Author's Notes: I always wondered what common factors are shared between characters of the same arcana. This is the first chapter of the first version of this story. I chose persona 3 and 5 because they were the first two persona games I beat. I hope to make two more stories based on interactions from persona 4 to the other p3 and p5. I know there are many different versions of the persona 3 social links between in game choices or which version of the game you play, but I will go for the one that will make a better story in my mind. So, there may be times where you see a female character only social link or event even though I will refer to the main character as male.
Chapter 1: The Fools Who Serve and the Fools Who Fight
The funeral had just concluded, there was no question Minato Arisato was dead.
Every had reacted to the news in a different way, Junpei had played it off as a joke and lived in denial for a while but it all came crumbling down after a stern talk from Mitsuru. Akihiko had taken to double down on his training, he had practically given up on college and just trained. Yukari had handled the loss in the most traditional way, just crying upon receiving any reminder of him. Misuru had seemed unshaken of her comrade's death, but behind closed doors, other could swear they heard crying. Fuuka had locked herself in her room and refused to let anyone come in. Koromaru decided to stay at Minato's old room refusing anyone from taking something out. Ken had grown a temper and had let very few get close. Aigis was just quiet, there was nothing else, it was hard to get more than a few words out of her at a time. The only one who changed very little was the newly awakened Shinjiro. He had nothing against the kid, but he just hadn't gotten very close to him the only thing the kid had done for him was find his old pocket watch. But that pocket watch had saved his life, so Shinjiro had decided to honor his friend, he would work to help the other through their grief, but that was tough.
Luckily, Shinjrio and Mitsuru got everyone in nice suits and to the funeral. Everyone had said their peace and goodbyes to the still body lying in the casket. But everyone felt like there was more they wanted to say.
Everyone was shuffling out of the church to the light rain outside. Suddenly over the intercom, a voice rang out, "Would the following people please report the main area, Junpei Iori, Yukari Takabe, Mitsuru Kirijo, Ahihiko Sanada, Aigis, Ken Amada, Shinjiro Aragaki, and Koromaru."
The voice sound somber yet childish. The group took a look at one another and complied, some reluctantly. When they got to the main area of the church they were met with a peculiar sight. Two figures where standing over Minato's coffin, the first was a women in all dark blue, he dress was sleeveless but her gloves covered her entrie forarme. She had on a blue cap over her platinum blonde hair. The other person was even more bizarre. It was a short, bald man with an abnormally long nose, a hunch, and wearing a suit.
The bald man turned to look at the others with his bloodshot eyes, "Welcome, you must be those who fought with my guest here."
At the word 'fought', Mitsuru took a defensive stance, "Who are you?"
The man took another sad look at the boy in the eternal sleep before turning to face the former members of S.E.E.S, "Apologize, my name is Igor, I knew the boy here."
"I never saw you before in my life," Junpei accused, "How did you know him?"
"I was a guide on the road to his destiny, I know all about the midnight hour and what you were doing, me and Elizabeth here were the ones who helped him fuse his personas." Igor explained.
"Wait, you were the one who helped him fuse," Akihiko asked, "Where were the whole time, how come we never saw you?"
"Alas, normally I can only appear to those who have the power called the wild card. That is the ability that allows your friend to have multiple peronas. It is a rare power even among persona users. Usually I don't come to this world, but I made an exception for my guest's sake."
"What do you mean 'this world'?" Fuuka wondered.
"That will come in due time, but I actually wanted to talk to all of you." Igor explained before taking a seat at a nearby table.
The others reluctantly sat down and stared at Igor with questioning eyes. Elizabeth sniffled a little before joining her master by his side.
"I thought you all deserved to know why." Igor cryptically explained.
"Why what?" Junpei inquired.
"Why Minato Arisoto died the way he did." Igor explained.
No one said a word. Looks of shock flowed over the group. Some where shaking, others were completely still. But all were waiting for him to continue before they felt like they could react.
Igor read the room and explained, "Nyx, as you all know, could not be killed. This is because she is the incarnation of death. Since death in an inevitable reality, then she cannot die. However, with enough power, she can be sealed. So, Minato used the power of the wildcard, filled by his bonds with his close friends, manage to create a seal capable of sealing himself. However, it slowly drained his life, causing him to pass away finally a few months later."
The group was slowly processing this, it made sense. The visions they saw on January 31st, the question of what happened to Nyx, Ryoji's explanation on how Nyx couldn't die. They still had trouble processing what was just said.
"So what about you," Aigis had finally said, "What was your role in his death?"
Igor could feel a flash of anger swell up from the group yet he explained, "I was nothing more than a guide, a being who existed to assist him toward his destiny."
"So you led him to his death," Mitsuru accused, "You raised him like a sheep to slaughter."
Elizabeth started to panic, not cause of their anger, but of their words. Was she and her master really responsible for Minato's death. Guilt and uncertainty swelled inside of her. She wanted to scream, she wanted to cry, she wanted to be by her guest's side and she wanted to die. She desperately looked glanced over to Igor, and saw a rare sorrowful expression.
"Well," Igor muttered, "Maybe you're right,"
This stopped everyone in their tracks. Stares of confusion and anger surrounded Igor in his seat, however he explained in a clear and somber voice. "You must understand that even though I existed as a guide, I am just as much a prisoner of fate as well. I exist for the sole reason of helped wild cards and every time I help people like Minato a tragedy befalls them. But I cannot escape. For most the Velvet room is a place where we move, but for me, it is my work, my life and my prison. Cursed to assist those in finding their destiny for the good of humanity and most of all, even if that destiny will destroy them."
Once again, the Special Extracurricular Execution Squad was left speechless. No longer was the man in front of them a weird old man, or a bringer of death. But someone who was just as lost in emotions as the rest of them.
"I understand," Aigis spoke first, "We all looked for someone to blame or someone to hate. But we all forgot that Minato would have sacrificed himself for us no matter what."
Her words hit everyone close to their hearts, it was Elizabeth who said what broke them, "I wish he didn't have to."
Her words, simple and short, was something everyone had. Yukari fell to her knees and cried, followed shortly by Fuuka and the rest followed suit. Soon the only one left was Igor, who motioned for Elizabeth to follow him as he got up and left the others to their tears.
"Sir?" Elizabeth asked once they were out of the room, "Why did you tell them? You were under no obligation to inform them of anything."
"Perhaps it was because they deserved to hear the truth. Perhaps it was to settle the matter once and for all," Igor looked away from Elizabeth, "Or perhaps it was to clear my own conscious."
Elizabeth saw a single tear fall to the ground, but not from her own eyes. Igor waved his hand and a blue door faded into existence in front of them. Igor took his step back into a room without time, with thoughts of only how these people will continue their lives.