Zeeland: Yeah, this chapter is late. Had a crap July. No need to be a dick.
25dmccown1: Not really. He chose to go back originally. Since his parents signed over guardianship to Sojiro (I mean the plan was for him to stay there to finish his schooling after all). And once he graduates from Shujin, he'd be able to do what he wanted.
WilsontheBlackDragonofDarkness: My dude. I was ONE DAY LATE when you posted this comment.
Temporal King: "Why is it that I get a shiver of excitment whenever the Shadows plead for their lives?"
Trauvok: Glad you have been enjoying it so much, especially as all the P4 build up was technically for this...
Xerzo LotCN: It was his imagination.
GreatLight432: Well, luckily, Ren is a switch.
Here are some reviews answered by Ghost:
Tony Anderson: No, they're not. But more to come I'm afraid.
GreatLight432: You should see the after-party what they have in store. chuckles
Neo Infinity: Yeah, but don't worry about Haru, she'll be here soon.
hunter81095: Death by snu snu. What a way to go.
Xerzo LotCN: Well, this is Ren's love life. He's got to juggle a lot.
StevieBond: He's going for 100% this time.
Trauvok: Glad you've been enjoying the story so far. Hope the return is up to standards.
Temporal King: We have to protect Futaba.
WilsontheBlackDragonofDarkness: Grey and I are NOT finished with this story. The Persona series is frigging long and take time to write. We went on hiatus with it because we needed a breather.
25dmccown1: Oh our sweet summer child. We have plans for Ren at the end.
Zeeland: Life got in our way, things happen to disrupt upload times.
To everyone who wished Grey a happy birthday: Thank you all. thumbs up
Disclaimer: We do not own Persona 5. That belongs to Atlus.
Co-written by GhostKaiser23
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hey everyone, sorry. This chapter was supposed to come out LAST MONTH. But I was really not feeling well mentally.
But here we go with a new one
And it is Adding something really important!
...
Also, regarding a certain thing. We are not adding P5R stuff, we are just doing this with Lavenza as a reference to it plus it lets us use her more in the main plot and it is a hot character design/we where being a bit lazy so we did not have to think up a new design.
Persona 5 New Game Plus, Joker's Second Chance
Chapter 47
The Gods Of Thieves, Rebel As One
The team were all together, they would get through Oyamada's Palace right to the Treasure Room. Oracle's map-scanning power would keep them abreast of anything coming their way, Seacole's medical knowledge would open the doors and their skill will drive back any Shadows who got in their way. They where back to were they left off... And realising they'd have to redo the third floor.
"Argh! That stupid question door! I forgot about that." Panther groaned.
"Don't worry, Seacole is the smarted of us about this stuff, we can get through easily." Dove reassured.
"Good to know I'm just a text book." Tae called as she looked over her Phantom Thief outfit once more and chuckled
"I-I didn't mean it like that!" Dove apologised.
Seacole laughed as she knew Dove meant no harm.
"Sheesh, no matter how many times I see a Palace, they just get creepier." Skull commented.
"Not getting cold feet, are you Skull?" Queen asked.
"No, not that. Just quiet empty buildings are unnerving." He answered.
"It does have a haunting feeling to it all." Fox agreed.
"Can we stop talking about empty buildings and stuff? It makes it feel like we're in a horror movie. And guess what? Split-up parties die first." Oracle commented as she was close to Joker.
"That and jinxing it." Queen added.
"I didn't think you were a horror fan." Panther commented.
"I know the tropes." Queen rebutted.
"... Yeah, okay. Fair." Skull waved off.
"Joker, is something on your mind?" Dove asked, noticing her shared boyfriend was silent.
"Just thinking. That's all." He answered calmly, removing his hands from his pockets
"Don't falter, we're so close to the treasure room." Fox answered.
"He's right, I can practically smell it." Mona added.
"Are you a cat or dog, Mona?" Skull teased.
"I'm a-Hey!" He huffed as they approached the door to the next room.
"Here we go." Seacole spoke as they saw it
What is the term 'Toxaemia'? The door asked with its robotic voice.
Seacole began to ponder this, thinking about her medical knowledge.
"Hmm... 'Toxae'... toxic?" Panther asked. "Something toxic?"
"Snakes? Err, Komodo dragons." Skull suggested, listing off animals.
"Poison Dart Frogs?" Dove asked.
"They are beautifully coloured." Fox agreed.
"Guys, please. Let Seacole focus." Queen asked.
"Toxaemia. Blood poisoning from toxins by bacteria growing from a local infected site." Seacole called out, giving her answer.
Whirr.
Whirr.
CLICK!
The door began to open.
"Phew, thank goodness." Seacole sighed in relief as she recalled that information, it was one of the terms she was worried that she had forgotten.
"Looks like we can keep going." Panther commented.
"Stay close." Joker asked. "Oracle?"
"Don't worry, I got this." She answered, scanning the next room. "On to the third floor!"
The group headed upwards, seeing how much more twisted this 'hospital' was as they delved deeper into Oyamada's subconscious and saw how much of a twisted man he was. On this floor were emblazoned golden framed portraits of him, being labelled 'The Greatest Doctor', showing him in flattering lights as he was saving people.
"Disgusting." Panther hissed and flinched
Seacole looked at the pictures on the walls, seeing the glorification of Oyamada and the empty faces of the patients themselves. She touched the frame and remembered her tenure at the hospital... and wanted her own picture on the wall of respectable doctors. But she would never forget the patients she treated. Now? All she could see from this was the vainglorious pride that she wanted; wanting to be remembered, if only for a generation. But that wasn't what she wanted now. She wanted to help those who were in dire need.
"Are you okay, Seacole?" Fox asked kindly.
"Yes, I'll be fine." She answered, lowering her hand as she wanted to touch them but didn't.
Joker nodded as he heard her, this was hard because she worked under this man and could see that as a doctor herself, she felt responsible for his actions. He closed his eyes and began to scan the area for any Safe Area doors or even any small treasures around. His skilled third eye glancing across the floor as he worked out. He spoted four vents, three doors they could open and a balcony which had a chest. 'Good.' He thought to himself.
"What do you see?" Mona asked.
"Ways in. A way outside. And some vents." Joker answered. "Can't see the exit yet. You got any clues, Oracle?"
"Hmm, maybe it's deeper in?" Oracle commented as she tried to scan the area. "I dunno. It's like... something big is here."
"We are half way through. This fake Doctor's Palace is not as extreme as other Palace's we have seen. I suspect something should be coming." Fox commented
"Whatever's coming, they'll have to get through us." Panther stood beside Skull who was cracking his knuckles and Dove held her broadsword.
"Where first?" Queen asked
"There's a balcony with some treasure outside. I can quickly grab that." Joker pointed out.
"Have enough lockpicks, if it's locked?" Dove teased.
...
"No comment." He mumbled. The group looked at each other and knew he had lockpicks for days. "I'll be right back." Joker quickly headed through the vent to the outside.
"You think he wouldn't have enough time for that type of thing," Fox commented.
"Well, it's Joker. He does things at his own pace... and squeezes at least five things out in a day." Queen answered.
"Hehe. 'Squeeze'." Oracle smirked in Necronomicon.
Outside on the balcony, Joker was taking a breath of 'fresh air'; the thought of Ohya joining in his love life was weighing him down, to say the least. But now this fight with Oyamada and this newest layer... it was worrying him. "Dang it, where's that chest?" He whispered to himself.
'Need someone to talk to partner?' Arsene asked as he appeared beside him.
"Where have you been?" Joker... Well, joked as he looked for the chest
'Watching. Mostly. Your love life has expanded since last time.' He responded.
"Tell me about it." Joker answered, walking on the balcony as he saw the treasure chest. "I want to do the right thing, but what do I say? 'Hey everyone, I'm going to bring another woman into our love life, is that alright? Oh, she's also a journalist so our secret identities might be in jeopardy.'; I doubt they'll be happy about that."
'You didn't mention she is a drinker.' Arsene added.
"I'm sure she can quit with help." Joker answered. "It's not a deal-breaker."
'Oh, I see. You're not averse to having another woman in your life. But you don't give Panther, Seacole or Dove enough credit. They've expanded their pallets since meeting you.' Arsene smirked.
"And I can't just take advantage of that, bringing in new women every other week." Joker huffed "And then there is the HARU situation?"
'Ah, Haru. Yes, our Lovely Lady Noir.' Arsene agreed.
"Yeah. ... The hell happened there?!" Joker groaned deeply
'I think your influence fighting against that so much earlier means that you've influenced people more.' Arsene answered.
"What do you mean?"
'Last time you didn't reach out as much, this time you're making the effort.' Arsene responded.
Click!
The treasure chest opened as Joker opened the lock.
"What do we have in here..." Joker whispered Inside the chest was a card. A simple elongated rectangle card with a black and white mask on the back.
"A tarot card?" Joker asked as he looked at the card. He picked the card up, looking it over curiously
On the front was a picture of the earth; nothing more, nothing less. Why was such an item here? 'I guess it must be important if it's here.' Arsene noticed as Joker looked closely at the card, his eyes widening
"This... Isn't this The World?" Joker blinked "WHY is it here? What could it..." Joker blinked as the card suddenly turned into blue flames, morphing into a mask and attaching itself to his face
"Gah!" He gasped as the light blinded him, as he couldn't see the Persona that joined his party. "What the hell was that?"
"It is definitely a new Persona. I can feel the change. But something... Something is holding it back from manifesting." Arsene frowned
"Damn it. I bet Yu would know this shit." Joker mumbled
"We'll figure it out. Besides, it's probably the first Wolrd Arcana that we didn't get from a fight." Arsene agreed. "Also, I don't want to see Izanagi No Okami again... that thing yeesh." He shuddered
"... Yeah. I guess the World works differently. ... Wish we could speak to Lavenza." Joker admitted
"You called, Trickster?" A familiar voice asked from behind him
"Hey, Lavenza! You're... Who the hell are you?!" Joker asked as he turned around only to freeze as he saw a red haired woman in front of him
Standing before Joker was a ponytailed red-haired woman, red eyes, wearing a black mask with silver highlights. Her outfit was a strapless black leotard, a chain belt with two silver roses motifs, and a scabbard for her rapier attached to it, a black choker and red gloves. A black bolero jacket with gold buttons, ruffled sleeves and three floor-length coattails. She wears thigh-length hose and stiletto-heels that resembled ballet shoes on the top.
"It's my disguise. What do you think?" Lavenza asked, the woman asked. Lavenza's voice flowing out of this red haired womans mouth. "I call this 'Violet'." She winked.
"I... What?" Joker asked in confusion as he looked her over
"I wanted to try this costume out." Lavenza or 'Violet' answered as she did a small spin, walking towards her Trickster "Master said it was dangerous to come out of the clocktower so often. With the... Ruin and the twins watching." She spoke vaguely "We have been lucky. But they could see me and work out what is going on. A disguise is helpful."
"You... Are so smart. And so cute right now." Joker admitted.
"Only cute?" She asked, getting on her tip toes, her lips near his... Before she pulled back "What appears to be the problem, my Trickster?"
Joker sighed as he sat down, letting Violet sit on his knee, and he began to repeat his woes to her. Haru, Ohya and their feelings towards him; having a harem of ladies to treat well and have time with.
...
"While I am happy to give you advice for such matters, Trickster. Which my advice for that is simply to talk to them." Lavenza/Violet spoke "And go pursue what you desire. I was talking about how you wished you had me to talk to about the World Arcana?"
"... Oh shit. Right. Sorry." He apologised as he brought out the card. "We just found this. What is it? Aside from the obvious." Well, what WAS the card. And was a card again. Because as he held up the mask it was surrounded by yellow flames and reverted back into a card.
"The World Arcana works differently than the other ones. It is the symbol of a completed journey, the evolution of the Fool into a new person." she explained "However, you traveled back in time. The World is supposed to be the end. But another word for the end is a new beginning. You are no longer JUSt the 'Fool', but a world growing and changing."
...
"Okay? And?" Joker blinked
"These cards, these World's you find, are part of that journey. Echos of others who had completed the same growth you had, Wild Card's who have evolved from the Fool into the World. Or something greater." Lavenza/Violet explained "Echoes of their journey, scattered through space and other realities. Waiting for when the time is right. Because you are still holding yourself back."
"'Holding back'... I don't. I mean I don't feel like I'm-" Joker frowned, beginning to blather on before Lavenza put her finger to his lips.
"Don't over think it." She whispered. "If you over think it, you will only hurt yourself." she said softly before giving his lips a light kiss
"Okay." he mumbled "... I have another question."
"Of course. What is it?" She asked.
"... why did you chose this as your disguise?" Joker asked as he pointed at her, moving up and down her body "Not that I'm complaining." he added
"Hehe. Fair enough." she commented "In another timeline, this was the form another woman had in the Metaverse. Another member of the Phantom Thieves, another friend and team mate. She does not appear in our world. She does not exist. So this 'form' does not exist."
"... Wow, the multiverse is real." Joker held his head. "Shouldn't be surprised, but this makes so much sense."
"You DID get sent back in time, causing an alternate timeline." she reminded
"I know, I know." He nodded.
...
"What should I do now?" he asked
Violet looked at him and shrugged. "I'm not sure."
"Damn." he huffed "... You're not gonna join us, are you? Because... might be a bit to explain."
"No, I won't join you. This is just between me and you for right now...and maybe the Clocktower." Lavenza answered as she stood back up... and then suddenly she brought her leg up virtically, her foot behind her head as she winked "And this form is VERY flexable." she teased with a soft wink and a soft blow of a kiss before vanishing in the blink of an eye
...
"Dang it, why did she do that?" He groaned as he rubbed his eyes.
'Ha, ha, ha. Come partner, let's get back to the group.' Arsene spoke as he vanished away.
"Yeah. Probably been gone for a while." he whispered as he began to crawl through and out of the vent to meet up with the others.
"Hey, dude. What happened up there?" Skull asked.
"Was it a long platform or something?" Dove added.
"Nah, just had some of those annoying lights." he shrugged, lying. God, it made his skin crawl with how easy that was becoming. Lying to the people he cared about the most.
"Jeez, this guy must be paranoid to have lights on the outside." Queen commented.
"Did you check the other doors?" Joker asked.
"We didn't, never split the party." Oracle answered.
"I still say, what's the WORST that could happen?!" Skull groaned
"DO YOU EVEN WATCH HENTAI?!" Oracle snapped "I don't wanna know what creepy shit this guy has behind those doors!"
Panther and Dove shuddered as they could only imagine what nightmarish things could be here. "Can we keep going now?" Panther asked.
"If anyone touches you kids, Faust and I will tear them apart!" Seacole informed, acting protective of them.
"Okay, okay, calm down." Fox urged soflty "Everyone, calm down."
"Well, we're together now. We can keep going." Joker reassured and nodded.
"Alright, we've still got a lot of ground to cover." Queen agreed as they entered through one of the doors.
"Here we go." Joker spoke as they entered... and immediately had to hide. The door creaked open as they entered, hiding quickly around the corner. And why?
Hundreds of needles flying through the air
THUD!
THUD!
thudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthud!
Like a scene from a hidden treasure adventure movie, the needles jabbed into the wall and door, looking like a massive pincushion behind them.
"Holy hell." Skull breathed
"That just took ten years off my life." Panther panted as her body quivered, a hand against her heaving chest
"What? The hell?" Fox agreed.
"Oracle, why didn't you want us?" Queen asked
"How was I supposed to know?" She responded. "I didn't know the place was rigged to shoot frigging dart syringes at us!"
"But doesn't Necronomicron show those sort of things?" Joker asked curiously
"I'm not sure." She answered/admitted calmly "I got flustered, okay?"
"It's okay." Seacole assured
"You think it's over?" Dove asked.
"Let me check." Joker offered, throwing a smoke-bomb into the area, thinking it would attract it.
...
Nothing. The opening volley was over
"Thank god. We can check in here now." Skull commented.
"Keep your eyes open, we might still be in trouble." Joker added. As the group entered the saw... A staff break room. With doctors sitting around, looking drunk and playing games or sleeping
"... Is this how he sees his colleagues?" Seacole asked, disgusted by the sight.
"Seems like it." Skull mumbled
"Spread out. Search." Joker instructed
"On it, Joker." Dove nodded as they got up and looked around.
"This room has to exist for a reason." Panther mumbled, looking underneath a chair
"I think I've found something." Seacole spoke solemnly, as she found an item.
"Really? What it is?" Joker asked as Seacole held up... a third of a key?
"What is that?" Dove asked.
"A third of a key." Seacole answered.
"... What is this? Dragon Quest? Why do we only have a third?" Skull asked.
"Because, it's how he thinks. Three rooms. Three pieces of one key." Oracle answered.
"Well, luckily this one was easy." Mona pointed out
"True, all three rooms are on this floor and not upstairs or downstairs." Oracle agreed.
"I am curious about the vent system though." Queen whispered "Joker said he saw a lot of them."
"Yeah, that was interesting." Panther agreed.
"Well, anyone up for a vent-check?" Joker asked with a slightly joking tone
...
"Fine. But no-one looks at my butt." Dove answered.
'No promises.' Oracle thought to herself
'Depends on who goes first.' Panther thought, wondering if someone would be looking at her ass... kind of hoping it was Dove or Seacole.
"So... guys first, girls take up the rear?" Fox suggested innocently.
"Phrasing." Skull snorted jokingly.
"Huh?" Fox blinked
"I'm going in first." Joker shrugged, leaving the others to decide on their own
"Second in command next." Skull followed up, only for Mona to leap up next.
"You're right, nya-ha-ha." Mona laughed.
"Dang you, cat!" He followed next.
"I'll go next." Panther commented as she slipped in after Skull
"I'm next!" Dove followed up, realising what might be happening.
"Fox?" Queen asked.
"No, no. After you." Fox politely offered his spot.
"Oh, thanks." Queen answered, followed by Seacole.
"I'm going-" Oracle asked.
"I shall go last. We don't want our Navigator to be on her own." Fox responded.
"... Thanks, Fox." She smirked as she followed suit and got a full view of all the girl's asses.
"Then I'm next." Seacole commented
"Please." Fox offered, gesturing to the vent.
"No peeking, Inari." Seacole 'warned'.
"I... You as well?!" He frowned while tilting his head a bit
She simply chuckled as she entered and left Fox at the end of the trail.
Fox sighed gently and entered the vent, following the group.
'Perfect view.' Oracle thought as she saw Dove, Queen and Panther's asses.
"How's it going, Leader?" Skull asked.
"Fine." Joker nodded "Filthy though."
"What is it with vents being dirty?" Panther groaned.
"Because nobody cleans them?" Mona responded. "Bleh! Cobweb in the face!"
"You're getting a bath when we get home." Joker teased
"How's it going back there?" Panther asked.
"We're okay, it's a bit awkward with my sword." Dove admitted. "Keeps bashing my leg."
"We'll get a new smaller one if you want." Joker answered, as he soon reached the other vent entrance.
"... We'll talk later." Dove answered as they entered the next room. The room was a receptionist room, where the shades of the people were like low-grade animatronics. Stiff movements, no mouth but just a tape-recorder speaker, pretending to do a job. "Eek!" Dove jerked back as she saw the animatronics.
"Drunk or lazy doctors. Now animatronic receptionists?" Queen asked.
"Are we sure this guy isn't a horror movie villain?" Skull agreed.
"Why do the vents lead to here?" Joker whispered
"I see a safe room." Oracle commented "Down here... That doesn't seem weird at all."
"Maybe it's a dive into his psyche? How he sees the staff." Dove commented.
"Or maybe it's where he can hide the second part of the key." Seacole responded.
"Or..." Fox frowned, looking around the room "It is a clue."
"Fox, explain." Panther asked as they turned to him.
"For one, I can see the door to the next floor." He commented, pointing to a wall where there were two doors. One which they knew would lead to a safe room, and a giant golden door with gaudy decorations and a large keyhole
"How did we miss that?" Skull deadpanned
"And there where six doors, correct? Like the six animatronics?" Fox pointed out
...
"You're right." Queen commented "And three of them have stars on their foreheads."
"They must line up with the rooms that have keys." Seacole agreed
'How the hell did I not notice that?' Oracle thought to herself as she couldn't see this puzzle.
"Meaning there has to be some sort of pattern." Joker agreed.
"Can these things move at all?" Dove asked, while Panther reached out and poked an animatronic.
...
BWAAAAM!
BWAAAAM!
BWAAAAM!
"Shit!" Panther backed off.
"Who tripped the alarm?!" Oracle called out.
"Sorry!" the blonde apologised.
"Dang it, Panther!" Mona called out.
"Everyone get behind me!" Joker called out as he drew his knife. Summoned around them were Shadow Nurses and doctors, all surrounding them. "Here we go!" Joker called out as they were attacked by Vampires, High Pixies and others.
"HrArGh!" The Shadows roared as they attacked them.
*time skip*
"And that... Is the third key..." Mona panted after another long battle
"I. Hate. That." Skull groaned.
"I said. I was sorry." Panther apologised.
"Still, we've got the third Key. We can move forward." Queen answered.
"First stop. Safe room." Joker added.
"Back into the vent." Dove whimpered
"Vents suck!" Oracle groaned.
"It won't be for long this time. I promise." Joker reassured.
"Let's get this over with." Panther grumbled as she went in first
"Ladies first." Seacole joked, but knew Joker and the others wouldn't mind.
"You can go after me, Joker." Queen blushed, going third
"Thanks, Queen." Joker answered as he followed suit.
"Don't look at our butts, Skull." Dove asked.
"Why am I the one that gets singled out?" Skull groaned.
"With Fox, if he looks, we at least knows it is because 'art'." she pointed out "And Mona is kicking height... sorry Mona."
"Eh, I get it." Mona answered.
"Understandable. I take no offence to that." Fox answered.
Skull grumbled as he knew that logic was sound.
"And since Joker is our boyfriend..." Oracle giggled, before she slipped into the vents behind the others
"Okay, we get the point." Mona rolled his eyes as the three guys followed suit.
"OOOMPH!" the group yelled as... Well, they suddenly came to a stop.
"What's the hold up?" Seacole asked.
"Why did we stop?" Queen asked.
'Soft.' Joker thought with a blush, feeling his face press against her backside
'Omph!' Dove thought, her face pressing against Joker's backside "Hmm?" Dove hummed as she felt Joker's warm butt. 'Holy cow, it's firm.'
SLAP!
"GAH! Oracle!" she snapped
"Sorry." Futaba mumbled honestly "Couldn't control myself."
"What's the hold up?" Skull repeated
"Well... the vent is blocked. It has a locked grating." Panther spoke calmly
"Why is it locked? How is it locked?" Mona asked.
"Another security measure?" Joker wondered
"Is that even possible? Changing his palace halfway through?" Fox asked.
"We've had stuff like this happen before." Joker commented
"Try hitting it really, really, hard!" Skull called
"You think that would work?" Queen asked.
"Either you punch it, Queen; or I'll crawl over and bash it open with my bat!" Skull answered.
"Oh, please, let me!" Panther ranted "Carmen!" The grating in front of the latex clad blonde exploded out, her Persona pushing through and spinning in the air dramatically "There, was that so hard?" She responded.
Cough!
"No, but could've done without the soot and smoke." Skull deadpanned as they all crawled out of the vent
"Can't do anything about that, sorry." Panther responded.
"Though, I suppose it's better than us being electrocuted or frozen." Mona pointed out.
"Or a nuke going off." Dove teased as she looked at Queen
"Yeah, or-Hey!" Queen responded, huffing a little.
"Don't worry Queen, he's teasing." Joker chuckled and hugged her
"So, where are this safe zone and the door for this Key?" Seacole asked
"Right there." Oracle reminded, pointing at the two doors. The glowing blue safe room right next to the golden door with the key hole
"Alright, safe room first. Then the door." Joker ordered. "Anyone thirsty?" he offered as the group walked into the room, the team walking calmly as they entered the safe room
"Absolutely parched." Oracle agreed as they entered and saw that this safe room was another recreation room for doctors to relax.
"Well, at least we'll be safe here." Fox commented.
"Here." Joker brought out a bag full of drinks, food and replenishments. Some curry, some coffee, some generic snacks and sweets.
"Oh, you legend." Skull smiled as he grabbed two plates of curry and passed one to Fox.
"Yummy! Snacks!" Panther clapped her hands as she grabbed some sweets.
"Careful Panther, you might bust a zipper." Seacole teased
"Hey!" She pouted as she took the sweets. "At least I can work it off."
"Uh-huh." Seacole responded, putting her hand on her hip and tilted her head.
"Yes, Sojiro's curry!" Oracle smiled as she shovelled down the curry happily.
"Do you have any sugar-free drinks?" Dove asked.
"Err, yeah. Here." Joker brought out some bottled water.
"Thank you, love." She smiled as she took it.
"So, the plan. For the next floor." Mona asked.
"Considering the blockages we've got, means that we're somewhere he doesn't want us to get too." Joker answered.
"Well it's the last floor." Oracle commented "Once we get past that, we are on the treasure floor."
Joker nodded... and wiped Oracle's cheek as she had some curry on her lips. "You had a little something there."
"Thanks." Oracle smiled as she liked being 'pampered' like that. She giggled a bit before sitting down and pulling out her laptop
"What're you doing, Oracle? I thought electronics didn't work here." Panther asked.
"It's not a real laptop." She responded
"Oh, o... okay." the latex clad blonde blinked, tilting her head
"What're you looking for?" Dove asked.
"Just looking into the palace more. And Persona. And whatnot." she stated calmly, Oracle focusing on the screen
"That makes sense... I don't want anymore scares from Oyamada." Seacole commented.
"Speaking of you, Seacole. Here." Oracle commented as a holographic picture appeared in front of everyone, a spread sheet showing Seacole and her Persona with their skills
"Is this-?" She asked in shock as she saw herself.
[Name] Seacole
[Persona] Faust
"Yeah, we all have these. Which help us all know what we can do." Skull nodded
"Oh, I see." Seacole answered as she saw the stats and skills.
[Skills] Mediarama, Amrita Shower, Fortify Spirit, Fast Heal, Faustian Deal.
"What's that last one?" Fox asked.
"'Faustian Deal'? It means I can heal you of one type of 'unique status' ailment." She answered.
"Huh. You are a healer, makes sense. But not a normal one." Mona commented "Much more situational than Queen or Panther. No offence."
"None taken." All three answered.
"I suppose I'm not much for a 'physical fight'." Seacole commented as she bit her lip
"Are you kidding? You're part of the team!" Skull pointed out. "You keep our asses safe and we'll guard you like you're buried treasure!"
"Plus those suringes of yours are deadly." Panther added
"Yeah, don't remind me." Mona muttered, remembering when he was turned back into a cat, then back again because of Seacole's and the Palace's syringes.
"Ah~, that hit the spot." Fox sighed in relief, patting his stomach. "Thank you, Joker."
"Anytime." He answered.
"You think we're going to see Oyamada again?" Queen asked.
"Most likely... though I don't want to." Seacole admitted.
"What's the history there by the way, Ms Takemi?" Skull asked
"Oyamada was my former colleague. I worked with him in the same medical college." Seacole began to explain, recounting her history with the doctor. The group listened as Seacole continued, telling them about the patients she saved and how Oyamada took the credit. But then came the day she tried to save the life of a patient with a, back then, an undiscovered disease that she had an experimental medicine given. "Then he got me fired, I left and moved to Yongen-Jaya. I've been 'practising' here ever since. Then I met you all." Seacole finished her story.
The group, barring Joker looked at her in shock and pity. Seeing how much arrogant pride ruins other people's lives, how easy it is for the proud to blame other people and they feel none of the blame.
"I'm sorry." Queen frowned
"I've had time to process and come to terms with it." Seacole answered.
"Still, that isn't right." Fox added.
"Of course it isn't." Joker said calmly
"Hey, we'll get that treasure and make him pay for what he's done." Mona reassured.
"Right." She nodded
The group all got to their feet, rested and revitalised, ready to go and find the Treasure.
"Let's do this." Joker smiled as he held out the key to the fourth floor
Clink!
CLUNK!
"Here we go." Oracle spoke as she was ready to buff everyone and scan the floor. The golden doors opened wide, a chill running through the air It was like a morgue, chilled air to preserve bodies; bone biting, muscle tensing, a horrible feeling that they were going to get into trouble.
"Seriously?" Mona groaned, shaking in the cold
"Brr, this isn't good for us." Fox commented.
"Isn't your speciality ice?" Queen asked.
"Queen, look at his costume. He's showing his chest." Dove shivered.
"L-L-Like we're any better." Panther shivered, pointing at the girls skintight and barley covering outfits
crick,
squeak...
"What the hell was that?" Mona asked as his paws were sticking to the floor.
The group quickly got into formation, forming a circle. Covering themselves from every direction with Oracle in the middle as she typed away on holographic screens
"C-Co-come on." Oracle whispered as she typed away. "... It's almost like this room is a trap. It... It's a solid large blank floor."
"It's a-?" Joker realised as his eyes widened under his mask and he called out. "SCATTER!"
FWOOSH!
And the group quickly dashed in different directions.
SLAM!
The floor below them began to open and slam closed, being cages with syringes inside. Being a warped form of an iron maiden.
"Holy hell that was close..." Skull panted
crick,
squeak...
"Huh?" He looked behind him, as a cadaver door opened and slammed into his back. "ARGH!" He grunted, pushed forwards and slammed into a cage. "Fuck! The hell happened?" he grumbled
"Skull!" Queen called out.
Joker looked around the room, seeing the group standing so far away from each other. "Oracle. You said this room was one big trap, right?"
"I didn't know about literally." She responded
"Panther, can you turn up the heat?" Dove asked as she was shivering from the lowering temperatures.
"Would that work?" She whispered, reaching up to her mask
"It might, or we freeze in here." Queen answered.
"Hecate!" Panther yelled as she summoned her evolved Persona, the flames washing wild. As the flames licked around the room, the traps began to be sprung, causing the cadaver doors to open wildly.
Everyone stated close, avoiding the traps as the flames washed out like an explosion
"Gah! What is with this room? It's like a mad house!" Seacole called out.
SLAM!
"Argh!" Mona screamed, being flung out and into a cage.
"Mona!" Joker yelled
"Grr! Stop that right-!" Queen growled as she attempted to rip the cage open, but was slammed and thrown to the floor.
"He's separating us!" Panther panicked, as she was lashed up and suspended by the ceiling. "GAH!"
"Joker! What do we do?!" Dove called out in fear
Joker tried to think, but the sounds of chains, opening and closing doors, jutting out morgue beds and the freezing air was distracting him. What the hell could he do? "G-Get to the corners! They can't hit us there!" He, Oracle, Dove, Fox and Seacole began to move. Each of them dashing to a different corner... well, Oracle followed Joker.
"Hmm!" Oracle whimpered as she saw their team separated and cold.
"I've got you." He reassured. He frowned as he looked around the area, trying to work out how to deal with this. All the traps having stopped 'Come on, Joker. You can do this.' He thought. 'Just think, what is this bastard trying to do?'
"Seacole... why is the morg like this?!" Dove called "Why does he see the morge like this?!"
"Most hospitals do not have their own in-built morge's, do they?" Fox asked in confusion
"Yes, they are." She answered. "They're usually contained and separated but held to a high standard."
"Then why is it like a nightmare hellscape?" Dove asked.
"We're in a medieval horror castle hospital, it's got to fit a theme!" Oracle answered.
"Makes as much sense as anything-" Fox answered, before a door slammed into his face. "Ow!"
'Struggling arent you?' a voice asked Joker in his mind.
'Huh?' He thought to himself, hearing that new voice. A voice that wasn't Arsene's
"What the hell can we-? GYAH!" Seacole called out before mistepping and being captured.
"How is this happening?" Oracle asked.
"Ha, ha, ha. Struggle in this place, Thieves!" Oyamada's voice maliciously spoke out in the room. "You have no chance to escape! You will remain here until your DEATH! And be used as medical cadavers!"
...
"What?" Joker whispered
"He's keeping us here until we die?!" Skull groaned.
"N-No. We cant fail here." Mona groaned.
"Joker!" Dove yelled out as she was quickly captured to, leaving just Joker and Oracle
'Damn it... Damn it...' Joker thought 'What do I do?'
"Joker. This whole floor... It's a safety measure. A trap. A fake floor." Oracle explained with wide eyes "It is the floor other doctors work on!"
"Other doctors... Seeing them as lesser... Seeing all their patients as corpses waiting to be thrown in the morge." Seacole hissed as she understood what all this means
"Any more info, Oracle?" Queen called out
"The room. It's one big box. With a hallway... I think the hallway leads to a release button." Oracle explained as she looked over her map "Or a switch or something. It's up to you to get there though."
"But what about-?" Joker asked, seeing his friends captured.
"J-j-just go!" Skull called out, teeth chattering. "We-we'll be fine!"
"We can take it!" Panther called "We're tough enough!"
"We trust you Joker, do it!" Queen called out
"I'll be back!" He gritted his teeth and called back, going to rush and find the lever to free his friends. He began to jump, flip and rush across the room. Hurrying across the platforms. The only way he could, is via this third eye ability
'Don't lose your footing partner.' Arsene spoke with encouragement.
"Why did you call me earlier? Saying I was struggling." Joker commented
'That wasn't me.' He responded.
"What? Course it was you. Who else would it be."
'If it was me, you'd know it was me!' Arsene answered.
Joker shook his head and focussed on the matter at hand, he had to get them out of that trap! 'There. There. Jump.' he thought. hurrying through the trap filled room. He leapt from each platform, almost smashing through the top door to stop the traps from activating. With a mighty jump, he rolled down. Into the hallway, away from the traps. "Made it." He whispered to himself as he looked down the hallway... and realised he was alone. But that didn't matter now, he had to get them out of there.
He looked around the hallway slowly, taking in the area carefully. He kept his 'Thieve's Eye' awakened as he tried to look for traps or even something to stop the traps in the room below. It was a long hallway, sleak and white with ice frozen over the walls. 'He really doesn't make this easy.' Joker thought to himself, ready to strike with his knife in case something turns up.
"What's the matter, Thief? Struggling to figure out my hospital's directions?" Oyamada's voice taunted him.
'Damn it, he's toying with me!' He thought to himself, the ice biting into his body. Looking around in panic, looking at the hall. Looking at EVERYTHING around him. Trying to judge how long the corridor was, trying to find the button. No matter how far he seemed to walk, it was just getting longer and longer. Almost like this trap was saying 'you're here now, you'll never leave'.
...
Suddenly the ground began to crack.
His eyes widened as he saw the floor abut to give way.
"Oh, no you don't!" He grunted, leaping off the floor to a sturdier platform, running to escape the collapsing floor. Joker's breath was hanging in the air, feeling the chill in his lungs. He wasn't going to give up, but he could feel the damn twisted doctor's vision looking down at him.
Slowly, emerging from the darkness, was a snarling white ape like creature
Joker's eyes widened, realising that this was probably the cause of the snow.
It was about ten feet tall, with shaggy white fur with blackened nails and fingers on deep blue skin, sunken black eyes on blue skin, a large slobbering maw with protruding canines and a hardened forehead.
"A shadow?" He asked himself.
"GRARGH!" The monster roared out.
'Need a fire Persona! That will hurt it!' Joker thought logically as he flipped back. The hulking beast roared out, causing ice to form around Joker and attack him. Joker's cooling hand was shaking as he reached for his mask and ripped it off his face. 'This'll hurt. But I need to do this!' He thought as he felt his mask shatter. "SURT!"
Erupting from the mask, melting the ice around Joker, a massive charcoal-skinned muscular humanoid with dark red stripes and piercing yellow eyes emerged. In his right hand was a blazing bright burning sword with a leather strap handle. It ROARED out in fury as it felt the ice around him, glaring down at the guardian Shadow as it rose it sword ready to strike.
"AGIDYNE!" Joker proclaimed, pointing forwards.
SLASH!
Coming down hard on the Shadow, striking it through its shoulder to its waist, the flames scorched the white fur and set it ablaze. Flames... That suddenly exploded off it, sent back at Joker in a wave.
"GAH!" He screamed out.
Oyamada's voice laughed darkly. "Did you think it would be that easy?"
"Oh shut up." Joker hissed, rolling away 'Relfects Fire. Great. What else can I...' Joker was interrupted as the Shadow suddenly grabbed Joker, it's hand completely enveloping his body from the neck down, and slammed him into the wall. Before squeezing. "ARGH!"
"GRARGH!" The Shadow roared out as it was slamming Joker like a massive ape.
The Shadow guardian gripped Joker and threw him to the side, where Arsene saw this and felt the same pain as his Partner. 'Let me at him, I'll show this brute!'
Joker grunted, getting to his feet as his mask was slowly becoming tinted with red. Either from his energy, or by blood. "Alright, Change! Arsene! EIGAON!" He called out, summoning his partner.
In a burst of black and red flames, Arsene rose from the mask, shooting a blast of Curse-based energy right at the Shadow, causing an explosion.
...
But the Shadow remained unharmed. Snarling at the attack as it seemed to brush it off.
"N-No way. How?" Joker asked, grabbing a healing item to use on himself.
'It reflects Fire, can't be hurt but Ice and now my Curses can't do anything?!' Arsene gasped.
"Damn it, what more can we do?" He asked himself.
'You're not giving up here are you?' The voice asked again
"Who? Keeps? Saying? That?" He grunted, getting to his feet. Though Surt melted most of the frost, the chill in the air continued as it was slowly forming ice again from the Shadow. Joker pulled himself to his feet, groaning as his bones hurt
The wooly white-furred Shadow growled, balling up its fist and threw it at Joker.
Blood splattered out of Joker's mouth as he let out a gasp, feeling pain fill his body
Joker's blood splattered to the ground as his mask became stained even more and his strength began to leave.
'Is this... the end...?' he thought as his vision began to blur
'You're not just going to fall here, are you?' The voice asked again, speaking in Joker's ear.
'What else can I do? It's too strong.' Joker coughed.
'Where was that confidence from before? Was it all from coasting along thinking this would be the same?'
...
'C-Coasting...?' Joker thought, thinking back to the past few months. He thought back to Kaneshiro, how he soloed him with ease without his friends. How they went in and beat down Madarame's Palace with strong Persona. Kamoshida's palace and the other potential Palace owners within Mementos. He thought how, even with these two new Palaces, he didn't see much danger. He wasn't as careful as his first journey round. He just knew they could handle it
'What the hell have I been doing?' He slowly realised, he wasn't a Phantom Thief with these Palaces... he was being lazy.
Over confident.
Stagnent.
He was playing with 'kid gloves'. He thought he could coast through this again... but no. He wasn't. He couldn't. He was growing more connections than last time. He wanted to be better... And this was the wake-up call he needed.
"And what about your friends?' the voice asked next
'I. I haven't been fair to them.' Joker thought to himself, the red dripping from his mask. 'I should trust them.'
Blood dropped down, covering the mask...
"I've been. Going easy. On you." Joker spoke, his bloodied mask dripping down.
Arsene's flames began to flicker as he saw Joker rise.
"Been thinking... I could do this. Over. And over. The same way." Joker continued as two different coloured flames began to flicker.
His flames slowly began to turn red, yellow and blue flames still flickering within
"Wh-what is this?" Oyamada asked in shock.
"This time. The kid gloves." Joker spoke with a slowly growing toothy bloody smile.
FLASH!
"COME OFF!" He looked straight at the Shadow Guardian, frightening it as he reached for one of the flames before him.
'That's it, Wild Card! Show these corrupt adults the power of one who attained The World!' The voice proclaimed.
Shatter!
"HA!" Joker roared as his mask shattered to pieces, the red mask rushing out into the flames and forming a gun made out of blue flames. "Lend me your power..." Joker whispered. Twisting the weapon a bit, he pressed the blazing barrel against his chest and roared out "ORPHEUS!"
bang!
Erupting out of the bullet was an automaton male figure, white stocking covered metal legs that looked like simple hinges on an artist's model doll, white hip covers, a blue metal torso with a round ball for a stomach and a black speaker with a silver plus sign, on his pectorals were speaker holes; around his neck was a red scarf, white cloth shoulders, dark grey metal arms and white-gloved hands, his face was black with red eyes, white spiky hair and a blue headphone headband on his head. And lastly on his back was a silvery blue lyre with silver strings, it had a temple-shaped bottom with curled 'horns' near the top with a seashell-shaped protrusion between the strings and holding them in place.
"Wh-Who is this? What is this?!" Oyamada gasped in shock.
Suddenly the Persona began to twitch, red and black 'liquid' bursting out of its body and forming around it.
'Yes~!' Orpheus spoke with a burst of wild and manic laughter. His white stockings were being dyed by the liquid, melting into his body as it formed black stocking shoes with silver studs on the toes, silver zips going in a diagonal direction and red stitching on the outside of the boots. His thighs were covered in bloody red cloth, his torso was now black with silver studded clasps on his thighs, a black orb speaker for a stomach with a silver plus sign, two red buttons in the centre of his chest, the white shield print of Shujin academy on his left pectoral, red-clothed shoulder guards with silver studs, black gloves with red stitching and his left wrist having a spiked black leather wristband, his plain red scarf was now the black and red plaid colours of Shujin Academy that went over his head like a headphone band, wilder silver spiky hair and his face now had a single silver tear going down.
And on his back, where his silver-blue lyre once was now blood-red and shining. The main frame was the same, the same temple bottom and curled sides, but now bore two small red bat wings on the rounded horns, and finally, a pair of spiral marked goat horns in place of the seashell protrusion.
'OH! I can get used to this!' Orpheus spoke as he looked at himself, seeing himself influenced and transformed by Joker.
"Orpheus... PICARO!" Joker called powerfully, naming the new form of the Persona
"Destroy him!" Oyamada roared.
"CADENZA!" Joker called out, becoming healed, but also getting faster by Orpheus Picaro's power. And just like that he jumped into the air, he and his new Persona rushing past. The Shadow Guardian grunted in anger, Joker's new evasion rose faster than it could catch him. "MATARUNDA!" Joker called out to Orpheus Picaro.
Orpheus reached back and pulled its lyre out, playing a heavenly melody to weaken the Shadow's strength.
"And that should be enough." Joker commented, his boots skidding across the ground as Orpheus returned it flames. Red flames that wrapped around the World Card, reforming his red mask "Next. Change!" He called out, ripping the mask off. The mask shattering into fire that rushed into the sky "Come! Kaguya Picaro!"
Emerging in the black and red flames, was a woman humanoid. She wore red stockings and dress, golden clasps on her thighs and around her shoulders, long red sleeves and pale white hands. Her neck and head were the colour of moonstones with red eyes, long flowing white hair with a pair of white rabbit ears and a golden plain crown frame. Floating behind her was a many-layered multi-coloured coat in the shape of wings and the crescent moon, with the top layer being black with white and pastel-coloured embroidery.
Kaguya was then quickly wrapped in black and red, gasping as she morphed. The black and red soaked into her form before it shattered away, revealing a new being.
She now had red and black plaid stockings that covered her long legs and feet, silver zips around her thighs and silver straps at the top of her stockings, a black Shujin school dress with three red buttons by her chest. Her exposed bosom and face were gradient colours of a galaxy and night sky with green eyes; white sleeves on her arms with black hands, long black hair that went to her feet, a silver flat crown and a pair of black bunny ears which connected with red cloth to a crescent moon shaped overlayed cloak with silvery white under layers with a single red layer of cloth with glimmering golden stitching and silver pins holding it in place.
'So, this is the fool who dares attack our Wild Card?' Kaguya asked.
Joker slowly raised a hand... And clicked his fingers
Kaguya Picaro's eyes flickered as she flowed with power, raising multitudes of arrows above her head and fired straight at the Shadow Guardian, stabbing through its thick hide and fur. "SHINING ARROWS!"
FWASH!
FWOOSH!
FWOOSH!
The Shadow Guardian grunted in pain, stabbed repeatedly by the arrows but then it roared out, reaching out at Joker with its massive claws... and Kaguya Picaro's cloak blocked it with her eyes giving a confident smirk as she repelled the grab and made it stab itself with its claws.
'How's it feel to have your own attack repelled?' Kaguya Picaro laughed like a 'queen'.
"Now... Let's end this." Joker growled as the Persona reverted to flames, fire rushing around and forming a golden tarot card hovering over Joker's hand
A golden Fool's card that span in a small circle above his palm
"Fight with me... Yu." He said simply before crushing the card with a clench of his hand "Persona! Come, IZANAGI PICARO!"
Erupting from the golden flames stood a humanoid figure; he was wearing a pair of heeled black platform shoes with grey sleeves and soles, baggy black trousers with a silver codpiece, a black popped collar duster coat with silver buckles and clasps with red edges, a grey middle on his jacket going up to his neck, grey edged black sleeves with silver shoulders, a golden flower/sun on the top of his shoulder with two 'V's underneath, and a pair of black gloves with pointed silver-tipped fingers; wearing a pointed eared white mask with yellow eyes and a long silver headband. And in his right hand was a black spear-like sword with white bandages wrapped on the hilt and a black metal blade.
The mighty warrior gave a few powerful slashes of its sword as the red and black began to quickly warp it. Lightning sparking all around them, itself and Joker.
The Shadow saw the lightning and backed off a slight step, Joker noted this and a manic smile came to his face, terrifying the Shadow.
Izanagi soon emerged in its Picaro form, carrying the same menace as Joket's smirk
The grey on his black boots were now stained red with silver vertical zips; the platforms' soles were dripping red, grey trousers with a red codpiece and silver zip. His coat now had a black middle with the main part being the red and black plaid of Shujin Academy's uniform, red rings over his shoulders with red sleeves and plaid outsides, a silver round shield with an 'X' and two 'V's underneath, red gloves with silver studs and black fingers with silver tips. A flowing red headband around his forehead and trailed to his back, a silver mask with Joker's mask eye markings; and lastly was his spear blade, now having black binding for the grip and red metal blades with three silver studs at the pommel that looked like a guitar head.
'Yeah-ha-ha-ha-ha!' Izanagi Picaro laughed maniacally as his spear began to spark with electricity.
"ZIONGA!" Joker called out, to which Izanagi Picaro spun his spear and brought the lightning.
CRASH!
ZAP!
The Shadow Guardian screamed out in pain, electrified and fell to its knees.
The two charged forwards, Joker's knife drawn, the two roaring as lightning around them.
Knight and spear slashed
SHINK!
The Shadow grunted in pain, having the spear and knife slashing deep into its body, trimming the Shadow's fur into a manageable size.
Before it exploded into black and red miasma, fading away
Oyamada's voice shuddered in fear, the ice trap of the Shadow Guardian had begun to melt away as the traps were being disarmed.
"Oyamada!" Joker called out, pointing his knife out and straight at the corridor that might've held him. "Get ready. Because I'll steal everything within your heart!"
Izanagi Picaro laughed out loud, spinning his spear and readied the start of an attack, terrifying the voice as it vanished away.
Red flames washed over the floor... And the ice was gone.
His friends where fried
"Gah! Oh, thank Joker!" Skull commented as they were dropped safely from the traps and could get up. "I was getting frostbite on frostbite."
"How do you think Mona, Panther and I felt?" Fox asked.
"Brr! I-I-I think my suit absorbed a bit too much cold." Oracle shivered.
"Group hig everyone. Share... Share body heat." Seacole ordered
"O-Okay." The group answered, each hugging each other as the temperature rose and everyone got warmer.
Everyone huddled together.
...
Joker smiled into the hug.
This... Was his family.
"Help. People. Smothering." Mona groaned as he was caught in the middle.
"Just give me a few more minutes." Queen shuddered
"Well then... Back to work then." Joker smiled 'Together.'
Fool: Rank 10
Magician: Rank 10
Lovers: Rank 10
Chariot: Rank 10
Sun: Rank 10
Lust: Rank 9
Strength: Rank 8
Hierophant: Rank 8
Death: Rank 7
Devil: Rank 7
Temperance: Rank 6
Hanged-Man: Rank 6
World: Rank 6
Emperor: Rank 5
Fortune: Rank 5
Moon: Rank 5
Star: Rank 5
High Priestess: Rank 5
Empress: Rank 5
Tower: Rank 5
Hermit: Rank 4