Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia nor the Persona series.
Chapter 25
*VRRRRRR VRRRRRR*
The Phantom Thieves stared at Makoto and her Persona in disbelief.
"That's… her Persona..?" Izuku mumbled.
*VRRRRRRRRRRRR*
"Naw dude. That's a bike," Ryuji shook his head dumbly.
"If you don't wanna get run over then get out of my way!" Makoto snarled, revving up her Persona again as she spun to face the large Shadow in front of her.
"Y-You damn brat! You'll pay with your lives for defying us!" The Shadow growled. It aimed its arm forward at her, snapping its finger and releasing a single shot like a bullet. Izuku tried to warn her, but Makoto was already on it. Her Persona quickly sped out of the way, dodging it seamlessly as accelerated towards the Shadow. Makoto pulled off a quick back spin once she got close, grinding the back wheel into the Shadow and causing it to recoil in pain.
"I told you to GET OUT OF MY WAY! Now, Johanna!" The silver face on the bike's front glass flashing for a moment before unleashing a ball of teal energy. In a brilliant flash, the large white Shadow screamed as it was left in a ball of smoke, shriveling and scorched from the attack.
"Holy shit!" Ryuji guffawed, his jaw dropping.
"She's strong!" Morgana mumbled in awe.
"Yeah, but let's back her up!" Izuku declared, pulling his mask off and summoning Carter. "Makouha!"
Carter slammed his fist into the ground, releasing a small wave of light in all directions and knocking the Koppa Tengu's away from them.
"They're all knocked down! Come on, guys!" Ann called out, she and Izuku jumping forward first. Ryuji and Morgana soon followed, the four rushing to Makoto's side and pulling out their weapons as she willed her Persona away.
"Let's do it!" Makoto exclaimed as she fell in line, the five rushing forward and quickly striking out at the Shadow with furious blows from their handheld weapons. Izuku took note of the fact that knuckle dusters had taken shape from Makoto's cognition, which she used to full effect while attacking their foe.
"GAAGH~!" The Shadow cried in despair as they landed the finishing blow, its body turning into black ooze and dissipating before their eyes.
"Now who's the good little girl," Makoto spat, cracking her neck not-so graciously.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you snap like that…" Izuku laughed quietly, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
"Sup, Champion of Century's End?" Ryuji smirked, walking up next to Makoto.
"You wanna get smacked?" Makoto huffed, sending a small glare his way.
"Hey, careful! The Shadows are getting back up!" Ann called, the others shifting their attention back to the group of Koppa Tengu Izuku had blasted back.
"We shouldn't waste time fighting them. I'm sure more Shadows will appear after that alarm sounded," Morgana said, looking at the others. "Let's break through these guys and get to that safe room! You had something you wanted to test with the Metanav, right Hero?"
"Yeah, we just have to make it there first," Izuku nodded, reaching up to his mask. "I'll-"
"I'll break us through," Makoto said, Johanna manifesting immediately. "You guys stay close. I'm going on ahead."
Without another word, Makoto blasted forth, her Persona easily ramming its way through the Shadows and reducing them to roadkill on the velvety carpet.
"Damn…" Ryuji mumbled in amazement.
"Alright, we have our opening. Let's go!" Izuku called out, not wasting another moment as he led the group forward.
"Man, I can't believe that worked! I didn't know the Metanav could do that!" Ryuji exclaimed. After making their quick escape and getting to a safe room just nearby, Izuku had used the Metanav to teleport them back to the entrance before taking them back to the real world.
"It was a theory I thought I'd test. Now we know we can cut a lot of time by using the Metanav to go to safe rooms that get marked once we locate them," Izuku smiled before looking back down at Makoto, the older girl hunched over next to him on the sidewalk. "Are you alright, Koto-san? I have some medicine or maybe something to drink if you need them."
"J-Just… give me a moment, and… and I'll be fine," Makoto breathed out, though accepting a water bottle when offered by Izuku. "I've never been so tired before in my life…"
"Remind me to never get on your bad side. You've got some fire in you, girl," Ann giggled half-jokingly, rubbing the side of her head. "I'd be afraid of getting my arm ripped off."
"Please, stop it," Makoto grumbled, forcing herself to stand up despite obvious signs of fatigue. "But, I have to admit… it felt great cutting loose like that."
"Who would have guessed that the calm and collected student president would have such a fury waiting to be tapped into?" Morgana commented, causing Makoto to release a sheepish laugh.
"Perhaps I went a little overboard, but… just thinking about all the times I've held myself back trying to be the good, patient girl that listens to adults kept making me more and more pissed off," Makoto explained, flashing a smile at the rest of the group. "I'm sorry for putting you all in danger with my selfishness, but… thank you for taking me along. Because of what happened, everything seems clear."
"'Course! We look out for each other, no matter what!" Ryuji said, flashing a dumb grin and a thumbs up.
"Now that you've got a Persona, you're officially initiated into the group!" Ann giggled.
"We've all made mistakes, Makoto, as you saw from me," Morgana chuckled. "But what matters is proceeding onward and learning from those mistakes."
Izuku smiled. "Let's keep fighting on from here. We've still got a ways to go."
"Right," Makoto nodded back before looking at Morgana. "So, you said that there's a way past that door in the real world?"
"Ah, yes. I suppose we haven't gone over that yet." Morgana climbed higher on Izuku's shoulder to look at everyone. "Okay, everyone. Listen close. That door is built upon a powerful cognition in Madarame's mind and is represented by a place within his shack."
"Whoa, for real? How'd you know that?" asked Ryuji.
Morgana puffed his chest out proudly. "I went scouting the last time we were there to look for places of interest just in case!"
"You were 'scouting' because you were bored," Ann rolled her eyes, neatly popping the cat's inflated self-image.
"So how exactly is that door linked to the real world and his cognition?" Makoto asked, bringing the cat back to life.
"Well, while I was scouting, I happened to find a door with a rather hefty and impressive lock on it. One that matched the design of the door we saw in Madarame's Palace," Morgana explained, earning a wide-eyed look from the teens.
"So there's something in there that Madarame doesn't want people to see!" Ann added, earning a nod from the cat.
"So… what you're saying is that, to Madarame, that door is sealed and will remain that way until his cognition of it has been changed?" Makoto suggested with a thoughtful look.
"Very perceptive, Makoto. Yes, that is exactly what we have to do. And the only way to do that is open the door before his eyes, showing him that it's not the impenetrable place he believes it to be," Morgana went on to explain.
Ryuji blanched. "Wait-open it in front of him? How the hell do we do that?!"
"Well, I can handle opening the lock so long as I get a hairpin to do it. But I'll need time and a distraction. If only we knew someone with a way inside…" Morgana flashed a Cheshire cat grin as his gaze drifted over to Ann.
"Oh… Ooh~!" Ryuji smirked. "I mean, I guess it is our only option. The rest of us would definitely get reported if they caught us tryin' to break in, after all…"
"What?" Ann asked, her tone becoming defensive as the rest of the team's eyes fell on her.
"I guess… the only way for this to work is if you go nude…" Ryuji's smirk grew.
"WHAT?!"
"Fancy you say that, Ryuji. I was thinking the exact same thing," Morgana chuckled, eyes focused on Ann now.
"This isn't funny!" Ann complained, looking at Makoto and Izuku. "C-Come on, guys! You're the brains here! There has to be another way!"
While Izuku and Makoto had more awkward and sympathetic looks, they weren't at all reassuring. When they cast their gazes away, Ann's hopes vanished. "S-Say something!"
"... I-I-I hate to put you in that spot, A-Ann-senpai, but… I think they're right…" Izuku mumbled, rubbing his arm nervously.
"W-Well, look on the bright side! A-At least Kitagawa-kun will let me be there to reassure you!" Makoto offered with a forced smile.
"B-But I'm still going to have to get naked! This is too sudden!" Ann cried, stamping her foot in frustration.
"Look, you don't really gotta get nude," Ryuji sighed, his amusement fading with Ann's attitude.
"He's right. It's simply the best excuse for getting inside his house without raising suspicions," Morgana added. "So for this mission, you'll have to play decoy, Lady Ann."
"B-But I… H-How long will it take for you to open the door?! Plus, I don't even know where it is!" Ann was grasping at straws at this point.
"Don't worry. I'll accompany you and handle the door," Morgana said with confidence.
"I'm sorry, Takamaki-san. Just know I'll be right there with you," Makoto said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"W-Well… that's…" Ann released a sigh in defeat, slumping her shoulders. "I guess that's better than being alone… thanks, Niijima-senpai. A lot better than these guys!" She shot a glare Ryuji and Morgana's way, causing the two to look away awkwardly.
"I-I can… try to think of something, but… I really don't see another way. Sorry, Ann-senpai…" Izuku mumbled, hanging his head in shame.
"Still, the problem is if we get found out. How do we escape?" Makoto asked, looking at Morgana.
"We'll just run into the Palace! ...Or something," Morgana coughed under his breath.
"Is that really gonna work?! You're not giving me much confidence here!" Ann complained as she glared at the cat.
"It'll be okay, Takamaki-san. Escaping into the Palace shouldn't be a problem if the Metanav can work in anywhere within the Palace's vicinity," Makoto tried to reassure her.
"Well, yeah, I guess…" Ann mumbled, looking down dejectedly. "Fine… Fine, I'll do it, damn it! For justice!"
"That's the spirit! Okay, you go ahead and set up an appointment for tomorrow and we'll be all set!" Ryuji grinned, giving her a thumbs up.
"T-Tomorrow?! That soon?!" Ann blanched.
"The sooner the better. Try to sell the idea that you need it done tomorrow, 'kay?"
"Ugh! God!" Ann groaned in irritation before glaring at the boys again. "You better not mess it up! I'll strangle you guys if I do all this and it doesn't work!"
"W-We won't waste your efforts!" Izuku quickly nodded.
"I'm sure it'll be fine! Stop worrying!" Ryuji took a step back, giving a nervous laugh.
Ann let out a tired breath before looking at Makoto. "I'm glad you're going to be there, at least. Thank you… hey, is it alright if I call you Makoto?"
The third-year blinked in surprise. "R-Really? I mean-sure… if you don't mind that I call you Ann."
"Of course! We're fellow Phantom Thieves, after all. No need to be so formal," Ann giggled, showing more levity as the topic changed.
"Hey, mind if I do the same? You're one of us, so it only feels right," Ryuji said, bringing a bright smile to Makoto's face.
"Of course. I'd be happy if you all did."
Izuku didn't say a word, but he was smiling all the same. I doubt we'll change what we call each other, but it's nice to see she's past that point with the others.
"Alright, everyone. I think that concludes our job for today. Let's head home and rest up," Morgana suggested, earning a round of nods in return.
"Koto-san, I'll take you home, if that's alright," Izuku offered, moving to the elder girl's side. "I know you're probably still drained from what happened. I just want to make sure you get home alright."
"That'd be great, thanks. I am still winded, to be honest," Makoto breathed out, giving Izuku a small smile.
"Alright then. Guess I'll head off with Ann. Gotta get her mentally ready for tomorrow, you know?" Ryuji joked. It earned him a harsh jab to the side from Ann's elbow. "Ow!"
"Wow. I didn't realize you lived in such a big apartment now…" Izuku said as he walked through hall leading to Makoto's apartment with her close next to him.
"Yeah. Sis needed a place close to work since they call her in so often, so they helped her find a place within Shibuya," Makoto explained, looking up in thought. "Though I don't think they needed her to live this close, she definitely wanted to be so she was ready for whatever they had for her at a moment's notice."
"Sae-onee-san was always a hard worker. But I guess I never saw the full extent of it," Izuku said with a bit of awe.
"Well… it wasn't always like that. She knew how to relax before...well, you know…"
"A-Ah, I see…" Izuku looked away and scratched the back of his head. "S-Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I've come to terms with that," Makoto reassured him with a small smile. She came to an abrupt halt as they neared the door. "Oh, Sis!"
Izuku blinked, looking up to see none other than Sae standing by a door with a key in hand. The elder Niijima sister looked up from the door
"There you are, Makoto. I was wondering if you were inside. And…" Sae's attention shifted to Izuku, raising a brow curiously at him. "Oh, Little Izu. I'm surprised to see you here, too."
"H-Hi, Sae-onee-san…" Izuku waved with an awkward smile.
"Good to see you again, so soon. But what were you both doing out so late?" Sae asked, looking back down at the door and opening it.
"W-We were just out uh… jogging together!"
"Y-Yes, jogging together. As you can see from my… attire," Makoto added stiffly, looking down at her workout clothes. "I-It had been so long since we last worked out together, s-so we thought we'd hang out after school! Exercise stimulates the brain! Hehe…"
"You two are the worst liars…" Morgana whispered from Izuku's bag.
Sae wasn't buying it if the quirk in her brow was any indication. The strained smiles on their faces certainly didn't help. Despite her reservations, she only rolled her eyes. "Well, if you say so. Anyways, would you like to come in, Little Izu? I can make you something to drink if you're thirsty."
"O-Oh, no, I'm fine! Thank you for the offer, Sae-onee-san!" Izuku waved his arms sporadically. "I-I was just making sure Koto-san got home alright! I have to head back now, too."
"Alright then. Be careful on your way home." Sae nodded as she gave him a small smile.
"I-I will. See you at school, Koto-san!" Izuku said, giving her a small wave before turning around.
"Okay, then. See you at school," Makoto nodded, returning it as she walked up next to Sae. The sisters watched him as he left, the green haired teen still waving awkwardly until he got to the elevator. Once the doors closed behind him, Sae couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
Sae opened the door, letting them inside. "I see he hasn't changed a bit. Still as shy and nervous as he was when he was a cute little kid."
"Yes, he's… very much like when we were children," Makoto nodded in agreement. "He's matured for sure, but he's still the same boy I met on the playground."
"That doesn't surprise me. Though something strange did come up from that case at your school." Makoto stiffened as she watched her sister set her purse on the dining room table. "Izuku's name popped up on a list of suspects for Suguru Kamoshida's so-called 'change of heart'. But it was quickly thrown out since he's Quirkless. Still, I thought it was strange until I found out he had a criminal record. Did you know about this?"
Makoto looked at the ground, releasing a sigh as she rubbed her arm. "Yes, I knew. A student leaked the info to the student body. Practically everyone at Shujin knows about his record, now."
Sae crossed her arms over her chest in thought. "Yes, that was part of Kamoshida's confession. Still, the idea of Little Izu having a record for assault of all things took me by surprise."
"It's a bogus charge!" Makoto blurted out, startling her sister. "S-Sorry, I didn't mean to shout, but… Izuku explained what happened to me. Whoever it was that he supposedly 'assaulted' lied to the police's face and got Izuku slapped with a criminal record for no good reason! His first month at school couldn't even be normal because of that…"
Sae looked down at the table, giving her words some thought. "I don't doubt that Izuku thinks he was doing the right thing in that situation… but I also remember that Izuku often liked to play hero when you were kids."
"What are you saying?" Makoto asked. Her voice rose a little at the seemingly innocuous statement.
"I'm sure Izuku had his heart in the right place, but now that he's older, playing Hero can have grave consequences." Sae sighed, peering at Makoto from the side. Her sister remained silent, but her eyes conveyed the offense in her mind.
"Look… I care about Little Izu, too. But you have to keep your priorities straight. Don't get distracted with protecting him when you have your own future to worry about. Despite his circumstances, Little Izu seems to be doing alright. If you two want to be friends again, that's fine. But remember what your priorities are. Understand?"
Makoto swallowed a lump in her throat. While she had decided to rebel, she could only do so in secret. Resisting her sister too strongly would only make things worse. With that in mind, Makoto nodded. "I do. I promise that he's not a distraction."
Sae watched her only for a moment longer before nodding again. "Good. I'm going to take a shower first if you don't mind. I just came by to wash up a bit and eat before heading back."
"S-Sure, go ahead. I'll whip something up for you real quick," Makoto nodded, watching as her sister walked past her and headed for the bathroom.
Sorry, sis. But I'm going to do what I want, now. As a Phantom Thief.
"S-Sorry to ask you to do this all of a sudden…" Ann said hesitantly as she watched Yusuke collect his art supplies.
"Oh, it's no problem. But, as I told you yesterday, Sensei will be returning in twenty to thirty minutes. So um… I'm sorry if that causes some anxiety on your part" Yusuke said, sounding genuinely apologetic despite the circumstances.
"That's why I'm here today, damn it…" Ann couldn't stop herself from muttering, getting a small jab from Makoto in the side.
"What was that?" Yusuke asked, looking back at her in question.
"O-Oh, nothing. She's just nervous," Makoto sheepishly laughed, waving a hand.
"R-Right, don't mind me," Ann quickly nodded.
"I see. By the way…" Yusuke gave Ann another look in wonder. "Have you gained some weight?"
Despite what would normally be a rude question, it wasn't without merit. Ann was clad in an entire wardrobe of clothing, making her look rather plump all around. It should have been rather obvious that it was clothing from Makoto's perspective, but they had somehow fooled Yusuke.
"You think so? I weigh the same as usual. Maybe I'm a bit bloated today?" Ann shrugged, earning a raised brow.
"If you say so… now before we begin, I must make this clear to you, Niijima-san," Yusuke shifted his attention to the third year, his brow knitting sternly. "While I have no qualms with you being her to reassure Takamaki-san, I do not wish to speak of Sensei and his affairs like before. Are we clear?"
"Yes, crystal," Makoto nodded in understanding.
"Alright then. Let's get started," Yusuke shifted his attention to Ann.
"Started… right… as in, you want me to take off my clothes… right?"
"Yes, that is correct…" Yusuke said with hesitance.
"Okay then… could you turn around for me? I'm still nervous…" Ann asked, reaching down for the bottom of the first shirt on the surface. Yusuke silently turned his back to Ann obediently. Pulling off the first article of clothing, she made a point to toss it within his range of sight.
"Er…" Yusuke made a nervous sound when it landed by his feet, but attempted to keep his cool.
"There we go!"
He recoiled when a skirt landed at his feet.
"Much better. That was so tight…"
"Tight..?" Yusuke mumbled, his skin glistening with sweat as his mind momentarily ran wild. He quickly shook his head. "N-No. I'm doing this for art. Nothing else..!"
"What was that?"
"N-Nothing…" Yusuke mumbled, flinching as a pair of leggings flew just past him.
"By the way, you said that your sensei would be here soon, right?" Ann asked, smirking at Makoto as the third-year held in a fit of giggles next to her.
"Y-Yes, he will…"
"Hm… do you think we could do this somewhere else, then? A little more atmosphere would be lovely…" Ann said hopefully, pulling another piece of clothing among the pile from her body.
"This should be good enough…" Yusuke suggested, raising a brow in wonder.
"But…. wouldn't a room with a lock be a bit better..?"
"A lock..?"
"Must a girl say more..?" A tank top slid between his legs.
Yusuke quickly scooted away. "B-But… the only room with a lock here is… sensei's room…"
"Then~ why not there?" Ann asked hopefully.
"I can't intrude… besides, I don't have a key."
"Well, there's your answer. It's your turn, Mona," Makoto whispered to the cat, opening her shoulder bag and setting it on the floor.
"Got it. Leave it to me," the cat said, pulling a hairpin out of Makoto's bag with his teeth and hopping out.
"Takamaki-san, are you about-" Yusuke turned around, blinking when he saw a mound of clothes sitting on the ground. "You were wearing all this?"
"It's… pretty cold today, don't you think?" Ann lamely excused.
"I… suppose so?" Yusuke wasn't sure if it was that cold. "The sun is starting to set…"
"Ri~ght? That's why a change of location would be perfect!" Ann suggested, striking a ditzy pose.
"True…" Yusuke mumbled, giving her suggestion some thought. "It might make for a better picture if my model's mood has improved…"
"Uh-huh! That's right!"
"She might even be willing to try out various expressive poses for more dynamic composition…" Yusuke smiled at the idea, causing both Makoto and Ann to flinch.
"Wh-What kind of-" Makoto quickly gripped Ann's arm, putting on a plastic smile.
"I-I have to agree! I mean, after all, how could any girl feel comfortable in such a-a dimly lit room! A change of scenery would certainly fuel your creativity!" Makoto said in support, pulling the door open. "Th-Think of the variety that might be had in a better atmosphere! C-Come on, Ann. Let's try and find somewhere else!"
"Y-You're totally right, Makoto! Let's go~!" Ann said, giving the third year a thumbs up as the two headed out of the room.
"Wait, if you wander around, sensei will..." Yusuke was cut short when Ann's jacket flew into his doorway.
"Oooh~, it's so~ hot!"
Yusuke had to swallow a lump in his throat and compose himself. "P-Please, Takamaki-san! This really is no other room we can use!"
"He~y, how about this one?"
"Please, wait!"
Izuku and Ryuji stood in front of the lasers patiently, staring up at the gaudily designed door.
"You really think they can handle this? It seems like they've gotta deal with a lot," Ryuji asked, glancing at Izuku.
"I believe in them. I'm sure that Koto-san and Ann-senpai will be able to handle their part of the plan just as much as Morgana-san."
"I guess… but… Ann was sayin' stuff like 'I'll just seduce him with my acting'. But that sounds way outta her league, if you ask me," Ryuji stuffed his hands in his pockets as he turned to Izuku. "But maybe Makoto can make up for that. Is she a decent actor?"
"Um… well… I mean, she's…" Izuku began to sweat, scratching his cheek nervously at the thought.
"That's not reassurin'. But settin' that aside for a sec, even if Mona opens up the door, how the hell's he gonna show it to Madarame? And even if he manages that, won't Madarame just close it up real quick? If that happens, don't that mean we only got a few seconds to get in? If I'm bein' honest, it feels like it'll take a miracle for all of this to work out."
Izuku looked down in thought, feeling all of Ryuji's worries pile on him as well. But only a moment later, he looked back at Ryuji and gave a big grin.
"This might sound really optimistic, but… I'd say we've pulled off a few miracles by now, haven't we? I believe they'll manage somehow."
Ryuji felt a smirk play on his lips, giving a small nod back. "Heh. When you put it like that, it makes me feel pretty good about this, too. Alright, here's hopin' they show us another miracle."
"Hey, Makoto~! Have you found a suitable place yet~?" Ann called, beginning to sweat as she tried to keep an even pace ahead of Yusuke.
"P-Please, ladies, you really can't!" Yusuke cried in panic.
"Why, Ann! I think I've found the perfect place!" Makoto answered, tilting her head not-so-inconspicuously toward the end of another hall.
"Is he done?!" Ann whispered loudly.
"N-No, not yet. W-We have to stall!" Makoto urged, looking to the side to see Morgana hanging from the door and fiddling with the lock.
"I keep telling you, I will be in grave trouble!" Yusuke almost pleaded as he caught up with the girls. Seeing their confused faces, he raised a brow. "Is... something the matter?"
"O-Oh, nothing, just… wondering what's in there!" Ann said, putting on her 'act' again.
"That room? It's storage for old paintings," Yusuke said, looking between the girls. "There's not much to see, I would think."
Makoto shared a look with Ann. "Old paintings..?"
"W-Well, why don't we use that room, then? We'll have the most privacy in there, right?" Ann suggested, supposedly turning up her charm.
"A-As Ann's confidant in this, I do think that this would be the most appropriate place for something like a nude painting!" Makoto added, holding up her index finger like it would get her point across.
"Only sensei can go in there," Yusuke explained, biting his bottom lip.
"Ple~ase? We're just trying to get… comfortable," Ann said, swaying her hips back and forth to seem more appealing.
"Is he really going to buy that terrible act?!" Morgana whispered.
"F-Focus, would you?!" Ann hissed back at him.
"Hm?" Yusuke blinked, seeing her attention being drawn away.
"D-Don't mind her. We-we're just trying to figure out the best way inside that room! How else can you make the perfect portrait?" Makoto asked, taking a step in front of Ann and giving a disturbingly forced smile.
"B-But sensei won't like us poking around! B-Besides, I don't have the key!" Yusuke reasoned, only for Ann to put on a pout.
"But Yu~suke, how else do you expect me to get fully n-naked for a portrait?" Ann hugged her arms, sticking her chin up. "I-If that's how you're going to be, then I'm leaving!"
"W-Wait, let's not be so hasty!" Yusuke protested, putting his hands up to keep her from walking out.
"Come on~! Let's just do the painting in there!" Ann pushed, her actions beginning to make Yusuke sweat as he hopelessly looked to Makoto for any sort of out.
"What the model wants, she should get!"
He should have known he had no support there.
"Wh-What do I do..?" Yusuke mumbled, looking down in misery.
"I'm home."
The four (including Morgana) flinched when they heard Madarame's voice.
"S-Sensei…" Yusuke muttered in fear, turning around to look at the main entrance. Ann and Makoto exchanged glances before running back to the door, Morgana still hanging from the lock and fiddling with it.
"I-Is it open yet?! We're out of time!" Ann asked, looking back and forth between the hall and the door.
"A-Almost, I-" Morgana fumbled the hairpin in his mouth, the pressure suddenly making him mess up. "C-Crap!"
"Yusuke, what are you doing?" They heard Madarame's voice approaching.
"S-Sensei, I-I can explain…"
"H-Here, let me try. If I absorb some metal I should-" Makoto started, only for Ann to step forward and quickly snatch Morgana off the lock.
"Take him," Ann said as she shoved him into Makoto's arms. Ann massaged her jaw for a moment before leaning forward and snapping her jaws shut on the ring of the padlock. She let out a low growl and furiously tugged the lock off the door, easily breaking it off and spitting the lock on the ground.
"Ugh. The lock was kinda dusty," Ann spat, trying to get the taste off her tongue.
"And you said you were afraid to get on my bad side…" Makoto muttered with a sheepish smirk.
"P-Please, Takamaki-san. You have to explain-" Yusuke came around the corner, eyes widening in horror as he saw the storage room door being pushed open. "Wh-What?"
"Yusuke, what is going on?!" Madarame asked, his voice on edge as he rounded the corner. "Who opened that door?!"
"S-Sensei, this isn't what it looks like!" Yusuke quickly spun around, holding up his hands as sweat trailed down his face. Ann and Makoto looked at one another before reaching forward and grabbing Yusuke by the collar, quickly pulling him into the room as they went inside. "A-Ah!"
"Not in there!"
"Huh?"
Izuku and Ryuji spread their arms to balance themselves as the Palace around them began to shake, both looking up at the painted door. It slid open on both sides and the lasers deactivated immediately afterward.
Ryuji grinned. "It's off! They seriously did it!"
"I knew they would. Let's go!" Izuku smiled back, not wasting another moment before running through the newly opened path with Ryuji at his side. Past the doors was yet another gaudily designed hallway like the rest. Izuku saw a Shadow waiting in the doorway at the end of a hall. With little room to hide, he spared a look at his partner.
"We're going to have to fight that Shadow head-on. Ready?"
"Ready as ever, man," Ryuji smirked, giving him a thumbs up as they both picked up their pace.
"H-Hey, you two! Halt!" The Shadow ordered. Izuku and Ryuji didn't listen, both pulling out their close ranged weapons and assuming fighting stances the moment they were close enough.
"Sorry, asshole, but we're bustin' our way through you!" Ryuji laughed, pointing his bat at the Shadow and glaring. "No way we're gonna screw this up. Not after Ann was able to get the doors open. She'll tear us a new one way worse than you could!"
"Hmph. If you won't stop, then I will force you both to surrender!" The Shadow growled, its body morphing into a pile of black ooze before taking shape as the large white Shadow they had fought the previous day with Makoto.
"Let's take this asshole out, Hero!" Ryuji called out, rushing forward with Izuku. A bat and staff were raised in the air, slamming into the sides of the monster. But to their surprise, the hit didn't phase it in the least as it stood there.
"C-Crap, it's impervious to physical attacks!" Izuku exclaimed, immediately hopping back with Ryuji as they avoided a bullet shot from the Shadow's hand.
"What a pain in the ass! But whatever, we can handle that much!" Ryuji growled, quickly putting a hand on his mask. "Captain Kidd!"
The pirate Persona took shape above him, quickly unleashing a volley of lightning from its arm cannon. The Shadow slightly recoiled from the blast but remained standing.
"You intruders have no place here!" The Shadow snarled, snapping its fingers and fired a hail of bullets at Ryuji.
The punk teen grit his teeth as Kidd shielded hit from a direct hit, grunting as the damage which transferred to him. "Damn it!"
"I don't have a Persona with an ability like Queen's! We'll have to keep hitting it!" Izuku touched his mask, Koppa Tengu forming above him. "Garu!"
A gale of wind blasted into the Shadow, yielding the same result as Ryuji's attack and only causing it to recoil again.
"You intruders are getting on my nerves!" It growled, waving its hand in front of itself and bathing itself in the familiar light of Tarukaja.
"Be careful! It powered up!" Izuku warned, putting some more distance between him and the Shadow. "We'll have to keep building up damage!"
"Got it!" Ryuji nodded, getting into a runner's stance. "Let's make it hard for this guy to stop us, too!"
"You can't escape me!" The Shadow growled, pointing its hand forward and firing another gunshot. Ryuji and Izuku were already on the move though. The Shadow's attack whizzed past their heads as they started to run in a circle around the Shadow. It looked around at them in confusion, trying to bear down on one of them but struggling.
"Garu!" Izuku called out again, a gust smashing into its side and throwing off its aim before the Shadow could get a shot off. It growled in frustration, taking aim at Izuku once again.
"Blast 'em!"
A bolt of lightning seared its back, causing the Shadow to groan in pain as it staggered on its feet. "Y-You damn intruders! Madarame will-"
"Now!"
Captain Kidd flying at the Shadow's face while Koppa Tengu approached from behind at their masters' commands. The pirate Persona put its cannon right in the Shadow's face and unleashed a blast of lightning while the tengu stacked the damage by blasting its back with a powerful gale. The Shadow cried out in misery before the damage became too much, its body dissipating into black ooze.
Izuku and Ryuji took a moment to catch their breath, smiling at one another and quickly clasping hands together.
"Hell yeah! No one can stop the two of us!" Ryuji cheered.
"Nice work, Skull!" Izuku replied. "Come on, let's turn off the security system! We should hurry before more Shadows show up!"
"Th-This is bad!" Yusuke whispered in the darkness, his voice shaking.
"Is this the light switch?" Ann asked as she felt a hanging cord from the ceiling. She quickly tugged it, turning on a ceiling light. As the room lit up, the four were met with a strange sight that took them all aback:
An entire line of Sayuri paintings placed by the wall, numbering around ten. At the center of the room was a single, covered stand, though it hadn't grabbed any of their immediate attention.
"What the..?" Yusuke sputtered, eyes widening in confusion as he looked at the paintings in wonder.
"That's the Sayuri, but… why are there so many of them?" Ann asked.
"I have no idea…" Yusuke's eyes scanned the room while his brain struggled to process what he's seeing.
Makoto held a hand to her mouth. "Is he… reproducing them..?"
"Get out!" Madarame barked as he entered the room. The three shifted their gaze to him. His gentle facade had been replaced with a furious glare.
"Sensei, what is the meaning of this?" Yusuke asked, stepping forward in his desperation.
Madarame looked at Yusuke for a moment before sighing, holding a hand to his head as he assumed a more vulnerable expression. "I suppose I can't keep quiet about this, now… I'm sorry to say that I'm in severe debt. I handmade these 'Sayuri' copies and sold them through a special connection of mine."
"But why…?" Yusuke asked. His voice conveying hurt as he looked back at the paintings.
"The real Sayuri was stolen from me by one of my former pupils a long time ago. He likely begrudged my strictness. That event was a great shock to me. Since then, I've been mired in a terrible artist's block," Madarame continued, his voice becoming more sullen as he spoke. "Because of my distress, some of my pupils handed over their ideas to me from time to time…"
Makoto and Ann shared a look of distrust for his words, allowing their eyes to drift back to the paintings by the wall. Morgana, on the other hand, peered at the veiled painting against the wall.
"I knew I couldn't keep doing that forever, and attempted to recreate the Sayuri a number of times… However, it resulted in nothing more than replicas. That's when someone came by to purchase the paintings, knowing full well they weren't original," Madarame released a depressed sigh, shaking his head. "It was all my fault. I couldn't pay the price of being famous. In the end, as expectations rose, I had no choice but to keep making them. I… I needed money to keep furthering your talents. Please forgive me for being a cowardly teacher…"
Yusuke's expression had softened considerably, his eyes sympathetic to his master. "P-Please, don't…"
"This sounds a little fictitious to me," Makoto spoke up, bringing their attention to her. "What about you, Ann?"
"Yeah, you're right… This doesn't make much sense to me either. How were you able to recreate the Sayuri if you don't have the original?" Ann asked, raising a brow in suspicion.
"I… happened upon a fairly detailed image of it in a book," Madarame hesitantly explained.
Makoto knit her brow. "Being able to reproduce copies of an original from a photo sounds rather unlikely. Even if the art was made by you, the details needed to keep the paintings consistent wouldn't be conveyed in a photo."
"Yeah! People who buy paintings like that usually have a keen eye for fine arts," Ann added, looking at Makoto and Yusuke for a moment. "They'd be able to pick a fake from a photo out real easy."
"What would you know?!" Madarame snapped back, glaring at the girls again.
"Psst! Hey!" The girls looked down at the ground to see Morgana. "The one covered up here! It seems different!"
Ann spun around and yanked the cloth off before Madarame or Yusuke could protest. It revealed another painting of Sayuri. Both girls eyed Madarame suspiciously. It was one thing if it was a fake, but Yusuke's heart skipped a beat the moment he laid eyes on it.
"Wait… that's…" Yusuke took a step closer to inspect it. "That's the real Sayuri!" He whipped his head back to look at Madarame in confusion. "But you just said the real Sayuri was stolen!"
"That's a replica!" Madarame exclaimed, his composure quickly fading.
"No! It's nothing of the sort!" Yusuke declared, pointing an accusing finger at his master. "This painting kept me going… it's the reason I made it this far… Sensei… don't tell me…"
"T-That's a fake, I'm telling you! A counterfeit! I… I heard a counterfeit was going around, so I bought it!"
"You're telling me that the original artist bought a counterfeit of his own work? That's really pushing it," Ann huffed, placing a hand on her hip.
"You're lying, sensei. Please, just tell us the truth…" Yusuke asked, taking a step forward as he tried to understand.
"Now you too…?" Madarame narrowed his eyes, looking at the three in anger. He pulled a phone out of his sleeve, taking a step forward and brandishing it at them like a gun. "I've just reported you all to my private security company."
"What?!" Makoto and Ann blurted.
"I hired them on to deal with some troublesome paparazzi. Who would have thought they would come in so handy?" Madarame smirked triumphantly.
"W-Wait, sensei! Let's talk about this!" Yusuke pleaded, confused by the sudden turn of events.
"You can talk all you want with the police… that includes you, Yusuke," Madarame declared, glaring at his pupil cruelly.
"Lady Ann, Makoto! We need to run!" Morgana said, poking his head out from behind a shelf.
The girls didn't need to be told twice, quickly making a break for the door with Morgana taking the lead. They ducked past Madarame before he could stop them.
"Don't even bother! They'll be here within two minutes!" Madarame barked after them, wrinkling his nose in annoyance.
"Ladies, please wait!" Yusuke called out, quickly giving chase with little idea of what else to do.
"Those intruders are around here somewhere! Find them!"
Izuku and Ryuji didn't wait around in the security office to get cornered. They were already booking it back to the place they started, hoping to put enough distance between them and the Shadows that they wouldn't be in danger of another fight.
They skidded to a stop, watching as the previously deactivated laser system had suddenly disappeared, lowering into the ground and posing no more threat.
Ryuji pumped his fist. "Alright! Looks like we can go through here with no worries!"
"Yeah. Let's retreat to the safe room and wait to see if the others were able to escape. They did say they would come to the Palace if they needed to," Izuku suggested, earning a nod from his partner before the two pushed forward.
"Nooo~!"
"This isn't good!"
Izuku and Ryuji came to a halt before leaving the courtyard. Looking up, they saw a strange cloud of black and red form. Ann, Makoto and Morgana came flying out of it moments later. And strangely enough, Yusuke.
"Oh, n-" Izuku gawked, instinctively sticking his arms out to catch one of them. He ended up with Makoto landing not-so-gently in his arms. He yelped in pain as he fell flat on his back.
"Shit, Ann!" Ryuji took a step forward, only to pause as Yusuke landed on his feet with surprising grace. He held strong as Ann landed in his arms bridal style. It would have looked rather impressive had Morgana landed smack dab on top of his head not a second later.
"Aggggh! Ow~!" Morgana whined as he bounced off the artist and landed face first into the ground.
"Ugh…" Yusuke groaned, having fallen to one knee after Morgana hit him.
"I thought I was gonna die…" Ann muttered before looking up at Yusuke and wiggling. "H-Hey! Will you let go already?!" Ann jabbed Yusuke with her elbow until he painfully rolled off of her.
"Hn…"
"O-Oh my god, I didn't mean to push you so hard! Are you alright?!" Ann asked, sitting up from the ground.
"Ow…" Makoto groaned. She slowly pushed herself up and shook her head before looking down. She was lying on top of a dazed Izuku. "O-Oh, Midori! Are you okay?!"
"Y-Yeah… just fine…" Izuku mumbled weakly. Once his eyes focused again, he saw Makoto hovering just above him. His cheeks burned and his skinned reddened faster than any boiling lobster.
SoclosesoclosesoclosesoCLOSE~! H-Her outfit is skintight, too!
"Wh-What's wrong? Did you…" Makoto trailed her eyes down, her voice hitching as she realized what it was. She leaped off of him and stood up, clearing her throat. "S-Sorry about that! And… thank you for catching me…"
"Y-Yeah… don't worry about it…" Izuku squeaked when his brain let him produce something other than garbled nonsense. He averted his gaze from her and retreated backward a few steps once he got to his feet. It took seeing Yusuke among them for Izuku to snap him back to his senses.. "K-Kitagawa-san?!"
"Uh oh. Looks like we brought him along by accident…" Makoto sighed, the Phantom Thieves gathering around the artist waiting for him to regain consciousness.
"Wh-What..?" Yusuke mumbled, rubbing the bump on his head that Morgana gave him. He slowly sat up but froze when he saw the group standing around him. "W-Who are you all?!"
"C-Calm down, Kitagawa-kun! It's me!" Ann said, raising her hands and trying to get his attention.
"Takamaki-san..?" Yusuke blinked before looking over at Makoto who stood close by and waved awkwardly. His eyes then shifted to Izuku and Ryuji, raising a brow. "Then… that would make you two… where are we? And I don't recall you getting dressed in a catsuit…"
"We're inside Madarame's heart," Ann suggested, unsure how else to put it.
"Inside sensei's heart..?" Yusuke blinked, his eyes darting around as he climbed to his feet and looked around. "I'm sorry, Takamaki-san, but… are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"She ain't lyin'. This is how that bastard sees that shack you live in. He's nothin' but a greedy money grubbin' bastard," Ryuji explained this time, kicking the ground at his feet.
"Enough of this rubbish!"
"Kitagawa-kun! Didn't it cross your mind that something was off with Madarame?" Ann asked.
"That's…" Yusuke would not dare look her in the eye.
"Kitagawa-san… it might be hard to believe, but it's true. This reality is how Madarame sees the world around him. Specifically that shack you live in," Izuku explained, giving a sympathetic frown. "This is his true nature."
Yusuke took a moment to look around, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "This… repulsive world… Just who are all of you?!"
Ryuji shrugged. "I guess you could say… we're like Heroes but not legit or anything. We change the hearts of rotten crooks who the cops can't or won't bust."
"Madarame's hurt a lot of people, Kitagawa-san. We've met with a victim and know about several more," Izuku said, his brow hardening. "Victims who were silenced by his influence. We're here to answer their call for help. And yours."
Yusuke's eyes widened for a moment before his gaze fell to the ground, dejected. "If… if what you say is true, then the sensei I know doesn't exist…"
"It's true, man. You gotta snap out of it," Ryuji pushed, only for Yusuke to turn his back to them.
"Still, that doesn't take away the fact that he's raised me these past ten years. My gratitude for him won't disappear so easily…"
"Kitagawa-kun, think! Think for yourself!" Makoto pushed, taking a step forward. "Madarame's tossed aside so many pupils! It's only a matter of time until-"
"Ngh!" Yusuke heaved, falling to his knees and gripping his stomach.
"K-Kitagawa-san! Are you alright?!" Izuku knelt beside him in worry.
"Are you okay?" Ann asked, kneeling next to them.
"I-I'm… trying to be rational about this, but… my emotions are overwhelming me…" Yusuke admitted solemnly.
"Sorry, but we don't have time to dawdle! The security level's gone through the roof!" Morgana announced. "We need to get out of here at once!"
"Alright! Let's head for the safe room, everyone!" Izuku said, offering a hand to Yusuke. "Here, lean on my shoulder."
"N-No, that's alright," Yusuke shook his head, standing slowly on his own. "I'll… manage."
Izuku watched him with concern but gave a nod in understanding. "Okay. This place is dangerous though, so stay close behind us. We'll get you out of here."
With that, ran to the end of the hall before the door. As they approached, Izuku held up a hand, bringing the others to a halt.
"Where are they?! The intruders should be around here somewhere!" They heard a Shadow bark, causing them to quickly hide behind a bush in the hall. Peering around the fountain, Izuku clicked his tongue when he saw at least four Shadow guards patrolling around the safe room.
"W-What are those things..?" Yusuke asked, bewildered.
"No time to explain right now. Come on, there's too many of them that way. I don't want to put Kitagawa-san in danger by starting a fight. We'll have to take the long way out," Izuku told them, waving for the others to follow him down the opposite hall. The others obeyed, quickly following his lead into the next area.
Yusuke found himself slowing down as they entered another exhibit. "So this… is inside of Madarame's heart? A vain museum like this..?"
The others shot him a look of concern but said nothing, focusing on their escape as they pressed onward. Yusuke thankfully followed, but his eyes never stopped wandering. As they entered the next exhibit hall, his eyes landed on one of the portraits, causing him to come to a full stop.
"Ah, this painting…" He mumbled in recognition. The others came to a stop, looking at the portrait that caught his attention. It was of a young girl in a school uniform, though none of them recognized her.
"Do you know her? We were thinking these might be the past pupils or something," Ann asked, looking back at Yusuke curiously.
Yusuke didn't answer her, instead asking, "But… why are there paintings of them here..?"
"Technically, those aren't paintings. They represent the pupils themselves," Morgana explained, looking up at Yusuke sympathetically.
"We're pretty sure it's 'cause Madarame only sees his pupils as objects…. And uh…" Ryuji started, rubbing his head awkwardly.
"We saw your portrait here, too," Makoto said as she walked up to his side. Yusuke's eyes narrowed at the painting but he remained silent, pain and anger crossing his face.
"Let's go… I've had enough of this place."
The others looked at one another for a moment before nodding, Izuku taking the lead again.
The trek was surprisingly quiet from then on, but Izuku knew better than to relax just yet. They soon entered the main hall with the statue of Madarame's pupils but didn't have time to dwell on it as they aimed to make for the exit. But two Shadows sprouted from the ground just as they reached the double doors, stopping them in their tracks.
"Darn it, the exit's right there!" Morgana hissed. He and the others quickly drew their weapons in preparation for the inevitable fight.
"Hahahahaha~!"
Yusuke quickly snapped his head back, eyes widening when he saw none other than Madarame approaching them from behind with two Shadows at his side. "S-Sensei?"
Madarame's attire had none of the modesty of its counterpart in reality. His drab jinbei was replaced with a traditional golden kimono that glistened as brightly as the statue before him. His skin was caked in sickly pale makeup while his lips were dyed blood red with lipstick. His hair was styled into a topknot that resembled a paintbrush that Yusuke had seen in a history book.
"Tch! Talk about bullshit clothes! First a pervy king and now some kinda shogun?!" Ryuji spat in disgust.
"Welcome to the museum of the master artist, Madarame!" The Shadow introduced himself, giving a conniving grin.
"Is… Is that really you, sensei?" Yusuke mumbled, taking several steps toward the shadow. Izuku quickly stepped up next to him, putting a hand on his chest to keep him from getting too close. "Those clothes…"
"Disgusting!" Ann huffed.
"My usual ragged attire is nothing but an act!" Madarame's Shadow admitted without hesitation. "Besides, a celebrity living in that shack? Feh. I have another home. In a mistress's name, of course."
"Is there anything honest about you?!" Izuku pointed the tip of his staff at Madarame. "How far do your lies go?!"
Madarame stuck his nose in the air and scoffed. "Hmph! Like a child would understand the importance of maintaining my image."
"I figured his obsession with riches would be bad, but this is…" Makoto's eyes narrowed, biting the edge of her lip.
"If… If the Sayuri was stolen, why was it in the storage room?!" Yusuke asked, catching the Shadow's attention. "And if you had it the whole time, why would you make copies of it and sell them?! If… If it's really you, sensei, please tell me!"
"Foolish child. You still can't see?" Madarame huffed, looking down on his student. "The painting's theft was a false rumor I spread! It was all a perfectly calculated staging!"
Yusuke felt his heart stop. "What do you mean..?"
"Let me see… how does this sound?" The Shadow flashed a devious grin as he took a step closer to his student. "'I found the real painting, but it can't go public! You can have it for a special price, though…" Madarame let out a cruel laugh, shaking his head. "How's that for preferential treatment? Those art snobs'll eat it up and pay good cash at that!"
Yusuke fell to his knees, trembling as his worst fears came to fruition. "No…"
"Kitagawa-san…" Izuku knelt next to him but kept his staff ready and waiting.
"The worth of art is purely subjective! Thus, this is a perfectly legitimate business transaction!" Madarame declared looking down his nose at Yusuke. "Though I doubt a brat like you would ever come up with such a brilliant scheme!"
"You keep goin' on about money this, money that… No wonder you ended up with this disgusting museum!" Ryuji spat in disgust.
"You're supposed to be an artist! Aren't you at all ashamed of plagiarizing other people's work?!" Ann demanded.
"Art is nothing but a tool! A tool for gaining fame and wealth!" Madarame said without a care, his eyes shifting to his pupil. "You've helped me a great deal as well, Yusuke…"
"B-But what about the people who believe in you?! The people who see you as a master artist?!" Yusuke asked in desperation, looking for any redeeming feature from his mentor.
"… Due to your help, I'm willing to tell you this alone… do not rise up against me if you wish to be successful in the world of art," Madarame warned him. His golden eyes lost any semblance of warmth. "Do you think any artist could succeed in this world with my objection to hold them back? Hahahahahaha~!"
Yusuke's trembling worsened, his head sinking lower to the ground. "I was… under the care of this wretched man?"
"Did you think I took you in out of the kindness of my heart?! Hah!" Madarame laughed, his grin becoming twisted. "Plucking talented, yet troubled artists off the street lets me find promising pupils and take their ideas. After all, it's easy to steal the futures of children who can't fight back."
"I can't believe this…" Yusuke looked up at his master, his lip quivering as he tried to sort through the emotions racing through his head.
"How could you?!" Izuku exclaimed, his eyes hardening into a fierce glare. "Kitagawa-san has talked about nothing except how much he owes you! How much you've taken care of him! How could you treat that kind of devotion like nothing?!"
"Livestock are killed for their hide and meat! This is no different from that, you fool!" Madarame declared without an ounce of sympathy. "You think a farmer cares for the cattle he slaughters?! They fatten them up until they're ripe for the kill!"
"What a bastard…" Morgana huffed, hopping up next to Izuku.
"But I tire of this chat. It's time that I-"
"You… are unforgivable."
Madarame stopped, his eyes leering back at Yusuke. "Hm?"
"It doesn't matter who you are… I won't forgive you!" Yusuke declared, pushing up to his feet and giving his master a deathly glare.
"Hmph! So you repay my keeping you around with ingratitude? You damn brat!" Madarame huffed. "Guards! Dispose of these thieves at once!"
"Get back, Kitagawa-san!" Izuku said, preparing to engage the closest Shadow.
"Get behind us!" Ann said.
"How amusing…"
The thieves hesitated, looking back at the young artist as he gave an empty laugh.
"It seems the truth is stranger than fiction, hm..?" he said. A bemused smile spread across his lips. "I didn't want to believe it was true… I had clouded my vision for so long…" His expression fell as his head dipped in shame, holding a hand to his face. "My eyes were truly blind. Blind, and unable to see the true self behind this horrible man!"
Have you finally come to your senses?
Yusuke felt like his head was being gripped and crushed like an eggshell, eyes widening as they turned a shade of gold. He buckled over, gripping the side of his head in pain.
How foolishly you averted your eyes from the truth…
Yusuke groaned in pain, swaying back and forth as the voice echoed louder in his mind.
Izuku's breath hitched at the display before him. "No… way… Kitagawa-san… he's…"
A deplorable imitation indeed… Best you part from that aspect of yourself!
"It can't be… this guy actually has that potential…?" Morgana muttered.
Yusuke let out an agonizing cry, falling to his knees and gripping the ground. His nails dug so deeply into the floor that his fingers began to bleed as he dragged them across.
Let us form a contract. I am thou, thou art I… The world is filled with both beauty and vice…
In a flash of blue flame, a mask resembling a kitsune's face appeared on his face.
It is time that you teach people which is which!
Yusuke slowly rose to his feet, eyes boring into Madarame as the con artist recoiled in fear.
"Very well…" With a swift and graceful tug, Yusuke drew the mask from his face.
"Come… Goemon!"
To be continued…
Well, that was quite a packed chapter. I'll admit, I feel pretty strange ending this chapter on the same note as the previous one, but I think it just works out for the story. We got through a lot of the necessary canon things this chapter that are honestly unavoidable. Even with the changes that exist in the story, certain aspects can't be completely transformed, only adjusted. A lot of reused dialogue that kind of irked me a bit, but I'll own up to it.
Anyways, sorry for the wait, but as you all know, I stick to a rather tight monthly release schedule for my stories at the moment. I've got three stories in the works with another one soon to come. I won't let any one of them distract from the rest and will do my utmost to update on schedule as I have. Just please, be patient.
Also, a heads up for you FFN readers, you should also give the SB page a look when you can. I've written several snippets for the story both for fun in some cases and, for my most recent ones, gifts for friends who've helped me out quite a bit. There's also a few pieces of art on the page that relate to the story for you all to look at as well. If you want some added fun, check them out!
Anyways, that's it for this chapter. The next one, things we'll be entering the final phase of this arc, I suppose. I hope you all enjoyed it, please leave a follow, a favorite and a like if you'd be so kind :)