Note I don't own the Persona series and never will.

And I don't want to ruin these games for someone who hasn't finished them, so spoiler warning for Persona 3/3P and 5/5R.

Akira arrived at the train station. He was feeling through his pockets for change.

"There's no charge," Maruki corrected.

He continued, "If you find yourself struggling in life, You can start over like me…Remember that"

"So yeah, if that ends up saving you… Then we're square"

Akira smiled knowing what he did.

"Thank you," Akira replied.

He got out of the taxi and continued on his way to the train station.

Suddenly he felt rumbling in his bag.

To his surprise Mona was hiding inside.

"Toldja I was coming with you."

While looking at Mona he bumped into someone.

"Ahem- You taught me to keep my head up, didn't you?"

Morgana looked in surprise, He didn't expect to run into Sumire.

She bowed "Take care". And walked away.

As Akira stepped onto the train he thought he saw the figure of Akechi.

"No that's impossible," he thought to himself. "It's just you being hopeful."

The train starts to move. If he hurried, maybe he would get a seat.

Three hours have passed since Akira got on the train. Unlike the Tokyo trains it was quiet and boring. Morgana seems to be happy sleeping in Akira's bag at least. Akira was contemplating going to sleep when he heard a bump. Then another, this time louder. Then another even louder than the last, he felt it this time. Now the other passengers noticed and were making a commotion, waking Morgana up. Morgana was angry until he felt such a big bump it launched him into the air.

Upon landing Morgana demanded that Akira inform the conductor about what was going on.

Akira picks up the bag Morgana was in and heads to the front of the train. With each continuous bump it becomes harder and harder to stand without falling let alone walk. Now after a few meaningless tries he makes a bolt for the front. Looking through the front window he sees what he can't believe. The conductor looks back at Akira.

The yellow eyes.

He smiles at Akira before going full speed. Akira is immediately thrown to the back of the car, dropping his bag. Unlike Akira, Mona doesn't hit the back wall. Akira tries to get up but the train suddenly halts to a stop, launching him forward. Barely able to open his eyes, he sees Mona in the next car over.

He isn't moving.

No.

This can't be happening.

After all he did, it ends like this?

No.

Akira's vision begins to fade.

But then he remembered something.

"If you find yourself struggling in life.

You can start over like me.

Remember that.

If that ends up saving you.

Then we're square"

"Looks like we're square."

He thought.

Using all the strength he had left he tried to contact the velvet room, One. Last. Time.

And everything faded to black.

But then he felt a blue glow.

He looked around.

Nothing for miles… except for a blue butterfly slowly hovering in the next car over.

He knew he couldn't just get back up, but… his energy seems to be somewhat restored.

There is still a lot of pain, but the specs of light from the butterfly are… healing him?

When he got to the door of the next car the butterfly flashed him with light, filling his vision with the blue glow he saw in his dreams.

As the blue glow got stronger he opened his eyes to find himself in the velvet room.

"Welcome to the Velvet room." A man with a noticeably long nose named Igor stated.

"It appears you are drifting between the conscious and unconscious.

While normally we would leave the fate of our guests up to them but,

You saved us from yaldabaoth's control.

In turn we shall save you." Igor stated

"The reason for your death was a phenomenon known as "The fall" Said Lavenza

"The Fall?" Akira Asked.

"It is when Erebus reaches Nyx and uses her to wipe out humanity." Lavenza answered.

"Erebus, Nyx?" Akira further questioned?

"Erebus is the manifestation of humans wanting to die.

If they reach Nyx Goddess night and death, then they would have Nyx open the world up to the Shadows. Making the two worlds fuse.

A previous group of Persona users stopped them but it seems it wasn't enough." Lavenza stated

Akira thought carefully about his next move.

On one hand he knew that if he were to try and stop this thing he would probably lose.

But on the other hand, he couldn't just let his friends die for nothing they had control over or even what they wished for, what he wished for.

And he just couldn't stand for that.

"I'll stop it. Akira said

Igor raised an eyebrow.

"I'd like to start over." Akira elaborated.

"My master cannot just grant life without a cost" Lavenza responded

"Let's just say I'm paying a debt," Igor told Lavenza.

Igor raised his hand into the air as light gathered into it. As he lowered his arm, Akira could see a ball of light similar looking to treasures in mementos was in his hand. With his other hand Igor Snapped and the ball of light revealed itself to be a tarot card. As the card spun he could see it changing itself between The Fool and The Magician before finally stopping on the Magician. Igor looked at the card before waving his hand, sending the card into Akira's chest.

"With all the knowledge you gained from your previous journey, you shall impart this knowledge into the next Fool." Igor told him.

"Maybe with the guidance of another, this fool will grow even stronger than before." Igor said.

"I will be limiting your wild card ability, as when two different wildcards are together, the result can be catastrophic."

"So what can I do?" Akira asked.

"Firstly, the only persona you will have is your true self." Igor said.

As Igor said, Lavenza opened the compendium and summoned Arsene.

"But exploring your new Arcana shall grant you more potential than in your previous attempt at looking within." Igor recited.

Arsene then turned into a Tarot card. "That's new" Akira thought. On one side was a picture of Arsene with a decorated border that resembled that of the velvet room, On the other side was blue flame with two hands at the bottom and a pair of eyes at the top, another with a border that resembles the velvet room but this time at the bottom was the number 1, symbolizing the Magician card in the Tarot deck.

The card floated to Akira and when he touched it broke into many blue shards that disappeared almost as soon as they came.

"Now I believe it is time to go, we don't have all the time in our hands" after Igor said that he began giggling. He brought his hand up and snapped as Akira saw a flash of light beside him.

When he turned to see what that was, he saw one of the locked cells was glowing blue. Akira took the key that Lavenza gave him when he was going to leave for his hometown and unlocked the cell. He looked above the door to see the number 3. "Why this one?" he thought.

He looked back at the two that helped him. "Thank you, words can't express my gratitude."

Akira took off his glasses and wiped a tear. He thought of all the people that helped him along his journey. He thought of his teammates. Then he thought about all they strived for…

They all strive for a better world.

Now they don't even have one.

And he stepped through the door.

Take Your Time

After he stepped through the door his head started to hurt and he opened his eyes. It was like a Sci-fi movie. He was in a green tunnel of light that had clocks striking midnight.

I don't know who I should have as the protagonist of 3 so I made a poll on my profile. So if you could vote that would be very helpful.