Sep. 9, Heather Holland's Masquerade, PsykoNet; After School
Heather jumped down from the balcony, landing unsteadily on the ball room dance floor below. Thorne gasped, and jumped down with her! Seven followed.
"Our first participant, hm?" Shadow Heather smirked.
Heather walked forward. Thorne wanted to stop her, and to protect her, but he couldn't bring himself to get in her way.
"Oh wow!" gasped Shadow Heather. She walked onto the dance floor as well. The sound of her high heels tapping on the marble floors echoed like sharp, cold droplets as if the giant ballroom was a bat's cave. Beside her, a man in a black suit stood, holding up a tray with confections on it. The man wore a masquerade mask the same colour as his suit, which obscured only his eyes and nose. His mouth was frozen in a still, flat expression.
Shadow Heather also wore a masquerade mask. It was unlike all of the other strange guests' masks, though. It shined with metallic silver and dazzling ruby. Flourishing feathers flaired from the ear, curling around her updone, shiny black hair. "What an awesome mask you're wearing, Heather!"
Heather stared blankly at her Shadow. "I'm… not wearing a mask…"
The red-dressed woman laughed, covering her mouth modestly with a silk-gloved hand. The silk of her glove sparkled in the chandelier's swaying light like bubbles in white wine. "Of course you are! I can hardly make out your face! If I wasn't you, I'd not know who you were!"
"What? If you weren't me?" Heather, a concerned expression on her pale face, turned to face Thorne. Thorne looked back, but remained silent. Heather spoke up again, "What are you talking about? I'm not wearing a mask."
The exceptionally masked Shadow Boss turned to face Thorne. "You. My familiar intruder. Why aren't you wearing a mask? This is a masquerade ball. You'll ruin everything if you don't put one on."
Thorne gasped, unsure of how to respond. His face hardened into an opposing glare. "Is my tuxedo not enough for you?"
"No, sir," responded the lady. "As a matter of fact, it is not. I can still see who you are."
"W-what do you want?" Heather asked, pulling the attention back to her. Thorne reached down to his belt, placing a cautious hand on his pistol.
"Actually, what I want came right to me," smiled the woman. "Heather, I'm you. And you're me."
"What? No you're not… You're just a false Shadow!" Heather responded, expression blank. "Who are you!?"
"Ugh, really?" sighed the figure. "I just told you. I'm you. And you're-"
"I'm me!" Heather shouted, frustration reddening her cheeks. "I don't know who the hell you are!"
"Isn't that true? You don't, do you? You don't even know your own self," chuckled the Shadow, her gold eyes glowing and illuminating through the mask's shadows that were cast on her face.
Thorne tensed up, preparing for combat.
Heather attempted not to falter, but it was difficult.
"You don't even know you're wearing a mask, do you?" the Shadow asked, pressing a finger to her forehead nose bridge. "You hide your true identity so well you've forgotten what it even is."
"I know exactly who I am," defended Heather. But the tone of her voice showed clear unsureness.
"You're a wonderful actress, Heather," complimented her Shadow. "Your illusions fool even yourself. But, heh, that's exactly what you want, isn't it? We can't have people really knowing how… vulnerable… you are. If that happened, they might hurt you. Isn't that right?" Shadow Heather reached over onto the tray held up by the faceless servant. She picked up a jelly bombe and bit into it, the jelly inside spilling on to her lip like thick blood. She licked it up with an elegant tongue.
"That's… not true…" Heather insisted, desperately trying to convince herself. "It can't be true! That's not really who I am! I-is it…?"
Thorne stepped closer to Heather. "Don't let it get to you…" he said in a low, concerned tone, his temple strained and pulling his skin tight.
"It is true, and you know it, Heather." Now, the Shadow had given up on her polite hostess persona, now speaking with forceful sharpness. "I am you, and you are me. You know me to be your true self. Why? Because your true self is hidden behind so many different masks that it's practically a lost cause. There is no 'real' you, is there? Only what people want to see in you. And that's exactly what you give them, without hesitation. You lie to yourself and say you're just pleasing say it's good for you. You say it will get you far. But are you really acting if there's no reality to return to?"
"Shut up!" Heather shrieked, her nails dug deep enough into her palms to draw beads of blood. "Shut up!" she cried again, her hairline sweaty and her eyes shut tight against not-yet-falling tears. "Fine, I get it! You're right! I'm constantly escaping myself by putting on new masks! You're right! I get it!" Suddenly, a dark black essence balled up in front of her. It permeated her senses and she opened her eyes, letting the tears drip from them as she looked into the ball of impossibly black smoke. She held out her hand to it, as if possessed by some force. Once it made contact with her palm, it grew, extending. A sleek, curved surface ripped out from the smoke, at the same time as a glossy black handle. It grew into a large black crossbow! Once the weapon had formed, the black ball of smoke jumped up into a hole in the bend, where it manifested into a black keychain shaped like a sitting cat's silhouette.
She held the weapon tightly in both her palms, pressing it against her chest, feeling it to know if it was real or an illusion. "I'm going to shatter every last mask I hide behind…" she growled, her lips pulled into a furious sneer. "Starting with you!" She pointed the already-loaded crossbow right at the Shadow!
Shadow Heather's True Shadow Form writhed, porcelain horns growing out from its mask. Its beautiful cocktail dress changed before Thorne and Heather's very eyes, transforming into a stark red straitjacket attached to a billowing princess skirt. The straitjacket's belts were a glossy fuchsia, with gold thread trimmings and bejeweled buckles. The Shadow's teeth grew sharper until they were pricking her own red lips, tainting them purple from the Shadow's blue blood. The Shadow's beautiful, shiny, straight black hair formed a hovering halo around her small waist.
"It's such a shame you would defy me. I am your dagger against those who have hurt you." Shadow Heather, in her True Shadow Form, had a downright demonic voice as it spoke.
Heather 's brow furrowed intensely.
Thorne nodded. "It's alright, I believe you. Either way, you're my friend, and I still want to protect you." He unholstered his pistol, and Hamlet came to life behind his shoulder. "Now," smiled Thorne, preparing for battle, "are you going to kill your other self once and for all?"
"Yes sir!" Heather nodded back, determined. With that, she bounded forward, making the first powerful blaster from her crossbow at the falsehood foe!
The battle had officially begun! The audience gasped as the ball's hostess was threatened, but none of them dared defy her and step onto the battlefield.
"Heather, Heather, Heather…" the Shadow growled… "You've desperately grasped at popularity all your life… and I gave it to you… and you would kill me just like that?"
"Popularity is not what I want!" Heather resolved. "I want to be myself! I'm done pleasing others! I never want to be seen like you again!" Heather loaded another bolt into her crossbow, and fired it again! The bolt pierced right into True Shadow Heather's chest! The Shadow shrieked in pain, yet didn't fall!
Thorne took his turn! "Persona!" he called! However, Hamlet did not appear. Instead, the Persona that appeared was the one he had forcibly recruited in the Yomotsu Sector of the PsykoWeb; Excalibur!
"I will hereby fight by your side, as your proud identity," Excalibur proclaimed. The sword slashed the air in front of it, sending flaming arcs towards True Shadow Heather in its wake!
Seven joined in to create a Chain Attack! He summoned Golem, who dashed over to True Shadow Heather, and punched its stone hand right through her chest!
The True Shadow was trapped by her own very form. Her arms were trapped inside the straitjacket that had become of her dress. However, she could still summon magic! The True Shadow's long hair blew behind her as she created a strong gust of wind in front of her, and blasted it at Thorne!
Thorne was hit! He fell onto his ass from the impact, but got back up quickly! He looked around the ballroom… how could he execute a plan to give his teammates the advantage…
Meanwhile, True Shadow Heather launched a similar attack at Heather, who had no Persona to defend herself with! She was knocked down, but not before launching another bolt into her Shadow Self!
That was it! The chandelier! Shadow Heather was standing right underneath the chandelier…! If he could get it to fall somehow, it would inflict major damage on her! He looked around the room, attempting to formulate a spy-like plan.
A microphone extended from his ear, and he spoke into it. "Heather, attack the chandelier above your Shadow! But make it look like it was an accident so she doesn't catch on!"
Heather received the message loud and clear from an earpiece which had appeared over her own ear. She turned to Thorne, and have a confident nod and a thumbs-up! She aimed at True Shadow Heather's face, but she intentionally slipped her crossbow upward at the last second! The bolt flew through the air, easily piercing through the chains holding up the chandelier! It was evident that the chains had dwindled ever slightly from the attack.
"Seven," Thorne instructed, "do the same!"
Seven saluted Thorne, and executed a similar maneuver! He activated a laser reticle, pointing it into True Shadow Heather's chest! However, instead he fired at the chandelier, blasting the chains with Nuclear energy! The chains creaked as the Nuclear energy eroded at the metal.
"Not such sharp-shooters now, are you?" the True Shadow sneered. "Take this!" She cut through Seven with a blade made of clear crystal! Seven was knocked down!
Heather loaded a bolt into her crossbow again, but didn't fire it immediately! She ran up closer to her Shadow! He jumped up onto the True Shadow's shoulder, then used the momentum to launch herself into the air! From in the air, she fired the bolt right into the Shadow's eye, right through the mask!
Shadow Heather screamed in pain! "How dare you attack me! I've given you everything you have!" As soon as heather landed, another wind attack blasted out from Shadow Heather's body! Heather was sent flying! She landed skillfully on her feet, yet the damage she'd taken could still be felt.
"Ah…" Heather groaned, finding it difficult to get back to her feet.
Thorne took the opportunity to shoot multiple bullets up at the chandelier! They each hit, and it was just enough to make the gigantic chandelier plummet to the ground!
The huge fixture slammed down right on top of Shadow Heather, causing her great damage, and causing her to scream loudly!
However, she did not fall, even with the immense weight of the chandelier having fallen on top of her! She launched an attack that sent shock waves through the ground, hitting Thorne, Seven, and Heather altogether!
Thorne could see Heather struggling to get back up to her feet. That's when he remembered the item he had picked up! He used the power of the Life Stone on Heather! She immediately looked in much better condition.
"Wow," she grinned. "Feels great! I owe you one!"
She loaded up her crossbow, prepared to take out her Shadow once and for all!
The True Shadow fired another attack at her! She fired the bolt into the magical projectile, causing it to dissipate before hitting her! Thorne shot multiple bullets into True Shadow Heather! Seven also fired a rapid-fire of Nuclear blasts at her!
She released another explosion of forceful wind that knocked all three of them over! However, Heather got up first, and launched a bolt right into her Shadow's heart!
An intense light cut through the Shadow, blinding the onlookers.
When the light was gone, the Shadow had returned to her previous form. She weakly held herself up on her knees where her elegant dress was now torn. She spat out blue blood, creating a pool of navy on the floor.
Thorne stepped forward to deliver the finishing blow. However, Seven put an arm out in front of him, preventing him from going forward.
The Shadow looked up with fear at the real Heather, who stood over her, holding her crossbow confidently.
"P-please… have mercy… I'm just a girl…" Shadow Heather whimpered, tears welling in her made-up eyes which turned silver as they washed away the Shadow's glittery eyeshadow. "I'm just as much a victim as you… since, well, we're one… See? I'm trapped by my own need to please others… as are you…"
Heather groaned. "Oh my GOD! Please! Shut up already! You just keep blabbering on!" Heather gripped her crossbow, loading it in preparation it.
"Oh god! Please!" The Shadow covered her head, sacrificing her grip on the ground before her as she ducked in fear.
As soon as Heather's bolt dug into the Shadow's head, it turned to a wisp of bright cyan computer code.
It rematerialized again, this time taking the form of something much different.
"My dear, you have done well to find your true self under the myriad masks you've adopted," the new figure claimed, its feminine voice clear and song-like. "Finally, you have awakened to the power within yourself. The power to face the truth and summon a Persona."
Heather gazed in awe at the ghost-like figure before her. It looked so similar to her Shadow, yet also very different.
One by one, the Roles playing the masquerade's guests faded into mist and code. The fallen chandelier also disappeared.
"I am Madam Madcap," explained the beautiful woman's figure. She wore a beautiful golden masquerade mask. Feather's ruffled from the right side, and a chain entwined with jewels dangled from the left side. It fit her face beautifully. Her hair was black, shiny, and as wavy as a cascade. "More importantly, I am thou, and thou art I. From here on forward, I will represent you as your other self; your Persona. Continue searching for your truth, no matter what sacrifices you must make, my dear. For being your own true self if life's greatest treasure."
"Wow…" Heather looked on in awe. "I… I can use a Persona too?" She held the handle of her crossbow a little more confidently. She bowed her head toward Madam Madcap, who bowed her head toward Heather. Madam Madcap faded, and filled Heather's heart.
Suddenly, Heather's outfit changed before her very eyes. Her outfit was now a skin-tight suit full of belts and clips, including a utility belt, the cargo of which rested against her hip, expanding upon her silhouette. Along with that, she now wore a cropped deep-red leather jacket, with full-length sleeves. She now even wore a fancy, sleek modernized tricorne hat that matched her cropped jacket.
Damn… Thorne thought, mouth hanging open. That's a really great look for her. He shook his head.
Heather modeled her new outfit for a few moments, before grinning and saying, "I'm a spy now too, Thorne! See? I look so cool!"
"What's your Agent name gonna be?" Thorne asked.
"You look like a morally-gray cartoon character," Seven commented.
"Hm…" Heather pondered. "Well, Noir is probably taken by now…"
"How about Agent Belle?" suggested Thorne.
"Huh?" Heather asked. She looked over her outfit again. "I don't see it."
"Well, you're quite beautiful," Thorne noted.
Heather's face immediately went full red. "We can think about that later! Ahem!" She took a breath, recomposing herself. "In the mean time, we should celebrate."
"I can tell this is gonna be an expensive friendship," Thorne joked. "Ooh, actually, someone showed me a great cupcake place."
"Ooh!" Heather sounded enticed. The two Persona-wielding spies began their journey out of the strange ball room, chatting excitedly about that week's happenings and their plans for celebration as they descended the red-carpeted stairs and returned to reality.
REVIEW QUESTION: What would you like to see more of during the intermission between Episode 1 and Episode 2? Any Social Links you would like to see Thorne hang out with? Would you like to see more PsykoWeb exploration? I'm open to all suggestions!
