Stepping past the doors to the diet building, the instant grandiose of the luxury cruiser's seemed off. This wasn't a fusion of two places, this was straight up just a luxury cruiser with the facade of the diet building. It really pointed to Shido's cognition firmly believing that politics were nothing but a way to control and manipulate. The shadows around them only briefly glanced in the group's direction before returning to whatever they had been doing up to that point. They simply just didn't care, but Yu could spot security lurking just above them up the stairs. There would be shadows to fight, but luckily the majority of them seemed peaceful.

"How much of this place did you scan already Oracle?" Rise asked as she looked around.

"Not much. We already found a map." Oracle squatted down pulling out the map and laying it on the floor for everyone to see. She pointed to large section labeled with some fancy French words but it was easy to tell it was some kind of restaurant. "I believe our first target is there from my initial scans."

Everyone was crowded around the map as Rise crouched next to Oracle. "If you're up for it, we can do a combo scan." Rise mentioned.

Oracle rose to her feet and looked around. "If we'll be able to punch that obnoxious politician in the face faster, I'm down for it!"

"A combo scan?" Panther questioned.

Joker slipped his hands into his pockets. "Just watch."

Rise got to her feet and slowly collected both of Oracle's hands into her hands, but Oracle wasn't having that. She stepped up and just hugged Rise. Clearly the last time they connected had left a profound effect on the younger navigator. Rise didn't seem all that surprised about this as she returned the hug. At the same moment both Kouzeon and Necronomicon appeared and just as before instead of abducting Oracle it instead took Kouzeon. Yu threw up his arm as the familiar UFO exploded with green light. After a few seconds the light died down and Oracle's Persona disappeared. The two navigators stepped away from each other and squatted down to look at the map again.

"Pool, Restaurant, Entertainment Hall, VIP room, and Engine room." Oracle muttered as she pointed to different places on the map.

"There is also, that wandering shadow in the engine room." Rise offhandedly commented as she also looked intensely at the map.

"Uh guys…" Kanji pointed to a group of shadows coming down the double stair case. No doubt attracted by the lights from the combo scan.

"Protect the Navigators!" Joker swiftly ordered as he put his hand to his mask and stepped in front of the navigators. "Rangda! Bloodbath."

"Anat" Queen summoned. "Mafreidyne"

"Seiten Taisei!" Skull called a half a second behind Queen. "Get wreaked, Agneyastra!"

"Kaguya!" Yu threw out his hand summoning the last Persona he had used with a crush of an arcana card. "Shining Arrows"

The shadows were dissipated before they even made it half way down the stair case. The others looked in awe at the changes of their teammates Personas. Apparently Joker and the other two had neglected to inform the rest of their team about the new change. No doubt he had planned to during the meeting before they entered the Palace before that had been derailed by the new information Naoto and Yu had given them.

"So that is the power of a true bond…" Mona marveled clearly impressed by the change.

"A what?" Panther asked glancing towards the cat.

"A true bond." Joker clarified returning his hands to his pockets. "I have an unbreakable bond with both of them."

Yu stepped in figuring he'd elaborate. "It's one of the powers of the wild card. We bond with people so deeply that they see the truth in their selves that leads to their Personas reawakening as a more powerful form."

"So if we bond with Joker, we'll realize something about ourselves and our Persona will become stronger?" Noir asked.

"Yes," Both protagonist said in union.

"I'm already next because I called dibs!" Oracle called as she stood up, holding the map. "Joker, we should split the party. Me and Princess found multiple effective paths through this tacky Palace so we can send two teams to get the letters faster."

"Good." Joker said turning his attention to Yu. "You can manage your group right?"

"I'm sure I can." Yu crackled his knuckles as he spoke.

"Queen, Skull, Noir, you're on point with me. Fox, Panther flanking positions stay with Oracle." Joker ordered smoothly.

Everyone of Jokers team gave a call of verification to his orders.

"What about me?" Mona questioned.

Joker looked towards the cat. "Go with Kingpin's team, they might need an experienced thief."

"Okay! Can do." Mona moved to stand with Yu's team.

Yu glanced at his team. "Boulder, Deputy, Mona, you're up first. Agent, Kuma watch our backs. Princess as always put us on the correct path."

"We navigators can communicate with each other, like our own private navi chat! So we can keep both teams up to date." Oracle explained before she handed Rise the map. "I got a full scan in Necronomicon, you take the physical copy. Joker we're headed to the restaurant."

"Thanks Oracle." Rise nodded as she accepted the map.

"Good luck." Joker looked to Yu.

"Same to you. Call us if you need anything." Yu replied.

And with that the two teams parted ways. Joker's team disappearing through the huge double doors in front of them. Yu's group only waited a moment as Rise tracked their path through the cruiser with her finger before she navigated them towards a different path, heading towards the starboard side of the ship. Their group ended up in a hallway flanked on both sides by what looked like private passenger rooms of the ship. The long hallway lead to an opening ahead but as they crossed the threshold to the more open area, Rise stopped.

"Wait!" The navigator called but it was too late.

Yu along with Mona, Yosuke, and Kanji stepped into the larger room. Instantly, Yu's danger sense went off before there was a large poof. Naoto and Teddie who had stopped before crossing the threshold now stood next to Rise, in shock. It took Yu a second or two to realize exactly what happened, but the sudden change in view point was the first real giveaway.

"What the shit? Are we mice?!" Kanji asked looking around at the other unfortunate mousified victims.

"I'm a CAT, not a mouse!" Morgana yowled in indignation.

Rise sighed. "Alright just come back towards me. It should wear off. If the scans are correct."

Yu didn't argue; trusting his navigator's advice. He ran back on all four paws towards Rise, the others following behind him. It took a few steps beyond the threshold of the door before there was another poof and Yu returned to his true form. The others swiftly followed suit all returning to their human and feline forms.

"Huh, it seems it has a slight delay before the effect wears off." Naoto noted. "But the real question is exactly what just happened in that room."

"From the scans, I can tell you that the Shido statue in that room is emanating the effect. Anyone that Shido views as an 'intruder' within the statue's proximity turns into a mouse." Rise clarified as she pointed to the large golden Shido statue in the middle of the room.

"So we're nothing but rodents to him, huh? That's irritating…" Mona grumbled.

"So the next question is how do we get past that room? We can't reach any of the doors if we are mice and I doubt we can fight anything either." Yosuke folded his arms across his chest.

"The vents. As soon as we get out of the area of effect we should be fine." Rise responded simply.

"Hey at least I'll be cute while I do it." Kanji said before he stepped back into the room and turned back into a mouse.

"That's something weird to be excited about…" Yosuke followed after Kanji turning into a mouse.

"Let's just find the vent." Mona ordered as he too followed the others.

"Hopefully we don't change in the vents." Naoto worried as she stepped into the room as well.

"The effect is part of the vents." Rise explained as she stepped in.

"I agree with Boulder, we do make for some unbearably cute mice!" Teddie exclaimed as he ran around in his new mouse body after he crossed the threshold.

"Are you coming?" Rise asked as she looked up at Yu.

Yu nodded before he walked into the room as well. "Follow me, the vent is this way." Yu had spotted it as he scanned the room while everyone was talking.

The group crossed the room and darted to the vent appearing in a new hallway on the other side. A shadow threatened them after they changed back but honestly it was more of a road bump than an actual challenge. Rise guided them through the maze of corridors as they came across several more spots where they were reduced to mice. The need to use the vents threw off the navigation just a bit but Rise quickly adapted. A few shadows dared to challenge them along the way regardless if they weren't too much trouble for Yu's group in the least bit. After a while they finally reached the end of the maze of the guest room corridors and headed up on an elevator.

The elevator brought them up to what looked like another lobby, much smaller than the grandiose one that was the front lobby. To the right of an elevator was a small area they could have rested at but Yu's group was far from needing a break. Still, Rise marked it on the map if they needed to make use of it. From the lobby the pool deck could be seen below. Taking the stairs to the left of the elevators led them down to the pool.

"Our target is here. The scan indicated he is a former noble. So I guess look for someone that seems pretentious?" Rise informed everyone.

"Yeah. Let's find him and get a hold of his letter of introduction!" Mona pointed towards the pool.

"Can you narrow it down at all Rise?" Yu asked looking at his navigator.

"No, there are a lot of cognitions here so it's too difficult for me to pin point." Rise looked a bit downtrodden as she spoke.

"That's not a problem, there are seven of us. If we split up we should be able to gather information effectively." Naoto explained as she looked over the pool area.

"Sounds like a plan. Meet up here in 10 minutes?" Yosuke suggested.

"10 minutes!" Yu nodded.

The group split up moving to all corners of the large pool area. There were shadows lurking about and a fight broke out twice. The group however was supportive of each other and rushed to whoever set off the shadow, beating it down before it could pose any real danger to anyone. Yu talked to several people at the bar finding out that there were swim suit rentals available, but he would need a boarding pass for that. Something they didn't have. Other than that note, Yu was able to confirm there was definitely a noble in the area but other than those two bits his information fell flat. After the predetermined ten minutes was up, the group all got together back at the stairs.

"I found the scum bag." Kanji growled. "He's that prick over there with the butler." Kanji pointed to a man lounging by the pool. "That asshole's got one of them holier than thou complexes, made me want to punch him in the face."

"Anyone else get any good info?" Naoto asked. The group looked among each other before it became clear no other relevant info was obtained. It wasn't a bad thing since they had found their target, so it was a win no matter how you looked at it.

"I doubt Boulder made a good first impression, who should we send to talk to the guy about the letter?" Rise looked over the group.

"What's that suppose to mean?!" Kanji yelled but was ignored.

"Our best bet to get him to talk is probably you, Princess. You know how to talk to people better than any of us." Naoto quickly surmised.

"I could smooth talk him with my sexy moves!" Teddie interjected.

"Ahh no Kuma, but I do agree with Agent here. Take Kingpin with you, he has that calm demeanor about him that plays well off you, Princess." Yosuke commented.

"Alright, can't argue with that. Ready?" Rise turned towards her boyfriend.

"After you." Yu replied.

Rise walked up to the noble as Yu shadowed a few steps behind her. He already knew the routine they'd be using, basically similar to the one he normally used with Naoto. He would play the silent type while Rise did most of the talking. He would back her up as needed but it would be mostly his calm presence that did the majority of the speaking for him. Rise stepped up to noble and instantly Yu could feel the pretentious air that the man seemed to give off.

"Excuse me," Rise started, her voice dripping with that sickly sweet nature she had to use sometimes as Risette. "I'm looking for a letter of introduction to meet Mr. Shido"

The man didn't even seem to acknowledge Rise in the least bit and just continued to lay there. Rise glanced at Yu before turning back to the man.

"I know you are very busy, so we'll be out of your way shortly." Rise pressed.

The man let out a sigh. "A letter of introduction you say? Explain to me; why I would even bother to give something like that to a nobody like you?"

Rise put her hands behind her back. Rise was used to dealing with people like this as her artificial smile remained firmly in place. There was still a few very subtle tells that Rise was giving off that showed her annoyance. Yu only could pick up these little things because of his deep relationship with the idol. The leader of the investigation team shifted on the balls of his feet so he was a bit closer to his girlfriend; a silent show of support.

"A nobody? Sir, do you realize who I am?" Rise's voice took on an air of confidence. "I'm Risette, the number 1 idol in this country."

Yu cringed slightly. They used code names for a reason but then again they didn't have masks. It was easily for anyone who knew of Rise to put two and two together. They had already gotten Ren once, so Yu knew there was definite danger in what they were doing. Still, Rise didn't like to be looked down on and her name backed up her claim about not being a nobody.

"Risette?" That seemed to catch the man's attention as he looked Rise up and down. "Now there is someone with a bit of class."

"As an idol my fans listen to me. I know I could help Shido win over some of the younger demographic he has been struggling to attract to his message. I need his ear first, so I require the letter." Rise smoothly explained.

The man seemed to ponder for a bit. "Maybe I can give you a letter, but what do I get out of it?"

Yu noticed how hungry of a gaze the noble was giving his girlfriend. He was practically slobbering over her. It was at that moment a beast inside of him started to stir in his chest. No one look at any of his female friends like that, specially his Rise. Yu's gaze became sharp as he glanced back at Kanji and Yosuke. The two both instantly picked up that something was wrong, as Yu turned back to this noble.

"If Mr. Shido gets elected then don't we all get something out of it? A simple letter should ensure his victory." Rise countered.

"Mr. Shido is almost practically elected, now if you want that letter why don't you come to my room and give me a private concert Ms. Idol?" The lecherous man got to his feet and reached for Rise.

"Excuse me?" Rise took a step back as the man reached for her.

Yu wasn't having any of that.

The strike was fast as Yu lashed out against the cognition with a sudden left hook. The noble collapsed to the ground like a sorry sack of potatoes. Yu took his place in front of his girlfriend, crackling his knuckles. The sharp piercing glare Yu gave the man at his feet was one someone gives to the scum of the earth. No one made a move like that on Rise. Period. Behind him the hurried footfalls of his friends rushing forward was barely noticed.

"Yu!" Rise called in surprised.

"H-H-How dare you! Do you know who I am!?" The noble spat as he tried to collect himself before a dark aura started to form around him. What was once the cognition of a human quickly turned into a shadow known as Forneus.

Yu glared at the shadow. "Good, you aren't something I need to hold back on… Izanagi-No-Okami… Ravage it." Yu's voice had a very dark tone to it as he crushed his arcana card. "Maziodyne…"

The Persona appeared before him spurred on seemingly by Yu's own feelings. It raised its sword above its head as electricity crackled in the air. The distinct smell of ozone was but a brief indication to what was about to happen. From the sky a lightning bolt rang down hitting the Forneus directly in the center of its back. The mantra ray like shadow instantly crumbled under the heavy electrical attack, falling to the ground; downed. Yu had a chance at a second attack which he quickly jumped at the opportunity.

Izanagi loomed over the downed Forneus, as Yu pushed up his glasses. "Again." Yu commanded his Persona.

There was a bright flash if light as the second attack was more than enough to defeat the shadow. It melted back into the man it had been before, this time however there was a look of pure and utter terror in its eyes. Yu looked down at the garbage that took the form of a man as Izanagi swung it's sword around and planted it firmly in the deck of the pool, just an inch or two from the man's most personal area.

"That letter. Please." Yu asked, his voice still echoed with that hint of danger to it.

"R-R-Right away…" The guy scrambled to grab a briefcase that had been under his chair before he thrust a piece of paper out in Yu's direction. "Here! T-t-take it!"

"Thank you." Came Yu's reply.

Yu turned from the man as Izanagi faded away. The man gave a sigh of relief now that there wasn't a huge sword inches from his man bits before he quickly made for an exit. Yu then noticed the look all of his friends were giving him. It was a mixture of both awe, surprise and was that a little bit of fear. Yu blinked, as all the barely contained rage had drained from him a second ago.

"Dude..." Yosuke was the first to speak.

"What was that?!" Rise demanded shooting a glare at her boyfriend.

"What?" Yu didn't know how to respond.

"Yeah, remind me never to get on Kingpin's bad side. That's some fuckin' scary shit right there!" Kanji pointed out.

"I had that under control." Rise tried to explain.

"Nobody moves to touch you like that without consequences." Yu pushed up his glasses again as if to emphasize his point.

"What happened? Are you okay Princess?" Teddie was instantly concerned as he moved to Rise's side.

"I'm fine Kuma… The guy was just kind of a creep." Rise sighed before she patted Teddie on the head. "Luckily I got so many people around me that care about me."

"I'm totally with Kingpin here, nobodies fuckin' reaches for a woman like that." Kanji backed up his best friend.

"I'm with Kingpin too, a gentleman must always be willing to step up for a lady." Mona nodded.

"Y'know. I guess I kind of agree with Kingpin here as well." Yosuke said jumping on the band wagon with the other guys.

"Chivalry aside. Now that we have the letter should we contact the others?" Naoto cut in.

"I'll see where the other group is at. Give me a moment." Rise took a few steps from the group before she summoned her Persona.

"Kingpin." Naoto started. "Next time let Princess punch the guy in the face. She is strong and doesn't need you to save her all the time. After she punches them then by all means kick the ass of whoever wronged her, but you need to give her a chance to take care of herself. The same could be said about your sister."

Yu took Naoto's words to heart. If anyone understood how Rise was feeling it probably would have been Naoto. Kanji had an overprotective steak to him even if Naoto was very capable of defending herself. With Naoto's smaller stature and good looks you'd never know there is a master of self-defense hiding within her. She and Chie regularly sparred together and even Yu had gone up against her. Even with his experience with fighting she was definitely someone he didn't want to mess with. Rise probably handled lecherous men all the time on tour and Yu never once worried about her during those times…

"You might have a point." Yu looked towards his partner.

"Would you have punched that guy Agent?" Kanji asked.

"Probably worse." Naoto responded smoothly.

"Worse? Wait, you train with Chie… I don't want to know all the torture you two have come up together." Yosuke groaned.

"What would you have done?" Kanji questioned looking at his girlfriend.

Naoto got this strange glint in her eye. "Why don't you attack me and find out. You keep assuming that I need protection."

"What? Fuck no! A real man doesn't hit a woman." Kanji boomed. "Also you take shadows down so I know you're strong."

"My fighting style in this world and the one we are from are very different." Naoto urged.

"Do it." Yu pressed siding with Naoto on this one. "Both of you would never seriously injure the other."

Kanji looked between Yu and Naoto before he sighed. "I don't want to hurt you but I understand ya got somethin' to prove. Alright Agent. Let's see what ya got."

"I don't think this is a good idea." Teddie warned clearly uncomfortable with his friends fighting among each other.

Kanji darted forward at Naoto, but the smaller woman was ready for his assault. It was over in flash. Kanji may have had over a foot on Naoto and the power of a freight train, but it was no match for her speed. She quickly side stepped his clearly broadcasted attack, moving with the attack to grab his arm and shifting his momentum. This shift caused Kanji to loose balance and fall completely on his face. Naoto quickly spun his arm around to his back and using her weight against him curled it at an awkward angel behind his back. The move could have been easily followed through to break Kanji's arm or wrist but the point of the exercise was proven in that moment.

"Ow.." Was all Kanji muttered as Naoto pinned him.

"What's going on here?" The concern in Rise's voice was evident as she looked at Kanji pinned under his girlfriend.

"I'm pretty sure they are asserting dominance, clearly Agent is top bear!" Teddie explained.

"Kuma, how many times do I have to tell you to stop saying it that way…" Yosuke sighed running his hand down his face.

"Uncle?" Naoto asked her boyfriend leaning into the move.

"Is it odd that I find it hot that my girlfriend can kick my ass if she wanted too?" Kanji muttered from his position on the floor.

Yu gave Kanji a thumbs up.

Yosuke however just groaned. "T.M.I. Boulder…"

Naoto let go of Kanji and helped him to his feet. Her attention turned away from Kanji to Mona who stood there just watching the group. "Sorry about our unprofessionalism as Thieves."

Mona looked over the group. "You are definitely different than the others Thieves, but you do good work." Mona nodded.

"That's pretty high praise from the person that trained Joker and the rest of the Thieves." Rise smiled at the cat.

"So what did the other group say?" Mona inquired.

"Oh right, we all can head back to the main lobby. They want to be done for the day. There is some things that need to be ready after they get all five letters." Rise explained.

"What? But we haven't even broken a sweat! We could totally get all five today." Kanji yelled.

"Yep we could, but this is Jokers operation and he called for retreat. We follow his orders." Yu ordered his group, taking his role as leader.

"You heard the man, let's head out." Yosuke called as they all moved to leave the pool room.

As promise another chapter out quickly for your enjoyment. Please review or favorite I'd appreciate it.