Chapter 24: Tears of the Sunset
|Aeternus Meeting Room|10:00 am|
The Holy Cross were assembled here again on Thursday morning, much to their reluctance. They had yet to find proof that Aeternus were the masterminds behind the Shadows, but asking one of the Ater Vox would be a waste of time. They were too powerful for them to face.
"Is the Commander coming?" Alastair asked. "He still hasn't returned to headquarters."
"Who knows. Maybe he's coming here. I hope he's alright." Bianca said.
"I have a bad feeling about this meeting." Kazuya said. "Oh! The hologram!" As before, Nihane Kronos' face appeared, much to the fright of the Holy Cross.
"It's been a little while since we last spoke. Quite frankly, it should have been longer. Talking to you is a drain on my valuable time." Nihane said. "Now then. The trap failed, although that is the fault of the Commander. After that, you haven't found either of the runaway Persona users. Just what are we hiring you for?"
"To fight Shadows and protect humanity?" Alastair said. "That is our goal, after all."
"Don't try to be smart with me, if you want to spare your brain from strain. We need more than just you four. Clearly, they're too good for you to beat, so they must be something special. Instead, I'm going to have you do something else." Nihane said.
"What's that, Nihane?" Richard asked. "Go on vacation?"
"I'm...not dignifying that with a response. You are aware that the Commander has been missing for several days, yes? Would you have any insight as to why he has abandoned his duties?" Nihane asked, his orange eyes filled with sheer animosity.
"Um...no." Bianca said, gulping.
"I figured as much. He may utterly detest every second with you - and rightfully so - but you four are the closest to him. So, your duty is to scour the entire city and locate him. Let's see, you can start in Saragel. I believe the Commander's last order was to send you all there?" Nihane said. Richard shuddered - Nihane was the one person that he couldn't joke around.
"Alright. We'll head out right away. I promise, we'll find him. If we encounter any rebels, what should we do?" Alastair asked.
"Considering your level of success, ignore them. Now hurry up and find the Commander!" Nihane's face disappeared, and the Holy Cross sat there, panicking.
"Do you think the Commander knows about what the rebels told us?" Bianca said, her face pale.
"Perhaps. We need to go, and now! Follow me!" Alastair said, and the Holy Cross left the room.
|Real People Offices|10:40 am|
"Oh, crap!" Amara said, as she realised something. Lucy looked up, curious.
"What's wrong?" Stella asked.
"Well, I told Zao I was going to go out with him tonight, but then I remembered. Today is Aimee's birthday party. She's a...friend of mine." Amara said, hoping Stella would understand. Stella nodded, and Lucy just looked at them, confused.
"Well, Zao seems like an easy-going fellow. If you just tell him you forgot you had plans and go out another night, I'm sure he'd be okay with that." Stella said. "Honestly, you're worrying too much!"
"I know. Crap, I didn't even get Aimee a gift yet. I suppose I could pick something up at the mall. I'm meeting the others there, too." Amara said. "Maybe some jewellery, or something out of Rosa Candida?"
"I'm sure any gift would do." Stella said. "Honestly, as far as I can see, any gift you pick will make her happy. Perhaps you could give her one of your paintings, as well?"
"Well, that's not a bad idea. I do have one I did of the view of Lucille Hill, she'd like that. Maybe I'll just help the others pick out gifts. Lord knows what Blaine will get her!" Amara said, laughing. Relaxed, she got back to her work. Lucy shrugged and went back to her own work.
|Solar Ray Mall|17:40 pm|
Amara arrived with Stella, who came to the mall to purchase some scented candles. Stella seemed pretty happy, but Amara still felt guilty for having to call off her date with Zao.
"The candles help create the ideal environment for divine realisations. Also, they do give the place a certain flair..." Stella said, not noticing Amara's unease.
"Oh, hey!" Serena said, running up. "So this is the Stella Cleon! She does look like Seraphina!"
"Ah, yes. Don't worry, I'm already aware of this other world. You must be Serena Agnethe." Stella and Serena shook hands, and soon Serena started bombarding her with questions, mostly about her exam results.
"Yes, Serena, the cupcakes you're baking will turn out alright, and Kyle will love them..." Stella said, already exhausted.
"Okay, that's enough. Nathan's coming." Amara said, as Nathan ran over, waving, with Blaine close behind him. "This is Stella. You know, Seraphina!"
"Ah, I see the resemblance. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Nathan said, shaking Stella's hand. "Although we've already met."
"Correct. Yet, I know nothing of Seraphina, but I can tell you the significance of that name. My mother's...friend is called Seraphina. She was like another mother to me." Stella said.
"I'm Blaine. So we're gonna find gifts for Aimee, right?" Blaine asked. "Time to check out the liquor store, then!"
"Blaine, she's only eighteen. I don't think that'd be her sort of thing. How old were you when you first had beer?" Nathan said.
"Well duh! Fifteen!" Blaine said, rolling his eyes. "Don't look so surprised! You know where I came from. You think I was gonna wait until I was 18? I at least waited two more years than everyone else!"
"Wow." Nathan said. "That is some hard living."
"Anyway, guys, I'll grab a painting from my house for my gift. Let's all pick out something good!" Amara said, excited.
Later
After about an hour of browsing the stores, the gang finally settled on their gifts. Serena got a rather cute panda toy, Nathan got some flowers from Bianca's store, and Blaine got a box of chocolates.
"Um, Blaine, these chocolates have alcohol in them..." Serena said.
"Yeah, so? What's the worst that could happen?" Blaine said, shrugging. "Come on, there's only enough alcohol in one of these babies to knock out a parrot. Me and Dan discovered that when we wound up in the neighbour's garden one night..."
"...You really are setting a good example for us. Well, we should get going. Amara, what painting are you going to take?" Nathan asked, carrying a bouquet of yellow and white flowers.
"One I did of the view from Lucille Hill. Aimee's gonna love it!" Amara said, even more excited. She had spent quite a bit of time painting it, even going without sleep. Yet, it was worth it.
"Well, I hope it goes well. Good luck tonight-Huh?!" Stella suddenly panicked, and her eyes widened.
"Holy crap! Is she having a vision?!" Serena shouted.
I'm sensing something!" Stella said, holding her head. "The Sun, Moon, Strength and Magician...mirror reflections...tonight, in a holy building...darkness arising...the path of eternity nears..."
"What the hell?" Blaine said, confused. "Hey Stella, you okay?"
"I don't know. It's just like my first reading with Amara! Something else is influencing the reading!" Stella shouted. "Please be careful! Good luck!" With that, she ran off.
"Wait, wasn't there something affecting Seraphina's power?" Serena asked. "Maybe it's those cloaked people!"
"Maybe that's right. Stella said she could tell the cloaked man affected her first reading. Yet she didn't mention him this time. Maybe it's the woman?" Amara said. She couldn't tell what was going on, but she was curious by the mention of a holy building. There were plenty of churches in town, but she couldn't think of one at the moment. Darkness arising could mean anything, but a path of chaos? Something was going to happen tonight. And not just a birthday party.
|Secret Base|19:00 pm|
Everyone was sitting at the table - even Kyle, although he seemed more distant than usual. A birthday cake was on the table, and the candles were still lit.
"Oh, look, they're here! We can finally blow the candles out." Dan said. "It's only been like twenty minutes..."
"Hey, it was worth the wait. Now we can all celebrate. Oh, and they brought gifts, too!" Other Nathan said. Kyle just looked at the cake, with a vacant expression. The flames seemed to have him deep in thought. Dan looked at him, worried, but Kyle didn't respond at all.
"Thank you all for coming! I'd ask you to sit down, but there aren't enough chairs..." Aimee said. "So...stand around! Amara and the others stood around the table, and everyone cheered as Aimee blew out the candles.
"Did you make a wish?" Priscilla asked.
"Yeah! I'm not telling, though." Aimee said, with a coy smile.
"That cake looks delicious. I hope there's enough for everyone." Nathan said. So, after enjoying a very delightful sponge cake, the gang gave Aimee their presents.
"Oh...these chocolates look...nice! Um...thanks, Blaine!" Aimee said, nervously. "The panda sure is cute. Thanks, Serena." Serena and Blaine looked proud of themselves. "Nathan, these flowers are gorgeous. Where did you get them?"
"Bianca - yes, that Bianca - sells them in front of Solar Ray Mall." Nathan said. "But Amara's got the best gift." Aimee gasped as Amara unveiled her painting - an absolutely beautiful view of the city from Lucille Hill, with just about every detail as accurate as possible.
"How long did it take you to do that?" Aimee asked. "Don't tell me you spent all day on it!"
"Oh, no, I painted it a few months back. I hope you like it." Amara said, beaming. Aimee squealed as she took the painting, and hung it up on the wall.
"Amara, thank you! I've not seen the hill for ten years! I still remember me and my brother Karl playing there. It was so nice before all of this happened..." Aimee gazed into the painting for a while, whilst Amara realised something. She had never met Aimee in her world. Yet, her brother was called Karl, the same name as her ex-boyfriend. They looked quite alike, as well. She seriously started to consider her ex-boyfriend being the very same Karl, and gulped.
"Well then, let's stay here for today and have some fun. There's still some cake left, and- " Priscilla started saying, but then she noticed Kyle's face. He looked anxious, as if he wanted to say something.
"Kyle, what is it?" Amara asked.
"I'm sorry. I really need to tell you what happened when Blaine and Serena - the other ones - captured me. See, I don't remember most of what Blaine was telling me. He just wanted me to keep you guys distracted so he could ask me questions." Kyle said, shaking.
"Kyle..." Serena said, going over to him. "Please, don't stress yourself out. You can tell me anything, even if you're not the same Kyle I go to school with."
"I'm sorry, Serena." Kyle said. "I was wrong. I do know you. I just forgot. The other Serena reminded me of the day my mother died. Listen."
Dan nodded. "Let him speak. He needs to let it all out. It's not easy, but it's better than bottling it up."
"Thanks, Dan. It began six years ago, when I was still in school."
|20th July 2006|Kyle's Bedroom|17:05 pm|
Kyle was in his bedroom, crying his eyes out. The previous day at school, Shadows burst into his gym class. They were about to kill him and a student called Adam, and all seemed lost. Yet, he discovered his Persona ability via the voice of Philemon, a glowing butterfly figure. He narrowly defeated them, but now all the school could talk about was his enrolment in the Ornatu Legion. After all, he had a rare gift they did not - a natural Persona.
The worst part was listening to his teacher's desperate pleas. Until that day, they had been calm, quiet, and collected teachers who rarely spoke of personal matters. But today, when they called him to the teacher's office to discuss Ornatu Legion membership, they became almost fanatical. He heard horrifying tales of Shadows murdering their families, destroying their homes, and ruining the future of their pupils. To them, Kyle was a beacon of hope, regardless of his age or disability.
Kyle fled to his home, able to destroy the Shadows with 'Hephaestus'. Before he reached home, though, he noticed a cut on his hand. It had come from a furious battle with a Shadow, and he was still a novice at fighting. He intended to put a plaster on it, but the pain was too intense, and he started sobbing. Just then, a girl his age came up behind him.
"What?! What do you want?!" Kyle screamed.
"Calm down. I'm going to take care of your wound." The girl said. She was taller than him, and had short blonde hair. She didn't seem like all his fellow students, who at this point were just like the teachers. Most of them barely remembered the days before the Shadows. He felt a soothing light around his body, and his cut disappeared. "How's that?"
"It's gone...thanks, miss." Kyle said.
"Don't mention it. And don't listen to your teachers, either. You make your own mind up." She ran off, and Kyle stared at her. When he got back home, he began crying, desperately wishing for the days were his mother and father were still together. He hadn't heard from his dad in years, and Kyle couldn't bring himself to ask his mother about him. His mother was the only person he could talk to these days, but she had no idea of his power.
Just then, Kyle heard his mother screaming downstairs.
"Mom?"
Kyle left his room, worried, and looked downstairs. His mother Daphne was talking to a tall man with red hair, who looked rather mad.
"For the last time! My son is not a Persona user! He's too young to fight the Shadows! I won't let you take him from me!" Daphne yelled.
"Is that so? We've never needed permission before, and we sure as hell won't need it now! Your ideals went up in smoke years ago. Time for you to do the same!" The red haired man said.
"Mom! Watch out!" Kyle yelled. It was too late, however. The house quickly became engulfed in flames. The next few moments happened so fast, as he found himself outside, his house ablaze. The neighbours were fleeing for their lives. Why weren't they trying to help? All they cared about was not being devoured by the Shadows. Kyle was on his own...
"Kyle...?" a voice said. It was the girl from before. Before her was a mystical female with a black dress, blonde and white hair with a moon symbol on her head.
"Where's...mom?" Kyle said. He began coughing, having inhaled some of the smoke.
"She's right here." The girl said. "She's not breathing. Don't worry, I can help her!" Her Persona began sending the same soothing light into his mother's body. "I'll find a place for us to hide later, so just be patient - oh god!"
"Ah, so there you are. Join us, Kyle. You know what the Shadows will do if you let your power go to waste." the red haired man said.
"No, Pierre! He won't!" the girl yelled.
"Fine, then you leave me no choice. Kyle, take a good long look at your mother. I think she's starting to wake up! She could use some heat to freshen her up, hmm?" 'Pierre' said.
Kyle could only see scorching hot flames in place of his mother's body. Horrifying screams rung through his ears. Pierre suddenly froze on the spot, and a gush of water out of nowhere hit him. Pierre didn't react, despite the powerful beating he took. When Kyle looked back to his mother, all that was there was a pile of ash. His mother's ashes were blown away by the wind, lost forever...
Present Day
"The next thing I remember after that is being at Lorean Tower. All I knew was that my mom was dead, and I had a Persona. Aimee found me crying..." Kyle said, lookin right at her. "From then on, I was fighting the Shadows with her. I...can't believe it took me this long to remember."
"So my other self saved your life..." Serena said. "No wonder she wanted to save you so much."
"You unfortunate child. For six long years, you have been in constant danger." Seraphina said, and she was being sincere. It was often hard to read her emotions, but Amara knew she was telling the truth.
"Don't worry about me. You guys have your reasons for fighting the Shadows too, right? Especially you, Dan." Kyle said, as he looked into Dan's eyes. "Thanks for putting up with me. I'm gonna get back on that computer and get us all into a party mood!"
"That's my man!" Dan said. Everyone seemed happier now, and Aimee started munching on the chocolates.
"These have a strange flavour..." Aimee said.
"Yeah, those ones have brandy in 'em. Good, aren't they?" Blaine said.
"Um...yes! They're very...unique!" Aimee said, with a laugh that sounded rather forced. "You guys should eat them, too. I don't think I could get through these by myself." As the group made idle chatter, whilst Kyle found music to play in the background, Amara started to feel like the whole rebel team were a family. Kyle was a lot happier now, actually laughing and smiling with the others. Perhaps remembering the past was for the best. Now
Just as Serena spat out one of the chocolates, Seraphina suddenly held her head, in pain. "Seraphina! What is it?!" Other Nathan asked.
"Other...Sun...Outside...Home...Go...Now!" Seraphina said, and after this, she looked pale. "Ugh...that did not come forth from Hecate. Something else was conveying a message to me!"
"Huh?! It's just like Stella!" Amara shouted. "Those cloaked people! They're the ones doing it! I just know it!"
"That means we have to go, right?" Kyle said. "It's about time I got out of here, anyway. Wait, where are we going?"
"Other Sun...that must refer to the Amara native to our world. 'Home' must refer to the Furaha family home. Lady Amara, you must guide us there. This cannot be ignored."
"Alright. I never imagined going back to my old house in this world. It must be empty now... Let's go." Amara said. After locating the nearest NDD, the team headed for the Furaha Family Home.
|Outside the Furaha Household|19:45 pm|
"It looks just like back home..." Amara said. Everything was still in order...the garden was being well looked after, even. "But my dad's dead, isn't he?"
"Perhaps someone else lives here now. I can't see anyone here." Nathan looked around. "Your other self hasn't shown up since we fought that Shadow at Augustus Square. Wait, is there a back garden?"
"Yeah. We'd have to go through the house to get to it, though. I have a key, but I don't know if it'd work." Amara said, taking out a key from her pocket. "I never thought I'd be using it like this." After unlocking the gate, the team entered the family home.
"What the - everything's the same! What's going on?!" Amara shouted. Everyone else was impressed by the large house, but Amara wasn't in any mood to show them around.
"Amara, let's go to the back garden. We'll find our answer there." Kyle said.
"Okay." Amara said.
Back Garden
The large garden consisted of many beautiful features, such as an outside dining table and a fountain. Sitting on a bench by the fountain...was the Other Amara. She was gazing at the sky, lost in her thoughts.
"You!" Amara yelled. Her other self gasped, and stood up. "Why are you here?"
"That's what I was going to ask! This isn't your world, you know! Get lost!" Other Amara said.
"Amara - the other one - cool your jets. Seraphina just got a weird psychic message from the weird lady in the black cloak. She said you'd be here!" Dan said.
"What?" Other Amara said. "Seraphina's the weirdo in the dress, right?"
"I do pride myself on having a unique fashion sense, so thank you." Seraphina said. Other Amara laughed a little, and relaxed.
"Well, I heard about a lot of the stuff that's been going down. What Aeternus say in the news, stuff from the townspeople. I heard you guys were at Aurelia Park and saved everyone there. Good work." Other Amara said. "Looks like Nathan joined you guys."
"Yes. We should fill you in on what's happened since we last met." Other Nathan said. The most interesting event to the Other Amara was the debacle at Lorean Tower.
"So you know Blaine is the Commander." Other Amara said. "That can't have been easy for you, but cheer up. I know you're not the same, really. Just like me and your Amara are different."
"You said Blaine killed my - your father, right?" Amara said. "We heard about what happened to Nathan's dad yesterday. Now it's your turn to talk."
"So Thursday is my day for the depressing backstory corner?" Other Amara said.
"Well, we've already had mine, so I guess today's a double bill!" Kyle said, cheery.
"Ha! You're funny, little guy. Alright, I'll tell you what happened."
|June 17th 2002|Furaha Home|18:00 pm|
Ever since Amara and her father had returned from the convention, everything had been a blur. Amara found herself struggling to remember the details, apart from the obvious. Shadows were all around now, and it wasn't safe to go outside. Yet, the Ornatu Legion was almost ready. Soon, they'd be protected from those monsters.
"Dad, do you really think the Ornatu Legion can protect the city?" Amara asked.
"Of course, dear." Rudo said, staring vacantly outside the window. "Yet, I wonder what the future holds. How long will the city be this way?"
"Dad, c'mon. It'll be okay. You've been really weird...even before this whole thing. What's going on?"
"Amara, they want you to join the Ornatu Legion when you're older. Nihane Kronos said he saw a lot of potential in you. I'm sorry about this...it'll be dangerous, every single day from now on."
"Dad, it'll be fine. If I can get one of those Persona things, I can save the people!" Amara said. "Besides, Mom will protect me!"
"Yes. I hope so too. Nihane promised me you'd be safe under his protection." Rudo said. "If only they could have stopped the Shadows from spreading so far."
"Too late for that now. Dad, we still have to look forward!" Amara said. "Let's enjoy tonight, okay?"
"Sure. As long as I have you, I know I have something to live for." Rudo said, managing a smile.
Five Years Later
"So, I'm finally going to join." Amara said, packing her bags. "I can't wait! I hope I'm good. Maybe I'll be as strong as this Commander guy."
"I'm sure you'll do fine. But if you're going to join the legion, I won't be able to see you for a while. Whenever you can, come home, okay?" Rudo said.
"I'll be fine! Thomas is driving me to the school, right?" Amara said. "This is going to be so cool! Me, a hero. Mom's going to be so proud!"
"She already is, Amara. Oh, there he is." Rudo said, as Tomas Weiken, his business partner, got out of the car. "Go on ahead. I'll see you soon." So Amara, grabbing her bags, ran into Thomas' car, and waved as she left the home.
Tomas was an older man, in his sixties. Amara didn't know how he and her father met, but they had been partners and friends for as long as she could remember. Now, his brown hair had turned white, and was mostly gone. She used to tease him, but these days he wasn't quite so amused by it.
"So, are you going to wish me luck?" Amara said. Tomas didn't say anything, and Amara just sat next to him, tense.
"I have to say it now, or I'll never forgive myself. Your father was bullied into making you join the legion. He isn't best friends with Nihane or anything. Nihane just kept threatening him, until he agreed." Tomas said.
"What?!" Amara didn't understand. "But why?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I don't trust Nihane or the others. Neither should you. That's why when you get there, I want you to find out as much as you can. Don't let them do as they please."
"Okay." Amara said. Tomas finally parked, and Amara left, heading into her high school. Soon, she'd get to see her Persona.
|June 17th 2007|Auditorium|14:30 pm|
Nihane Kronos and the Commander, Blaine Spencer, were standing on the stage alone, by the bizarre contraption that apparently gave the legion their Personas. Blaine simply looked apathetic, whilst Nihane had an odd smirk on his face.
"You Nihane?" Amara asked. "I'm Rudo's daughter."
"Oh, I know that. Your father's assets have been very useful over the years. We must thank him properly. Blaine, why don't you introduce yourself?" Nihane said, with an eerie smile.
"Blaine Spencer." Blaine said, still nonchalant. Nihane chuckled to himself, and sat down.
"He's so charismatic! It's funny, when he first started he was as enthusiastic as you are now. I hope you never lose your passion for the job." Nihane said, and every word he said made Amara feel uneasy. No wonder Tomas didn't trust him. Yet, did Amara have a choice?
"Isn't anyone else here?" Amara asked.
"It's just the three of us. Wouldn't it be awful if Shadows came in just as we were about to give you your Persona?" Nihane said, with a dark sense of cheeriness. At this point, Amara started to wonder if Nihane was fully sane. Blaine didn't say a thing.
At this moment, Shadows appeared, surrounding the three of them.
"Speak of the devil! Blaine, would you care to do the honours?" Nihane chanted.
But then, before he could use his Persona, something strange happened. Amara felt something...ever since the convention, she'd felt a strange sensation in her body. Like something was trying to burst out. Suddenly, her body was surrounded by blue smoke, and Nihane's expression changed to one of absolutely evil delight. Amara called out the word 'Persona'.
The Persona was an Egyptian looking female wielding a large sword, and in a red dress. With several sword slashes and fire balls, she destroyed all of the blob Shadows in her path.
I am thou. Thou art I. I cometh from the sea of thy heart. I am Sekhmet, dark warrior of the sun who fights an eternal war.
"Holy cow?!" Amara screamed. "I summoned a goddess!"
"That ain't no goddess. That's part of your identity." Blaine said.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" Nihane said, clapping. Amara shuddered, repulsed by his glee. "I thought I could sense the Persona talent, dormant within you. To think I wasted five years until you were old enough to fight. Now then, my dear Amara, you shall rise beyond the mere ranks of the Ornatu Legion!"
"What do you mean!?" Amara asked.
"You shall truly open the path for humanity's salvation. Sekhmet's power...it shall join with Tlaloc, Setanta, and any others that we find, and save humanity! Join us, Amara! Make your father proud!"
"No! No way!" Amara screamed. "There's something wrong with you! You're making Shadows, aren't you? I can tell! This is all some game to you!"
"Honestly, shouldn't you trust the ones with power?" Nihane said, smug. "Yet, if you don't want to join us, I could let you go. Not that you can get outside the city. Of course, we did demand that your father give you to us. We can show him what happens if our demands aren't met, rather easily."
"You shut up!" Sekhmet hit Nihane with Agi, but nothing at all happened.
"Your attacks are nothing. Blaine, I have to consult the rest of the Ater Vox. Do not let her escape!" Nihane said, and he disappeared, without even using a NDD.
"Listen to me. You'll be alright as long as you do as I say, and - "
Amara grabbed a sword lying on the ground, and slashed Blaine right across the face. Stunned, Blaine dropped to his knees, seething with pain. Blood poured from his face, and it was a miracle she hadn't blinded him. Amara struck again, but before she could cause more injuries to his face, he knocked her away with Tlaloc.
"Argh! Get away from me! You're all freaks, all of you! Tomas was right. You bullied my father into giving you money and making me join you! I'm not going to be your slave!" Amara shouted. Blaine started walking towards her, his face bleeding.
"I...don't want you to be a slave..." Blaine said. "I'm already -"
Before he could finish speaking, a huge swarm of Shadows appeared between them.
"Dammit!" Blaine started attacking them with Tlaloc, but they just kept coming. Amara hoped they'd be too much for him to deal with, and dashed out of the school as fast as she could. Tomas' car was still there, but he was gone. She couldn't escape with that, since she didn't have a liscence. So, she ran as fast as she could to her household.
Yet, once there, Amara noticed something was wrong. The house was quiet, but her father hadn't been to work that day. Running up the stairs, she thought she smelt smoke. Her father's bedroom door was open, and standing there was Blaine, his face white with horror, and near him was something far more frightening than any Shadow.
Her father's corpse, ridden with bullets. Blood covered the white carpet, and Blaine just stood there. In her rage, Amara struck Blaine's face one more time, and before she could hit him again, he jumped out of the window, and got away.
"Daddy! I was supposed to protect you...I'm sorry..."
Amara spent that evening burying her father's body. From that night on, she had no choice but to flee, with no home to go to and no cause to fight for.
Present Day
"So, those scars on Blaine's face are from my sword." Other Amara said. "I can cause quite a bit of pain if I want to."
"Your other self is scary, Amara." Serena said. Blained nodded, both impressed and afraid. "One more thing. How did you know that I wasn't dead in this world?"
"Oh, right. I saw him a few weeks back, going into the Cathedral in Farawell with her. Before that, I'd heard a girl Persona user was going to be killed for treason. The Aeternus bastards must think they're a kingdom or something." Other Amara said.
"It might as well be, all things considered." Other Nathan said.
"I don't get it. Why would he disobey his orders?" Aimee asked. "Blaine and Dan, I'm sorry to reiterate the past, but the Commander destroyed Kanaloa, killed Rudo Furaha and Reginald Albion. But he didn't kill Serena. Also, he apparently tried to save Bianca's uncle. This doesn't make sense!"
"Wait. He was talking to me about some of that. I could have sworn he said he was framed. I don't really recall everything he said, it's what the other Serena said that I remember the most." Kyle said. Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"He's lying! He has to be!" Other Amara said. "I know he's the one who did it! Nathan, don't you think so?!"
"I don't know what to make of that, actually. I never actually saw him murder my dad. Neither did you." Other Nathan said. "Yet, he was there by their corpses."
"Kyle's right." What?!
Someone was on the roof. Other Serena! Before anyone could react, she jumped down, and grabbed Other Amara from behind.
"Let me go!" she screamed.
"Serena! I remember everything now! Don't do this!" Kyle shouted.
"I have to. I'm sorry! Kyle, forgive me!" Other Serena said, holding a rag to Other Amara's mouth. Chloroform?! Other Serena, dragging the now drowsy Other Amara away, fled the mansion.
"Oh no! Serena!" Kyle said.
"Get back here! Now!" Amara screamed, running ahead.
|Nova Albion - Alleyway|20:00 pm|
"Dammit!" Other Serena reached the NDD hidden behind a dumpster, and jumped through with the Other Amara. "Hold on, I'm coming -"
"Wait." Priscilla said. "Look, the code's reset. It's blank."
"That's right. We can't have you guys following." Oh no, don't tell me...
Just as Amara realised who was speaking, bolts of lightning struck everybody. Serena was hurt the most, but everyone was stunned. Other Nathan stood up, but a man from behind grabbed him and went over to the NDD.
"Blaine!" Dan yelled. "You son of a bitch! What the hell is this?!"
"I need to do this. Or things will never change." Other Blaine said, going through, Other Nathan struggling to break free.
"That bastard. I'm gonna kill him, and I mean it! I'm never gonna let him forget what he took away from me!" Dan's anger was flowing through his veins, his eyes filled with pure rage. Kyle recoiled, and looked away.
"Nathan! Oh god, no!" Priscilla, panicking, desperately banged on the NDD. "It's no good. He's taken my Nathan away..."
"Calm down. We can get him back." Nathan said. "Seraphina, I'm truly sorry, but we're going to have to rely on you again."
"That is no problem, but -"
"There is no need." The cloaked man was behind them. "They have gone to the holy building. Tonight, the path of chaos begins, after a long wait."
"What the fuck are you talking about, old man?" Blaine asked.
"Old man... Yes, I have been called that before. Before the many sins we committed took place, I was happy. Two golden eras...one was ended by tragic circumstances, the second was entirely our own fault. There will be no more golden eras I can live through. This is all I can do. You must go to the holy building. The Cathedral in Farawell. Only then shall the long journey to bar the path of eternity begin. Farewell." The cloaked man disappeared, and everyone just stared.
"...Oh! Farawell! Everyone, let's hurry up and go!" Priscilla shouted. "I have to save him from that monster!"
"Hey, I'm right here!" Blaine said.
"Sorry. I just have to get him back! I waited ten years for him, and I'm not letting him go again!" Priscilla said.
"We'll take you to the cathedral soon. It's near the Farawell Shadow Development Centre. For you four, it was your first foray into our world." Kyle said. "I have to find the Other Serena. I need to thank her."
"Thank her for what?" Nathan asked.
"For protecting me, and for trying to save my mother." Kyle said. "Also, I think I remember something else. I need to see her and Blaine first, though."
And so, the team used the NDD code to go to Farawell's SDC, and ventured towards the cathedral. Amara didn't understand what the 'path of chaos' was, but she knew she had to save her other self. It was her duty, after all.