Persona 4: Fear Itself (On Hiatus)

by The 7th Renegade

The moment 15 year old Julie Amano moves to Minneapolis, she could tell that something was going to happen. Upon awakening to the power of her Persona, Izanami, and claiming the ability of the Wild Card, she along with her friends will search for the demon who has plans on destroying their city... that will lead to the end of the world by Fiends. Slight AU.

4. Act 4

Act 4: Ashley Lewis

Part 1: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

-Hofu-

The realm they stood in was dark and haunting. The sky was pitch black, not obtaining a single stain in its color. There were no clouds and not a sun was up high, but there lied a large, bloodstained moon. The grounds held a sickly color of faded purple that would a bring chill to one's spine if they viewed it. Dust arose as the wind blew fervently in the realm. It was truly a haunting place. Though she held a straight face, Julie felt uncomfortable just standing around with the area's appeal reading "danger" in her head.

She turned to Tara and Ashley. The two had already opened their eyes, with Ashley's face darkening in fear by what she was looking at. For some reason, though, Tara didn't appear to be uneased by the environment. She released her hands from the two and walked slightly forward, at least to where she was still in visible contact and close proximity to the girls. The last thing that Tara wanted was to let the girls loose in a world they were not familiar with and a world that was obviously dangerous.

TARA: This is the realm of Hofu: the realm where fear exists.

She turned to the two with, replacing her straight face with a casual one, but still stern. The girls looked at her once she turned to them.

TARA: I also live here.

The following reactions were exampled as complete shock.

ASHLEY: Y-You live here?! Isn't this place a little dangerous?

JULIE: I thought you said Fiends walked here and a Fiend was that creature we saw back in our realm. Why do you live here and what do you want from us?

Tara turned away from the two, staring forward at an area that was pretty vacant.

TARA: It's not as if I was born here. You see, my realm was previously under attack by these Fiends. In the kingdom I lived in, I was called to come here and maintain control of the Fiends.

She turned back and walked to the two.

ASHLEY: Why would your kingdom send you out here? You're just one girl.

TARA: True. But being the daughter of a shaman, I had many responsibilities to take. I was trained to fight Fiends with my magic, but I cannot eliminate them. That was when I was told about the power of Persona…

Tara turned to Julie.

TARA: … the same power your friend here has obtained.

The following comment resulted in a confused Ashley to turn to Julie with questionable eyes.

ASHLEY: Persona? You have that power?

Julie nodded and turned back to Tara.

JULIE: But how do you know? Did Philemon tell you?

One of the two answers that Julie got from her second question was a puzzled look on Tara's face.

TARA: Philemon? I do not know a being of the name "Philemon". As a High Priestess, I can sense a power from someone that stands greater than my own. I happened to catch upon your power and it led me to you.

Though Tara answered her question, it brought Julie to wonder how she knows of Philemon but the priestess didn't. Maybe Philemon was a being that only worked with a specific amount of people, but Julie did not have enough information to go on. After all, Igor seemed to know of Philemon and spoke highly of him when they first met. Now that Philemon was set in mind, was this the prophecy he was talking to her about? "A realm where fear exists", Tara said; this had to be what Philemon was telling her.

She turned back to Tara.

JULIE: Oh. But why have you sent us here?

A puzzled look was read on Tara's face but cleared once she remembered the reason for why she brought Julie and Ashley to this realm.

TARA: Oh right. I almost forgot. Follow me.

Tara turned around and led the way as Julie and Ashley followed. After several minutes of travelling, the girls eventually came upon a castle that stood indifferent from any castle they ever knew or seen before. The castle appeared to be made out of ice with patches of snow on the ground, along with an icy cold wind that blew fervently. The design of the castle stood ominous and chilling, matching its appeal. It was almost as if the season of winter took place inside the castle. The castle stood tall with its length seemingly reaching to the sky if possible. For some reason, Ashley felt some lack of comfort as she looked at the castle. A chill blew past her and this wasn't because of the cold wind. Icicles replaced the blood cells in her veins and her feet were frozen in a block of ice. Her heart beat ran considerably faster than usual with a small hint of uneasiness accompanying all that she was feeling. There was something about this castle that made Ashley feel unwelcome to it.

She turned to Julie, quickly erasing the uneasiness of her face with a stern one. Calling out her name to get her attention, Julie turned back to Ashley, unable to see that her friend was anxious.

ASHLEY: Are you sure about this? I mean, what we've seen back in our realm, do you think it would be a good idea to go in?

Before Julie could answer, Tara turned to Ashley and stepped in Julie's stead.

TARA: No doubt that there are Fiends here. I can feel their presence. But you need not to worry, your friend holds the power of Persona in her and Fiends take damage to weapons, like your sword for instance.

Tara pointed to the jian that Ashley had sheathed in the scabbard. After a quick glance to her sword, Ashley looked back at Tara and to the castle. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that the castle was probably unwelcoming. Not just to the three of them, but to her only. What was it about this castle that made Ashley feel unnerved?

Tara looked forward and began to explain the purpose of bringing them to the realm.

TARA: For as long as I lived here, there have been strange things going on in this realm. I felt the presence of weaker power sources enter through here by forced will and yesterday, this happened.

She concluded her sentence by pointing to the castle. However, what she said earlier caught the girls' interests.

ASHLEY: Wait. What do you mean by "weaker power sources"? Were there other people who have come here?

Tara nodded.

TARA: Yes, but not intentionally. It's impossible for someone other than your friend to enter this realm when it rains at midnight. Their power will not be strong enough to issue the tasks of doing so. I believe someone may have been sending them here.

The following reactions were shock.

ASHLEY: Someone has been sending them here?! Do they have the same power that Julie has?

Uncertainty was read on Tara's face.

TARA: I believe so. To prove this fact, she even managed to bring you into this realm. But what's strange is that I could only feel her power and no one elses. Maybe they haven't awakened to their Persona yet. I'm still in the dark about this. All I know is that someone has been sending people here and it's dangerous. One man even died here!

Nathan Copeland! That was the first name that came into thought. Regarding the cases, Nathan was the only victim who died from the attacks while the other two survived but suffered psychological wounds. Was someone throwing them in here?

Ashley turned to Julie.

ASHLEY: This explains why the police are having a hard time trying to identify the attacks! It must be because the victims were taken to this realm and were attacked here rather than our realm. But if that's the case, then someone or something is throwing people here intentionally.

JULIE: You're right. But I need to ask this…

Julie turns to Tara.

JULIE: If you could only sense my power from here, then how come I'm not a suspect?

For a moment, Tara hesitated. Eventually, she gathered her courage and answered her.

TARA: It… sounds a little silly, but when I felt your power… it was pure. I couldn't feel anything wicked from the power of your Persona. It assured me that you weren't the cause of all this.

JULIE: Pure?

TARA: Yes. That's why I had hoped you would help me in finding the one responsible for this. I can't stand to see another attack take place.

Tara brings her head down and turns away from the two.

TARA: But… if this sounds too scary or risky, then I won't pressure you. I can just-.

JULIE: I'll do it.

Tara felt a pressure build in her lungs when she heard those words. She turned back to the two with Ashley directing her attention to Julie. For once since they've been in this realm, Julie bore a smile on her face.

JULIE: I said I'll do it. I'll help you in finding the person whose sending people here. If they know of the dangers on doing this then they must be stopped. One person has died in here already and we can't let that happen again.

For a moment, Tara had to be sure that this wasn't a dream. She had never met someone from this realm before but she had a feeling that someone would reject her offer. She was surprised to hear these words come from her mouth. Julie approached Tara, placing a hand on her shoulders.

JULIE: You said that I can use a Persona, right? Then in that case, I'll help you in putting an end to this. We can't let this go on forever after all. That I promise you.

Tara smiled upon hearing her words and thanked her with a warm hug. Ashley walked up to the two, looking at Julie with a smile on her face.

ASHLEY: I'll help too. I may not have the capabilities in summoning a Persona, but I can fight.

Hearing Ashley say that, Tara released herself from Julie.

TARA: That's right! When you fight these Fiends, you're going to need more than your Personas for battle. The summoning of a Persona requires one to open their minds and free themselves from the human consciousness. However, the process is tiresome from what I was taught back in my realm and you may need that strength if we ever find ourselves in a rocky 'll need weapons to assist you.

Julie nods, pulling up her umbrella from earlier and taking out an iaito blade that was sheathed inside the handle. Ashley looked in amazement upon viewing it.

ASHLEY: Nice sword! Good to know you don't come unprepared!

Before Julie could turn to Ashley, she caught by the sound of a ferocious roar from the inside of the castle. The three girls turned towards the entrance that was pitch black in the inside but the roar was definitely louder from inside. The girls backed away a bit before two large beasts came upon from the inside and in front of them!

ASHLEY: Ah!

TARA: Fiends!

The two Fiends were both similar in appearance and height. They held black skin with red spikes sticking out in the arms and legs and they stood on all fours. They had long, red horns on top of their heads and sharp white fangs that could gnash any solid material without struggle and eyes as red as blood. Their claws were stained with bloodstain red that pierced through the ground.

In readiness, Julie prepared herself by bringing her blade to the front of her while Ashley unsheathed her jian and began twirling the blade as if it were a baton. The Fiends made their move.

One of them rushed towards Julie. Out of impulse, she manifested a purple aura on her right palm, bringing it close to her face. In a quick swipe, the process of summoning her Persona came.

JULIE: I summon you, Izanami!

Izanami eventually showed itself as it faced the Fiend. Once the Fiend prepared to claw at Julie, a single physical command by her pointing her sword at the creature alerted Izanami to attack. The Persona intertwined its wrists, bringing its arms into the air before gracefully pulling them back down as a cyclone of wind gushed from underneath the Fiend, completely obliterating it into ash.

The last Fiend prepared to attack. Julie quickly sheathed her sword into her umbrella and pointed towards the Fiend.

JULIE: Hama!

As commanded, Izanami flew towards the Fiend, channeling white energy through its hands as a white light surrounded the Fiend with cards latching onto it. The cards were soon expelled but the Fiend was still active. The move must've not worked.

ASHLEY: It didn't work!

JULIE: I see that! Sukunda!

Izanami poured a small green light on the Fiend that vanished within seconds of use. At first, it seemed the skill did no use until Ashley learned that the Fiend was moving slower!

Seeing that the skill worked, Julie gave Izanami its last command.

JULIE: Garu!

As done before, Izanami summoned a small cyclone of wind that eventually perished the Fiend within seconds.

With the last Fiend finished off, Julie brought Izanami back and prompted the two girls to follow her into the castle, which they did.

-Ice Castle-

The inside of the castle was by far mysterious once they entered inside. The hallways were long and wide, so the girls were ready for an assault if it ever came. However, there was no sign of an attack.

TARA: I don't sense any Fiends in here. I think we're good for now.

Though they were skeptical, they had to take Tara at her word. As they trudged further into the castle, there they saw that the walls had a row of mirrors. Some of the mirrors were shattered while the others weren't. Some were in fact covered by different pieces of cloth and they didn't send out promising signals. As a protection resort, Julie removed the camera she had strapped from around her neck and gave it to Tara to keep hold of, though she was confused on how this was supposed to be used.

Julie looked around the hallway to examine the mirrors. Each one she looked at held an unusual color of purple and when she looked at her reflection, she couldn't see herself. The same applied to Ashley and Tara as they had trouble trying to see their reflection.

JULIE: Isn't this a little odd? All these mirrors and they don't give off reflections. What's the meaning behind this?

Tara walked beside Julie, staring at a blank mirror herself.

TARA: In this realm, the manifestations of fear are made real. Fears locked away in the human heart and mind are given life, making construction.

JULIE: "Fears locked away"?

Julie walked up to Tara while Ashley looked at the mirror in front of her, still unable to see her reflection.

Tara began to converse with Julie.

TARA: That's correct. I learned that this realm only manifests fear into a true image. People keep away their fears inside their hearts, mostly out of denial that it exists. The longer it is kept, the stronger that fear becomes and will be given life unintentionally. Maybe the reason for those attacks came from the previous victims not accepting their fears.

Ashley looked closer and closer, but still could not find her reflection. With her back turned, she touched the glass of the mirror and shuddered slightly.

ASHLEY: ~There's… nothing?~

Julie and Tara continued their conversation.

JULIE: It explains a lot. Maybe Nathan Copeland was so afraid about the bankruptcy that he was taken here and it must've manifested a construction from his fears. That must mean that this castle was created by someone's hidden fears. But the question is who?

Suddenly, Ashley picked up on something coming from a room not too far from them. The presence felt… familiar. Taking one foot forward, Ashley slowly walked away from the group and towards the other room, unbeknownst to the girls.

TARA: I can't say really. You have a Persona, so it can't be you and it's not me because I've been here for months. Must be someone who is not a Persona-user and is just now coming into this realm…

JULIE: Probably. Someone like…

It was then that an image came to mind.

-Meanwhile-

Ashley found herself walking into a large, empty platform that bore resemblance to a castle's meeting room. All around were mirrors, each in one purple color and all that were perfectly fine in shape compared to the others she had seen in the hallway. An uneasy feeling welled up in Ashley.

The muttered sounds of conversation slowly began to pick up, though she could not understand it.

ASHLEY: Huh?

The voices grew louder and louder by the minute, eventually to where she could hear a voice. No. It was her voice!

ASHLEY'S VOICE: What's the matter, little girl? What are you afraid of?

The sound of the voice was close. It prompted Ashley to turn in all areas to locate it, but it was her voice!

ASHLEY: Who's there?!

The question was accompanied by laughter and faint sound of footsteps that drew near.

ASHLEY'S VOICE: Hehehehehehehe… It's only me. Ashley Lewis!

Suddenly, Ashley could hear a strange sound pick up from beside her. When she turned to face it, she saw a pile of black smoke collect into one and form into a being that was blackened out. Eventually, as the smoke thinned in resemblance, it bore visage of a young woman with a dark blue auraradiating all around her. As she opened her eyes, a haunting demonic yellow was shining from within them, accompanied by a maniacal smile. Ashley gasped in horror when she saw the figure… it was her!

Another set of footsteps were heard as Julie and Tara came just in time to witness the scene. Upon seeing the two Ashleys, the following reactions were fear and confusion.

TARA: Th-There's… two Ashleys?!

JULIE: Did this happen with the other victims?

TARA: No! At least I don't think so!

JULIE: Well, who is this other "Ashley"?

The mysterious figure known as "Ashley" began to speak.

OTHER ASHLEY: I am a Shadow… of your worst nightmares… I am you and you are me. I am the embodiment of perfection, my dear, or I try to achieve it. No one can ever top with what I have to offer. Hell, I may as well prove something by coming into this hellish realm, knowing there are monsters that are out for blood.

She pointed to Ashley, who was flabbergasted by the ordeal. Was this thing… her?

ASHLEY: What are you talking about?

The other laughed before continuing.

SHADOW ASHLEY: I try so hard to be perfect. I'm not perfection, but I can achieve it. Hell, I'm probably better than all of the Olympic athletes on TV. I won first place in all of my figure skating tournaments and everyone has said that I'm likely to reach for gold. Some even call me the prettiest girl ever known, saying that my face was born to be somewhere on ice. That I'm just a graceful swan ready to bear its wings and fly... or so I thought.

A question mark floated above Ashley's head.

ASHLEY: I thought?

The Shadow's voice grew darker.

SHADOW ASHLEY: When it comes down to how my potential stands, I'm not good enough. I can practice all day and all night probably and still, the same goes… I'm not good enough. I can try to look my best and be my best. Deal with my hair so it can look suitable, always put lotion on so I won't risk the factors of being ashy and not applying too much cosmetics, just simple eyeshadow and chapstick... but I'm still not good enough. I can never be good enough for anyone or even myself!

ASHLEY: What?

SHADOW ASHLEY: I hate looking into mirrors.

The moment the Shadow said those words, Ashley's blood ran cold. A sickening frown laid on its face.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Every time I look into a mirror, I just see nothing! Nothing! I am nobody! I'm just some bitch trying to make a name for herself! I don't qualify for anything pertaining to success! My hair isn't long enough, I'm not tall enough and worse of all… my skin.

ASHLEY: ….

SHADOW ASHLEY: Giovanni gets all the treatment she wants. She's black too, but her skin is lighter. Her hair is longer and flowing compared to mine! She can look into a mirror and not have to break it by punching at it! Why does she get the special treatment?! Why do any of those bitches get the special treatment?! Why is coach so promising to them and not me?! I've never bragged about myself to anyone! I've never looked down at anyone who wasn't better than I was! So why must I be forsaken?!

ASHLEY: Stop it…

The Shadow continued its rant. Julie could feel the hatred and fear resonating from the Shadow. Were these Ashley's fears kept away?

SHADOW ASHLEY: I hate mirrors! They don't show what I want to see! All I see is some black bitch trying to exceed the limits! I just wish I never had a reflection! I hate mirrors! More than just hate, I'm terrified of mirrors!

ASHLEY: Stop...

SHADOW ASHLEY: Why can't I look different?! Why do I appear this way?! A mirror only shows what you try to be and not what you are! They hold such a dark meaning to them! Something you cannot be but something that you are born as.

By now, Ashley was angered.

ASHLEY: Knock it off! Shut the hell up!

By then, the Shadow finally subsided in its angry rant and began to speak calmly, even flashing a sadistic smile on its face.

SHADOW ASHLEY: That's my worst fear. This is what I'm afraid of and how I feel.

However, defiance was read all over Ashley. She approached the Shadow with a wave of heated rage exanerating from her.

ASHLEY: That's not true! I'm not scared of mirrors!

The Shadow, however, laughed by these words and walked towards Ashley, but stopped only a short distance. Placing a hand on its hips, the Shadow continued to torment Ashley.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Seriously? So you're going to deny me again? Then why did you lie to your parents that you accidentally cracked the mirror when you know you did on it purpose? Remember, you were reading a magazine and you saw this beautiful, light-skinned black woman on the cover with long hair and a pretty face. Out of jealousy, you smashed the mirror. Is it because of that woman? No. You're afraid of mirrors and what they show. Isn't that right... me?

Ashley violently shook her head as she covered her ears. Julie could tell from Ashley's own actions that she was in denial.

ASHLEY: No! Like hell that you're me! You're not me!

Those words brought upon a chilling silence that lasted for only seconds. As those seconds outlived its purpose, the floor beneath the girls began to crack like ice and a producing wind began to develop. The Shadow laughed maniacally at Ashley.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Hehehehehehe... You're right! I'm not you, am I?!

Piles of black smoke began to surround and cluster onto the Shadow. Ashley backed away slowly in fear with Julie approaching her the same way.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Hehehehehehehe. Ahahahahahahaha... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!

All in one, the smoke covered the Shadow's body and as they clustered, the figure grew and expanded in size and height. As the Shadow slowly unveiled itself, the ice beneath them formed spikes and mirror-like ice statues that gave off clear reflections. The girl shielded themselves from the impact of the prevailing wind.

Eventually, as the wind died down, the girls looked up to see the Shadow's true form. The Shadow bore the resemblance of a monuementous woman with tattered, black skin. Its face was replaced with a mirror mask with ice shards as its hair and wore a royal dress that gave it the resemblance of queen colored in light blue with a gold crown to compliment its feature. The Shadow began to form a throne made purely of ice with a cry and sat down on it, crossing one leg over the other with both hands resting on the arms of the throne.

Ashley was terrified by what she saw. Julie ran up to her, grabbing her by her shoulders and pulling her back.

SHADOW ASHLEY: I am a Shadow... of your worst nightmare...

Tara ran up to the two, her footsteps catching Julie's attention.

JULIE: Tara! Protect Ashley! I'll deal with this beast!

With a nod, Tara grabbed Ashley and pulled her back as Julie walked towards the Shadow.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Do you think you can shatter me like glass or a block of ice? No matter. Once I'm finished with you, I'll probably skin you and wear it on me!

The Shadow proceeded to summon a whirlwind of ice that slowed Julie for a bit. Catching her balance, she held her umbrella with her spared hand and used her free hand to bring it to her face. With her hand turned sideways, she slid it across her face as a bright purple light engulfed her hand and a summoning circle appeared beneath her feet.

JULIE: I call upon you, Izanami!

Striking a flashy pose with her hand, the Persona was released from her subconsciousness and on command, attacked.

Izanami flew towards the Shadow.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Well, aren't you just the pest?! I guess I'm going to have to kill you quickly then!

The Shadow quickly raised its right arm as ice shards gathered. In a haste, the Shadow threw the shards towards Izanami.

JULIE: Sukukaja!

Under Julie's command, a green light quickly glowed on the Persona and it cleverly dodged each ice shard flown at it. Julie moved herself away from the shards' path with Tara and Ashley doing same. The shards landed on top of the ice floor, cracking them slightly.

Izanami continued to float in the air as Julie gave it another command.

JULIE: Garu!

The Persona performed the same procedure it needed to unleash Garu as a small green cyclone of wind appeared beneath the Shadow and struck at it. The damage was small, but effective. In another attempt, Julie began to open up to see a new skill for Izanami. Somehow, an image of Izanami summoning multiple winds was made vivid in her mind.

JULIE: ~What?~

IZANAMI: ~These are my powers. Each time your resolve becomes stronger, my powers will strengthen.~

JULIE: ~I-Izanami?! You can talk?!~

IZANAMI: ~Only through our minds are we able to communicate. This will help whenever we fight against Fiends and the Shadows. But you must listen, this new power of mines is called Magaru. It allows me to summon multiple cyclones of wind at will and is very effective. My wind techniques can strengthen but only if you're resolve strengthens. This Shadow is an Ice-type and I do not know any Fire magic, but my Wind magic can do some damage, regardless.~

JULIE: ~Wait! Are you able to look into this Shadow and see its power?~

IZANAMI: ~No. Only a Support-type Persona is capable of analyzing an enemy. I just recognized the Shadow's ability of ice magic through our battle and it seems that ice is its highest and only known magical skill. You must be careful, Julie.~

JULIE: ~Understood!~

Though this was Julie's first time speaking with Izanami, a resolved look on her face accompanied with a nod as she tightened her grip on her umbrella and focused on Izanami.

JULIE: Magaru!

As commanded, Izanami summoned multiple cyclones of wind. Though they were weak, they weren't lacking in sufficient damage as the Shadow showed signs of affliction... along with outstanding rage.

SHADOW ASHLEY: You little bitch! Who the hell do you think you are?! I'll erase your pititful existence without needing the effort!

The Shadow got up from its throne and grabbed hold of its dress. It lifted a segment of the dress slightly and spun slowly to turn its back against the girls. Once it released its hand from the dress, small particles of shining dust began to flutter and shine until their form was diminished as the particles blew along a strong and icy wind at them. The wind was so strong that Julie shielded herself from the cold. Tara and Ashley grabbed of each other to protect themselves from the impact.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Why can't I be what you want me to be?! Why am I not perfect?! Do I not look like someone trying to make something out of themselves?! I- I don't want to look into a mirror and see nothing anymore!

Behind Julie, Ashley covered herself but closed her ears as Tara looked down at her. As the Shadow continued to rage on, Julie could hear Izanami's words pour into her mind.

IZANAMI: ~Julie... Your friend is still in denial.~

JULIE: ~What do you mean?~

IZANAMI: ~She cannot accept her fear. She's afraid but she won't admit to it. She's cowering away from what scares her the most...~

JULIE: ~Mirrors... So I wasn't wrong. The Shadow unleashed its true form because of Ashley's denial.~

IZANAMI: ~Correct and that denial is giving the Shadow strength. If this continues, you may not be able to save your friend. She may die here.~

Those words brought upon a flow of ice in Julie's blood. She couldn't deny Izanami's words for she has witnessed and was told of this herself, but just the thought of losing Ashley?

Julie looked back at Ashley as she balled up with Tara placing a reassuring hand on her and looked back at the Shadow as it raged.

IZANAMI: ~You care for your friend, don't you?~

Julie nodded.

JULIE: ~Yes. We may not know much about each other but we've gotten pretty close as friends and I don't want anything to happen to her.~

IZANAMI: ~Then try to talk to her. As her friend, you are the only person she can reach out to.~

With a nod, Julie walked over to Ashley and Tara. As she approached them, she knelt beside her friend and moved in close so she could hear.

JULIE: Ashley... You need to face your Shadow!

The following response was more denial as Ashley quickly rose her head up and looked at Julie with a flabbergasted facce.

ASHLEY: That's not me! That thing is not me!

However, Julie's voice remained calm.

JULIE: Ashley, please. I understand how you feel but you can't cower away from this! It was born from you!

ASHLEY: Wha?!

Ashley was left speechless. Tara began to assist.

TARA: Julie's right. As I said before, this realm carries all fears that have been given life: a Shadow. I've never witnessed this before, but I can say that it goes along from what I know. Ashley... this Shadow was born from you... born from your fears.

Nothing else was said from Tara, prompting a fearful Ashley to turn back to her raging Shadow. Her mind went numb as she thought of how such a powerful and monstrous being was erupted out of her... out from the elements that she feared and never wanted to tell.

JULIE: You need to accept your fears, Ash. Running from them won't help because it won't solve the issue. Right now, your Shadow is becoming stronger from your defiance.

Those words sunk onto a fearful Ashley as she turned back to the Shadow after glancing to Julie. Gazing back at it, the mirror-mask on its face gave clear that all she had been trying to subdue, all the fears she was carrying on her shoulders, were standing in front of her in pure rage. Looking back down at the ice, she could see her reflection. For the first time since walking into this castle and encountering the Shadow, Ashley could actually see her reflection. It was her and nobody else. The same person she was from birth till this current age... and it haunted her. She was granted with one notable feature and that was her hazel eyes, but she still bore brown skin and short, black hair. She was nothing compared to the models, athletes and superstars she has always idolized and imagined on TV. She was no one else but herself.

Slowly, she stood up and began to approach the Shadow, even as the wind progressed. The Shadow stood shocked.

SHADOW ASHLEY: What the hell?! What are you doing?!

ASHLEY: ... You're right...

SHADOW ASHLEY: What?!

Ashley looked up at the Shadow, seeing her reflection on its face. Though frightened upon looking at it, she had to stand strong. Julie was right. She needed to accept her Shadow and accept the one thing that she was afraid of... mirrors.

ASHLEY: I said you're right! I am afraid of looking into mirrors! The reason why is because I'm afraid of staring into my reflection. The person I see is not the person I wish to be. I wish to be someone else and not this!

SHADOW ASHLEY: That's right! I'm not perfect! I'm not what people think of me! I'm just pitiful!

ASHLEY: You're wrong!

SHADOW ASHLEY: What?!

ASHLEY: I may not be perfect and I may not reach people's expectations of how I appear, but I'm not pitiful! That was how I saw myself but I'm not! It wasn't the fact that I was afraid of mirrors, but I was afraid of staring into my own reflection! In a sense, I was afraid of myself! I continued to change myself so I can accept the person I see, but I couldn't. It was the same as always.

A small smile pertruded on the surface of her face and she walked even closer to the Shadow.

ASHLEY: So in that case, I accept you!

However, the Shadow was livid. It began to rage and shoot ice shards from its hands.

SHADOW ASHLEY: Noooooo!

In a haste, Ashley dodged the shards and hid behind an ice structure. Julie ran over to her and could hear Izanami's voice.

IZANAMI: ~The Shadow is getting weaker! Now's your chance!~

Julie stood up and summoned Izanami.

JULIE: Come forth, Izanami!

The Persona reappeared and flew towards the Shadow.

JULIE: Magaru!

In response, the Shadow summoned multiple green cyclones of wind and struck the Shadow in great power.

SHADOW ASHLEY: What the-?! Ow! Stop it! Ouch! Ah! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Part 2: The Empress

As the Shadow's cry of agony ranged, it's body vanished amongst the wind of Izanami's power and reimagined into Ashley once more. The Shadow descended from the sky and laid on the ground, slowly getting up with its balance reaching for recovery. Ashley walked up to the Shadow and faced it. The Shadow caught sense of her presence and looked up at her to notice her smile.

Julie stepped in a little, but stayed behind Ashley as she confronted her Shadow.

ASHLEY: I should've never denied you. I was afraid. This was a fear that I had kept hidden for so long and never wanted anyone to know. You are me and I can no longer deny that.

Suddenly, Ashley's words caused the Shadow to plaster on a smile. However, this smile was warm and a bright blue light surrounded it. Its figure vanished away but gave forth a new image to bear witness to.

This new entity bore long, thick black hair with a black lace masquerade mask on its face. The figure wore a white guard jacket with gold buttons and a blue scarf pushing forward and laying atop of its chest, skin-tight black pants with long blue boots with gold bottoms. It wore white gloves that extended from the fingers to the arm and a light blue scarf hung from the belt-line of its pants. In its hands, it carried a rapier with a golden handle and a shining, steel blade. This new entity was Ashley's Persona. After accepting her fears and taken part the Shadow that was born from her, Ashley's resolve awoken into the Persona, Orithiyia.

The Persona's body quickly faded away into a tarot card that came floating down from where it stood. Julie walked up to Ashley with Tara behind her and looked over her friend's shoulder to see the tarot card that was in her hands: it was the Empress. The Arcana represented motherhood, sexuality and abundance, a thorough description as to how Julie saw Ashley.

Ashley turned back to Julie and Tara, bearing witness to their warm smiles and generous eyes as the card vanished from her hand, manifesting into a blue light that encircled her head and eventually vanished. The process prompted Ashley to close her eyes and quickly reopen to shone a bright blue that covered both of her eyeballs before reverting to their natural form and color.

ASHLEY: Orithiyia... This is my Persona.

The process caused Ashley to look into the sky, so she looked back at Julie and Tara.

TARA: So that's what happens when you confront a Shadow! Ashley, you can use a Persona!

JULIE: Well done, my friend. How do you feel?

There was a short pause in the conversation before Ashley could respond. When she did, her eyes began to weaken and she could feel her head lightening in weight, forcing her to clamp onto her forehead with her palm.

ASHLEY: Honestly, I feel exhausted. Almost as if I had a wild night and trying to wash off what intoxicants of alcohol that drove me wild.

JULIE: I guess that process of gaining a Persona is tiresome. We should head back to our realm as soon as possible.

ASHLEY: Right.

Before they could leave, they turned back to Tara.

JULIE: How do we leave from here? Is there an incantation we must say?

Tara shook her head.

TARA: No. I can send you guys back to your realm and even send you back to your homes so you won't have to walk. I'll stay behind and wait until you guys can come go again. As long as you see someone on a stormy night is when you should come back.

The moment Tara said those words, her mind suddenly refreshened and Julie remembered something. The figure she saw on that stormy night.

JULIE: Wait! I didn't think about it until you said it but I saw something the other night and I think it was a person!

Tara's eyes widened in shock.

TARA: What?! Well let me ask you this, was this the first time you saw it?

Julie nodded.

JULIE: Yes. Why?

The answer was followed by a sigh of relief from Tara.

TARA: Okay. Listen, the next two rainy nights, if you see the same figure then we have to come back here and find them. If not, they will die.

Julie nodded.

JULIE: Right. I'll remember that.

After their discussion had ended, Tara began to control the essence of her powers and focused them directly on the two girls. As the essence grew stronger, Tara shouted with a high voice.

TARA: Dnes eseht owt slrig kcab emoh!

-Earth-

The moment the incantation was spoken, the girls found themselves surrounded in a light that eventually caused them to disappear. The next moment, Julie found herself back home in her bedroom, in her own realm. She turned over to the clock she had set on the dresser and saw that indeed, time did stop. It was midnight, so there was no doubt that her parents suspected a thing. Removing her garments to replace with her nightly ones and placing her umbrella underneath her bed, she lifted the covers and slid onto the firm mattress with the warm sheets enclosing her body. Before she could sleep, however, she remembered what Tara said and remembered what she had to do.

This was the first in which she had seen the figure that was outside of her house on that stormy night and remembered that for the next nights when it rains, she had to check and see if the figure was still there. Quickly sitting up from her bed, she looked out the window for approximately five minutes to see if the figure would reappear. Nothing was shown. With a sigh of relief, she fell back to sleep but until she jolted back up from her bed, sitting upright with an expression of worry clarifying how she felt at the moment. She just remembered something that she wished she hadn't forgot.

JULIE: Blasted! I forgot to ask Tara for my camera back!

A/N: I'm so sorry about this! With exams and assignments that are needed to be turned in, not that I'm behind, I've been busy. And I'm sorry for all of you Injustice fans for not publishing that next chapter yet. Also, I've been working on a Mass Effect fan fiction, so there's a lot going on. Don't worry, I'll return to my duties as soon as possible. So Ashley received her Persona, Orithiyia, and she's of the Empress Arcana. For the next act, there won't be any action. But don't fear for more is in stock. Stay tuned and review!