AN: Originally, like Persona Duality, this story was going to have the Shadows from P3/P4. But I think it'll be more fun making it more like the Shadows of Persona 5, since it allows me to come up with some fun enemy banter and use some demons that don't appear in Persona games that much, i.e. Moh Shuvuu, La Llarona, etc. And I've mostly settled upon how the twins will be introduced this time, but that's for the next arc! Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Unlocked Fate
"Kei! What's happening?!"
"Shintaro, stay back. I will protect you!" Kei shouted, without looking at the two. Shintaro and Kohaku could only look at each other, dumbfounded.
Ostara, whatever she is, feels real. She's so strong, I can feel it even by looking at her. Still, what can this Persona actually do?
"Kei!" Kohaku shouted. "You're not going to fight them, are you?"
"That was my plan," Kei said. "I'm not weak. Not as long as I have my Persona!"
The monstrous duo was still advancing, keen to hunt their prey. Kei, not even timid, looked proudly at the goddess Ostara in front of her.
"Ostara, please protect me!"
Fitting with this direction, Ostara raised her staff high in the air, and the petals span around her. Suddenly, a gush of water appeared from the ground, hitting one of the two monsters – and it instantly was torn to pieces, its body vanishing.
"Shit... Get em for me..."
"What?!" Kohaku said. "How did she do that?"
"You can fight them with this Persona?"
"Smart as always, Shintaro-san." Kei said.
Always? You've known me for less than 24 hours!
"It's hard to explain, but I can feel this power right in me. But I don't have time to chat! It's coming to -"
Seeking vengeance, the remaining creature got up close to Kei, and before the transfer student could do anything, it bashed her hard with its heavy sack. In pain, Kei lunged forward, hitting the dark being with her blade. It seemed to hurt it quite badly, and in fact, the moon-headed demon seemed quite dizzy.
"Finish it off!" Shintaro yelled. No longer afraid, he felt pride. Seeing Kei fighting, full of confidence, had washed away all his fear. Kohaku was the same, cheering on her new friend as if she was at one of her concerts.
"I certainly will!" Kei said, smirking. "Ostara, strike with the Petal Step!"
Ostara held up her dress with both hands, then did a short tap dance. Immediately, her petals aimed at the monster, and were pushed forward by an unknown force – all piercing the monster. This was more than enough to kill it, forcing it to fade into nothingness with a scream of absolute agony.
"Kei...?" Shintaro asked.
"Are you alright?!" Kohaku said.
Kei nodded, even though she fell to her knees. She dropped her katana, which quickly faded – going into her Gnosis. Panting for breath, she watched as Ostara disappeared, not leaving behind even a single petal.
"I'm...fine," Kei said, exhausted. "That was a close one."
"That's an understatement," Shintaro said. "The way you fought those creatures...it was out of this world."
"You saved our lives, Kei-san!" Kohaku said.
"It's not over just yet. We've got to find some way to get back to normal." Kei said.
"Normal?" Shintaro asked.
"I can't say for sure, but...I think this is some kind of parallel world. How else do you explain that record shop being replaced by a weapon store? Or the candy shop getting turned into some weird candy factory?"
"Candy...factory?" Kohaku said, dryly. "Now that I didn't know about. Let's go have a look. It might help us get back to normal."
|Bella Donna Shopping Mall – RainBow Factory|
This location seemed visually close to the normal shop, but with all the strange, whimsical apparatus moving and whirring, the gigantic conveyor belts that seemed to defy gravity and go along the ceilings, and a massive chocolate fountain, this place looked like something out of a child's dream.
"What a cartoonish monstrosity of an establishment." Kohaku said, staring at a peculiar box of items called 'Macca Leaves'. They were green edible leaves that advertised with 'Share them or leaf them!' in English letters. Reeling at this pun, she moved away, and went to another display.
"How exactly are these ordinary shops transforming into new ones?" Shintaro asked.
"Maybe the Gnosis will tell us," Kei said, taking her own one out. Shintaro did the same, and a lot of notifications appeared. However, Shintaro glanced at Kei, and saw a picture of a blue Tarot card next to her name on the home screen. There was nothing next to Shintaro's or Kohaku's, however.
It must be because of her Persona. This phone seems to know all about it!
Shintaro touched the first notification, which was the Visions app. When it opened, he saw the logo – a giant rainbow made up of different coloured candy, held up by smiling anime girls. The accompanying music was, appropriately enough, a bubblegum pop tune.
"Welcome to RainBow! In regular mode, we serve colourful, tasty, and fabulous candy to everyone, rain or shine! In 'Shadow' mode, we sell the same! Only difference is, our candy doubles as tasty medicine! We'll heal you, and cure all your nasty status effects! And if you really like the taste, they'll work even better! Unfortunately, our Shadow mode owner is busy with other stuff! Don't get any wise ideas, though! Unless you leave enough money on the counter, you're not allowed to take anything! If you're a newcomer, then we're so sorry we're not here to greet you! But please pick up one of the 'starter snack boxes', handmade to give you the best start! We'll see you soon! And don't forget to keep coming to the regular mode shop too!"
"I have some questions," Shintaro said, stunned.
"Me too..." Kohaku said, incredulous.
"From what that peppy voiceover said, there are two versions of this store. 'Regular' mode is presumably the one we were in earlier today with Akari." Kei said. "The other mode is this one. Described as 'Shadow' mode. There must be some way to get back to the regular mode..."
"Thank goodness!" Kohaku said. "Akari's probably worried sick about us. We have to get back and tell her we're okay!"
"Hang on a minute. I'm still getting my head around this. Does this mean that the weird bedroom I was in, and that weapon shop, they're all 'Shadow mode' versions of the normal shops?" Shintaro asked.
"It seems so. Perhaps this entire mall. Don't forget, this is all new to me too." Kei said. "We should count our blessings, though. I have the means to keep us all safe from those monsters. We found each other, and we're not alone. And most importantly, we know there's a method to get back home."
"I've got an idea!" Kohaku said. "We should go back to the table we were sitting at for dinner! The code we scanned started all of this, right? Then maybe, if we can find a code there, we can return!"
"And never come back!" Shintaro said.
"Kohaku-san, that's perfect!" Kei said, relieved. "But, to be on the safe side, we all should take these starter kits."
"Why us?" Shintaro asked. "You're the only one who has that power!"
"I understand that. If you get injured, however, this confectionery might just work as medicine."
Shintaro shrugged, and took one of the pink gift boxes from the counter. Kohaku followed suit, and the trio left the factory.
How is this even happening? How can this place had two different modes? I don't like this one at all! Using a sword to fight, and relying on Kei to protect us - it's not right! I've got to get home, before Akari calls the police!
|Food Court|
"There's nothing here at all. Not even the smell of any food." Kei said. "Strange..."
"Hmm," Shintaro said. "I can't even smell those sweet potato french fries coated in wasabi."
"Please don't remind of those...things," Kohaku said, shuddering. "Which table were we at again?"
"That one to the right!" Kei said, pointing to a nearby table. Not a single trace of their meal was left here. Perhaps once they returned to 'Regular' mode, they would see the remains of the pizzas the group had been eating. She looked at the centre of the table, and to her relief, there was a QR code. She turned on her Gnosis, only for it to open up a new app called 'Gnosis Transport'.
"Another app? What does this one do?" Kohaku asked.
"Let me see. 'Congratulations on awakening your Persona. Only a select few have the inner strength to look upon themselves in this, a state of dark confrontations. Due to your strong potential, you have the power to return to the normal Shinsuto City, or rather 'Akátharto Kósmo'. Not only that, but you can also return to this state, the 'Theío Kósmo', at any time, using the Aeon Pathways – disguised as QR codes throughout both Kósmos.'"
"That doesn't make any sense," Shintaro said. "There are two states to one city, and we can pass between them? How is that even possible?"
"Don't look at me!" Kohaku said. "Kei, does it say anything else?"
"Yes. Hold on. 'While it may be difficult to understand at first, both Kósmos exist in exactly the same space. But while Akátharto consists of the entire globe, Theío only covers the Shinsuto Prefecture'." On her screen, a map of the city and its immediate surroundings appeared on screen, and it flashed between green and red – perhaps to indicate each of the two 'Kósmos'.
"So, if I've got this right, we can go between two different versions of one city via these 'Aeon Pathways'?" Shintaro asked.
"That seems to be the case. Now the app is asking me to scan for the code. Wait, there's something else..." Kei said. She went back to the notification list, and saw yet another newly installed app. It was called 'Shadow Navi'. She touched it, and saw a birds-eye map of the food court – and there were three blue dots, standing where her team was. Three red ones were moving closer to the area.
"What are you doing, Kei-san?" Shintaro asked.
"Are those blue dots meant to be us?" Kohaku asked. "Then what are the three red ones?"
Kei touched the dots and showed her phone to the others. They were like the monsters that had attacked them earlier – designated by the app as 'Sandman'. A flood of information appeared on the screen, such as their 'HP', 'SP', 'Level', 'Arcana', and 'Times Encountered'. Touching some of the other dots revealed that there were two other varieties indigenous to this area as well, such as a red-haired Pixie and a diminutive creature called a Chagrin.
"The monsters that we were fighting are called Shadows, it seems," Kei said, stunned. "Maybe we can get home before they find us!" She tried to scan the code on the table, but it did not work. "What?!" It played a shrill beeping error tone, and a red text box popped up.
Users 'Shintaro Nakahara' And 'Kohaku Teruya' Unawakened.
Unawakened Gnosis Owners Must Awaken Before Transportation.
Only User 'Kei Kakusa' Can Transport.
Kei gasped in horror, staring at her phone in terror. "It knows our names? It's saying that only I can go! If I do that, then...you'd be stranded here!"
Just then, the three Shadows appeared, having traversed the steps. One of them was an impish Pixie, flanked by two of the hedgehog-esque Chagrin.
"Whoa, a human! I never thought I'd get to see one!" The leftmost Chagrin said.
"I wanna see what they look like when you rip them apart!" The rightmost Chagrin said.
"Let's play with them a little, shall we? Hehe!" The Pixie said, cheerily.
"Gee. And everything was going so well up until this point." Shintaro said, rolling his eyes.
"Kei-san, how exactly do we 'awaken'?" Kohaku asked.
"I'm still not entirely sure. Relax, I'll save us from these Shadows! Stand back!" Kei ordered.
She ran ahead with her sword, and with her Gnosis screen glowing a bright green, she conjured her 'Persona', the enchanting Ostara.
"Kei-san! Please, be careful!" Kohaku begged.
"No need to panic. These things are just small fry. You saw me take down the Sandmen, didn't you? It shouldn't be too hard this time."
"You fought two before, Kei-san! This time there's three!" Shintaro said.
"Even so, I've got a good feel for what Ostara can do. Well, she is me, apparently." Kei said. "Persona!"
Ostara, twirling her floral rod around, cast down an Aqua on one of the Chagrin. It was hurt quite badly, but not finished. Kei leapt forward, bringing her katana downwards, and the strike cleaved it in two.
"No! Lady Pixie, don't forget about me! Make those damn kids pay!"
"Alright!" Shintaro said, impressed.
"Kei-san is O-kei!" Kohaku said, giggling.
"Um...thank you, Kohaku-san. Just don't ever use that line again. These Shadows are painful enough as it is." Kei said. "Huh?"
Before she saw it coming, she was hit by one of the Chagrin's spikes. And they were sharp, piercing her body. Crying out in pain, she tried to get back up – but a burst of flame hit her.
"No!" Shintaro yelled.
"I won't forgive you, meanie!" The Pixie said.
"We have to do something!" Kohaku said. She held out her hand. Slowly, her naginata appeared out of her Gnosis, and flew into her hand. "Shintaro, you need to use your sword!"
"...Huh?! Now?!" Shintaro said, panicking.
"Yes, now! Hurry! There's no time!" Kohaku said. "We have to fight too!"
"I know that! But..." Shintaro mumbled. "Fine!" He outstretched his left hand, and before long, the simple fencing sword in his grip. "Let's go!"
The Chagrin and Pixie seemed to have caught wind of their plans. They ignored Kei's agony, and turned towards their new prey. Kohaku, angrily, tried her best to stab the Chagrin with her weapon. But it seemed more like she was poking the air with it. Shintaro was not having any more luck with his sword, not that his wild swinging 'skill' helped matters.
"Wow, without a Persona, you humans are worthless! Guess you'll just have to die here!" The surviving Chagrin said.
"Those weapons of yours won't be any help if you can't even summon your Persona! How sad!" The Pixie jeered.
"What is this? We're hitting them, and they're right in front of us!" Shintaro complained.
"Forget it! We'll grab Kei and get out of here!" Kohaku shouted.
"N-No, that won't work!" Kei said, finally arising. "If you try that, only I can get home!"
Shintaro gasped. He and Kohaku lacked the gift Kei did – and thus, she would be the only survivor tonight. His chosen target was raising its hands, chanting a spell – frightened, he covered his face with his hands.
Then his head started to ache. When he shut his eyes, a blue butterfly somehow flew past him in that darkness. And he heard a voice, speaking in a booming, commanding tone.
One who bears the burden of potential, heed my voice. My name is Philemon. Your existence will soon reveal its true complexity, yet this is nothing to fear. Once you truly know yourself, and why you continue to exist, life can begin anew, and you can wield your own identity as power. Answer me this question. What is your name?
"Shintaro...Nakahara."
"Kohaku...Teruya."
You too? What is going on? Why haven't the Shadows attacked us yet?
Suddenly, he heard a straight wind-like sound. Then it hit him. A blue mist was around his body, and his heart was pounding. Weirdly, the headache like sensation now felt like a pleasant, comfortable state of freedom. And he knew what word to call this newfound energy in himself.
The time has come for you, and the one who will be your eternal friend for generations to come, to peer into yourselves. The side of you that no one has seen before - command it. Whether it be a goddess or a demon, it is you!
"Right!" Kohaku said.
"Here we go!" Shintaro said. "Ready, Haku-chan?"
She nodded. Kei watched, in awe, at the two – whose blue auras seemed to combine into a storm of true power.
"PERSONA!"
The massive burst caused the Shadows to fall backwards, and the area to shake.
Shintaro couldn't believe his eyes. In front of him was a holographic image of a Tarot card – the Hierophant – and on the other side was his 'Persona'. He looked up ahead, and saw it in front of him. A brave looking young man with a suit of gleaming green, smooth armour, and a billowing orange cape. Upon this cape in gold were strange letters that Shintaro did not know. His hair was dark green, slicked back and neatly tied into a ponytail. His arms were a broadsword and a shield, both ready for action.
I am thou. Thou art I. From the sea of thy soul, I cometh. I art Ogma, one who will become the champion of any battle that comes thy way.
On the other side of the arena, Kohaku was shocked to see her own Tarot card – a Priestess. And in front of her was a beautiful, dainty pale figure wearing a dress made up of white, flowing silk, tied around the waist with a golden ribbon. She wore silver anklets around her slender, smooth legs, and her long pink hair turned darker at the tips. In one hand, she carried a large basket full of potent, magical herbs. In the other was a glowing ball of white light.
I am thou. Thou art I. From the sea of thy soul, I cometh. I art Airmid, she whose healing knowledge is known only to thy.
"Oh my god! You two can use it as well!" Kei said, relieved. "I knew I could count on you to save the day!"
"Airmid... She's so beautiful!" Kohaku said. "She's a part of me, right?"
"Ogma..." Shintaro said. "That cape, that sword...he's strong!"
He looked back on the Chagrin, and grinned. Pointing to the Shadow, he continued to smile.
"Persona!"
Ogma complied, by rushing at the Shadow – and via his sword, he struck it savagely with Blade Strike. The velocity was critical, and the Shadow's true weak nature was revealed upon its death.
"Dammit, me too? Bastard!"
"Well done, Taro-kun!" Kohaku said. "Airmid, show me what you can do! I believe in you!"
The graceful Airmid debuted elegantly – by commanding the earth itself. With one flick of her sphere of power, she smote the Pixie with a black of rocks.
"That wasn't fun...go to hell...!"
It soon perished, leaving the area clear of Shadows.
Incredible! All of us, we have the same power! Ostara, Ogma, Airmid! We won't have to rely on Kei to do everything for us. We're a proper team now!
"Are you both okay?" Kei asked, worried. Kohaku nodded, as did Shintaro. Their Personae vanished, fading into the Gnosis phones. Shintaro looked at his, and smiled – there was a blue card next to his name now. Now, the trio of them had completed their Awakening.
"Thank you Kei, it looks like we're fine," Kohaku said. "We don't have to depend on you anymore. Now, I can fend for myself!" She dismissed her weapon, by instinctively holding it out. Shintaro managed the same.
"That's wonderful. I had a feeling you two were tough." Kei said, putting her katana away. "Oh! We can try going back home now! There shouldn't be anything else stopping us!"
"Yeah!" Shintaro said. The trio ran back to their table, and Kei, full of hope, scanned the code again. However, an error sound played, and their hearts sank.
"Oh, no. What's wrong this time?" Kohaku asked.
"It says...'Frequency blocked. Isolate Anomaly and neutralize it'."
"Anomaly..." Shintaro said to himself. "Something's jamming our way back home, and we have to find it and beat it up?"
"That would be my guess," Kei said. "I'm not sure where this 'Anomaly' is, but it's probably right here in the mall."
"Then let's go hunt it down!" Kohaku said. "If it's another of those Shadows, we can't lose!"
"I wouldn't get too cocky." Shintaro said. "This is just a hunch, but I don't think every 'Shadow' is like those..."