Yeah so I had the urge to write a cliffhanger and here is the result. No, I will not be continuing this. I seriously got no idea how this will truly end (or what's actually going on) and if anyone needs me, I'll be laughing maniacally in the woods at your reactions.
[WORDS] is for very loud telepathy by the way.
Just a heads up, there's some horror elements in here. It should be on par with the events of December 24th but I'm marking this with a Teen rating just to be safe.
Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 5. That goes to Atlus and Sega.
Second Coming
By Bilbo-sama
No one noticed at first. Not even the former Phantom Thieves who were more focused on finding Morgana, who disappeared two days ago.
But as the week went by, there were flashes of an unnatural red sky and bones merging with the city. The overlap at first lasted a few seconds but became stronger over time. Yesterday the Phantom Thieves broke through the barrier that did its best to keep them from seeing what was happening.
By then, it was too late.
Mementos had reformed and merged with the world.
Ordinary citizens treated the red water and the bones sticking out of the ground and buildings as if they were just part of the world. It was like everyone knew when to duck under a particular femur that jutted out of a shop barely above eye level or side step around a rib cage sprouting from the sidewalk like a weed.
Today, however, that changed.
Suddenly everyone noticed. And no one was happy.
And then came the message on phones and on advertisement screens.
THIS CITY CALLED FOR MY RETURN.
AND I HAVE ANSWERED.
RUIN SHALL COME UNCONTESTED.
PHANTOM THIEVES,
COME TO ME.
I HAVE THE ONE YOU SEEK.
AND THE PROMISE OF QUICK OBLIVION FOR YOUR TROUBLES.
I WILL BE WAITING.
A map appeared on the Phantom Thieves' phones, indicating that Yaldabaoth was in Inokashira Park.
Or at least, what remained of it.
A temple rose from its center. The moment they stepped into the park, their clothes changed into their Metaverse attire.
"This ain't lookin' too good," commented Skull.
"Tell me about it," Oracle grimaced as she held a hand to her mask, "I can't sense a thing besides Old Yaldy. It's like he's everywhere."
"Can you sense Mona?" asked Queen.
"Kinda? Yaldabaoth is overwhelming everything. I can barely tell that you guys are here and its most likely gonna get worse when we get closer. What kind of nerf is this?"
"Then let's get it over with," Joker decided before indicating for everyone to follow him.
There was very little Shadows standing in their way to the temple and they all fled once they noticed the Phantom Thieves. It just meant the Thieves didn't waste much energy getting there.
And then at last after what felt like forever, they reached the steps leading to the temple's entrance.
Joker immediately ran up the steps.
"Hey!" yelped Skull, "Slow down, Joker!" They all followed after him but Joker wasn't waiting for them at the top of the landing. Instead they barely caught seeing a flap of his black coat before it melded into the darkness.
"Can't he just wait?" complained Panther.
"He and Mona are close friends," said Noir, "I don't blame him for wanting to run ahead."
"Yeah," Oracle agreed as she grimaced once more before letting go of her mask, "but I can only sense Yaldabaoth now. Joker and Mona could be anywhere in here."
"How the hell are we supposed to find anyone in this stupid place if we can't even effing see in here?" grumbled Skull.
[AH. OF COURSE,] boomed a voice that assaulted everyone's heads with its overwhelming power, causing the Thieves to cower and cover their ears in futility, [MY APOLOGIES, MY DEAR GUESTS.]
Torches lit up along the walls, allowing the remaining Thieves to see their surroundings. They found themselves in a long hallway. The walls around them were made of stone and decorated with etchings of a cup. The hall seemed to stretch into infinity as the light from the torches in the distance became a singular blot.
[I WILL BE UPSTAIRS,] said Yaldabaoth and he mercifully did not speak again as the Thieves walked down the hall.
Occasionally, someone would call with Joker's name on their lips. Or his true name. Or Mona's names.
There was no response outside of the echoes of their voices.
Time was meaningless here. There was no windows to bring the outside in. There was no way in knowing if they have walked for ten minutes or hours.
The path behind them appeared to be the same distance as the path before them.
All they can do is walk and sometimes rest on the cool stone floor.
And then at last, the Phantom Thieves approach the stairs to the next floor. A chorus of grumbling and neutral praise leave their lips.
In their minds, this meant it will be over soon.
(They hope.)
The stairway was darker than the first floor. However, the climb to the next floor didn't take long and they found themselves in an expansive room with an altar in the middle. Something spherical floated on top of the altar.
Standing before the altar was a figure dressed in a familiar black long coat. Their head was bowed as their back faced the newcomers.
"Joker!" the Thieves chorused. Joker's raised his head and turned around.
Immediately, the Thieves' blood ran cold.
Joker (Leader, friend, criminal, brother, Akira)'s smile was unnatually manic. He raised his arms above him in greeting.
[WE MEET AGAIN PHANTOM THIEVES,] said Yaldabaoth, speaking in their minds and with Joker's lips, his voice drowning out Joker's own, [THERE IS MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.]
He twirled Joker's body around.
[BY THE WAY, HOW DO I LOOK?]