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

[gigglesnortpriestess]

Wait what?

[like_a_dragon]

Carnivore that Discarded Womanhood

[Yeeah...]

[linefacingforever]

...oooooh.

[...yeah, that was really rude.]

[gigglesnortpriestess]

[Wow she heard that.]

That's rather rude of them.

[like_a_dragon]

I KNOW, RIGHT?

[She's relieved, in truth.]

[linefacingforever]

It sounds like the goal was to goad us into fighting.

[It sounds like it worked.]

[gigglesnortpriestess]

[Oh yeah, Chie fought.]

Did you ever find out what and why that thing was going on?

[like_a_dragon]

[So Chie tells the rest of the story: about the P-1 Grand Prix and the labyrinth. About General Teddie and how Rise was urging them on. How they went to what looked like Yasogami school and... the president.]

[She tells them everything in exacting detail. The truth behind The General and the school president. About Mitsuru and the Shadow Operatives. She doesn't offer much in terms of explanations when she can't guess them, but details about what happened? Yeah, she's pretty good at that.]

[In the end, she tells them of Yu and Yosuke's decision to continue the investigation team... and chase down the Malevolent Entity and his Mysterious Voice accomplice.]

[linefacingforever]

[That was a lot to take in, but he couldn't help but grin faintly. The thought that they weren't down for the count, even though their first investigation was done and over with, meant a lot to him.]

[Their bond really would keep going, hunh?]

Glad we made it out okay. Did the rest of Golden Week go well at least?

[like_a_dragon]

[Yeah, and in spite of everything, it felt good to do something meaningful. Only now there's their own safety to worry about.]

I'm going to have to get back to you on that, because I don't know.

I came here before it was over.

[gigglesnortpriestess]

Well, I'm just glad everyone got out of there okay. I can't imagine if someone got hurt.

[And that meant everyone as she couldn't help but nuzzle her best friend a little.]

I'm really glad you're here. I missed you.

[linefacingforever]

[Yu smiled faintly, resting his head down on the seat, staying quiet. Those two needed a moment, obviously.]

[like_a_dragon]

[Chie rubbed sleep from her eyes, which was strange as she did this as naturally as she was in her own body. She gave a yawn when Yukiko's last comment caught her year.]

Yeah, it's been a year, huh?

[She leans into her again.]

Were you okay? I'm... *yawn* ...I'm sorry I wasn't there for you...

[gigglesnortpriestess]

I should say the same to you. I wasn't there to help you during that tournament...should've found a way to get back home...

[like_a_dragon]

But you were.

Maybe you haven't yet, but you will.

And you were awesome then, too.

[linefacingforever]

She's pretty awesome now.

[Yu smiled faintly at that, flicking his tail so it brushed against Yukiko's.]

[gigglesnortpriestess]

[Cue the blush. White pony meant obvious embarrassment.]

N-No, I don't think that. I just would do what anyone else would.

[Except ride changelings into battle, train with dragons, and sing defiant songs to some crazy god thing.]

[like_a_dragon]

Yeah...

[And she's drifting off, despite her feelings and concern for her friends. This was a long day, and she was showing a braver face than what she was really feeling. But like this, this felt safe. At least for now.]

[linefacingforever]

[Yu glanced around Yukiko to see that Chie was just about to nod off, a faint smile coming to his face. He reached behind him then, pulling out a blanket he had tucked away for the trip, and pulled it over all three of them.]