Chapter Four: The trials of fusion

The deep, sinking sensation of falling was soon ended by an abrupt connection with the ground. They each gained their bearings and as expected, realized that they were in the studio entrance of the TV world. Everyone rose rather stiffly, and after a while looked over at the two who were still flat on the floor.

"Damn… bear!" Yosuke said as he pushed Teddie off of him. "What the hell was that for?!" He leaned over, cradling his noggin. "Ow… my head."

Teddie stood and wiggled his ears, seemingly proud of himself. "That was my Emergency Motivator! It looked like you all needed a push in the right bearection."

"We were waiting for you, you idiot! Why else would we just be standing there?"

The round bear nodded wholeheartedly. "Yep! It's because you needed me, right? Don't worry about it guys, I'm happy to help." He poked Hanamura in the stomach. "See, Yosuke even broke my fall!"

"You…!"

As Teddie ran off in circles with Yosuke chasing behind, Yu addressed the others. "Any votes on where we should train today?"

"Hmm…" Yukiko pondered. "Naoto-kun's dungeon should offer the most challenge."

"Must we choose that one?" The Detective Prince objected warily.

"The strongest shadows we have for fighting are in there," Rise confirmed.

"We haven't finished clearing out the last one though," Chie interjected. "Maybe we should make sure they're all as clear as possible."

Kanji scratched his chin. "Oh, you mean that Mitsuo kid, right? Yeah, we haven't gone to that place ever since we caught 'em."

"I believe that to be a reasonable choice," Naoto seconded.

"Don't Teddie and Yosuke-kun get to vote?" asked Yukiko. They all looked over at the two in question, and watched as Teddie rolled around on the ground in a manner similar to a barrel; Yosuke being too uncoordinated to keep up.

"They don't count," Chie dismissed. "Since they're so busy trying to kill each other."

"Guess that's three against two then," observed Rise. "What about you, Senpai?" They all looked back to where Narukami had been standing, and realized that he had moved to a corner a few paces away from them. He was in the process of reaching out to what appeared to be a glowing insect, and crushed it tightly in his right hand. He let it go after a few seconds, and it fluttered about weakly as it struggled to stay in the air.

"Senpai, what are you doing?" Naoto asked the question that was on all of their minds.

"Saving." Yu replied simply, not bothering to turn around.

"You… what?"

"We're going to Mitsuo's Game then?" he queried as he faced the group.

"It would seem so…"

He nodded his head. "Be right there," he stated before walking off in some other direction.

"Ohhkay…" said Chie as an awkwardness filled the atmosphere. "Guess we should break up Dumb and Dumber before they hurt themselves…" They looked on as Teddie continued to roll out of Hanamura's grasp.

"Bearrel Roll! Bearrel Roll!"

Naoto sighed at their ridiculous antics. "I suppose you're right."

As Yu entered the Velvet Room, he could sense that something was out of place. He looked about and noticed that Marie was nowhere in sight. He decided to approach Igor, but halted when he felt something being crumpled underfoot. He looked down and saw a single slip of paper, and decided to read it as he picked it up. He took note of the words, which were written down in elegant handwriting:

They say these are hard

But I still want to try it

Got nothing to lose.

'

First the sun rises,

Soon afterwards it must set

So it's set in stone.

'

I rose from somewhere,

So must I set later on?

Am I set in stone?

'

I don't believe it.

There has to be more, I know

So soon, I'll find out.

'

Plus, how would stones know?

Could be I was always here

Only time will tell.

'

And yeah, this IS hard

Can't think of any more, so

Refrigerator.

Yu blinked as he re-read the last line. Then suddenly he was struck across the face, and the paper had been yanked from his hands before he fully realized what had happened.

"Ugh!" yelled an infuriated Marie, appearing out of nowhere. "What do you think you're doing?!" She noted how crumpled the page was. "You read my stuff. How many times do I have to tell you not to, huh?"

Yu looked at her. "Haiku?"

Marie averted her gaze with a blush. "Y-Yeah, so? What is there something wrong with it?"

Narukami only stared. "You know what a refrigerator is?"

"H-Huh?" Marie stammered. "Well I… yeah, sort of… and what does it matter?! Just… justshutupyoudumbjerkwhatever. Stop reading my things." She stomped over to her seat and sat down with a puff. Margaret smiled wryly from her seat at Igor's left, obviously amused.

"Ahh, our regular visitor, here again," the Nose addressed Yu as he came closer. "You have been strengthening your bonds, I see…"

Yu nodded slightly and reached into a back pocket before handing the host a folded sheet of paper. Igor examined it shortly before bowing his head in understanding. "You have prepared the number of Personas desired for fusion. There is a challenging goal that you strive for, my dear visitor." He extended his hands, and cards appeared before him on the embroidered table. "I shall assist you to my greatest ability."

He swiftly moved his hand over each of them, and they were quickly illuminated with a white light. In a split second, the cards were replaced by a towering figure in intricate red armor. He held a sophisticated sword in one hand, and looked down at Yu to address him.

You summon me?

I am Siegfried, the Stalwart~

Harbinger of thy victory!

The image reverted into that of a single card, and delicately descended right into Narukami's waiting hands. He received it gladly as Igor continued to fuse another set. This time, the cards combined to present a lance-wielding knight in magnificent white armor. He gazed down at Yu with piercing eyes.

Before you stands Cu Chulainn…

I am the undefeatable one who swears his loyalty to you.

Once the card made its way down to him, Narukami stared at it with an unreadable expression, which Igor took notice of. "Is there something wrong, my guest?"

The silver-haired boy looked up at him. "This is the wrong one."

His long-nosed host seemed puzzled. "Is that not the Persona you required?"

"No," Yu responded, shaking his head. "His palette-swap."

"…I am sorry," replied Igor in a confused tone. "I do not understand what this 'palette-swap' is that you speak of."

Yu stood still in silence for several seconds before turning abruptly and leaving the room, to each occupant's bewilderment. Once back in the studio, he passed over an extremely irritated Kanji, who was in the process of pulling Yosuke off of a squealing Teddie.

"Freakin'… dumbasses," Kanji huffed as he pushed them apart. "Cut it out, will ya?!"

"Geeze guys," Chie shouted over at them. "Just quit it already. We don't have time for this…" She and the others noticed Yu's return as the boys continued to struggle on the ground.

"Oh, Narukami you're back." addressed Chie. "We can all get moving as soon as Yosuke quits screwing around."

"Hey!" Hanamura shouted from under Kanji's hold. "Don't just go saying that casually like it's my fault!"

Yu paid little heed to their horseplay and walked back up the blue butterfly, which was still hovering in its usual spot. He closed his eyes and held the bug tightly in his left hand. He could feel something shift, and slowly opened his eyes when he heard someone call out to him.

"Senpai, what are you doing?" Naoto asked the question that was on all of their minds.

Yu took a minute to look around himself. "…Saving," he slowly answered, not bothering to turn around.

"You… what?"

"We're going to Mitsuo's Game then?" he queried as he let go of the bug.

"It would seem so…"

He nodded his head. "Be right there," he stated before walking off in some other direction.

"Ohhkay…" said Chie as an awkwardness filled the atmosphere. "What's with him?"

Once Yu had been slapped for reading Marie's poems again, he immediately re-attempted the two fusions, this time with success. On his second fusion, the result was slightly different then it had been the first time; with the knight's armor appearing as a striking green instead of white.

I am Tam Lin…

I will protect you with all my might!

Once the entity's card appeared, Narukami accepted it, feeling rather relieved. As it dissolved in his hand, Igor proceeded to fuse the last Persona. Yu watched as five cards were combined. They encircled each other with a grand radiance, and cumulated in a combination that erupted in a blinding white light. Once it was dimmed enough for Yu to see, he looked to the finished product in anticipation.

I… am Slime, the Great and Mighty~

I will be troubling you for a while…

"…"

After a few more tries coupled with some paranoid saving, Narukami was finally able to brave Mitsuo's old dungeon with the rest of the group. Soon they were nearing the last floor, and Teddie approached with an earnest request.

"Sensei, Sensei!" he said swaying from side to side. "Can I fight next, please? I've been wanting to demonstrate my ferocious Grizzly Skills! I promise you'll be impressed."

"After what you've pulled?" said Kanji, crossing his arms. "Don't even think about it, Stuffy."

Rise giggled as she scratched the bear behind his ear. "'Ferocious'? You're not even close to intimidating, Teddie."

"I agree," said Yukiko. "I'd say he's just… fluffy." She rubbed his forehead.

Teddie seemed insulted. "How rude!" he said as he stamped his foot. "I can be beary ferocious if I wanted! Give me a chance, Sensei."

Yu acknowledged his pleads and nodded his head rather indifferently. "Sure. We're almost at the end." Teddie hopped with glee as they advanced to the final group of shadows between them and the last stairwell.

"Why do I already have a bad feeling about this…?" Yosuke said with a grimace. Rise assessed the enemy as they readied their weapons.

"There are five shadows, guys," she cautioned. "Be careful!"

"Heh," said Kanji, cracking his knuckles. "Well let's cut 'em down to size." He raised his shield high into the air before bringing it back down hard onto the ground. Each shadow was weakened by this, and three of the five fell dazed to the floor. "Alright!" Kanji raised his fist triumphantly.

"OK everyone!" said Teddie, pushing himself to the front. "The Tedmeister can take it from here! Bearrrsona!" The rest of the group looked in his direction as he lifted an arm into the air to summon his Persona.

"Ted…" Rise began warily. "Whatever you're up to…"

"Kamui… Miracle!"

The bear's colorful Persona appeared and lit up the battlefield with a magnificent glow. Immediately everyone, Persona users and shadows alike, were knocked flat onto the ground.

"Wh-what the…?" Kanji attempted to raise himself back up, to no avail. As each person struggled to move, the three shadows that were previously incapacitated awoke from their stupor, and prepared to counter with an attack of their own.

"Dammit… bear…"

After barely escaping the last battle with their lives, it was unanimously decided that Teddie be sent back to the studio to wait with the Fox, as he'd caused enough trouble for one day. Most of the group still had around half of their energy pool left, and they agreed to push on to the last floor. Before opening the door, Narukami looked deep within himself, and called on the strength they would need for this dungeon's final battle, quietly murmuring under his breath.

"S.O.S…"

Once they entered the chamber, Yu could feel that his request had been heard, and saw proof of it as assuring words appeared before him.

Don't give up! You can win!

~PuffDaddy :)

Narukami squinted at the single message he knew only he could see, and only hoped that it would be enough to aid them all.

A/N: I swear to god...

That "PuffDaddy" was seriously the name of a random person I received help from after sending an SOS in one of my playthroughs.

And it had me laughing to the point that I had to put the game down.