Persona 5 Strikers – From Light and Dark
By Tayla Drago
Episode #60 - Sophia, the Fonder of Pandora's Box
The Arcana topic to talk about here is this...
Hope
Like the Faith Arcana, the Hope Arcana is not found in standard Tarot decks. The Hope Arcana is present in the Visconti-Sforza Tarot deck. While upright, it represents hope, optimism and positivity. On the other hand, reversed, it can represent despair, false hope, negativity and pessimism.
You'll see why it's posted on here. With Pandora's Box spreading a lot for the curse to happen in the Metaverse and the real world – 'with Sojiro aiding other people and the same with Sae, Miyako, and Akane working together to have people notice the Phantom Thieves through a hoard of deadly Gegasites under their queen's order and EMMA, since Dr. Guru is making all of this bad for Sango to still work for this freak and Ichinose to change the world for EMMA only; with Aika, Hitomi, Hans, and Ellen still under mind control. They need to be saved! As well as Lava with a lot of Frost family had to think of something to help out too.
Dr. Guru: Ah, such beauty...A few more steps until my Pandora comes back to me for our love. You four are useful even when I thought one of the bodies would do, but being my bodyguards will do me some good. And for Ichinose herself, just a little while longer...
Sango: ….
Wow, someone didn't like her own twin sister huh? Ichinose might be in danger. With the crystal data thing still on upload – hopefully for Futaba to come up with something to aid the Phantom Thieves to stop Ichinose crystal and saving the others come first, because sadly they can't do too many things at once as well as placing Sophia's body to rest up back outside leaving – Keiko/Joker, Akechi/Black Crow, Morgana/Mona, Ryuji/Skull, Ann/Panther, Yusuke/Fox, Makoto/Queen, Futaba/Oracle, Haru/Noir, Zen/Wolf, Loki, and Raiho won't be backing out of this one to fall back down, they're still up and headstrong.
Akechi: Auntie...No, Ichinose. You and Sango have to stop this!
Ichinose: Oh wow, you guys actually came back? And Akechi, not calling me your auntie now? Naughty, naughty nephew. None of you could've just stayed down there.
Dr. Guru: Already here? Alright, my puppets. Guard us.
By command - Hans, Aika as Picaro, Hitomi as Kaguya, and Ellen guarded the three to fight with the Phantom Thieves again.
Ichinose: Thank you, doctor. Look, you might not win again. I mean, no matter how many times you come back here, it'll be pointless.
Keiko: And using the others as your shields? We'll save them from your mind control. Same with your madness, Dr. Guru. Or should we say...Prometheus!
Guru just smiles to not hide his true identity for very long.
Dr. Guru: So you all figured me out, huh? Not bad. Yes, I am his Shadow with Pandora's brother aiding me the most before dying. But it's all to bring back my lover for a new world change and to live forever.
Really mess up in the head right now, and no longer human either.
Morgana: Hmph, we're about to disprove your little theory. And the fake doctor to be stop along with the weapon.
Akechi: So, he did open the box.
More on that later if they don't do something in a few days, or doomsday in all the worlds for Gegasites is taking over everything.
Ryuji: You're going down!
Ann: Starting with you, Ichinose, and then the fake doctor of a sick loving sister love! We're gonna slap some sense into you and get Sophie back up and running!
She still thinks it's all pointless.
Ichinose: Really? Why are you fighting this? You could witness the birth of a god and among the first people to enter the Promised Land. From love, saving the other four, changing the world, saving many lives, and everything. All of it. No one is ever going to suffer again, or even want for anything. You realize you're fighting against utopia, right?
Akechi: No!
Ichinose: Excuse me?
Akechi: This isn't right, it's all wrong! Others are suffering more back in our world and more here! Don't you get it? Because Sango doesn't know it either!
That's one way for a nephew to tell off his own aunt.
Dr. Guru: Talk about getting burned. They just don't understand our goals.
Yusuke: Having a sole path foisted upon you with no regard for a person's wishes-in what world is that a utopia? Take this very Jail, for instance. These people, locked up in cells by cursed demons unleashed, have had what makes them human stolen from them. Yet you dare to call this place the "Promised Land" for all humanity?!
For Ichinose didn't care but to laugh and Dr. Guru to be very serious.
Dr. Guru: Grr...It's all for my take to bring back someone I truly love, none of you don't get it!
A brother in love with a sister is so mess up!
Keiko: Siblings don't fall in love with each other even when one of the is dead! It's sick! Ellen had problems with Hans because you try to make clones to become the ones you use to be!
That makes sense with the Guyver clones there. Guru would've been the new Hans and Pandora's spirit as Ellen in a clone body.
Dr. Guru: Ah, what made that get out? You got me, not bad. Keep it the way it is for I will make it happen.
Ichinose: Of course, what he said. Your first was considering this place a prison. With the doctor and I aiding each other for his love of power, EMMA protects people. She shields them from worry, from pain, from any suffering. It's the utopia people have dreamed of since the beginning of time. Even from Pandora's sad story that started it all. EMMA knows how to bring us all to the Promised Land.
With some things to look like from the Phantom Thieves point of view, back from the Depths of Mementos.
Morgana: Big surprise that your so-called "promised land" looks just like Mementos. That's how we know you're full of it! We can tell this whole place is wrong!
Akechi: Mix in with an underground casting spell of a freakin' cult.
Loki: Ha! I couldn't say it better myself, kid.
Yeah, it was sort of like it since Pandora's Box was released. With Raiho being strong and wanted to talk if he could, but couldn't to say anything at all with his true feelings.
Haru: Our progress is guided by out hearts and paved through our efforts. We'd never just hand our lives over!
Akechi: Ichinose, is this what you want? And Sango doesn't seem to care. Doesn't that bother you?
Doesn't look like she does nor Sango the most.
Ichinose: Boy, you sure are one tough gang. I bet you all took life by the horns and just made everything go your own way, huh? Even you, Akechi, how sad. I also say my sister and I both agree with all of this to work together, she's strong while I'm smart. But that applies to very few people in the real world. What of all those who've lost their way? Huh...? Ever think about that a little?
Dr. Guru: They just don't get how I felt in love from centuries ago...
Loki: It's because of the war my family had against your creation to make a Shadow of the Gegasites, the curse never ended!
He seems to remember all that part for Zeus to do some good and a curse to be added on Pandora when she opened the box.
Dr. Guru: Did I do that? Well, Zeus did kick me out to get what he got. From love, I had to have a strong distorted desire to be reborn to also silence Mia for being a bad daughter. Pitiful...
Ichinose: Of course, let the doctor love again. The outcasts in your schools, the people mocked and slandered on the internet... If any one of them steps out of line, their fate is sealed. The burden forced on them will haunt them the rest of their lives.
Dr. Guru: I wanted her to love me, the man rejected her and his best friend tried, but it failed. It was only right for I to create the curse.
Ichinose: You're fine with all those people going through that like he did? All because YOU'RE strong? Because YOU never screwed up?
Dr. Guru: Pandora's the only woman and sister I ever loved and always will! And what makes you, Loki? A ghost to be brought back since you were heart broken too? Oh yes, I know these things too well.
None of these two were making any sense at all. The other all say they're not perfect but to keep gong on.
Sango: ...
Futaba: You're so wrong, Ichinose. I'm not strong at all...Not now, not ever. I still mess up and make plenty of mistakes...I'm sure I'll even screw up in the future, too!
Morgana: I've seen it all with my own eyes. Every one of these guys has crawled back up from rock bottom. They suffered, they struggled, and they fought back. They weren't born strong, they grew strong! Isn't that sort of growth what makes people human in the first place?!
Ichinose: ...
This gets to Ichinose a bit hard there. As for Akechi had to make Guru talk, on his mother's death.
Akechi: I knew my Mother didn't kill herself, she was killed and poison by Shido's orders you did for him with payment. So why did you murder him? Shuzo I get to try to do the right thing in the end. So why...? Why murder her?
Dr. Guru: Oh, her? You're her kid, right...? As if I don't know all of your identities already. Fine, I'll say it. I would've fall for her to have Pandora's spirit become whole in her body. From Shido paying me with good cash on my research, I did him and myself a favor. Made it look like she cut her own wrist, but I set it up to force poison down her throat and then...She let out the last air from her lungs, I cut her wrist to make it look like a suicide. If only she was willing to join me, then I would've by now with her Desires taken. But nope, a wasteful end there.
So mess up to have Akechi to hear the shocking news ever.
Sango: ...
Akechi: I knew she wasn't insane or Shido couldn't pull it off alone...IT WAS ALL YOU!
Zen: He became an orphan because of you!
Dr. Guru: So? You took him in as a detective was good enough, right?
It was still wrong to have Loki firing off a power of his next to Guru for the twin girls stopped it, but it was only a warning.
Loki: That was a warning...! What you did to this kid's and my family, you'll pay for everything, doc!
Dr. Guru: Try that again. I dare you...!
As for Ichinose to have some feelings was shown than being heartless.
Zen: Hey, Ichinose. If you don't have any emotions, why do you look so pissed off right now? Huh...? Your jealousy over these kids is plastered across your face.
Keiko: Snap out of it, Ichinose! For your nephew! Your sister loss it, so don't become her. And don't ignore your true feelings.
Then with one harsh word to say next was this...
Ichinose: Shut up.
Loki: Come again now?
Ichinose: All of you, shut up. When an infallible AI puts you on the right path, you follow it. Humans don't need hearts. Sentries and Gegasites, stop them from reaching to the crystal!
Lots of Sentries and Bug of fake Shadows appear to fight off against the Phantom Thieves, but that's not all...
Dr. Guru: OK, getting nosey now. I'll have to kill you all. Lady, here's my toys to play with them well against them. I'll at least back you up.
With the fake doctor and Sango on stand by, the others got ready to fight off the Sentries and fake Shadows of Gegasites to stop them from getting to the crystal data. With the mind control of the four Hans, Aika, Hitomi, and Ellen got ready to kill the others out.
Akechi: Everyone, don't kill the others but the Sentries and fake Gegasite Shadows. We will do this.
Keiko: And don't forget about the crystal to stop too. Be on guard. (We can do this...) Team, let's move out!
As Raiho got his weapon out, Loki took out the ones who were bad he could kill of the Gegasites and Sentries only while Raiho saved the Shadows who are all mind controlled.
Loki: Then let's get ready to rumble!
Time to do what they all do best in battle as well as what Kuon Ichinose is one of the Seven Deadly Sins thing...
Persona #77 - Envy = the Jealousy of Magic
Morgana: There's a whole lot of 'em...Give it everything you've got, guys!
From Raiho freezing up the real bad guys and smashing them to bits, while Loki cut up the rest on his end very quickly.
Loki: Less anger on the brainwashed ones, and more on these demon bugs...BE GONE!
Akechi: Thanks for aiding us, Loki. Really.
Loki: Hey, kid, whatever makes you happy.
Like Akechi and Keiko's love for each other is one of them for Loki to see them happy together.
From there and some others of the four moving around and attacking, the Phantom Thieves moved quickly to take out the bad ones and defend from their other attacks, without killing the other four. Hans, Ellen, Aika, and Hitomi will be saved
Ryuji: Heh, it don't matter how many weaklings they throw at us-we'll crush 'em all! And save these guys!
These mind control ones were good, but the others won't fall for the same strike twice. From weapons to block of their attacks and dodging, the gun shots to have them move away from gravity powers, light water, dark magic, and esp was big.
Keiko: I have some Personas with great powers to hold them off, but that's all. Use your chance to stop the Gegasites to set all the Shadows free. Don't hurt those guys! (All I can do is slow them all down.) Double Daggers of Darkness!
Not bad, leaving Futaba to study the crystal as well to aid the others with some Sentries all killed off too thanks to her other skills to use.
Futaba: Techno Claws! (C'mon, just a little while longer...)
Ichinose: Ahahaha, don't you see that's pointless? To all of this? You're all getting blasted again pretty soon.
Futaba: All right, I'm starting the frequency back! Watch my back, guys! Keep Ichinose's attention until I can drop that barrier! Save our other friends!
And they will to take out other Fake Shadows and Gegasites. Helicopter ones, guarded ones, other fighters, dog machines, and such with also regular Gegasites.
Morgana: Whirlwind Tackle!
Ryuji: Mega Volt!
Ann: Spinning Inferno!
Yusuke: Tsunami Blast!
Makoto: Poison Fangs!
Haru: Daisy Vines!
Zen: Call of the Wild!
Loki: Psycho Big-Bang-Boom!
As the others to make something and Keiko as well, Akechi keeps the other four trapped.
Akechi: My turn... (We'll save you Aika. Hitomi. Hans. Ellen.) Double Edge Sword Take-down!
Trapped now with no out but Dr. Guru to use his magic string to hold them on standby.
Dr. Guru: That won't hold them forever you know.
Futaba: It's better than killing them. I mean, it's just a trash mob. Easy victory ahead!
Just a little bit longer on her end.
Dr. Guru: Fine, break down the spell, kiddies.
And do so, but it'll take a bit to slow them down. No mind controlled two Personas of two half human twins won't pull this one off. With Akechi's plan and Loki's powers are doing the trick so far.
Ichinose: A hold me down spell? Oh, how silly. You really don't know when to give up-do you actually think you're going to stop me or the doctor?
Yusuke: Unfortunately for you, "give up" is not a phrase found in the Phantom Thieves vocabulary.
Makoto: Even with the whole world turned against us, we fight for our beliefs!
Ann: That's pretty much our entire deal!
Haru: As long as we're still breathing, we press on!
None of them were giving up at all or was Raiho at all, none of them were.
Ichinose: ...Sango.
Sango: Heh...
She seems to be showing her true colors more and more for this mean twin sister.
Zen: That said aunt to Goro or not, that said, I'm not sure how much longer we can do this...hurry up, Oracle!
The others kept on shooting and cutting through the ones who needed to be stopped.
Akechi: We will win this! I will save these children no matter what it takes. (It should hold them off a bit longer...)
Slime mess up Sentries and such keep on going and going to fighting back.
Dr. Guru: Picky thieves, aren't they? Yawn.
Ichinose: Oh-ho! I was wondering why it was taking so long to charge up. So this is your fault, Futaba-chan?
She knows now, not good!
Another song from Lyn - Counter Striker.
Keiko 'singing': Counter strike
Come on, give it your all
You've come a long way
But let me just say
Faking is not enough, so
Counter strike
Ain't it all worth fighting for, no?
Being a device is not what you signed up for
Welcome back to your own game show!
So many melodies deep inside you
Listen
Your own rhythm is the one to go for
Come on now!
Dance your own crazy style on and on as you like
Ev'ry time A thin line No limits Only new options
(Try to be yourself!)
Time to listen to your heart
Once again ready to start
Can't you see what is inside
All alone astray in the night
(Acting like you're right!)
It's your turn to get it right
Get up now, ready to fight
Bring it on, your counter strike
Is the only chance you will get
(Don't you dare forget!)
Oh never forget to show your true colors
Oh never forget to question destiny
You can be more than a puppet
You'll never be just a doll
Can't you feel
The rhythm
So vivid
Yes you are right
This is your fight
Counter strike
Time to be your own hero
Counter strike
Come on, you've seen it all
Nothing more to say
Today's a new day
So won't you at least try, no?
Counter strike
Waiting won't fix it for you though
Be honest, haven't you learned it the hard way, no?
Welcome back to your magic show!
So many beautiful dreams inside you
Listen
You are the one who needs to care for them
Dream on now!
With your head in the clouds, left and right, up and down
Honestly Just break free Maybe there really are wonders?
(No more irony!)
Time to listen to my heart
Oh I'm ready to start
I have seen what is inside
No more straying through the night
(I decide what's right!)
Finally I got it right
I am here, ready to fight
Bring it on, my counter strike
Will burn down ev'ry foe ahead
(I want to dream on!)
I'll never forget to show my true colors
I'll never forget to question destiny
I will be more than a puppet
I'll never be just a doll
I can feel
The rhythm
So vivid
Yes you were right
This is my fight
Counter strike
Time to get up on my feet
Good song there, huh? So now what's going to happen next? Futaba gives all of her hacking skills a shot against Ichinose's skills.
Futaba: That's right-you against me, Ichinose!
Ichinose: Ahahaha, now that sounds fun! I'm not too familiar with now things are done here, buuut...Basically, all I need to do is just think up a barrier program, right?
She was fighting back now with Hans, Ellen, Aika, and Hitomi breaking free soon enough.
Dr. Guru: Ichinose, have my toys get out of the mess first and then under your shield skills once they're free on the our enemy es. You got this. Whatever they try to do, they can't break my lover's spell of mind control. EMMA, what do I do without you.
Ichinose: I got this.
This was not good at all.
Futaba: Whoa! How'd it just-?!
Makoto: This is bad...if we don't stop it, we're the ones who go down here!
Morgana: Man, this is a tough fight! We're all counting on you, Oracle!
Not giving up at all, Loki kept his spell to have the other four restrain a bit longer while fighting off the Gegasites and Fake Shadows, along with Raiho backing him up.
Loki: We better find a way to end this...! Dammit...We can't last this long!
Trying to hold up on the leftovers and holding down the other brainwashed ones, hopefully it lasted longer on Futaba's end.
Keiko: Keep going, Loki! Raiho! You two got this! (I hope this was enough.)
Ann: *gasp* *pant* Did we do it?
Sadly, the shield caught the other four to be free from Loki's spell and Ichinose kept the crystal going.
Ichinose: Got them back. Nice try. Phantom Thieves-but no. Sorry.
Charging up for another attack to be unleashed.
Akechi: It didn't work!
Futaba: Dammit, there's not enough time! I'm sorry, guys...Get out! Quick!
Get back now before they get killed.
Doing so from the blast to slowing them down, the four mind controlled ones took out the Phantom Thieves, Loki, and Raiho to all go down in seconds, even poor Futaba.
Akechi: Joker...
Keiko: Black Crow...
Reaching out to each other of their hands to touch, they were trap now.
Loki: No...! I can't die again like this...!
With Ichinose in range to attack again with the crystal and the four on standby...Dr. Guru steps on the lover's hands in pain with his foot.
Dr. Guru: Oops, must've slip. You two are so close, like I am with my Pandora. However, this scene makes me sick!
Sango: ...! Heh.
His partner does the same with Akechi the most to be screaming in pain.
Keiko: No, stop it!
Soon to show a very long knife in his hand to point it at Keiko's face, the villains look like they had the upper edge of winning. No...!
Dr. Guru: "Stop it"? Is that it? Unlike you're trying to stop us? How sad? Joker, you are the leader who'll do anything for her teammates...and I do mean anything for them...
Keiko: Leave them alone-!
Holding her down to have a cut on Keiko's hands, the next part was near her neck. Mess up on how Guru licks his bloody weapon with his tongue. Ew!
Dr. Guru: Come now, I'm just doing my job. I'll do anything for my sister to love her forever and others to have a brand new body of clones for us to live on forever. I needed the weapon to make all of this happen, everything to change it all. Don't you all wish to be free with no worries, others who don't believe in you, dream, and be with the ones who like you as a friend? It was for me with Zeus, but I can do whatever I want when I was brought back into this of a made up human to get to my goal. All of it...Was worth it! So, Joker, you just tell me you give up and I'll make your wishes come true with the snap of my fingers. I hate to kill off such amazing skillful fighters to admire a bit, so this saves me the trouble. Now say it...the Gegasites will make you all into slaves while your real selves go into a deep sleep mode. Now say it already or your boyfriend will lose his hands. Hey you, keep stomping.
She does to hurt Akechi a lot more.
Akechi: Stop it!
Zen: Leave him alone!
Getting punched in the face by Guru's doing.
Dr. Guru: Shut up! Stupid cop. C'mon on, Joker, say you give up. Let me hear it.
About to give in...Keiko gets back up carefully to decided. Seeing how Pandora's spirit was suffer like Mia was to be saved from this nightmare – others were supporting her. Lava, the Frost family, Sojiro, Akane, Sae, Miyako, and others for the Phantom Thieves to keep on fighting, even Sophia as well. For Akechi, Morgana, Zen, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, Haru, and Loki support their leader/friend to not give in.
Akechi: Joker...please stay strong...
Morgana: We'll never surrender!
Ryuji: Leave her alone!
Ann: Joker's not just our leader...!
Yusuke: But she's our best friend too!
Makoto: We all love her!
Futaba: Joker will never give up!
Haru: And neither will all of us!
Loki: Keiko! The doctor only wants us dead! Please don't let him get to you!
Soon for the first time to have Raiho get back up on his little feet first, he finally was able to say something out of his mouth for the first time ever.
Raiho: Hee...Hoo...Hee...Hoo...J...J...JOKER!
Shocking to hear a Persona 'for most of them' speaks up to shock others, even Keiko to know what she was fighting for. Getting back up, she fires her gun at Sango to restrain her hand only to get really hurt.
Sango: AAAAAAH! Ah!
Ichinose: Sango!
Now Keiko was very serious...
Keiko: That was a warning shot, bitch...! I won't kill you, but it will hurt your hand for a bit for me to fire off on the side of my gun! And you, doctor faker!
Dr. Guru: What the hell?!
Keiko: Don't move! We'll never surrender to your own world change, we want to live our lives the way it is now! Don't you dare hurt Black Crow, use those women, my friends, and me like we're nothing to give up on! Pervert! Pandora hates you!
Hearing those words to really break Dr Guru's heart. All true, he must've known a lot. However, he's in a big denial to admit it.
Dr. Guru: So that's your answer...? Stupid son of a bitch!
Moving away from the slashing of his knife, he just kicks Sango down on the ground and in pain.
Sango: Ah!
Ichinose: Hey!
Dr. Guru: Shut up! Worthless whore! And you, how dare you talk about my lover to reject me, she would never-!
Another gun shot goes off for Akechi destroys Guru's weapon to save Keiko's life this time as well as Raiho freezes up Sango and Guru for not going anywhere.
Akechi: I felt worse pain from others, but you hurting my Princes...! You're a true monster than my aunties to all be in denial! I'll see you stop for Loki's sake too.
Loki: Hey, the little snowman talked to keep the others going. Heh, not bad.
Dr. Guru: Why I outta...! I SAID SHUT UP! Ichinose, forget about your sister for one second and blast these thieves to fucking bits! I will bring Pandora back to love me again!
Ichinose: I'm doing this for EMMA the most, remember? Fire away.
Keiko and Akechi stays strong, incoming blast for the others were still too weak to get away.
Zen: Black Crow!
Futaba: JOKER!
Back outside of the room, Sophia's body...somehow wakes up! For the blast fires, but it didn't hit Keiko and Akechi to only be saved by Sophia and her Persona Pithos to come to their rescue, she was okay now. So far that is...
Keiko: Hey, look!
Futaba: Sophie!
Akechi: She's okay!
Loki: Good, you're still functioning.
With her eyes blinking from blue to red, she might be under Ichinose's control still. Well, she did save the others by luck to stop the crystal's firing at least. Since Raiho could only say Keiko's code name Joker to just pointed out in shock for he was surprise and happy too.
Sango: Huh?
Ichinose: Oh?
Dr. Guru: What...? YOU!
More help has arrived to have a better chance still, this had the other four mind control one see this to have...some memories to be drawn back. Hans to love girls to know of his real self, Ellen as well to care for her brother from her mistakes to also like cute things; Aika and Hitomi to be brought back at Personas but to be part of their for they're Persona-Users all along. Was the mind control spell wearing off?
Morgana: Sophie! You're awake!
Makoto: Wait, her eyes are...
Sophia: ...
Still functioning while fighting off Ichinose's control.
Haru: Are you still fighting it, Sophie?
Keiko: Please don't give into her! (Fight back! We don't want to lose anymore friends...!)
For Guru and Sango were lost right now.
Sango: ...!
Dr. Guru: Hey you, do something about this!
I think she tries to do something.
Ichinose: This is quite unusual. I thought you were programmed to obey my commands...Yet here you are, resisting them. Just what's going on in your mind, Sophia?
Speaking up as hard as Sophia to not do what Ichinose tells her to do again.
Sophia: Kuon...Ichinose...Turn me back...to how I was!
Ichinose: No can do. After all, that's not what EMMA wants. Not of the curse of Pandora. She told me to stop the Phantom Thieves-and it's your job to help me and the doctor with my sister with that, Sophia. The other four were saved, and you should be too. Obey my commands, Sophia.
Snapping her fingers, this messes with Sophia's entire body to try fighting back this time. But for how long.
Sophia: *gasp*
Akechi: Ichinose, don't do this!
Fight back, please...
Ryuji: C'mon, Sophie! You can beat this!
Keiko: Fight it! We're here for you! Don't give up!
All of the support and Raiho cheering Sophia on to keep on going.
Sophia: Black Crow...Skull...Jo...Joker...every...one...
Ichinose: Sophia, you're nothing more than a doll. There's no defying me.
More than a AI but some doll to Ichinose since she made her?
Sophia: I'm...a doll?
Ichinose: That's right. That's always been the truth.
Futaba: Bull crap! Sophie's no some doll!
No, she's a Phantom Thief member and a friend to them!
Akechi: Futaba's right! You've got it flipped, she's our friend.
Morgana: Like Guru's mess up doll of his mind control...the doll that EMMA's toying around with here? That's you two, Ichinose and Sango!
This made Sango kind of mad.
Sango: Grr...!
While Ichinose was laughing about all of this.
Ichinose: ...Heh...Ahahaha!
Ann: She's laughing?
Wow, can she make up her mind on what to really feel?
Ichinose: You nailed it! I'm a heartless doll, exactly!
Makoto: Huh?
Akechi: Stop! You're not...!
Maybe Sango is one herself but not Ichinose for Akechi can feel it out compare to Keiko as well.
Keiko: Why is she being so harsh on herself? (I don't get it...)
Ichinose: You guys could probably never understand. I bought Sophia to life so I could learn about the human heart...Remember what I told you? All my life and Sango's, I've never felt what other people call the heart...I did while she took care me with a headstrong heart of her own.
Sango: ...
Showing a flash back on what happened...Sango worked hard to support Ichinose during the time and their mother since her husband left them. One night, a criminal stole to killing their mother. Well, Sango stopped the man to bring justice really hard to defend her other twin sister. The police believe in their story to be brought to live with their aunt and uncle to take care of them. Until Sango took care of Ichinose...only to be in hiding more, because Sango not only restrain the bad guy, but she fought hard to hit his heart to bleed to death the next day in his sleep. She meant to do that a lot. Since Ichinose witness their mother's death and Sango going in so deep to kill, well...she became quiet to look so shallow.
Creepy Relative: She just lost both her parents after her older twin sister came in to the rescue, and even then...Kuon Ichinose doesn't cry...Her expression doesn't even change.
Arrogant Relative: She reminds me of some lifeless doll. But Sango Ichinose might be much worse, the man who killed their only mother suffered a lot. I would've felt bad for him if he wasn't a crook.
Creepy Relative: It doesn't even matter what you say to her, she doesn't answer. She just sits there on her computer all day. It's like...It's like the younger one is just totally heartless.
From the family funeral and then during high school for Sango over the years was a bit cold around Ichinose had trouble at home, and more at school over the years for others to question Ichinose the most.
Mean Student: Hey, don't you think she's sorta creepy? She never reacts to anything, even if you're being nice. Maybe she's not a human like her other twin sister...
Reproachful Student: C'mon, she'll hear you!
Insensitive Student: Oh, I didn't see her there...it's no big deal, though. Compare to Sango, she's a lifeless doll, ya know! *snicker*
And worse for them to work from the event that happen, as well as in college on hard times the most.
Modest Colleague: Um, Ichinose-san? We're heading out for the night pretty soon. If you'd like to join us...but not your sister please.
Caustic Colleague: Just ignore her. She basically does the same to us, they both do. They call he an AI wunderkind, but I've never seen her bat an eye at a single compliment-or anything else, for that matter. I even heard her nickname was "Doll" when she was growing up. They both left their humanity behind somewhere along the path to success. Like Sango, she was very cold while her other sister's a bit...well, out of it.
A sad flashback there, huh? It's all true.
Akechi: I remember about the case of the criminal...! Ichinose was traumatize because...Sango! How could you!
Ichinose: She only did it to protect me, really. She's a great sister...
Doesn't look like it at all.
Keiko: (No, she's hiding the truth from us. From Akechi too. Sango's no longer human, Ichinose is.)
Ichinose: You see? I just couldn't understand this foreign concept of "heart". But it was my top priority in my studies, so I tackled the problem the only way that I knew how...his was my idea without Sango knowing about it, up until now that is. Sorry, dear sister.
Sango: ...
Like she even cared at all. Another flashback where Ichinose did some computer work in her office to make some. Or rather - create something big.
[What would you like me to become?]
Ichinose: Become humanity's companion...Sophia...
Ichinose: If I could give my baby a heart...That'd mean I had one of my own all along. And maybe she could show me why I'm different from everyone else.
She even did the humming thing from where Sophia got it from her own creator.
Ichinose: 'humming'
And soon Sophia was created and born.
[Sophia: Ichinose. You are Ichinose.]
Ichinose: Yes, that's right! I'm Ichinose. Now, Sophia-what do you want to do today?
[Sophia: I want to learn, Ichinose.]
Ichinose: Mmhm, about what?
[Sophia: "Heart." What is that?]
Ichinose: Huh?
[Sophia: Teach me, Ichinose-what is a heart?]
Ichinose: Well, that's...
[Sophia: Please explain-what is a heart?]
Ichinose: Uh...
[Sophia: You are human; therefore, you have a heart.]
Ichinose: No...
[Sophia: Will you tell me about your heart?]
Ichinose: Shut up!
From there, she deleted Sophia to be transported into Alice's Jail so Ichinose must've lived around Shibuya.
Ichinose: How did I ever think something that understands the heart could ever come from a doll like me? My mission was nothing but doomed from the start. I gave up on my foolish endeavor and approached the issue from a totally new angle-"Is a heart truly necessary for a person?" You know the rest. Sango and I abandoned Sophia and handed EMMA over to Madicce with the doctor's help to do the rest. "Am I really the problem, or does the problem lie at the foot of the world?" Any doubts about this question were purged from EMMA. she was given the prime directive of granting humanity's ultimate Desire...And now it will come to fruition-EMMA's divine plan for us all.
End of another flash back there to say it all. How sad, and yet Ichinose thinks she was a doll, but she's not. It's really Sango.
Akechi: So that's what happened...
Keiko: Everything, and yet...
Ichinose: Do you get it now, Sophia? You're nothing more than an artificial clone of myself. A defective doll born room a defective doll. A fatally flawed AI that will never accomplish its primary directive. So if you're not going to accomplish anything, obey my commands like the doll you are.
Not happening to have Sophia not listen to Ichinose anymore.
Sophia: I refuse...I don't...want to! I've made...such good friends...
Ichinose: Friends?
Sango: ...?
Yes, Sophia! Fight back with everyone on your side and Raiho cheering you on.
Sophia: Joker...Black Crow...Mona...Skull...Raiho...Panther...Oracle...Queen...Loki...Noir...Fox...Wolf! Even...Hans...Ellen...Aika as Piccaro...and Hitomi as Kaguya...! They've all been there for me when I needed them...I don't want...to see them hurt...Or the other four brainwashed forever...!
Ichinose: ...
So much for trying to control Sophia anymore.
Loki: You go, AI thing.
Sophia: Becoming humanity's companion...That's not just a directive...It's the reason I was given life! I was just waiting...Waiting for any voice that would...give me order...But...the Phantom Thieves changed that. They stuck with me when I needed them. They taught me all sorts of feelings. They told me that I'm their friend! They said that I could stay with them! They taught me what it means to live! To be myself!
Such strong words coming from Sophia/Sophie.
Morgana: Sophie...
Ichinose: I got this, Sango, I know. All of this is pointless. Sophia, you're incapable of disobeying me. Kill the Phantom Thieves and teach my nephew a lesson!
Taking control of Sophia again was still hard to fight back.
Sophia: Agh!
Keiko: You can do it, Sophie!
Akechi: Don't give in to Ichinose's powers!
Sophia: Ichinose...It's just as you say. I am a doll...An arrangement of code and data...made to follow commands...But, I...
Akechi: You can change.
Keiko Believe in yourself. Hold onto your will.
All of this for Sophia was really doing it.
Sophia: Yes...I want to change. The power...to change...I've got it now...That's what a "heart" is!
Ichinose: What are you talking about?
Sophia: Ichinose, you made me out of nothing. Like your sister's whose cold, mean, and doesn't show emotions at all. She's the real doll and you're lost. A thinking being, designed to obey you-that may have been the reason for my birth...But if your order...is to harm my friends and the other special children...Then I...I refuse your command!
Soon to power up by Sophia's doing of a real Persona-User is about to be awaken.
Raiho: Joker! Joker! Joker!
Akechi: So Raiho can talk?
Keiko: A little, but that's not what's important right now...Look! (I can sense so much power coming from Sophia!)
Seeing this and the little Persona, it does happen for the other four as well stop from attacking and under Guru's orders. No matter what he and Sango try to do, they couldn't stop them to give out any commands.
Dr. Guru: Huh? What? What?! I can't give these dolls my orders! Why...? *gasp* Don't tell me...because of this robot was Mia to awaken fully of her true powers?! But that's impossible!
Sango: ...!
This was freaking Sango out the most.
Sophia: I want my own...so please...I want a heart...Strong enough to choose...my own path...
Holding much pain to take control, Sophia then hears a voice. Her Persona becomes full in her true form to be happening.
?: My own path can you wield that strength?
In pain from the head to do the mask, blood, and unleashing the the power.
Akechi: It's happening to her this time.
?: Dare you unleash catastrophe on this one? Can you come to the false green hope that remains? Is the puppet ready to cut her own strings? Shall the doll seize her own destiny? Then you only need but to call my name...
On her hooded of her face computer screen says Pandora's name for Sango and Dr. Guru sees the control of her doing to give energy towards Sophia to have her own control now.
Loki: "Pandora"? Her Persona's name is...? I don't believe it...!
?: Am I though, thou art I. My name is...
The computer screen from Sophia's face breaks for her to say the rest and unleashing it.
Sophia: PANDORA!
Her Pithos of the four boxes come together to fuse into one whole being of power and such to course through...causing Dr. Guru to lose the string from Hans, Ellen, Aika, and Hitomi to finally break free with the Gegasites destroyed in seconds. Soon for Aika as Picaro and Hitomi as Kaguya remember to be Personas to their two Persona-User masters - Hans and Ellen. No way! So that's why they were reborn to carry out a new task.
Picaro: We're free!
Kaguya: Yes, and we remember everything.
Putting their hands together for them to power up first.
Picaro and Kaguya: We are thou, and thou are we. Together, guide the Guyvers into a newer path from the horrors today to a better tomorrow!
Still sisters and a new home in the Metaverse, Hans and Ellen's powers awaken to from RPG looks on them to use and still be humans in the real world, just more in battle right now. For Hans, a of a handsome looking warrior of all thing and Ellen, archer of a mage mixed in.
Ellen: Brother?
Hans: Dear Sister?
Ellen: We're free and I remember everything...! We are Persona-Users and the twin girls are our Persona. My is Kaguya.
Hans: Yes...And mine is Picaro. With our skills of the late Mia who's also Sophia and a Persona-User, we can do this. To stop Sango and Dr. Guru who ruined our lives, while Goro Akechi's mother and Kuon treated us better over the years.
Ellen: Yes, I can feel my true powers showing up again. We can do this! The Phantom Thieves are our friends to change our lives is what we wanted from Pandora's Box. Because Sophia's also another one from Mia. She's saving us.
Hans: Even from the bottom of the grave, her beauty will still shine on forever...We're free and now we fight back.
Appearing for the boxes become a full grown woman of Pandora herself and Sophia with her two yoyo's out ready to fight back this time under her own control.
Keiko: Hans and Ellen are back!
Akechi: That's not the only thing, Kaguya and Picaro are their Personas. They're Persona-Users...!
Everyone was surprise to see so much. Sophia's Persona to fully be awaken and the the Guyver twins free and the sisters to be their Personas as true Persona-Users.
Loki: Welcome back, four twins of two.
Ryuji: That's crazy.
This mad Sango mad to do something, but she gets push back by Ellen's doing.
Ellen: Not happening, bitch.
Boom, down she goes!
Sango: ...!
Hans: Doctor, or rather father...not anymore! We're done with you!
Destroying one device in Dr. Guru's to burn completely with a electrical waves.
Dr. Guru: Aaaaah! God dammit!
And now to talk some sense into Ichinose next.
Sophia: Welcome back, other twins. Now then...Kuon Ichinose, your desires have been twisted and I'll be the one to take them. I'm not your doll anymore and either are the others. We're all free now after five years. In the name of Mia who's the last of Pandora's family member, this one is for her.
Picaro and Kaguya: Let's get them!
Persona #78 - Pandora = powers of the mystics
Pandora, also known as Anesidora, is the first woman of Greek mythology, being born from clay. She was created by the gods, specifically by Hephaestus and Athena on the instructions of Zeus who was created to hold Pandora's Box. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to mold her out of earth as part of the punishment of humanity for Prometheus' theft of the secret of fire, and all the gods joined in offering her "seductive gifts". Pandora's deceitful feminine nature becomes the least of humanity's worries.
The gods gave her a husband, the titan Epimetheus, and several gifts, including Pandora's pithos (or a box in modern interpretations) which she was half-heartily warned not to open due to it containing "burdensome toil and sickness that brings death to men", diseases, and "a myriad other pains". While warning her, the gods actually wanted her to open the pithos. Prometheus, fearing further reprisals, had warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus. But Epimetheus did not listen; he accepted Pandora. When her curiosity became to much, she opened the pithos, which unleashed all of the evils of mankind. Only hope remained in the pithos after she closed it.
Well, what we've learned in this story version to say the Personas background thing...Yeah, I might as well say it. Now it's time to fight.
Zen: What the...I'm glad to see the others kids are back to be you know what...But what the hell just happened!
Akechi: Sophia still has the power of Pandora and the box...!
Morgana: And Sophie has a Persona!
Futaba: And a real badass one, at that!
A true ESP from Sophia was growing stronger now even better than ever better.
Ann: Amazing...You're so amazing, Sophie!
Keiko: Welcome back, everyone.
It's good to have things back now so far.
Kaguya: Hello, Phantom Thieves.
Picaro: Thanks for the bad ass saved there.
Hans: It seems the cute Sophia of the robot form of Mia freed us under the doc's spell. Thank you again. Let us return the favor for all of you.
Ellen: I don't mind at all too, even for you Mona. *wink* It's payback time! The doctor, Sango, Gegasite Queen, her gross thing, and Ichinose...We can still save her and stop this...crystal data thing before we can stop the curse and EMMA next.
Now Ichinose as getting pay back on her end.
Ichinose: Sophia...What have you done?
Sophia: Ichinose...You told me I was nothing more than a doll. I originally agreed with your assessment and accepted it...But it was incorrect. It as simply your assumption. It wasn't the answer that I chose for myself!
Ichinose: Chose. For yourself?
Hans: We wanted to change at first to make a good world, but nothing like this...!
The whole here was still wrong to do.
Ellen: All to learn about ourselves and change something for good, but never for evil. It's wrong!
Sophia: Correct. The power to push beyond what's forced on a person, and still change for the better...That is the human heart! I knew the twins were good to feel familiar to me. Because I was once Mia when she was human and alive. I am not now, but I do understood what she felt back then, all of it.
That's one way to talk and fight back.
Ichinose: Sophia...I can't believe what a failure you are. You all are. You're nothing but a worthless heap of faulty code who couldn't accomplish one single task!
Picaro: Shut it! She's not a failure, your delusional of your life is!
Kaguya: If you don't want to see the truth, then we'll just have to make you see it by force.
By any means that is...
Morgana: Sophie's not a failure or faulty! Or any of these who were tricked from clones doing the bad stuff since Ellen and Hans didn't at all! All of these guys are our friends! Same with Sophia with a heart of gold!
Ichinose: Whatever. It doesn't change what I about to do. The Promised Land is within reach. Once it's here, there won't be any of this stupid squabbling over things like hearts.
Keiko: Stop running from the pain for Akechi's sake. And stop hiding from the truth.
All of this for Ichinose to really open her eyes to stop listening to her sister like this.
Akechi: Auntie...! Please wake up!
Ichinose: ...Akechi? ...! Gr!
Sophia: Ichinose, you can't hide the truth from your own offspring. Your sister never loved you and still doesn't but your nephew Goro Akechi still does to sense some goodness in your heart. Really. The only thing you're trying to succeed at is hiding yourself. You don't want to hurt anymore...Hans, Ellen, Aika, Hitomi, or me. Not even your nephew...You want to protect yourself...That's why deny having a heart! Because of Sango's hatred on you, she wanted your mother to die by the criminal, you wanted to kill, him, and loss it all. She loss everything, but not you. You're not doing this for humanity at all-you're only doing it for yourself! You're taking the easy way out-EMMA's faulty solution! Thinking it'll have Sango love you more, but it won't.
Looking at Guru and Sango to follow their goals, Ichinose still doesn't see it all.
Ichinose: No...
Sango: Hmph!
This has Ichinose lose it now from the real truth to not see it.
Ichinose: No, no, no, no, no! Nobody suffers anymore thanks to EMMA! Everyone gets saved! It's what we need! What humanity desires!
Soon a powerful energy waves was coming from the crystal.
Zen: Look out!
With the snap of Ichinose' fingers to summon another Hecantocheires - Hundred-Armed Watcher into battle. Time to stop the other fake shadows, Gegasites, Sentries, and this thing to destroy the data crystal too.
Keiko: Everyone, give it everything you got!
Another fight to win this one this time.
Ann: Sophie! Are you okay now?
Sophia: Yes. I heard you all the entire time...Thank you. The others are free now, I still have Pandora's Box power following within me too. They're all saved now. And I want to stop Ichinose! For Akechi's sake to saving her! Will you help me?
They all will even Raiho and Loki were already on it.
Loki: Heh, you don't have to ask us twice about it.
Haru: But of course! We'll do it together!
With the others to cut down, use their element powers, and gun to shoot some of them down, the big one of Ichinose's Shadow gets stopped by the other five to all work together.
Sophia: Please back me up.
Hans: It's time, Picaro. Combine my powers with my Dear Sister!
Ellen: You too, Kaguya! Please, work together with Big Brother to end this!
From big moves to use from more magic combined with the twin sisters to use it all.
Picaro, Hans, Kaguya, and Hans: Light combings with gravity...times two!
Destroying some of them to hitting the big one the most. With the girls using their Big Moves on the rest...
Keiko: It's shot time!
Ann: Blast 'em away!
Makoto: Burn rubber and eat my dust!
Haru: Let us dance!
Sophia's Read aim fire!
Along with Raiho's ice powers and Loki's berserk mode to stop the others...the boys use their All-Out Attacks on their end.
Akechi: Behold my Power!
Ryuji: Laters!
Morgana: The End!
Yusuke: A Bitter Farewell!
Zen: And that's that!
From the rest stopped, then to another attack at the big Shadow again with their new power up All-Out Attack.
Hans, Kaguya, Ellen, and Picaro: Supreme Double the Power!
Almost disappearing from the floors, to come back up in pain and the final moves by Sophia happens.
Ichinose: But how? You were clearly running on fumes, how does adding one person...
Yusuke: She's not just a "one person"-she's our beloved friend and teammate!
Keiko: Just like the Persona twin sisters and the Guyver twins too. I knew...I knew they were good to have the clones do all the bad things the real ones could've done, but didn't!
Good to know from there little at a time, huh?
Ryuji: Yeah! Sure she's just one robot, but that's not all she is-not like YOU'D get it, though!
Ichinose: I don't need to. The laser's almost fully charged...
Well, not happening this time for Kaguya and Picaro glide Futaba to the core again with Ichinose was distracted long enough.
Kaguya: I'm afraid not.
Picaro: Think again...
Ichinose: Excuse me?
Leave it for Futaba to get it done this time.
Futaba: Oh, but is it? Did someone get sooooo distracted that they left themselves wide open for me?! Thanks, girls!
Hans: Not only we are Persona-Users now, but...
Ellen: We also have our powers upgraded to do this!
Touching it mess with the power of the crystal to get absorbed a lot.
Ichinose: Ngh! The power's...Sophia, I just don't get you...The only thing a heart does is open a person up to suffering! What makes you actually want one? Why would you go and do something so foolish?!
Sophia: It's not foolish at all. My hearts gives me the power to protect my friends. You just want to convince yourself a heart is worthless so you won't be tortured over discarding your own. You're merely lying to yourself in the hope that you won't hurt anymore!
Ichinose: Shut up...Shut up! How the hell could a program understand the human heart anyway?!
How and why you asked? Because these guys do the most. Using a third new attack for Sophia to destroy the crystal data for good.
Sophia: Now then...Neo Energy Waves!
Damaging it some more and hitting the fake shadows and Sentries did the trick, as well as Futaba's hacking too.
Morgana: That takes care of the Shadows! Time for you to throw in the towel, Ichinose!
Ichinose: ...
With Hans, Ellen, Aika, and Hitomi to surround Ichinose with their weapons out, Akechi approaches to his aunt with his gun but to say this. Not to kill her of course, but to teach her a lesson.
Akechi: Looks like you loss this war, auntie.
Ichinose: No...!
Sophia: Ichinose?
Looks like Guru and Sango were about done now.
Sango: Grr...!
Dr. Guru: What!?
Ichinose: How could Sophia...when I can't...Haha...Hahahaha...
With the curse still working a lot with one thing done so far and others saved...what will happen net? More in the next chapter/episode for sure. Still, Ichinose will finally see the light somehow.
Keiko: Ichinose, open your eyes already. Please...
One thing to do from there, yes. But Sango on the other hand, she had more tricks up her sleeves behind Ichinose's back. From stopping her, Guru, destroy the box with the Gegasites, and EMMA are going to be next after this part happens for Ichinose to see the whole entire truth deep down, just as Sophia just said about this woman.