"Shadow's talking"
"Persona talking"
Take Your Time
The two of them walk inside and found themselves on where the school entrance should be, now it's a on what could be described as some sort of ballroom. It was a mix of purple, gold, and red, with a grand staircase right next to them, leading up to what looked like to be a grand portrait of a man locked in battle, adorned in brilliant golden armor, sword in hand. Above, grand chandeliers hanged from the ceiling, gently swaying.
'What the heck... is this?' Twilight questioned completely thrown-off guard. What in the world is this place? Moreover... how in the heck did they get here? Also... what was with this atmosphere? It felt like so heavy and oppressive, almost like something was weighing down on her. Not only that, but... something about this place felt... wrong. It felt like the Velvet Room's atmosphere, though that calming and soothing nature was nowhere to be found. No, it felt so... malevolent, like danger was so horribly close to her. Honestly, it was hard to breath.
"Th-that's weird... Where's the school?" the vulgar boy questioned. He was as much confused as Twilight is right now.
"Where are we?" Twilight asked.
"This should be the school... I think..." The vulgar boy answer, although hesitant in the end there. He checks his phone tried to see if they made a wrong turn, but "Out of service? Where did we end up...?"
"The sign was for the school, right?" he asked Twilight.
"Yeah, but what's going on here?" Twilight asked if it was some school event or something.
He turns towards her yelling "I-I dunno! I want know!"
Twilight then heard footsteps, she turns around and saw a man clad in armor, dressed like some European knight, though instead of a visor attached to the helmet, a blue mask was attached to the face, and cold red eyes glaring back at them, carrying a sword and shield.
"Geez, you freak me out." The vulgar boy said, thinking it was a student or faculty member. "Who are you? You a Student?"
The vulgar boy walk towards it "Man, your costume's impressive... Is that armor real?" he asked, but all he got was silence. "C'mon don't just stand there. Say something."
Unknown to them it wasn't alone as another knight came towards them. The vulgar boy step back fearfully. "H-hey, what's goin' on?"
"What is this...?" Twilight asked
"Dude, I don't know!" The vulgar boy yelled.
One of the knights stepped forward, the vulgar boy now realize"...This shit's real." The other knight walked forward and he lean back scared. "C-calm down! Time out, man!"
He turn to Twilight "We gotta run!"
"Got it" Twilight said.
"Stop standin' around and run!" the vulga boy ordered
As they tried to run two more knights came up in front of them surrounding them from all sides.
"Ugh, what's with these guys?!" the vulgar boy yelled in frustration.
One of the knights bashed his shield on his head, making him scream in pain and down to his knees. "Oww... Y-you're gonna break my bones, dammit!" the vulgar boy yelled. "The hell you think you're- Aghh!" he screamed.
Twilight felt something bashed in her head, the last thing she heard, before she was unconscious was the guards talking about taking both her and the boy into a dungeon.
Take Your Time
Twilight heard a familiar voice. "Hey wake up!" She open her eyes to see the vulgar boy from before, looking at her in concern. She sat up and took a look at her surroundings she was in some kind of cell with barrels, near the gate, chains hanging at the wall, and she was on some kind of wooden bed.
"You all right?" the vulgar boy asked, worry about her health.
"I'm fine" Twilight answered "Where are we?"
"How should I know?" the vulgar boy answered "I just woke up too." He took another look in the cell. "Looks like this ain't no dream..." he said "Ugh, what's going on?!" he asked, then ran towards the bars. He bangs them hoping to get someone attention for help, "Hey, let us outta here! I know there's someone out there!"
With no answer he went back to Twilight. "Dammit, where are we?! Is this some kinda TV set...?" he asked Twilight.
Both Twilight and the vulgar boy heard a bloodcurdling scream out side their cell. They ran towards the bars hoping to find out where it came from. "Th-the hell was that just now...?" the vulgar boy asked. As soon as they got their they heard someone in pain, and more screams. "Whoa... whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa..." he said freaking out, "You're shittin' me right...?"
"This is real bad...!" he said. he turns around and looked around the cell, "Isn't there some way outta here?! C'mon, we gotta do something!"
Twilight looked around the cell to any means of escape, but nothing seems useful. Then the vulgar boy stop, "Huh? You hear that?" he asked. Some what they heard footsteps coming towards their location. Twilight and the vulgar boy look towards the bars, hoping someone could save them, but it turns out the same knights, that capture them is are coming towards them.
"Be glad that your punishment has been decided upon." the guard said, "Your charge is "unlawful entry." Thus you'll be sentence to death."
Both of them was shocked, and scared at that sentence. "Say what!?" the vulgar boy asked.
"No one's allowed to do as they please in my castle." a familiar voice said.
A figure walk towards them, it was a man with a crown on his head, he look nearly naked, except for the fuzzy cape with hearts on it, and the pink speedos, and pink sandals, but the weird thing was his eyes it was a golden color. Oddly enough the man look very familiar to the both of them.
The vulgar boy looked at the figured and instantly knew who it was. "Huh? Wait... Is that you, Kamoshida?" he asked.
"Kamoshida?" Twilight asked, as she look at him with great confusion
"I thought it was some petty thief, but to think it'd be you, Sakamoto..." Kamoshida...? said "Are you trying to disobey me again? It looks like you haven't learned your lesson at all, huh? he that smirk that gave both of them the shivers.
'Sakamoto' Twilight thought while looking at the boy, 'they must have some bad history, and what does he mean by again?'
Kamoshida...? look at Twilight "And you brought a friend this time... because you can't do anything for yourself." Kamoshida..? taunted.
Sakamoto rattle the bars, getting angrier by his words, "This ain't funny, you asshole!"
Kamoshida...? look at Sakamoto with an impassive look "Is that how you speak to a king?" he asked with irritation. "It seems you don't understand the position you're in at all. Not only did you sneak into my castle, you committed the crime of insulting me- the king."
He had that smirk back in his face, "The punishment for that is death." Kamoshida...? said, "It's time for an execution! Take him out!"
As soon as he ordered the guards, both of them back up from the bars. "S-stop it...!" Sakamoto whimpered. As soon as they backed up the cell was full of guards, and Kamoshida...? walk right inside. The guards now only focused on Sakamoto, ignoring Twilight. "...Goddammit...!" Sakamoto said as he rush towards one of the guards and knock one of them down.
He looks at Twilight "I ain't down for this shit! C'mon, we're outta here!" he said. One of the knights walk towards him and punch hard in his stomach, backing up towards the wall. "Hnngh... Owww..."
Twilight runs towards him, but a knight was blocking her way.
"Just go! Get outta here...! These guys are serious!" he yelled towards her. Twilight looks at him in shock.
Kamoshida...? looks at her "Oh? Running away, are we? What a heartless friend you are." he taunted.
"She ain't a friend..." Sakamoto said. Twilight looks hurt by that statement. "C'mon! Hurry up and go!"
Twilight is now conflicted, she can't think clearly. Kamoshida..? notice her distress "What's the matter? Too scared to run away?" he taunted, now looking back at Sakamoto "Hmph, pathetic scum isn't worth my time..." he dismissed Twilight. "I'll focus on this one's execution..."
Two guards hold Sakamoto up while Kamoshida...? started to punch him, and started beating him up. "Take This!" he said, he had a crazed look in his face. He kept insulting him as if he was a peasant. Twilight only watched as one of the guards had his sword pointed at her. She watched as Sakamoto fell to his knees.
Kamoshida...? spit towards him "...Hmph. Where'd your energy from earlier go?" he taunted. As one of the guards picked him up and throw towards the wall. "A peasant like you isn't worth beating." He walk towards him, "I'll have you killed right now."
Twilight seen enough of this, "Stop it!" she yelled, "Have you lost your mind?!"
Kamoshida...? looks at her in confusion, "What...? Don't you dare tell me you don't know who I am." he said as he walk towards her with that shit-eating grin on his face. Twilight just glared at him with hatred in her eyes. "That look in your eyes irritates me!" as he raised his leg and kicks her towards the wall. "Hold her there... After this peasant, It's her turn to die, that is if I don't make a slave out of her first."
Twilight got up and run towards him, only to have the guards held her back and restraining her. The last guard had his sword pointed at Sakamoto. He pleaded to Kamoshida...? that he doesn't want to die, but he ignore him, laughing at his upcoming death.
Twilight looks down to the ground, 'Why?!' she thought out of frustration 'Why am I so helpless?!'
Then the familiar voice came towards her, and the same blue butterfly was in her field of vision. "This is truly an unjust game... Your chances of winning are almost none." she said, "But if my voice is reaching you, there may yet be a possibility open to you..." as the voice fades and the butterfly disappears.
As soon as the butterfly disappears Twilights head started pulsing, and a new voice was in her head. "What's the matter?" the voice asked, sounding like a gentleman "Are you simply going to watch?"
"Are you forsaking him to save yourself?" he asked more forcefully "Death awaits him if you do nothing."
'I know, but I...' Twilight thought trying to communicate with him.
"Was your previous decision a mistake then?"
Twilight eyes widen, suddenly recalling the day she was arrested. She remembered that day so vividly at this moment. The argument before she arrived, the man pulling on her clothes to try and force her into the car, her pushing the man off, the man getting hurt, and then the man suing her for the injuries he sustained. She lowered her head. That decision... the moment when it seemed like her fate had changed just by getting involved at that time... it was...
...It was no mistake.
'No... it wasn't!' Twilight roared back as her eyes burned with anger. 'I'm not the one who's wrong here! No, it wasn't me... it's this damn world! The shitty adults who run it like its their goddamn given right! I refused... I REFUSED to let someone dictate my future like they own it!' Once more, out of resolution and rage, Twilight struggled. 'If living means I have to give up my future... then I'd rather die!'
The guard pick him up Sakamoto by the neck, he struggling to get some air, the guards sword pointed, ready to strike. All while Twilight struggled against her captors.
"Very well... I have heeded your resolve." as soon as the voice said that, Twilight's head started pulsating, this time she screamed in pain. "Vow to me." the voice said, "I am thou, thou art I" as the pain was getting worse, she began to trash around, the searing scorch of pain burning deep inside her.
"Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice!" the voice continued, it felt as if something was trying to rip itself out of her, deep from within her very body, clawing out viciously like a wild animal seeking freedom. "Call upon my name, and release thy rage!"
She gave a bloodcurdling scream as if something was about to be released. "Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, through thou be chained to Hell itself!" the voice yelled out, as if there was a switch Twilight glare at Kamoshida...? with new resolve strength.
"Execute him!" he ordered.
"That enough!" Twilight yelled capturing everyone's attention "I will stop you!"
"What was that?" he asked in shock. The guard drop Sakamoto, as he gasping for air. "You desire to be killed that much..? Fine!" Kamoshida...? said as they now focused on her. He nod his head and one of the guards smack his shield on her head, losing her glasses in the process and knocking her out.
(Cue: Persona 5 OST - Awakening)
The two guards hold her up with their spears and the third ready to strike. Sakamoto was painfully looking at her while trying to stand up, trying to save her, but had no energy and fell back down. Kamoshida...? gave the order and as soon as the guard raised his sword ready to kill her, and without warning a powerful gust of wind came from her, throwing the guards away and smashing them straight in to the wall.
A white avian mask form on her face, Twilight not knowing struggled to pull off her mask, and much to Sakamoto's horror, as soon as the mask was removed from her face, blood gushed, staining her skin around her eyes, as she screamed. The white mask remained in her grasp as her arms hung to her sides, and her head lowered. Twilight then raised her head, but her eyes were golden and she had a toothy maddened grin, the blood transformed into blue flames only they don't burn her skin.
The flames then engulfed her, Red flames flickered within the blue, forming on her face to create a devilish grin and slanted eyes. Claw-like hands took over her digits, and the flames grew outward from her hip, creating something reminiscent to that of a cloak. Then, the flames began to move, removing itself from Twilight, and revealing her safe and unharmed... Though her Shujin Academy uniform was gone. Instead, in it's place, was an attire reminiscent to that of a magician. She wore a black trench coat, a grey-collared shirt with black trouser, boots pressed against the foothold beneath her, and red gloves at her hands. Her hair was now long and straight, dancing wildly.
Behind her, the flames began to solidify, taking on physical shape, and leaving all in attendance quaking with various emotions. It was easily twice the size of Twilight. Wearing a red coat, the length of the clothingonly made it up to the mid-back of the thing. A black mask with red designs made it seem like it had horns. Two gigantic black wings closed around her. Massive red boots with bladed heels were worn at the bottom to create a rather dignified yet dangerous look. Then, there was a white scarf and a tall top hat as two articles of clothing a gentleman would wear along with a massive vest with red strings. Black-clawed fingers sprouted out from red finger-less gloves, ready to slice all those that stood in its path. Chains rattled and surrounded its body, as if the metal links were being bent to the will of the massive entity. Flames burned on the mask, resembling sharp teeth curled into a wicked grin, and eyes narrowed into a taunting glare.
As Twilight spread out her arms, the figures wings open knocking everyone back against the wall. Kamoshida...? crawl away from her, while Sakamoto look at her, "Wha...What the...?" he asked. She felt powerful as she look at the figure.
"I'm am the pillager of twilight-"Arsene!" as he introduce as if he was a giving a dramatic entrance.
"What the...?" Sakamoto asked her.
She ignored him and look on her new outfit.
"I'm am the rebel's soul that resides within you." he explained to her, as she looks at him, "If you so desire, I shall consider granting you the power to break through this crisis."
"Give me your power." she answered
"Hmph, very well... Arsene replies with some interest about his Mistress.
Kamoshida...? look at her in fear "Who the hell are you...?!" he asked.
Twilight look at him with that madden grin and answered "Me?, I'm Twilight, and I'm not letting some shitty adult, take over my future."
"Guards!" Kamoshida...? yelled, as the guards stand up, "Start by killing that one!" he ordered. Both guards body shook and exploded into black and red goo. As soon as they reform they were two floating Jack-o-lanterns with a wizards hat and cape, while holding a lantern. "You'll learn the true strength of my men!" he yelled.
Twilight then pull a knife out her sleeves getting ready to fight. "Detest the enemies before you! Change that animosity into power... and unleash it!" Arsene said.
Twilight then felt a new power inside her, "Ravage them...Eiha." As the magic flows out, a red and black curse flow out, killing one of the Jack-o-Lanterns.
The other ran forward and swing it's lantern at her, causing some damage. Arsene gave her some new instructions "Swing your blade!"
Twilight then ran towards the Jack-o-Lanterns and swung her knife three times, killing the other one.
"This power of mine is yours!" Arsene said "Kill them however you want. Run wild to your heart's content!" as he disappears and the white, avian mask, was back on her face.
Twilight felt stronger in the fight, and felt Arsene stronger to.
"Mistress I have learned a new skill that might be useful to you. Cleave your enemies to death with my power." Arsene alerted her, she nodded.
Sakamoto look at her in shock, both feeling impressed and terrified, "What..." he asked "What was that just now?"
Kamoshida...? with a piss off face stomp towards her, "You little...!"
Sakamoto now seeing a chance, gotten up and slammed him towards the corner. "You like that, you son of a bitch!?" he said with renew strength.
Twilight saw this as a chance to hold him down "Quick grab the key, and lock the cell!" she said.
Sakamoto look at the keys that he dropped, "Y-you mean this?" he asked, as he grabs them and as soon as they both out, they close the door and lock it, "Ok it's locked."
"Damn you!" Kamoshida...? yelled as he gets up.
Sakamoto looks at Twilight "Hey...! What was that just now?!" he asked, "And... your clothes...!" As soon as he said that Twilight clothes revert back into her Shujin Academy uniform, with her glasses, school bag, and her hair back into a bun. "Whoa, it went back to normal...?!" he yelled out.
Then he scream in surprised, forgetting about Kamoshida...? for a moment. "You bastards!" Kamoshida...? screamed.
"God, this is effin' nuts!" he said, "Anyways, let's scram! You lead the way!"
Twilight nods, knowing with the mysterious power, she's better off in the front. Sakamoto toss the keys aside as they ran trying to find an exit. As they reach the end of the hallway they turn to their left, only to find a broken bridge, below was a fast moving river.
"Hey Sakamoto" she calls over her companion.
"Huh? Sup?" he answers her.
"The cell door is locked, but maybe we can jump across here." she points to the area of the bridge.
"A bridge. Looks like it's broken though..." Sakamoto says observing the remains of the bridge. It took him a minute for her words to hit him correctly. "Oh, I see the gap is not big, so we can jump right over it?"
Twilight nods as she demonstrates by jumping over it with ease.
"All right! We can keep goin' this way." Sakamoto stated while running ahead.
The two kept going until they reached another stream with cages crossing it. Jumping on them Twilight carefully started crossing.
"Be careful not to fall," he warns her seeing the water on the cage indicating that they are slippery.
Twilight continued to jump "I'll be okay don't wor- Woah!" Twilight immediately slipped on the slippery cages.
Sakamoto rushed into grabbing her before she could fall in the water. "What did I say, be careful!" he yelled at her.
Twilight nods as she tries to regain her balance before climbing off."Thank you for saving me Sakamoto," she bowed to him thanking him.
Sakamoto blushed and waved it off. "It's alright just be careful. You nearly scared me there. Like I said just be careful." He repeated what he said before.
Twilight nodded back. The two resumed walking to find an exit.
"That execution shit... is he serious?" Sakamoto asked as they made their way through the dungeon.
"After seeing what happened in the cell I'd say yes. Kamoshida looked ready to kill us both." She replied to the question while approaching another cell that led to another area. She gets close and just like she suspected it was locked.
"Dammit, it won't open! We need some kind of exit. Is there some other path we can use?" Sakamoto wondered.
Twilight looked at the cells they had passed and found one open. Going inside she found a small hole big enough for both of them to crawl. "I found our way out let's crawl through here." She explained to Sakamoto.
Twilight then kneeled down to crawl into the hole. Before she continued she noticed Sakamoto turned his head and was blushing. "Is something wrong?" She asked him, forgetting that she was wearing a skirt.
"Your skirt. I think it would be best if you go through first and I'll follow through." He responded still not looking at her.
"Alright, I'll tell you when I'm on the other side." She responded and quickly crawled to the other side. "I'm on the other end you can come now." She shouted into the hole for him to hear.
She heard shuffling as Sakamoto made it to the other side, pausing for a minute telling her his bag got stuck. Twilight looked out the cell waiting to see if they could find a way out. She noticed a bridge leading to the other side while glancing out.
After Sakamoto had got out of the hole, the two continued towards the bridge. It was lowered so they could cross.
"Is that a drawbridge? Dude, the hell is this place?" he asked looking around.
"I honestly don't know Sakamoto. Maybe if we keep going, we will get our answer," she replied to him. "Come on if we stay here long those guards might catch us." she urged him to keep going.
Sakamoto followed her more as the two looked for an exit. Sakamoto had spotted what looked like to be guards and without warning grabbed her to pull behind a crate.
"I saw guards. Sorry, I thought it is best if we hid" he apologized. Twilight nods as the two looked out a particular area of the crates. Two guards rushed out heading towards where Kamoshida was. "Over there. They're looking for us, right? I ain't playin' along with this anymore! We gotta find a way outta this place!"
Twilight agreed and pointed to the stairs. "Maybe that's the exit." Twilight looked towards the stairwell. The two get up and run up the staircase. It twists as they progress higher till they see a door.
Gasping and panting for air Sakamoto looks at the door with glee. "I-is this the exit?! Hey, let's get the hell outta this place!" Sakamoto cried happily. Twilight quickly opened the door however to his dismay it was not the exit.
"Dude... You gotta be jokin'... This ain't the exit?! What the hell is this place?!" At this point, Twilight could tell Sakamoto was getting really frustrated.
"Calm down, we need to be level-headed while we try to navigate the exit. It can't be too far if we are ascending upward there gotta be another flight of stair that sends us to the entrence somewhere." After a few minutes of talking Sakamoto calmed down.
"Let's see where this path takes us we can't be far from the entrance" She explains.
The two continue on their journey to get out of the dungeon. This floor was different for one the cells weren't empty they look like they had prisoners in them.
Sakamoto stopped in his track looking to something. "H-hey look" Sakamoto looked towards the cage above the streams, they looked like one's they had crossed before only this time they had more prisoners in them.
"We actually did hear people screamin'. So we ain't the only ones who got captured!" Sakamoto said with fear. The person on the cage wasn't moving. "Is, uh... is he ok?" Sakamoto said with concern.
Looking closely Twilight they see him breathing. "He's asleep it seems he's okay, but we might be like him if we stay here." Twilight warns Sakamoto.
Moving along they see another bridge. Next to the bridge was a statue of Kamoshida. They couldn't see a way to get the bridge down.
"Dammit, the bridge's up! Ain't there some way to lower it?!" Sakamoto yelled in frustration.
"Let's check around, there's got to be a way." Twilight said trying to calm him down.
Heading down she tried to find a way to lower the bridge, they came to a dead end.
"Another dead end? Dammit! How the hell're we supposed to get outta here?!" Twilight was about to calm down Sakamoto again, but then a voice interrupted them both.
"...Hey, you there." A voice calls out. Twilight and Sakamoto look around for the voice.
"Blondie! Glasses! Look over here!" It called out again. They looked to the prison cell next to them. In the call was... a cat? It was a black and white cat with a huge head like on those chibi characters and had a yellow scarf around its neck.
"What is that thing?!" Sakamoto exclaimed while trying to identify what this cat person was.
"You're not soldiers of this castle, right?! Get me out of here!" the cat begged to them. "Look, the key's right there!" the cat points to the wall next to it with the keys on a hook.
"We're trying to get the hell out of here! I mean, you obviously look like an enemy too!" Sakamoto said not trusting the cat.
"I'm locked up here, so how can I be your enemy?! Help me out!" The cat begged.
Twilight who was amazed at the cat in front of her just replied "A cat?"
"I'm NOT a cat! Say that again, and I'll make you regret it!" The cat yells furiously. This alerted some guards nearby as they heard them et closer.
"They're catching up already!" Sakamoto looked down to his phone in a panic. "Shit, there still no service. Ain't there any way to contact someone outside?!"
Twilight checked her phone and just as Sakamoto said no service. She looked towards the cat. Maybe this cat could help them.
"How the hell do we get out?!" Sakamoto turned to her as he tried to think of a way out.
"Maybe we should listen to the cat. It looks like the cat knows this place better than us." Twiliht said looking at the cat.
The cat nodded at her suggestion. "You want to know where the exit is? Let me out, and I'll take you there. You don't want to get caught and executed, right?" The cat does it best to appear friendly to them.
"Can you really help us escape here?" Twilight asked the cat.
"I never go back on my word! Especially to a lady!" The cat vows.
"This thing sound like it's all talk..." Sakamoto still didn't trust the cat.
"Sakamoto at this point we don't have any other way out. It knows possibly where to go, and it looks trustworthy. Let's just trust it this one time." Twilight replied to Sakamoto grabbing the key off the hook.
The guard got closer to their location. "Are you seriously not messin' with us?!" Sakamoto asked one last time.
"If you don't hurry, they'll catch you." Twilight looked at hi after the cats warning.
"F-fine..." Sakamoto gives in. Twilight quickly unlocks the cell door letting out the cat.
"Ahhhh... Freedom taste so great..." The cat blissfully stretches, Sakamoto who is irritated at this point, as well anxious to leave, yells at the cat.
"Now, where's the exit, you monster cat?!" The cat didn't appreciate being called that.
"Don't call me a cat! I am Morgana!" Twilight noted the cat's name. So it was Morgana? Sounds feminine so maybe the cat is a she?
The bickering between Sakamoto and Morgana continued.
"Shuddup and hurry it up! You wanna be locked up again?!" Sakamoto threatened Morgana one last time.
"A-all right, sheesh! Follow me, and stay quiet!" Morgana warned them before dashing off.
Take Your Time
Outside the Metaverse, in the real Shujin, a frustrated Kawakami looked at the time noting Twilight was late.
"...It's the fourth period already. Sakura-san said that Sparkle-san left the house this morning. Should I contact the police?"
Kawakami paused for a second to think about this. She shakes her not knowing it wasn't worth it.
"No, that'll just be more of a hassle..." She mutters to herself while sighing. "What did I do to deserve this?" Kawakami said to herself before grabbing her lesson plans for the class.
Take Your Time
Back inside the Metaverse, Twilight and Sakamoto were following that cat named Morgana. They arrived back to the drawbridge near the statue.
"What're you doin'?" Sakamoto curiously asked Morgana.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm lowering the bridge." Morgana said in a smart aleck tone. Morgana turns to look at Twilight. "You, Glasses. It seems like you pick up on things faster than our Blondie over here. Try checking around the mouth of the statue, OK?" Morgana moves to give her room to look.
Twilight approaches the statues looking around the mouth before noticing it was a switch. Pulling on the jaw caused the eyes to glow, and the bridge started to lower.
"How were we supposed to know that?!" Sakamoto complained.
"Hmph, amateur. Come on, let's keep going!" Morgana urged them.
The three ran forward hoping to get away from the guard. Unfortunately, they didn't notice the guard and ran straight into it.
Sakamoto fell back in fear. "A-ah! Shit... Shit. It's them!" Sakamoto yells in fear.
Twilight's outfit transformed immediately changed back into battle ready form the moment the guard came close.
Morgana jumps in front of Sakamoto. "Tch. You amateur! Stay still!" Morgana orders him. Morgana then points to Twilight. "Hey you! You can fight, right?" Let's go!"
Twilight readies herself to call Arsene. As she readies herself, Morgana glows for a brief second. "Come! Zorro!" Morgana shouted as a beam of light appeared, and a man in a Spanish outfit appeared behind Morgana quickly dashing it cutlass forming a "Z."
"Y-you got one of those things too?!" Sakamoto asked in surprised. The guard burst out of it armor at the moment.
"Hmph, we will promptly shut them up!" Morgana said with pride.
The battle has begun.
In front was another Jack-O-Lantern and a demon looking thing with wings and a rather phallic spike near it nether regions.
"Damn Shadows. They've taken up intercept position! It means they're holding nothing back and are serious to kill us! I'll back you up, so fight like your life depends on it! Let's go!" Morgana encouraged and explained to Twilight.
Twilight summoned Arsene and quickly with his strength and memory of Arsene's hint, Cleaved the Jack-O-Lantern. It did some damage, but the shadows was still there before Twilight winced feeling a minor pain from within. Did that attack hamper her as well?
"Hmph. I knew you were an amateur. This is how fight!" Morgana summons Zorro to use Garu as a spiraling force of wind to surround the Jack-O-Lantern knocking it down leaving it stunned on the ground.
"Sticking at an enemy's weakness to knock them down. Use that opening to strike again! That's the most basic of basics! Remember it well!" Morgana instructed Twilight.
"Alright, thanks for the advice Morgana!" She thanks the cat.
Morgana nods at her, "C'mon, let's hurry and get through this!" Morgana immediately continued with an attack using Garu once again, but this time killing the Jack-O-Lantern.
The demon shadow attacked Twilight head on surprising her. It's talons scape the side of her back. "Damn it!" She yelled in pain.
Unsheathing her knife, she attacked head on with no remorse. The attacks were too much and killed the demon. More money dropped from the shadows as Twilight picked it up wondering where these Shadows were getting it. After confirming no more guards were coming the two relaxed as Sakamoto goes to them.
"Not bad. Your Persona's pretty powerful too." Morgana complemented Twilight.
"Persona? Y'mean that thing comes outta you guys all dramatic like?" Sakamoto asked.
Nodded at him, "Yes, you saw how Glasses here ripped off her mask, when she summoned it, right? Well, everybody wears a mask deep within their heart. By removing that..." Morgana was going to continue as Twilight costume disappeared again as she was left with her Shujin Uniform.
"Huh...? She turned back to normal..." Sakamoto was confused.
"Hm, it looks like you don't have full control over your power yet. The transformation shouldn't usually dissolve like that. After all-" Morgana would have continued, but was interrupted by Sakamoto.
"Rgh, that's enough! This crap doesn't make any sense!" Sakamoto yelled in irritation.
Morgana didn't appreciate being cut off. "Can't you just sit still and listen for once, Blondie?!" Morgana yells back while jumping in anger.
"Don't call me Blondie! My name's Ryuji..." Twilight while listening to them nicker noted Sakamoto's full name was possibly Ryuji Sakamoto.
"Actually, there's no time for me to lecture you! Wanna escape this place in one piece, right? Let's go!" He was going to turn and show them the way, before turning back and getting something from its utility belt. "Oh, but before that... Take these. Use them carefully, ok?" Morgana gives Twilight some medicine.
Twilight nods thankfully before pocketing them. "Come on, we should hurry. It's not much farther to the exit." Morgana urged them. "Just make sure to check on your injuries, ok? There still a chance we'll end up fighting in here." Morgana said concerned.
"Don't worry I will. I have no intention of dying in here." she proudly states before moving.
"Moving forward they see bigger prison cells lining the wall holding people in them. They ran till reached another bridge with a statue. In front was another prisoner in a cell.
"Hold on a sec!" Ryuji approached the cell with a prisoner on the floor. He was wearing what looked like a sports jersey. "I've feel like I've seen this dude before..." Ryuji tried to think a bit, but it didn't help.
"Dammit! I'm too flustered! I can't remember a damn thing!" Ryuji continues to try to think, but his thoughts are flustered.
"Come on, let's go" Morgana urged them to keep going.
"Hold on, dammit!" Ryuji didn't comply with Morgana.
"What is it? We need to go fast!" Morgana said impatiently.
"But... who are these guys?" Ryuji asked.
"Do you really think you have the time to worry about other people right now?! Besides they're-" Morgana would have continued, but they were spotted by the guards.
"There" One shouted alerting the others. The bridge went down as the guard crossed.
"You should've listened to me!" Morgana said while preparing for battle.
"Looks like we have to fight, ready for combat Morgana?" Twilight grabs her knife.
"I'm glad you stick to your guns." Morgana looked at her proudly.
The guard burst from the armor. Reveling a fairy like creature, it didn't really look that threatening to Twilight, but considering a Jack-O-Lantern and a demon were in this castle it safe to assume it could hit pretty hard too.
"Looks like it's raring to go too!" The pixie then rushed to attack them. Twilight quickly dodged it, the pixie then called upon another one of itself to help battle.
"Heads up the pixie might be weak to curse moves, try attacking them with that!" Morgana suggested.
Twilight took Morgana's advice and used Eiha on one of the Pixie's killing it on the spot. The other Pixie stood there mortified seeing their comrade killed in an instant, giving Twilight another chance to attack. Without remorse, Twilight use Eiha killing the other pixie only it yen behind for taking.
Twilight felt a bit stronger from the battle it seemed these shadows gave her more strength the more she got rid of them. She felt she had more energy to attack and use more magic. Transforming back she returned back to her uniform with Morgana bouncing with glee.
"All right! Let's get away before more show up!" Morgana said cheerfully ready to move.
"Hold on, we can't just leave these guys here!" Ryuji said with concern.
Morgana's cheer turned into irritation fast."You really don't get it, do you? Hrgh... There's no time to explain. Look I'm going. If you don't want to follow be my guest!" Morgana then sprints off leaving them behind.
"Dammit... Fine I'm coming!" he yells following Morgana.
Twilight sprints after them both soon reach the foyer where they were originally.
"The entrance hall is right here! The exit's close... Keep it up!" Morgana urged them.
They rushed across the rest of the entrance hall to the other side. It had two rooms one was opened, and the other closed and possibly locked.
"We're here!" Morgana announced.
Ryuji signed in relief. "Finally! We're saved!" Ryuji ran to the closed door and like Twilight suspected it was locked. "Huh?! It's not openin'! D'you trick us, you jerk?!"
Morgana jumped with anger. "Don't jump to conclusions! Over here!" Morgana pointed to the other room running into it.
"H-hey, wait up!" The two follow Morgana into the room. The room looks normal except for a bookcase and a ventilation shaft above.
"Where are we supposed to get out from here?! There aren't even any windows!" Morgana looks at Ryuji like he's an idiot.
"Uh, amateur... This is the most basic of basics." Morgana said in disappointment.
"It looks like we can use the ventilation shaft," Twilight suggested.
Morgana jumped up with glee. "That right! As I thought, you're a natural at this. It leads all the way outside."
Ryuji looks up at the shaft. "I see.. Then we just gotta get that metallic mesh off!" Ryuji runs up the bookcase and grab the mesh to pull it off. He then fell while doing so revealing the hole for them to escape. "Owww... Crap! The enemy didn't hear us, did they?!" Ryuji asked concerned before sighing. "Seriously, we're finally getting outta here!" Ryuji said with glee.
"You should wait on celebrating until you actually get out. Now, get going." Morgana urged them.
"But what about you?" Ryuji asked Morgana.
"There's something that still have to do. We're going our separate ways." Morgana informed them.
"Thank you, Morgana, please stay safe and don't get caught again." Twilight thanks Morgana for it service.
"Heh, you better be careful too. See ya." He waves goodbye to her. The two jumped through the hole and leaves the castle. Morgana watched them and waited for few minutes just in case while talking quietly. "Those two seem useful. Especially the one with the Glasses, it my judgement is right..." Morgana says silently before turning to go through the castle further.
Take Your Time
Ryuji and Twilight are transported back to reality as they look around to see the street leading to the school.
"Did we make it?" Ryuji asking to check.
Twilight took out her phone to check. "You have returned to the real world. Welcome back." The Metaverse app confirmed their location.
"Huh? Returned? Does that mean we got away?" Ryuji asked Twilight.
"Judging by our location. Probably." Twilight replied to Ryuji.
"I dunno what to think anymore. What was all that anyways? That castle, and Kamoshida, and that weird cat! The hell's goin' on?!" Ryuji yelled trying to process everything. His yelling caught the ear of some officers.
"What's with the yelling? Are you students of Shujin?" A police officer yelled back towards them.
"Cutting classes, are we?" The officer said disappointed in them.
"Huh? No! We were tryin' to go to school, and we ended up at this weird castle!" Ryuji explained.
Twilight just stood there mentally facepalming. As if they would believe that story, without thinking that they were either crazy or taking drugs. She was right.
"...What? Hand over your bag. You better not be doing any drugs." The cops hold out their hand demanding their bags.
"Why would you think that?!" Ryuji yelled back offended to which Twilight silently rolled her eyes.
The cop looks over to Twilight. "Are you his friend?" he asked her.
Quickly making up a cover story she replied "Something like that. I found Ryuji passed out after hitting his head against a wall. He must have dreamt it all and mixed up his dream." She replied hoping the police would accept the cover story.
The police stared at her as she stood there smiling hoping they would stop staring. The police man sighed and looked at the two. "Then you should go to school. Take him with you." The cop told Twilight.
Before Ryuji could continue, she grabbed his arm. "Come on Ryuji. Let's go we're already late, we wouldn't want to upset these cops even more." She suggested to him while pulling his arm.
"But the castle!" he yelled.
"We passed by Shujin on our way here. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it. If you spout any more nonsense, I'll contact your school. IS that what you want?" the cop threatened.
Twilight was now on high alert now she was already on probation, she didn't need something like this to screw her up and send to juvie.
Ryuji looks at Twilight "C'mon say something back me up here." Ryuji pleads to her.
Unfortunately for him, Twilight who was already in trouble with the law ignored the plea. "Let's get going. Wouldn't want to be in more trouble than we are Ryuji." She says with a grin while pulling his arm more.
"Uh, that not what I meant..." Twilight ignored him and started pulling him along waving goodbye to the officers. "W-wait a sec. Are you for real!" she nods while giving him a serious face. "Fine, I'm going." Twilight lets go of his arm and walk towards the school as Ryuji follows.
On the way, Twilight ignored Ryuji for a while. Yes, it was cruel, but at this moment she was possibly in trouble and if the officer was right, she was late for her school. This is going to be the worst first day of school for Twilight.
Take Your Time
On the other side of Tokyo, the SIU director was talking to himself gathering his thoughts.
"A minister of transport announcing his resignation..." He chuckled a bit before continuing. "Things are going as planned..." He pauses to think some more about the situation.
"Sae Nijima... That reminds me. Better to leave it be for now." He stops and look at the time before realizing he has a meeting to go to.
Take Your Time
Twilight and Ryuji arrived at the school. It was like she saw on Sunday, it was just a school, not a castle.
"Is this for real?" Ryuji asked looking at from every angle to make sure he saw things right. "I'm confident that we came from the same way... What's goin' on here?" he asked her.
She would have replied, but she saw the counselor approaching, and he did not look happy.
"That's exactly what I wanted to ask you. We received a call from the police." Twilight's blood ran cold. She just stood their obediently not wanting to make the situation worse.
Unfortunately, Ryuji did that for her. "That damn cop snitched us after all!" Ryuji shouted angrily.
The counselor noticed Twilight and her blood ran even colder. "It rare not to see you alone. Where were you roaming around until this time?" he asked with a judgmental voice.
Twilight was thinking of an answer when Ryuji made the situation worse. "Uhh... a ca- a-castle?" he replied. In Twilight's mind she was facepalming hard at his response, and was getting seriously sick of him saying that.
"So you have no intention of giving an honest answer?" The counselor said with more disappointment. A new person joins in on the conversation suddenly.
"What's this about a "castle?" The familiar voice asked. Man walked up to them it looked like Kamoshida from the castle from earlier.
"Kamoshida?!" Ryuji said in surprise.
"You seem so carefree, Sakamoto. Quite a difference from when you did morning practice for the track team." He bluntly stated.
"Shuddup! It's your fault that-" Ryuji said with anger before being cut by the counselor.
"How dare you speak that way to Mr. Kamoshida! There not much leeway left for you, you know?" The counselor scolds Ryuji.
"He's the one that provoked me!" Ryuji yelled back.
Twilight could tell Kamoshida made him naturally angry.
"Do you really want to be expelled?!" The counselor threatened. "In any case, you'll have to explain yourself! Follow Me!" The counselor demanded.
"What?! This is bullshit!" Ryuji anger only rose with the demand.
"Come now, I should have been more considerate, too. Let's just say that we were both to blame." Kamoshida smiles trying to not escalate the situation.
The counselor takes Kamoshida words and calms down a bit. "Well, if you say so... Still. You're coming with me. It's undeniable that you're incredibly late." The counselor tells the two of them.
"Fine..." Ryuji gives into the counselor.
Kamoshida looks over to Twilight. "By the way,... you're that new transfer student, correct? Twilight Sparkle..."
Twilight nods to him. "That's right sir."
The counselor and Ryuji start walking into the school. Ryuji gets close to Kamoshida glaring hatefully at him. It stayed that way for a few second before he began walking again. Kamoshida followed him a bit, until Ryuji entered the school. After Ryuji had entered his eyes turned back to Twilight.
It took a minute, but he recognized her. "Have we met somewhere?" He asked her.
"This morning you offered to take me to school with that girl." she answered honestly knowing using the castle excuse would cause problems.
"That's right... I remember now." He said as it dawned on him. "Well, I'll overlook this for today. I'm sure you've heard from the principal, but cause any trouble, and you'll be expelled, understand?" He lectured her.
"Thank you, sir, and yes sir. I promise this won't happen again." She replied obediently to him.
"At any rate, hurry up and go to the faculty office. I'm sure Ms. Kawakami is tried of waiting." He suggests as he turns to the door. He looks back to her one last time and smiles to her.
"Good luck trying to enjoy your new school life." He says seemingly kind.
"Thank you, sir." She replies back. The two enter the school.
Take Your Time
Time flashed forward as Twilight stopped as Sae asked her to stop recalling for a minute.
"The school turned into an old castle? A talking cat? Are you hallucinating from an overdose? I won't put up with you if you're simply joking around." Sae said in a condescending tone. She looks down to check the time on her watch. Despite these ludicrous things Twilight has told her she was somewhat intrigued.
"I'm going to have you continue the story. The one who received a "calling card" from the Phantom Thieves was an Olympic medalist." Moving the calling card revealed a picture of Kamoshida to her. For a brief moment, Sae saw hatred and a flash of gold in Twilight's eyes. She continued for a while observing Twilight's demeanor.
"...An alummus from Shujin Academy- the PE teacher Suguru Kamoshida. It's true that what he did were deplorable crimes from.. indulging his desire. He confessed to it all." She paused while withholding some of her repulsed reaction, before straightening herself out. "But there should've been no connection between the two of you since you had just transferred. Why did you target him?" She questioned Twilight.
Twilight remained quite trying to collect her thought and trying to remember, but all she got was that she hated this man, and the rest of her memories were still a bit blurry.
"I don't want to say." Twilight told Sae. In truth, she just trying to remember as well... getting a weird feeling that she didn't want to. Sae didn't like Twilight's answer and slammed her hands on the desk in anger.
"That's unacceptable! Try and recall it once again!" She demanded to Twilight.
Twilight went quiet for a second and continued on with what she knew so far as her memories were slowly being reveled to her.
Take Your Time
Twilight entered the building mentally preparing herself. She knew she wouldn't be readily welcome. 'Did they know what happened? About my criminal record? What would they think of me?' She thought about this and shook her head. It didn't matter to her what they thought, all she had to do was act obediently and nice. Maybe she would make a friend this way, or they would change their opinion of her.
Pushing the door open, she walked in. Some of the students stopped and saw her. It remained quiet for a second, before they started whispering to each other.
She ignored them and mentally told herself she needed to go to the faculty office. Along the way up to the first flight of stair, she heard them talking.
"It's a girl? I thought it was going to be a boy?!" one said in surprised.
"It doesn't matter regardless of the gender I bet she's still dangerous... maybe even more so!" Another responded.
She quickly walk up thinking, 'Yep, just like Crystal Prep. At least I gotten used to people talking behind my back.' She stop at the second floor now noticing that she didn't know where is the faculty office is. She looks and saw a female student with brown hair with a bob cut with blunt bangs, and a braided headband.
"Excuse me" Twilight grabs her attention.
"Huh, can I help you?" The brown hair girl asked.
"I'm new here, do you know where the faculty office is?" Twilight asked.
"Oh yes, down the hall to the left." She gave Twilight directions.
Twilight thanks her, and proceed to the direction she was given, and already some student are talking about her.
Eventually, she found the faculty office. It seems now the entire school now realized that she was the female causing the rumors.
Before she could hear any more, she entered the faculty office to find Kawakami looking at her. "Here we go again, get on with the scolding." she told herself, mentally preparing for Kawakami's lecture.
She sighs for a bit "Unbelievable. Being over half a day late on your first day? Can you explain yourself?" she asked hoping for an explanation.
"My train was late, and I got lost Ma'am." she replied looking with a cold stare not willing to make Ryuji's mistake.
"The lost part I understand, since you move here from America, but still it's lunch time you know? You've would've gotten here sooner if you had walked from your place. It's true the train schedules have been a mess, due to the accident, but you're still way too late." Kawakami lectured her, and didn't stop as if she was taking her frustration on Twilight.
"Will you pull yourself together? You were given a fair warning yesterday. More importantly... I heard you were caught along with that Sakamoto-Kun?" Twilight had tuned her out for a bit, but picked up her comment about Ryuji.
""That" Sakamoto?" She asked Kawakami.
Kawakami shook her head. "Don't get involved with him, OK? He's nothing, but trouble. He wasn't like that when he was devoting his time at track and field though..." Kawakami answered her.
That the second time Twilight heard about Ryuji being an athlete. 'Did something happen to him?' she wondered.
"Anyway. The break is almost over. Classes will end after fifth period today, because of the subway accident. I'll have you introduce yourself when class resumes. Follow me." Kawakami tells her as she gets up to lead Twilight to the classroom.
Walking down the hallway, the gossiping resumed as she passed by students. They approached the classroom as Kawakami stops for second looking at Twilight.
"By the way, when you introduce yourself. Be serious about it even if you're lying to the class, OK? Do not say anything unnecessary." She tells Twilight and then walk towards the classroom.
Twilight followed while listening back as two girls talk about her. "...You think that's her?" the first girl ask.
"Huh? The one from the rumors...?" By then Twilight tuned them out as it was another baseless rumor.
After a few minutes, the classroom is filled with students. As soon they see Twilight in from the rumors started again. At this point, the rumors was starting to get to her, but not much. Did they not have any courage to actually talk to her. She stood there with that same cold stare which didn't help her much.
"Being super late on her first day? She really is insane..." one student whispered.
"She looks normal though..." another whispered back.
The student looked at her with some fear in their eyes. "But she might slug us if we look her in the eye..." Another replied.
"Settle down." Kawakami said as she tried to control the whisper and chatter. "..Well, I'd like to introduce a transfer student; Twilight Sparkle. Today we... had her attend from the afternoon since she was getting used to the environment, from America." Kawakami said making an excuse for Twilight.
Turning to Twilight she looks at her. "All right, please say something to the class." Kawakami urged her.
Before Twilight made her introduction, a voice in her head called out. "Mistress, allow me."
With her body and voice on autopilot she said "Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle. I know that you heard all these rumors of me, but I assure you it all completely false, and I know you all don't trust me completely, but please allow me to show you and prove myself to you." with a kind and inviting aura, bowing to the class.
"She seems nice... was the rumors true..." One girl stated.
"Maybe we should give her a chance" another replied.
The class took did seem to take her kind introduction, and the rumors died down a little.
"...Uh, so. Your seat will be... Hmm..." Kawakami who now feels a little guilty, find an open seat. Pointing towards the window, she points to an empty seat. "Over there. That one's open. Sorry, but can the people nearby please share your textbooks with her for today?" As her way of apologizing. Some of the students groan at that suggestion, some are willing to do so.
Twilight catches a blue haired boy, who looked incredibly guilty. 'Why would he be guilty did he do something wrong?' she wondered. Either way, Twilight walks over to the open seat passing by the girl from this morning.
"...Lies." she quietly said as Twilight moved pass her.
Twilight stop near at her desk. "Huh?" she asked her. The girl looks back at her with an angry stare. As other take hold of this and began gossiping again. Twilight takes her seat setting her bag down, trying to focus on the lesson.
A girl next to her gave her textbook, while some were wondering how Twilight knew her. Others were interested in how, and an odd one wondered if she was going to hit on that girl. That one was strangely different to her.
Kawakami silenced the gossip with announcements. "Oh, right! The volleyball rally is in two days. Everyone just changed classes so make sure you use that time to get to know each other." Kawakami suggested to her students. After she was sure, no one was going to start talking as she turned to the chalkboard.
"Well then, let's get started. Who's on duty today?" The blue haired boy got up and asked the room to rise. Afterwards, she began to write on the board. Twilight's first day got a little better, while some of the students talk to her, other just look and stayed away from her.
The final bell sounded as Twilight grabbed her bag to leave. As she left the room, her vision blurred as she saw the school look like the castle. Kawakami saw her holding her head in pain.
"Hm? What's wrong?" she asked with some concern.
"Is this a school?" she asked trying to get the pain away.
Kawakami sighs at Twilight's response. "Are you sure you're Ok? Also... it seems like people are already warming up to you, but some are already talking about you, but I'm not the one who told them." She says in a tired tone.
Twilight knew that they heard it from a teacher who had loose lips, only a teacher had that information.
"I can't even catch a break... Why do I have to deal with this?" she whines, Twilight's irritation returned immediately for the teacher from before flares up.
"You should head straight home, without stopping by anywhere. Sakura-San pretty angry." Kawakami suggested to her.
'Oh, great' Twilight thought. Now she had to deal with her angry caretaker.
"Oh and about Sakamoto-kun. Don't get involved-" Kawakami was about to continue as Ryuji walked up. "Speak of the devil... What do you want? I heard the police caught you cutting class today." She says bluntly.
"Ugh... It was nothin'." Ryuji replied to her.
"And you haven't dyed your hair back to black either.." She noticed looking at his hair.
With no emotion in his voice, Ryuji replied "Sorry 'bout that." before walking away from her stopping in front of Twilight whispering to her "I'll be waitin' on the rooftop." Before leaving. Kawakami turned her attention back to Twilight.
"See, that's why I don't want you getting involved. Understood?" she question Twilight.
"Yes Ma'am" She replied then Kawakami walks off to possibly leave for the day.
Fate seemed to really hate Twilight today. Right before she could properly think about what Ryuji said she saw Kamoshida and the principal coming up the stairway talking.
"Why did you allow a student like her transfer here? She's already started associating with Sakamoto. A student with a criminal record, and the culprit of an assault case. At this rate, it'd be pointless how much I contribute to the school." Kamoahida voice his concerns to the principal.
"Now, don't be like that... This school counts on you, Kamoshida-kun. You are our star. Still, a steady build-up is necessary behind such brilliance as well." the principal explains hoping to make this school famous by the sound of it.
"...Your troubles never seem to end, do they Principal Kobayakawa?" Kamoshida sighs before smiling "Alright, I understand I'll continue to do my best to answer your expectations of me." Kamoshida states proudly.
The two of them go their separate way leaving Twilight the chance to thoroughly think. At this rate she would be yelled at either way, so she heads to the rooftop while asking a few students how. She also gets told that the roof is off limits and usually locked.
Upon checking herself, the door was open and a sign telling students to stay out was on the door. She opens the door to see Ryuji sitting on a chair next to the table, enjoying the fresh air.
She approaches him.
"There you are. Sorry for callin' you up here like this. I bet Kawakami already told you stuff like "Don't get involved with him" huh?" Ryuji asked her.
She nodded. "She told me you were trouble. Though you don't seem like it," she replies to Ryuji.
"Heh, we're pretty much in the same boat. I heard you got a criminal record. Everyone's talkin' about it. No wonder you were so gutsy." Twilight sighs.
"I didn't expect, that to happened to reach this quickly." Ryuji watched her as she walked to sit on the desk, and Twilight looked on. He looked at her with concern, he could tell that the rumors were getting to her. He decided to quickly changed the subject.
"What, was all that happened ? You know, how we almost got killed at the castle... It wasn't a dream... right? You remember it too, yeah?" Ryuji questions Twilight.
"Yep, I remember it as clear as day," Twilight replied back.
"Well, just 'cause we both remember it doesn't mean much though..." Ryuji leans back into his chair thinking before continuing. "I mean, even if it was a dream, you saved me from Kamoshida. So yeah... Thanks, Twilight." Ryuji thanked her.
Twilight smiled, it was first time in a long while. "It was no problem you would have done the same, heck you tried to while in there." She said cheerfully.
"But man, that Kamoshida we saw there... You prolly don't know about it, but there are some rumors about him." Ryuji explains.
"Kamoshida... You mean that guy from earlier? Also what rumors?" she asked Ryuji.
"Yep, that's the one. That asshole who was all full of himself at the castle. No one say anything against him 'cause he's some medalist who took the volleyball team to the nationals. The way Kamoshida was king of that castle felt crazy real 'cause of that." Ryuji explains to her.
"...I wonder if we can go back to that castle again..." The two remained quiet for a bit. Twilight was also curious about the castle, not only that the power form earlier and Arsene.
"Ugh, forget it. Must've all been a dream! It has to be! Sorry to drag you out here like this. That's all I had to say." Ryuji pauses while looking at Twilight before smiling. "You know we might be pretty similar. I feel like we're gonna get along just fine as "troublemakers." I'm Ryuji Sakamoto." He introduced himself.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle, but most people at least in my old town called me Twily for short." she introduced back.
"I'll come talk if I see you around. Don't ignore me, all right?" Twilight nods she feels like she might form a bond with Ryuji. Hopefully so even if he was a troublemaker, he didn't seem bad. "See ya," He says leaving to head home. Twilight was left on the roof alone she decided to head back to Leblanc knowing she would receive a scolding from Sojiro. Despite that, she felt the day gotten a little more better personally.
She left school and head home after that.
Take Your Time
She arrived at Leblanc preparing herself for his scolding as she opened the door.
As soon as he walked through the door, Sojiro turned to face her. His face did not look happy in the slightest.
"Hey, I got an interesting call from your school today. It's only your first day, and you've already showing up hours late?" Sojiro scolded her with disappointment in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Sir." she says with her head down a bit.
"And here I thought you got up and left on time this morning." Sojiro glared at her for a few minutes before sighing. "Look just behave yourself. Your life's forfeit if anything happens. You understand the meaning of probation, right?" Sojiro asked her with seriousness.
"I do." she replied back to look as obedient as she could to lessen the scolding.
"Ok then." he replied back. At that moment, his cell phone rang, and he quickly answered it as if knowing who was calling. The genuine grin returned.
He talked to the person on the other line for a bit, before looking at Twilight. He covered his phone for a second to speak to her. "Hey what're you standing around for? go hurry up to bed." He ordered her. He quickly returned to his phone call as Twilight walked to get to her room upstairs. She stopped when she heard Sojiro's voice address to her. "Don't forget to lock the door and turn all the lights off, Ok?" Sojiro reminded her.
She nodded and continued up leaving Sojiro talking to the other person on the line.
After being in peace and quiet, she sat on her bed processing everything that happened. She grabbed her journal to record everything even as nonsensical as it sounded, she writes everything, even her frustrations. Her first day had been almost a complete disaster, the only good thing is possibly becoming friends with Ryuji Sakamoto, and her class giving her a chance to prove herself.
After locking the shop and turning off the lights, she changed into her pajamas and sat on the bed. Tucking herself underneath her cover, she cried a bit before falling asleep. 'It was only the first day' she thought. 'Maybe it could get better. One day won't mean everything will be bad right?' she thought to herself before falling asleep.
Take Your Time
The sound of chains rattling woke her up. It seems had been brought back into the Velvet Room. Getting up she was immediately was yelled by Caroline.
"...About time you've come to." Caroline said impatiently. "On your feet, inmate!" Caroline banged against Twilight cell as she walked to the cell door.
"Our master wishes to speak with you. It's for your own sake that you take his words to heart." Justine ordered her.
Twilight looks towards Igor. "First off, let us celebrate our reunion." He said with a bit glee. He then noticed something different about her. "Oh? You've awakened to your powers, and special ones at that. Your rehabilitation can finally begin." Igor said with joy in his voice.
"You mean Arsene, and what rehabilitation?" Twilight asked curiously.
"There is no need to understand it all for the time being. You will be training the power of Persona, which you have awakened to. Personas are, in other words, a "mask", an armor of the heart when confronting worldly matters." Igor explains to Twilight. "I have high expectation for you." He said with a creepy grin.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked again hoping she would gets answers.
"There is no need to worry. You'll learn when the time comes. By the by... have you come to appreciate the Metaverse Navigator? Using it allows you to come and go between reality and Palaces." Igor explained to Twilight, dodging her question again.
Twilight was starting to get a bit tired of Igor dancing around the question. It didn't help that every time he talked he added, even more questions to the fire for her.
"Metaverse Navigator?" she asked hoping he would at least answer this.
"I bestowed it to you as a means to train you as a thief." He explained to her. Not the answer she was hoping for, and it didn't help that this was followed up Caroline yelling at her more.
"The Metaverse Navigator is a gift from our master! You better take care of using it, inmate!" Justine joined in the "encouragement" circle.
"Devote yourself to your training so you may become an excellent thief," Justine says to her.
"It must be disheartening to make use of the Metaverse Navigator alone. Should who would prove beneficial to you, I will grant it to them as well. This all for you to grow a excellent theif."
The alarm rang signaling the end of their time is soon. Twilight stood their with barely any answers.
"Hmph, it time. Go back and enjoy whatever rest you might have..." Caroline ordered as Twilight finally gave into the sweet dreams of sleep. The day was over it was an emotional day she could wish was for the next day to be better for her.