Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4: Pursuing My True Self
by Victorio Osaria
UPDATE: 5/7/13: FINALLY F*CKING FINISHED. Look at the author's notes at the end, please. Please.
UPDATE 4/21: This took longer than I thought... I'm still not finished. By the way, what do you think of some music cues? I'll put in a * symbol notifying when music should be played, and I'll say in the author's notes what music is to be played. What do you think? Just give me your opinion in the reviews.
Good news: I'm back. I am SO SORRY that I didn't post this earlier, and it's not the whole thing. Lent season is pretty long, but I kinda worked on this along the way. I'll go to hell later. Anyways, I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint, because I've tried REALLY hard to make this a little different from how the game goes. As I said, it's not completely finished, but you've waited so long that I feel guilty for not releasing it earlier. I'll update it as soon as possible to finish the chapter. Sorry if it adheres too much to the original game. Happy Easter.
PS: I wonder if anyone knew the song that Yu was humming at the end of the previous chapter. I gave actual musical notes. Oh well; like a detective, you won't let that case get away, right? Hint-hint.
Hentai- "pervert"
Nani o shiteru no?- "What are you doing?"
Saikou/sugoi- "Amazing"
Wakata- "I understand"
Kaiju- a giant monster, like Godzilla
Yukiko- snow child
Dare ga itta?- "Who said that?"
Anata dare yo?- "Who are you?"
**The character is speaking English (or trying to)
Sunday, April 17, 2011: Clashing Chariots
Yu, Yosuke and Chie exited the metalworks, each of them hiding their equipment under their clothing as Izanagi and Jiraiya floated behind them. Yu felt that he should alwayswear his uniform when hiding his new Kage-Dachi under it, seeing as how the uniform had inner pockets sewed on the jacket. Yosuke wondered how that would matter, but then he figured if Yu was able to hide the sword under his clothes at all, pockets would make the job easier at least somewhat. Yosuke certainly felt the inner pockets on his uniform could hide the kunai fairly well.
"You got any other magic tricks besides that disappearing sword thing, Narukami-kun?" requested Chie.
"Hmm... a few." Yu felt around his pocket, finding some spare change. He held out two 500 yen coins, flipping one up into the air simply to show off. In a dramatic stage voice, he proclaims, "I, Yu Narukami, shall make these two 500 yen coins conceive a child!"
"Say what?" Chie's face contracted.
"Dude," Yosuke started. "What are you talking about?"
"It sounded better in my head," answered Yu. "I'll get on with it."
He sandwiched the two coins together between his index finger and his thumb and rubbed them together, gaining speed the longer he rubbed as metal scraping sounds were made.
"What you said before got stuck in my head," said Chie. "Ugh... and now I see it."
Yosuke adjusted his voice to a more "loving" tone in sync with the coins' rubbing. "Ohhh, 500! More! More! Let's make 50 yen together! Ohhh!"
"BAKA HENTAI!" Chie sent a gauntlet-covered backhand to Yosuke's jaw, the latter lying on the ground hunched over.
"May you pay attention to the magic trick at hand?" pleaded Yu.
"Fine. Just don't make it any more perverted for stupid Yosuke."
Yu continued rubbing the coins together, rolling his eyes, and flipped both coins in the air as they landed into his palm. With dramatic appeal, Yu Narukami's palm of sorcery unfolded to reveal... a 50 yen coin among the two 500s!
"Whoa!" Chie reveled in awe. "How'd you do that!? You don't even have any sleeves right now!"
"A magician never reveals his secrets, as you know."
Izanagi gave an approving glance. "Impressive as always..."
Yosuke rubbed his jaw, of which he planned to put ice on later. "HA! So I was right about the 50 yen! Lame trick!"
"...What does the 50 yen have to do with it...?" Chie rolled her eyes.
"I dunno actually," Yosuke shrugged.
"Indeed, Yosuke-dasai," followed Jiraiya. "There was no applicable reason for you to say something as such. It was still funny."
Sighing, Yosuke followed the sidewalk ahead. "C'mon. Let's get going to Junes."
"Right," Chie and Yu agreed.
As Yosuke and Chie were walking ahead, past the Yomenaido Bookstore, Yu felt something buzzing on the back of his head.
"Izanagi... do you feel that?"
"I do. Approach with caution."
Yu made a slow turnaround, eventually having a bright light enter into his gaze. The light was almost blinding, but Yu's eyes were strangely not irritated in any way. The light soon dimmed enough to make a distinguishing shape: a door. Not a simple wooden door, but an elaborately decorated, translucent blue door stood before Yu and Izanagi, the latter gripping his naginata tightly.
"Hey, Yu!" Yosuke noticed that his partner and his partner's Persona were lagging behind. "What're you doing?"
In response, Chie also turned to see Yu standing still. "Aren't you coming?"
"Izanagi-sama, you look like you have seen a specter," Jiraiya quickly held his tongue back. "...What a poor choice of words that was..."
Izanagi lowered his weapon as Yu returned to his senses and leaned his head back to reassure them. "I'll catch up... don't worry."
Yosuke shrugged as Chie cocked an eyebrow, following with them leaving the district to wait for Yu at Junes.
"The aura from this door feels familiar..." Yu cautiously placed his palm onto the knob. He noticed people walking past him not noticing the strange door. Guess only I can see it.
"So it finally begins..." an old man's voice said. Yu and Izanagi looked left and right to see where that voice came from. The voice spoke once again. "Now if you'll give me a brief moment of your time..."
"Huh?" Yu noticed that the blue key in his pocket shined. Again with the random items I receive just coming into my pockets again out of nowhere.
Izanagi, feeling a familiar buzzing sensation as Yu placed his hand on the door, said to him, "There will be no worries. I'm sure of it now. I shall return to you shortly after."
"Hm?" Yu turned to Izanagi, who sheathed his naginata onto his back. Yu, not questioning a "god", went ahead to open the door. A familiar energy had overtaken him.
Yu felt a familiar lush velvet underneath him. The sound of a clean car engine and wheels turning passed through his ears, and his eyes mostly absorbed the color blue being reflected back to him. Yu knew where everything was, despite only visiting once or twice. The cabinet of alcoholic drinks to his left, a spellbinding table in front of him, the beautiful Margaret on his right, and the striking stare of Igor just ahead of him. What Yu felt was new was the gramophone playing an opera-style piece, a woman's voice singing long notes very smoothly.
"Youkoso wa ga Velvet Room ue," welcomed Igor, in Yu's native language. "We have been expecting you, Mr. Narukami."
"Konichi wa," greeted Yu. He looked around the room when he felt that something was missing. "...where's my Persona?"
"The Fool Arcana is right here," Margaret answered. She held the familiar tarot card in her right hand.
"Huh!?" Yu dug into his pocket. Empty.
"Do not be alarmed, Mr. Narukami." Igor raised his reassuring hand. "The Persona you call Izanagi shall return to you shortly."
"...Yes, Igor-san."
"Now then..." Igor positioned his right hand over the record in the gramophone, shutting it off as he did. "What did you think of that calming peace- this Aria of the Soul?"
Yu didn't think that this was relevant to what Igor had to say, but Yu decided to answer him. "It's very calming, yet it also makes me more restless. Who composed this piece?"
"A couple of old friends... a nameless one and a belladonna. They are no longer with us."
"I see... I'm sorry."
"I did not say that they had passed away, did I?"
"Oh," Yu tried to come up with another apology, but he was interrupted.
"The catastrophe that is headed your way... It has already taken human lives in its approach towards you. But you have nothing to fear... You already have the power to fight against it." Igor placed two face-down tarot cards onto the table. "The time for you to use your Persona has come. Hmhmhmhm..."
It was Margaret's turn to speak. "Your Persona ability is unique... it is that of the wild card."
Yu was partially afraid of interrupting when he said this. "I give it strength through creating bonds with others."
"That is correct." Margaret affirmed. "If you strengthen your bonds properly, their power will help you overcome any ordeal. Our role is to facilitate that."
"My contribution..." Igor cast a strange light upon the two cards, an invisible force combining them together as an alchemic symbol apparated before him. "...is to give birth to new Personas."
"I see..." Yu was amazed by the spectacle of lights and magic that took place before his eyes. The two cards merged into one, and Yu had felt the powerful energy emit from it. Igor lifted the single, new card to reveal the face of the Magician Arcana. The Magician Arcana vanished to make way for the image of the Pyro Jack to be painted in.
"The fusion of Personas... a very simple idea, but a complicated process if one wishes for a specific Persona. Alas, that shows my powers are not absolute."
Igor held the new card and gave it to Margaret. Margaret, holding Yu's wild card along with the Pyro Jack, opened the large book on her lap and placed the two cards on each side of the open book. She then closed it, releasing a strange magic from within the spacings of the pages, where the cards were sandwiched together. Margaret opened the book and revealed the two cards were fused into one. It was a simpler technique, but it was apparently for different purposes.
Margaret handed the wild card back to Yu.
"What did you do to it?" Yu said.
"Something beneficial," Margaret answered him.
It was then that Yu had grown slightly more impatient. "What's the reason for not directly answering my questions?"
Igor, unexpectedly, chose to do what Yu requested. "The truth cannot be obtained by asking others for it. It must be searched out by one's soul."
"So you're telling me that you can't answer all of my questions because it's spoon-feeding?"
"To put it is simpler terms..." Igor folded his hands back together again. "The denizens of the Velvet Room are meant to assist their guests, not carry them through."
"There are still more of you?"
"Here and there." Igor gestured with his eyes, still retaining that unsettling smile of his. He chuckled. "Do you recall my words to you before?"
Yu could remember the words vividly, seeing as how it was a "dream" that he'll never forget. He recalled, "The coming year is a turning point in [my] destiny. If the mystery goes unsolved, [my] future will be forever lost."
"Ah... Very good." Igor's smile lowered, yet was still there. "I meant precisely what I said. Defeat in battle is not the only way your journey may come to an end. Do not forget this..."
Yu nodded intently. Still concerned about what happened to the card, he took a closer look at the card. The Fool Arcana was there, fading away to make way for Izanagi. Yu was relieved to feel Izanagi's presence, but could unmistakably hear another voice in the card.
"When next we meet, you will come here of your own free will. I look forward to it." Igor chuckled again. "Until then, farewell..."
Yu opened his eyes, feeling like he fell off of a building, yet he still kept his composure. The sun was in the same place as it was before, so a only minute passed at most; the Velvet Door had vanished. He checked his watch: only a few seconds passed. He felt the card resonate in his right pocket and took it out.
You okay, Izanagi?
"Thank you for asking, Narukami-sama. I am fine."
Feel different? Existence fading?
"Nothing of the sort... although I feel an unnecessary crowding feeling, somehow..."
But nothing that'll keep you from fighting.
"The naginata, Amenonuhoko, is at my beck and call."
Good. Let's get to Junes.
"Every day's great at your Junes!"
That was the familiar jingle that always let Yu know how close he was to the outlet. He was in his school uniform, considering what he was hiding under it, so he received a couple of stares from here and there. Izanagi, despite sharing Yu's memories, was still intrigued by the society around him as he hovered behind Yu.
At the food court, two familiar high school students stood before Yu, as well as a certain floating ninja. Yosuke spoke first.
"There you are. There's a sale that should end soon, so that'll get rid of some of the people hanging around the electronics store."
Yu nodded. "Your dad still hasn't installed any cameras yet, right?"
"No, and I doubt he will any time soon."
"Good. That'll be a problem."
"So guys," Chie cut in. "From what Yosuke told me, you two had a lot of trouble getting out because of some Shadow monster-things. How did you get out?"
"As I said, you'll see," Yu answered her.
"Look, Chie," Yosuke turned towards her. "This is going to be dangerous, so you really don't have to come if it's too much for you to hand-"
"I'm going." Chie scowled intently. She unfolded her sleeve to adjust the strap on her gauntlet and made a backhand in the air. Showing her determination, Yosuke sighed as Yu gave a smirk.
"She is a strong young lass, don't you think, Yosuke-dasai?"
"Shut up, Jiraiya."
"Ugh, I never get used to those rides..."
"I still never get used to the silhouettes..."
"What's Teddie doing?" Yu pointed out. Teddie was shaking his head back and forth.
"The bear from last time?" Chie squinted her eyes, still having a hard time seeing through the fog.
"Hey Teddie, we came back." Yosuke waved towards the bear. "Nani o shiteru no?"
"Can't you see?" Teddie's googly eyes shifted towards the three students. "I'm thinking..."
"Yeah," Yu shrugged. "Just like Winnie the Pooh."
"I've been deli-bear-ating over it a long time now... hey, that wasn't bad!"
"This creature greatly irritates me," remarked Jiraiya.
"There is no right for you to attack the bear," answered Izanagi. "Be patient."
"Yay! Izanagi-sama's defending me!" Teddie started jumping in the air.
"Izanagi-sama?" Chie contorted her face in confusion.
"Should we demonstrate?" Yosuke asked Yu.
"I believe we should."
Yu brought about the tarot card, not questioning how it suddenly appeared in his pocket, and let it float above his hand as a blue aura emitted from it.
"Whoa, saikou!" Chie gazed in awe of the floating card. "How come you didn't do that before?"
It was then that Yosuke took out a similar card and let it float in front of his face as he readied his kunai.
"Yosuke... how'd you get better at this than Narukami-kun?"
It was then that both boys uttered, "...Persona."
CRASH!
Blue flames spread into a circle surrounding each of the boys. Chie, afraid of getting burned, backed away and shielded her eyes with her green sleeve. She fell over as her eyes widened at both boys' shadows rising from beneath them and changing forms. The ambiguous shapes grew to a towering size and took more humanoid appearances. The strange beings floating above Yu and Yosuke then gained color as the flames dissipated. A tall, menacing one with a naginata floated above Yu, while a white-bodied one with frog-like limbs and a red cape floated above Yosuke.
"AAHH!" Chie screamed at the sight of two monsters descending upon the two boys. Mustering up courage, she charged. "I'LL SAVE YOU!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"HIIIIIYYYYYAAAAA!" Chie attempted a flying side kick to the slender, white-bodied monster with the frog-like limbs. It was a epically failed attempt.
"Hm?" Jiraiya had felt something tickle. He looked down to see the young girl that Yosuke liked (he was Yosuke's inner self after all) sending out a flurry of kicks and punches on his right leg. He knelt down, sending the girl stumbling.
"U-Uh... I don't know what you're gonna do to me, b-but I know I'm going to hurt you while you do it!"
"Your form is in need of work."
"E-Excuse me!?" Chie immediately propped herself up and proceeded to attack again.
"Haha!" Jiraiya turned his cartoonish head to his host. "Yosuke-dasai, you certainly have a very nice catch!"
"Jiraiya, I don't know what the hell you're talking about."
Chie immediately stopped attacking after hearing that. She paid closer attention to her surroundings: the monsters weren't attacking either Yosuke or Narukami-kun. "Uh... guys? Did I miss the part when you made friends with kaiju?" She eyed both Jiraiya and Izanagi.
"They are our Personas," Yu began. "They are the manifestations of our inner selves made for the purpose of strengthening us and fighting alongside us, which is how we survived against the Shadows. Of course if you don't have a Persona, you can't see them unless they are summoned in the Mayonaka TV World." He gestured to the two Personas behind him. "Izanagi, Jiraiya, why don't you introduce yourselves to Satonaka-san?"
"Hajimemashite. I am Lord Izanagi, Narukami Yu's Persona." He bowed his enormous torso against Chie's comparatively small frame. He turned his head to Jiraiya and smacked him.
"Itai! Wakata, wakata." Jiraiya bowed as Izanagi did. "I am the assassin known as Jiraiya. I hope that you shall undres- I mean welcome my company."
"Er, right..." Chie backed away in dread. "...Damn pervert..."
"Shut the hell up, Jiraiya," Yosuke ordered.
"Don't forget about these, Yosuke." Yu flipped open his glasses, putting them on rather stylishly, as Chie would see it.
"What's with the glasses?" She asked.
Yosuke answered her as he put on his own glasses. "They help us see through the fog."
"Oh. I thought you guys were just trying to look cool."
"Do we?"
"Narukami-kun does. Orange doesn't suit you."
"Wha-?"
Chie snickered, then put her attention to the bear. "Do I get a pair?"
Teddie giggled. "I've been working on it since we last talked." He pulled out a yellow pair of glasses almost out of nowhere and handed it to Chie.
"Whoa, sugoi!" She sent her gaze throughout the area. "It's like the fog doesn't exist!"
"Told you we didn't do it just to look cool, which I do." Yosuke then paid his attention to Teddie. "So did you find anything out?" He shook his head. "Never mind; it's useless to think about it too much. Your head's empty, after all."
Teddie pouted. "How rude!" He then shrugged. "Although it is true that nothing comes out of my head."
"There's someone here, right!?" Chie yelled impatiently.
"Whoa!" Teddie was amazed. His bear of a bear-ain couldn't comprehend this. "There's a girl with a better nose than me? You're Satonaka-san, right?"
"Uh, yeah. Tell me more about that 'someone' inside here."
Teddie's feet squeaked. "I think it happened when I started talking with you guys from my world to yours. After that, it felt like someone was here."
"Is it Yukiko!?" Chie tightened her composure.
"I dunno. I haven't looked." His stubby little paw pointed to the group's right. "The presence is over there. That's where I last sniffed, anyway."
Everyone looked to the direction to where Teddie was pointing, with Yu and Yosuke able to see it more clearly: a red catwalk highlighted by lanterns posted on each side of the handrails.
"Well, that wasn't there before," pointed out Yu.
"No kidding," agreed Yosuke.
Chie tried waving the fog away to see what they were talking about. "So she's over there?"
"That's where I sense it," answered Teddie.
Chie grunted. "Narukami-kun, Yosuke, bring your cloaked freak and disco ninja frog along with you and let's go!" She charged right past the group to run through the catwalk.
"She does not know how to be patient, that one," stated Izanagi.
"No she doesn't," agreed Yosuke.
Jiraiya twitched. "How dare she call me an archaic musical amphibian master of ninjutsu?" he paused. "That last description can be kept, since it is in fact true. Why, I cannot say that very modestly so I will not butcher anything in stating my own greatne-"
"We'd better hurry and follow her," said Yu.
Chie reaches the end of the catwalk, taking off her new glasses as she examined the red and black vortex ahead.
Okay, she thought. I've done this before. No need to be apprehensive about this anymore. Just walk through, and you'll rescue Yukiko. You've got this.
Chie exhaled and closed her eyes. Blindly, she slipped through the portal as quickly as she could. A slight disorienting sensation grasped her as she continued forward, but eventually she ended up in a western-style castle courtyard. As Chie observed more closely, she noticed that there were statues of white stallions and decorative bushes lined along each side of the cobbled road. As much as she found them annoying, Chie unfolded her glasses to make her eyes pierce through the fog better. There was a castle yards ahead; gate, moat and all.
Just like on the Midnight Channel, I think... Oh, Yukiko...
"Wait up!"
Chie turned to see the two boys and their weird new pets coming out of the strange portal. Oh, and the bear was there, too.
"Chie, you really shouldn't run ahead of us," Narukami said. "We've already told you how dangerous this place is."
Ignoring his concern, Chie asked him, "This is the place that was on the Midnight Channel, right?"
Yu and Yosuke observed their surroundings with their Personas following suit. Both of them nodded.
"Hey Teddie," called Yosuke. "Are you sure no one's filming this behind a camera for the whole program?"
"Program?" Teddie leaned his dome-like head to the side. "I dunno. Maybe people on your side can see stuff in this world."
"It only works at a certain time," answered Yu. "Not to mention, Yosuke; Teddie only knows that he lives here, not how the world works other than that there are Shadows."
"That's right *kuma*!" Teddie held his stubby finger up. "There's no 'camera' stuff that's going on. It's been like this since the beginning."
"From the beginning?" Yosuke questioned. "That's what we don't understand!"
"Can you guys explain everything about your world?"
"Er, um-"
"Burn."
"Shut up, Yu."
"Anyways, I've never seen this 'program' thingy you're talking about. So I don't know how to help you there."
"So is that what's happening?" asked Chie. "Are we really looking into this world?"
Yu noticed something was off. "If that's true, why was Yukiko shown on the channel before she was actually put inside?"
"And Yukiko saying stuff like 'scoring a hot stud'... That's not like her at all!"
Teddie scratched his head. "'Score'?" "'Stud'?"
"Don't start Teddie," Yosuke discouraged. "I couldn't believe it either, Yukiko saying stuff like tha-" He paused. "Hey Yu, is this like what happened to me last time?
"Last time?" Chie questioned.
"This is very similar to your case, except upscaled." Yu looked out to the large gate.
Jiraiya came in. "I can still remember the moment when I first came into being... *shiver* That frog-form was revolting."
"Hold on guys..." Chie sent out a halting gesture. "Do you feel that?"
"Feel what?" Yosuke stared at the stoic Chie.
"I'm feeling it, too," Yu noted. Izanagi had nodded in accordance.
Yosuke turned to Jiraiya, who shrugged. "What are you two 'feeling', anyway? Jeez, that sounded a little wrong..."
"Hush, Yosuke-dasai."
"Great... even Izanagi's is calling me that."
Chie shivered as she stared off into the castle gates. "Yukiko's there... I can feel it."
"She's lost," Yu said. "And alone... We have to hurry."
"Took the words right out of my mouth." Chie charged forward with a vengeful deportment. "I'M COMING, YUKIKO!"
"Chie, wait!" Yosuke reached out for her in a futile attempt; Chie had already ventured into the castle's open gates.
"Goodness gracious," exclaimed Yu. "She doesn't know how to stay put."
"So..." Teddie began. "What about that scoring with a hot stu-"
"Yu," said Yosuke. "Let's catch up! Who knows what's going to happen to her in there!"
"Right."
The two boys ran into the castle's gates in a rush to save both Chie and Yukiko. Teddie squeaked behind nervously.
"*huff* I'm coming, Yukiko! *huff*"
Chie dashed through an incredibly large castle hall. Golden chandeliers were lined across the ceiling in an orderly manner, barely moving a millimeter, if at all. Engraved columns of gray-blue color supported the ceiling. Long windows were placed on each side of the hall, framed with bronze. A gold color shined through each window, but Chie was aware that the light wasn't real; there was no sunlight outside. A castle as extravagant as this would amaze anyone, but what surprised Chie the most... was how strangely tired she was.
"*huff* Gotta keep *huff* going..." She had only ran for a couple of minutes, yet she was already almost out of breath. "What the hell is with this world...?"
Chie stopped, gasping for breath. She brushed the sweat off her brow and briefly took off her glasses. I'm not done... I can still keep going, I can still keep going, I can still- "W-What the hell?"
Something... just, something... was crawling in front of Chie. There was nothing to describe it other than the fact that it was just a large mass of oozing darkness. Is this... a Shadow?
Chie shivered almost uncontrollably, frantically placing her glasses back; that only made her even more horrified, as it made the already-frightening image even more fear-inducing. She held out her fist and changed her stance. "I-I'm not afraid of you! Hit me with everything you've got!" I really wish I hadn't said that...
The Shadow crawled closer-ever closer, its grotesque and bony claws dragging the entire mass towards Chie. She, as determined as ever, mustered up the courage and conjured up the energy for a battle cry.
"RAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
...
...
...
The Shadow crawled right past her.
"Huh?" She lowered her guard and turned around to see the Shadow continuing its course. "Yeah! Don't mess with me, you bloated freak of nature! Hwa-taa!"
Silence.
"Umm... yeah..." Chie shrugged, then continued running forward.
"Jeez, how far did she run?" Yosuke, the now-unsummoned Jiraiya floating behind him, ran alongside Yu and his Persona.
"She's fast, Yosuke," answered Yu. "I'm pretty sure it'll take a little while for us to catch up to her."
"Won't the Shadows attack?"
Teddie squeaked behind the two. "The Shadows don't normally attack people until the fog here lifts; I think it's only when you two summon your Personas is when the Shadows attack."
"And so it seems," stated a faded Izanagi, pointing to the blob of darkness ahead. The blob growled, then changed its form into a black and white-striped pair of jaws; it was the same kind of Shadow that Yu and Izanagi had first encountered.
Yu readied his sword. "Conserve your energy; don't summon your Persona until you need to."
"Roger, partner."
The Hablerie of a Shadow let its tongue droop, then charged its floating orb to attack.
"I got this, Yu!" Yosuke put on his headphones and spun his kunai around.
"Are you sure you have no need to summon me, Yosuke-dasai?" Jiraiya was worried that Yosuke would get hurt, and in turn hurting Jiraiya himself. Once again, he shows little respect for his host.
"I'll be fine." Yosuke lifted his glasses up to the bridge of his nose, then sent a grin to the Shadow. Because of his Persona, his normal abilities have increased tenfold. He can run faster than his normal average, his agility making him able to jump into the carriage of the wind. He could have used these beneficial skills to take down the Hablerie without any challenge... instead, he resorted to charging into it and stabbing it as the Shadow repeatedly licked him.
"RAAAAHHH! STABBY STABBY STABBY! *slurp* GAHHH! *Urk* I'm getting dizzy..."
Yu facepalmed. "Yosuke... what are you doing?"
"I'm stabbing it! It's dying right?"
To be fair to Yosuke, the Shadow was receiving damage. But Jiraiya simply laughed. "That clumsy style of fighting is not going to be a regular thing, is it?"
"Shut up!"
Yu sighed. "Let me finish him off."
Yosuke backed away from the Shadow's disorienting tongue as he let Yu step up to it, sword in hand. The Hablerie was growling in a futile attempt to scare Yu off.
"You're an ugly little bastard, aren't you?"
The Hablerie roared, flying straight at Yu. The latter, readying his sword, stood as still as a statue. As the Shadow flew closer and closer, Yu would slowly lift his sword. The tongue would only be inches away from Yu... if it hadn't been sliced off immediately.
"SEEEIIIYAAA!"
Yu repeatedly slashed the Shadow's long, greasy tongue. The Shadow, defenseless, backed away in extreme fright. Yu smirked, then delivered the final blow as the blade impaled through the the Shadow's "throat" and passed through its back, revealing the blade Shadow writhed in pain, then its body deteriorated into a cloud of darkness that would envelop Yu, then dissipate into the air.
"Impressive, Narukami-san."
"Thank you, Izanagi-sama."
"Dude, no way!" Yosuke grew agitated. "I could have taken him!"
"Your weapon has short reach," Yu told Yosuke. "You could have taken advantage of your new powers and used hit-and-run tactics, but no; you chose to charge like an idiot instead."
"Well, you just stood there and waited for him to attack you."
"It's called a counterattack. Ever hear of one? I'm not as fast or agile as you, but I still make use of my enhanced senses and awareness to pay attention to when the Shadow is about to attack. My sword has a long reach, and my newfound strength made it easier to cut through the Shadow. See? I know what I'm doing."
"Let's just continue moving ahead and find Chie."
"Agreed."
Jiraiya smirked. "And then you will begin to stab the Shadow like a fool again."
"Shut up."
"*huff* Hey guys! *puff*" Teddie was slowly squeaking behind, out of breath. "What did I miss?"
Yukiko, where are you...? Yukiko... I'll save you, I really will...
Chie was now walking through another hallway, having passed through another grand door. She felt exhausted, but she knew she needed to keep going. The Shadows consistently passed by Chie, never bothering her.
Why aren't they attacking? I thought Teddie said they were dangerous... Chie noticed something rather strange about the Shadows, besides their very existence. The Shadows, while mostly docile to her, also looked pretty angry. Multiple groups of Shadows would pass by her in rather large numbers. Why are they...?
"Chie? Chie, where are you?"
"Yukiko!?" Chie knew she hadn't imagined the voice she had known for nearly ten years. "I'm coming!"
"Are we there yet?"
"No, Yosuke."
"Are we there yet?"
"No, Teddie."
"Have we reached our destination?"
"No, Jiraiya."
"Ugh!" Jiraiya was very frustrated, as was Yosuke. "I grow bored of all of this walking! It's very tiresome."
"Jiraiya," said Yosuke. "It's me and Yu doing all the walking. You and Izanagi are just floating a couple feet in the air. Neither of you are even solid yet."
"While that may be true, Yosuke-san," Izanagi turned to the orange-haired boy. "The host and the Persona both share the same feelings. I, personally, am not tired. Jiraiya on the other hand..."
"Izanagi-sama, do you accuse me of laziness?"
"To be fair, it is not your fault. Rather the fault of the host."
"EXCUSE ME!?" Yosuke yelled.
"Up ahead," pointed Yu.
"What!?"
"WAAAHHH! IT'S A BEAR-Y BIG GROUP OF SHADOWS AHEAD!"
A gathering of Shadows treaded towards the group; they all shape-shifted into a myriad of Hableries, Pesces, and Tables.
"Aw, what the hell!?" Yosuke readied his kunai.
"Go get 'em, Sensei!" Teddie lifted a furry fist into the air.
"I guess it's time." Yu held out the magical card and let a blue aura surround him. "Persona!"
The shadow beneath Yu rose up and changed its size and shape to form the imposing Izanagi, armed with his naginata.
"Time to shine, Jiraiya!" Yosuke followed Yu's example. "Persona!"
The shadow beneath Yosuke had also risen up to change its form, revealing a slender and agile figure that formed Jiraiya's combat form. "Haha! I feel so alive!"
"This is a pretty big group of Shadows for our first time here," noted Yu. "Are you sure you're ready, Yosuke?"
"How about we have a little bit of music to go along with it?" Yosuke held out an iPod.
"Is it a Junes-exclusive?"
"Why do you assume that? It's mine."
"Alright, good. It's not gonna break."
"Sorry wha-"
"Just play the music."
"Roger!" Yosuke clicked the "play" button on his iPod after connecting a cord leading to a mini sound system hanging on his belt. The music playing had a fast and jazzy tone, followed by a rap. "Now we can fight in style."
Yu grinned, then turned his attention to the Shadows. "Izanagi... Rakukaja!"
Izanagi complied, spinning his naginata around and aiming an invisible beam at Yu. The shield was ready.
"Alright, Jiraiya! Sukukaja!"
Jiraiya spun the shuriken in his hands and cast invisible energy unto Yosuke. Yosuke then felt his energy rise, with everything in his view slowing down slightly. Heh, I wonder if this is what it feels like to inject adrenaline... Better not think about that right now.
Two Hableries roared, then charged for Yu and Izanagi. They lacked intelligence, for both of them were sliced in half by Izanagi's blade. Yu dashed forward to attack more Hableries, cutting a few with his sword as he passed. Soon, he crossed paths with an even bigger group of Hableries, too many to be cut by himself or Izanagi's cleave easily. That wasn't a problem.
"MAZIO!"
The large group of Hableries were struck by lightning that had appeared out of nowhere; it injured all of them greatly.
"Synchronize!"
Yu and Izanagi's movements then matched. As Yu would strike the air, Izanagi cleaved through three Shadows in a row in the same motion. The Shadows' numbers were already dwindling.
"Woohoo!" Teddie cheered. "Go Sensei! Go Nagi!"
"'Nagi'?" Izanagi paused his combat briefly.
"Hey!" shouted a speeding Yosuke. "Don'tstealallthekillsIneedsometo o!"
"What?"
"Isaid'don'tstealallthekillsIneedsometo o'!"
"Slow down!"
"I'm slowing down- Why wouldn't I slow down- I'm still going, though- GARUGARUGARU!"
"The Shadows there are weak to wind!" Teddie noted.
Jiraiya cast wind upon the attacking fish-like Pesces. All of them spun in a dizzying hurricane, then lost their levitation. It was time for Yosuke himself to attack.
"You're mine, you overgrown flying-rainbow-dolphin things!" He dashed forward in preparation to cleave through one Pesce. The Shadow Pesce still had energy to attack, but Yosuke himself was ready for it. The Pesce spun in a spiral and, like a drill, charged at Yosuke in an attempt to pierce through his flesh. Yosuke, his speed and agility unmatched, leaped over the drilling Shadow and landed on its back, plunging his kunai deep into the Shadow's illusionary armor. With the darkness dissipating around him, Yosuke called Jiraiya for another attack.
"Knock 'em all out!"
"Hai!" The combatant form of Jiraiya flew forward, sending a piercing wind to any nearby Shadows and held his arms back to send of a powerful Sonic Punch. The wind-struck Pesces were blown away by the tornado-like force of the punch, even the ones that were not even that close to the fist; a long-distance punch.
"Izanagi," called Yu. "Chop those Tables into firewood!"
Izanagi nodded, then brought out his naginata to cut through all of the Table form Shadows in one lightning-powered slice. Less and less Shadows occupied the castle hall, and soon the combined forces of the two boys and their Personas had destroyed all of the Shadows that had opposed them.
"Aw, YEAH!" Yosuke cheered. The music playing still blasted through his belt-stereo. He hummed, "**Fiazu aweku, angaa biitsu raudo, feisu riaretii, neba bii charetii, za enemii yo faitingu kobaazu horu sosaietii- damu raito- mamiizu notto hiya, gotto faito-"
"**Your English is horrible," commented Yu.
"**Ai donuto spikku Ingurishu. Ai no andasutaando."
"**Let's just go save Chie."
"Nani?"
"Yukiko!" Chie called out. "Where are you!?" She followed the voice down into-another-large hall, with-another-large door. Slamming it open, a mass of smoke that was denser than the fog blew into her, mist covering her glasses. Chie paused once the image was clear. Isn't this Yukiko's room?
Black and white. Empty. Silent. Dark. The Santa Claus wind-up toy Chie had given Yukiko was present, but apparently dead. Outside the window ahead, it was seen snowing. Chie attempted to warm herself, but the gauntlets did not conduct body heat.
"I look good in red," said a familiar voice.
"Y-Yukiko!?" Chie spun, trying to find her friend. "Yukiko, where-?"
"I hated my name Yukiko..." The voice had slowly lost energy. "Snow is cold and melts quickly..."
"Yukiko," Chie frantically shook her head. "Stop it, Yukiko..."
"It's fleeting and completely useless... and it fits me perfectly."
"Yukiko!" Chie searched the room; listening through the walls, opening closets, over the balcony, but she still couldn't find the source. "Please! Stop it! Just tell me where you are!"
The voice of Yukiko seemed to ignore her, then continued monologuing. "Aside from inheriting the inn, I'm absolutely worthless. But..." Yukiko's voice seemed to rise in energy. "Che was the only one who said, 'Yukiko, you look good in red'."
Chie paused immediately as the room changed; all of the furniture and belongings present in the room changed into a deep red color: the same as Yukiko's school wear.
"Chie was the only one who gave me meaning..."
The wind-up Santa Claus figure immediately sprang to life and surprised Chie, backing away in fright.
"Chie is cheerful, strong, and can do anything... She has everything I lack..."
"S-Stop it, Yukiko..." Chie scowled, sweating profusely. "Stop..."
"Compared to Chie... I'm..." The voice of Yukiko stopped, along with the wind-up Santa. Then it continued.
"I'm worthless, but my dear, kind Chie will protect me... right?"
The color disappeared from the room, and Santa Claus fell over. Chie still didn't know what to do.
"Yukiko... I-"
"'Kind Chie', eh?" scoffed a distorted voice. "HAHA! THAT'S FREAKING HILARIOUS!"
"Dare ga itta?" Chie yelled as the room shifted its shape. The room no longer resembled Yukiko's bedroom, and red fog covered a checkered floor. The surprised Chie turned behind her. "W-What the...? Me..?"
It was like looking into a mirror. This Chie was wearing the same clothes, was the same height and build; even the sleeves were rounded out by gauntlets underneath. What was different, though? The yellow eyes? The malicious smile? The aura of darkness?
"Anata dare yo?"
"Watashi wa Satonaka Chie."
"Cut the crap!" Chie swung her arm to the side in a furious gesture. "I'm Satonaka Chie!"
"I'm Chie Satonaka, too," The doppelganger laughed.
Chie's eyes widened. What's going on...?
"Yukiko said that I'm protecting her?" The other Chie giggled even more loudly now. "She says she's absolutely worthless! You gotta love that!"
"The hell do you mean?"
"Like you don't know!" The other Chie made a listing gesture. "Yukiko's hot, feminine, and has such beautiful fair skin! Guys can't leave her alone!" She then made mockingly bashful actions. "But sometimes she shoots me some deferential glances that just tickle me pink!"
"Q-Quit making it sound so...wrong!"
"Really, that bitch couldn't do a thing without me."
Chie gritted her teeth. "No one calls Yukiko a bitch! How the hell could someone like YOU be ME!?"
"That's how you feel, right?" The other Chie stomped her foot down. "I'm the one standing top dog!"
"THAT'S NOT HOW I FEEL!"
BASH
"Chie!" Yosuke called. Yu, Teddie, and the Personas lagged behind. "Are you all ri-!?"
Yu stopped his tracks. "No."
"Chie-chan's Shadow!?" Teddie screamed.
Chie herself heard the others behind her. "No! Don't come any closer! Don't look! DON'T LOOK AT ME!" She slammed her left hand to her face and tried to shoo off the others with her right.
"Yosuke," said Yu. "Let's attack before the Shadow gets the chance to transform!"
"Right! Jiraiya!"
The red-scarfed Persona complied, flying right towards Chie's Shadow counterpart. However, a large mist of red fog suddenly blasted into Jiraiya's face. "GAHH! I cannot see!"
"What!?" Yosuke saw his Persona become blinded, then charged forward, kunai ready. Attempting to pierce through the fog himself, Yosuke suddenly felt the same disorientation Jiraiya had felt. "Ugh! I can't see either!"
"Watch out Yosuke!" Teddie sniffed in the air. "There's a Shadow on your left!"
"Wha-?" Yosuke rubbed his eyes, and immediately after, felt himself closing them shut again from an extreme force. A Hablerie Shadow had whipped its tongue against Yosuke, with Jiraiya being knocked back in the same motion.
"Yosuke, get out of there!" Yu ordered. "I have an idea!"
Yosuke picked himself up and complied. He called towards Jiraiya and returned the Persona to his tarot card. Energy conserved, Yosuke escaped the large cloud of fog and reunited with the group. "What's the plan?"
"I don't know if that fog's really made of water, but water is a good conductor of electricity."
"And?"
"Izanagi knows his way with lightning."
"Oh, I get it! So you think the lightning's gonna conduct through the fog and shock all the Shadows inside. Is it gonna work?"
"I dunno, actually."
"What are you gonna do when those Shadows escape the fog?"
Teddie sniffed again. "It's not bear-y likely. Those Shadows seem to only be there to keep you guys from reaching Chie, who's still far on the other side."
Yu smirked. "Great time to test it."
"No..." Chie collapsed, feeling the pressure of the Shadow's words. "No, it can't be true!"
"Are you going to keep trying to keep me in?" questioned the Shadow Chie. "Pretend I don't exist? Is that your plan?"
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
"There's no way to deny it," laughed Shadow Chie. "You want to be the boss of everything, don't you? Yukiko's the weakling you keep by your side because you need someone to boss around!"
"SHUT THE F*CK UP!" Chie jumped up in agony and rage. "YOU AREN'T ME!"
The Shadow laughed. "...So you don't accept me...?" Laughing harder-ever harder and more maniacal in nature, the Shadow's form was engulfed in a mass of pure darkness. Chie knew that something was changing...
"CHIE!"
"What?" Chie thought she had heard Yosuke's voice.
"MAZIO!"
Chie had jumped after immediately hearing loud thunder in the room. Astraphobic Chie did not like lightning. "What the hell!? Where's that storm coming fro-?"
BOOM
"WAHH!" Chie crouched low, but then stopped as she saw the fog dissipate. Not only that, but the Shadows inside were apparently gone as well; she could now see Yu, Yosuke and Teddie ahead very clearly. Her relief didn't last long, however, and she quickly collapsed.
"Chie!" Yosuke ran to Chie's aid but was stopped by the tornado of darkness in front of him, Yu and Teddie. "Oh no... I know this...!"
It was this same black aura that formed around Yosuke's Shadow. Especially to Yosuke, it was a horrifying sight: seeing what was essentially yourself violently turn into a monstrous eldritch abomination. Yosuke could still feel his original Shadow self change shape, with the once human body having its nerves torn in half with every leg and appendage growing onto it. Painful. Yosuke didn't waste any time, crushing his card and calling out Jiraiya.
"GARULA!" The gust of wind blew out of Jiraiya's shuriken palms and into the aura in an attempt to stop the transformation. It did not work.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" A loud, maniacal laughter of female pitch was heard from the ceasing tornado of darkness; from the floor, three struggling high school students, dressed in female Yasogami uniforms, were seen stacked on top of one another. They were supporting another, larger female figure: the actual Shadow itself was sitting on top of the uppermost student. This Shadow, dressed in a yellow dominatrix outfit and wearing a cone-shaped hood, lashed at the girls below it with a long whip.
Teddie panicked. "It's-it's-it's...!"
"I am a Shadow..." it said. "The true self..." It laughed again, then readied its whip against the vulnerable Chie.
"NO!" She screamed.
WOOSH
"Gotcha!"
"...Huh? Y-Yosuke?"
Jiraiya had caught the Shadow's whip just in time for Yosuke to embrace Chie in a shielding gesture. Yosuke had let go, giving Chie a reassuring smile.
"Get outta my way!" yelled the Shadow, attempting to pull her whip back. "Don't interfere!"
"I had no idea that a maiden such as you would be into such sadomasochism," cracked Jiraiya.
"Disgusting pervert!" Shadow Chie gave a hard punch to Jiraiya's orb-like face, sending him backward. Yosuke felt the same force, holding his head and clutching his kunai tightly.
"A-Are you all right, Yosuke?" said Chie, still shocked.
"I'm... fine..." Yosuke observed his Persona getting back up. "Blow her away, Jiraiya-not that kind, though."
"With pleasure, Yosuke-dasai!" Jiraiya revved up the shuriken embedded in his palms, then sent out a green-hued gust of wind that would meet the foundation of students holding the Shadow's main form. The miniature tornado had blown the foundation away and sent the girls into a disintegration of darkness. The Shadow Chie herself, however, remained unfazed and backflipped away from Jiraiya.
"AHH!" Screamed Teddie. "NO EFFECT!"
"Did you think killing my toys and a little wind chill's gonna stop me?"
"Actually, yes I did. Gods help me."
The Shadow screamed a battle cry, then lashed its whip at Jiraiya. The latter, dodging the whip, attempted to fire the shuriken off of his palms in a type of brave blade.
"BANZAI!"
The golden-colored shuriken zipped through the air to reach the sack-like head of the Shadow Chie. Then, the Shadow caught the shuriken by the tips of her fingers and gave Jiraiya an insulting chuckle.
Sweat dripped from Yosuke's brow. "Huh!?"
"ZIONGA!" Yu chanted.
BOOM
Thunder crackled, lightning struck, and the Shadow was injured.
"Go Sensei!" Teddie cheered!
"GAAH!" The Shadow yelled. "YOU SON OF A-"
Izanagi stood behind Yu, still holding the Rakukaja shield. Yu dashed towards the Shadow and leaped, sending a lightning-charged slice to its torso. Yu somersaulted in the air and landed with his sword embedded into the ground.
"Kuh-!" Shadow Chie backed away, growling, "You little bugs are pissing me off! I'm going to teach you a lesson!" It stomped its left boot down with a quake. Almost immediately after, patches of frost traveled across the ground and froze around Izanagi's feet, growing up to his legs and immobilizing him; the cold made him unable to use his naginata.
"AH! NAGI-CHAN'S FROZEN!"
"I... cannot move..."
"Ngh!" Yu found himself frozen in place, feeling a very cold sensation all around his legs. "Me neither!"
Jiraiya sent a sonic punch charging into the Shadow's gut, and then was met with a nasty stare from the latter.
"I apologize greatly. I do not normally attack a woman or a... dominatrix banana-head type-creature."
"Shut your mouth!"
Shadow Chie lashed its whip around Jiraiya's head. As Jiraiya struggled to rip the whip off of his face, he was swung around like a ragdoll by the Shadow's strong whip. The Persona's head was smashed into the ground multiple times.
"Argh!" Yosuke cried. "My head!" He had almost dropped the shocked Chie as he knelt and grasped his forehead. The force sent him flying backward and made him let go of Chie.
"Yosuke!"
"Oh?" The Shadow giggled. "I forgot. You're not dead yet. Don't worry... I'll be sure to protect Yukiko when you're gone... as my foot stool!"
Chie pushed herself off of the ground. "...don't... call her that..."
"Really, it's me who can't do anything on my own. I'm so pathetic- right, me?"
"Stop..."
"But Yukiko needs me... that's why she's my friend, right? I can't lose her because of that!"
"That's not-"
"C-Chie!"
"Y-Yosuke?"
Yosuke shook the pain in his head away and called out to her friend. "Don't let it trick you!"
"SHUT UP!" The Shadow's pale fingers grasped Yosuke and held him in the air.
"YOSUKE!"
"...Contrary to what you're saying, Hanamura," the Shadow continued. "I'm not trying to trick myself. These are my true thoughts..."
As the Shadow's whip cracked, Chie heard many voices speak into her head in the span of a few seconds. Voices past, voices present, voices future. She would always hear these words:
"Yukiko's so pretty..."
"The boys go wild over her..."
Chie remembered these same words coming from her own mouth. This is me... They're how I feel deep inside... I'm jealous... I'm envious...
Without me around she can't do anything...
She'd be nothing without me...!
"STOP!" Chie dug her nails into her hair, tugging at it to escape from the thoughts within. These... are they really...?
I'm a horrible person... I don't deserve to live...
"That... doesn't... matter..."
"Huh...?" Chie broke from her trance to hear a muffled voice.
"You're...*ngh*...still her friend..."
Chie looked to the struggling Yosuke, still in the Shadow's grip.
"You're right, Yosuke... Yukiko and I... we're still friends..."
"What...?" The Shadow loosened its grip.
"You..." Chie pointed. "You're the thing I've always tried to block out. The pathetic, useless part of me that I pretended it never existed... But you're still a part of me."
"Kuh!" Shadow Chie let go of Yosuke, taking damage from what its host had just said and losing its composure in a profusion of static. "You're not... you don't accept me... you can't!"
Yosuke, finally free, picked himself up and grasped his kunai.
"SUKUKAJA!"
Jiraiya raised an aura around Yosuke and raised his agility. Yosuke took his chance to dig his kunai into the Shadow's pale flesh, but the Shadow had recovered and sent a backhand to Yosuke in midair.
"YOSUKE!" Chie screamed.
"...I'll tear you to PIECES!"
Teddie panicked again. "WAAH! YOSUKE!"
As Jiraiya, Yosuke, and the Shadow battled, Yu struggled heavily to try to break free of the biting cold and paralysis. This isn't good... How the hell am I supposed to handle this...?
Izanagi struggled, grunting and trying pulling at his chest to get out of the icy prison that cocooned him.
Think, Narukami, think...!
It was then that a voice had spoke.
"Your Persona ability is unique... it is that of the wild card."
Margaret..? What...?
"My contribution... is to make new Personas."
Igor?
"If you strengthen your bonds properly, their power will help you overcome any ordeal."
Margaret, how are you... wait...
"Something beneficial..." Yu would remember the image of the Pyro Jack.
I get it... it's a flashback...
"O Chosen one..."
That line I don't remember at all. But still... could this mean...?
"Izanagi," said Yu. "I don't mean to replace you, but..."
"It is beneficial," finished the frozen Izanagi.
"Right. I can still move my arms. You'll get out of there soon."
"Good."
Yu, legs frozen, but arms free, allowed his tarot card to hover. The Persona Izanagi returned to the card and was free of the ice.
Yosuke noticed this. "How the hell are you going to fight without Izanagi!? Oof!"
The Shadow lashed its whip at Jiraiya, sending the pain to Yosuke. "Dumbass Narukami! How are you going to defend from my wrath!?"
Yu, free to finally move, let the card float again. "Change."
The image on the card would change from the Fool to the Magician.
"Persona!"
He crushed the card once again, releasing the blue flames and making way for orange flames to burn across the ground. A new Persona would arise from the card: the pumpkin-headed Pyro Jack.
"HUH!?" Teddie scratched his head. "A new student!?"
"AGIDYNE!"
The pumpkin wizard giggled and sent a blast of flame towards the Shadow Chie, heavily wounding it.
"AAAH! WHAT THE HELL!?" The Shadow backed away.
"WOOHOO!" Teddie cheered. "IT'S WEAK TO FIRE!"
The Shadow growled. "I know what you're trying to do, and it's not going to work again!" The Shadow prepared to dodge the flame.
That's why I need a distraction, Yu planned.
"No fair," Yosuke cheerfully complained as he picked up his kunai off of the ground. "You get to use two Personas?"
"And more," responded Yu. "Change!"
Pyro Jack returned to the tarot card and was exchanged for something of the Fool Arcana: the demon Obariyon.
"Hold it down!" ordered Yu.
"Roger!" accepted Obariyon.
The demon leaped onto the Shadow, grasping its neck and choking it out.
"K-Knock it off... *hurk*!"
Great. It's distracted. "Change!"
The Shadow threw the demon off, but watched as it changed in midair to reveal Pyro Jack once again, laughing as he blew a burst of flame into the Shadow's face.
"AAAHHH! IT BURNS! IT BURNS! AAAHHHH!"
"Come, Izanagi!"
Pyro Jack returned to the card, with the shadow beneath Yu's feet rising to reveal the form of his initial Persona.
"Get up, Jiraiya!" told Yosuke. "We're not done yet!"
Jiraiya picked himself up and revved up the shuriken in his palms. "Izanagi-sama, let us finish this!"
Izanagi nodded, and readied his blade. The Shadow, paralyzed from the burning flame, begged for mercy.
"No... PLEASE! I WANT THIS POWER! I NEED IT! STAY AWAY!"
Yu and Yosuke synchronized movements with their respective Personas, then released a punch for them to follow. Izanagi and Jiraiya sent out a crippling blow to the Shadow's frame, punching it simultaneously.
"AAAAHHHH!"
The Shadow disintegrated into a mass of black goo, no longer appearing as a danger. Yu and Yosuke, with their souls having spent so much energy, had their Personas return to their cards.
"Izanagi, return!"
"Get back here, Jiraiya!"
The Personas returned to their respective cards and allowed their hosts to rest. The battle, finally over, revealed the Shadow Chie's humanoid form floating in midair; it was at a complete loss for words.
"You..." Chie walked over to her doppelganger. "I understand now... you're me... I'm you... There's no point in hiding it."
The Shadow, its dark aura brightening, changed its mocking smile into one of compassion. Its aura made a blinding light in response to the strength of Chie's heart. It manifested itself into the shape of a grown woman's silhouette.
"Wow!" cheered Teddie.
"Is this... my...?"
"Yes, Chie," nodded Yosuke. "It's your Persona."
Chie was awestruck. "Persona..."
The silhouette came into focus, the light fading to reveal shape and color. A giant figure with a female frame descended before Chie, wearing metallic samurai armor, a yellow jumpsuit and wielding a double-bladed naginata. It spoke.
"I am thou... thou art I... I am the Persona Tomoe Gozen."
"Tomoe..." Chie smiled at this new power. The newfound Persona shrunk to a more human size, fading its helmet away to reveal a familiar face.
"You really are me, huh?" said Chie. "I always thought I'd look too much like Yukiko with long black hair, but... this works. Heh."
As Tomoe smiled, her image disappeared and was replaced with a tarot card of the Chariot Arcana. It descended into Chie's palms, glowing a blue light.
"I can really save Yukiko now, right?" Chie cheered for herself, but that was all she could do; immediately, her head went numb and she nearly hit the ground.
"Chie!" The orange-haired boy caught his exhausted friend before she could get hurt. "Don't use too much energy- you're spent already!"
The girl tossed around in Yosuke's arms. "I can... I can fight...! I have to... save her...! I have to-"
"Chie-san, you need to rest," told Yu. "Yukiko's not going anywhere. You're in absolutely no condition to fight-hell, even Yosuke and I are done fighting."
"...But..."
"Yu's right, Chie," told Yosuke, still holding her. "We need to go home and get you some rest. We'll definitely save Yukiko tomorrow."
"...Tomorrow..." Chie couldn't think straight, but she finally understood that she needed to conserve her energy. "T-There's...no fog...?"
"I checked this morning," confirmed Yu. "We can go in again tomorrow."
Reluctantly, Chie said, "Okay..." She then passed out, fatigued from the environment of the Midnight Channel.
"I-Is she...?"
"No, Yosuke. She's just tired."
"O-Okay..." He stood up, still holding Chie. "Let's go. Now."
"I agree," Yu nodded.
"I'm coming!" yelled Teddie.
Yu, Yosuke and Teddie would return to the exit, past the castle gates. Yu couldn't help but think it adorable that Yosuke was willing to carry the cause of all of his physical pain all the way to the Midnight Channel's exit. He wondered where this relationship would go beyond childish arguments.
Yu turned around, hearing the mocking laughter of the Shadow Yukiko.
I'm going to come and save you tomorrow... That's a promise...
Okay! So I'm finally finished with this long, long chapter that didn't progress the story all that much. In fact, this was so long and adhered so much to the game that I'm REALLY thinking of skipping to the real character development parts and revealing the new Persona-users in the next chapter. I don't really want to do that, but I'm sure some of you are becoming VERY impatient; just tell me if you want me to skip to the original parts. If not, PLEASE give me suggestions on how I could make the next chapter more original. Anyways- I hope you liked this chapter and thought it was worth the wait. Adios.