This is a story requested by Zuch124 on Wattpad. It's a crossover of Mother and Persona 5. So, there will be some spoilers for both here so be wary and tread cautiously. Enjoy :D

Ness and Lucas were on a little steak out in Shibuya Station. They were looking for someone. Someone in particular. They ensured to keep their appearance on the low since they weren't supposed to be there. They needed to talk to the one person they knew from this world in order to get or to hopefully get, some information about how they may be able to leave. They knew he'd probably be as clueless as they were, but it was the only thing they could think of doing.

Soon enough, the train came into the station. "Hey, Ness…." Lucas quietly said. Ness sat up, having decided to lie down for a while.

"Hmm?"

"The train." Ness and Lucas's eyes were then centered on the train, hoping that this time, their guy came out of it. Luckily for them, he did. However, he was accompanied by his other friends. The noir-haired boy with glasses. Ren Amamiya, otherwise known as, Joker. "How're we gonna get him alone?"

"Follow him?"

"That's pretty creepy of you boys…." A slight sadistic yet calming voice said from behind them. The boys shot around and saw another tallboy. This one had light brown hair, a grey button-up shirt that looked to be a part of some school uniform, and thin black pants. He also had black leather gloves. Overall...he looked to be quite conniving. Which was exactly what they needed.

"Sir? Could you do something for us?" Ness asked, putting up the best "Useless boy" act he could muster up. The brunette crossed his arms and held a judgemental face down at them. "We need to talk to that boy with black hair and glasses." The boy looked up and saw who they were talking about.

"The one with the cat?"

"Yes. Could you bring him here please? It's very urgent." The boy thought for a moment, grabbing his chin with one of his gloved hands. He then sighed.

"I guess so. Wait here." He walked aside and grabbed someone's hoodie without them noticing. He put it on and made sure to put the hood on as well. He pulled the little strings at the base of the hood to shrink it and to hide his face more. He walked over to Ren and his group.

"You really need to take your school more seriously, Ryuji," The short and brown-haired girl said to the rougher and tougher blond boy. Ryuji sighed loudly. The boy walked up to Ren and crashed into him. Ren looked at the boy.

"Excuse me?" Ren said with his surprisingly deep-sounding voice. The boy now had the attention of all of his friends. He needed to play his cards right. He needed to deceive all of them without raising too many red flags. He would say he was a master of this, but previous events have proven otherwise. Pancakes still haunt him to this day.

"I-I'm sorry sir….I-I-I wasn't looking where I-I was going…." The boy put up a fake voice that sounded nothing like his own and that was completely not how he'd normally talk.

"It's ok. I'm not hurt, I hope you're not either."

"A-actually….I-I-I could use your help….p-please?" Ren looked at his friends.

"Go on, Ren, we could always go to the beach another day," a girl said. Ren smiled. "Just give me Morgana." Ren nodded, handing his friend, Ann, Morgana. Morgana purred.

"Lady Ann~," Morgana said flirtatiously.

"For real!? Can it, Cat," Ryuji ordered. Ren looked at the boy.

"Well, what do you need?"

"O-over here...follow me…." The boy walked away. He needed to make sure Ren's other friends were gone before having Ren meet the other boys. Once they were gone, he sped up his walking just a little bit, enough for it to go unnoticed by Ren. Once the boy made it to the other boys, he stopped. He then took off the hoodie and turned around. "Thanks for listening to little old me, Ren…." Ren took a surprised step back.

"A-Akechi?"

"In the flesh."

"Wh-what do you want?"

"It's not what I want...it's what they want…" Akechi motioned toward Ness and Lucas. Ren grew a smile.

"Oh….Ness? Lucas? Why're you here? H-how are you here?"

"I dunno, we were hoping you'd know," Ness said.

"Hmmm, yeah, I can't be much use for that."

"Wait….you guys aren't supposed to be here?" Akechi asked. Lucas looked around at the crowded station.

"M-maybe we shouldn't talk about this in such a crowded place," he said.

"Then how about we go to a cafe? Leblanc sounds lovely."

"How about we don't?" Ren and Akechi were glaring at each other. The boys, being psychics, sensed mixed feelings from both of them. There was hatred...sadness….joy….and even a small hint of love. Ren and Akechi cared for each other on a deep level….but they also hated each other on a possibly deeper level.

"I sense there's some tension between you two…" Lucas said.

"Some tension is an understatement."

"Using big words now, Ren? You've grown to be quite the big boy, huh. Still relying on your weird friends, I see." Ren growled a bit before stepping forward and right into his face.

"Don't you dare-"

"Hey….Mr. and Mrs. Amamiya, we have a situation….remember?" Ness persisted. Ren and Akechi huffed.

"Fine…..let's go to Leblanc…." Ren caved in.

"Lead the way." Ren and Akechi stepped in front of the two boys and walked in unison.

"I'm the Mr. by the way…" Akechi spat out.

"Oh don't you even start. We both know you'd be the Mrs." Ren shot back.

"Oh God damn it, here they go again…." Ness said. Lucas rolled his eyes and read Ren's mind and found the directions to Leblanc. He stepped in front of them.

"Just follow me," he said.

"No, I am not the damn Mrs., Ren!" Akechi yelled.

"Oh yes you are, Mrs. Akechi."

They finally made it to Leblanc. The Bickersons were the last to make it, constantly throwing insults and threats toward each other. Even while they entered Leblanc, with the runner of the shop, Sojiro, just looking at the scene of the two boys in confusion, they were still arguing. "Ren…." Ness started, hoping it'd break the two of them from their heated and somewhat concerning argument. "Ren!" Still nothing. It was almost as if they were deaf.

"REN! AKECHI! SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Lucas yelled, fed up with the boys' childishness. Ren and Akechi slowly looked at Lucas's heated self. Lucas was basically shooting smoke from his ears and as red as an angered bull. He was even growling like one. Seeing this instantly made the two older boys sit at one of the tables.

"Calm down babe," Ness said as he placed a soft kiss on his cheek. It took a minute for Lucas to calm down.

"Ren….is that….Akechi?" Sojiro asked, with a hand on the phone, ready to call the authorities.

"Yeah, sadly. But...we kinda need privacy so if you could, you know, get outta here?" Ren said.

"What?"

"You heard the man, get out of here, Boss," Akechi said in a more bossy tone. Sojiro looked at Akechi with a face of venom and toxicity. Akechi return said face, but Akechi's was WAY better. Sojir cleared his throat.

"Fine...I guess I could use a break. Remember, lock up later." Sojiro took off his apron and left the cafe.

"So, Ness, Lucas, what's the situation?" Ren asked.

"Well….it's my brother…" Lucas started as he sat on one of the stools. Ness rubbed Lucas's shoulders. "He was acting weird before like...disappearing. Next thing we know, we're in Shibuya."

"Claus was acting weird? No offense, but from what I remember, Claus was already pretty…..weird."

"Weirder."

"How so?"

"Well...he started being distant. He avoided me and tried his best to not be in the same area as me. And when we would be in the same area….he'd try his best to leave."

"Ok, he'd never want to leave you like that."

"Can someone fill me in please?" Akechi asked. Ren looked at Lucas for approval, and when he received it, Ren told Akechi all he knew about Claus. About Claus's history with Porky, about his turn from being brainwashed to being aware and becoming Lucas's bodyguard. "My God." Akechi looked down.

Killed….brought back. Used….abused. Changed….redeemed.

"We need to help Claus." Akechi's normal voice turned to seem more heroic. But it wasn't a false voice. It wasn't a voice he forced to appear, it was genuine. Ren heard this voice and smiled, remembering a time before Akechi tried to kill him. A time where they were friends. A time where they were Phantom Thieves. The times he and him would go to the Jazz Club and talk about literally anything. A time before madness took hold of Akechi. A happier time. Ren leaned forward and patted Akechi's back. Akechi looked up and held a somber smile.

"How will he help him though? We don't even know if he came over here," Ness said.

"Hey...Ren, do you think it's possible a palace formed for him?" Akechi asked.

"I wouldn't think so. The Metaverse was destroyed…"

"But we should try anything in our power to do it. Right? We should at least give it a shot." Ren thought for a moment before sighing.

"I guess it's worth a shot." Ren looked at the boys. "Now, Lucas, to see if Claus does indeed have a palace, we'll need some keywords. Location may be a bit tough...but let's find the other keywords first."

"Keywords?"

"Yes, important things to Claus. Like….what's a place that keeps Claus chained down?" Akechi asked.

"Uhhh….a Factory." This caused a certain ring in Ren's and Akechi's phones. They looked down at it and found that eyeball application.

"Well, what's that about the Metaverse being destroyed?"

"Oh shut up," Ren rolled his eyes. He looked back at Lucas. "Now, what does he think about himself or the Factory?"

"That…..he's a Monster?" Another ring.

"Wow. Ok….now we need a location. But Claus doesn't live anywhere in Japan…." Akechi glared at the boys, thinking. "We're stuck." The psychic boys slouched.

"Dangit…" Lucas sadly said.

"I wouldn't exactly say Claus lives no where in Japan," Akechi said as he stood up.

"What do you mean?" Ren asked. Akechi walked over to Lucas and did more thinking. Lucas gulped. Something about the good-looking boy was intimidating.

"You're his twin. Correct?"

"Y-yeah…" Akechi brought up his phone and, in the Location bar, he typed "Lucas, Claus's Twin Brother". Lucas instantly froze up.

"Results Found," The app said. Ren stood up in surprise.

"Just as I thought…." Akechi showed Ren his phone. "Claus's palace is inside Lucas's mind." Ness stood up from the stool.

"What?" Ness said in surprise. He looked back at Lucas. "Inside….Lucas?" Lucas was still frozen. "L-Lucas...are you ok?" Akechi looked back at them before tapping the screen to enter the palace.

Akechi and Ren, now in their phantom thieves uniforms, looked at the large building in front of them surrounded by oddities of the inside of Lucas's brain. Ness looked around frantically. "Wh-where are we?" Ness asked.

"Remember Mementos?" Ren asked. Ness looked at Ren….now Joker. He was in the attire Ness was used to seeing him in. But Akechi was in an odd uniform. It was dark with black and blue streaks going up and down the suit in a spiral-like manner. The hood seemed metallic but there was a red glass covering over his eyes and nose that pointed out as if it was some beak. Ness raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this is Crow."

"Crow….way to have a suspicious name."

"Hey, it wasn't me who gave it to me," Akechi said, crossing his arms.

"Anyway, Ness….this is basically Mementos. However, this is Mementos for a single person, in this case, it's Claus's. Essentially, this is his prison." Ness turned around and saw the building. It was large, puffing out smoke and oil, evidently a factory. A sign that was put in front of the factory said "Monster Making."

"Good evening…." A dull voice came from behind all three boys. They turned and saw Lucas standing there in an outfit he never wore before. He looked like a tour guide, with a stupid little hat on his head. His face was blank, with no emotion. "My name is Lucas. And I'll be your tour guide for this wonderfully amazing factory."

"LUCAS!" Ness ran forward and brought Lucas into a hug that Lucas didn't return. He just stood straight up and unmoving.

"Please do not touch any exhibits."

"Wh-what?" Ness stepped back.

"Please do not touch any exhibits."

"Lucas?"

"He's not Lucas. That's a cognitive copy of him," Joker explained. Ness looked at Joker, confused. "This is what Claus thinks of Lucas." Ness looked back at Lucas. Lucas stood there, lifelessly. Crow looked at Lucas. Seeing the way he was completely different from what he normally was. He sighed.

"Lucas….please give us the tour," Crow said. Lucas bowed his head.

"Please follow me." Lucas shuffled through the group and walked toward the factory. Ness sighed as he grew down. Joker put a hand on Ness's shoulder. Crow, unknowingly, did the same.

"Remember, that's not him. Let's just get to Claus's shadow and try to get him out of this," Joker convinced. Ness nodded. They followed Lucas into the factory. Instantly, they're met with strange-looking creatures….chimeras. The chimeras seemed friendly at first until Lucas looked back.

"By the way. Be wary of the monsters here. They don't take kindly to….normal people." The chimeras jumped toward the three boys. A half-dog half-shark chimera bit into Ness's arm, making him scream in pain. Joker and Crow were able to shake the chimeras off of them and rip their masks off. Arsene and Loki appeared behind them. Arsene shot out some dark energy as Joker shot some of the chimeras with his fake gun. Loki caused a large explosion of what's called Almighty damage, knocking out a large portion of the growing population of chimeras. Crow slashed a few chimeras with his beam sword. Ness was still writhing in pain. He felt his life draining out of him. He looked at Lucas, who was only looking over his shoulder.

"Lucas...please...if you hear me!" Joker and Crow were way too busy fighting off the chimeras to give Ness their attention. Another chimera, a half spider and half horse, kicked Ness into the wall, causing a notable cracking noise. Lucas was watching this. Ness let out a scream. That was when the chimeras stopped and walked away. Joker and Crow didn't have time to think about why they walked away, only running toward Ness.

"Crap, they're not normal Shadows," Crow said, helping Ness stand up.

"They're not Shadows at all…." Joker mentioned. Lucas looked forward.

"Let's resume," he said before continuing walking forward.

"No...we can't resume right now." Lucas stopped and turned fully around.

"Please…." Lucas's voice sounded different just then. It wasn't nearly as unemotional. Ness noticed this. He broke away from Crow and stumbled over toward him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Lucas?" Ness questioned.

"Please do not touch any exhibits."

"I need you to heal me."

"Please do not touch any exhibits."

"Lucas listen to me...Heal me!"

"..." Ness's wounds and cracks slowly healed, causing a bubbly feeling inside him. He stood upright, newly refreshed. "Please do not touch any exhibits." Lucas shot around and continued to walk.

"Just as I thought…" Joker and Crow ran up to him. "That is Lucas."

"B-but that's…" Joker started.

"Is it possible that, since we're in Lucas's mind, that's what Lucas thinks of himself?" Crow added.

"If that's so….this isn't Claus's Palace...it's both of theirs." Lucas stopped.

"And that must be Lucas's shadow."

"Let's resume our tour, shall we?" Lucas asked. The three boys nodded before following Lucas. They walked around the factory, seeing poor innocent animals be transformed into chimeras….poor innocent humans going through the same torture. "Master Claus doesn't like seeing perfect people. He wants them to change. Wants them all...to change. To be like him. He wants people to know….just what kind of torture...he needed to go through." Lucas abruptly stopped and looked back at Ness and the others. "And you...shall be perfect test subjects." Lucas's eyes turned a vicious yellow as his appearance turned to one that made him look like a commander. A holster on his hip, a cap on his blond hair, and a vicious intent to get what he wanted. "You will no longer be perfect little creatures. You will change. Just like him…." Shadow Lucas's voice turned to an echoey and darker one. He clenched his fists. "Just like my brother."

The ground shook once….then again….then a third time. Someone big was walking. The three of them turned around and saw the Master P. Statue. The statue glared down at the three boys. Crow and Joker unmasked and their personas tried their best to put a dent into the statue, but it did nothing. The statue raised its foot and stomped and the three of them after a failed attempt of escape.

Crow opened his eyes and saw himself tied to a metal vertical sheet of metal. He couldn't move his arms, legs, or even his body, but he was able to move his head. He saw Joker tied up next to him. "Hey...Joker!" Joker didn't respond. "Wake it the hell up dammit!" Joker jolted awake. He frantically looked around, struggling. He stopped on Crow.

"Crow...where are we?"

"I don't know. Last thing I remember is being stomped on by a stupid statue."

"Testing, testing, one two three. Can you boys hear me?" a raggedy voice echoed throughout the dungeon-like room.

"We don't very much appreciate your dumb rhyme."

"You're not in the position to not appreciate my rhyme."

"Who are you?" Joker asked.

"Name's Fassad. I have been given the lovely opportunity to turn two annoying bastards into our little pets."

"WHAT'D YOU CALL ME!" Crow struggled a bit more.

"Calm it down, Goro. It's not a big deal. It's not like you have four arms just yet!" The voice laughed hysterically. Crow looked at Joker, confused. Joker just failed to shrug.

"Get us out of here Fassad?"

"Nah. I don't appreciate your negativity. Don't you wanna be happy? I will make you happy...I will make you perfect….I will make you a filthy...little monster."

"Jokes on you, I already am one." Crow shook his head violently and the mask flew off, calling upon Loki who broke them out of their bondage. "You can't turn me into a bigger monster than I already am."

"Akechi…." Crow brought out his sword and growled.

"So come at me bastard." Joker smirked before bringing out his dagger and smirked. Fassad growled before turning off whatever he was using to talk to the two with an audible shriek. Joker looked around.

"Where's Ness?" Crow looked around. When he couldn't find Ness, he and Joker shared a look before running out of the room. They ran around the factory, having to attack aggressive chimeras once again. Traveling through the large building….they soon made it to a strange room for the waste that Fassad found no use for. Ness was in there, heavily hurt and trying his hardest to back away from a pink dragon-looking creature. This creature looked the most "Normal". It didn't look very much like a chimera. This was the Ultimate Chimera.

Joker and Crow ran in and tried to attack the Ultimate Chimera….but they did nothing but attract its attention. Its large set of teeth tried to close up on Crow's feet until….

"STOP!" A voice came into the room. The Ultimate Chimera instantly stopped and ran over to its master. Joker helped Ness up and, with Crow, looking at whoever said what was said. Joker knew who it was. It was Claus. Fully in his chimerazised form. Wings standing at attention, metal arm fully on display, his red eyes available for everyone to see. He was petting the Ultimate Chimera. "You shouldn't be here…...you'd best leave," Shadow Claus said.

"No….we're not leaving," Crow insisted.

"That wasn't a request. My brother doesn't like people like you."

"He said you didn't like people like us," Joker said. Shadow Claus shook his head.

"He's just trying to protect his own ass. But in actuality….he hates 'normal' people."

"Wh-what?" Ness questioned.

"Except for you. But everyone else, he hates." Ness grew a small smile knowing Lucas did love him despite the hatred for "Normal" people. "You guys are just lucky I'm not violent anymore. But I can't say the same about Lucas. He wants the new 'normal' to be like me. So….if you know better, you'd leave. Now." Shadow Claus looked down at The Ultimate Chimera and left with it.

Joker looked at Ness's hurt body. "We need to find Lucas or else you'll bleed out." Joker and Crow carefully walked around the factory, with Crow being the defender of the two. Soon enough, they found Shadow Lucas in an out-of-place throne room, talking to Shadow Claus.

"You don't understand Claus….I need to be like you!" Shadow Lucas yelled. Shadow Claus crossed his arms as he sat on the throne.

"I'm not turning you into a chimera and I've already told Fassad I'd kill him if he did. So stop asking."

"B-but"

"No buts. You're not becoming a chimera and that's final. Got it?" Shadow Lucas turned around.

"I'll just turn myself into a chimera.

"YOU DON'T FUCKING LISTEN! Being a chimera sucks balls. Why in God's name do you want to push such a tortuous feeling onto poor innocent people and yourself, who is also innocent." Shadow Lucas clenched his fists.

"I just want you to feel safe and secure. And….not out of place. I want you to have a place where you belong…." Ness, as Joker was listening to their argument, ran out from their hiding spot and tripped right in front of Shadow Lucas. He gripped his damaged gut in pain. Shadow Lucas glared at his boyfriend's near-death body. Shadow Claus stepped off his throne and walked over to Shadow Lucas's side.

"Look at what your attempt is making people feel. The person you love the most is on my floor, bleeding and dying. Attacked by the very thing you want to turn yourself and others into." Shadow Lucas's face was twitching. "Do you really want to do this? To Ness? To Dad? Would mom want this?"

"W-would mom want you to have been forced to be a chimera?"

"No one does. Except for dumb Friekensteins. Always making their monsters. Turning innocent creatures into killing machines. When you're a chimera….your mind is no longer yours. Your mind changes." Shadow Claus rubs Shadow Lucas's back. "Being a chimera isn't good. It'll turn you into a slave of your own mind. You can't fight it….you can't beat it. I…..am just a fluke. Please don't burden yourself and other people with this torture." Shadow Lucas fell to his knees at Ness's side. He placed a hand on his side. He cried as he healed Ness's wounds. When Ness was fully healed, he stood up and stretched.

"Man, I'll never get used to that feeling," he said, now refreshed. He saw Shadow Lucas on his knees, looking down, hearing him cry. "Lucas?" Shadow Lucas stood up, still looking down. Eventually, he did look at Ness. He was different. His eyes weren't yellow like they were. Shadow Lucas was no longer a shadow. Joker and Crow ran from their spot.

"Lucas….y-you're here…." Joker hesitated.

"Can he be in his own palace?"

"W-well, last time someone was in their own palace it fell apart. But this time this palace belongs to two people...so maybe it'd only fall apart if both of them are in here….hopefully." Lucas brought Ness into a hug.

"I'm sorry I put you in harm's way," he pleaded.

"It's ok, I'm a tough cookie," Ness giggled. Joker looked at Shadow Claus, who had a soft smile. Shadow Claus looked away from his brother and his brother's lover to look at Joker.

"I'm sure you want to find the treasure….don't you?" Shadow Claus asked. Joker nodded. Shadow Claus turned around. "Follow me, then." Shadow Claus led the four boys through the factory until they made it to a room that resembled a bedroom. The way the bedroom was made did not fit the overall structure of the factory. Lucas knew this place. It was his and Claus's bedroom. The floating cloud of grey was above Claus's bed. Shadow Claus turned around toward the boys. "Well…...do what you do." Shadow Claus left the room. Joker looked back.

"How do we give Claus the calling card?"

"We could just give it to Lucas…" Crow said.

"But he's here."

"Well….maybe we need a makeshift one to make in here." Joker sighed, knowing it'll be a lot of work but knowing it was also worth it.

They took a while to make the card, but when they were done, they gave it to Lucas, who read it.

"Lucas, the great sinner of wrath. You want to turn innocent humans and creatures into torturous chimeras. You want people to be tortured, to be as hurt as your brother. We will NOT let that happen. And Claus, the sinner of Envy. You want to be normal. You want what other people are born with. You have what you have….do NOT try to be normal. We will make sure that happens. For we….are the Phantom Thieves."

The cloud quickly turned into a little baby Drago plushie. Lucas walked over to it and smiled as it floated above Claus's bed. "A plushie?" Crow questioned.

"Yeah….this was Claus's toy when we were younger. He had it with him when he turned into a chimera. It reminds him of our mom."

"Why? Is your mom a Drago?" Crow asked. Joker punched his gut, making him hunch over. "You dick…" Lucas giggled before grabbing the plushie.

"Not really." The factory started to shake.

"The palace is falling apart. We'd better get out of here." Ness grabbed Lucas's hand, before grabbing Joker's.

"Joker….grab Crow's hand," he said.

"What...no thanks," Crow said, crossing his arms and puffing. Joker rolled his eyes before grabbing Crow's hand. "HEY!" Ness ran forward quickly. He got faster and faster, with the other three trailing behind him. Eventually, he teleported.

They teleported right in front of the factory. "Alright, let's go," Joker ran forward with the others following.

The four of them were back in Leblanc. But not even a minute after returning were Ness and Lucas already starting to fade. "Well...it seems we're going back to our world," Ness said.

"Already?" Ren asked.

"Sorry, we can't really control it," Lucas brought up. Akechi looked at the psychic boys, kind of sad. "Thank you….Ren." Lucas looked at Akechi and grew a large smile. "And thank you...Akechi. Both of you….are my heroes." Lucas grabbed Ness's hand before both of them faded from the world.

Ren playfully nudged Akechi's shoulder. "Well, look at you. You're a hero." Akechi rubbed his arm doubtfully.

"Yeah….right." He turned toward the door of Leblanc and started toward it. Ren walked behind the counter of the cafe.

"Hey, Goro." Akechi turned around. Ren held up a coffee mug. "Want some coffee?" Akechi couldn't help as a smile spread across his face.

"Y-yeah….I'd…..I'd like that." Akechi walked back and sat on a stool as Ren made him his coffee. Perhaps the hatred Ness and Lucas felt between them was dwindling. Maybe they could be like how they used to be….or maybe more than they used to be. All that this here narrator knows…..is that they don't hate each other. Never have….never will. Now, who am I, you ask? Well…..The name's Futaba Sakura. And I have my ways of knowing what happens where….hehehe….poor little Ren will never know what hit him. HEHEHEHE!