A Fool's Study into Witchcraft
CH11: Aim to be the Top FINAL
Constanze slowly opened her eyes as she awoke, a dull throb assaulting her head as she rose. What greeted her threw her mind into overdrive. She rushed to her feet as she took in the sight of the massive courtyard she found herself in. The lush, well-kept lawn that stretched on and on, the massive structure looming in the distance, the feeling that something was horribly wrong that hung in the air; all of it served to pile questions upon questions that the girl wanted answered.
But those questions could wait. She needed to find Jasminka.
Scanning the courtyard, she caught the sight of her pink haired roommate on her way towards the distant mansion, still charging forward on all fours.
Instinctually, Constanze's hand reached for her robot. At her command, Stanbot#1 reactivates and attempted to access the internet, but to no avail
"Error. Unable to access Internet. Zero Access points found." the robot reported, seemingly puzzled at the lack of hotspots. Constanze's brow tightened in annoyance at the report. Whatever, she could worry about their whereabouts after she got Jasminka back to her senses. Picking up Stanbot#1, she latched it to her back and snapped her fingers.
"Jetpack mode initiating…"
The box shifted as two large thrusters emerged from the side, green energy collecting within each. In an instant she was airborne and flying towards the mansion. She only had about an hours' worth of magic to work with, even less if she wanted Stanbot#1 to remain online. "Better make this count," she thought.
Chasing after Jasminka, who under whatever influence was controlling her, was able to outrun her on her fours. Constanze understood that Stanbot#1's jetpack mode wasn't the best she had built… but this was ridiculous.
Constanze caught up with Jasminka as she reached the mansion, stopping at the entrance as pools of liquid darkness suddenly formed underneath them. Constanze couldn't believe her eyes when two towering figures emerged from the ground. Both wore overalls with a large sun hat and well-worn boots, one with an orange mask with Roman numeral XIII and the other with a purple mask marked with XIX.
Landing, the German girl didn't have any idea on what they were. They didn't resemble any magical creatures she knew. Well, at least Jasminka stopped… What was she doing just staring that them?
"What!? More intruders?!" the purple masked one bellowed in anger. "Why must rats keep infesting our mansion!?"
"Why else? Our mistress' light is too great. People with ulterior motives flock to her like moths to an open flame." the orange masked one replied as he cracked his knuckles. "Little girls like them need to know their place. Trespassing on such a sacred place is crime worthy of death…!"
Constanze didn't like where this is going. She retrieved her wand and with a wave and a flash of green light, a shotgun appeared in its place. As she approached the two in an attempt to help her friend, she noticed that Jasminka was just standing there… eyeing the two figures in front of her, her expression unreadable.
"... зло человечества ..." the Russian whispered, as she licked her lips. "... Вы хорошо на вкус…?"
As Constanze prepared to defend herself and her friend, both masked beings burst into laughter.
"You think that gun is going to save you both, little girl~?" the purple one mocked. "How cute!"
"Do you honestly think you can stand up to us, the servants of the great Cavendish, with a mere firearm?" the orange one sneered. "How foolish!"
Constanze's eyes widened as the beings before her exploded into black sludge. Two massive dog like creatures took their place; one with green fur with wing like ears, and the other a large blue hound with thick and long fur coat.
The beasts sneered with blood lust. The green one spoke up with excitement. "I, Cu Sith, shall savor the taste of your flesh!"
"And I Barghest, shall have the greatest honor delivering your souls to the Reaper!" the blue one finished, his frame already to rip and tear.
Constanze released the safety on her shotgun, preparing for the confrontation-
Jasminka merely grinned as she began to giggle. The grin stretched into a wide, unnerving smile as her giggles evolved into hysterical laughter. Louder and louder her laugh became as her eyes went completely white, saliva dripping from the corners of her mouth.
"влезть в мой живот! ! !"
In that split second, neither Constanze nor her foes knew what happened as Cu Sith's head vanished in a cloud of black mist, his decapitated body slumping over and then dissolved into particles. Barghest was lifted into the air, his legs torn from their sockets like how one would took apart a fat juicy turkey. His agonized screams being silenced shortly after.
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An explosion rocked the manor as Berith emerged from the dust and galloped out of the crumbling building with Akko and her friends mounted on his back.
"Ah… look what you made me do…" Shadow Diana cooed with an amused tone. Her towering body smashed completely through the wall and stomped out of her estate. "But then again, I no longer need to limit myself to Luna Nova."
"What do you mean by that!?" Akko yelled. "Don't tell me you're going to-"
"That's right Atsuko Kagari," the Shadow chuckled. "With the power of the Tree of Heart, leaving this place would be a child's play! Once I am there, I will give that bitch Daryl and her good-for-nothing daughters the long overdue punishment for ruining our family! After that I will go make the real Luna Nova mine! And the new generation of witches will worship my brilliance as I lead the magical world away from the rot!"
"Wow, nice monologue. If I didn't know any better I would have mistook you for a Saturday morning cartoon villain," Sucy deadpanned.
"... No… that… thing is not me…" Diana weakly whispered, her mind a wreck. "... I'm not like that… Even with everything that they've done, I would never wish death on my aunt and cousins…"
"You say that but," Amanda shrugged, "if Akko's right than right there," she pointed her thumb back at the hulking monstrosity, "is how you really feel deep down." She crossed her arms and continued. "I mean… I can relate. I have a few relatives like Daryl too. I wouldn't hesitate to smack them if I am ever given the opportunity."
Diana meekly lowered her head, unable to formulate a reply to the red head.
"The Tree of Heart…?" Aradia pondered. "Don't tell me the hags had a hand in-!"
"Aradia…?" Akko muttered.
"... It's nothing," the false goddess replied. "Let's focus on taking down that Shadow first."
Akko leaped forward and gestured with her off hand. "Let's go Sucy, Amanda! We'll keep it distracted! Lotte, keep an eye on Diana! Remember the plan everyone!"
"Leave it to me!" Lotte nodded, pointing her wand forward. "Go Wispy!" The Will-o'-wisp gave her owner a look of determination before flying to Amanda's side.
"Come, Atsuko Kagari," Shadow Diana beckoned. "Show me your full power so I can prove you are ultimately nothing before my wealth of knowledge!"
"GIVE IT EVERYTHING WE HAVE, ARADIA! MEIHA! "
"MAPSI!"
""Ah... what's the chant again…? Right! IOISG SAIGHEAD!"
Both goddesses channeled as much of their user's power as they could into their spell as dark spikes followed by orbs of rainbow energy converged on their target. A torrent of crimson and emerald fire followed suit. All the magic surged toward Shadow Diana's marble body.
As the element attacks connected however, the Shadow's legs- massive golden pillars entangled in roots and depicting witches extending their hands to the sky – began to radiate light. As the light from the pillars dimmed and the group's attack dissipated, her marble body still remained smooth and beautiful.
"YOU KIDDING ME?!/Here we go again.../THIS IS BULL SHIT!/Ah… What happened?!"
"Hehe… HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Shadow Diana mocked with maniacal laughter. "I have earned this place at the top through my own blood, sweat, and tears! How naive do you have to be to believe you can just casually reach me at your level?!"
"Damn it! Is that a barrier?! Try again, Aradia!" Akko ordered, nocking an energy arrow on her bow. "Take this! Argus Shooting!"
Curse and Psychic spells surged toward the prideful Shadow as Sucy and Amanda unload their firearms into the beast. However, once again, neither magic, feather energy, nor bullets had any effect just like before.
"What the hell!? Nothing we throw at it is working!" Amanda snarled as she lowered her gun.
"I could try to poison her? But probably wouldn't be able to get through that marble body," Sucy noted. "Beside, knowing her, she already knows a few spells that can cancel it."
"There's got to be some… wait a minute." Akko focused on the legs, taking in every minute detail.
Of course!
"Look at the legs, you see how the light around them is getting dimmer?" she reported.
"Yeah, what about them?" Amanda asked.
"We aren't doing no damage- the pillars are transfer them to themselves! And now I can see cracks are forming. So there's a limit to this! Let's break those first-"
"Fufu… hahahaha!" the Shadow mused. "The endless struggle for the top… oh, how fondly I remember it... I'll see to it that you suffer that pain as well!"
One of the three gems on the triangular pin that secured the Shadow's fur coat began to glow blue as it called forth the replica Shiny Rod. She began chanting...
"The winter Spirits that govern the frigid cold, hear my call… Reothaair!"
Sensing danger, Akko and Sucy backpedaled away from the Shadow, both of them dragging Amanda out of the way, just barely managing to avoid the massive iceberg that had erupted from the ground and shattered where they once stood.
"It's…c-cold…" Akko shivered, a thin layer of frost on her body.
Amanda began breathing into her hands in a desperate attempt to warm them up. Wispy flew into her palms, the heat radiating off the small spirit's frame and fighting off the cold. "Oh, thanks buddy."
"Reothaair…?" Sucy groaned. "No surprise you know that high tier ice spell."
"That's right~ It took hundreds of hours, but it was worth it," the Shadow scoffed. "Now be cooperative so I may show you all the fruits of my labors, and perhaps some of my vast knowledge may rub off on you!"
"Oh screw you! I'd rather go to detention then learn something from you!" Amanda retorted, pulling out a small green object. "Akko, Sucy, let's cut down this stupid tree!"
Sucy eyed her dagger with an annoyed expression before shrugging and pulling out a small blue object.
"Right! Just like how we planned!" the brunette responded, retrieving a small red object. "TeamAttackManeuver!"
"Super Sonic!"
"Diamond Shield!"
"Assault Signal!"
The cognitive treasures crumbled to dust as waves of red, blue, and green washed over the girls, the effects of Tarukaja, Rakukajaand Sukukaja empowering them.
"Hell yeah! That's what I am talking about!" Amanda slammed her fist into her palm. The trio rushed toward Shadow Diana, taking advantage of their superior mobility and Shadow Diana's large size. They weaved between her legs as they began their joint assault.
"The bat doesn't have enough power for this", Akko thought as she returned her weapon into her cape and swapped it for a large silver axe composed of shifting mechanical parts built around a large silver edge. This beast of a weapon was almost as wide as her back, and weighed about a third of her weight. "Time to test this thing out for Daidara-san! Aradia, Terror Claw!"
Both Persona and Persona user cried as they ripped and tore into the solid golden pillar. Aradia specifically slashed away at the tree roots that controlled them. As she swung her axe, Akko repeatedly transformed it between swings, the metal monstrosity shifting its parts back and forth, changing from between axe and great sword, green energy radiating from the weapon as she went.
"Well…" Sucy deadpanned. "I guess I'll have to step up my game."
"Right you are, my dear little Sucy! Let's show them our power!" Angitia laughed as the ends of her mushroom tentacles began to glow with a deep purple light, the name of the new ability entering Sucy's mind.
"Venom Claw!"
The snake goddess and her summoner tore into the leg with a flurry of precise cuts, leaving purple scratches all over the pillar.
"Can't have you both stealing my thunder again!" Amanda hollered as she held her weapon and wand parallel to each other. "Come forth, the Great Saber! Altaich Claidheamh!" she chanted.
Her wand began to glow as it merged with the haft of her spear. Its mass melting into the weapon and transforming it into a large swordspear.
"Yo, Wispy! Buff me!"
The tiny spirit nodded and twirled around the swordspear, coating the blade in green flame. Amanda's smile widened into a cocky grin. Time to show off this badass attack she dreamt up yesterday in the shower!
"AAAAAAUUUURRRRRRGGGHHHHH!" The redhead rushed towards her target and, with a single twirl of her swordspear, carved a large vertical slash from the ankle of the Shadow to the base of its foot.
Sucy and Amanda backed away and landed side by side. "Well, someone's been hiding some useful spell," Sucy remarked, honestly impressed.
"Ha... hah... Old…family…spells." Amanda panted, catching her breath. "Top secret, ya hear…!" she said with a grin. "Did we take it down-?"
As if to spite her, the scar she carved slowly got smaller, roots and vines steadily knitting the gash closed.
"Oh, it's one of those fight, wonderful," Sucy groaned with her rarely shown anger.
"Oh come ON! What a cheating bitch!" Amanda kicked the ground and shouted.
"HRRAAAHH!" Akko pressed a button on the haft of her weapon, a green explosion erupting from where the weapon, currently a greatsword, connected. From the dust cloud came the retreating brunette, who upon landing her backflip, hefted her weapon onto her back. "This is bad, the legs can regenerate too…" Watching with annoyance, the trio can only groan as their hard work was slowly erased.
"You wouldn't happen to have something stronger inside your cape, Akko? Like do you have dynamite or something?!" Amanda asked. "We clearly need to destroy them all in one fell swoop!"
"Please don't pull out something that could endanger us as well," Sucy chided.
"Fufu, finally realizing how useless your effort it is?" Shadow Diana mocked. "I've shaped myself into the perfect idol! With the support of the masses under my control, I am the Shining Guidance that shall lead our kind to a new age of magic! You have no chance of toppling me!"
"What a narcissist," Sucy replied, disguised.
"Fufu... Me, a narcissist? Perhaps." the Shadow laughed at that. "However, am I not entirely justified when I have sacrificed so much to become this perfect?! I needed- NO! I DESERVE to be on the top, for everyone's sake!"
The blue gem's color vanished as the next gem lit up with vermilion light.
"Come forth, the all consuming fire, and reduce all that stands before me to cinders... Dubh Loisg!"
The girl's eyes widened as they felt the heat bubbling beneath their feet. They scrambled to jump back and avoid the volcanic wrath boiling beneath them. However, due to her exhaustion, Amanda wasn't fast enough…
"SHIT-"
"WISPY PROTECT HER!" Lotte screamed.
"BERITH!" Akko called as the Hierophant manifested.
A pillar of fire erupted from the ground, scorching the courtyard as it raged on. As the smoke cleared, it revealed Wispy now at least five times her size with a ballooned abdomen. She dropped to the ground, having did her part and swallowed most of the flame for Amanda.
"OWWWWWW! ! !" Amanda cried, her face covered in soot and tinted orange. Berith's mount collapsed to its knees as smoke wafted from it and it's rider's frames.
"Ha… ha… Aurgh… that was close…" Akko grunted.
"To burn even a Duke of Hell... This is bad, Akko," Aradia warned. "Fire spells are a common threat to most of us, if even Berith could barely take it..."
"Media," Sucy commanded as Angitia appeared and bathed everyone in smoothing light. "You need to be more careful, that was too close a call," she chided.
The redhead didn't reply, merely gritting her teeth and nodding.
"Drag this on all you want~ you only delay the inevitable!" Shadow Diana chuckled as the gem changed color once more, this time to brilliant yellow. A shift in the air filled it with static.
"Lord of the storm, grace us with your mighty weapon of judgement…"
"No…!" Realizing they couldn't dodge this, Akko dismissed the wounded Berith, the Devil's arcana taking its place. As Lilim manifested above Akko, she anchored her foot into the ground and then straightened her arms and tail.
"Tein Edhair Dan!"
The thunderbolt slammed into Lilim, her body acting as a pseudo lightning rod and sparing the party from the majority of the damage. Both Persona and Persona user screamed (in Lilim's case, she moaned) as the electricity coursed through them. When it ended, Akko struggled to stand, her muscles spasming from the electricity. Lilim collapsed to her butt, the electricity still coursing through her form, a blush dusting her face of pleasure.
"Not the time… you pervert…" the brunette sighed and dismissed the troublesome Devil.
"Tsk. Keeping an image of me like that?" Shadow Diana sneered as Sucy reapply more healing. "You are no better than the droves of shallow suitors seeking my hand!"
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"Is that… a succubus with my face…?" Diana whispered.
"Ah…" Lotte avoided eye contact with the British girl. "It's... uhm... complicated…?"
"I-I don't understand what is going on anymore…" Diana said, rubbing her temples, "Nothing makes sense!"
The cacophony of explosions and clanging weapons caused Lotte to turn to face her companions. "Oh no, at this rate everyone…!" She turned to face Diana, grabbing her shoulders. "Diana, please listen to everything I have to say! It may sound crazy, you have to have faith in them!"
The blonde recalled what they had planned, determined to succeed in her role.
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Flashback: Group Meeting Fifteen minutes ago
With a smile, the brunette pointed directly at Lotte.
"Wait- What!? Me?!" Lotte exclaimed in confusion. "I'm the backup plan?!"
Akko nodded. "That's right, Lotte. Long story short, Shadows increase in power the more their original rejects them. If Diana holds that feeling during the fight… it's mostly likely game over for all of us," she said morbidly.
"Seriously?!" Amanda groaned. "Can't we just knock out Diana or something before that happens?"
"Well that's one way of doing it…" Akko scratched her cheek, processing the idea. "We could… But we honestly shouldn't."
"What…?" Amanda questioned.
"Look. This is the best opportunity for Diana to overcome her negative emotions." Akko reasoned. "Even if we managed to grab Diana and escape here, as long as her heart remains distorted Cognitive Luna Nova won't be free from this. We need to end the problem at the root." she stated, before looking at the blonde again. "That's where you come in, Lotte! If Diana does reject her Shadow and she goes berserk, the only person that could possibly talk and calm her down will be you." she then frowned. "I… I'm probably out of the picture. Sucy and Amanda, no offense, would probably just make her angrier."
"None taken," Sucy shrugged.
"Can't argue with that." Amanda admitted.
Akko continued, "Besides, both of you need to be on the front lines with me. You are the nicest and friendliest person in the group, Lotte. Only you can do this!"
"I…" Lotte hesitated before nodding in determination. "I got it, everyone! I will try my best to comfort Diana in the worst case scenario!"
"That Child's Shadow is Ambition isn't it?" Aradia pondered. "That… could be troublesome."
"Indeed. Ambition is a problematic distortion," Angitia added. "Some mortals make their Ambition their entire reason for living. Once one's life is consumed by it, the only escape is to forgo or renew it."
"But… would Diana be willing to do that?" Akko asked as she relayed her Persona's words to her friend. "What do you think, Lotte? Do you think you can do it?"
Lotte pondered a bit as a quote from the legendary psychologist Karla Majolie, a character from her favorite book series entered her mind, "Humans always want unreasonable things and would cry a river when they realize the world doesn't revolve around them. Sometimes someone just needs a healthy dose of reality to see the truth."
Huh… now that she thought about it, one of her favorite character sure did have a lot of good quotes that could apply to what she was experiencing currently…
"I… I believe I know what to do…" Lotte nodded with certainty. "Doctor Majolie will guide me there!"
Sucy sighed. "We're screwed." She looked at Akko. "Whatever, let's also make a backup plan to this backup plan."
The group discussed for another five minutes. Akko sharing and teaching the other three on how to use some of her special items.
"Here Lotte! Hold onto this! Eh…?"
Akko's cheerful expression took a nose dive the longer she rummaged inside her bottomless cape. As her frown devolved into full blown frustration she could only pulled out a single Magic Mirror.
"Oh no," the brunette gasped. "I only have one left?!"
"That skeleton wasted most of them, remember?" Aradia sighed. "Wasted another one with that ice barrage... Thou should consider thyself lucky there is any remaining at all."
Akko sighed, handing the blonde the single blue mirror and some red ones too. "Here, you hold on to these, Lotte."
"B-But…!" Lotte took the mirrors. "What about you and everyone else?!"
"We'll be fine, don't worry about it Lotte..." the brunette answered with an uncertain smile. "You are the most vulnerable out of any of us, so these are for emergencies… Let's hope what you have in mind works."
"We'll just dodge…" Sucy deadpanned while tugging her outfit. "Better pray these things function correctly the entire fight."
"Great! I better not get burnt to a crisp because I don't have super speed!" Amanda complained. "Again, where the hell is my Persona!?"
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"You see that thing?" Lotte pointed towards the towering Shadow. "You have to accept the fact that the thing over there is you Diana!"
"Why are you all agreeing with that fake?!" she yelled back, making Lotte flinch. "There is no way… that thing is me! I've never thought of anyone like that! All I wanted to do was to be the best and to set an example-"
"STOP! Don't panic! Listen to me!"
Diana paused, surprised at the sudden outburst.
"Sorry…" the blonde sighed. "Let's start from the top okay? Take a deep breath and listen to what I have to say..."
Diana frowned for a bit, before doing as instructed.
"Okay… are we good? Ok. First do you know where we are, Diana?" the Lotte began.
"I… I actually don't know…" Diana replied, her eyes peeking around. "This looks like my estate… but I'm certain it's anything but."
"Yep." Lotte nodded. "This place is known as the Cognitive World."
"Cognitive… World? What?"
"I know. It's very complicated and I'm not going to bother..." the blonde agreed. "I'm just going to get to the point, alright? All you need to know is, this is the place where people's hidden thoughts become monsters like that thing!" she pointed to the towering Shadow. "This place is a representation of your mind. And that thing, is the embodiment of your dark thoughts!"
"A… representation of my mind…? My dark thoughts…?"
Diana looked at her Shadow, a complete mockery of her family's founder and their symbols. "That came from me?" she thought.
"No! Something has to be wrong!" Diana denied. "I would never view my family's legacy like that!"
"No! You are jumping to the wrong conclusion-"
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Shadow Diana chuckled. "Another surge of power?"
The Shadow raised her arms, as if praying to the crystal above her forehead. Her unicorn horn began to glow even brighter as a familiar electric blue energy gathered at its tip, charging the very air with power... "Amazing…! The magic of the gods! I grasped them at last!"
The girls regrouped a good distance away from the Shadow, once again watching in annoyance as the damage they inflicted was slowly regenerated.
"Lotte! What the hell!?" Amanda shouted. "Are you sure you're doing this right!?"
"Please stop, Diana!" Lotte shook the struggling ace student. "You have to calm down-"
"No! Something had to be wrong! I would never treat my family's legacy-"
The pressure in the air was getting heavier as the glow grow brighter.
"Crap, this is the same spell as that unicorn right?" Sucy commented. "Hey Amanda."
The red head turned to the gloomy witch with frustration. "WHA-"
"You look tired. Take a break, would you?"
Before Amanda could react, she was tackled by Angitia and dragged away by her mushroom tentacles.
"Lotte! Use the Magic Mirror!" Akko ordered while she called the plant child. "Please tell me that the legs can't stop this…! Mandrake, Tarunda!"
Thankfully, her gamble paid off and the red wave of energy landed on the Shadows main body.
"Fufu… A commendable effort… But your efforts will be fruitless."
The Snake goddess dropped Amanda by Lotte's side just as she activated her item, encasing themselves in the blue barrier. "Akko, Sucy!"
The brunette and the gloomy witch exchanged a quick look. "RUN FOR IT!" they screamed.
The magic at the tip of the horn condensed as it reached its boiling point.
"Mafreila!"
With that one incantation, a flash of blue light engulfed the area as the lawn beneath the towering Shadow was scorched by the nuclear fire.
Akko dropped to her knees, clutching her head as Slime dissipated, having done its job in tanking the majority of the damage. Agonizing pain pulsed through her skull as she panted in pain.
"I am glad I didn't get hit," Sucy noted as she helped the brunette to her feet while Angitia appeared to healed their burns. "Watching your break your Persona clearly tells me to never let it happen to myself."
"... Yeah, trust me, its definitely something you don't want to experience." Akko responded weakly, her offhand reaching into her cape, and pulling out a green hooked bead, and then crushed it. "This is bad. I only had three more full heals left…" she groaned as her pain and injuries were relieved.
"Thou must dodge the next one, Akko." Aradia said. "Even weaken by Tarunda it still held way too much power."
"Pretty impressive that you survived that, Atsuko! I am actually starting to enjoy this!" the Shadow scoffed. "But my schedules are tight! So let's finish this, shall we?"
Her Shiny Rod shifted, as the roots that weaved it reformed into a massive longbow. Pulling back the bowstring, the Shadow let loose a volley of arrows, Akko and Sucy rolling out of the way to avoid becoming pincushions.
"No!" Akko glanced in horror, anger rising. "It can't be! Is that-!?"
"That's right~," the Shadow replied. "It's Shiny Chariot's signature spell! Ahh~ this is so nostalgic!" she bellowed.
"Using that spell, for something like this!?" Akko seethed. "You call yourself a fan but you're doing nothing but insulting Shiny Chariot's name! What would she think if she saw this!?"
"To be honest, Atsuko Kagari, I don't care!" Shadow Diana retorted. "This is nothing more than a means to an end! Now, as a greeting from a fellow fan, how about I show you my beautiful improvement of this iconic spell!"
Her horn began to glow with a brilliant green as the shape of an emerald arrow begin taking shape on the bow.
"Improvement?!" the brunette roared. "How dare you! ! ! I'll show you! Some fake copy of Shiny Arc will never beat us! Because you know why? Because I have the real deal with me!" She reached into her cape and retrieved the Shiny Rod, its vibrant green gems glistening with the purest magical light.
"What a cute toy you have there," the Shadow mocked. "I would have loved to have one when I was younger."
"This is not a toy! It's really Chariot's magic rod!" Akko bit back, holding the staff high. "Shiny Rod! Let's do it! We'll defeat that fake and purify her with Chariot's magic! Noctu Orfei... Aude... Fraetor!"
Akko held the staff aloft, expecting a flash of green light and a boost in power. Seconds ticked by as she kept the staff up in the air, just staring at the beautiful gems while nothing happened.
"Eh...EH!?" Akko shook the catalyst, hoping to get some form of reaction. "Come on, Shiny Rod! Wake up! What are you doing!? NoctuOrfeiAudeFraetor! NoctuOrfeiAudeFraetor…!" She repeatedly chanted the spell and swung it up and down, yet her idol's treasure remained inert.
"Oh… I was hoping for something interesting at least," Shadow Diana cooed. "No, matter, let me show you how it is really done." She took aim with her arrow.
"Oh...!" Akko begrudgingly returned the rod to her cape, retrieving her Argus Sniper instead. "Okay fine! Then how about this?! Sucy, take cover! I will handle this!"
"Okay," the gloomy witch nodded and leapt back.
She nocked an energy arrow of her own, staring down the Shadow as pink energy gathered around.
"The arrow of wonder that shines light upon my childhood… Strike true at my enemies and banish them from my sight!-
"Feather Energy FULL DRIVE! Armed and ready-"
Akko locked eyes with the emotionless marble face of Shadow Diana as the energies of their attacks reached a crescendo. Not a moment later, they both let their arrows fly.
"Noctuorfei! Arc of Cherished Memories! ! !"
"OVERLOAD! ! !"
Green and pink clashed as a shockwave tore through the cognitive space. Both projectiles struggling for dominance as the colors mixed and blended. The light grew brighter and brighter before one final shockwave pulsed throughout the area. The arrows imploded in on themselves just before a massive explosion boomed, blasting Akko back.
Akko tumbled backwards before backflipping back to her feet. Glancing at her bow, she discovered that it was broken once more. The weapon had been bent out of place at certain points and the bowstring snapped.
The brunette sighed with sadness as she put the remnants of her weapon away. "Oh man... I honestly hoped that I could pull that off without breaking you again… I am sorry, Angus Sniper..."
Turning her attention back to her opponent, she noticed that the explosion had barely affected the Shadow self at all, the pillars taking the damage in her stead. She backflipped to avoid another shower of arrows.
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Amanda grabbed Diana's collar in frustration, shaking the distressed girl. "Hey Mrs. Perfect! Get your goddamn act together! You're going to get us all killed!"
"Miss O'Neill- Please l-let go of me...!" Diana pleaded, too exhausted to pry her off.
"Amanda stop!" Lotte intervened. "You're not going get her to calm down using force!"
"Tsk!" Amanda glared at Diana before roughly letting go of her collar. "Do you have any idea what we went through just to find you!? We did not come all this way just to be killed by your inner demons! What happened to all that confidence you had! Stop running away like a goddamn coward and face yourself!"
Lotte placed a hand on her shoulder. "Amanda put it pretty rough, but I have to agree. The more you deny your Shadow, the stronger she will get. This can't go on…"
Diana's turned her gaze to the towering monstrosity. "That thing," she began, "did that really come from me?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper. "How did it become like this?!"
Lotte sadly nodded. "Akko told me she was your ambitions gone out of control."
"My… ambitions…?"
"Um-hum," the blonde confirmed. "Let's think back alright? Maybe we can find out what went wrong. What was your biggest goal in life, Diana?"
"My biggest goal in life..." Diana pondered. "... to be a proper head of the Cavendish."
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Shadow Diana paused as she felt a small, but undeniable drop in her power. A sliver of her power had slipped away back to her useless self. Shifting her vision to what lay behind her opponents, she found her original talking to her foes, her expression gradually lifting.
"I see your plan now!" the Shadow growled. "This was all just a distraction! You were merely buying time for that useless child, weren't you?!"
Akko landed on her feet, her eyes looking the other way. "Umm… no?"
"Is that so? Come forth my servants!"
With a snap of her marble fingers, black puddles formed around Lotte and Amanda. Lotte let out a gasp as the pools bubbled and boiled, forming themselves into humanoid shapes.
"Leave it… to us… Mistress…" A cacophony of voices, both male and female, echoed from the puddles. As the figures clawed their way out of the puddles.
"Oh, you bitch!" Amanda cursed, placing herself between the figures and the girls.
Shadow Diana chuckled. "Face it! This is the end of the road! You cannot hope to fight me AND protect my useless self! Submit to my Shining Guidance and be a part of the new age of magic!"
"God damn it…!" Amanda took a step back as the Shadows clawed their way towards them, black ichor still dripping from their forms.
"Guys!" Akko shouted as her and Sucy rushed to defend them, only for a massive of iceberg to block their path.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" the Shadow burst into laughter. "I WIN, ATSUKO-"
She was suddenly interrupted by a low rumble and the sound of pounding flesh. Seconds passed as the sound grew closer and closer before a high-pitched screech tore through the area.
"Угоще́ниеeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! ! !"
A gelatinous mass about the size of a van leapt from the top of the mansion and crashed between the girls and Shadow Diana's miniature army. If it weren't for the fact that it had no mask and its pinkish-purple coloration, Akko would have mistook it for a massive Shadow of its own. Dozens of stubby legs sprouted from its form, pulling it forward at a speed impossible for a creature its size. Two pupil-less white eyes the size of dinner plates shifted at the slightest movement.
*Schklikt, klikt* *BANG*
With a single retort of the shotgun, one of the Shadow's heads exploded as a tiny figure jumped from their perch atop the gelatinous monstrosity. Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger reloaded as her jetpack broke her fall.
"C-Constanze!?" Amanda exclaimed in shock. "Why are you here?! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!"
Constanze ran to Amanda's side and checked on everyone's condition, her hardened gaze easing as she found that they were unharmed for the most part.
"Угоще́ниеeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! ! !"
With another screech the gelatinous monstrosity charged into the group of Shadows, its stubby legs elongating into sharp tentacles. Each tentacle than lashed out with amazing speed, either ripping a Shadow apart or stuffing it into the beast's gaping mouth.
"How is this possible?!/ No… No way!" Both Diana and her Shadow exclaimed in unison. "Is that a demon!?/A-A demon?!"
"Wait, that thing's a D-Demon?!" Akko muttered. "What's your input Aradia!?"
"This presence…! There is no mistake about it!" Aradia said. "I know not what exactly it is, but that monstrosity has the aura of an Embodiment of Death! "
"Embodiment of Death?! So like that skeleton!?"
"Embodiment of Death?" Sucy parroted, surprised how Angitia was freaking out inside her head. "Oh... That sounds really bad."
"Tis not all bad." Aradia replied. "Keep watch, Akko! This could be our chance to turn the tide!"
"Sucy, Amanda! This is our chance!" Akko called, retrieving dual pistols from her cape. "Let's even the numbers!"
"What are you all doing!?" Shadow Diana commanded her servants. "Kill it!"
Despite their Mistress ordering them to fight, the Shadows hesitated. Nevertheless, nether fully formed nor particularly powerful, they loyally charged at the beast, fully knowing it would be nothing short of suicide. Firearms barked as the girls gunned down as many fledgling Shadows as possible, Aradia and Angitia bombarding the rest with dark and psychic energies. Constanze raised a questioning eyebrow at Amanda, glancing at her then to the gun at her hands.
"I'll tell you later!" Amanda answered. "Just keep shooting!"
Bullets and magic mowed down the army as the massive blob feasted on Shadow Diana's servants that strayed too close. After devouring the last few Shadows and clearing the field, the monstrosity turned its hungry gaze towards the Mistress of the manor. The demon pounced and latched on to one of her legs, molars emerging from its mouth and grinded the gilded surface in an attempt to eat it.
"Disgusting." Shadow Diana sneered, waving her Shiny Rod. "Die, Foul beast! Come, my indestructible guardians! In the name of the Cavendish! Brandish your swords and strike down the vile creature before me! Fineltina la Serana!"
Nine swords made of light manifested above the Shadow and with a swing of her rod, they all slammed into the demon's hide.
"aййййййййййййййййййййййййййййййййййййййй…!"
The demon screeched in agony as it released its hold and slumped over. Its body twitched as pinkish-purple wisps of smoke wafted from its rapidly shrinking form. Within seconds a cloud of smoke dissipated into the air, revealing a pink haired girl with holes in the back of her uniform.
"JASMINKA?!" Amanda exclaimed. "THAT THING'S JASMINKA!?"
The Russian groaned in pain as she slumped to the ground.
"C-Curse you!" Shadow Diana roared. "Come forth again, my servants!"
Yet no one came.
"Impossible!" the Shadow roared in disbelief. "How were all of my servants were just gone like that!?"
Rushing to the pink haired girl's side, Amanda and Constanze breathed a sigh of relief as they found her to just be unconscious. "What happened to her!?"
The German girl merely shrugged.
"We're going to have a long talk after this is all over!" Amanda sighed, shaking her head.
In a flash of light the familiar visage of Cognitive Hannah and Barbara manifested atop Shadow Diana's legs. "Mistress Diana! We are here!" They both yelled in unison.
"Y-You two!" Shadow Diana exclaimed. "I told you both to not interfere!"
"I am afraid that is an order we cannot follow, Mistress Diana," Cognitive Hannah started.
"Just this once, for your own well-being, we will have to disobey," Cognitive Barbara finished.
Red aura blazed around both Shadows as their will to protect their Mistress came to a boiling point.
"How dare you all, Attempting to harm our Mistress Diana!"
"You will not beat Mistress Diana! We shall destroy you!"
Hannah and Barbara's forms exploded, transforming into two dog like creatures the size of horses. Cognitive Hannah transformed into a muscular pug while Cognitive Barbara had become a hairy poodle. Both Shadows growl at the group, snarling and glaring with a fire in their eyes.
"You think you have the advantage in numbers? Think again!" Cognitive Hannah sneered. "We will make sure you both know your place beneath us, you losers!" Cognitive Barbara finished.
"Both of you..." Shadow Diana muttered before nodding in acknowledgment. "Yes. Go, my loyal servants! Let nothing stand in our way!"
"Oh the irony," Sucy commented. "Those forms fit those two way too well."
"Your cheap tricks won't work on us!" both loyal pets howled. Multiple pops echoed through the area as the girls' and their Mistress' strength returned to normal.
The gem lit up with an ethereal red light. "Fufu… Just how much longer can you last now without your pesky enhancements?" Shadow Diana mocked as she chanted, the heat in the area rising. Cognitive Hannah howled again, causing a wave of Tarukaja to wash over her Mistress. This time, a torrent of fire shot out of Shadow Diana's staff, Akko and Sucy braced themselves for the impending impact... That is until they realized that attack wasn't aimed at them.
"Shit-!" Amanda panicked, scrambling to run back to Lotte and Diana. Constanze tried and failed to move the unconscious Jasminka, her weight proving too much for the smaller girl.
"Wispy-" Lotte called, only for the bloated spirit to shake her head. Clearly unable to absorb such an attack a second time nor could she even get there in time.
Akko turned back and rushed towards the other's, Sucy following suit.
"Where do you Losers think you're going!?" Cognitive H&B barked. The hounds pounced at the retreating Persona Users, baring their fangs and claws. Aradia and Angitia manifested to intercept them as their summoners made a break for it.
"Go Akko!"
"Keep going, little Sucy!"
"What do you hope to accomplish?" Shadow Diana mocked. "This is where this ends! Be incinerated alongside my weaker half! Dubh Loisg!"
Both Akko and Sucy landed in front of their retreating friends, bracing and preparing to make sure that at least the other's remained unharmed-
"That is ENOUGH!"
A voice boomed as a red barrier suddenly appeared before the incoming inferno, blocking the assault.
"F-Fire Wall?!" Akko muttered.
Walking through the lawn draped in a flowing white pajama gown alongside fluffy slippers was an adult woman very similar to Diana.
Diana's eyes widened in disbelief. "M-Mother?!"
"That's your mother?!" Lotte asked. "I thought she passed away!"
The older woman walked to her daughter's side and brought her into her hug. "I am glad you are all right, my darling…"
"Mother!" The ace student said shakily as she leaned into the warm embrace, a few tears streaming down her face.
Watching the entire scene, Shadow Diana could only scoff. "Oh my... you left your room? Something like you should've stayed remain inside that bedroom!"
Diana harshly turned her head towards her Shadow, glaring daggers into her other. "How could you say that to my mother?!"
"Oh wake up." The Shadow sneered, annoyed at her original's reaction. "That thing is nothing more but a childhood memory of mother. She is merely a ghost of the past crafted to help you sleep at night during the younger years."
Diana looked at her mother expectantly as a sinking feeling entered her stomach. "M-mother?"
Bernadette(?) frowned as she turned her sight away from Diana. "She speaks the truth. I am not Bernadette Cavendish, not truly. I am a mere echo created from the cherished memories you had of her..."
"Precisely!" The Shadow declared. "I don't need the warmth of my mother anymore! While her passing truly saddens me, I've learned to move on and become an adult! Such emotions will only make me weak and distract me from what's important... like saving the Magical World!"
"How could you say that?!" Akko yelled. "Your ambitions are eating away at your humanity!"
"This was the world that I grew into, Atsuko," the Shadow answered with a bitter, cold tone. "There is no place for emotions here, only stoicism and deceit. If throwing away my emotions and personal happiness is what it takes to save the Magical World, then so be it!"
Bernadette reached out and wiped away her daughter's tears. "Don't worry my darling. I may be nothing but a remnant of Bernadette, but I will do everything in my power to help you face your other self..."
"Because what mother would sit by and watch her daughter doom herself to a loveless future?!"
Diana watched in shock as Bernadette's body darkened before exploding into a black viscous liquid. Arising from the resulting puddle of liquid darkness and hovering in the air came her mother once more, only now the same height as Aradia. Beautiful golden bracers adorned her wrists and ankles, her modesty barely preserved due to an extremely large sheet of white that draped over her nude form. Two horns sat atop her head, concealed by the hood of the sheet.
"I Hārītī, the parental goddess, have come forth," the Shadow declared, sparing a glance to those in her charge. "Children gifted with my blessing shall suffer no wounds!" Bernadette spread out her arms and unleashed a wave of healing light, revitalizing the party and the unconscious Jasminka.
Akko smiled. "Cavendish obaa-san…!"
"Brave young witches," the Shadow requested. "Until she can face and accept her other half, I shall aid you in battle."
"How dare you!" Shadow Diana shouted with rage. "A mere memory standing against me, with my own mother's face no less? The nerve!"
"Then perhaps I am not so much a memory but another part of your heart that does not agree with your ambitions," Hārītī replied. "No daughter of mine should ever come close to resemble my sister and her abhorrent actions."
"And whose fault was it!?" Shadow Diana bit back, venom dripping from her words as her horn began to glow yellow.
"Aradia/Angitia!"
Both Personas shoved the hounds away before bombarding the Shadows with elemental magic.
"Ahhhhh!" Cognitive Hannah and Barbara screeched as they were brought down. "Damn you, losers!"
"Oh lucky, they're weak to our elements," Sucy grinned. "Let's keep going then."
"Right behind you Sucy!" Akko cheered, her sliver weapon ready.
"Yo, Constanze," Amanda asked her teammate. "We could use another set of hands!"
The German nodded eagerly, her shotgun transforming into a small chainsaw with burning mystic flame as fangs.
"Hell yeah! That's what I am talking about! Rip and tear Constanze!"
Lotte watched as Constanze's jetpack carried the unconscious Jasminka to their side, which upon arriving, detached from the chubby girl and transformed into a tiny robot. "Please look after subject Jasminka."
"Leave it to us… ahm…" Lotte hesitated.
"This unit is a prototype for the upcoming series of artificial intelligent robots developed by Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger to assist in daily activities. This unit is designated [Stanbot No.001]."
"Okay, leave it to us, Stanbot," the Finn nodded. With its task completed, robot sifted back into a jetpack and flew for its creator.
"Be gone! Tein Edhair Dan!"
The great thunderbolt hurtled down at Amanda and Constanze only to impact a yellow barrier and fizzle out.
"Annoying!"
"A mother knows her daughter well," Hārītī smiled. Pointing an open palm at her foes, a wave of Matarunda washed over the enemy Shadows.
"How did things become like this?" Diana sobbed.
The mother goddess turned to look at Diana, weeping into her hands with Lotte comforting her.
"I truly held the well being of our family above all else..." she sobbed. "I thought if I focused on witchcraft, aiming to become the best witch the magical world has ever seen, I would keep our family safe..." she questioned, "So why did my Ambition still ended up being so ugly? Her attitude… her mannerism… It resembles Aunt Daryl too much... Mother... please tell me... Am I doomed to succumb to the corruption of our world just like she did? Do I have to sink to her level just to have a chance to make a change...?"
"... I have no idea," Bernadette responded honestly.
Diana picked up her head, shocked, "Mother-"
"Because it is not my place to answer that question. Only you yourself can answer that, Diana," she replied. "I've said it already, I am merely an echo of the past made from the memories of your real mother. My appearance and actions are a construct of your mind. I only know as much as what you think Bernadette would know," she continued, "Perhaps that is why your Shadow despises me. Her current actions reminded me of a temper tantrum you once had," she chuckled, "You have every right to be mad at your mother. I died so early and left you alone and ill prepared to deal with the darker side of the Magical World…"
"Mother… Please don't blame yourself…" Diana said.
"However, I despite me being mere a copy, I can say for certain I know exactly what Bernadette Cavendish would have said." Offhandedly, she cast an Ice Wall, blocking a massive iceberg meant for Sucy.
The towering goddess floated over and gently cupped Diana's cheek. "She would've said: You are still a child, my dear Diana. The world of adults can wait, so take your time to grow into the best person that you can be."
"T-That's right!" Lotte chimed in. "E-Excuse me for adding my opinions but I fully agree with that. It honestly feels wrong for someone our age to shoulder such a heavy burden."
"I… I…" Diana looked down, gritting her teeth. "What choice do I have then?!" she shouted. "No one else is even trying to save witchcraft! Aunt Daryl, Maril and Merrill, and the rest of the nobilities... our arts could fade away into obscurity and none of them would even bat an eye!" she screamed. "I can't even do anything to stop it. The best option I could think of was to lead by example and try to become the best witch in our generation. I'd hoped to inspire others to take up the art and perhaps stop the decline..." she sighed. "But everything was so grim... the average scores of magic academies all over the world have been dropping for the last five years. The number of enrollments become less and less with every passing year. People are honestly satisfied with just the bare minimum required to graduate and never delve deeper into our craft... Would I even have anyone to stand by me in the future...?"
The British girl's rant was suddenly interrupted when someone grabbed her hands. Looking up she saw Lotte's determined eyes staring intensely into her own. "I'll help you!"
"M-Miss. Jansson…?"
"I-I can't say I'm the best witch nor that I would be of much help to someone of your ability," Lotte began. "But I heard your goal... And I want to help too. If not as a witch, then as a friend. And I'm sure the others would agree." The blonde turned towards the battlefield. "Isn't it right, guys? We're more than willing to stand by Diana's side, right?"
Akko backflipped over the snapping maw of Cognitive Hannah just as Aradia blew the beast away with a blast of Eiha. "That's right! Diana! I said it before and I'll say it again! If you need a friend, you just have to ask! I have your back, forever!"
Sucy scraped her dagger across one of Shadow Diana's legs, leaping away as it kicked in retaliation. "Uh… yeah… Let's go with that."
"Wait… what…?" Amanda panted. "You guys heard that?! So Personas give you super hearing too?! Did you hear what they said, Constanze?"
The German girl shrugged, due to the noise of her chainsaw blocking out most of the conversation.
"See? You're not alone, Diana!"
"I… I…" Diana said, conflicted.
Hārītī eyed her daughter, "There no more need for hesitation, my darling. You are not alone in this." She said, eyes focused on the towering monstrosity. "Go! Face your twisted ambitions with the support of others! Tell her that she does not control you, and that you are Mistress of your own heart!"
Lotte gently pressed an item into her hand. Her wand.
"I believe this is yours," Lotte smiled. "Don't worry, I charged it already."
The British girl nodded with relief. "Thanks, Miss. Jansson-"
The blonde shook her head, "Just Lotte will do. No need to be formal between friends… if you're willing call me a friend that is…"
Diana looked at the blonde for a few second before smiling back with gratitude. "Thanks, Lotte."
An ear splitting screech tore its way across the battlefield as Shadow Diana's form began to ripple and fade. Her massive body stumbled back weakly. "No… this cannot be…!"
"MISTRESS DIANA!" Cognitive Barbara exclaimed, releasing a wave of healing light. Yet no matter how much energy the hound put into the spell, it did nothing for her Mistress.
Akko landed on her feet as Aradia clashed with Cognitive Hannah and knocked her aside. "YES! IT'S HAPPENING!" she cheered. "GO DIANA!"
Diana Cavendish stood tall as she gradually walked toward her Shadow. "That's right… My entire life was filled with misery and hardship," she muttered to herself. "Father died when I was barely three. I hardly even knew him. And then mother was gone too, ripped away from me thanks to that dreaded disease…" she frowned, sparing a glance at Hārītī. "But above all else, I inexplicably lost my ability to wield magic after going to Japan..."
Eyes widened at that revelation, the ragtag group not expecting to hear such a thing from a prodigy like Diana.
"I wanted to give up back then… For what is a Cavendish without her magic?" she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "But I refused, and I clung to the hope that I would eventually get it back, sacrificing my childhood in the process. I was forced to grow up whether I wanted to or not. No time for fun or friends, just an endless cycle of study, practice, study, practice… It was painful. I'd be lying if I didn't say that deep down... I hated every minute of it."
She reopened her eyes. "I should be happy right? I am now a magical prodigy, the most promising up-in-coming witch within England, if not, the world. What else could I hope for? Well, that is until I realized one, single problem…" she sighed, "The art of magic is dying. There's no argument to be had there. Everywhere I look I see the decline of our craft and culture. It's absolutely infuriating!" She clenched her hands in an attempt to stop them from shaking. "I secretly thought to myself, if only I could do more. If only I could show people the true meaning of witchcraft…!"
She looked at her Shadow, smiling. "I understand now… You were that idea, aren't you? You are my wish to be the head of the Cavendish, just like Founder Beatrix, right? My hope to restore order to our world."
"T-That's right!" Shadow Diana bellowed back. "Everything is falling apart as we speak! If I have to sacrifice everything I have in order to save it then so be it!" raged, pointing a finger at her original. "Including myself! I cannot display any weakness! So don't you dare ruin this for me! Only I, and I alone can accomplish this grand vision!"
"You're wrong!"
Akko appeared by Diana's side, clasping the girl's hand with a fire in her eyes. "You're the only one that can do it!? How selfish can you get!? You are turning yourself into an emotionless statue while the people who care about you are forced to watch! What are you, stupid!?"
"Akko…" Diana whispered.
"Shut up, SHUT UP! ! ! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ANYWAY!? YOU'RE JUST SOME CLUELESS PEASANT FROM JAPAN! YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE HARDSHIPS I WENT THROUGH!" the Shadow roared, blue static appearing around her crystal horn.
"Both of you!-" Bernadette called, scrambling to erect a barrier.
"That's not happening!" Cognitive Hannah snarled. A howl resonated through the battlefield as the manifested azure barrier cracked and shattered. The beast was subsequently tackled by Angitia, but the damage was already done.
"Crap!" Sucy growled. "You better live through this!"
"Diana! Akko!" Lotte screamed.
"DIE ALONGSIDE MY WEAKNESS! MAFREILA!"
In a flash of blue fire, Aradia manifested in front of Akko. Using her back and cloak, she shielded her user and Diana from the devastating spell. The brunette stabbed her large weapon into the ground as another layer of protection. As the azure fire washed over them, Akko let out a scream as hot lances of pain pierced her skull. When the destructive magic died down, she fell limply to the ground, her main Persona fading in wisps of blue fire and shards of ethereal glass.
Battered and beaten, the Japanese girl glanced at Diana from her position from the ground. "You're… alright," she smiled weakly.
"AKKO!" Diana cried and ran to her side. "Stay with me! I can heal you!" she exclaimed, reading her wand.
"I'm… sorry," Akko rasped.
"W-What are you talking about!?" the British girl said frantically. "You're hurt, don't try to speak!"
"Y-Your Shadow was right… There's no way I could know exactly what you went through…" Akko said, biting back a yelp of pain. "But… that doesn't mean I can't relate…! I worked so hard to be where I am too... like getting that English certification..."
Diana soaked in the words, a smiled appearing on her lips. "I know. I am sure you went through your own struggles too... Especially with your own... power."
"I'm… sorry… for what I did…" Akko sighed, her eyelids growing heavy. "I was happy that I found another Chariot fan… I never thought that it would end up like this… If only I had known better… I wouldn't have provoked and exposed you like that..."
Consciousness left Akko shortly afterward, her head down as her costume faded, leaving her only in the Zero Kosode.
"Akko…? AKKO!" Diana screamed as she and Hārītī began casting healing spells. Her wounds vanished at a rapid pace, yet she did not wake. "Hey! Wake up! Wake up! Don't fall asleep here…!"
"AHAHAHA, AT LAST! With that nuisance out of the way," Shadow Diana bellowed, turning her attention to the rest of her foes, "now I can focus on all of you!" She begin chanting, nine swords of light manifesting around her.
"NO YOU DON'T! Fineltina la Serana!"
Diana pointed her wand forward as nine swords of light collided with the Shadow's own, mutually destroying each other and breaking the Shadow's spell.
"Tsk...! Stop interfering!" The Shadow shouted, venom dripping from her voice.
"I won't let you lay a finger on anyone here!" Diana declared.
"Akko," she thought, "Please wake up soon..."
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Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ [IX] [0] [VII] [XV] Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
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Akko awoke with a jolt as she examined her surroundings, finding herself in the center of the Velvet Room.
"What-"
"Pardon our interruption, Accused," Igor greeted, opening his eyes. "But we wish to offer you some assistance."
"The Shadows before you are powerful and unrelenting," Larvenza said. "Despite your previous reservations, I believe it is time to unleash the true power of the Wild Card. Otherwise, lest your efforts be for naught."
Akko looked at her Persona seated in the jury's stand. "Y-you are talking about Fusion, right?"
"You are correct, Accused," the attendant responded. "By creating a new and powerful Persona, you may be able to stand up to your foe's superior strength."
Biting her lower lip as she stared downward, she mulled over her options. Eyeing the jury's stand one last time, she saw her Personas looking back, small nods of approval and the occasional smile being sent her way. Letting out a deep sigh, the brunette reluctantly nodded. "Ok, let's do it!"
"Our pleasure, Accused," With a smile, the attendant opened her large, levitating grimoire. Frantically its pages flipped as a tarot card formed above the tome.
"You idiot, you better get us out of this!" Sucy's voice echoed within her ears.
"The Devil Arcana has answered the call… Court is now in session!"
All around, the blue flames that lit the courtroom flared.
"Let the fusion trial begin!" Lavenza declared and closed her eyes, surprising Akko as her body began to glow a deep blue. Suddenly her form burst, a swarm of countless butterflies splitting into two large groups and gathering at opposite sides of the court. The butterflies dispersed, leaving a pair of identical twins with a resemblance to Lavenza in their place.
The girl in front of her and to the right had an eyepatch on her right eye. She wore a set of blue lawyer's suit consisting of blue long sleeved shirts with a light blue vest, side loose shorts, and black gloves. She however, didn't wear her suit's top, but instead used it like some shoulder cape. She had an aura of rebellion and power. Her hair was styled in buns. "I am prosecutor Caroline!" she declared energetically.
The girl to the left was dressed similarly. But compared to her twin, her uniform was properly worn and buttoned and she carried an aura of intelligence and grace. Her hair was tied into a long braid. "And I am your Defense Attorney, Justine." she greeted in a quiet and calm voice.
Both of their jacket had an armband. Caroline had the letters "X-M-R-N" written on it, while Justine's was "O-Y-O-O".
"L-Lavenza-chan?!" Akko exclaimed in confusion. "W-What happened?!"
"I am Lavenza!" Caroline huffed.
"As am I." Justine added with a nod.
"Lavenza is us. We are Lavenza," they said in unison.
"Huh?!" Akko said. "I don't understand!"
Caroline groaned, palming her podium. "Accused! You can get a proper explanation later. Stop wasting the court's time and get on with it!"
"Indeed. Time is of the essence. Let us begin the trial so you may gain a newfound strength." Justine politely agreed.
"The case is the Devil Arcana." Igor said, closing his folder. "Has the Jury settled on a verdict?
Arising from the seats, Aradia, Berith, and Mandrake answered.
"Understood," Igor continued. "Is there anyone who objects?"
"Nope!" Caroline shrugged. "Fused!"
"Everything seems to be in order, Master Igor," Justine said as she flipped through her file. "Fused."
"What kind of trial is this!?" Akko asked, confused. "What about the evidence, the counter arguments, the initial accusation... All that stuff?!"
Caroline laughed at that. "This is a witch trial, Accused! All it takes is a verdict!"
"You kidding me!" Akko eyed her three Personas with a worried expression, expecting them to say something. They looked back at her with a calm expression.
"Worry not Akko. Focus on releasing thy power!" Aradia said.
"It has been an interesting ride with thee. May we meet again, should fate allow it!" Berith added.
"I may disappear from your heart, but may the scent of my flower remain in your memory." Mandrake finished.
Akko shook her head as she looked away, unable to meet their gaze. "You all..."
The three Personas condensed into card form as a large iron cage was lowered into the court. Igor slammed his gavel onto his desk, a loud crack echoing across the room as the three tarot cards entered the cage. As the cage creaked closed, the rattling of chains and the clanking of machinery blared to life. Pulled by chains, the cage was dragged into the bonfire at the center of the room.
"Y-You are going to burn them?!" Akko exclaimed.
The fire roared as it consumed the cage, a burst of brilliant blue light illuminating the room. As the fire died down, a new card emerged from the flame; the Devil Arcana.
"The power of your bonds has given birth to a new Persona," Justine commented as the card flew into Akko's chest. "Now go, return to your battle. We wish you the best of luck..."
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Akko's eyes fluttered open as a dull pain pulsed across her body, but she didn't care. Shifting her eyes to the left, she caught the sight of Diana in the process of healing her.
Noticing that Akko was awake, the ace student gave the girl a small smile of relief. "Akko, you're awake!"
Akko didn't say anything as she rose to her feet. Blue wisps of flame encompassed her form as her costume returned. She swept her right hand across the air, three Tarot cards forming in front of her in a triangle. Blue fire flared as a complicated ritual circle formed around them. Power and wind radiated from Akko, drawing Shadow Diana's attention.
"A… Amazing…" Diana whispered in awe and curiosity. "That azure light… Just what is this power…?"
"Damn you, Atsuko!" the Shadow roared. "When will you learn to just stay down!"
The Shadow formed her rod into a bow once more and took aim at her nuisance. "Whatever it is you're planning, it won't come to fruition!-"
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Standing on top of the distant castle wall, a lone figure dressed in white raised their majestic bow.
"Noctu Orfei."
Their crimson cape blowing in the wind as a brilliant green arrow manifested between their fingers.
"Aude."
Drawing the bowstring back, the mysterious figure notched the arrow and took aim at the rampaging Shadow.
"Fraetor!"
"Strike true, Shiny Arc!"
A flash of green tore through the cognitive space, barreling toward its target.
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"... Noctuorfei- "
Sensing something amiss, Shadow Diana spared a glance to her left, catching a glimpse of a lance of green soaring across the sky towards her.
"WHO GOES THERE?! THERE'S ANOTHER ONE-!" In a split second decision she turned away from Akko and fired her spell at the lance of green energy instead.
Both arrows stopped as they collided, the force of which caused a blast of air from where they struggled for dominance. But the Shadow's own spell couldn't hold back its competition, for a vague mimicry created from mere impression stood no chance against the reminisce of the real deal. The magic arrow tore through the opposing falsehood, continuing on its path, destroying Diana's bow and annihilating her left arm. Her leg's defensive abilities were completely trumped by the sacred spell.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" the Shadow wailed in agony at her missing appendage. "WHO… WHO!?" she glared at the distance, spotting the figure in white and red.
"W-Why…?! Why do you show yourself now?!" the Shadow's screamed, anger and fear coloring her words. She reached out with her remaining arm, grasping at the figure in white.
The distant figure shook her head before she vanished into the shade of the surrounding forest.
"So cruel… You abandoned us again..."
A pulse of power brought the Shadow's attention back to the fight just as Akko brought both hands together, combining the three cards.
*Shatter*
"…Come forth… My new Persona!"
Emerging from the blue fire was a blue skinned beast. Tusks jutted from its elephant like head as its long trunk snaked downward. Muscular arms and legs ended in sharp claws and talons. A golden, beautifully crafted Indian style pauldron covered its left shoulder, a vambrace of similar design protecting its right forearm. Upon fully materializing, the summon flexed its toned frame as its trunk trumpeted its arrival.
"I AM THOU, THOU ART I. FROM THE SEA OF THY SOUL, I COME! I AM VETALA, THE STRONGEST OF THE PRETA! GIRL! I SHALL LEND YOU MY STRENGTH!"
"Vetala…" Akko looked at her new Persona with a nod before sending a hard glare at the foes before her, determination burning in her eyes as she threw out her hand.
"The Distorted Ambition of Diana! YOU'RE COMING DOWN!"
"A-Atsuko!" the Shadow growled. "NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO IT WILL ALL BE FOR NOTHING!" she yelled back.
"Stay away from Mistress Diana!" Cognitive Hannah yelled as she pounced straight for Akko.
"Die, loser!" Cognitive Barbara joined.
Akko simply raised a hand, the Persona behind her mimicking her movements as his claws began glowing with purple energy.
"Take this! VENOM ZAPPER!"
As one, Persona and user swiped their hands through the air, creating a crescent of purple energy that that cleanly cut through everything in its path.
"No… we have failed you… Mistress Diana..." Cognitive Hannah wailed, tears leaking.
"We are… unworthy servants… Forgive our failures..." Cognitive Barbara whispered with the tone of looses.
Both Shadows gave out one last growl of regret before their body broke into two pieces and evaporated into dark particles.
The wave continued forward, severing all four of Shadow Diana's legs at the knee and causing the main body to drop helplessly to the ground.
"AHHGGGH...!" Shadow Diana wailed as pain emanated from the stumps of her legs. "HOW!? THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" She screamed in disbelief. Hugging herself tightly with her remaining arm, while she attempted to nurse her wounds. "This is a nightmare," she whimpered "How...?" she began before locking eyes with Akko. "You!" she growled. "How dare you! How could this happen to me? ME, OF ALL PEOPLE!? I…am the best witch… of this generation… I'm objectively better than all of you! ! !"
"No… You're wrong," Hārītī shook her head, a sad smile on her face. "You still have a long ways to go, my child..."
Akko watched as Sucy, Amanda, and Constanze came to her side.
The gloomy witch took a peek at the new Persona behind them before shrugging. "You are just full of surprises aren't you?"
Akko smiled. "Hehe... Everyone... Let's end this."
Amanda grinned, and recast her spell. Transforming her weapon into a massive swordspear once more. "Come on Constanze!" she called. "Just follow our lead!"
"NO! I can still- RECARM-!"
"YOU WOULDN'T GET THE CHANCE! ALL-OUT-ATTACK! THIS IS THE FINALE!"
The four girls tore into the Shadow, frantically slicing, stabbing, and shooting the downed enemy as their combined efforts kicked up a plume of dust and dirt. The clanging of metal and the flash of gunfire continued for a few seconds before the girls emerged from the cloud. As the dust settled, it revealed the battered form of Shadow Diana, the roots binding her lower body were severed, resulting in the marble idol collapsing onto the ground.
"DIANA! SHE'S ALL YOURS!"
Walking towards the downed idol, Diana held her wand with both of her hands as she pointed it forward.
"That's right… This is just the beginning. I am not at all the perfect person and I still have much to learn, both from wisdom of old and other people..." Diana smiled. "I will reach the top with the help of others from now on. I don't need to fight this battle alone."
"The sacred arts... Oh the nine olde witches, I pray for your blessing! Lend me power to vanquish the evil before me! Deamhan Léirsgrios!"
A massive beam of magic cascaded towards her Shadow. The energy engulfing her form, resulting in an massive green explosion.
"I've got you," Lotte said, catching Diana before she could collapse.
"Is... it finally over...?" the ace student huffed as Lotte helped her to the rest of the group.
"Gonna be soooo sore and tired in the morning…" Amanda groaned, "But hey, we won and that's all that matters."
"Don't worry, Amanda. I'll cast Energy Drop before we leave." Akko reassured.
Sucy whistled as she looked upon the aftermath. "Deamhan Léirsgrios huh? Just how many dusty old tomes did you read?"
"It wasn't that difficult…" Diana sighed.
Hārītī's form dissolved, reverting to that of the Cavendish matriarch. She ran up to her daughter and held her in her loving embrace. "Diana, my darling...!" she cooed. "It's finally over! You are free at last!"
The British girl didn't answer, opting to simply enjoy the warmth of her mother.
"However, Diana, it's not over yet," Bernadette's warned.
"W-What is it mother?"
The older woman turned and pointed to the fallen Shadow Diana. "Go my darling, she is waiting."
The dust settled. Revealing Shadow Diana clawing her way out of from beneath the rubble of her previous form. Her dress was torn in various places, her massive fur coat and hat no where to be found. Her hair was frayed, and dirt clung to her form.
"It's all over..." she murmured, shambling towards the group. "The Magical World is doomed... And it's all thanks to YOU!" she said, accusingly pointing a shaky finger at the group. Taking a few steps forward, she continued. "All of my hard work, for nothing..." She stumbled weakly and fell to her knees. "All for nothing…" she sobbed, covering her face with her hands as she wept.
Watching the scene unfold in front of her, the real Diana took a deep breath and steadily made her way towards her Shadow.
"Ah, Diana?" Lotte tried to stop her, but Diana just kept moving.
Everyone watched with anticipation and worry, but Akko understood; she knew what was about to happen. Diana knelt down and brought her Shadow into her arms.
"I'm sorry." Those two words made the Shadow's eyes widen.
Diana continued. "I understand now. You are me, the part of me that I tried to bury. You're my anger towards the nobility we have to deal with, the anger towards our aunt and cousins for what they've done to our family."
Diana tighten her embrace, placing her Shadow's head right over her heart. "You're the sadness that came from our parent's early death, the loneliness that I felt when I distracted myself with countless books."
Tears began to flow freely down both Diana's faces. "But most importantly, you're the innocence that I thought I'd lost. The innocence that I thought I had to discard in order to grow up faster, to take over the family," Diana said gently and closing her eyes. "It must have been so hard, all of those years of me rejecting you, too blinded by my own ambitions to notice you are calling out for help. It really consumed me..." Diana said dejectedly. "I am truly sorry... You can rest easily now..."
"Fufu... haha..." the Shadow self closed her eyes with a contented expression. "Ahhh... That's right... I was meant to be your innocence..."
*CRACK*
Diana reopened her eyes in shock and quickly looked down. Her Shadow's entire body suddenly whiten into marble limestone. This surprise caused Diana to back off, worried as she watched the statue crumble into countless shards, revealing it is in fact empty inside.
A tiny figure emerged from within by pushing herself out of the dissolving shell. She looked exactly like the girl seen in Akko's photo; the younger Diana that attended that Shiny Chariot show, even sporting her own hat and cape.
"… Thank you…" The child cheered and wiped her eyes of her tear. "I am free from that twisted ambition at last... I can finally symbolize your true self."
"Ahhhhh~!
Suddenly interrupting, Akko rushed to pick up the tiny Diana, embracing her in a bone crushing hug. "YOU. ARE. SOOOOOO. CUTE! ! !" Her eyes widened at the sight of the signature on her Chariot hat, causing her to gasp. "No way! You have one of the limited Alcor hats signed by Chariot herself!? There's only 50 of them in the entire world!" She puffed up her cheeks and sulked. "I am so jealous…!"
"You like it?" the Shadow giggled. "Uncle Alf got it for me, I can't thank him enough!" she then pointed to Akko. "... Never forget…"
Akko grinned, knowing exactly what to answer.
"A believing heart is your magic!"
They both said it in unison, in the exact tone, pointing at each other before bursting into pure, joyful, laughter.
Amanda looked at Diana, suppressing a giggle. "I didn't know you two were secretly related, Diana~"
"Please tell me you're not going to start acting like that," Sucy rolled her eyes. "I can only handle one fangirl."
"O-Of course not!" the British girl denied, but her bushing face said otherwise...
"... So you going to ignore me again?" the small child frowned, glaring with her yellow eyes. Akko joined her quickly, and together they looked at Diana with the eyes of sad puppies.
The ace student lot out another sigh as she approached her Shadow. "When I was young, I truly loved Shiny Chariot," Diana admitted. "Her magic was what I would consider to be what witchcraft is in its purest form; the ability to inspire. However, the same can't be said for my peers. Needless to say I had to withdraw myself when I became the laughing stock of my class."
"Diana…" Akko could relate. She placed the girl's Shadow down as Diana kneed down to face her.
"I was forced to grow up fast. And I know I couldn't let anything childish become a crutch for others to discredit me. So I have to hide my love for Chariot and beautiful magic shows, giving harsh criticism to anything that didn't follow the image of the "ideal witch" to keep up my façade..."
The British girl then looked up at the brunette. "For that Akko, I want to apologized to you too."
"Eh? What for?"
"Deep down, I was... jealous of you," the ace student admitted with a frown. "Not just because you had some unknown power and was able to put a dent in my pride and name. But most important of all I was envious of your ability to publicly talk about something you love so passionately, not caring about what other people thought of you... a privilege of which I was completely denied of having...
"It was so painful," Shadow Diana added. "Watching you say such mean things about Chariot, and then feeling horrible about it deep down. Eventually I couldn't even reach you anymore, buried completely by that ambition and twisted into a horrible person..."
Diana looked back to her other half with a promising smile. "I am sorry, you must've suffered so much… I swear, from now in I'll always be true to myself. You are me, and I am you. We still have a long way to go and so much to learn. But I promise that we'll become the best witch we can be, together."
"Yes! Let's show everyone the true beauty of witchcraft! Just like Chariot had!" The young Shadow eagerly nodded. She walked up and cupped Diana's face with a content smile. Her body dissolved into blue motes of light soon after.
She was made of marble, but was a far cry from the cold and heartless statue her Shadow was. Her eyes were covered by a large owl mask yet one could still feel the warmth and wisdom in her gaze. The same shade of platinum hair her summoner had was tied into a bun, two rouge strands of which, extended to her ankles. A platinum diadem sat atop her head and a toga, the top of which was styled after Shiny Chariots robes, extended towards her legs and opened up at about mid-thigh, revealing slender legs adorned with golden six inch heels roman sandals. The skirt was asymmetrical and the drape of the toga consisted of a three layered fur cape, each layer being red, light blue, and warm yellow respectively. It hung over her left shoulder and coiled over to her right arm. A golden bracelet depicting the Cavendish's unicorn adorned her right wrist. Her left arm was covered entirely by a long deep blue sleeve lined with frills underneath. She carried a lance on her right hand, the shaft of which was weaved of tree roots and a sharpened sorcerer's stone served as the head.
"I am thou, thou art I. The vow to be true to thyself has been made. I am Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and art. I shall bear witness of your journey to the top. Under my guidance, thou shall never again be lead astray, so long as thou would uphold thy promise." With that, the Persona dissolved into motes of blue light, leaving behind a tarot card in her place; the Priestess.
"This is my… Persona?" Diana sighed, awestruck as the card descend onto her waiting palms before disappearing as it made contact. A wave of energy washed over her body as she felt a warmth emanate deep from her being. Despite her exhaustion, Diana felt… refreshed.
Akko cheered as Lotte clapped, a smile plastered across the bespectacled girl's face. Sucy sighed, relieved that the whole ordeal was over, eager to just get back to her room and take a well-deserved nap. Amanda buried the haft of her spear into the ground, wiping the sweat from her brow as she caught the expectant stare of Constanze. "Later," she mouthed.
Accepting that for now, Constanze nodded and redirected her gaze back to the scene before her. Despite lacking context, she felt happy for Diana.
"Well," Akko began with a sigh, "All's well that ends well, right Aradia?"
Silence was her only answer.
"Aradia?" called again, dread building in her stomach. Diving into her soul, she searched frantically.
"Come on Aradia... this isn't funny!"
She searched and searched, desperate to find any inkling of her Persona, hoping, praying, that her first Persona was just keeping quiet as a sort of mean prank. Yet she found nothing. Her soul only contained Pixie, Silky, Lilim, Slime, and Vetala now.
"Aradia…" Akko sobbed. She was gone. Aradia, the one that was there since the beginning, the one that pushed forward, the one that was by her side through thick and thin, the one she confided in for guidance and wisdom, was gone. "I-I shouldn't have..." yet before she could finish the thought, a voice echoed through her mind.
"Oh my, what a sight. I've not seen thee cry for ages. What is the matter, Akko? Are thou not supposed to possess that strength of heart?"
"A-Aradia?!"
With a shatter of glass and a burst of blue flame, the aforementioned Persona materialized in front of her user.
"Hello my Shining Star."
"A-Aradia?!" She gasped, wiping away her tears. "I thought you got fused away?!"
"Why are thou so shocked to see me? I am thou, thou art I. I am the Persona closest to thine heart. Even if you were to cast thee aside, so long as thou are your true self, I shall always be there." Aradia chuckled. "Besides, your journey has yet to reach its conclusion-"
The Persona didn't even get to finish before Akko buried her sobbing face into the fabric of her dress and wrapped her in a tight hug.
"Stupidstupidstupidstupidstupidstupid…! Don't ever leave me again!"
"Never Akko. I am thou, thou art I. And I am here to stay." The Persona cooed, gently patting her sobbing summoner's head.
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The Cognitive World rippled as the collective unconsciousness of Luna Nova reclaimed its territory, the false Cavendish Manor gradually fading out of existence. The looming manor, the fields of lush lawn, the painting like sky; they all slowly dissolved as wisps of blue broke of their forms and floated into the air.
"It's finally over right?" Sucy asked. "Thank goodness."
"Yeah..." Akko nodded. "I've actually never watched a Distortion fade before. It's really pretty..."
"Mother!" Diana screamed. "Whats happening to you!?"
The group turned at the sudden yell from Diana, finding her desperately clinging to the woman's hand as the Cavendish Matriarch's body, flakes of blue rapidly breaking off of her.
Bernadette looked at her now transparent hand as a sad yet fulfilled smile found its way on her face. "It seems that my time is up… It's time for me to go..."
"No!" Diana cried desperately, "Don't go! There has to be something I can do-"
Bernadette sadly shook her head. "Remember, I am merely a construct created from the memories you had of the real Bernadette Cavendish. Without the support of your Distortion, I can no longer sustain myself. Even if I could, I would eventually degrade into a hostile Shadow... This is for the best…"
Diana sobbed as she wrapped her arms around her mother one final time.
"It's okay," her mother cooed, returning the hug. "Even if I'm not there physically, I will always be with you, in your heart and memories. I don't deserve your love, it is the real me that rested in the Sea of Souls that does."
"But I… I wanted you to be by my side!" Diana begged.
Bernadette smiled, holding Diana closer and petting her hair. "Do not be afraid, my daughter. Look behind you…" Letting her go, she gestured towards Akko's group. "You are fortunate to have meet such great friends. I am sure that with their support you can face anything that lies in your path."
"We aren't-" Sucy was about to began as Lotte, of all people, rushed to cover her mouth.
"Please don't ruin the moment!" she said, tears flowing down her face. "This is so sad, so beautiful! It's just like volume 167 of Night Fall! Where Belle confronts her dead grandmother's ghost at the edge of heaven after time traveling back to her childhood!"
Diana rubbed her eyes as she took in what was said, reluctantly nodding after a few seconds.
"That's my girl..." Bernadette closed her eyes, fully content as she grew ever more transparent. "I will always watch over you from within your memory… as well as the real me in the Sea of Souls... I love you, my daughter... Always."
With one final puff of blue flakes, the Cavendish Matriarch ceased to be.
"Mother…" Diana whispered, wiping away her tears. Lightly slapping both her cheeks to snap herself out of her depression, she nodded as determination blazed in her eyes. "I will continue to make you proud, I swear on it…!"
Akko laid a hand gently on Diana's shoulder, the ace student's face turning slightly to look at the Japanese girl.
"Let's go back to Luna Nova, Diana. Everyone is waiting for us." The brunette stated with a smile. The girl had already changed back to her school uniform. Pixie sat atop her shoulder giving both girls a thumbs up and a wink.
Taking Akko's hand was her only answer.
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Alcor the crow was worried.
Ignoring the fact he's well… a crow, one could say Alcor had been on this earth for a rather long time. Magical crows like him had a surprisingly long lifespan considering their close relation with Phoenixes. He had served under the Umbrian clan as their familiar for three generations now, dutifully watching over each member that came under his wing with care.
About three hours ago, Ursula burst into her room and collapsed on her couch, completely exhausted. That, combined with the fact that her hair had regained its natural red coloring, had him worried. The bird rushed to check on her, relieved to find that she was just sleeping. What happened? Wasn't she supposed to be working still?
Regardless, he set off to fulfill his duty as her familiar. Using magic to adjust her body so she wouldn't wake up with back pain, he brought her a pillow and bed sheet, removed her hat, boots, and glasses and placed them on a nearby table.
As the bird rested atop his perch, he watched with worry as various troubled expressions made their way onto his master's face. Although relief flowed through him once he determined that she wasn't having a nightmare.
Alcor may act like a grumpy old man, but he honestly cared for his master and her wellbeing. Watching her like that made him sad, both toward what she had suffered in the past and his inability to do more for her.
Deep in his thoughts, the bird almost didn't notice their door opening by itself...
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Ursula had an amazing dream.
She was eighteen again. Young, fit, and mobile, and she could leap and run great distances without much enhancement magic. She could wield the Claiomh Solais once more; although the rod didn't feel quite as she remembered. It simply felt amazing just to be back in her prime.
The dream played out as such: She was leaping tree from to tree towards the distant mansion with tall castle walls. Once she arrived on the top, she saw a towering monstrosity made of marble and gold.
"Noctu… Orfei… Aude… Fraetor! Strike true, Shiny Arc!"
She actually missed firing that spell, if she was honest. The soaring arrow's beauty really couldn't be matched by any other spell. Being able do so, even in a dream, was nice to experience once again.
The dream ended when her foe was wounded and she made her leave. Just what was that about...?
"Cawww! Cawww! CAwwwwwwww! ! !"
The squawking of a grumpy old crow snapped her out of her slumber. Forcing herself off the sofa, her body immediately tensed, scanning the room for possible danger.
In front of her stood… Shiny Chariot. Not a hazy image in the bathroom mirror anymore, but a solid, living figure.
"Caw~" Alcor squawked again, as the rubbing and scratching he was receiving from Chariot turned him to putty in her hands. The massage was a bless for the old bird's bones.
"W-What?!" Ursula muttered.
"Why so shocked?" the yellowed eyed doppelganger asked in a dry, multitoned voice. "You haven't groomed Alcor in so long, so I figured I might as well since I'm here."
"Wha- W-Who are you!?" the young teacher asked, shocked.
"Who else?" her clone deadpanned, unamused. "Chariot du Nord, one of the last members of the Umbrian clan and world's most popular magic performer, Shiny Chariot." she answered. "Also the girl that scarred the moon herself."
"But… I'm Chariot!" Ursula exclaimed.
Her cloned unhanded her familiar, her golden orbs gazing intensely into her own. The old crow flew back to his stand, his good eye switching between the both of them, utterly puzzled as to why there were two familial bonds linking to him at this moment.
"Are you though?" Shiny Chariot asked. "I thought you went by Ursula Callistis now?"
"I… I…" Ursula stuttered. "... It's complicated…"
"Oh I know, I'm you after all." the clone sighed, looking the other way. "Look, we'll need to have a talk sooner or later but right now I believe you have something important to attend to…" she pointed her thumb at the door, a smirk on her face. "I've done my part and ensured her safety, so go be a good professor and go welcome your dear pupil."
"T-That's right!" the young teacher exclaimed. "Akko-!" She grabbed her hat, boots, and glasses, and rushed out of her room. Just as she grabbed her doorknob, Ursula turned to look at Shiny Chariot one last time.
"What are you waiting for? Go on, she's waiting." the clone chided. "Or do you want Finneran to find her first and make everything a pain to deal with afterward?"
Ursula nodded and ran out of the door.
"Caw…?" Alcor demanded. "Caw caw!?"
"It's too complicated to explain, let's wait for her too," Shiny Chariot sighed. She went to take a seat before patting her lap. "Come here, let me make up for all the times she forgot to groom you, how's that sound?"
"Caw~!"
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Ursula ran as fast as she could towards the Tree of Heart, arriving just in time to see multiple bodies tumble from the hollow stump.
"Akko!" she called.
"Professor Ursula!" the brunette exclaimed happily, showing her a peace sign. "Mission accomplished! Everyone's safe and sound!"
The Professor sighed in relief. "I'm glad…" She then noticed the extra people, "Wait, when did you two…?"
"Long story…" Lotte replied. "But please don't punish them… Everything would've gotten a lot worse if they hadn't come…"
"Excuse me, but unless you had something important to say, then I really need to get tubby here back to her room," Sucy grunted, struggling to carry the larger girl on her back.
"Don't call Jas that…" Amanda said, Constanze in tow. "But yeah, Professor Ursula… we're really freakin tired, if you need us can you wait until tomorrow…?"
"Alright girls," the teacher conceded, "rest well..."
The other girls left for the dorms as Akko and Diana stayed behind.
Ursula gave Diana a once-over. "I am glad you're back for real, Diana. The school had run itself ragged looking for you..."
"Professor Ursula..." Diana began, "If you're here does that mean the school…?"
"No… the school doesn't know about… this." she said, waving a hand at Tree of Heart. "Thanks to everyone's efforts, they managed to cover up your disappearance. Your perfect attendance record is undamaged. I am the only Professor in the know of this event."
"Is that… so?" Diana sighed in relief. She looked at the brunette, "Once again, Akko, thank you... Words cannot describe my gratitude…"
"No need to thank me!" Akko said with a grin. "You know who you should thank the most actually?" she said, pointing a finger at the dorms. "Hannah and Barbara!"
"Hannah and Barbara…? Are they in on this?!"
"Well, no… but they had to put up with a lot for you… Blame Lilim," Akko answered, annoyed. "From what I've seen they do think of you as a friend. So go talk to them. Prove that your Shadow's words are wrong!"
Hearing that, Diana closed her eyes and nodded. "You're right Akko. A wonderful night to you then." She began walking, turned to wave her new friend goodbye, and headed for the dorms.
As soon as she left her line of sight, Akko let out a deep sigh before unceremoniously dropping to the ground. "Ahhhhhhhh…! It's finally over! I'm beat!" she sighed.
"You did a great job Akko," Ursula said, reaching out a hand to help her up. "... Was it difficult?"
"Totally!" Akko replied, clasping her teache's hand. "I probably couldn't have done it without everyone's help. I can't thank them enough!"
"I myself wished I could have done more on my end…" Ursula frowned. "You said those Shadow are extremely dangerous, right? It really didn't sit well with me knowing a group of children was forced to go in there…" she explained, "sure, you had your Personas, but still…"
She looked straight into Akko's eyes, her hands placed firmly on her shoulders. "Please Akko. If something like that ever happens again, please come talk to me before you do anything rash..." she requested. "Bold words considering I don't have a Persona, I know, but-!"
"Of course, Professor Ursula!" Akko smiled. "The secret's out of the bag, so it can't be helped. You're more than welcome to join our little group and help in any way you can!" She held out her pinky finger. "I promise I'll come talk to you about things like this next time. Just don't let words spread to the public though... please."
The young teacher raised an eyebrow at that, but nodded and wrapped her finger around her student's. "Thank you Akko... I promise, your secret's safe with me."
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ [IX] Hermit Rank 2 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
Suddenly, a loud growl echoed from Akko's abdomen. A blush formed on her face as she placed a hand on her stomach. "Uhh… I haven't eaten anything all day… hehe…"
"There's strawberry shortcakes in the cafeteria tonight," Ursula suggested. "They only have a limited number and its first come first serve. Want to go?"
"They actually have something other than tarts!?" Akko exclaimed.
"Yes," Ursula grinned. "I know their menu like the back of my hand. Let's not waste any time Akko."
"Yay~!" she cheered. "While we eat, I can tell you what happened today! Like… I honest to god believe Shiny Chariot herself may have saved us!"
"Yeah… I would love to hear that."
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Hannah and Barbara woke up about two hours ago. Since then, they had been waiting for their friend to return to their larger than average dorm.
"Barbara…"
"Please… don't sit next to me," the dark haired girl snapped. "I am sorry... I need to… I still need time."
The brown haired girl sighed. She looked towards the vanity in the corner of the room and groaned. "God damn it!" she snarled, poking at the red marks dotting the nape of her neck. "How long are we going to have to hide these?"
"And whose fault was it… you perverted vampire…" Barbara bit, still trying and failing to cover her own red marks with mascara.
"This again?" Hannah sighed. "If you recall, I have it way worse. If I'm a perverted vampire then you're a thirsty leech in heat!"
Barbara turned to her partner. "How many times do I have to say it!? I didn't know what had gotten into me at the time-"
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hannah? Barbara? Are you there?" asked the muffled voice of Diana.
"D-Diana!" Both girls called. "Y-Your voice is back?!"
"Y-Yes. Are both of you busy?"
"W-Wait! Give us a minute!" Hannah called, scrambling into the back and rummaging through their dresser until she found what she was looking for. Two turtleneck sweaters. Barbara reached into her drawer for more makeup. Both worked in tandem, doing each other's face and neck while throwing the sweaters on.
"You can come in now!" Barbara called, the two sitting in their respective beds and pretending everything was normal.
Their friend entered the room with a frown. Hannah and Barbara couldn't mentally gasping at her ragged appearance. She looked like she'd ran a marathon through a hurricane.
"D-Diana?! What happened to you?!" Hannah asked. "You were only gone for like three hours!" They got off their beds and rushed to their friend, check for injuries up and down. They didn't expect Diana to suddenly pull them into a tight hug nor the intense sobbing that came soon after.
"D-Diana!? What happened!?" they asked.
"I… I've been a horrible friend to you both..."
"Huh?! I don't understand," Barbara said.
"Yeah, what are you talking about?" Hanna asked.
"D-Despite the fact I knew you both since elementary school, the fact that I know nothing about either of you is embarrassing to say the least." Diana admitted as she calmed herself. "I was so immersed in my study and responsibilities that I didn't even bother to remember about my best friends…"
They both remained silent as she continued.
"In truth… I've only treated you two as sidekicks. People to be kept around so I didn't feel like I was completely alone. I was so jaded from everything my family and the other nobles did… I even secretly believed that you were just like the people that wanted to take advantage of me…"
Hannah and Barbara looked at each other, stunned.
"I was pathetic…" Diana finished, releasing them from the hug, her eyes cast downward. "I-I don't deserve either of you. And after hearing all of this, I'd understand completely if you both wanted nothing to do with me..."
She expected anger, sadness, perhaps even disgust at her and her actions. Yet what she got instead was them pulling her back into the hug.
"I don't know what's gotten into you all of a sudden, Diana. Acting all sad and mopey just isn't like you," Hannah said.
"Right? You're supposed to be strong and cool, not all wishy washy." Barbara chuckled and continued. "First of all, why would we want to leach anything off of you? Our families are already filthy rich."
"You both… aren't angry?" Diana asked, looking at them intently.
"Well, I mean… If we're being super honest here. Yeah. I guess we originally wanted to hang around you because you're an extraordinary witch and had amazing grades. But isn't that how a lot of friendship started?" Hannah reasoned.
"So… you think we're sidekicks?" Barbara laughed again. "Well, I don't mind being the sidekick of THE Diana Cavendish. I think it's pretty cool, right Hannah?"
"Yeah!" Hanna grinned. "It's an honor to be your follower, oh great and wise Diana!" She then bowed with mock reverence.
"B-But… I-I don't even know anything about either you! Your favorite food, hobbies, books..." Diana listed. "I'm a horrible friend! Why do you still insist-"
"Well if we're going by that logic, then it's safe to say that we're just as terrible as you!" Hannah replied. "We don't really know anything about you either! Other than the fact that you're a secretly a Chariot fan."
"Yeah… my favorite book… let's not talk about that alright?" Barbara murmured, looking the other way. "A-Anyway, Hannah's right!"
The duo leaned closer, clasping Diana's hands in theirs.
"So… I guess it is safe to say that our relationship needs a bit of a rework?" the brown haired girl admitted. "Especially... ahm…"
Barbara sent a glare to her partner, pink dusting her cheeks, as Hannah scrambled to drop the tropic.
"So how about this. If we're going to rework our relationship, be real friends to each other, then let's start over." Extending a hand towards Diana, she said, "Hi, I'm Barbara Parker."
Catching on to what she was doing, Hannah did the same with a smile. "I'm Hannah England."
"See, you were never alone." Minerva's voice echoed in her mind. "You need not walk the path to the top alone. Congratulations on taking your true steps towards the salvation of witch kind."
Diana's closed her eyes, as her lips curved into a contented smile. Opening her eyes and grasping both of their hands, she spoke:
"I'm Diana Cavendish."
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Angitia has gained a new Skill!
Current Skills: Mapsi, Media, Venom Claw, Stagnant Air, Rakunda, Makajama, Balzac
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Akko's Personas:
Vetala (Devil)
Null: Curse
Resistance: Phys
Weakness: Fire, Bless
Skills: *Venom Zapper, Poison Boost, Evil Touch, Life Drain, Tarunda, Energy Drop, Rakukaja
Profile: The most dangerous of all Preta in Hindu and Buddhist myth. Classified as "powerful ghosts," they have varying shapes and forms. They can control the dead and eat humans.
*Venom Zapper is the Japanese name for Blight. Does medium Slash physical damage to all foes with chance to poison.
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Shadow Diana/Amduscias (Reversed Priestess)
Resist: Nuclear
Weakness: None
Skills: *Idol's Arc, Mafreila, *Reothaair, *Dubh Loisg, *Teine dhair ban, *Arc of Cherished Memories, *Fineltina la Serana, *Witchcraft Prodigy, Recarm
*Idol's Arc- Normal attack. Does Gun damage.
*Reothaair- Shadow Diana only skill. Medium Ice damage to one foe, high chance of Freeze.
*Dubh Loisg- Shadow Diana only skill. Medium Fire damage to one foe, high chance of Burn.
*Tein edhair Dan- Shadow Diana only skill. Medium Electric damage to one foe, high chance of Paralysis.
*Noctuorfei- Shadow Diana only skill. Disable user for one turn. Medium Almighty damage to one foe the next turn.
*Fineltina la Serana- Shadow Diana only skill. Disable user for one turn. Randomly inflict 9 mini Bless damages on all foes the next turn.
*Witchcraft Prodigy- Shadow Diana only skill. Boost all magic damage by 15%. Hard mode or above only.
Profile: One of the 72 demons of the Goetia. His true form is that of an Unicorn, but he usually appeared as a human when summoned. He governs twenty-nine legions of hell with the power to manipulate trees and familiars. Sounds of musical instruments accompany his every action.
[]
Pedestals of Adoration X4
Weakness: None (+25% on Physical and Gun skills)
Skills: *Faith on the Shining Star, *Life Gain, *Life Surge, *Regenerate 1/**Regenerate 3
*Faith on the Shining Star- Pedestals of Adoration only skill. All attack directed at Shadow Diana will be nullified. User takes the damage instead.
*Hard mode or above only.
**Expert mode or above only.
[]
Cognitive Hannah (Lovers)
Weakness: Everything beside Physical and Bless
Skills: Tarukaja, Double Fangs, *Headbutt, Dekaja, Life Grain, *Life Surge, *Fire Break, *Nuclear Break
*Hard mode or above only.
Cognitive Barbara (Lovers)
Weakness: Everything beside Physical and Bless
Skills: Rakukaja, Media, *Diarama, Dekunda, Life Grain, *Life Surge, *Ice Break, *Electric Break
*Hard mode or above only.
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Enemy Shadows:
Cu Sith (Sun)
Null: Bless
Skills: Garu, Pulinpa, Skull Cracker
Profile: A dog fairy in Scottish folklore. Its main duties are to transport fairies and be a watchdog. It can transfix a target it's chasing by barking three times.
[]
Hairy Jack (Death)
Resist: Curse
Weakness: Bless
Skills: Eiha, Sukunda, Counterstrike
Profile: A demon dog of England. It is a type of black, demonic hound known as a Barghest and is covered with mounds of hair. It's said to appear commonly in deserted farmlands and wastelands. It can take human form. Although it has helped people in some cases, in general they are dangerous and will attack with fierce strength if provoked.
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Ally Shadow:
Hārītī (Priestess)
Resist: Nuclear, Psy, Bless
Weakness: Curse
Skills: *Media, Healing Boost, Matarunda, Nuclear Wall, Fire Wall, Ice Wall, Electric Wall
*Only on Hard Mode or above, on lower difficulties she have Mediarama instead.
Profile: A Buddhist goddess also known as Kishimojin. She is revered as the goddess who protect the growth of children. She once was an evil demon feeding on the children of others, but Buddha changed her ways. She symbolized both the responsible and irresponsible aspect of parenthood.
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Embodiment of Death:
Holodomor (Death)
Resist: -50% Almighty
Weakness: Aliments
Skill: *Starved One's Banquet, *Starved One's Menace
Profile: A man-made famine that starved millions of Ukrainians from 1932 to 1933. An act of genocide from the communist regime at the time. The name is derived from морити голодом, "to kill by starvation".
*Starved One's Banquet- Holodomor only skill. Heavy strike physical damage to all targets. Instant kill any foes below user's level.
*Starved One's Menace- Holodomor only skill. Randomly cancel any surprise attack from foes below user's level. Chance to infect Fear or Despair to the offender.
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Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ [IX] [0] [VII] [XV] Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
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Shadow Chariot/Shiny Chariot/? (Star)
Absorb: Bless
Null: Curse, Aliments
Resist: All elements
Weakness: None
Skill: *Memory of Arcturus, *Recollection: Shiny Arc, ?, ?, ?, *Umbrian Arts, *Risky Combatant, Angelic Grace
Profile: A magic performer that had become an international hit in the late 2000s. One day, she suddenly vanished, her whereabouts unknown. Some said her tricks were becoming stale, and she left out of declining popularity. Other suggested she simply couldn't take the criticisms from her fellow witches, whom saw her as a disgrace to their craft. Regardless, she left a shining impression on countless children and young adults across the globe, as well as the moon itself.
*Memory of Arcturus- Shiny Chariot only skill. Change all Magic skills to Almighty and boost them by 30%.
*Recollection: Shiny Arc- Shiny Chariot only skill. Heavy Bless damage on one foe. Trumps any defensive passives.
*Umbrian Arts- Shiny Chariot only skill. 2~4 medium Strike physical attacks on one foe. High chance to Stun.
*Risky Combatant- Start battle with Tarukaja and Sukukaja, but suffer the effect of Rakunda.
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Diana's Persona:
Minerva (Priestess)
Resist: Nuclear
Weakness: Aliment, Psy, Curse
Skills: Mafreila, Bufula, Agilao, Zionga, Me Patra, Posumundi
Profile: The Roman goddess of art and wisdom. She is considered the equivalent of Athena from Greek myth. Later the Etruscan had their own equivalent with goddess Menrva. Possibly she was derived from the obscured Italic moon goddess, Meneswā, who's name meant 'She who measures', but evidence were inconclusive. She formed the Virgin Trio with two other important goddesses.
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Daidara Metalworks Special:
Zōma (Slash Axe): An artist's imagination contained no limitation, only the material he had does. One day, Daidara caught a glimpse of his grandson's handheld. Seeing this weapon in the game battling massive monsters, he knew he have to bring it to life…
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741AuthorNCS: Oh hi, post episode 25 Diana, glad you can join us this early.
Aurgh... took an entire year to finish one arc and it's longer than The Hobbit... This entire thing is gonna take at least 5 years isn't it...?
Yes. Fool+Hierophant+Death= higher level Devil in P4.
Do I even need to give Jasminka a Persona…?
Pretty sure I used the Russian wrong in some way. Looking forward to people correcting me.
Knows half the elemental chart… OP glass cannon Diana is OP glass cannon…
Scared you a bit, huh? You think I am going to do the P5A thing? Nah, that would've been lame. (Poor Arsene… ;_;)
Hārītī appeared much closer to her Shin Megami Tensei design, that's why her cloth is white instead of magenta.
Warning to all Shadows; DON'T FIGHT THE CHARIOT. The mama bear will murder you! (Someone's going to piss off the mama bear...)
Thank RiceFieldRenegade again for putting up the time despite his busy schedule. As well as adding an extra scene in here that made everything flow much better. This fic wouldn't be this good without ya, buddy.
Anyway, I am going to take a break off for this fic since I am pretty close to a creative burnt out. It's best I go easy for now and plan the next arc. But don't worry, we have ton of slice of life to go through. So stay tune!
Artist741: YES! I AM FREE FOR NOW! I CAN GO DRAW SOMETHING ELSE THIS MONTH!
Anyway I usually don't like review begging. But since this is the end of the arc and all… I will appreciate that you all drop kind comments on mass.
See'ya all next time~
[Edit: It would seem people are confused (god damn it, you people) as to why there are now a Pat reon post at the end of the story.
I put it there to prevent new readers from just casually tap to the end of the story with the jump arrow. Spoiler and all that; wouldn't want some of them to ruin their enjoyment by accident.
Yeah, it create one extra click of inconvenient. But just think of it as patient training for your mind spoiled by modern technology. :D]
09/02/2018 Edit: Thank the people at Sufficient Velocity for grammar checking this. Should be free of grammar mistakes now. Unless you have god's eyes and find something else, this chapter is now grammatically perfect.
BTW, we have a Pat reon now! Since writing can take hours and illustrating could take days, it's pretty taxing on both of us. If you want to support us with your generosity, it will be appreciated! Even if you don't, its still the best to keep and eye on it since that's where I post the latest news on this project!
Pa treon com / Artist741and741AuthorNCS
Special thanks to Quinn H. for the $10 in past two months!
Edit: Nevermind... thanks for the two months of support...