Vector was skipping with joy. Ever since Heartland had reported back that Astral of all people had appeared on the Midnight Channel, he was filled with glee thinking of all the ways he could mess with him. Even Don Thousand had given him permission to take advantage of the situation. Even though he muttered something about she would notice. Vector just brushed it off. Who knew that imposing evil gods had ex-girlfriend issues. Now in this TV world Vector could have all the fun he wanted. It was the perfect trap after all since Yuma would do anything to rush in and save his friend. But how to do it? Too many perfect ideas were forming in his mind. His location was a good start, mirrors upon mirrors forming the perfect labyrinth. But where was the star of the show?

Vector sensed a dark presence close by. Perhaps it was a strong shadow, maybe he could beef it up to destroy Yuma and his new allies. Or it could make a good snack to increase his own power. Turning the corner he stopped in surprise.

Astral was standing in a hexagonal shaped room with his back turned to him. He was just standing there unaware that Vector was behind him. Vector couldn't believe his luck, Astral was now in the palm of his hands. Perhaps he could corrupt him again and have him break poor little Yuma's heart.

You're not my other half.

Vector blinked in surprise, that was Astral's voice but when did he add a distorted echo to it.

Astral turned around and faced Vector. The first thing he noticed about Astral was that both of his eyes were gold. And not the luminous gold that his left eye usually was, but a dull hollow gold.

What are you doing here? He asked. Do you plan to interfere?

"What are you on about? Did you forget who I am?" Vector said with mock hurt in his voice.

You are Vector. You are the one who trick my other half and Yuma and tried to kill them. Astral said matter of factly.

"Other half?" Vector tapped his chin, since when did Astral refer to himself in such a manner? "Since when did you get hit in the head Astral?"

I am not Astral….I am his shadow. His repressed emotions and thoughts.

"Oooohhh….." This was getting good, "So you want to destroy him?"

No.

"What?"

I have no such desire because he does not wish to deny me. As we speak he is seeking me out and simply wishes to speak with me.

"But I though all you stupid shadows desired destruction!"

The not Astral rolled his eyes. Simpleton…we only destroy when we are rejected.

Vector seethed in rage at being insulted, "So what if Astral rejects you?"

Then I would eliminate him for he would have become too weak.

"I like the sound of that better….any way I can convince you to rampage from the get go?"

No…are you done with this foolishness? Because you have wasted my time.

"Oh I am not done…." Vector extracted a card, "In fact we are getting started!"

That card….I cannot be….

"It is!" Vector held it up glowing with energy, "Become a loyal servant to Barian World!"

The Shadow Astral shielded his eyes. I….I….won't…be….controlled….

"You were once! And it can happen again!" Vector yelled as the black flames shot out of the card and smothered the Shadow Astral who could only scream in horror.

…

Yuma shuffled his feet. They were waiting for the last few members of the group. Kanji and Rise had to finish up some classroom duties before they could come and Yosuke and Teddie were making sure they wouldn't be missing any shifts for work. Why couldn't they just go to the TV world now with the people they had?

"Because we want to go in prepared plus Rise is our analyst so without her we would be going in blind." That was Yu's explanation.

So now they were waiting as Yuma stared at his plate of untouched food.

"You should eat you know."

Yuma scowled at Shark, "I don't need you to tell me what to do. Why are you tagging along anyway?"

"Because someone needs to keep an eye on you….plus…." Shark leaned in and whispered, "These guys weren't at Saragasso so if a similar situation comes up…..I would be the only one that would know what to do."

"That's what I'm afraid of…..How did I not notice Astral was missing?"

"You said he had gone into your pendant two days ago but never notice him leaving. He might have come back out when you were sleeping." Naoto reasoned.

"But that doesn't explain how he got in the TV world." Yukiko said.

"He always hitched a ride with us." Chie added.

"Sorry!" Yosuke ran up with Teddie out of breath, "We're clear for work, what are we talking about."

"Trying to figure out how Astral got into the TV world." Shark filled him in.

"He didn't ask any of us for help, did he?" Teddie ask.

"Teddie… aside from Yuma," Shark cleared his throat, "And Ryoga," Natoto added, "None of us can see Astral unaided so there's no way he could have gotten our attention. And you admitted that you can see a shimmer at best. Did you see him trying to ask for help?" Naoto asked.

"No! I hadn't seen anything for the past two days!"

"So he didn't get in with our help…..and it's not likely the culprit knew about him either…." Yu muttered.

"I'm just going to throw this out there…" said Shark, "But what if Astral went in on his own accord?"

The table fell silent.

"He wouldn't do that!?" Yuma stood up slamming his hands on the table.

"Do what?" Everyone turned to Kanji who had just arrived with Rise.

"Shark just suggested that Astral went into the TV world on his own." Yosuke said.

"But he knows how dangerous it is in there! Why would he go in?" Rise was worried.

"And does he even have the ability to go in at all? He doesn't have a Persona." Yukiko pointed out.

"We won't know until we find him!" Chie exclaimed, "Now that we're all here let's get going!"

"Right….let's go in and find Astral. We don't know exactly how long he had been there so let's hurry." Yu said.

"Right!" Was the group's response as they headed to the Junes electronics department.

"Why are we headed to the most crowed part of the store?" Shark asked.

"Because it was the only place where we could find a TV big enough to fit through." Yosuke said.

"Why is that a factor?"

Shark's question was answered as Yu got an all clear from Kanji, he literally walked through the TV screen. "That's how you get in?!"

"What were you expecting? Yukiko asked.

"I don't know….just not that." Shark said as Rise and Naoto went in next.

"It's okay Shark. It's a little weird going through the screen but you just hope for the best that you don't fall a few hundred meters." Yuma said grabbing his arm.

"What are you going on about-HEY!" Shark protested as Yuma bolted for the TV set going right through it. It felt like going through a cold gel at first then falling in a weightless environment. Shark had to resist emptying his stomach when he felt the floor again.

"I am going to kill you one day for this Yuma…." Shark said trying to regain his composure and looking around. "Is it always foggy in here?"

"Oh sorry…" Teddie said as he landed next, "You're going to need these." He held out a pair of joke glasses to Shark who felt a vein bulge in his forehead.

"Are you joking with me bear?"

"Oh for crying out loud Teddie!" Yosuke called out as he arrived, "Stop messing with him and get serious!"

"Okay fine!" Teddie put the joke glasses away and gave Shark glasses with dark purple frames, "No one appreciates my humor." Teddie muttered.

Shark stared suspiciously at the eyewear until he saw the whole group including Yuma put their own pairs on now that they all had arrived. Sighing he slipped them on, "Whoa…..that's weird."

"That's the start of it….ready to do your thing Rise?" Yu asked.

"Always…." She said as she summoned Himiko and began scanning.

"How long this is going to take?" Shark asked.

"Depends….sometimes the fog can really mess with Rise's detections skills." Kanji said.

"And it's really thing right now too…I barely can get a reading on Astral before so I don't know if I can pinpoint his location." Rise said.

"But we're good if we can get a general direction right?" Chie asked.

"Not really….this world has been getting bigger each time we've returned here. Traveling here without a direction would be unwise." Naoto asked.

"So in other words…he could be anywhere?" Yuma asked in worry.

"Don't worry…" Yukiko tried to reassure him. "We'll find him."

"Urrgghhh…." Rise let out a groan of frustration, "Astral's signal is so vague I'm having a hard time telling what's him and what's not."

"So now what?" Yosuke asked, "We don't have any other leads."

Shark was about to say something when he noticed Yuma walking away from the group.

"Yuma…you alright?" Kanji asked.

"He's that way."

"What?"

"He's that way?" Yuma said as he pointed ahead of himself.

"What makes you so sure?" Naoto asked.

"I…don't know but….It's like I can tell that he's over that way." Yuma insisted.

"So we're just going off of your intuition?" Chie was in disbelief, "That could send us in circles."

"Just trust him."

Everyone turned to Shark who glared back at them, "Look….I've known them longer than you guys have. So just go on this one."

"Okay then."

"Seems like Yu's already on board…." Yukiko muttered.

"It's our best shot….and we really shouldn't question stuff like this." Yu pointed out.

"If you say so Senpai…" said Kanji.

"So let's not waste anymore time…..we're going to save Astral."

With that, Yuma and Yu lead the group off.

…..

Astral flew down the corridor after corridor trying to suppress his growing anxiety. He had been here far too long, at least a day. Yuma must of notice his disappearance by now. He didn't care about meeting his shadow now, all he wanted to do was to get out of here! By some stroke of luck he avoided the smaller Shadows even Astral knew that luck would run out. Turning another corner he smacked straight into a mirror.

He let out a groan, "Theses mirrors are making it hard to navigate…..I can't tell where I've been."

A scream echoed down the halls sending chills down Astral's spine. "Was that…..my voice?" As much as he wanted to investigate it, he knew that it would be far too dangerous. "Can't do it now….I have to get back."

But you just got here.

Astral froze, it was his voice again. "Are…..are you my shadow?"

Come my other half….we have much to talk about.

A pool of black fire appeared below Astral and before he could react, a tendril grabbed his ankle and pulled him under. The suffocation was immense as Astral felt a pair of hands snake around his throat.

Just let me handle everything….soon there will be nothing to worry about.

"Y-Yuma…."

Don't worry about him…I'll take care of him from on own.

"N-no…." That was the last protest from Astral as the darkness overwhelmed him.

…

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnndddd another cliffhanger! Be glad it's not what I have plan for next chapter. I'm so excited for what's going to happen next…heeheheheheheheheheh. I hope you enjoyed the double update!