Disclaimer: I don't own the two series.


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(Kuoh Central Hotel—Floor 8—?)

(BGM: The voice that someone calls PQ ver)

White, all white, messy, and broken as the three 17 year olds runs through the hallway.

"Don't bother on using the elevator," Sakato told the two behind him as he make a turn to the stairs. "It's been destroyed beyond use."

He was right. Minato and Aigis could see the steel door of the elevator were dented and another part missing, leading to a dark abyss that drops down.

"Just what is going on here, Sakato-san?!" The blonde maiden demanded as she and the bluenette run down the stairs. "Why is everything like this?!"

"I'll tell you later! Right now, we have to get to the bottom floor!" The white-wearing teen yelled as his footsteps rang loudly around the building.


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(Kuoh Central Hotel—Entrance—?)

Now, on the entrance, Sakato push open the broken door of the hotel as the group of three stopped in the middle of the street.

"What... the hell is this...?" Was all Minato could say as he and Aigis looked around with horrified expressions.

Around them, Kuoh city were absolutely devastated, white discolored buildings were run down and reduced to rubble, some stays intact, and some not. The sky, however, is normal and colored, it's dark, cloudy, and filled with stars and a quarter moon. There is also seem to be a sign of life on some of the buildings including the hotel, judging by the lights coming from the windows.

"That's what I said when I first stepped outside of this world." The white-haired teen said to the experienced Wildcard. "And that's not all..." He point his index finger to what's behind the hotel.

The two followed it.

"..."

"..."

"Seem familiar?" Sakato asked the shorter male.

A few blocks away from where they are, a tall, red tower with a bell on the top was visible for everyone in the city to see.

"That's not the only one either..." The white Wildcard gestures his hands around him to reveal there are another 6 of them scattered around the city, each with different colors and sizes.

Minato just stays silent.

Aigis spoke up.

"Sakato-san," She started. "Please explain what's happening here. Now." She said with finality.

Sakato looked down in thought.

"Hmm... I don't actually knows what's really going on, but... it all started when I got this strange dream..." He answered.

"Dream...?" The girl repeated as her mind shifted to her recent one.

The white-haired male nodded. "Yeah, it's about a blue ballroom, a butler named Igor, and a maid called Victoria."

Aigis widened her eyes. "That was what I was having just recently!"

Sakato also widened his eyes. "Really?!" He and Minato glanced at each other for a brief moment.

She nodded. "Yes. Except mine is about an airplane and a Flight Attendant named Theodore." She revealed.

The bluenette narrowed his eyes.

"Aigis." He called her.

"Yes? What is it, Minato-san?" The maiden looked at him.

"Do you remember about how I got my power?" He asked.

"Your power...?" Her bright blue eyes blinked in confusion.

The moon-colored-eyed teen sighed. "We talked about it two days ago. Try to remember." He told her.

The girl went silent as she began to think for a while.

Sakato approached him.

"Hey," He whispered, "Did you tell her about it?" He asked the shorter bluenette.

Minato nodded. "Yes." He answered.

"How did she take it?" The whitehead continued.

The experienced Wildcard think of his next words.

"She..." He began. "Takes my intrusion well, she's just shocked that everything is not what it seems to her." Minato explained.

"Really?" Sakato blinked in surprise.

The bluenette nodded.

"Huh, I thought she would react more than that." The taller teen crossed his arms.

They then heard the girl's gasp as they turned towards her.

"Don't tell me..." Aigis widened her eyes in realization. "I'm a..."

Minato nodded grimly. "That's right. You too, are also a Wildcard." He finished.

"And you're..." She looked at Sakato.

He nodded. "Yes, I'm one too." He answered.

"But... how...?" The blonde maiden inquired disbelievingly. "How did things turn out to be like this...?"

"Don't know," The taller male shook his head. "I guess we were just chosen." He shrugged.

"..."

"That reminds me..." The whitehead remembers. "What did Igor say to you? Does he said anything about Destruction?"

Aigis' mind went back to her dream. "...Yes, he does say something like that. He also said that they recently had a guest, I didn't think much of it when he said that..."

"But why did you become a Wildcard when there's already me?" Sakato frowned in confusion. "What do you think, Minato?" He turn his head to said teen.

The bluenette shrugged. "Maybe it's just a coincidence." He answered.

"Maybe, or, that this Destruction is worser than we thought." The white-wearing, yellow-eyed boy narrowed his eyes. "I mean, Igor has to know that there's already you to help out, why the need for another Wildcard? A 3rd one?"

Aigis turned to each of them back and forth. Her mind bring the pieces together on yesterday event.

"So this is what you mean by wanting an answer, Sakato-san." She looked at the tall teen with accusing eyes. "You know Minato-san is not who he seems he is..."

"No, you're wrong." Sakato shook his head calmly as he look at her in the eyes. "I didn't know at the start that he is a guy from an alternate reality that got switched, I was just as surprised as you are when he revealed it to me."

"Hmm...?" Minato found something of interest. "What is that?" He point his finger to one of the hotel window.

The two follow his movement and saw it too.

"That's..." Sakato walked closer to the bluenette.

"You know about it?" The shorter male asked him.

"No." He shook his head in answer. "But if my hunch is correct... that's the same thing that happened with my parents."

Minato narrowed his eyes. "Then someone is in trouble." He took a guess.

"We have to save them." Aigis' expression turned serious as she heard him.

"Hey, aren't we rushing things a little bit? Besides, I said it was a hunch, so I could be wrong." Sakato tries to calm the two.

"And if you're not?" The blue-haired Wildcard asked. "Sakato, that red knight that attacked your parents was Berith, a Persona."

"Wait, seriously?" The taller boy widened his eyes in surprise.

The bluenette nodded. "And I don't want to find out what would happen if you're not there to save them. Yesterday morning, Aigis and I overhear two girls talking about a child that won't wake up from his sleep. From my experience, that is similar to the Apathy Syndrome, and what caused the Syndrome...?"

Sakato nodded confidently as he answers. "Shadow."

"That's right." Minato nodded.

"Then, that child was attacked...?" Aigis looked horrified.

"Inside his dream." The bluenette nodded again. "Probably at the same time Sakato first entered this world."

"Damn." The white-haired teen cursed as he clenched his hands.

"So how about it? Sakato? Are you going to check whatever that is? Or should we go to that tower? It's your call." Minato put his hands inside his pockets as he waited patiently.

The tallest of the group looked shocked. Aigis as well.

"What?! Why me?!" Sakato exclaimed.

"Because I want to see you prosper as an individual, as Leader, you will face odds that may or may not help you along life. You'll also be the one who's going to decide our fate and movements. It's a tough responsibility, but if you can't do it, that's alright. I can still take over." The bluenette said.

"..."

Responsibility. That's what Igor had told him when they first met.

"...I'd like to ask one favor from you. Will you be responsible to any actions you'll make?" Those words rang inside Sakato's head as he walked a little forward to the hotel.

He stopped.

"...We'll check out whatever's going on in that room." The white-haired Wildcard decided with a firm voice.

Minato nodded. "Understood." He stepped forward, ready to follow the taller teen.

"Wait." Aigis stopped them with her words. "Minato-san, Sakato-san, both of you can summon your Personas, but how about mine?" The blonde maiden asked.

The bluenette form a finger gun and point it to the side of his head as he looked at her. "It takes a lot of concentration to summon a Persona, I usually shoot myself with a fake, but realistic gun to easily summon mine, but since I don't have that, I have to do it the hard way."

Sakato continued. "Mine is..." He paused as he think back of his last trip. "Well, it's not pretty, to say the least, I literally have a heart attack when I first awaken and got this appearance, but after that, it comes easier."

Aigis looked nervous at the thought. "So I just need to concentrate hard enough to summon mine?"

Minato shook his head. "Our reality are different, judging by how Sakato got his look, perhaps to summon a Persona, you have to experience what he felt."

"O-Oh, I see..." The girl now looked dreaded.

The whitehead open his mouth. "Anyways, should we start moving?" He asked them.

The shorter Wildcard nodded. "Yeah."

The two walked forward.

The only female soon followed.

(BGM: End)


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(Kuoh Central Hotel—Entrance—Dream World)

(BGM: Fearful experience)

The three Wildcards step back inside the ruined hotel. Sakato and Aigis look around the area while Minato keep his eyes forward with his hands tucked in his pockets.

"..."

"...This is so... eerie... so this is what it feels like to be in a real haunted building..." Sakato said with wonder and trepidation.

Aigis looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean by that? Sakato-san?" She asked.

"Ah, right. You two don't know anything about my personal life yet." The taller boy remembers as he looked at her. "In this city, there is a theme park located somewhere around the shopping district near this place. My father owns it." He told them.

"Oh..."

"You two should come over together, it's a great place to have a date and hang out, we have almost everything, and I sometimes help out whenever I can." He offered with a grin.

The girl smiled. "Thank you for the offer, Sakato-san. Minato-san and I will think about it later."

"Great!" His grin widened. "Wait till you see the night. Many cool stuff were shown during that time."

The quiet bluenette opened his mouth. "Don't we have a destination to go to?" He raised his visible eyebrow at the two.

"Ah, right." Sakato nodded as he returned to business. "Speaking of which, does anybody knows which floor that room is...?"

"11th floor." Aigis answered easily.

"That was fast." The white-wearing male blinked. "Really?"

The blonde maiden nodded. "I'm sure."

"Alright, then..." The white Wildcard look forward. "Everyone. Let's go!" He took off faster than anyone Aigis had seen.

Minato followed after him.

"Ah!" Realizing that she was left behind, the girl run after the males.

A blue glowing butterfly revealed itself as it follows the three.

(BGM: End)


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(Kuoh Central Hotel—Floor 11—Dream World)

(BGM: Deep breath Deep breath)

The trio of Wildcards reached their destination as they turned for the door and opened it

"Whoo!" They stopped as Sakato and Aigis catch their breath together while Minato seem to be fine by himself.

"Damn..." The taller teen looked at him in amazement as he panted. "You're still standing...?"

The bluenette shrugged nonchalantly. "This isn't my body, but I guess I have to thank this reality's Minato for joining Track."

On her part, Aigis looked really sad when the blue-haired Wildcard said that, but none of the two noticed it.

"Yeah... I guess so..." The white-haired male raises his body up. "Hmm...?"

Minato furrowed his eyebrows when something catches the taller teen's attention. He turn his head around to see what he's looking at.

He widened his eyes as something familiar appear in front of them.

"Uhh... what is that?" Sakato pointed his finger at the moving black blob with arms and red eyes.

"...Shadows." The bluenette instinctively reaches for his sword, only to find it nonexistent.

"How are we going to pass that thing?" Aigis asked beside them. "There is no room for us to navigate."

Minato looked at Sakato.

The tall, 17 year old noticed his gaze as he turn around. "What?" He asked as he stared at the shorter teen.

His silver eyes blankly look at him. "...Ambush it with your gauntlets." He said.

"Eh?" Sakato blinked in surprise.

"That thing are Shadows merged as one, the one I tell you from my story. They will separate when they see a threat, so jump in, and surprise it with a punch. However, those arms are not for show, the same thing could happen to you if you let your guard down, so be careful." Minato explained.

"...Right." The white-haired Wildcard looked at the black blob and raised his hands as he turn his attention to them.

He messed around with it for a bit before the white and gold gauntlets and greaves appeared in a flash.

Aigis looked on in surprise as she sees them.

Sakato clenched his hands a few times before lowering them and looked at the Shadow again.

He took a step forward before running full sprint at the blob and jumped high into the air with his right fist raised.

The yellow-eyed teen let gravity took him as he punched the Shadow in the back.

The force of the punch causes the Shadows to reveal themself in distress as two white gloved hands with a straight face blue mask and the number I on their foreheads come out from the blob.

(BGM: End)

(BGM: Mass Destruction)

"A... hand...?" Sakato stated blankly as he scans his enemies.

"They are Magic Hands. One of the first Shadows that I've encountered on the start of my Journey." Minato walked closer to them while Aigis stayed on a safer distance as he remembers Mitsuru's analysis on the Shadow. "They have ice and strike attacks, strong resistance against cold, weak to fire, and is currently distressed thanks to you surprising them. They're also very weak, so you don't need to summon your Persona to help you." He stopped when he feel he's close enough.

"I see..." The whitehead took a battle stance.

He then runs at the most distressed one first as the Wildcard perform a strong right hook, a left jab, and a spinning kick to the masked head as the Hand disappear in a black and red haze.

'1 more!' Sakato thought as he turned toward the other one and charge forward.

He repeat the hook and jab at the Shadow before he jumped high and crushed the Hand's head into the ground with his fist.

The white-wearing teen stand up. "That was too easy." He commented.

"Like I said, they're distressed and is very weak, an idiot with a weapon could've take care of them like you did." Minato retorted. "And if you want to fought something stronger, wait till you see the other variants of them."

"Sheesh, what's with that tone?" Sakato looked at him in surprise.

"I'm warning you to be careful when you meet them, my friends and I nearly lost our lives many times because of their surprising and more powerful abilities." The bluenette lectured.

"...Right." The whitehead turn away to face the hallway. "Huh, look. More of these things."

Another medium-sized blob were moving about aimlessly in the tight hallway.

Sakato run towards the Shadows.

The blue-haired Wildcard sighed as he walk after him. This time, Aigis followed suit.

"!" The Shadows noticed the 17 year old coming at him as it made a gurgling noise and charge at the incoming teen.

The white Wildcard widened his eyes as he jump high and planted his fist between the Shadows' red eyes.

The Shadows dispersed, and three Magic Hands comes out from the blob.

Sakato perform the right hook again to one of the Hand before he do a backflip and jumped forward with his right leg outstretched as the kick met the Shadow's mask. The white-wearing male skid on the ground using the Hand's palm as the Shadow disappear due to the boy's feet crushing its head.

He turned around.

Minato called out. "Careful! They've noticed you, they are more prepared this time."

One of the Hand came running at the white Wildcard as it jumped at him and form a fist.

"!?" Sakato easily dodged it as the Shadow fell to the ground.

The third Hand flipped itself up so that its head were on the bottom as it conjure a large ice spike and send it at the teen.

"Whoa!" The Wildcard barely dodged the attack as the spike embedded itself into the ground.

He glared at the Shadow with his yellow eyes as the 17 year old runs at it and punched it a few feet away from him. The Hand didn't disappear, but it looked weakened.

The Hand that fell down lifted itself up as it turn around and conjure another ice spike.

Before it could send it flying towards the teen unprotected back, Minato intervened.

"Orpheus." The bluenette softly called.

(BOOM)

Sakato heard a fiery explosion coming from behind him as he turn his head around and saw the Shadow that tried to giant punch him were burned to ashes by Minato's lyre-wielding Persona.

The white-haired teen look on in awe at the power the mechanical humanoid were showing. "Wow..." He muttered in amazement.

(BGM: End)

Orpheus return back to his Sea of Souls as Minato gazed at him with his silver eyes.

"...I don't think you could handle this on your own." He remarked.

Sakato's cheeks slightly turned red in embarrassment. "Y-yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks." He nodded in appreciation.

"Sakato-san! Are you alright?" Aigis run over to them in concern.

"Oh, Aigis." The white-haired teen acknowledged. "Yeah, I'm okay. Minato here just saved my butt just now."

"I know." She nodded. "I saw everything."

The bluenette proceed to walk away without them as his footsteps catches their attention.

"Hmm..." One door caught his attention as he walk up to it.

He hears the other two approach him.

"What do you found?" Sakato asked.

"This door..." Minato said. "I felt something behind it."

Aigis look at the room number. "115." She mentions.

"Is this it...?" The white Wildcard asked as he scans the door. "Is this the room...?"

"Only one way to find out." Minato put his right hand on the handle. "Sakato, prepare yourself." He told the taller teen.

The yellow-eyed boy nodded. "Understand."

(BGM: The Beginning)

The bluenette waited for a moment before he pushed the door open.

(Click)

The three barge into the room as they look around the place.

(BGM: End)

(BGM: Fearful experience)

"Huh? Okay, that's interesting." Sakato commented as he stared at the three doors in front of the bed.

"Why is the middle one pulsing?" Aigis asked in confusion.

"Don't know." The tallest of the group shrugged.

The bluenette walked in front of the doors as he took a peek on what's behind them.

One family. Sleeping. The one in the middle must've been their daughter.

Minato took a step back. "The girl is being attacked in her dream." He suddenly said.

"What?" Sakato and Aigis blinked in confusion at him.

The blue Wildcard gestures his head to the bed. "Look."

Now curious, he and the blonde maiden walked in front of the doors and took a peek. They blinked in surprise at the sight.

Minato continued. "These doors must be the way to enter people's dream. There's three because they are dreaming different dreams."

"So... the middle one is pulsing because there's something unnatural going on in there?" Sakato questioned.

He nodded. "It's possible." The bluenette put his hands inside his pockets.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" The white-wearing teen grasped the middle door's handle.

"We have to be careful, we don't know what she's dreaming about." The shorter male warned.

"It's a little girl's dream, Minato. What's the worst that could happen?" He asked.

"Famous last words..." Minato sighed. "There is many things that could go wrong."

"I have to agree with Minato-san, Sakato-san. We don't know what's attacking her in there." Aigis said.

"Fine, fine. I'll be careful." Sakato turned to the door. "You two ready?" He asked them.

The couple nodded. "Yes./Yeah."

Taking those words into account, the whitehead opens the door and is greeted by a bright light, similar to what's going on inside his parents' room.

(Click)

They walked inside.

The blue butterfly flies in too as the door closes behind them.

(Click)

(BGM: End)


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(?—?—Dream World)

Arisato Minato scrunched his eyes as his whole world were covered in white. He decided to close it.

"..."

When he opened them, he found himself in a pink world with cotton candy clouds, rainbows, unicorns, and chocolates.

"..."

There is only one direct path he could take, Aigis and Sakato doesn't seem to be with him either.

He look to his left and saw the other two standing on a different path each. There is no possible way he could reach them from here.

The bluenette sighed to himself. "What did I say...?"

"OI!" He heard the white-haired Wildcard's yell. "ARE YOU TWO ALRIGHT?!"

Minato decides to answer him. "YEAH!"

"I'M FINE!" Aigis called out.

"LOOK! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE! BUT WE NEED TO REGROUP, FAST! THERE IS ONLY ONE PATH FOR US TO TAKE! MAYBE WE COULD MEET UP AT THE END!" Sakato shouted.

"UNDERSTAND! I'LL WAIT FOR YOU THERE IF POSSIBLE! AIGIS! BE CAREFUL!" He shouted back. 'Raising my voice like this is so not like me.' The bluenette thought annoyingly.

"I UNDERSTAND! SAKATO-SAN! DON'T DO ANYTHING RECKLESS LIKE LAST TIME!" The girl's voice went silent after that.

"WILL DO!" The whitehead assures.

Minato sighed as he look at the approaching clouds. 'How troublesome, those clouds are heading this way and is going to obscure our visions.' He walked forward.

"The Dream World... it seems like the Dark Hour all over again, don't you think?" Thanatos' voice came in inside his head.

'Ryoji.' He acknowledged the familiar voice. 'I hasn't heard of you since yesterday.' The only other sounds he could hear was his footsteps.

"We've figured you need some time for yourself after that. That Sakato guy... he seems interesting." The Death Persona said.

'You think so?' The blue-haired Wildcard wonders.

"What? You don't think he is?" Thanatos sounds surprised.

'...Well, I'll be lying if don't.' He put his hands inside his pockets as he walked across the heart padded path.

"Then why did you say that?" The son of Nyx asked.

'It's a rather weird position to teach others become a Wildcard, you know that? And Sakato, he's already a unique guy from the start. I can tell." He saw the clouds coming closer.

"How so?"

Minato stopped.

'...For instance, he has this eyes that tells me he's not your average, ordinary 17 year old. He's... way more than that. I think he's hiding something deep within him.' The bluenette thought.

"Like what?"

'...You're purposely being annoying, aren't you?' He asked the Persona.

"How cruel..." Thanatos sighed.

Minato sighed as well before cutting off their link.

Suddenly, the clouds becomes even more faster as he, Sakato, and Aigis widened their eyes.

(BGM: Calamity)

'What?!' The blue Wildcard thought as a burst of wind came howling at the three. 'Why did the wind came so suddenly?! And why is it sweet?!' Minato covered his face as he hold his ground. 'Sugar?!'

"Grk!" Sakato gritted his teeth as his white, two-tailed coat flutters about. He almost lost his footing and fell but thankfully reacted in time to adjust his position. "What the hell...?" He said in shock.

Aigis was not so lucky as the huge wind causes her to took a few steps to the side and make her fall. "AAAH!" She screams as she used both of her hands to grab the edge of the floating star-pictured path.

"AIGIS!" The white Wildcard shouted her name as the cotton clouds engulfed them, covering each other from vision.

Then, like it abruptly came, the sugar wind suddenly stopped.

(BGM: End)

It was a complete silence for a few seconds after that.

"AIGIS! MINATO! ARE YOU TWO OKAY!?" Minato could hear the whitehead's voice.

He answers. "YEAH!" He shouted back.

"I... I'M ALRIGHT!" Aigis' voice rang through the clouds.

The bluenette could tell that Sakato were sighing in relief.

"THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR! AIGIS! MINATO! LET'S NOT WASTE ANYMORE TIME! JUST RUN STRAIGHT!" With that, the white Wildcard's voice went silent.

Minato look forward and sprint through the heart padded path.

As he runs, he noticed his clothes changing and stopped for a bit to inspect it.

The ordinary clothes he wears since yesterday was suddenly replaced by a white coat designed to look like the wings of his ultimate Persona, Messiah. A white belt with hands keep the top part of the coat from loosening and looked similar to his winter clothing except it was unbuttoned sans the middle with a longer collar and a golden tie. The golden circle were proudly shown like an emblem on where his heart is. He also now wears white pants, a white undershirt, white gloves, and white shoes that looked similar to his Shoes of Light.

Minato blinked as he saw golden on his right eye.

He took a strand of his hair and noticed that the color has changed from deep blue, to pale yellow, similar to Messiah's own hair.

He blinked again. "...Huh?" He said in confusion. From others' point of view, his eyes had turned from silver, to ruby red.

And also, he felt something on his neck.

"Hmm...?" He raised his hands to grab the thing on his neck. It was a white and gold headphone, similar to what Aigis have.

His changed eyes softened as he gazed at the familiar object for a few seconds. His Aigis always have this on her head like a hairband, Messiah, and Orpheus as well.

After he finished looking at it, Minato put the headphone on his head.

Now, with a determined expression, the bluenette, now blonde teen continue his run.

"Huh." He noticed that he's faster than usual.


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(?—?—Dream World)

Tsukumi Sakato panted as he blurred through the cloud covered, long, moon padded path.

'This... was not how it was supposed to go.' The white-haired teen thought. 'Minato's right. Many things could go wrong, even in a little girl's dream.' He continue running. 'In anycase, I better hurry up and regroup with them!' The 17 year old saw lights breached through the cotton clouds a few meter away from him.

His topaz yellow eyes widened. 'There!' Sakato pushed his body even more as he runs 2x times faster.

'Almost...!' His two-tailed coat flutters behind him as he and Minato came out from the clouds at the same time.

"!"

"!"

The two noticed each other due to their now short distance as they stopped together.

"Minato./Sakato." They spoke at the same time in normal voices.

The taller teen blinked at his friend's new appearance. "Huh? What's with that get up? Last I've recently checked, you wear normal clothing, has blue hair, and silver eyes..."

"They just changed." The blonde Wildcard answered calmly. "Where's Aigis?" He asked.

Sakato looked behind him.

"!" He widened his eyes in shock.

(BGM: Persona Invocation)

"Don't tell me..." He looked at the cotton clouds. "She's still in there?!"

"...What...?" Minato stand tall in attention as he jump high above the ground and landed beside the white Wildcard.

"But how?! The path's only lead to one direction!" Sakato looked panicked.

The former bluenette narrowed his eyes. "She's in trouble." Minato jumped over to the girl's path as he runs back to the clouds.

"Oi!" The white-haired male jumped over and followed the shorter Wildcard.

As they run, both teens dodged out of the way when they see a small red figure flying towards them.

Both widened their eyes in alarm.

(BGM: End)

"What the hell...?" Sakato said in shock as he look behind him.

"..." Minato saw a faint, but bright light in front of them as he narrowed his eyes and tensed.

The taller teen walked up to him as he stared at it.

Then, the clouds parted and revealed Aigis standing on her feet with a different clothing and a Persona behind her.

(BGM: Just like this)

A bunch of Incubus lays beneath her as Minato widened his eyes in shock.

The Persona, Pallas Athena disappears as the blonde maiden fell down.

"AIGIS!" The red-eyed teen yelled out as he run over and held her in his arms.

Sakato crouched down. "Aigis, are you okay? What happened here?" He questioned in concern.

"Minato-san... Sakato-san..." The girl spoke weakly.

"Never mind, save your energy." The yellow-eyed teen told her. 'Did she suffers the same thing as I did? Minato said to summon a Persona here, they have to deal with a heart attack and gain new appearance.' He eyed her white coat. 'I have to say, she looked damn good with that on.'

With the exception of her hair and eyes that remains the same, Aigis now wears a white chesterfield coat with gold trims and red tie. The same circle exist on where her heart is. She wears a white dress shirt, white pants, white gloves, and white combat boots. She also wears the same headphone that Minato is currently using.

"No, I'm alright." Aigis forced herself to stand up with the help of the male blonde.

"Are you sure?" Sakato asked her for confirmation as he stood up.

She nodded. "Yes."

"...Tsk, I don't like this, but if you're so sure, then fine." The taller teen looked at Minato. "Minato, let go of her." He orders the former bluenette.

The experienced Wildcard did just that, and as Aigis move her feet forward, she fell down towards the whitehead.

Sakato grabbed her by the shoulders. "See? You're not alright. Aigis, if you can't move, let alone fight, you're just going to be a burden in this group." He told her bluntly.

The maiden flinched at his harsh words as Minato raised an eyebrow at him.

"B-But we can't just leave either, right?!" The girl raised her voice. "A little girl's health is at stake here, and we're going to abandon her because of me?!"

"Who said anything about abandoning her?" The taller male's voice turns deep and serious.

Aigis blinked in surprise. "Eh?"

Sakato looked at Minato. "Minato, can you pick her up?" He asked his friend with his normal voice.

The red-eyed teen nodded as he took hold of Aigis and carry her bridal style.

The blonde girl blushed as she took hold of her carrier's neck. She then slowly let go once she's sure she can't fall.

"Let's go." The whitehead turned around and walked away.

Minato followed.

(BGM: End)


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(?—?—Dream World)

The walk took a while, but they finally made it.

"Hmm..." Sakato put his hands on his hips as he shook his head. "This is definitely a little girl's dream, alright." He remarked.

The mainland consisted of a combination of a theme park and medieval town, completed with a castle a few kilometers away from them. "But I'm surprised, compared to what I've seen in my parents' dream, this world is massive. But then again, I've only been on the inside."

Minato had to agree with that. It's like they've entered a completely new world, so compared to what he has seen in the Dark Hour.

"Hmm...?" Something grabbed the yellow-eyed teen's attention. "Is that...?" Sakato walked forward.

Minato followed with Aigis still in his arms.

"I knew it, no wonder this feeling seems familiar." They stopped in front of a giant Jack Frost statue. "This is the Aoyomi Theme Park."

"Aoyomi?" Aigis looked at him in confusion.

"They're my family's rival." The taller Wildcard answered simply.

Then suddenly, the weather changed as snow started to fall.

The trio noticed it.

"Oh, great. What now?" Sakato asked rather exasperatedly as he think of last time.

"Heeee-Hoooo!" A dark high-pitched evil voice came from around them.

Minato blinked. 'That voice...' He thought in familiarity.

The wind starts to pick up again as the snowfall transformed into a blizzard.

(BGM: Calamity)

"Grk!" The three cover their faces sans the male blonde who just bring his head down.

"What is this?!" Sakato gritted. "Why the sudden change?!"

Minato senses many presence around them as he snapped his eyes open and switched Persona.

"Surt! He called out loudly.

Golden aura covers the 17 year old as a kneeling red and black giant with a flaming sword appears behind him.

The giant raises his sword to the sky as he let out a hot shockwave that somehow stopped the blizzard.

"Hee-Ho!" The voices exclaims in surprise as the Wildcards' vision cleared.

Now that they can see, the three saw the reason why the blizzard was formed.

Small, black and purple versions of the Jack Frost statue surrounds them like an army of plushie as their angry red eyes stared at them menacingly.

The snow starts to fall again.

"Uhh..." Sakato raised his hands up and the gauntlets and greaves materializes. "What are they...?" He asked the experienced Wildcard.

The former bluenette answered. "Black Frost. They are also a Persona as well."

"Seriously...?" The whitehead took a battle stance. "Are we going to fight them all?" He asked warily as he move his eyes around.

"No. We don't have time for this. And besides, they're quite powerful." Minato said.

"Then how are we going to pass through them? There is like hundreds of these little things." Sakato counts the number of Black Frosts with his eyes and they are indeed well passed over a hundred.

Aigis looked at her carrier in concern. "Minato-san." She said his name in worry.

(BGM: End)

The red-eyed teen narrowed his eyes. "Daisoujou." He called out, this time, more quietly.

The red and black giant stood up on his legs and raised his sword again as he let out a roar before disappearing.

A skeleton wearing a monk outfit replaces the fire giant as it floats behind the teen sitting cross-legged.

"...Samsara." The male blonde commanded in an intimidating voice.

The monk raised its prayer beads and bell up as it opened its mouth.

Large Japanese sutras appears around the little demons as they spins and glowed brightly.

Unlike Adam's Mahama, this time, all of the Black Frosts disappears completely without a single trace.

It was silent for a few moments after that.

"..."

"...Remind me not to anger you after this." Sakato said in a quiet voice.

Minato let out a small, unnoticeable smirk framed his face. "If you even can." He replied back.

Aigis opened her mouth. "Minato-san, can you let me go? I think I can walk by myself now." She told him.

"Are you sure?" The yellow-eyed teen asked in concern.

The maiden sighed. "I'm sure. Besides, Minato-san can't keep holding me like this forever. I have to fight too, somehow..."

"I don't mind..." The male blonde said without any voice as he put her on the snowy ground.

The girl nodded in appreciation. "Thank you." She said as she begun to move her feet around.

After that, she turned towards the white-haired Wildcard. "Sakato-san." Aigis started.

"Yes?" The yellow-eyed teen looked at her curiously.

"How did you summon your weapons like that?" She looked at his armored legs and arms.

"I don't know," Sakato raised his hands to his face. "I just wished for it to appear and..." He clenched his fists for a split second and the gauntlets and greaves disappears in a flash of light. He did it again and they reappeared.

"I see." The sapphire blue-eyed girl nodded in understanding as she closes her eyes and raised her hands up as if receiving something.

A bright flash appears from her hands and a white and gold double-barreled Kar98k with a bayonet materializes, complete with an attachable scope, a cheek pad/ammo bag, and a muzzle brake.

The two males blinked in surprise at her appearance now.

"..."

"..."

Aigis holds the sniper like a professional as she looked at them with a confused expression.

(BGM: Joy x Afternoon break mix)

'Wow./Wow.' Minato and Sakato thought, amazed. 'She looks very cool!' The whitehead exclaims in his mind. 'She looked like she belongs to a secret organization or something!'

'Aigis...' The ruby red-eyed teen blushed a little.

"Minato-san, Sakato-san. Why are you staring at me like that?" The maiden asked in a worried voice. "And what's with the blush?"

"Eh?/Huh?" The two shook their heads as they smiled together. "It's nothing./It's nothing."

"..."

"..."

"Anyways! Don't we have a princess to save? I'm sure she's waiting for us in that castle." The taller teen turn around and walked away.

"You're right." The former bluenette nodded as he followed him.

Aigis stayed silent as she walked a few feet away behind them with her new sniper.

Minato runs to Sakato's side. "Hey..." He whispered.

"Hmm...?" The topaz yellow-eyed teen turned his head to the shorter Wildcard. "What is it?" He asked curiously.

He stared at him with an expressionless look. "I don't know what you're thinking back there, but you know Aigis is off-limits, right?"

Sakato raised a single eyebrow. "What? You jealous or something?" He teased cheekily.

"..." Minato keep staring at him with that look.

He sighed as he dropped his antics. "Yes, yes. I realized that. But Minato, you know you're not her actual boyfriend, right? And she doesn't seem to take your intrusion "well", she's awfully... distant towards you." Sakato move his eyes to the girl walking behind them.

The male blonde sighed. "Yeah, I noticed it, too. But she just act too much like my own Aigis that I sometimes forget I'm on another reality." He explained.

"Ah," The whitehead nodded as he turn his head forward. "I get it."

"Do you?" Minato wonders.

"Not really." Sakato admits. "I don't have any experience in dealing with these type of situations, but I understand the reason behind it."

"It's not easy to deal with, I tell you." The former bluenette look down in thought.

"It must have." The yellow-eyed teen agreed.

"Back in Kuoh..." Minato looked at him as he changed the topic. "You seem popular there."

Sakato smiles as he think back of his first year. "Yeah, I know. Back then, it wasn't easy for me to just say hi to the students because the majority of them are girls, some boys even hates because of my decent looks, but they warmed up to me after I thinks 'screw it' and brightly smiles at them. Turns out I was good at talking and listening to people and giving them advice. After that, I made my way up here through sheer hardwork. Well, not here, here. But you know what I meant."

The experienced Wildcard let out a small chuckle at that.

"You seem to be also talkative to me today." The white-haired teen looked at him with his smile still on his face. "Back when we first met, Aigis was always the one who covers for you."

The shorter male shrugged as he put his hands inside his pockets. "I guess you have successfully breached through my personal space." He said.

"Is that a bad thing or a good thing?" The smile turned into a grin.

"Maybe both." The former bluenette closed his eyes as he smiled.

"Heh." Sakato grins as they keep walking.

He then heard a voice inside his head as well as a glass breaking.

(BGM: End)

(BGM: Power of the Heart)

Thou art I... and I'am thou...

Thou hast formed a new bond...

Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Judgement Arcana...

(BGM: End)

(BGM: Joy x Afternoon break mix)

The white Wildcard blinked. "Judgement?" He said it aloud.

"What?" Minato looked at the taller teen in confusion.

Sakato turned his head to the experienced Wildcard. "You said you were of the Fool Arcana." He accused.

"I'am." The red-eyed blonde told him.

"Then why did I hear a voice of you being the Judgement Arcana?" Sakato questioned.

"Ah," Minato immediately nodded in understanding. "So that's what my true Arcana is..." He mused.

"True Arcana?" The whitehead asked.

"During my Journey, the Fool Social Link are not tied to a single individual, but rather as a group. And that group is-" Sakato interrupted him.

"SEES." He finished.

Minato nodded again. "That's right. Perhaps yours is the same. A Wildcards Social Link, maybe?"

(BGM: End)

Aigis watched the boys chat with each other from behind them as she couldn't help but to let out a smile. Then, her expression turned into a sad one.

'Minato-san, how are you doing right now? I hope you're alright out there.' She look up to the snowy sky. 'I'm doing fine myself in here, but... I've been roped in an unnatural situation that can't be explained by logical means.' She keeps walking.

'Minato-san, I know that you're currently suffering right now, but please, hang in there.'

(BOOM)

(BGM: Shadow)

Without warning, the castle suddenly burst out in flames.

"!"

"!"

"!"

The three Wildcards widened their eyes in shock at the scene.

"What in the...?" Minato let out.

"Let's go!" Sakato run full speed towards the burning castle.

The other two followed behind.


(April 7—2010—Wednesday)

(?—?—Dream World)

The three made it to the front gate.

Dead bodies, soldiers, were laying everywhere just like what Sakato had seen on his parents' dream. Fires were also spread around the castle grounds, burning some soldiers and creating a disgusting odor.

Aigis looked horrified while Minato gazed at the scene with no emotion.

"I never seen so much fire in all my life." The tallest teen gaped. "What could've caused this...?"

"The temperature of the fire seem unnatural." The blue-eyed maiden began to sweat like crazy. "They feel hotter than the usual fire."

"Whatever's causing them, it's inside. I sense a very powerful presence behind that door." The former bluenette said.

"Now you've said it, I feel it too." Sakato agrees.

"I can feel it as well." The sniper wielding girl nodded.

As if on cue, a woman screams.

"AAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Without any hesitation, the white Wildcard runs into the courtyard.

"Sakato-san! Wait!" Aigis run after the white-haired teen.

Minato followed behind.

"HEH!" The yellow-eyed boy break through the castle's giant door as the 17 year olds went inside.

(BGM: End)

"!"

"!"

"!"

Empty. That what's greeted the three longcoat wearing teens.

Even so, the throne room is also burning.

They then heard footsteps coming from a dark corridor as a tall, grey, spiked humanoid walked out and revealed itself.

(BGM: That which escaped the Darkness)

"!"

"!"

"!"

The Wildcards tensed in alert as the humanoid sat comfortably on the throne as it crossed it's ankles.

"Minato?" Sakato asked the male blonde.

"...Ifrit." The former bluenette answered after a brief moment of silence.

"Ifrit?" Aigis blinked. "The fire demon in Islamic religion?"

"So he's the one who caused all of this." The taller Wildcard narrowed his eyes as he stared at the humanoid. "This amount of power, though..."

"Hoh...?" The demon let out in a deep voice as it looked at the red-eyed teen in interest. "You know who I'am?" It asked.

"It talked?" Sakato blinked in surprise.

"Hmph." Ifrit scoffed. "So you three are Philemon's chosen ones, huh?"

"Philemon?" The maiden asked in confusion. "Chosen ones?"

"You don't know?" The fire demon said in genuine surprise. "Hmph, figures. After all, that guy likes to stay mysterious."

"Oi!" The white-haired male called out. "What the hell are you talking about over there?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm judging you." Ifrit answered snidely.

"Judging us?" The yellow-eyed Wildcard blinked.

"To see if you're strong enough to stop Destruction." The grey demon raised it's right arm and snapped it's finger.

Swirls of flames appeared from out of nowhere as hundreds of red demonic demons with horns stood on the throne room and surround the three teens.

"!"

"!"

Sakato and Aigis readied their weapons as Minato stared at the fire humanoid. "You know about this Destruction?" He asked.

"Of course," Ifrit answered lazily. "Tell you what? If you three managed to impress me, I'll answer a few questions regarding it."

"Then so be it." The experienced Wildcard spoke. "Juno!" He called out.

Golden aura covers the 17 year old as a female Persona appeared on the boy.

"Sakato! Aigis! Cover me while I analyze them." The former bluenette's voice speak through the other Wildcards' head.

"Minato?" Sakato looked at the shorter teen who encased himself inside his Persona. "How...?"

"Do you really asking that now?"

"Oh! Right. Sorry." The whitehead turned to the army. "Aigis, I know it's obvious that snipers are not meant for close range combat, and against this many enemies, but, can you still fight?"

The girl nodded. "I think so, yes."

"Then, let's go!" Sakato runs to the armies while Aigis stay close to the male blonde.

(BGM: End)

(BGM: Unavoidable Battle)

"HAH!" The white-haired Wildcard send a powerful kick to one of the demon as it flies back to its comrades.

Sakato continues by punching another demon away as he backhanded another one.

'Che! This is insane...' The 17 year old thought as he perform a spinning kick. 'Can we even survive this? Minato, hurry up!'

"HAH!" The whitehead uppercut a demon into the air as he jumped and kicked another one away.

"Heaah!" A demon swing its sword toward the blonde maiden as Aigis reacted on instinct as she blocked it with her sniper.

To her surprise, the demon was not all that strong as she thought as the blue-eyed girl easily pushed it back and stab it with her bayonet.

Aigis pulls her sniper out and blindly pull the trigger towards the army of demons.

Two sharp 7.92x57mm Mauser bullets sails out of the barrel and pierce through all the demons in a straight line and embedded themselves in the castle's walls.

The girl heard another one running behind her as she turned around and kicked the demon with her combat boots before clearing the empty shell casing and shooting it, taking out a decent amount in a straight line.

"HEEAAHH!" Aigis saw Sakato deflect an attack with his hand and grabbed the demon's own arm as he begun to swing it around with his strength, knocking back its comrades nearby.

The white-haired teen then throws the demon towards its friends with all he got as he continued by pressing a hand to his heart and summon his Persona.

Adam appears, and Sakato called out with his hand stretched forward.

"Makouha!" The yellow-eyed boy glares.

The first man on earth clasped his hands together as if praying as shining holy lights glows beneath the demons as some of them disintegrates, escaped, and barely survived.

"Aigis! Summon your Persona!" Sakato shouted to her as Adam disappears.

The sniper wielding maiden nodded and put a hand on her left breast as she closed her eyes.

"Come out... Athena!" Aigis called out as she snapped her eyes open and waved her hand.

The Greek Goddess of Wisdom materialized behind her.

"Strike them!" Her bright blue eyes gestures to the demons.

Athena gripped her spear tightly as she flies upwards.

The goddess then flipped her spear downwards and prepared to throw it like a javelin as she aimed for the center of the army.

Her spear shines with energy as she throws it.

The spear stabbed the ground but the impact is like a meteor as it send shockwaves that send the demons flying everywhere and caused the earth to shake.

Ifrit, however, doesn't seem to be fazed as it create a fire shield that immediately burns it's flying minions to ashes and continue to sit on the throne while Aigis hide behind Juno as she's close to her and hold on for dear life.

Sakato, however...

"Whoa!" Sakato lost his footing due to the tremor as he fell down and widened his eyes in shock at the incoming bodies.

Aigis widened her eyes when she realizes he has no cover. "Athena!" She called her Persona.

The Greek goddess flies down in front of the fallen boy and used her ring-like shield around her body to protect him.

A multiple metal clangs signifies the demons hitting the shield as Sakato saw bodies flying everywhere and into the castle's walls.

Athena and her spear disappears once the chaos subsided as the white-haired Wildcard stood up and dust himself off.

The demons' number has dropped from more than a hundred to a few tens as they struggled to stand up themselves.

"Hmph." Ifrit dropped the shield as it scoffed and snapped it's finger again.

"!"

"!"

More minions appears from the swirl of flames as the fire demon summons them.

"You've got to be joking me." Sakato commented as he took a battle stance once again.

Aigis readied her Bolt-action sniper rifle as she moved from her spot and take careful aim.

Suddenly, information write itself on their brains.

"Huh?" The two Wildcards blinked.

(BGM: End)


Name: Lower-Class Shaitan.

Attack type: Strike.

Weakness: Fire. Ice. Light.

Strong: Darkness.


Name: Medium-Class Shaitan.

Attack type: Slash.

Weakness: Ice. Light.

Strong: Fire. Darkness.


Name: Ifrit.

Attack type: Strike.

Weakness: Ice. Light.

Strong: Fire. Darkness.


"Minato-san..." Aigis turned to the male blonde.

"I got their weaknesses." Minato spoke in their heads.

"Yeah, we know that." Sakato grinned. "Light, huh? Well, I got that!" He pressed his hand to his heart. "Come... Adam!"

The first male human materialized again as Sakato command him.

"Mahama!" He calls out.

Adam clasped his hands again as the sutras surrounds the Shaitans and glows as it disintegrates some of them.

"Aigis! Do that again!" The yellow-eyed teen orders as his Persona disappeared.

Aigis nodded. "Understand!" She pressed her hand to her heart. "Athena!"

The opposite sister of Ares appears and flies up as she prepared her spear.

Sakato took that as a cue to jump back and run behind Juno.

Ifrit does nothing but create another shield as the goddess throws her spear again and the chaos repeated.

Aigis get behind Juno with Sakato as they took cover and hold on.

The chaos subsides as Athena and her spear disappeared again.

"Hmph." Ifrit scoffs boredly as it dropped its shield again and snaps it's finger.

"Are you kidding me?" The whitehead asked incredulously as the Shaitans reappeared.

"I commend your strategy and skills to hold off my army, but it's not enough. Until then, show me your power." The grey humanoid relaxed itself.

Minato narrowed his eyes. "Power, huh?" His voice reverberates around the castle. "Fine, then." He let Juno go back inside his mind.

"Eh? Minato?" Sakato looked at the shorter teen in confusion.

"Minato-san..." Aigis asked in worry.

"Aigis, Sakato. Brace yourselves." His red eyes glares at Ifrit as golden aura covers him.

"Hmm...?" The fire demon looked at the blonde boy with interest.

"...Skadi." Minato calls.

A giant shadowy female humanoid with white hair and red makeup wearing a yellow and black cape appears behind the three Wildcards.

"...Ice Age." The former bluenette whispers intimidatingly.

The snowshoe goddess summons a white ball of light in the air as it slowly dropped down to the ground.

"...!"

"...!"

"...!"

As the ball touched the castle's floor, another type of chaos ensues.

Ice, ice everywhere. Sakato and Aigis watched with open mouths as the throne room were immediately covered in ice spikes and impales every Shaitans as Ifrit create back the fire shield to protect itself as the ice surrounding it melted continuously.

Outside, the ice continues to spread to the courtyard and diminish the fires as it goes all the way up the castle.

Some ice even goes crazy, creating spikes larger than needed and impales through the stone and ceramic walls.

Even when outside the castle grounds, the ice never stopped spreading until a certain amount of distance were reached.

Deadly silence. The burning castle has become the frozen castle.

Ifrit let go of the shield as it stared at the red-eyed boy with astonishment.

The other two did too as they looked at the former bluenette from behind.

Then, the fire demon began to laugh madly and surprising the three humans.

(BGM: Evolution first part by AXL21)

"Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!" The grey spiked humanoid laughed.

"W-what the hell...?" Sakato spoke in fear.

"What is he laughing at...?" Aigis asked, uneasy.

"..." Minato just stays unexpressive.

"Impressive, boy." Ifrit finally stood up from the throne as it jumped towards them.

"!"

"!"

"!"

The demon landed a few feet in front of them, sending a brief heatwave through the castle and melting some of the ice spikes.

The experienced Wildcard spoke up.

"Are you going to tell us about this Destruction now?" He asked flatly.

"No, not yet." Ifrit ignites its fist and legs in flames.

"But Minato already impresses you, right?!" The white-haired teen argues.

"Oh, he did, he certainly did..." The fire demon began to slowly walk towards them, each steps melted the ice around it.

"Then why...?" Aigis was the one who asked that question.

"Nothing." Ifrit shrugged. "I just changed the condition."

"What?!" Sakato demanded.

"You should know not to trust a devil's words, boy. That's a life lesson." The temperatures begin to rise.

"Che, damn it." The whitehead cursed as he prepared himself. "Minato! Aigis! Get ready!" He orders the two.

The two blondes took a fighting position as Minato summons two swords in his hands.

Without warning, Ifrit suddenly jumped at them.

The true battle has begun, and somehow, Sakato just know it's going to suck.

(BGM: End)


A.N: Done! Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I don't want it to get too long. I will write the next chapter immediately.

Hmm... I want to ask you guys a question. Do you all keep coming back to the unfinished chapter for new words updates?

9,414 words.