Ha-cha, got my first review. Nice to know someone else is actually reading this. Like they say, the road to fame starts with one fan.

Personal note:Threatening me doesn't bring out my creative side any faster, eggmiester.

Once again, Persona/Shadow is Atlus, not I.

Chapter 5

Unleash the Beast

As soon as the bell rang, Jason closed his book and stuffed it into his backpack. Meeting Kevin at the door, the two of them went to look for David.

Going to the next floor, they found him coming out of his classroom, sweater still on and backpack on his shoulder.

"Yo, Dave!" Kevin waved, and ran up to David, Jason following. David looked up at them, then pulled up his hood and turned away.

Kevin turned to Jason and raised an eyebrow. "Do you think he didn't hear me?"

"Loud as you were, Beethoven would've heard you."

Kevin's other eyebrow shot up. "Two jokes in less than a week? I'm having a bad influence on you."

Jason ignored the comment and jerked his head to where David had walked off. "Might I suggest we get after him."

"Oh right. Of course."

David walked down the sidewalk, his head down, watching his feet. He knew why the other two were after him, but he simply didn't care. Let them play in their little superhero fantasy world. Reality is hard enough as it is.

David heard footsteps running behind him, and a felt hand close around his arm. David's temper flared as memories assaulted him.

David jerked his arm free, and whirled around, his hood falling away. He brought up his hand, ready to punch whoever it was.

A hand caught his arm, and a voice spoke. "Woah, easy Ali. I come in peace."

Looking at his face, David saw that it was one of the guys from earlier, the smart alec.

An irritating smirk on his face, he let go of David's arm. "We just want to talk, David. About what happened in the Library Maze."

David scowled. "I don't care what happened. It doesn't concern me. Just leave me alone." He pulled his hood back up and turned to leave.

The smart alec grabbed his arm again. "Look, just five minutes, and we'll get out of your hair."

His anger burning, David whirled around, pulling his hood down and shoving the smart alec. "Don't you ever put your hand on me again. Does that get into your thick skull? Leave me alone!"

With another turn, David stormed off, leaving the smart alec stunned.

Jason came up behind Kevin and clapped him on the shoulder. "Hell of a pitch you've got there. We'll have people lining up for miles to join us."

Kevin turned to stare at Jason. "Am I always this annoying?"

"Yep," Jason answered, straight-faced.

Kevin sighed. "Ah, well. We still going?"

Jason shrugged. "I don't see why not. We need to keep training."

When Jason landed in the Library Maze, he felt something had changed. Almost like there's a new flow in the air. It just feels different.

Kevin tilted his head to Jason. "You feelin' okay? You looked confused."

Jason just shook his head. "Nothing major. Let's get going."

Walking nowhere in particular, Jason and Kevin walked through the maze. What few Shadows they came across were easily dispatched.

As the last faded, Kevin kicked at the remains. "Is it just me, or did that seem underwhelming."

Jason agreed. "It's like the Shadows are busy elsewhere." As they walked farther, a flash of yellow among the blue caught Jason's attention.

Jason stopped suddenly, Kevin bumping in to him. "What're you..." He stopped when he saw the change in color too. "That wasn't there before, was it?"

"I don't remember it. Must be new. Let's go check it out."

"Now, Hama!"

Brunhilda emerged, and the shadow disappeared in a flash of light. As Brunhilda vanished, a wave of exhaustion went over her.

She stumbled back, and Wes caught her. She looked up to see him breathing hard as well. Although she had healed his wounds, he still looked beat up and tired.

"There has to be a way out. We just need to give Sam the time to find it. Until then, we need to stay tough. Understand?"

Jennifer breathed deep and pushed herself to her feet. "Got it."

As another came up behind them, Wes whirled and smashed his card. "Lancelot, Bufu." The creature was frozen, and Wes stumbled on his feet. "I just hope she finds it soon."

Around the corner, the hooded man looked at the tired pair. With the others coming, this is the perfect time for a little test.

With a snap of his finger, a massive Shadow emerged from the wall. In the form of a huge hairy humanoid, it lumbered up to the hooded man.

"Go and test their powers."

Wes wiped the sweat from his brow, and rubbed his hand over his face. He heard Jennifer gasp, and looked to see her staring behind him, her eyes wide.

Gulping, Wes slowly turned and saw the huge hairy humanoid behind him. As he brought out his card, the creature's hand appeared out of nowhere, and slammed into him, knocking him into a wall.

As it turned to Jennifer, moving faster than it should, and grabbed her in its hand, squeezing.

Jennifer started to scream, and Wes tried to get up, but found he couldn't move.

Suddenly, they weren't alone.

"Get your hand off her!"

Wes looked over to see two teenagers, one with a sword and another with a bow and arrow. The one with the sword had a look of pure fury on his face.

Sure hope they help. Then darkness overtook him.

The transition from the Library Maze to the pyramid was certainly odd. Once he crossed the doorway, he was no longer sure of where he was going.

As they kept walking, Kevin looked past him, confused. "So where are all the Shadows?"

Before he could answer, Jason heard a thud that made him draw his sword. It was followed by a scream that somehow seemed familiar.

He met Kevin's eyes, and they took off down a hall. "I think it came from over here."

As they rounded a corner, ready for battle, Jason saw a huge hairy Shadow holding a teenage girl in its hand, and was squeezing.

But what hit Jason the most was that he recognized the girl. "Jennifer?"

It had been two years since he'd seen her, but he was sure it was her. "Get your hand off her!"

The Shadow's head turned to look at him, and increased the pressure on Jennifer. Jason saw red as his anger exploded. He held out his hand, and a red card appeared in it. "Persona...Beast."

Kevin stepped back from the feeling of rage that was coming off of Jason. He was sure he saw a red flash in Jason's eyes, and a red card appeared in his hand. "Persona...Beast."

Beast? When Jason crushed the card, instead of the sound of glass, Kevin heard a primal scream, and the card seemed to dissolve into red vapor.

A roar came from nowhere, and the vapor seemed to swirl in front of Jason. "Bahamut," Jason said with a growl, and out of the vapor emerged a huge azure dragon.

It had a pair of red feathered wing, and a halo-like ornament above its back. Its eyes glowing crimson, it roared in anger and defiance.

Kevin looked back at Jason, but he saw a look in his eyes that scared him. It was like his friend wasn't even there any more.

"Agairu Flare."

The ornament over its back began to spin, Bahamut's mouth opened, and a fire began to swirl around in it. Then, with a roar, the attack launched. The fire swirled, and when it hit the Shadow, it was consumed by the fire, only the arm holding Jennifer untouched.

When the fire dispersed, only ashes remaining, and the arm holding Jennifer fell. Kevin ran to her, and pulled the hand open.

As he helped her up, a girl with long red hair ran around the corner, and came to an abrupt stop. "Jennifer? Wes?" She brought up her shield, and braced as if to charge Kevin.

"Wait, I'm not an enemy. We're here to help."

The girl lowered her shield slightly, and walked cautiously to the boy sitting against the wall.

As she inspected him, Kevin carefully laid Jennifer down and looked over at Jason. But Jason hadn't calmed down. His face still held the wrath of a demon, only he was looking at Kevin instead.

"Keep away from her." Bahamut also turned to look at him.

"Look, Jason. I'm a friend, remember?"

"Agairu Fl-"

"Romulus, Howl!"

Kevin turned in shock to see David standing behind them, with Romulus before him. Pulling back, a wolf howl ripped from his mouth, and brought Jason to his knees, holding his ears.

Then the one sitting on the wall came to, kicked to his feet, and slammed his fist into Jason's head.

Bahamut faded, and as the guy came up to Jennifer, Kevin went over to check on Jason. He had a sizeable lump on his head, but he didn't look hurt otherwise.

He met the eyes of the other guy, and felt a camaraderie from him. "I guess we have a lot to talk about."

Whew, that was intense.

This was the introduction of the Beast Personas, which will be explained in detail later.

Read and review, as always I ask.