Persona 5 Strikers – From Light and Dark
By Tayla Drago
Episode #14 - Ann's Love of a Fashionista's Goal
So as far as we can tell from Alice King/Shadow's powers of a close call there—she can take male Shadows' Desires to make them into her slaves 'as weak Gegasites in prison' to love her only and buy things; while other girls for most can control to be like her puppets to fight over nothing. Now that's scary...! So for the first time, Keiko fought back to save the twins from the mess and with friends too as the Phantom Thieves continued moving forward into Shibuya Castle Jail. Entering in for Loki, Picaro, and Kaguya take care of the other things on their ends for their new allies – Keiko/Joker, Akechi/Black Crow, Morgana/Mona, Ryuji/Skull, Ann/Panther, Yusuke/Fox, Makoto/Queen, Futaba/Oracle, Haru/Noir, and Sophia/Sophie see a type of theme park room; with the merry-go-round had horses dress all like male sex slaves to Alice Shadow's style. Wow, now that's very disturbing. Moving on...
Futaba: All right! We're in!
Not a pleasant sight to see of being welcome inside the place.
Keiko: Wow...Alice's Shadow sure has bad taste in cute designs...
Akechi: And becoming something not all sexy-like.
Still, they have to move forward with Morgana picking up the strong scent to follow it.
Morgana: I'm picking up that Treasure-like smell right above us, in the throne room. Let's go!
Futaba: The enemy's on high alert. Try not to do anything careless!
Trying to find a way to open the door of the elevator, it was locked to get through. A key must be somewhere in the room they were in.
Ryuji: Ah, the hell...?
Futaba: Great, it's locked...Try finding a mechanism somewhere here.
Seeing the statues of dress up upper body women with wearing other sexy slave clothes, Keiko uses her Third Eye to find the right path of Shadows' footprints to lead the right parts to turn on.
Keiko: I think I know what's what. Sophie, Queen, Noir, and Panther. Go to the other side in order I tell you and then we unlock the door.
With the women in their postings, it was time to get to work. Leave this one to the girls, and the guys as their back up just in case.
Haru: Got it!
Makoto: Same here!
Ann: I'm all set!
Sophia: Whenever you're ready, Joker, give up the single.
Keiko: (These are right without setting off a trap.) Now...One, two, three, and...push the bottoms!
In the right order to hit the buttons, something happened...the door was finally open.
Futaba: Hey, that did it! Good sleuthing and group planning, Joker. Let's get on up there!
Going up then, and the next room almost looks like a toy room of some kind. Getting to another door, tons of Shadows surround the Phantom Thieves.
Sentry #1: Intruders! Get them!
From one becoming a fake Shadow Gegasite of Andras and the other ones from left and right show up next.
Sentry #2: How dare you defy Her Majesty?!
And another Andras shows up too, so it was time to fight!
Futaba: Incoming! We're surrounded!
Keiko: We might as well stop them before we can keep on going. Come on, guys!
The Phantom Thieves give it their all – with their weapons, guns, Personas, and their powers to use. Getting really good at this in battle.
Ryuji: Dammit! How did they jump on us?!
Ann: Ugh, they don't give up!
They needed to fight them anyway, the elevator for the next one was on its way down.
Futaba: The elevator's on its way! Just hang in there!
From Keiko and Akechi's slash combined skills, the others use their guns to fire off the rest of the Shadows to set free and Gegasites to get killed as the Fake Shadows too. Leaving Makoto and Morgana to use their Personas to finish the job on the other two Andras'.
Makoto: Johanna, full throttle!
Morgana: Zorro, show your might!
From venom and wind attacks to weaken the two bird men, and...it worked. Nicely done! Now the elevator was all set.
Futaba: Now, going up...
On the way up...more Shadows try to stop them.
Akechi: Here comes some company!
Futaba: More Shadows here?! But how...?
Sentry: Stop the intruders now!
Lots of Shadows to hope up while going up for a minute and thirty seconds. It was time to go all out.
Futaba: Let's boost them up, Necronomicon!
Now they can fight back. Also Akechi can summon the same Loki Persona if or if not he was with them.
Akechi: Strike down the Gegasites, Loki!
Keiko: Back him up, Arsene!
Ryuji: Let's go, Captain Kidd!
Ann: Time to dance, Carmen!
Yusuke: Goemon, show them true beauty!
Makoto: Johanna, run them all over!
Haru: Milady, fire away!
Sophia: Pithos, back us up!
There were tons of Police Shadows, Drones, Succubus' Jack O'Lanterns, Andras', and such to slow them down, but...they were still no match against any of the Phantom Thieves at all. And finally, time was up to make it to the next floor just fine.
Keiko: Black Crow, you can summon both Robin Hood and Loki?
Akechi: Yeah, I guess I can. One for defense from my first one, and Loki is more of the offense attacks. I think I'm getting used to all of this.
When Loki has changed to call truths and such, he meant well for his work if Keiko didn't change Loki and Akechi's hearts from a year ago. The next room looked like a chess or checkers board of some type of battlefield.
Futaba: That was a pretty rough ride! Everyone holding up?
Morgana: They really aren't messing around with us anymore.
But they can handle anything from this.
Makoto: We've gone quite a ways up already-how much further to the top?
Through the door of cards was next to the inside of the other room.
Akechi: Is it over there?
Futaba: There should be a stairwell on the other side of that door...
With Loki stopping the other Fake Shadows and the twins saving the other Shadows, they were making it to the final destination. Leaving the Phantom Thieves to meet up with them next. And here comes another Shadows to stop them.
Bodyguard Captain: Invasive fifth! You'll never reach the royal hall! The cost of deifying Her Majesty is your heads!
Turning into another Archangel to stop them.
Futaba: Incoming! The exploring can wait until we know it's safe!
Keiko: Let's use our weapons against this Shadow to set it free and stop the other Fake Shadows. Go!
Futaba: Hold up! They've got serious numbers...Wanna try out that party popper?
No wonder why they were all over the battlegrounds. Going from the four each for the guys gives them a shot to go off and weakening the Shadows and the Heavenly Punisher too.
Ryuji: Surprise!
Yusuke: I'm amazed they work.
Akechi: Watch this!
And Morgan goes out on his end...
Morgana: Pop! Goes the weasel!
Blinding the other Fake Shadows for the girls to finish off, Keiko cuts down the other one thanks to her Archangel's powers to use from sword to sword battle, and she has won to set this real Shadow free.
Keiko: Good job, everyone. (Good times, with some new things added in for us. I like this.)
They've done it. The Shadows go to get upgraded to 'even Futaba to back the team up', to go to the door next to be locked. Really...? After all of this?
Ryuji: Aw, what?! Now THIS door won't open!
Futaba: But this door leads to the stairwell...Hmm?
Keiko: What is it, Oracle?
I think she has another idea in mind.
Futaba: Maybe we should check outside? Could be worthwhile.
Finding another way to get outside, lucky to spot a door to have a heart platform out to walk on to the other side.
Akechi: Mid-air platforms?
Futaba: Oh! How about THIS way? Let's see where they take us.
Keiko: Then no one don't look down.
I think they'll all be careful getting across.
Morgana: That Treasure-like smell isn't far now. Let's get to the roof.
Akechi: Around we go then.
From jumping on the heart platforms and the sign words to jump over and get through the other side, without falling down.
Ann: Ah-!
Ryuji: I got ya!
Lovers helping out one another.
Ann: Thank you, Skull.
And staying together to get to another door one at a time, they've all finally made it to Alice Shadow's lair where the power of everyone's Desires of gem hearts were all gathered by her Shadows' doing. So many of them, meaning they've reached close to their final point.
Morgana: This is where the smell is coming from. Be ready for anything, guys.
And seeing in front of them, was some type of huge bird cage. Weird...
Yusuke: Is this some kind of...birdcage?
Makoto: What is this doing here?
Ryuji: And where's Alice?!
Well, she wasn't here right now so it was good for the time being. Still, this could be important and part of Alice Shadow's powers of some kind she was given.
Haru: She doesn't seem to be here...
Akechi: It'll give us a chance to have a look around, before moving any further.
Soon enough, Ann spotted something very big.
Ann: Hey, hey! Look!
Seeing from above...was something huge, gem like, and glowing up all pink-like.
Morgana: Is that a Treasure?!
Keiko: I think it's far different from Treasure this time.
Akechi: It looks like a giant gem.
Morgana: No-you two are on to something. I can also tell now, this is something completely different from a Treasure...
Soon, Sophia spotted something on the other side of the Birdcage.
Sophia: ...! Everyone-hide! Shadows ahead!
Hiding from two Sentry Shadows, for the thieves see them doing something to Shadows' Desire hearts of lots of gems to be all over the ground and being gathered up.
Morgana: What're they doing here?
Sentry #1: Have you brought all the Desires?
Sentry #2: Yes sir, this is all of them so far.
Morgana: Desires...
For power to take for others of their Shadow parts in this world to becoming slaves for Alice, and turning into Gegasites in prison like this place of the Metaverse.
Sentry #1: More are coming soon. Capture every last one of them, seize their Desires, and bring them here.
Sentry #2: Understood, sir.
Lucky for Keiko, Ryuji, Morgana, and Akechi all recognized the gems when they first arrived.
Ryuji: Hey, those are...
Akechi: The ones pulled out by the Shadows...
Morgana: Those are all Desires?!
Keiko: Yeah, there's no mistake there.
From the four first arriving to add Alice as her friends on EMMA, and the event happened to have no effect on the Phantom Thieves but everyone else was 'as the flashback shows it too'.
Ryuji: Yeah, they're the same as what we saw the other day.
End of flashback there, but this is the one and only. With the Desires heart gems to be together and go up to the other ones to become one whole. They've found the human's Desires and probably the second medallion to be somewhere.
Ann: *gasp* Where'd they go?!
Keiko: You don't mean the big thing is one whole gem of Desires...? (It's huge!)
Akechi: I feel so much energy coming out of this thing...Enormous.
There's no doubt about it.
Ann: What WAS all that...?
Haru: They said they were bringing Desires here, right?
Ann: So those jewels are the Desires? They looked like they got sucked up into that light...
Morgana: There's no question. That Treasure-like shimmering up there? That's the Desire.
Bird-Cage, Alice King/Shadow's Castle Jail, and where all the Desires were being kept at...This is the place.
Yusuke: That is?
Makoto: We did hear Alice was collecting them...
Ryuji: But that was a pile of gems-how come they turned into that shimmery thing?
For more power to gather the Monarch to do and finding Pandora's Box was one of them? Soon, Morgana had something in mind to tell the others about it.
Morgana: This is just speculation, but maybe that up there's the original form of a Desire? After all, people's Desires don't naturally have a single, concrete form. Because we all find our own desires precious, that could be why they look like gems here...When the people had their Desires seized by the Shadows, they consciously felt them being taken, so the Desires took form then.
Akechi: ...! Wow, Mona. That's what I thought about too. Amazing how our minds think alike.
Morgana: Nah, you're just being nice. Hehehe...Come on.
Still, it has become something like this.
Futaba: But what turned them back into light? Their Desires are still stolen.
Keiko: From the men to become Alice's slaves and the women to have a cat fight of her own control, like they were her own toys. It's just wrong.
Only to those who don't have a free will – Keiko, Picaro, and Kaguya were different on their ends however.
Morgana: Maybe Alice is considered their owner now that they're in her birdcage here. Alice doesn't seem to believe they can be stolen back-that's why they turned back into their base form. Without them in their Shadows, they'll be slaves and weak of many Gegasites harnessing energies to her.
Makoto: That does seem to follow logically...
This task is different from their original routine.
Yusuke: At any rate, if we reclaim the Desires and release them from the cage, the people may well return to normal. No Gegasites or draining their life of slavery for their energy.
Futaba: Yeah, that's definitely worth a try. We need to get all six medallions and keep the Pandora's Box weapon away from the enemy.
Just one question for Sophia to ask of them and to learn too...
Sophia: One moment-how does one steal light?
Keiko: We make it take form, by using a calling card.
Sophia: A calling card? What is that?
She has a lot to learn about as a new member of a Phantom Thief.
Morgana: It's how we make that shimmery light take material form. If we make the owner aware that someone is after their Treasure, it takes form...Desires should work the same way. To do it, we send a calling card to our target that says we're going to steal whatever is most precious to them.
It works sort of the same thing with some changes.
Sophia: I got it, I think.
Ann: Are we sure it'll work, though? This isn't a Palace with a Treasure...
Yes, how can they pull this one off?
Yusuke: "Nothing is obtained without action." We must at least try first.
Akechi: As the old saying goes...Nothing venture, nothing gain.
Or the other words go-if you first you don't exceed, try, try, again.
Keiko: It wouldn't hurt to try anything by now.
Makoto: For now, let's focus on searching our infiltration route.
Ryuji: Hell yeah! I'm gettin' there first!
Not a good idea to jump head in there first like that...!
Keiko: Wait, Skull-!
But he hits right into an invisible wall to still shock Ryuji's entire body to keep out.
Ryuji: OWWWWW!
Ann: Skull!
His woman was by her boyfriend's side. That had to hurt.
Akechi: Ouch, that's going to sting...
Haru: Skull, are you okay?!
I think he'll live, as always.
Ryuji: I'm good...Thanks, Panther babe.
Makoto: What WAS that?
Appearing out of nowhere 'for Loki as a ghost to do sometimes' meets up with the others.
Sophia: Loki has appeared once again.
Keiko: Loki?
Loki: The twins said hi by the way to aid you guys later on. Also, you can't get through here yet. This is why...
Using a rock to throw at it, it was electrical and completely blocked off too.
Futaba: Nicely done, Loki. I swear from there and Skull ran into some kinda jail cell door. Is there another barrier?
Loki: If I'm not mistaken, it's like some human emotion of some kind...Blocking anything from the outside to keep safe from the inside there.
Soon, Sophia hears something for her to pick up on and not the others. A special skill for an AI like her to have?
Sophia: Am I...hearing something?
Walking up to the barrier was a risky move to be doing.
Futaba: Sophie! Wait!
Loki: Hold it, I think the kid's got it.
As Sophia walks up to touching the barrier, they all soon hear voices to have something to from past events. Could it be from Alice on how she became this way...?
Prideful Woman's Voice: Ugh, would you just go away?
Sarcastic Woman's Voice: What do you think you're doing, looking at the guys like that?
Mocking Woman's Voice: She is like, suuuuch a waste of space, ya know?
Spiteful Woman's Voice: Totally! She's such a loser, it hurts to look at her! Ahahaha!
Alice's Voice: No...I just...
Yep, it was about her past changing so much. So sad...I think the Phantom Thieves were getting closer to the truth and how to remove the barrier next.
Ryuji: The hell was that?
Haru: You heard it too?
Sophia: A memory hidden by the Monarch...
Loki: So, I was right.
I think both Loki and Akechi are onto something again.
Akechi: So, you've noticed it too, Loki? I'm beginning to as well.
Futaba: Sophie, are you all right?
She wasn't hurt by it and since she was only an AI with special skills.
Sophia: No problem here. However, I did figure something out. That memory we heard is the key to the barrier.
Keiko: Yeah, it must be Alice's. (I felt she was being bullied back then to try to become famous somehow in the end, it must've been hard.)
If so, then it's the key to change Alice King/Shadow's heart and giving back everyone's Desires as well as going back to normal too.
Ann: How's that?
Sophia: This cage is currently locked.
Also judging by the sizes of the chains and a lock pad on it, a locked up birdcage.
Haru: You're right...What's that doing there?
Sophia: It will require a key, which we will find in the room those voices came from. It will be some sort of secret room. But we can't find this room here. We need to return to reality for that.
Ryuji: Reality? Why's that?
With one key leading to another from two different worlds, another was a secret one to unlock, like a hidden Metaverse part.
Sophia: The room has been completely isolated. Its entrance exists only in the real world.
Amazing, huh? Like she's on their side.
Ryuji: How'jda know all that? One of your programs or somethin'?
Sophia: I do not know. I merely sense it.
Sadly, she still doesn't remember any of it yet.
Akechi: Still, I think her inner instincts do come in handy while trying to remember who you are.
Morgana: Maybe the lock on this cage is somehow linked to a lock in Alice's heart.
Haru: Mona-chan?
I think he was on to something again...
Morgana: If Sophie's right, what we heard just now is a memory of the Monarch...Joker, you were on to something if we all felt it at the same time.
Keiko: Yeah, we all did when Sophia touched it.
Morgana: That means it is extremely important to her. I have a feeling that memory's acting as the lock on her heart, keeping us from getting past that door.
Well, I guess the Phantom Thieves have to do something new and original in between.
Ann: So the lock's an important memory...
Morgana: It's only natural that the key to this place would be hidden somewhere that no one would find.
Akechi: And she almost fools all of us with it, almost did.
Still, they were getting closer to the final part of the key here.
Yusuke: The logic is indeed sound, but...how is it possible?
Morgana: This has all just been speculation so far-I've never seen anything like this, either...
Makoto: This could be another difference between the Palace and this Jail.
Far different than from their past events.
Futaba: We can't reach the secret room in this world, you said?
Sophia: Correct. We must find the location in reality instead.
Ryuji: And that would be...?
Still no hints or clues for Sophia to pick up on, so they needed to do their own research.
Sophia: I was not able to detect it.
Keiko: It's fine, Sophie. We can't get everything in this Metaverse world.
Haru: But it should be related to those voices somehow, right?
That would be the case, then yes.
Futaba: Hmmm...I could be wrong, but...didn't it sound like someone was getting bullied?
Keiko: I heard it too.
They all did, for Alice was being bullied by other random girls.
Ann: "Looking at guys like that"...Maybe school age?
Haru: That could be!
That's one hint of a clue to be solved so far.
Futaba: Brilliant deduction, Panther!
Ann: I'm just no stranger to hearing that kinda stuff, is all.
It reminds Ann of when she was bullied too before becoming a phantom thief member, they all get her.
Morgana: Panther...
Keiko: It was like you back then, even more with Alice before she was famous.
Makoto: If she's right, does that mean the key we need is somewhere in Alice's old school?
Sophia: That would be logical.
Then they got some work to do.
Loki: *sign* Just keep me posted and for and the twins will do the same thing. Later.
Off the Persona ghost goes, and now to head on back.
Morgana: All right, let's go do some investigation back in the real world next. We're gonna need a calling card, too-looks like we've got our work cut out for us.
So off they go from the Metaverse and back to the real world again, with Kaguya and Picaro seeing them leave to have their work to be done too. Same with Loki to still find his answers.
Picaro: These guys are good.
Kaguya: We would've been Alice's slaves if they didn't come our aid.
Picaro: Still, I think her shadow has the second medallion they need. We're close to getting our answers of the past and the weapon to keep safe.
Kaguya: Yes, sister. Little by little, we're getting much closer to our answers real soon.
Back to the real world now with those other three doing their own line of work...With Keiko, Akechi, Morgana, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, and Haru gather next to Futaba 'and Sophia to look and listen in', the smart young hacker found...nothing. No information about Alice's old high school she went to back then on the website or profile of hers. Why is that?
Futaba: What the what?! How are there no results?
Ann: Really? But isn't stuff like "where celebs went to high school" easy to find online?
Akechi: This wouldn't be hard if I learned more about Alice's background before all of this happened.
Sadly, it was hidden very well from social media.
Futaba: Usually yeah, but this time? No hits, even on the underground sites. All I'm seeing is fake info from deluded fans. Even if she changed her name, there'd still be traces of that somewhere, usually...
Ryuji: There's shit even YOU can't find, Futaba?
Keiko: Ryuji, she is trying her best.
For this one was hidden very well.
Futaba: This reeks of a serious scrub job. Someone-probably her-intentionally hid her past.
Yusuke: This is quite the setback...If we don't discover Alice's alma mater, we'll never find a way into that secret room.
Ann: But, isn't it, like, impossible to just erase stuff from the internet on your own?
Even Akechi couldn't ask any officer for this type of help.
Morgana: Hmm, how else could we approach this?
Haru: What if Mako-Chan's sister looks into it for us? She's a prosecutor-turned-lawyer-maybe she'll have access to useful intel we couldn't gather ourselves.
Sae Niijima was good as a defense lawyer now, just not on something like this one sadly. Or can it...?
Morgana: Oh, that could work! Think it's doable, Makoto?
Makoto: I don't have a problem doing it, but how exactly would I go about asking?
Akechi: Sadly, I can't either. Sae-san would believe us, but getting something from it could be troublesome...I'm sorry, Keiko.
Keiko: It's fine, Akechi. So why is there a problem...?
A lot really.
Makoto: Personal information and histories are legally protected, so I doubt she'd readily agree to hand that over to us. Akechi-san's right.
Ryuji: Yeah, just askin' her to tell where Alice went to school's not gonna fly...
Futaba: I hear ya there. I really wanna wind up on the other side of the table with her getting all, "Answer me!"
Ha! Nice Sae's impression there, Futaba. Still, there might be some hope left over for them to have on their side 'surprisingly'...
Zen: Ah, okay-Alice Hiiragi's school.
To their surprise but Keiko and Akechi, Zen returns to lend them a helping hand.
Akechi: Master!
Keiko: Zenny?!
Futaba: I-I-It's the guys from-
Yusuke: The shady detective.
He's not a bad person to still believe in them, again-I blame some of them for not trusting in Zen yet.
Zen: I'm PubSec, not just some cop detective who raises and I've trained my student Goro-Wait, I'm not shady! Am I?
Akechi: Wearing clothing like that does make you kind of shady, Master. Sorry.
A student was being honest with his teacher.
Haru: So yes, quite.
Zen: These kids are something else...Would you quit sayin' that kinda stuff with that smile on your face?
It's still funny seeing Haru was serious and sometimes scary.
Ryuji: So whaddya want?
Akechi: If it does have something to do on our job, then please tell us.
And so, he does have some good news.
Zen: C'mon, enough with the cold shoulder but Akechi and his woman. You know I'm trying to help you out.
Ann: You, help us?
Zen: You wanna know where Alice Hiiragi went to school, right?
Keiko: That's right, Zenny. But we might have some slight problems there...
Well, another detective like Akechi, two helping hands was better than none.
Zen: Problems, huh? I see...Now for some reason, there's almost no personal info available on Alice Hiiragi. Especially prior to her debut-that is just a big ol' blank. So, since this is giving you all a hard time, I've swooped in to lend a hand.
Akechi: Really, Master?
Zen: You betcha! Intel on Alice would be no sweat for me over in PubSec HQ, so how about it? Want some help?
That's easier said than done to not take his offer. Really...?
Ryuji: Nah, we're good. We'll handle it on our own.
Futaba: Yup, just a little more time and I'll get it myself.
Zen: Great, happy to help-W-Wait, come on now! This is a real-deal connection, here! Just be grateful and take the intel!
Not likely for some of the in the group.
Haru: We're sorry, we just have zero trust in the police.
Ha! Haru was doing it again...
Zen: I told you to stop smilin' when you say that... *sigh* Fine, I've gotta earn you trust first. I get it.
Akechi: It would be wise to do so. They treat you differently than I was.
Zen: Right...Look, Alice Hiiragi is your senpai.
Shocking to hear on a few guesses on which school Alice went to...
Yusuke: She attends Kosei High?!
Zen: Hmm...? Uhh, no. Everyone's senpai but yours or Goro's.
Another high school was at...
Keiko: Ah! Shujin Academy!
Ann: She went to Shujin?!
Bingo! That was it!
Zen: And don't forget it-'cause you owe me one now, got it? Seeya later, Goro.
Akechi: Ah, sure...just nothing too extreme favors to owe please.
The other detective goes to carry out his other job for now.
Ryuji: Welp, there he goes.
Yusuke: It's hard to gauge whether he's friend or foe.
Akechi: He is...Master's a bit of an oddball who still does his job right somehow.
He wasn't wrong, even Akechi wishes to learn other ways without Zen leaving him out in the open.
Keiko: He doesn't show a good poker face at all.
Ryuji: More importantly, how did he know where Alice went to school?
Oh right, that was a mystery there...
Makoto: Could the police already have their eyes on her as well?
Morgana: It's possible-and it would mean...
Makoto: That we can trust him, for now at least. Keiko-Chan's sixth senses or Akechi-san's are never wrong.
Keiko and Akechi: We know.
I think they were slowly starting to so far.
Ryuji: Well, I guess all we can do now's try it...We can find the secret room if we go to Shujin, right?
For what Sophia could tell and let the others know about it.
Sophia: [That appears to be correct. Everything should go SHOOWWOWOWOWOWO and we'll have access.]
She makes funny sound effects again, it's too cute coming from Sophia.
Ryuji: WOWOWOWOW, huh? Sure, got it.
Akechi: We find it, and then we're in.
Makoto: With that settled, let's all head to Shujin now. There's no point in dawdling here.
Morgana: Yeah, Makoto's right. Time to check out Shujin Academy.
Going back there again from the outside of the school, good times. And for the others headed there right away.
Keiko: I never thought I would go back there again, and I'm already a third year student. Well, let's get going, everyone.
It was worth a shot to try it out and see what happens next. If it does work, then the barrier will be removed and the lock on the chains too. Now then...to their destination they go! Good times there for Keiko, Ryuji, Ann, Makoto, Haru, and Futaba going back, huh? For it was closed and hopefully it'll open up to the other area to unlock something with Alice's powers to remove the lock, chain, and barrier.
Ryuji: Are we sure this is right? I'm not seein' anything weird...
Sophia: [I have no doubt. This place gives me the same sensation as when I touched the birdcage.]
Leave it to Sophia to detect things like this one.
Akechi: So we have to open another Metaverse from it here to be smaller than Alice's Jail. I see... (So much to learn about.)
Makoto: To think this is what would bring me back here...
Keiko: Getting nostalgic, Makoto? It hasn't changed a bit.
From visiting festivals and others to finish up the school year, or starting out at a young age.
Makoto: In a way, Keiko-Chan, yes. I may have graduated from here, but it still feels wrong to go in without permission...
Futaba: Permission granted! I'm still a student here, ya know!
Not breaking in type of thing at all.
Akechi: We look around here, not to break in please. I would hate to arrest my friends.
Futaba: Not happening, detective.
Haru: Still...I have no idea if Alice Hiiragi graduated from Shujin.
It was news to all of them, even for Makoto and Haru since they graduated first.
Makoto: I didn't either, and I figured a student council president would know better than anyone about celebrity graduates.
Yusuke: Perhaps she had a past here that she wished to erase.
Makoto: What do you mean, Yusuke?
Her boyfriend might be onto something here...
Yusuke: Please remember, Ms. Makoto. Those voices we heard in her Jail-those cutting words and that painful cry...I don't know whether she was one of the instigators, or the victim of such bullying...However she experienced it, it left such a gaping wound in her heart that she refuses to even acknowledge the truth of the matter.
Makoto: And that truth took place right here.
Morgana: So that's why Shujin has a secret room...
Not just from this school, but some others of Jails who are Monarchs in the Metaverse. Could there be more than one?
Ann: ...
Ryuji: Ann? *sigh* There, there. Welp, we should get movin'. What's next?
Sophia: [We may not be in Shibuya, but this place is still linked to its Jail. Inputting the proper EMMA keyword should permit access as usual.]
So it was like entering Alice's Jail in Shibuya, which should work the same as the key words here at the school.
Morgana: Okay, let's try it. Everybody ready?
Keiko: Yes!
Same with Ann to be ready for this so much.
Ann: Yeah, we're ready. Keyword- "Wonderland"!
EMMA: [Keyword successfully entered. Beginning navigation.]
Once the keywords of those were in, they entered in the small part of the Metaverse for the Jail thing of Alice Hiiragi was there, or somewhere...to look like the old looks of the inside of Shujin's classroom.
Akechi: I believe it worked….? It sure feels like it.
Morgana: So, it's a classroom?
First time for Sophia to be seeing this.
Sophia: [Is this what a school is like? It's rather different than how the internet makes it appear.}
Still, they were in the right area.
Morgana: The cognitive distortions are really strong here. What's going on?
Keiko: Well, something is.
Soon, Ann spots something in front of them.
Ann: Hey, look!
Appearing out of nowhere, was a female in the high school uniform standing on stacks of desks.
Makoto: Aah! A ghost!
Akechi: Not really, it's a cognitive memory of Alice.
It sure looks like it.
Arrogant Student: Are you seriously crying? How pathetic, trying to get us to go easy on you. You tricked HIM the same too, didn't you?
It must be the memory of Alice being bullied by this girl from back then.
Alice's Voice: No, I...I'd never do that...
Ann: What...What IS this?
Hearing more of it...
Arrogant Student: God, you're disgusting! Seriously, why are you still alive? Do us a favor...and die already!
From jumping off the desk tables with her cell phone out, that was when something changed in Alice to get some powers to be both Hans and Ellen's first target.
Hans: Fear not, let us help you.
Ellen: Once you get back at this bitch, you can get away with everything.
Taking it, to turn Alice's EMMA to have power of her own, her first target to have her bully as the first victim of her Shadow to become a Gegasite of a slave and her Desire to be taken too. Soon, the bully girl becomes some weird looking four armed beast with sharp weapons in each of her hands to have. Transforming for the other Phantom Thieves' shock.
Akechi: Joker?
Keiko: I heard two other people too, Black Crow. Something must've happened to Alice to gain so much power. (Just who were those other two voices?)
Later, right now they have to fight this thing.
Ryuji: What the hell?!
Morgana: Careful, here it comes!
Holding up four ax weapons, these things to keep Alice's memories locked up are known as-a Lock Keeper. Or Lock Keepers.
Lock Keeper: Can't you get it through your thick skull? No one wants you around.
Such a new battle they have to face.
Ryuji: Oh, shit! What the hell is goin' on?! This thing just flipped out outta nowhere!
Yusuke: The room's also changed. Are these...prison cells?
Yeah, it looks like the deep depths of Mementos was with everyone in jail all over again. But this one was far different.
Makoto: No time-here it comes!
Futaba: Look sharp, folks!
More incoming Shadows to back up this Lock Keeper in battle for the others give it their all.
Keiko: Team, move out!
Fighting this type of Shadow Lock Keeper will be different and new, watch yourselves!
Makoto: We should avoid wasting energy on our attacks. Let's read the enemy's movements and respond in kind!
This Lock Keeper was fast, skillful in battle, and knew how to use those weapons of hers. While the others took out the other Gegasite Shadows in the way...
Ryuji: Lightning Flash Attack!
Morgana: Blaze of Rage!
Ann: Flame Shooter!
Yusuke: Frozen Waves!
Makoto: Viper Sting!
Haru: Petals of Doom!
Sophia: SP Piercer!
And with Futaba backing them up with defense, offense, and power ups with her barrier too.
Futaba: I gotcha all! Web Cage!
Not bad so far. As the Lock Keeper was also weak to ice and water, Yusuke backs them up a bit more.
Yusuke: Let's aid my friends, Goemon!
And the rest Keiko gets out her other ice power Persona to do the rest to put the hurt on this type of Shadow.
Keiko: Freeze!
Akechi: We're getting there! Just a bit more...Loki and Robin Hood, aid us!
Almost there to fight while talking in between...
Lock Keeper: Your face really pisses me off. Why won't you just go off and die for us already?
So rude there, huh?
Morgana: Those wind-up attacks look like they'll really hurt! Better stay sharp!
From an All-Out Attack of theirs was working so far.
Lock Keeper: Aren't you supposed to be all down in the dumps?! What're you doing batting your lashes at some guy?
Ann: What is WITH this thing?!
Must've been jealous of the easy going Alice to be nice and pretty, maybe that's why.
Akechi: Jealous of some other pretty girl...
Futaba: I don't know, maybe...? But...whatever that thing is, it's horrible!
Ryuji: What the hell's up with this room, too?! Ain't it supposed to have the birdcage key in it? To THIS?!
Fighting the Lock Keeper must be the only way?
Sophia: The key is most assuredly here. It must be hidden somewhere within the cell.
Makoto: We're not exactly fit to search for it now-focus on the enemy first!
From swinging, hitting, and crushing to avoid not getting killed, this thing was tough! Now using fire attacks, Ann does a lot more for Ryuji and Keiko could tell she feels bad for Alice to be this way today. Same with Keiko backing them up with her other Persona of fire skills.
Keiko: Fire!
Working so far. Soon, hiding from the grounds to almost getting hit but the other Fake Shadows did.
Haru: *gasp* Look out!
Too close there, wasn't it?
Ryuji: It's warpin' all over the place now! Quit cheatin', dammit!
That's easier said than done, at least Keiko and Arsene weakens the Lock Keeper a bit more from the Show Time attack.
Arsene: Well done, my dear. More! More power!
Heads up! Really fast swinging skills the Lock Keeper was doing next, Futaba's barrier goes up right away.
Keiko: Get back!
Ryuji: Whoa! This thing's really puttin' up a fight!
Makoto: Don't get too close! Keep a safe distance!
Luckily they took turns hitting the Lock Keeper little at a time to be worse in talking, than it is a big baby in battle.
Lock Keeper: Ahahaha, that's so good! You think a guy would actually be into someone like YOU? Get real!
So this is what happens when Gegasites turn Shadows into slaves with their Desires gone, as well as people's Lock Keeper too on their secrets? Scary...Then this must be their mature form.
Keiko: This thing is rude in battle and from back then!
Lock Keeper: Huh? Oh, you're here? You're so bland I didn't even notice you, hahaha!
Ann: Is this stuff...from Alice's past? Did she really go through all this?
Haru: There were some truly terrible things said in the classroom as well...
All the girls and the main bully did was to break Alice down like this from back then.
Yusuke: I believe we've seen why Alice strove so far to wipe the records of her time at school...
Probably, Shujin wasn't good before helping out students to stop the bullying. So rude! More axes to be thrown around, Akechi shoots down and cuts the rest into pieces.
Akechi: Has your mother told you to never play around with sharp objects?
Time for their All-Out Attack to be a big one for each character like Ann does it well.
Ann: See ya!
From that to then saying – Take Your Heart afterwards, now weakening the Lock Keeper to keep on fighting a bit more while it was still down. Morgana does a Show Time move next to be so close now.
Lock Keeper: I heard you actually confessed your feelings to him? Gross. SO FUCKING GORSS! Are you just, like, obsessed with guys now or something? It's not like you'd ever make a good couple. In fact, I think I'll take him off your hands for you! Ahahahaha!
Yusuke: "Take him"? So, all of this bullying was over some affairs of the heart.
Truly bullies to be awful on one girl.
Akechi: How could they?!
Ann: What a bunch of bullies! They were just too mean to Alice!
Enough for Ann to weaken a lot from fire and hear whipping moves, allowing for Keiko and Akechi to finish it off.
Keiko: Black Crow!
Akechi: Joker!
Combine move time!
Keiko and Akechi: Light and Dark - Energy Blast!
The last hit finishes Lock Keeper off for good, they do need to be destroyed there, it was fine and not real.
Ryuji: Hell ya! We did it!
Morgana: Hang on, something's up...
Yeah, once the Lock Keeper was destroyed...it turns into the same lock pad back in Alice's Jail to be having a barrier and lock and chains all over.
Ryuji: What have we got here?
Trying to touch it, but it lights up weirdly.
Morgana: Huh? What the–?
Soon to be disappearing next for the entire room of the Metaverse started to shake.
Ann: What?!
It affected back in the Shibuya Castle Jail back in the main Metaverse, the chains of the lock were gone. They can now go to Alice's Jail to face her and get the Desires back. They've done it.
Makoto: What was that rumbling?
Sophia: The birdcage in the Jail is now unlocked. We will be able to access it.
If Sophia says so, then it must be true.
Akechi: I believe you're right, Sophie.
Keiko: Then we did it.
Ryuji: For real?!
Yeah, it was fine to do so now.
Sophia: It appears our most recent target held the key.
Yusuke: In other words, we defeated the warden guarding the key.
Yep, although it was a sad one to get what they needed.
Morgana:A warden in Alice's memories...A key to the cage in her Jail...So a different Shadow held the key, not Alice's?
Ryuji: What're you goin' on about?
This guy knows of something big...
Morgana: O-Oh, nothing, I was just thinking how many differences there are from the Palaces.
Haru: Good point-the Palace doesn't have any rooms like these, or wardens guarding keys in hidden locations...
Akechi: So I was right about how this whole thing works.
Makoto: It's as if the more we learn, the messier the situation gets.
And it's all thanks to Sophia's help.
Ann: If it weren't for Sophie, we wouldn't have even made it here.
Sophia: Have I been helpful to the Phantom Thieves?
Ann: Mmhm, you know it!
Keiko: Good job, Sophie.
This made her happy to be humming.
Sophia: Praise accepted.
Ryuji: Well, we'll praise ya all ya want later-we've got a birdcage to bust open.
Morgana: True. We have one last task in the real world first...Let's send Alice the calling card and take back those Desires.
Going back to the real world now to think of a way to send the calling card to Alice somehow before going back to her Jail tomorrow night. With Loki telling the twins of Kaguya and Picaro the news.
Loki: We're moving out first thing tomorrow night.
And lucky to find Alice's second medallion to get too while also saving everyone's Desires.
Picaro: Then we'll be ready to head out with the Phantom Thieves, and get more of our answers of the past found.
Kaguya: Of course. Little at a time, we'll get what we need back.
As well as the twins to be watching things, with Ellen on her job and getting her brother to notice his sister...
Ellen: Oh, Brother... (He'll notice me soon enough. As well as carrying out Mommy's task.)
Gross...Still he seems to study the Phantom Thieves' moves and such, to keep some data on the girls but Sophia for some other reasons than Makoto, Futaba, Haru, Ann, the twins, and mostly with Keiko he seems to get his attention on. Yeah, now that's what I call a total stalker and a pervert all into one human being like he is….or so he and Ellen both appear to be.
Hans: (Out of all the girls and the mysterious AI I have nothing out of her...This one has piqued my interest the most, the woman in black and leader of the Phantom Thieves—Keiko Amamiya aka Joker.)
Damn! From grabbing Keiko's hair from Alice's doll making, he knows who she is. Not good! What will happen next? More in the next chapter/episode for all us to find out soon enough, so please stay tuned.