A fairly short chapter this time, I'm afraid. Mostly because it didn't need much adding to it when I passed through a second time - it's mostly fighting, really. Also, it's short because I wanted it to end in a specific place. Hurray cliffhangers!

Sorry (not sorry).

Kanjilearner3309 - I considered it, but in the end I decided not to cover everyone's weaknesses. I figured that they wouldn't exactly have the guide to hand, so Mina wouldn't know exactly which persona had what item, or maybe that she could attain them twice. Let's be honest, it's a pretty spectacular run as it stands. :p

Thanks again everyone else, I love hearing your feedback. Make sure to let me know if you spot any errors/plotholes so I can fix them up asap!

"Niflheim!" Yu shouted, reaching forward to crush the blue card that hovered before him. Loki appeared behind him and with a lazy gesture caused a mountain of ice to form around the shadow, causing it to buckle under the pressure. To his left, Mitsuru ran forward and slashed down with the Snow Queen Whip, cutting deep into the stony exterior of the Basalt.

"Yukiko, now!" Yu shouted.

"Sume-Omikami!" Yukiko shouted. The golden persona danced into shimmering existence and flaming petals bloomed across the surface of the four shadows that had surrounded them. The Basalt crumbled out of existence, while both the tiny mayas shrivelled away under the onslaught. This left only the knight.

"Caesar!" Akihiko shouted. There was a bang as his evoker went off and Caesar appeared above him, lightning flashing down upon the knight even as Mitsuru and Artemisia froze it in place. The shadow shattered, and there was a moment of peace as they gathered themselves. The shadows were swarming them at irregular intervals, but with Rise's guidance they were slowly making progress towards the top of a huge hill, on the other side of which was the disturbance Teddie had sensed. The secondary team were travelling a short way behind them, stopping shadows attacking from behind and generally staying nearby in case any extra hands were needed.

"Are there many more shadows, Kujikawa?" Mitsuru asked, wiping her blade clean on the grass.

"Just the one big one just beyond the hill," Rise replied. "It'll be a toughie, but you guys can take him. It's of the magician arcana."

"Bring it on," Akihiko said, cracking his neck from side to side.

"Let me heal you first," Yukiko interjected, "You're bleeding."

"It's nothing," he said, waving her off. Mitsuru frowned at him, but he pretended not to notice.

"It does seem wise to ensure we're fully rested," Mitsuru said, taking a deep breath and readjusting the necklace she'd pulled out of storage. The red pendant was intensely warm against her chest, but it was worth it for the protection it gave her against fire, much as Akihiko's diamond bracer protected him from ice. Both had been gifts from Minako, given to her by various personae. Mitsuru had never pretended to understand the complex relationships Minako had formed with her personae, but she had always been curious.

"When you're ready," she said to Yu, who nodded. He was, like Minako, totally unflappable in battle and never seemed to tire. At her words he set off up the hill, his sword held ready and his steps firm.

They followed and Mitsuru found herself walking alongside Rise. She hadn't had much time to get to know any of the Investigation Team. After all, she had intended for her trip to Inaba to be a flying visit and yet here she was, fighting shadows again.

"We went on a school trip to Iwatodai a few months back," Rise said conversationally. "We met the student council president. She mentioned you."

"I'm glad to see I've had a lasting impact upon the school," Mitsuru said honestly.

"I…" Rise seemed to hesitate, and then her expression became hard in a way Mitsuru hadn't expected from her. "I visited her grave while I was there. Minako's, I mean."

"Her…" Mitsuru stopped short, and it took Rise a couple of steps to notice. She stopped and turned back to the older girl.

"I knew her before she transferred," Rise explained. "She was my senpai. I couldn't make the service, but I'm sure it was amazing if you guys organised it." She turned away and carried on up the hill, leaving Mitsuru alone with her thoughts. It had never occurred to her that a member of the Inaba Team might have known Minako. She shook her head; when this was over she would talk to Kujikawa.

There was a tight knot forming in Minako's stomach. She couldn't say why, but she shifted gear all the same and the motorbike roared. Of all the things Margaret could have given her, the keys to Mitsuru's motorbike had not been what she expected; however, having found the vehicle, helmet and all, in this other world she was willing to admit that it had its advantages. One of these was definitely barrelling into the more curious or stupid shadows.

She was making good time, although she still wasn't entirely sure where she was going. Her instincts were pulling her forwards and so she trusted them. She only hoped she wouldn't be too late.

"What is that thing?" Yukiko gasped.

"Stay back!" Mitsuru barked. "That's not just any shadow, that's the arcana magician." Yu's eyes snapped to her as the creature turned, a motion exaggerated by the dozens of limbs surrounding the tiny central core. In one hand it held a large blue mask which slowly came to rest facing them. The shadow twisted itself in a smooth motion and six hands rose into the air, each holding needle like blades.

"Ziodyne!" Yu shouted at the creature barrelled up the hill towards them. Ishtar appeared above his head and sent electricity crashing down onto the shadow. It roared and swung at Akihiko, who ducked the blow and rolled out of the way.

"I command thee!" Mitsuru cried, firing her evoker and summoning Artemisia. Ice formed around the shadow and shattered, causing it to recoil slightly in pain. Yukiko followed up the attack with a blast of red fire, and the shadow cried out, more in frustration than pain Yu thought.

"Left, Mitsuru!" Akihiko yelled and without hesitation she heeded his warning, diving to the side even as the massive shadow slammed an arm down in the spot she'd been standing. "Hope this helps!" Rise's voice echoed in her mind and Mitsuru felt herself strengthen. Crying out she leapt forward, driving her rapier down in a slashing motion. She was aware of Akihiko on the shadow's other side, striking ferociously with those skull-like gloves of his. To one side she heard shattering glass and a shout of, "Magatsu-Izanagi!" The black and red persona soared over her head and she darted away from the enemy as it let loose a gust of wind that made the creature stagger.

"Agidyne!" Yukiko shouted, and Sume-Omikami sent flames licking at the shadow once again. Still, it roared.

"It doesn't seem to have any weaknesses!" Rise said. "Just keep fighting. Throw everything you've got at it!" Mitsuru wasn't sure it was going to be enough; this thing was far stronger than it had been last time they encountered it.

"Izanagi no Okami, Megadolaon!" Shielding her eyes against the light, Mitsuru raised her evoker and fired, sending a blast of healing energy at Yu, who despite continuing to throw everything he had at the shadow was definitely flagging. "Again!" he bellowed, and once more bright golden light lit up the shadow realm.

Mitsuru didn't quite raise her arm in time and the light blinded her, meaning she wasn't ready for the arm that smacked her off her feet. To her left, Yukiko was sent flying as well. Mitsuru lost her grip on both her sword and her evoker, and she reached around desperately for one or the other in the grass, blinking her eyes to clear them even as Yu and Akihiko kept on fighting.

Akihiko was flagging, she realised as she squinted at him. Their time fighting side by side had demonstrated the differing abilities of SEES and the Investigation Team far more than simply discussing them. While the investigation team had more varied powers and more elemental strengths than they did, the members of SEES could take much more of a beating and could ask more of their persona before resorting to either physical or spiritual restoratives. This didn't mean much, however, if Akihiko kept refusing aid when offered.

Cursing, she redoubled her efforts to find her evoker as the shadow turned towards him. Then something else caught her attention. Was that an engine?

Akhiko knew he was running out of juice. Still he raised his evoker, firing it again and again as he sent bolts of lightning crashing into the creature before him, or else attempted to weaken it's attacks. When it sent the girls crashing away, he cursed and moved back to more traditional violence, pounding on the creature's glossy hide with his gloved hands.

"Sanada, watch out!" Yu's voice didn't quite reach him in time, and Akihiko turned to see an arm careering towards him. It held no sword, so he braced himself for the impact, closing his eyes…

It never came. Instead there was the roar of an engine and a strangely muffled shout. He opened his eyes and gaped at the image before him. A figure, riding a motorcycle and wielding a naginata was circling the monster, weaving past the arms and legs at phenomenal speed, blade flashing up and down and slicing away any hands that came close. The arm that had been coming towards him now lay flailing by his feet.

"Narukami!" he heard a muffled voice shout. "Keep going!"

Akihiko followed the advice too; as did Mitsuru and Yukiko, finally back on their feet. Yukiko cast a healing spell that revitalised him more than any spell ever had before and he rained punches on the creature's body, ducking and weaving its remaining hands.

Finally, with one last shout of "Ziodyne!" Yu called upon Ishtar and destroyed the thing. It melted away much as the creature at the Inn had the previous day, and their mysterious helper skidded to a halt, one foot on the ground trailing dust.

As the engine cut out, silence reigned on the hill. The reserve team crested it at that moment, clearly having run as soon as they saw the fight. "What the hell," Chie gasped, "Was that thing?"

"That's what I wanna know," Yukiko gasped, moving to lean on Chie. She turned to their helper, a girl, Akihiko noted, and gasped out, "Thanks."

Rise had moved closer to join them too, and she was watching the girl apprehensively, as if unsure what was going to happen next. That was fair enough, Akihiko thought. He had no idea himself.

She had forgotten the exhilaration of fighting back. As she sped around the shadow, she'd found herself laughing: finally this was something she could do with or without a persona. When the battle was over, however, she felt her stomach tighten at the inevitable confrontation before her. She cut the engine and turned to see Mitsuru stalking towards her, rage emanating from every pore of her body.

"Explain yourself," she demanded. It took Minako a moment to realise what Mitsuru could see; with her face hidden by the blue helmet, Minako could be anyone. Or rather, she could be anyone who'd broken into Kirijo storage and stolen all of Minako's old equipment, anyway.

"Remove your helmet," Mitsuru instructed in a tone as cold as the element she controlled. Panic welled in Minako's chest. She couldn't do this. No matter what Margaret said, Minako couldn't be here knowing she would have to go back.

She saw Akihiko's curious expression even as he rested his hands on his knees to get his breath back. She saw Junpei panting and sweating, but keeping his eyes fixed on her all the same. She saw Mitsuru's icy fury, and Minako knew she couldn't do this to herself or to them.

Moving as quickly as she was able, she flicked the bike into action. The engine roared as she gunned straight past Mitsuru and came within mere inches of Akihiko. She tore down the hill faster than she'd ever gone before, knowing that she could not look back.

They don't even need you back, a voice whispered in her ear. That's the truth of it. You don't want to tell them because you're afraid that they've moved on, afraid that they've outgrown you.

"That's a lie!" she shouted, barely able to hear herself over the engine. "I want them to have moved on. I don't want to remind them of any pain I caused them!"

Deep inside, you know that's not true. You want their lives to have ground to a halt; you want them to be dependent on you. Isn't that why you formed those bonds? You just wanted the power it gave you.

The words circled around and around in her mind and she tried to blink them away. She fought the tears and then screamed as out of nowhere a figure appeared before her. She braked and skidded to a halt just as the figure turned, and Minako was confronted with her own face.

This face was more familiar to her than the one she wore now, for it was younger by two years. The girl wore the Gekkoukan High uniform, red headphones around her neck… but her mouth was twisted into a cruel smile and her eyes were bright orange. Or perhaps the truth is that you don't want to go back to the seal. Perhaps the truth is that you know that seeing them would give you an excuse to stay. Admit it! You're afraid to die again!

"I'm not!" she screamed. "I'm ready; I've been ready since I fought Nyx! I am not afraid!"

I am simply the part of yourself that you deny, the shadow whispered. Come, embrace me!

"No! You're not me!" she shrieked. "I'm nothing like you!"

The shadow cackled and everything went black.

Rise was the first one to stop. She'd been leading them, scanning ahead periodically for any sign of their saviour. "Hang on!" she shouted suddenly, stopping and summoning Kouzeon. "Something huge is happening down there!" Mitsuru stopped and turned to watch as Rise's eyes leapt about the visor Kouzeon held before her eyes, reading the information she and her persona were divining about the way ahead.

The ground beneath their feet began to tremble. "There's a building down there…" Junpei said. Mitsuru whipped around to see where he was pointing, but Akihiko spotted it first.

"Is it just me, or does it look like the school…?" he said, squinting.

Then, before their eyes, the building began to stretch. From the air itself, new constructions seemed to spring forth, staircases and curved hallways leading nowhere that seemed to glow. Above their heads the sky turned sour and the sun was replaced by a full moon, it's bright green light illuminating the tower before them even as it continued to grow. They watched, mouths agape, as the tower reached higher than it seemed should be possible. A fell wind blew about them, and Mitsuru spoke.

"Tartarus."