"Checkmate!"

Adam Kadmon started to disappear as golden specs of light after I shot Marukis mask. I backed flipped off of Adam Kadmon as he was disappearing and landed right in front of my friends. What was left after it disappeared was Maruki and his treasure. Maruki was a few feet away from us but his treasure luckily floated towards us so I grabbed it.

"Why?.. I gave up everything else. I dedicated all that I have for this.. But I still.. Why?"

"You're running from the past."

"I'm.. running from.. Hehehe. You nailed it. It's true that I turned my back on the original reality. But where's the harm in that!? When it grows to be too much, too painful.. Every person deserves to escape that!"

"..." (Violet)

"In all honestly, it's best for a person's growth when they tackle their own hardships.. But reality doesn't aways make that so feasible! No matter how much you try, or work for so long, the smallest injustice can wipe it all away, leave you with nothing.. Don't you, of all people, understand that?!"

"Even then you keep going."

"...!"

"You know there probably plenty of people who'd ultimately benefit from your 'reality'. But what about the people who want to take on the world themselves? How's it right to rob them of their opportunities?" (Mona)

"I don't think what you're saying is wrong either, Dr. Maruki... Some people want to run from their pain and cling to some other version of reality... Like I used to. But the knowledge I gained through the pain, and my desire to move on... Those are even more precious to me. And I won't let anyone take them from me again!" Violet said as she got a bit closer to him.

"Yoshizawa-san.. So you truly don't want it... Huh... Looks like I'm totally finished."

At that moment the Palace started to collapse.

"Whoa" (Skull)

"The Palace is collapsing!" (Noir)

Violet turned to see that Dr. Maruki hasn't moved from his spot. "Dr. Maruki! Hurry! It's not safe there!" All he did was take off his mask showed a grin before he was blown away by debri.

"Dr. Maruki!" Violet was about to run after him before Crow grabbed her shoulder. "No! It's to late for him!"

"We're trapped as well! Is there any way...?!" Fox said within a second.

"Everyone-get over here! Hurry!" Mona said as we followed suit.

He transformed into his van form so we quickly got in. He was protecting us from the debri.

"Mona-chan! What are you-" As more debris was hitting his body it was obvious that it was hurting him as he let out a few grunts.

"This is no time to act tough!" (Queen)

"Whoever-said it was an act? Heh.." (Mona)

"Mona-senpai! Can you fly!?" Violet asked as the concrete was starting to collapse.

"But I'm a car! There's no way I can- No! Its now or never- I HAVE to fly!"

As more of the concrete started to collapse Mona had let out a scream. As Mona's body began to change I was forced out of the van. He had turned into a small helicopter that shouldn't be able to carry 8 people. Not a second to waste as he was already picking up altitude to get us out of there. I use the grappling hook to hang from the rails of the helicopter as he kept getting higher and higher.

"WHAAAAT!?" (Everyone except Joker, Crow and Mona)

"A helicopter?" Fox said as he looked outside the sun was just coming up.

"If you could do this, then SAY SO DANMIT!" (Oracle)

"Well I didn't know! Now I'm downright priceless to the Phantom Thieves, heheh..." (Mona)

"Sorry to interrupt your little moment of triumph, but... Couldn't you have made yourself just a bit larger?"

"Hey-" Skull was cut off by Queen "What happened to Joker?"

"Don't worry!" I yelled from under the helicopter. Most of them let out a relieved sigh as they saw me.

But our little victory did not last long.

"What the-" (Mona)

Dr. Maruki had stopped Mona in his tracks and started dragging him down by using his power and what little control he had left over his Palace waiting on a crystal bridge. "We're losing altitude!" Mona screamed.

I know what I need to do, it wouldn't be the first time I had to fight alone. I resend my grappling hook from Mona rails falling with style to meet Maruki on the bridge.

"Joker!" Mona screamed.

I ignored him as I've landed on the bridge performing a superhero landing. Definitely wouldn't have if I wasn't strengthen from the Meta-verse it's just too much on your knees and back.

"Sorry to cut your flight short like that." He said after I stood up. "..This place is done for. Along with the entire reality I dreamed of..." He then let go of his scepter.

"I...have lost. Even if I were to try that fight over, I'm sure I'd only lose again. So I know... this is going to sound pretty stupid. I've been holding this all in for so long, just hiding it from myself. So, please.. Help me kill every last one of my regrets. You're the only one I can ask to help me with this, Akria-kun."

"Very well." I said getting into my fighting stance.

At that moment his clothes change back to his white suit while my mask disappears with most of my abnormal strength.

"The disappearance of my Palace-of the entire Metaverse-is drawing near. Seems like neither of us can summon our Personas anymore. Let's begin."

He only lasts three hits before he stopped and let out a scream falling on one knee then on his back. Every time I hit him I felt terrible he truly is a nice person. He can probably hit me a few more times but won't he knows my resolve won't let me quit. he then raised his hand to catch a snowflake that was falling before he ended up dropping his hand back to the ground.

"I'm done. I get it now. All thanks to you."

Crack* *Crack* *Shatter*

The crystal bridge that was supporting Dr. Maruki shattered about to drop him to the ground. I rushed there at the last second only to be able to grab his wrist before he plummets to his death he lost his glasses in the exchange.

"Come on. I said I'm done. Please.. let go of my hand."

"I won't let it end like this, we're going back together." I said while still grunting trying to pull him up.

"Your eyes are as bright and honest as ever... You keep your head up, no matter what.. I must have always been.. afraid.. * crack* 'Crap' Afraid you and I wouldn't *crack* wish for the same reality. *Shatter*"

"Noo!"

The crystal bridge shattered as the Palace collapsed. I won't let what happened to Akechi happen to him too! Either sheer resolve or desperation my mask reappeared with it some of my strength. I was able to throw Maruki across the bridge before we started free-falling.

"Akria!" (Maruki)

I tried to fire my grappling hook only for it to get jammed right when I needed it. The last thing I saw was Mona's lights getting further away and a powerful force knocking me out.

Ryuji soon woke up in his cell listening to a catchy tune. Akechis cell door was the only one that wasn't open. Ryuji was the first one to walk out of his room.

"For real?! I'm back here again! The last time I was here when.. Umm what was that fake god's name again. " (Ryuji)

"Yaldabaoth." Lavenza said at the end of the hall scaring him.

"O-Oh right thanks. Why am I back here? I thought Joker was the only one that can come here?" (Ryuji)

"In due time everything will be explained but until then please gather the others." (Lavenza)

"Others?" He asked but she had already started walking to the center of the room. "For real?"

Ryuji went around the entire area looking for his teammates. The only one that was up was Yusuke he just hadn't left his room yet. Most of the Phantom thieves woke up easily except Futaba he had to shake her multiple times to wake her up only to be slapped by her. He had a good laugh at Akechi being stuck in his cell when he found him but still let him out. He looked around all the cells but couldn't find Morgana or Akira.

"Yo where's the cat and Akira?" (Ryuji) Before anyone could say anything Lavenza spoke up at the end of the room.

"It seems you have all awakened. Please meet me at the center of the room there I will explain our situation."

"Ah ok?" (Queen)

The rest of the thieves then followed after Makoto.

"So does everyone else have a pleasant feeling of deja vu?"

"Shut up Inari!"

"I wonder how I would be able to put this feeling on a canvas such an interesting idea."

"You lot are nothing but a bunch of idiots. Where are we anyway?"

"Honestly duude, I have no clue all I know is that they help Akira fuse his personas."

"Oh yeah, he tried telling me about this once never would have imagined it looking like a prison."

"Come on guys, we wouldn't be here if something hasn't gone wrong." Makoto said as they reached the center of the room. Morgana was sitting on the desk of Igor in his cat form while Lavenza was standing next to her master desk.

"There you are you stupid cat." Ryuji said having a goofy grin on his face not meaning what he says.

Morgana hadn't said anything and just looked down while letting out a small grunt.

"Welcome, as there are new members in your group I'll reintroduce myself my name is Igor it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances."

"Oh..Um, nice to meet you my name is Yoshizawa Sumire." Not sure what to say to the creepy, bald, long-nosed old man.

"Yeah, nice to meet you, why are we here?" Akechi said trying to speed things up.

"...It seems the young trickster named Akria fell through a rift or crack of time and space." (Igor)

There was a stagnant pause before Makoto spoke up. "What does that mean exactly?"

"He's in another world." Lavenza said plainly.

"...You mean like the Meta-verse?" (Yusuke)

"No, he's on another Earth...Probably."

"Whaaat" (Everyone but Ryuji, Futaba and Akechi) "For real?!"(Ryuji) "Ehhhh I wanna go!" (Futaba)

"It not a good thing Futa-" Morgana was cut off

"He's probably out there now saving the princess from the castle about to show her his holy sword!"

"Fu-Futaba!" Makoto immediately went red.

"Another earth fascinating... I wonder how it looks over there? Is there more than one moon? Is the sky green? I wish I could capture the views." Yusuke said in his own world.

"Or he could have been summoned to another world by a pinkett as her familiar needing to "please" his master every chance he gets."

"Futaba! Chill you've been watching too much anime lately." Ann said trying to calm her down.

Futaba turned to her looking her dead in her eyes and screamed "He could be a slime!"

"Wha-" This completely through off Ann

"He could have been eaten by monsters." Akechi said with a dark grin immediately followed up by Futaba.

"Or worse getting rape* to death by them!!"

"Hahahaha! Yes, servers him right!"

"You're just salty that you've never beaten him." Ryuji commented.

"What was tha-"

"Shut up!" Lavenza screamed "This is worse than you all think! If we don't get him back Maruki will remain in control of our reality!"

"What!?" (Akechi ) "Why?!" (Yusuke) "How?!" (Ann)

"Well if you all stay quiet I'll explain." She waited a moment to see if they would say anything else before she continued. "Good."

"Now let me start on what happened. After everyone here stole Marukis's heart, past events were supposed to revert to the events that should have occurred instead because time itself cannot be rewound. But truly an unfortunate accident occurred."

"Because he fell through a crack in time and space?" Akechi asked.

"Correct." She said that she nodded.

"But I don't see why he would remain in control of our reality we stole his treasure right?" Ryuji asked.

"True, but where is it?" Lavenza asked. Everyone in the room checked their pockets looking for the treasure soon realized they didn't have it.

"... It's with Joker." Akechi answered.

"I see... Reality is fickle always changing." Lavenza said.

"Stop sugar coating things and just tell us danmit." Akechi demanded.

"...Reality will treat Akira as if he never existed after he killed Yaldabaoth while leaving reality in control of Maruki."

"What!? Why?!" (Makoto) "Who?" (Akechi)

"I'm not explaining what Yaldabaoth was. You can ask your friends for that information."

"Wait let's go back a bit, what do you mean reality will treat Akira as if he didn't exist after Yaldabaoth!" Futaba demanded.

"Exactly as it sounds. Imagine this, you're connected to your Earth through a rope. The only true way to cut this rope is to go to another world without the aid of a summoner." (Lavenza)

"What about the Meta-verse?" (Yusuke)

"The Meta-verse is connected to your worlds collective cognition so it doesn't count. If anything think about it as a sub-dimension then another Earth." (Lavenza)

"More like a god's playground." Igor muttered quietly.

"And?" (Ryuji)

"Reality will bend around his existence erasing it."

"Fu-For real! Why?!" (Ryuji)

"Because the likelihood of anyone finding their way back to their Earth without a summoner is zero. Although there are loopholes as if a summoner dies he would be forced to leave the other world."

"..I still don't understand why reality will erase his existence just like that." Akechi said.

"There's no definite reason why reality does it. It's been theorized reality does this to try to keep other worlds a secret." Igor added.

"You make it sound as if reality's a person." Akechi said sounding annoyed.

Igor chuckled as he said. "Maybe they are."

"Alright, fine what do we do next?" Makoto asked.

"All of you will have to go to other worlds to find him within 2 years." (Igor)

"Really?" (Futaba)

''And if we don't?" Akechi asked ignoring Futaba.

"Then you'll have to live inside Marukis reality and there's nothing we can do about it." (Igor)

"...So it's do or have our free wills controlled." Ryuji muttered.

"Correct but we're still not done." Lavenza added.

"There's more?! My head already hurts enough trying to accept this?!" Ann complained.

Lavenza nodded before she continued "Although I told you people are connected to their Earth via a rope, Akira's is more of a metal chain than a rope."

"What's the difference?" Makoto asked.

"Not much, the reason why is because he killed a God and completed his rehabilitation."

"*cough* His journey." Igor corrected.

"Same thing!.. Look the main difference is.." Lavenza looked down in a sad yet frustrated look not wanting to continue.

"In whichever world Akria ends up reality will force him to forget us as well. But it is at a slower rate. Which is why we have two years." Morgana finished for her.

There was another pause before anyone spoke again.

"Wait we just can't leave our world for 2 years! We have family and friends who will worry about us!" Ann screamed.

Lavenza looked up with a small smile on her face. "Considering how the world is right now we have halt time as we got permission to do so. However, we won't be able to do it forever we only got the time until Akria fully forgets us."

"...Who gave you permission to halt time?" Yusuke asked.

"It was our master." Igor said not willing to tell them.

"Oh! I have a question! Why does reality..Um, try to get us to forget Akira after Ydabaoth and not anytime before?" Ryuji asked not knowing the right words to say getting tongue-tied.

"Because reality can't mend a dead God. It's the same principles on why Maruki will remain in control in your reality." (Lavenza)

"If Akira sells Marukis treasure in the other Earth will he remain in control of our reality?" (Yusuke)

"I wouldn't be able to answer that. Reality is fickle as I said, but the likelihood is low you guys shouldn't need it." (Lavenza)

"...If we do fail..Will there be a version of Akira in Marukis reality?" Makoto asked nervously.

"There's a high possibility reality will mend it to be like that.. But it's not certain."

"Then there'd be no reason for us to forget him reality would hardly change." Ryuji muttered.

There was a much longer stagnant pause.

"Seems like our objective is clear." Makoto said suddenly.

"Never thought I would steal a person." Morgana said trying to get everyone in the groove again.

"This may be our hardest target. We might need to battle him if he's not willing to come with us." (Yusuke)

"Leave it to me hehe ha I'll make a good strategy." Futaba said with an evil glee.

"Better this than being in someone else's control." (Akechi)

"I ain't gonna let him forget me!" Sumire said with passion.

"This'll be easy as taking a medal from Kamoshida." (Ryuji)

"You got that right!" (Ann)

"Coffee won't taste as good without him." (Haru)

"Then we're all in agreement?" Makoto said receiving nodded from everyone except Akechi.

"Then let us steal Akria!" (Makoto)

"Right!" (Everyone but Akechi)