'Nothing much to say this time. Any announcements?'
"None as I can see Sir. Lady?"
None for today. Go one with the disclaimer
The author only owns his original ideas and characters. Persona 4 belongs to Atlus and its creators
Chapter 7:The Magician and The Queen
Souji
He blinked in shock. "Igor?".
Igor chuckled, sinister as always.
"Do not be alarmed. You are fast asleep in the real world. I have summoned you within your dreams. And so we meet again", Igor said, almost gleefully.
"This is a room that only those who have, in one way or another, entered into a contract may enter. In your daily life, you subconsciously heard the call to awaken, and you chose to follow the destiny of your inner voice, thereby enacting your glorious awakening to your powers", Margaret said, almost as if she had rehearsed the lines.
"What am I doing he-"
"Hold on to this".
Igor snapped his fingers, and a key suddenly appeared in his hand. He fumbled a bit, before looking at the key closely. It was made of a light blue material and glowed the same shade of Velvet Blue that was the Velvet Room.
"From this night forth, you are our guest in this Velvet Room", Igor said, opening his arms as if to welcome him.
"Your destiny will require you to hone your power, and for that you will inevitably require our help. There is but one price for this assistance...You must abide by your contract and assume responsibility for all decisions you may make".
He nodded. "I understand".
"Very well", Igor said, seemingly pleased, "The Persona you have acquired. It is a side of you that shows itself when you face the world around you. Perhaps you could think of it as...a facade of determination you wear to face various difficulties in life. Your Persona ability however is different. It is that of the Wild Card. Compared to that of others, it is special. It is like the number zero...".
He raised an eyebrow.
"Like zero?"
"Yes. Empty, yet holding infinite potential within itself", Igor said mysteriously.
"Empty?"
"The Persona ability is the power to control one's own heart, and the heart is strengthened through bonds. As you form genuine bonds by becoming involved with others, your own Social Links will gradually develop. The power of these Social Links is what will determine your Persona's abilities"
"I...I'm not quite sure I get it".
Margaret spoke up.
"Social Links are necessary for more than just strengthening your Persona. At times, they will help light the way to the truth you are searching for".
"Where will your awakened power of the Wild Card take you? I look forward to traveling this road of destiny together", Igor chuckled. "Till we meet again".
Before he could say anything else, the Velvet room faded away, and he woke up.
"Yo!".
He turned around on hearing Yosuke. Yosuke was on his back, pedaling towards him. He braced himself for a crash, only for Yosuke to stop in front of him.
"You saw what was on last night, right?"
"Yeah. It looked like a woman"
"Yeah. I couldn't make out who it was, but if someone's shown up on the TV, we can't just ignore it. Let's go check it out after school. Maybe Teddie can tell us something". Yosuke sighed.
"If it turns out someone was thrown in again, then there really might be a culprit behind all this. Even if it's the world itself that's killing people, using it as a weapon is unforgivable. We need to find the culprit, no matter what it takes!", Yosuke said with convection.
"I mean, the police would never believe us, so it has to be us"
"You're right. It has to be us".
Yosuke smiled. "Cool. It's reassuring to hear someone else say it".
Yosuke looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "You know what? I tried sticking my hand into the TV last night, the way you did? And it actually worked!"
"Really?"
"Yeah. I guess it's because I have a Persona. I wonder how we got it? Maybe someone gave it to us to solve the class?", Yosuke mused.
"Then again, you managed to go into the TV and get your Persona first".
Yosuke turned to him. "I feel like, as long as you're with me, we can find the killer and crack this case! So, let's do our best!", Yosuke said with a grin.
He smiled too, and they shook hands. As soon as he did that, he suddenly heard the sound of glass shattering. Time stopped and all he heard was his heartbeat. What was-. A tarot card suddenly appeared in front of him, before turning over. On it was the roman numeral one and the image of someone gazing into a flame they held in their hands
"Thou Art I...And I Am Thou...Thou Has Established A New Bond...It Brings Thee Closer To The Truth...Thou Shalt Be Blessed When Creating Persona's Of The Magician Arcana".
His thought process went into overdrive. Was this what Igor meant be bonds of the heart? Was this a Social Link? He was too busy thinking to notice time restarting, until Yosuke broke him out of his thoughts.
"Uh, Dude? You okay?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine"
"You sure? You were staring off into space there for a minute?"
"I was just...thinking".
Yosuke shook his head, and they continued to school.
Crystal
She simply leaned back in her desk as Souji and Yosuke were talking about something. She looked at them. Could she really tell them? When would they need to know? What would she tell them? Her thoughts were broken by Chie, who had just entered the class and ran up to them.
"Oh, uh, Chie...", Yosuke started.
"We're really sorry about making you worry yesterday".
She and Souji nodded.
"Never mind that. Is Yukiko not here yet?". Chie interrupted.
"Huh? Yukiko-san? No, I haven't seen her today".
Chie looked at her and Souji pleadingly."What about you two?"
"I didn't see her today", she said.
"I haven't seen her since yesterday", Souji said.
"Oh man, what should I do?", Chie said worriedly.
"Hey, is that stuff you were talking for real? You know, all that stuff about how people showing up on the Midnight Channel is related to that other world?"
"Oh, we were just talking about that. We were thinking about checking it out late-"
"I think the person who was on the Midnight Channel last night was Yukiko".
Yosuke became silent as he looked at Chie in surprise.
"What makes you think that?", she asked, leaning towards her, fully paying attention.
"Well, that kimono the figure was wearing looked like the one she wears at the Inn, and she wore it during that interview a few days ago too".
Souji looked like he had just swallowed something bitter.
"She was wearing that kimono yesterday too", he said softly.
"W-Was she?"
"Okay, let's all calm down here", Yosuke interrupted not sounding calm at all.
She stood up. "Have you tried contacting her?", she asked firmly. Panic would do nothing right now.
"Yeah. I emailed her last night, but she hasn't responded. And I called her earlier in the evening though, and she said she'd be at school today. I-I-"
"Calm down. You still haven't heard from her?", Souji said calmly.
"No".
She thought for a moment.
"Hey. I think we should tell her about what happened yesterday", she suggested, looking at Souji. Souji nodded.
"Well, it started when we met the bear, Teddie, again..."
"What's that supposed to mean!?".
Oddly enough, their story didn't calm Chie down.
"Are you saying Yukiko's been thrown in there!?". Chie looked like she was on the verge of bolting towards the Junes electronic store.
"We don't know for sure. I'm just saying that it's a possibility. We should check to see if she's safe first", Souji said.
"Calm down", she told her.
Chie took a deep breath before calming down.
"Maybe she should try calling her again?", Yosuke suggested.
"Right".
Chie took out what she presumed was a phone, before calling Yukiko. They all waited in tense silence. Chie shook her head.
"No good, her voicemail picked up!".
Yosuke closed his eyes. "Are you serious? Then is Yukiko-san inside that place?".
She punched Yosuke. "Not the time now", she hissed, glancing at Chie.
"S-Stop it! Something must've come up, like an errand or something!", Chie snapped at Yosuke.
Then her face lit up with realization.
"Oh! Maybe she's helping out at the Inn! She wouldn't be able to answer her cell if that's it"
"But would she skip school for that?", Souji asked.
Chie scowled.
"Well, I'll give the Inn a call. Ummm...I've got the number somewhere here...".
Chie put the phone to her ear. They waited again, hoping that Yukiko was alright. Then...
"Oh, is this Yukiko?", Chie smiled.
They breathed a sigh of relief.
"Uh huh. Uh huh. I see".
She closed the phone, the relieved smile on here face telling everything.
"She was at the Inn. Apparently there was some sort of big group reservation and she had to help out. Now that I think about it, this has happened before too. At least once a year. She said she'd be at the Inn tomorrow too".
The smile left her face as she walked up to Yosuke.
"For crying out loud Yosuke! You got me worried for nothing! She was totally fine!", Chie snapped at him. She then proceeded to mock him.
"And you were all like, 'Is Yukiko-san inside that place?' ", Chie said, imitating Yosuke's voice.
"Well, it was a legitimate concern", she said.
"Oh yeah? And why's that?"
"We thought that people appear on the Midnight Channel if they're in the TV, but Yukiko-san's still here, in our world".
She couldn't resist humming a tune of one of her brother's songs at that.
"We might want to check with Teddie later today", Souji suggested.
"Right. We'll all meet up at Junes after school, got it?".
She gave a lazy thumbs up.
"Got it".
Souji
He took out his bento-box, only to look behind him to see Crystal lying face down on her desk.
"Anything wrong?".
She looked up at him in surprise. "Guh?"
"You seem dull"
"Ah, it's nothing. I just forgot my lunch. No big deal", she said with a shrug.
He looked at her in surprise. Maybe that extra large lunch he accidentally made wouldn't go to waste after all.
"You can take some of mine".
Crystal blinked at him owlishly.
"Huh? There's no need to do that. I can function perfectly fine without lunch"
"I accidentally made some extra. Don't worry so much"
"...Well. I suppose..."
"We can go up to the roof"
"What's the lunch?"
"Sandwiches"
"...You talked me into it", Crystal said smiling, getting up from her desk.
"This. Is. Really. Good".
He ate his own sandwich as he watched Crystal finish of her own in two bites.
"I thought you said were only kind of good at cooking"
"I'm not that good"
"Liar".
Crystal finished off her third sandwich, and lied down on the roof.
"Hey. Souji? I need to talk about something".
He looked at her.
"Go ahead".
She was silent for a moment. "It's about the case", she said finally, turning her head to look at him.
"Hmm?"
"What I mean is, what is your plan for it?"
"I...don't actually have a plan. I suppose find the killer and apprehend him".
Crystal chuckled. "Straightforward and blunt. Not a bad plan".
She picked up a stone and looked at it intently.
"Why are you doing it? The case I mean".
He blinked. What an...interesting question. He considered it for a while.
"I suppose it's because it's the right thing to do"
"And?"
"We have the power to stop it...So it's our responsibility"
"Anything else?"
"Besides the normal platitudes of doing good for goods sake?".
Crystal started to laugh.
"I thought Trace and Tracey were the only one's to use the word platitude".
She put the rock in the pouch she was carrying.
"And you?", he asked.
Crystal looking at the sky in contemplation for a moment, before turning to him.
"Same reasons. I can stop things like this, so why shouldn't I? It's a responsibility".
She put her hand out suddenly.
"Well, let's agree to do our best to solve this case, yeah?".
He nodded and shook her hand. As soon as he did that, time froze as glass shattered again. Another Social Link? A card appeared in front of him. Unlike the Magician, it was a card of a regal woman with a coin in front of her.
"Thou Art I...And I Am Thou...Thou Hast Established A New Bond...It Brings Thee Closer To The Truth...Though Shalt Be Blessed By The Queen Of Pentacles".
He felt Izanagi stir inside his mind, before the flow of time started again. Crystal rubbed her forehead, wincing.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yeah...Just fine. Do you have any of those sandwiches left?"
They were standing in front of the TV in Junes. He and Crystal were explaining in detail what happened in the TV last time.
"Okay, I think that's enough of my sorry escapades", Yosuke interrupted.
"Sorry".
"If it wasn't for the fact that I saw that world, I would have never believed that story", Chie said.
Florence had a thoughtful look on his face.
"Shadows...".
Yosuke clapped his hands.
"Now that everyone has been brought to speed, it's time to see what's going on".
"How? By talking to that Teddie guy?".
He nodded. Yosuke looked around the electronic department, which was currently filled with people, before frowning.
"Crap. I forgot we had a sale in the electronic department today. There's way too many people to just stick your hand in the TV".
Yosuke cupped his chin.
"Hmm...I got an idea! We'll form a wall around you".
Yosuke walked to the side of the TV.
"Just stick your hand in the TV and see if you can get Teddie's attention. We'll block everyone's view of it".
He walked up to the TV, while everyone surrounded him.
"Nothing weird about five people crowding around a TV", Florence said dryly.
He stuck his hand in the TV and started waving it around. Hopefully Teddie was ther-
*CRUNCH*.
He recoiled back and looked at the rivulets of blood running down his hand in surprise. Did he just-? .
"Wh-What's wrong?", Yosuke asked.
"Is that a bite mark? Hold on, you're bleeding", Chie said with concern.
He rubbed his hand.
"It appears I am".
He caught their concerned looks.
"I'm fine. Don't worry".
Chie became relieved.
"Good".
Then she turned to the TV and started to hiss at it.
"Hey, you! We know you're in there!".
There was a moment of silence.
"Ooh, ohh, is this a game?", Teddie's voice was distorted.
"No, it isn't! Tell us, is anyone in there?"
"Whose 'anyone'? I'm just a lonely little bear. This world is so...bear-en", Teddie said, chuckling at his own pun. Chie was less than amused.
"Shut it! So there's no one inside? You sure?"
"I'm not lying! My nose is running as good as ever!".
Chie remained silent for a while, before turning to them.
"I'm going to go warn Yukiko anyway".
"Good idea. You'll walk her to school on Monday, right?", Yosuke asked.
"Yeah, I'll pick her up at her house"
"Good. Maybe we'll find more about this on tonight's Midnight Channel. It's raining tonight, right?".
He nodded.
"I checked the weather report".
"Let's just hope this is a misunderstanding".
Chie left with a wave, leaving him, Yosuke, and Florence behind. He looked around.
"Where's Crystal?". Florence glanced at him.
"She left to go gat something. She'll be back soon".
He nodded and started to rub his hand again. It was still bleeding.
"Hey, are you sure you're fine?", Yosuke asked.
"Yeah. It just stings a bit". Yosuke remained silent for a moment.
"Hey, we should exchange phone numbers". He looked at Yoduke in surprise, before nodding. They took out their cell phones and exchanged numbers. He looked at his contact list. His parents, his uncle, and then Yosuke. He shook his head before putting his phone away.
"We should probably exchange numbers too", Yosuke told Florence.
"Can't. We don't have any phones"
"Really?".
Florence shook his head.
"Uh, is anyone there?".
They looked at the TV again as Teddie spoke up again.
"Anyone?"
"We're still here"
"Oh. Is there anything else you need?".
Yosuke shook his head.
"Not really"
"Oh. Okay...Well, I'll guess I'll see you guys later...".
The TV became silent.
"Hey, I'm back".
He looked up to see Crystal walk through the aisles. Holding a packet of bandages.
"Thought you could use those", she said with a smile, tossing them to him.
"Thanks".
He looked out of the window. It was raining. The clock ticked as it neared closer to 12:00. He closed the curtains, and sat in front of the TV. While he really hoped that this whole Yukiko thing was a misunderstanding, he had a bad feeling. The clock struck 12:00, and the TV started to fizz to life. He leaned closer, only to recoil as a perfectly clear image of Yukiko in a princess ball gown appeared.
"Good Evening!"
Author: Uh, Hello there. I suppose I should introduce myself. The StoneMasked Taliesin at your service. And it would appear I'm later than the three nararators I hired. Uh, don't tell them that. Anyway, the reason for the week of no updates was because of tests. Which is also the reason for the updates this week. However, because of this, not only do you get a chapter of this story, you get two chapters of another story. This story should explain more about the Other Side of these stories. And as my sibling said, I should have posted it before this one. Oops. So, remember, check the Other Side (link in Profile), and also remember to check the profile to get updates on things happening. Also, pay attention to the Years. They're there to tell you the chronology of the story.
Now then, it's time for this long author note to end. Remember to give constructive criticism, no flames, and enjoy the stories.