright ball in the sky. "And so, I merely place my moon into the sky even if Celestia does not move her sun..."
"And they think it's night even when the sun is out!" Twilight realized the logic. "Or at least nopony knows what to call that sort of time of the day. But still, I'm surprised you found that loophole, Luna. How did you think up the solution?"
Luna blushed. "To be truthful, Izzzzzzzzzzz..." THUD!
Maya poked the fallen princess. "Princess? She's asleep."
"Huh. Guess there's no need to see if that rumor is true." Twilight concluded. "But for the rumor to take effect, something must have happened to the moon..."
"But what?" Tatsuya asked.
"Urp!"
"Ergh...Okay, that's getting old." Tatsuya frowned as he turned to Pinkie, who had a lot of cheese crumbs on her mouth.
…
Author: Evilhumour
Cadence blinked as she watched Blueblood hold the door for the next mare that passed by, humming an innocent tune as he gave a generous tip to the beggar on the street.
"Okay..." Shining said slowly, watching the scene with his wife. "I don't know what's worse; the rumor that Blueblood being an actual prince charming is working or the fact seeing him act so good is so disturbing."
"Me neither dear," Cadence muttered as he began to lead away Octavia away, charming the mare. "But I think Vinyl is going to be a bit mad to find out he stole her date."
Shining scoffed and rolled his eyes, "Well, it wouldn't be Blueblood if he didn't do something jerkish, even when he is behaving himself."
…
Author: Masterweaver
"Oh mah leaves."
Scootaloo leaned in the door. "What is it, Apple Bloom?"
The earth pony just shook her head and hoofed over the newspaper. On the front page, Cadance was giving the camera an awkward smile as she wrapped one hoof around Filthy Rich, and Diamond Tiara stood in front of her practically beaming with glee. 'Local Stallion locates long-lost daughter!' the headline blared, with 'Local filly actually a princess!' right below it.
Scootaloo stared at the paper in shock. "...Diamond started this rumor, didn't she?"
"She's a decent social manipulator, when she puts her mind to it."
The pegasus bit her lip. "...you know, uh... if she were awake I wouldn't suggest this, but... what if we pitched an article about Filthy Rich loving Screwball?"
…
Author: BIOS-Pherecydes
Angel Bunny wasn't sure whether to be please or irritated with the current Loop. On the one paw he now received the respect he deserved from the weak ponies his owner insisted on dealing with on a daily basis. On the other paw the current rumor around Ponyville was that he was secretly a Demon and Fluttershy had accidentally bound him to her service during a trip into the Everfree.
Eh, whatever, he decided as he roasted a carrot-kabob with a quick burst of Hellfire.
…
Author: Harosata
Pinkie hopped over to Fluttershy's for a quick visit, though if she were anypony else, the Ursa Majors in the backyard should have been an indicator.
"So...you can't talk because everypony says you're that one quiet pony."
Nod
"And you didn't fly to Twilight's because they also say that you don't?"
Nod
Pinkie flipped through a notebook. "And they also say you're a vampire pony, you become a raging beast if someone even hurts a dragonfly, and you have a cockatrice's stare. Is that true?"
Nod
"Huh, that explains the blindfold. I thought that was part of your dragon wrestling costume."
…
Author: Gamerex27
As Maya sat on Twilight's egg, she heard a knock at the door. Turning around, she summoned her Persona Artemis in a burst of blue light, opening the door to reveal a diamond dog with a fiery red coat, looking confused.
"Hi, Sunset," Twilight muttered. "You Awake?"
"If I wasn't, I'd still be at Canterlot High," she said, smiling. "But...what's up with the whole 'rumors magically coming true' thing? I figured out pretty quickly what was going on, and I..." she shifted in place. "I spread a rumor that the Dazzlings couldn't really sing, and had to lip synch all of their music. Next thing I know, all of their magic stops working and I've solved the problem before it even started."
"That...that's actually pretty clever," Twilight said, chuckling. "As for what's going on...some entity from these guys' Loop put a curse on Ponyville and Canterlot that makes rumors become reality. And since the portal is inCanterlot..."
"...it extends to Canterlot High, too." Sunset concluded. "So, uh...why am I a diamond dog and not a pony? I remember being a pony in my Loop memories before I first went through the mirror."
"I've...seen the show-the backup of your universe in the Hub-with Jun," Tatsuya admitted. "Up to the first half of season 4, at least. And they use human curses there, right?"
"Uh...they don't show it in the backup, since it's aimed at foals, but yes..." Sunset trailed off.
"So, if there were rumors about you being a bitch-"
"They came true," Sunset Shimmer said, facepawing. "Not sure why I was still human on the Other Side, then," she mused, not noticing how Tatsuya twitched at that phrase, "but it makes sense. Mostly."
"So, is the curse coming from this side, or your side?" Twilight asked, being unable to see how Tatsuya twitched again.
"This side, I think," Sunset replied. "I mean, it was strong enough on the other side, but I think the source is coming from this side-"
"Can we PLEASE STOP TALKING about this side and the other side?!" Tatsuya snapped.
The egg and the dog stopped talking, and looked at Tatsuya.
"It...bad memories," he said, sighing. "Should we ask the Crusaders to see if they can find the source of the curse?"
"They're not that magically inclined," Twilight told them. "It would be best if Sunset and I looked for it with you guys. At least, when I FINALLY BUCKING HATCH!" she screamed, shaking in place as Maya's body heat still failed to get her out of the egg. "Tatsuya, some fire would be NICE!"
…
Author: Gamerex27, Evilhumour
"Soooooo," Scootaloo started, as she pulled some notes out of her saddlebag with her wing. "Rumors. What have you girls got today?"
"There's the rumor that Celestia is coming to make a personal investigation into all this craziness," Sweetie Belle told them. "Personally, I think we should run it: it'd help get her out of that 'all Celestia's cakes go right to her flanks' rumor Luna made that's got her stuck in her throne."
"'Kay, that's one," Scootaloo said, jotting it down. "What else?"
"There's the rumor that AJ is a stallion in disguise..." Applebloom started.
Before she could say anything else, she was cut off by a loud, very masculine scream from the direction of the Apple farm.
"...annnnnd it looks like it kicked in," she finished. "That's something Ah'd like to counter, but we've got bigger problems now. Put it on the list, but low priority."
"Speaking of that," Scootaloo added, "there's also a rumor about your family switching from growing apples to oranges.
An even louder, angrier scream came from the farm.
"...sh-he-whatever-is less upset about a gender shift than her crops changing?" Tatsuya asked, confused.
"'S a matter of pride," Applebloom said, grinding her teeth.
"Big Mac, once Ah get my hooves on ya, Ah SWEAR Ah'll buck you into being a mare!" the stallion with three oranges cutie mark shouted, chasing after he-er, his grinning big brother, past Twilight's window.
"We need to fix that, pronto," Applebloom added. "Otherwise, the family reunion comin' up soon will turn into a riot."
"Got it," the pegasus said, writing that down too. "Speaking of problems, the demonic invasion from Tartarus. How should we deal with that?"
"Demons aren't that hard to deal with," Maya said from the corner of the room, still sitting on Twilight's (now sleeping) egg. "Maybe you could interview me or Tatsuya on how you can just Contact them."
"Contact?" the fillies asked in unison.
"Think normal demon negotiation from Amala," Maya continued, "but you don't need to bribe them. Just use your special talent when you talk to them-singing, impressions, fortune telling, fashion tips, lessons on friendship, magic tricks, seduction, torture-"
"Wait, what?!"
"-Long story," Maya explained. "Kaoru can go over the top sometimes."
"...and what about Tirek?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I mean, if the rumors are strong enough to bend reality, and if all the demons are out of Tartarus now, we should spread one that could deal with him."
"Hm..." Applebloom tapped her hoof against her chin in thought. "...why don't we tell everypony that there's a monster from Tartarus that's givin' ponies magic rather than stealing it?"
"...really?" her other Crusaders asked.
"It's weird enough to be interesting and spread, and helpful enough that we don't need ta worry about Tirek getting too powerful from rumor magic or anything." Applebloom's grin widened further and further as she went on. "It's genius!"
"That's one for the front page!" Scootaloo exclaimed, writing it down in italics. "It's a great plan! It's foalproof!"
…
Author: Masterweaver
"...and that's basically what's going on," Vinyl finished awkwardly.
Octavia nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I... I thank you for being honest with me, miss Scratch, but... if I am not completely incorrect, we weren't actually dating at the start of this, ahem, loop. And now we are, and I cannot figure out why-"
"Yeah, uh, you know how I mentioned variant loops?" Vinyl glanced around. "This is a variant loop. Well, technically it's a crossover loop, but-the point is, for whatever reason, if enough people believe in some rumor or other, the universe adjusts itself so that rumor is true."
The gray mare stared at her.
"Which isn't to say I'll be taking advantage of the situation," Vinyl assured her quickly. "In fact, putting this on the record: You are the leader in this relationship, you decide what happens when, I'm just going to follow you."
Unfortunately for the unicorn, she didn't notice the other pony passing by with an interested look. Within the week, the rumor mill had taken her sentence so far out of context that the tabloids were screaming. But, all things considered, she could live with the more interesting results.
…
Author: Evilhumour
"But-" the white pony started to protest when the earth pony flicked Vinyl's nose with her black tail, eliciting a blush on the white mare.
"Vinyl, I have read my journal. Not once was I under you," Octavia grinned, leaning over to the unicorn's face. "So for your attempted lie I am going to have to punish you."
Vinyl was ready for anything physical that the mare could do to her. She was not ready for Octavia to steal her glasses and run off with a laugh.
…
Author: Gamerex27
"Apollo!"
With a snap of his hoof (which he still was not sure how he did), Tatsuya summoned his Persona in a flash of light, rekindling the fire burning under Twilight's egg.
"Between that and Spike's mail thing," Sweetie Belle commented, as she glanced back to Spike sending out their papers to the local distributors in a blast of magic fire, "we're lucky Twilight doesn't have smoke detectors."
A loud crash outside Twilight's house brought their attention to a nearby window, where Iron Will and a demonic Minotaur with a skull nose wrestled and clashed outside.
"Hang on, let me help," Maya said, hopping off Twilight and heading outside. "Stay clear: it's weak to Ice magic!"
"...speaking of magic..."
The Cutie Mark Crusaders turned to Tatsuya, who pointed to the egg Apollo was incubating. "My Persona felt it start to-"
A crack formed in the egg. And another. And another.
"Ah," Scootaloo said, in a deadpan tone, "the miracle of childbirth."
"Oh, shush," Twilight said, as her egg continued to break open. "You haven't had to be a biological mother before. This is nothing."
With that, she bucked her egg open.
"Finally!" she cheered, stretching out her back and shaking her mane free of egg shell, "I'm out of the moss-damned thing!"
"...Uh..." Applebloom started, then trailed off. "Twi? The rumor...don't look like it's worn off yet."
"...what do you mean?" she asked. "I'm out of the egg! Isn't that enough?"
Tatsuya shared an uneasy glance with the fillies, then pulled a bicycle out of his Pocket. "Not really," he said, turning the mirror to face Twilight.
She looked in the mirror. She wasn't sure how she looked in the mirror, given that she had no eyes, but she did so anyways.
The egg-headed Twilight looked to Tatsuya. Looked to the Crusaders. Then back to the mirror.
"I. Hate. This. Curse," she moaned, cradling her eggshell in her hooves.
…
Author: Evilhumour
Without any warning, Scootaloo suddenly let out a loud cluck of surprise, causing everypony to turn and stare at her.
The orange chicken blinked, looked at her reflection and then facewinged.
"Of course this would happen..." she muttered under her breath.
Berry Punch, the mare rumored to be the town drunk, took several steps into the Golden Oaks, stumbling with every step.
"Izzz hates thess stuupid looop!" the mare slurred, hiccuping before spinning around and passing out on the chicken, snoring loudly.
There was a sudden gush of air, causing the egghead pony, the flailing chicken and several ponies to look up at the gryphon trying to scowl at them but failed to really do so.
"Gilda?" Twilight asked, somehow using sight behind sight to see her friend. She looked odd, a bit stiff yet loose at the same time-
"Gilda, why are ya a giant plushie?" Applebloom asked, tilting her head.
Gilda grumbled, squeaking as she walked into the library. "Rumor had it I was a really softie and then it turned into I was an actual one!" Squeaking, Gilda sat down on the makeshift nest and began to shift around to get comfortable, squeaking as she did so. Looking at the snickering crowd, she frowned at the. "Laugh, and I swear I will SQUEAK you!" Gilda threatened, holding out a claw to the ponies around her. Blushing Gilda, simply fluffed her wings out and prepared to deal with this loop.
…
Author: Harosata
Somepony knocked on the door. "May I come in?"
"Um, I guess?" Twilight looked as a stallion walked in. "Dr. Hooves?"
"Is that with a W or just the plural of these?" Dr. Hooves held up his hooves. "And before you ask, I am the Doctor according to my memory, but I haven't figured out if these rumors brought me to this Loop or if I am just a pony who suddenly have knowledge of Looping. Anyway, I figured that the Anchor would be trying to find the source of this rumormonger phenomenon, so I came to help."
Tatsuya might have heard of him. "The Doctor? Isn't that the Looper who always gets shot by a-"
A laser zapped Dr. Hooves and turned him into ash. One glance outside, and they saw what looked like a giant salt shaker disappear into the horizon. The pile of ashes seemed to huff. "Well, I can safely assume the rumors don't have to come from Equestria."
…
Authors: Gamerex27, Evilhumour
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Nh. G'way," Trixie moaned, swatting at the air with a forehoof.
Whoever was at the door of her wagon just keep knocking, however. They seemed very insistent.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie needs her beauty sleep!" she muttered, as she slowly climbed out of bed and carefully crept towards the door.
"Go away!" she said, as she slammed the door open. "The Great and Powerful Trixie does not...entertain...loiterers..."
She shrunk in on herself as the massive, alicorn sized beast towered over her. The mix between a pony and a minotaur-a centaur, if Trixie remembered her mythology correctly-stood at her doorstep, clad in a red and white hat and matching uniform which did not contrast well with his coat.
"Ho ho ho!" he said, slapping his plump belly in what she could only assume was a bizarre greeting custom.
"...Who are you?!" Trixe asked, her bravado suddenly leaving her in the presence of a giant bucking monster with horns that were way too sharp.
"I'm Santa Tirek!" he said jollily. "Miss Trixie Lulamoon, I'm pleased to inform you that you're on the nice list after you made amends for your Alicorn Amulet episode!"
"How do you know abou-"
"Here is your present!" With that, Santa Tirek grabbed Trixie, and magic formed in his palm. In the span of a few seconds, ridiculous amounts of magical power poured into the comparatively tiny unicorn's body, and Tirek shrunk just a little bit.
"There you go, miss!" he said, putting the twitching Trixie down, not noticing that her coat and Cutie Mark were a lot brighter than usual, and oversaturated with color. "Happy Hearth's Warming Day!" he said, as he galloped off into Ponyville.
"But..." Trixie said, shivering as the magic coursed through her, "it's not-"
With a shriek of surprise, the excess magic fired from Trixie's horn, in a beam of sheer destructive power that would have made her Awake self proud.
"Um..." Trixie said, as she stared at the part of the Everfree Forest she had just annihilated, with a surprised zebra witch staring at her from the new hole in her house. "Trixie is...I'm sorry! I don't know what's going oooooooon!" she blurted out, as another jet of magic erupted from her mouth, this time, and propelled her into the sky with the sheer force of the blast.
"Something has gone horribly wrong," Tatsuya noted as he took note of the various fires, wrecked buildings, and bemused ponies all over Ponyville.
"'What could go wrong?' ya said?" Applebloom grumbled, as her friends sheepishly avoided her glare. "Honestly, ya haven't figured out by now to never say those words?"
"Everypony slips up sometimes," Sweetie Belle could only say.
"It could be worse," Maya noted, as she watched an annoyed team of weather pegasi chasing after a unicorn shooting herself into the stratosphere. "No one's been hurt or killed yet, and it's nothing that can't be fixed with some carpenters and hard work."
"-do you MEAN, 'I'm on the Naughty List!'" Twilight shrieked in the background, near the house/library they had arrived at on the way back from the press conference in Canterlot.
"I am most displeased with you, young Egg Sparkle. You have been very naughty and I had to give you a lump of coal." Tirek said, turning his head as he noticed the library was now on fire. "Ho ho uh oh."
As Tirek galloped off again, Twilight turned to stare as her home burned to the ground. Again.
If she still had eyes, they would be twitching like mad.
"I can't take it anymore," she announced, turning to face the group. "We're going to the Collective Unconciousness, we're finding Nyarlathotep, and we're bucking that bucker's face in until he lifts this bush-forsaken curse!"
"'Bush forsa-'" Tatsuya trailed off. "...Alright, then. Let's get the portal ritual ready."
…
Author: Gamerex27
"...Where are we, exactly?"
"The collective unconsciousness of all manki-uh, marekind," Maya replied. "This is where everything we fight and face in our home Loop comes from."
"Including Shadows?" Twilight asked, staring off into the distance with her egg-head.
"Including Shadows," Tatsuya confirmed. "Why do you ask?"
Twilight just pointed ahead with a forehoof. From behind one of the pillars of the gazebo they found themselves in walked herself. The being was a dead ringer for Twilight, save for her normal, not-eggy head...and her piercing, yellow eyes.
She opened her mouth to speak, and-
"No!"
Shadow Twilight stopped, and stared at them.
"I get it!" Twilight hissed, walking up to her Shadow Self. "I KNOW what you are! All of my darkest secrets, right? I know. I know that I'm afraid that I'm not me anymore, after all these Loops! I KNOW that I'm afraid I've become a different mare after all this time, and I KNOW that I've gone crazy and done some terrible things!
"But I'm not alone! I've got dozens of my friends here with me in the Loops! No matter what happens, I won't lose myself like other Loopers! Not with my friends by my side, to keep me going! So, could you get out of our BUCKING WAY?!"
The Shadow uncomfortably shuffled in place. "Uh...I was just going to ask why I was here."
If Twilight had had eyes, she would have blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
"I mean, you already know all that," her dark self stated. "I had a whole speech like that planned out, and you just admitted all that before I could get going. Even in your mind, you're already going through everything else you're worried about, everything else you'd hide, and are agreeing with it. There's...nothing for me to say."
"...So...uh...why did you come out in the first place?" Twilight asked.
"I have no idea. I think Nyarlathotep, or whatever's doing all this, was expecting you to reject me and drew me out of our body," Shadow Twilight said. "Guess he didn't know you changed already, huh?"
"But you did," Twilight said, smiling with a nonexistent mouth. "Because you're me, and I'm you."
"...right again," Shadow Twilight said, chuckling. "Hope you don't mind this," she said, as she faded in a swirl of blue light.
"Mind wha-" Twilight stopped herself as she looked up.
The pure white coat. The crescent moon horn, with one on its forehead and one pointing backwards off its head. The strong defined jaw.
And the eight legs.
"One who soars above their herd to guide thy friends," he announced, "I shall fly with you. I am Sleipnir Lokison, of the Star Arcana. From the sea of thy soul I cometh, and to there I return. For I am thou, and thou art I."
With that, the Persona dissolved in another burst of blue light, and floated down to Twilight's eye level as a simple card, no bigger than her hoof. It held the image of a faced star on it, and was labeled "XVII."
"...Maya," Twilight said slowly. "Tatsuya. Why is the representation of my true inner self a stallion?!"
"A Persona's gender doesn't always match the wielder," Tatsuya explained. "Lisa had the god Eros, Ken had Nemesis, Naoto had Sukunu-Hikona..."
Twilight sighed. "Alright, then. Let's find wherever this curse is coming from and break it."
…
"No luck?" Scootaloo asked as the three ponies (and current Diamond Dog) emerged from a portal. The lack of any kind of battle wounds made it obvious that they hadn't found their culprit.
"Nyarlathotep's not here," Twilight replied, shaking her literal egg head. "The collective unconsciousness of equinekind isn't too different from humans', but that's not a factor here, or he's just not showing up. There isn't some god, eldritch abomination, or curse causing all this. Whatever it is, it's mare-made."
"I'd bet on Star Swirl," Sunset added. "He got up to some crazy stuff, even in Baseline. I remember reading that much before my, uh, 'evil jerk' phase started."
"You know," Rainbow Dash said, wheeling herself over (as slowly as possible) to the group in her magical bubble, "I thought of something. Curses like these-I think I saw something like this in a Daring Doo book once-in a Variant where she had different adventures. They can be broken by contradictions."
"Really?" Sweetie Belle asked. "What kind of rumor would cause such a stable and massive spell system to break down and implode on itself?"
"Hm..." Applebloom muttered, pacing in place and ignoring the way her bow was still being pulled towards Canterlot (she'd already been forced to close the window to stop it from flying all the way there before it got ripped off her head. "How 'bout, 'the spell causing rumors to literally become true has been broken?' Ya think that would work?"
"Worth a shot," Maya said, shrugging. "Back home in Sumaru City, most people didn't know that rumors were becoming true, since they worked retroactively. But here, a lot of ponies-Loopers, mostly-already figured it out. So it might work."
"Alright, I'll put it in our next-"
Suddenly, Sweetie Belle was flattened by a throne falling from the...ceiling?
Wedged into it was an annoyed Princess Celestia, her bulging, massive flanks wedged snugly into the sides of her chair.
She stared at the strange pony with an egg for a head. It only took her a few seconds to notice that she had her student's Cutie Mark and coat color, and quickly made the connection.
"Twilight," Celestia said, giving her a sad smile and sighing. "...Can you see me?"
"Yes. Not sure how, but I can."
"Do you know what's going on?' she asked. "One second I'm sitting in my throne in the middle of another boring meeting with nobles, then the next my flanks grew so big and rapidly that I was stuck in the seat." She tried in vain to pull herself free again, with even her mighty magic failing to get her away from the trapped throne. "On the other hoof, they stopped laughing after they were turned into donkeys a few seconds later. You should have seen how they lost their minds when they realized they had to pick things up with their mouths like 'peasants.'"
"Told you that saying all nobles were to be punished as asses wouldn't work," Maya said, grabbing some yen from Tatsuya's outstretched hoof. "What did you expect with that?"
"Still worth it," he said. "They tried to have you thrown in a dungeon when you asked if the budget cuts and his new mansion were connected in that interview. I...should have phrased that better."
As Tatsuya and Maya continued to talk in the background, Twilight explained what was going on with the curse on Ponyville.
"I see," Celestia said. "That would explain why the moon vanished, why Luna fell into a coma until I decided to just make it a new moon night on my own initiative, and why Tirek suddenly became a 'good guy' and made several houses burn down by giving ponies more magic than their bodies could handle. Especially to earth ponies, who can't channel it in the more direct ways pegasi and unicorns can. And why I'm here all of a sudden. A rumor I was coming to visit...a bit more literal than I would have liked."
"Issue's out," Spike announced as he sent the last of the papers away in a burst of flame. "Since it's mostly local, enough ponies should get their hooves on it in time to get it going in the next hour or so."
"Help." From under the throne, Sweetie Belle's hoof extended, trying in vain to push the seat off her.
"You're still alive?" Scootaloo asked.
"The throne's hollow underneath," Celestia explained. "It's a good place to hide my cake stas-er, I mean, to put petitions and bills I don't read. No, that sounds awful too...Wait...you should be a lot more worried about your friend's safety than 'mild surprise,'" she realized, her eyes narrowing.
"Time Loop," Applebloom explained before Celestia could go on the warpath. "Hey, could y'all get Sweetie and Celestia out of the throne while Ah explain it to her?"
"Method 7 works best when she's under stress like this," Twilight recommended, even as her horn started to glow with purple magic. "Remember to use the slide projector."
After several painful and loooong minutes, Maya, Tatsuya, Twilight, their respective Personas, Sunset, and Scootaloo managed to both yank Celestia out of her throne (albeit with some painful-looking bruises dotting her coat) and get an annoyed Sweetie Belle out from under the chair.
"Wait a second," Twilight said as the group celebrated their victory. "I...I think I feel it!" she said, as her tail perked up. "I can feel the spell breaking!" She suddenly stopped, her egg turning stark white. "I can fe31*$&%^%&-
"I can feel the Loop crashing," Twilight finished, as she Awoke in the usual Gen 3 punishment Loop. Grumbling to herself, she plucked the post-it note off of her horn and read it.
Reality is not a toy for you to mess with as you wish. Consider more carefully how you dispel such magics in the future.
From the desk of Taira no Masakado, Admin of Amala (condolences for such not needed).
"...you know," Sunset said from behind her, "I heard a rumor that Rainbow Dash always dresses in-"
"Don't. Even. Start," said mare hissed, trying in vain to find some way to make the elegant and beautiful cocktail dress seem less frilly.