This story is a work of fiction.

Any relation to persons, living or dead, as well as events, are purely coincidental.

The author owns none of the characters, or events, that take place here.

The world is not as it should be.

It's filled with distortion, and "ruin" will soon descend.

However...there are those who would challenge fate, in desire for change.

Since time immemorial...they were known as,

"Tricksters."

Persona 5: Hoshi to Bokura to

Sixth Heist: Feline Flourish

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"Ravage them...Arsene!"

The winged being, bearing the name of the gentleman thief, flourished its wings in response, as if a show of strength. The wind around him blew rapidly as dark energy, writhing and crimson, danced around his claws. One knight got up to his feet, and shook off the sluggish motions before he charged forward, intending to cut Akira down. However, Arsene was faster. In a second, it was right in front of the knight, the flaming grin on its black mask still ever present before it swirled around and swung its leg. The blade attached to its feet cut through the steel plating of the armor like it was nothing, leaving behind a deep gash as it trailed along the body before slicing straight through the shoulder. The knight stumbled back as a guyser of black and red liquid spewed out before it fell to the ground. The armor than proceeded to break down into a mass, the same color as the liquid it bled, and stained the cobblestone ground beneath their feet.

The sight was a spectacle to behold. The five remaining knights looked on with Kamoshida(?) in utter shock, as Arsene had cut it down like it was nothing. Sakamoto still stared on, gawking at the carnage that one strike brought. Makoto remained mystified, her gaze lingering on Akira. The frizzy-haired teen's normally reserved and quiet nature was nowhere to be found. His eyes bore a loud determination, resolve reflected back in those pools of dark gray, and a ferocious smirk, armed with confidence and excitement, touched upon his face. The boy felt elated. This surge of power...it was amazing! He could feel the strength Arsene had unleashed upon this place rolling on him, as if making a statement that this power, this...freedom...was his.

This power...this wonderful, amazing power...it was his.

Akira couldn't help but laugh, cradling his face. "W-what the hell?!" Kamoshida(?) growled, guarded by two of the five guards. Fury and confusion was written clear on his face, as well as fear. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Who, me?" Akira said as he brought down his face while the energy gathering around Arsene's claws continued to grow. "Akira...Kurusu, Akira. You can think of me as the guy who's gonna wreck you and this castle for all it's worth!" With a swipe of the arm, Arsene's gathering of power had reached a high point. The energy danced around its hand wildly, begging to be unleashed, and Akira was more than happy enough to oblige. "Take 'em down!" Arsene swirled around and slammed its hand straight into the ground. The writhing mass of black and red energy was finally set loose, and burrowed into the ground, breaking apart the earth beneath it before it charged forward, tearing apart wood and stone before it found its target. It was the knight holding Sakamoto. Once it reached the armored soldier, the energy released itself from the ground and opened up, taking on the form of a ghostly head before it slammed its jaws down on the knight. Caught in the maw, the knight was helpless as the ghostly head dragged it forward and smashed straight into the wall, reducing it to black and red muck, splattered across a ruined wall.

Sakamoto, who had nearly been hit by the attack, let out a yelp and quickly moved away, taking cover behind Akira. However, he was still quite shaken, as his legs were quivering, and stared at Arsene wearily.

"What are you fools doing?!" Kamoshida(?) shouted at the knights. "Execute these fools!"

The knights obeyed the orders of their king, and moved in to attack. The golden knight held back at the rear, obviously the leader among the armored soldiers. Two of Kamoshida(?)'s guards went in to go attack Akira, but Arsene intercepted them. Like with the first one, it swung its leg, and slashed off the heads of the guards, letting their bodies tumble forward and become splattering, rolling mess of goo. One knight had managed to flank Akira, going in to attack him from the side. It reared back its sword, going in for a thrust. However, Akira was faster. He nimbly evaded it and then proceeded to deliver a heel kick to the back of its head, throwing it to the ground. The knight was about to get up, but Sakamoto acted quickly, and rammed his foot in its face, effectively knocking the knight out. The knight guarded Makoto still had her pinned, but his attention was centered on Arsene, who grabbed another knight heading its way, by the hand and smashed it straight into the ground, ending its life instantly, and watched it disintegrate into a black and red puddle. Seizing the opportunity, she elbowed it in the face, stunning it and giving her enough time to flip unto her back, tuck her legs in, and ram them into its chest, knocking it to the steel bars. Like with the knight on the ground, the strike knocked it out instantly.

With that done, only the golden knight remained. However, Kamoshida(?) was nowhere to be seen. No doubt he had fled when he saw that things had gone south. Regardless, Akira was content with that. It actually brought some joy to him, knowing that he had effectively made someone like that run with his tail in between his legs. The gold knight stepped forward, dragging its sword along the shield and creating a scrapping sound that caused Sakamoto and Makoto cringe.

"Miserable wretch!" it roared. "You will pay for this transgression!" Then, its body began to spasm. Black liquid poured out through the gaps in the armor, and out from the mask. Suddenly, the mask shattered, and a writhing mess of black and red exploded out from the golden armor, though rather than spill out in a gory bath, it instead began to gather and form into a physical shape. The mess developed a humanoid form, and extending out from its back looked to be a pair of wings. Something slim extended out from what looked to be its hand. Then, the mass of black and red sinked in, and let the body take shape. What stood before them was what could be considered an angel, given the brilliant white wings behind its back, though it was dressed in chain mail with steel gauntlets and grieves, a slim blade in hand, and a helmet covering its face. "The price of your defiance of Lord Kamoshida...is DEATH!"

"The hell?!" Sakamoto shouted in shock. "First you getting a new wardrobe, and now this?! The fuck?!"

Makoto was equally as shocked. Everything was happening far too fast. She couldn't tell what was going on, or what was happening. However, right now, she had to think. They needed to get out of here, but opposition met them. She doubted her aikido training could help her against this, and Sakamoto had no formal training...but so far, that thing, Arsene Akira called it, seemed to be more than capable. "Kurusu-kun," she asked, looking at him in worry. "Think you can open us a path?"

His response was a nod. He turned his attention to the monster before him, and mischief danced in his eyes. "Come on," he taunted. "Show me what you got."

"Arrogance!"

The Archangel charged at him, and Arsene met its charge. A brilliant light danced around the blade while Arsene gathered the same malevolent energy in its claws. The two then clashed, and a blinding light engulfed the area, forcing the students to shield their eyes. Sparks flew between the two beings' clash before they parted, and began to strike at one another. Arsene swung its leg in an attempt to cut off its wing, but was parried by the thin sword it the Archangel's hand. It knocked Arsene back before it brought down its sword on it shoulder. The blade tore into the shoulder, and blue flames burned where the wound was made. Akira suddenly felt pain erupt in his shoulder, letting out a small cry of pain as he grabbed his arm. "H-hey!" Sakamoto shouted in concern. "You alright?!"

Akira hissed, gripping his arm. 'W-what is this?' he thought. 'It felt like someone just cut me...wait.' He looked back at Arsene, who grabbed the sword with its claws before delivering a kick to the Archangel's stomach, sending it crashing into the wall before it gathered energy again, and slammed it straight into its stomach, plowing it straight through the stone and into the room where they entered the so-called 'Training Hall of Love.' 'I see...any damage Arsene I takes, I feel as well.' Well, it seemed there was more to this power that just calling upon a being from within him and commanding a power reminiscent to darkness. Whatever Arsene was, it was apart of him. How, and why, he wasn't sure. He was just high on the rush of power he felt, though the pain in his shoulder had now calmed him. He still felt the amazing strength this power grant him, but now he could act more carefully. He looked back at the two. "Come on!" he urged them. They nodded, and followed him out the room. They passed Arsene, who kept his grip solid on the sword while he pinned down the Archangel.

Before Akira was out of range, Arsene finished the fight before its link with him could be disconnected. It gathered another pulsating mass of dark energy into its palm, and this time, gripped Archangel's head before allowing the power to be set free. A morbid, muffled scream ripped from the Archangel's throat before the dark power had ripped it apart, reducing it to black splatters, splashing against the ground. If possible, the flaming grin on the mask grew wider as it swiped its arm, and then its form burned, engulfed in azure flames before disappearing.

TakeYourTime

"Hurry! There are intruders in the castle!"

"We must deal with them, in the name of Lord Kamoshida!"

"Do not let these knaves escape!"

The knights were constantly moving around in a panicked tizzy and panicked, sometimes crashing into one another. The dungeons were in complete chaos. After Kamoshida(?) had escaped the wrath of one of the intruders, he ordered his knights to hunt them down and kill them. The knights obeyed the order and began to search for them, and left nos tone unturned. They checked rooms, cells, barrels, anything that would hide them. However, as they moved about in a panic, they had not noticed that one of the cells was unoccupied...and the cage door was left unlocked, slightly ajar. Its former occupant was hiding atop the rafters above the guards, crouched down and surveying the situation. They were listening carefully, hearing the reports. From the sounds of it, someone had infiltrated the castle, either by choice or by pure coincidence...and from the way these guys were panicking, one of them was already causing enough trouble for the so-called king of this place to take them serious.

There was no way it was someone who got lucky in taking down down of these things. No, they had enough strength to destroy them. If the intruders had what they thought they had...then things suddenly got a lot more interesting.

"I should probably find these intruders the guards are talking about," they noted to themselves, bearing a boyish voice. "After all, if they have a Persona, then my job just might get a little bit easier."

With that in mind, they scurried along, moving deep within the shadows to avoid being seen.

TakeYourTime

By the time the three students returned to where they had entered the second level of the dungeons, they were exhausted. The overwhelming high and adrenaline from using Arsene's power had long since faded, leading Akira to be panting slightly, propping his back against the wall. "D-dammit..." Sakamoto groaned, lying flat on his back. "T-too...much running!" He sat up, shaking his head. "Okay, this castle is beyond weird! What the eff was that back there?!" he shouted, pointing a finger at Akira. "A-and what the heck is up with that outfit?!"

"I don't know," Makoto panted, her elbow propped against the wall. "But...as it stands, Kurusu-kun's the only means of defense we've got against those...things."

"W-whatever!" Sakamoto shook his head. "We need to go back!"

The Student Council President stared at the blonde delinquent like he was insane. "Sakamoto-kun, are you insane?!" she said in disbelief. "We nearly got killed back there!"

"But those guys are still there, aren't they?! he reasoned, having trouble getting back on his feet, yet the resolved look on his face was strong. "That means they're still gettin' tortured! We've gotta go back!"

Makoto wasn't about to budge. Akira understood where Sakamoto was coming from, but he agreed with Makoto. "Chances are, Kamoshida called in for more guards," he reasoned with the blonde. "If that's the case, then we can't stay. The longer we stand around here, the more danger we're in. Sakamoto-san, I know you want to save them...but we can't. Not in this situation."

"But...!"

"Sakamoto-kun," Makoto said, her face showing she wasn't happy about this decision either. Her hands were clenched tightly, and was barely holding herself together. "We'll come back for them...I promise."

Sakamoto looked like he wanted to argue further, but lacked the means. Eventually, he looked off to the side, scowling. "Dammit..." he muttered before he looked back at Akira. "Well...I guess we better bust ass, then," he said before he noticed something. "Huh? Wait, when'd you get that mask back?"

Akira was confused by Ryuji's words until he felt his face, and to his surprise, unknown to him, a mask had reappeared over his face. The same one he had ripped off. 'When did it come back?' he thought, removing it from his face and looking at it. As he did, he found himself, for the briefest moment, thinking back to when he called for Arsene to emerge. 'Could it be...that this mask is my power itself?'

"There's a lot of questions I have about earlier," Makoto told him, looking at Akira with serious concern. "But for now, let's get out of here. We shouldn't be far from where we came from." The two boys nodded at her, and followed her. They passed through the dungeons once again, though they didn't get far. Much to their frustration, several guards were now posted throughout the area, constantly shifting around and alert. "Shoot...looks like Kurusu-kun was right. Kamoshida-sensei must be really angry about what happened earlier." Makoto muttered as they hid behind a nearby stack of crates. The red-eyed girl was peeking out, observing the enemy's movements and trying to find a pattern before she pulled back. "Although, I have to wonder...was that really him?"

Sakamoto scoffed. "Who else would it be?" he asked. However, as he thought back to their encounter, his face fell into a look of confusion. "Though, now that you mentioned it...Kamoshida did seem a bit different."

"Like his clothes?" Akira joked, knowing what they meant but wanted to lessen the tension.

"Okay, well, that too, but something else...Kamoshida's pretty damn good at covering up what he does. He got away with abusing the track team and making it seem like it was practice after all, and he's shrewd, but...when he showed up, he was...uh, how do I put it...?"

"More direct," Makoto helped. "Like...he was showing his true colors." She then peeked out again, and cursed. "There's one coming!" She looked back at Akira. "We could try and take it down quietly...but on the off chance we draw attention, do you remember how to summon that...Arsene thing again?" Akira nodded. Though he was still uncertain, part of his mind already seemed to know how to conjure forth the being from before. His hand came to his mask, and upon recalling that feeling, that moment of euphoria, flames danced around the mask, earning a startled look from Sakamoto, no doubt worried the mask would be set ablaze. Makoto, however, took it as his way of saying 'yes,' and gave a nod. She then looked at the blonde delinquent. "Sakamoto-kun, I'm going to need your help. Ready?"

Sakamoto, getting over his shock, nodded, and carefully edged himself close to her. The two looked around, and saw that most of the guards were a bit away from their location, except the one gradually approaching. Sakamoto braced himself for an inevitable fight while Makoto was nervous. She hoped this would work well. "Alright...on three," she whispered. "One...two..."

"GAH!"

The sudden cry startled the three students, as well as the knights, as they all turned. Makoto, curious, edged a bit further now that the knight close to them was turned away and facing the commotion. The other two knights on the other side were caught in the apparent commotion; in fact one of them was on the ground, cradling its armored head.

"You alright?" one of the knights asked. "What happened?"

"I don't know...something just slammed into my helmet, then-"

Suddenly, a black shape dropped in front of them. The two knights, startled, stepped back, but before they could ready themselves, a silver gleam passed through them, and a second later, the same black and red fluid that they had been seeing emerge from these monstrous knights spewed out as they fell back, soon melting into the stuff. The knight close to the three gasped in shock, and readied his sword. Unfortunately, because he was in the way, Makoto couldn't see who had dropped down. "W-what in the hell?!"

"Come to me!" a boyish voice bellowed. "Zorro!"

A pillar of blue light engulfed the spot where the shadow had dropped. Just like with Akira, a powerful gust of wind blew through the whole area, causing the stream of water to crash forth into rolling waves. Slowly emerging from the brightness was a humanoid figure as well. But this one was much more larger than Arsene muscle-wise. The upper half of its was huge and ripped. The head was normal sized though, fitting snugly between the large, black collar of the massive leather jacket with silver designs it wore. A massive cowboy hat was crammed onto the skull, having eyes right at the front of the accessory as vision or show. A black cape fluttered with its showy appearance. Despite the beefy build, its skinny legs complimented the rest of the body perfectly by fitting leather pants with black pointed boots. To hold up the pants, a large red and silver belt was worn with a massive Z buckle. A sheath was fitted into the belt while the rapier it belonged to looked like a mere stick in the being's massive hands.

The beefy swordsman held its rapier, swishing to form a 'z' before it aimed its weapon straight at the knight. Wind gathered around the weapon before it launched forth, shooting straight toward the knight, who was helpless as the blast of wind struck him dead on in the center of the chest, knocking him right off his feet, and crashing right through the steel gates. He then crashed into the water. At first, the students thought he would reemerge. Instead, the water became tinted with blackish red.

"...the hell?" Sakamoto questioned as he stood up, looking at the demolished gate and then looking at the beefy swordsman, only to see it gone. "Wait, w-where'd that thing go?!"

"Whatever it was," Makoto said, folding her arms. "It was the same as that Arsene thing."

Akira nodded in agreement. That power was definitely similar, though the feeling he received from it was...different. With Arsene, he felt a wild mix of emotions. Anger, excitement, rage, sadness, joy, enlightenment. Positive and negative, merged together like a yin-yang. However, from that second being...he felt only a sense to strive. To achieve success and power, alongside clarity. A powerful will resonated from its form, and with it, a determination that Akira had never felt before. Still, he wondered who it was that saved them. He soon pulled out from his hiding spot, moving next to the two. As he did, he heard a voice, the boyish one from before, call out from behind.

"So I was right...you do have a Persona!"

The group turned...and stared. At first, they saw nothing in front of them until they looked down. What was in front of them was...bizarre. At first, Akira assumed it was a cat, given that it had paws and a tail wishing out from behind its form. However, there were many things inconsistent with that. For starters, the head was larger and rounder than any cat's head. A yellow bandana was wrapped around its neck, almost like a collar. Perhaps the most obvious and glaring fact about the thing was that it was standing on its feet, while its front paws were crossed over its arms. It had white hands and feet while the upper half of the face, or what he assumed was the face, was black like the rest of it, almost as if wearing a mask, and large blue eyes that stared at him with amazement. Around its waist was some kind of tool belt of some sort, and strapped to it was a large blade, almost the size of a cutlass.

"What's the matter with you three?" the strange creature asked, tilting its head in confusion. "Do I have something on my face?"

At first, there was only a dead silence. The rushing water and the rustling of chains hanging and the cackling of the torches that set the dungeons alight were the only sounds provided. However, if only for comical sense, one could even hear crickets in the background. Eventually, however, the silence was broken - naturally by Sakamoto, who's eyes became the size of softballs, threatening to pop out while his jaw hung open. Makoto shared a similar, but less extensive reaction, and shouted in sync with him while Akira stared in utter deadpan curiosity.

"A TALKING CAT?!"

This proved to be the wrong choice of words, as the strange creature developed a tick mark above what Akira thought was its eyebrow, and screamed to the high heavens,

"I'M NOT A CAT DAMMIT! I AM THE GREAT MORGANA! REMEMBER IT!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Persona Compendium:

Archangel - Justice Arcana: [Eight of the nine order of angels, their duty is to humans and deliver messages. They are at constant war with the fallen angels.]

Zorro - Magician Arcana: [A masked swordsman of justie who fought in California against corrupt officials during the era of Spanish rule. He always left his "Z" mark with his rapier wherever he appeared.]