This fic... is something that is born way before I even have account at this site. Not exactly like this, but close to it. I don't know why, but I just started writing this since March, and here is the prologue. Like all of my fics, it's obviously an AU. What kind of scenario though, feel free to take a look. Happy Reading.
P.S. I own nothing except the plot. And please ignore the other Persona fic I have.
Persona: Darkness
Prologue
0 - The Fool
"Remember, Minato. Never run away from the darkness, do not fear it," the voice of a woman sounded out amidst the blaze that was burning down the bridge.
"B-but, t-the voice, and the shadows, they are scary," a voice of a boy, not older than 7, said to the woman.
"Even if they are scary, that doesn't mean they're evil, right?" a voice of a man sounded out this time.
"Well, some actually sounded really sad, and there's one that said it just wants to protect its friends, though some did sound evil," the boy replied.
"See, not all darkness is bad, just like not all light is good. Remember this, Minato, good or bad doesn't lie in light or darkness, they all depend on the person," the woman said again.
"So, Minato, do not run away. Face the darkness, accept it, for no human can live in light without in darkness and so do the opposite. And I hope with time, you will realize how gifted you are," the man continued.
"And lastly, Minato, remember, we love you," the woman said lastly, before the raging flame consumed everything on the boy's vision.
"Mom! Dad!" the boy cried out.
As he lost his consciousness, he saw a shadow, with a skull on its face. As it looked at the boy, it said, "Father?"
Time never waits.
It delivers all equally to the same end.
You, who wish to safeguard the future,
however limited it may be...
You will be given one year;
go forth without falter,
with your heart as your guide...
(Insert Burn My Dread)
"Due to a malfunction in the switching system, today's rail schedule has been greatly altered. We apologize to any customers who were in a hurry. The next stop is Iwatodai...," the announcement rung out inside the nearly deserted train, Anehazuru.
A teenage male opened his bluish steel grey eyes as he was woken up by the announcement. After yawning, he rubbed his tired eyes and dragged his hand through the tresses of his cobalt blue hair.
"Iwatodai. This is the final train bound for Tatsumi Port Island. Please take care to board before our departure," the announcement rung out once again as the the train's door opened. Minato then stepped out of the train. Looking at the clock in the station, he noticed that it's already so late at night. With his headphones blasting music right into his ears, he walked out of the station.
As soon as he stepped outside, the world all around him suddenly became bathed in green light, with blood-like red substance flowing on the street and an eerie gigantic moon up in the sky. A lot of coffin-like objects lining the street. As he looked at his surroundings, Minato just sighed and then started walking again.
After a while, he arrived in front of a building. Looking at the pamphlet in his hand, he made sure that it's the place he was looking for. He then climbed up the stairs and tried to turn the door's knob and open the door, which he succeeded in doing.
"Welcome," a voice sounded out as soon as Minato stepped into the building.
A young boy, around 10 years old, was standing right in the middle of lounge. His curly black hair framed his smiling face. His blue eyes shone with mirth as if he has been waiting for Minato's arrival.
"You're late, you know. I've been waiting for a long time," the boy pouted. Minato just looked at the boy with exasperated stare.
"I see..., well," the boy then held out a piece of paper.
"If you want to proceed, then please sign here. It's a contract. There's no need to be scared. It only binds you to accepting full responsibility for your actions," the boy said.
As Minato looked over the contract, he saw something was written on it.
'I chooseth this fate of mineown free will.'
Below the writing was the blank place to sign his name. Once Minato signed the contract, the boy spoke again.
"... Very well. Time is something no one can escape. It delivers us all to the same end. Wishing won't make it go away. And so it begins..."
"I really hope that you will succeed, Tou-san...," the boy mysteriously said before he disappeared into thin air.
'Cheeky brat,' Minato thought.
As he continued to stand in the lounge, Minato didn't realise that there's someone else who came down the stairs.
"... Who's there!? How can you be... But it's...! Don't tell me...," a voice, seemed to be a girl, spoke incoherently. Minato could see something resembling a gun in her hand. Before any of them could do anything though, a new sounded out.
"Wait, Takeba!"
7th April 2009, Tuesday
The lights suddenly came back to normal. Now Minato could clearly see just who is it that talked to him. The girl in front of him, the one who first talked to him, Minato assumed, had neck-length light brown hair and brown hair. She also wore pink sweater jacket over what Minato assumed was the school uniform. From where Minato stood, he could see that the girl was shorter than him.
The other girl meanwhile, had long dark red hair that also covered her left eye. Her eyes were reddish brown, from what Minato could see from her right eye. Like the first girl, this one also shorter than he was, albeit only slightly. Unlike the first girl however, she wore the school uniform without any additional changes, well, except you counted the black knee-high high-heeled boots, of course.
"The lights...," the first girl said.
"*cough* I think we should sit down first," the second girl tried to break the awkward situation. Minato nodded as the three of them moved and sat down in the lounge.
"To be honest, I didn't think you'd arrive so late," the second girl started the conversation.
"The train got delayed a couple of times. Sorry if I cause any inconveniences because of it," Minato answered.
"There's no need for apologies. It's not your fault, after all. Now, let me introduce myself. My name is Kirijo Mitsuru. I'm one of the students who live in this dorm," the second girl, Mitsuru, introduced herself.
"My name is Arisato Minato. Nice to meet you," Minato likewise introduced himself.
"... Who's he?" the first girl asked.
"He's a transfer student. It was a last minute decision to assign him here. It's only temporary though. He'll eventually be moved to a room in the boys' dorm" Mitsuru answered.
"But... Is it okay for him to be here?" the first girl asked again.
"I guess we'll see...," the second girl just closed her eyes and smiled.
As the girls talked among themselves, Minato stayed silent while observing the girls.
'What they're talking about... And the first girl's reaction... They're hiding something. And added with the fact that both of them were perfectly fine during it, who are they?' Minato silently thought.
"This is Takeba Yukari. She'll be a junior this spring, just like you," Mitsuru finally introduced the first girl.
"Hi, I'm Yukari," Yukari introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you, Takeba-san," Minato said.
"Uh, y-yeah. Nice to meet you too...," Takeba stuttered.
"It's getting too late, so you should get some rest. Your room is on the second floor, at the end of the hallway. Your things should already be there," Mitsuru said.
"Oh... I'll show you the way. Follow me," Yukari said in a cheery tone.
Once Minato and Yukari arrived at the front of Minato's room, Yukari then said, "This is it... Pretty easy to remember, huh? ... Since it's right at the end of the hall. So, any questions?"
"No, no questions," Minato answered.
"I see. Um... Can I ask you something? On your way here from the station, was everything okay?" Yukari asked in a hesitant tone.
"Yeah, nothing is wrong," Minato smoothly lied, or maybe just said the truth. The truth was different to each person, after all. For Minato, what he just saw a few minutes before was perfectly normal.
"I see... Never mind, then. Well, I'd better get going...," Yukari said as she started walking towards the stairs at the other end of the hallway. After a few steps though, she then stopped and turned back.
"Um... I'm sure you still have other questions, but let's save them for later, okay? Good night," Yukari then continued walking.
Minato then opened the door to his assigned room using the key that had been given to him. Once he got in, he locked the door.
'Let's see... A bed, a TV, a small fridge, a mirror and a sink, a desk with my books already set up on it. Not too bad,' Minato thought as he changed up into his sleepwears and lied on his bed.
'Now, let's see how this year will turn out, shall we?'
That's it for the prologue. I know, compared to my other works, this one is probably the shortest, but with something that is already as planned as Persona, I guess it's obvious. As you can see, I named the chapters after Arcanas, which you can know now means this will end at The World. This fic is the most planned and structured out of my fic, and since I don't really off canon too much, I guess there's little spoilers here except here and there. Anyway, feel free to ask me via PM or review if you have any questions.
May We Meet Again.
P.S. I'm conflicted whether to use Minato or Makoto as the MC's name, so Minato is just temporary until I'm really sure. Please share with me your thoughts over this, since I think this's something the readers would prefer to have a say in.