I don't o-
Dude they heard you say that a billion times already, quit it.
It's a custom. And don't you have a story to be in?
I have five seconds.
Out...
Kill joy...
Warning, may contain moments of OOC.
"Okay, my first action as Eris the Benign shall be closing this vortex and banishing the ghosts and goblins that I attracted." Eris announced in a passionate tone. And with a snap from her fingers, the various monsters that surrounded the caverns and plagued the skies vanished with the receding violet clouds. The once obscured sky was now displaying its brilliant blue that stretched from one end of the horizon to the other. And the sun was rather grossly incandescent today, radiating its warm rays and invigorating the battle weary team.
"Good news guys, the lady lived up to her words! There isn't any more Shadows, Grimm, or Demons in the area!" Rise said happily.
"The caverns below also returned to normal! Good job everyone!" Fuuka added.
"Next, I shall never commit any more nefariously evil dooms day plots that would involve this planet ever again! No matter how hard someone tries to bribe me!"
"That's good, Sanctuary won't have one more malevolent force working against us in the future." Mitsuru commented.
"Third, I will try not to kidnap and emotionally torture people for my amusement."
"Try?" Naoto asked with annoyance.
"If that's the best we're getting out of her then that's good enough for me." Kanji replied.
"And finally, I will always give the best snuggles to all pets and strays."
"Hold on, what does that last one has to do with any of this?" Yosuke asked. Koromaru responded with a happy bark that was promptly translated by Labrys.
"He isn't sure what that means but she has his approval. Really Koro-chan?"
"I think that about covers it. Anything else Chronos?" Eris asked turning to Zen.
"I want you to apologize to Rei."
"She's kind of unconscious dude. So anything I say will be for nothing."
Zen didn't say anything, he simply glared at Eris. "Fine…" Eris groaned.
"Listen girl, you may be knocked the fuck out but you're boyfriend wants me to say sorry. So I'm so earnestly sorry that I dragged your ass through an emotional blender. And I'm sorry that I kind of beat your ass into the ground, I might have gone a bit far. So if you're cool then I'm cool. That good enough?"
"Coming from you, that's adequate."
"Then I guess I have nothing left to say here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to do my own thing. Nothing apocalyptic that involves Sanctuary though, I swear. So I bid you all farewell for now and I hope we meet again one day." Eris said as she bowed.
"Yeah, like that would happen…" Yukari mumbled.
"So I say Adios to you! As my planet needs me now!" Eris shouted. Metal plates began to form around Eris's body and limbs, completely encasing her in a suit of shiny black power armor. The helmet closet with an audible clang and she flew off into the sky, disappearing into blue above them. The Shadow Operatives only watched in disbelief at the spectacle that just occurred in front of them.
"… There's never a dull moment with her is there?" Yukiko asked.
"Not in the slightest…" Zen replied tiredly.
"Mnnn…" Rei groaned, bringing everyone's attention to the girl.
"Rei!" "Mom!"
"Please don't yell… My brain feels like jelly right now…" Rei said as she clutched her head.
"I wouldn't be surprised, the first time summoning your Persona isn't easy and you practically went over your limit with those moves." Minato replied.
"I'm more surprised that she regained consciousness so soon. Was it because Zen was sharing his strength with her?" Mitsuru asked with interest.
"That's the power of love for you!" Teddie shouted.
"What happened to that lady anyway? Did you win?" Rei asked, now rubbing her noggin.
"Well seeing that she isn't around and we're still here…" Labrys answered.
"That's a relief… I just wish I could've fought with you guys to the end…"
"Don't worry about something like that, you did more than enough. In fact, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be here talking about it." Yu replied.
"Then I guess that's fine… So what now?"
"Simple, we go home. All of us, together." Minato said, gesturing to everyone.
"…"
"Rei-chan?" Yukari asked. Tears began falling from Rei's eyes, startling the all of the others.
"You have no idea how much I wanted to do that…"
"Then let's not go back with tears in our eyes but with smiles on our faces." Yukiko said.
"Yukiko's right Mom, let's go home smiling." Labrys agreed.
"I know what would do the trick! Group hug everyone!" Teddie shouted before he quickly trotted over to Rei as some of the others began doing the same.
"Thanks guys… I'm really glad I found you guys…" Rei thanked, trying to return the hug.
"Awww… I really wish I was there to join you guys…" Rise commented. A brief rumble could be heard, it wasn't loud but just enough to draw their attention.
"Uh guys… The island you're on…" Fuuka began before the Shadow Operatives felt the world around them become weightless, the wind started to pick up as well and sent some into a tumble.
"I forgot we were in the air!" Ken shouted.
"WHAT!?" Kanji yelled.
"We have a few in a tumble! Sister!" Aigis yelled.
Labrys couldn't hear her sister call out to her, but had a feeling someone wanted to do something about her free falling friends. "Ariadne! Bring us together!" She yelled as her Persona appeared. The red thread darted out and wrapped around each and every last person, drawing everyone into a circle. Each one immediately grabbed the hands of the person next to them, allowing them to fall together at the same speed.
"What do we do now!?" Yu shouted.
"I CAN'T HEAR SHIT!"
"Fuuka! We need to communicate!" Minato yelled.
"Zen and Labrys has an idea! You need to use your Persona's to create points to form a net!"
"A net!?" Akihiko asked.
"It's better than nothing! Yamagishi! I want you and Kujikawa to calculate the deployment time! I want everyone else to be ready!" Mitsuru ordered.
"WHAT! I CAN'T HEAR ANYTING! WHAT DO YOU – OH WAIT…! NEVERMIND! GOT IT!"
The group continued their rapid descent, hands poised to grab their evokers once the signal was made. Rei, who was between Labrys and Zen, squeezed their hands and closed her eyes, a prayer playing through her mind and whispers escaped her lips. Zen couldn't hear her over the screaming winds around him, but he too began to pray as the ground started to come closer and closer.
"Now!" Rise yelled.
"PERSONA!"
…
…
…
…
…
Rei opened her eyes and saw the sky above her, there were no clouds blocking the vast blue. Did they make it? Or did they die again and were reborn elsewhere?
"HAHA! I WORKED! SUCK ON THAT CRAZY LADY!"
Was that Kanji?
"I can't believe we actually made it! It's finally over!"
"God damn yes! Can we not come into work today!? I don't feel like working after all of this!"
"Teddie seconds that motion!"
"I feel like I gained a few years…"
"You and me both…"
Rei sat up and felt a net underneath her, she looked around and saw the Personas holding parts of the red woven net that they were all in. She noticed that the others were slowly climbing their way off of the net while a few were lounging around on it. There were also a several military looking people running about with medical kits and other kinds of boxes. Fuuka and Rise were also around and excitedly talking with everyone.
"Mom? Are you okay?"
Rei turned and saw Labrys and Zen standing on the ground next to her. "I'm good… Are we not dead?"
"Technically we are already dead but if you mean we survived the fall, then yes, we're not dead." Zen replied. Rei let out a sigh of relief and fell back onto the net, the day's fatigue coming back to her full force.
"What a day… I just want to fall asleep here and not wake up until tomorrow…"
"There are better places for that Mom. Besides, we would all like our Personas back."
"Yeah, I guess you do… Ummm, do you want to hang out later? I kind of want to learn more about the daughter I never knew." Rei asked as she got off of the net.
"I would like to, but I have to do an After Action Report on this whole thing and that could take a several hours to do. There's a bunch of annoying formalities I have to jump through. But if I have an excuse to get away from that, I would use it in a heartbeat."
Then you'll be getting one right now!
That voice nearly caused everyone to jump in surprise and draw their weapons towards the owner of the voice. Rei found herself between Labrys and Zen, both ready to protect her from the very person that caused them so many problems. Dressed in form fitting jeans, running shoes, and a colorful tank top, Eris floated in the air at eye level and was posed similarly to 'draw me like one of your French girls'.
"What up Fam!? The hottest bitch is back in town!" Eris cheerfully said.
"Why are you here!? I thought you left!?" Labrys shouted.
"I did, but I came back."
"Didn't you say you wouldn't be involve with this world anymore?" Zen asked.
"I didn't say that. I said I wouldn't involve this planet in a nefariously evil dooms day plot, I didn't say I wouldn't be involved with this world Period. Seriously, go back up there, I never said anything like that." Eris was then gesturing upwards, though the way she was doing it indicated that it wasn't towards the sky.
"That still doesn't tell us why you're here." Mitsuru asked, a drop of sweat rolling down her neck.
"Remember back in Chapter 23 I mentioned having a bucket list? Yeah, I want to cross those off before leaving this place for good. Well I had to modify it because I couldn't torture people anymore but I still get to go on my date! And have shoplifts to mall!"
"Then why are you here bothering us instead of going to see the world?" Shinjro asked.
"I need tour guides. You think I know where to start with this place?"
…
"No! Not happening! We're not about to baby sit an all-powerful Psycho!" Rise shouted.
"There are more qualified people in the Kingdoms for something like that, so I'm not sure why you need us…" Ken replied as Koromaru just barked in agreement.
"Do you really trust me enough to interact with normal people?"
No one said anything and any retort they may have just died in their throats. "I didn't think so." Eris said with a smug smile.
"Fuck you!" Yosuke cursed.
"Love you too."
"Is this revenge for defeating you? Because that is extremely petty to do so." Aigis commented.
"Please, I'm practically the Queen of Pettiness, I started a war over not being invited to a wedding remember?"
"God damn it… Then could you at least tell us how long you're staying? And you better not say forever." Labrys asked.
"I won't say that, I may be the Queen of Pettiness, but I'm not that much of a dick. No, I'm going to stay here for two weeks, a whole fourteen days of sightseeing…"
"That's pretty manageable, we could begin planning a schedule and start tomorrow." Yu replied.
"Starting today."
"Come again?"
"As of a few minutes ago, I have exactly fourteen days until I have to return to the plane of unconsciousness. So I would really like you to show me around this place right now."
"We're exhausted! You really expect us to lead you around like this! At least give us some time to sleep first!" Junpei shouted.
"Then I guess I'll find some other poor sap to be guide for the day. So please, rest up all you want, I'll just be somewhere annoying the shit out of some random civie while causing problems for EVERYBODY. Non-maliciously of course." Eris said mockingly, eyebrows wriggling rapidly. Again, any argument they might have had against the Goddess died and were placed in an early grave. Rei could tell that these next fourteen days is going to be the longest two weeks they will ever experience. Labrys felt her blood pressure go up despite not having a beating heart or real blood that would allow something like that to happen. Zen simply shook his head at the Strife Goddess' antics, fully acknowledging that she has them right where she wanted them to be.
"… I guess there's no rest for the wicked…" Akihiko said in defeat.
"Let me repeat myself… FUCK YOU!"
And that is Chapter 26!
One more chapter everyone, so hold on just a little longer.
Not really much to say this week either except for the usual nonsense.
They get it man, no need to keep beating this dead horse and dragging it on forever.
Are you just going to keep intruding in on my author's notes? Don't you have anything better to do?
Until you put me in another story, I'll be your AN co-star!
How about no? Do you really have nothing better to do except bother other people?
But that's how all the best shit happens! And can't you just write me out creator man?
Don't feel like it... Fine, you can stay. But don't go insulting the readers.
YAY! Co-host Eris is on the scene!
Hurray, I can already feel my sanity dying...
Anyway, if there are any questions, comments, or concerns you may have with the story, message me or include it in your review.
Yeah! Write that shit!
Next week will be the last chapter, so please look forward to it.
A heart-warm family monologue is in it!
That is all I have for you this week.
We.
So...
Until next time. T1.
Chao chao~