"Congrats on being elected class president!" a chorus of young voices cheer. There's clapping. I'm... wait, isn't this... this is my sixth-grade class, when I was...
"Thank you!" the young version of me says at the front of the room. She's all smiles, I still remember how wonderful it felt to be accepted by everyone, after transferring in at the start of the year. They were all such wonderful kids... But then...
The door swings open. Aunt Kaho and my Uncle enter the classroom. Young me is confused, looking from her two relatives back to the class as her aunt speaks to the teacher. After a moment the teacher turns from the conversation, giving young me a sad smile.
I don't... want to watch this.
"Class, It appears we'll have to redo the elections." Young me is shocked.
"What?! Why?!" She cries out.
"You're um..." the teacher looks awkwardly to my Uncle, who seems to be getting more annoyed by the minute. "Your Aunt just told me you'll be transferring from school... and moving in with your Uncle, so this... will be your last day here."
The class is in an instant uproar of conversations and questions. I watch as my younger self is dragged towards the door by my Uncle. I can't hear what he says, but I remember it to this day.
"You're wasting my time, let's go. I'm only doing this because I owe Kaho a favor."
... Ow, when... I must have bit my lip. What's going on anyway, am I dreaming? I don't need a reminder of this.
"Oh. But you do."
"Who said that?!" I call out as the classroom fades away. I can't see anything but I swivel my head left and right hoping to find the source of the voice. Instead, I see another Aunt and me a year younger. She looks down at me with disgust on her face.
"If you cause any trouble, you're out of my house. I won't have you influencing my daughter."
I look away from the old wound, only to see myself listening at a door to family members talking in a dining room.
"She's a curse, I want her out!"
"Curses aren't real, cut that crap out. You just don't want to pay for another mouth to feed."
"Who really wants to? Times are tight, especially with the markets today."
"Well someone has to, alright?"
"You haven't yet, have you?"
"I..! Ugh, fine. She can take the basement room. Not for long though, got it? I want to renovate that."
I remember living in that room. It was sweltering because of the boiler. I sweat through every night... which only made that Aunt hate me more. What is going on, what kind of sick nightmare is this?! I know my family thinks I'm useless, it's defined my entire life! Every day since my parents died it was made very clear to me that I should have died with them!
At least... Every day until I found Cafe Arsene. Cafe Arsene is different, I-
"Tender your resignation," Aunt Suzume's voice bellows. It echos all around me as other voices join it as the voices get louder and louder until the only thing I can even think is "Tender your resignation You're a curse, Say goodbye forever Get back in the basement Tender your resignation Say goodbye Get out of my house already Don't be a bother Stop Tender your resignation get back in the basement Say goodbye forever tender your resignation-"
"STOP!" I can't drown the voices out but I have to try, "STOP THIS PLEASE!"
"Tender your resignation, and say goodbye forever," the voices synchronize, less a wave of sound and more a collection of condemning voices all in sync, "you're getting out of this house and staying out of our way, you're a bother and curse and you'll tender your resignation or so help me I'll get my-"
"PLEASE!" I sob. "Make it stop!"
"I suppose you've seen enough to understand." a voice says, feminine, strangely familiar. A light appears and the voices of my family lower as they were controlled by remote. I try to catch my breath, stumbling towards the light as I wipe tears from my eyes so I can see it. Anything is better than this hell, this constant reminder that I'll never, never belong anywhere again.
Something brushes my wrist, then the other. There's a twang and some kind of string wraps around both of my wrists. Not just my wrists, it wraps around my waist, my ankles, and even my neck in an instant. I scream as the strings pull me into the light. My eyes close involuntarily, I don't want to see whatever happens next. But I don't splat against a wall, or get cut into pieces. While the string digs deeps I come to a stop.
"Open your eyes," the voice says again. I listen. Before me is... me. Me but dressed in a black and red dress that looks like it belongs on a Victorian doll, me with a sadistic sneer across my face, and most importantly... me with sickly yellow eyes.
"What... What are you?"
"I'm you, can't you tell?" the thing says.
"You mean my... My Shadow."
It sneers. "You could say that. I prefer to be called your true self." The Shadow version of me turns on a heel, walking down a corridor. With a flick of her hand the strings that bind me move as well, pulling me along as I'm suspended a few feet off the ground, like a floating cross. Whatever this place is, its decor matches my Shadow's outfit. It looks pristine, like a model Victorian home.
"Did you like your trauma room?" The shadow asks over its shoulder.
"My..." The term sounds familiar... It's... Ah, from a Jail. Am I... in a Jail? I can't be in a Jail though, can I? Jail victims are overtaken by their Shadow and I'm still here while my Shadow drags me through these hallways.
"A room that endlessly shatters your psyche to make you a perfect servant of the Warden, of course." My Shadow twitches a finger and the strings wrapped around my neck tighten. "I know you know the term. I'm you, after all."
"I... do...!" I cough out. It twitches its hand again and the strings release the extra pressure on my neck. The Shadow comes upon a door and it pushes it open, then manipulates its fingers and somehow guides me inside. The room is big and empty, the only thing of note about it is the massive mirror on one wall, the wall I'm facing.
"I am presented with the very unique opportunity to not only become the true self... but show the once true self what she has become," The Shadow says with a bow. "I present to you, yourself."
Before I can ask what the hell it means, the mirror is filled with an image of Cafe Arsene. I don't see myself in that image, which is odd, up until a hand comes into view. I'm seeing through my own eyes as if I was watching a first-person recording, somehow.
The real world me breezes through the empty Cafe and pushes open the front door. I watch her march with purpose around the corner only to run into the Phantom Thieves in their entirety, apparently on their way back the Cafe.
"Amamiya-san! Help!" I shout while the strings tighten around my throat in response.
"They cannot hear you. I told you, I am the true self now." The Shadow boasts. It gives me a sinister smile that looks out of place on my face, before turning back to the mirror.
"Yo! Comin to greet us?" Ryuji-san says with a wave.
"No you sack of shit," I hear my own voice say. My blood runs ice cold. "I'm smarter than that, unlike you and the blonde bimbo over here." My body points to Ann-san whose heart looks absolutely broken. This... this can't be real. It can't be.
"I assure you, this is all very, very real."
"What's happened, is something wrong?" Nijima-san asks, stepping forward from the shocked group.
"Oh yes, yes it has Officer," my voice says before pointing at Yusuke-san. "This pervert tried to make me strip for him, and his messy hair friend just watched! I'm filing a report with the police, along with the fact that you let all that happen!"
"I would never!" Yusuke retorts immediately.
"That's a lie and you know it, what's gotten into you?" Nijima-san says frantically.
"Oh I think most people would be inclined to believe the innocent schoolgirl over the starving artist!" my body laughs.
Tears roll down my cheeks that drop to the floor below me. I can't wipe them away as they fill my vision, being forced to watch myself... destroy the only good thing in my life.
Amamiya-san quietly steps in front of the group. He steps up to fill my vision, the whole mirror is his face.
"If you do everything I ask, maybe I won't report you," my voice says. Amamiya-san leans down to look right into my body's eyes.
"We're coming for you."
What... Does he realize that I'm not...? The mirror stops projecting with a snap of the Shadow's fingers. Amamiya-san is gone, but I can see my own reflection. My face is a wreck from tears and crying, but... my eyes are a velvet blue.
"All the better. I can properly kill the Phantom Thieves in the metaverse, I'd rather they show up here." the Shadow says dismissively.
"They'll defeat you, they're powerful," I say without even thinking.
The Shadow turns on me with an evil glint in its eye. It pulls me closer with the strings I'm entangled in. "Oh, you jump to defend them, do you? You realize they hate you, right?"
"W-what...? N-no, they don't!"
It sneers. "Are you sure? Think back to not moments ago. Do you not have an entire lifetime of proof that everyone whose supposed to love you, hates you? Every Aunt, every Uncle, every cousin. They all despite you, think you're cursed and a useless waste of space."
I can't meet the thing's eye, I turn away. "It's... They're different-"
It's voice quickens, like a predator that's zeroed in on its prey. "Why would they be any different? Are you any different? They don't make you any less the waste of space, cursed trash that you've been your whole life. That's all you, trust me, I would know."
"Because... it's different because..."
"Oh," the Shadow grabs my chin and forces me to look into its yellow eyes. "Because you know they're the Phantom Thieves? You don't think they told you because they care about you, do you?"
The Shadow's face breaks out in a mad grin. "You do, don't you? How precious! No, that's not why they confided in you. I can tell. You see, they simply want to use you! Use that curse of yours to make their lives easier, they could give two shits about the girl attached to it!"
"I-"
"And they don't even realize you're a failure yet! They try to use you despite the fact your powers are a curse that will inevitably backfire and get all of those thieves you think care about you killed!"
...
"Oh, you don't believe me? My, you've really deluded yourself over the last month. The Third Eye is a curse, and don't you forget it! You can thank it for the hell you experienced in the trauma room and the fact that I get to speak to you right now! It's the Third Eye that's letting you suffer in this jail rather than be a mindless puppet!"
...
The Shadow sneers. "Already speechless? Already given up?"
...
"What a disappointment." The Shadow sighs. "You have exactly two uses, and I'll tell them to you. The first is finding the Jail Seed. The second is luring those idiots straight to me when I'm ready for them."
...
There's a tsk. The strings around my wrists, ankles, and chest release. I drop to the floor, the strings around my neck the only ones remaining.
"Come on then. Find me my Jail Seed."
-
It's... all too much.
The pressure of the puppet strings around my neck.
Every word dripping with vitriol and hate coming out of the Shadow's mouth.
The hallways of this mansion prison, filled with so much detail that they overwhelm my senses. I stare at the floor whenever I can, when the Shadow isn't using me like a sensor to find the Jail Seed.
The rooms blur together. I don't know which room we're in, between which scathing comment about Amamiya-san despising me, but we find the hidden doorway. The (My? Is this me?) Shadow drags me through the passageway hidden behind a massive painting of a doll with soulless black eyes.
"Yes... There is it is!" The Shadow walks up to the ugly thing with a malicious glint in its eye.
"Argh!" the Shadow cries out suddenly, just as I looked away. Its voice distorts as it does, a stranger reminder that the thing is nowhere near as human as it looks. It flicks its arm and strings wrap around my limbs and torso once again while I look for whatever hurt it. There, a... glint of sliver! Joker?!
"Phantom Thieves...!" the Shadow hisses. Its fist clenches and the strings wrap even tighter around me. They're... really starting to hurt... But through the winces of pain, I can see the Thieves dropping down from somewhere across the room from me and the Shadow.
"Stand down, Phantom Thieves of Hearts! Not unless you want to see her go through a mental shutdown!"
"This isn't our first rodeo, that's a cognition!" Skull barks back.
"Ah, so this isn't the first jail you've entered where its prisoner holds the Third Eye?" the Shadow quips back. Joker raises a hand and stops Skull from advancing.
Skull stops but turns to Joker to ask, "You believe her?" Joker nods tentatively.
He looks to Mona, who nods as well. "The Third Eye gives her a lot of strange abilities in the Metaverse. She's been able to enter palaces and jails without the Navigator, see Metaverse concepts in the real world... We can't run the risk that she's not the real one."
"You're wise, for a cat," the Shadow sneers. Mona grumbles but doesn't escalate with a retort. "The Third Eye gives true clarity and guidance. Right now, it knows that the true self is being suppressed by the Jail and it is giving her the ability to see her own psyche for what it's become, as she's lost control of it."
The Shadow chuckles darkly. "Of course, while it's trying to be helpful it's actually made this so much easier for me. A second, just as viable way to cause a mental shutdown, one that doesn't involve my own self-destruction? It's wonderful is it not?"
"That'd destroy you too!" Noir shouts.
"Oh yes, it would... But it would take her with me." The Shadow reaches over and grabs my face, forcing me to look into its sadistic smile. "And as she now knows... You want to use her for abilities, and you can't do that if she's a vegetable."
The Shadow turns my face towards the Thieves. I try to look away, ashamed at the accusation made by my Shadow self, but it holds me there. They're... collectively shocked. They must feel so betrayed, and I did that, on... on some level. How could-
"See how it upsets her so?" The Shadow mocks, "she's even crying!"
"Let her go you sick freak!" Skull shouts again, but with a quick flick of its wrist, the Shadow tightens the wires further. I gasp in pain, I think the one my neck broke the skin! Skull stops in place, his face showing his barely restrained rage. Joker gives him a look, before stepping forward.
"What do you want then? Not destruction, that's your threat."
"Oh Amamiya-san," the Shadow says in what's almost voice which is just... sickening to listen to, "I just want to have a home of my own!"
Joker goes to reply, though he's cut off by the Shadow in its normal, slightly distorted voice, "So I'm going to make one! One where no one can get rid of me! No one can throw me aside! I'll be the one in charge, the one holding all the strings! Everyone will stay and be mine!" The Shadow is yelling by the end, its eyes gleaming with a maddened fervor. The intelligent aspects seem to be fading as the emotional wounds, my emotional wounds, start to overpower the Shadow.
"Now drop your weapons, and be the first additions to my forever family!" the shadow says while pulling the strings tighter around me. The thieves look to Joker, but as soon as the first gasp for air escapes my lips Joker drops his knife. The rest follow suit.
At that, I'm dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes as the strings redirect themselves to restrain the Thieves. They're all lifted into the air, struggling as my Shadow laughs.
"I have them! They can't leave now, I'll have them forever!" The Shadow grabs the Jail Seed off its pedestal. "With this and the Phantom Thieves captured, I will become all-powerful!"
The... My, my damned Shadow continues to laugh, surveying its captives. It seems to have forgotten about me, fittingly, as I can't... No. Damn it, no. Amamiya-san and everyone... they came for me. And I... I have to believe in them, not the words of the literally insane Shadow formed from my deepest fears. No more I can't. This is my mind and the Third Eye gave me the chance to be here, present in this moment because there must be something I can do!
I look around and the Third Eye instantly picks up the dagger Joker through earlier, right by the jail seed pedestal. It's a start! I slowly, as quietly as I can stand, come to a crouch and make my way to the knife. My Shadow is still talking but I won't listen anymore. It's too occupied with gloating to the Thieves (I think they're distracting it actually, they can see me moving) to see me grab the knife.
I scream something primal as I charge at the Shadow. It turns towards me just as I reach it and plunge the dagger right into the thing, the dagger embedding itself in its shoulder. It chuckles.
I feel the hit to my stomach before I hear it. The next thing I feel is my back crashing into the pedestal. I screech in pain as the stone pedestal hits the ground behind me. I heave, desperately trying to get air back into my lungs as I look at the red drops on the floor. (I hope those are from my neck, not like... coughed up. That would be really bad in real life.) I hear the click of the Shadow's shoes approaching me across the floor.
"Really? What did you think you could do to me? You! The useless waste of space that's nothing better than a decoration? Did you forget your trauma room? All the time we've already spent together? I thought I already made it abundantly clear that you have no value, no purpose, no reason to exist. The Phantom Thieves of Hearts even surrendered to me, so why won't you?"
The Shadow offers me a hand. I spit on it, despite the fact I can barely stand on my own. I do though. I'm doing this. I'd rather give myself a mental shutdown than let this twisted version of myself exist.
"You... don't get to decide my value, or my purpose, or if I should exist. You're just a... monster, distortion, hell, maybe even a literal demon inside my head that thinks you're me. Well, you're not."
I look up to where the Phantom Thieves are suspended in string.
"I don't need to force the Phantom Thieves to stay. I believe in them." Deep breath. "I won't let you control them, and I won't let you control me."
My HEaD!
*You finally chose action, chose to not accept what happens to you. It has been a long time coming.*
"GaaaaaHHHHHHUGGGGH!"
*You'll need power to decide your own path, power I am able to grant you. Form a pact with me, take control, and decide your own destiny!*
*I are thou!*
I grab the mask.
"Thou art I!"
So... This is what it feels like. There's so much power flowing through me. And wow would Dad be proud. The spirit of rebellion that chose me (or is it that defines me) is that of a cowboy, just like his favorite movies. I can almost feel his hand on my shoulder, see the smile on his face. I'll do you proud Dad. I promise.
"This... This shouldn't be possible!" My Shadow screeches.
Something tells me it's right... probably the Third Eye, somehow. There's a sense of understanding that comes with this form, as if the Third Eye has a way to tell instead of showing me. I'm not supposed to be able to have a Persona and Shadow at the same time. The Third Eye letting me exist in my own Jail is the only way the fallacy can exist. In order to leave with my mind intact... The Shadow is going to have to become a part of me.
"Easier... said than done," I mutter. While I was occupied (in soul-shattering pain, technically) with my Persona awakening, it appears the Shadow transformed itself. It's massive, a giant terrifying doll creature with puppet controllers for hands and black soulless eyes. Its mouth appears like it was sewn together and then forced apart, the strings that held it closed still attached to the lips like demented accessories. It towers over me like a parade float.
Meanwhile... I check under the brown poncho that manifested with my new outfit. The corset top certainly has no pockets, nor does the white shirt beneath it. There are some pouches strapped to my legs now, none large enough for a weapon, I've got an empty revolver holster, okay and...
Ah. Strapped across my back is a lever-action rifle. That works.
The doll lets out a guttural scream while the thieves all scream for me to dodge. I roll backward, barely avoiding becoming a pancake via the doll's fist. It doesn't let up, a second fist coming for me not a moment after. The Third Eye answers my call instantly and I dive for a clear path. My first and only thought is to make my way to the Thieves and get them free, cause I definitely need the help. The Third Eye guides me closer and closer, but before I can get close enough to try and cut them free the doll laughs.
"Oh, you'd like to see them huh? Let me oblige!"
The Thieves shout in surprise as the strings around them shift and change. High above us, the strings attach to marionette controllers, all of which are attached to the Doll. The Thieves drop to the floor, but none of us are naive enough to assume they're free.
"This one was loud before... he must be eager to play!" the doll calls out. Skull jerks forward, raising his weapon and sprinting straight for me.
"Woah woah woah, I'm not in control here, I swear!" Skull shouts.
"Seemed obvious!" I quip back as I roll away from his swing. It was pretty clearly telegraphed, the Shadow must be literally pulling the strings, not giving Skull commands. That's good for me, if I was fighting Skull with all of his experience I wouldn't survive a minute, but since it's the Shadow operating him I might stand a chance.
"Eep!" I dive to the side as Skull's weapon shatters the tile where I was standing. Right, Amateur swings, but it's still Skull's strength behind them. Don't get hit. I lose all the ground I gained from my acrobatics before just trying to stay out of Skull's swing range. The rest of the Thieves are saying a bunch of things but my only focus is avoiding Skull's swings.
"Hey, kid, come on!" Skull yells at the top of his lungs. I look up at him, rather than his weapon. "Try and find a way to get me free!"
I'm panting from exertion already but reply, "Busy... trying... not to get whacked...!" While the thief suit has given me a lot of parkour abilities, infinite stamina doesn't seem to be one of them.
"Third Eye, now would be the time..." I mutter. I need a way to free Skull, I don't know how but I know the strings are controlling him. I glance around wildly between swings, hoping like with the lime back in Amamiya-san's kitchen, the Third Eye will help me complete the recipe.
... There! Right, the controller! I have a gun! Sure I've never shot a gun before and certainly not while avoiding getting smashed into a pulp but! I turn back to Skull. I give him a nod, then feint a trip during my next dodge. Skull's arms are pulled back for a massive downswing that'll likely cave my skull in, but the slower attack gives me enough time to lift the rifle up and aim at the controller... No, at the spot the Third Eye is showing me.
"Move!" Skull shouts and I can feel it, he's started the swing. I breathe out... then fire. The rifle bucks before I close my eyes, bracing myself for the hit... Only to feel a hand pat me on the shoulder.
Skull's looking down on me with a smile, his weapon down by his side, the strings limp and detached. "Nice shot kid."
"R-Ryuji-san!" I leap up to hug him. He accepts, his arms warm and inviting. I can hear the rest of Thieves shouting, cheering, and in at least one case, cooing. I don't care.
"Come on," Ryuji-san says with a pat on my back. "We've got this." I nod, taking up a stance behind him.
"Don't look so happy!" The doll growls, the sound echoing through the room. "I have more where he came from!"
"I'll keep whoever it throws at us busy, you shoot them free, sound good?" Skull says, looking back at me.
"Yes!"
"Alright whose it... going to be..." Skull trails off as Noir, Queen, and Mona all stand opposite him. He sighs. "This is going to hurt."
"Sorry Skull," Queen adds as her fist nearly takes his head off.
"I'd enjoy this on another day but..." Mona quips over the wind flying from his Persona.
"Oh you would, would you?!"
Huh... Mona's attack reminds me. I should have Persona abilities of my own, right? Their names come to mind at the mere thought, though I don't think it's the Third Eye doing it this time... I think it's my Persona.
I reach for my mask and tear it off. "Frei!" The velvet flames of my Persona wrap around me as Oakley appears and launches off a shot from her own spectral rifle. It hits Mona's controller, but it isn't enough to destroy it.
"Seems like bullets are better here..."
"Dodge!" Queen's voice cuts through my thoughts. I fall backward just in time to avoid one of her kicks. Skull is there in instant, blocking a follow-up with his weapon then intercepting Mona from getting to me.
"Sooner rather than later, 3 on 1 is no cakewalk!" Skull calls out.
"Sorry!" I quickly sight the rifle over Skull's head while he bashes Mona across the room. The Third Eye again guides my shot placement, so I line it up then pull the trigger... There! I'm not sure who I got loose, but one of the controllers is raining down on the doll's head. It screeches obscenities at us as Queen steps over to our side. Queen flashes me a quick smile before taking a stance beside Ryuji.
"Ready?"
"Of course!" Skull replies with a pump of his fist.
"Damn you all! My puppets! The rest of you, kill them before they take away anyone else!" The Shadow decrees and the rest of the Thieves start to move forward.
"Two problems here," Queen states quickly, scanning the oncoming attack. "One, Oracle is weaker than the rest of us, we have to be careful or we'll hurt her. Two, Joker is stronger than us, though I don't think your Shadow is going to utilize his strengths."
"So what do we do?" I ask from behind the two of them.
Queen takes a deep breath. "I'm throwing you right into it, but fight with Oracle. You're new, she's a noncombatant, hopefully that balances out. Get her loose, then we turn our sights to Joker. Skull, we need to make it look like we're losing so the Shadow doesn't think to pull on anyone's Persona abilities. We stall as long as we can."
"O-Okay!" I say, trying not to think about how this plan relies on my shooting and if I screw up we're all puppets for life. Queen and Skull are dragged into a wild tussle between them and the other six thieves at that moment, so there's no room to argue with Queen's plan... Not that I had a better idea. Focus up! I cock the lever of my rifle. First of all, how do I get to Oracle?
"OW SKULL!" Oracle shrieks as she flies out of the brawl towards me like a golf ball off a tee. That... works. The Shadow contorts Oracle into a flying kick as she approaches. I dodge to the side while glancing up. I'm going to need to get Oracle away from the big fight if I'm going to know which controller her strings are attached to.
So I start stepping back as Oracle is dragged into various punches and kicks aimed at me. They have... a lot less impact behind them compared to Skull's, that much is obvious. Some I even risk deflecting with the butt of my rifle, which helps me keep Oracle from getting in too close.
"I love the outfit, by the way!" Oracle herself seems ignorant of the fact she's being used as a living weapon, instead taking in my outfit as much as possible between attacks. "The poncho, the rifle! Incredibly badass, oh wait do you have a sheriff badge?! Sheriff would be such a good codename!"
"Wouldn't..." I duck a kick and push Oracle back with the butt of my rifle, "that not make sense? You know, for a thief?"
"You make a valid point!" Oracle exclaims. "We have other options!"
"Not my priority right now!" I bark as I barely avoid a punch. "I need an opening here!"
"Hmm..." Oracle makes a face. "Mmmmmm Nope, I have no control here. Though, did Queen tell you to go easy on me?"
"She said you were a noncombatant."
"Ugh, that is so uncool! I can take a hit or two, jeez. You can make an opening that way."
Futaba's fist flies close enough to my face I can feel it. "Still not sure how to do that!"
"Relax, you've got me on your side!" Oracle says jovially, her words not at all matching her actions. She takes note of this and laughs it off, "My brain is the valuable asset here! You know any Judo?"
"None!"
"You ever seen the thing where the person throwing a punch gets flipped over?"
"On tv!"
"Do that!" Oracle calls like I'm pondering what to order for dinner.
"How?!"
"Oh uh," Oracle pauses for a second. "There's the whole flow like water thing?"
"How would that even-" I grab Oracle's wrist in frustration and yank, only to find her flipping over. "...Work."
"Oof, Go, go!" Oracle calls and I jump to do as she says. The Third Eye activated, I line up my shot and fire off a round into the controller. Much like the others, it shatters from the impact.
"Haha, I'm free!" Oracle cries. She leaps to her feet and rips off her mask, waving to me once before being absorbed into her Persona. "Gunna focus on the big one, you guys know each other's weaknesses!"
"Good Plan!" Queen calls in between shots from her revolver. Despite being engaged by Mona, Noir, and Joker, she manages to hit one of the controllers above their heads. "That one is Joker's! Shoot that one!"
"I think not!" My Shadow screeches. "Puppets! Use your personas!"
That's bad. Each of the captured thieves leap back, concerned looks on their faces as they reach for their masks. Skull and Queen share a look as the others sail backward. I hope and pray as my vision turns blue that the Third Eye can guide me on making a shot before the persona's come out to play. There's a single bead that's getting smaller, almost like a note in a rhythm game, waiting for me to shoot at just the right moment. I exhale slowly as it contracts, getting smaller... smaller...
The round seems to fire in slow motion. It spirals its way towards what looks like empty space, until suddenly Joker jerks to the side as his controller pulls right into the line of fire. The bullet impacts dead center, shattering it into a million pieces, thanks to the damage Queen did before. The joy wells up in me, lifting my lips into an honest to god grin. It's met by Joker's own.
In a sudden blur, Joker corkscrews in midair. Shots ring out as he does, though it's only once he lands as graceful as a cat that I can tell it was his handgun that was fired. He turns to face the captured thieves and my Shadow with a flourish of his coat.
The Shadow shouts, "Use them, use the-!"
Joker flashes his trademark, predatory grin while all the remaining controllers above the thieves shatter to pieces from his shots. There's a glass cracking sound (I should ask Joker what-
"Augh!" I exclaim as Joker goes supernova in the Third Eye's vision. I close my eyes and look away, willing the Third Eye to turn off as well.
There's a pat on my shoulder. "You okay?" Skull asks.
"Y-Yeah, uh..." I look back to Joker with normal vision, his hand on his mask and staring down the Shadow. "He switched Persona's I think... and the power was literally blinding, what...?"
Skull chuckles. "Yeah, he was really worried about you. Looks like he's pulling out the big gun." The... big gun?
"Satanael!" Joker shouts and- oh okay big gun was literal. The giant six-winged demon appears behind him, even larger than my Shadow with a gun almost as long as it's tall.
Joker, his face wreathed in blue flames, throws his arm forward and issues the command, "Sinful Shell!" Satanael lifts its gun arm and puts the barrel right to the head of the demented doll my Shadow had become. The chamber spins... then it pulls the trigger. The world is awash with light and the dying scream of my Shadow. I look away and close my eyes, wincing from the strain. The only thing that fills my ears is the screams, even as I cover my ears with my hands. I stand there like that, waiting out the Shadow's end.
"..."
"Sora."
I open my eyes. "Hi... Amamiya-san." Even through his mask, I can see the relief in his face... and I'm sure he could say the same about me. I step, almost stumble forward to wrap my arms around him. His arms are already open and waiting.
"Sora!" Ann-san comes crashing into the two of us, her arms wrapping around both of us.
"Hell yeah kid!"
"Are you okay Sora-chan?"
"Don't crowd her too much!"
All the thieves are wrapped around me and Amamiya-san and I can't help but laugh. First into Amamiya-san's coat, then aloud as I can get my head free. They all start laughing too. There's some squeezing from each person before they step back. I'm loathe to let go but... We all turn to my Shadow, back in its human form, collapsed on the floor and heaving.
"This is something you have to do," A... Joker says with an encouraging nod. I nod back and step forward. I don't know what I want to say as I approach. What do you say in a scenario like this? When you meet your own traumatized distortion? I just reach a hand out to it... to her. She looks confused.
I take a deep breath and say, "I... know how you feel." She looks even more confused. "I mean, you're... you're me, right? Manipulated and abused by EMMA, but these fears, these desires... they are mine in some way or another."
She just stares, so I continue on. "I've been tossed around like a dirty secret by my relatives most of my life. I never had time to form connections with others before I had to go again, and then I closed myself off. I told myself I don't have a real home because I didn't deserve one, and I had to be a good girl to earn it."
"And then we meet them," I say while motioning back to the thieves. "Amamiya-san and everyone else gave me a home for the first time since my parents died, a place where I feel... gosh, wanted and loved." I have to wipe a tear from my eye, chuckling at that.
"So I get it. Being afraid of losing this, losing them? I'm terrified of that too. But I couldn't control them like how my relatives controlled me all those years. We'll just have to be strong..." I breathe in deeply. "And know that even if we have to leave... We'll always have them on our side. What... What do you say?"
I reach out again to my Shadow. Suddenly she doesn't look so haughty to me... She looks scared, like a little girl alone in a new place without anyone to call a friend. I smile kindly, like the smile Amamiya-san gives me every time I come into the cafe. The Shadow glances up at that... and takes my hand.
She starts to fade away, merge into me I guess, as soon as she's standing but she takes a moment to look over my shoulder. "I'm sorry," she says to the thieves. I don't look at their reactions, instead holding my Shadow's gaze as she fades away with a soft smile.
I sigh deeply, that moment being... emotional to say the least, then go to turn back to the thieves. I quickly notice that I'm fading away as well. "It's uh, this normal?!"
"You aren't supposed to be in your own Jail!" Mona calls out over the rumbles of the Jail collapsing. "The Third Eye is probably returning your consciousness back to your body! Don't worry, we'll be there when you come to!"
"Promise!" Panther calls out as they start the sprint for the Jail exit. I nod back, looking down at my fading body. No reason not to trust the Third Eye now. It saved all of us, I'd say.
"I guess I really can't call you a curse anymore, can I?" I say quietly to no one in particular. With a faint chuckle I'm only partial sure came from me, I fade away, hopefully back into my own body.
"unnn..." I groan. My vision's swimming and my head hurts like something fierce.
"Take it easy now, you've been through a lot," a familiar voice says, though not quite one I expected.
I don't move, but do open my eyes and say, "Maruki-sensei?"
"I'm glad you remember me, yes. The rest of them are here too. Just answer a couple of quick questions for me. Where do you work?"
"Ca...Cafe Arsene?"
"Right. I know it seems silly to ask. Who's your boss?"
"Amamiya-san."
"Alright one more, what kind of pet does he have?"
"A ca... That's sort of a trick question, don't you think?"
Maruki-sensei laughs. "I suppose it is. As far as I can tell, she seems lucid and no lingering effects," he says to someone else. Tilting my head a bit I realize I'm actually laying in one of the Cafe's booths. Maruki-sensei stands and steps away. "Might want to have Takemi-sensei take a look at her for physical issues, but I imagine you have a lot to discuss. I'll swing by later to follow up, alright?"
Whoever responded to Maruki-sensei is drowned out by Futaba-san and Ann-san peering over the top of the neighboring booth down and asking if I wanted to sit up. I nod and while they get me propped up and wrapped in one of Ann-san's warmer bomber jackets I can hear the door chime jingle. I'll have to thank Maruki-sensei another day.
The Cafe is occupied only by the thieves. It's set up for a low-key party I think, everyone has a drink (including me, apparently) and there's food set out on the table.
"How are you feeling?" Haru-san asks.
"... Just tired really? Feels like every bone in my body is made of lead."
"That's ideal, if we're being honest," Morgana says. "Being a Jail Victim is already stressful on the psyche, but awakening to a Persona at the same time? I don't even think Lavenza would have seen this before."
Lavenza... she's the girl from the real Velvet Room, isn't she?
"That's why we had Maruki-sensei come and check you out," Ann-san adds.
Ryuji-san swallows a cookie quickly so he can chime in, "That, and he kept an eye on real-world you while we were all in the Jail."
"What... What happened while I was there? Is it still Saturday?"
Amamiya-san nods. "You were out for maybe five hours."
"How'd I... How'd I even get into a Jail?"
Amamiya-san looks to Nijima-san, whose the one to start explaining. "When we took down the General this morning, he immediately confessed to targeting you with the EMMA software because he knew he was going to get caught. We rushed back to get to you before your Shadow was able to do anything problematic in the real world, and caught you just as you were leaving the Cafe." Nijima-san flashes an encouraging smile. "It seems like we were the first ones you ran into, so no damage done."
"But... what about the General?"
"Gramps stayed behind to wrap all that up," Ryuji-san says with a wink. "He's already confessed to his crimes too, warmongering and all sorts of other terrible crimes."
I sigh in relief. "I'm glad all the infiltration didn't go to waste because of me!"
The assembled group looks about... then over to Amamiya-san, who turns to Futaba-san. I follow the gazes to see Futaba-san sighing.
"Hey, so..." Futaba-san starts, looking at me with a soft smile. "Jail victims... something has to be manipulated in their mind to create the Jail, and we saw... some of your memories in the process of getting through the Jail..."
I flush a little and look away awkwardly. "That's okay, I wasn't looking to hide anything..."
"Well..." Futaba-san sighs again. The sighing is making me nervous, what is it? They aren't mad at me, are they? "So all of those were old memories. Something had to trigger them to the forefront of your mind so that EMMA could build the Jail and... if you're okay with sharing..."
"Oh..." I look around the Cafe, the people... I... I told my Shadow that it would be alright, and we'd be strong, and that we'd always have this place in our heart. So I can face this now.
"My Aunt came earlier, told me she got a job with the SDF and I would have to move in with my Uncle again in Nagano. He's um... well he was a drunk and I don't know if that's changed much, and I really... really will miss working and being here with everyone so that..." I cough awkwardly. "That was the trigger, I think."
"..."
The room is silent, expressions varying from shock to sadness. I guess I killed the party mood, whoops. I scramble for a joke to crack (not that it's a terribly funny situation) when I notice Ann-san and Amamiya-san lock eyes and nod to one another as if they had the same thought. The Amamiya-san looks to Futaba-san, motions towards me with a questioning look. Futaba-san nods fervently, her shock warping to a grin in a nanosecond. Amamiya-san steps forward from the bar, sliding into the booth across from me.
"If you want to stay, you can stay you know." He says simply.
"W...what? I mean, my Aunt is um, throwing me out so-"
"What Aunt?" Futaba-san says over my shoulder. She drops her laptop down on the table in front of me.
"Is this... the government registry?"
Futaba-san cackles. "Nothing on the internet can escape my Doritos coated grasp!"
"And... Why does this say Amamiya...?"
Amamiya-san looks aside for a moment. "After my name was cleared, I went back home for a while... But my family believed in an unnamed accuser rather than me, then couldn't get over the guilt they felt when they realized they were wrong. That wasn't my home anymore. The Boss knew that too and told me at the end of that summer that attic was mine any time I liked. I never looked back."
He turns back to me. It's kinda hard to see him, why... why are my eyes watering? "You never have to look back too. If you want, you can stay here with Ann and I, with the rest of us. We're no strangers to a found family, and we'll happily include you in ours."
"..." The words ring in my head, tears roll down my cheeks, and I'm... I'm unable to form words.
"Futaba's rigged it so you'll just disappear, as far as your relatives are concerned. Given their attitudes in the past, I doubt they'll cause a stink. All your official records would be updated to use my name, so there'll be no links back to them."
I have to hold up my hand to stop him from elaborating. "Are... Are you serious?" I struggle out. I feel like I'm so close to sobbing I have to be careful with every word.
He, infuriatingly, flashes his trademark grin. "When am I not?"
"All the time!" I half laugh, half sob.
"Completely serious," He says with a nod. "I can't have my protegee off in Nagano, can I? Especially now that I have to teach you how to steal hearts."
"I...I..." Couldn't have dreamed of this in my wildest dreams? Am distinctly worried I'm still in the grips of the Shadow, and this will all be cruelly torn away?
"I... want to stay." I choke out.
Amamiya-san smiles, Ryuji-san whoops, Ann-san slides in to wrap me in a hug, and the rest follow suit. Futaba-san hits enter on the keyboard and a cheshire faced bomb thing cackles on the screen before records change at the speed of light. There's so much joy in the room it's overwhelming but at the same time, I relish in it.
After all... This is my... my home now.
Hi and Happy Holidays!
Aurii . us / Sora . Png (The links are far easier to get to on Ao3!)
Since chapter 10 is a bit of a milestone, I commissioned a friend of mine to actually draw our MC, which you just saw above! They're profile is fentonworkz . tumblr . com and omg they were amazing in helping me finally bring MC a visual identity (^^) 12/10 IGN, would recommend any day of the week! I hope you enjoy getting to see MC, or Sora. Was she at all how you imagined? She only got a name for this very chapter, believe it or not! I called her MC all the time too XD
Fun fact for the milestone this chapter is, the original concept for this story would have ended on this chapter. It was supposed to be an unnamed PoV character shows the reader how the Phantom Thieves have grown up as badasses, without ever being in the spotlight herself. She wouldn't have been targeted or named and the general would have been defeated, and we'd have ended it on that.
Why is it not that? To be entirely honest, because all the people commenting on this story each chapter. Your interest in Sora (an OC PoV character, not one of the Thieves) gave me the confidence to say maybe people want more from her than just an unnamed voice, and to give her a chance to shine. I thank all of you for giving me that confidence, and loving Sora as much as you have. (^^)
And because she's (entirely) a bystander anymore, **there are more stories** that can be told! There are many more confidants and even some Thieves for Sora to meet, and Sora's Persona means she can get a little bit more involved than she was before to facilitate that. Again, thank you all for reading and I hope you'll enjoy what comes next for the Phantom Thieves of Hearts!