Chapter 9; The Castle of Lust

Sorry for the late chapter, but I was moving to a new home. And if you have moved, you know the joy in it. And one more thing, chapters that focus on a Palace will be what I believe are the most important parts of each Palace. So this might be shorter than my other chapters and please don't complain if you feel like I missed an important part. Now on with the story.

After everyone entered the Palace, they all let Fletchinder, Rockruff, Litleo and Shinx off their Pokeballs and Nincada came out of hiding and joined them. They all were looking at Ann's outfit, Skull more than the others and Ann said to Skull. "Hm? What's up?"

"N-Nothing. I-I was just thinking we should choose a code name for you too."

"A code name?"

"I'm Skull, Ren's Joker, Aqua is Keeper and Morgana is Mona." Skull said before Mona said. "Judging by your costume…"

"I mean, she's got that tail and stuff, so… What do you think, Joker?" Skull said before Joker said. "I got nothing."

"You guys are hopeless." Keeper said as she put her hand on her head. Ann then said to them. "Why don't I pick?"

"Go right ahead." Mona said and Ann thought about it. She then said to them. "Um, something better than just a little cat… Maybe… "Panther"? That sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?"

"Huh? Why?" Skull said and Panther said. "Cause it sounds more… ferocious?"

"That sounds good, let's go." Keeper said as they all walked toward the Palace. Once they got close to the entrance, Keeper's gauntlet shot out four red lights that started to make a door outline. Mona looked at Keeper and said. "What are you doing, Keeper?"

"I don't know. Give me a second." Keeper said, looking at her gauntlet. After a few seconds, Keeper pushed a button and the lights stopped and made a door. Skull turned to Keeper and said. "What just happened?"

"Looks like the gauntlet lets us go to safe rooms, which we have already found over the last few days."

"What's a safe room?" Panther said and Joker said. "You'll see." Joker then opened the door and they all found themselves in the safe room they were last time. Panther looked around and said. "Huh? What's up with this place?"

"It's a gap in the cognition. A safe room, if you will." Mona said and Panther still didn't get it. Keeper then said to her. "Think of this as a place where we can rest."

"Ok, I somewhat get it."

"Good. Now let's go." Joker said as they all exited the safe room. As they moved through the castle, sneaking past most of the guards. They were even able to abuse a Jack-o-Lantern and Joker got a new mask, because it bagged for its life and Joker let him go. They also found a map that Keeper somehow absorbed into her gauntlet. As they were following the path the map showed them, they found a stairwell that was broken, so they couldn't advance. Skull then said to the others. "Uhhh, I don't think we're going any further this way…"

"Should we check somewhere else?" Panther said and Keeper looked at the map. She then said to them. "Sorry guys, but this is the only way forward."

"Good thing there is a way up there." Mona said, pointing to a goat figure head. Skull looked at Mona and said. "What about it? Are we throwing a rope over that and climbing it?"

"Phantom thieves do things a bit more stylishly than that and I know just what'll do the trick." Mona said giving Joker a bracelet and Joker put it on his left arm. Joker looked at Mona and said "What is this thing?"

"A grappling hook I've been working on in secret. It lets you zip to a hard-to-reach location in a flash."

"Cool, do you have any more?" Skull said and Mona said. "I just had the resources to make only one."

[Then Joker can help me up there and then I can help everyone up.] Zorua said, jumping out of his Pokeball. They all looked at Zorua and Keeper said as a lightbulb appeared in her mind. "Right, Zorua and his evolved form can create illusions. And because these places make whatever looks real actually become real. So if Joker helps him up there…"

"Then he can make a path for the others. Good idea Zorua." Joker said as Zorua jumped onto Joker's shoulders. Joker then used the grappling hook and in a flash, they were on the top of the steps. "That was really fast." Skull said as Zorua jumped off Joker's shoulders and made a stairwell for the others. After they all reached the top they all saw Zorua looking very tired. Joker picked up Zorua and said. "Zorua? What's wrong? Keeper?"

"Let me see?" Keeper said as she looked over at him. She then said to Joker. "He's fine, just tired."

"Then why is he tired then?" Skull said and Keeper said. "If I had to guess. Because of how young Zorua is, object illusion might take all of his energy to create them."

"Will he be fine?" Panther said and Keeper said. "As long as he gets some rest and doesn't use his illusion to create a lot of objects, he should be fine."

"Ok. Time to get some rest Zorua." Joker said as he pulled out Zorua Pokeball and returned Zorua to it. They then started to move again. The next obstacle in their path was a locked door with a unique lock, so they started to look for the key. They had looked in a few of the rooms, but not one had the key. The last room they tried was a library. While their partners were looking around, the Pokemon were watching the door, expert Shinx. Shinx tried to make a move on Litleo, but she kicked him into a bookshelf, knocking all but one of the books down. The others heard that and went over to Shinx. "What happened, Shinx?" Skull said, picking up a Shinx with ducks over his head. Panther looked at the only book and said. "I wonder why this one didn't fall."

"Let's see." Joker said, pulling the book out and they heard gears moving. The walls next to them opened up into a secret room. They all entered the room and were horrified to see it full of pictures of Shiho. Panther was the most shocked and Litleo comforted her. Panther knew what Litleo was doing and said to her. "I'm ok, thank you for worrying about me."

"Hey guys, I found the key and another map." Mona said as he looked around the room. Joker took the key and Keeper took the map. After unlocking the door and walking for a few minutes, they found themselves in what looked like a church and the place had a giant statue of Kamoshida. Mona looked around and said. "This place is huge… yet there are no guards? That seems suspicious…"

"But the Treasure's up ahead, right? We don't have a choice but to keep going." Skull said as he and Shinx walked deeper into the area. The others followed him, but keeping their guard up. As they got closer, the room turned into the gym. As the area turned back to normal, Panther said, looking around. "Wait, was that… the gym?"

"I get it… The gym's some kind of holy place for him. He's a god there." Skull said and Keeper said. "Well since the gym is where he can show off his "god-level skills". Then it makes sense that he would think of this place as a holy place. But one thing still bothers me."

"What Keeper?" Joker said before Keeper said. "If this is a holy sight for Kamoshida, then where are the guards?" Just then a bunch of guards appeared and surrounded them. "Me and big mouth." Keeper said as a gold knight appeared and said. "How dare you dirty thieves desecrate the holy ground for our great King Kamoshida. You will pay for foolishly defying King Kamoshida with your lives!" The gold knight then turned into a knight with angel wings and the other knights turned into flower men. The knight then charged up an attack and Joker said. "Scatter!" They all moved out of the way and the knight released a slash attack. But that attack only destroyed his own men. They all landed and Panther said. "This isn't good."

"Then let's deal with him now. Captain Kidd; Zio, Shinx; Spark!" Skull said as he summoned Captain Kidd. Captain Kidd fired a lightning bolt out of his cannon arm. Shinx surrounded himself with lighting and charged at the knight. The lighting bolt and Shinx connected, but the attacks were not very affected. As Shinx was landed from his attack, the knight kicked him away. Skull caught Shinx and the knight attacked them again. They dodge the knight's attack and Joker said. "Mona, does this thing have any weakness?"

"I don't know. Just keep hitting it." Mona said as he and Nincada attacked the knight. Mona with his sword and Nincada with his Scratch move. "Fletchinder; Steel Wing." Keeper said as she pulled out her rifle. Fletchinder charged at the knight as his wings started to glow. Fletchinder used his wings to counter the knights and let Keeper shoot him with her rifle. "Carmen; Agi, Litleo; Ember!" Panther said as she summoned Carmen. Fletchinder flew away from the knight and was burned by Carmen and Litleo joint fireball attacks hit the knight. As the knight was distracted by the others, Joker and Rockruff attacked him from the back, with Joker's knife and Rockruff's Crush Claw. That attack finished off the knight and before they celebrated their win, they got out of there before more knights appeared. As they made their way through the palace, they found their ways to a tower, but the path was blocked by a lot of strong knights. Skull looked at them and said. "Damn. How are we going to get past them?"

"I don't know, but according to the map the Treasure is up there." Keeper said, looking at the map. Joker looked around and came up with an idea. "Guy, what if I use the grappling hook to go over them?"

"That would work, but Zorua still needs to sleep, before he can help us." Mona said as Joker pulled out Zorua Pokeball. Keeper then said to them. "Wait, I have an idea?" They then followed Keeper to a safe room they had found earlier. "Wait right here." Keeper said as she entered the room and after a few seconds, she walked out of the room and Panther said. "What's up Keeper?"

"I just learned that I can use safe rooms to teleport to different areas with safe rooms we have found before. So if Joker helps me find a safe room in the tower."

"You can bring the rest of us to the tower. Nice thinking Keeper." Mona said as Joker and Keeper went back to the area before the tower. Joker then helped Keeper up to the tower and once they were there they found a safe room and helped the others to the tower. As Panther stepped out of the room, she said as everyone looked around. "Wh-What's going on!?"

"The distortion is getting stronger… The Treasure has got to be nearby!" Mona said as they started to look around. As they looked around, they almost fell victim to one of Kamoshida traps. A path way with razor shaper pendulums and no gasp for anyone to squeeze into. Mona laughed and said. "It's a classic security measure. My tail might be in danger if we try to force our way through…"

"Same for the others with tails. So… what do we do? No way we're getting through here as is." Skull said as Keeper found a statue of Kamoshida, without its jaw and said. "Hey, guys! I think I know how to turn off the trap."

"How?" Joker said as they all looked at her. Keeper then said to them. "Remember the statue back in the dungeon?"

"Yeah?" Skull said not really sure. Keeper then continued. "Well, this statue is missing its jaw."

"Then it might turn off the trap. You are on a roll with good ideas, Keeper. Everyone started looking around for that jaw." Joker said as he and the others looked around. As they looked around, Joker found a bookshelf and then had an idea. "Rockruff, use Bite on this booksleeve." Rockruff figured out what Joker was thinking and used Bite on the bookshelf. All the books, but one fell down. Joker pulled off the last book and that showed a secret elevator that looked cheaper than most of the stuff in the castle. "I'm guessing this will lead us to the jaw." Skull said as everyone looked at it. They were careful about it, but got on it and went deep into the castle. The area the elevator brought them to was a closed off area of the dungeon, with a lot of water, a whirlpool in the center, one path and one door guard by a gold knight. Keeper let Brionne out and she used the water to get close to the knight and trap the knight in a bubble. The knight then said, looking around. "What the—"

"I wouldn't pop that bubble if I were you." Keeper said as they walked up to him, and Brionne jumped out of the water. The knight didn't listen and popped the bubble. That caused him to fall into the whirlpool. The knight then disappeared into the whirlpool and Keeper said. "I try to warn him."

"Let's find that jaw." Joker said as he opened the door and found the jaw for the statue. After Keeper retuned Brionne to her Pokeball, they returning to the statue, Joker put the jaw back into place and the statue's eyes started to glow. Joker them used the statue to turn off the trap. Skull looked at it and said. "All right! We can get across!"

[Let's go.] Shinx said as they both ran across the path. The others sigh and follow them. After a few minutes they found them a safe room and after a break, they were getting closer to the Treasure room. But the area before it was locked, so they had to climb through a window. The area was Kamoshida throne room, and not only was he there, but so were a lot of gold knights. As Kamoshida yelled at his knights for failing to capture Joker and the others, who were sneaking past them. Behind the throne room was a vault full of gold and floating in the middle of the room was a ball of light that was changing shape. Skull said, looking around. "Whoa, what is this place!?"

"According to the map, the heart of the castle." Keeper said, looking at the map. As they all got close to the ball, Panther said, looking at it. "Hey, what is this? It's… floating in the air."

"That's the Treasure. We finally found it!" Mona said with a laugh. Joker looked at him and said. "Are you sure?"

"Mona, what are you not telling us?" Keeper said before Mona said. "Just hold on a second. I was planning on telling you more once we made it this far. Simply finding the Treasure isn't enough. We'll need to make it materialize before we can steal it."

"Whaddya mean?" Skull said what everyone was thinking. Mona then said to everyone. "Desires have no physical form by nature. Hence, we'll first need to make the real person aware that their desires are in fact a Treasure. Once they're conscious that their desires might be stolen, the Treasure will finally show itself."

"But how do we do that?" Panther said before Mona said. "We arn them. Tell them, "We've going to steal your heart."

"So we're gonna send a calling card!? That's totally what a phantom thief would do!" Skull said, sounding very happy. Mona was also happy and said. "Once we do that, the Treasure will appear for certain! …I think."

"Not that again." Keeper said before Mona said. "Oh, don't start with me, Keeper. Now, since our infiltration route is secure. All that's left is to pump out a calling card in reality, then come back to take the Treasure!"

"Ok, then let's get out of here, before they figure out we are here." Keeper said as they started to leave the castle. Joker was behind them and as the others left, he saw Justine along with a velvet cell door. "My master would like a word with you." Justine said as she opened the door. Joker didn't know what Igor wanted to talk about, so he entered the door.

Location; Velvet Room

Ren found himself inside the Velvet Room and in the clothes he usually wears when he is in the Velvet Room. "The prisoner Ren Amamiya has returned." Caroline said to Igor and Igor laughed. Ren then said to Igor. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I want to talk about what the Person in Red did to you."

"What did she do?"

"She has put an unusual seal on your powers. You will not be able to use Arsene to fuse with other Personas."

"Fuse Personas? What is that?"

"I am not attempting to withhold information from you. The essence of the rehabilitation that you must complete will be explained in due time. Once you encounter allies who share your ideals and discover your place in reality… Only then, will I explain it all. Such a day should not be far off. This time, I wish to introduce you to the aid we are providing."

"Aid?"

"Due to your potential in wielding the power of the wild card, you can handle more than one Persona. That power holds infinite possibilities. We will assist you in nurturing that potential. …To that end, we must execute your Persona."

"Execute!?"

"Do not be alarmed. Personas are personalities that exist within you… Thus, you will only be discarding old personalities to have them be reborn as new ones." Igor said as he summed Joker's mask and they transformed into Pixie and Jack-o-Lantern, but the mask that was holding Arsene. Igor then said to Ren. "Now pick two and watch as a new one is born."

"There are only two choices, so I pick Pixie and Jack-o-Lantern." Ren said as the twins covered them in bags. Then two velvet guillotines appeared. The twins put the Personas into the guillotines and dropped the blades. Ren covered his eyes as he heard the slash. When Ren opened his eyes, he saw a male demon laughing. It turned to Ren and said. "I'm Incubus! Now that you've got me within your mask, you're never gonna get a wink of sleep again!"

"Joy." Ren said before Igor laughed and said as turned into a mask and disappeared along with Arsene. "Ah, how impressive… A stronger Persona has been born from the body and blood of the old. It shall be your new strength."

"What do you mean?" Ren said before Justine said. "Its worth will be made clearer when you return to the field of battle."

"Gather Personas, and bring them here. Gather a great many, execute them, and continue to give birth to even stronger Personas. Developing your powers as such will play an integral role in the stand against ruin." Igor said before Justine said. "So that your rehabilitation goes well, we have a variety of rituals to choose in regard to executions."

"And depending on the effort you put in, our master might consider further development of new rituals. Cry your tears of joy, Inmate!" Caroline said before Igor said. "Your heart is steadily gaining the strength of rebellion. It seems your rehabilitation is proceeding smoothly– a joyous fact, indeed… But seeing how much trouble it is to get a new Persona, take one of these a give." Igor said as he summoned a flower man, a hunting Puss in Boots and a troublesome housemaid. Ren looked at them and said. "I'll take the housemaid."

"I am Silky. It is a pleasure to meet you." Silky said as she turned into a Joker mask and disappeared. "I can not wait to see what you will do next time." Igor then laughed like crazy as Ren returned to the castle and then walked back to the real world.