Persona 7
Section IV
The Return
~ Reflecting Time 8/27 MON
Condition: Good
The Red Velvet Room
"It's good to see you again," Julia said, standing beside the seats Lee and EJ had occupied on their first trip to The Red Velvet Room when they entered. "Any refreshments?"
"Please," EJ said, going to his seat.
"No time," Lee said, taking his seat and giving his attention to Florence. "Flo, what is it we need to know about the Persona Cards?"
EJ glanced at Lee and then gave Julia a look.
"Wrap it up to go," EJ mouthed to her about his refreshments, gesturing toward the back of the plane and demonstrating wrapping up a to-go plate.
"I had hoped to have all of you together for this explanation," Florence said. She briefly smiled when Lee called her Flo. "However, circumstances being what they are, the others will have to hear it when they return."
"We're trying to save them now," EJ said.
"You do know they're in trouble," Lee said. He didn't ask Florence a question. EJ noticed that.
"With you two on it," Florence said, "I have no doubt you'll all be together again soon. You two will help them out of their current predicaments, especially with the power you wield."
Julia had gone to the back of the plane, and a few minutes later she was back at EJ's side. She handed him a small container with a slice of cake, fork included, cheese cubes, and crackers.
"You're the best," EJ whispered, nodding his approval and thanks. "Don't leave us in suspense." He spoke to Florence. "You heard the man. Their clocks are ticking."
Florence raised one of her gloved hands, and the Personas all came to her as cards, even Lee and EJ's personal Personas. The Persona Cards floated around her small table. Julia went to Florence's side. She held a giant red book in her arms.
"Florence and I work in tandem," Julia said.
"You have the power to hold multiple Personas, equip them for you use, and wield their powers," Florence said.
Lee and EJ noticed they glowed red for a moment before Florence materialized a small compact mirror and a deck of cards on her table.
"You can now equip Personas you gain from Persona Cards," Florence said. "If you bring those Persona Cards to me, and you're strong enough in your power, I can fuse greater Personas for you to wield in battle and assist you on your path."
"I will keep track of every Persona you gain and fuse in my Compendium," Julia added. "With my help, you'll have all the information you need to face your opponents strategically."
"The more Personas on our side the greater our chances of succeeding," Lee said.
"There's another side to that," EJ said. "We might need all of this power because this is more dangerous than we can imagine."
"We'll have to be smart and strong," Lee said. "We can manage that. We can use Fusion to our advantage. We have to decide now. We've already wasted too much time. How are the others Ling?" She didn't answer.
"You won't be able to contact her while here," Julia said, "especially where she is now."
That made sense to Lee. It was even more reason to hurry and leave.
"I don't think we should fuse yet anyway," EJ said. "We can equip three Personas each. I'd like to have everything available at my disposal."
"We have a spare though," Lee said. As he said this, Florence raised the Persona, Pieces of a Whole. He thought about whether he should try to fuse it as he examined it.
"I would suggest you hold off on fusion as well," Florence said. "The Persona Pieces of a Whole is of The Fool Arcana."
Three mirror fragments appeared in the card. Lee and EJ saw their faces along with Ling's pass by on each respective piece.
"Yeah," Lee said.
"It appears this card is more important than use on the field," EJ said.
"To us," Lee added. "It's important to us."
Each fragment that represents this team is important. Each link of the chain that connects this team is mirrored here. Working together you might be able to restore the mirror that will reflect the complete picture. Your journey to collect and connect those pieces has started.
I am thou... Thou art I... The chain of the heart establishes a new link. They both faintly feel it. They both hear that distant voice again. The chain rattles because of new growth. It spurs them forward on their path. They shall be blessed when they choose to create Personas of the Fool Arcana.
They feel power build in their hearts.
EJ wondered how crazy people would think if he tried to write an article or book about this. Maya probably wrote about it as fiction so no one would have her committed. This was a lot to take in, analyze, and process.
Lee wondered how strong he would need to be to save his sisters and take care of everyone. Florence, Julia, Ulysses... Ling... How were they all involved? Why were they connected? Could any of them be trusted? It was smart to question but not a priority.
"You can switch Personas in battle," Florence said. "Feel the different connections within, and then channel that Persona, using it as you would your original Persona."
Julia opened her book for herself, but pages of the book also appeared in front of Lee and EJ. "Here are the Personas you've gathered so far, their strengths and weakness and what they can do. Their Arcana, which will determine just how strong they might become in your hands, is also included. Besides your original Persona, you can each equip two others. Decide now."
Pixie (Magician), Angel (Justice), Horus (Fortune), Roland (Hermit), Pieces of a Whole (Fool), Ukobach (Devil), and Sandman (Strength) were revealed along with their information as Julia said they would be. All of their information was revealed except for Pieces of a Whole. Its information was unavailable. Lee and EJ read over the other Personas.
EJ looked over the Compendium. It detailed information on the attacks and support traits the Personas had. Similar to Pieces of a Whole, Horus and Roland were without certain details. Despite this, EJ still found himself more confident about what he and Lee were about to face. That was odd for him. Fear and doubt were usually such close friends.
"I'll take Sandman," Lee said. "He reads like my kind of Persona. We'll get the job done."
"Can you take Ukobach too?" EJ said. "Even though I know, from the little bit of tarot information I've read over the years, that it doesn't represent the devil, I don't really want to associate with it."
"That's cool man," Lee said. "I'll take it."
"It works out because I already have Agi through Roland," EJ said, "and you already have Dia through Horus."
"Yep," Lee said in agreement. He didn't know what it was, but Lee couldn't help smile thinking of EJ. He was glad EJ was a part of this. He could've tried to do this alone, but it was better with the company. It reminded him of... It reminded him how he and his sisters used to be.
"Pixie and Angel are with me then," EJ said. He tried to refrain from thinking about how weird he was. He remembered all the work he did trying to be normal and become comfortable with people in the past. Now, he had entered a new world, or was it new worlds? He had entered college and the Mirror World. It was like starting all over again. He didn't want to mess up.
(EJ) Pixie – Dia, Rakunda, Zio, and Me Patra
(EJ) Angel – Aqua, Posumudi, Hama, and Charmdi
*Resist Water – Half Aqua Damage
(EJ) Roland – Cleave, Agi, Media, Marakukuja, and Recarm
(Lee) Ukobach – Agi, Dekunda, Sukunda, and Scarecrow
(Lee) Sandman – Pulinpa, Sleeper Punch, Skull Cracker, and Dream Needle
*Treasure Hunter – Reveals treasure in close proximity
(Lee) Horus – Sidewinder, Marin Karin, Dia, Poisma, and Garu
The Personas went to their respective wielder.
Lee had many questions. His top priority was the safety of his friends and family. If he could become stronger, using the power Flo told him about, he might be able to put himself in the position to get some answers. With his new team of Personas, with Horus, Sandman, and Ukobach on his side, he would take control of this situation. With so many lives in his hands, there was no need for fear. He had learned. There was never a need for it.
"Have you ever encountered fortune telling?" Florence asked. "The same cards always tell a different story. They reflect an individual. They can reflect a group as well. It's all in how you read them."
"We've wasted enough time," Lee said.
"You'll want to hear this," Julia told him.
Florence placed a hand on the deck of cards before her. The first card she pulled was The Tower.
"A three card spread," Florence said. "Here we have The Tower. It represents The Past, reflecting tragedy, a bad omen, and doom."
"Don't tell us this Florence before we're about to go into a battle," EJ said. "I guess the good news is this was in the past..."
"Is this telling a reading of our group," Lee asked, gazing at his table a moment before shifting his gaze and looking Flo straight in the eye, "or me?"
"That's a good question Lee," Florence said, smiled slyly, and continued. She pulled the second card, which turned out to be The Fool.
"Here we have The Fool," Florence said. "It represents The Present, reflecting newness, a journey, inexperience, freedom, madness, and innocence."
"Just all that," EJ said sarcastically.
Lee still didn't have a clear answer to his question, but he noticed EJ and Julia had a watchful eye on him when he had asked the question and even now.
Florence then pulled the third card, and this card was The Fortune.
"Lastly," Florence said, "we have The Fortune. It represents The Future, reflecting inevitability, changing fate."
"Changing fate," EJ asked, "or a changing fate?"
"She only reads the cards," Julia said, answering EJ's question. Her eyes rested on him, but they then rested on Lee too. "Take from it what you will on top of what she tells you."
"A new journey," Florence said on the one hand, gesturing. "A journey starts anew." She gestures with the other. "At one time, tragedy struck." Her eyes shifted from Lee, EJ, and back to the cards. "It set you on a treacherous path. A journey starts anew. A new journey. It starts. Each step taken toward your destination, journey's end, will come with decisions that may or may not bring you to a future of your own design or an inevitable fate."
Lee eyed Florence wondering how much more suspicious she could become.
EJ glanced at Julia and Florence. Neither said anything else. He wanted to know if Florence's words were meant to be cryptic or had she made them plain. Did they have to do with Lee, the group, or him?
"It's a little funny," Florence said. "You all have yet to reach the beginning of your ordeal. In time though, you will. After you help Ling, Axle, and Tess, you all will begin."
"You're sure," EJ said.
Lee said nothing. Then, he did.
"If that'll be all," Lee said, "we're going to go get Tess back." He stood and headed for the door to leave, but Julia stopped him.
"Hold on," Julia said. "Florence has something for you."
EJ slowly rose to his feet as he ate a bite of his cake and quickly put his fork back into his container, followed by putting his container in his book bag.
Lee, standing beside Florence and looking down upon her, watched her make a fist, palm down, turn it over, and open her hand to reveal a key on a chain.
I don't trust you after all. This is what his gaze said. Lee took it and put it around his neck.
You will though. This is what her gaze said. Florence placed her hands back on her table.
"Use this key on that mirror," Florence said. "You know the one. Once you do, you and the others will be able to return here any time you wish."
Lee knew she meant the mirror on the seventh floor of their dorm.
"If Julia keeps making this cake," EJ said, "you'll be seeing me a lot." He wanted to know which mirror they were talking about, but that could wait. He sensed a tension in the air, and he wanted to lighten the mood.
"You'll want to come see me," Julia told Lee and EJ. "If you complete certain tasks for me, I'll reward you handsomely."
Lee wouldn't entertain Flo any longer at least not when he had things to do. The real question was: Flirt with Julia (I like the sound of that), or Assure EJ (This place is going to make us rich)?
"I like the sound of that," Lee said and grinned mischievously.
"Get your mind out the gutter," EJ said with a playful shove forward. "We've got work to do." He led Lee out by his shoulders. "Until next time Florence, Julia."
"Flo," Lee said. He glanced back.
Florence looked after them and nodded. Julia grinned and gave a slight wave.
Lee opened the door back to The Mirror Road platform, and the door closed behind them.
~ Reflecting Time 8/27 MON
Condition: Good
The Mirror Road ~ Platform
When Lee and EJ were on the platform again, EJ let go of Lee and walked a little ways from him. He turned around and faced Lee a moment before he looked over toward The Mirror Road.
"Didn't mean to invade your personal space," EJ said.
"That almost sounded like an apology," Lee said. "No worries. Invade my personal space anytime." He grinned mischievously.
"Let's go get Tess," EJ said after giving Lee a look. He didn't know how else to respond.
"Ling," Lee called out to her. "Everybody doing all right? You doing all right? That meet ran a bit long!"
"I told you time works differently," Ling said. "And no need to shout. I can hear you just fine. You guys ready for the battle ahead?"
"I'm trying not to think about it," EJ said.
"We're going to get the others back," Lee said seriously. "We've got no other choice." He walked over, wrapped an arm around EJ's shoulders, and leaned on him a minute. He smiled and said: "Besides, once that adrenaline kicks in, you'll be too busy trying to live to worry about dying."
"Thanks...?" EJ said.
The two of them laughed.
"He calls that a pep talk," Ling said, "hah!"
"Nobody asked you," Lee said.
"I'm teleporting you back now," Ling said.
The Rescue
~ Reflecting Time 8/27 MON
Condition: Good
The Mirror Road ~ Part 2
Lee and EJ arrived back from where Ling originally teleported them.
"No time to waste," Lee said, going to the edge of the right side of The Mirror Road.
"Go while you can," Ling said. "We don't want any Shadows to show up and bar your way."
"Have I mentioned I'm afraid of heights?" EJ said. "Because if I didn't, I feel like I should just throw that out there. If I did, it bears repeating."
"For Tess," Lee said, turning back to him. He already knew EJ was going to come.
"For Tess," EJ said after taking a deep breath.
Lee jumped off The Mirror Road. EJ ran and jumped off behind him.
Lee and EJ watched as a full-length mirror moved in front of them. They saw Tess for a second before they saw themselves, and they passed through into the mirror.
Lee went through first and landed. EJ landed soon after. The two of them were in what appeared to be some kind of operating room. This is the impression they got from the tiled floor and the overhead lamp. They were already in a brightly lit room that seemed empty, bare and clean, sterile. A giant light had blinded them both for a moment, but then they could see the curtain. Lee glanced at EJ and gestured his head forward before he passed through the curtain. On the other side of the curtain, they saw that the lamp to their right was situated behind a screen, turning this way and that. To their left they found a full-length, intricately decorated mirror hanging on the wall. Lee thought he saw a blue butterfly pass across it, from left to right.
"That will be our way out," Lee told EJ in a low voice.
EJ heard him, but he also heard another voice. This voice sounded familiar. It sounded like Tess. It wasn't though. Lee passed through the next curtain that was before them. The second voice came from the other side of it.
Lee and EJ saw Tess in the corner of the room cramped with all the stuff within it including; a tall medicine cabinet, pills floated around the room; a long desk, with a large computer, keyboard, and printer on it; and a three-tiered metal carrier with several medical supply boxes on it. A rolling stool circled the room. Tess was beside a screen with another overhead lamp behind it, and its light beamed down on her. A window was at the far wall, but blinds covered it. The shadow of a tree's branches was behind it. Her eyes were closed and her head was pressed up against the wall. She fiddled with something in her hands while another Tess, this one whited out with purple eyes, sat facing her in stirrups talking crazy to her. This was Tess' Shadow.
"You're a baby killer and a whore," Shadow Tess said. "You're a dirty girl. I don't know how you'll ever get clean after this. Nobody's ever going to want you again now that you ruined yourself. Hey, you've got your music at least. You can use it to drown the world out. You can use it to keep yourself warm at night. You're used up. Who wants a girl that's all used up? Stay here and rot. It's for the best. You can stay here and think about that baby you sent out to pasture. Then, you'll be able to atone for all the people you hurt including, that man, that baby, your parents, and especially yourself."
Tess continued to turn whatever was in her hands with her eyes still closed and head pressed into the wall.
Lee and EJ saw that it was a bracelet.
"Doesn't matter how long you hold onto that charm bracelet," Shadow Tess said. "Your parents aren't coming, he's not coming, and your baby's gone. Wait. Can we even call it your baby? Like I said, it doesn't matter. Baby killing whores don't get happy endings. Little scrawny white girl that gets around like you do will never be more than what she is. Accept that. Atone."
"That's enough," EJ said, barely audible.
Lee heard EJ, which brought him out of the scene before him. He turned toward him when EJ stepped forward toward the Tesses holding onto his right hand in the palm of his left.
EJ's nerves were shot. His heart was about to leap from his chest and race around the room.
"That's enough," EJ shouted. He breathed deeply.
Shadow Tess turned her head and glared at EJ. Tess slowly opened her eyes and looked upon EJ and Lee.
"Tess," Lee said. "We're here. We're with you."
"I know what you're saying somehow resonates with you," EJ said, "but you have to block those words out." He glanced at Shadow Tess and back to Tess. "She's trying to pull you in, under, and down, but you can't let her do it."
"Why would she listen to you?" Shadow Tess questioned. "I'm here. I know her best." It rolled its eyes before it placed them back on Tess. It made sure to look her in her eyes. "Aren't I right? You're an idiot who makes poor choices and sleeps around." White fumes began to emanate from it.
"Tess!" Lee shouted.
"Come back," EJ told her.
Tess shifted her eyes from Shadow Tess to EJ.
"I've hurt a lot of people," Tess told him. "I'm an idiot. Who am I kidding? I thought I could be an engineer. I should atone. I deserve to pay."
"She gets it," Shadow Tess said. It pulled its legs from the stirrups, spun to the right, and got up off the left side of examination bed. It stood before Tess and looked down on her. It looked pleased with itself. Tess stared into its eyes.
Neither Lee nor EJ wanted to move. They didn't want Shadow Tess to hurt Tess. They didn't want Shadow Tess to hurt them either. They didn't know what Shadow Tess was capable of.
"You can't stay here," Lee said. "I don't know what poor choices you made, but staying stuck here and letting them bring you down won't do anything for anybody, especially you."
Tess shifted her gaze upon the charm bracelet. Lee and EJ saw seven charms began to appear on it. They also saw Shadow Tess began to look less than amused.
"I don't know if you believe in God," EJ started, "but we were all given free will. You made a choice, and no one has the power, ability, or right to judge your choice. Not even you. That zygote, baby, or however you want to see it is in your past although it will always be with you. This is your present, your here and now, and you have to be present in it to go forward and move on."
"Your first step is coming to terms," Lee said, "and we're going to be with you from the first step on."
Tess stopped turning her charm bracelet. She put it on her wrist.
Lee, EJ, and Shadow Tess watched as the overhead lamps suddenly went off and the blinds came open, letting sunlight into the room. A beautiful bird landed on the tree branch and chirped happily.
"I can do this," Lee and EJ heard Tess say. "I will do this. My family, my friends, they believe in me."
"After the way you hurt them?" Shadow Tess screeched. "I don't think so! You know I'm right. Do you hear me! I am you!"
Tess stood, raised her head, and gave Shadow Tess a defiant look.
" Is that what you want to hear?" Tess questioned it. She held onto her charm bracelet one more time before for she left it alone. "That you're me? Guys are hot. I love sex. I'm not going to apologize because I love sex and try to get it regularly. I didn't kill a baby. I just opted not to have one at this point in my life. I loved Lan, Lachlan, and he loved me. We had great times. I didn't know a girl could have that many orgasms in one session. I mean, he gave me like four every other time."
"I knew," Lee said to EJ.
"Shut up Lee," EJ said, shaking his head.
"We had some great times, we were great together, but we were in different places, physically and figuratively. My decision hurt people, but it was my decision. I mourned my losses. I'm done with that. I am intelligent. I will be an engineer. I'm going to start enjoying hot sex with hot guys again, and that happy ending? I'm going to get it. You and me, we make up the same person, but you're my anger and bitterness and my grief and sorrow. You are me, I agree with you, but all of me? Not a chance."
The curtains slide to the walls. The window opened. Tess, Shadow Tess, Lee and EJ looked out the window and watched a single, small, circle-shaped mirror appear from outside lined in topaz and green. As it hovered before both her eyes, Tess looking into it, she blinked. It cracked and shattered, and Tess along with it.
"I am thou..." Tess heard a firm, feminine voice speak. "Thou art I..." Tess felt when she began to come a part, but pain didn't follow her cracking and shattering. "I embody your True Reflection... The time has come...for thee...to release me, from thine prison."
"Persona," Tess exclaimed.
Tess became a swirling mass of fragments, fragments of her soul, and they came together.
"I am Brynhildr, the Shieldmaiden of Heroes."
From the single, small, circle-shaped mirror, Tess saw herself. She saw herself as Brynhildr. A breeze blew, causing a green blindfold to sway. Tess blinked, and she saw all of her. Brynhildr was a light-complected woman of a medium height, stocky, and eyes covered by her green blindfold. Everything from her neck down was covered in finely crafted leather armor. Several topazes were attached to her armor in various places: one on each knee, one on her silver-buckled belt, three on her right shoulder, and one on the left side of her neck. Her long black hair, many strands of it done in slender braids, lay on her shoulders. She held in her right hand a large brass chakram.
Brynhildr fell off Tess. She became herself. She fell back against the wall.
"That was a lot," Tess said in a breath.
Lee and EJ made to go for her, but Tess had them stay where they were on account of Shadow Tess.
Tess kept her eyes on Shadow Tess, after she pushed off the wall, as she walked toward Lee and EJ. She joined them, standing between the two of them with EJ on her left and Lee on her right.
"She won't let us go," EJ said. "This is the test."
EJ's mirror was at the ready.
"Time to fight," Lee said.
Lee's mirror was ready to go.
"I'm going to fight, win, and pass this test," Tess said.
Tess' mirror was beside her.
"You're not going to listen to them," Shadow Tess snarled. It grabbed hold of the examination bed and stirrups and threw them at the window, which destroyed the whole wall. "You're going to listen to me! Why, because I am your Shadow. I am your True Self." It bowed its head before it grew and transformed.
Shadow Tess became a full, defined white figure of medium height with blood red hair in two thick, long braids, resting on its chest down to its waist. It wore gray leather armor, consisting of a leather dress with a breastplate laid upon it, armbands, shoulder pads, and boots. In its right hand, it wielded a one and a half handed sword, which lay on the ground at the ready as she sat upon a blood red horse. Across its face a visor made of swan and raven feathers shielded its eyes. Two chalices appeared on the floor on either side of the horse before a black Swan Shadow emerged from the chalice on Shadow Tess' right and a white Raven Shadow emerged from the chalice on its left. The chalices remained.
"I'll cut you," Shadow Tess said. "I'll spill your blood. Until finally, who you are and the truth flows out of you."
A curved table appeared in front of EJ, Tess, and Lee before Shadow Tess made a move against them.
"If you're going to fight," Ling told Tess, "you're going to need a weapon."
The table had Gloves, a One-Handed Sword, Shield, and Battleaxe on it now.
"Go for the one that speaks to you," Ling said.
Tess recognized Ling's voice as soon as she spoke. Her voice drew her attention for a moment, but when she looked upon the table her eyes fell on the Shield, which made her smile.
"After all the comics I've read," Tess said, "this is fitting." She grabbed the Shield before she rejoined the others.
"You want to take the front or the back?" Lee asked Tess, taking his spear into his hand.
"Either works for me," Tess said.
"I'll stay in the front with you if that's where you'll be," Lee said. "I'm ready."
"I'll be in the back," EJ said with his bow, getting into position. "Ready when you are Tess."
"I'm ready," Tess said after looking from EJ, Lee, to Shadow Tess, the Swan Shadow, and the Raven Shadow. Tess was ready because EJ and Lee seemed so calm. They had come to help her. She wouldn't be afraid, especially knowing she had their experience to fall back on.
Shadow Tess patted the horse on the side of its neck. The horse took Shadow Tess beside the table. Shadow Tess began to hack through the table, causing it to disappear. Neither Tess nor Lee took a step back.
Lee didn't move because he planned to help Tess win this.
Tess wasn't sure if she didn't move because she couldn't make her body move or because she believed she could do this. At this point, it didn't matter.
"No need to panic Tess," Lee said. "EJ will do enough of that for the both of us."
"Shut up Lee," EJ said.
This made Tess smile and helped her breathe.
"Time to get serious Lee," Ling said.
"Ling will tell us what we need to know," Lee said.
"Then," EJ said, "we'll act accordingly."
Battle Start
"You've got three opponents to face," Ling said. " My analysis is complete. Its Weaknesses are Electric and Strike attacks. Lee and EJ, your new Personas will come in handy here. Don't rely on your normal attacks. Tess, you can use your normal attacks because they do Strike damage and with your Persona you can use Electric attacks. The Raven and the Swan Shadows are weak against Shot damage. You don't have to worry about the birds Tess. You can't do Shot damage yet. Just concentrate, shatter your mirror, and your Persona will do the rest."
Tess took in the beautiful blue sky from where the wall used to be.
"I'll start us off," EJ said. "Persona!" He shattered his mirror and had Roland use [Marakukaja], raising his, Lee's, and Tess' defense. He thought about changing his Persona to go on the offensive, but he wanted to make sure everyone was protected as much as possible on the off chance his first attack missed.
Shadow Tess, on its horse, took the front while behind it the Swan Shadow sat awaiting its move to Shadow Tess' right and the Raven Shadow hovered to Shadow Tess' left. Shadow Tess, while dragging her sword, had the horse bypass Lee and Tess to lift its sword and swing it [Power Slash] at EJ. EJ took the hit and was knocked back. The attack downed him. Shadow Tess quickly turned the horse and went for Lee next. She lifted and swung her sword a second time [Power Slash] at Lee, but Lee managed to dodge it. Lee ran to EJ after and helped him onto his feet.
EJ changed his Persona from Roland to Pixie. He had Pixie use an Electric attack [Zio] against Shadow Tess. Unfortunately, Shadow Tess had its horse move, and Pixie's attack missed.
Lee changed his Persona from Horus to Sandman. He had Sandman use a Strike attack [Sleeper Punch]. Sandman punched Shadow Tess right off its horse to the floor and into a deep sleep. Before Lee could make his next move, the Swan Shadow rose from its position, flapped its wings, and circled Shadow Tess, while doing so using some kind of skill of its own [Slumbudi]. After the Swan Shadow landed, Shadow Tess woke up, but it stayed down.
"Seems like you might want to hold off on status effects," Ling said. "That Swan Shadow might need to be taken out first."
Lee changed his weapon, going from his spear to his rifle. He aimed his rifle and fired at the Raven Shadow first. When the Raven Shadow went down, he aimed his rifle again and fired on the Swan Shadow. He managed to cause critical Shot damage to the Swan Shadow, downing it too.
"All-Out Attack!" Lee shouted.
"All-Out Attack?" Tess questioned.
"All-Out Attack," EJ assured her.
Lee ran upon the Raven Shadow, drove his spear at it, and then used his spear to toss it into the air. He did the same with Shadow Tess and lastly did the same with the Swan Shadow. EJ let three arrows fly from his bow. Each arrow hit its targets. Afterward, Tess threw her shield at an angle hitting each Shadow and dropping them back to the ground before her shield returned to her.
All three Shadows took the damage and then recovered. The Swan Shadow sat as it had before, the Raven Shadow hovered again, and Shadow Tess got up back on its horse.
The Swan Shadow healed [Dia] Shadow Tess.
"Yeah," Ling said, "that Swan Shadow has to go."
EJ changed his weapon, going from his bow to his machine gun. He fired upon all three of their opponents and watched the Swan and Raven Shadows go down. He followed this up with Pixie lowering Shadow Tess' defense [Rakunda]. The Swan Shadow recovered and so did the Raven Shadow.
Lee took aim with his rifle again. He fired on the Swan Shadow, taking it down, but the Raven Shadow countered before he could fire on the Raven Shadow. It flapped its wings at Lee, lowering his hit and evasion rate [Sukunda], so when Lee fired upon it he missed.
"These Soul Station encounters aren't supposed to be easy," Ling said.
"I guess you're going to let these hot guys die for you," Shadow Tess taunted. "How selfish." She chuckled. "That's so you."
"Take it down," Tess said. "Persona!" The topaz and green lined mirror came before her. Tess slammed her shield right into her mirror, shattered it, and brought forth her Persona. [Zio], Brynhildr's Electric attack, needed to be done. Brynhildr's [Zio] Electric attack hit Shadow Tess head on, sending it off its horse and downed on the floor. Next, Tess had Brynhildr raise Lee's hit and evasion rate [Sukukaja].
The Raven Shadow flapped its wings at Tess, lowering her defense [Rakunda].
EJ changed his Persona from Pixie back to Roland, so he could heal [Media] everyone. [Marakukaja] wore off.
"You want to be alone, remember, so you only have to think about yourself," Shadow Tess said, climbing back onto its horse after it recovered. "I'm going to give you exactly what you want!" She raised her sword straight into the air and used [Tearful Goodbye] Water that jetted out of both chalices, hit Tess full force, and sent Tess skidding back across the floor downed. She had been sent to the back with EJ. Shadow Tess followed this up by lowering everyone's offensive capabilities [Matarunda].
"Tess!" Ling called to her. "Everyone, keep fighting. This Shadow won't beat you."
EJ changed his Persona back to Pixie to use [Zio] an Electric attack on Shadow Tess. Pixie's attack didn't miss this time, and after struck Shadow Tess fell to the floor. EJ changed his weapon to his machine gun and opened fired on the group. Shadow Tess recovered, but EJ managed to down the Swan and the Raven Shadows. This allowed him to change his Persona back to Roland and raise everyone's defense [Marakukaja] once again.
Lee took aim with his rife, and this time he fired on the Raven Shadow first. He did critical Shot damage, and the Raven Shadow was gone.
The Swan Shadow healed [Dia] Shadow Tess.
EJ changed his Persona back to Pixie to use [Zio], which put Shadow Tess back on the floor downed. Then, he had Pixie use [Rakunda] on the Swan Shadow to lower its defenses.
Lee used his rifle to fire on the Swan Shadow and did critical Shot damage, downing it.
"All-Out Attack!" Lee instructed.
"All-Out Attack," EJ said.
"All-Out Attack," Tess confirmed.
Lee switched back to his spear and thrust his spear into the Swan Shadow before hitting it toward EJ and Tess, and he did the same to Shadow Tess, thrusting his spear into it and knocking back toward the others. EJ let two of his arrows fly, and they took up residence in his two targets. Tess tossed her shield at the right side wall to bounce at a part of the back wall that still remained to hit the Swan Shadow, destroying it before her shield returned to her. She ran toward her shield, grabbing it as she ran, and then slammed into Shadow Tess before its body hit the floor. Shadow Tess skid back across the floor next to the horse.
Shadow Tess did not look too happy as it recovered, climbing back on its horse. With both its Swan and Raven Shadows gone, Shadow Tess snatched strands of its hair from its head and threw them in front of it. The strands of hair became two red Woodpecker Shadows that hovered at its back on either side of it.
"She's serious about taking you three down," Ling said. "The two Woodpecker Shadows have two Weaknesses: Shot damage and Fire damage.
"We're not done," Tess said. "Brynhildr!" Once she slammed her shield into her mirror, Brynhildr used [Zio] a critical Electric attack to down Shadow Tess. Then, she had Brynhildr raise her own offensive capabilities [Tarukaja].
Shadow Tess decided to come back at the group hard. It raised its sword into the air and downed Tess with jets of Water from the chalices [Tearful Goodbye]. Shadow Tess then proceeded to let its sword fall back to the floor and dragged it toward Lee before Shadow Tess swung its sword at him [Power Slash], downing him. Finally, Shadow Tess raised her sword into the air once more to send jets of Water [Tearful Goodbye] at EJ, who managed to resist some of the damage and the attack because of Angel's passive ability Resist Water.
"We'll survive," EJ said before he changed his Persona to Roland, using Fire [Agi] on the first Woodpecker Shadow. He had Roland do the same to the second as well. EJ with Roland downed both birds. He changed to Pixie to use an Electric attack [Zio], but this attack on Shadow Tess missed.
Shadow Tess retaliated with her sword [Power Slash], downing EJ, but Lee helped him back onto his feet. Lee, however, was attacked with Shadow Tess' sword next [Power Slash], and EJ assisted him back on his feet. Shadow Tess wasted no time with sending jets of Water at Tess [Tearful Goodbye], downing her. Finally, she lowered all three of their offensive capabilities [Matarunda].
Tess managed to recover from Shadow Tess' attack, getting up to rejoin the fight.
The first Woodpecker Shadow came at Tess and downed her using its beak, doing Pierce damage. It flew at EJ next but did minor damage.
The second Woodpecker Shadow came at Lee. It did minor damage to Lee but left him poisoned.
EJ changed his Persona to Angel in order to neutralize Lee's poison [Posumudi].
Lee changed his Persona to Ukobach in order to use Fire [Agi] against the first Woodpecker Shadow. He managed to down it, but it recovered. He had Ukobach use Fire [Agi] against the second Woodpecker Shadow downing it, but it recovered right after too. He changed his Persona to Sandman to do Strike damage [Sleeper Punch]. This attack not only did damage but knocked Shadow Tess off its horse and put it to sleep.
Seeing as how Shadow Tess was sleep it didn't attack the team.
The first Woodpecker Shadow tried to do Pierce damage to Tess again, but Tess managed to take the hit with minimal damage and prevent it from downing her.
The second Woodpecker Shadow went for Lee, but Lee dodged it, avoiding its attack altogether.
EJ changed his weapon to his machine gun and fired on all targets, waking up Shadow Tess but downing both Woodpecker Shadows. His mirror began to glow. EJ had hoped for this. This meant Roland might be able to use his special attack.
"Roland," EJ spoke to him. "Quantum of Solace..." His mirror shattered, and Roland appeared in front of their foes, hovering before Shadow Tess and the downed woodpeckers. Roland touched the floor, but the floor and building came apart around him as three pillars of white light appeared on either side of him and behind him. The pillars of white light were bright. Lee and Tess had to look away. They couldn't look directly at them. The white light blinded Shadow Tess and the birds. EJ could see Roland. Roland raised his sword at the Shadows before him before the sword became pure white light. The sword of light left his hand and three smaller swords of light broke from it. Each one of the smaller swords entered Lee, Tess, and EJ respectively before they disappeared, causing a flash of light but no pain. The remaining sword of light penetrated Shadow Tess' chest. The light of the pillars was drawn into Roland's horn. Roland brought his horn to his lips. He blew his horn once, and the first Woodpecker Shadow was obliterated by intense white light. He blew his horn twice, and the second Woodpecker Shadow was obliterated by intense white light. He blew his horn a third time, and an explosion followed a flash of intense white light. The Woodpecker Shadows had been destroyed, with its horse gone Shadow Tess had been left a mess on the floor, and the team found that they had been healed completely.
"All right you three," Ling said. "Let's wrap this up."
"There's no way we can lose," Lee said. "Sandman!" Sandman head butted Shadow Tess [Skull Cracker], doing Strike damage and downing it. Shadow Tess was able to recover. Lee had Sandman repeat this attack [Skull Cracker]. This time the attack left it confused.
Shadow Tess recovered, but out of confusion Shadow Tess took its sword and thrust the sword into its own chest before pulling it back out.
"It's hanging in there," Ling said, "but it's almost done."
"Brynhildr!" Tess shouted, rejoining Lee in the front. She had Brynhildr strike Shadow Tess down [Bash], doing critical Strike damage with her large brass chakram.
"Look at you," Shadow Tess said before becoming its old self.
"We won," Tess shouted. "I'm not surprised."
Lee, EJ, and Tess felt a surge after the battle.
They felt a rush, relieved, and certainly stronger.
Something inside them changed for the better.
Battle End
"You made your point," Tess said. "You'll always be a part of me and all those experiences, but the past has passed. I'm not going let you keep me stuck in it." She shook her head. "I won't."
Shadow Tess nodded, and then she disappeared.
Tess became her other self. She gained the strength to accept the part of herself she chose to ignore. With her Persona Brynhildr, she is now empowered to project her True Reflection.
Tess had heard a soft voice that sounded far off. She thought she had anyway.
"That was a lot," Tess said without looking at Lee and EJ. "I can barely process and believe everything that just happened. I'm not going to lie." She turned toward them. "Thank you so much, for being here and for coming. It's like I couldn't think to leave. I didn't know what to do. I just remembered I needed an anchor."
"I know you don't know us that well," EJ said slowly. Lee could tell he was a bit nervous. "There's no way we'd leave you or anyone in a situation like this."
"He's right," Lee said, showing off a broad grin. "You don't have to thank us either. We did come, we had to come, but we fought together. You beat Shadow Tess."
"I will give myself some credit," Tess said and laughed briefly. "I fought through this and came out on the other side."
"If you don't mind me asking," EJ said, "what was your anchor? I mean, I know it was your bracelet, but what did it mean to you?"
"I don't mind," Tess said. "You guys learned so much about me..." She trailed off.
"We did," Lee said, "but it doesn't change anything. You're the girl, you're the friend, who planned to help me save my sisters."
"You're a good person," EJ said, "courageous with a good heart."
Lee smiled to show her he agreed.
"My charm bracelet was what I thought would anchor me," Tess explained. She held up her wrist to show off the charms. "It worked. Each charm represents someone important to me. These people helped me become the person I am today, and they take up big parts of my heart; my mom, my dad, my brother, my first love and unborn baby's dad, my best friend, the child I didn't have, and me. They're parts of my foundation, and they spur me forward."
"Thank you for sharing that with us," EJ said.
"Sooner or later," Lee said, "maybe you'll add us to the list."
"Maybe I will," Tess said.
"I'm exhausted," EJ said, right after he yawned.
Lee didn't yawn, but he felt the same.
Tess wanted her bed. She suddenly felt the weight of her tiredness.
"Ling," Tess said, calling out to her. "I want to thank you too. You were a part of this, part of the rescue, so thanks."
"No need to thank me," Ling said. "I'm glad you passed your test."
"You wouldn't happen to know how we can get out of here," Tess said, "do you? That also brings up another question. How were you able to help?"
"I do," Ling said after a brief laugh. "You'll head through the mirror. Lee and EJ know the one. As for your other question, the short and simple answer is my Persona."
"That answer seems obvious now that I think about it," Tess said.
"Speaking of Ling," Lee said, becoming serious, "she and Axle are in the same situations. "Are you still in?"
"You're still going to help EJ?" Tess asked.
"Against my better judgment," EJ said, "yes."
"Hey," Tess said and smiled, "your judgment seems just fine from where I'm standing." EJ couldn't help look away after hearing her compliment. She looked to Lee. "I can't leave you two to do this alone. I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if something happened to you two, knowing I could've been by your sides on your sides. Your sisters are still danger, so I'm still in."
"Glad to have you," EJ said, able to look at her now. "I'm sure you'll help me keep this guy from getting us into too much trouble." He gestured toward Lee. Then, he playfully whispered: "You'll be a big help to me keeping him alive too." He held out a hand. He and Tess shook hands smiling.
"I like a challenge," Lee said. "This one is as big as they come." He held out his arms. "Bring it in. Come on over here." He and Tess hugged. He smiled, and Tess couldn't help laugh.
Lee wrapped an arm around Tess' shoulder and after pulling EJ over wrapped an arm around his shoulder as well. He walked the three of them for the full-length mirror hanging on the wall.
I am thou... Thou art I... The chain of the heart establishes a new link. The three of them faintly feel it. They hear that distant voice again. The chain rattles because of new growth. It spurs them forward on their path. They shall be blessed when they choose to create Personas of the Temperance Arcana.
They feel power build in their hearts.
Tess can now help allies onto their feet if downed.
"The mirror will get you three back to the platform," Ling said. "After you all get there, we'll have a short talk and go from there."
Lee saw the woman with the black butterfly mask in the mirror, passing by it, from right to left.
"That woman," Tess said.
"I think that makes the second time we've seen her in a mirror," EJ said.
"Ling?" Lee questioned. "Will we discuss The Woman? We just saw her."
"Not now," Ling said. "Not yet."
"EJ," Lee said, "you go ahead first just in case there might be trouble on the other side. Then, Tess, you can go. I'll bring up the rear just in case trouble shows up on this side."
"Good idea," EJ said, grabbing onto the mirror before he went through it.
"You guys try to take such good care of me," Tess said and chuckled. The only reason she didn't go ahead before them both was because they did have more than a little experience with this stuff than she did.
"See you on the platform," EJ said, glancing back at them. "If anything happens, get to the platform." He spoke directly to Lee before he passed through the mirror.
"Let's hope we don't run into any trouble on either side," Tess said, grabbing onto the mirror. "We've earned a short break." She passed through the mirror after smiling at Lee briefly with thoughts of what could possibly happen next on her mind.
Before Lee grabbed onto the mirror, something on it caught his eye. He saw writing. It was a message written in gold: We're going to meet again soon. We have to meet. We have no choice.
"Ling," Lee called to her.
"What is it Lee?" Ling asked. "Are you in trouble?"
"No," Lee replied. "Lola might've just sent me a message." He read the message to her.
"Don't think it's from her," Ling said.
"How can you be sure?" Lee questioned.
"She's here with me," Ling said, "at this very moment."
"Is she there to-," Lee didn't want to finish his question: Is she there to kill you? He clenched a fist. He couldn't get to Ling. What could he do?
"No," Ling told him. "She's not here to kill me. She's just here to talk."
"She wants to kill me, but not you?" Lee questioned. Both his sisters kept leaving him with more and more questions. "It's time I get some straightforward answers Ling. Maybe Lola there can chime in too."
"It's complicated Lee," Ling said. "Go through the mirror. I'll be with you in a minute. Don't tell the others. They don't know what it means, so let's keep it between us."
Looking away from the mirror, Lee breathed in deeply trying to make a decision before he let it out slowly having decided.
"Ok," Lee agreed. "That's ok for now." He looked back to the mirror, and the message was gone.
Lee grabbed onto the mirror, and he passed through it.
P7 Soundtrack: So far
Lee and His Shadow – Bulletproof
Artist: Family Force 5
EJ vs. Shadow Self – Bulletproof
Artist: Mahmood
Tess vs. Shadow Self – Bulletproof
Artist: Jordan Corey
Mysterious Message – Writing's on the Wall
Artist: Brooklyn Duo
!~ All music can be found on YouTube.