Disclaimer:This is a work of fan fiction using characters and/or scenes from the show RWBY, which is trademarked by Rooster Teeth, and the video game Persona 3, which is trademarked by Atlus. I do not, in anyway, claim ownership over the characters, the world, the story, or any other aspect belonging to either one. This story should not be, in any way, considered canon. This story is written strictly for entertainment and not for profit.
Warning: This story will exhibit slight differences in character behavior since I will be taking the liberty to fill in blank points in the pasts of various characters. As such, expect that many characters will not behave exactly as their canon selves. I will attempt to keep their core personalities intact, but slight changes will be unavoidable.
Oh… Wow…
A scant 1.5k words of prologue brought in more followers and favorites than 60k+ words from my other story, and almost half the number of views already. I'd say this story is off to a good start.
Though I'm a bit saddened by the lack of feedback on the part of my Igor-esque greeting. I thought I'd get more people commenting on that. XP
Still, prologue and all so hopefully this first real chapter gets more feedback.
First, sorry about taking so long to update even though I said I'd update earlier this week. Work got crazy, two people fell ill so I got called in on my day off so it got even crazier, and I had trouble putting the scenes into words for this chapter.
Then my internet connection at home isn't connecting at all so I had to call the company to find out what went wrong. Upside is, since it's been almost a week and they still can't find out what's wrong, they offered to cut my bill in half for the month to make up for not being able to use it at all and is replacing everything for free. It was troublesome but it makes up for it well enough.
Anyway, this chapter is pretty much one long set-up before the main part of the story begins. More things on the story at the end of the chapter to avoid chapter spoilers.
So anyway, here's the first real chapter. Enjoy.
Chapter 1 – Remnants of the Past
?, XX13
No matter how many times she came here, it was always the same. The same crystalline walls, the same pale blue glow emanating from the crystal floor, the same silence, and, most importantly, the same nine sleeping occupants. And like every time she came into the room, she walked towards them to check on their conditions.
How long had she been doing this now? So much time has passed since she took up this duty of her own volition. Sometimes she wonders why she still returns to check on them even though they have been sleeping for so long. But no sooner does the thought appear does the reason flash through her head, and any doubts disappears in that instant.
'Yes, no matter how much time passes, I will watch over you all for as long as I need to. 'Twould otherwise be a disservice for he who gave his life for yours.'
And so, once more, she went to work. She stopped right beside the first one to her left and looked down on the now familiar face of a red-haired girl encased within a crystal casket. 'Ah, would it perhaps be best to refer to this as a bed? After all, coffins and caskets are only for those who have passed and not for those who merely rest.'
The red-haired girl's resting place was, indeed, quite similar to a casket. A vaguely rectangular shaped box made of countless shards of the same crystals that made up the room itself. The one point of contention that separated bed from casket was the fact that the girl rested within, rather than atop.
And yet, her words rang true. Casket were for the dead. The red-haired girl within, however, was very much alive. Despite not being able to touch the girl, she knew she was alive. She could still sense life coming from within. And the other eight resting in the room were the same as the girl. All of them were within a casket-like construct, slumbering deeply.
In truth she did not need to approach them to check on their conditions. She knew that they were all still alive from the moment she stepped into the room and that, much like the last time she came to check on them, their conditions still remained the same. They were no closer to waking than they were to slipping into death.
But she knew. She knew that one day they would wake. After all, to die now would mean that his sacrifice was wasted. Besides that, they were not the kind of people to give up after one or two failures. Or even a hundred failures. 'They would not have gotten as far as they had if their resolve was that weak.'
And so, she moved to stand beside their crystal containers, and gazed down on their faces as though engraving the memory into her mind before moving on to the next. One by one she did this until she came to the ninth and final one. And once that was done, she stepped away, walking towards the crystalline door with barely a pause.
Just before reaching the door, she stopped and glanced over her shoulder at the other, conscious, occupant of the room. "I trust you will watch over them as always?"
"Of course," came the reply from a strangely mechanical but clearly male voice.
"My thanks." She turned to the door once more but paused when the other person spoke.
"It will be another year in just a few weeks, won't it?" She looked over her shoulder once again with a questioning look. "If possible, please return before that time. I feel as though something significant will happen around then."
"Oh?" A look of interest appeared on her face. "Will they awaken?"
"It is possible. But I cannot say for certain. For now, it is but a feeling I have."
"A feeling?" she asked, an amused expression on her face. "I'm surprised a being like you has such things considering what your… brethren have become."
The other figure chuckled, his strange voice making it sound dark and ominous. "And I'm surprised a being like you would have such attachments," he responded in kind. "How many years has it been since you first set foot in here and decide to keep watch like myself? You may leave soon after your arrival but you cannot deny that what you do beyond these walls is for their benefit as well."
The woman laughed softly, even more amused that his words mirrored her earlier thoughts. "How strange. I, too, asked myself that same question just now," she admitted. When no reply came, she continued with the response to his unasked question. "I merely wish to prevent his sacrifice from going to waste. These people, his friends, are very dear to him. Although my goal is, in many ways, for my own selfish desires, the very least I could do is help his friends in his absence."
No more words were exchanged between the two as the woman left.
The other being stood in place for a while longer, digesting the woman's words. The two of them rarely exchanged words beyond to those related to their chosen duties. Today was the only the second time they had spoken so much outside their duties, short though the discussion might have been. The first time had been when they first met in the crystalline room. And, despite starting off with a misunderstanding, the conversation that followed lasted nearly a full day.
He had been there for almost as long as the room existed, having begun to watch over it only hours after its creation. And although it was merely an option presented to him, it was still his choice to do so in the end. She had come years later, searching for something. But when she saw the room, or rather the people slumbering within, she had decided to help them in her own way. Though, as she had said, it was mostly out of respect for someone else. He had a feeling that she would not have done so if these people were not connected to that person in any way.
Neither of them could do anything directly. The crystals prevented them from affecting those within. Even if they could, they did not know if they were capable of waking them in the first place.
But when she told him of what the world outside was like, he agreed that, when they awaken, they would need help. And so their duties were clear. He would remain and guard the room, just like he had been before her arrival. She had her own objectives but, as she stated just now, she would help them in his place.
While she was out searching, she would observe the world and any noteworthy events and developments. And when she next returned, which was usually anywhere between several months and a year, she would tell him of her discoveries, though she never spoke of her search. Then again, she didn't need to. Besides, it wasn't important. Not to him anyway.
It was the news she brought back that was. The world outside had changed greatly since he became the room's guardian. During that first time they met, the things she told him came as such a great surprise that he had to stop himself from rushing out to see for himself. To think that the world had changed so much that it was so unrecognizable to his ears. And now, as the years passed, the world continued to change. So much so that the world now sounded entirely alien to him.
But as much as he wanted to see for himself, he had his duties. He knew not when the nine would awaken, but he knew he had to wait until they did before he could even consider leaving. While he was confident that no ordinary being could find the room, the woman was certainly far from ordinary, it did not mean it could not be found. He was there to ensure any who found it would not harm its occupants, nor be able to divulge its location regardless of intent.
And he would perform that duty until his charges woke from their slumber. And nothing would stop him from ensuring their safety. Not even death. Then again…
'That which is a part of me cannot harm me, let alone kill me.'
February 01, XX13
Waking up from whatever state she had been in, she decided, was something she did not want to repeat. Her entire body felt close to unresponsive, twitches of various body parts being all she could manage at the moment.
'What happened?' she asked herself, trying to remember why she had been unconscious to begin with. 'I remember the Dark Hour beginning on the night when Nyx would descend. And then… Then we entered Tartarus, and made our way to the top. Along the way we encountered the two surviving members of Strega and defeated them once more. And then at the top, we were met by Ryoji-san in a different form. We defeated him but then… something happened. What was it?'
'Did we fail?' She immediately refuted that idea. 'No. Had we failed we would not be alive any more. But if we did not fail, then what happened? Did we succeed? Or perhaps…'
Seeing that she would not receive answers from incomplete memories, she attempted once more to move and found her body more responsive than earlier. The first thing she did, with some difficulty, was open her eyes. She had expected to see a hospital room, her dorm room, or, if the damage was extensive, a laboratory. Instead, what greeted her eyes was the sight of what seemed to be crystals. Several of them lined up and stacked on top of each other to form a wall.
Then she realized that she was lying on her back and that the crystals were actually over her. But more importantly, a quick glance revealed that there were more directly to her sides as well. And unless she was mistaken, her back was lying on more of the crystals as well. 'Am I… trapped?'
But before panic could begin to take hold of her, the crystals in front of her glowed briefly. When the glow subsided, the crystals slowly began to move. 'They're… retracting?' she asked then immediately corrected herself. 'No, they're shrinking.'
The crystals continued to shrink, slowly creating an opening for her to exit. Once she was certain that the crystals had finished, she slowly sat up with some slight difficulty. And when she did, she saw that it was not only her resting place that was made of crystal. Looking around, she confirmed that the entire room was made of the same material.
The room was round and tall, tall enough that she could not see the ceiling. The crystal floor was glowing fairly brightly, enough to illuminate the lower portion of the room. Looking around, however, she found no sign of any exit, whether it be a door or a window. But the fact that there was air meant that there was an exit somewhere. All she had to do was find it. More importantly, however…
"Ah man… that's a relief."
The sound of a familiar voice coming from her right caught her attention, followed by a muffled thump from somewhere else in the room. Ignoring the latter in favor of the former, she turned her attention to ground level and found eight more of the same thing she was lying in, each one with, presumably, a person inside. All nine coffins – it was what they appeared to be after all despite how much she disliked thinking of them as such – had one end against the wall and went around the room in a counter-clockwise direction, with hers at the start.
"Junpei-san?"
"Huh?" Hearing his name, the boy with buzz cut dark hair beneath a baseball cap and a sparse goatee looked to his left to see who had called him. She noted that the black blazer of his school uniform, while not immaculately pressed, did not look as though he had just slept in it. Beneath it, the blue dress shirt he wore was in similar condition. "Aigis? You were in one of these things too?"
Aigis nodded, looking around at the other beds. Her eyesight, sharper than that of a human's, allowed her to see that most of the other caskets' crystal tops have also disappeared, assuming they had been sealed like hers had been. And then their occupants rose up, their faces either relieved or concerned.
"Ugh… definitely not the best sight to wake up to. What is this thing anyway? And where the heck are we?"
"I don't know. I'm just glad it opened when it did. Though I did find it strange that it opened soon after I woke up. Almost like it was waiting for me to wake up."
From the beds between Aigis and Junpei rose two girls. One had light brown eyes and with matching hair just barely to her shoulders but curling up slightly at the tips, and was wearing a pink cardigan, the white collar of her blouse visible above the neckline, and a large, loosely tied, red bow. The other had teal hair and greenish-blue eyes and was wearing a black double breasted jacket, one similar to Junpei's school blazer. Visible above the top buttons was the pale green turtle neck shirt she wore underneath. They were Yukari Takeba and Fuuka Yamagishi, fellow juniors to Junpei Iori.
"Is everyone alright?"
"I think so. Still, I didn't expect these things to suddenly open up like that."
"I just wish it opened up sooner. That really hurt."
Across from her, three more people rose from their beds.
The first was a girl who had crimson eyes that were already taking in their current situation, and long, wine red hair that fell to the middle of her back in waves, the bangs covering most of the left half of her face. She was wearing the school uniform, a long-sleeved white blouse with thin vertical lines on the front and also on the sides of the sleeve, and a large red bow. Unlike Yukari and Fuuka, she did not opt to wear a sweater or jacket above the blouse. To the red-haired girl's left was a boy with short silver hair and gray eyes. He wore a white dress shirt with a red vest over it. Mitsuru Kirijo and Akihiko Sanada, the seniors of the group
The third, unlike everyone else, was a young boy several years younger than them. He had short brown hair and brown eyes, a shade darker than Yukari's. He wore an orange hoodie above the school's white dress shirt, and the school's black blazer over that. Ken Amada, an elementary school student and the youngest member of the group. And currently he was rubbing his forehead in pain. Aigis could only assume that the source of the dull thump she had heard earlier was from his forehead hitting the casket before it opened, most likely due to the shock of waking up inside of it.
"You alright there Ken?" asked Akihiko, looking over at the young boy with concern.
"I-I'm fine," Ken replied with a small wince. "I just didn't expect to wake up trapped like that."
"Well, you gotta be pretty messed up to expect that in the first place. I mean, I thought they buried us without even checking if we were dead," commented Junpei. "Still, could have been worse. These things could have actually been underground."
"Ugh… is this really the time for your jokes, Stupei?" asked Yukari, looking at the cap-wearing boy with a half-hearted glare.
"Hey, hey, I'm just saying it could have been worse," he defended, raising his hands up in mock surrender.
"True," said Mitsuru, agreeing with Junpei's assessment. "Though perhaps a more tactful way of phrasing it would have been better," she added somewhat quickly, knowing Junpei would take her immediately response as complete agreement. "But either way, looks like we're all unharmed. For the most part." The last part was spoken after a quick glance at Ken.
Just then there was a bark, and the sudden sound caused them to turn to the source. Shock gave way to smiles at the sight of a pale-gray and white furred Shiba Inu looking around the room with crimson eyes. Koromaru barked several more times, his wagging tail as he sat up on his haunches with the equivalent of a smile on his face.
"Koro-chan!" and "Koromaru!" were the cries heard within the crystalline room, each one greeting their canine companion.
"That's a relief," Fuuka said with a sigh. "It looks like we're all here."
"No."
Aigis's firm but worried tone caught them off guard and caused them to wonder what it was she was disagreeing with. When they looked to her for an answer, they saw that her gaze was focused on somewhere to her right. When they followed her gaze, the relief turned into worry as well.
The final casket that lay between all the rest had yet to reveal its occupant. A few terse moments passed, all eyes watching in anticipation and growing worry. It was only when Junpei, the closest one save for Koromaru, noticed an important detail.
"Oh crap!" his curse drew all attention to him, their anxiety rising at his tone and wide eyes. "It's not open!"
"What?!" shouted Yukari, her eyes, along with everyone else's, mimicking Junpei's. "Y-You're kidding right?"
"Something must have happened," reasoned Mitsuru, already trying to come up with possible explanations. "Maybe-"
"Who cares what happened!" Junpei interrupted, swinging his legs over the right side of the casket he was sitting in, then hopping off. "We gotta- woah!" The moment his feet hit the floor, his legs folded and he fell to the floor completely prone, even his arms lacked the strength to keep him from falling on his face. "Argh, the hell?!"
"Junpei!"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said quickly, hearing the worry in their tone. "Who the heck's in this last one anyway?"
It barely took a second for everyone to consider who was already awake before they realized it.
"Minato-san!"
"Minato-kun"
"Arisato-kun!"
Everyone scrambled to race out of their caskets, some more cautiously than others for good reason. Yukari, Akihiko, and Ken, fell to the ground, though not as gracelessly as Junpei, and barely had the strength to crawl. Mitsuru and Fuuka were more careful but found that they could barely stand and that their arms, holding them up by resting on the casket, were close to giving in as well. Koromaru seemed to have realized his own weakness and was merely watching the final casket with a worried whine.
But even as they failed, none of them failed to notice that one person had already crossed the distance from their casket to the other, light blue eyes gazing down at the crystal casket in shock. "But… This is…"
"Aigis, what is it?" asked Mitsuru, the others wondering the same thing as they heard Aigis's mutterings. "Is he alright?"
"It's… It's not him."
There were various cries of confusion from everyone along with countless questions and speculations. In the end, there were two questions that plagued their minds the most. Where was he?
"If it ain't Minato then who is it?" asked Junpei as he slowly pushed himself to his knees with shaky arms.
"It's… Chidori-san."
"WHAT?!" It was, understandably, Junpei's reaction that was the loudest of them all, his expression a mixture of relief and panic. "But how… No, never mind that. Can you get her out?"
"I can try," Aigis replied resolutely. She raised her arms, pointing her fingers straight at a corner of the casket. The tips of her mechanical fingers opened to reveal the gun barrels hidden within.
"I doubt you'd be able to so much as scratch it."
"Who's there?" Aigis turned her weapons to the center of the room but searched the entirety of the room. Everyone else searched the room as well but none of them could see anybody else asides from themselves. "Show yourself."
There was a terse silence as everyone waited for the unknown speaker to act once more. "Very well," came the reply, the voice echoing throughout the room and making it difficult to pinpoint the source. The voice itself was that of a male's but had a soft and mechanical quality to it. "Before I do, I wish to remind you all that I have no intention of harming any of you."
They turned their attention above them where they heard the fluttering of cloth. Slowly, a figure appeared from the darkness above them, slowly floating down via unnatural means. First came a pair of white boots. What stood out immediately was the distinct lack of proper feet, much like herself, Aigis noted. 'An Anti-Shadow Weapon?' she thought. A brief glance at Mitsuru showed her glancing at Aigis as well, specifically her feet, or lack thereof.
Not long after, the bottom hem of a black cloak or coat with a red trim on one side became visible, followed by the figure's knees, still clad in the boots. Its hands and waist came next. The hands were covered by white gloves, similar to the boots that ended just above its knees. Its waist was adorned by a wide, white belt with a round golden buckle that had a skull and crossbones on it. Attached to the belt, to its left, was a narrow blade within a sheath. They noted, now that it was visible, that what they thought was a coat only began at its waist, held up by the belt.
Thus far the only thing of note was the figure's lack of actual feet. But as it descended further into the light, the sight that greeted them became more familiar, but also terrifying, to them. Slowly, eight objects floating behind it came into view and their attention was drawn to those objects. As more and more of it became visible, their eyes widened. Eight human-sized metal coffins half surrounded the floating figure, all connected by a length of chain which were connected to something on the figure's back.
And then the head came into the light. Its head was covered in two white pieces, both of them resembling a bird's beak when viewed together. And through the eyeholes in the mask-like pieces was nothing but emptiness in both a literal and figurative sense.
Seven gasps were heard. All of them recognized the descending figure. But for some, the memories it held were far from pleasant.
"This is…" Yukari began, but faltered at the terrifying memory associated with the figure before her.
"It's the Persona from that night," said Mitsuru, finishing Yukari's thought. And beside her, Akihiko nodded as well, recognizing the deadly Persona that had all but slaughtered the first of the Full Moon Shadows by itself. A Persona that their leader later summoned of his own free will.
It was Aigis's words, however, that drew the most attention. "It's you." Mitsuru turned to Aigis. Something in the android's words bothered her.
Everyone had seen the Persona named Thanatos more than once. Minato had begun using the deadly Persona within Tartarus not long after the defeat of the twelfth Full Moon Shadow. And just like that night when it had literally torn its way out of Orpheus, Minato's original Persona, the presence of Thanatos within the walls of Tartarus spelled death to the shadows that stood in their way.
In those times, Aigis had only shown recognition due to the recording of its initial appearance on the dormitory's rooftop. So why was she now acting as though she was familiar with this Persona in a different manner?
"I'm not surprised that you recognize me," said Thanatos. And though he could have been speaking to them as a group, there was great significance in the way his empty gaze focused on Aigis. By now he was fully within in the lit area of the room, his entire figure visible to them all. Like most of their Personas, he easily stood at least twice as tall as an ordinary man, even when he was slightly hunched over.
"Or rather," he continued. "You recognize my presence. After all, though my appearance was different once, your systems still recognized me to an extent and immediately labelled me as a threat even though you did not understand why."
"Yes," answered Aigis, right before training her weapons on the floating figure.
"Hey! What are you doing?" questioned Yukari. Though she still felt fear at the sight of the black Persona, one simple fact told her that they were safe.
"Yeah Aigis, there's nothing to worry about," added Junpei, managing to get to his feet but needing to lean on the casket to remain standing. "It's just Minato's Persona. I mean, don't know how it's talking and all but-"
"No," interrupted Aigis, her firm, resolute gaze never once straying from the being before her. "This is not his Persona."
"Aigis-chan?"
"His presence is the same as it was ten years ago," continued the blonde android. "It is also the same presence I sensed when he arrived in school nearly three months ago."
"Ten years ago?" muttered Mitsuru as she went over everything she knew about events from those times that involved Aigis. Only one came to mind.
"Three months ago? In school?" Yukari's mind quickly went over her memories and though many things happened in school and in three months, only one incident stood out. She gasped. "W-wait, you can't mean… There's no way this is…"
"It is," she confirmed, eyes narrowing at the blade-wielding Persona. "This is not the Thanatos we know. This is not Minato-san's Persona. Though their appearance is identical, there is no mistaking its presence. This Persona, no… this Shadow… is Death."
"Death?" many of them gasped in surprise. Only Yukari and Mitsuru were less so, having already deduced this just seconds earlier.
By now, the members of SEES have managed to regain some strength in their limbs. But it was a far cry from what they would need should a fight occur. Aigis was clearly the only one who was capable of combat. But even she knew her odds were low. Moreover, some of them had already realized that they were completely unarmed. Neither their weapons nor their Evokers were anywhere within the room.
They looked at the black-clad figure, waiting for a response. By the expectant look on some of their faces, some were hoping for a denial. But instead, Thanatos chuckled. "That's right, I am Death. The collective form of the twelve Shadows you've defeated during the full moon. The Harbinger of the Fall."
"But I am also Thanatos," he continued before anyone else could speak. "The ten years I spent sealed within Minato created a bond between us. And though the deaths of the twelve shadows drew me out of him so that I could fulfill my original purpose, the bond we shared gave birth to a power within him. And that power manifested as the Persona you call Thanatos."
"Death, Thanatos, or even Ryoji Mochizuki, all of those are merely names I bore at one point or another. But regardless of what you call me, it does not change anything. This is my true form."
"The hell?" Junpei gasped out. "Then why do you look like that now? That's not what you looked like when we fought just now Ryoji-kun."
"Just now?" he repeated, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You must be mistaken. We have not fought in recent times."
"What are you talking about?" asked Akihiko, growing agitated by the numerous developments. "Just before whatever it was that knocked us out, we were fighting on top of Tartarus. Even if we've been asleep for a while, I doubt it's been that long that you've forgotten."
Again, Thanatos chuckled, though Mitsuru noted that even now he showed no signs of aggression or malice. "If by long you mean centuries, millennia even, then yes, it has been that long."
"Ce… Centuries? But… how?" asked the leader of SEES, eyes wide in shock like everyone else. Though to her credit, Aigis kept her fingers aimed at Thanatos. "We couldn't possibly have been asleep for that long."
"But you have," he replied patiently. "And I've been watching over you all since the day you were sealed away in this room. While I do not know exactly how much time has passed, I can easily say it's been centuries since that day."
"Wait a minute, someone put us in here?" Yukari asked, finding it hard to believe that what happened to them was done on purpose. "Why? And if it's been hundreds or thousands of years, why do we still look like this for that matter? How are we even alive?"
Thanatos remained silent but looked at all of them in turn. He could see the shock and confusion on their faces. It was expected, given their current circumstances. But beneath all that, the incarnation of Death could see the resolve and determination that led them to challenge him atop Tartarus even knowing that winning was an impossibility. And though the part of him that became human through his bond with Minato Arisato has long since faded, the memories of those precious days still lingered. More importantly, the insight he gained into humans was still present within him.
"That is a long tale," he finally said after a long bout of silence. "And with all the questions you undoubtedly have it will be an even longer discussion." He turned away from them and floated to a vacant wall, directly opposite Chidori's casket. "Come. This way. I am sure you would rather be comfortable for this discussion."
"You're going to tell us everything?" Mitsuru asked with just a hint of doubt, but began to slowly follow after him.
Seeing their leader moving, everyone else did the same, their pace just as slow as Mitsuru's. It was only Aigis, due to her not being human, who moved at a normal pace. Her first instinct was to stay in between the group and Thanatos should he turn on them. But another part of her wanted to stay closer to the team, to her friends, just in case one of them needed help.
In the end, the latter part won out and she moved along with the rest of SEES, ready to aid them should they need it.
Ahead of them, Thanatos stopped right in front of the wall then reached out to touch it. The crystals in the entire room seemed to pulse briefly before the crystals making up the wall shrunk down into the ground. "Yes," answered Thanatos as a passageway, also made up of crystals, was revealed from behind the wall. "There is no reason to keep anything from you. Rather, you will need to know everything given your current circumstances."
Before Thanatos could lead them into the passageway, Junpei spoke up from behind the entire group. "Hey wait, what about Chidori?" he asked, glancing behind him at the still closed casket. "We can't just leave here alone, can we?"
"I do not know why she hasn't awakened yet," came the reply. "But rest assured, she will be fine. Just like the rest of you, she was sealed away within the crystal. To answer your earlier question, Yukari, so long as the seal is intact, those sealed within are essentially frozen. They do not need to eat or even breathe to survive, and even time cannot affect them. Only once the seal is broken will it open to release its occupant."
"So then, can't we just break the seal ourselves?" Junpei asked, but followed anyway when Thanatos entered the crystal hallway. Once the last of them left the room, the few who looked back watched in fascination as the crystals grew back into place.
Thanatos shook his head, though none of them could see it from their places behind him. "The crystals cannot be destroyed by conventional means. Even if you could access your Personas, you would need to utilize your strongest attacks all at once if you wish to have the slightest hope of damaging it."
"Moreover, while waking up would trigger the seal and release you from within, the opposite does not hold true." Sensing the question before it came, he continued on. "I do not know what caused you to awaken, but unless the same thing happens to Chidori, she will remain asleep even if you managed to release her. And then you would have to care for her like you would a comatose patient as she will now need sustenance to survive."
"Damn, that sucks," muttered Junpei, understanding but definitely not liking why they had to leave Chidori behind.
"Don't worry. I will know immediately should she awaken. And when she does, I will do everything I can to ensure that you are the first person to greet her."
"Thanks man." Junpei paused, and beside him, Fuuka could sense his hesitation as he spoke once more. "So uh… Is it… Do we… Can we… you know, still call you Ryoji?" Thanatos stopped at that question, then glanced over his shoulder. The coffins hovering behind him covered his view but Junpei could see Thanatos's empty eyes gazing at him from the gaps between the coffins. "I mean, even now I can't help but think that under all that you're still Ryoji. The same troublesome guy who can't help but hit on every woman in the room."
Everyone paused as they listened to Junpei's few but meaningful words, then glanced up to Thanatos to gauge his reaction. But with his face mostly hidden, if there even was one under that beak-like mask, and his eyes empty, it was near impossible to say what the incarnation of death was thinking.
Feeling uncomfortable with the growing tension, Fuuka spoke, her voice soft but no less resolute. "Junpei-kun is right." Her words drew the attention of Thanatos but her face showed little in the way of fear. Her expression was soft and kind, but her eyes revealed the depths of her determination. "You were our friend before we learned the truth. But I don't think learning that truth should change anything."
"Yeah man," Junpei continued, inwardly grateful to Fuuka for her assistance. "I mean, you told us how to get to Nyx in the first place. If you didn't I dunno what we would have done."
"We probably would have waited at the dorm while Fuuka scanned the city like we usually do," Yukari replied in a seemingly uncaring tone. "Still, I agree. As annoying as you were, you were a good friend. Besides, it's not like friends don't fight from time to time."
The cap wearing boy let out a short laugh at the brunette's last statement. "Yeah, you should have seen me with Minato back when this all started," he said, remembering the enmity he carried for their field leader. "I pretty much hated his guts back then. He never let it get to him though."
"He probably didn't think you were worth the effort of getting mad," commented Yukari.
"Ooh, so does that mean you think I'm worth it?" he asked with a grin, all but waggling his eyebrows at her.
"Wha-" Yukari looked taken aback, visibly recoiling in shock at Junpei's comeback. "What are you… That's not what I… Ugh… Just… just shut up, Stupei."
Despite the use of the hated nickname, Junpei just laughed it off, Fuuka giggling at the byplay between the two friends, as he turned to Thanatos once more. "See?" he said to the menacing figure hovering before them all.
But despite their words, Thanatos seemed unmoved from what they could see. Instead, he turned to the other, still silent, members of the group. "And what of the rest of you? The three of them befriended me as Ryoji Mochizuki but the rest of you cannot say the same. How do you feel about this?"
Mitsuru, Akihiko, and Ken glanced at each other, gauging each other by the expression on their faces. It was Mitsuru who first turned to address Thanatos. "As you say, we did not know you as a human. At least, not as well as the juniors," she began. "Normally I would be wary of your intentions but as Iori-kun and Yukari-san have stated, without your help we would not have known how to confront Nyx. So for now, I will withhold my judgment on the matter until I have a better understanding of the situation."
"Not much for me to say," Akihiko said once he was certain Mitsuru was done speaking. "We only really hung around each other once and that was during the school trip in Kyoto." Off to the side, Junpei openly winced at the reminder of their little hot springs adventure and their narrow escape from Mitsuru's infamous 'executions'. "But I don't think you mean us any harm, at least not right now. I'm with Mitsuru on this. For now I'll trust you, but I'll be keeping an eye on you nonetheless."
Ken simply shrugged. "I didn't really know you but Junpei-san, Yukari-san and Fuuka-san seem to trust you, and Kirijo-senpai and Sanada-senpai are willing to give you a chance," he said with a nod, indicating he would do the same.
Koromaru simply barked at Thanatos, but his relaxed body language spoke enough for him that the group did not need Aigis to translate for them as she usually did. As for Aigis herself…
"I do not trust you." While it was expected, her words still made everyone turn to the mechanical maiden. Her body was alert, and poised to attack or defend as necessary even though none of her weapons were aimed at Thanatos. But then, with her Evoker built within her systems her greatest weapon was always ready to be used. "Despite what you have done for us so far, you are still a threat. In the end, you are still the bringer of death. I do not know what has changed, but until I am certain that your presence will not bring about the Fall or any other tragedy, I will always see you as a threat."
"H-hey, come on Aigis," Junpei began, uncertain as to how to placate the android. "Don't you think that-"
"I see," responded Thanatos, cutting off Junpei's words. "In that case," he continued, turning away from them the proceeding down the hallway once more. "Do as you will."
Aigis nodded and followed after him, this time keeping herself between him and the group. Now that they were recovering, there was less of a need for her physical assistance. The rest of the group followed after, the juniors lagging behind mostly due to Junpei.
"So uh… does that mean…"
Yukari sighed. "Yes Junpei, I think he means you can still call him Ryoji if you want."
Junpei sighed as well, though this time out of relief. "That's good. I mean, I'd feel weird calling him Thanatos or even Death."
"I know what you mean," said Fuuka, walking alongside Junpei. "It doesn't seem like he intends to hurt us in any way so addressing him as anything but a friend would feel strange. But still… the way he's talking is… different."
"Different? What do you mean?"
"It's almost as if…" Fuuka was interrupted when she noticed that those in front of them had stopped and that Thanatos was once again hovering before a crystal wall.
As with the previous wall, Thanatos touched the wall, which pulsed with light, and the way opened up once more. This time, behind the wall was a small circular room, once more made of crystals. But unlike everything else they've seen thus far, the floor of the room was not made of crystals. Instead, it was made of polished metal. Thanatos did not seem surprised by this and simply made to hover over the center of the metal floor.
Everyone followed him but their curious looks were telling. And then, once the crystal wall was in place once more, the floor shuddered and moved.
Yukari was the first to voice her thoughts. "What the… An elevator?"
"So it would seem," Mitsuru replied calmly. "Though I do wonder where we are. It's certainly not a Kirijo facility. The crystals aside, I'm not aware of any facility this deep underground." The latter statement was made once she noticed how high they were ascending. "Then again, if it really has been thousands of years then new facilities may have been built."
"I do not know if it can be considered a facility," said Thanatos. "But, I guarantee you that it is connected to the Kirijo. Still, we are almost there. The room we were in was not built that far underground."
Indeed, they began to see less and less of the crystals as it was replaced by steel walls. And high above them, they could see a growing light as the ceiling lights grew closer the more they ascended. In mere seconds, the platform reached its destination. Before them, two metal, sliding doors, opened as it would with any elevator and allowed them to exit. The sight that greeted them, stopped them in their tracks.
"What?"
"Hey… am I… seeing things?" Junpei breathed out, looking at their surroundings. "This isn't some hallucination, right?"
"If you're hallucinating then I guess we all are," replied Akihiko, almost as surprised as Junpei.
"But… how?" voice Ken. "If it's really been hundreds of years then there's no way this place would still be here."
Thanatos chuckled, amused by their expected reactions. "I assure you, what you are seeing is very real. Just as you were all preserved in time, so too was this place similarly preserved by the same power that sealed you away."
No one seemed to hear his explanation, however, as they were too busy exploring the room they were in, checking everything and touching everything as though verifying what their eyes were telling them. In short order, they had all reconvened and taken a seat on familiar sofas to one side of the room. The looks on their faces said it all. There was nothing to say. This place, was without a doubt the same place they called home and headquarters for the better part of a year.
The Iwatodai Dormitory.
"Well, I personally don't see any problem with accepting them here but, as you are aware, I cannot simply accept them despite your claims. It would certainly help if their transcripts were not lost with the destruction of their home. Though, as with any other applicant, I will give them a chance to prove themselves."
Sitting behind the desk, was a middle-aged man with tousled gray hair and small, shaded spectacles resting on the bridge of his nose. He wore an open, dark-green suit, a buttoned vest of the same color, and green pants, just a hint lighter than the rest of his clothing. Around his neck was a leaf-green scarf with a purple, cross-shaped pin.
With his elbows resting on top of his desk, and the fingers of both hands intertwined in front of his face, Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy carefully regarded the woman in front of him. She was... unique, to say the least with her short white hair, golden-colored irises and pale skin. She wore a sleeveless dress that ended at the knees, deep blue in color and with a high collar. The sides of the dress were a slightly darker shade of blue, and running down the front were five sets of concentric circles, alternating a black and blue with a dark yellow button at the center of each one.
Her hands were clad in blue gloves of similar coloration, reaching halfway up her forearm with a darker shade of blue near the end. Cradled between the hand and elbow of her left arm was a thick, aged tome, one that she had not set down even when she sat on the chair they had provided for her. On her head, resting atop of it due to its somewhat small size in relation to her head, was a blockish-looking cap, again in a deep blue color with the sides a shade darker. And before she had sat down, Ozpin noted the knee-length boots she wore, again bearing the same color scheme.
"Of course," nodded the woman. "Their education is vastly different, despite similarities in some core subjects, but I have made sure to procure copies of the curriculum of various schools along with the necessary educational material to ensure they do not fall behind in terms of studies. As for their combat capabilities, I can guarantee that their abilities are unlike any you have ever seen."
There was no deceit in the woman's words, at least none that he could detect. But the way her golden eyes looked at him and the way her smile seemed genuine yet empty unnerved him. In all his time as Headmaster, or even as a Huntsman, Ozpin could say that he had never met a person like her before. Not to mention her very presence.
Something about the woman was, quite simply, otherworldly. He could sense, though barely, that the power she had was great, far greater, than most Huntsmen. Even then, he was certain she was holding her power back. It worried yet fascinated him as he wondered just how powerful she was.
Still, she did not seem to bear him, or the school and its students, any ill will. Moreover, the knowledge she revealed, that of a small island nation far off the eastern coast of Mistral, was simply fascinating. To think that a small island had survived on its own against the Creatures of the Grimm without contact with any of the four kingdoms. But at the same time, it was disheartening to hear that recent events led to its complete, and utter destruction. The loss of an entire culture, of an entire nation and its people, was nothing less than a tragedy.
The only consolation was that this woman, along with eight children and one other, a Shadow she had said, had survived. Though he did wonder what it meant to be a Shadow. 'Their version of Huntsmen and Huntresses perhaps?' he wondered. But, in lieu of more important matters, he chose to leave that for another time.
"That would certainly be helpful," he said in response to her words. "Still, in the end it will be up to them to prove that they are capable enough for this school."
The woman chuckled, her laughter coming out as both amused, but slightly sinister, to Ozpin's ears. "I have no doubt they will succeed. They stood defiantly in the face of the inevitable, sought to stop an unstoppable force. And even knowing they could not possibly obtain victory, they fought with the intent to win. They may not have won, but they did not fail. After all, it is no small feat to overcome Death itself when it stands before you."
Ozpin did not know what to make of the woman's words. Certainly, the way she described it was an apt way of describing a Grimm assault, especially when it was enough to overcome an entire nation in a short amount of time. But something in her words made him think that there was more to it than that. Even the way she said death made him think she was speaking of a physical thing, rather than the metaphorical. A Grimm perhaps? One that they had named Death?
'Such an ominous name,' he couldn't help but think. Many Grimm, especially the most ancient and powerful ones, have earned an actual name beyond that of its particular species. But most names were not as direct as Death. 'It's as though they had given up any hope of killing it by naming it after something that none can escape. What manner of Grimm is it to have earned such a terrifying appellation?'
The woman then spoke once more, ignorant of, or possibly ignoring, the feelings she evoked within the Headmaster. "Unless there is anything else, I believe I should return to them. The initiation is in a little over half-a-year, I believe. I will need to help them prepare as well as make other preparations for their departure and arrival."
Ozpin nodded, mind still occupied by the things he had just learned in a short amount of time. He bid her farewell but not long after she left, he realized that she had not once given her name. Had she done so on purpose? If so, for what reason? Still, despite everything he could safely say she held no malice for him or the school. But there was no way he would soon forget the white-haired, golden-eyed woman dressed in blue.
"What is the last thing you remember?"
The members of SEES carefully considered Thanatos's question, thinking back on that fateful day that they fought him as Nyx's avatar.
The memory was not as clear as they wanted, despite it happening only recently, from their perspective at least. They ascended to the top of Tartarus, encountering and defeating Jin and Takaya, members of Strega and Chidori's former friends, if they could be considered that. Once at the top, they encountered Ryoji in a different form and proceeded to fight and defeat him. But even after defeating him, they failed to stop him.
That was when their memories became blurry and fragmented. But the group did agree on certain things. Ryoji, Nyx's avatar, connecting with the moon. The moon opening like some sort of gigantic machine resembling an eye. An oppressive power bearing down on them and forcing them on their knees, completely helpless. The sight of Minato, their leader in all but name, suddenly standing, seemingly effortlessly, and ascending to the moon despite their pleas. And then, nothing.
After hearing their recollections, Thanatos, hovering in front of the living room's window while the members of SEES sat on the sofas, nodded. "I see. At the very least your memories seem to be complete for the most part."
"What you saw was Minato ascending to confront Nyx directly," he began to explain, starting from what they last remembered. "I myself do not know what happened, I was not there. One moment the Fall was upon us all, the next things changed. A tragedy, one that I never expected, happened."
"The moon broke apart, destroyed by an unseen force. And then the Dark Hour itself disappeared." Then, seeing the hopeful look on their faces, he amended his statement. "Or rather than disappeared, it was integrated into the day itself."
"Integrated?" asked Mitsuru. "Do you mean to say that…"
"Yes. The Dark Hour and the world itself became as one. As though every hour of the day was now the Dark Hour." The shock and outrage was to be expected. How could it not be? The one thing they had fought to stop had now become part of the world itself, a perpetual Dark Hour. But still, it was something they needed to know. More importantly, it was now a fact. Something they would need to live with as well.
"But what about the Shadows?" As their leader, Mitsuru took it upon herself to ask the more pressing questions, despite of what she felt about the matter. "If the world itself is now in a constant state similar to the Dark Hour, does that mean that Shadows now roam the world at all times?"
"Yes," Thanatos replied without hesitation, his response drawing looks of horror from the group. "But you need not fear. From what I have been told, with the merging of the Dark Hour and the real world came a forced awakening for all mankind. What was once a rare occurrence is now commonplace. Where once Persona-users were rare, now every man and woman in the world holds the potential. They need only choose to utilize that potential to awaken to their power."
Horror was immediately replaced by awe, and even hope as they realized the gravity of his words. An entire world full of Persona-users, all needing only the will to fight. But something Thanatos said caught Mitsuru's attention. "So it is not something you have personally witnessed?"
"Correct." If he was surprised that she had caught that small detail, he did not show any indication. "There is one other, one who is connected to Minato, who is roaming the world. She is searching for something. She has not told me what it is, only that it is to help Minato. And when she stumbled upon this place, she made the decision to help you as well. I cannot leave, I could not risk leaving you undefended to possibly be found. But she could."
"She left soon after she and I met, but returns within a year bearing news of the world outside these walls. She has watched over the centuries as mankind fought against the Shadows, although now they are called Creatures of the Grimm, or simply Grimm."
"Grimm," many of them stated, as though testing the word on their lips.
Thanatos nodded. "More than just that, she also bore news of the power that mankind has awakened. Of those who first awakened their power in the face of the tragedy, many of them awakened Personas like yourselves. But a few awakened something different. A power, born within their own bodies."
"Some gained power over the elements like fire or ice, others gained enhanced physical capabilities such as speed and strength. And as centuries passed, more and more of these powers emerged as Persona-users became rare and, eventually, completely gone."
"Gone? Do you mean to say there are no more Persona-users?"
"If there are, they are incredibly rare. But I was told that the powers humanity wielded, that which they refer to as a Semblance at the moment, is now a part of themselves rather than a separate force that comes from within like your Personas. Though there are some that manifest outside their bodies rather than within."
"Hold on," interrupted Yukari. "As interesting as this is, there's still a question you haven't answered." Thanatos turned to face her and she took this as a sign to continue. "You've told us that the Dark Hour and the real world have combined and how the world changed. But what about us? What happened after Minato-kun left to fight Nyx? How and who sealed us away? And why? And more importantly, what happened to Minato-kun? What happened to our leader?"
There were murmurs of agreement from the others. Now that she had brought it up, they realized that Thanatos had not yet made mention of their circumstances nor had he mentioned their friend and leader. And though Yukari had referred to Minato as their leader, Mitsuru did not feel bothered. Though she was the official leader of the group, even she had come to see Minato as the 'real' leader.
Never mind his role as field leader. He was the one who truly held them together throughout the year. He was silent and rarely spoke, but he was present when needed. He was apathetic and uncaring, but as time passed he grew to care for them all and did his best to show it through his actions and, though rare, his words.
"I do not know the entire story," Thanatos began. "But, when he and I last spoke, he told me what he could."
"You spoke to him?" Mitsuru asked.
"Yes, though his time on earth was short and thus he could not explain everything."
His words, however, had a profound effect on the team. "Do you mean to say," Aigis began, speaking for the first time since stating her distrust for the Shadow. "That Minato-san is dead?"
Everyone waited with bated for Thanatos's response. And though he had answered barely a second after Aigis asked the question they all wanted to ask, that one second seemed like an eternity. Did they want him to confirm their friend's death? Or would it have been better to not know and have hope? Regardless of what they wanted, the question had been asked and the answer followed not long after.
"Yes."
That one word crushed them all and any spark of hope they had disappeared. But before they could even begin to feel anything, Thanatos spoke again.
"And no."
Was that hope they felt amidst all the confusion? It surprised them just how much those two words affected them all despite not knowing what he meant by those words. Alive yet not? Or was it more accurate to say dead yet not? Either way, they all withheld their questions and waited for Thanatos to explain.
February 01, 2010
Minato gazed up at the looming form of Thanatos. But he knew that the being before him was not his Persona. First of all, he did not summon him into the world, willingly or otherwise. Second was the knowledge that, despite bearing the same form, there was one being, one person, who had once referred to this as their true form.
"Ryoji."
"Minato," greeted Ryoji, his soft, mechanical voice, greeting his friend as amicably as he could. "I did not expect to see you again. Let alone here."
Minato nodded before returning his gaze to the building before it. It was a familiar sight, one that he returned to at the end of every day since the beginning of the school year.
"What happened?" Ryoji asked, knowing his friend rarely offered information unless it was absolutely necessary to do so.
"I failed," came Minato's answer, his tone flat and monotonous but Ryoji could hear the underlying emotion. "As you said, Nyx cannot be defeated. We all knew that, but we had to try."
"And yet here you are," he responded. "And though the world has fallen into greater chaos, humanity yet lives. In a way, you succeeded."
"In exchange, I made the entire world aware of the danger that threatens them. And if what I sensed is correct, the Shadows are more active than ever and in greater numbers outside of Tartarus."
There was more. Ryoji could feel it. Though the part of him that had become human for a brief time had already faded, the connection he had forged with Minato still lingered. And he doubted it would ever truly disappear. It would fade but not disappear. A voice muted by distance and barriers, but never silenced.
In time the part of him that was still Ryoji Mochizuki would fade and he would, once again, become Thanatos in entirety, though with the lingering bond to his friend. But until then, he would continue to exist as Ryoji Mochizuki for as long as he could.
And part of that would be spent supporting his first friend. He did not need to press Minato. He would speak in time. And if things were as urgent as it seemed, Minato would not make him wait long.
The wait was not long at all.
"Nothing worked as I tried to fight Nyx. Neither my sword nor my Personas. And the only thing that kept me from falling was the thought that everybody was counting on me, the thought that if I failed everything would be for nothing, the thought that everyone I cared for would die if I failed."
"I wanted to kill Nyx, to stop her from killing everyone I cared about. But as I fought, I felt it. Or rather, I didn't feel it. Her malice. Despite what she was trying to do, I couldn't feel it. Nyx held no malice towards us. All she was doing was fulfilling her purpose."
"But I could still feel it, a strong desire for death. And it was coming from humanity itself. The only reason Nyx came to bring about the Fall was become humanity wanted it. And as long as they wanted it, Nyx would deliver it. And so, if I couldn't stop Nyx from bringing about the Fall, I decided that if humanity's wishes never reached her, she would not bring about the Fall. And so I tried to seal away humanity's wishes for death, containing them so that they would not reach her."
"But something went wrong. I don't know if it was because Nyx had already emerged, if humanity's desire to die rather than fight was too strong, or if it was something else entirely that I am not aware of, but this is the result. The Dark Hour combined with the real world, and along with it the Shadows. Or perhaps all I did was bring about the Fall in a different, more violent, manner."
"You could not have known," consoled Ryoji. "No one could have known that things would end this way. But regardless of the outcome, all we can do is continue to move forward. To do otherwise would be an insult to the efforts of SEES thus far."
"'I chooseth this fate, of mine own free will,'" spoke Minato, quoting the single line, the single stipulation, of a contract he signed when everything began.
For a moment the two remained silent, simply gazing up at the familiar sight of the Iwatodai Dormitory. In the end, it was Minato who broke the silence.
"I sealed them away," he stated simply as though he were speaking of something inconsequential.
"Who?"
"SEES."
Ryoji's hulking form spun in the air to face Minato. If he could have, his face would have reflected his utter shock. "What? But why? Why would you seal them away now of all times?"
"Because," Minato began, his expression visibly growing despondent. "I don't want them to see my failure."
"Minato, they-"
"Even if they would not blame me for this, it does not change the fact that my actions resulted in this."
"Then what will you do? You will not run. I know you won't. So will you fight by yourself?"
Minato shook his head. "No. Or rather, I can't. Humanity is still reaching out to Nyx, still calling out for death, now more than ever. Right now I can still hold it back as I am but as the Shadows begin to spread, more and more will certainly wish for death, even unconsciously. Soon, I will need to devote all my power into keeping Nyx and humanity's wishes separate."
"Then…"
"The Kirijo said that the Dark Hour can only be experienced by those who have the Potential, even if not all of them can awaken a Persona. They were mistaken. Everyone is capable of summoning a Persona, that is a fact. It is simply that having the Potential, being able to enter the Dark Hour, is necessary before one can summon it. They merely need to take that one final step. That one step is what separates people like Ikutsuki, who can enter the Dark Hour, from SEES, who can both enter the Dark Hour and summon a Persona."
It took Ryoji a moment, but he understood what Minato was trying to say. "I see. So because the world and the Dark Hour have become one…"
Minato nodded. "In order for humanity to remain active, their Potentials have also been awakened, but to a smaller degree. The fact that they have not transmogrified is proof of this. But because they have, in a way, taken a shortcut, they are farther from awakening their powers than those of us who attained the Potential normally. But still, all they need is that one final push for them to awaken to their power. It will be harder, but it is possible."
"I see. So you intend to rally mankind to fight against this tragedy."
This time, the blue-haired boy shook his head. "I cannot stay long enough to do that. What I can do is show them that they can fight, that they have the power to stand and fight. Once I do, it will be up to them to continue to fight as well as spread hope to others."
"So you intend to allow humanity to fight for their future, just like you and SEES have done."
"There is no use saving them if, the next time a tragedy happens, they falter once more. They have to stand up for themselves, to believe in themselves. If not, then humanity will never stop wishing for the easy escape of death."
"And SEES?"
Minato sighed as he raised a hand towards the building, palm facing up. Motes of bluish-white light gather over his palm then gathered into a single point. When the light faced, a card hovered over his palm. "Hopefully," he began, feeling the power that literally sat in the palm of his hand. "Everything will be resolved by the time they awaken. They've lost enough. If I can spare them this much, then I'll gladly face whatever scolding they have for me for taking away their choice."
Ryoji chuckled, imagining that very event happening. "Even if it means being Executed?"
Minato visibly shuddered, adding to Ryoji's amusement, but he smiled afterwards, a small, fond smile. "Even so. I chose to always face the consequences of my actions. Even if it happens to be the consequences for performing the unforgivable act of taking away someone's ability to choose, of forcing a choice not of their making upon them."
And so, with nothing left to say, Minato crushed the card in his hand, causing it to break into glass-like shards that glowed in the same bluish-white light that formed it. The shards spiraled in the air, rising from his palm, then moving to surround the dorm, more and more shards appearing from the point above his now clenched fist. And when the shards surrounded the entirety of the dorm, they settled and glowed bright enough to blind Minato and Ryoji. When the light faded, the dorm was still in the same place but it now possessed a soft blue glow.
With one last glance at the place he called home for the better part of the year, Minato turned away and began to leave. Only to stop when he realized that Ryoji was still standing in front of the dorm.
"Ryoji?"
Ryoji did not respond, but Minato knew he was there. And so he waited. He did not have to wait long as Ryoji soon spoke. "Minato," he began, turning to face his blue-haired friend. "Allow me to stay, and watch over them."
February 01, XX13
"Before we parted ways, he told me to pass on a message to you all should you awaken before the world was right again," said Thanatos as he finished his tale. "He said to tell you that he would not blame you if you chose not to fight. You have all suffered enough, sacrificed enough. And thus, though the world still faces problems, you are free to live your own lives if you so choose. But, he also knew that you would not choose to do so. Memories of fighting are still fresh from your perspective, thus a life of relative peace would be inconceivable while the fight has yet to end."
"And so, when he created the room that housed you all, he imbued those crystals with a portion of his power. Right now, since Chidori is still asleep, it serves to hide her presence from the Grimm, just as it did with you in your slumber. But when you have all awakened, its purpose will shift. Unfortunately, he did not say how. "
"Yeah, about that. Why is she here?" asked Junpei. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Chidori-chan's here, even if she doesn't exactly remember me. I'm just… surprised he actually thought to seal her up with us."
"I do not know why he brought her here," admitted Thanatos. "After we parted ways, he never returned. I can only assume he did so for your sake. I can think of no other reason for him to do so."
"Tch… that guy's way too cool for his own good," Junpei said with a chuckle. But the way his voice hitched in the middle of his statement told of his feelings.
"There are many more things left to discuss," said the incarnation of death. "But for now, take some time to process what I have just told you. I can answer any questions you have about what we've spoken of thus far, but anything regarding other things can wait until she arrives."
"She?" asked Mitsuru. "Oh, you mean..."
He nodded. "Yes, the other person I spoke of. I informed her of your awakening as soon as I felt the first of the seals release. If you are to integrate with the world outside, regardless of your intentions, you will need her help. I have been here with you all since the start and thus I know little in the ways of the world at present. More than that, if you wish for the power to fight, to surpass the power which you once wielded, then her help will be instrumental."
"Because she has been outside," continued Mitsuru. "Watching as the world changed. I understand. But, how can she help with our powers? More importantly, how is she still alive after so long? Is she a Shadow like you?"
Thanatos shook his head. And for some reason, they could sense his amusement. "A Shadow? Far from it. But I can say for certain that she is not human. More than just her longevity, the power she wields puts her above even me in terms of strength." That statement definitely got their attention.
"What do you mean?" It was Aigis who asked the question this time. "What sort of being could hold power that surpasses even Death itself?"
"Not Death itself, but simply my own personal strength," explained Thanatos. "When we fought on the summit of Tartarus, you defeated me. She, if she so wished, could destroy my physical form with one strike, one blow."
The members of SEES looked at each other with apprehension, wondering whether it was a good idea to meet such a being. It was, once again, Mitsuru who took the lead. "And she can help us grow stronger? She can help us regain and surpass our former power?"
Thanatos chuckled again. Only this time, his laughter brought about a sense of foreboding. "While I do not know what she is, I can say this. I am an incarnation of Death. All things related to Death fall within my power. But her…" he chuckled once more, sending a shiver down their spines. "The closest I can think of to explain what she is, it that she is an incarnation of Power."
And that's the first chapter everyone.
As I said, I'm sorry for taking so long with this. But, understandably (hopefully), real life comes first.
I hope I did well with the reveal of SEES and the revelation of how I intended to bring the Persona 3 world come together with the RWBY world. And now the summary makes more sense, doesn't it?
The idea for this came almost as soon as I saw the similarities and possible connections the first time I watched RWBY. The shattered moon (Nyx's manifestation was shown by the moon opening like a machine), the Grimm and their ability to sense negative emotions (the Shadows and how they are brought about by the negative emotions of humans. In P4 shadows are also born from similar feelings, that of a person's denial of self) and, Semblance and Aura (Personas. Auras, and Semblances by extension, are manifestations of a person's soul. Persona is a power born from the soul. The only difference being one manifests in a form separate from the wielder).
I've also played Persona 3, Persona 3 FES The Answer, and Persona 3 Portable. I've read the manga, and watched the movies, though I have yet to watch the fourth one. Most of this is based off the game, but a few details will come from the manga and movies so keep an eye out for those. They're not major changes, but just a few things that, for me, make more sense.
Chidori was a, somewhat, late addition to this chapter. As I was writing, I was going with the thought that eight was a good number as that would mean I did not need to make an OC to add to the story for the purpose of attending Beacon. Then, when I was writing their awakening, I realized that one of the eight was Koromaru.
Now, Ken attending Beacon is a stretch. As it is, he'll need a lot of help in terms of schoolwork. Not to mention they're still speaking in Japanese, save for Mitsuru and Akihiko who have a decent grasp of English (In the original Japanese release, they spoke in English as opposed to French like in the US release.)
But I doubt Ozpin would accept a dog as an official student, which Koromaru would need to be in order to be counted as a member of the team. I could not add Elizabeth (Pixie Megidolaon anyone?) and even in canon, Ryoji mentioned that his human form would not last long. Then I remembered, there was one more candidate for them. Chidori.
True, she lost Medea when she revived Junpei, Medea fusing with Hermes, and became an ordinary person, memories of the Dark Hour and everything related to it disappearing, after her 'death'. But now that the world has entered a perpetual Dark Hour, followed by ordinary people awakening the potential, Chidori has a second chance. So though she was a late addition to the plan, it works out anyway.
Anyway, the next chapter brings the group to Beacon for the initiation. Their meeting with Elizabeth, along with their training under her and Thanatos, will be revealed mostly through conversations and a flashback or two for major events.
So look forward to seeing SEES and their return to action as well as how their Personas, their Semblance in the eyes of Remnant, will be received by a certain group of students and the school, especially since all eight of them have the same Semblance with the exception of its appearance and powers. Not to mention Koromaru having the same power. He's gonna be there of course. Can't leave out Koro-chan. Besides, he always did want to go to school. XP
Anyway, here's me signing off for now.
Please let me know what you think about it all, characters, story, writing style, anything at all. I look forward to hearing your opinions everyone.
Until next time.
