Cesar716: Read it as often as you want.
The Keeper of Worlds: Who wants to be more.
Maloche: We have PLANS. Why do I need to repeat that so often? We don't like giving spoilers for stuff like that.
Mewtwo-TheLoneShadow: Yeah her romance scenes are fun.
Klyju: Comedy is coming for that.
Xerzo LotCN: As you'll see, a guide. And her strategic mind. Ren is HOPING to keep her out of fighting.
Superherofan: Glad we are impressing.
SoSlimShady: Really? Is it THAT different?
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Let's go Indiana Dragon 3000!
Neo Infinity: Dude, Chapter 19 was even longer than Chapter 18.
Cooperjordan: Thanks. Be ready, as Makoto has something fun coming up after Futabaa's Palace is all done.
eniox27: Not THIS Palace.
UnsanMusho: The MetaVerse does not really have Shadow's of a person, like P4's TV world. It is more like P3's Mementos. Unless you go into your OWN Palace.
chimchar14: Hey, gotta stay hydrated. And he knew it was coming this time!
AadenHelan: Well, none of them think THEY could have a Palace/wouldn't even think about checking on the others.
Slackboy101: Nope.
Here are some reviews answered by Ghost:
To everyone who wished Grey a happy birthday: Thank you very much.
Green223: Trust me, they're coming soon.
Zeromaru Chaos Mode: Err... Pharaoh Futaba is still Tsun.
Epex8201: Have you played the original games?
Mike Kromer: Calm down, dude. It's going to progress naturally.
chimchar14: Thanks, mate. chuckle Yeah, Ren's got hammerspace in his pockets.
UnsanMusho: Trust us, Makoto's Awakening will be much more deserving this time around.
PhantomDark: Trust us, things will be getting good.
UltimateCCC: laughs Oh god, why didn't we think of that?
Cooperjordan: Glad you like this chapter. And yeah, we have to make the connections soon.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy, S.S. Indy! The Cinnamon Roll will be protected.
Superherofan: sigh Yeah, it's been a challenge to get that through to people.
Klyju: Thanks for the reception. And... err. It'd be tricky since they're -technically- the same person, just split in half.
Guest chapter 19 Jun 8: Dude, fuck you.
The Keeper of Worlds: Yep!
Disclaimer: We do not own Persona 5. That belongs to Atlus.
Co-written by GhostKaiser23
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hey guys, it has been a long month for me. I hope you all enjoy it!
Persona 5 New Game Plus, Joker's Second Chance
Chapter 20: Saving the Oracle
The Phantom Thieves where walking through Futaba's Palace, sticking to the shadows as they watched their footing. They had been in here for hours now
Rumble~
"... What was that?" Panther asked
"Um... Anyone seen 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'?" Joker responded nervously as a giant 'fuck you' boulder began to roll at them!
...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"What the fuck is THAT doing here?!" Skull screamed as they ran.
"Natural defences!" Mona responded.
"This way!" Dove noticed a gap in the wall.
BOOM!
Dust settled as the bounder crashed down into a wall... and the Phantom Thieves ducked into a large hole where they all could fit.
"That was close!" Skull sighed
"Good spot, Dove." Mona panted
"Thanks. It was almost a blur." She responded
"How're we going to get up?" Panther asked.
"Hmm... The walls. There. Those stones look like a staircase." Joker saw the opposite side wall while everyone still in the hole. Panther's back pushed tightly against his front
"J-Joker." She whispered as she felt his front... and unintentionally rubbing her ass against his hips.
"Panther." he nodded and flinched, feeling the rub and making him 'awaken'. His hands shuddered gently as he slowly glided his hands down her hips... and wanted to hug her very close.
"It seems the coast is clear. We may be able to get across now." Fox spoke up, dampening the mood.
"Right." the two commented. His red gloves brushed her latex hips before the two forced themselves apart, hurrying out "Ahem. Right. Yes. Good work, Fox." Both Joker and Panther responded nervously and over each other as they managed to slip out to the stairs.
'You little sneaks.' Dove thought as she saw that, but didn't want to say anything that might embarrass them all. She was at least happy they where comfortable... and wanted to have a go in that sitation herself soon
"Okay, which way now?" Mona asked
"You don't know?" Skull asked
"It's not like we haven't found a map to this place yet." Mona rolled his eyes.
"... Crap." Joker hissed, he'd forgotten about that
"What's wrong?" Dove asked
"The map. We need to find it." Joker explained.
"Oh, for god's... Where are we gonna find a map for here?" Skull asked, gesturing the vast pyramid.
*Back at the front*
Makoto was sitting quietly in the controlled area, the bottles of water by her feet as she was getting anxious and agitated. Why was she even there? Just to drive the... cat? Bus? Cat-Bus? She felt useless. She tried to distract herself with her phone... but there was no access to her games.
Suddenly her other phone, the one Joker had given her, began to ring
"Huh?" She gasped and answered. "H-hello?"
"Ah, good. The phone still works here." Joker sighed in relief. "Are you okay, Makoto?"
"I guess." she shrugged
"Listen, we might be here a while, there's a map to this place that we need to get." Joker explained
"Wait, there are maps to places like this?" Makoto asked. "The more I hear about these places, the crazier it sounds."
"Welcome to the Metaverse." Joker responded calmly. "It's what we have to deal with."
Makoto went silent for a moment. How much time and effort had this had to go into changing the hearts of people. Palaces? Maps? Distorted desires... It was all too much for her. She understood it, deeply, though. This was the charge of the Phantom Thieves. This is what they had to do. She had to do more. She had to be better.
Because she now understood them
'What have I been chasing? I have to be better.' She thought to herself. "Joker; if I can call you that."
"Of course you can." He answered.
"I. I want to be better. Can you help with that?" She asked
"Sure. In fact, you could help us right now!"
"Really? What do you need me to do?" She asked almost enthusiastically.
"We need your smarts." he responded
"Alright, I'll help where I can." She answered. "But there's not much I can do from here."
"That's fine." Skull called out. "Could you tell us how Pyramids work?"
Makoto sighed and rolled her eyes and began to give information on how Egyptian Pyramids were styled and how there were maps along the interior walls in case of people losing their way.
*With the Group*
'Oh, how could I forget that?' Joker thought and facepalmed to himself. "Makoto, thanks." He assured "And I'll call you next time we are in battle. I am sure you'd be able to work out some weaknesses."
"I'll do my best. And good luck." She responded before he hung up.
"I can't believe she had some good pointers." Skull commented.
"I guess... she's not all bad." Dove agreed. She gently took hold of Joker's hand, looking at their man made map
"Are we going the right way?" Panther asked
"Yeah, we are. It looks like we'll have to go down to go up. If that makes sense." Joker answered. "This whole place is a labyrinth." He frowned.
"So rather easy to finish them." Fox commented, confusing everyone
"... No." Skull shook his head softly and held his head in his hand.
"If we follow the map, we'll be fine. And maybe get into some safe rooms on the way." Mona answered.
"... Do you all not know how to solve a maze?" Fox questioned
"Do you?" Panther asked. "One wrong move and we might end up dead in this place. And I'm not looking forward to be a mummy here."
"You stick to a wall and follow it." was his response "Even walking around a dead end, you keep following the wall. All walls are connected, you will eventually find the exit."
...
"Seriously Fox, how'd you figure that out?" Skull asked
"Calmly and logically." He answered
"It's a good plan, Fox. But we'll have to watch out for those giant ass boulders." Joker responded
"Yes, I know." He nodded
"Hey, Joker. Think this'll be something?" Skull asked as he pointed to an alcove.
"Maybe, maybe not. But let's keep going forward." Joker answered as they headed out and deeper into Futaba's Palace.
The group managed to sneak their way around after the ordeal with the boulders... though they needed to shut them down. But found themselves in a room filled with mummies.
...
"Creepy." the girls admitted
"These sarcophagi. They're so amazingly detailed." Fox commented as he looked at them.
"They're probably worth something; right, Joker?" Skull asked
"I wouldn't risk it. Crappy things like Madarame's cheap mugs are one thing; but how're we going to explain a full Egyptian sarcophagus?" Joker responded.
"I must take a moment. Just a moment." Fox spoke as he began to get a visual look at a strange coffin... which looked different than the others.
Joker looked on as the side of the coffin opened... and out came a clawed spindly fingered hand. "FOX!" Joker ran and talked his friend away as the clawed hand swiped at them.
"What the hell?!" Dove gasped
"It's a Shadow!" Joker answered.
"You bastard! Captain Kidd!" Skull called out, summoning lightning down at the Shadow to harm it... but nothing. In fact it looked healthy! "The hell?!"
And the Shadow began to summon another Shadow to its side. It was a half-woman half-snake Shadow with long blue hair covering its nude chest.
"A Shadow that can summon other Shadows?!" Dove asked
"Fox, attack the Lamia. Mona, take on Mot!" Joker called out
"Got it" the two called together
"GOEMON!"
"MERCURIUS!"
The two summoned their Persona and shot out their elemental attacks at the two, causing them to fall down.
The two shot forwards, powers sparking
Ice surrounded the sarcophagus Shadow, latching its open mouth shut while the winds whipped around the Lamia, cutting her like knives. Both Shadows were knocked down, leading to the group to go into an 'All Out Attack'!
"Fox!" Joker called as the group rushed in
"Right!" he nodded, joining in on the Assault
Both Fox and Joker leapt into action, the whole world changing around them into a Japanese lord's home from the era of Samurai.
Fox landed smoothly, crouched, quickly sheathing his sword in one slick movement. Joker stood beside him, resting an elbow on his friends shoulder and smirked
Behind them their foes exploded into blood, almost looking like the sun rising from behind Mount Fuji
"Da~mn." Skull whispered in shock, seeing what just happened.
"That. That's new." Dove agreed.
"When did you come up with that?" Mona asked as they saw that.
"Made it up right now." Joker chuckled as he spam his knife
"That's all well and good. But do we have a map?" Panther asked.
Joker walked over to the wall and saw that it was a map. "Yeah, right here." He smirked, tearing it down and showed the group. "We're on the right path."
"What now?"
"We find a Safe Room, get back to the start, and give Makoto the map."
"Thank goodness for swift mercies." Fox commented, thinking about how fast they could travel through this place.
"Then back in right?" Skull asked, pointing deeper into the pyramid. "I know we haven't left a calling card; but still."
"Yep. Makoto just needs the map so she can guide us. Don't want to risk it getting broken." Joker nodded
"Okay, good. That I can agree with." Dove spoke up.
"Have we even passed a Safe Room?" Panther wondered
"I think I know a spot." Joker answered reassuringly as he lead the group to a nearby door. "The map gives us an idea of the location of a Safe Room."
"Huh, guess you know where they are then." Panther responded as they entered.
"In a sense, Panther." He smiled as they entered the Safe Room and were teleported back to the entrance.
"JESUS! What? How? How did you-?" Makoto snapped, double-taking in shock "How the hell?!"
"We have our means, Makoto." Joker answered. "We need your help with this." And handed the map to her. "We need you to keep track of where we are."
"O-Okay." she nodded
"Jeez, don't act too jumpy, Class Prez." Skull commented. "We're gonna go in a sec."
"Wait; what do you-?" She asked, before she was cut off, the group vanishing and left her alone.
"How?"
This place was getting stranger and stranger by the moment.
Back with the group, Joker felt honestly bad about leaving Makoto in the dark about this.
*time skip*
"Alright, are we close to the end, Joker?" Fox asked
"Almost, just this last puzzle." Joker answered as they arrived at a moving puzzle wall.
"I can't believe this is what happened. How could she live through this trauma?" Dove asked in worry for her boyfriend's friend.
"She doesn't." he frowned "It is killing her."
"But she has to know she's not responsible; right?" Panther asked in worry.
"She's been told that most of her life. Not by Sojiro, but by other cruel adults." Joker explained as he solved the puzzle, depicting men in suits holding documents and a letter. "That she killed her own mother."
"What the fuck?" Skull yelled. "Who the hell does that?"
-"We must save her." Makoto commented from the phone
"I know, Makoto. We're going to. And we're going to fix what they broke." Joker responded as he had the phone on loudspeaker. "We are nearly there. Just one more level."
"Yes. One more." The ghostly voice of Futaba's shadow said from behind them
"You're back." Mona spoke as he saw Futaba's Shadow, while Skull looked at her with sympathetic eyes.
"Futaba." Skull spoke, trying to be friendly.
"You want to be saved, don't you?" Dove questioned
"I... She... we do not want to die. We want this pain to stop. Please. Save us." Shadow Futaba nodded as she confessed. "She has distorted herself and her desires. I am the Shadow, the True Self. I know these lies are what they are, it is why they have long tapestries. But she believes her own lies. She needs help. We need saving... please."
"We're gonna go and save you, beat up those adults and kick their asses!" Skull spoke up.
"... Those last two were-" Fox began to speak
"I know what I said." Skull deadpanned, making Shadow Futaba and Joker smile.
"I guess even Skull can get something right." Dove quipped gently.
"I. You... Yeah, okay." Skull rolled his eyes.
"Let's fix this tapestry." Joker added as he began to walk down the glowing green walkway, the path thay would take them to the next stage of this maze
"How long do you think we have left?" Fox asked
"Eager to get back?" Dove asked
"Not as such." Fox explained.
"This last leg." Makoto said seriously as she looked at the map the group had recently acquired "Once we pass this last maze, it is a stairway up to the treasures location."
"Thanks Queen." Joker nodded 'Futaba... We're going to save you.' Joker thought, recalling what happened last time.
"Queen?" The others asked
"Oh shit." he whispered, why did he keep fucking doing this?! Luckily he was able to recover quickly "Um, yeah. If Makoto's helping us... She needs a code name." He turned around and shrugged softly "She needs a code name like all of us. Shes the student council president, the 'Queen' of the school. Thought it fit."
"... Yeah, that makes sense." Panther nodded, agreeing with that.
Mona looked up and gave a subtle nod to Joker, knowing the codename slip was accidental while jumping onto their leadership shoulder once more
"I hope that we can do this." Dove commented. "No-one should be like this."
"Agreed." Fox nodded
The group soon arrived through the maze, stepping towards the end of the road. The Treasure was on the other side.
"So... here we are." Joker commented
"Yep, so we're gonna see that glowing ball; right?" Skull asked
"'Glowing ball'?" Makoto's voice asked through the phone.
"Yes, the treasure's 'blank' and neutral state." Joker explained
"Interesting." She answered, thinking that she got it. "Then, that'll help Futaba?"
"Exactly." Joker nodded "Once we send her the calling card tomorrow, we can save her."
"Then we can go back?" Fox questioned as they had finally arrived.
"Possibly." Joker nodded "Unless anyone wants to fight more Shadow's for extra training?"
"Hmm... I can get into some extra training." Skull smirked. "Need it to work on my leg."
"And making our Persona stronger would be good." Fox agreed, looking up at a spectral image of Goemon
"You know... hey, do you guys think you could come back here? I wanna talk for a bit." Makoto requested
The group looked at each other and sighed. Training would have to wait. "Okay, Prez. We'll head back." Panther sighed
with a bitter tone. She felt Carmen growl inside her
'This is gonna be tough when we get back.' Mona thought to himself as they headed to the nearest Safe Room that they encountered.
FWOOSH!
There was a flash of light and group where back in the main area where Makoto was waiting
"Whoa! That-? How? Right...Need to get used to that." Makoto gasped as she saw them.
"Yep." Dove nodded
"So, what's the problem? Why'd you want us here?" Skull asked
"I wanted to go over your abilities and the like."
"Are you serious?" Panther groaned. "Couldn't this be done over the phone?"
"And waste everyone's minutes?" Makoto retorted.
...
"Please continue." Mona answered as Makoto gave her answer.
"Well..." Makoto began as she pulled some papers and pens from her bag "Can everyone write down their Persona's abilities on her for me please?" She asked
The group looked at Joker and knew what would happen with him.
"You guys first. I'm going last." Joker chuckled as they each accepted some paper
"Good to see you've got a pen." Skull joked.
"And you don't?" Makoto responded as she waited.
"Come on, give me some slack." He grumbled as he wrote down his Persona's name and powers.
"Hmm... How do you spell 'Bufula'?" Fox asked
"Just write down the element." Dove answered, "That's what I do."
"... Joker, little help here?" Mona asked as he couldn't write. He was a cat after all.
"No worries buddy." Joker nodded
It took a little while but they where soon finished, handing over the paper to Makoto
"Here, sorry about the smudge." Fox apologised.
"It's fine," Makoto answered as she looked at everyone's stats and powers. "Wind, Electric, Ice, Fire... Holy? And... Joker, why did you put 'all'?"
"Ah, yes. Joker can use multiple Persona." Mona explained.
"... But... everyone else-" Makoto tried to think.
"Let me show you." Joker spoke up, taking his mask off and showed off two Persona of his own. There was a torrent of blue flames, two powerful Persona emerging tall
Summoned before the group, was a long green snake with brown belly and three flowing white wings.
And secondly was a blue-skinned pixie-like humanoid with four insect-like wings with leaf-like feathers; around its waist was a red cloth with faint yellow stripes like a tiger's print. In its left hand was a scroll of parchment wrapped in a blue ribbon; its ears were bat-like and red with a yellow jewel in its forehead which looked like a third eye in a closed flower.
"Quetzacoatl! Sraosha!" Joker proclaimed as he summoned them.
"Wow, haven't seen THEM yet!" Skull blinked
"I was saving them for later." Joker explained.
"But what about the large one? Lucifer?" Fox asked
"Um, yeah. Here's the thing... didn't want to bring that guy out. He's probably bigger than the pyramid. These two are much more manageable." Joker admitted
"L-Lucifer?! As in the fallen angel?" Makoto panicked. "And Quetzacoatl, the Mayan god of the sun! How? This is incredible!"
"Not to be rude, but who is Sraosha?" Dove asked politely.
"A Zoroastrian god, he's the 'observer' of their deities... to brief mythology down to its basest forms." Joker explained.
"Because those are other Persona I gather. Mythology, history, stories themselves boiled into their basest form. Because that is most people's perception of those beings. They are my other masks... because we all wear multiple masks, us can just easily change them to fit situations better than others... some of us are just better liars."
The group looked on in shock at Joker's vast knowledge about this... all except Mona, he knew how cunning Joker was.
"Wait 'liars'?" Panther asked
"Joker... you are not a liar." Dove frowned "Society... people aren't that black and white."
"I guess you're right, Dove." He nodded with a sad smile, remembering the giant secret he was holding
"Okay." Makoto nodded as she picked up Fox's card ans listed off what he wrote
[Fox]
[Weapons: Imperial Sword and Rebel Rifle]
[Persona: Goemon]
[Element: Ice]
[Abilities: Heat Wave, Mabufula, Speed Master, Counter Strike, Rising Slash, Bufula, Counter, Mind Slice]
"Wow, no wonder you're hard to hit." Skull commented.
"Thank you." Fox nodded
"Okay, then let's go 'Skull'." Makoto spoke up, looking at his own sheet.
[Skull]
[Weapons: Bush-Hammer and Hellfire]
[Persona: Captain Kidd... and a picture of a hand doing the 'rock on' gesture]
[Element: Electric... with doodles of thunderbolts about it]
[Abilities: Mazionga, Shock Boost, Zionga, Adverse Resolve, Tarukaja, Bad Beat, Mazio, Headbutt... with a doodle of two people headbutting each other.]
"Were the doodles necessary?" Makoto deadpanned
"What? No-one said not to." Skull quipped back.
"Knucklehead," Mona whispered.
"What d'you say?" Skull glared
"Panther, your turn." Makoto looked at her skills
[Panther]
[Weapons: Whip Sword and Tarantula]
[Persona: Carmen]
[Element: Fire]
[Abilities: Fire Boost, Maragion, Ambient Aid, Diarama, Dekaja, Agilao, Fire Break, Tentarafoo]
"Um, you seem to be the healer of the group. Considering the healing spell here." Makoto remarked
"Trust me, Skull makes it difficult." Panther sighed a little, as Joker passed water to the group.
"Mona's next." She continued.
[Mona]
[Weapons: Blood Scimitar and Northern Light]
[Persona: Mercurius]
[Element: Wind]
[Skills: Evade Elec, Wind Boost, Magarula, Mediarama, Recarm, Garula, Miracle Punch, Wind Break]
"Oh, I... I see I've jumped the gun. Mona has-" Makoto apologised.
"Don't worry about it." Mona reassured her.
"Okay, Dove is next." Makoto responded, looking at her sheet.
[Dove]
[Weapons: Long Strider and Badaboom]
[Persona: Circe]
[Element: Bless]
[Skills: Makouga, Kouga, Dodge Physical, Dodge Curse, Assault Dive, Giant Slice, Diarama, Defence Master]
"So what would you say Dove's place om the team is?" Joker asked simply. He really wanted this, Queen's opinion and strategic mind. He needed his second in command
"Considering most of her skills involve dodging and heavy-hitting... maybe the team's tank?" She responded. "But...I'm open to interpretations."
"I see." He nodded lightly, crossing his arms
"What about you, Joker?" Fox asked
"Um... We'd be here all day if I listed off my Persona and skills." Joker explained. "Especially as I change them every now and again."
"Oh, I see. So you are the wild card of the team, able to adjust for any situation and fill on any gaps of our team composition. Fitting for someone code named Joker." Makoto nodded
"Exactly." He nodded.
"You should see him with his Personas. He's insane." Mona remarked, commenting on how good Joker was.
"Yeah he is." Panther purred
"Just. Just curious." Skull scratched his head. "How many Persona do you have on you right now?"
"Ten." He answered. "I have ten on me right now."
"Ten?" The group blinked in shock
"Uh-huh." Joker nodded. "Two of them you've already seen."
"Yeah, Quetzalcoatl and Sraosha." Dove nodded
"Plus Arsene." Makoto added
"Oh, you've still got that guy?" Skull asked.
"Of course I do." Joker answered.
"Arsene is...?" Makoto asked.
"Joker's primary Persona." Panther informed. "It is his Persona."
"Oh, I see." She nodded.
"Hey, is it me; or is Arsene stronger than when we last saw him?" Dove asked
"What do you mean?" Joker asked
"He just looks... different. That's all." Dove answered
Joker blinked, and looked at his classic Persona. He summoned Arsene before the group, looking face to face to his Prime Persona... and there was something to what Dove said. Arsene looked stronger, not physically but his flames seemed to be glowing brighter, with small flecks of gold within the wings. "Impressive." he nodded softly
Arsene just floated there, with his burning smile still on his face.
"Arsene? What are you looking at?" Joker asked before he noticed the line of sight, looking at Shadow Futaba who had returned
"Will you be going?" Shadow Futaba asked as she looked sadly at them.
"No, not yet." Makoto shook her head
Shadow Futaba nodded shyly as she looked at them, landing on Joker before she continued to walk forwards, approaching the leader
"Futaba, what's wrong?" Joker asked gently as she sat down next to him and leaned against his shoulder.
The Shadow closed her eyes, resting her head in his shoulder. Relaxing
Skull was gonna say something... but he knew when to shut his mouth at this point.
Panther, Dove and Makoto looked at this, seeing Shadow Futaba innocently leaning against him... honestly, only Makoto looked flustered by it.
"They kinda look lood siblings." Dove commented
"Thanks." Joker smiled, stroking her head gently.
'Siblings? I don't want that.' The Shadow thought
Mona looked up at Joker and saw the two sitting together, giving a friendly nod and a smile at his friend and brother figure.
"Well. I do believe I know how to train." Makoto commented as she looked at the papers, nodding confidently
*time skip*
"Ow... Everything hurts." Fox groaned as they were resting u.
"Out of energy." Skull muttered in agreement, laying face first in the sand
"Makoto... The hell is wrong with you?" Panther asked as she was slumped against the wall, her legs a bit bow legged
"It. Was like. That bastard's. Training." Dove panted as she felt like her arms were about to fall off.
"Come on, it wasn't that bad." Joker encouraged
"You. Are a robot, dude. You have to be." Skull groaned
"I think I worked off that tuna." Mona responded
"I'm honestly surprised that you've kept up, Joker. I do this all the time." Makoto responded.
"I'm used to..." Joker began to speak before he stopped. "Ryuji and I train all the time."
"Plus he works out in his room often." Shadow Futaba added
"... How do you know that?" Makoto asked in shock.
"My outside self has cameras in the cafe and his room." Shadow Futaba explained
...
"THAT is rather creepy." Fox stated simply
"Admittedly yes." She responded calmly... but also sadly.
"We'll help you, Futaba. I promise." Joker responded as they rested as he rubbed her neck reassuringly
"Thank you." Shadow Futaba leaned into him gently.
"So.. .Are we headed back now?" Skull asked, weakly "Cause I don't think I can do much."
"Yeah." Panther nodded in agreement
"Then we're going." Joker answered, helping the others up "We did great for today." He smiled proudly
"Thank goodness." Fox sighed.
"Does this mean I have to turn back into a car again?" Mona groaned.
*Back in LeBlanc*
"Ah~! Never thought I'd be happy to see wood again." Ryuji flumped onto Ren's bed
"Damn it." Ann muttered, slumped on the coach next to Ren and leaning on him "My legs hurt so bad..."
"Easy, I've got you both." Ren caught both Ann and Shiho in his arms so that they could rest.
They looked rather cute, the two lovingly slumped against Ren
Makoto saw this and blushed a little, having her back to the group. "S-So. Ahem. How will you do this 'Calling Card'?"
"Oh... Yusuke? You mind?" Ren asked
"Of course. I'll get it ready for tomorrow. What will be the message?" Yusuke asked
"Message?" Makoto blinked
"You really didn't think we didn't prepare with these sorts of things; right?" Shiho asked as she wanted to just go to sleep
"I think we should get to bed." Joker spoke.
"Ah, it's late." Ryuji commented, looking at his phone's clock.
"I'll message you an idea for the message, Yusuke." Ryuji commented as he stood tall and stretched "Ugg! Night, see you tomorrow." He waved, leaving
"Later guys." Ren waved his hand.
"Bye." The girls waved.
"See you at school." Makoto responded.
Ann and Shiho where staying back, until only they and Mona where left alone with Ren
"Hhm... I think I'll head to bed." Mona called up, going to his bed on the side. He stretched, curling into his bed
"He is truly 100% cat." Ann joked as she and Shiho leaned into Ren's arms as they rested on the bed.
"Yeah." he chuckled
"G'night..." Shiho whispered as she closed her eyes, still in her clothes.
"Shouldn't you-" Ren blinked
"My parents aren't home and Shiho texted hers saying she was at my place. It's fine." Ann mumbled
Ren gulped and nodded as he heard that... and right now he was pinned by two beautiful girls abreast of him and leaning on his arms. He couldn't move even if he wanted to. And he certainly didn't want to. He closed his eyes, relaxing, as be began to drift asleep in the arms of his two girlfriends
*the next day*
Futaba was typing on her computer the next day, looking exhausted. She knew that today was the day, thinking that her heart was going to be stolen by the Phantom Theives. She was nervous... but oddly excited and hopeful
Knock
Knock
"Huh?" She blinked, hearing a knocking coming from her window. She looked at her window and then opened it, wondering who it might've been... unless it was birds trying to get in again. She walked towards the window slowly, shyly, and opened her curtains a bit... to reveal Ren
"Hey." He whispered and waved
"R-Ren! How did you? Why're you here?" She blushed and panicked.
"Fire escape and I am rather nimble." He shrugged as he pulled a card out of his jacket "Here. Personally delivery."
"Is-Is this the card?" She stammered nervously.
"Yeah, it is. You'll be alright soon." He smiled, before he whispered a word into her ear, which made her eyes widen.
"Wh-what did you-?"
"Later." He winked confidently and dropped down with a backflip
Futaba saw the skill Ren had, that confidence that she wanted to have... and then she saw the Phantom Thieves card in her hand and began to recite it.
Futaba Sakura has committed a great sin of drowning in Sloth.
Her face began to feel heavy as she read it, feeling her heart open up.
Thus, we will rob every last bit of those distorted desires.
We will save you from yourself and your demons.
Sincearly, the Phantom Thieves
Within her heart, she felt her Shadow Self project through her body, if only for a moment.
"... Will you save me?" Shadow Futaba asked as she felt her guard go up to the max level.
"Gah!" She gasped, holding her head
*with the group*
The next morning, the Phantom Thieves within the Palace once more
"Okay, is everyone ready?" Joker asked
"Of course we are." Fox answered.
"Got our stuff." Panther and Dove added
"Ready, Joker." Mona followed up.
"Joker, what're we gonna do, this place is at 99%!" Skull asked as he saw the Palace on high alert.
"Skull, don't worry about it. I've got a plan for that." Joker answered, holding up a strange object.
"What is that? A spray bottle?" Dove asked
"Oh yeah! I didn't know you could make things aside from lockpicks." Mona smirked
"... Ignoring that." Joker tightened his lips to stem his laughter at Mona's quip. "This stuff can erase our presence, but just by a bit. And we can stealth against a few enemies, true the alert won't be 100% gone, but it'll give us some breathing space."
"Impressive." Fox blinked
"So; are we ready?" Joker asked, clicking his gun once before slotting it into his belt.
"Hell yeah, let's save this girl!" Skull cheered
"We shall follow your lead, Joker." Fox nodded
"Ready as ever." Dove smiled softly
"Gotcha back, Joker." Panther winked
"Well, looks like everyone is in agreement." Mona grinned "What do you say, Leader?"
"Its Showtime!" Joker called with a smirk.
*time skip*
"Show me your face!"
"RARGH!" The Shadow screamed as its mask was ripped off, erupting into various Shadows. More specifically a white-furred baboon with a golden crescent moon and circle crest on its head, holding a book with green shoulder garb; and a black fur humanoid being with a pale blue Egyptian garb, silver bands on its wrists and arms, a silver crest with a red neck, a striped blue cloth crown on top of its jackal head and within its hands a silver and gold weighing scales.
"How do we beat these guys?" Dove asked
"Thoth is weak to 'Psy' and Anubis is just tough to take down." Joker informed, aiming his gun. "No Curse or Bless!"
"So leave monkey boy to you, got it." Skull nodded
CLICK!
CLICK!
Thoth, the baboon Shadow, opened up its book and began to read, causing its body to glow with a new light to contradict its shadowy aura; while Anubis, the jackal Shadow, raised its scales and shot out a blast of Bless energy at the group, hitting Dove.
"GAH! Heh... Not a bad hit." She grunted before getting back up, wielding her sword and slashed down at him.
Joker tore off his mask and proclaimed his attack. "Psiodyne... DIONYSUS!"
Summoned from Joker's spirit, was a strange technicoloured man. His whole skin looked like fever-dream from a drug trip except for his hands, feet and groin, which were covered in pure white gloves, boots and codpiece; over his shoulder was a flowing red-wine coloured robe, like its whole colour came from a fine Bourdeaux and a golden staff with a coil around it with a silvery flower at the top. Resting on his head were locks of golden hair with a laurel of white feather-like leaves.
Dionysus' closed eyes suddenly shot open and stared at Thoth, causing the Shadow to feel a massive amount of damage coming from the psychic attack and also to be knocked down.
"Nice work, Joker!" Fox called out as the others all rushed at Anubis
"Take'm out! CAPTAIN KIDD!" Skull called out, shooting lightning down at the Jackal God. Lightning shot down from the sky, looking like a glowing blade of darkness that pierced the darkness
"GOEMON, freeze him in place!" Fox called out.
"CARMEN, let's go!" Panther followed up as Dove slapped down a grenade into the Shadow's face.
BOOM!
The shadow was destroyed, th last one in their way
With both Thoth and Anubis down and out, the group could 'relax' if just for a little. "That. Was. Crazy." Skull commented.
"Nice work bringing that Persona, Joker." Mona patted Joker's leg... indicating his back, but he was only about one to two feet tall.
"Thanks buddy." Joker nodded "Everyone ready for this?"
"Yeah, I think so." Panther responded as each of them took a drink and a snack to replenish their health and stamina.
"Its amazing this stuff works like this." Dove admitted
"Perceptions and Metaverse logic. It's all good." Joker smirked.
"I wonder what we'll see when we get to the top?" Fox asked.
"Well the top is right through the door." Joker pointed out, spinning his knife
"Let's not wait around." Skull rolled his shoulder before he ran off
"Let's go, lover." Panther teased, unable to help herself, as she slapped Joker's ass before rushing fowards
SLAP!
Joker flinched a little at the gesture, but he knew it was done out of affection... he was going to have to get-
SLAP!
Dove chuckled as she did the same and soon followed Panther. Both. He was going to get both of them for that.
"They are being very affectionate." Fox stated calmly
"Yep, they are." Joker took a deep breath and nodded.
"Can't leave Lady Panther and Lady Dove waiting." Mona commented. "CHARGE!"
BOOM!
The doors swung open violently, the Phantom Thieves arriving atop the pyramid
"Alright! We're here to take names and kick ass! And I'm not seeing any nametags!" Skull called out.
"... How long have you wanted to say that, Skull?" Panther remarked.
"Since I first got this outfit." he grinned
Joker chuckled at his friend's response. How long had he known Skull? Getting on for two years now. And he knew he had a flair for the 'shonen protagonist'.
He really was his best friend
"Wait, something is wrong. Isn't there supposed to be a manifestation of Futaba's inner turmoil?" Fox asked
"Yeah." Mona nodded
"It's here. It's just on the prowl." Joker answered, being on guard.
"That's ominous." Dove gulped.
f̸̩̆̉U̸͂͝ͅt̶̳̝̀̀A̸̝̅͝b̶̨̲͆A̸̺̹͒A̵̠̟̍̎A̴̡̹̾̕Ȧ̵̹Ả̴͈͖Ä̸̹́͜!̵̗̟̅!̴̿͜!̶̦͔̆͛
"What the hell is that?" Skull gulped as he heard that.
"Futaba's monster," Joker answered.
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
Clawing up the side of the pyramid, giant lion paws with golden brown fur, red breast-cover with golden clasps, large white feathery wings and a scowling and enraged face of a woman with black hair and wearing glasses. A Sphinx with the face of Futaba's mother!
"What the hell?!"
"J-Joker." Dove gulped in shock, looking up at the creature.
"Yes?" he asked back, reaching for his weapons
The Sphinx roared as she saw the Thieves before her, the claws coming out almost ready to strike.
"Can we beat her?" Dove asked
"Yes." He answered confidently '... At least I hope so.' he thought
*with Futaba*
Futaba was sitting in her room, holding her head. All this stuff that Ren and his friends were doing inside her cognitive thoughts... The bravery they exhuded. And the voices where screaming at her again
mUrDeReR! yOu ShOuLd DiE! yOu KiLlEd HeR! uNwAnTeD cHiLd!
She gripped her head and began to cry, feeling their weight press down on her.
"Stop! Leave me alone!" She cried
"Do you want to be left alone?" A kind voice asked amongst the squall of vicious voices.
"Huh?" Futaba gasped as she heard this new voice. A voice that was her own. "Y-You're me?" She stood up, blinking in shock... and the other figure faded away "No, wait! Don't go!" She asked, trying to reach out to her.
Clunk
"Huh?" she blinked, noticing she had knocked over her phone. She picked it up, checking to make sure she hadn't damaged it
"My phone... wait, what's this app?" She wondered as she saw it light up...and on it was a strange app with a black eye on a red and black background. Her brain got to work, moving VERY fast "This is it... this is how they do it? It's how they're... they're able to help... Right?" She muttered to herself and was hovering her finger over the app itself, scared to press it.
FLASH!
Futaba covered her eyes as she was teleported away and soon arrived in a strange location... somewhere cool but made of stone under her feet that contrasts against the floor of her room.
"Futaba?!" six voices yelled in shock/horror
"E-Everyone? How did-?" She asked before she saw the burning bright son...and her mother's head on the body of a large fuck-you sphinx!
"WHAT?!" she screamed as horror filled her
"FUTABA!" The horrible Sphinx roared and was about to swipe at her.
"QUETZALCOATL!" Joker called out, summoning his Persona
The snake quickly got to work, blocking the attack
"Wh-what's happening?" Futaba panicked as she saw her mother while the Thieves pulled her away to protect her as she fell to her knees
"We've got you, Futaba!" Fox spoke up.
"How the hell did you get here?" Skull added
BOOM!
"GAH!" the Phantom Thieves yelled as they where blasted back
Joker grunted as he tried to stay standing tall. He wasn't going to be taken down by this crazy thing "Futaba. Are you okay?" Joker asked as he stood tall, though his Persona had retreated.
"Stop it... stop it!" She cried
Joker frowned as he heard her cry.
"Futaba, it's okay. We've got you." Dove reassured her.
Step
Step
Walking towards them was Futaba's Shadow wearing her Egyptian Queen garb as she looked at her true self.
"You aren't giving up, are you?" The shadow asked
"Wait, you're-!" Skull blinked in shock.
"Me." Futaba whispered as Joker continued to fight.
"TETRAKARN!" Joker called out, summoning another Persona and blocked the attack, repelling it back to the Sphinx,
"I hope you're not." Shadow Futaba asked
"I. I don't. I don't want to but... but the voices. I murdered my mother." Futaba cried
"Really? That's not what happened." Shadow Futaba answered.
"What?" Futaba gasped
"The heck are you talking about?" Skull asked before he got up, going to help Joker.
"Tell me, was our mother mean to us? Did she ever treat us badly?" Shadow Futaba asked
"N... no. She wasn't. She. She was kind, sure she yelled at me when I did something bad but... she loved me." Futaba answered
"Futaba. We saw it in your Palace." Fox encouraged
"It was those vile adults who said all that horrible stuff. You're not to blame." Dove added with venom you did not normally see from the girl
"Those... adults?" Futaba whispered, remembering men in black suits and black glasses. And suddenly it was like a dam was broken as she held her head, her mind going into overdrive as she screamed
The whole palace seemed to shake as she broke into that revelation. All the pain, all the suffering. It all stemmed back to those lying adults who forged a note, blaming her for something she didn't do!
It was too much!
"FUTABAAAA!" The Sphinx roared as it was about to swipe down.
"Get away from her!" Both Skull and Joker called out.
"CAPTAIN KIDD!"
"THOR!"
A burst of great electricity came down from the clear sky, causing thunder clouds to form above the Pyramid. Captain Kidd looked like he was riding the storm's lightning as if he was commanding a tsunami.
Striking down from the sky, alongside the Captain; was a metallic-grey boot human, dark brown bodysuit with black Celtic knots around his arms and legs, a white-grey cloak around their neck, golden brass scale-mail armour, metallic grey gloves, a golden helmet with spikes and black horns like a ram's horns, piercing blue eyes and a large black metal-hammer.
Two forces of lightning they sparked with raw power
As they struck the Sphinx, Futaba looked at her Shadow Self and wept. "I-I've been lying to myself all this time... It-it's their fault. They... they stole them from me."
"That's right." her Shadow nodded
"They killed her... blamed me... and I. I've been listening to those lies all my life!" Futaba gripped her fists together. "I won't forgive them!"
THUMP!
THUMP!
"G-AGH!" Futaba screamed as she held her head, feeling her heart thrum with power and anger.
"What denies you is an illusion. A curse put upon you by the heartless. You knew from the very beginning." A soft and gentle voice spoke aloud to Futaba, with the others hearing it. "And yet, you coward in fear."
"That's right. I knew...but I believe them." Futaba frowned.
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! THIS TIME YOU'LL BE THE ONE TO DIE!" The Sphinx gave out a shrill roar, before being smacked in the face by a giant hammer.
"Will you die as you are told?" The gentle voice asked again. "Who will you obey? Cursed words spat out by a seething illusion? Or the truth within your own soul?"
"I won't let those distorted lies deceive me anymore. And I won't be led astray by other voices either!" Futaba stood on her own two feet. "I'm trusting my own eyes and my own heart to distinguish truth from lies."
STOMP!
"Huh?" The Sphinx backed up.
"There's no way that you're my mum! You're just a fake created by those horrid adults!" Futaba called out, frightening the Sphinx. "I'll NEVER FORGIVE THEM!"
SHINE!
Emerging from Futaba's soul, her Shadow smiled and glowed brightly as it levitated up into the air and transformed. It became a black UFO with glowing green and blue computer code glyphs around its entire body, green glyphs on the main 'top' of the UFO with the blue glyphs on the underside; on the underside were also five light blue balls in a pentagonal shape location and on the very top of the UFO was a gargoyle crouching. The UFO shone a bright light down over Futaba, making a red pentagram glow from each of the nodes.
"What is that?" Panther asked in shock.
"A-A UFO?" Dove added
As soon as Dove finished speaking, five long black and white triangular striped tentacles wrapped around Futaba's legs, arms and waist. "Wh-whoa! Whoa!"
"Err..." Both Skull and Fox looked in awe and shock by this as Futaba was being lifted and fused into the UFO.
"Contract, I am Thou, Thou art I. The Forbidden Wisdom has been revealed. No mysteries... No illusions shall deceive you any longer." The Persona spoke to Futaba.
Futaba was now floating in a black room, filled with holographic computer screens, keyboards code and two circling rings around her. She was also wearing a full black bodysuit with neon-green lines over her forearms down to her waist, silver elbow and kneecap pads, neon-green shoes and fingers on her gloves. And finally her mask, a VR headset-like mask with large red eyes... almost like a frog.
"Ha, ha! Let's go, Necronomicon!" Futaba called out and cheered.
CONFIDANT RECAP:
Fool: Rank 10
Magician: Rank 10
Chariot: Rank 7
Lovers: Rank 7
Lust: Rank 6
Strength: Rank 5
World: Rank 5
Death: Rank 4
Sun: Rank 4
Hierophant: Rank 4
Temperance: Rank 4
Emperor: Rank 3
Moon: Rank 2
Hanged-Man: Rank 2
Devil: Rank 1
