Alas, we're done with the action for the moment, and must trudge through the mire of exposition. But there is also more character development, which, after all, is what makes Persona interesting.

Insert monotonous disclaimer here.

Chapter 6

Knowledge and Revelation

Jason followed Sam through the pyramid, Jennifer still unconscious on his back. His head was still throbbing from where Wes had knocked him out.

But what hurt worse was the knowledge that he had lost control and nearly attacked Kevin.

A groan behind him caught his attention, and he looked to see Jennifer stirring. "Hold on. She's waking up."

Jason carefully set her down against a wall, checking her pulse.

Green eyes, the same exact shade as his, opened slowly. Initially unfocused, they widened in shock as they took him in. Then, her mouth widened into an enormous smile, and she threw her arms around his neck.

"Jason! I thought I heard you."

Jason patted her back. "I'm so glad to see you, Jennifer. Two years is far too long."

Jason heard a cough, and he turned to see Kevin smirking. "Beautiful as this reunion is, we have to get going before the Shadows catch up with us. We're in no position to fight."

"Right." He pulled back, and helped Jennifer up. "Once we get back to the Library Maze, I can find the way out."

Wes raised an eyebrow. "Library Maze?"

"It's where we come in. I have the ability to navigate the maze almost perfectly. Didn't you come in there, too?"

Sam answered instead. "No, we arrived here, in the pyramid."

"Maybe because we came in from different books," Jennifer added.

The familiar scratching was heard, and Jason grabbed Jennifer's hand. "We have to get going. Now."

Finally, the blue light was seen at the end of a hallway. Once Jason passed through the doorway, he immediately felt more at ease.

"So are we actually going somewhere? Or are we just wandering?"

Jason looked back at Wes, who looked less than interested in the world itself.

"We're going to see someone, and he's going to give me some answers."

"Who?"

"Igor," Jason sneered.

Wes chuckled. "Igor? Like Frankenstein's assistant?"

"Think creepier."

Jason led them through several twists and turns, and finally came to the office door. He opened it, and let the others go through.

"Welcome, to the Velvet Room, my friends."

While the others looked around the office in awe, Jason stormed up to the desk, and stared into Igor's eyes. "What was that, Igor? And why didn't you warn me about the possibility?"

"Because some things, my friend, must be discovered themselves. For receiving all of the answers makes those answers meaningless." Igor spread his arms wide. "Strength through adversity. That is the fire that forges the true power of the Personas."

"But how do I control it?"

Igor folded his hands in front of him again, and smiled wide again. "Face thyself. Part of you is unable to withstand the power of your Beast Persona. You must find this part of yourself, and face it. Only then, will the power be yours to wield."

As Jason led the group back through the maze to the pyramid, he thought over what Igor had said. What part of himself couldn't handle the power of the Beast Persona?

"Jason." Jennifer's voice interrupted his thoughts. "I know that face. You're overthinking what Igor told you." She smiled, and nudged him with her shoulder. "You always did that. It gives you that scary face, you know."

Jason sighed and put his arm around her shoulders, hugging her. "I really did miss you, squirt. Always there to derail my train of thought."

Jennifer laughed and pulled out from under his arm, turning and holding her arms out. "It's what I live for, big bro."

Laughing, Jason put an arm over her shoulder again, and led them to the doorway. Waiting for them was a blue butterfly. "Just follow him, and he'll lead you out."

Jennifer took Jason into her arms and hugged him. "See you later, Jason."

Jason rubbed a hand on her head. "Later, Jennifer."

Jennifer stepped back, and waved at Kevin and David, then followed the butterfly, Sam and Wes behind her.

Kevin mock punched Jason in the shoulder. "She got big, didn't she?"

Jason smiled sadly, and put his hands in his pockets. "She sure did."

A grunt from behind caught Jason's attention, and he looked behind him at David. "If we're done with all the mushy family time, shouldn't we get going?"

Kevin raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. Jason shrugged back and led the way back out of the Library Maze.

Wes smirked as he followed Jennifer through the pyramid. "Uh, Jenn? You know you're skipping, right?"

Jennifer, who had a bounce in her step, whirled and smiled. "What can I say, I feel bouncy. Seeing Jason again has me feeling so good."

"That so? Want to trade brothers with me? I'd gladly give you Anthony for him."

Sam looked at Wes, confused. "I thought you liked Tony."

Wes sighed and shook his head. "He's not Tony any more. Since my dad gave him a job, he became Anthony. Now he's turning into my father, and one of him is hard enough to deal with."

Effectively killing Jennifer's good mood, she silently followed the butterfly out, and could actually feel the knowledge of the pyramid growing in her mind. She was sure she could navigate it herself, like Jason could his Library Maze.

Jason loves to learn, and ends up in a library. I enjoy archeology...

"And I created the Pyramid!"

"You want to finish that thought?"

Jennifer turned back to the other two. "I finally figured it out. These worlds are created by us. I made the pyramid, and Jason made a library. That follows what we both understand. That means there could be other worlds for you two, and David and Kevin."

Sam and Wes both looked surprised at the revelation. "That makes sense. But we really need to get out of here. We don't have time to go exploring."

Jennifer did her best to curb her curiosity. "Right. Out we go."

As the three walked out of the library, a lingering thought made Jason come to a stop. "Hey, David?"

David turned his head slightly, but didn't answer.

"Why did you come? You told us you didn't care."

David shrugged. "Don't really know. Didn't want to go home, and had nothing else to do."

"Well, we'll be sure to return the favor."

His eyes full of doubt, David pulled up his hood, and turned from them. "Sure you will."

Kevin looked after David as he walked away. "Has some trust issues, doesn't he?"

Jason watched David as he left the library, his head bent low. "I've got a feeling that there's a very deep reason for that, and it sort of scares me."

David walked up his steps, knocked away the bottles, and opened the door. He stood in the frame, and listened quietly.

"BOY!"

David sighed. He'd hoped his dad had passed out by now, but he wasn't that lucky today.

Tensing his muscles, David walked into the house, and found his father on the couch. With a bottle of liquor in one hand, and a Playboy in the other, he was the picture of decadence.

Cursing to his feet, Jared Robbins went to his son, and took a swig of alcohol. Wiping his mouth, he stared at David. "Where you been, boy?"

"Out," David answered his father, keeping his head down.

David heard the stinging backhand before he felt it, and stumbled slightly.

"Look at me when you answer me, boy."

David met his father's bloodshot eyes. "I was out at the library."

Jared laughed and took another swig of alcohol. "You, in a library? That's as pointless as a blind man at a magic show."

Jared laughed deeply, and went back to his seat. "Just remember to keep quiet, boy. I don't want you interrupting my reading time."

"Yeah, cause you're actually reading the articles," David said sarcastically under his breath. Unfortunately, it was loud enough for his father to hear.

His father roared to his feet. After a solid punch to the ribs, Jared grabbed his sweater and pulled him up. "You got something to say to me, boy?"

David could smell the alcohol on his breath, and did his best to ignore the pain in his ribs. "No, sir."

"Good." Jared pushed David into a wall, and walked back to his seat.

Taking shallow breaths, David walked up to his room, going around the piles of rubbish. Once he got to his room and closed the door, he slowly took of his sweater, feeling the strain in his abdomen. He felt the bruises on his stomach, the older ones healing like normal.

David sat on his bed, and thought about what had happened this afternoon. The real reason he'd gone in was because while he was with Jason and Kevin-well, maybe not Kevin so much-he felt like he'd belonged with them. Like he had, friends.

But he knew the truth. He was nothing, nothing but a waste of space.

"Well, we'll be sure to return the favor."

David heard Jason's words in his head, but he knew Jason was just being polite. No one cared about him, or needed him. He was just the lone wolf, without a place to belong.

Sorry to end on the sour note, but I felt it was best to start to show more of the characters home lives, depressing as they may be, and I chose to show David's first.

If what I put in is offending to anyone, then I apologize deeply. I never try to offend people with my work, only to write interesting and complicated characters.

I promise to be less depressing next time. And to explore more of the world in the books.

Reviews are appreciated and questions are encouraged.