And to further prove that this series is not on hiatus, here's another chapter! This revolves around the entire Shadow Chie bossfight, so keep on your toes, because what plan will each and everyone of the Investigation Team will come up may surprise you.

Obligatory disclaimer is obligatory: I do not own Persona, that belongs to Atlus and Index. Tyzell and the Trick Batons, on the other hand, are owned by me! Feel free to review!


Chapter 8

Yukiko's Castle: 2F, Daytime, 04/17

What the fuck? I thought, since I was shocked at the revelation of Chie's Shadow. I was expecting a darker, more demonic version of Chie, but not the exact same but with golden eyes. I felt like it was a freaking copout. "Oh crap…is that…" Yosuke asked. "It's just like Yosuke's!" Teddie answered. "Yeah, it does. What a ripoff, though. I expected more." I said. "What did you think?" Teddie inquired. "Well, I expected like a demonic look, not this. Oh, well, not like I was too hyped about fighting this regardless. Let's see what it can possibly throw down, before we settle to fisticuffs." I replied.

"Are we seriously talking about THAT Yukiko?! She thinks I protect HER? She says she's worthless." Chie's Shadow said, bursting into laughter over Yukiko's entire life thought process. "That's how it should be, right?" it then asked Chie herself, who, still shocked over this experience, merely replied, "Wh-What are you saying?!" "She's so good looking, so fair-skinned. So…feminine. She's always the one guys drool over. They even made a challenge about hitting on her, for Pete's sake!" her Shadow told her, expressing her comparison to Yukiko. Well, to be honest, she is cute, but once again, not her nor Chie are my type. And their bloody equal in the beauty scale, what the fuck are you thinking, plus, their best friends! Shouldn't she inquire about it or something? Why keep it? You trust each other, you can tell each other, it doesn't make any goddamn sense! I thought, ranting. But then again, it later made sense to me, plus the fact that I shouldn't care, so I stopped at that.

"When Yukiko looked at me with jealousy, man, did I ever get a kick outta that! She knows the routine. She can't do anything without ME to be around! I'm way better than her, much…much better." her Shadow self added, finally giving out a superior, dominatrix-like aura. Wow, she thinks she's that much of a hot shit? But then again, Yukiko ain't perfect either…If that's what she's like, well…if they don't reconcile on it now, their friendship may end. I thought, concerned. Knowing my jealousy around the various jocks back then in middle school, my Shadow would've said the same thing. Except I didn't care anymore now, since well, after I gained a jock friend who's actually nice, realized that it didn't matter how I looked, it's how I acted. If Chie doesn't see that now, accept it, and move on, well…this could get ugly.

Unfortunately, she still keeps her walls up. "No, I never even thought that!" she said, angrily. Yosuke, in a panic, asked "What are we gonna do?!" I, the only other calm one besides Narukami, simply responded "Weapons down till ordered otherwise, Yosuke. Narukami, what now? Do we just keep waiting?" Narukami, eating popcorn, just in deadpan, said "Yep. Till I say otherwise." "You are just enjoying this, are you?" I said. "Not really, but it's best to keep cautious." he replied, still gnawing on popcorn. "You're just eating popcorn!" I said, pulling the straight man role. "What? Got hungry." he replied deadpan.

"We need to protect Chie-chan!" Teddie said. "Fine, just got done anyway." Narukami said, finally putting down his empty bucket of popcorn and now holding his sword. We tried to get near, but Chie stopped us, saying "No! Don't come near me! Don't look at me!" "Uh-uh, I'm not falling for that cliché, come on guys!" I said, trying to take slow steps. "Yeah, calm down!" Yosuke agreed, and they did the same, slowly walking towards to Chie, who slowly shivers in panic. "This isn't me!" she said, which prompted Yosuke to say "Wait, don't say anything like that!" So that's the trigger. Denial of one's self. I'll have to remember on our encounter. I thought, taking mental notes.

The Shadow however, merely chuckled. "That's right, I can't do anything alone. I can't win as a girl, let alone as a person. I'm just pathetic. But Yukiko, she depends on me…That's why she's my friend…I never want to lose her, she's just too important to me…" "No, no! That's not what I think of her!" Chie shouted. "So what, you're just gonna deny me again? But then again, it's different now…'Cuz at the end…I'll be the one left standing. You won't mind, right? After all…I'm still you." her Shadow retorted. "No, shut up! You're…" Chie snapped, which Yosuke said after, "No, Chie, don't-" "It's useless now, Yosuke. We have to fight." Narukami said. "Right. Diplomacy is Chie's weakness. We have to fight it." I agreed.

"You're not me!" Chie exclaimed, which ordained the Shadow a chuckle, and I swear I felt a rise of power, so much that it worries me. It took in power…and then released it, knocking Chie out, and to form a horrific monstrosity. It took the form of a dominatrix, which was obvious to me, given the aura the Shadow was exuding minutes ago. It also had tentacle-like hair, with razor-sharp edges. Not to mention, it came with a whip and a bunch of other Shadows, it looks like, which it sat on like a throne.

"Now, that's more like I expected! Bring it on, banana-head!" I said, with a rush of hype towards me. Yosuke looked at me as if I was insane. "First Shadow boss fight. Given on how I described it from my report, he deserves the hype he gets." Narukami told Yosuke. "Yeah, but we have to protect Chie, so make sure he doesn't make any collateral damage. After all, I still don't trust him with those things." Yosuke replied. "Don't worry, we'll all be fine. I'm sure of it. Now, let's fight!" Narukami said, raising his weapon for the battle against the Shadow.

Music to play on this part: Guilty Gear XX OST – Kage Matsuri (I-No's Theme)

"I am a Shadow, the True Self…What are you even doing? Trying to defend the "real" me? Well then…you're gonna pay the price!" the Shadow said, cracking it's whip, prepared to battle. "I'll go first!" Yosuke says, and he brings his first action to work. While Shadow Chie tries to literally whip him around, he dodges as fast as he can, landing various strikes on her while keeping alert. "Alright then, Jiraiya! Go!" he says as he breaks his Persona card, releasing Jiraiya, which, while it dashed around, it also threw 5 shurikens, which only 3 landed while the other 2 were swatted away. "Garu!" Yosuke commanded, and Jiraiya casted a wind attack, to which it hit her, and stunned her.

"Alright, here goes! Izanagi!" Narukami went next, breaking his card to summon Izanagi, and it sliced Shadow Chie with his spear, grazing it a bit. It then, which shocked me, grabbed Narukami and did a Fastball Special-like technique on her, Izanagi throwing him like a spear, which Narukami stabbed Shadow Chie on impact and then performed his craziest feat I've seen him do this day: he jumped on his sword while it was still embedded on her, sacked her a bit with a flying roundhouse kick to the face, then grabbed his sword, swinging on its handle like an acrobat, then proceeded to pull out his sword out of the Shadow in mid-air, and as he flipped through the air, while dodging its attempted tentacle hair strikes as well, slashed down on her, as if he were a Dynasty Warriors character. Luckily, he fell to the ground safely, and stepped back, commanding Izanagi "Zio!", to which Izanagi summoned a lightning bolt from out of nowhere, and it damaged her.

And where was I during all this?

Well, I ended up being assigned to the most mundane job in history so far: Making sure that Chie is safe and out of the battle zone before I head in. Seriously, I wanted some action too, but then again, I can't risk her safety in the process. After risking like about 30 minutes of finding her a safe spot, I managed to find one. I put her there and as I turned the battlefield to see the others on how they're doing, let's just say that the tables were turned.

Shadow Chie managed to grab and constrict them both with her tentacle hairs. "That's all you got?! While you guys put up a fight, I'm just only getting started! Now…die!" It said as it slowly but surely tried to constrict them both to death. They were surely doomed…until chains appeared on the hairs that tried to strangle them. "What the?!" it said in complete surprise. It was connected to the Trick Batons that I carry, which I say, "Oh no you don't! No one's gonna die today, jailbait!" I said, and I did my crazy feat as well: I pushed the button to retract my chains, but instead of squezzing the hairs, I used it like a slingshot, to which I pressed the release button again at the right time to land a freaking drop kick to her face. I also pressed the shock button for a bit to release Yosuke and Narukami from her clutches, to which I pressed the retract button again to make its own hairs hit it in the face. I landed back gracefully with a joke. "What's the matter? Stop hitting yourself!" "Ugh, you annoying prick! Die!" It said as it tried to attack me with the whip. I made a quip every time she missed.

"Come on! Whoops! Hey-o! All you got? Really now? At least hit me!" I said with every miss of her whip from hitting me! "Why. Won't. You. Just. Die!" it said, and it even tried ice attacks on me, which I avoided with pleasure. "Cuz' I'm the Trickster, bitch! Yosuke, stun!" I quipped, which Yosuke proceeded to do, casting Garu to stun her, and it did. I then pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey. "And here I was gonna save it for later…hey, banana-headed wanker! Catch!" I said, as I threw it on her face breaking it and spreading the whiskey around her. "Narukami, final blow!" I told Narukami, and he nodded, before giving the face of Nice plan, but lessen the 80's action hero tone a bit at me. He casted Zio and brought flames on her as the whiskey burned.

"Aaaaaaaargh!" it screamed once more, as it finally came down with a thud. And slowly, it dissipated, leaving behind its Chie-like form again.

"Ngh…" Chie said, as she woke up from unconsciousness and slowly got back up. "Chie, are you okay?!" Yosuke asked her. "What happened?" she said. "We fought your Shadow, we saw it's true form, and we kicked its ass moments before you woke up!" I said, hype still burning within me. "Surprised you can still remain hyped." Yosuke said. She looked around to find her Shadow got up. But it said nothing, just staring at us. "What's the matter?! Got nothing to say anymore?" Chie said, still showing her rebellious side. "Stop it, Chie. It's fine." Yosuke said. "But…" Chie said, looking at us in fear of what we might say. "We are better than that Shadow in terms of morality." Narukami said. "Yeah, I went through the same thing, remember?" Yosuke added. "But…But I…" Chie still said, worried. "But nothing! Trust me, to us, you're alright! We still think of you as a friend, even with all those horrible secrets revealed. In fact, I was jealous too of my best friend once, but hey, I never cared in the end…cause it doesn't matter how you look, it's what's on the inside that often counts the most. After all, we ain't perfect, but we live through it despite that." I said, alleviating her worries. After all that, she goes to her Shadow saying, "Yeah, I kinda get it now…You are me…You're a side I tried to ignore. But you still exist…You are a part of me…" she said.

Then, a thought went through my head.

The strength of heart required to face oneself has been made manifest inside of this girl…

As the thought played in my head, the Shadow transformed into a glimpse of what her Persona would look like. Needless to say, it looks badass. It had a helmet, but behind it were the same flowing locks of hair that its monstrous form would have, except it didn't look as creepy anymore, in fact, the helmet looked more like a motorcycle helmet if it weren't for the giant fuck-off spike from it. It then had a biker-like tracksuit, as if it's wearing the costume from Kill Bill, only with a few improvements. It also had combat boots, a samurai's bottom, almost like a kilt or skirt, but with metal plating on it. Sadly, I didn't know its name but whatever. And finally, it wielded a double-bladed naginata of some sort. After getting a peek, it transformed into a card, to which it finally disappeared, assuming it went inside Chie's heart, stored for future use.

She has faced her other self and obtained the façade used to overcome life's hardships, the Persona Tomoe! the thought ended.

Tomoe, huh? If my theory about Personas being based on history figures and mythologies are correct, then she must be the female samurai who fought in the Genpei War. I thought, looking back at my history knowledge and connecting them with the Persona itself. As we approached Chie, she made a look of embarrassment, due to the fact that all her secrets were revealed. "Um…it is true that a part of me feels that way…But I wasn't lying about being friends with Yukiko!" she said. "We know, Chie. We know." I said, as she felt relieved. Then, she slumped. "Chie!" Yosuke said, worried. "I'm fine, just a little tired." She replied. "Yeah, it's best to take a break in the real world. Besides, we can just rescue her tomorrow. Since she can use the same abilities you guys have, she can hold her own now. But for now, let's head back to Mayonaka Lobby for now." I said. "Mayonaka Lobby?" Narukami inquired. "Oh, that, I need to call it something besides TV world. It'd be stupid just to call it that every time. I just thought Mayonaka would be a cool-sounding name." I replied. "Okay then. Let's go home." Narukami said.

"No, wait! I can still keep going." Chie said, but as she tried to get up, she strained a bit. "Nah, you're hurt. Not that we think you can't save Yukiko, but, look, it'd be better for us to fight at our A-game. Trust me, we can still do this. Just hold on for tomorrow, alright?" I told her. "And if you're saying you have to go and tell her because of her thoughts telling stuff about you, that's fine! But, if you keep going…you may never be coming back alive. So for now, let's head home!" I added. "Yeah, Yukiko's normal. Shadows don't attack normal people. They only attack when the fog lifts here." Teddie said. "So, she'll be safe till then, right?" Yosuke asked it. "I'm positive." the bear answered. "Why? I don't get it." Chie said in a strained and confused voice. "Teddie said that the weather here is the opposite of our world. When it fogs over on our side, the fog lifts here, and the Shadows attack their victims when that happens. That's why it'll be safe to rest till fog covers Inaba. I'm sure of it because that happened to that announcer and Senpai too." Yosuke explained. "You mean…they were killed by their other selves?" Chie questioned. "Yep, that's the gist of it. The fog happens after it rains, right Yosuke?" I asked, to which Yosuke nodded. "If memory serves me right…it won't be raining anytime soon. We'll check the weather once we get back, so don't worry Chie." I added.

"But, we can't turn back now! We've gone so far! Yukiko's probably alone and scared!" Chie said, still insisting we fight. "Look, we can't tell what's up ahead. Even if we sent Yosuke to scout around, which given by his bad luck, is a bad idea," I said, which prompted a "Hey!" from Yosuke. "the enemies might be stronger, so fighting on even we have no apparent heal fountains here like in most RPGs, is a bad idea. Who'll save Yukiko if we get floored, hm? We can't fail. Not like this." Chie sighed. "Alright…" she said as Teddie helped her up. As we slowly left, Chie said, "Hey…sorry about before." We turned back at her. "I shouldn't have rushed in like that." she added. "No prob. I would've done the same." I replied with a smile. "No worries." Yosuke added. "…Right!" Chie said, a smile forming on her face. And so, with that resolution, we headed back to Mayonaka Lobby.

Mayonaka Lobby, Daytime, 04/17

We went back to the main lobby, and Chie started to look sick. "I'm feeling even worse than the last time I came here…my head feels like it's about to split open…are you guys okay?" she asked. "Why'd you think I wanted to hurry out? It wasn't noticeable, but after that fight, well…it came back. It's a minor headache, but damn, I want to get out to sleep ASAP." I responded, feeling a damn ringing in my head…

"It's the glasses." Narukami said. "That's right, you're not wearing them." Yosuke said, remembering. Took you long to figure that out, smart-pants? I thought, since well, this is Yosuke we're talking about here. Chie, who, just like Yosuke, has just now noticed those glasses. "Oh, yeah…why are you guys wearing that? Did your eyesight go bad or something?" she asked. "You really didn't notice till now? How panicked were you?" Yosuke said in shock. "Ta-duh-dah! I made one for Chie-chan, too! Here you go!" Teddie said, giving her glasses. As she put them on, the reaction is just like you would expect. "Whoa! This is awesome! It's like the fog doesn't exist at all!" she said in amazement. "Why didn't you whip those out earlier if you had them?!" Yosuke asked Teddie. "I made them right now! You didn't tell me she was coming! It was so sadden-I mean sudden!" the bear retorted. "Huh, so that's the trick? I was wondering how you guys knew where you were going. Hey, is it alright if I keep this?" Chie said, finally asking the bear. "Fo' sho'!" Teddie replied in a black person tone. "That does not fit you. Stick to the classic slang and puns. Blackness just isn't good for ya." I said.

Chie then said the words me, Narukami and Yosuke were blabbing minutes ago: stop for now. But then she said that she'll come back with the glasses, which made me reply, "Of course, it is the proof that you are a Persona user. After all, with your Persona now on lockdown, you are a valuable asset." "Yeah…but don't you guys go without me, okay?!" Chie said, reminding us. "Right, let's all promise each other. Nobody goes alone, way too dangerous for that." Yosuke said. "If we don't work together, we won't be able to save Yukiko-san or solve the case, right?" he added. "Yeah. We stick together. No splitting up. Especially when one's power-handicapped, am I right?" I said, reminding them that I still don't have a Persona. "Yeah, I agree. I promise too." Chie said with hope. "Alright, from now on, we try as best we can to go here as much as we can after school…weekends included." Yosuke said. "Well, could use the training, so long as it deems necessary." I replied.

Yosuke then asked Narukami, "Can you be our leader? You were the first to get this power, and you might not have the flexibility Tyzell does, but you are damn good in a fight. It's best for you to set the pace of the investigation, and we'll follow your lead. I'm cool playing second banana." "I second it. You have the traits. You should lead. Whaddya say? Are we in this, Leader?" I said. "Sure, why not? I got this." Narukami answered. "Had a feeling you'd say that. I'm more of the advisor than the executor." Yosuke said. "Yep, I'd be leader but, considering my constant shifts in attitude, I'd be grazing the team to the ground." I added. "I'm with both of them. With you calling the shots, I have a feeling we'd be safe." Chie said. "Me too! My pillow would be comfortable for me at night if that was the case!" Teddie chimed in. "Teddie, would you please stop talking? I'm kinda on edge right now." Chie snapped for a moment at Teddie. A thought once again played in my mind, as time stopped and I can feel it again.

Thou art I, and I am thou. Once again, thou has established a new bond… It brings thee closer to the truth, and the effects will reveal itself soon, for you have not obtained the true self that you will use to find said truth, so like the Magician Arcana before, this Arcana, the Fool Arcana, will be locked to you until such a time occurs.

Great, more locked bonuses till I get my Persona. I really have the urge to get myself a Shadow boss fight with myself now. I thought, as I can wait for my Shadow, and thus my Persona, to reveal itself.

"Okay, let's get some rest for now, so that we can go at full power tomorrow on. And remember to check the weather. It gets foggy after rainy days, so look out." Yosuke said, we nodded, and we went back to the real world, leaving Teddie behind to his devices.

Brenwing Residence (aka My House), Evening, 04/14

"Alright, just beat some asses both in Mayonaka, and in online gaming in the real world, drank some good ice tea, earned with good looting of bunch of legit Japanese yen, and got a new member into the team. All-in-all, it's a good day." I said to myself, after kicking a bunch of asses at Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 in the real world. I got to my workbench, not only to study, but to also make sure that my Trick Batons are in proper shape and order. Wouldn't want them to start breaking down on me now, ain't it?

Alright, Trick Batons are at "minimal wear" status. Pretty sure I got my homework done before it started…yep, I'm done. Getting to bed now. I thought, as I went to hit the hay. But suddenly, before I fully slept, a vision appeared. It lasted for 30 seconds, but I can remember the details.

It was a house in the middle of nowhere. It looked lush, however, as there is a bunch of greenery on the outside. It looked like what you'd expect from a rich person: built with hard bricks, polished with marble, and had a swimming pool on the back. It was a vivid vision, but after the vision faded, I woke up for a moment to compose myself after having such a thought.

What was that vision all about? What's the purpose of that home? And why I feel so attracted to it…eh, no time to think about it, got some work tomorrow, can't afford to slack off. were my final thoughts as I finally went to sleep, recharging my energy for another day of ass-kicking.


Author's Notes: Told you that the battle music on the last part wasn't the last! So, chapter topics explanation on me!

Now, the entire boss fight. I'd say that, since Yu and Yosuke were both tied up before the Persona change happened, normally, that change should've happen. But then again, Tyzell'd be useless, and he's the other main character, so...obligatory plan.

Once again, I pulled a lot of flashy moves for Narukami and Tyzell. Because once again, that's what they would've done anyway. Also, yeah, hyped Tyzell will turn into an 80's action hero: crass, calculating and overall badass. It's his first boss fight, what did you expect.

Okay, now about Chie's talk with Shadow Chie scene. I'd have to admit, I speak of this for real. I had to make Tyzell say what he said because it's what I experienced. Plus, character development so he doesn't feel stale.

Again, he gets another Arcana yet doesn't get it's effects. Are you going to be hyped as soon as the effects will be revealed once he gets his Persona? I know I have.

Ah, the Brenwing Residence, how I haven't used you well since 2 chapters ago. As for the weapon maintaining, I decided that this will be his weapons for the ENTIRE GAME. (That's why I said I'd upgrade it with every dungeon clear) Besides, unique weapons should be used often...even though some are pretty underused. Also, CS:GO reference. Hah.

And finally, the vision. Trust me, that plot point along with the flashback plot point in Chapter 2 will coincide with each other eventually. I'm sure that the twist would leave you calling out "unoriginal" at me, but hey, I just think some plot points are good to repeat.

So, after all that, stay tuned for Chapter 9, where they start their investigatory days and possibly, POSSIBLY, finish the Yukiko arc. Stay strong! -TrickyFanWriter