Some personas may have changed appearance so as to fit the story.
Hope you enjoy~!
Disclaimer: I don't own either the Persona Series or High School DxD
Countless Eons Ago
Heaven's Gates
As He observed His angels mourn the so called 'loss' of their Father, God could only sigh. He considers to fight on, to fight by their side and end this conflict; His angels, the devils, and fallen angels called the 'Great War'. However, this conflict is incomparable to what will happen. Even a certain rider on a red horse could agree that this does not compare for what is to come, not by a long shot. As He gazes once more to His home, He bids farewell and leaves to a place that is in many ways more connected to Him. He hopes that when time passes, the angels, devils, fallen angels, and other supernatural creatures, especially other gods and dragons would realize the potential of His greatest creation 'Humanity'.
Centuries Later (at the turn of the 18th Century)
Collective Unconciousness
Sea of Souls (The Velvet Room)
In a realm that exists between dream and reality, mind and matter; in a certain room filled with a blue sheen, wherein the contents only being a gazebo like structure with one table and three chairs for three specific people; there in one of those chairs, sits a bizzare old man. He has a long nose, pointed ears, and bulging bloodshot eyes. He wears a black suit with white gloves on his hands. Contrary to his appearance which may spook most people, he, like his master, possesses an aura of mystery that many would be attracted to despite his looks.
Igor, a servant created by God to care for the realm, awaits his master and contemplates his existence. Is he a doll or a human? He could've reflected more on it had he not seen the blue butterfly coming to one of the chairs. It appears as a man wearing a mask, with the image of a violet butterfly wing on his right side, and the eyeholes covered so as not to show the pupils. He also wears a suit consisting of a black shirt and tie, a white blazer and white pants with black dress shoes. He also has long, black hair tied up in a ponytail.
"Ah, master, welcome to the Velvet Room." Igor says, as he stands and addresses his master with a graceful bow.
"Greetings to you too, Igor." God says as he looks to his surroundings gazing in amusement. It never ceases to amaze Him the capability of humanity, especially as a whole connected.
"... Are we waiting for someone master?" Igor asks, curious as to who is the third party. God informed Igor of His coming as He is to announce something. He also informed him of another guest coming and to prepare another seat at the table. Now with his master here, his curiosity got the better of him.
"Patience friend, he will come. After all it's not like him to decline an invitation of a very close and old friend" God says.
'A close, old friend?... Ah, could it be him?' Igor ponders as he lists down the only possible friend God calls 'old' and 'close'.
As if on cue, with Igor's thoughts, there came an old lanky man, whose white pale skin reminds everyone who see it; the coldest of winter. He wears a mortician's outfit, his stance and eyes are calculating and professional, though many would just see it as cold and emotionless. That would be a mistake. He has emotions, but simply chose not to show it either because of his status; being detached to the world, or simply because its just a waste to show it to anyone, who's to say.
This person is Death or as some people like to call him the Pale Rider. He could be the only person Igor could think of as a 'close' and 'old' friend of God, knowing that in the beginning both beings existed alongside each other.
"Ah, Death so how are things?" God asks in rather lax manner.
"All things considered, same old routine but otherwise fine." Death responds. "So... I heard you're dead."
"Well as you can see, I'm very much alive unless you like to refer to me as a 'dead man walking'."God says with a quiver under the mask.
"You and your penchant of bad lines really."Death says as he sighed and shook his head, for he expected this kind of thing from Him. "So, any reason why you invited me, especially to this place, unless you'll tell me ,'Dead men tell no tales'."
"Well, as tempting as it seems to make this like a casual conversation like the old days, I invited you here to inform you two, and only you two about something." God responds.
"Which is?" Death asks, voicing the same question Igor wonders about. What could be so important as to want them to meet and talk here in this place of all places.
"The Ancienealls are breaking out."God announced.
At that moment, the tide of conversation turned serious as the topic 'Ancienealls' took place.
"You mean them, your first creation before anything else? Those guys who want nothing more than to swallow the world whole?" Death asks, his stance and attention all turning to God.
Igor too had taken interest in this conversation. The Ancienealls, beings that existed before all of God's creations (in fact they were His very first creation), are said to be very terrifying, powerful, and horrible. They had tried to overthrow God and destroy the world, but only got themselves sealed as a result. The topic of talking about them and the possibility of them escaping their seals, is really of upmost importance.
"Though we haven't felt anything, and there haven't been signs of an escape either." Death counters God's statement.
"That's because it's him, the only person we know who's that cunning, willing, and resourceful enough to do it." God says.
"Him huh, now that I think about it, it could only be him." Death sighs, as he knows this is gonna be one hell of a situation they're facing with.
"Yes it's definitely him, its Nyarlathotep" God says.
Nyarlathotep is also known as The Crawling Chaos. Out of all the Ancienealls, he is always the sly one, with the powers, and calculating cruelty to boot, beating even his own father. He is always interested in God's creations and experiments... before breaking it himself. Out of all the Ancienealls, Nyarlathotep could be one of the most feared of their race, not because of his power, even though he is powerful, but because of his malign cruelty and desire to sow chaos. Even his brethren higher ranked or lower, dread to cross him. What worried God about him is that he took a special interest in one of God's plan; a creation in the process before he and his kind were sealed, and that creation is called humanity.
"Well then aren't we gonna do something? Unless you plan on letting him wreak havoc?" Death asks.
"Nope, we're not gonna do anything. Humanity's the one who's gonna do something. We'll just lend humanity a helping hand using the Collective Unconsciousness, especially the room in which we're standing at." God says with such zeal both Igor and Death haven't seen in Him for a long time.
"Ahhhh, I see where this is going." says Death and Igor both simultaneously, understanding God's reason for letting humanity do the work.
Before and after God's creation of humanity, a lot of supernatural beings laughed and made fun of His accomplishment calling it a joke. Even His angels had shown their doubt of humanity's strength. Only the possessors of 'Sacred Gears' had attracted the interest of supernatural beings. During the aftermath of the event known as the "Great War", all factions had been decimated so thoroughly that they were forced to find other means to repopulate. In truth He never understood why the war happened in the first place. For what purpose did that ridiculous conflict, which pales in comparison to what the Ancienealls have done, had to happen? He may never get the answer, but God, Death and the residents of the Collective Unconsciousness knows, that the repercussions are finally knocking on the doorsteps of the three factions. Especially in one faction who had to find unconventional means to repopulate. When God heard of the devils' plan to convert humans to their ranks, whether they want to or not it had awakened an anger inside Him. It's actually rare to see Him furious, so only one could imagine such anger He possess when He heard that information. The thought that humans would forsake their potential within themselves willingly was the worst. However, He blames mostly Himself. Perhaps He had been not fast enough to develop that power; the project that was meant for humanity and humanity alone unlike that prototype the 'Sacred Gear'. Yes, this project he planned for, was to show how humanity far and away surpasses those supernatural beings. This project would not only destroy the Sacred Gear 'hype', but also, will break the 'God's System of power', everyone in the supernatural community relied upon which put them to shame for underestimating humanity in the first place. Now, whether it's a bad thing or not, one thing's for sure, Nyarlathotep's escape and the Ancienealls breaking out, will be the perfect opportunity to prove His point to everyone.
"In truth, before arranging this meeting, I had already talked to Nyarlathotep beforehand and made a bet on human potential."God says.
"No surprise there." Death says in a sort of entertained yet deadpan-like manner.
"Indeed." Igor agrees as well, seeing where this is going.
"So it is settled then?"Death asks.
"Yes, everything is finally falling into place." God responds.
"Then, the only thing we need to do is gather the pieces, or rather the players to the stage then?" Igor remarks as he chuckled raising his already posing grin to an even greater one.
"Yes, and this is the fun part, I already know Igor's answer but I want to know yours as well. Death, if I finally found the one who will prove my point , will you help me in raising and nurturing his potential?" God asks Death.
"I suppose, but don't expect me to form a connection or a bond with whoever you found." Death remarks.
"Don't hold me responsible for that my friend, let's just see whether it may happen or not... but who knows, maybe it will for all we know." God says, but at that Death huffed. However, Death himself can't help but to agree with God, who knows what tomorrow brings after all.
"So let us begin, let's see where this path shall take us all, and who is the one leading the way." God speaks and with such anticipation in seeing where this will lead to, and for the moment exuded the power He was talking about in the Collective Unconsciousness and appear in a form of a card with a man in a cliff representing the number zero, and at the back a mask.
"Very well my master, though if I may ask what is this power and what's it called?" Igor asks with curiosity as this power, this potential God spoke off, began to fluctuate in God's hand.
"Yeah, what do you call it, you always have a knack for names?" Death asks curiously as well to the power being shown off to the only being who had existed alongside him.
"This power, this potential born of humanity and not given by any being is called Persona and please Igor don't call me God, He's dead remember... from henceforth call me Philemon." God or rather Philemon says as he removes his mask with his other hand and smiles at the journey about to start, a journey to show that humanity can do more.
?/?/2000
Mikage-cho, Alaya Shrine
Many years have passed and Philemon changed his appearance since then. He's now a man wearing a black turtleneck shirt and black pants fastened by a belt. The butterfly wing on his mask is more three dimensional and has been moved to the left side of his face and recolored orange. The bottom right side of his mask exposes his face. His pupils are visible through the mask's eyeholes. His hair is also recolored to a dark burgundy shade. His ponytail is shorter than his previous appearance. Philemon walks through the shrine, which is also one of the gates that leads through the Sea of Souls. He remembers the journeys of certain individuals whom he'd awaken the ability of "Persona".
'Who'd think that it all started when "The Boy with Earring" and his band of merry friends(admittedly only because of a friend of theirs with a large ego... what was his name? Ah! yes, Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi) , played the "ritual game" "Persona".' Philemon thinks amusingly, especially, as to how he laid this project into groundwork, after countless eons of careful drafting, meticulous planning, and constant meeting with Death, and Igor.
'It was easy enough, I suppose.' Philemon thinks. 'All I needed was the right timeline. Considering back then like the "Middle Ages", when people are too fearful and not open-minded, unlike today. Not to mention, I also had to make sure to spread the information of the game. Before I knew it, humans have already been playing the "Persona" game and have been awakening their potentials, left and right.'
'Although, not all of my actions go unhindered, as I expected of Nyarlathotep, he played our game by his own "rules".' Philemon thinks. He remembers the chaos Nyarlathotep made, through SEBEC, Pandora, and interfering personally as Takahisa Kandori's Persona. That had come as an unpleasant surprise. It was surprising enough that he can do that. But to orchestrate all this behind the scenes, not to give any clue of his involvement to his own allies, showed how much one should fear the Crawling Chaos. Even his champions, the band of merry friends led by "The Boy with Earring" didn't even knew of his involvement.
'What was his name again Naoya Todo, Yuya Narumi, or was it Jihei Suzakuin?' Philemon ponders, as he tried to remember the boy's identity.
It had been three years since that incident started, and it ended with his champion gaining victory. Nyarlathotep's frustration had made it even sweeter. Unfortunately, things had taken a turn for the worse in the next game, as Nyarlathotep had decided to get more personal.
'If it weren't for Tatsuya Suou, Maya Amano, and their team, Nyarlathotep might actually have won.' Philemon thinks, remembering back to the incident in Sumaru City. The "Joker", rumors twisting reality, deaths of people, and finally the "Other Side" were just some of the many events that the Crawling Chaos had brought upon the city. Yet in the end, even when Nyarlathotep fought them in the final battle, they still came out victorious and for that he will remember them and what they've done.
'As a result, Nyarlathotep is now banished in parts unknown. And for now, humanity is left to it's own devices.' Philemon knows it was too good to be true. One day, the Crawling Chaos will return. But he knows now that he can't win on his own. And only his own kind, much as he loathes them, would be willing and be able to help him plunge the world in madness, woe and discord.
The Ancienealls are breaking out. Philemon is sure of that now more than ever. This very moment, it has become a race to find the one who will become the "World". The one Philemon envisioned, the one who will bring all his work to fruition and become a testament of infinite potential.
'In other matters, the Velvet Room has been serving its purpose to its guest. All thanks to Igor and the residents. Of course, I wouldn't expect less of them.' Philemon muses. Indeed, the Velvet Room has been doing well in its mission to help their guest in their journey. Igor and the residents have been doing an admirable job in aiding their guests, whether it was giving advice or managing Personas. The Velvet Room has already proven itself instrumental for the day he'd finally find the one who'll be tested, nurtured and finally, bloom to his or her potential, whoever this person will be.
'Now, all that's left is to find this person. With Nyarlathotep "banished", I expect no delay.' Philemon thinks. Now that he's been given respite, this could be his optimal chance to find the one. Besides, he knows that Death is losing his patience and fun it is to annoy him, Philemon had learned long ago not to push him too far.
Philemon could've delve more unto how to find the one, had he not bumped into someone who've got his full said person turned out to be a boy, no more than perhaps six or five years of age. What caught his attention though, is that mop of grey hair with matching grey eyes to boot. He was intrigued not just because of this boy's appearance but also because he sensed something more within him.
"I'm terribly sorry, young one." Philemon says, apologizing to the boy.
"No harm done, though what were you thinking of mister?" says the child.
"Oh, and tell me what makes you think of that?" Philemon muses to him.
"Well, it's either that or you're so up there, but you don't seem to be the latter." says the boy.
At that, Philemon laughs, whether it's because of the child's comments or the situation they're embroidered in, who's to say.
"... Mister, you're weird." says the child.
As a result of what the boy said, Philemon is caught flat-footed. Never before has he been called 'weird'. With all honesty, it's refreshing and he hasn't felt refreshed for a long time. He would've asked the child why he was weird, had he not seen the child looking at the other children play the "Persona" game. As he gazed at the child, he could sense within him a flicker of many kinds. A flicker of wonder, of amazement, ... and of longing. He could also see in the eyes of the child that something is missing within him. Yet, he possesses something that only he has inside of him. At that, Philemon knew, he was it.
"Child, would you like to play the "Persona" game with me?" Philemon asks, and that very moment, he saw the eyes of that child flicker with life.
"Really?" the child asks, to which the stranger nods. He knew he shouldn't trust strangers, his parents told him. People usually say so not to talk to such, but for this person, for this man who wore the mask of a butterfly, he can't help but to trust him and believe in what he says.
All of his life, no one approached him because of his parents constant moving. Perhaps he too would not want to approach people, seeing as he would just move to another place. As a result, he would start over again and in most cases as soon as a sliver of a bond forms, it just dissipates because of the constant moving. Yet, here is a man enigmatic, mysterious and in a sense, he could feel completion from him. Maybe, something more, who's willing to play and perhaps bond with him even just for a little while.
"Sure." the child agrees, perhaps with a bit of excitement in his voice at the prospect of having someone play with him since a long time.
"All right, but let's add something to this game; something that is part of this game but was never done" Philemon says.
Now, the child was curious. He had seen a lot of kids play the "Persona" game but there's something that the kids didn't do - and that is, to truly play the game.
"Sure." says the child. Then he seemed to notice something. "But mister, don't we need more players to play the game?"
"Oh, it seems you're right child." Philemon says, having forgotten that part of the rules. Yet he finds himself amused that the child reminded him. 'Hmmmm, this could be a perfect opportunity to see how he would interact with the personas.'
"Hold on then, let me see what I can do." Philemon says, walking away and thinking of the Persona he could introduce. And perhaps a resident of the Velvet Room as well. 'After all he'll be a guest soon enough.'
When the masked man was away, the child can only wait. Even though the masked man told him that he'll find other players, the child won't just stand by. He too, treads around the shrine to find people who're willing to play with him. As he traversed the shrine, he saw a girl with a sketchpad. The girl wore what seemed to be a middle-school uniform. She has dark skin. Like him, she have a matching grey hair and eyes albeit, with a lighter shade. He could sense from the girl a lively atmosphere around her. He wondered maybe they could play along with the masked man.
"Uhmmmm, excuse me, miss?" says the boy as he calls the girl.
"Hmmm? Oh hey there, what's up kiddo~!" responds the girl.
"Uh, will you play a game with me?" asks the child meekly as this was his first time ever to approach someone of his own accord.
"Sure what kind of game?" asks the girl with the kind of upbeat tone as she sets down her sketch pad.
"The 'Persona' game." the child answers.
"That game huh? well it's been popular lately. Uhhh, kiddo whatcha looking at?" the girl asks, as she lines her sight to the child's to see that he's looking at her sketchpad.
"What're you drawing there miss?" asks the child seeing at least a glimpse of a drawing of what seems to be a masked figure.
"Oh! You saw that one huh." says the girl as she giggles, although in a flustered manner.
"Well you see, I'm aspiring to be a manga artist someday, hoping people will like my work." explains the girl.
"Then what's your work about and who's that character?" asks the child.
"She's a heroine. She's a reincarnation of an ancient Mayan warrior, Ixquic. Well, it is a work in progress. You see, I haven't gotten that far yet." explains the girl.
"Ohhhh, that's so cool~!" says the boy surprising the girl.
"Eh!, Y-you think it's cool?" says the girl, a little bit elated that someone praises her work.
"Yeah, it's an interesting story. You've got other ideas?" asks the child exciting the girl.
"Heck, yeah~! Although some are just ideas right now, like this one idea about five heroes performing good deeds." says the girl.
"Oh, wait we haven't even introduced each other huh? My name's Akari Hoshi. What's yours?" the girl introduces herself and asked the boy's name.
"Oh well, my name's-" the child was about to say his name but they were interrupted by the masked man's appearance with two other girls along with him.
The two girls looked like to be the child's age albeit one being a bit younger than him. The older one in the left, wears a velvet blue colored dress. She has platinum blonde hair, pale skin and golden eyes. Even he has to admit she looks really beautiful. She has an aura of mystery like the masked man, only a bit inferior than the man's. The younger one in the right wears a purple Victorian era dress. She has blond hair and eyes. All in all, she looks like that of the character in the books his parents had read to him about. He sensed something in the girl. Something he could sense within himself, too. This young girl like him have a sense of wild curiosity... and a side of loneliness, too.
"Child, I would like to introduce you to our other players. The one on the left is Margaret, and on the right, Alice. It seems you've invited another player as well." Philemon says remembering Akari Hoshi. She used to be a member of the Masked Circle back on the Other Side. Now, in this timeline however, she never had any involvement with Persona or anything related to it.
'Even though she's not involved, it's still interesting to know that she's here; whether it's by the child's hands or not, it seems fate has plans for her' Philemon quips to himself interested by the show of events, he was brought out of his musing as he sees Alice and Yu interact.
"Hey, are you willing to be my friend?" Alice asks.
"Yeah sure." the child says although he could sense that there's something amiss with Alice's question.
"Then are you willing to... Die for me?" Alice asks the boy in a hushed tone so only the two of them can hear it.
Although Margaret and Akari can't hear the conversation, Philemon can. He sighs. Alice has always been a bit difficult to deal with even for Philemon.
"No, I'm sorry but I can't accept that." the child finally answers after the seemingly long silence.
"But why?" Alice asks, not being able take it well.
"Because I have a better offer." the child proposes.
Now, that has Philemon and Alice piqued. What offer could this child have for her?
"What is it?" Alice asks focusing on the boy.
"How about, I live for you and be more than your friend. I'll become your family and your big brother." the child says, making his offer.
"R-really, are you serious? You're not lying, are you?" Alice asks desperately. When she heard the child's offer becoming more than a friend, a brother she could trust and rely upon, and to be part of a family; to her, it's too good to be true. For a long time after her untimely death she was always alone, and when she tries to find a friend all of them are unwilling to be her friend. Yet right here, right now there was this boy willing to be a friend no something closer, a brother to her. For the first time in a long while she feels warmth inside of her because of what this boy offered and to someone who is used to being rejected, to living in cold isolation feeling this warmth she wants to know if what he says is the truth not wanting this warmth to leave.
"Would I be doing this if I was lying?" the child says. Then, out of the blue, he is holding Alice in an affectionate hug.
"I promise to be a brother who would be there for you in times of trouble." the child proclaims. Then as if to reinforce his promise. "I know what I feels to be lonely too, so I'll tell you this, I will never forget this promise little sis."
As a response, Alice hugs back. The thought that she could have someone who is more than a friend makes her very happy. After the hug, she does not let go, still clinging to her new "big brother".
Philemon, after observing the interaction, smiles. The child's way of dealing with Personas already seems to be one of a kind. Right now, he sees the spark of potential in the child, and feels reinforced in his decision to choose him.
'Is this how people of the physical world interact?' Margaret wonders. It is her first time stepping into the world outside the Velvet Room. Her master, Igor, told her to follow master Philemon to see how the residents of the room should work.
'It looks like she's understanding it, though slowly.' Philemon muses with a glance at Margaret. That is probably because of her inexperience with the world at large. Which is only natural, since she had never left the Velvet Room prior to today.
...He should remind Igor to let his servants or apprentices out once in a while, so as not to cause a scene should the time arise, when they're needed to go outside the room.
"Well, guess you have enough playmates, so I'm off..." Akari is stopped by the child.
"Please, don't go. Stay and play with us for a little while, please~." begs the child with a hint of sadness in response to her attempt to depart.
Seeing the child plead to her like that, and with the tone of his voice, Akari couldn't help her inner "heroine". Then she remembers the reality in her life with her situation, her peers, even her parents. In truth, she really doesn't like her parents or the life that she leads for that matter, because her parents didn't focus on her. Her life isn't exactly a straight path with all the hurdles she've been and the ridicules she've got from her peers. However, she strives to achieve her dreams, and to lift herself from this life. Somehow, in her eyes, she sees that in the child. So, how can she strive to lift herself, if she does the same thing. Especially, with the way they're interacting earlier. So far, he seemed to be the only one whom she've opened up to, if only a little.
"What the heck, I promise to play with you kiddo. What kind of heroine am I to deny that request, eh?" Akari says in an enthusiastic and upbeat tone that livens up the atmosphere. At that, each and every one of the players, including her, smiles and laughs together.
"Well then, let's play the game~." the child says enthusiastically and with that everyone agreed with a resounding "Yeah~!"
"Alright, but before we play the game, we'll add a contract or rather call it a pact or a promise of sorts." Philemon states.
"What kind of contract?" the child questions. The others are also curious.
"Well, how about the contract in which is stated, 'I walk this path to show the World my true potential.' promise me this." Philemon asks, yet already knowing the child's answer.
"I accept this contract." the child says with no doubt in his soul. Philemon smiles again. He has truly and finally found the one. Fortunately. He isn't too eager to face the full brunt of Death's impatience.
"Very well child, then let us play this game. Though before playing for the contract to be sealed and done, may I ask for your name?" Philemon inquires with a sense of curiosity as well as everyone as to who's the child in front of them who has brought all five of them together.
"My name is Yu... Yu Narukami" he utters. The child now known as Yu Narukami answered the question that has been on the other four's minds.
"Very well Yu Narukami, let us play the game "Persona"." Philemon responds with a knowing smile on his face, one echoed by the other ones present.