A/N: Sorry, this one took so long. We had a couple of problems in the battle scenes.
***: The flow isn't so good, but don't worry, I don't think it's so bad. Btw, they're summoning their Personas without evokers, okay? You'll know what I mean when you see it.
Empyrea: Anyway, here is chapter 30!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 30: A Deeper Meaning
The members of SEES now stand in the Desert of Doors, each one eyeing the other. For now, they are not allies fighting for a common goal, but as individuals fighting for their own beliefs, each had their sights set on obtaining the wild card. Mitsuru, Akihiko, Junpei and Fuuka chose the option to go back to their time, Aigis, Ken and Koromaru chose the option to remove the Great Seal and Yukari chose the option to replace "him" as the Seal. Aigis' group chose to back down for a while as they can see that the first round of their bout would be Yukari against Mitsuru's group…
Mitsuru: *walks forward* Are you prepared, Takeba?
Yukari: *points her bow and arrow on Mitsuru* You're the one who's not ready!
Mitsuru: *removes her rapier from its sheath* Very well. Let us duel, but, just remember that we won't go easy on you!
Yukari: Hmph! If you're trying to threaten me, then, let me tell this to you again, senpai, I won't back down!
Mitsuru: I know that, Takeba!
Akihiko: On with it, then!
The mark has been set, and so, they began their battle in the Desert of Doors…
Yukari: *shoots Akihiko* Yah!
Akihiko: *swiftly dodges Yukari's shot, and then, slides towards Yukari in order to deliver a counter attack*
Yukari: *looks at Akihiko* You think I can't see that! My resolve is stronger than yours! *summons Isis* Isis! Garula!
Akihiko: *gets hit with Yukari's evasive course of action* Ugghhh… *falls down*
Junpei: We can't lose, either! *runs straight to Yukari, his katana aimed for a strike*
Yukari: *looks at Junpei* Now, Isis! Garula! *aims her arrow at Junpei*
Junpei: *dodges* That won't work! I don't want to lose! I want to be with Chidori! *runs to Yukari's left side*
Yukari: *turned to her left, then, paced a few steps back, still facing Junpei and prepared to shoot her arrow* Shut up! I don't care about that! Without him, there won't be Chidori, anyway! *shoots her arrow at Junpei*
Junpei: *dodges, but got scratched on his left arm* I didn't want to do this, Yukari! *runs towards Yukari in a striking position*
Yukari: *aims for Junpei* How dare you?! You weren't even worth saving! *shoots her arrow*
Junpei: *dodges, then summons his Persona* Now, Trismegistus! Agidyne!
Yukari: *summons he Persona* Isis! Defend me! Garudyne!
Both get hit with the other's attack, but unlike Yukari, who simply casted Diarahan on herself to heal the wounds she received, Junpei took the brunt of that attack…
Junpei: *on his knees* Ugh! Shit, that was my weakness!
Yukari: *aims her arrow at Junpei* It's over for you, Junpei! You'll never understand what it means!
Junpei: *looks at Yukari* To what?!
Yukari: To lose someone and have the thought that you can never get it back!
As Yukari was about to release the arrow, she noticed that Mitsuru has made her move, causing Yukari to turn her attention to her…
Yukari: *shoots her arrow at Mitsuru*
Mitsuru: *dodges and runs towards Yukari with her guard up* Iori understands that, Takeba! *strikes Yukari*
Yukari: *dodges and shields Mitsuru's second attack with her bow* How can he understand?! *struggles to keep up her guard*
Mitsuru: *puts more strength on her hold* He lost Chidori, like you lost "him"! He should very well understand! *breaks away from their lock and dashes off for another strike*
Yukari: *aims an arrow at Mitsuru* NO! If he understands me, then, he won't be standing beside you now! *shoots Mitsuru*
Mitsuru: *dodges the arrow and keeps moving towards Yukari* Takeba! *attempts another strike*
Yukari: *dodges* You, too, understand nothing, senpai! *shoots an arrow*
Mitsuru: *cuts the arrow in half* I don't, but, I know what it means to lose someone dear to you!
Yukari: *runs at a distance and aims at Mitsuru* What?! Because you lost your father?! Is that it?!
Mitsuru: *runs nearer to Yukari* Yes! I lost him in front of my eyes!
Yukari: *shoots* At least, you know why he died! It hurts more, when you know nothing!
Mitsuru was able to dodge the first one, but, Yukari was ready. She summoned Isis and casted Garudyne, keeping Mitsuru at bay, and quickly fired arrows at her, not even aiming for each shot. Mitsuru got hit on her right shoulder, her left arm, and her right and left leg, each gash as deep as the others, causing her to fall to her knees. Meanwhile, Akihiko and Junpei finally recovered and stood up, ready to continue their fight…
Mitsuru: *places her hand on her shoulder's wound* Ughhh… *sees Akihiko and Junpei* Akihiko… Iori…
Junpei: I'll buy you guys some time! *turns to Akihiko* Help Mitsuru-senpai!
Junpei dashes off towards Yukari and tries to hold her back while Akihiko goes to Mitsuru…
Akihiko: *runs towards Mitsuru* Mitsuru! *examines her wound* Are you okay?
Mitsuru: *twitches a bit* I-I'm fine. *looks at Akihiko* Fight for us, Akihiko.
Akihiko: *nods* You got it.
Mitsuru: I'm counting on you. Stop Takeba.
Akihiko: Stop her?
Mitsuru: I no longer want to see a friend die… Not my only family left…
Akihiko: Mitsuru…
Mitsuru: I don't want to risk it.
Akihiko: I know.
Mitsuru: *holds Akihiko's right hand* Fight Yukari… I want our resolve to win.
Akihiko: *nods* I won't let you down.
Mitsuru: *summons her Persona* Artemisia, please aid me. Diarahan. *her wounds begin to heal*
Fuuka: *walks forward and summons Juno* Must we fight? I just want to go back…with everyone. I just want to return everything to the way it was before!
Yukari: There never was an "everything"! No "before"! If that's really what you think, then, you should know that before was always with him! To me, there's no SEES without him!
Fuuka: Please, Yukari-chan… Stop this!
Yukari: I'll only stop fighting… *summons Isis* If you all realize my resolve!
Akihiko: *delivers a strong punch* You won't win!
Junpei: *strikes Yukari with his katana* I won't let you win, Yukari! No one wins alone!
Yukari: *dodges both their attacks, and quickly readies her bow* I'm not alone! *fires off an arrow*
Junpei gets hit on his right leg…
Akihiko: *looks at Junpei* Junpei!
Junpei: *holds his right leg* Finish it, senpai!
Akihiko delivers a massive punch towards Yukari with all his strength. But, Yukari was able to dodge it, but, before she can go for a counter attack…
Akihiko: *summons his Persona* Help me! Caesar!
Akihiko aimed for Isis' weakness, electric attacks, so, Caesar did just that, and casted Ziodyne…
Yukari: I'll never lose! I'm not alone! *summons her Persona* Isis! Garudyne!
Yukari's Garudyne successfully hits Akihiko, but, Akihiko's Ziodyne homes in on Yukari, as well…
Yukari: *falls down* Ugh… I-I won't back down… *tries to stands up*
Akihiko: It doesn't end here, yet! *stands up*
Mitsuru: Realize our resolve, Takeba! *summons her Persona* Artemisia! Strike her now! Bufudyne!
Yukari: …!!!
Yukari gets hit with Mitsuru's attack, she's now on her knees, trying to gather her strength to stand up. Mitsuru, Akihiko and Junpei are now standing in front of her, telling her to just give up…
Yukari: *still trying to stand* I…It's not yet over…*stands up*
Junpei: Face it, Yukari! You're all alone! You'll never understand us! That's why you'll never win!
Yukari: …!!! *glares at Junpei* You're wrong! *summons her Persona* Isis!
The resolution in Yukari's heart fills Isis with a massive amount of power…
Yukari: You're the one who'll never understand! From the very day this began, I was never alone! I-
Isis is concentrating and is preparing to deliver an overwhelming attack…
Yukari: I won't accept that I'm alone! If I am, then, he didn't keep our promise!
Junpei: Promise?
Mitsuru: What are you talking about, Takeba?!
Akihiko: Don't listen to her! Isis is about to attack!
Yukari: It's too late! Isis! Magarudyne!
The party, aside from Fuuka, gets hit with Yukari's magic and get's thrown at quite a distance…
Yukari: *pants* …huff…huff…
Fuuka: Yukari-chan… *dismisses Juno*
Yukari: *looks at Fuuka* What? You still want to fight?
Fuuka: No… I just wanted to return things to the way they are, but…
Yukari: …
Fuuka: I accept your decision… I was also wrong, Yukari-chan… For that… I'm sorry.
Yukari: Don't apologize. It was supposed to be our resolve…that led us to answer like that… It shows our answer to life.
Fuuka: Answer to life…
Yukari: *averts her gaze* Maybe, he was right…
Fuuka: Who was?
Yukari: *looks at Fuuka* Never mind.
Aigis: *walks towards Yukari* The others are badly injured, but, if we heal them now, then, it won't be fatal.
Yukari: *looks at Aigis* Aigis…
Aigis: I shall attend to them. Take some rest before we begin our match. *leaves to attend to Mitsuru and the others*
Yukari: *nods* I understand. You guys prepare, too.
Ken: We won't go easy on you, Yukari-senpai.
Yukari: *looks at Ken* I know. That's how it should be.
Ken: *nods* I agree.
Ken leaves Yukari with Koromaru, and goes to one side of the Desert of Doors to prepare himself for their upcoming battle…
Yukari: "I said all that, huh… I really hurt them…big time… *looks up* But, I know you kept your promise… That's why I won… I can feel it *clenches her right hand and places it on her chest* … Right, Isis?"
Mitsuru: *walks towards Yukari* …
Yukari: *turns to Mitsuru* Are you okay now?
Mitsuru: Yes, I'm fine…
Yukari: You gave it your all, right?
Mitsuru: Of course.
Yukari: *looks away* Good.
Mitsuru: Takeba… I-I acknowledge your decision, as well. I admit defeat… We truly lost to you, fair and square.
Junpei: *walks towards Yukari* It was even one-sided.
Yukari: *turns to Junpei* Junpei…
Junpei: *scratches his head* Hey, c'mon. Uhh… It's fine with me, now… You proved it. Your resolve is stronger than ours, so… Sorry about not understanding, but…
Yukari: I know. You just want to be with Chidori, and I respect that, Junpei.
Akihiko: *walking towards Yukari and the others* Dammit… It was a total loss.
Yukari: *turns to Akihiko* Senpai…
Akihiko: It must be tough, huh.
Yukari: *smiles* Not really.
Akihiko: *shrugs* Well… We accept it. We lost, right?
Yukari: *nods* Totally… But…
Akihiko, Mitsuru & Junpei: *looks at Yukari* …
Yukari: *turns to Aigis* There's still Aigis… I won't lose, though… I don't want to.
Mitsuru: Takeba…
Yukari: I'll handle it. Like you said, Senpai… *turns to Mitsuru* We must hold firm to our belief, right?
Mitsuru: …You're right. Good luck to the both of you.
Aigis: *walks towards Metis* Metis…
Metis: Yeah? What's wrong, sister?
Aigis: Can you…lend me your rod?
Metis: Oh! That's right… You can't use a gun anymore, huh. Well…okay. *takes out her weapon and gives it to Aigis*
Aigis: *takes the rod from Metis* Thank you.
Metis: Good luck, sister.
Aigis: *nods*
Aigis' party and Yukari walks forward to the center of the Desert of Doors, and so…
Aigis: *swings her rod like a spear* Fight me with everything you've got, Yukari-san!
Yukari: Same to you!
Minato: *standing beside Orpheus* …
Minato: Has the final battle been decided, Master?
Minato: Maybe so…
END OF CHAPTER THIRTY
A/N: This chapter is so hard to write… But, I like how it turned out…
***: Sorry if the battle scene doesn't look too good, guys…
Empyrea: And so, see you guys at the next chapter! Who do you think will win? Who'll take the wild card? Well, Ciao!