CHAPTER 4:
THE WIZARD, THE GEEKS, AND THE MONSTER
Deep within the darkest depths of the collective hearts and minds of humanity, a figure stirred. A figure that would have seemed to have come from a cartoon, albeit via the mind of David Lynch. Short, hunchbacked, with spindly limbs, a messy mane of grey hair growing from a ring around his otherwise bald head. His face seemed manic and sinister, with large bloodshot eyes, a long nose, and a wide grin filled with teeth.
Still, the grin seemed tenuous at the moment. And yet, it was seemingly growing stronger. A faint chuckle escaped his lips, high-pitched and lilting.
And then, a dark presence bore down on him. AND WHAT DO YOU FIND AMUSING?
"Oh…just a joke I remembered from a long time ago. There were three brothers, you see, and they were on a constitutional walk, when…"
I HAVE NO DESIRE TO HEAR YOUR JOKES, the presence retorted. YOUR VERY EXISTENCE IS A JOKE. A FAULTY CREATION OF A FOOLISH WOULD-BE DEITY, ONE SO OBSESSED WITH DEFEATING THE CRAWLING CHAOS, HE NEGLECTS THE TRUE DESIRES OF THOSE HE CLAIMS TO SHEPHERD. HE CERTAINLY HAS NOT COME TO HELP YOU.
"…Well, there is no need to be rude. There are some people who only enjoy playing a game if they are guaranteed to win, even though an integral part of any game is the capricious nature of luck. But back to jokes, and comedy. Long ago, a comedy didn't quite mean what most people think. Rather, it meant 'triumph over adversity'. So, by that definition, humanity could be considered a most exquisite comedy. Don't you think that is fascinating?"
NO.
"There's no pleasing some people."
The dark presence eventually left him, and the figure sighed. He thought, Another Wild Card is stirring, one that my erstwhile opponent tried to stifle just in case. Oh, his powers are chained…but maybe, just maybe, he can give his ally in this upcoming game. Godwin…please, remember yourself, before it's too late…
"So, why are you writing a letter?" Futaba asked, trying not to think too hard about what was happening. After all, here she was, in her own Cognitive World, speaking to her twin, wearing a rather saucy Egyptian princess outfit, while standing near Futaba was that British boy she kept seeing in her dreams. Yeah, this was either some weird-ass dream, or her mother's research had been going places. Either way, she wanted to wait until she was safe and sound before she began thinking about those implications.
"Because if Sojiro saw you walking into Leblanc or out of your room, a strange boy in tow, what do you think he would do?" her twin asked, even as she typed at a holographic screen.
After a moment's thought, Futaba nodded. "Yeah, it wouldn't be pretty. The way he's snapped at Kurusu for nosing around even a little doesn't help."
"You're remaining pretty calm about this, especially after earlier," Harry said.
"It's either some messed-up dream, or my mother's research was right. Either way, I'll save the breakdown for when we get out of here. Well, when I get out of here. Jury's still out on whether you're a figment of my imagination or not."
"I am real, you know," Harry muttered.
"Well, let's put it this way. If you are real, then Sojiro's definitely gonna need that letter." Futaba turned to him, peering at him. Maybe it was because she had seen him in her dreams beforehand, but she didn't feel quite as anxious with him close by. In fact, his presence felt…comforting, for want of a better term. She could stand to be physically close to him. In fact, she wanted to be close to him.
Then again, maybe it was his presence in her Cognitive World that did that, his influence on her other self. Which had dangerous implications. But he seemed concerned about her, so she would let that slide.
Her twin finished the letter she was typing out, and activated something. With a familiar noise, a sheet of paper came from a nearby plinth like a printer. "Don't worry, this will persist into physical reality," she said, folding it up and handing it to Futaba.
"Bee tee dubs, I need to say, you have some pretty cool tech in this pyramid," Futaba said, looking around even as she took the letter. "Real Stargate meets Yu-Gi-Oh! by way of Doctor Who."
"We are in your mind, Futaba," her twin responded. "What did you expect it to look like?"
"Ugh, knowing me, probably something out of cyberpunk, and we're talking real dystopian shit," Futaba responded. "Though…I have to ask, for someone so…well, stereotypically sinister looking and sounding, you're being very helpful."
"I am you," her twin responded. "And before you ask, just because we have a lot of self-loathing does not mean I wish to harm you. If anything, quite the opposite."
"…I don't deserve any help," Futaba said quietly.
"Bollocks!" Harry retorted, walking over to her. She recoiled briefly at him getting so close, especially with such an angry exclamation, but she realised that he wasn't angry at her. Indeed, his expression was softening. "Futaba, your Shadow told me about your life. I can't say I know what it's like to go through everything you've been through, but I have been through a lot. I…I'm a long way from home, Futaba. But your Shadow saved me, despite everything. That means you're a good person. I mean, she is you, after all."
Futaba didn't know what to say to that, apart from a denial, and even then, it died on her tongue. She was in no way a good person, she drove her mother to suicide, she…she…she could feel the panic welling up. Harry started towards her, but her twin said, "No, let me. You are still something of a stranger to her."
Her twin embraced her gently. It almost felt like her mother's embrace, and yet, the pang of guilt at that thought was brief. "He means well," her twin said softly. "But he doesn't know you like I do. I AM you, after all."
"…But why are you being nice to me? If you really are me, then…"
"I know things about you that you hide or have forgotten, even with an eidetic memory," her twin said. "And not all hidden things are dark or sinful, or at least are not a reflection of YOUR sins."
Futaba didn't know what to make of that particular comment, but it was far from reassuring…
It was the Shadow Futaba who asked Harry to relay his life to the original Futaba. He felt like this was redundant, but he obliged, giving her the same abridged version he gave the Shadow Futaba. Futaba, to her credit, listened carefully, and Harry felt it distracted her from her turmoil, as she did calm down. This Futaba reminded him of a mixture of Hermione, Luna and Ginny: he had the former two's intelligence, Luna's eccentricity, and Ginny's hair and, to a degree, impishness.
Afterwards, she said, "Y'know, that sounds like something from a series of fantasy novels for kids. Just sayin'."
"We're stuck in your mental world, with your inner self, and it looks like a pyramid merged with a science fiction film," Harry said flatly. "Is that any less believable?"
Futaba, after a moment of looking around, shrugged. "Yeah, I've definitely taken the red pill." On his confused look, she slapped her forehead. "Oh, wait, you claim to be from 1996, you wouldn't know The Matrix yet. But seriously, if you're telling the truth, if you're not some figment of my fucked-up imagination, then…I'll try to help you, once we get out of here."
"Help me?"
"Didn't my sexy Egyptian alter-ego say I'm one of the best hackers in Japan, if not the world?" Futaba said, holding up a finger. "I could find ways to work out your identity papers, not to mention tracking down your godfather. You said you come from the 90s, so you'll be surprised at how much everything is online. I mean, you were staring at my iPhone like you've never seen one before." She then frowned as something occurred to her. "And honestly, I dunno why I am so at ease speaking with you, aside from this cognitive bleedover my twin mentioned. I'm…a bit of a recluse by choice. I don't really interact with others, except online."
"…Well, is it a bad thing?"
After a moment, a smile twitched at her lips. "Nope. I'm actually enjoying it for a change. I guess all I needed to do was find the right quest trigger. Still…I think we should make like a tree and leave."
"No. Not yet," Shadow Futaba said quietly. "This Cognitive World, this Palace, will still remain after you leave. We need to address that, and without causing any damage to us."
"Sorry, what?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I agree, I wanna get outta here," Futaba said.
Shadow Futaba walked forward. "A Palace is born out of desires warping and growing out of control, a tumour on the noosphere of humanity," she said. "There are many ways of resolving it, but many of those very ways cause more harm than good. I trust you've been watching the news? You may not have grasped the significance of what caused the Mental Shutdowns and Psychotic Breakdowns, but I have."
Harry frowned. Shadow Futaba had brought those up in passing, when discussing current events. In Japan, there had been strange incidents of people either having a massive psychotic break and going on a rampage, or else simply seeming to shut down, often causing accidents in the process. The latter seemed almost like Dementor attacks at times.
"But what do those have to do with MY Palace? And is it really that dangerous to allow my Palace to remain in existence?" Futaba demanded.
"Warped desires can involve many things, and no, I am not talking about the stuff you looked up on imageboards," Shadow Futaba said. Harry wasn't sure what she meant by that, but given Futaba's blushing, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. "It can mean greed for money, lust for power or sex…or a desire to end one's life."
"…I…You know why…why I…"
"Yes, I do. We both do," Harry said. "And it is utter bollocks."
Futaba looked at him. "Wait, what?"
"You heard me. Futaba, I can't claim to know everything about your life. Your Shadow showed me much. But as I told her, I've been through something similar. Not quite like you, but…I was told my parents weren't good people by my relatives. I've also been told I'm a liar, an attention-seeking brat, and downright insane. My godfather was framed for a crime he didn't commit. I've learned not to trust what some people say on face value, at least in some cases. Whatever happened to your mother, those bastards were sick enough to read out what could have been a fake suicide note in front of her grieving daughter. What does that say about them?"
Futaba simply stared at him, almost uncomprehendingly, before her Shadow sighed. "That's…not the way I would've gone about it, Harry. Would you mind giving us…a few minutes? If all goes well, then the pair of you can leave. Even if this Palace is not resolved, it would make a good first step…"
Harry wondered if he had screwed up with his little speech to Futaba. He was trying to help. True, it scored points with Shadow Futaba, but she was different to the original girl. Shadow Futaba had less of Futaba's social anxieties, and she acknowledged her true lack of culpability in her mother's death.
He hoped maybe he had helped matters. But maybe he had made a Ron-like blunder of tactlessness. He hoped not.
He was so engrossed in thought, he nearly ran into one of the Shadow guards, looking like a grotesque mummy. "Crap, sorry."
"EH, NO BIGGY," the Shadow said. For beings that were personifications of the darker emotions of humanity, they were surprisingly personable to those in Shadow Futaba's favour. "IS THE PHARAOH WELL?"
"As well as she can be, along with her other self," Harry said. "Anyway, it looks like I'll be leaving before long."
"YEAH, I KNOW. THE PHARAOH HAS HAD US GATHERING THE TREASURE HERE. FOR SOME REASON, YOUR CURRENCY MANIFESTS ITSELF HERE IN THE METAVERSE, PROBABLY DUE TO WARPED DESIRES AND ALL THAT CRAP. IF YOU ARE FROM ANOTHER WORLD, YOU'LL PROBABLY NEED THE MONEY."
That would be handy when he emerged into reality. "Neat. Though she said something about resolving this Palace. Where will you guys go?"
"BACK INTO THE SEA OF SOULS, REALLY. IT'S WHERE WE NORMALLY RESIDE. DON'T WORRY, IT'S OUR NATURAL HABITAT. ON OCCASION, WE SEEM TO BE PULLED AWAY INTO OTHER PLACES LIKE THIS PALACE. I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO HOLD THE PHARAOH'S FAVOUR."
"Yeah, she seems happier with you around," Sojiro, or at least his Cognition, said, rounding a nearby corner, a bag in hand. "Here's what we managed to scrounge up. I daresay it's quite a pretty penny in reality. Well, yen, anyway."
"Thanks, but…is it all right for me to have this?"
"Look, the Pharaoh ordered it in the first place," Sojiro said as Harry took the bag. "If they resolve the Palace, this place will cease to exist. The Shadows will return to the Sea of Souls, while we Cognitions will simply become part of her heart, for better or for worse."
Suddenly, the floor trembled. "Oh, that's not good," Harry said. "Please tell me I'm wrong."
"Hoo boy, I wish we were that lucky," Sojiro said, wincing as something screamed a high-pitched warbling incoherent scream in the distance. "The Pharaoh may be the Ruler of this Palace, but she is far from the most powerful being here, despite being the one to cause its creation."
"Yeah, she told me. But why is that thing awake?"
"Probably because the Pharaoh's original self entered her own Palace. Or maybe she's learning the truth. Kid, you'd better get back to the Pharaoh and her other self. It might be that they're about to be…"
"FUTABAAAA!"
The wall burst in, sending Harry, Sojiro and the Shadow flying. Stone crumbled, and a large chunk smashed into Sojiro, sending him to the floor with hideous injuries. He struggled to look up at his killer, and murmured, "…No…Wakaba…" And then, he expired, in a pool of his own blood.
"BITCH!" the Shadow snarled, and leapt on the monster peering through the wall, only to get grabbed in its paws and torn apart.
The thing now glaring at Harry with an expression of complete and utter hatred was a strange hybrid. It had the body of a lion, albeit with massive wings. But the head was that of a Japanese woman, with a short bob of hair, dark eyes boring into his own from behind glasses.
"YOU…YOU DARE DEFILE THE PHARAOH'S TOMB?!" the monstrous Cognition of Wakaba Isshiki screamed at him, grabbing him, before launching herself into the sky. "YOU DARE LEAD HER ASTRAY?! FOUL INTRUDER, YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE WITH YOUR LIFE!"
Harry wriggled within the paw of the sphinx-like monster, and as they passed low over the top of the pyramid, he fired a Cutting Curse. His hand might have been trapped, but his wand was pressing against the palm of the beast's hand…well, paw. The false Wakaba screamed and dropped him. He stumbled as he landed, pain spiking through his leg. He must've sprained his ankle, though he was lucky he hadn't gotten any worse injuries.
The monster flew away, and Harry's attempts to fire spells at her missed. She was now at range, circling the pyramid from the sky, awaiting a moment to attack. And that's when it truly hit him. He might actually die here, all because he went running into danger, again.
And then, he started hearing the voice, both like and yet unalike his own, distorted and warped. Are you going to run away? Did you make the wrong decision?
"Oh, now I'm hearing voices, great," Harry muttered.
A chuckle from that voice. Yes, you are. You're hearing me. You're hearing yourself. I couldn't get through to you before when you needed me most because I had been chained. I'll be honest, sometimes running is the best solution. A great man once said that running may not give you eternal life, but it'll always give you more life. But there's a time when you should stop running, and stand to fight. The Boy Who Lived is but a mere title, a promise made by others, but not by yourself. But what will Harry Potter promise?
I dunno, Harry said, inwardly at least.
You do know. You are never truly cruel or cowardly. You never give in, you never give up. And some corners of the world have bred the most dark and terrible things, things which work against everything any sane person holds dear. They must be fought, to the end. Both you and Futaba will die if you do not fight, but I can help you. Certain forces have meddled with you, but I am on the verge of being freed. Don't worry, I am part of you. I have been part of you from the day you were born. The rebellious will that fuelled your mother and father flows through your veins. So, accept me, and call upon me!
Suddenly, it felt like a knife was stabbed into Harry's head. It was worse than those times Voldemort had been near, that pain in his skull. And then, he heard, Vow to me henceforth: I AM THOU, THOU ART I… Remember this. Fight to protect, even if it means rebelling against every calcified tenet of this society. Meddle in the affairs of the mighty, to bring down their ivory towers. And heal those who need healing, in their bodies, hearts and souls, to leaven the burden of this cruel world. Especially that girl.
A domino mask manifested on his face. It was black, with white around the eyeholes. Drawn by instinct, he pulled on the mask. It was sheer agony, as if he was tearing off part of his body. No, his very soul. But Harry was no stranger to pain. This was nothing compared to what the Dursleys put him through, the pain of the Cruciatus spell Voldemort inflicted on him in the graveyard, the Dementors' torment last year. This was NOTHING.
Azure flame consumed him as his mask came off, leaving blood on his face that dried with the flames. Harry turned to face the figure that manifested behind him. The hat was wide-brimmed, wearing a long coat, and a scarf, the collar, hat and scarf hiding most of the face, save for the eyes. Question marks decorated the lapels. "I am the Lord of Time…the Doctor!" it exclaimed. "I am the rebel spirit residing within your soul. I'll lend you my power to stop that monster. Now, let's show her the folly of her ways…"
CHAPTER 4 ANNOTATIONS:
So, there you have it. Harry's tried to help Futaba, only to potentially mess it up (or did he?), and now Cognitive Wakaba is on the attack! And then, as a final touch…Harry has unlocked a PERSONA. And it's THE DOCTOR!
Picking a Persona for Harry was actually surprisingly difficult. It's trying to pin down a thief from fiction or mythology, or a criminal, that suited him, especially one that hadn't been used in the game. I'd pretty much pared it down to one of three choices, which I will elucidate…
1. Edmond Dantes, aka the Count of Monte Cristo. While not a thief, he was a prisoner, unjustly imprisoned, and during the version of my story where Harry was falsely imprisoned in Azkaban, he was the frontrunner. But while Harry has gone through some tough times here, including a trumped-up trial, he hasn't gone through the same extremes as Edmond Dantes.
2. The Doctor from Doctor Who. This may sound like an odd choice, and indicative of my prejudices as a Whovian, but I see a lot of parallels between Harry and the Doctor, and I often use Terrance Dicks' words about the Doctor when writing Harry. These words were amongst those the Persona-Doctor used when Harry was undergoing his Awakening. In addition, the Doctor is a notorious thief. I mean, he began his career by stealing the TARDIS at the bare minimum.
3. Number Six from The Prisoner, the old Sixties show (not the reimagining). This is probably more obscure for you guys, but Number Six was an intriguing choice. He was a former spy who suddenly resigned from his job, only to be abducted and imprisoned in the Village, an idyllic 'retirement home' for resigned spies that was little more than a gilded cage…patrolled by a homicidal weather balloon, believe it or not. Very surreal, but Number Six is not just a prisoner, but a rebel, who would fit the nature of a Persona from Persona 5 very well.
I decided on the Doctor for various reasons (Harry is British, and it meshes with Futaba's own sci-fi-themed Persona, with hers being a UFO, and Harry's having a time machine), but no specific incarnation. While the scarf suggests the Fourth Doctor, this is sort of a generic Doctor. I actually view him as looking like a Persona-fied version of one of the designs for the Doctor for Nelvana's abortive animated series of Doctor Who, the one that actually has a wide-brimmed hat and scarf, but no glasses.
The Awakening speech includes some snippets or paraphrased elements from the series. I mentioned Terrance Dicks' oft-quoted words about the Doctor, about how he is never cruel or cowardly, how he never gives in or gives up. The Persona-Doctor also quotes the Second Doctor's line from The Moonbase: There are some corners of the universe that have bred the most terrible things, things which act against everything we believe in. They must be fought.
No numbered annotations this time.
