"Oh man, now what?" Chie asked. "Nothing we try is working on this thing."
"Are you done? In that case it's my turn to attack." Shadow Rise said before the screen flashed white before revealing the investigation team had been injured.
"Wow, did we mess up or something Dojima-san?" Adachi asked. "I mean games aren't supposed to just kill the characters without giving you some way to avoid it right?"
"Just watch." Dojima said calmly.
"Oh man, I don't think we can take another one of those." Kanji said weakly.
"Sensei, what should I do?" Teddie said nervously.
"Teddie needs to help them dad, he's the only one who isn't hurt." Nanako said.
"I agree." Dojima said picking the option.
"But, what can I do to help?" Teddie asked. "Am I going to be all alone again?"
The moment Teddie said that, Shadow Rise scanned the investigation team a second time.
"Oh man, hopefully that bear has some kind of secret weapon hidden somewhere otherwise things are going to be bad." Adachi said.
"He has to help them." Nanako said.
"No, I'm not going to let that happen." Teddie said before a golden glow surrounded him and he ran in front of the investigation team.
"Teddie, what are you doing?" Yosuke asked.
"Get out of here, it's too dangerous." Kanji said.
"I don't know, my body just started moving by itself." Teddie said.
"What the, that thing has way too much power." Shadow Rise said nervously.
"He's scaring that thing, you really can't take this game seriously." Adachi said before Dojima hit him in the head. "Ow."
"You're a detective and you haven't figured it out yet, when are you going to stop acting like a rookie?" Dojima asked in annoyance.
"What do you mean dad?" Nanako asked before the screen flashed and revealed Shadow Rise had turned back into her previous appearance.
"Wow, that was awesome." Kanji said before turning to Teddie. "Teddie."
"Dude, what happened to you?" Yosuke asked.
"What do you mean?" Teddie asked before looking at himself. "Huh, no my fur is destroyed."
"Don't worry, I'm sure it can grow back." Kanji said.
"Hey what about Rise-chan?" Chie asked before the investigation team ran up to her. "Are you alright?"
"I think so, and I'm sorry about everything you went through." Rise said quietly.
"It wasn't Rise-chan's fault dad. The other Rise did everything." Nanako said.
"No, remember that is Rise. It's her shadow, so in a way she did do this even though normally she wouldn't." Dojima said.
"I guess so." Nanako said thoughtfully.
"Hey, it's no big deal. The important thing is that you're ok." Yosuke said while Chie helped Rise to her feet.
"Hey, are you alright?" Rise asked as her shadow got up. "I think I get what you were trying to say, there isn't a real me. That's what you were trying to explain to me isn't it?"
As Rise said that, her shadow nodded in agreement before a blue light enveloped it.
"Himiko, interesting." Dojima said. "Still, I have a bad feeling about this."
"What are you talking about Dojima-san?" Adachi asked in confusion.
"No real me?" Teddie asked. "There's no real me?"
"Huh, what's gotten into you?" Yosuke asked.
"No, get away from him." Rise said urgently as a second Teddie appeared behind Teddie.
"Dad is that Teddie's shadow?" Nanako asked.
"Yeah, I had a feeling this would happen." Dojima said. "Still, after that last battle I'm not sure if we'll be able to beat this one."
"That which you seek is unobtainable, how is that you fail to realize that?" Shadow Teddie asked coldly.
"What do you mean?" Teddie asked.
"You seek to learn that which you truly are, but the answer is that all you are is…" Shadow Teddie started to say.
"Shut up, I don't need any help." Teddie yelled at his shadow. "I know there's an answer and I'm going to find it."
"What you seek is unobtainable." Shadow Teddie said before turning to the rest of the investigation team. "Why do you try so hard to seek that which simply does not exist? There is no truth to find."
"Does he honestly expect a detective to believe that?" Dojima asked. "Finding out what's true is my job."
"Yeah." Nanako said in agreement. "Oh, dad is this why Teddie was acting funny?"
"I think so, the real boss is his shadow." Dojima said. "Though to answer his question the truth has to exist and we're going to find it."
"I don't know Dojima-san, if what you said about this game is true you really aren't getting any closer than you were at the start." Adachi said before Dojima hit him in the head. "Ow, what was that for?"
"Don't be an idiot Adachi, every time we rescue someone we get stronger which means whoever is behind all of this is going to get desperate. That's when they'll slip up and we can catch them." Dojima said.
"Dad, do you think Rise-chan can find the bad guy?" Nanako asked.
"Why?" Dojima asked.
"Her shadow could tell what we were going to do, so maybe she can tell what the bad guy is going to do too." Nanako said.
"Maybe, we'll have to see." Dojima said thoughtfully.
"You still fail to realize what's going on, then allow me to give you the truth that you claim to seek so desperately. You will all die here." Shadow Teddie said coldly.
"I can help." Rise said suddenly.
"No way, you're in no shape to fight him." Chie said.
"I know, but I should be able to take that bear's place." Rise said. "It's my turn to save you all."
"Alright, let's make sure we take this guy down." Kanji said as Himiko appeared behind Rise and placed a crown over her eyes and the battle began.
"That's good, our strength is back." Dojima said. "Now we just need to beat this boss and Teddie will get his persona."
"Yeah, I bet it'll be really cool." Nanako said with a smile.
(Shadow Rise has been defeated, but the battle with Shadow Teddie has begun. Next chapter the battle will continue. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)