Disclaimers: I do not own persona 4 or any thing owned by ATLUS But I Would Love To If They Were Selling It Cheap

Chapter 3: Pyramid of Truth

Monday April 30th 2012

After School Inaba

Samegawa Flood Plain

Souji was on his way to the Junes storehouse to meet up with everyone but couldn't get first day back at Yasogami High out of his mind, the day was exacting to say the least.

He was able to meet all of his old friends who weren't on the investigation team, Kou and Daisuke were exacted to see him again. Kou was mostly bugging him to rejoin the basketball team.

Ai Edihara who tried to commit suicide after she finds out that Kou likes Chie instead of her.

Yumi Ozawa who he helped get over her fathers death by helping her mother and even Naoki Konishi who was depressed after her sisters death at the hands of Adachi last year.

He later learned that he would be in class 3-1 with Yosuke but Chie and Yukiko would be in another class, while as Kanji, Naoto and Rise would be in there old class 2-2.

He later learned that Kashiwagi was fired because word got out that she tried to seduce one of her students after class, no one was upset from hearing that.

During Lunch Naoto reminded us to meet up at the Junes storehouse after school, she wanted a place to try to summon the teams persona's without anyone around, Yosuke had told us that nobody really goes in there but Naoto was worried that one of the workers would catch them in there or worse would see there persona's. But since they had no were else to go they decided to meet up there.

Souji had just realised that he had arrive at Junes with out noticing, most likely because of his daydream about today's events.

Junes (Storehouse)

Everyone was waiting inside the storehouse that was filled with boxes of food just waiting to be put on the shelves, the only one of the team that wasn't there was Yosuke, he had gone to make sure nobody would walk in on them.

About three minutes later Yosuke walked into the storehouse, locked the door so nobody would interrupt them and told them when why he had been so long.

''Sorry for the hold up guys, I had to make up an excuse as to why the nobody except me and Teddy are allowed to enter this storehouse for about an half an hour''

''What exactly did you come up to'' Souji wanted to know what pathetic excuse Yosuke had come up with.

''Yosuke told them that the place was a mess and we were going to clean it up'' Teddie answered for Yosuke who looked ashamed that he couldn't think of a better excuse.

''Well as long as nobody intrudes on us it will be fine. Back on to topic, The reason we are all here is that we now seem to have the ability to summon are persona's in this world as well as the TV world. As I said yesterday, I have already summoned my persona in this world back at my family's estate, lucky no one was around to see me do it. I summoned it the same way we do back In the TV world, by summoning a card and then destroying it. We all should be able to do this, I will demonstrate''.

Naoto finished talking and began to summon her persona, she held out her hand and suddenly a card appeared and began floating in her hand, and seconds later she crushed said card and a shattering sound echoed the room.

''YAMATO-TAKERU'' Naoto shouted the name of here persona and suddenly it appeared behind here. Seconds later the persona looked around the room looking for any threats, when it could not find any it disappeared.

''I would like you all to summon your persona's if you would''

Kanji took the lead and summoned Rokuten-Maoh, a large mechanical figure with flame decals appeared behind him and later vanished just as Naoto's did. The rest of the team began to summon there persona's with Rise going next then Teddie, Chie, Yukiko and Yosuke going last. After they had summoned there persona's there was only one person left, it was Souji's turn to summon his.

''He Souji, which persona of yours you going to summon, whatever you do don't summon that Mara one, please don't, you remember what that one locked like right. Why did you even have a persona that looked like that in the first place, it was so gay''.

Souji knew which persona Yosuke was on about. After he first created that persona in the velvet room Margaret was giving him some very weird looks while as for Igor, still grinning like a maniac or a pervert, you can never really tell with that guy.

Souji tried to forget about that persona for the moment and tried to concentrate on the one he was going to summon. He stretched out his palm and thought about the persona that he wanted to summon, moments later a card appeared in his hand.

''Izanagi-no-Okami'' Souji shouted when he crushed the floating card in his hand. Suddenly a being Wearing a white trench coat holding a sword with a gold ring in the middle of it appeared over Souji.

Souji looked up a the flying god and thought how awesome it would be to if he could hover and fly like a persona. The moment the thought crossed his mind his persona descended to the ground and surrounded Souji. Souji was lifted up into the air by his persona and was hovering above the ground with the rest of the Investigation Team left in awe.

''D-Dude are Y-You Flying'' Yosuke said with a shocked face.

''A guess so, I was just thinking how cool it would be if I could hover and fly like a persona and then Izanagi lifted me up into the air'' Souji tried to explain to everyone what had just gone through his mind before his little stunt happened.

''Maybe this is one of those new powers that Philemon guy was on about'' Rise remember that Philemon said about granting the team additional powers.

''You could be right Rise, maybe I can do the same thing as well'' said a Egger Yosuke.

Yosuke quickly summoned Susano-o and focused on hovering and flying and suddenly he was lifted upwards by his persona. But instead of hovering above the ground like Souji had demonstrated he keep on rising until he hit the roof.

''Ow, Dammit that hurts. How the hell am I suppose to get down''. Suddenly Yosuke was lowered to the ground by his persona and and touched the ground with his feet. Seconds later Souji touched down on the ground and both Souji's and Yosuke's persona's disappeared.

''Dude I can't believe we can fly now, Do you know how cool that is''. Said an excited Yosuke.

''We could be come like superheroes now that we can use are persona's outside the TV world and the ability to fly just makes it better'' Everyone in the group except Souji and Naoto began to think of all the possibility's the team had now after what Yosuke and Chie had said.

''I'm sorry to ruin your fun guy's but we have to keep this power a secret for now'' Souji said to the group.

''Souji is right, It is quite possible that other persona users exist in the world and we wouldn't want to end up on there bad side by revealing the power there trying to keep hidden to the world. Besides we have bigger issues than becoming superheroes. Don't forget the TV world has returned back into it's foggy self and it could be quite possible that a shadow could leave that world on a foggy night, why else would we now have the ability to summon are persona's in this world''. Naoto had stopped the team of revealing there powers to the world and brought them back to the real world for the moment.

''We should go check out the TV world and see if the shadows are really back, and if so we should begin training again. We don't want the shadows to become more powerful than us know right. '' Souji told the group that they were going back into the TV world.

Yosuke unlocked the door to the storehouse and the team left, they were still surprised somebody didn't try to get in because of the Yosuke and Teddies poor excuse. They all headed of toward the electronic department and stood in front of the TV the always used to enter the other world with. Making sure know one was looking, one after another they all climbed through the TV.

After seeing the distorted images they see as the enter the TV world, the team suddenly hit the ground and landed in an all to familiar studio.

TV World

''It really has returned back to the way it was, but how'' Yukiko remember all the times they entered the TV world, but the last time they came here it was more like a paradise with grassy hills, blue sky's and a crystal blue lake. But all of that was all gone. Around them was the all to familiar Studio they had always arrived in with fog surrounding them every were they look.

Everyone equipped themselves with there weapons and put on there glasses on.

''Rise, summon your persona and look for anything that wasn't here back in March'' asked Souji.

''OK Senpai'' said a rather cheerful Rise who was now smiling at Souji''

Rise summoned here persona Kanzeon and started scanning the TV world looking for anything strange, well strange for this place anyway. About a minute passed before she found what she was looking for.

''A think a found something. I'm not sure what it is but there's something new here, come on I will show you the way.'' Rise explained to the group that she found something but wasn't sure what it was yet. But she would show them the way to it. After nearly walking for 20 minutes they found what they were looking for.

They had stumbled across a empty desert. But more curiously there was no sign of any shadows or buildings. ''What is this place, why is there nothing here'' Teddie asked frightened because he didn't know what was going on.

''Kujikawa summon your persona and scan for any structures, shadows or anything in this desert'' Naoto instructed Rise into what to look for.

Rise summoned here persona again and looked for anything in the desert.

About a few seconds later it seemed that she found something.

''To the north east there seems to be a single structure, I'm not sure what it is but it is very large and will take some time to get to''.

''Well I think this is the the best time to try out are new ability, it will be quicker if we could just fly there, don't you think guys. It's ever that or we could walk across this desert.'' Yosuke wanted the chance to try to fly again but without hurting himself.

''I think Yosuke has a point, it would take to long if we just walked there and if someone does lose control of there flying ability the sand will break there fall won't it'' Chile surprisingly agreed with Yosuke for once to the shock of the group.

''OK then, but if any one gets tired or thinks that there persona will drop them just lower yourself to the ground.'' Souji realised that Yosuke was right. Souji summoned Izanagi-no-Okami and rose up of the ground and hovered up above the rest of the group. Yosuke did the same and this time instead of flying off hovered with Souji above the rest of the group. Everyone followed there lead and began to fly. With everyone hovering above the ground it was time they headed of.

''Ok, Rise can you show us the way there'' Souji asked Rise for directions

''It's this way, just try and follow me'' Everyone began to follow Rise as she began to fly of into the direction of the structure. They were surprised at how fast they were flying but there thoughts were cut short as the structure Rise had found earlier before came into sight.

It was a Pyramid, most of the group weren't that shocked because they were in a desert after all. But this didn't look like a pyramid you would see in Egypt. The ones there were thousands of years old and falling to bits, were as this one looked brand new and looked like it had just been built weeks ago. The team decided to stop flying and go the rest of the way on foot. Once everybody touched down on the ground they began walking towards the pyramid.

''Is that that a fucking pyramid, are we in Egypt now or what'' Kanji shouted to everyone.

''Tatsumi please mind your language, but I'm am rather curious myself as to why a pyramid has formed'' said Naoto.

The group walks towards the pyramid and notices a path, they decide to follow the path as there seems to be no other way. On each side of the path there seems to be palm trees spread out evenly on each side. They continue walking down the path until they reach the entrance to the pyramid. The entrance was a giant door made out of gold. It seemed to be shut. After repeated temps at trying to bash it open with there fists, there weapons and there persona's they decided to give up.

But Teddie spots some writing on the door and a place that looks like were somebody would put there hand into.

''Hey guy's I found some writing on the door and some hand shaped thing''

''What you find Teddie'' Yosuke wondering what Teddie of all people could find on an unbreakable door.

''Look'' Teddie pointed towards the door were there was some writing and a hand shaped hole.

Everyone graved round the door and Naoto read out load the writing on the door.

''I am thou, and thou art I, only thou with the wild card my open thou door''

Once Naoto read what was on the door everybody looked at Souji.

''It looks like your the only one of us that can open this door Souji'' said Yukiko

Souji walked up towards the door and noticed the hand shaped hole underneath the writing and held his hand out.

''Wait Senpai, we don't know what that will do to you'' Rise said scared for Souji.

Never the less Souji stuck his hand into the hole and pushed forwards and suddenly the door opened with dust blown outwards as the door opened. Everyone began to cough as the dust was blown into there face. Once everyone began to stop coughing they looked inside the pyramid and saw golden hallways and doors, similar to the other dungeons in the TV world but with hieroglyphics printed on them.

The team walked through the corridor until they came across a to familiar black figure crawling on the floor, a shadow.

''Get ready guy's, here they come'' Souji shouted to the rest of the team.

The black goo shadow noticed the team and separated into three figures that looked like men with golden armour holding a golden staff but with black jackal heads. Suddenly the shadows got the first strike by firing Agidyne spells at the group, Chie seemed to take more damage than the rest of the group.

Rise quickly scanned the enemy while Kanji summons his persona and fires a Maziodyne spell at all three shadows, but for some reason they seem to be able to absorb Electricity spells. Rise finishes scanning the enemy ''They seem to be resistant to fire and ice and can absorb physical, wind and electricity attacks''.

Souji summons Izanagi-no-Okami and unleashes a Megidolaon attack on all three shadows. The shadows seem to be week to almighty attacks. ''All right guy's time for an all out attack'' shouted Kanji. The team charged the week shadows and preceded to beet the shit out of them until there was nothing left.

''For ordinary shadows they were pretty tough'' Yosuke noticed that the shadows were incredibly strong for common shadows.

''Hey Rise, how many more shadows are on this floor'' asked Souji.

''That seemed to be only one, but there's more than a lot on the next floor, it's your call if we should continue on Senpai''.

''We should stop for now, we were already tied from just getting here, Rise can you open a portal to the entrance from here'' asked Souji.

''I'm on it Senpai''

Rise opened a portal in front of the Investigation Team, Rise went through first then Souji and then the rest. Once everybody was back at entrance Souji addressed the rest of the team.

''That should be enough for today, we have to be ready for the next foggy night, keep an eye on the weather again so we can make sure were ready for then If a shadow does enter our world we must be ready to fight it. It will be different than fighting one in here, innocent people could get hurt, we must be ready. Everyone was pumped up after Souji's speech.

Yosuke went towards the TV's to make sure nobody was around, when he gave the OK signal he went through and everyone else followed. Once they were out of the TV world and back in Junes.

Junes (Electronics Department)

''Hey, I think I will take this new ability for a test run and fly home guy's'' said at enthusiastic Yoskue.

''You will do no such thing, what do you think people will do if they see you flying'' said a angry Naoto.

''But it's dark, nobody would see me''.

''No. We should only use are flying ability in this world if there's an emergency''. Everyone agreed not to start flying around the town and to only use it in case of an emergency. After there little talk about flying they all decided to meet at Junes tomorrow after school, everyone after that decided to go home and went there own way.

On Souji's way home he was passing through the shopping district when a sudden blue light flashed in-front of his eye's. Souji then saw a familiar blue door appear in it's old spot. His Velvet Room key began to glow.

''If you could spare a moment please''

Souji recognised this voice as Igor's. He walked towards the door and inserted the glowing Velvet Room key into the lock. Suddenly he found him self back in the Velvet room.

The Velvet Room

''Welcome back to the Velvet Room'' Igor welcomed Souji.

''It seems you and your friends have awoken to one of the powers bestowed on you by Master Philemon Souji-San'' said Margaret.

''So me and my friends can fly now, why'' asked Souji.

''Master Philemon believed it would help you and your friends navigate both the Shadow World and The Human World. Don't humans dream about having the ability to fly, this is a gift after all. It is your persona's that have this ability not you, to be able to use this ability you would have to summon your persona and focus on flying.'' Igor explained Philemon's actions and there new power.

''I suppose, but we would have to be careful not to be seen''

''Like I mentioned before, this is only one of your new ability's. Your other ability's will appear in time''

''These new powers come from the world arcana don't they'' asked Souji remembering the world arcana levelling up.

''Yes, the powers that come from the World arcana belong to you and your friends only, no other persona users have theses ability's.

''You mean there really are other persona users out there.'' asked a shocked Souji

''Yes, like you, the former leader of them had the wild card ability, he was a rather interesting guest, he found his answer to life, but at a price.'' Said Igor

''Why, what happened to him'' said Souji

''Don't you remember Souji-San, after our battle I told you about a boy who had become a seal and that my sister had left the Velvet Room to try to free him'' said Margaret remembering what she had told Souji after there battle in the Heaven Dungeon.

''That boy had no choice, it was ether that or humanity would have been destroyed'' said Igor.

''Destroyed by what, was it Izanami'' said a confused Souji.

''No it was because of a being called Nyx who descended upon the Earth become of mankind's wish for death, but I have already said to much, time marches on in your world, it's time for you to head back'' said Igor

Souji got up from his seat and without asking Igor any more questions he left the Velvet room and headed on home.

Dojima Residence

''You're late home'' That was the first thing Dojima said to Souji as he returned home.

''Sorry, I was going to be back earlier but a guess a lost track of time'' Souji had to think of an excuse as to why he was late, Dojima hadn't believed him the last time he told him about the TV world, shadows and persona's.

''Well don't make a habit of it. It's late, you should probably head of to bed now'' said Dojima

''Your right, I am a bit tired'' 'from fighting shadows' Souji said in his mind.

Souji went up to his room and noticed that there were still a few unopened boxes left in his room. Souji was about to get into bed when he noticed it was raining outside. He remembered that it was going to get foggy soon, Souji realised that they didn't have much time to get ready.

Tuesday May 1st 2012

Souji woke up for school in the morning and noticed it was still raining outside. Before he left for school he decided to check the weather. It was going to rain non stop for a few days, this could only mean that the fog would appear Thursday Night. By the time he got downstairs he was already late for school, he decided to skip breakfast and just leave instead.' To bad I can't just fly there. I've never been late for school before so I guess you could class this as a emergency. No'. Souji forgot about the Idea quickly, if he couldn't follow the Teams rules who would.

On Souji's way to school he saw more and more people in that Apathy Syndrome. The Team had come to a conclusion that it was caused by the shadows, but how they did it without being in the TV world was still a mystery for them.

School went by fast that day, mostly because Souji was more fixated on fighting the shadows than school work. As promised they would meet up at Junes and enter the TV world together.

TV World

After Entering the other world the Investigation Team headed back to the Pyramid they were at yesterday. Just getting there had tired them out yesterday and weren't in the best condition to fight loads of shadows.

The team had arrived back at the Pyramids entrance, but before going back in Yosuke started talking. ''Hey I just thought of something, doesn't somebody have to be thrown in here for a new area to appear''

''No, remember Izanami had created Yomostsu-Hirasaka by herself, so who every is controlling this world now probably created it'' Souji exclaimed.

''We should not waste any more time, It's going to be foggy in two days, so we have to train as much as possible. I also would like us to reach the end of this dungeon before then. Normally when somebody was thrown in here that's were we would find them, but that's not the case this time, so I wonder what we will find at the top'' said Naoto.

''Rise, can you open a portal to the second floor'' asked Souji.

''Sure, but be careful there are a lot of shadows on that floor''

Rise opened the portal and the team entered through it. Seconds later they were back on the second floor. The hallways and doors were made out of gold bricks with hieroglyphics printed on them just as the first floor was.

''Rise, were are the shadows located on this floor'' Souji wanted to know where the shadows were so they wouldn't get ambushed, but Rise seemed to be in her own little world for a moment.

''Hmm...''

''What's wrong Rise'' asked Souji

''I'm not sure, I've had this wired feeling before, like somebody's watching us. I had it back in Naoto's, Nanako's and Adachi's dungeons last year, but after we figured out that Izanami was behind it all I just thought it was her watching us back then or it could have been Adachi''

''Well it can't be ether of those two because Izanami is dead and Adachi is behind bars in a prison in Tokyo and a made sure that Adachi wouldn't have access to a TV there'' said Naoto who assured Rise and the rest of the team that it couldn't be those two.

''We should try to focus on the shadows right now, so Kujikawa, are there any shadows on this floor'' said Naoto who wanted to move on through the Dungeon instead of talking about people watching them.

''Yes, there are some just up a head''

The team went on a head and ran into some shadows. Souji summoned his persona Lucifer and attacked them with Bufudyne spells, Teddie and Chie summoned there persona's and did the same. The shadows were stronger than the one on the first floor but the Investigation team had the advantage in numbers. With the shadows weakness being ice the team made easy work of the first shadow.

Eventually The team had defeated all the shadows on the second floor and entered the third floor, but were to tired to carry on.

''T-That shadow didn't want to go down, I say we call it a day guys'' said a very tied Yosuke

''I agree, It's your call Senpai'' said an agreeing Naoto

''Most of us are to tied to carry on, we'll come back tomorrow, this is the last floor left before the top so we'll be quick.

Rise opened another portal that took everybody back to the entrance of the TV world. Everyone was about to leave but Rise had stopped everyone.

''There it is again'' said a annoyed Rise

''What'' said a confused Souji

''That presence I could feel before, it's gone now but I know something was there''

''What do you think it could be Rise'' said Chie.

''I don't know, but like I said before this isn't the first time I've felt it''

''We shouldn't get to worked up by it, we can worry about it tomorrow when were not tired, we should get some rest for know'' said Naoto.

After everybody had left the TV world two figures wearing dark cloaks appeared in the entrance were the Investigation Team normal enters from.

''Philemon has taken a great interest in this fool'' said the first person.

''What's so special about him anyway'' said the second person in a rather disgusted tone.

''Philemon believes that this new wild card will succeed were the last one failed, this fool defeated an immortal being after all, the last one couldn't even do that'' said the first person.

''So, he scarified his life, would this fool be willing to do that'' said the second person in yet again a disgusted tone.

''I've been watching this fool since he awakened to the ability of the wild card, I believe he would'' said the first person in a reassuring voice.

''Why didn't one of us get the wild card ability'' said the second person who seemed to calm down a bit.

''Only a fool can wiled the true power of the wild card, If Philemon had given it to one of us, we wouldn't be able to control it properly''.

''So , we deserve that power more that him'' said the second person.

''Philemon chose him for a reason and soon that reason will be shown, don't underestimate Philemon's power or the consequences could be disastrous. But no matter, the fool has opened up the Pyramid of Truth for us, and in there we will gain a power more powerful than that of the wild card.'' said the first person.

The first figure reached into it's pocket and pulled out and object. The object began to glow and soon both figures were bathed in a bright light and vanished.

This is the longest chapter I've written. I took the idea of flying with your persona's from Persona Trinity Soul by the way