Frosty Wolf: Well, some cool stuff is gonna change

IAmOutOfIdeas: Okay. I use several spell checkers, which includes Grammer checkers, and that does not pop up as an error so I did not notice. Also I am dyslexic and trust my phones autocorrect when typing, I genuinely do not notice some errors like that sometimes. I am sorry, I try my best.

Trynda: That is the thing with time travel, it is unpredictable. Some things have changed as he goes back through the story, and to find that out you just need to keep reading.

Neo-Warkid4: Unfortunately the stuff with the Japanese legal system? Yeah it is all real. No place is perfect and this is one of Japan's bigger failings, alongside the over working of their citizens and their housing situation

Isom: We know. Ghost was joking. And P5R and P5S where not out until recently in the west. And while Ghost has P5R, I do not. However even if we both had it, we would not have time to finish the game in order to incorporate it's character's properly.

Saint Saber Fang: No. Fuck off.

Xerzo LotCN: Ann spends most of her money on cloths and sweets.

Hakkyou no Yami: Arsene is the only one weakened right now because he is directly tied to Ren as he is Ren's Persona. We did this so there is still some sense of progression, especially building to the revival of Satanael

EvanderAdvent: Guess what? 95% of the reviews are asking that same question and have been for the past few chapters. The only new stuff we will be adding is new mechanics.

Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Well... Showtime starts soon

Here are some reviews answered by Ghost:

Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Oh, ho, ho. We've got that covered.

DragonNightmare90: Yeah, we had to balance things out for this story. Wait until the next chapters.

GlassyHades: Of course she'll be safe. Read on.

Vein Bloodborne: Well. We have Panther for starters... How many girls are there in the game Joker can romance?

MonKking: Possibly.

EvanderAdvent: Things will change in this timeline, so it's still not one to one carbon copy of the game... But some things will be added.

Hyrulian Hero Akai: Boom! Here we go!

Hakkyou no Yami: Okay, it's true. But Ren knows things that the others don't and can push them further. Plus, who said that all the Persona were taken away?

HaMiroKar420: Yep and soon, we'll see even more.

Okaze: Dude, read on. You might be surprised.

warrior of six blades: Trust us, Kamoshida will BURN!

UnsanMusho: Watch and read on dude.

Archangelo2: In Alucard voice "Give that bitch a cannon. #Bitcheslovecannons

Isom: Here's the thing, when this story was being started, Scrambled and P5R weren't out yet... so... sorry. We haven't planned for them and won't use them.

Neo-Warkid4: It's real, unfortunately. And yeah, we're giving Shiho a cannon.

IAmOutOfIdeas: Look, it was an accidental mistype. It happens in our stories at times but we do our best to sort them out. Plus, auto-correct is a bitch.

Dark King Marcel: I think you typed the wrong button there, dude. But thanks for the kind words.

Disclaimer: We do not own Persona 5. That belongs to Atlus.

Co-written by GhostKaiser23


AUTHOR'S NOTE

Here we are with the newest chapter and it is time for two new members of the Phantom Thieves to join!

I hope you all enjoy because we got some lovely ladies about to be badass.


Persona 5 New Game Plus, Joker's Second Chance
Chapter 4: Holy Fire, Women of Power


Ren was back at LeBlanc, getting an earful from Sojiro. "Let me get this straight. You brought these young ladies to my place of work because one of them was almost assaulted by her gym teacher? And you didn't go to the police because of your record."

"Yes." Ren answered simply and honestly. He had nothing to hide and unashamed.

Sojiro sighed heavily, his hand on his face. "When I said 'Don't get involved and don't cause trouble'; this is exactly what I meant!"

"And what would you have me do?" Ren responded "Leave her there? With that man? Have you seen her face?"

"You!" Sojiro began to rant before he looked towards the stairs. "Saved her. Like any decent human would."

"Thank you." Ren nodded "And unlike last time... She asked for our help. She called Ann and I and begged for help. "

"Smart girl." Sojiro answered as he rubbed his beard. "She can stay at my house for a while. It's not that I don't trust you."

"It's just you're better off making sure she has access to a phone, medical supplies and away from a paroled criminal." Ren understood.

"Yeah." Sojiro nodded, grumbling under his breath "How am I gonna explain this?"

"I'm sorry?" Ren asked as he noted the mumbling.

"It's nothing for you to be concerned about." He answered. "Go and get some dinner."

"Right." Ren nodded, quickly making three plates of curry

"Huh? Three?" Sojiro asked in shock.

"I'm not letting Ann or Shiho go hungry." He answered "Here." Ren added, putting 5,000 yen on the table as 'payment', before he went upstairs carrying the three plates

"Where did you-?" Sojiro asked, before Ren went upstairs. "Where did he learn to make that?" He whispered

Upstairs, Ann was comforting Shiho, being watched carefully by Morgana. They where sat on Ren's sofa, the raven haired girl leaning against the blonde. Ann was rubbing Shiho's back, whispering soothing words

"How're you doing?" Ren asked

"They've been like that for a while now, but they're okay." Morgana answered

"Huh? What's that smell?" Ann asked

"The house curry." Ren answered "I thought you'd both be hungry." he smiled, putting the plates down in front of them

"It. Smells good." Shiho sniffed, wiping her nose.

"Eat up." He answered "You need it." he praised/instructed and encouraged

"Thank you." Ann answered as Shiho began to eat, though with some difficulty.

"H-hmm. Thish. Ish good." Shiho mumbled with more tears falling, only these ones being of joy

"Made it myself." he smiled proudly

"Y-You made thish?" Shiho asked

"Yeah, I did." Ren nodded. "Eat up, Ann. It's been a long day."

"Don't I get some?" Morgana asked

"Is your cat hungry?" Ann asked, hearing him meow.

"Yeah." he smiled and rubbed Morgana's head "I'll feed him later. He just whines whenever there's food around." he teased

"No fair, Ren." Morgana purred, being stroked by Ren making Ren laugh


*Time Skip*

"Thank you for looking after me." Shiho bowed to Sojiro in response for looking after her for the next few nights.

"No problem." Sojiro answered "Good luck at school. And... Thank you. You seemed to help Futaba a lot."

"It-it's my pleasure." Shiho answered with a smile and a gauze patch on her bruises.

"Who's 'Futaba'?" Ann asked as she stood next to Ren.

"Not sure. His daughter maybe?" Ren lied, knowing full well who Futaba was.

"We should get to school." Shiho said nervously

Ann nodded as she took Shiho's hand reassuringly.

"Ren, a word please." Sojiro spoke.

"Um, sure. I'll catch up." Ren nodded as both Ann and Shiho left. "What's-?"

"Where did you get that money?" Sojiro asked seriously. "I know it's not uncommon for students to have money on them, but that amount with no actual income, it's troublesome."

"First. The local part time jobs around here pay around 3,000 yen on average. I could have made that money, easily, by doing two shifts." Ren explained with narrowed eyes "I did my research before I moved. And second, that was the last of the money I had on me. The last of my personal savings. As a thank you for taking me in, to pay for the curries and as a thanks for taking Shiho in when she needed it. So back off, I was trying to be nice and show some appreciation damn it." Ren hated lying like this, lying to Sojiro like this, but he had to... And he hated being called out for bad things he hadn't done. Plus it probably would have been suspicious if he hadn't snapped like that

Sojiro sighed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. I just had to make sure."

"Whatever." Ren rolled his eyes and walked off with a huff, being upset at being accused by Sojiro of all people

"That was kind of mean, Ren." Morgana spoke up. "Not that I blame you for lying."

"Well sometimes..." he shrugged softly "You need to be mean to keep a cover."

"I suppose. Kamoshida's going to pay properly this time." Morgana answered

"He will." Ren nodded


*time skip*

The three were soon arriving at school, with Ryuji following behind them. "Yoh, Re-! What the? Takamaki? Suzui?"

"Hey Ryuji." he nodded

"Hey. Dude, did you come to school with these two?" Ryuji responded kindly before turning to Ren.

"Yeah, I did. Is that a problem?" Ren asked

"No. 'Course not. Just... We don't need them knowin' about... Ya know." Ryuji answered with Ren elbowing him

"What? Our prank on Kamoshida? Dude, I said I was in but your plan was shit." Ren rolled his eyes

"You two aren't going to do that. Are you?" Ann asked.

Ryuji rubbed his side since he knew this was going to be trouble. At least Ren did a good cover story

"If we can choose a better prank, maybe." Ren shrugged

"I gotta say though dude. You're lucky. Coming to school with two tens on the babe Olympics? Might help those bs rumours about you." Ryuji shot back

Ren almost froze and glared at Ryuji, to which Ann and Shiho scoffed, still feeling hurt because of what transpired...and how thickheaded Ryuji could be. Yet the three did have a small blush at what Ryuji implied

"... What?" Ryuji asked in genuine confusion

"Nothing." The two girls answered and left for the gate with small huffs

BAM!

"OW! Dude!" Ryuji whined, rubbing his head "The hell was that for?"

"You kinda deserved it." Morgana answered, poking his head out of the bag.

"What did I do?" Ryuji asked

"I'll tell you later." Ren answered as they walked in... Seeing the girls being confronted by Kamoshida

"Kamoshida!" Both Ren and Ryuji growled as they saw him, though Ren's was more internalised as he kept his cool.

"E-Expelled?" Shiho gasped as she repeated what was just told to her "But-But why?!"

"Disobedience of teacher's orders." Kamoshida answered bluntly "And attacking a teacher."

"Y-You accosted me!" She panicked as she looked right at him "You attacked me! You tried to rape me!"

"As if I'd do such a thing!" he scoffed "Where's you're proof?"

"This!" Shiho pointed at her face, showing the bruises that he left her.

"Those could've been from practice." Kamoshida waved off.

"It is my word against yours. And who do you think will win here? The Olympic gold medalist who only has the best intentions for the school and has brought it fame? Or the mediocre volleyball player who couldn't get in the team without her friend trying to seduce a teacher?" he finished with a smirk, showing his phone... Which had pictures of Ann in her underwear, pictures that only Ann herself could have taken and sent him

"Wh-What is that?" Shiho asked in shock as she turned to Ann making Ann flinch

"You forced me to take those! You said your kick Shiho off the team otherwise!" Ann snapped weakly as she hugged herself "You threatened me! Blackmailed me!"

"Really? From what I've got is a girl trying to seduce her gym coach." Kamoshida twisted his rebuttal.

"You sonovabitch!" Both Ann and Ryuji shouted, with the latter stomping towards him.

"You're an 'effing piece of trash!" Ryuji snarled

"Oh? What's wrong Ryuji? Going to attack me again? If I need to break your other leg I will. The school will just say its self defense either way." Kamoshida scoffed arrogantly

"You bastard!" Ryuji snarled

"Wait! I do have proof!" Shiho yelled suddenly, holding out her phone "Mishima texted me, saying you wanted to see me!"

Kamoshida glared down at Shiho, looking at the phone. "Oh, is that right? Well, considering that he's getting expelled to, it doesn't matter."

"What?!" they all gasped in horror

"Oh, and one other thing. Sakamoto. Amamiya. You're both expelled too." Kamoshida answered.

"Oh what terms?!" Ryuji snapped

"Mine!" He snarled as the world almost seemed to distort for Ren, Ryuji and Morgana for a few moments "For threatening a teacher and skipping classes."

"You bas-! Huh?" Ryuji glared before Ren grabbed his hand, stopping him from punching Kamoshida.

"Don't let him win." Ren answered in a deadly serious, almost ice cold voice as his glasses shielded his eyes "Let's go to class."

Ryuji inhaled sharply... before sighing heavily to calm his nerves, following Ren's leadership.

"Enjoy it. Cause with your records. You'll be lucky to get out before you're fifty." Kamoshida smirked triumphantly. "Prison boy."

Ren just flipped him off casually, calmly leading the three others away

'Little bastard!' Kamoshida glared as he saw that flipping off.


*later*

Time ticked on by, Ryuji and Ren were keeping in contact even through class, which grabbed the attention of the teacher "Mr Amamiya. Since you seem so attentive, perhaps you can tell me the answer to this diagram." On the board was a picture of a rectangle, with three small squares labelled 'A', 'B' and 'C' near the top left corner "Now, only one of these connects to 'Square A'. Can you tell me which one?" The teacher asked

Ren was looking at the board and began to think. Since Kamoshida was still on his mind, he had to feign like he knew the answer. "It's 'C'."

CLAP!

"Correct! Seems you were paying attention." The teacher answered and showed a second picture depicting the correct answer. "This is an Optical Illusion, our brains see what we wanted to see." And continued the lesson.

'That was a close one.' Ren thought

"Good work, I think you got a little smarter, Ren." Morgana whispered while he rested in the desk's cubby hole.

"Hehe. Thanks." Ren grinned

"Now, onto the next subject." The teacher continued, which lasted until after school.

Ren and Ryuji were waiting in the alley, they were going into Kamoshida's Palace, NOW. "You ready?" Ryuji asked.

"Definitely. We're going to beat Kamoshida." Ren nodded, determined to do this. He pulled out his phone, gripping it tigh5ot as he selected Kamoshida's Palace

"Here we go. Time to take that bastard down." Ryuji nearly proclaimed loudly.

Unaware while they were being teleported, Ann and Shiho were terrified. Kamoshida had them by the throats... almost literally. They tried to walk home but caught Ren and Ryuji standing in the alleyway with a cat "What're they doing?" Ann wondered

"Ren? Sakamoto?" Shiho asked as they walked towards them... and caught into the Metaverse.

VROOOM!

Ren was now in his Joker form while Ryuji was wearing his tough guy skull themed outfit. And Morgana? Back as a small humanoid cat with blue eyes, his pouch bag and his bandanna.

"Alright, we know what we're doing." Morgana followed.

"Yeah, break in and beat that piece of shit Kamoshida up!" Ryuji answered

Morgana sighed and shook his head. "Joker, can you tell him?"

"Huh? 'Joker'?" Ryuji asked

"My codename." Ren answered, looking at Ryuji.

"We-"

"What is going on?!" Ann yelled

"Ann? Shiho?!" Ren's eyes widened as he saw the two walking towards them.

"Wh-where is this place? What's going on? Where are we?" Shiho panicked as she couldn't comprehend what was going on.

"What's with those outfits?!" Ann added/yelled

"W-wait! What're you two doing here? Ryuji panicked. "This is bad!"

"Yes." Ren answered

"Ren, tell us now." Ann responded

"It's complicated right now." Ren answered

"You two have to get out of here, it's not safe!" Ryuji answered. "Joker, c'mon. You know this isn't for them!"

"I hate to admit it, but he's right." Morgana answered

"Sorry girls." Ren commented as he walked past, gripping their hands and guiding them out

"W-wait, what is this? What're you doing?" Shiho panicked

"Sorry, but it's for your own good." Ryuji apologised as he pushed her back through the flowing gateway back into the human world. Ren and Ryuji sighed, seeing the two gone "Okay, now that they're safe... What's with this 'Joker' thing?" Ryuji asked as things now calmed down.

"Codenames. We'd be pretty poor Phantom Thieves if we just used our real names." Morgana answered

"Oh, okay that makes sense. But why 'Joker'?" Ryuji asked

"Because he's our 'wild card'." Morgana smiled.

"Exactly. Like how your name could be... 'Skull'." Joker followed up.

"'Skull', huh? Hey. Not bad. Fits with the mask. Then... How about 'Mona' for you?" Ryuji liked the name and smirked, soon turning to Morgana and gave him HIS nickname.

"Okay, then we're: 'Joker', 'Skull' and 'Mona'." Mona agreed and nodded. "We should get going."

Ren nodded with a grin. Yes, this was more like it. The gang was coming back together!

"Now, let's go take on Kamoshida!" Skull said confidently.

"This way, Skull." Mona pointed, showing the window they escaped from. Joker's grin returned, the three rushing inside. They arrived in the room, crouched and hidden from the knights, using their surroundings as cover.

"Okay, Joker. Where too?" Skull asked

"This way." Joker answered, leading the way and through a corridor, into the next room, where a knight was on patrol.

"Shit!" Skull whispered in shock, the three pulled back and used the corners as cover.

"Quiet, we don't want to alert them!" Mona hissed.

"I've got this." Joker answered, using his speed and athleticism to slip behind the knight. "Show me your true face!"

The knight panicked as his clay white mask was ripped off his face, revealing shadows beneath. it arched back and exploded into a Pixie. "You dare enter this sacred place?"

"Yeah." Ren said confidently, pointing his model gun at it. "I do."

BANG!

"GAH!" The Pixie fell to the ground as it was knocked down.

"Holy crap!" Skull gasped

"Skull! Don't waste your bullets if you don't have to!" Ren snapped softly

"R-Right. Got it." Skull nodded. 'Holy crap, can this fire bullets now?'

"W-Wait. D-don't kill me." The Pixie panted as it was beaten with one of its weaknesses.

"Give me an item." Joker spoke, giving an order

"'Give me an item'?" Skull asked

"Sorry. I don't have any." The pixie answered sadly.

"That was a bust." Mona sighed

"W-Wait. I. I remember now. I am a Shadow that lives among the cognitive world of Humans. I am 'Pixie'. My power is yours." The Pixie answered, glowing bright and shot itself into Joker's mask, to which Joker accepted and smirked

"Err... What?" Skull's arms dropped in shock. "How the-? What just-? You can do that?!"

"Yeah, I guess I could." Joker responded, acting 'shocked'.

"Incredible. You can use multiple Persona at once." Mona clarified for Skull "I've never heard of such a thing!"

"Well, guess I'm the first." Joker answered. "We can use this for these other Shadows."

"Sorry, what're 'Shadows'? Are they like Personas?" Skull asked

"Yes, they are. Most people, like you or I Skull, can only hold one. Looks like Joker can use as many as he wants." Mona explained. "But Shadows are Personas without guidance."

"... I don't get it..." Skull blinked

"Basically, we've got more on our side, than there's." Joker answered confidently. 'Even if they're weak, they can still help.'

"Right." Ryuji nodded

"Let's keep going, Kamoshida's palace will be crawling with guards in this area if we do nothing." Mona answered, and continued to point.

"On it, Mona." Joker answered as the trio lead as a team


*elsewhere*

Back outside, Ann and Shiho managed to get back into Kamoshida's Palace. Either they couldn't find the exit, or the boys didn't send them back properly "What's this weird thing on my phone?" Ann asked, looking at the eye symbol on her phone

"I don't know." Shiho commented... Before the two where suddenly surrounded by knights!

"Your Highness!" The knights spoke together.

"Huh? 'Highness'?" The two asked.

"And his Concubine. Bring them to The King!" The lead knight ordered as knights grabbed them

"What?!" they gasped as they where dragged away

"Let me go! Get off of me!" Shiho called out


*elsewhere*

Back inside the castle, the Phantom Thieves were in a small dining hall or kitchen for the knights to eat... if they needed to eat.

"This is so much easier without the exhaustion." Skull commented as he thwacked a Bicorn in the head.

"Don't get distracted, Skull!" Mona responded as he pulled back his slingshot and shot at the remaining enemy.

Joker silently slashed at the final foe, letting it dissolve into red and black sludge at their feet, while also shattering yet another volleyball

"Cha-chi-Urgh!" Skull smirked as he saw the gold fly... before he recoiled as Joker held an erotic lampshade. "What? Is that? Urgh!"

"Don't think on it too hard, Skull. It's just additional funds." Joker answered as he pocketed it.

"Yeah, yeah." Skull nodded and coughed

"Plus, it just means we're sticking it to Kamoshida." Mona added.

"Yeah, true...Err. is that door okay?" Skull asked as they approached a distorted door.

"I think so. Come on." Joker answered as he opened it. As the three entered, it shifted back into their homeroom briefly before turning back.

"What the heck? What's going on?" Skull asked

"A Safe Room. We can rest up here while we plan." Mona smirked and leapt on the table.

"Err... explain please?" Skull repeared

"You know what we said about Kamoshida having 'dominion over the school'?" Joker asked

"Yeah, vaguely." Skull rubbed his dyed blonde hair

"This is your homeroom. Kamoshida's got little control over it so it's safer in here then it is out there." Mona answered

Skull looked blankly at the two in still confusion. "Gym teacher in a math class. He has no power here." Joker clarified.

"Oh! So there are more than one of those?" he blinked

"There should be. Kamoshida might think of this place as his own castle, but there's only so much he can control." Mona answered as he crossed his arms.

"Mona, before I forget. Here." Joker spoke, passing two weapons to Mona.

"Where the heck did you get those?" Skull gasped as Mona smirked and replaced his existing weapons.

"Personal collection." Joker half-lied

Two high pitched screams caught their attention, chilling them to the bone. "What was that?" Skull panicked

"It sounded like girls." Joker's eyes shrunk into his head.

"Lady Ann!" Mona gasped and left immediately

"Wait, Morgana!" Skull shouted

"Skull. Codenames." Joker responded

"Shit, sorry! But still, we gotta go!" Skull apologised as the two ran.

"Yeah." Joker nodded, sprinting after Mona

The two followed Mona, which lead them to a now opened corridor, that was blocked by iron spikes. "That way was blocked before; right?" Skull asked

"It was." Joker nodded.

"Lady Ann and Lady Shiho are down there!" Mona panicked

"They're here? But didn't we-?" Skull gasped

"Talk later. Save now!" Joker ordered as they ran to the door down the corridor. He was rushing in a blind panic, rushing down the hall. All that was going through his mind was the worst possible scenario's even if he knew what should happen but... he hated the idea of what might happen


*? ? ?*

"L-Let us go you creeps!" Ann struggled as she and Shiho were tied against two large 'X' shaped crosses inside a candle-lit, velvet red room with various pink mannequins of women in scanty red lingerie.

"Please. Stop." Shiho cried as she didn't want to be here. She wasn't fighting like Ann. What was the point, it wouldn't work? She was just crying as she hung there

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here." A chilling voice spoke, terrifying the two.

"K-Kamoshida?" Ann double-took

"No!" Shiho panicked as she tried to recoil back "No! No! NO!"

"Oh, now look here. My Queen and my little slut." Kamoshida's Shadow smirked as he swaggered in wearing his royal cape. "Good work finding them."

"Sir!" The knights saluted.

"'Slut'? How dare you!" Ann glared before they heard two sets of giggling

Shiho and Ann looked at the shadows and were frozen in shock. There, they saw themselves. But, what Kamoshida thought of them. Ann dressed in only a pink bikini with cute black cat-ears... and Shiho... In a slave girls' clothing. Exposed and wearing a latex collar with a chain around her neck.

"Oh. God!" Shiho cried and looked away in disgust and shame.

"What?!" Ann gasped and snarled

"Well, it seems that you're the real Takamaki and Suzui. Since you're intruders, I should have you both executed. However... It's not often I get such a deserving meal before me." Kamoshida's shadow smirked as he licked his lips.

"Fuck you!" Ann snapped, looking at their copies. Both of these fakes having eerie yellow eyes

Shiho couldn't bring herself to look, she was afraid and ashamed. Her copy looked how she felt...distorted and weak. A slave to Kamoshida.

BANG!

Joker, Skull and Mona crashed through the door

"You three again?" Kamoshida glared

"Let them go!" Joker glared

"We're here to-urgh! What the Eff Kamoshida?" Skull pointed before he recoiled, seeing the copies of Ann and Shiho.

"How dare you do that to ladies!" Mona followed up

"You intrude on my castle? And have the audacity to call me out on what I can do?" Kamoshida glared, snapping his fingers to have the knights put their swords to the real Ann and Shiho's throats.

"Ann/Takamaki! Shiho/Suzui!" The trio gasped

Both Ann and Shiho flinched as they could feel the edge of the swords by their throats. It made the three flinch and back up, standing down

"Now, just be good and stand over there. While I enjoy myself with these two 'gifts'." Kamoshida responded, holding a sword to strip them. His sword held out, moving down and cutting Ann's shirt lightly

"Get off me!" Ann snapped

"No!" Joker snapped, rushing forwards

"Back, plebeians!" The knights ordered, pushing him back

"Let! Go of me!" Ann yelled, trying to get away from Kamoshida making Shadow Ann walk forwards with a frown

"Don't you get it? We're King Kamoshida's playthings, we love being used by him. Being his things fills us with lust!" Shadow Ann smiled and spoke like a slut.

"Yeah. Weirdo's like you two are sooooo~ uncool." Shadow Shiho giggled

"We're. Not!" Ann glared before she felt her jumper's zipper being pulled down, carving her shirt

Shiho closed her eyes, crying as she looked away

"Oh~, don't cry. You'll like being King Kamoshida's pet. I know I do~!" Shadow Shiho teased, stroking the real Shiho's face.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HER!" Ann snapped

"But don't you see Ann, this is all your fault. You did that to her." Kamoshida commented

"Wh-what?" Ann whispered in shock

"Don't listen to this guy, Takamaki!" Skull called out

"It's like this because of you." Kamoshida laughed "She put up with my 'lessons' to make you proud... And you didn't notice her pain. You didn't help her."

"Shiho." Ann whispered in despair, terrified of what she did to her friend. How her inability to help her caused so much pain, how her ignorance let her get into this position. "N... No... You're... You're right..." Ann whimpered, her body going limp

"You see? Isn't it better just to give in. And give me what I want?" Kamoshida smirked "She has."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Joker shouted as he was pinned to the floor. The three thieves having tried to fight the knights off but didn't summon their Persona, they couldn't risk provoking him TOO MUCH "Don't listen to his bullshit!"

"Shut up you looser! If it wasn't for you, Shiho wouldn't be here right now!" Shadow Ann huffed "If it wasn't for you, the real me would be King Kamoshida's sexy kitty and the real Shiho would, like, have totally followed! After all, that's all she's good for!"

"... Shut... Your... Damn mouth!" Ann hissed, looking up with a glare "Don't you DARE speak about Shiho like that!"

"Ann..." Shiho whispered sadly

"She's my best... Only friend!" Ann cried "I would do anything for her! But I wasn't good enough! I let that bastard get to her! But I'd rather DIE than let you, or him, insult her! Let alone hurt her again!"

"Ooh! Very well then!" Shadow Kamoshida laughed, bringing the sword down...

Riiiiiip!

And cutting Ann's shirt in half

Ann's breasts were exposed, but they were still covered by her bra. She wanted to scream, but she held her tongue.

"Don't you get it? This is my domain! My castle! And you? You're nothing! Just my plaything!" Kamoshida proclaimed

"Never!" Ann hissed... Before she gasped in pain

THUMP!
THUMP!

"My...It's taken far too long." A sultry voice spoke from within Ann, as she began to writhe in pain, feeling whatever was inside her began to beat within her chest and mind. "Tell me; who's going to avenge her, if you don't? Forgiving him was never the option...Such is the scream of the Other You that dwells within."

"Joker. Is she-?" Skull tried to push back

"I am thou, thou art I. We can finally forge a contract." The voice continued as Ann jerked on the X-cross and stopped.

"Hell yeah it is." Ren grin in confidence

"I hear you... Carmen." Ann whispered, acknowledging her inner self, before jerking her head up, a sudden blue flame emerging from her face and revealed a red cat-shaped mask that showed her with piercing yellow eyes. "You're right. No holding back!"

Kamoshida backed up in shock, realising that his hold over her... was broken. He had lost his prize and was showing his true colours.

"There you go. Nothing can be solved by restraining yourself." The voice continued as Ann's hands sparked with blue flames and freed her from the shackles, smashing free as she stood tall "Understand? Then I'll gladly lend you my STRENGTH!"

RRRRIP!

"AAAARGH!" Ann screamed as she removed the mask from her face, peeling away the flesh from bone, leaving a trail of blood over her eyes as she erupted in the powerful blue flames that surrounded her.

Shiho couldn't believe it, Ann was engulfed in flames, muttering something about 'Carmen', but this...this was giving her hope.

Ann stood there, fully free and now wearing a phantom thief outfit. Consisting of a skin-tight red latex catsuit with a cleavage cutout and zippers, a matching red panther mask, pink gloves, dark red thigh-high boots, a clipped on tail on the back of her catsuit. She turned to a knight, running up to him, kicked him in the face, stealing his sword and slashed her cognitive form with it. "Get. BACK!" She ordered as she held the blade.

"Holy SHIT!" Skull gasped

"Lady/Ann!" Mona and Shiho followed up...t o which Joker just smiled, seeing the next member of their team back.

'That's my Panther.' he thought proudly

"No!" Kamoshida roared in rage "Kill them all!"

"Where do you think you're going?" Shadow Shiho asked as she grabbed the real one, pulling her back. With the X rack gone, she almost had a chance to escape "You know there's no point in running, in fighting back. We both know this. Like everyone else we are slaves to Master Kamoshida. He knows best after all."

"I-" Shiho whispered, only giving the most token of efforts to break out of her captors grasp as she was pulled back

"Come on; who're you fooling? You're nothing like her. Like them. All we're good for is to be Master Kamoshida's slave!" Shadow Shiho responded

"SHIHO!" Ann called to her, throwing a sword to Shiho which landed at her feet "You are amazing! Brave! Strong! Now be braver than I've ever been... Break free of that ass hole by yourself! I'll be waiting for you! After all, you still need to show me how not to make a crap painting!"

"Ann..." Shiho whispered

"What is this bitch talking about?" Shadow Shiho frowned

"Gah! Shut that stupid bitch up! GUARDS! Get here, NOW!" Kamoshida demanded as Shadows began to pour in.

'What have I been doing?' Shiho thought. 'I-I want to fight!'

THUMP!
THUMP!

"WH-What the?" Shadow Shiho gasped as she was flung off by a sudden pulse of energy

"What?" Joker asked in shock, his coattails blowing around wildly 'What is going on?!'

"My, my. It's about time." A voice in Shiho's head and heart spoke, causing Shiho to double over in pain and grip her head "You've been pushed down too much; haven't you? If you wish for strength, let us make a pact together."

"Miss Shiho?" Mona gasped as he aimed his slingshot at a Knight

"Take back what they stole from you, your Other Self has been patient. I am Thou, Thou are I. Spread your wings of Rebellion and free yourself from the shackles of Evil MEN!" The voice spoke, proclaiming as Shiho screamed as she now had a mask donning her face. It was a white and purple mask, curved like a beak with six white feathers at the tips. Two white, two purple and two black.

RRRIIIIP!

"COME! CIRCE!" Shiho screamed as the flames engulfed her and shot back the guards, burning bright like a supernova as her Persona came forth.

"Such power! This is incredible!" Mona gasped as he was almost blown away.

"I gotcha!" Joker grabbed him

SHINK!

"You think you're so-!" Shadow Shiho asked as the flames died down, only to have her head cleaved off her shoulders, causing her to fall to shadows.

Shiho emerged from the flames and stood proud, wearing her bird-like mask and with a toothy grin. She gripped the broadsword tightly in her hand, the flames fading away and revealing her outfit. Shiho was wearing a purple leotard of sorts, black fishnet stockings and boots and finally wearing a dark purple-black jacket with embroidered wings on the back on her waist was a broadsword scabbard and a new sword in her side.

Standing behind her was a tall, bronze-skinned woman with flowing and slightly braided black hair, void-white eyes and carrying scepter made of twisted wood, wearing a leather bodice that exposed her stomach and a flowing purple skirt.

"This. This is me!" Shiho said confidently. "Kamoshida." She pointed at him with the broadsword. "I'm gonna castrate you!" Making him whimper in fear of her.

"Whoa!" Mona gasped as he looked at her.

Joker looked at Shiho in awe 'She... she's one of us?' He thought as he looked at her in awe.

"Damn it." Kamoshida panicked. "You! Take care of them!"

"At once, King Kamoshida!" A golden knight answered, turning into a large purple demon with black horns a long devil tail, yellow fingerless gloves and socks...and sitting on a porcelain throne, alongside a Pixie and a Bicorn.

"Disgusting!" Ann glared at the demon as Kamoshida used the cover to escape.

"We've got your backs!" Ryuji called out as he raced to their side.

"Sakamoto?" Ann gasped

"You're not fighting these alone." Joker followed up. "Mona, take out any stragglers."

"On it!" Mona nodded. "Ha!" And shot at a Pixie trying to corner them

"Kamoshida. Here's your warning." Joker called as he clicked his fingers

"We are going to kick your ass!" Skull yelled as he punched his palm

"Plunder this castle from tip to bottom." Mona added, resting his cutlass on his shoulder

"AND STEAL EVERYTHING FROM YOU!" Ann and Shiho roared, Ann slashing her whip while Shiho pointed with her sword

And like that, the battle was on

SHINK!

"You dare attack our King Kamoshida?" The Bicorn called out.

"Yeah, we are!" Shiho gripped her sword and ran at him with it. "RAAARGH!"

CLANG!

"You. Will not get through US!" The Bicorn called out.

"DIA!" The Pixie called out, healing her partner.

"What happened?" Ann snapped

"It healed. I've got the goat." Skull answered. "RARGH! LET'S DO THIS, CAPTAIN!" As he summoned Captain Kidd.

"Let's run rampant! ZIO!" Captain Kidd proclaimed before he and Skull summoned their attack. A bolt of lightning rained down and shot at the Bicorn, crippling it to the floor.

"Whoa!" Ann and Shiho gasped in shock.

"Follow their lead. And we will not fail you." Carmen and Circe spoke one after another

"Okay. Let's try this. AGI!" Ann called out, shooting a ball of fire at the Pixie, incinerating it.

"Direct hit, Ann!" Shiho cheered

"Nice!" Skull gave a thumbs up.

"Damn you! You're going to pay for that! Bufula!" The toilet demon pointed at Ann and summoned ice around her.

"ARGH!" Ann screamed as she was knocked down.

"Damn it!" Joker glared

"What happened?" Shiho asked

"She's a 'Fire User', he used an 'Ice' based attack." Joker explained quickly.

"Trust me. It's no fun." Skull admitted, having gotten knocked down twice in fights.

"Now, it's my turn." Joker glared at the demon "Jack O' Lantern! AGI!" As he proclaimed a floating carved pumpkin with a witch's hat and cloak and a single white glove holding a lantern appeared behind him, shooting a ball of fire at the toilet demon

"ARGH! Urgh...!" The Shadow groaned as Joker hit his weakness.

"He's down!" Skull smirked

"Take him out! GARULA!" Mona called out as he used his own Persona to defend the rear, summoning whips of wind to strike Shadows. Unfortunately, because of Bicorn and Pixie still being up, they couldn't end this

"Show then what you've got, Circe!" Shiho called

"Of course! KOUHA!" Circe proclaimed, pointing her staff at the Bicorn and shot an arrow of light at it, right between the horns.

"ARGH!" The Bicorn screamed as it was defeated and disappeared into the shadows.

"Whoa!" Shiho gasped in shock

"Holy shit!" Skull gasped

'A Holy attack? Is that Shiho's strength?' Joker blinked in shock

"Grrr..." the toilet demon snarled, getting back up

"You damn bastards! You're going to pay for that! BUFALA!" And pointed at Joker, snapping its fingers.

"Joker!" Skull called out as the ice shot at him.

The Wild Card raised his arm in front of eyes, trying his best to sjield himself from the blow "ARGH!" Joker fell to the floor in pain, having got his current weakness exploited. "Damn it!"

"You son of a bitch!" Skull snarled as he pulled out his shotgun.

CH-CHACK!

"You're gonna pay for that!" He glared and shot off four rounds in their direction

"GAH!" The Pixie vanished as it was shot by Ryuji's bullets.

"A-A gun? Where did you-?" Ann grunted as she got up.

"Never mind that, kick that bastard's ass!" Skull shouted

"Ann. Hit it with another fire blast!" Ren called as he forced himself up

"Got it. Carmen, AGI!" Ann called out as she pointed at the toilet demon, shooting a ball of fire at him, exploiting his weakness and downed him.

"Now, together!" Joker spoke

"Huh?" Shiho asked

"KICK ITS ASS!" Skull pointed

The two ladies looked at each other and nodded running together as Joker and Skull followed, rapidly punching and kicking the Shadow "Let's finish this!" Ann called out as she landed gracefully, giving a twirl on the spot before giving a peace sign as the Shadow was spurting blood in defeat and vanished into nothing.

"It's over!" Mona panted as he was running low on empty.

"Retreat! Retreat!" Pixies and other Shadows proclaimed as they saw the carnage these thieves had wrought and taken down one of their strongest members.

The room soon emptied, Ann and Shiho falling to the ground "Ah!" they both gasped in exhaustion

"Whoa, easy. We gotcha." Skull reassured as he and Joker went to their sides and held their arms to hoist them up.

"Are you alright, Lady Ann and Shiho?" Mona asked as he approached them

"That. That's worse than practice." Shiho panted

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" Ann squealed, her arms crossing in front of her zipper boob window "What's with these outfits?!"

"I-I look like a stripper!" Shiho blushed as she tried to cover her legs.

"I don't know, we ended up like this too." Skull responded.

"Ow." Joker rubbed his ear, being close to where she screamed

"We've got to get out of here, there'll be guards coming." Mona spoke up.

"Th-The cat. It's talking." Shiho gasped

"I-I've been talking this entire time..." Mona whispered, his head falling

"The cat. Can talk." Shiho whispered with wide eyes.

"Come on, we need to get out of here." Joker spoke, helping up Ann while Skull got Shiho "We don't want to get caught when we can't defend ourselves."

"The. Cat. Can. TALK!" Shiho cheered as they left.


*time skip*

The group managed to slip out of the castle, leading back to the front and away from Kamoshida and once again into the alley in front of Shujin, in the real world

"We're finally out." Morgana sighed in relief.

"Thank god, we're outta there in one-." Ryuji sighed in relief, before Shiho let go of his arm and hugged Morgana.

"Gah!" Morgana gasped as Shiho cradled him.

"Talking cat!" Shiho cheered

"Err... Okay." Ryuji blinked

"Thank god, we're out of those costumes." Ann looked down at her clothes and sighed in relief.

"I thought you looked good in it." Ren complimented

Ann looked up at him and blushed, feeling shocked by his honesty and his almost brazen remark. Though he was a nice guy... he was still relatively new at school. "Hnn." She fell a little.

"Easy, you two. You're exhausted from the castle." Mona panicked as Shiho was almost falling on top of him.

"Whoa!" he yelled in concern

"Easy, I gotcha." Ryuji reassured her.

"Thank you." Shiho answered.

"We'll have to get to LeBlanc. I'll put some coffee on." Ren spoke


*time skip*

"Ah~, delicious!" Shiho sighed in relief as she had a cup of coffee next to Ann.

"So... You are going to steal his heart?" Ann asked

"That's right." Ren nodded. "And when we do, Kamoshida will feel the entire weight of his sins crashing down on him."

"It's not going to kill him, is it?" Shiho asked

Morgana shook his head. "It shouldn't. When we steal the treasure and leave the Shadow alone, he'll be alright."

"We just get the treasure and we get out. He'll admit his crimes and be punished." Ren nodded

"But we are all threatened with expulsion." Ryuji commented

"Yeah...what do we do if it goes through anyway?" Shiho asked

"We loose." Ren said simply "Meaning we have a deadline."

"God. Then we better do this right." Ryuji answered

"How long?" Shiho asked. "How long until we're expelled?"

"Two weeks. At the maximum." Ren answered, trying to recall the correct number of days "We are not rushing in." he added simply

"That's right. If we go in and we aren't prepared, it'll all be for nought." Morgana added

"How? What can we do to prepare?" Ann asked

"Make sure we have strong enough weapons. Make sure we have a bunch of healing stuff to help us recover energy while in the Palace, like bandages and energy drinks and food and such. Remember, it's a world of the mind so if we get stuff we think will help us, it will." Ren instructed

"You know a lot about this place..." Ryuji commented

"Well, look who loves in my flat. Been getting a crash course." Ren commented simply

"From... 'Morgana', right?" Shiho asked, stroking his head.

"That's right, Lady Shiho." Morgana purred his response.

"You are just so cute!" Shiho giggled

"'C-Cute'?" He asked, being scratched under the chin gently.

"So, what're we gonna do for weapons?" Ann asked

"We've got that covered." Ryuji answered.

"The Phantom Thieves are in business." Ren nodded

I am Thou. Thou art I.
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Lovers Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power...