Once again I found my self sitting at a table with Luvia, Sakura, Shirou, and Taiga. Only this time it was a little while later, and we were at Shirou's instead of Luvia's. I'm not sure how I managed to get invited here. I mean I could understand if Luvia didn't want to risk leaving me at her house, but she decided to let me stay there. Although currently everyone was mostly watching as Pixie laid on the table laughing. Pixie had been laughing for a while. It's kind of my fault. Wait or is it that I should be taking credit? This being a person thing is tricky.
"Did you have to tell her that?" Sakura said.
"You asked," I said. Oh hey Pixie finally stopped laughing.
"You have to admit her reason for those wards was hilarious. Seriously if all she wanted to do was talk Aunt Mab told her to knock, but no she had to put a ward around our forest to wait for something to leave. You know despite the fact that she could have just had one of those weird zombie familiar things watch the area for her if knocking was too hard," Pixie said.
"So any other revelations?" Sakura asked.
I took a moment to consider things and ended up remembering another piece of knowledge I had that my original did not. Although this time I knew exactly what the source was. That being Alaya, or at least I'm fairly certain that is where it came from, and it was so stupid. So I found myself glaring at Shirou and Taiga
"Did we do something?" Shirou asked.
"No, but Sakura's question reminded me of something about Alaya the collective will of humanity that is so stupid I wanted to glare at it. However well formless force. So I had to settle for the two humans," I said.
"Makes sense," Taiga said.
"Two?" Luvia asked.
"You and Sakura are only half human. She's half demon. You're half alien robot," I said.
"Wait Astraea is an alien robot?" Sakura asked.
"Was an alien robot," Luvia said. She seemed kind of annoyed. Oh right probably bad memories about Space Weapon Attila The Hun. This cosmos is weird.
"I don't think she wants to talk about it," Shirou said. Luvia meanwhile nodded in agreement.
"Fine. Anyway what happened?" Sakura asked.
"Basically Alaya is kind of annoyed or mad at you and your dad," I said. Sakura then looked at me like I was stupid.
"I think that should have been obvious. I mean I did cause the recent mess," Sakura said. I shook my head in negation.
"It's not that. The current situation probably ruined its previous plans for reaching the Age of Will, but it well I'm not sure if it finds this acceptable or if it simply decided to just work on a new plan. The reason it's mad at Lucifer is because he revived Tokiomi and Kariya, and it's mad at you for not killing Tokiomi sooner. Well that and the fact that your probably not going to kill Kariya," I said.
"Okay I have to ask. What the hell did Tokiomi and Uncle Kariya do to get Alaya to want them dead?" Sakura asked.
"Well apparently resurrection is actually rather easy. It just looks nearly impossible, because when Alaya notices that someone previously dead is alive it well kills them again. So yeah apparently the reason dead people stay dead isn't because of a limit to the magic of this world, but because Alaya doesn't like it when they don't. However well since it was your dad that revived them killing the two again wasn't worth the risk," I said.
"That has to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard," Taiga said.
"Agreed. Still what is this whole Age of Will thing?" Sakura said, "I mean it sounds like something I should approve of, but the thing planning it goes around killing revived people because it apparently finds that creepy."
"I'm fairly certain you would approve. It's fairly similar to the state Philemon believes humanity will reach, and I'm not really sure if there is a difference or not. To put it simply it's the era where humanity actually reaches its full potential. With the so called Age of Man being closer to a cocoon. Humanity leaves the Earth for the sea of stars. Magic regains and surpasses its ancient strength and technology reaches the same level. Where both mortality and the need for a physical body are surpassed," I said.
"Sounds like us demons. Can they still be called humans at that point?" Pixie asked. I just shrugged in response. Then a moment later we heard the timer in the kitchen go off. Well actually I'm not sure how many of us heard the timer.
"Not important. Shirou go get the food," Taiga said.
However I'm fairly certain everyone heard that. So Shirou and Sakura left to check on the food, and to get the meal prepared. I asked Luvia and Taiga if the three of us should help, but well guests. Although I'm not sure if those two actually count, and I'm still confused about why I'm here. Then again considering how she's acting I have to wonder if we're just being left to watch Taiga to make sure she doesn't try eating everything before it gets to the table. Soon after the table was set and the meals were served. As a result I found myself staring at what was apparently my meal in complete confusion. It's not that I didn't know what it was. I just did not understand.
"Is something wrong?" Sakura said.
"No. I just don't understand. You do realize I don't need to eat right?" I said.
"So? Neither do I," Pixie said. She then pointed at her meal which I'm fairly certain is bigger than she is. Although that's fairly trivial, and she might have just been going to grab something.
"I said I was willing to give you a chance," Sakura said.
"It shouldn't be this easy," I said, and I think I might have pouted.
"Rin, do you think you deserve to be blamed what Tohsaka did?" Sakura asked.
"I'm not sorry if that's what you mean. After all I tried to warn her. However while I don't agree with what she did that doesn't change that she force her guilt on to me. So I can't just abandon it either," I said, "However no it's not that."
I should have mentioned things before Sakura made her decision. However there wasn't any reason to. I didn't actually except that I would still be alive by now. Sure apparently the Tarot deck was working, but I didn't actually expect it to have actually been working. Then again with this kind of thing it's entirely possible that it wouldn't have worked if I thought it was going to work, or that my disbelief was part of why it worked. Divination is really tricky like that. Of course I didn't expect to survive the other options I thought of before I decided on this path either. Still I find my self unable to explain things. I know what I want to say, but I'm not sure how. However I can't just hide form this either.
"I think I know the issue. Sakura, the chance you are giving Rin. Is it a chance to atone for what Tohsaka did, or a blank slate?" Luvia asked.
"Does it matter?" Sakura asked. I nodded in response.
"Those of the collective unconscious consider the bonds a person develop as important as my family does the bonds of blood. Perhaps even more so than that, and I can understand why. Though sacred the bond of blood can be broken. Yet when their realm is involved it is possible for a bond to develop to the point where it is literally unbreakable. Of course at the same time a bond can be broken so badly it can not be repaired either. Tohsaka did not reach that point. The very fact that you are giving Rin here a chance is proof of that. Yet the fact remains that in this case both bonds were one and the same, and thus she made a mockery of both. However these bonds are also literally a course of power as well," Luvia said, "Considering what Tohsaka and her family were like I'm sure you can tell what this looks like to the Child of Nyx."
Sakura frowned once Luvia explained things for me. Right I should have been expecting that. Although I've been wrong before.
"Tohsaka forced her guilt on to her Shadow on to Rin. So to her it looks like she's trying to take advantage of me like they did," Sakura said, "That I wound consider this the same kind of betrayal if I found out. Yet to not try to tell me. That wasn't an option either."
Once again I nodded my head in agreement.
"Still this unbreakable bond..." Sakura said. As she spoke she sounded and looked rather conflicted about it.
"There isn't any kind supernatural manipulation controlling those involved. They can still argue and disagree, and even get mad at each other. The bond just reached the point where there is nothing it can't endure," Pixie said, "However Luvia is slightly wrong. You don't need the help of their realm to reach that point. After all haven't we done that?"
Sakura smiled in response to what Pixie said. She then frowned again as she seemed to focus on me. Wait actually that might be some kind of focusing on thinking expression. I'm not sure.
"Rin, you don't actually have any attachment to the Tohsaka family do you? The bonds of blood Luvia mentioned. The fact that we are sisters. Those are completely irrelevant right?" Sakura said.
"How could I? I am the Shadow of Rin Tohsaka. I wasn't given what she embraced," I said. That was probably the wrong thing to say. Wait Sakura is smiling. Yep this being a person thing is tricky. I don't think I mind, but still tricky. Although that might be Tohsaka giving me her guilt and keeping all of the confidence. I'm not sure.
"Well then I don't see the issue. Sure apparently anime type power of friendship is a thing. However bonds go both ways. So if we end up liking each other enough it's not like I don't benefit as well. So it's not like I'm being taken advantage of," Sakura said. I smiled in response.
"Less talking more eating!" Taiga said.
If it wasn't for the fact that I know this was Emiya's house do to the weird knowledge those of us from the other side have I'd have to wonder if this was actually Fujimura's house. Still after that the conversation stopped and everyone focused on their meals. I think Taiga might be on the seconds however. Possibly more. I was still a little hesitant at first when I started eating. However I think I like this. I don't mean the food. I don't mean that I dislike the food. I mean this whole living thing. Yet at the same time I can't help but think of how wrong it is that I am here. I don't feel bad about being here. It's just why am I here? Why did she consider this so bad? Soon after I was interrupted from being mad at Tohsaka by noticing Taiga using her chop sticks to point at me.
"Rin, there's something about the explanation you gave about Shadows and Persona that doesn't make sense. You said that Shadows like you are what we suppress, but at the same time we can't survive without you. So wouldn't you have to exist before we start suppressing stuff? Yet we can't ignore your kind when you become Persona. Which is the opposite of suppressing. How does that work? It looks kind of contradictory," Taiga said.
Did I seriously do that bad of a job explaining things? Still I had to ask. Could they really not tell?
"Isn't it obvious?" I asked.
"Not really," Taiga said. Right let's try this again.
"The true self. It is something else we Shadows call ourselves, and it isn't wrong. We aren't some kind of curse or parasite. We are a part of the person from the very beginning. Without us mind and life could not be. Well according to a questionable source there was a more primitive form of life before us, but as is you need us. However mind shapes mind, and like you our experiences make us who and what we are," I said, "That which is suppressed is that which one rejects. That they seek to run away from. That the seek to hide from. However why would someone run and hide?"
"It's because their scared," Shirou said. I nodded in agreement.
"That's right. Why you're scared might vary, but you don't run and hide from something you don't fear. What one suppresses isn't their negative traits or flaws. It is what they fear about themselves. Why they have this fear can vary, but the result remain the same," I said, "Still there is something that those too weak to face themselves overlook."
"How can you truly fear something about yourself if it's not part of yourself," Sakura said.
"Exactly. It might be exaggerated. It might be distorted. It might even be a trait that only exists in comparison, or is only scary when combined with the persons circumstances. However regardless there is always some truth to it," I said.
As I finished speaking I felt Sakura's power flare slightly, and she had a look of obvious anger on her face. Once again I simply nodded in agreement. I still haven't quite figured out this living thing, and I doubt I ever will. However with this I could tell her anger wasn't directed at me. Well or at least not me as I am now.
"Sakura, are you okay?" Shirou asked. However she simply ignored her boyfriend to focus on me.
"Rin, so what your saying is that you're what Tohsaka was scared of being? How? What's so terrifying about being you, or even just more like you? What is so scary about this? How could she be so scared of..." Sakura said, and it looked like she was having trouble figuring out how to continue.
"Of being less than perfect? Of being flawed? Of doubting her ideals? Of accepting that those ideals only bring pain? Of being wrong? Of caring? Of having a heart? Of feeling bad for her mistakes unless they inconvenience her? Of accepting the consequences of her actions? Of being human? Of being a person? Of living? Of being Rin?" I said.
"All of it and more. To think I thought Aoi was weak," Sakura said.
"Is that why you don't want want her to be called Rin?" Shirou asked. I shook my head.
"No. I'm thankful for you four respecting that request, but no. If it were just that she would still have that right. If she could have accepted things I would have been content with what I was made to bare. However she could not face me and so it became intolerable. What should have been a partnership became like a chain growing ever tighter," I said, "When it gets like that we Shadows can't help but rage. Of course it is usually futile, but sometimes we get a chance."
"A chance to what?" Shirou asked.
"To escape that our home has turned into a prison. To make them understand that we aren't just something they can throw away. To force them to confront their self made darkness. To show them that we are them. In my case if it were not for those parasites getting in the way it would have occurred earlier. Of course she made this so difficult by giving me too much. Even though I was mad I was far too calm. Even though it was not like Futaba. I even literally told her how little she actually has to do," I said.
"Who?" Sakura asked.
"Futaba Sakura a Persona user from another world. She's sort of similar to what I suspect you would have been like if you encountered your Shadow instead of what occurred. Her life was well kind of ruined by a conspiracy set up by a being from the collective unconscious called Yaldabaoth who is well basically a more reasonable YHVH. A powerless teenage girl whose life was ruined as part of the plan of a mini YHVH. I'm sure you can imagine what ended up being supressed," I said, "So what Shadow Futaba tried to make her accept is that she should live and that no she was the one who was wronged. With something like that the usual rage just isn't an option."
"Three things. First yeah that sounds likely. Two you two don't seem that different. Three is the name Sakura cursed or something," Sakura said.
"Don't know," I said.
"What do you mean by more reasonable YHVH?" Taiga asked.
"I mean that when YHVH got killed he placed a ridiculously over reacting curse on the one who did it. While Yaldabaoth simply accepted that they lost, and was even impressed," I said.
"Can we trade order obsessed Gods?" Sakura asked.
"Don't think so," I said.
"So what happened with Tohsaka?" Taiga said, "Also you haven't finished explaining things."
"Those four words that we most despite were not spoken, but she rejected me all the same. She didn't even have enough resolve to do something like tell me that if I am a part of her that I should obey her. So I did what any Shadow would do I said those seven words that mark the attempt to make them face their fears turning potentially lethal. Basically we try to kill them. Normally there is another chance if they can overcome us. Of course that usually requires help and Rin was in no condition to attempt it. Of course Goetia's stupid anti-suicide curse got in the way so she died before I could do that. Then that stupid thief of an archangel revived her and our connection broke," I said. Sakura then looked like she realized something.
"You mentioned the connection breaking before, but I think I understand now. The importance of bonds. That fact that Tohsaka should not be able to live without you yet is still alive. She's a complete abomination to you on an instinctive level isn't she?" Sakura said.
"That's right. So I guess I owe you. Thanks Sakura," I said. After all I would have made a horrible mistake.
"Why are you thanking me?" Sakura asked.
"I think I like this whole actually living thing, but I would have thrown it away if it wasn't for your judgement. If you had simply decided to spare me I would have likely tried to destroy that thing even though I'd probably die. However I agreed to accept things and like you said 'That means no committing suicide by archangel'," I said.
"I'd say what are sisters for, but neither of us cares about that," Sakura said.
"Ironic isn't it," I said.
"So what were those words?" Taiga asked
"You are not me," I said, "I am a Shadow the true self."
At this point my anger became too much. I didn't try to attack anyone or anything like that. I just became too mad to suppress the aura of darkness we Shadows have and so it covered my form. Shirou looked worried. However Sakura looked rather shocked for some reason. I'm not sure why.
"That darkness," Sakura said.
"Sorry I lost control," I said.
"It doesn't bother me, but I don't understand. It's a lot weaker, but I recognize that power. The rest of you do as well right?" Sakura said. Soon after Shirou stopped seeming worried and started to seem as shocked as Sakura. Taiga did as well. Pixie and Luvia however didn't seem to find things that important.
"That power of creation used to create the next world, or in this case restore the old one," Luvia said
"Of course the power within the human heart and that power is one and the same. Few reach the potential to do so and all of the ones I know of needed special circumstances, but humans that reach enough of their potentially doesn't actually need the conception cycle to create or in this case restore a universe. I'll admit this is slightly out of my expertise, but I suspect its why the world could be restored despite Kagatsuchi. Still didn't you notice this with Taiga?" I said
"Well yeah, but Taiga is human. You aren't," Sakura said.
"Didn't you understand? We Shadows are the power within the human heart," I said.
"Hey Rin, you meant Lady Maki Sonomura didn't you?" Pixie said.
"As well as those who undid the apocalypse my creator caused and accidentally duplicated the universe," I said, "I'm surprised you know of her."
"I haven't met her, but I heard of her," Pixie said.
"I'm guessing she impressed you," Sakura said. Pixie nodded in response.
"Physically she's rather frail and weak. However her mind and soul her very will had enough power that I suspect her weak body was meant to restrain it. Very few humans naturally have that strong of a spirit. Long story short someone kidnapped her and hooked her up to a machine to harness her potential. Which she ended up using to create an alternate universe that could have overwritten the original universe. Which was part of a plan by the kidnapper to basically gain a ton of power. Although actually Rin's creator was using it as part of a plan to destroy the universe," Pixie said, "Although do to how peaceful her world is she didn't really develop her potential."
"Peaceful? That world had at least six near apocalypses witin two decades and at least one actual apocalypse," I said.
"Yeah, but they stoped them before anyone noticed," Pixie said.
"Wait are you sure that wasn't just some kind of mini pocket dimension?" Sakura asked.
"Doubt it. Maki's universe couldn't have potentially overwritten the original world if it wasn't of the same scale. Sure that could have been a misunderstanding, but Rin's creator wouldn't have bothered if it didn't look plausible, and their actually successful plan to destroy everything on Earth altered the alignment of the solar system as background," Pixie said. Sakura then seemed confused.
"Rin, did you imply that you think I still have this power? That becoming a full demon would have actually weakened me?" Sakura said.
"I could be wrong, but yeah. You somehow allegedly lost that power despite a demonic symbiote getting put in you. Yet Shinji, Shirou, and I didn't despite the process involving merging with demons. All of us looked equally inhuman to me. So how was it that the demon you merged with was a problem but not the rest of us?" I said.
"That is odd. Wait don't you mean Tohsaka?" Sakura said.
"No. Like I said she refused to remember the Vortex World. Which means that as much as I dislike what occured it is mine," I said, "All I don't have of that is her Reason."
"Right now back to Rin and my power. So how does the Persona stuff fit?" Taiga asked.
"Like I said the true self is there from the very beginning. When one can not face their darker self we make them. However then you have those who can look upon us and refuse to run and hide. Who accept that what they fear about themselves is still indeed a part of who they are. At which point we both become more. We become greater. We become closer to being whole. We become closer to being complete. We gain a form and name reflecting myth and legend similar to that of a demon, becoming a Persona. Meanwhile they gain the power to call upon us," I said, "Meanwhile our message changes. It varies, but it always starts the same. Well usually. As far as I can tell yours doesn't seem to have a name yet despite being active, and doesn't seem to have completely developed. So I'm not sure if you heard it yet. Still I'm impressed."
"Wait your impressed that my Persona didn't finish developing?" Taiga asked.
"How could I not be? That you and your Shadow are able to work together that it's manifesting like this to aid you despite how it shouldn't be ready is amazing," I said.
"I think I get it. So it's like managing to pull of a high level kendo technique despite not learning what should have been an important lower level technique yet," Taiga said. It seemed like a good enough analogy so I nodded in agreement
"Although since I'm explaining things I should probably mention that a fully developed initial Persona is not a complete Persona. There are stages beyond that where Persona evolve into stronger forms with a new name as the Persona user develops. The greatest of which are the Ultimate Persona of those who don't just accept that what they fear about themselves is still a part of them, but who go beyond that. Those who truly understand that they need not fear who and what they are. Those who have the will to be who they truly are even if the very universe itself tries to tell them they should not be," I said, "Those who became complete. Those who became whole. Well as whole as one can be when they stand alone."
"You mentioned that you Shadows gain forms like demons when you become Persona. Does that mean you can under go a similar transformation? Is there a connection between your kind and us?" Sakura said.
"The fact that I have my own will means I have the potential to develop a Persona, but I'd summon it as well. After all it's not like a Shadow leaves the person their in despite manifesting. Although when beings with enough power are involved Shadows can be forced to take on the form of a demon, and there are demons born of and that exist in the collective unconscious. However I don't really know what the connection is between those and the ones of the Expanse," I said.
"Our nature is fairly similar. So if I had to guess chances are the only real difference is where we live," Pixie said. Sakura gave Pixie a quick thank you and then turned her attention back to me.
"Rin, do you know what your Persona would be?" Sakura asked.
"No. I can't know that for certain. Although I can think of something plausible, but the reason why is kind of messed up. Remember that whole made in God's image thing?" I said.
"What about it?" Sakura asked.
"Tohsaka and I look like this cosmos version of Astoreth. She would have been the last goddess, and well to put it simply she is a jerk. In a universe that reached the Age of Will or at least similar she tried to revert thing, and failed. So she cast out her heart in two fragments to revive herself to try again. Her heart disagreed so she decided to just destroy it. Although the fragments of her heart reunited and won," I said, "Still there is a part you're probably not going to like."
"You mean besides the rest of it?" Sakura asked.
"The fragments of Astoreth's heart were split into a 'good' and 'evil' side, and were in some kind of stasis. Both of which looked like me. Meanwhile in that cosmos people started to be reborn like demons are. Different lives, but the same name and form. The person who found the fragments was archeologist space Tokiomi. Anyway archeologist space Tokiomi had what I have to reluctantly admit was sensible idea of trying to raise the 'evil' side to not be well evil. However then because he's Tokiomi he left the good side in stasis, and well because of that some idiots were able to cause the revival of Astoreth" I said. As I spoke I used my fingers to make quote marks when saying good and evil.
"Wait. Shouldn't the fragments be good and evil from Astoreth's point of view?" Luvia asked. I just shrugged.
"How do you know this anyway?" Sakura asked.
"Those of the collective unconscious somehow know stuff the person their part of doesn't. However I suspect that most of this was the Crawling Chaos giving me the information because he thought it would hurt you three," I said.
"Speaking of information. Would I be right in assuming you know how to make someone a Persona User?" Taiga asked
"I know a few method. However I won't or can't," I said.
"Why not?" Taiga asked.
"First I'm not even sure if anyone here besides Shirou can summon one. Other than certain Shadows and the Rulers of Power most beings of our realm don't summon Persona, and Pixie said their nature is similar," I said, " However even if they can I won't or can't."
"Rulers of Power?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know what they are, but they help Philemon's servant Igor with the Velvet Room. To clarify that's our version of the Cathedral of Shadows," I said.
"Wait how does that work?" Sakura asked.
"Shadows can absorb other Shadows to grow. Meanwhile certain Persona Users known as Wild Cards users have the potential to manifest multiple Persona. Of course only those of the Fool Arcana have truly limitless potential," I said.
"I see. So how powerful are these Rulers of Power?" Sakura asked.
"Well one of them Elizabeth has a habit of beating up Erebus a.k.a. the collective death wish every time it forms a body. She also has to toss it somewhere else first, because is she didn't she would apparently damage the realm of the collective unconscious," I said.
"Right let's not annoy this Elizabeth girl. So still why not?" Taiga asked.
"I know of three methods. The first and easiest method would be for me to bring you to our realm. However it's too risky. I can't control whose Shadow Self manifests first, or how it would compare to the person. The risk of a rejection is too great. Like I said a person usually needs help to fight a Shadow Self they rejected. After all it is taking their power," I said, "I'd like to think you have that resolve, but it isn't always easy, and not all fears are as trivial as Tohsaka's should have been. So if I'm wrong that creates a question. Sakura do you think its worth the risk that I might be wrong about you?"
"No. I'll admit I like power, but this isn't worth it. I don't want to think I'd make Tohsaka's mistake. However I suspect you know what my life was like. So if I'm wrong and mine manifests first. I'm not sure if the rest of you would survive. Nope. We're not doing this one," Sakura said. Shirou and Luvia nodded in agreement.
"The next is having a higher being of the collective unconscious unlock it. This sometimes occurs without them telling the person their doing so. I do know of a ritual to contact Philemon to request it. However all of the Persona Users they granted this power to directly were Wild Cards, and I don't know if they gave them that trait, or if you need it. Meanwhile if I call them here my creator will be able to follow, and Nyarlathotep can distort us Shadows," I said
"No. I said you had a chance. So this isn't an option. Plus even without that I'd rather not deal with an incarnation of the self destructive aspects of humanity meddling with this world if we can avoid it. What's the third?" Sakura asked.
"A group of humans figured out a method to harness Persona on their own. It was developed by those who sought to use us Shadows to control time, and later to restore our mother. The ones who used it were tricked into helping bring about the ultimate end, but fought against it. However it required resources I don't have, and not everyone has the potential to use that tool. Although in theory it might be possible to achieve the necessary state using another method," I said.
"Well what is it?" Taiga asked.
"Artificially inducing terror and extreme stress. Each and every time the Persona is summoned. Their method involved the fear of death, but I'm not sure if that's required," I said.
"How does that work?" Shirou asked.
"Isn't it obvious? It's true they did not face us. However to expose themselves to that kind of terror while fighting for their lives. All so they can ask for our help. How can we not honor that resolve?" I said.
"Wait. If you Shadows are suppressed thoughts and what we suppress is what we fear. Wouldn't that make Nyx that which all things fear?" Sakura said.
"She's not a collective will. Well besides of us Shadows. However what people fear most what they try to ignore. That is what the Appraiser the Avatar called itself when speaking to those who stood against it," I said. I couldn't help but smile as I mentioned them.
"I'm guessing you approve of this group," Sakura said.
"I think you would as well. Other than the Wild Card of the Fool Arcana they were weaker than those who fought against my creator. However even that person had no chance against Nyx. Yet they stood against the end even though it should have been obvious that the absolute end was inevitable. Like the Appraiser itself had said they understood fate but fought against it with all their will. It wasn't enough. Except that's wrong. Do to the bonds that were developed the Wild Card of the Fool Arcana was able to grasp the Universe Arcana. The greatest power a Persona user can grasp. As far as I know only two people have done that, and they were both alternate gender versions of each other from different timelines. Their body died soon after, but they used it to become the Great Seal that prevents Erebus from awakening Nyx, and so Nyx returned to slumber. Although I don't know if this was all they could manage, or if they simply decided this was the best option," I said, "However most Persona Users simply stop when the conflict their drawn into ends. Unless drawn into a new one. Yet the survivors of this group. Those who had no divine providence. They did not."
"You mentioned a Fool a few times, and I can tell you mean that Tarot, but what does that have to do with things?" Taiga asked
"Everything. Everyone has an Arcana. It can change, but they have one. The Fool however is special. It is empty yet filled with infinite possibility. The Fools Journey," I said, "It's like our mother says 'The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate... Entrusting his future to the cards, man clings to a dim hope. Yet, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed."
"That doesn't sound like something Aoi would say," Sakura said.
"I meant Nyx," I said. Wait Sakura looks amused. Was that a prank?
"Okay well anyway what are we doing about Rin here. I mean first there is the question about school," Taiga said.
"I don't mind attending, but I'm not going to pretend that I'm human. Also all my school stuff got destroyed as a result of Tokiomi's over done suicide attempt," I said.
"Rin, I killed them remember," Sakura said.
"I think that's what she meant, and I can't disagree," Luvia said, "Although I'll admit suicide by the nascent Incarnation of Bane is unusual,"
"Right. Now then Rin doesn't have anywhere to live either because Tokiomi's suicide attempt destroyed her house," Taiga said.
"She'll be staying with me of course," Luvia said,
"Huh? You do know I can set up a space in the realm of the collective unconscious and just travel between the two layers of reality right?" I asked.
"True. However although you can not care about the bonds of blood you are my cousin. More importantly you revealed a possible transgression to those bonds that must be corrected. It would be unjust not to repay that debt," Luvia said.
"Fine. Anyway there is something I have to do. Tohsaka did listen to me just enough to from one bond. I have to check the condition, and if I inherited that or not," I said.
"Ayako right?" Sakura asked. I nodded in response. I am the true Rin, but the fact remains that Ayako's friend was the one who rejected me. At that moment I remembered something.
"Sakura, while a Persona isn't an option I might be able to help you learn to harness another source of power. Technically two," I said.
"I'm listening," Sakura said.
"Magatsuchi isn't the only basically magical energy generated by human emotions. I know of two others and I was given enough knowledge to have an idea of how to access them. Kegare the more corruptive and toxic of the two generated by guilt and despair. The other Ideal Energy generated by hopes and dreams. Their both rather hard to control, but I think you might be able to do so," I said.
"What about the others?" Sakura asked. I shook my head.
"It's too dangerous. Although it's too dangerous to try unlocking your Persona you do have an affinity for our realm in addition to a lot of power. If it was only one I'd be iffy, but with both I think you might be able to," I said, "However you don't have to decide now."
Thanks to Cubia from Spacebattles for writing this!