Shadow Over Trolberg
A Hilda/Persona 4 AU
By Daring D.D. Danger
4: Secrets and Desires
4/18
"Persona!" Alfur's tiny voice rang through the stage. Alfur's Persona was blue and metallic, featuring planetarium projectors on it's head.
"What can it do?" Hilda asked.
"Astria, show us your stuff!" The Persona didn't move.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out little buddy!" Randall lightly pat Alfur on his back.
Refreshed from the previous day Randall and David tore through the bottom of Frida's castle, but as they passed the room Alfur had his awakening in, the lights went dark. Suddenly the sound of a motor filled the room, and a motorcycle shot up the stairs behind them.
"Hey! You guys better hurry if you wanna see my big stunt!" Biker Frida shot ahead and out of sight.
"From what I've gathered, that was Frida's other self correct?" Alfur asked.
"Most likely." Randall answered. As the group entered a spiral staircase they began hearing Frida's voice.
"I wish I were cool like Hilda!"
"I wish I was brave like Hilda!"
"Does Frida really think of me this way?" Hilda asked.
"She never seemed like the type honestly?" David answered. They rounded the last few stairs.
"Hilda!" Frida was laying on the floor on the other side of a large empty room.
"Oh It's Hilda! My favorite adventurer!" Shadow Frida stared menacingly at Hilda.
"Hilda is here to save us! Again. Isn't that right?"
"Yes!" Hilda announced.
"Too bad she can't! Hilda could never set me free. I realized this a few years ago. I don't need her." Shadow Frida said mockingly.
"I don't need anyone!" Shadow Frida yelled.
"But I like my friends!" Frida was clearly weak.
"They aren't our friends, they're just losers."
"No!" Frida yelled.
"What do you mean no? You know it's true! Because I'm You!"
"NO! You are not me!" Shadow Frida erupted into flame in front of the group. A figure erupted from the flame like a Phoenix.
"Persona!" The boys got their Persona's out just in time to protect Hilda, but both were blown back.
"Randall! Call Orpheus back, you have a better advantage!" Alfur called out, shielded by Astria.
"Change!" Suddenly Randall flashed to the Velvet room. An image of Alfur showed in Margaret's book.
"You've successfully forged a new bond, the Star Arcana." Margaret smiled at him and closed the book.
"Ganesha!" Randall's new Persona took Orpheus place, and began gaining ground through Shadow Frida's fire. David was hunched over with Hilda now, Valkyrie barely holding on. Randall was walking through the flames slowly but surely. He approached Frida.
"I can see it now. You aren't jealous of Hilda, you're envious."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"You want her freedom to adventure."
"That would mean I want to ignore my sick parents and my studies! I couldn't!"
"Of course not, this..." Randall gestured to the other Frida. "Is just a single intrusive thought."
"So in a way she is me? Frida was dubious. Suddenly Ganesha was blown back, taking Randall with it. He leaned up from the ground.
"She doesn't define you Frida!" He went down and Ganesha disintegrated. Shadow Frida took aim at David and Hilda.
"Wait!" Frida stood up.
"I don't like it, but you are me." Shadow Frida began showing static.
"You're going to accept me?!" It asked.
"Yes. Accepting you doesn't define me. I wish I didn't need someone to tell me that."
"Valkyrie!" David's Persona used the last of it's strength to run Shadow Frida through, reducing her to dust. A small card shaped object fell to Frida's hands.
"Is this?"
"Persona." Randall grunted out, still on the ground.
The five and Alfur now sat in the cafe at Junes.
"So you really don't remember how you got in the TV World?" David asked.
"I told you, the last thing I remembered was someone knocking on my door." Frida said, looking ashamed about not remembering more. Suddenly Randall caught a glimpse of something bright and green.
"I'll be back David." He said getting up. He walked across the street into an alley.
"I know you're here." He said.
"I'm not even here for you." Twin Tail returned to her human form.
"I'm just trying to find someone new to give nightmares!"
"Why on Earth do you need to do that?" He asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
"Clearly your weakness is leather belts" Randall flashed the belt he'd added to his day to day outfit.
"Be a shame if Hilda told more people that."
"That Bitch!" Twin Tail's eyes lit up green.
"We need it to live."
"Nightmares?" Randall asked. "And We?"
"Fear, and yes Trolberg has over a dozen Marra." Twin tail was in a very collected state of anger.
"Scared Randall?" She raised her arms menacingly.
"No." He responded smugly, albeit he was bluffing.
"You should see what we can do in dreams then."
"Show me."
"What?" She'd never been so confused.
"Show me what you think I should be scared of, or are you afraid?" Twin Tail began dragging him out of the alley by the arm. Randall was afraid, but he was also curious, he just hoped he wouldn't regret it.
The sun set by the time Randall and Twin Tail reached the Huldrawood. Save for a faint green glow that had been steadily growing in front of them. Suddenly she threw him into a brightly lit clearing, his arm sweaty where the Marra had held him for the last hour.
"Who's this?" A voice asked. Randall opened his eyes to see at least a dozen green pairs of eyes starring him down.
"He says we aren't scary enough" Twin Tail flashed her teeth.
"Not scary huh?" A girl with dark hair and a green sweater approached. She put one hand on his chest, pinning him down.
"I'll make you scared." She whispered directly in front of his face.
The Marra forced him to listen as they told stories of nightmares they'd given, all while absorbing the light of their green campfire. Eventually Twin Tail sent him towards home, but something bothered him the entire way. He quietly entered his room, changing into his pajamas and setting up his belt.
"Hi." The voice came from across the room. Randall jumped. He turned over to see the dark haired Marra's head sticking out of his closet.
"How long have you been there?" He asked.
"Long enough to watch you change." She smiled a toothy smile.
"I'm still not afraid of your!" Randall said.
"Then prove it! Take the belt off." Randall looked down at the belt and unclasped it. The Marra now floated above him.
"Goodnight Randall."
"Oh, and call me, Euryale." Randall closed his eyes.
To Be Continued
