Pulinpa. A powerful spell used by various Shadows to inflict a confusion state on those it came in contact with. Throughout their battles, the Phantom Thieves had dealt with various Shadows with such an ability; mostly resulting in the others having to restrain those under said confusion until they snapped out of it or were healed. This however only occurred when said person was hit with one dose of Pulinpa. When hit with three at once... things would get interesting...
"Joker look out!" The dark-haired youth gritted his teeth as he felt his ally push him out of the way. Time and time again he had told his allies to not do such a thing- let him deal with his own pain as they did. Yet they would always knock him aside at rather critical moments. This time being his girlfriend, Queen.
They had been battling a group of Shadows that kept launching status ailments at them left and right. Joker cursing the fact he had not kept his Persona that could heal them due to trying something new; this resulting in him having to burn through most of the items meant for such things that they had brought that day. His eyes wide as he saw Queen hit with such attacks.
It was not too surprising to see the creatures were using Status Ailment attacks on their strategist- but the team gasped at seeing all three of the monsters use Pulinpa on the brunette at once. Everyone watching as the teen's eyes grew wide as could be before they glazed over; her body slumping to the floor without any resistance.
"QUEEN! BASTARDS!" Joker snarled as he switched to Thor. The Norse figure radiating Joker's rage as he raised his hand and gave the order, "MAZIODYNE!"
With a single raised hammer Thor unleashed a barrage of lightning blasts that consumed the trio of Shadows. Each of them screaming in agony before they were vaporized. Joker not really caring to recruit any of them as they had hit Queen far more than he was able to tolerate. His attention turned back to the brunette who was still on the floor; the others all looking after her.
"Queen!" Joker cried out before rushing over. Quick to reach the floor and check on the girl- her eyes still glazed over as she laid there in a dazed state. She was breathing thankfully; still recovering from the attack. Seeing no other alternative he took the girl into his arms and ordered Morgana to get ready to head to a rest area. Taking the wheel and leaving the girl in Noir's hands for the time being.
It was around twenty minutes later that the Phantom Thieves were in the nearest rest area while Queen was laid on the chair. Joker pacing back and forth while Morgana made sure the girl was fully healed.
"Joker, will you stop pacing? You're making me nervous..." Panther stated as she watched Joker walk back and forth. She knew how protective he could be of the girl, but seeing him freak out like this was not normal. He was their charismatic leader after all.
"Seriously dude relax. We've been hit with worst stuff before. Ain't nothin' too new, she just got extra confused." Skull reasoned which failed to alleviate the man's anxiety. His pacing only stopped when Queen groaned and began to sit up.
"Makoto!" Joker called out her name without thinking. The others all gathering around the brunette as they checked on her.
"Mako-chan are you alright?"
"Hey, Queen you doing okay?"
"Queen, were there perhaps any specific colors that came to mind when you were hit with that spell?"
"Fox! Not now!"
Everyone's voices sounded over each other's until Joker stood and snapped his fingers. Everyone still questioning how he did that with gloves on but it was enough to silence them. Giving Queen a moment to regain her composure as her eyes were still shut. As they opened they were greeted by ones that were clearly still rather glazed over.
"...Buchi-kun...?" Makoto asked with a tilt of her head. Eyes focused solely on Joker as the youth blinked. The others all raising brows at the sudden name; not sure who Buchi-kun could be. Joker, however, was aware of who Makoto meant.
"...Buchi? N-no. Makoto it's me, Ren. Joker." He corrected himself while fidgeting with his gloves. Makoto standing up with her mask off and attention solely on her beau.
"Buchi-kun when did you get so big? A-and since when could you talk? Wait... Are you the REAL Buchi-kun!?" Makoto suddenly questioned with a shocked expression. Joker again blinking a few times until she felt Panther tug at his sleeve.
"Joker, what is she talking about? Who is Buchi-kun?" The blonde questioned. Skull and the others a bit confused while Oracle seemed to have a quizzical expression- as if the name was familiar to her.
"It's her nickname for that cartoon character Buchimaru. Apparently, she was... well IS a big fan of it. Has a giant plushie from her childhood and everything." Joker explained to which Oracle and Noir perked up.
"Oh! That's why it sounds familiar! Wait... Queen's into Buchimaru...?" Oracle questioned with a disbelieving look while Noir giggled. "I think that's quite adorable Mako-chan. I used to love Buchimaru as a child myself. But why is she calling YOU Buchi-kun Joker-kun?" Noir asked to which the man shrugged.
"She's still under the effects of the confusion. It was so concentrated that it has yet to fully shake off of Queen. Meaning she's hallucinating right now until it wears off or one of us cures her. Noir?" Morgana turned to the fluffy haired brunette who sadly shook her head. Clearly far too drained due to a powerful Shadow they encountered that took all of Noir's Psy energy to deal with.
As Morgana had explained, Makoto was deep in a strange hallucination. She did not see the foreboding walls and sections of Mementos. All she saw was a bright and colorful field. And when she looked at Joker all she saw was a giant Buchimaru with the boy's hair and mask. Part of her felt like it was familiar but was too overjoyed seeing her childhood idol in front of her. Not realizing said bear was just her boyfriend. Bliss overtaking Makoto's senses more and more as 'Buchimaru' spoke to a bunch of colorful animals standing nearby just like him.
At the same time, Joker was about to comment about going up to the top floor and getting another Persona but was interrupted as he felt a pair of arms wrap around his frame. Looking down he was greeted by Makoto hugging him with the biggest smile on her face.
"I knew one day you'd appear Buchi-kun! I knew it!" Makoto cheered as she hugged her boyfriend tight- unaware of him not being a giant panda icon. Joker not really sure how to react at first until Makoto suddenly lifted him into the air. Still hugging him but spinning around as she giggled loudly. "Buchi-kun! Buchi-kun! I got a Buchi-kun!" She sang happily as Joker was spun around and around.
The others were all giggling at the sight- wishing they could take pictures. Joker, however, was getting rather dizzy. "Ma... ko... to... please... stop... spinning... me...!" He tried to ask the confused strategist until she stopped short. Joker feeling his head throb a little before something even stranger occurred.
"This. This is weird." Skull stated to which the others agreed. They were not used to seeing Makoto so... giggly and girly. They were used to both her prim and proper self, and the terrifying Queen. Not this giggly fangirl who was singing about a giant panda. While Noir found it extremely adorable, the others all found it just kinda odd. Fox, however, was just thinking this could make a great painting.
'The hidden side of the Queen...' Fox thought to himself as Joker was continuously spun around- unable to break Makoto's death grip. Before Joker could react he has shifted around in Makoto's arms; soon finding his back tucked underneath her armpit as she carried him like a barrel. Joker blinking in honest confusion while the others were looking on with raised brows. Fox still formulating picture ideas in his mind.
"Okay, Buchi-kun! It's time for our own adventures!" Makoto suddenly stated with that same giant smile on her face. Her hallucinations clearly clouding all her judgment as Joker was blushing profusely at his position.
"Makoto seriously. Put me down. I'm not Buchimaru!" He tried so hard to reason with her but it was as if his words did not translate properly to his girlfriend. She was able to speak to respond but gasped as she turned to the group. Namely Skull.
"I-it can't be! DARK BUCHI-KUN?!" Makoto cried out as she pointed to Skull. The blonde male blinking a few times before pointing to himself. "W-wait me? Who-"
"You... You're here to try and hurt Buchi-kun aren't you! I remember how jealous you were of him and his kind heart! You... I won't let you hurt Buchi-kun!" Makoto cried out as her mask reappeared on her face. Her expression shifting into her more Queen-like state as she suddenly rushed in; carrying Joker and all.
"WHOA WHOA WHAT THE-" Skull cried out as the others scrambled away. Makoto suddenly using her free hand and feet to unleash a flurry of attacks at her friend. Joker trying his best to wiggle away and get her to stop- Makoto proving strangely strong even in her confused state. Skull barely able to dodge them as he backed up more and more until he hit the walls of the break area.
"EAT THIS YOU BAD BEAR!" Makoto cried out before punching at full strength. Skull screaming in fear as he ducked underneath the girl's fist; eyes wide as it collided with the wall and shattered it with ease. Everyone looking on with pale expressions at the sight.
'Okay... Confused happy Makoto is as scary as Queen...' Joker thought as he was carried around while Makoto kept chasing Skull. The others looking on unsure what to do- too fearful to interfere. Makoto turning to them which made them all tense up.
"Buchi-pals! We must unite to defeat the evil of Dark Buchi!" She cried out to which the others just blinked. Looking to one another wondering if she meant them. Not knowing how Makoto only saw them as a bunch of the colorful animal sidekicks of Buchimaru. Joker just looking defeated as Makoto continued to chase after Skull. Panther deciding to take initiative before Skull got hurt. Walking over to her friend with raised arms.
"L-let's just calm down here Makoto. I-it's us! Your friends. N-not the Buchi-friends or whatever you said. Let's just put Joker down and NOT kill Skull okay?" She tried her best to reason with the out-of-it council president. Noir and Fox joining in- the latter only after being pushed to do so by Noir- and tried to get the girl to calm down. Only for her to look at them in shock.
"W-what do you mean you're not gonna help Buchi-kun? W-wait... it can't be... Y-you're not the Buchi-pals at all! Y-you're the Dark Buchi-Pals!" Once more the others blinked at Makoto's reaction and words. Realizing that she clearly was not hearing them at all. "If that is the case then I'll have to beat you all! FOR BUCHI-KUN!" Makoto cried out before rushing towards the new trio and Skull. The four of them going wide-eyed before they did the first thing that came to mind. Run.
Oracle and Mona meanwhile watched from the sidelines as their friends were in quite the odd situation. Joker clearly far too dizzy to even react properly anymore as he had been swung around each time Queen made a move. Leaving him unable to do a thing as the others tried to escape the wrath of their friend.
"...So... Hide behind the chairs...?" Mona questioned to which Oracle nodded. Both choosing the option to hide in case her attention turned on them. They spent a good thirty minutes hiding.
After said half an hour Makoto stopped moving. Blinking a few times as the luster began to return to her eyes as the confusion finally wore off. Standing straight as she looked around.
"Um... what just...?" She began to question before hearing a groan. Looking down she saw a floored Skull who was seemingly slammed with great force from the way the tile was cracked. To the sides were Noir and Panther looking a bit exhausted and in a heap together as if they had been thrown. Fox meanwhile was on top of the rest area like he had been tossed up there while groaning. Makoto blinking as she also felt a great weight in her arms. Turning to see her beau in said arm looking extremely dizzy; Makoto wondering why she was carrying him like so.
"...U-um... w-what just happened...?" Queen questioned, entirely unaware that she had thrown her friends and caused great havoc. Oracle and Mona peaked their heads up in fear. Makoto just blinking as she looked around confused.
"D-did I miss something?"
It was from that point on that Makoto was given all the Confusion resistant charms. She never understood why that was the case... Or why they seemed fearful if she ever mentioned Buchimaru.
