Kickoff [Video/Massive Audio later]

[like_a_dragon]

[A green pony with a matted down brown mop-top appears on the scroll. From the furrowed brows, flared nostrils and fierce grimace, she does not appear... pleased.]

WHAT THE TARTARUS IS GOING ON HERE!?

[Taking a step away from the scroll would probably be a good idea...]

I can't even begin to count all the things that is wrong here! I mean, at first I thought this was a dream but then when somepony actually pinched me -- WITH THEIR MOUTH NO LESS -- I knew that this was actually real. Talking ponies? And the ones with wings? EVEN ONES WITH MAGIC HORNS?? I even saw one that brought in a raincloud! IT WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF ME!!

[She takes a moment and her hoof comes up to scrub off her hair and her face.]

Alright... you know what... considering everything else I have seen before a world of talking ponies is actually not that out there. And, hey, at least my fur color is one that I'd like. Just, in this case, I hope my friends aren't here to have this happen to them.

Also, I have to ask just one question...

Why couldn't I have been one of those cool ones with the wings?

EDIT:

[A little bit later there is a shout. A glorious shout. A mighty shout. It rings to the heavens and may even be heard as far as way as The Crystal Kingdom.]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN PONIES DON'T EAT MEAT?!!!!

[Thanks, Teddie.]

EDIT: x2

[And a little bit after that there is another shout, though not quite as powerful, whatever is doing it definitely has a healthy set of lungs.]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S NO TV?!!

[Thanks, Rise.]

Comments

[foolish_seal]

Minato Arisato. Likewise.

[He's about to move on, but decides he should get some of the potentially awkward stuff out of the way before something bad happens, as it has in the past.]

...Before we get too far, I need to tell you that I know a lot more about you and your friends in Inaba than I probably should.

[like_a_dragon]

...thanks, but now I'm a little freaked out how you know so much about me all of a sudden...

[I mean... that's not public knowledge, right?]

[foolish_seal]

It's a long story, but I've met you and your team before, in another time and place. That, and I'm a Persona-user, too.

[like_a_dragon]

Really. The next thing you're going to tell me is that we're made for each oth-

[no wait, that's not the most important part]

You're a Persona user??

[foolish_seal]

Yeah.

[And to prove it, he tilts the scroll to point a little above his head.]

Messiah!

[The collar around Minato neck goes off, and in a familiar swirl of blue, Messiah appears. He hangs around for a bit, then, seeing as there's nothing to attack, disappears again.]

Sorry for the sudden news. Last time I hid this from other persona-users, it turned out badly for me.

[like_a_dragon]

[Brain: blown. I mean it's not like she needed much help, here.]

YOU'RE A PERSONA USER!

Did you fall into the TV too?

[foolish_seal]

No. My team's situation was different. I'll tell you more about it once you're settled in.

For now, Yukiko, Yu, Rise, and Teddie are all here, if you want to find them.

[like_a_dragon]

Yeah, one of them contacted me and told me just a second ago.

[In spite of everything, Chie got the feeling Minato could be trusted. It was strange. She got the feeling that he could be trusted with a lot of things, sort of like somebody else she knew. Still, for now, she was alarmed and deeply unsettled by everything. She wasn't completely in the right mind, if she was honest.]

[Still, a Persona user that didn't fall into the TV, huh...]

So you're a Shadow Operative?

[foolish_seal]

[Unsettled was understandable. That was a lot of information to take in, even ignoring the whole pony thing.]

...Shadow Operative?

[like_a_dragon]

Yeah, with Mitsuru-san and Akihiko-sensei.

[foolish_seal]

[Now those are familiar names...]

So that's what they did after I was gone. Should have guessed they wouldn't just move on.

[like_a_dragon]

So you do know them.

Well, I mean it figures you would. They're the only other people I know who had Personas other than us.

[foolish_seal]

Who knows? There could be more out there in different parts of the world.

[He never did ask Igor about that.]

But, yeah. Before they were the Shadow Operatives, we were SEES, solving a problem of our own. I led most of the expeditions, like Yu did for you.

[like_a_dragon]

Hold up.

[She raised up a hand to the scroll.]

You promised me to tell me a bit more when I settled in. I would really appreciate that. No offense, but getting turned into a pony is enough for one day. My head is already starting to hurt.

[Really, her curiosity was the only reason why she was inquiring further. Curiosity satisfied, she could use a nap... for like a hundred years or until she suddenly reappeared in Inaba.]

[foolish_seal]

Yeah, sure.

[He'll stop for now, then.]

Any of your friends on the way to pick you up yet?

[like_a_dragon]

Maybe. They seem to be over at the Crystal Kingdom for the games.

Is that far?

[foolish_seal]

...Oh, right, you're still in Ponyville.

[That makes things a bit complicated.]

That's up way far north, but because of the games, train tickets to get here are free. We can meet you at the station when you arrive.

[like_a_dragon]

"We?"

[She wasn't expecting that.]

[foolish_seal]

Yeah. I can spare the time. I hang out with the others enough, anyway.

[like_a_dragon]

I sort of had a feeling you might say something like that.

[Still, that didn't sound... terrible?]

[foolish_seal]

I'll let the others know you're on your way, then.

[like_a_dragon]

Thanks.

And it's nice to meet you, Minato-kun.

I hope you don't mind if I call you that.

[foolish_seal]

I don't mind.

Good luck with your stay here. It can get crazy sometimes.

[like_a_dragon]

[She waves a hoof up into the screen.]

You think?

[Still, her cheer is enough that she can laugh a little.]

[foolish_seal]

Considering I helped to beat down a fire demon yesterday to help out a dragon blacksmith? Yeah, a little.