Chapter 2: The trickster's awakening
Twila started to wake up, and saw that she, her brother and the boy were in a dungeon with chains "Are you alright?" The boy asked.
"Yes, What about you two?" Twila asks.
"Yup, I'm fine." the boy answered.
"Me too. More or less." Touma replied as the three took a look at their surroundings.
"Looks like this isn't a dream…." Touma said.
"Ugh, What's going on!?" The boy asked as he went up to the bars and started shaking them.
"Hey, Let us out of here! I know someone's out there!" The boy yelled as he came back to Twila and Touma "Damn it, Where are we? Some kind of TV set….?" The boy asked.
"I doubt it. They would take us outside if that were the case." Twila said until they heard tormented screams coming from the other cell.
"What was that just now…?" The boy asked as Touma looked around the cell.
"Hey guys, I think these chains look very real." Touma said as Twila felt them with him.
"He's right, these are real." Twila said in horror as the three started to hear footsteps.
"Huh? Do you two hear that?" The boy said as a knight from earlier came to their cell.
"Be glad that your punishment has been decided upon. The charge is "Unlawful entry". Thus, you will be sentenced to death." The guard said as the boy simply looked at them in shock.
"D-death!?" Twila cried in horror.
"No one here is allowed to do as they please in my castle." a familiar voice said as they all saw Alice, the girl that was in Mr. Kamoshida's car and her hair was pink with blue streaks instead of light green, and was wearing gaudy makeup and her eyes were yellow.
Alice was wearing a provocative dominatrix outfit. She has two psychedelic eye decors on her back as her buns and wears a pair of high heels. She also had a purple crown on her head with a yellow, glowing heart on top of it.
"Huh? Wait… Is that you Alice?" The boy asks.
"Wait, that's Alice!? She looks nothing like what i saw in the teacher's car!" Touma pointed out.
"I thought it would be some petty thief, But to think it'd be you, Yuuki… Are you trying to disobey me again? It looks like you haven't learned your lesson at all, Huh?" Alice said as Twila and Touma looked at Yuuki.
"Oh, and it looks like you brought two friends with you this time… because you can't do anything for yourself." Alice said as Yuuki's face was starting to be filled with rage.
"This isn't funny Alice! Let us out!" Twila demanded.
"Oh… I didn't know that one of your friends was another beautiful girl. Is that really how you speak to a queen? It seems you don't understand the position you're in at all." Alice said as she had one of the guards open the door to the cell and she walked towards Twila with a face full of anger.
"Not only did you sneak into my castle, you committed a crime of insulting me- The queen! The punishment for that, is death." Alice said as the guards walked up to Alice and Twila shaking in fear.
"It's time for an execution! Take her out!" Alice ordered as the guards walked up to Twila and pinned her to the wall.
"S-Stop it…!" Yuuki couldn't say a word because he was paralyzed with fear.
"...God Dammit…!" Touma said as he tried to move his legs but he couldn't but Mishima was able to push one of the guards away.
"I'm not dying like this! Come on! Grab your sister and let's run!" Before Yuuki could try to run, One of the guards came and punched him in the guts causing Mishima to fall down onto the floor.
"Yuuki! Sis!" Touma calls out as he tries to move one of the guards.
"Brother, forget about us! Leave and get help!" Twila said.
"She's right, These guys are serious!" Yuuki said as Alice laughed.
"Running away, are we? What a heartless friend and Brother you are." Alice said with an evil smirk on her face.
"He isn't a friend..." Yuuki said as Touma looked at Mishima and his sister with a worried look.
"Go! Get out of here, Brother!" Twila shouts as Alice laughs again.
"What's the matter? Too scared to run away?" Alice asks as Touma turns to her with a face of unrivaled rage "Hmph, pathetic scum like you isn't worth my time… I'll focus on this one's execution." Alice said as she looked towards Twila.
Twila was held up by the guards and they stripped her into her underwear and bra, and soon Alice walked toward her with a sadistic look in her face "Take this!" Alice started to punch Twila with no hold barred, Twila screaming in agony "Little pig!" Alice continued to punch Twila, every scream of pain escaped her mouth "Squeal for me, You little bitch!" Alice said as the last punch knocked Twila down to the ground.
Alice soon spitted on Twila "Hmph, Where'd that energy from earlier go?" Alice asks as the guard threw Twila into the corner of the cell "A bitch like you isn't worth beating." Alice said as Twila struggled to stand up and Mishima was being pinned down by one of the guards "I'll have you killed right now." Alice said.
"Have you lost your goddamn mind!?" Touma said.
"Hm…?" Alice turned around to look at Touma "What? Don't you dare tell me you don't know who i am." Alice said as she took a good look at Touma's stern face "That look in your eyes irritates me!" Alice yelled as she kicked Touma to the wall painfully "Hold him there... After the bitch and the peasant, it's his turn to die." Alice said as the guards pinned Touma to the wall while Twila started to cry.
"No please! I don't want to die!" Twila started to grovel as Alice laughed evilly when Touma saw a blue butterfly and heard femine a voice.
This is truly an unjust game. Your chances of winning are almost none. But if my voice is reaching you, there may yet be a possibility open to you When Touma heard that the Blue Butterfly disappear and he then heard a different voice. A masculinly gentlemen voice.
What's the matter...? Are you simply going to watch? Are forsaking both the boy and your sister to save yourself? Touma looked around to see where the voice was coming from. Death awaits them if you do nothing. Was your previous decision a mistake then? Touma realized that he was talking about saving his sister from that man.
"No. It wasn't!" Touma growled as he started to struggle from the guards grips when he saw Twila being held up by a guard and pointing his sword while the voice continued to talk.
Very well, I have heeded your resolve. The voice said as Touma's eyes turned yellow and felt immense pain in his head that he started to scream Vow to me. I am Thou, Thou art i… Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice! Call upon my name, and release thy rage! The voice said as Touma screamed in agony Show me the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, Though thou be chained to hell itself! The voice said as Touma glared at Alice.
"Execute her!" Alice ordered until,
"That is enough!" Touma shouted.
"What was that...?" Alice asks in shock as she and the guard turn to Touma, letting go of Twila "You desire to be killed that much…? Fine!" Alice said as she motioned the guard to hit Touma with the shield and hold him in place with it.
"B-Brother…!" Twila said as Touma lays on the wall with his eyes closed and the guard was about to slice his head off with the sword the guard had but then a huge gust of wind came causing the guards back away a bit while everyone else shielded their eyes from the wind but when everyone opened their eyes they all saw that Touma had a black mask with gold lining around it.
"What the-?" Touma had trouble taking it off, almost as if it was glued to his face and he ripped it off with blood dripping out with the pull while screaming.
But when he looked at Alice, His eyes changed from chocolate brown to golden yellow and soon he was consumed by blue flames with new clothing forming in the flames and a demonic creature rising from the blue flames.
The demotic creature had a tall white top hat, a blue skin face that had a monocle and an eye that was glowing red. It was wearing a white suit with a long white cape with dark blue collar shirt with a red tie underneath. It was also holding a card that said "Wild Card".
When the blue flames cleared, Touma's clothes were completely different. Instead of wearing his shujin student uniform, Touma was wearing a black long blazer with red lining and gold buttons, grey suit vest and red button down with black slacks, black boots and red gloves.
Both the demotic beast and Touma looked at Alice menacingly as she crawled away from the scene when Twila and Mishima looked at him all confused "What in the-?" Twila asked herself as Touma looked at his clothing and then back at the creature behind him.
"I am the being who dwells in the night- Kaito Kuroba!" Kaito Kuroba said with a booming voice as Touma looked at him with amazement in his eyes.
"What the…?" Yuuki trailed off as Twila quickly picked up some of her clothing.
"What are you?" Twila asked.
"I am the rebel's soul that dwells within you. If you so desire, I shall consider granting you the power to break through this crisis." Kaito Kuroba said to Touma as Alice got up and gave Touma a look of anger.
"Then lend me your power!" Touma said to Kaito Kuroba.
"Hmph, Very well…" Kaito Kuroba said as Touma looked at Alice.
"Who the hell are you…!?" Alice asked Touma.
"I'm the guy who's gonna stop you." Touma said cooly as Alice growled.
"Guards!" Alice yelled as the two guards on the ground raised up like they were rising from the grave "Start by killing that one!" Alice ordered as the guards turned into a floating monster that had a jack-o-lantern for a head with a teal witch's hat and navy blue cloak with a white glove that was holding an antique lantern.
"You'll learn the true strength of my men!" Alice shouted but Touma was unfazed.
"Then bring it on!" Touma said as he prepared for battle and found a dagger in his jacket "Oh now this is going to be fun!" Touma said proudly.
"Detest the enemies before you! Change that animosity into power… and unleash it!" Kaito Kuroba said.
"You got it!" Touma said as he looked at the monsters with pure anger in his eyes "Kaito Kuroba, Eiha!" Touma called out as Kaito Kuroba twirled around and smashed his hand on the ground and a red and black puddle raised up and devoured one of the monsters.
"Swing you blade!" Kaito Kuroba ordered.
"With Pleasure!" Touma said as he went up to the other monster and quickly attacked it fiercely, damaging it well.
"This power of mine is yours! Kill them however you want. Run wild to your heart's content!" Kaito Kuroba said as he returned to being Touma's mask and Touma saw his chance to kill the last monster and ran up to it and stabbed it through the head and backflips to his sister's and Mishima's side.
"Are you guys okay?" Touma asks.
"We're fine but…" Yuuki started to trail off.
"Brother, Your clothes…"
"Whoa." Touma said as he took a good look at his clothing.
"What was that just now...?" Yuuki asked.
"I honestly have no idea." Twila said.
"You little…!" Alice growled angrily as Yuuki got up and tackled her down, causing her to scream in pain.
"You like that, you dirty masochist!?" Yuuki said to Alice as Twila grabbed the rest of her clothing that Alice discarded across the cell.
"Mishima, grab the keys and lock the cell!" Touma said as Twila started to put on her clothes, starting with her pantyhose and skirt.
"You mean this key!?" Yuuki asks as he grabs the keys and the three make their escape from the cell and Mishima quickly locks the cell.
"Okay, It's locked!" Yuuki declared as Alice got up and soon shaked the bars of the cells.
"Damn you!" Alice said.
"Brother, what happened in there?" Twila asks.
"Yeah…! What was that just now!? And… Your clothes…!" Yuuki asks as a blue aura like flame turns Touma's clothes back to normal.
"Whoa, It went back to normal…!?" Yuuki and Twila were surprised by all of this but were shocked to see Alice shaking the bars of the cell they were all just in.
"You bastards!" Alice shouted.
"God, this is officially the weirdest day of my life." Yuuki said.
"Yeah, join the club." Touma said but remember where there are "Anyways, let's scram! I'll lead the way!" Touma said as he and Yuuki began to run.
"Hrah!" Mishima grunted as he threw the keys away.
"Wait! I still need to put my uniform back on!" Twila yelled as she tried to run and put the rest of her clothes back on at the same time.
"Goddamn thieves…!" Alice growled through her teeth "After them! Don't let them escape!" Alice ordered as her voice echoed through the dungeons halls.
Meanwhile in the teacher faculty office, Ms. Kawakami and Mr. Hiruta looked at the clock "...It's the fourth period already." Kawakami said as she heard fussing from a small baby carrier and picked up the child.
"Hmm… Perhaps their train is running late?" Mr. Hiruta wondered as he hoped nothing happened to his new student.
Touma, Twila and Yuuki run and run until they find themselves back to where it all started and hide in an empty room "Okay, i think we're safe for now." Touma said as he looked behind him to make sure.
"Well that's good. I need a little time to put my clothes back on." Twila said as Yuuki turned around and Touma looked to make sure those monsters didn't find them.
"So, what happened back there?" Yuuki asked Touma, causing him to explain what happened while he was pinned down by the guards.
"So that's what happened…" Yuuki said.
"Yeah, And i think I have a theory as to where we are." Touma said.
"Well we'd love to hear it, brother." Twila said.
"Well sis, Do you remember the research mom was doing before she died?" Touma asked his twin.
"How could i forget? It's all she talked about. All of her research is in my head." Twila said when she finished putting her uniform back on but then realized what her brother might be talking about.
"Oh my god. You're saying we're all in-"
"The cognitive world." Touma said, finishing his twin sister's sentence.
"So mother's Cognitive Psience research was right. This is the world within someone's heart!" Twila said.
"What?" Yuuki asked because he was the only one in the room who had no idea what Touma was talking about.
"Oh right, you wouldn't know. Look, we'll explain later. Right now, we can use that duct to get outside and escape. Oh and we need to go to the train station because once we get back to the real world, We'll be seen by the people again." Touma said as he gave his sister and then Yuuki a leg up and soon, the three left the castle and ran to the train station.
Once at the station they all heard a feminie voice coming from somewhere as the walked back up the steps "Welcome back to the real world!" the voice said as Twila and Mishima sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness we're back." Twila said in relief.
"Yeah, but what do we do?" Yuuki asks.
"We go to school and pretend that nothing happened." Touma said as they all walked back towards the school until they were stopped by police officers.
"Hey, Why aren't you three at school?" The officer asked.
"Our train ran really late, what with all the accidents happening lately." Touma lied but it was a lie that utilized the truth.
"And our phones died so we couldn't really call the school and tell them we were going to be late. So if it's not too much trouble officer, could you tell our school we're on our way." Twila asked.
"Of course. Just make sure you three go straight to school, okay?" The officer said as he pulled out his phone to call Shujin Academy.
At the steps of Shujin Academy, Touma, Twila and Yuuki made it to the school with the principal waiting at the front "Ah, Principal Kobayakawa." Twila said as she saw him.
"The police officer called me and told me what happened." The principal said.
"Yes, and we deeply apologize for being this late to school." Twila said as she, her brother and Yuuki bowed in an apologetic way.
Principal Kobayakawa sighed "Just make sure it doesn't happen again." Kobayakawa said.
"It won't sir, promise." Yuuki said on the twins behalf as they all went inside the school and Touma and Twila saw their respective teachers and went with them to their classrooms.
Inside the classroom, the students were bustling about Touma saying that they heard rumors about him and Twila but that was immediately thrown out the windows when the girls saw how handsome Touma was "All right, Settle down! As you may know, we have a new student today and he's from overseas." Ms. Kawakami said as she looked at Touma writing his name on the chalkboard "Go on, introduce yourself." Ms. Kawakami said.
"I'm Touma Heartfilia, I hope we get along." Touma said as he bowed to the whole classroom as the girls started looking at him, starstrucked.
"Okay, i'll place you…" Ms. Kawakami scanned the room and saw an empty seat behind the same blonde girl that Touma recognized from this morning "There. Right behind Takamaki-San, Touma-Kun." Ms. Kawakami said as Touma sat down at his desk which was right next to the window.
Class went on through the whole day in Touma's class but the girls weren't paying attention as they were mostly looking at Touma and seeing how handsome he looked.
Monday; After school
After classes, Touma was waiting for his sister with Yuuki until they saw Alice talking to the Principal "Why did you allow a transfer student like him into this school? He might start influencing the other students. A student with a criminal record, and the culprit of an assault case." Alice lamented.
"Now, don't be like that… This school counts on you, Alice-chan. You are our star. Still, steady build-up is necessary behind such brilliance as well." Kobayakawa said.
"... Your troubles never seem to end, do they, Principal Kobayakawa? All right, I understand. I'll continue to do my best to answer your expectations of me." Alice said as they both talked about other things like a fashion club.
"I hope I didn't make you two wait too long brother." Twila said.
"No. We didn't wait that long, sis." Touma said.
"I actually want to talk to you guys about what happened today. Follow me." Yuuki said as he took Touma and Twila to the roof of the school.
"So… what did you want to talk about?" Touma asked.
"First things first. Do you really have a criminal record, Touma? Everyone's talking about it." Yuuki said as Touma nodded.
"But my brother doesn't want to talk about it." Twila said.
"Sorry. Anyways, what was all that this morning? You know, how we were almost killed at a castle..." Yuuki said.
"Oh yeah, we didn't explain anything to you yet. You see, when we were little, our mother was studying Cognitive Psience." Touma started to explain.
"Cognitive science?" Yuuki asks.
"Cognitive Psience. Anyhow, Our mother had a theory that the human cognition had a world of its own. A world within someone's heart." Twila explained.
"Okay. But how did we get there?" Yuuki asked.
"Even we don't know." Twila said.
"Well, is there anymore info on this Cognitive world?" Yuuki asks.
"Actually, during the school day, i came up with a name for it." Touma said.
"Which is…?" Twila asks.
"I decided to call it the "Metaverse"." Touma said.
"Well it's better than nothing." Yuuki said.
"True. But to answer your question Yuuki-"
"Just call me Mishima." Mishima said.
"Mishima, to answer your question about more information about the Cognitive World, the answer is yes and no." Twila said as Mishima is left confused.
"What?" Mishima asked.
"Our mother did say that there are these monsters called "Shadows". And if one's desires are completely corrupted, Their shadow is the one ruling the world within the person's heart." Twila explained.
"Can we call it something other than just "The world within someone's heart"?" Mishima asks.
"I'm already ahead of you. I think I'll call them Palaces." Touma said.
"All right. But mother didn't give much more information about the Metaverse other than a core. She said if we take the core, the person will… have a change of heart, we'll call it." Twila said.
"How about we call it a treasure?" Touma suggested.
"Yes, fine." Twila said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"If that's the case, then let's try to find a way into that Palace again tomorrow." Mishima said.
"I don't know…" Twila said.
"Sis, we have to go and figure out what's going on inside that Palace." Touma said as he placed his hands on his sister's shoulders.
"...Okay. But I'm going to make sure you don't get in trouble." Twila said as the three of them left the school rooftop and left the school entirely with Twila and Touma walking back to their house and Mishima trying to catch the subway train.
Monday; Evening
Inside the house, Twila was already making dinner for her and her brother but was still bothered by all the things that happened today but she decided not to think about now and focus on making dinner. Their meal for the night was rice with a side of sushi and soy sauce.
"So sis?" Touma called out from across the table.
"Yes, brother?" Twila asked.
"I was thinking about how Kaito Kuroba was a mask in the Metaverse and i think he's my persona. A self that i put away for a long time." Touma said.
"You just figured that out?" Twila asks.
"But i think there's more to it. I think the reason i had that mask stuck to my face, was because that was the mask society forced me to wear." Touma said as Twila pondered on this.
Is brother right? If so then… Twila thought to herself but then she and her brother finished their food.
After finishing their food, the twins went inside the bathroom and Twila was washing the front of her body while Touma was washing her back. While helping her wash herself, Touma noticed that something was bothering her "Sis? Is something wrong?" Touma asks his fraternal twin.
"I'm fine. Really." Twila said plainly as she grabbed some shampoo and conditioner and put both of them on her head and put some water to get it foamy like soap.
After taking a bath and putting on his pajamas, Touma was in his room and noticed that it was late and felt very tired after the day he had. He laid down on his bed, pulled his blankets towards him and went to sleep.
Touma opened his eyes, and once again, he found himself in the Velvet Room "...About time you've come to. On your feet, Inmate!" Caroline ordered as she banged her stick on the door to Touma's cell.
"Our master wishes to speak with you. It's for your own sake that you take his words to heart." Justine said as Touma got up from the bed and grabbed the bars to stand up and face Igor.
"First off, Let us celebrate our reunion." Igor said.
"Yeah, it's good to see you too." Touma said plainly.
"Oh…? You've awakened to your powers. And special ones at that. Your rehabilitation can finally begin." Igor said.
"Um… Special powers?" Touma asks.
"There's no need to understand it all for the time being. You will be training the power of Persona, which you have awakened to." Igor explained.
"But what are Personas?" Touma asked the Long nose man.
"Personas are, in other words, a "Mask"- An armor of the heart when confronting worldly matters. I have high expectations for you." Igor said as Touma is left confused.
"What do you mean?" Touma asks.
"There is no need to worry. You will learn when the time comes. By the by… have you come to appreciate the Metaverse Navigator? Using it will allow you to come and go reality and Palaces." Igor explained.
"So that's what allowed me, my sister and Yuuki to go into the Cognitive World." Touma said as Igor laughed amusingly.
"...I bestowed it to you as a means to train you as a thief." Igor said as Caroline turned around to face Touma.
"The Metaverse Navigator is a gift from our master! You better take care in using it, Inmate!" Caroline said as Justine also turns around to face Touma in his cell.
"Devote yourself to your training so that you may become a fine thief." Justine said.
"It must be disheartening to make use of the Metaverse Navigator alone. Should there be others who would prove beneficial to you, I will grant it to them as well. This is all for you to grow as an excellent thief..." Igor said as the prison bell rang throughout the room.
"Hmph, it's time. Go back and enjoy whatever rest you might have…" Caroline said as everything for Touma goes pitch black.
4/12
Tuesday, Early morning
Touma woke up in his own bed and got up and put on his Uniform when he looked at the time on his phone. He went into the living to see Twila making breakfast again.
"I see you like making Breakfast." Touma teased.
"I just needed to get the practice in." Twila said as she set their food down and the both of them sat down to eat their breakfast.
After breakfast, the twins decided to just walk to school from now on and two made it to school without any problems this time around.
Tuesday; Daytime
Twila was trying to focus in class but she couldn't stop thinking about the events from yesterday, after all, The other Alice really hit her hard and had begun to torture her in her dreams.
"Heartfilia-san? Is everything okay? You look a little pale." The girl next to Twila asks.
"Yes, I am. And please, call me Twila." Twila said with a smile.
"Okay, Twila-san." The girl said as she smiled back.
Tuesday; After School
After class was over for the day, Touma and Twila were going to meet up with Mishima but then saw the black haired girl talking to Alice "Hey there, Suzui-senpai! Are you walking home by yourself? It's getting dangerous lately with all those accidents." Alice said sweetly.
"Sorry, i have volleyball practice today. Our team needs to be prepared for the upcoming tournament, so i can't afford to miss it..." Suzui said.
"Hey now, Senpai… Being a Volleyball Player's fine and dandy, but don't work your pretty little self to the bone. You mentioned that Takamaki-senpai wasn't feeling well, right? Something about depression?" Alice asks.
"Yes. Our parents keep planning on going to the hospital, but both them and Ann have been too busy… Sorry if she's worrying all of you." Suzui said.
"Oh, it's not a problem. I just want to make sure my dear senpai is doing alright. And what better way to make sure then to ask her own sister. But be careful around the new transfer student. He's got a criminal record, after all." Alice said.
"Oh, i don't believe in rumors like that." Suzui said.
"Oh, i know that. But I'm just telling you to make sure you're careful." Alice said sweetly.
"...Thank you. Please excuse me." Suzui said as she left to go to the gym.
"Tch…" Alice simply left back down to the first floor to her fashion club.
"Well that just… Happened." Touma said.
"Come. We must meet with Mishima." Twila said as she and her brother went to the front of the school to meet with him.
At the front of the school, Yuuki met up with Twila and Touma "Hey." Mishima said.
"Hey." Touma greeted.
"Are you sure finding that Palace from yesterday is a good idea?" Twila asked out of concern.
"We have to. We need to know what's going on in Alice's head." Touma said as the three of them started to retrace their steps so they could find a way into the Palace.
After three tries, they kept running back to the actual school "I don't get it." Mishima said.
"Did you check the phone?" Twila asked sarcastically.
"I caught that sarcasm sis." Touma said.
"Wait. Phone…? That reminds me. Touma?" Mishima called out.
"Yeah?" Touma asks.
"Didn't you have a navigation app on, back then?"
"Navigation app?" Touma questioned.
"I don't know if it was or not, but I heard stuff that sounded like one coming from your phone." Mishima pointed out.
"Yes, i even heard a voice saying "Welcome back to the real world" or something to that effect." Twila pointed out as well.
"Hey, let me see your phone for a bit." Mishima said as Touma handed his phone to Mishima and he started looking through the phone when he saw the red app "What's this eyeball looking thing?" Mishima asks.
"I honestly don't know. It just showed up on my phone." Touma explained.
"What a weird app." Mishima said as he opened it up to reveal it to be a navigation app of some kind "Oh wait, this is it!" Mishima said ecstatically as he showed the app to Twila and Touma "I knew it- It is a navigation app! It even has your search history!" Mishima said proudly.
"Try using it." Touma said.
"I don't know about this…" Twila said in concern.
"Why? All we're doing is starting an app." Mishima said as he started the navigation app.
"Alice Hirragi… Shujin Academy… Pervert… Castle…" The metaverse navigator listed all the things they all talked about the previous day "Beginning navigation." The voice from the phone said.
"There we go! Then we went in a certain direction, and-" before Mishima could say anymore, Reality started to get distorted and the school soon became the Castle from the other day. They all had returned to the Metaverse.