sclaimer: I own Charles Waldo, Reiko Setsuka, Siobhan Murphy, magmon1000 owns James Bond Sykes, Chris Sykes, and Abagail Sykes. SmileRen owns Amiko Tosaka.

Chapter 1
"And So It Begins..."

Classroom 2-2

The classroom was still empty. Nothing had been taken down in this room yet as they wanted to make sure there were enough boxes remaining to put stuff in.

"Today's the last day of the Culture Festival, but there's no one here at all," Yosuke said.

"Why did we reopen this room?" Charles asked.

"Because I wanted to see it," Amiko said.

"I hear the OTHER classes were still in full swing before it was called for cleanup," Chie said dourly.

"Aw…and I was kind of interested in this group date… I wonder why it never caught on," Yukiko said.

"Man, I'm glad it isn't. There's nowhere else to rest," Kanji said.

"I like it. No one's taking pictures of me or making awkward small talk. Great plan, Yosuke-senpai…" Rise said.

"Aye…one of the most genius moves ever…" James rolled his eyes. He was in a bad mood, but had decided not to blame Charles for things going south with Naoto.

Maggie buggered me with this and so I can't blame a bloke who genuinely wanted to pit in a good word for his cousin, James thought.

"If that was my plan, then I would've suggested a quiet zone to begin with," Yosuke said.

"I believe there was something along those lines suggested…" Charles said.

"Don't worry, Chuck. The way Chie and Yosuke argue and Teddie needling Kanji, we're lucky that this IS the quiet room…" Minako said.

"Mina!" Chie said. Then she shifted gears. "There's one last event to finish off the festival today, right? I wonder what it's gonna be about."

Rise jumped up and down. "I heard it's a karaoke booth with no signups needed!"

"There's probably a bouncer with a cover charge…" Charles said.

"Why would a karaoke booth need a bouncer? The only unruly karaoke singers are all drunk and there's no alcohol…" Yukiko said. Charles sweatdropped.

"Wouldn't it draw too large a crowd if you sang, Rise-san?" Naoto asked.

"I want in! It'll be my second grand victory after the cross-dressing pageant!" Teddie said, now in his fur.

"Teddie!" Teddye said. "Why are you in the fur?"

"Bearcause, my dear cousin, It seems that they are congratulating me on your bearkini look and your bass playing. And so, despite my pleas I was Alice…I decided to be in my fur." Then he said. "When I grow up, I'm gonna be a singing, dancing magician!"

No one responded.

"Do you want to see my magic trick? Well…If you insist! A one, a two, and a three!" Teddie said, his Kumada form popping out of the fur. "Tada! My transformation into a gorgeous prince is complete!"

"All you did was take off your costume," Chie said, underwhelmed.

"Aye," Abby said. "No one will think that's interesting."

"Do it again!" Yukiko said, clapping excitedly.

"You were saying, Abby?" Chris said as Charles grinned.

"Sod off, Chris. Teddye and I are going now, so I thank you lot for having us here."

"Bye!" Everyone said as Abby and Teddye left.

"So? What do you think, Sensei? Were you shocked and amazed?"

"Huh…? Oh, Yeah…" Yu said, teasing Teddie by pretending that he was pretending to be surprised.

Teddie just hung his head down. "Aww…C'moon. Where's the excitement, Sensei…? Then again, that makes you even more of a city boy."

Then all of them heard the sound of the bell ringing…

…

"Hm?" Rise said. "What was that just now?"

"It sounded like…bells," Yosuke said.

"Hmm…It was different than our usual school bell, though, huh?" Chie said.

"Oh…!" Yukiko gasped as something occurred to her.

"What is it?" Chie said.

"I heard that the Kinjiro Ninomiya statue runs around the schoolyard in the middle of the night," Yukiko replied.

"…" Chie sweatdropped. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Besides, we don't have one of those statues here," Rise said.

"It's a common story as one of a school's Seven Horrors. Does this school has its own urban legends?" Naoto asked.

"Like I said, the statue runs around the…" Yukiko said.

"We don't have one!" Chie said.

"Oh, but the second one's impressive too. The eyes of the Mozart bust in the music room glow…!"

"All they do is glow?!" Yosuke said skeptically.

"Probably to make sure that we don't play Salieri," Charles said.

"All the statue does is run…" Yukiko said.

"Again, we have no statue," Chie said.

"The third one is, 'If you write your wish in the logbook at the Nurse's Office, it'll come true…'"

"Isn't that a superstition?" Yosuke said, scoffing.

"Okay, but here's the main point I wanted to get too…" Yukiko said.

"So you did have a point…" Kanji said, scratching is hair in awkwardness.

"She usually does…" Charles said.

"Can you guess the sixth one?" she said. When no one responded, she said, "'Whoever hears the bell of the clock tower to the end…'"

"Uh, we don't have a clock tower either," Yosuke said, sweatdropping.

"Although… as I recall, supposedly there was one here once. I heard it from the principal before," Naoto said.

"…Y'know, I think you're right, But I'm pretty sure that was before we were in grade school."

"So? What happens when you hear the bells to the end?" Yosuke said.

"You die," Yukiko said plainly.

Amiko jumped back slightly. "You're kidding, right? I doubt that would really happen."

"Ami, don't worry about it… it's such a cliché…" Yosuke said.

"You breathe your last?" Yukiko said, correcting herself.

"Rephrasing it doesn't make it better!" Yosuke said.

"You croak?" Yukiko tried again.

"Yukiko-san,…please stop…" Amiko said, clearly just a little uncomfortable.

"It's okay, Ami-chan…Teddie will protect you…" Teddie said.

Amiko smiled with relief. "Thank you, Teddie."

"Ooookaaay, enough about that story! That bell probably means the post-festival event's starting. Let's go!" Chie said. Then she quickly walked out of the classroom.

Yukiko was confused. "Huh? Chie left…"

"Can't believe Chie gets creeped out about the Seven Horrors stuff…" Yosuke grumbled.

"Uh…are you scared?" Kanji asked Naoto.

"Hm? No, not at all," she said.

They went into the hallway and along the way they saw a blonde haired woman with a blue coat and blue skirt, with dark blue pantyhose blue high heels. She was holding a large Blue Book.

"Margaret!" Yu said in slight surprise.

"Ah, Yu," she said, looking at him with her golden eyes and a hint of a smile.

"What brings you here?" Charles said.

"Bringing bad news…"James muttered softly.

"I've been allowed to have a fortune-telling booth here. It's just a way to pass the time," Margaret replied.

"H-Hey, Senpai! Who's this beautiful lady?! You never told me about her," Rise said.

"Me neither! I can't let this pass!" Teddie said.

"She's my sweetheart," Yu said, deadpan.

Charles and Minako chuckled.

"Guys, this is Margaret. She's the Attendant and resident of the Velvet Room. She helps with the Persona Fusions and also doles out advice," Yu said.

"She also proctors my Trials," Charles said.

"Indeed I have been remiss in mentioning your trials since August. You have passed The Trial of Forgiveness and The Gauntlet of Reconciliation."

"Oh, right, you've mentioned it before," Chie said.

"But, Yu-Kun, Charles-chan…Didn't you say the owner had a long nose? Does it… Does it stretch?" Yukiko asked.

Margaret looked irritated and shook her head, facepalming. "It doesn't stretch, and they were referring to myself. I'm actually curious as to what you two boys have been saying about us."

"I said the nose was a distinguished nose. Distinguished!" Charles said, panicking.

Margaret smiled slightly. "Don't worry, we're not going to kick you out just because you meant well."

"Oh, Thank God…I hope that wasn't another trial," Charles replied.

"You'll never know…" Margaret said, smile firmly in place.

Yosuke looked awkward. "Oh, uh…Sorry…" he said, rubbing the back of his head.

"There's no need for introductions. I know about all of you."

"I don't know who you are…and what about fusions and trials?" Amiko said.

Everyone else froze because they just spoke about stuff casually in front of her and realize they forgot she was there.

"Umm…Yu…is a chef…and he's coming up with fusion recipes and Margaret and her supervisor Igor, helps," Charles said.

"And, ehh…Charles is going through trials to…prove he…belongs?" Yu said.

Charles winced and whispered, "I can sink myself, thank you…"

Margaret chuckled. "Ms. Tosaka, I presume?" she asked.

Amiko noticed though that Margaret, despite her smile, had given her a look that spoke volumes. "Y-Yes?"

"Don't be nervous. Yu, Charles, and the rest of your friends have gained an ability to call upon their inner selves and reveal the masks with which they deal with everyday hardships… A Persona."

Charles looked at Margaret. "Jeez! Don't you know the term 'spoiler alert', Margaret?"

"I do not believe Ms. Tosaka is here by chance. I believe she may of help with our current mystery."

"Yeah, but you don't tell Ami something like this in front…you have to build up to it. We've kept a secret from her and she's gonna be hurt and here you come in, acting like a Superman movie that has Lois Lane find out his secret identity should have that moment before the movie is half over. Madness!"

"Ummm, Charles…I'm not upset…because I still don't know what she's talking about," Amiko said.

"Or there is the opportunity for further discussion…" Charles said tiredly.

Charles turned to Amiko, and said, "Ami…we're all sorry. But we kept this secret for your protection…but now it looks like we don't have to. Basically…" Charles looked at Yu and Yosuke to see if he should still say anything. They nodded, Yosuke more reluctantly than Yu. "…The person who killed Yamano Mayumi, Saki-senpai, and my mom, Elizabeth Yamata, has the ability to transform TVs into gateways that lead to another world. A harsher world. A world that Teddie comes from. A world where there are monsters that are called Shadows who roam and when it's foggy here in Inaba, it's clear in that world…and the Shadows kill any Human that was pushed in there. We use our Personas to fight these Shadows, rescue victims who have been kidnapped and thrown in there and have basically allowed each person to accept their darkest truths…their Shadows made Doppelganger flesh…and gain their own Persona."

Amiko looked at Charles the entire time and even for several seconds after.

And then she did something he didn't expect.

…

…

…

She laughed in his face.

"OK…Well, I gave it the college try…let's stick to the lame-ass stories…" Charles said, resigned.

"You're kidding. You're absolutely joking…or better yet…It's just something wrong with my meds. I took a little too much…"

"We're telling you the truth," Charles said.

"Suuuurrre you are," She said with a smile and a condescending pat of his forearm.

"Look, is there any way we can prove this?"

"Aye…" Chris said, pulling out what appeared to be a gun.

Amiko laughed some more. "What…Was this classified? You told me and now you have to kill me?!"

"No…this will give her proof right…?"

"Unlike the others, you can summon your Persona here in the standard world with that," Margaret said.

"You still have your Evoker, Chris?" Minako asked.

"It works well when people try to knock over Moel…" Chris grinned.

Then he pointed his Evoker at his head.

"So, what…he does some COOOOOOLLLLL Manga or Anime sacrifice and then something magical comes out?" Amiko asked, still laughing.

"I don't like her laughing like that. It's quite annoying…" Yukiko said.

"I mean…Surely you know I'm not gonna go for this tripe. Ahahahahahaha AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Amiko screamed as she saw Chris pull the trigger and his Persona appeared in view.

It was a Persona that looked like a puppet with strings…but it was only visible for 2 seconds before it faded.

"Shite! That took a lot out of me and it doesn't last long out here…"

Amiko's mouth moved but now sound was coming out. She looked pale and horrified.

And then she passed out. Yosuke caught her and helped her down to the ground.

"Shit…I forgot about other people…" Charles said.

"We seem to be the only people here, Chuck…" Chie replied.

"Is Ami-chan going to be okay?" Teddie asked.

"Amiko will be fine. This was quite a shock for her…but not one where her Autism Spectrum will become an issue. We shall leave her for a few moments.

"Let me tend to her. I was the unlucky sod who freaked her out, after all…" Chris said.

"Dude…I didn't think they were capable of coming out here," Kanji said.

"Normally they're not…but if the situation has been dire… then it would show…it just would take more of your strength than it did Chris's," Minako said. "Feel free to contradict me, Margaret."

"I won't, Minako. It seems that your experience in the Twin Cities has been a boon. That aside, did you hear that sound earlier?"

"What sound? Oh, right. We thought the post-festival thing was starting," Kanji said.

"I see… So you did hear it," Margaret said. "That sound did not come from reality. I heard it from my fortune-telling booth, after all…"

"From your booth?" Naoto asked, confused.

"Though it has no master, the fortune-telling room is a simplified Velvet Room."

"Explains a few things…" James derisively snickered.

Margaret looked at James with her eyes narrowed, but instead she said, "The Velvet Room is inseparable from a guest's fate. Absolutely nothing meaningless happens there…"

Naoto stroked her chin thoughtfully. "So then… if a sound was heard there, it was by necessity?"

"Maybe you just dropped a bell or somethin'?" Kanji asked.

"Indeed… Something is happening…or rather, something is about to begin…" Margaret said.

"She ignored me…" Kanji said sheepishly, sweatdropping.

"She does that from time to time…" Yu said.

"Well, I guess all we can do is check out this fortune-telling booth," Yosuke said.

"Says the man who rushed through a dooray made of red and black flowing squares…" Yu said, deadpan.

"You're never gonna let that go, are you?" Yosuke said. "Anyway, the Velvet Room's where they've been helping you out all this time, right?"

"…You raise an interesting point. If you all heard the sound, then it must be related to all of you…" Margaret said.

"Even me?" Amiko said, having come to.

"Amiko," Rise said.

"Ami-chan!" Teddie said, hugging her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm…okay, Teddie. Are you really from another world?"

"Yes…" Teddie said. "I'm beary sorry I didn't tell you… But Sensei said I couldn't bearcause it would put you in danger."

"So were you a boy, or a bear?" Amiko asked.

"I was a bear, but I grew a boy body so I could score!" Teddie said.

Amiko looked bland. "I think I was better off unconscious."

"I see… Ami-chan's no longer Teddie's friend…" Teddie said sadly, and the others could tell he wasn't faking.

Amiko knelt down and took Teddie's paws in her hands. "Teddie…you'll always be my friend…I just have a lot of stuff I have to deal with right now. Logic has kind of left the building and then came back like this bizarre British Comedy."

"OI!" James and Chris said.

"No offense…" she said. "I will never leave you behind…"

"I don't want to be alone…"

"You won't be…" Amiko said. Then she hugged Teddie and Teddie hugged her back.

After a moment, Amiko said calmly, though she blushed, "Teddie, please stop feeling up my rack or I'll leave you at your home."

"Can't blame a bear fur trying…" Teddie said.

"Yes we can," everyone tiredly said.

"Will you please follow me?" Margaret said, wanting to move things along. "It's this way." Margaret led them to her booth.

As they were walking, Yosuke asked Yukiko, "So hey, Yukiko. What's the Seventh Story?

"Well… If you've heard the six leading up to it, so supposedly something will appear."

Yosuke was puzzled. "What? That sounds like the Hundred Stories."

"Or the Seven Seals…" Charles said darkly.

"…Whoa!" Yosuke suddenly said.

"What's wrong?" Yukiko asked.

"Oh, uhh… there was a spider crawling by my feet and…" Then he kept looking around. "Huh? It's gone."

"A spider…?" Yukiko said.

"Must have been my imagination. C'mon, let's go," Yosuke said.

"Oi! It was just a spider as it was. It's not like it has some great relevance," James said.

Yosuke shrugged.

Once they reached the booth, Margaret said, "Here we are… Please be careful. As I feared, it is somewhat… unstable…"

"Why? It needs a master to stay stable?" Charles asked.

"What makes it unstable?" Rise said.

"Time. It's unstable…" Margaret said.

"…in bed…" James said. Everyone looked at him. "What? She sounds like a fortune cookie…"

Margaret just narrowed her eyes at James.

Rise sweatdropped. "Er…Let's go in, Senpai," she said.

They went inside the booth…

…

And things would never be the same…