A long chapter for you because you deserve it, yo!

Goro Akechi was lying down in the hard cot in his cell, staring at the dull ceiling. Both his arms were crossed behind his head and he was trying very hard to ignore the protests coming from his hungry stomach.

Even though he had barely been locked up for a day or two, it sure felt like much longer.

None of his friends or even Sae-san had come visit him, but he wasn't bothered by it: by now, he was sure something in the real world was very, very wrong ad maybe the Phantom Thieves were trying to find a way to fix it? Maybe he had done something in Shido's Palace that had automatically triggered people's strange reaction?

Whatever the case was, and despite really wanting to get back to his friends and help however he could, he knew there was no way out. He had been put in complete isolation, his phone and other personal belongings taken away from him and so he had no way to communicate with the others.

And the food was horrible.

"I agree, someone your age should eat much healthier" a soft voice spoke in his ear, and he actually gasped loudly as he shot up.

"Cho-Cho-chan!" he exclaimed, though he couldn't hide the relief in his voice. It was actually nice to see a friendly... ehm, creature.

The tiny butterfly's aura turned a deep shade of orange when she read his thoughts.

"I am not a creature!" she protested, but then forced herself to calm down.

Akechi had ultimetely decided the butterfly's sex was female, judging by the voice and her temper, and chuckled amusedly when she yelled at him once again.

"I'm sorry" he laughed "I can't help it!"

"I can see that isolation has boosted your horrible sense of humor" she reprimended him. "However, I am not here for mere company. I came to warn you."

"Yeah, what a surprise..."

"The whole world is in grave danger..." Cho-Cho-chan ignored him and continued.

"Heard that before."

"...and your own life is on the line..." she pressed on.

"What life?"

"...and the Phantom Thieves are going to take down Mementos, restoring society's cognition and giving up on their powers if they succeed" she finished.

"Blah blah... wait, what?!" he exclaimed, his interest finally piqued. "They're going to take down Mementos and destroy the Metaverse?"

"Yes" Cho-Cho-chan replied amiably, happy that he was finally listening.

"But... why?" he asked, before widening his eyes in realization. "Oh... Mona said something about people's shared cognition taking form within Mementos..."

"Exactly" Cho-Cho-chan flapped her large wings in approval.

"So if they take down Mementos, things should go back to normal. And we will all lose our powers..." Akechi completed, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. He knew it was the right thing to do, but was he ready to say goodbye to his Persona, especially now that he had just awoken to it?

"You'll be fine" she comforted him "after all, didn't you want a normal life with Makoto and your friends?"

"What're you talking about?" he retorted bitterly. "You know I'll rot in here for the rest of my life..."

"No, you won't" she did a playful backflip and he looked at her quizzically. "I will help you get out of here, and I want you to join the Phantom Thieves in taking down what's deep within Mementos."

"And why's that?" he asked, though he had to admit he didn't dislike the idea one bit.

"Because I am afraid the creature you're going to face this time is by far too powerful, I am not even sure whether you'll make it out alive despite joining forces..." she explained with a hint of concern and sadness.

"Then I'm in" he clapped his hands merrily and stood up. "I'd rather die helping my friends than alone in here."

"Yeah, and the food..." she started.

"...is horrible indeed" he completed for her, and they both chuckled.

"But hey" he said, massaging his chin "how can you help me get out of here, exactly? I mean, no offense but... you are pretty tiny..."

"My magic makes up for my size!" she retorted, and he tried his best to hold back the thought forming in his head.

"Goro Akechi!" Cho-Cho-chan gasped, and he could totally imagine her shocked expression. "You are a pervert..!"

"So what's the plan?" he interrupted, still fighting against the fits of laughter.

She shot him a reproachful look before answering with a "Just wait here" and then disappeared.

He felt extremely stupid waiting in the middle of the cramped room, but in a matter of seconds he could see something that resembled his phone squeezing through the cell bars and then floating toward him. He opened his palm where the phone gently went to rest, and Cho-Cho-chan reappeared shortly after with a tiny 'pop'.

"You owe me one" she said. "I had to knock down the guard outside."

"How..?" he started, but she apparently predicted his question and answered that she had put him to sleep, sounding anything but sorry for her actions.

"Alright, then" his lips broke into a broad smirk. "Let's do this!"

Sae hadn't looked too happy when Makoto came back home after school and announced she would be spending Christmas Eve putting her life in grave danger to save the world. The elder sister just blinked dumbly, and then put down the large bowl she had thought of using to make a nice pudding for dessert. By now, she had learned she would be powerless against her younger sister's determination and that nothing she could say would stop her and the Phantom Thieves from fulfilling their duty.

She smiled proudly and with a "Be safe, everyone" she gave Makoto her blessing.

The teenage girl smiled gratefully back at her and then went to hug her, promising she would make things right. And that she'd be back home for pudding. Sae couldn't help but laugh and think that Makoto did remind her of their late father so much. Now she could just hope she wouldn't end up like him...

Makoto made sure to head over to LeBlanc as early as possible, what with both the trains and the streets packed with people trying to grab a last-minute present.

She had hoped that, given a bit of time, people would finally see Shido for who he really was, and recognize him as the real culprit. But they still seemed to give the man their full support, while blaming Goro all along for his condition.

She bit her lower lip as she thought of him locked up in a jail, alone on Christmas Eve.

When they had finished their exams, they had asked Sae if they could visit him in jail, but the elder girl simply gave them all a sad look and said she had no idea where Goro was being held. Ever since she had been taken off the case, all of her colleagues had made sure to provide her with as little information as possible.

But even though Makoto missed him more than anything, she knew that by taking down Mementos, everyone's cognition would be restored and maybe Goro would be released.

If anything, she was hoping she'd be able to find out where he had been taken and visit him...

She was so used to going straight to LeBlanc by now, her feet walked on their own accord to the small café and she opened the door, smiling when she was welcomed by the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee and Sojiro-san's famous curry. Futaba had insisted on decorating the place for Christmas, and Makoto internally chuckled when she looked at the misplaced wreaths around the room, a glittery garland taped above the counter and the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling.

She appreciated the effort, but had to admit Christmas like she she so often had seen in those American movies looked quite different from the Japanese one.

"Mako-chan!" Haru greeted her with her usual kind smile. The fluffy-haired girl was happily drinking coffee while animately talking with Akira. Ever since she had been reunited with her father, she had become much more energetic, sending positive vibes all over the place.

The others -who had apparently spent most of the afternoon at LeBlanc's- were just as optimistic now that they finally had a plan to revert things back to normal, as well as the thought of celebrating Christmas together the following day.

Provided that they'd make it out alive.

"Here's the plan" Morgana nimbly jumped on the table and sat right at the center of it in order to face all of them. Boss shook his head disapprovingly and then sighed in defeat.

"Morgana, we've gone through the preparations a thousand times already!" Ryuji protested, but Morgana silenced him with his eyes.

"Ahem" Morgana cleared his voice, as Akira took out his phone. "So here's the plan" he repeated.

'POP'.

"What the..?!" Morgana's tail puffed up as a stress response to the sudden apparition of a blue butterfly in the room.

"Hello, everyone" Cho-Cho-chan said softly, apparently unaware of having scared them all to death.

"I am here to say that I heard a bunch of people talking about ordering a cup of coffee here, they are heading this way as we speak."

"Get out of here, quick!" Boss ordered immediately. "And get that cat off the table!"

Cho-Cho-chan went to rest on Akira's shoulder as the group of friends prepared to leave the café.

"Hey, kids" Sojiro stopped them before they could open the door. "Just... take care out there, alright?"

They all smiled warmly at the worried man, and Akira nodded reassuringly as Futaba gave him the thumbs-up.

"Don't worry, Sojiro!" the younger teenager exclaimed happily. "I'll make sure nothing harmful gets them!"

"And likewise" Yusuke added dreamily.

"We've got this!" Ann said jolly.

"Right" Sojiro nodded as well, and returned to cleaning the table where they had been sitting mere moments before.

They left the locale just as the group of people Cho-Cho-chan had mentioned made their way in, giving them all a puzzled look. They seemed to be particularly impressed at Akira having a beautiful butterfly resting on his right shoulder, as well as a cat following them obidiently.

When they reached a safe area without people, Akira proceeded to take out his phone once again.

"I have a surprise for you" Cho-Cho-chan spoke suddenly, sounding extremely excited. "But I would like to encourage you to excercise caution once you descend Mementos even further."

Everyone exchanged a curious look but simply resolved to nod as Akira tapped on the Meta App.

Soon their surroundings shifted into the all too familiar ones of Mementos.

Makoto's eyes automatically scanned the place where they had spent half of the December month, until she saw something that wasn't supposed to be there. Her heart seemed to stop entirely as she locked eyes with a pair of reddish-brown ones.

"G-Goro?!"

Everyone gasped in surprise, as Cho-Cho-chan took off again and went to fly towards the boy who was supposed to be locked up in a secret location.

He smiled broadly at them, taking a few uncertain steps forward, and they all rushed to him to bomb him with questions.

"What're you doin' here, man?!"

"How did you get out of jail?"

"Where have you been?"

He smiled embarrassedly as he tried to answer their questions.

"Guys" Akira said calmly, after giving the brown-haired boy a fraternal bump-fist. "We should revise our plan."

"Yeah!" Morgana agreed "you never let me finish!"

"But..!" Ryuji tried to protest, but Ann was already dragging him away from Akechi and Makoto. Even Cho-Cho-chan went to join the others, leaving the two teenagers with some well-deserved privacy.

"Ehm" Makoto started, feeling a sudden heat wave rise to her face.

"Hey there, stranger" he smiled tenderly at her. Even from behind his new mask, she could tell he was genuinely happy to see her.

"Oh Goro" she finally whined "I am so sorry for not coming to visit you sooner! We had no idea where you had been taken to!"

"I know!" he chuckled softly "I've known all along. Did you think I'd hold a grudge against you for that?"

She nodded quietly, causing him to chuckle again.

"You're such a silly-pie. My silly-pie."

She looked up at him, feeling this potent sensation spread throughout her whole body. He had called her his silly-pie- And then it hit her: she was his. And he was hers.

She wouldn't allow anything else to stand in their way and separate them again.

"Whenever you lovebirds are ready, over there!" Futaba shouted from across the room, causing both of them to blush and join the others for the final showdown.

"A new door has been opened deep within Mementos" Ann announced.

"...we're really gonna do this, right?" Morgana asked unexpectedly, causing them to frown. However, the group of friends nodded.

"Why're you askin' now?" Ryuji asked, and Akechi could swear the cat seemed a bit nervous for a split second.

"Well, I just thought... what am I gonna do if you guys freak out and bail on me!" Morgana replied, before running off ahead. The others followed suit, but Akechi couldn't stop shaking off the feeling Morgana was acting stranger than usual.

The group of friends made their way through Mementos, sometimes looking nervously around when they heard a particularly loud noise. Akechi couldn't blame them: he was also hoping the Reaper would stay out of their way, especially after the last encounter he had with the extremely powerful Shadow. Morgana seemed to sense their tension, for he reminded them all that the Reaper wouldn't come if they kept moving.

Everyone was strangely quiet as they descended each level, and Akechi thought they were all probably wondering what they would find at the very bottom of the intricated place. Luckily Futaba guided them towards the right direction with the help of her Nav Persona.

When the red-haired teenager announced they had reached a new area called Path of Iweleth ("How do you even know each level has a name?!" Ryuji asked her, visibly impressed by Futaba's Persona), they were facing a long platform with a giant door at the very end.

"This will lead us even deeper" Morgana said when they approached the door. He sounded almost... discouraged?

"Yeah" Akira nodded, then he turned to look at his team members. "Are we all ready for this?"

"Hell yeah!" Ryuji seemed to be as excited as ever, the others simply nodded gravely. Akechi sent Makoto a serious look, but she simply gave him a broad smile and a thumb-up.

"We'll be fine" she whispered in his ear. "We've come so far..."

Just as everyone took a step closer, the door instantly opened up a passage for them. Ryuji was the first to move forward, but Futaba stopped him before he could enter the next room.

"Wait" she said. "It looks like this door can only be opened from this side, meaning that we can get in but nothing can get out."

"It's as though whatever lies within has been locked away..." Makoto commented, which definitely didn't help the feeling of eeriness Akechi was feeling.

"One way to find out" Morgana said, before running past Ryuji and entering the room ahead.

Whatever Akechi was expecting was definitely beyond his imagination. They were now in a large room with what seemed like bright red pipes that originated from the upper levels of Mementos, and now all gathering in the middle of the room, transporting something that reminded Akechi of... blood.

"...they remind me somewhat of veins" Yusuke was saying to the others.

"Damn creepy" he muttered under his breath, before taking a better look around. Though there really was not much left to see, for the rest of the room seemed to be surrounded by darkness.

"Are we sure we're in the right place?" Ann asked, breaking the silence. "I mean, I don't see much of interest here..."

"Don't worry, Lady Ann. The Treasure is definitely here. And I can sense a tremendous presence that's coming from much deeper within..." Morgana replied and Ann shivered.

"Huh?" Akechi widened his eyes as his eyes fell on his own right shoulder, where Cho-Cho-chan had been resting mere moments before. The tiny butterfly was gone.

"What is it, Goro?" Makoto asked, and he shook his head.

"Ah, nothing! I was just surprised Cho-Cho-chan left so suddenly. She's usually quite loud" he chuckled.

"Eh, she does that" Ryuji shrugged.

"Say, Goro" Akira whispered to his friend when the others turned to take a closer look at the veins. "You can see them too, right? The twins over there?" He then gestured for Goro to look over his shoulder at Caroline and Justine, who were standing perfectly still by the blue cell that led to the Velvet Room.

"Yeah" Goro nodded "I suppose only Wild Cards like us can see them, since the others seem unaware of their presence."

"Yes" Akira agreed "but did you notice how Cho-Cho-chan always seems to disappear when those two are around? I wonder why..."

"Now that you mention that..." Akechi brought a fist to his chin and pondered.

"Are you guys coming or what?" Morgana called after them, and both Akira and Akechi forcefully dropped the matter to join their friends.

"There's a door over there but it's too crowded" Futaba was saying. Akechi could indeed see a group of people gathered in front of a large door, and they seemed to be waiting to be let in.

"We ain't gonna wait for our turn" Ryuji snickered and pointed at an elevation point which seemed to lead to the other side of the door. The Phantom Thieves managed to gain access to the new area without anyone noticing.

The nine friends made their way through a series of platforms and corridors, until they reached a round room full of people behind bars. They all seemed oblivious to their condition of prisoners, and were instead inviting the Phantom Thieves to join them. Some of the prisoners were saying something about feeling safe behind those bars, and a dangerous being locked up in a Quarantine cell.

"It's useless, these people are too far gone to reason with them" Akechi shook his head.

"Mona?" Haru was staring down at the shortest member of the party, who seemed lost in thought again.

"I think... I've been here before. I feel like I'm very close to remembering something important" the cat said.

"We'll find out" Futaba looked behind and saw a group of Shadow guards approaching. "Let's get outta here!"

The others didn't need to be told twice. Whatever was waiting up ahead was definitely a being of great power if it could control so many people, so the more energies they'd spare against weaklings, the better chances they had to win the final battle.

They kept running, following Morgana's lead. Akechi was curious to see if Morgana would actually end up remembering his past, but for the moment he was just grateful that the cat's knowledge of the place was avoiding them waste more time: that place was a maze, and one crawling with powerful Shadows, too.

"Everyone, wait!" Ann shouted when they reached another round room with cells. "Is that... Kamoshida?!"

The former PE teacher was indeed standing behind the bars just like all the other people trapped in there. But among them there were more familiar faces: Madarame, Kaneshiro and...

"Shido!"

Akechi's father was sitting in a chair behind the bars. He looked strangely resigned.

The Shadows of their former opponents were all muttering something about not wanting any trouble, and being content with their current state.

"So... they've chosen a life of captivity after losing their distorted desires?" Morgana said sadly.

"I see Okumura isn't here with us" Shido spoke for the first time as he stood up and stepped a bit closer, looking at each and everyone of them. His expression seemed different than his normally mocking one. For the first time, Akechi could say the man in front of him looked... human. "You did a good job, son."

"Goro, don't!" Makoto grabbed his arm as the boy took a challenging step forward, a look of pure hatred across his face.

"I am no son of yours" he spat.

Shido simply sighed. He too was a defeated man.

"Make yourself useful instead" Akechi said angrily. "What is this place?"

"It's supposedly called 'The Prison of Regression', where people can leave a true and free life without the need to think" Shido explained calmly.

"Which means you're letting someone else control you, right?" Akechi mocked.

"Indeed. Who's the ruler of this place?" Makoto asked.

"Why, the general public, of course. After all, the real ruler of a democratic country is its people" Shido answered amiably.

"Oh yeah? So why are there guards lookin' out for you guys?" Ryuji butted in.

"Let's just say, we are the ones looking out upon everyone else" Shido explained.

"These people... the prisoners, they are the ones who least want the prison to be tempered with!" Makoto observed in shock, but Ryuji cut her off.

"We're gonna tear this place down anyway! Mona, the Treasure's in the deepest part, right? Huh? Mona?"

Morgana was looking left and right with a perplexed look on his face. "I... do remember this place. I remember that I saw at everyone else in here and they were all humans, while I looked different. That's when I started thinking I wanted to turn into a human too and escaped. But... I'm still missing a bunch of memories..."

"Ehm, guys" Futaba warned "the guards are on their way here again!"

They couldn't stay any longer to question Shido, so they left dodging the guards' attacks and running forward as they followed Morgana's lead.

Akechi couldn't help but think he would've gotten lost in a matter of seconds in there: each room looked exactly like the previous, and he sighed loudly when yet another round room came into sight.

This one, however, was darker and somehow creepier than the previous two, and a large metal door stood right in front of them, behind solid bars.

"This is where I was born" Morgana announced, causing everyone to gasp in shock. "Well, I was created here, to be precise. To guide all of you... I'm sorry, I can't really remember much else..."

"Then let's hurry up and steal that Treasure so we can crush Mementos!" Ryuji encouraged, and they all nodded.

"Hey Makoto" Akechi whispered to the girl beside him "how many more identical rooms do you think we need to stumble upon before we finally get some results?"

Makoto simply giggled, and he couldn't help but smile too. Her laughter meant the world to him, and at this point he really didn't care what would happen to him as long as she could just keep smiling like that...

"Oh, what the hell?!"

Ryuji suddenly came to a halt, his mouth wide open as he stared at something ahead. Akechi looked in the same direction and saw what looked like a spine leading to a giant building.

"Think it's safe to walk on this thing?" Ryuji asked, unable to contain his disgust.

"Only one way to find out" Akira smirked and went ahead without second thoughts.

Makoto raised an eyebrow at Akechi, and the boy just shrugged, took her hand in his and followed his best friend.

The insides of the building were entirely empty with the sole exception of a strange mechanical object in the middle of the room. Hundreds of prison cells were perfectly aligned against the walls of the circular room, and went as far up as their eyes could see.

"So, is that thing the Treasure?" Ryuji asked, pointing at the large mechanical device in front of them. Morgana nodded.

"It's way too big to carry it outta this place. We'll hafta destroy it instead" the blonde added.

"Yeah, that works" Morgana agreed.

As if sensing the danger, the mechanical globe started shooting red lasers at them, which the nine friends barely managed to dodge.

Akira was the first to strike back, and the others followed their leader and called forth their Personas.

Akechi could feel their final opponent was extremely powerful, and kept sending nervous glances at Makoto who, in turn, was making sure to keep Johanna as close to him as possible.

Alastor was an extremely powerful Persona, but most of his strongest attacks required time before being performed, and so Akechi focused on some quick attacks with his new swords.

The lasers shooting from the globe were fast and precise, and Akechi could feel them burning into his skin even when he managed to dodge them at the last second.

However, his resolve boosted when he noticed their combined efforts were starting to give results. The globe was geetting ruined, and Akechi attacked more vehemently.

When one of the cogs came off, and just as he was about to encourage his friends, he saw with horror how the inmates locked up in the cells muttered angrily at them and started sending their vital energy to the globe via the strange pipes connecting them to the machine.

The damage they had done was reversed and the globe returned to being in the exact same conditions as prior to the battle.

"We don't stand a chance!"

"This is never gonna end!"

"You fools! Humans, yet wishing to eradicate the desires of humanity!" a god-like voice spoke, resonating throughout the large room.

"Huh?"

"The Treasure's talking?" Makoto gasped.

"I am revered as the granter of dreams for all who behold me. A being most commonly known as the Holy Grail. The Prison of Regression is representative of the collective desires of humanity. They wish to be chained down, surrender their cognition and neglect the world around them. These feebleminded commonfolk will make your 'social reform' all for naught! The shared heart of the masses has fallen into an excess of indolence ad transformed into a prison."

Akechi would've found a talking mechanical globe funny, but two things were bothering him at the moment: first, the inmates seemed to be worshipping the thing, and second the voice coming from the globe seemed oddly familiar...

The globe was flashing dangerously now, the three largest cogs sporting red and green colors.

Futaba was shouting her observations as she flew back and forth to collect data, but Akechi knew it was useless.

Everytime they managed to land a hit or two, the damn globe would collect energy from the inmates and fully heal itself, thus the battle would go on and on until they'd run out of stamina. Or die.

It was clear the general public wanted to stop thinking and instead let the Holy Grail control them. It was the easy way out and even their powers were nothing against it as long as they wished to stay in their enslaving state.

What could they do then?

"Huh, that doesn't look good" Ann was saying, and Akechi looked at the globe, which was now glowing with a blue aura. Then everything turned white before anyone could react.

They woke up in Shibuya wearing their normal clothes. Akechi lamily stared at his own inmate uniform.

"Hey, it ain't that bad" Ryuji mocked him as he rested an arm on his shoulder "it kinda reminds me of your Loki outfit."

"More importantly, how did we get here?" Akechi decided to ignore Ryuji's comment as he tried his best to hide behind his friends. The last thing he wanted was for people to recognize him. After all, he was supposed to be in jail, and he wouldn't be surprised if all the guards in Japan had been alerted and were currently looking for him.

"Yeah, I think we were brought here by the Holy Grail" Morgana replied.

Just as they were about to discuss what to do next, a drop of something red fell on Akira's cheek. They all stared at the tiny red spot on their leader's face for a moment, before a heavy rain started falling from the sky. But it was no ordinary rain, it was red and it reminded them all of blood. Mere moments later, the scenery they had seen in Mementos unfolded right in front of their eyes, fusing with the tall buildings in Shibuya and the rest of Tokyo.

They stared in horror at the event while the rest of the people simply kept walking as if it was completely normal, and the nine friends seemed to be the only ones able to notice something was terribly wrong.

A horrible scream made them jump and Akechi stared down at a terrified-looking Ryuji, whose hand had disappeared. Akechi's eyes widened in shock as each one of his friends fell on their knees and started disappearing.

"G-Goro!"

He turned and saw with renewed horror that Makoto too was starting to vanish. He rushed to her side, even though he had no idea what he could do. He wasn't able to call forth Alastor, Cho-Cho-chan was nowhere to be seen and both Morgana and Akira were on the floor, watching in horror as they slowly vanished. Then he too felt suddenly weak and tired and collapsed next to Makoto. She couldn't even speak but was trying to use her last energies to reach his hand with the other one she had left.

She vanished completely before they could touch.

The last thing he remembered was a tear running down his cheek.

Akechi woke up in a cell. But it wasn't the cell where he had been imprisoned in Japan. He had been there before, more than once.

He was in the Velvet Room.

He frowned as a myriad of questiones assailed him: was he even alive? What had happened in Shibuya? Where were Makoto and the others? Would Igor be there? After all, he hadn't accessed the Velvet Room since before their duel, where he lost his Personas and Tamiko got killed.

He balled his fists and stepped forward. If Igor was indeed there, this would be his chance to get his revenge.

"Ah, there you are, my old friend."

Igor's deep, mocking voice welcomed him and Akechi couldn't help but feel a wave of hatred for that... being.

"Now now, why such hostility?" Igor pouted. "Are you still mad at me after our last encounter?"

Caroline and Justine, who were outside his cell guarding it as their usual, frowned but didn't say anything.

"To be frank with you, I am quite impressed" Igor continued as his smile grew larger. "I was very surprised when I realized you survived your fate -although it would delight me if you could explain to me exactly how you did it- and then awoke to a new, powerful Persona."

Caroline and Justine exchanged another quizzical look but stayed perfectly still.

"And I let you!" Igor exclaimed happily "and I must say that was the best decision I could ever take. After all, it is all thanks to you if I could see the results of my experiment."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Akechi retorted angrily, and was secretly surprised when neither Justine or Caroline reprimended him.

"Ah yes, humans are more apathetic and more foolish than I had thought them to be. The world will soon see its ruin. As for your dear friends, I have no further use for them. However, the other Trickster will meet his fate since he failed to bring change to mankind."

"What?" Akechi took a step forward but realized he couldn't do much to break free.

"Indeed. In accordance to the game's rules, the defeated must pay a price. His life is forfeit."

Akechi, Caroline and Justine gasped in unison, but Igor continued. "Oh but don't worry" the man's smile grew so wide it looked even more unnatural. "You will join your dear friend's fate."

"M-Master!" Justine exclaimed in shock.

"I sentence you to be executed. God's decree is absolute. Grant that man and his friend a swift death" Igor said calmly.

Akechi could only grit his teeth and shake with pure anger. Despite all he and the others had been through, Igor would still win and the rest of humanity would be enslaved.

He could do nothing against the two small twins when they opened his cell to take him to the execution chamber. They roughly dragged him inside and told him to wait.

Not too long after, they returned with...

"Akira!"

His best friend looked as miserable as him when he made his entrance, but his eyes lit up when he realized he wasn't alone.

"Goro, you're okay!"

Caroline and Justine pushed him forward until Akira was next to Akechi.

"We need to do something, we can't die here" Akechi whispered to his friend, and he nodded.

"Silence!" Caroline ordered.

"This would never have happened if you had followed our Master's advice" Justine sighed in defeat.

"Your Master is a sick murderer!" Akechi snapped, causing the twins to freeze with shock.

He could feel this intense power emerging from within, giving him the strength he needed to call forth his Persona. On his right-hand side, he could sense Akira was ready as well.

A moment later, the two teenage boys were both free of their chains, wearing their Metaverse outfits and ready to challenge their fate.

"How insolent... To think you'd still show your rebellious will after all that..." Caroline commented, then she turned to her twin. "Ready, Justine?"

"If our Master orders so... then it cannot be helped" Justine replied, then both girls adopted a fighting stance. "Death to the criminals!"

Just as they prepared to attack, Igor made his entrance. He observed the scene in front of him with his usual crazed grin, which made Akechi possibly angrier than he thought he could be.

However, despite his and Akira's best efforts, it felt like an invisible force had tied them to their spot, making it impossible to attack or even dodge the twins' deadly attacks. The two boys could do nothing but watch as they got hit over and over again.

Akechi's eyes met Igor's just as Justine prepared to land another attack on him, possibly the last he could withstand...

The girl suddenly stopped and looked away, frowning. Akechi was too weak to concentrate on the twins' conversation, but it seemed like they were having second thoughts?

He looked over at Akira, who seemed to be as beaten as he was, but his eyes still burned with hope.

"Our duty isn't to kill him!" Justine exclaimed.

"I believe I ordered their execution" Igor stepped forward, looking perfectly calm despite the twins' hesitation.

The two girls frowned.

"Master... have you forsaken humanity..?" Caroline asked.

"We are wardens – those who rehabilitate prisoners" Justine continued. "Something speaks to me in my mind. Our true duty is not to kill..."

"Help! Please... help..."

Both Akechi and Akira widened their eyes with surprise as a familiar voice rang through their minds.

"Cho-Cho-chan?!" Akechi thought, before he saw her. Cho-Cho-chan was fluttering right in front of their eyes, but it seemed like neither Igor or the twins could see her.

"We are those who wish for true rehabilitation" the tiny butterfly said, flying closer to the twins, who were still standing up to Igor. Then, as quickly as she had appeared, Cho-Cho-chan vanished in a burst of bright light. Caroline and Justine both fell on their knees, holding their heads.

"Your right eye, and my left...It's as if they're the same, yet mirrored..." Caroline whispered. Then she stood up determinedly. "I finally remembered... how we were torn 'apart'!"

"We were originally one" Justine continued.

"Yet we were torn asunder into halves... by malevolent intent!"

Igor simply chuckled, as if the whole situation was incredibly amusing. The twins ignored him and asked Akechi and Akira to fuse them together.

The two boys didn't even have time to reply, for the twins were already running off to the guillotine, ready to turn back into one being.

Akira went to take care of Justine, while Akechi proceeded to assist Caroline. When the two girls gave the thumb-up, Akira and Akechi both let go of the ropes holding the guillotine's blade, and the two girls were gone.

It took Akechi several seconds to get used to the bright light, but what he saw after left him speechless: in front of him, elegant and majestic, was a young girl with long, blond hair and bright yellow eyes, holding a large and heavy-looking tome.

"My name... is Lavenza" the girl in the blue dress bowed before them. Her voice sounded so familiar...

Lavenza smiled kindly at Akechi. "You might know me better as Cho-Cho-chan."

"What?!" Akechi took a step back. "A-are you... Cho-Cho... what... how?" he stammered, his brain stopping functioning entirely from the shock.

Lavenza chuckled lightly before explaining. "I was torn apart by a malevolent will, and took the form of those twins. I sought help before my body split in two, and sent part of my spirit to find you, Tricksters. And guide you here to save us. Save the world."

Akechi was too stunned to say anything, but an evil, cold chuckle brought him back to reality. Igor was still in the room, his arms crossed and still wearing the annoying grin that irritated him so.

"And to the scoundrel who has swindled my Master's name..." Lavenza stared at Igor defiantly. "Your lies shall work no longer now that my sight has been restored!"

'Igor' simply levitated as an evil aura surrounded him and his eyes flashed dangerously.

"Who are you?!" Akira inquired.

"I am the Holy Grail that grants wishes... No... It may be more accurate to say that I am a god who responds to desire and holds dominion over men. I hoped seeing a righteous thief vanquish evil would spur mankind to change their own indolent hearts. However, the result is as you know... Humans should be met with ruin: you brought forth that answer. But to be frank, Inmates, I believe it may be worth reevaluating you. A group of selected humans has reached the Holy Grail and has seen through my true identity. And you" Igor nodded at Akechi. "You escaped death and re-wrote your fate despite no longer possessing your powers. And you got them back by digging into the depths of your rebellious heart. You've both surprised the god that I am often enough. That cannot be done by foolish commoners. You truly were prisoners that did not bore me. Perhaps observing you a while longer may prove amusing. In fact, I shall grant you an opportunity to make a deal with me."

"What deal?" Akira asked, and Akechi glanced at him. He hoped Akira wouldn't fall for that creature's trap.

"Should you wish it, I shall return the world to its prior state – one rampant with distorted masses" Igor proposed, and both Akechi and Lavenza watched the black-haired boy as he considered the offer.

"Don't listen to him, Akira!" Akechi butted in. He needed to make his friend understand that creature was simply toying with them. "As tempting as it sounds, accepting the offer will only mean returning to a world where people abandoned their ability to think for themselves!"

Akira widened his eyes in horror as realization hit him. He nodded.

"I refuse" he answered simply.

"Well said!" Lavenza exclaimed approvingly.

"Such irredeemable foolishness... You choose death for yourselves? Very well, I have no need for you" Igor spat with disdain, before disappearing.

A second later, he returned. Akechi frowned in confusion as he stared at the crooked man, who was now unconscious over his desk.

"Master!" Lavenza shot forward to assist the man, and then Akechi realized: that must be the real Igor. The man was regaining consciousness, and when he spoke, his voice sounded completely different from the deep, grave one of the Holy Grail.

"Oh my... It's been quite a while since I last stepped foot in this room..." he said.

He welcomed them and introduced himself as Igor, the real and rightful master of the Velvet Room.

"Now that my Master has returned and you've won against the malevolent god of control's temptation, you may save your world from certain ruin. But you won't be able to do that with your powers alone. You must release your teammates, with whom you've shared your conviction" Lavenza explained.

"Is Makoto okay?" Akechi couldn't refrain himself from asking, blushing slightly when Akira, Lavenza and even the real Igor smiled softly at his instinctive question.

"They have not necessarily expired yet" Lavenza answered. "Just as you were trapped here, they should be confined elsewhere as well. Once you've released them and gathered here, we will tell you everything."

As soon as Igor opened a cell leading to the inner part of the prison, Akechi hurried up ahead, followed immediately after by Akira.

The two friends decided it would be more efficient if they split up and went each to the opposite wings of the prison.

Akechi walked fast, checking each cell for Makoto. If he hurried, he might just find her before it would be too late...

"Goro?"

A feeble voice caught his attention as he approached the last cell.

"Makoto!"

He hurried to the cell, which was promptly locked.

His heart was beating fast with trepidation and worry, but by the looks of it, Makoto was not injured. In fact, she seemed perfectly fine. She was wearing her casual clothes from the human world, her cheeks were colored and her eyes a deep shade of red.

"You're okay!" he exclaimed, relieved. "I'm gonna get you out of here!"

But before he could do anything, Makoto simply sighed.

"I'm happy you're safe, Goro. But why are you still wearing your Phantom Thief attire while I have my regular clothes?" she asked, then she frowned. "Could this mean that the will of rebellion is no longer with me..?"

Akechi simply blinked, and watched as the girl sighed once more. He had the strange feeling that Makoto was right, and that she didn't want to leave her prison cell after all.

"We have to fight that Holy Grail again, correct?" she finally spoke again. "Could you imagine defeating it, Goro..? That monster has the support of the masses, and with it, nearly an infinite amount of power... I... no matter which way I approach the subject in my head, nothing points to our victory."

Akechi listened carefully to her words, letting her speak until she fell quiet again. He pondered for a while before giving her an answer.

"I'm not confident either" he said truthfully. "I can't promise you we will emerge victorious, or that it will be easy. But I can tell you this: we've been through a lot, you and I. And everyone else. Each and every one of us has been fighting for our own justice, and it hasn't been a walk in the park. But if what you've been fighting for so far was ever true to you, then join us one more time." Akechi extended an arm for her to take. "Believe in yourself, Makoto."

She looked at him as if she was seeing him for the first time, then she smiled broadly. "You're right" she said. "Thank you, Goro" she took his hand and the bars behind which Makoto was imprisoned vanished. They stayed like that for a moment, enjoying each other's touch.

"I am... truly happy you're okay, Makoto" he said. "You have no idea..."

He instinctively closed the small gap between them and kisses her longingly, and was relieved when she kissed him back with as much passion. As he boldly deepened the kiss, a sudden and very inappropriate "ahem" interrupted them. Akira, Yusuke and Ryuji were all looking at them from the end of the corridor. Akira was trying his best to fight a huge grin, Ryuji's eyebrow had reached its highest point and Yusuke was creepingly studying them as if they were some sort of unique art piece.

Akechi and Makoto blushed furiously and took a few steps away from each other.

"While you two make out over there, we've been busy gathering some of the team" Ryuji reprimended them. "We're still missing Ann, Morgana, Haru and Futaba, though."

"I'm so embarrassed" Makoto whined in a tiny voice.

Even though Akechi was as red as she was, he couldn't help but find the sigh of a deeply embarrassed Makoto extremely cute, and he chuckled. It took all of his self-control to not go hide in a dark corner, and instead take her hand to join the others. He ignored Ryuji, who was still sending him venomous glances.

"What?" he said. "Did you wish to be doing the same with a certain blonde?"

It was now Ryuji who turned a deep shade of red as the rest of the Phantom Thieves burst into laughter.

"That wasn't very nice, was it?" Makoto whispered in his ear as Ryuji still desperately tried to deny the fact he fancied Ann.

"Nah, I think that was exactly the kind of encouragement he needs to take the initiative" Akechi replied lightly, and they both chuckled.

"QUIT IT, YOU TWO!" Ryuji angrily shouted after them.

It took them a good twenty more minutes to find the other members of the party, and almost double that time to convince them to break free from their individual prisons and join the cause to save humanity from the god of Control. However, despite searching the entire place more than once, they couldn't find Morgana anywhere, and so had no choice but to go back in hope to find their last party member with Igor and Lavenza.

Once the Phantom Thieves returned to the Velvet Room, Igor and Lavenza proceeded to introduce themselves.

"Oh, so you're that lazy butterfly that was always chillin' on Crow's shoulder, huh?" Ryuji commented happily.

"I am NOT lazy!" Lavenza protested, before taking a deep breath to regain her composure.

"Ehm, excuse me but... where's Morgana?" Ann asked politely.

"Would you like to see him?" Lavenza answered. "He's right over there."

Morgana exited one of the cells and joined the others.

"I was born here" he explained. "My role was to find the Trickster and help him defeat the evil being trying to take control of the man's spiritual world. That's why I was created here by my master."

"Indeed" Igor nodded.

"I really remember everything" Morgana continued. "When this place was about to be taken over, my master gathered the last traces of mankind's hope. He mustered up the his remaining strength to make me."

Lavenza then proceeded to explain how the Holy Grail had turned from a simple Treasure into a god with its own will because people wished to be ruled over.

"To decide the fate of the world" the long-haired girl explained "it chose two people with potential and pitted them against each other. One – Goro Akechi" Lavenza paused to send him a grave look "incited the masses' distortion. Had he won, the world would've been destroyed and remade."

Akechi frowned as he thought of the possible consequences his actions could've had on the fate of the entire world.

"The other was a Trickster who would stand up against this, Joker" Lavenza continued. "However, it didn't go exactly as planned since Goro Akechi changed his fate entirely when he learned the values of friendship and love."

"Awww" Ann purred, making Akechi feel even more embarrassed.

"That malevolent being knew that a revolution would not occur within indolent humans. However, my true master believed in humanity, and so did I. Which is the reason why I helped you, Goro Akechi, when I realized you had willingly broken free of your thirst for revenge and selfishness in order to save the people you care for the most. But the evil entity laughed at the prospect, and sought to prove the powerlessness of man with the game. It helped train the Trickster, only to cast him into despair, using the masses who rejected their savior. And it tried to get rid of Goro Akechi once he realized he would no longer serve his original purpose. This was likely his nip in the bud anything that would pose a threat."

"Does he think... we are some sort of puppets?" Akechi balled his fists in anger.

Lavenza didn't answer, but sent him a pitiful look. "Your real world has already been fused with Mementos. You do not exist because reality is replete with cognition of those who deny the Phantom Thieves. But there is still hope! You can challenge the evil god and reclaim your existence in reality. Are you up to the task?"

Needless to say, everyone was more than happy to teach the malevolent god a lesson. It was therefore with joy that they got both Igor's and Lavenza's blessing to depart on their last, dangerous task to save the world.

They all followed Morgana up the stairs leading to the exit door and, in the blink of an eye, they were back in Shibuya. Their world was sadly still fused with Mementos, and it seemed that people had yet to realize that something wasn't quite right.

What was even stranger, however, was the fact that Morgana was engulfed in a bright light.

"It's probably because my memories have returned. I know what my duty is now." The cat assumed, but it was immediately interrupted by a passerby.

"Huh? Whoa. Do you see something... shining?" he said to the girl next to him. "Wait a sec, what's with those weirdly-dressed guys?"

"I feel like... I've seen those costumes before..." another lady was saying, as a group of curious people gathered around them.

"Oh! Aren't they... the Phantom Thieves?!" a man in a suit exclaimed.

"Oh yeah, that's right! I completely forgot about them!"

"So they can see us now?" Ann asked her party members.

"It doesn't seem to be everyone though" Makoto observed as many other passersby simply walked past without paying them any attention. "Only a handful of people in this large crowd."

"It's a start" Akechi commented.

"Who's that one?"

"He wasn't on the jumbo-screen in Shibuya with the other Phantom Thieves."

"Maybe he's a new member?"

"Mona, guide us. Where should we go?" Yusuke asked the shiny cat.

"Over there!" Morgana pointed at a large building not too far from their current location. "The bastard from earlier should be in that temple!"

Everyone was already moving forward but Akechi stayed behind.

"Goro, what's up?"

"What am I going to tell them?" he muttered.

"Huh? Whatcha talkin' about, yo?"

"These people" Akechi gestured for the crowd still gathered behind them. "When this is all over, assuming we make it out alive. What am I going to tell them?"

"We'll figure out something" Makoto walked back to where he was still standing and reached out her hand. "Together."

He nodded with a determined smile as he took her hand in his.