Chapter 4: Twisted Truth

DISCORD'S Arena*

The Audience of creatures in each of the rows stares at the projected screens of the 8 humans. They all had begun running, but nearly all stopped running to walk through the maze Discord set up for them simply. Well, about 3 or 2 continued running after a short walk. Unless Discord somehow miscalculated on who's who…

Above all, the audience is getting bored here…

Student 5's POV*

"Now go Left! No, Right! I mean Straight!" a Pink feathery creature yells at the projected screen of a funny-looking bear. It was having trouble deciding before as if on command, runs straight.

"Yeah! There you go!"

"Do you have to be loud all the time?" Another feathery creature says, a blue specifically.

"Eh. It's something. Do not be bored looking at these. Strange creatures." An orange dragon says, sighing.

"Are you still thinking about Ocellus, Schmolder?" the green pony asked. The Orange Dragon does a silent nod.

"Yeah. I miss her too.."

"Yona is not sure who to follow. One is slow. Other, go fast. Other, take sweet time to make a choice in where to go." The Yak stares at what's going on in the projector screens. Invested in what the Yak is seeing

It seems that this one big magic projector shows 8 different screens, all following one of each of said 8 humans…

MANE SIX'S POV*

The mane six looked at the magic screens Discord set up. All 8 on one big screen. Now everyone can see in rows upon rows.

"Wait a sec. That maze. Is this the maze Discord set up for us at one point?" Rainbow Dash realized this upon closer inspection.

"Hold on? Discord's gonna put those 8 humans like how he did for us?" Pinkie Pie added

"Kinda like that. But with more originality. I've peered into their minds while a lot of them are unconscious. And I figured out the general idea on what to make of it." Discord says with absolute confidence

"Oh my…" Fluttershy amazed

"But strange... It's Daylight where they are. But here. The sky is dark!" Rarity pointed out, looking up

"Oh! That's because we are in my world!" Discord explains, which doesn't seem to faze the 5 ponies…

…..

Except Fluttershy…

..

"What? Not amused? Not even you Reader?" Discord stares sternly at you, the reader.

"I've got a bad feeling about this…" The Princess of Friendship groans to herself.

Knowing what's about to happen…

THE MAZE: KANJI'S POV*

The pathway in the Maze was quiet. Too quiet. But it did not falter one's concentration.

Until the strangest encounter would stray from the path.

Kanji continues running through the maze, taking sharp corners at times, going with his gut and instincts that it may lead him the right way.

Until something catches his eye. He went back and saw knitted dolls having a tea party. It was cute at first until Kanji noticed something odd about it. Are those dolls sentient? He got close and sure enough, the dolls saw him and ran off. "The hell?" Kanji began to chase after the sentient dolls. Following them led him to a strange area. Everything is made out of yarn, and thread?

"The hell?.."

Kanji looked at his surroundings until something hit him in the head. It was an apple, made out of yarn? If it was made out of yarn then why did that hurt his head? Kanji questioned as more yarn apples fell from the yarn trees, they're rolling towards him to form a circle around him, laughing. Eventually, the yarn apples turned into jumbo-sized dolls. A red one, a blue one, and a yellow one. And they began to speak, like old ladies.

"We are, the keepers of the yarn and thread of Truth."

"You may ask one question. Any of your desires."

"We will answer truthfully. Past, present. Or the future"

The three yarn dolls said as they waited for Kanji to ask a question. "Okay. Alright... If there is one question I have in mind, it's that. Well... This guy Discord. I'll be honest I don't think we can beat him. But more importantly, what will happen if all of us survive the maze?" Kanji asked as the three yarn dolls told Kanji to follow them.

He was taken to a lake, and surprisingly. It's not made of yarn. But crystal blue water. "Take a look," said the red yarn doll.

Kanji did what the red yarn doll told him to do as he got on his knees, and looked closely at the lake, seeing his reflection on the water until he saw his friends together, but they were all angry with each other, even himself…

"I hope I never see you again!"

"I hope Teddie sees you die in a ditch!"

"I'll make your lives hell!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"It's settled then…"

Kanji's friends and himself went their separate ways in the end as the lake returned to Kanji's reflection. "No way… Our friendship... Is over?!" Kanji closed his eyes, denying what he saw as the "truth" as the three dolls laughed. "It can't be the truth. It can't be!" Kanji denied what he saw getting back up. "Dammit! I'm not going to let it end like that! I need to find Senpai and the others! And Fast!" Kanji began to run away but was tripped over by something.

He looked at what tripped him and saw that those big dolls were holding him in place with yarn and threads. He tried to break free using his arms but the material was restraining his body. It felt like it was unbreakable. "Let go of me dammit!" Kanji yelled, attempting to break free. One of the yarn dolls came up to him and looked at him in the eye with swirls.

"Sometimes. A lie is all you need to survive a harsh reality.."

Kanji closed his eyes and tried to ignore everything, resisting further by shaking left and right fast. He can hear his laughter. "Stop it! I won't believe it!" Kanji had enough of Discord's tricks. Getting an Arm free. He grabbed the yarn doll in front of him and prepared to headbutt it hard. "GET. BENT!" Kanji swung his head as hard as he could, hitting and destroying the yarn doll's head that was holding him. Breaking from the yarn and thread restraints.

As the yarn doll was falling to the ground, it turned into a black mist. "The Hell? A shadow?" Kanji looked around and saw that those same two yarn dolls behind him were getting ready to attack. With no time to think, Kanji got up and raised his fists in front of him.

"I don't know what the hell is going on. But I don't believe a word you just said! I'll talk to Senpai and ask him myself! So you don't tell me what is the truth of our friendship!"

Kanji screamed out as he swung a punch at the yarn doll to his right, before lunging at the other one with a flying kick.

"And another! Smackdown!" Kanji yelled out after inflicting a downward punch at the yarn doll's head, destroying it.

Many more of those dolls appear, forming by yarn. Some appear as horses. And other things Kanji finds cute. But these yarn enemies were made of darkness. So it's true! They are shadows!

"Alright then. COME AT ME! TRY AND STOP ME!" Kanji yelled as he prepared himself for battle. Having no weapon in hand, he fought with only his fists.

Swinging from his left, then to his right. Kanji could withstand the forces of Yarn and Shadows with his bare fists alone. And strong legs to boot. But it would only take him so far,

Kanji once again looked around and saw that the scenery had begun to change from yarn and thread, to hard soil and with a bit of new trees growing that had withered, from the ground. "Ha! Come on! Is that all you got Discord? I can take on another one and show you how strong I am alone! Without my Persona! Kanji called out to Discord. The area was silent until he heard giant footsteps behind him. Kanji looked back and his eyes widened, seeing that his "another one" appeared, in the form of a giant shadow. And are those heads on its body? And why does some look familiar?

He stared at the giant shadow's many heads and faces on its body. Male faces, female faces.

And his friend's faces?

He stared for a long time until the giant shadow began to talk along with the faces on its body in unison. "You deny the truth. Now you will die." The Tyrant shadow grew a tyrant's arm and swung at Kanji downward.

Kanji manned up and charged in only for-

STORY PAUSES*

Hello reader Discord here to borrow a bit of your time. Unlike most readings you've read before.

Well. I'll let this speak for itself

STORY RESUMES*

The Giant Shadow struck Kanji, crushing him to a blood paste…

AUDIENCE REACTION*

"AHHHH!"

"SWEET CELESTIA!"

The audience, as expected, reacted as Discord predicted…

Before Twilight had a word or two at Discord-

STORY PAUSES*

Do you see now, Reader? You will be able to see the "Bad endings" here in all their gruesome detail.

I mean. Did you not read the contract before going forward?

Oh, whatever.

Not like this is gonna be frequent most of the time…

Probably will go unused in the future…

.

..

And don't worry, this doesn't mean the story ends here. It will continue..

Like this.

FINGER SNAP*

Kanji saw the incoming attack and dodged the arm swing from that Tyrant Shadow..

"Oh crap..! I don't think I'll be able to take that down and pin it down.. Wh-whoa!"

Kanji dodged the attacks of the Shadow.. Having no choice but to run away..

Unfortunately, he didn't get far as he accidentally twisted his ankle..

"Ahh! Dammit! My ankle!"

Kanji attempted to get up but the shadow towers over him. He stared at what would be the last time he ever drew breath…

He braced himself until something moved him away from the attack.

He looked at who moved him away and it was some half-naked guy with only a loincloth.

No, that's not just a half-naked guy in just a loincloth!

….

That Face…

!

It's Kanji's shadow!

It must've moved him out of the way, and then blocked the shadow's attack! Kanji wondered what the hell was going on. And why is his shadow here?.

"Hey, big man. As much as I want to talk. But you need to run! I'll hold him off as much as I can dear! Now run off you go!" Commanded Shadow Kanji acting all feminine in his voice. "Thank you me!" The real Kanji as he got up and ran away.

"Alright, you big man. If you think you can dissuade me from the real truth. You're wrong. Those guys who I call friends saw who I am. And they accepted me with open arms! Especially that girl who dresses up like a boy every day! It turns me on. And yet I don't know the words. But I'll figure it out later. Take this!" Shadow Kanji lets out an electrifying punch, and the tyrant shadow becomes shocked, and unable to move. "Tee hee. Catch us if you can!" Shadow Kanji said as it ran away in a feminine way.

Far away from the battle, Kanji runs as commanded by his other self. He sees a stone gate up ahead and stops as he sees that it's closed. He tried to knock it down by punching it and kicking it but it was futile. "Dammit. This gate is my only way out. I need to find a way to get over it". Kanji said to himself as he looked around to find something that could help him get over the stone gate. By then, Kanji's shadow caught up with the real Kanji. "I'm…. here…" the shadow said, catching his breath from all that running away.

"So. Why did you help me back there?" Kanji questioned his shadow. "Did you forget already? I'm you and you are me!" Kanji's shadow exclaimed.

"Oh right. I forgot for a second until you reminded me."

"That nasty creature called Discord separated us. At first, he sealed the power. But now he secretly pulled me out of you. Without you noticing that there was something odd." Shadow Kanji explained.

"Wait. He somehow took you out of me? Does that apply to my friends as well?"

"Yes! He removed me from you and showed you that bottle with that black liquid, from way back! And that hurts you know? I was happy inside you but then he took me out of you! Get me?" Shadow Kanji questioned, aggressively to the real Kanji.

"Uhh. Yeah… So... Do you want to come back in?" Kanji asked, out of the blue.

"Absol-"

The ground shakes again, causing the real and shadow Kanji to fall over. The tyrant shadow was coming for them, taking small big steps. "That bastard Discord tried to show me a false truth of the future." Kanji stared at the tyrant's shadow before looking at his shadow self.

"Let's go back and tell Senpai the real truth. Me." the real Kanji lends out his hand. His shadow self smirked with determination as it gripped the real Kanji's hand, turning from shadow back to Kanji's persona

"Take-Mikazuchi. Help me find the real truth. By helping me pound that thing!"

His persona let go of his hand and disappeared, leaving behind the Emperor Arcana card. The power of persona returned to Kanji, and now there was one thing left to do.

The Tyrant shadow reached Kanji as it prepared to attack with its Tyrant's arms. Kanji summoned his persona at just the right time to clash fists with it. Thanks to the electricity coming from Kanji's persona, the shadow flinched from the shock it inflicted, screaming in agony. "Now Throw it in the air, Take-Mikazuchi!" Kanji commanded, his persona having the strength, that of a god, to throw it into the air just as Take-Mikazunchi jumped in the air as well right above the enemy, to throw a lightning bolt below, shocking it again.

"Guys. Wherever you are. I'll make it to the end of this maze. I'll fix our friendship somehow. Prevent it from breaking." Kanji told himself as his persona lands on the ground, and as the shadow falls from the sky paralyzed. Kanji and his persona raised their fist in the air, in unison and prepared for their final hit.

"Here goes DAMMIT!"

With excellent timing, Kanji and his persona landed a direct hit on the main head of the shadow, creating an explosion of electrical power, and destroying the shadow once and for all.

"RAAAAAAHHHHH!"

With the shadow defeated, the stone wall that stood in Kanji's way opened.

On the other side was someone Kanji recognized.

"Kanji! I found you!" said a stoic yet excited male voice. It was Narukami!

"S-Senpai?!" Kanji looked behind him and sure enough, it was Narukami.

"Heh. It's great to see a friendly face" Narukami smiles

"Right on!" Kanji replies with a smile on his face as well.

"Oh yeah. Did you find others by any chance?".

"I was hoping you found the others before me," Narukami answered, sounding disappointed in himself.

"Well don't be. Let me help you trace your steps." Narukami perks up. "That'd be great Kanji. There must be a path I didn't take." Narukami wondered looking back at where he came from.

"Then what are we standing around for? Let's go find the others!" Kanji exclaimed with a determined look on his face. "Heh. Right on Kanji." The two race off to find their other friends and complete the maze together.

"Hold on everyone. Me and Senpai will save you from the falseness, Discord, shown to you."

DISCORD'S POV*

Hanging around and overlooking the Maze from the sky, with these Binoculars.

To think the so-called "Emperor" of their team could resist. And their shadow self. The true self, they call it. Of course, I can't kill them, it'll kill the host as well. And the game and everything, especially this whole story, would be all pointless if I did that. But how did those shadows even get back to their host in a quick amount of time? Better yet. Where was the har I put them all in? I didn't move it.

Eh. No matter. I'll have to try again and see if the same thing will happen again. I wonder….

TEDDIE'S POV*

Teddie hummed the same tune over and over again as he happily skipped around the maze. Taking his time.

Unknowing what's going to be in front of him

"Every day's great. At. Your. Ju-nes!" Teddie sang as he came across an area filled with nothing but balloons and laughter.

Amazed by the sight he jumps just as he looks around. Joyful by how cheerful the area was.

"Oh boy! An area of good laughter and Balloons! I've always wanted to make an area of only Balloons at Junes but Yosuke said that it's a waste of resources, so I asked his Dad if we can- W-woah!"

Teddie tripped over himself and fell into a mud puddle. The laughter suddenly got a little loud and was pointed toward him while he was lying helplessly in the mud puddle.

"Huh? What gives?" Teddie questioned until the creature showed up. "What's the matter, Teddie? I thought you wanted a good laugh?" Discord says to Teddie.

"Yeah but. This feels. Different. They are all. Laughing at me." Teddie said, frowning as he was getting up. "Oh, Teddie. Sometimes, laughter brings out the worst in all of us." Discord's head disappeared and was now a balloon, laughing maniacally as he circled Teddie, getting him dizzy.

He was now realizing the situation he's in…

"H-huh?!" Teddie looked again and saw all of his friends, multiple of them with floating heads. All of them are laughing at him.

What the?

"Hahahahahahahaha"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

"Hahahahahahahaha"

Fear took hold of Teddie, as he began to cry. He wanted to run away from this place, but he just couldn't.

"N-no! Please! Stop this! Stop it!"

In a last-ditch effort, he removed the head of his bear costume and crawled out of it, attempting to run away but tripped again and dirtied himself up. "S-stop laughing at me!" Teddie covered his ears, put his head down, and closed his eyes, hoping to block out the noise from the laughter.

….

…..

"This is not your end... Look at me and see yourself…"

He opened his eyes and looked ahead, he spotted something that looked menacing. It wasn't discord, but another bear like his bear costume. It looks familiar, despite the look in its eyes. Teddie swore he heard something in his head. Was it calling to him? Whatever it is, it must be his ticket out of this nightmare. He used whatever will he had on him and ran to the strange bear. The laughing heads followed him, their string reaching out to grab him. But when he nearly reached the strange bear, he fell into a hole where darkness consumed him, while the heads laughed at his doom.

"Nooooooooooooooooo!"

Falling into the darkness, he hit the ground hard, and landed on his backside, somehow surviving that long fall. He was injured but was able to get back up on his feet. When he got up and saw what was in front of him, he was shocked to see what he was seeing. His giant, shadow self.

"You came… Me.." the giant menacing shadow said. "Do we. Know each other?" Asked Teddie. "You'll know after you approach me more, and inspect everything you see in front of you," said the shadow. Teddie does what his shadow self says, get closer and look at him more. He realizes that his shadow self is wrapped around with chains all over his body. Well, the shadow's bear costume to be specific. "How did you exit out of Teddie, me?" Asked Teddie. "Discord removed me from you. The bottle he showed you, that was us.." Shadow Teddie said. Teddie was shocked and gasped at his shadow's claim and questioned, "W-what? Then that means. The glass bottle. It was you and all my friend's shadow self?" Teddie realizes what Discord has done to them. "The only way to free me is for you to enter me." The shadow says opening the head of the bear costume. "If this is the only way I can head back up and save my friends. Then I shall!" Teddie said with determination. He super jumped with a fist raised high, but when he looked down to see where he would land. He panicked and the darkness of the Shadow's bear costume swallowed him, closing off the head to cage him in there.

Inside his shadow's bear costume, he can see everything around him and the power he's feeling. His right eye is his own. And the left eye is his Shadow.. With this newfound power and determination, he was ready to face whatever was up on the surface. "Alright! Let's go see sensei!" Teddie used his newfound power to break the chains and launch himself like a rocket, firing up in the air. "Wooo-hooo-hoo-hoooo!" Teddie screamed out ecstatically.

When he returned to the ground back to that laughing area, he was ready for anything. "No one laughs at Teddie till he makes a joke on purpose!" Teddie released his bear claws and began slashing the laughing balloons. Slashing left and right, Teddie destroyed the laughing heads of his friends "I know the guys laugh but they would always laugh at my jokes. Not at me. That's why your confusion won't bring Teddie down, Discord baby!" Teddie yelled out as all laughing heads were destroyed. Teddie stopped to catch his breath until he vomited out of his shadow's costume.

"Your power was incredible, me! Can we be together like old times?" Teddie asked, as his shadow stared at him blankly. "Will you do one thing for me?" asks Teddie's shadow. "Dooo. You want me to defeat that creature? Discord was his name O?" Teddie answered, with his shadow nodding before turning into Teddie's persona, Kintoki-Douji. It then disappears with a card appearing, the star arcana. "My Persona has returned," Teddie said in silence before jumping in the air as he flailed his arms and legs. "Wahoo! I got my persona back!" Teddie proudly says. "Now the last thing I need to do is find sensei and be done with this maze!" Teddie said to himself going back into his suit. He inspected his bear costume, seeing that it was dirty and all. But it didn't matter, he could ask Yuki-Chan to wash it for him.

When Teddie put on his dirty bear costume, he heard familiar voices. "Teddie!" Said a punk-sounding man. Teddie looked back and was happy to see his two friends finding him. "Kanji. And Sensei! You found me!" Teddie exclaims as he waves both of his arms. "It's good to see you, Ted. But why are you filthy?" Kanji wondered why he was dirty all over. "It's a long story. But I'll tell you all about it when we find everyone!" Teddie says as he joins up with Narukami and Kanji. "Yeah. Let's go find the others!" Narukami commanded as Teddie and Kanji nodded. They continue to run through the maze in hopes of finding their lost friends.

DISCORD'S POV*

So even the Star penetrated my technique. It's because of those shadows that the group has. Drinking them would be hazardous to my health and I just had to spread them around the maze. I'll have to try something else. Something that has not been untouched in a long time. Ah… Yes. That will do…I wonder if she can "bear" her sanity.

NAOTO'S POV*

Walking around the maze in between the stone walls somehow made Naoto feel some sort of dread. The silence was too quiet. So quiet that even the slightest amount of sound will set off Naoto. "Don't let it get to you Naoto. Just find the others. And reach the end of the maze." Naoto said to herself, taking deep breaths as she walked. Naoto closed her eyes for a brief 2 seconds until she fell into something, causing her to fall. "Waaaaahhh!"

Naoto was falling fast, so fast that it felt like gravity was getting stronger and stronger by the second of it. She eventually lands on her front, somehow surviving the fall. It didn't make sense. She should be dead after falling from that height.

Then again.

Nothing makes sense, even Discord himself doesn't make sense. She got up and looked around to her new location. "Is this? A facility?" Naoto questioned, seeing that the area around her was all futuristic.

Almost like-

"WELCOME NAOTO!" Discord yelled out behind Naoto, causing the Detective Prince to jump and fall to the ground, nearly hyperventilating. "Don't do that!" Naoto's emotion was filled with anger with a hint of fear. "Oh don't be like that my dear prince. You're a boy, aren't you? I thought boys could handle surprises like this. Especially. The smell.." Discord said as he put on a gas mask. The smell enters Naoto's nose. It was sickening. What is that stench? Naoto thought. "After all. You pretend to be a boy so you can act tough. Earn the respect you want. Or maybe you are a scared little girl who needs a hand to hold." Discord taunted the Prince Detective. "But sometimes. It's best to not dive deep to uncover the truth of all things. You may not like what you find anyways" Discord said menacingly, bringing a chill down Naoto's spine. "Well. GOOD LUCK! And try not to die!" Discord happily says before he teleports out with a snap of his claw. Leaving a fearful confused Naoto behind.

The smell was becoming stronger by the minute. Naoto's curiosity, wondering where it was coming from, followed the sickening smell. It turns out that it was in the same area she was in. Right behind her was a metal door leading to the other side.

When she approached there was a switch that opened the door, leading to the source of the smell. Naoto was hesitant. But it was better than being trapped, so she pulled the switch down.

The metal door to the other side was open, but it was too dark in there. Naoto went near the wall to find the light switch. When she first entered, she stepped on something liquid. "What the? What did I step on? No. It's probably nothing." Naoto would find the light switch in a couple of moments. She turned on the lights and saw what was making that horrible smell. Naoto froze at the sight of it..

"W-what…"

Naoto found herself looking at 5 dead bodies, they were in a dog pile and mutilated to the point where they became unidentifiable.

No. Not unidentifiable.

N-no.. These bodies… Those marks… The bones… They're…

They're….

PONIES…

It was a horrible sight to see, so horrible, it caused Naoto to become sick, her stomach acting up until she eventually vomited. Bending down and holding on to her knees for support. Finding bodies in crime scenes is all part of being a detective. But, for where she comes from. These bodies are not human

"What the hell?..." Naoto looked down, seeing that she was stepping on blood. "Where the hell am I? How do I escape?"

"Sometimes. It's best to not dive deep into the truth."

That's what Discord said...

Naoto was wondering if that's what she needed to do to escape. Naoto pulls herself together and calms down. "I won't become a victim to this place. There must be something I could use" Naoto said to herself as she slowly walked to the dog pile of dead ponies. "I'm sorry," All Naoto could say to the deceased corpses of ponies. Luckily She didn't need to touch the dead ponies in the dog pile, there was a Keycard and a baton in the pool of blood. Naoto picked up the two items, then headed for the next area which led to a hallway. It was quiet and empty.

Naoto sighs before proceeding.

"I think… I'll have nightmares for weeks, maybe months. Or years...I hope I don't see them ever again" She begins to walk down the hallway.

Through the hallway and some paths. Most empty and silent, Naoto would encounter more dead bodies along the way. Humans and Ponies, bloodied and missing limbs, scattered in the hallways… Are they real? Or something very convincing. Either way, It put Naoto on edge, but at least it would keep her on guard at all times.

She was right, as Shadows started to appear in front and behind Naoto. They don't seem strong, or weak, for a slime-type shadow. The shadows began their attack, armed with only a baton, she waited for the shadow to strike. Then counter-attack. Fortunately, the enemies went one by one, so taking them all down wasn't so hard.

Naoto continued, knowing it was about to get a whole lot worse from there.

God only knows how long Naoto has been searching, and walking around the strange place. Along the way, she found her pistol, in the hands of a dead man, unfortunately… Removing it from its icy grip was easier said than done- Wait a minute? The face just now, why did it look like-

No. It must be a dummy. Wait, if it was a dummy why was its hand cold…?

No, forget it… She reclaims her Pistol and checks how many bullets it has left. Six bullets it has… Good… Naoto continues to walk down the quiet halls of this strange facility. Taking deep breaths along the way to keep her sanity in check.

Until she heard something pass by. She didn't say anything, she simply raised her pistol in front of her and pointed. Listening and waiting for another sound to be heard, around or near her. That sound wasn't heard again. But that didn't give Naoto the go-ahead to put her gun down. The Prince Detective continued with her gun drawn.

Unknowing the thing was watching her from behind.

Eventually, after walking and turning corners, she heard laughing.

And that laughing feels familiar.

"It's my voice… Where is it coming from?" Naoto begins to follow the laughter.

Naoto found the source of the laughter, coming from behind two big metal doors. Preparing herself she took out the Keycard, took out the baton, and opened the metal doors with a swipe on the inserter with the keycard in hand. Naoto gets in there and bears witness to some bizarre mad science experiment.

"Hahahahaha. Now with one last step, I can-'' The strange person with a lab coat and blue hat stopped mid-sentence and turned around.

Revealing to be Naoto's shadow self.

"Oh. It's you. I've been waiting impatiently, you know." Naoto's shadow shuts down her experiment with a push of a button on the control it was holding. "Ever since he took me out." The shadow added, looking down at the real Naoto. "Took me out?' What are you talking about?" Naoto was confused, so her shadow elaborated further. "Didn't you know? It should have been obvious. He held out a glass bottle. You've seen it before this stupid game began" Naoto's shadow said, acting annoyed at her real self. It didn't take Naoto a second to figure out what she meant.

"That glass bottle. That bastard. Not only did he cut my fingers. He stole my shadow!"

"Correct. And ever since, I've been here. Killing time with experiments until you've found me. Or anyone." the shadow replied.

"Well. I found you. And it's time for you to return to me. Me.." Naoto awkwardly says.

"Then promise me this. Seek out the truth with your own eyes. Failure to do so and Discord will be playing with your corpse. Our friends are still looking. They are still alive. Find your escape first. That's if you don't become engrossed with lies." Naoto's shadow warned before turning into Naoto's persona Sukuna-Hikona. It then disappeared, leaving behind the Fortune Arcana card.

Naoto closed her eyes, feeling a bit of comfort knowing that her persona was back. "I'll try not to. I can't let him win." Naoto said to herself. Whatever there is ahead of her. She needs to be brave and expect the unexpected if that's what it takes to escape alive…

Right after, she deals with another problem in the room.

"HISSSSS!"

Naoto turned around and was supposed to expect a shadow, but this one. She gasped at the sight. That was no shadow.
IT'S A CHANGELING!

The creatures rushed towards Naoto, but she dodged to her left. This changeling was wild, trying to connect its attack on the Prince Detective. Not wanting to use her gun, she summons her Persona. With one slash attack from Sukuna Hikona, the changeling was defeated. And cut in half. Its body faded out like a shadow every time it was defeated.

She questioned if that Changeling was Masamune.

No, it couldn't be. Masamune had green hair, and green eyes, and there was a bigger horn in the forehead. So it couldn't have been it. Can it?

"I need to get out of here"

Naoto exits the room and back to the hallway. Continuing her descent down the long hallways. Staying alert as she proceeded.

Further in, the hallway began to change, blood appeared on the walls, and bones and other bloody body parts were scattered around.

And…

Green…?

Pods?

They are everywhere.

Naoto wondered what was going on until she heard something calling her name as it was echoing the hallways.

"Naoto! Where are you!"

It sounded like Narukami. And he's in danger! Naoto runs quickly to where the sound is coming from. It was in a room, but when she opened the metal doors to the room with the Keycard.

She was too late as Narukami was dead. He was mutilated...

The sight of everything was too sickening. The scared look on his face says everything, he didn't have time to scream for help more. Naoto froze and was starting to tear up until another voice of Narukami appeared behind her. "Naoto! You're alright!" Narukami said out loud, spooking Naoto.

"Narukami?! But. Didn't you?" Naoto was interrupted by Narukami.

"It's okay. You are safe with me. Come close. So we can embrace each other."

Narukami(?) walked towards a frightened Naoto, who was still processing what she was seeing. Senpai is dead, and yet in front of her. Senpai is alive. Just how is this-

"HISSSSSS"

Sounds of hissing were heard nearby, and the amount of glowing green eyes began to open, in pairs of two. One pair, two pairs, three pairs, four pairs.

So many green eyes.

And above

"Don't worry. Just stand still. And let us feed…"

Narukami blinks, his eyes turning green as well. And a smile that's plagued with evil.

This was her end. This is how her life will end. Drained, or eaten by these green-eyed black creatures. And her final words.

"OH NO"

The black creatures rushed towards her, ready to rip her apart. Fear had consumed Naoto and all she could do.

Was scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

DISCORD'S MAZE: ELSEWHERE"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

INHALES*

EXHALES*

INHALES*

EXHALES*

INHALES*

EXHALES*

INHALES*

EXHALES*

inhales*

exhales*

inhales*

exhales*

inhales*

exhales*

Naoto finds herself no longer back there. The room. The blood. The pods. And, those green eyes. What… The-

"NAOTO!"

A rough masculine voice breaks her trance, turning around and seeing a face she can see as an ally. "Kanji-Kun? Is that you?" Naoto questioned, on edge, and defense.

"Of course it's me! You scream like a guy." Kanji added unnecessarily, which made Naoto blush lightly. Before she could say anything two more faces showed up.

"Nao-chan! Your prince has found you!"

"Naoto! I'm glad you are safe. Did someone attack you?"

Teddie and Narukami showed up to express their worry over her. But still, Naoto was still on edge. Especially Narukami since…

Naoto swore she saw Narukami had green eyes. Just what the hell happened? Is her mind still playing tricks? Or is "he" still playing tricks on her? "Hey, Nao-Chan? Why are you still holding your weapon like that? Did an enemy come and attack you? More importantly, where's your hat?" Teddie questioned. Naoto saw she was still holding her gun, quickly putting it away, and touching the top of her head, seeing that her hat was missing. Not that it matters for now, before clearing her throat. "Um… Yeah. I was attacked. They got me. But fortunately, I was unharmed." Naoto says, hoping it convinced them. "Hard to believe if you screamed loud like that. Thought you being a detective and all made you less. Easy to get the pounce on you." Kanji said, forgetting that his 'unique' wording gave Naoto the wrong idea, especially Teddie.

"You're saying. Someone pinned Naoto and they-"

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN TED!"

Kanji began to clarify what he meant by what he said. For Naoto, it was a comforting sight. But, there was still a mission to do. "If you two are done bickering. Let's continue with this Maze!" Naoto commanded. "Yes, Nao-Chan! Let's finish the Maze and find the other ladies!" Teddie rushed ahead, with Kanji, Naoto, and Narukami behind.

"So. Naoto, what happened to you?" Narukami wondered. Naoto dodges the question "It's nothing. Let's just focus on finding the others and finishing the Maze."

Narukami is a bit disappointed. But he'll probe info out of her later.

"O-OH and Naoto! Where's your hat?"

DISCORD POV*

I knew she couldn't handle it, reader. So I made all of that a dream she just had. What? Did you think she actually died just now? Then that would mean the game is over. And this story would be over as well. No matter, 4 are left to go. Once they find the missing 4 and head to the goal. They win. That's if neither dies in my game. And if they did. Welp. I guess that's what you call it. "Life." Or something.

WHATEVER…

YOSUKE'S POV*

Yosuke got bored wandering around the maze between the stone walls and running. He just wants something to happen. "How much of this will go on? It feels like everything is starting to become the same…" groans Yosuke as he continues to wander around the maze until he sees something. Was that Narukami? He's going that way in that part of the maze! "Hey, partner! Wait up!" Yosuke yelled.

He chases after Narukami but every time he goes to the direction he's going, he's further away. Eventually, he catches up to Narukami, leading to a dead end. "Partner! I've found you! And man you ran so fast." Yosuke said, catching his breath, but when he closed his eyes for just a second, he found himself in the middle, between hundreds, maybe thousands of Naurkami. All were looking at him. "What the hell?" Yosuke looked around and saw that everywhere around him was Narukami. Only with a slight difference. "How did I get here?" Yosuke wondered as continued looking around until he saw one of the Narukami had a head that was different from the others. "Wait... Discord?!" Yosuke called out as Discord transformed into his true self with a snap of his fingers. "Good eye Yosuke! No wonder they call you. The brains. Well less brained than her." Discord added.

"Well. You make no sense!" Yosuke snapped back. "I make no sense? Have you looked around here?" Discord shows Yosuke what he is seeing. Countless Yu Narukami's, looking at him, lifeless. And more robotic-like. "All of them are not my partner," Yosuke said, sounding annoyed at his situation. "And Discord says, you'll be trapped here if you don't find the real one. So I suggest you go searching. Or forever wonder about this place until you die." Discord said menacingly as he disappeared by teleportation. Yosuke looked around again at the countless Narukami's.

"Shit… This might be a while."

Yosuke tried to approach the Narukami's but they all backed away in unison. He tried to go left but they did the same. No matter what kind of approach he takes, they would always back away from him, like 6 feet away. Behind him was a trail of emptiness. Surrounded by clones and copies of Yu Narukami.

Unfortunately, Yosuke didn't keep count of how much time had passed. But that didn't matter, it's not like his wristwatch stopped working since they got to this strange land.

It was becoming.

A pain in the ass…

Yosuke groans as he keeps walking, as the Narukami Clones back away. At this point Yosuke was going to die of boredom, so he got on his knees and lay down on the floor. With boredom. "What a pain. This sucks.." complained Yosuke.

As Yosuke lies on the ground, for not long until he hears his voice. "Come on. Are you seriously going to give Discord the satisfaction of letting this happen to you?" said the unknown person with Yosuke's voice. The real Yosuke got up and saw his shadow behind him. "What the? You're… Me." Yosuke said with a shocked look on his face. "Thanks, Captain Obvious. More importantly. I've been looking for you from all these fake partners!" Shadow Yosuke said with an annoyed tone. "But how did you-" Yosuke was interrupted by his shadow self. "That bastard Discord removed me from you forcibly. The glass bottle he showed you was me in there!" Shadow Yosuke explained.

"Wait. That glass bottle had my shadow in there?" Yosuke tried to piece together what had happened. Well, he eventually figured it out. "Ah! So that's why… Bastard. I want to strangle him but I can't if I'm trapped here." Yosuke said angrily. "Hey, I don't want to be here as much as we do. So let's just team up. Like we used to." Shadow Yosuke said, holding his hand towards the real Yosuke. "Heh. You read my mind, me." Yosuke said smirking as the real and shadow self shook hands with each other. As for the shadow, it turned back into Yosuke's persona, Jiraiya. It disappears, leaving behind the Magician arcana card for Yosuke to absorb in him.

With his persona acquired, Yosuke looked around once more. Realizing he doesn't need to find an exit. If there was never one except. "Above me," Yosuke said, looking up, seeing a bright light up there. "If there isn't an exit. Then I'll make one." Yosuke said with determination. "Let's do this Jiraiya!" Yosuke called out his persona to see if the power of the wind could make him fly. "If Discord doesn't make any sense. Then I won't make sense either!" Yosuke says proudly as the wind Jiraiya was producing, carried him up as the Narukami clones watched as he was being carried by the wind.

Yosuke was nearing the exit in the ceiling. As he was getting close, there was a gold lock. So with his quick thinking, he called Jiraiya again to break the lock. "Break free Jiraiya!" Yosuke said as his persona bashed the gold lock, breaking it. Yosuke had no words, he was free, and the gates to freedom opened with a bright light and took Yosuke into it.

Unfortunately…

Even though he was free, it was far from over. When Yosuke escaped, he thought he had finally woken up from the strange dream, only to land face-first on a stone wall.

Yosuke groaned at his pain.

For 9 minutes Yosuke was still lying there on the dirt floor. He heard footsteps but he decided to ignore it until he heard familiar voices.

"Yosuke?" said a boyish voice. Yosuke lifted his head and saw it was Naoto. "Naoto? What are you doing here?" Yosuke wondered as it would seem that Yosuke had a mild concussion and a broken nose. The detective looked back to call out what seemed to be hiding. "Everyone, it's all right. I found Yosuke '' Narukami, Teddie, and Kanji coming out of hiding from the left corner.

"Everyone..?"

Yosuke tried to get up but the injury on his face was making it a bit hard. Yosuke pulled himself together as Narukami helped him stand up.

"Can you stand at least Yosuke?"

"Y-yeah. I just need something to hold on to for now. Feels like my head is going to split in two." Yosuke begins rubbing his head.

"Say uh. Where are the other girls? Chie, Yukiko, and Rise?" Yosuke asked.

"Sorry. We have not found them yet." Kanji answered.

"But we will find those girls! So Teddie can ask Yukiko to clean up my bare body." Teddie said with a smile on his face.

"Never change Teddie. Never change. Now come on. I can keep going." Yosuke says as the 4 friends and himself move.

DISCORD'S POV*

Magicians always find their way out. Even though it was a painful end. He escaped. Just 3 to go and their second game will be finished. I do hope everyone back there is enjoying the show. Because I know I am. I think it's time I pay that Risette a visit.

RISE'S POV*

The walk between the stone walls is a bit tiresome. It's so boring that Rise begins to talk to herself. Switching from her normal voice to a different tone of voice at times, until she comes across a door with her name on it.

"Risette."

Rise's curiosity piqued her interest and went inside revealing a dressing room, Rise identified. She's been to a dressing room like this. She remembered that time she had trouble putting on a certain Idol uniform. Though they made it so tight that it felt like the string was going to snap any moment.

Aww the memories.

Rise looked around more before hearing what sounded like someone was arguing about something, from the front stage, if Rise guessed. She proceeded and was backstage. She heard the arguing which had become clear the further she got close.

"I don't care if your mother is sick and gave you Some motivational speech to keep you going. You get an F for speaking!" said a strong voice, it also sounded familiar.

It was then followed by a girl crying and it went past Rise, who too had pigtail hair. And wearing a yellow bikini? "Who was the girl?" Rise was about to follow her until she heard the saying "Next!" as if it was her turn now.

It looks like Rise will have to play along. For now.

Rise walking onto the stage seeing there is only one person that'll be watching her. Its face was hiding behind a clipboard. "Ah so are you the next future idol? Risette." the strange person moved the clipboard to its lap revealing it to be…

Discord!?

"H-huh? Discord?!" Rise was caught off guard. "Why hello Resette! Or was it Rise Kujikawa? I've been expecting you all this time!" Discord says happily as he gets really close to Rise. "You know of all the auditions I've seen. You've got to be the one." Discord moves away from Rise as she now finds herself inside a bottle. Naturally, Rise was confused until Discord talked more. "You probably know this by now. And I'll get it out of the way. I'm here to kill you. But in a very very fun way!" Discord happily says and so casually. Did Rise hear that right? Is he going to attempt to kill her?

With a snap of his fingers, everything was rearranged in an instant.

Rise closed her eyes before Discord snapped his fingers. Terrified to open her eyes, she opened one of them and saw that everything was rearranged. She was standing on a small platform and everything else was dark around. "Just wait there for a little while my dear Risette. There are still some things that need fixing and tweaking." The echoed voice of Discord said.

A good moment of silence ensues.

To die in a stupid world. She got mad at herself for letting this happen to her. "Grrr! This is all Yukiko's fault! Her and her stupid pet!" Rise said to herself before realizing and calming down to a sad state. "N-no. I shouldn't blame Yukiko. I followed her into the TV, leading all of us to this world… 'sigh' this is hopeless. We're all going to die like this!" Rise fell to her knees as she was trying not to cry until she heard her voice.

"Then jump. If you can't take this anymore."

Rise looked back and saw it was her own shadow. "Wait. That Bikini. That was you?" Rise realized as her eyes widened at this revelation. "I've been looking for you. He has emotionally tortured me since the game started. And my powers are starting to weaken" Rise's shadow looks sad. "H-hey. Don't be sad. You are me right? The part of me that is always with me to the grave right?" Rise said, smiling a bit as she walked towards her own shadow. "Since I've found you. We can combine our powers to escape our troubles. So, Let's go back to Senpai and the others!" Her shadow smiled back as she transformed into Rise's persona, Himiko. It dispersed leaving the arcana card, The Lovers to appear and enter Rise's body.

With Rise's persona back, she used Himiko to identify where she was. She looked around the area until she found something on the bottom. Turns out there was a way out, it was at the bottom of the void, no doubt about it. "It's a leap of faith. I'll have to do it. For Senpai." Rise took deep breaths before taking a step and fell with her eyes closed.

Falling as the wind touches her body…

"I'm finished now- Huh?"

Discord came back and realized that Rise was gone. He looked down and saw that she was falling. "Well if you want to be like that then be my guest!" Discord snapped his fingers, teleporting Rise back to the maze.

And she was falling fast.

Rise opened her eyes and was outside. But then she looked down and saw that she was falling to her death, and screamed in a high pitch.

She screamed as loud as she could before landing and submerged in water…

Rise attempted to swim up, but she was unable to swim up, her body wasn't responding. She was losing air and was further sinking into the deep water.

Everything was going dark, and the light was fading…

Until someone dived into the water and swam towards her. That someone was able to reach Rise and drag her back to the surface.

Gasping and breathing…

She assumed it was her Senpai.

"Oh, Senpai! You saved me!" Rise then pulling her rescuer in a passionate kiss on the lips.

"MWAH!"

She smiled while holding her Senpai…

Until she heard a voice that wasn't Senpai.

"Umm. It's me. Rise." a female voice is heard instead of a male voice she expected it to be. It confused Rise for a moment until her eyes had adjusted. It was Naoto who had a bit of redness on her cheeks. It was she who rescued Rise... It took Rise a solid 1 minute to realize what had happened.

And what she had done.

"Oh my god…" Rise said feeling very disappointed in herself. "You can drop me now…" Rise commanded as her first kiss was ruined. Her expression is an immense disappointment.

EARLIER*

As the group of 5 friends walked together between the stone walls, they heard high-pitched screaming from the sky.

It was Rise! The 4 boys scrambled around to catch Rise but all of them were getting in each other's way.

Naoto had calculated where Rise might fall and took action. Fortunately, Rise had fallen into a lake nearby, and Naoto showed no hesitation and jumped into the lake.

Narukami, Yosuke, Kanji, and Teddie watched and saw everything unfold.

PRESENT*

Naoto was still blushing, and stunned silent, trying to snap out of it. The 4 boys witnessed what Rise did. Yosuke and Teddie were no doubt extremely surprised. "D-did. Thee Risete… Just do that?!" Yosuke was unable to process what he had seen. Teddie simply nodded in silence.

"Uh… Partner?"

"NO COMMENT"

Narumaki was looking away… RESPECTFULLY.

As for Kanji, he froze… Safe to say, he too could not process what he just saw.

DISCORD'S POV*

At first, I was disappointed that Risette escaped my challenge for her. But for her to do that in the end. Is so.

Hahahahahahahaha!

Hahahahahahahaha!

Hahahahahahahaha!

Hahahahahahahaha!

I think I'll leave them all be. Right now, there is a certain red girl I'd like to meet! Let's go see her right now.

YUKIKO'S POV*

The stone walls between her were getting boring. So boring that the girl in red was starting to fall asleep. Yawning as she walked. "Sleepy…" Yukiko yawns again until she comes across a building that's very familiar to her. "The. Inn…" The Amagi Inn was here in this strange world.. Yukiko wondered what was going on, and let her curiosity take hold of her as she entered the Amagi Inn.

Yukiko entered the Inn, and was greeted by him. "Welcome to the Amagi Inn!" Discord says as he is wearing Yukiko's pink Kimono. "H-huh? Discord? What are you-" Yukiko was interrupted by Discord as he continued. "We do hope you enjoy our stay at the Amagi Inn! Please come to our hot springs! It'll heal your body and soul with a full guarantee!" Discord concluded as he dropped the act. "How was that Yukiko? I got it all right did I?" Discord asked. Yukiko had not one, but several questions in mind, but it was best to save her breath, he'd most likely ignore them all. "You don't have to do anything, my dear Yukiko. Let me handle all the tasks here at the Amagi Inn." Discord snaps his fingers, summoning multiple Discord's to do things that the staff from the real Amagi Inn would do. "Also you look tired. Your room is where it still is. So off you go. I've got other things to do than stand here." Discord says again as he teleports himself out with a snap of his fingers.

Yukiko explored the Amagi Inn, or what it's supposed to be. But Discord renamed it to, "Discord Inn" as said on the postcard she found on the floor. So, it means she's not the next manager of the Inn but Discord himself. Well it didn't matter, today was but a very wild and crazy day. Yukiko enters her room and upon entering it, she sees that nothing has changed. It's as if she was back home. Then again, it could be his doing. Yukiko looked around her room, pictures hanging on the wall remained the same, especially the framed photo on her desk. It's all of her friends from last year. To think so much as happened last year. Yukiko was glad that she met Chie and the others. It felt like without them. She wouldn't be the way she is now. Yukiko started to tear up out of joy until a lightning bolt struck and the power to the Inn was shut down.

It broke the trance Yukiko was in, bringing her back to her senses. "A power outage?" Yukiko hears nothing but rain and nothing but darkness inside her room.

Yukiko felt a bit of dread when the power went out along with the sudden thunderstorm, but the rain hitting her window kind of put her at ease a bit. Yukiko remembered there was a flashlight somewhere in her room and soon enough, she found the flashlight. She turns it on, and a bright light shines at which she points the light to. "Alright. Time to venture forth." Said Yukiko as she slid the doors out of her room and headed into the dark hallway, with her flashlight in hand.

Light was Yukiko's only friend for now. And the silence. It's too quiet in the building, whenever there is a power outage, there is usually staff scrambling about, trying to calm each other down, or visitors trying to calm each other down until the power is back on. But it's as if the whole place is abandoned. And all she can hear is the rain pouring from the outside.

Other than that. It's best to evacuate the building before anything happens.

Eventually, Yukiko reached the entrance to exit the supposed-

"H-huh? Where's the door? Why is there only a wall there?" Her eyes widen realizing that she may be trapped in the Amagi Inn. "No. It can't be. I can't be locked in here. I just can't!" Yukiko says to herself, thinking of another to exit. "Of course. The hot springs." Yukiko ran to where the entrance to the hot springs was, but the doors to it were locked. "Darn. It's locked.." disappointed Yukiko, as she looked around again, shining light in the darkness. "If I had to guess. The master key must be in the manager's office. I should head there now." Yukiko began to walk through the darkness with her flashlight to the Manager's office.

Though the darkness and eeriness of an abandoned Inn doesn't faze Yukiko much. She recalls a ghost story she told Chie about. A story about a building that became abandoned when the power of said building blacked out. Causing the people inside that building to be trapped. Yukiko wonders if the story she said has become true, after all she is stuck with no outside help or contact.

There was a door in the hallway where she was going. She doesn't remember being there and not only that it only leads forward to another door when she open and peeked inside.

As much as she wanted to go see what was in there, Yukiko thought that it was not the correct way. She heads back to where she came from, back where she began.

When she got back to where the entrance doors disappeared, she found Discord sitting on a recliner with 10 candles lit in different places around near the entrance. It would seem he was waiting for her. No, he was waiting for her to return to where she began.

"Hello, Yukiko Amagi. How's the renovations of this place?" Discord asked Yukiko. "Why have you trapped me here? What is your plan?" Yukiko was trying not to raise her voice or be demanding. Discord coilied around Yukiko as he explained. "You love telling ghost stories to the friend who is scared by them, you know? So I thought about making those same ghost stories you told to her. Real." Discord clones two more of himself to make ghost sounds behind her. Yukiko was unfazed.

Discord then uncoils Yukiko and sits back on the recliner. "And besides Princess. Your best friend may be inside this place." Discord says piquing Yukiko. "Chie?" Yukiko exclaimed as Discord nodded at the confirmation. "She's somewhere in this abandoned Inn. Not only that I say again. I renovated places that should or shouldn't be here. Here and there. A little bit of this and a little bit of that. Know what I mean?" Discord explains as he was doing various motions and poses during his explanation. Yukiko this time was fazed. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Chie. Is she in this abandoned Inn?

Yukiko stopped the shocked look on her face and was mad at Discord. "What did you do to Chie?" Yukiko demanded as Discord magically created a screen, showing what had happened to Chie.

EARLIER: CHIE'S POV*

Walking through the Maze for a long time is starting to drive Chie crazy. And she could swear she heard something from afar, but it was never there. At all! And, the sky, it's dark. Are those clouds? Chie looked up she saw bits of thunder, making her eyes widen and irises shrink, as she started to whimper. The thunder began striking through the clouds, eventually striking down. Chie shrieks when the thunder strikes down to the ground, causing her to run like she has never run before.

She ran as the storms were striking down til eventually she found an empty cave to hide from the thunder and rain. Chie takes deep breaths knowing that she's safe and questions to herself. "Am I? Going to die like this?" Chie softly wimpers as she began to tear up. "Y-Yukiko. Y-Yosuke… N-Narukami? Anyone? Where are you?…" Chie says as she begins to weep. A good 2 minutes pass and Chie's weeping turns to sobbing. She stopped when she heard footsteps that were coming towards her, she thought it was one of her friends. Or Yukiko.

But it wasn't, instead in place was a hooded person wearing a devil mask.

It made Chie's blood run cold and frozen with fear. She stood there until the masked person walked to her. "N-no! Get away! Get away!" Chie gets up and run. She tried to run as far away as possible by going deep into the cave. The cave was starting to become darker and darker as Chie ran, but she didn't care. As long as she doesn't let that strange masked person get her. She'll be fine.

Chie ran forward in the dark cave until she saw a light at the end of the cave. "Oh my god! Freedom!" Chie was smiling with tears nearly blinding her vision, but not fully. When Chie exited the cave, it was a dead end. Chie looked back and saw that the cave she entered and exited out of, was gone and replaced with a stone wall. "No!" Chie screamed as she tried to look for another way out in this trapped area she's in. "I can't be trapped! I can't!" Chie was hyperventilating.

First she was being chased and now she was trapped with no exit. During her desperate search to find the exit she turned around and saw that the masked person was in the same place as she was in. Chie had no time to react as the masked person swung something blunt at her, causing her to fall down. Chie was on the ground on all fours, her vision has become blurry. Chie couldn't speak or move fast when she tried to get up. The masked figure then attacks again, landing a hard hit on the back of Chie's head, causing her to be brutally unconscious. Chie's head was all bloody, her skull practically fractured from how hard the hits were, yet she is still alive somehow.

PRESENT: YUKIKO'S POV*

The magic screen Discord showed to Yukiko disappeared. Yukiko was confused as she was mad. "You said Chie was in here. That's not what you showed me Discord!" Yukiko exclaimed, getting ready to strangle him. "You only saw what Chie had to go through. I didn't show you how she got here while she was unconscious. And besides. Like what you saw, I brought someone from your world. A special guest to help me." Discord explained as Yukiko stopped and thought. Who did he mean by "special guest"? "If it makes you any better your best friend is fine and well in the basement, which can only be unlocked by the Master Key. But don't try to go there first, a guardian blocks the way to reuniting your friend." Discord says as he quickly replaced Yukiko's flashlight with a lantern. "You'll need that for where you're going. Ghosts are all around this building. They'll be looking for you. And they want your body all for themselves. And they don't like fire." Discord added as he combusted into flames and into ash leaving only a match, standing up.

It took Yukiko to process what had happened until the candles started going out one by one. Yukiko had no time but to get the lantern on. She used one of the candles to get the match on fire and placed it inside the lantern causing it to glow brightly. When the lantern was on, all the candles blew out. Everything has become too dark and quiet.

Yukiko felt dread crawling on her back, but shrugged it off. "Alright Yukiko. Get the key, save Chie. And leave." Yukiko said to herself as she grabbed the lantern and began walking down the hallway of the darkness. "Discord. I'm not afraid of ghosts. I'm afraid of losing my friends. And I won't let fear take hold of me." With a determined look on her face as she ventured forth to the Manager's office.

Through the darkness.

Chapter End


Part 2 of the Discord Trials

Author's notes: After many months of revising, deleting, procrastinating. Chapter 4 of the Persona 4 X My Little Pony The Changeling Queen is finally released! Thank you so much for the very long wait. As of now, the next chapter is being developed. Right after some grammar fixes in the past chapters. Thank you, and goodbye.