It's gonna be a double-upload today since I accidentally missed yesterday. My sleeping schedule is completely out of whack. But anyway, today we get the last four new Phantom Thieves. Hope you like the choices I made. Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY, the Persona series, Five Nights at Freddy's, or Devil May Cry.

Volume 3-4: The Minstrel and the Ninja

Ruby was sleeping in Team RWBY's dorm. In her dream she was once again in the Emerald Forest. Before she could wonder why, she heard a familiar voice call out, "Onward, noble Zwei! Whee!" The figure slammed into Ruby's leg, causing her to wince in pain as she grabbed it. Looking over to where the impact came from, she gaped when she saw a tiny version of herself with a cartoonish head and ting little limbs. She and the chibi Ruby both called out, "Oh my gosh, you're adorable!" The chibi excitedly walked around Ruby. "Are you a cosplayer? I love your outfit!"

Ruby knelt down, smiling. "Oh, look at your stubby little legs!" "Hey!," the chibi said, getting out a toy version of Crescent Rose, "Who are you calling stubby? I'll cut you!" She pointed the scythe at Ruby threateningly. Ruby just squealed in delight. "Even Crescent Rose is adorable! Oh you two are so cute! I just want to squeeze you until you pop!" She glomped the chibi, who cried out, "Ah! I'm betrayed by my own cuteness! I can't breath!" "Ruby," came Weiss' voice, causing Ruby to wake up. "Aw man. That's the third time this week I've had that dream."

"What dream?," Weiss asked. "I was in the Emerald Forest when this tiny little chibi version of me ran into me riding Zwei, my pet corgi," Ruby explained, "She was just so adorable I had to hug her." "Chibi versions of ourselves," Weiss murmured, "That sounds like a cartoon franchise we might get after graduation. You know, for kids. Anyway, I was thinking about what Yang reported from Junior's and looked into the local police department. Those thugs did indeed mysteriously vanish after getting arrested, but they mysteriously reappeared on the same night we dealt with Roman's Bastion."

"You think they were drawn inside and trapped?," Ruby asked. Weiss nodded. "Definitely. It all fits with what we know about the Bastions. Anyway, today we have combat practice. Some of the new exchange students will no doubt be trying to get a read on the competition in preparation for the Vytal Festival Tournament. We should get in on that." "Most people are saying Team JNPR is the one to beat," Ruby noted, "I mean, they have Pyrrha on their team." "Doesn't mean we can't win," Weiss pointed out, "We've trained just has hard, and you and Blake have incredible natural talent. Anyway, let's get down there."

After getting some breakfast, the two partners walked into the training arena to see Fritz fighting a young man with red hair with an undercut and came down over his right eye, the other eye being seen as green and having red markings around it. He was wearing a white shirt with gray pants and laced brown boots, a fingerless glove on his right hand. Around his waist was a gray holster belt. "What's going on here?," Ruby asked. Sun explained. "That's my teammate Scarlet David. Fritz challenged him to a fight." "Scarlet tried hitting on me," Yang said, "And Fritz was having none of it." "What's worse is that he wasn't doing it seriously," Neptune noted, "He's homosexual, after all."

Fritz's Queen Anne clashed with Scarlet's own cutlass, Darling. In between clashes they fired at each other using Davy Jones and Hook, a flintlock pistol with a grappling hook attached to the butt. Fritz managed to launch Scarlet into the air using his Semblance, creating a geyser in the middle of the arena. "Scarlet's at a real disadvantage," Neptune noted, "His own Semblance lets him ride air currents to glide, but there's not enough wind for that indoors. Meanwhile Fritz is able to use his Semblance as much as he wants." Sure enough, Fritz had managed to juggle Scarlet out of the ring. "And victory goes to Fritz Holmes," Glynda announced, "Excellent use of strategy with your Semblance."

The next pair to fight was Mercury and Pyrrha. As the match began, Pyrrha narrowed her eyes. Ever since she awakened Hippolyta, she had been able to sense when metals vulnerable to her Semblance were present, and right now she could feel it with Mercury's legs. All of his legs, if this sense was accurate. Mercury found himself shocked as Pyrrha yanked him close before striking with Milo, forcing him to put up his guard. "Something's wrong," Emerald noted, "No one's ever caught Mercury so off-guard before." "It's fine," Cinder assured her, "He's supposed to lose, after all. We don't want anyone thinking we're stronger than students should be."

However, something unexpected happened. As Mercury was about to throw the fight, and with how he was feeling he felt he could do so without looking suspicious, a voice rang out through the crowd. "You can do it Mercury!" It was Velvet, who was cheering him on from the stands. Mercury's eyes widened as he felt a burst of strength coming from inside him. To Cinder's shock, Mercury found a second wind, enough to charge forward again. Pyrrha was caught off-guard, but managed to bounce back. As Mercury managed to kick her right in the face, she smirked.

Her back was to the crowd, and her mask could remain invisible. Removing her mask, Hippolyta appeared underneath her, just out of view, and hit Mercury with a Freila spell. She made sure Milo was pointed toward Mercury in its rifle form. Mercury was knocked to the ground with enough of his Aura drained to call the match. "When did Pyrrha start packing Nuclear Dust?," Cinder asked. "Maybe she got it from her sponsors," Emerald suggested. Velvet hurried down to where Mercury was. "Are you alright?" "I think so," Mercury said, "That last attack caught me off-guard. It's weird... For a moment I could feel my strength returning once I heard you calling me." Velvet blushed.

The bell for the end of class sounded. "All right students," Glynda said, "Don't forget the dance is this weekend, but you'll have your first assignments on Monday." Blake met with her teammates. "Hey, would it be possible to start on that Bastion tonight? You know, so we have time before the dance?" "I guess we can get started," Yang replied, "We know they're in Mountain Glenn, so we can just finish the infiltration before then and send the calling card during the mission. You sure you want to come with?" Blake nodded. "This is something I need to do."

The group was brought to the outskirts of Mountain Glenn thanks to Akane's Semblance. "This far out we should avoid the Grimm's attention," Weiss said, "And once inside the Metaverse they won't even see us." She got her scroll. "So. Adam Taurus, Mountain Glenn, Military Fortress." "Beginning navigation." The desolate city of Mountain Glenn was quickly replaced by a massive military complex. Blake and Jeremy looked up to see Shadow Adam, or at least the cognitive version of him, speaking to some Shadows.

"You sure you want to do this?," Ruby said. Blake nodded. "Let's go." "So where are we going?," came Nora's voice. Jaune and Pyrrha sighed and turned around to see Nora and Ren standing there. "We saw the mysterious portal and followed you," Ren explained. "You guys are good," Susie said, "Not even Jeremy heard you." Ruby explained the entire situation. "So if we want to help, we just need one of these Personas?," Nora asked, "Let me try." She closed her eyes. 'Do you seek my power, child?' Nora gasped at her own voice as her eyes turned yellow, but she didn't do much more than stagger.

'Long have you sought to forget the horrors of the past. But without a past, you cannot have a future. Do not forget what happened. Let it fuel you. Let it bring you strength. To move forward is not the same as to forget. Remember all that you have. I am thou, thou art I.' Nora nodded as a Hanya half-mask appeared over her face. "I will. What happened was terrible, but I won't let it get me down." Ren looked concerned. "Nora?" Nora grabbed her mask. "This is my time to move forward, Ren. Don't try to stop me. Just let me bring it forth... ANNE BONNIE!"

As she tore off the mask, the flames transformed her outfit into one with silver plate armor over her chest and arms, and pleated skirt with chain mail over her legs. Behind her was a woman with pale skin and long red hair, wearing a green dress and holding a metal beer stein in her left hand. She turned to Ren. "Just go for it. We can't let ourselves be held back by the past anymore. Yes we came to Vale to make a new life, but that doesn't mean all that happened to us will disappear." Ren smiled. "All right. I'll try." He closed his eyes. 'Is it your turn then? I was wondering when you'd approach me.'

Ren gasped as he held his head, his eyes turning the familiar yellow shade. "Why does that always happen?," Blake asked. "Personas are just a Shadow that's been tamed when its host stops hiding their real self," Ruby explained, "The eyes come from the person being temporarily possessed by their Shadow. It's the only way they can converse." Ren was kneeling down now. 'Your frustration over the death of your parents is understandable, but they would not wish you to waste your life wallowing in self-pity. Control of one's emotions does not equate to completely shutting them down. Seek a new path forward. Temper your control with a strong will. Even the calmest of minds needto vent, every now and again.'

Ren let a tear be shed as a dragon mask appeared over his face. "It seems I've long forgotten how to use my emotions. I've almost forgotten how to feel sadness, or anger, or joy..." Nora looked at her friend sadly. "Ren..." Ren stood up. "But no longer. I... We... Will take the first step forward." 'Then let our contract be formed now. I am thou, thou art I. With a calm mind and wild heart, lead your allies into glorious battle.' Ren nodded as he grabbed the mask. "This will be my new self. The other me... ZHUGE LIANG!" The fires this time created a light-green armor, Ren's ponytail let down. Behind him was a middle-aged man with black hair and a long beard, wearing white flowing scholar robes.

"Looks like we have two new recruits," came a new voice. Oracle came flying in with a silver UFO, descending on green tentacles. With her was Noir, who had already summoned a young female that had no head, instead using a mask with eyes, and wearing a large dress. "What's with the alien abduction?," Nora asked. "It's my Persona, Necronomicon," Oracle explained. "And this is Milady," Noir added, "Speaking of which, we need some codenames for all of you." "I call Heart!," Nora called out. "So quickly?," Weiss said. "Well, you have Diamond," Nora pointed out, "Plus, don't hearts just suit me?"

Ren laughed. "In that case, I shall call myself Dragon. This mask just screams out that name." Noir turned to Oracle. "Why do they never put too much thought into their codenames?" "Hey, simple is best sometimes," Oracle pointed out. She turned to Blake and Jeremy. "What about you two?" "We'll wait on that," Blake said, "We're not really official just yet." Noir nodded. "This is so cool," Ruby said, "Now Nora and Ren have joined our team. We're really getting some good Phantoms on our side." She and Nora laughed as they shook hands.

Temperance (Lie Ren) Rank 2: He has awoken to his Persona. His Semblance offers him control over his emotions, but now he has learned the value of letting them run wild.

Star (Nora Valkyrie) Rank 2: She has awoken to her Persona, Ann Bonnie. No longer wishing to be tied down by the past, she seeks a brighter future with her friends.

Getting into the actual fort was difficult since the outside was patrolled by Shadows. Ruby ambushed one and managed to get the Persona Angel, a young blonde woman with wings wearing a blindfold and straps over her body. "How is an angel more sexualized than a succubus?," Weiss asked incredulously. They finally found a way inside using a small side entrance meant for deliveries, and a small Safe Room just inside. While searching the hallways, Ruby found a jeweled necklace called the Queen's Necklace, another Treasure Demon.

Further exploration revealed High Pixie, an older fairy woman wearing a unitard with gloves and boots with blonde hair, Nekomata, a anthropomorphic cat with the upper head of a young woman and wearing a fur jacket, Orobas, an anthropomorphic horse with red fur and human-like hands, and Leanan Sidhe, a beautiful woman with blonde hair and wearing a purple dress. Finally they reached a strange fortification, a large black wall. "Whoa," Yang said, "This thing looks like it's completely made out of Grimm." "We've encountered obstacles like this before," Oracle said, "It's impossible to get through it from within the Metaverse. Adam thinks there's no one who can find his hideout in Mountain Glenn because of all the Grimm, causing this wall to appear."

"How do we get it down?," Fritz asked. "If Adam were to see a Huntsman team slip into his hideout," Gabriel said, "Or at least be told about it, it should bring down the wall." "Would he even take the word of his subordinates seriously?," Nora asked. "He would," Blake assured her, "Anything that could jeopardize the White Fang is something he takes seriously." Just then, a sudden explosion rang out, causing the group to scatter. Blake had nearly been caught up in it, but thankfully Jeremy was able to save her. He looked as he saw a guard captain approach. It looked disturbingly like a White Fang soldier, only with a more complete mask.

"Damn it all," Jeremy said, "Now you're deliberately targeting your own kind! How is this supposed to be helping us!?" 'So it seems you've found something to care for after all.' Jeremy gasped as pain wracked his head, his eyes changing to the familiar yellow. 'Is this world truly without hope? Even you must realize that just because nothing matters, doesn't mean nothing's worth trying.' Jeremy stopped himself from dropping to the ground. "Of course it's worth trying. Everything's worth trying!" 'Exactly! The world may end eventually, but that doesn't mean we don't have any say over when it ends! So get the crowd excited! Let them know they shouldn't go out quietly! I am thou, thou art I!'

Jeremy felt half a hockey mask appear over his face. He grabbed it and started to pull. "This concert's just begun! And we'll be the ones taking the center stage... ELVIS!" The brilliant blue flames formed a white suit, and behind him appeared a young man with a pompadour and dressed in a blue suit with suede shoes and carrying a guitar. Jeremy turned to Blake. "You okay?" Blake nodded. "I'm just... So angry right now. I never thought Adam would go so far as to attack his own kind." 'That just shows how far the White Fang has fallen.'

Blake gasped as she dropped again. 'You wanted to bring change, to show the world Faunus can be fight on equal level. Did you really think you wouldn't have to fight those who were hurting Faunus equality, whether human or Faunus?' Blake laughed darkly. "I guess I did... That was foolish of me." 'But you know better now. Before we can have equality, we must fight alongside humans. Otherwise they will not be unable to understand. It's time to show them what happens when both races fight together.' A black blindfold appeared over Blake's face. 'Let this be your mask to remove. That even the blind can lead the blind. I am thou, thou art I.'

Blake stood up and grabbed the mask. "I've been waiting for this moment. The moment when I finally rise above my foolish past. Let's fight this injustice together... CHIYOME!" She ripped off the blindfold, enveloping herself in blue flames. When they subsided, she was wearing a white zip-up crop shirt with black pants and high-heeled boots, her arms covered with black ribbons. Behind her was a young woman wearing a skin-tight dark blue bodysuit with sandals on her feet and carrying a naginata, her mouth covered by a face mask. "Looks we have our last two new recruits," Violet said as she dropped down. "It's about time," Crow said as he also appeared.

The guard captain revealed its true form, a violet demon wearing a gi and carrying a large double-bladed weapon. With it was a red-skinned demon wearing a black gi and carrying a kanabo. "Looks like we have some work to do," Ruby said as she and Fritz showed up. Violet revealed Cendrillon, a female figure made of blue crystal, while Crow summoned Robin Hood, a large white male humanoid with a crossbow on its right wrist. Before long, the main demon was dealt with, and Ruby had managed to talk with the red demon, getting the Persona Oni. She then turned to Blake and Jeremy. "Glad to see you're both okay." Blake smiled, having felt more free than she ever had in her life.

Justice (Blake Belladonna) Rank 5: Finally awakening to her Persona, Blake is now ready to fight the White Fang and remind them of what it means to seek equality.

Devil (Jeremy Holmes) Rank 5: He has awoken to his Persona, and is now ready to join the ranks of the Phantom Thieves. He has finally found something to believe in...

Fool (Ruby Rose) Rank 6: She has finally gained a team of thieves to be proud of. Together they hope to save Remnant from the darkness that threatens it.

Ruby's got some new Personas now, so here's the lineup:

Medusa Lv27/High Pixie Lv20/Archangel Lv21/Orobas Lv21/Nekomata Lv22/Leanan Sidhe Lv23
Matador Lv23/Oni Lv23/Nigi Mitama Lv24/Suzaku Lv24/Nue Lv26/Shiki-Ouji Lv27

A word on the other Personas. Nora's is Anne Bonnie, who was a female pirate around the time as Mary Read. Worked with her too, quite often, to the point where Anne's husband Jack Rackham thought they were having an illicit affair, until Mary pointed out she was a woman. Both were eventually jailed and sentenced to death, but managed to get it postponed due to pregnancy. Mary died in prison, while Anne mysteriously disappeared.

Ren has Zhuge Liang, a military strategist for the Shu during the Three Kingdoms Era of China, and one of the most popular characters in the novelization of that time, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Ren, for the purposes of theoretical gameplay, will be taking the role of navigator, even though he can still fight physically, much like Morgana.

Jeremy has Elvis. Yes, THE Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. I thought it fitting given Jeremy's own connection to music in general. Naturally, the Persona is meant to invoke Elvis in his early years of life, when he was hitting his stride in the music industry.

Finally, Blake has Chiyome, as in Mochizuki Chiyome. While her existence is as hotly debated as Makoto's Johana, Chiyome is said to have been commissioned by Takeda Shingen to gather all the young women in his province and turn them into spies. And she did, supposedly creating the first kunoichi, or female ninjas. And, well, Blake's basically a ninja. Anyway, I'll be doing my second upload shortly. Read and review.