Souji was studying the images on the floor around him, admiring the intricate detail each image had. His friends looked exactly as they did in the real world, albeit here they were a distinctive shade of blue. There was Yosuke, winking knowingly as he'd done so many times whenever he'd teased his friends. Chie was smiling next to him, arms raised in a martial arts stance Souji didn't recognize, while Yukiko stood to her friends' side, face contorted as if she was suffering from another laughing fit. Souji smiled, thinking of the first friends he and Yu had made in Inaba.

He moved to the next set, smile widening. Here was Rise, Kanji, and Teddie. The teen idol was holding a microphone, as if singing one of her many songs she knew. Kanji stood behind her on the idols right, arms crossed while a confident smirk played across his face. Teddie stood next to Rise's left, and Souji laughed as he saw what could only be topsicles in the bear-boy's hands and mouth. The carefree youth was dressed in the clothes Chie had bought him, but he sat on the head of his bear-suit, grinning mischievously. Souji looked around.

Nanako and Dojima were together in their image, laughing around the tea table, and Ai, Kou, Daisuke, and Ayane stood together, an unlikely grouping if there ever was one. The people he'd helped while working his part time jobs were also grouped together, hands raised as if waving hello. Souji turned, and found the last of the images grouped in the center of the circle. Gold veins were connecting each of the other images to this final one, and Souji felt bittersweet as he looked at it.

Yu and Souji stood side by side. Yu had his left arm around Souji's shoulders, and wore a wide smile. Souji was smiling warmly, but his gaze was directed downward at the figure his arms were wrapped around. Naoto stood facing out, so that Souji could see her face fully. One hand gripped Souji's tightly while the other was raised, tugging her cap down a bit. Even in this image, Naoto's characteristic shyness was all too evident, and the thought of his girlfriend brought tears to Souji's eyes. What was she doing now? How was she feeling? Was she okay, and did they get Nanako back safely? Souji had no idea what the answers could possibly be.

He'd been in this realm for 27 hours, yet had not felt the need to sleep, nor had he felt any hunger. And if Morpheus's information was accurate, that would mean he'd been missing from his world for almost a month. "That would make today…December 3rd…" Souji sighed. He wished he could go back, but that wish seemed impossible. Morpheus had kept his word, and whenever Souji needed a question answered, the Dream-lord had tried to answer them to the best of his abilities. Souji didn't know why he trusted the words of his Persona so much, but something about Morpheus had convinced Souji that he wouldn't lie. He thought about the new deal Morpheus had given him.

There was a way for Souji to return, but he would have to prove himself to the Dream-lord in order to do so. Morpheus had told him the cost wouldn't be as extreme as before, but had withheld just what the cost would be, asking Souji to instead place his faith in Souji's own abilities. Souji had readily agreed, steeling himself for what he thought would be an arduous undertaking, but instead found that Morpheus gave him multiple different tasks, usually involving sorting and managing the many dreams that entered his domain.

"These are the dreams of many people of the world" Morpheus had said, showing Souji the many nightmares and dreams swirling around him. "My task for you is to regulate these dreams; or make sure that the people who produce these dreams do not respond…shall we say, negatively, to their own creations. It is a difficult concept to explain, but the minds of people are fickle. They tend to reject even the best of ideas, to the point where they'll harm themselves thinking that they're protecting themselves. My job is to make sure they do not cause permanent harm, though preventing any harm is a welcome goal." Souji had asked about nightmares, seeing them as being harmful in and of themselves. Morpheus had simply shrugged. "Nightmares serve their own purpose. They exist to remind people of the feeling of fear; too many people these days lack that feeling, and it only serves to cause problems, especially when people feel no fear in the face of overwhelming odds."

Souji had taken this information in stride, and received a crash course on what to do. The job had been very simple, and he'd finished his last sorting just a short while ago. Morpheus had excused himself for a short while, claiming he had more to set up for their deal, and gave Souji a break. Souji had no way of knowing how good a job he'd been doing, but the simplicity of this task had left him feeling worried. Surely this was only the first in a long line of requirements, given how easy it had felt.

Footsteps alerted Souji to Morpheus' return, and the silverette stood up, turning to face the Dream-lord, anticipating yet another round of dreams. Instead, he watched as Morpheus strode over, holding a large staff. "Here, take this." He said, tossing the weapon to Souji, who caught it midair, twirling it deftly. "What's this for?" he asked, looking confused. Morpheus reached behind him, grasping his own staves, pulling them from their resting place. He held the together, heads on opposite ends, and Souji watched as they fused together, making a large black-and-white staff that Morpheus held in a two-handed grip.

"You've exceeded my expectations in the task I assigned you. Your ability to protect the minds of people from themselves rivals my own; I was not expecting you to proceed with such ease. Managing one's own thoughts is a difficult task to begin with, but you unwittingly managed the minds of thousands at once, adjusting each dream sequence in ways I would not have thought to do. I was not anticipating the final task to come so quickly, but here we stand." Souji's eyebrows rose as his eyes widened; he was on the last task! But the fact that he was holding a weapon concerned him, especially since it was so unfamiliar. Did Morpheus intend to fight him?

"So, what are the details of this last task?" Souji asked, hefting the staff so as to test its weight. It was heavy, and unbalanced. This was not going to be easy. Morpheus nodded, but didn't lower his own weapon.

"In order for you to return, you must complete the tasks I set forth. I only ever intended for two tasks, though I had thought they might take longer than this to accomplish. Your first task was to manage the dreams, to become familiar with the minds of others. Your ease in managing those dreams proves your familiarity on both a conscious and instinctual level. Your second task is this; if you wish to return to your world, you must defeat me. Thus, we fight. It will be easier than you might think, as I cannot unleash the power I wield in the physical realm here, thus I am limited to only my weapons, as are you. This is not a contest of power, nor is it truly of skill. Your willpower will determine your success."

Morpheus shifted on his feet, adjusting his weight slightly. Souji felt a knot in his stomach. Willpower may be what determined his success, but this would also fall upon his skill in battle, and he was using an unfamiliar weapon. Morpheus knew what he was comfortable with using, so he must have made the decision to hamper the teen in this way. Souji nodded as Morpheus asked him if he was ready to begin, and Souji got the feeling that his Persona was smirking underneath his helmet. "Well then, let us begin" he said, and leaped towards Souji, staff raised high.

Yu felt his entire body go weak. He returned his phone to his pocket and looked around at his friends. They were standing inside Junes, looking for a kotatsu for Nanako. Yosuke and Chie had gotten into an argument after the martial artist had suggested they make Yosuke pay for a Christmas gift for Nanako, but the Junes Prince had been smiling the entire time, making a show out of his usual demeanor when asked to pay for something. Now, however, they stopped and looked at Yu's face, worry showing on everyone's face. "What's going on?" Yosuke asked, walking over to stand in front of Yu. The silverette could barely find his voice, but managed to say something, albeit hoarsely.

"Nanako…she's…"

He couldn't finish. Yosuke's face blanched, and he looked around. "Let's get over there, quick!" he said, and the assembled teens sprinted from the store, gifts and kotatsu forgotten in their concern for the young girl.

Souji breathed heavily. Morpheus was swatting him around the platform as the silverette fumbled with his staff, trying to ward off as many blows as he could, unable to take the offense due to the Dream-lords vicious onslaught. "Is this truly your best, Souji Seta? Where is the fire within you? Where is that rage and conviction from the Secret Lab? Are you giving up so easily?!" Morpheus rained down on Souji with blow after blow, staff whirling like a tornado as he spun and struck, jabbing at the teen with one of the staves heads one moment, and then battering him with the shaft the next. Souji was thrown backwards as Morpheus shoved his weapon into Souji's stomach, and the teen fell to the floor, sprawled flat. He groaned softly; how was he supposed to beat Morpheus like this? He needed to figure out how to use this weapon, or he'd never get back.

Morpheus sighed, resting the bottom of his staff against the floor. "Truly, after your display of control over one's mind, I expected more from you. You've faced impossible odds before, but I guess that was simply luck that sped you through." Souji closed his eyes, thinking back to the fights with Kanji's and Naoto's Shadows. True, he'd managed to defeat them basically on his own, but he'd never have made it through without the help of his friends. Their support had made it possible for him to awaken to the power he'd used.

A thought occurred to him, and he sat up slowly, looking at Morpheus. "You said my body was in limbo, correct? I'm feeling every blow you've landed on me, but before this fight, I didn't feel any exhaustion, nor hunger, nor much of any feeling I'd expect to have. Why would that be possible? Isn't this place the limbo you were speaking of?"

Morpheus shook his head, a note of exasperation in his voice. "No, this realm is not limbo. Physical entities cannot enter here. I told you before, this is my realm within your mind. Your body exists elsewhere, though where that may be, I cannot say."

Souji nodded slowly. An idea was forming, and Morpheus' answer had helped cement it in place. "Then, this place is more or less a product of my mind. It may be your realm, but you said it was within my mind, that I was no guest here, correct?"

Morpheus nodded slowly, raising his staff into a guarded stance as he did so. "Yes…that is correct. What are you getting at?" Souji grinned at the cautious look Morpheus was taking; it was definitively different from the vicious appearance he'd had a moment earlier.

"Then, if what you say is true, the form I'm in now is simply something my mind created to make sense of this place, yes?" Morpheus nodded again, raising his staff in front of him, as if expecting something to hit him. Souji stood up, feeling a surge of energy, though he knew now that the feeling mattered little. The wounds he'd received from Morpheus' assault faded, and the teen looked at the staff in his hands. "This hasn't helped at all" he murmured, and brought it up to his head, holding it horizontally. Souji raised his knee up a bit, and swiftly brought the staff down onto it, snapping the seemingly heavy weapon in half like a twig. He held the two halves of the wood in both hands, and thought about his Tonfa, remembering the ease with which he used them. The wood glowed brightly, and began changing shape and material. As Souji opened his eyes, he saw that his Tonfa had appeared, strapped to his wrist and arm just as before. The teen smirked, and looked back up at Morpheus, who had backed away a bit.

"So, you figured out the truth of this place, then." The Dream-lord looked at Souji, seeing an aura of confidence emanate from the previously kowtowed youth.

Souji nodded at his Persona. "I could have left at any time. We are bound by our minds, and we tend to hurt ourselves thinking that our actions will protect us." A silver vapor began to encircle the Tonfa's blades, threads of gold mist entwined within it. Souji continued, feeling power surge through his mental body. "You said it yourself, Morpheus. This realm is made up of dreams. The tasks you assigned me were simply distractions, as is this fight. Your price for doing these menial tasks never really existed, did it?" Souji could sense the smile underneath Morpheus' helmet.

"Yes, there never was a price. That is why I told you to place faith in your own abilities. The cost I create for any deals I make are of my own choosing, and if I chose for an absence of any payment, that's my decision to make." Morpheus pointed his staff towards Souji. "And I apologize for the deception, but I felt it was necessary. You've learned a great deal about yourself, and although much time has passed in your realm, I believe you will return stronger than ever before." The staff tip glowed brightly, and a multitude of colored vapors spread forth, blue, purple, and white swirling around each other as they joined the silver and gold vapors around Souji's weapons. "You have mastered the realm of your dreams and mind. That was the true meaning of the tasks I presented to you. By managing the minds of others, you learned how to manage yourself. This allowed you to control the dreams you see. Thus, you can control your own power within my realm, making yourself as powerful or as weak as you need to be for any give circumstance."

Morpheus lowered his staff as the last of the vapor dissipated, and bowed deeply. "Souji Seta, I am yours to command. I relinquish to you access to my full powers, so that you may overcome life's hardships." The Persona raised its head. "The power will not come with any cost, of course. You have conquered me and my realm, after all."

Souji nodded, and bowed in return, shocking the Dream-lord. "Thank you for the lessons. You have helped me more than I could have imagined."

Morpheus chuckled. "Truly, you are a unique being, Souji. I am honored to serve you as your Persona." The Dream-lord sheathed his staff, and clapped his hands. "Well then, I believe it is high time to see you off. I've been asked to hand you over to those who can assist you better with the power you now possess, and I never renege on my agreements." Souji cocked his head to one side, a confused look on his face. Morpheus chuckled again. "I cannot provide you with any more information than that, I'm afraid. My sister is the one who informed me, and my treatment of you has irked her greatly. But, that's beside the point." Morpheus waved his hand, and a robe appeared in front of Souji, similar to the one Morpheus wore. "Please, take this, as a gift and an apology. It signifies your achievements here, as well as the connection you now share with me."

Souji nodded, thanking the Persona for the gift. It was made out of a delicate material, but was comfortable, and Souji threw it over his shoulders. It fit perfectly, as if tailor-made for him.

"It will protect you from most harm; it cannot be pierced by any blade, nor can it be harmed by gunfire. And it resists most elemental spells, though, like myself, it cannot resist fire. It will also grow to fit you, so if you grow taller or…wider…it will change to match you. I hope it serves you well."

Souji nodded again, marveling at the robes inherent abilities. Morpheus strode over and placed a hand on Souji's shoulder. "Now, we've tarried long enough. I doubt the residents of that room will take kindly to you being late, so we must be off. Close your eyes." Souji did as he was told, and closed his eyes. He felt a shift in his surroundings, and opened his eyes. He was standing on a fog covered road, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A low hum broke the silence, and Souji looked down the road in the direction it came from. A midnight black limousine appeared, and Souji smiled. His vision blurred, then subsequently cleared, and he found himself once again in the presence of Igor and Margaret.

"Welcome to The Velvet Room" Igor said, a smile on his face as he regarded Souji warmly. "Welcome back to the land of the living, Souji Seta. You've had quite the life experience, it would seem."

Souji grinned, leaning on the familiar bar as he faced the elder man. "Well, that's an understatement." The silverette quipped, causing Igor to let a low chuckle escape, and Margaret smiled at the youth. His disappearance had disturbed her greatly, but it had caused another even more grief.

"Ahem!" The noise came from behind Souji, and the silverette turned to find its source. His face blanched when he saw Marie, arms crossed in front of her, foot tapping lightly on the floor of the vehicle.

"Ah…Err…Hello, Marie…" Souji stammered out an informal greeting, and immediately regretted it.

"Hello?! Is that all you have to say, you stupidblockheadedmoron?! I was worried sick about you! Why would you disappear like that! I hate you!" Tears formed as Marie vented, walking over and slapping Souji's arms, face, and shoulders as she took out her worried frustration on its source. "You didn't even say goodbye, you just left for some stupid reason because you're an idiot who doesn't pay attention to the deals he makes! What if you hadn't come back? What would I have done?! What about Yu, or that detective girl, huh? How do you think they felt?!" Marie finally stepped back, leaving Souji to massage the spots where she'd hit him. Igor beckoned Marie over, and the young girl sat down in her usual spot, a huff escaping as she did so.

"You have definitely worried many people, Mr. Seta. But it seems you've returned stronger for your efforts. This is just as well, as you will undoubtedly face more trials ahead." Igor regarded Souji calmly, and eyebrow quirked up as he regarded the silverette's eyes. "It seems that Morpheus has left you with more than just a robe as a parting gift." Igor gestured towards the mirror behind the bar as Souji stared at him quizzically, and the teen turned to view his reflection. His appearance was a bit gaunt, though not nearly as much as Souji had expected, but the change he noticed most was his eyes. There was now a thin line of gold around each pupil. He regarded his appearance with some shock; was this another symbol of the time he'd spent in that realm?

He turned back to Igor, whose gaze was unwavering. "You have become even stronger than we'd imagined, and you've also unlocked the secrets behind your Persona. His power did indeed present a danger to you, but you have overcome it, and can now command it with impunity, in regards to any 'cost' to your well-being." Igor's eyes gleamed, and he continued softly. "The connection to this room that was contained within your Persona now rests within you. It seems you may access unique powers related to this realm. What those may be, I cannot claim to know. You will have to discover them for yourself."

Igor waved his hand, and Souji heard the voices of his friends. They seemed to be concerned about something, speaking frantically. It seemed they were running, though Souji couldn't make out what it was that they were running for. Margaret spoke up, soft voice piercing Souji's reverie. "Something has happened in your world. Your friends and brother are moving quickly towards the hospital where your uncle and cousin are." Souji's face dropped, and he felt his pulse quicken. Igor spoke as Souji opened his mouth, stopping the boy from speaking. "I'm afraid we must speed you on your way. Your fate is interesting, but with the events currently in motion, holding you here would only harm the fulfillment of your contract."

Souji looked at Igor, confused. Hadn't they caught Namatame? Or was something going to happen; would Namatame not face justice? Igor waved his hand, and Souji's vision began to blur once more. "We shall see you again, Souji Seta. Good luck."

Souji felt dizzy, and closed his eyes to fight the wave of nausea that had swept over him. When he opened them, he found himself standing in front of the hospital in Okina City. Souji looked around, feeling lightheaded as he recognized the scenery around him. "Well…I'm back!"