Ren dove into the TV as his vision filled with white and black. Entering the TV was about as disorientating as entering the Metaverse, but as he reached the other side there was a far different sight to behold. Joker landed upon the grass of the TV realm in a crouched superhero landing, his side sending him reminders not to be such a show-off. As he got to his feet, he noticed the others that had gone before him but what captured his attention was the world around him.
He was standing in a literal Eden. The world they had come from while nice had been snow-covered and cold. This place was warm but not too warm, as a cool breeze blew against Joker's face. There was no snow here; just seemingly endless scape of picturesque natural beauty rolled out in front of him. All accompanied by the sound of songbirds and the serene noise of a babbling brook. It was beauty beyond words and Joker almost wished he had Fox here. Perhaps Fox with his way of speaking could articulate the divine beauty this world seemed to hold.
"Welcome to the other side." Marie's voice lingered from behind Joker.
"I didn't know the other world could be so…" Joker took in the beauty before him. "Beautiful."
There was a small chuckle as Marie stepped up to Joker's side. "Thanks, I try."
Joker looked towards the woman he knew as Mariko Kusumi. She wasn't quite the Mariko Kasumi he had been chatting with at the party. She wore a long white robe with a hood, with some sort of deep red shirt underneath. Those minor changes didn't bother Joker much, after all, he was accustomed to people changing outfits in this other world. However, it was the fact Marie's left eye seemed to glow slightly.
"Does this appearance shock you?" Marie asked. "Perhaps…" There was a flash of green light before Marie changed again, this time with a sleeveless shirt, a blue cap, and a short skirt. The power of her eye seemed to fade with this appearance.
"Who are you?" Joker asked unsurely.
"Me? I suppose if I just said weather girl you wouldn't believe me anymore, would you little thief?" Marie smirked.
Joker took a step back, reaching for his weapon. Something about this situation put him on edge; Marie was something more then she appeared to be. However, as Joker reached for his weapons his hands felt nothing but air. A pause before Joker realized his problem, he hadn't transformed. This world didn't see him as a threat. Marie watched him struggle before she took a step up to him. Without another word, she reached out, putting a hand to his chest. Joker felt a surge of power tingling through his body as the ache his side normally gave him seemed to evaporate. Marie took a step back as Joker fully grasped what she had done. His side which had been a constant literal thorn in his side was healed.
"What did you do?" Joker asked because as far as he knew, that kind of damage couldn't be healed.
"What do you think? I healed you silly." Marie explained. "And you aren't the only one who needed it."
Marie then turned and walked off. Curious, Joker followed after her. Marie made her way through the gathering crowd and stepped up to Crow. He was currently talking to Kanji and Naoto and paid Marie no mind until she stepped into his personal space. Naoto regarded Marie with a glance as Marie examined the sling around Crow's shoulder.
"What a strange device. Does it ease the pain?" Marie inquired.
"In a way it does..." Naoto explained. "Goro-Kun this is our friend Marie, she is..." There was some hesitation in Naoto's voice.
"It's alright you can tell them, there is no need to keep it a secret from them here." Marie reached forward and gently pressed her hands against Crow's shoulder.
"She's a goddess," Naoto said flatly.
"A goddess?" Crow sounded shocked and in all honesty, Joker was too.
"How does it feel?" Marie asked tilting her head slightly.
"Feel?" Crow questioned before he flexed his shoulder. In a swift motion, Crow took off the sling and rolled his shoulder. Joker's side wasn't the only miracle he'd been witness to today. "It feels healed. Thank you so much."
Marie put her hands behind her back as she rocked on the balls of her feet. "Think nothing of it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a StupidJerkFace to talk to about an engagement." Marie turned and walked off.
Joker watched her go before looking towards Crow. Crow was rolling his shoulder once again, a small smirk tempting to play at the corners of his lips. From what Joker understood, Crow's injury had been quite serious and would have taken surgery to even begin to heal. How he just seemed to shrug it off half the time Joker could only believe that Crow had some sort of unnatural tolerance to pain. Or he was a masochist. Either one was a strong possibility; or both. Probably both.
"You good, Crow?" Joker asked as he slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Huh, better than good actually. Did she heal you as well Joker?" Crow asked looking over his friend.
Joker nodded. "Yeah."
"There a reason why ya guys are usin' yer codenames?" Kanji asked suddenly asked.
"Not really, is there a reason to wear your glasses in the metaverse?" Joker countered his tone easy and not meaning to offend.
"Uhhh…" Kanji didn't seem to have an answer for that.
"Touché." Naoto did as the two turned to talk to Chie and Kou.
Crow put his hand to his chin. "This place is rather peaceful and because of that our rebellious attire hadn't appeared. I wonder..." Crow turned away from everyone and put a hand to his face were his mask would normally be, there was a slight pause before he spoke once again. "Lancelot!"
Suddenly Crow was encased in blue flames before he appeared in his normal outfit. Lancelot's large form appearing at his side ready to fight. With a flick of his hand, the Persona faded and all that was left was the white-uniformed Crow. Joker studied what had just happened as he stepped up to Crow's side, mirroring the familiar movements that he used to summon his Persona. Arsene floated to the top of his sea of souls but there was something wrong. Summoning Persona was an emotional event at its core but there just seemed to be something missing. Crow seemed to understand what Joker was trying to do and shook his head.
"The act of summoning isn't enough. While I'll admit it's a bit amusing to know there is something about all this you are unaware of... This situation probably has more to do with experience than anything else. What it comes down to is that this place is too peaceful. To summon one's Persona, you just can't feel too relaxed, it's not how they work. There must always be perceived risk. That risk could be battle or it could be trauma. If you want to summon that part of you, think back to painful memories and that feeling of helplessness you had with them." Crow explained. "Your Persona will respond."
Joker thought about it a moment before he summoned to his mind memories from his past. The trial that took his freedom, the look in his parent's eyes when they picked him up from the police station, watching Kamoshida call for Ryuji's execution, sitting in that damn interrogation room after he had been captured and not knowing where his friends were… There was a spark in his soul that seemed to light up as he grew angry about his helplessness in those situations. Joker reached out for that feeling, that feeling of rebellion. Arsene's chuckle echoed in the back of his head, the Persona knew and understood Joker's pain better than anyone.
"Arsene!" Joker growled summoning forth the gentleman thief.
There was a blaze of blue as his normal attire was quickly replaced with his black Phantom Thief attire. Arsene appeared next to him in his full glory, wings spread and ready to take on the world with Joker. The only problem was there was no threat to be perceived just Joker reliving his own, so just as he appeared; Arsene quickly disappeared. Joker lets his hand fall to his side, the flame dimming within his chest but not fading.
"See, you got it." Crow nodded.
Joker pulled at his red gloves. "Crow, how long have you had a Persona?"
Crow paused as if thinking. "About two and a half years now. Why do you ask?"
"How did you first acquire it?" Joker pressed.
There was sorrow that shot through Crow's eyes, the aching kind of sorrow that pierced anyone who saw it. Human nature was inherently selfish most of the time, but anyone who saw the kind of sorrow that lingered in Crow's eyes and didn't feel something, those people had to be mentally ill on some level. Crow shook his head before his whole body seemed to twitch as if he was trying to break free from the lock the sudden bad memory brought. With a long sigh, the sudden tension disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared before.
"A story for another time Joker…" The pain that still reflected in Crow's eyes also reflected in his words.
"Fair." Joker nodded, not at all upset Crow didn't wish to share at the moment.
"JOKER!" Oracle ran up. "Joker! Joker! Joker! Wait, how did you transform? Have you been holding out on me? Do you have some sort of magical girl device that allows you to transform? Oh! Why didn't I see it before, you are secretly Tuxedo Mask, aren't you? AREN'T YOU?!"
Joker just leveled his sister with a stare before he glanced at Crow who seemed a bit confused and gave him an uncertain shrug. Joker shook his head before he got in a familiar pose. "In the name of the moon… I shall punish you."
Crow and Oracle both stared at Joker in total disbelief before they both burst out laughing. Their laughter attracting the attention of several of the members of the investigation team, but by that time Joker had reverted to his normal stance with his hands in the pockets of his pants. That was the first time he had heard Crow laugh that hard and Joker felt that it was worth it. Crow was his friend and deep down Joker wanted nothing more than for Crow to be happy.
"Wait, where is Light's sling. Does Naoto know?" Oracle asked quickly picking up on the details.
"Marie healed both of us." Joker explained.
"Really?" As if to test the fact, Oracle poked Joker hard in the side and smirked when he didn't flinch. "Good. That means I don't have to worry about you so much."
"So what did you need?" Joker persisted trying to get Oracle back on track.
"Right! Come on. Light you come too!" Oracle grabbed Joker's hand and pulled him along.
Joker allowed himself to get pulled along as they ventured deeper into the TV realm. Crow also followed a few steps behind before after a swift walk they made their way to their destination. It was an overlook of the small field they had arrived in. They could see most of the investigation team down below them but that's not why Oracle had brought them up here. It was the view. From the ground, everything looked good but getting up to a higher vantage point just seemed to increase its beauty. By now the sun was beginning to sink in the distance; blazing the sky in blues, oranges, yellows, and pinks. It was perfect. Oracle moved and sat down on the edge her feet dangling over the side of the small cliff they were on. Joker moved and sat down next to her as he gazed upon the sunset. A rustle behind Joker told him that Crow had also sat down.
"It's beautiful…" Crow admired.
Oracle leaned back falling against the grass looking up at Crow. "You don't need to sit so far back ya know."
Joker looked back towards Crow as he glanced to the side before looking at Oracle. "Why don't you hate me?" There was a pain in Crow's voice as he spoke.
Oracle sighed and looked up at the sky. "My mom was my world. I never really had many friends in school and I was also a geeky outcast, so I turned to my mom. After she died I felt as if I had lost everything and lost the will to even go on. I wanted nothing more than to curl up and just wither and die. Shido's goon's lies wormed their way into my soul. Because of that, I forgot what was important, I forgot about her… You killed her but from your story, I realize it wasn't on purpose and that you were always just a pawn. I look back at myself and I look at me now and while I miss my mom so much and I'd do anything to have her back, it's not a huge sob story. Joker and everyone else is now with me, I may not have my mom but I still have a family and friends. My life is honestly even better than it was then because I have more people than just my mom who I love and they love me. So I can't hate you. I can hate Shido for what he did, I can hate the fact you killed my mom, but not you. Furthermore, you gave me the thing I wanted most in the world; Mom's research."
"Your mom was an interesting person but I don't deserve your forgiveness." Crow looked at his lap, his hands curling around the fabric of his pants.
"Well tough!" Oracle declared.
Oracle quickly got to her feet and grabbed Crow's arm. Crow didn't protest as she pulled him to his feet and forced him to sit down on the cliff's edge. Setting him down next to Joker, Oracle took a seat on the other side of him. A light breeze picked up flowing from an area behind them and down into the field below. The sun was starting it's descent behind the tree line in front of them as the darkness crept up over the sky.
Oracle reached up pulling back a stray lock of hair that had been blown up by the wind. "Ya know, you and I had so much taken away from us by Shido…" Oracle started letting her words linger in the air for a minute before she continued. "We'd make better friends than enemies."
"Friends? Are you sure?" Crow didn't seem as sure, his voice sounded a bit hoarse.
"Yep! Sure as I'll ever be, yer stuck with me! Oh and Joker too. Yer stuck with us, the Leblanc Siblings!" Oracle leaned forward and shot Joker a large grin.
Joker returned her grin with a smirk of his own before he put his hand on Crow's shoulders. "Once Oracle makes up her mind on something good luck changing it."
"So this is what salvation feels like." Crow let out a long breath.
"I dunno about salvation but this is what friendship feels like, and it's nice, ain't it?" Oracle leaned against Crow.
Crow stiffened slightly at Oracle's overly friendly touch but slowly relaxed. There the three just sat as the sun dripped past the horizon and disappeared for the day. The sky was slowly consumed by the darkness, but with the darkness came an equally amazing view of the stars. Even though there were no lights in this world the moon was all the light they needed, casting the world in a silvery glow. Joker wasn't sure how long they sat like that, but it was quality time. There were no words needed to fill the air, it was just three people enjoying each other's company as nature's beauty unfolded before them. They might have stayed there longer like that if it wasn't for the footfalls of others approaching. Joker looked back to see Teddie, Morgana, and Rise heading towards them. Morgana in his anthropomorphic cat form rode atop Teddie's head, only jumping down to run up to them.
"There you guys are!" Mona called as ran up to everyone.
"See, my old bear nose is as sharp as ever!" Teddie proclaimed rubbing his outstanding nose.
"Good job Teddie." Rise praised.
"Are we missing something?" Oracle got to her feet as Crow and Joker mirrored her move.
"You missed Yu and Yosuke beating each other to a draw. They are both going to feel it in the morning. Even Kanji decided to join in and, he's fine, come to think about it." Rise explained.
"Kanji is alpha bear until Nao-chan is involved," Teddie explained.
"Nee-san does kind of have that vibe to her." Crow seemed to lament.
"Did you guys enjoy the sunset?" Rise asked.
"Yeah, it was great!" Oracle nodded. "You were right about how beautiful it was."
"I figured you'd guys would be up here, I could have scanned but Teddie wanted to test out his amazing nose." Rise pat Teddie on his costumed head.
"Gotta keep it in shape for when it's really needed!" Teddie nodded.
"So why do Yu-san and Yosuke-san fight if you don't mind me asking…" Crow asked.
Rise looked at Crow before she took a second to think. "It's about how they both need to see each other as equals. They fight to reaffirm their bond to each other, by proving neither of them is superior to the other. I don't quite understand it, but as long as they don't do it indoors I don't have a problem with it."
Crow seemed to think on those words as his hand went to his chin.
"They are gonna start the lantern lighting that's why we came to find you," Mona explained suddenly. "We should join the group!"
"Lantern lighting?" Oracle looked toward Rise.
"It's something we do when we are all here together. Even if most of us live in Inaba, it's kind of rare that we are all here together. Happens maybe 5 or 6 times a year. In a way, it's a ritual to remember our bonds. We light a bonfire in the middle of the field and from it, we each take a torch from the fire. There are 8 lanterns scattered among the field, one for each member of the investigation team and everyone lights their lantern in a certain order. I'm 7th, as I was the 7th member of the team. We all return to the bonfire and put our torches back in it. Afterward, we just have a good time until it burns out, that's when we all head home." Rise explained.
"Sounds like a very personal event are you sure you want us?" Crow asked.
"Of course not, Nanako and Marie have been to practically all of our lantern lightings! The lightings are a way we can connect with all of our friends we share this other world with, not just each other. Futaba-chan if you don't mind, I'd like you to stand with me and Kanami during the lighting." Rise smiled warmly.
"Really?" Oracle seemed surprised.
"Of course. You're someone special to me. Goro-Kun, Naoto wants you to stand by her. Ren-Kun, I know Yu would enjoy your company by his side." Rise explained.
"I'm gonna stand with Teddie!" Mona declared as he jumped back up onto Teddie's large bear head.
"Yep!" Teddie grinned. "So let's go!"
With that Teddie started to head back down to the field. Oracle walked after them with Rise following her. Crow and Joker exchanged a look. It was clear Crow was hesitant about this all but Joker gave him a look of confidence. Joker turned to head off after the others and only after a second Crow joined him. Joker slowed his pace so he could walk in step with his friend.
"I think I better understand why you hold your navigator in such high regard." Crow abruptly said.
"You and she are both people I feel the need to reach out to the most. Queen aside…" Joker explained as he slid his hands into the pockets of his pants. "You've both suffered unfairly, both lost people important to you, and both don't understand anything about friendship. The main difference between you two is that you decided to walk a scorched earth path, she chose to hide away."
Crow once again became quiet. Joker could see he was deeply thinking over the words and possibly more was stewing in his head. Letting his friend think, Joker enjoyed the silence as they walked back down off the cliff. As they got to the field everyone was standing in the center of it around a large pile of wood. Teddie ran up and the group split allowing for the addition of the small group that had come from the cliff. Just as they were about the reach the group, Crow seemed to come out of his pondering.
"Ren… Are we equals?" The question was soft and Joker almost didn't catch it but the feelings behind it were strong.
Joker stopped and looked at Crow. "If you have to ask I assume you don't feel we are."
Crow didn't respond. Joker thought back to his words while they had been fighting at his Palace. There his vast insecurities were on display. As much as they had been fighting to the death, Joker had gotten the feeling that Crow had been trying to impress him in some fashion. The Akechi before had always used walls to only show a fraction of his true self to people, the part of him he allowed people to see. However, after his change of heart, he just let the walls fall. Becoming a man burdened by guilt, yet with an innate need to connect with people even if he didn't feel he deserved too.
"We are now Goro. But if you'd rather fight me to confirm that I'd be fine with that too." Joker smiled at his friend.
Crow returned his smile with one of his own. "Perhaps a duel, one day. However, we were just healed and I don't want to be on the receiving end of another one of your right hooks."
Joker let out a light laugh. "Alright."
With that Joker and Crow joined the circle around the bonfire. As soon as everyone arrived, Yukiko summoned forth her Persona and lit the bonfire. The flame blazed against the night air illuminating the whole group in its warm glow. The fire appeared to be in some sort of fire pit and by the char marks around it was clear this wasn't the first fire that happened here. Around the pit were several chairs and logs that one could sit on. It made for a cozy atmosphere. Apart from the fire were 8 sturdy-looking sticks that only had their tips in the fire, Joker figured they had to be the 8 torches. That was confirmed a second later as each of the members of the investigation team took a torch and looked amongst each other.
"Come on Amamiya-san, you're with me and big bro!" Nanako gently tugged at Joker's waistcoat.
Joker followed after Yu as Nanako move in step with her big bro. Joker looked behind him as everyone went off their separate way. The only one who stayed behind was Marie, who had taken a spot on a chair very close to the bonfire. For a second Joker thought he saw her eye glow but it could have been a trick of the light from the fire. Yu held the torch out, the firelight that came off it lighted their way. They walked a small distance from the fire to a large tree. Under the tree sat a stone Toro. The stone looked weathered and covered in a fine moss as if it had been standing there for many lifetimes, still, there were words across the top of the Kasa that spelled 'Yu Narukami'.
"You guys ready?" Yu shouted across the field. In the distance, Joker could see the other 7 torches across the field. They were all a good distance apart from everyone and the torches looked like nothing but stars against the blazing intensity of the bonfire.
"Yep, take it away partner!" Yosuke called from somewhere off to the right.
Yu turned his attention to the old Toro. Sticking his torch into the firebox of the old lantern it suddenly lit up. However, the fire that crackled to life within it took on a rich silver that spread through the whole Toro and up the tree until both objects were giving out a warm silver glow. Joker could only explain the light show on the fact they were in the other world, somethings just didn't need to make sense. Suddenly to his right an orange glow illuminated, both another Toro and a large rock. Then a yellow glow, followed by red, then black. Even though Black wasn't a color he expected to glow it still glowed. White then pink then finally blue. The colors lit the field in a rainbow of color that seemed to bleed into the large bonfire in the center.
Yu started to walk towards the now multicolored bonfire. "Ren, this is how you keep your bonds. You find ways to strengthen them. This torch lighting is ritualistic in nature but at its roots, it reminds us all truly what we mean to each other. The bonfire represents our bonds, wild and fiery, able to burn bright together. Taking the torch from the fire represents the fact that we may stray from each other but when we return it to the fire it symbolizes we will always return. Each Lantern is positioned so that even if we are apart we can still see each other and the bonfire, which means we may not be around but we are never that far. As the leader I light the first torch, then Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, Kanji, Teddie, Rise and last is Naoto. As that's the order they all joined the investigation team and we all became friends."
"That's very poetic." Joker once again gazed out towards the colors around the field. "Granted I don't see my group jumping into a pristine world and doing something like this."
"That's fair, this world wasn't always like this. it used to be as twisted as Mementos and the palaces I've seen. If you are interested I can tell you the story, maybe we can tell you over the fire." Yu stepped up to the fire and threw his torch in.
"Sure," Joker replied.
Yu looked over his group as everyone returned their torch to the bonfire. "Alright everyone, we got some new guest here tonight. The Thieves know a bit about our story, but only base details, shall we tell them about it?"
"I ain't got a problem with that!" Chie was the first to answer as she sat down on a log next to Kou.
"I think they deserve to know the whole story, we got a full bonfire to go through after all." Naoto took a seat next to Kanji on a bench with Goro flanking her on the other side.
"Sure but can we leave out all the embarrassing stuff?" Yosuke folded his arms across his chest as he stood next to the fire.
"But the embarrassing stuff is some of the funniest things!" Yukiko giggled.
"Yeah, Ren and Futaba already know about the crossdressing so what could be more embarrassing?" Rise smirked as she sat down on a log with Futaba and Kanami.
"I don't know what you guys are talking about the crossing dressing. It was bear-y fun." Teddie said forgoing his bear suit for once and sitting down on a chair with his legs crossed. Morgana walked up and moved to sit down next to Futaba.
"Says the guy that looks good in drag." Yosuke spat glaring across the fire.
"Yu, this story started with you man so you wanna start us off?" Kanji looked towards Yu.
Yu looked at those gathered around him. "This all started the day I met my Uncle at the train station and I met Nanako for the first time…"
Joker settled down upon a log of his own as the story started.
I was feeling a bit better this morning so I got this chapter up. Hope you like it. I'll see if I can get the next one up sometime this weekend.