AN: I hope you enjoy this chapter, everyone. Fifty two chapters in, and we're still not done with this story. Please, everyone who's reading, continue to follow this story. Reviews are much appreciated!
Chapter 52: Blue Seas
|August 19th|Stella Cleon's Psychic Parlour|9:30 am|
"Zzzz..."
Stella was sitting at her table, fast asleep. She had been performing divinations all day yesterday, most of them rather mundane matters such as "Will I get that promotion?", "When will we get married?", and "What should I make for dinner?". It was rather like when she had to perform readings for Priscilla Lancaster - utter tedium. There was no fun in it anymore. The only time she felt her psychic powers were truly a blessing lately was when she was aiding Amara in her struggles.
Just that moment, she heard someone knocking at the door.
"Ah! Who is it?" Stella asked, startled.
"Excuse me? Are you open?" a female voice said.
"Yes! Come on in!" Stella said. Another boring reading...time to get it over with. Once she had done that, she could finish early today and hang out with her mother. The door opened, and in came four people. They were the Holy Cross, the people she bowled against not so long ago. "Oh, it's you! How are you all?"
"We're doing alright." Alastair said. "You played well. We should do it again sometime. I suspect that was down to Karl's leadership, however."
"Yeah! But we've got something really spooky to talk to you about! And it's REALLY cool, too! Super freaky!" Richard said. "Now...damn, there's only two chairs we can sit on!"
"Relax, Richard, I'm sure you can handle standing still for a few minutes." Kazuya said. "Forgive him, Miss Cleon. He's quite impatient."
"Call me Stella. Now, what is this 'something spooky' you want to tell me about?" Stella asked.
"The other night, we had a dream. All of us had the exact same dream. It wasn't any old dream, either." Alastair said. "It was bizarre. We were in the city, but it was dark, and no one was around. All four of us were there, and there were strange shadows all around us. But we felt strange...like we had something inside of us."
Stella's face went white with horror. Amara had told her many things, but Stella had never born witness to any of them. However, she did know someone with her step-mother's name was her alter ego - Seraphina. When she used her power, it felt like she could remember things from the other world. But Alastair and his friends each had the same dream, subconsciously recalling battles from another world. How could she explain this to them? It turned out that the Holy Cross had survived the Divine Spark, and were now no longer willing to aid Aeternus with their evil schemes. Getting their selves in this realm involved was out of the question - she had to think of something.
"Are you alright, Stella?" Bianca asked. "Do you know what's wrong with us?"
"Oh...there's nothing wrong, exactly." Stella said. "It turns out that in your previous lives, the four of you were friends." Stella never had to lie before, but if she told the truth, Amara and the others would face the consequences. It was hard enough with five of them heading into the other world every other night. "In those past lives, you met as children. You had active imaginations back then - not just Richard!"
"Hey! What's that implying?" Richard asked, confused.
"Well, Richard, you can come up with some odd ideas sometime. Like how you would make popcorn." Kazuya said.
"It was four in the morning! Did you really expect me to think things through?" Richard said.
"Even so, you don't normally make popcorn with sweet corn..." Bianca said.
"Whatever. Anyway the four of you shared many fantasies. You would have the gift to summon creatures to fight monsters that hid in the shadows." Stella said, racing her mind for ideas. "The story you all had was...that you would one day save the city from chaos. But as you grew older, you lost sight of your fantasies, and grew apart. And now in your new lives, you're finally together again. The strength of your bonds together will never falter, not this time."
Bianca gasped. "Are you sure, Stella?"
"My inner eye never lies." Stella said. "The bond between you four broke once before, long ago. Now it is restored, firmer than ever. You may no longer have ideals about fighting evil, but as adults you still share everything. That is why you each had a dream of the past - to remind you of those happy days, still within your memories."
"Wow...then I guess we really were meant to be friends." Alastair said. "Stella, we were afraid something was wrong, that we were going crazy. Or something really bad was going to happen."
"There's no danger of that. If you have any more of these dreams, then that's another sign of your unbreakable new bond. Remember, at the end of the day, you four are together. No matter what happens." Stella said.
"Alright then! Well, if that's all it is, let's hit the beach!" Richard said.
"Are you serious?" Kazuya asked.
"Well, it is a nice day, and I'm not so worried anymore, thanks to Stella." Bianca said. "Oh, do we owe you for this session?"
"Not at all. You weren't here for very long, anyway. Besides, all I had to do was interpret odd dreams. If you were looking for a full session on what to expect from the future, then we might be talking payment." Stella said.
"Oh, sweet! Then can you tell me about my future?" Richard asked.
"You just said you wanted to hit the beach!" Kazuya said. "Make up your mind!"
"Well, I was planning to close up early today. Perhaps next week, if any of you want a full session, come during the night. Remember, I have another job during the day." Stella said.
As the four of them left, Stella gulped. Should she inform Amara and the others about this? She reached for her phone, but hesitated. She didn't know if she intended to travel to the other world today. Instead, she should try to tap into the future of that world. Crossing the dimensional barrier with her mind...it was a huge strain on her body, but she could do it.
Just before she could focus, however, her phone rang. It was her mother - the real Stella.
"Hey mom..."
"Hello, Sophie. Are you still coming today?" her mother said.
"Of course I am!" Stella said. "I just need a chance to change wigs, then I'll be on my way."
"Is it so no one recognises you?" her mother asked. "That was the whole reason you put on the Stella Persona in the first place - so no one knew you were that bald girl from school."
"That's in the past, mother. I am not that girl anymore. To everyone except you and Seraphina, Sophie is dead. I'm Stella Cleon now. And the wig I'm going to wear today won't look like anything 'Sophie' wore." Stella said.
"Alright. Please just don't forget who you are. Also, don't have too much sugar today. I worry about you, you know." Stella's mother said.
"Okay. See you later, mom." Stella said. It had been quite some time since she had been outside without her Stella Cleon get-up. It had proven quite an effective disguise - most people thought she just dyed her hair and eyebrows. No one knew the truth except the two people she trusted the most - her mother, and the real Seraphina. The fact that her other self chose that moniker was testament to her deep affection.
When she left the shop, she made sure no one saw her emerge from the door. She had a red short wig on, that was styled with a few curls near the ends. As she began to walk towards the coffee shop her mother recommended, she saw a man staring at her on the opposite side of the street. Blaine Spencer. Thankfully, he quickly looked away and turned to his motorcycle, swearing under his breath. From the sounds of things, his precious Black Lightning needed repairs again.
"No one can know who I was...no one. I am not that bald girl anymore! And I never will be again!" Stella said to herself.
|Saragel - Richmond Park|11:00 am|
The Richmond Park, while not as beautiful as Aurelia Park, was still a popular venue in Saragel. Karl came here regularly to practice, sometimes with his team, sometimes alone. Today, he was all by himself, but not for practice. Rather, he felt like going for a run. There was a major tournament in the city coming up, and every team in the city was going to take part. This would be the first time Karl was in a time that could participate, and he wanted to be as good as possible. After all, if his team won, he'd go down in the city's history - and his skills might be acknowledged worldwide. To have posters of him on bedroom walls, like his idols...it seemed too good to be true.
"Hey, you there!" a teenage boy wearing shorts said, running up to him. "You're Karl Davenport, right?"
"Yes, that's me! What can I do for ya?" Karl asked.
"Dude, you're awesome! You're fantastic! The team would be nothing if it wasn't for you!" the boy said. "So can I get your autograph?"
"You sure can, buddy!" Karl said. This wasn't the first time he had been asked for his autograph, but it was hardly an everyday occurrence. The boy seemed pleased, and the two of them shook hands.
"Oh yeah, you guys better win The Motus Siegfried Cup!" the boy said. "So if you're here to train, get to it! Make us proud!"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll be ready for that tournament, and we'll thrash every team that gets in our way!" Karl said. With that, the boy left, still excited about Karl's signature. Thus, Karl was free to begin his training - running laps around the park. He had more stamina than most of this team mates, so it took until the twelfth lap for him to feel tired. Finally, after sixteen laps, he sat down, covered in sweat.
Phew...gotta get better than this...I'll need all the energy I can get...
As he took a long drink from his water bottle, he stared at the blue sky. The sun was bright, it's rays beating down on his face. Looking back at the park, he saw two people kissing by the water fountain. The sight of them started to make his blood boil - and it took him a moment to realise why.
"Amara..."
When they first became a couple, he and Amara had a lot of fun together. While they both loved partying in Saragel's hottest clubs, there was something to be said about lazing about on the sofa, listening to music, and sitting close to each other. Then, after that charity dance night, his feelings grew even stronger. This was the one - at least, that's what he told himself. And he couldn't let anything happen to her. That was when the first of his bouts of paranoia happened.
On a rainy night, Amara was late to the restaurant they were supposed to have dinner at. Karl panicked, and called her phone many times - seventeen, to be exact. When she finally arrived, she was beyond frustrated at him. She couldn't answer the phone because she was so focused on getting ready for the evening, and when she saw just how many calls she had missed, she was stunned. Karl tried to apologise as much as he could, but the evening was just too awkward to be the perfect evening he intended.
This type of event started becoming more frequent. Karl could never explain it - why did he get so worried about Amara? It was like if he took her eyes off her for one minute, someone or something would take her away from him. And she was the woman he loved, more than anyone in the entire world. Being with her made him truly happy, and losing that joy would make his life empty. But there was no reason to believe anything would happen. Finally, Amara told him that if he ever got clingy or protective again, that was it. She couldn't take anymore. Karl promised he'd change, and as the year of 2011 ended, everything seemed promising for them.
Then, it happened again. Amara had vanished in the crowd whilst the two of them were out shopping, and she was nowhere to be seen. Karl couldn't keep his dark inner thoughts quiet. What if Amara gets mugged? What if I'm not there to save her? So when he finally saw her, simply having a phone call with her father, he went berserk. His screaming made everyone nearby look at him as if he was a total loon, and by the time he was calm, he realised what he had just done.
Amara told him to go home, tears running down her eyes. Not only was she upset, she was disappointed. She was convinced Karl could change, but he had only shown he was exactly the same. He ran home, and when they met the next day, Amara told him the words he feared she would say.
"It's over."
Since then, Karl had tried his best to forget about it. But it was impossible. Now, several months later, Zao Yuria had contacted him. Karl thought meeting up with him again would cheer him up, and it had. But the fact was, Zao was Amara's new boyfriend. And whenever Karl saw them together, he couldn't stand it. The only thing that stopped him from snapping was seeing the two of them so happy.
"Excuse me, um...sir?"
Karl looked to the right, and saw a teenage girl, who was blushing intensely.
"Yeah?"
"Um...can I have your autograph?" she asked, her eyes struggling to keep contact with his.
"Of course, madam!" Karl said. As he signed his name for the second time today, he realised something. Now was not the time to mope around about his love troubles. Now, he had to get his body ready for that tournament, and pull all the stops.
|Legarte Harbour - Pier|12:00 am|
Zao was sitting at the end of the pier, watching the ships sail off to their destinations. They were all going to somewhere faraway, no doubt. When he was young, he never imagined wanting to see other places. In his eyes, the city had it all. Now, he did understand the temptation to travel, but he still never felt it. The sparkling blue seas surrounding the city, even if he did see them every day, still made Zao proud to call himself a citizen of Motus.
"You here again, little minnow?" a gruff, yet kind, voice said.
"Grandpa!" Zao said, looking up at the older man standing over him. It was his grandfather, Deo. He had the look of a sailor on him, with a large white beard and a weather-beaten face. He didn't bear much resemblance to Zao, except for those ocean blue eyes. Despite nearing seventy years of age, he still kept on going, the sea luring him in.
"You work here every day! Don't you have a lady friend to hang out with?" Deo asked.
"I...well...no, she's busy with her father today." Zao said, looking back at the sea. "But don't worry, grandpa, you'll get to meet Amara soon!"
"I'm looking forward to it. That pretty lass reminds me of your old grandmother, you know. Especially the way she smiles when she's near you!" Deo said. "Then again, you're always smiling, you darn numbskull. How do you stay so cheerful?"
"It's the Zao way of life! Each day is worth a smile, but every good day is worth a thousand!" Zao said, beaming. "Anyway, I'm hanging out with Amara tonight. We're probably just going to catch a movie." Well, actually we'll be fighting monsters in another dimension. But that's close enough!
"Alrighty then. I'm heading down to Clairdol today, so you take care of that lady! And yourself!" Deo said, wandering off. Zao turned back to the waves crashing by the harbour, and sighed.
"Friends to hang out with? Yeah right..." Zao said, sadly. Ever since he and Karl had lost touch, he had never much luck with making new friends. No one else his age had the same interests. Granted, neither did Karl, but they were so close back then. The whole time, Zao wanted to see Karl and Aimee again. No one else was as special to him. And his parents weren't particularly supportive, either. They never did approve of Karl's rough housing. While they would gasp at the scrapes on Zao's legs, he would just smile and tell the stories of how he got them, all involving 'adventures' with Karl.
Aimee...she was gone now. That little girl, always trying to join in with her older brother. Zao had quite a soft spot for her, even though she was four years younger than him. When she was six, and he was ten, the two of them were all alone, waiting for Karl to get out his toys.
"Zao?" Aimee asked. "Mommy put my hair up in a ponytail today? Do you like it?"
"Yeah! You look just like a princess!" Zao said.
"Yay! You're like a prince, too!" Aimee said. "One day, you and I will be King and Queen! Then we'll make the Kingdom of Zao the happiest place in the world! Oh, but Karl gets to be, um..."
"Oh, he can be Duke!" Zao said. "I'm not sure what a Duke is, but they're really important!"
"Okay then! Then let's get to work on building the kingdom! Those bricks over there would look great on our castle! And the blue bricks will be the moat!" Aimee said. Zao and Aimee giggled, gleefully putting together their fairytale castle. Finally, when Karl arrived, they had constructed a moat made mostly of blue bricks, with a couple of greens.
"What's this?" Karl asked, football in his hands.
"Me and Zao are making our castle! One day, we're going to rule the Kingdom together, and I'll be the prettiest queen ever! But you can be our Duke!" Aimee said.
"Duke? What's that?" Karl said.
"It means...you're important too!" Zao said. "Someone's got to protect the King, right?"
"Leave that to me! Now come on, we're off to the backyard!" Karl said. The three of them ran off, leaving their castle unfinished.
That day, however, the news came. Aimee and Karl's parents were moving to Saragel, and despite the children's desperate pleas, they refused to change their minds. Zao held a tearful Aimee's hand, and whispered something in her ear.
"I'll come back one day! We will make our Kingdom, I promise!"
It was 2012 now. That Kingdom would never be built, not without it's Queen. At least, that's what he thought at first. But Amara had been the one to finally take his thoughts away from the past. Perhaps now she was the Queen. The Kingdom lived on, in his memories, forever. And he wasn't going to let Karl get away again, either.
"Aimee, wherever you are, don't worry. The Kingdom of Zao's still around!"
|Other World - Secret Base|8:03 pm|
"Evening, all!" Aimee said.
"Hello!" Zao said. "What's happening, everyone?"
"Well, Seraphina's told us that Tomas wants to have a group meeting. Good news, I hope!" Priscilla said. "Also, she said something strange to me earlier. Something about me finding strength, somewhere. What could that mean?"
"Maybe you really get into weight lifting?" Zao said. "Because that'd be kind of cool!"
"No thank you, Zao. That's not the kind of strength I need." Priscilla said. "The things this boy says..."
"Well, that's Zao for you!" Amara said. "So when are we meeting Tomas and my dad?"
"Sixteen minutes and eleven seconds." Seraphina said. "Which is exactly enough time for Dan to grab three cans of beer from the fridge, Aimee to tell him off for drinking before an important discussion, Kyle to brag about his computer prowess, Roger to show off his own, Serena to fill a bowl with pretzels, and -"
"We get it, we get it." Amara said. "A lot could happen in sixteen minutes!"
"Since Seraphina brought it up..." Dan said, gazing towards the kitchen.
"No." Aimee said, shaking her head.
"Aww..." Dan pouted.
"Next time, Dan." Matthew said. "You can come out with me some night at the village."
"Guys, shut up! We need to concentrate on what's going to happen tonight. Tomas probably has news on how to get rid of the Divine Sparks. We shouldn't be messing around!" Tara said. "Ugh!"
"...And she's getting married in the other world?" Blaine quietly said to Nathan. Thankfully, Tara didn't hear this comment. Nathan simply nodded.
Sixteen Minutes and Eleven Seconds later
"Okay, we're off." Seraphina said. "On your feet, everyone!"
"Alright!" Zao said. "We're gonna save the world tonight!"
"Hold your horses! It might take longer than that!" Matthew said. Zao took no notice of this, and when the NDD was powered up, he darted towards it. Seraphina quickly stopped him, holding up her ID.
"Did you forget, you incompetent abalone? Entry to the secret lab is barred without me going first!" Seraphina shouted. "If you were to force entry, Aeternus would be able to locate us and destroy our base!"
"...Sorry." Zao said, shaken. "Ladies first, then."
|Aeternus Headquarters - Outside Lab|8:20 pm|
"Hello, everyone." Alastair said. "Good to see you all."
"Likewise." Nathan said. "How have you been keeping?"
"Well, we've been trying to get back into the groove of things. So we've been kicking all sorts of ass!" Richard said. "The Holy Cross reigns supreme!"
"Yeah. Except you still never beat us." Blaine said, grinning.
"We never did fight four on four, though. Someday, though, we'll prove our strength!" Kazuya said.
Tomas entered the room, and he looked exhausted. His eyes were bloodshot, and there was something odd about his facial expression. He smiled at the sight of everyone there, and nodded.
"Wonderful! With this many people here, I won't have to end up repeating myself." Tomas said. "Now then, let's get down to business. You all know about my on-going research into the Divine Sparks, correct?"
"Have you learned anything new?" Other Amara asked.
"Yes, many things. The power of Persona is truly tremendous! It has infinite potential, just like humanity! Of course, a Persona and a person are one and the same, merely different sides of each other. The collective unconscious is wide, but still connected!" Tomas raved, gesturing towards a picture on the screen. It was of a planet, and various 'cards' - around twenty one of them. Each of them had a name - Fool, Magician, Priestess, and so on, all the way to Judgment.
"What are the Tarot cards doing on the screen, Tomas?" Serena asked.
"Tarot cards? The heck are those, Greek postcards?" Blaine said.
"You stupid oaf! Tarot cards are common fortune telling implements! In a deck, there are 22 Major Arcana, each symbolising different aspects of human nature. Each of you has an Arcana that represents them on a psychological level. For example, Zao, you are the Fool." Seraphina said.
"Why is everyone picking on me today?" Zao said, annoyed.
"No, the first Arcana, numbered zero, is called The Fool. Try and pay attention." Seraphina said. "Our Personas also have that Arcana, which emanates throughout their entire being. Likewise, every Shadow has an Arcana - albeit, in the reverse position. They take the Arcana, and represent the negative aspects of it."
"You're very knowledgable, young lady!" Tomas said. "However, the twenty second Arcana belongs to no individual. Rather, it is the ultimate Arcana - the World! It's unlimited power will grant us the power to alter reality, and dispel all the evil Aeternus has wrought upon our planet!"
"So how do we get access to this Arcana?" Dan asked. "Does it involve combining our powers?"
"That's right!" Tomas said, excitedly. "Look at this!" On the screen, pictures of the group started to appear next to the Arcana. Amara's face was right next to The Sun, and she thought back to what Stella told her. Likewise, Nathan's was Strength, Serena's was Moon, and Blaine's was Magician. Seraphina was Priestess, Priscilla was Empress, Kyle was Hermit, and Dan was the Hanged Man. Karen was Tower, Roger was the Emperor, Matthew was Judgment, and Tara was Temperance. Finally, Aimee was the Star, and Zao was the Fool.
"Me? The Fool? But why? Am I that much of an idiot?" Zao whined. Amara couldn't tell if he was pretending to be sad or not. No one answered that question, and Tomas continued his lecture.
"Now then...by combining your energies, we can greatly affect the Divine Sparks. However, without a full 'deck', we cannot hope to destroy them, only reduce their power." Tomas said. "That means there are three more Persona users still to be found!"
"Three more?" Amara asked. "Which ones?"
"Devil, Fortune, and Death." Rudo said. "That means we have to locate three people with the capability of summoning a Persona, and fast. Otherwise, we may never be able to destroy Aeternus."
"So we have to focus on searching for them, whilst keeping an eye on the next two Divine Sparks. This is going to be tough." Aimee said. "Okay! From now on, when any team is training, keep an eye out for anything that feels like a Persona's presence!"
Tomas pointed to the screen again, and the image changed. Now, it was a peculiar Persona - a rather demonic looking one. They had long, black and red robes, and short spiky red hair. Embedded in the forehead of this being was a red jewel, and the Persona was clutching a large, elaborate scythe, that looked as if it was made from blood itself.
"Tomas, what is this?" Amara asked. "Have you found the next Persona user already?!"
"Not quite. I merely tested artificial Personas as well! Alas, they were incompatible with the genuine ones. This one is an artificial Devil Persona. Do you want to know who's the current owner?" Tomas asked, with an insane glint in his eyes.
"Who?" Nathan asked. "Wait, don't tell me -"
The world seemed to stop as the red aura surrounded Tomas. Other Amara screamed as she saw what came out of his body - the exact same monster that was on the screen. Rudo looked away, and stepped back.
"Yes! I gave myself one of the strongest fake Personas ever made! Now I can control the sheer power!" Tomas said. "Now I can aid you all, with this tremendous strength!"
"But Tomas, the power of an artificial Persona is dangerous! It could kill you!" Other Amara said, hysterical. "How could you?!"
"Don't talk to me like that! You should be grateful! I've already grown accustomed to the malignant energies of Belial. In fact, soon enough, we will be one and the same!" Tomas said. "And it isn't just me, either!"
"...What?" Amara asked. "Dad, what's he talking about?!"
Rudo grimaced, as the image on the screen changed. The Persona had a less menacing appearance, and was a grey skinned male with black hair, and sharp horns from it's head. Also, this Persona had a black mask covering his mouth, and a small blue cape that matched it's blue shirt. Completing the ensemble were blue boots and black gloves. Interestingly, his arms had an odd puppet like build.
"Rudo, show them Nebiros!" Tomas said. "You can't hide your new abilities now!"
As the red aura surrounded his body, a massive surge of energy flowed through him, and another man burst out of Rudo. This was Nebiros, the same being on the screen. A large metal ring was attached to his back, with sharp edges.
"Dad, how could you?!" Other Amara wailed. Zao gasped as she tore across the room, and hit her father's chest. "You stupid bastard! That Persona will kill you, just like it does to all the Ornatu Legion! You'll die if you use that thing!"
"Amara...I did this a while ago. Tomas told me that in order to survive, I needed more than a handgun. So he showed me the power of Belial, and I couldn't believe it. This was stronger than any of the Ornatu Legion I had met. So I eventually fused Nebiros into myself, and he's surprisingly powerful." Rudo said. Amara tried to hit him again, but he caught her arm. "Stop it, Amara. I won't give up Nebiros. Not until we've saved the city."
"But that could take much longer than you think!" Kyle said. "I've done some research on this very subject. The average Ornatu Legion member starts to hear voices, then they might faint on occasion. Even worse, it's possible for the fake Persona to consume the wielder, and destroy them entirely!"
"What?!" Other Amara screamed. "Dad, you have to get rid of that thing now! Right now!"
"He'll do no such thing! This power will help you in the long run!" Tomas said. "Your hysteria is not going to save this planet! So shut up, and let us use this power in any way we see fit!"
"More like the way you see fit." Blaine said.
"Guys! Listen, we know what we need to do now. Since the rest of you are a bit on edge, let the four of us go and hunt for the new Persona users." Bianca said. "We'll do a good job! Commander, we won't let you down!"
"I'm not giving you orders anymore. You'll do just fine. Go on, go search the city as hard as you can." Other Blaine said.
Alastair, followed by his friends, left via the NDD after Seraphina activated it for them. Seraphina turned to Priscilla, and pointed towards the door.
"What?" Priscilla asked. "You want me to go with them?"
"You must. I implore you to! Remember what I told you earlier. You must go, right now!" Seraphina pleaded.
"You're one pushy psychic. Okay..." Priscilla sighed, and she reluctantly followed the Holy Cross.
"Amara, please don't cry -"
"Shut up!" Other Amara wailed, smacking her father right across his face. "I hate you, you stupid idiot! You're going to kill yourself with that power! Seraphina, we need to go! Now!"
"As you wish, Lady Amara. Tomas, Rudo, we will rendezvous at a later opportunity. By then, we should have one of the three we lack." Seraphina said. She and the others left, returning to their hidden base.
"Well, that could have gone better." Rudo said.
"It's all for a worthwhile cause. This power is far too good to give up. Perhaps I could use it in place of a genuine one after all. I just have to test it to the very limit!" Tomas said, laughing out loud. "Imagine, a truly astonishing metamorphosis! Transforming a mass of negative feelings into an avatar of immeasurable power! Rudo, you should rejoice! We will destroy Nihane Kronos, with the same power he wishes to inflict on all of us!"
"...I need to take a nap. If I stay here, I'm going to lose whatever's left of my mind." Rudo said, storming out of the room.
"Tch! What happened to the man I met all those years ago?! Back then, he had vision! Now you're too scared to push yourself to the limit!" Tomas screeched. "You'll come round, just you wait! I will succeed, and overpower the Ater Vox! The world will forever remember our names, as the saviours of the universe!"
|Nova Albion - Albion Incorporated Headquarters|8:45 pm|
This building, in the other world, was where Nathan and Priscilla, worked during the week. After Reginald's murder, the corporation was completely absorbed by Aeternus, and thus it's expert employees contributed their knowledge and skills to aid Archibald's technological achievements. From what Kyle had discovered, the corporation still operated as normal overseas. The headquarters were still in use, but many rooms and even entire floors were abandoned, due to activity moving to the Aeternus Headquarters.
"Why are we here, Alastair?" Richard asked.
"I'm picking up on a strange sensation. It's worth investigating. If it turns out to just be a Shadow, we should get rid of it, and fast." Alastair said. "I'm very grateful to have your support, Miss Lancaster."
"I'm only here because Seraphina told me to. So this is Albion Incorporated. In that other world, Reginald still runs that company with all his heart. Here, it's just a puppet that helps Aeternus with their technology needs. Makes me sick..." Priscilla said, glaring at the red logo above the doorway.
"Well, let's go inside. If we can find either the Fortune, Devil or Death Persona users, we're bound to impress the Commander!" Richard said. "And even if we don't, he won't beat us up!"
"You sure about that?" Kazuya said. "We may be on the other side now, but he's still pretty intimidating to me. Although it is nice to see him laughing with his old friend."
"You mean Daniel Kingsley? He seems like a decent man, beneath that gruff exterior. And that unsightly goatee. Priscilla, haven't you convinced him to shave it off yet?" Bianca asked.
"I've grown used to it. It's better than him growing a beard...I'm not fond of those." Priscilla said. "Which is why I never liked it when Nathan went without shaving."
Inside
"Wow, how did we get inside so easily?" Richard asked. "Are people allowed to just go into the lobby?"
"Well, yes. But you'd need a pass to get anywhere else." Priscilla said. "I don't see any receptionist here, though. Or any security. I guess they really don't bother using this place anymore..."
"That, and it is a Sunday." Alastair said. "And - watch out!"
Surrounding the five of them were three Shadows, each looking like a pair of dice. These ones had the green 'Fortune' mask. One of them rolled to the floor, and Priscilla was struck with Aques.
"This would be so much easier if we had Seraphina to analyse these things. Otherwise, it's a matter of luck!" Kazuya said. "Let me try this, then! Mazionga!" Uriel blasted the Shadows with electricity, which seemed to hurt them, but not massively. One of them soared at Kazuya, hitting him with both dice. "Ah!"
"Kazuya, watch out -" Richard said, but a Shadow hit him with a fast medley of bashes. "Owwie!"
"Oh god! Let me handle this. Golden Feathers!" Alastair shouted, and Michael appeared. Soaring proudly above the Shadows, a swarm of sharp golden feathers fell from his wings. The feathers struck each of the Shadows, and this time, it was enough to send them all to the ground.
"I'll finish this! Mabufula!" Priscilla cried. To her horror, however, the attack did not have any affect on the Shadows whatsoever. "Damn! I never expected them to resist Ice!"
"It's alright, Priscilla! Let me try and defeat them. Malaques!" Bianca beckoned. The gushing water of Gabriel crashed into the unholy dice before them, and all but one of them were defeated.
"Alright! Let's get 'em - huh?" Richard, clutching his spear, stared in confusion at what happened next. The dice was surrounded by a large light, and the mask started to flash red. Then, with a strange roar, the Shadow exploded. Everyone was knocked back by the blast, their bodies in pain all over.
"Oh good lord! What on earth was that?" Bianca said, holding her knee. "That was painful..."
"It would seem if we take too long to defeat those monstrosities, we risk grave injuries." Alastair said. "Can everyone stand?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Priscilla said, standing up. "Come on, on your feet! Now!"
"We're always getting bossed around!" Kazuya said, slowly getting up with the others. "Come on, let's go further up. There might be more Shadows around."
The five of them wandered around the place, fighting a myriad of Shadows along the way. Most of them were of the Fortune Arcana, which intrigued Priscilla. Not only were there Dice, but strange Hourglass shaped ones that loved to cast debilitating magic on their enemies. Finally, they reached the highest level.
"I don't see anybody here." Richard said.
Just then, the glass behind him exploded. Everyone ducked, as bullets rained seemingly from nowhere. Not a single window was left spared, and bullet holes had riddled every wall and floor.
"Who's there?!" Priscilla screamed.
"My, you're unsettled today. I suppose I should have chosen a less exquisite entrance, hmm?" a sultry voice said. Every word she said sent a shiver down Priscilla's spine. The Holy Cross seemed to recognise that voice too...it was none other than Josephine. A wall burst open, and she leapt in front of them, holding her pistols.
"Josephine!" Kazuya said.
"So the Holy Cross have deserted us for a foolish cause! Normally, I'd be upset, but Nihane won't care in the slightest. You never did hold a candle to that Commander of yours." Josephine said, snidely. "So why have you come here now? Were you hoping to find your lost love here, Priscilla dear?"
"You be quiet. I'll find Nathan eventually, and we'll destroy you and your sick plans!" Priscilla snapped. "If you want a fight, I'll give you one!"
Josephine yawned, but she was clearly enjoying her rival's frustration. "You can act as high and mighty as you like, but you could never compare to my charms. Nathan will be mine in the end, but it matters not which Nathan. I need someone youthful, with a fire burning within him!"
"Well, if you need fire, shouldn't you go after Kyle? Nathan doesn't know any Agi spells!" Richard said.
"Your feeble attempt at comedy still repulses me! Fine then, I'll take it upon myself to crush you into the ground! It's only fitting that I do it here, the place where I first met Reginald!" Josephine shouted. "Sinful Earth!"
The floor beneath them started to shake. Before any of them had a chance to avoid it, dark boulders of earth burst out of the floor, hitting each of them with much force. Josephine laughed at the howls of pain her opponents made. She leapt back, and began firing repeatedly.
"You lot aren't about to give up already, are you? You disappoint me! I heard you and that unsightly Dan rogue destroyed our shadow in the fountain! Aren't you going to fight back?" Josephine taunted.
"Grr..." Priscilla uttered. "I'll kill you, you filthy whore! Snowfield!" Josephine scoffed at the name of this attack, but this stopped abruptly when the snow hit her. Angry, she fired at Priscilla. Alastair was about to swing at her from behind, but she quickly shot behind, hitting him as he struck her.
"You're as clever as I remember, Josephine. It's a shame your talent is wasted on world domination plots." Alastair said.
"My, you're a cute lad yourself. Perhaps I can have two toy boys around. Two sophisticated, dapper, charming men to attend to my every whim! Yes, I can't wait! However, I will not stop with our 'plot'!" Josephine shouted. "Magnadyne!"
"Oh crap!" Richard shouted, as the boulders struck him. His body fell to the floor, and he was just able to stay conscious.
"Josephine, what's in the Eternal Road for you?" Bianca asked, as she trusted her rapier forward. Josephine leapt backwards, but bumped into Kazuya, who was behind her.
"Oww..." Kazuya said. "Watch where you're going! Heaven Pyre!" A golden ball of flames gathered in the sky, and landed straight at Josephine, sending shockwaves of flames all around the building. By now, most of the top floor was damaged beyond repair.
"What's in it for me, you ask? I'll tell you! You people label us as evil, seeking nothing but bloodshed and control! But with the Eternal Road complete, all of reality can be rewritten! All the problems we wish we could solve, or the mistakes we yearn to correct - we can banish them forever! I will remain forever beautiful! Nathan will love me, forever! And I will surpass Archibald!" Josephine shot at Kazuya again, and began leaping all over the room, dodging various attacks.
"You're serious? Are you that desperate for Nathan?" Priscilla asked. "Why?! You murdered his father just so you could replace him with a younger model!"
"Fool. Reginald never loved me the way he loved his wife. I learned that the day she died! Or rather, the day I killed her!" Josephine shouted. "Magnadyne-"
"Garudyne!" Richard cried. "Hell yeah! Take that, slut!"
"Urgh! No...NO!" Josephine screamed. Her air of confidence had dispersed, leaving behind absolute rage. "Since when did you become so powerful? All you had to do was fuel the Divine Sparks!"
"You...murdered Daphne?!" Priscilla shouted. "So you could have Reginald all to yourself?"
"Exactly! Reginald may have been getting on in his years, but he was still a handsome, strapping gentleman. Generous, compassionate, and above all, a great listener. But that stupid Valerie kept luring him back! So I had to get rid of her...but he knew. He just knew, deep down, that I did it. That was when I decided to go after his son...but it will take the Eternal Road to have him become mine, while you're around!" Josephine, now fuelled by bitterness itself, fired at everyone with rapid shots, and Cybele swung everyone with massive swings, sending Richard to the ground.
"Urgh...this lady's...annoying..." Kazuya said.
"I don't care much for you people, either! Now it's time to die! Terra Lapsis!" Josephine yelled, and Cybele's red aura flared all around her. The ground began shaking, and the walls started to break apart, piece by piece. Sharp rocks burst out of the ground, hitting everyone with no mercy. Priscilla couldn't move - the pain was too much. The rocks jagged into every part of her, and even with Uathach, she couldn't handle that much torture.
"Oh no...I'm sorry, Nathan...I couldn't see you again..."
She shut her eyes, and when she opened them again…she was higher up. It felt like she was floating. Josephine was on the floor, writhing in pain. Then she realised - something was lifting her up. Strong, tender arms. She lifted her head, and finally saw who was carrying her injured body. She would recognise that red hair anywhere. Those eyes…the ones she cherished. Nathan had truly came to her rescue.
"Nathan! It's...you!" Priscilla said. "I'm sorry...we weren't strong enough -"
"Don't say that. You fought well. I wish I could have woken up sooner, but this was worth waiting for." Nathan said. Smiling, he helped Priscilla stand.
"Nathan..." Priscilla said, her eyes watering. "Josephine, she -"
"I heard. I was on my way to help, but she got you with that attack before I could reach you." Nathan said. "Priscilla, don't listen to a word this woman says. Even if she had the entire universe at her fingertips, I would never leave your side. I'm not like my father - whoa!"
Priscilla had wrapped her arms around Nathan. Now, she knew for sure. Nathan hadn't perished after all. And he had come to her rescue. She wasn't letting him go this time - she had done that twice before. Each time, she had been miserable without him. If it hadn't been for Seraphina and the others, she never would have gotten through those lonely days.
"You! Nathan, you returned! Just as Blaine and Amara have done! Not to mention the Holy Cross…how powerful can the Divine Sparks be, if not one of you died at all?!" Josephine hollered.
"Be quiet." Nathan said, raising his weapon. "I never thought I'd feel so inclined to assault a woman before, but you have destroyed my family, and their legacy! I swear, I will never forgive you! Nor will I let Priscilla die at your hands!"
"Whoa! This Nathan is awesome! Go get her, man! Whoop her ass!" Richard shouted.
"Gladly! Behold, Garudyne!" A ferocious blast of wind struck Josephine, sending her right through the wall, and onto the ground below.
"I can't believe you just did that!" Bianca said, stunned. "Then again, you had every reason to hate that woman."
"I doubt that killed her off. We should hurry and check." Alastair said.
"Right. Priscilla, are you able to walk?" Nathan asked.
"I'll be fine, as long as you're here with me." Priscilla said. Nathan took her hand, and smiled. When he saw it's condition, however, his heart sank. Thanks to the battle, there was a large gash on the back of her hand.
"Priscilla! Hold on, I'll-"
"Please, don't panic. I can have Serena, Aimee or Tara handle that later. Unless one of you know how to heal?" Priscilla asked.
"Um, I know a few skills, but I'm not as good as the ladies are at it. One sec!" Richard said. "Raphael!" His Persona used a healing spell, which had a calm serene light fill Priscilla's body. The gash stopped bleeding, and Priscilla smiled.
"Thank you, Richard. Now let's hurry up! We must finish off Josephine, while we have the chance!" Priscilla said.
|Outside, near the Parking Lot|9:00 pm|
Josephine had plummeted to the ground, the fall shattering her pistols. Despite the distance she fell, she was still breathing.
"Even that didn't kill her. I guess with the power of a Persona, you can survive falls like that." Kazuya said. "Nathan, if you want to do this, go ahead. I won't stop you."
"Well, it seems kind of extreme, but with what she did to you and your family...I can see the desire for revenge." Bianca said.
Nathan raised his staff, and stared at Josephine. He swung it down, with more force than he had ever used before in his life. Alas, something caught his weapon. It was a person's hand - Pierre, to be specific.
"Pierre Leonard! Why are you here?" Alastair said.
"Pathetic. Josephine couldn't defeat either of you! Even the Holy Cross!" Pierre said. "So, you've returned from the dead, Nathan. No matter. The Divine Sparks will surely summon the Eternal Road, regardless of who survives them!"
"Grr...get out of my way! I have to make that woman pay!" Nathan shouted. Pierre sighed, and shoved Nathan back.
"Now is not the time. Nihane told me that the time to settle everything has yet to come. When that time approaches, that is when you can face her again. Josephine...aside from her goal to surpass Archibald, you are all she dreams about. Both you and your father fill the void left behind by her late husband. But if you want to dismiss her as a cold hearted harlot, then be that way." Pierre said.
"The woman killed his parents! How dare you defend such deplorable actions! From now on, the Holy Cross will never support the Ater Vox! We instead declare our full support to the rebel forces!" Alastair said. "And your Eternal Road will never be built! That's a fact!"
"Such confidence, Alastair. I'm ever so slightly threatened." Pierre said. He quickly lifted Josephine's body into his arms, and glanced at the enemy group before him. "I'll surely face you all in combat soon enough. Tell Kyle I'm looking forward to battling him again. Oh, and one more thing. Carlos has something you might be looking for."
"What? What are you talking about?" Priscilla asked. Pierre chuckled, and disappeared along with Josephine. "Wait! You coward! Get back here!"
"Damn! This chosen time better come soon. Josephine will never get away with what she has done!" Nathan, seething, looked at Priscilla. She was rather frightened, but still relieved. "...How long has it been?"
"It's August 18th now." Bianca said. "It's not just us that survived, too! Amara and our Commander are alive and well, and there's a lot to report, actually. Two more Divine Sparks happened! And the rebels have new members!"
"New members? How many are we talking?" Nathan asked.
"There's Matthew, Karen, Roger, Zao, and Tara." Priscilla said. "About Tara...your other self knows her. From his own world, that is. Apparently, the two of us met her at university."
"I see. So my other self led a truly peaceful life until now..." Nathan said. "Let's return to the base. I'm looking forward to meeting the new people. Of course, they'll know who I am already."
"Perfect! It'll make the introductions easier!" Richard said. "Come on, let's get out of here!"
|Secret Base|9:15 pm|
"My dad is such a moron!" Other Amara said. "I knew artificial Personas were bad news, but after everything Kyle said, I can't let him keep Nebiros!"
"I don't think you'll be able to stop him, somehow." Nathan said. "He must earnestly believe that his new power will aid you, his only daughter."
"Hey, Amara. Don't cry. I know what will cheer you up!" Zao said. "How about a joke?"
"What the hell? I don't need Comedy Central!" Other Amara said. "All I need is my dad to stop being an idiot and get rid of that evil power!"
"Don't speak to Zao like that. He just wants to lighten the mood." Amara said.
"Okay, forget the joke. I'll save it for a better time. Instead, have a story!" Zao said. "Once upon a time, two boys were playing by a huge, deep river. One boy was kicking his ball around, and it fell into the water. So the other boy, although he isn't as strong as his friend, decides he wants to get it back. Seeing his friend burst into tears makes him more determined than ever."
"Zao, where are you going with this?" Dan asked.
"So the weaker boy jumps in the sea. The water is freaking cold, but he grabs the ball. He gets out of the river, his clothes soaked through. His parents are screaming at him, because he could of died. His friend is stunned, but when he gets the ball back, he hugs his friend, even if his body is completely drenched." Zao said. "Do you know why the boy did that?"
"Why?" Other Amara asked, confused.
"Because they were friends." Zao said. "And your Dad is doing this…because he's your Dad. It's dangerous, but he's doing whatever he can to help you."
Amara couldn't believe her ears. She would have expected this kind of wisdom to come from someone mature, like Nathan. Even Blaine seemed more likely to tell a story like this than Zao.
"...Zao, you're right. I need to go talk to my father and apologise." Other Amara said. "Seraphina, can you take me there? I'm sorry to trouble you, but -"
"It is no trouble at all. However, in six seconds, Priscilla and the Holy Cross will return -"
True to her word, the five of them did return...along with someone else. It was Other Nathan, in the flesh.
"Holy shit! It's the cooler Nathan!" Blaine said.
"What do you mean, cooler?" Nathan asked.
"Duh! Look at his clothes! And his haircut! He's got that street smart savvy us Kanaloan men have in spades!" Blaine said, approvingly.
"I...never imagined I'd be compared to someone from Kanaloa. Should I be honoured or annoyed?" Other Nathan said.
"It doesn't matter!" Amara said. "We're glad to see you alive and well. This means seven out of eight people survived the Divine Spark of Farawell! Leaving..."
"My other self. I'm pretty sure we'll find her again, though. So, we have to tell Nathan here about what's been going on?" Serena said.
"Yeah. First of all, I'm Matthew Kingsley. Dan's real brother, and Blaine's kinda brother." Matthew said, holding out his hand. Other Nathan shook his hand vigorously, and Matthew smiled. "You actually do seem cooler than the other Nathan."
"Ahem! I'm Karen, and this is my partner, Roger." Karen said, and the three of them shook hands.
"Pleased to meetcha, buddy." Roger said. "You seem pretty tough…glad to have you on board."
"Likewise. And I take it the blue haired chap over there is Zao?" Other Nathan said.
"Yup! I'm Amara's gentleman caller!" Zao said, with his cheerful smile.
"Can't you say boyfriend, like everyone else?" Amara said, sighing. "He's a dork, but I love him to bits."
"I can imagine." Other Nathan said. "That leaves…Tara."
"Hello, the other Nathan. This is going to be confusing when I'm talking to the two Nathans, isn't it?" Tara said. "I guess one can be the 'cool' Nathan…"
"Why am I suddenly uncool?" Nathan asked. "Is it the suit? The haircut? The willingness to discuss our company's restructuring?"
"YES!" Blaine shouted. "But we wouldn't have ya any other way!"
"We're quite the ensemble of characters!" Aimee said. "Now then, we should tell you about what's happened since my birthday."
Moments Later
"I see. So we need to locate three more Persona users to counter the Eternal Road. We have quite a task on our hands, don't we?" Other Nathan said. "Still, I'll be honoured to aid you."
"Thank you. We appreciate the help. So, we have four people to look for now. The Devil, Death and Fortune Persona users, and Serena of this world." Aimee said.
"I'm sure we'll find her eventually." Kyle said. "If I have to search the entire city for her, I will!"
"Someone's got a crush, I see!" Matthew said, playfully.
"Shut the fuck up..." Kyle muttered.
"Did you say something?" Dan asked, glaring.
"Nothing at all. Now then, we have two bases. Most of our meetings take place here, so the other one is for the extra members to reside and keep their equipment, clothes and personal items." Kyle said. "Nathan, I'd like you to stay there for the time being."
"But Kyle, what about my room?" Priscilla asked.
"She doesn't waste time, does she?" Blaine said, grinning.
"Well, Priscilla, you just have a single bed. We could try finding a double somewhere, but for now Nathan - our world's Nathan - will have to go in the second base." Kyle said.
"Don't worry about him. Me and Karen will take good care of him!" Roger said.
"Alright...sorry, but I need to go home now. It's late, and I've got work in the morning." Amara said.
"Yes, we should return to our world. We'll meet again soon, and help find those we are searching for." Nathan said.
"You go and get some sleep. I'll see you all next week, then. Have a good night!" Aimee said.
"Kyle...did I just hear you tell my brother to 'shut the fuck up?'" Dan asked, his voice eerily devoid of emotion.
"Okay, we're out of here! Come on, let's go!" Blaine said. He, Amara, Nathan, Zao and Serena zoomed through the NDD, eager to avoid the inevitable argument.
|Normal World - Dan and Blaine's House|10:00 pm|
"Oh, you're finally here." Dan said. "You've got a visitor."
"Really? Shit! Those insurance salesmen are relentless!"
"Uh...no, you moron. It's a certain girl. A rather pissed off girl, actually. You ought to know better than to leave a girl waiting!"
"What the - Lucy?" Blaine said. There she was, sitting on the chair, with her arms crossed.
"About time! I thought I'd surprise you by coming over! I was going to suggest we have a night in to celebrate your new job, but I didn't think you'd take so long." Lucy said, fuming. "Where were you, anyway?"
"I was...out for a walk. My phone was switched off." Blaine said, nervously. Damn, she's mad. How am I gonna make it up to her?
"You were walking at this hour?" Lucy said, raising her eyebrow. "Whatever, you're here now. Dan, would you excuse us?"
"Fine, I'll leave you lovebirds be. Just remember to shut his bedroom door. Once you do that, I won't be able to hear a thing." Dan said, winking at Blaine, as he went upstairs.
"Sorry, baby..." Blaine said, as he sat down. "You didn't have to wait up for me."
"Well, I did. You should be grateful!" Lucy said. "So, are you looking forward to becoming a bartender?"
"Damn straight. It's about time I served the drinks instead of, well, drinking 'em." Blaine said, smiling. "It'll be better money than that Korean place, too."
"Blaine, can I tell you something?" Lucy asked.
"Sure, baby. What is it?" Blaine said, concerned.
"You don't have to call me baby every five seconds. The thing is, my cousin's coming over to visit me next month. He said he had some big news that he wanted to tell me face to face. Also, I told him I had a new boyfriend, so he wanted to see what you were like." Lucy said, anxious.
"So what's the problem? You did tell him good things about me, right?" Blaine asked. "Come on, a guy like me shouldn't be any problem for him!"
"Well, he's...not the most welcoming kind of guy. He hates anyone who won't live up to his high standards. And his standards are high. I bet even Nathan wouldn't impress him." Lucy said.
"Please, Nathan doesn't even impress me most of the time." Blaine said. "Would you relax a bit? Your cousin might like me if he gets to know me. And if he doesn't, screw him!"
"Well, if you say so...I dunno what it is about you. You always make feel better when I'm down." Lucy said, blushing.
"Hey, what are boyfriends for?" Blaine said, smiling. He got up, and gave Lucy a quick kiss. "Sorry, I'm tired...do you want a ride home?"
"Are you stupid? You just told me you're tired! I'm not letting you fall asleep on that motorbike, you dumb fool!" Lucy said, rolling her eyes. "I'll just have to stay here tonight!"
"Perfect." Blaine said, winking at her. She thought for a bit, then smiled.
"Ah...I suppose we'll have to close that bedroom door after all." Lucy said, coyly.
|Amara's Apartment|10:06 pm|
"Hey, Zao, about that story tonight. Did that actually happen?" Amara asked.
"You could say that!" Zao said. "I was thinking a lot about me and Karl earlier, actually. The two of us were best friends, tighter than...well, you get the picture."
"So you really jumped into a freezing cold river to get his ball back?" Amara said. "I didn't think you could be so brave!"
"Well, it wasn't really bravery. I just didn't like seeing Karl cry like that. And he did cry!" Zao said. "It's kind of a shame things went bad between you and him. I mean, I know if you hadn't broken up with him, we wouldn't be together. But still.."
"We're fine now, I think. That's down to you!" Amara said, giving Zao a big kiss.
"Down to me? Why do you think that?" Zao asked.
"You made it possible for us to move on, as friends." Amara said. "You and him are close again, too. If I hadn't met you, me and Karl probably never would have spoken again. Zao…you're amazing. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me."
"...Amara, I'm really nothing special. Fishing is the only thing I can do better than anyone else." Zao said. "Still, it feels good that you're complimenting me!"
"Don't put yourself down like that. You really cheered my other self up. Now then, let's curl up on that sofa, and watch more art house DVDs!" Amara said.
"But don't you have to work in the morning?" Zao said.
"Okay, then just the one." Amara said, smiling. The two of them sat close to each other, and Zao put his arm on her shoulder.
Zao...one day, we'll save the city. After that, we'll have all the time we want for each other. I just hope you're ready for whatever we have to face, from now on. The Ater Vox won't let us do as we please, so we have to prepare to fight.