Temporal King: Dude, thanks for all the reviews. It has meant a LOT to see this. I am glad you have been enjoying the story. We hope you keep enjoying as well!
SwigitySwoogy: You won't. No matter how it comes out, we will like it.
Lumias: Yes, it was 2023. You aren't the only one to point it out. You're will be the only review I will be answering about it though.
Lolobugga1: I do not think it is a masterpiece, but thank you. And the way we get the characters INCHARACTER? Unlike some members of the Persona fandom, we actually played the game (lol). Memes aside, we just payed attention and thought deeply on how they WOULD react to certain events. Then it just took a few tries, and their voices just 'clicked' in place. That's how you know you have a good character in a piece of media, BTW.
AnAnonymousVeiwer: To answer your questions in order. Hifumi, not saying. Sae IS a confidant, but I think you meant love intrest in this context, and not telling. Hehe.
And for Violet? We have said we are NOT using P5Royal stuff, or characters. Because we are way too far into writing, and we did not start playing Royal until this year because we had OTHER games to buy and play over the years. But we are doing something with Violet's design.
Beowolf 43: Hey now, don't insult Doctor Doom like that! All monsters he makes are 100% intentional!
UltimateCCC: No
Have a Little Feith: It has nothing to do with us reading, it is my spell/autocorrect fucking up and not picking up everything.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Don't forget the holy water!
Crevanille: Considering how 'dumb' people are... remember this is the fandom where every other month the stupid people try and make the idiotic 'Naoto is trans' and 'Kanji is gay' arguments.
Don't forget that Chie is a police officer, Yukiko runs her own inn that the family probbaly lives in, Naoto is a famous detective and Marie is a weather woman. None of them are pulling in mega bucks, but all together they are more than comfertable. And yes, Marie is in. How can I not? She is LITERALLY {redacted} and the thematic elements of Persona 4's plot is a metaphore for her and {redacted2}'s marriage, emphasised by {redacted2}'s relation to Yu!
TeamAAMY: Of course?
Daniel Mendoza2: Not as a full story covering Strikers. But we may do a series of one-shots set in this stories version of the events.
Here are some reviews answered by Ghost:
Temporal King: eyes widen in shock Holy crap! Thank you so much for reviewing every chapter in this story! Okay, first off, no never heard of this 'Christopher Duntsch' person until you suggested to look him up. But trust us, the doctor will have what's coming to him.
Lumias: Yes, all the creepy Lovecraftian crap coming up. Except for Necronomicon, that's already taken.
Lolobugga1: Thanks for the review; but the reason we didn't include Sumire is that she was forced into the Royal and it was off-putting to Grey and me... and the fact, Grey and I had this idea planned pre-Royal so we didn't know she was a thing at the time.
Beowolf 43: Oh, you don't know the half of it. breaks out Hugh-Jackman 'Van Helsing' gear
UltimateCCC: ... Oh my god. That sounds insane.
Zeon Paralysis Crystal: We would've, but we couldn't afford Gene Wilder.
StevieBond: Expect Arkham Asylum vibes. And yes, ALL Arkham Asylum.
Wanderer of Fortuna: And all the crazy stuff that entails.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Right with you buddy! unlocks arsenal
TeamAAMY: Yes, of course Haru joins the team!
Daniel Mendoza2: No, Strikers is a whole beast of its own.
To everyone asking: NO! We're not skipping an entire year for P5J, it was a typo. Sorry for any confusion or distress.
Disclaimer: We do not own Persona 5. That belongs to Atlus.
Co-written by GhostKaiser23
AUTHOR'S NOTE
HA!
Gotcha!
You thought I'd wait until the end of January for a new chapter?
And miss CHRISTMAS?!
HA!
As if!
...
It TOTALLY doesn't have anything to do with the fact I have nothing else to upload for the celebration because this years been bad for me. Nope not at all, this was planned ALL along!
Hahahaha!
...
Ha...
...
ugh
...
Anyway, new chapter. Yay!
Just so you know, I have just moved my upload scheduel for this fic back a month. This story will still be uploaded at the end of every month, but you will be waiting for the end of Febuary for the next update. And then after that, once a month during the last week of the month.
And yes, it will be Febuary 2023, thanks to EVERYONE who pointed out the typo last chapter. Very funny.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Persona 5 New Game Plus, Joker's Second Chance
Chapter 42
Dark Hospital's Perils
The Phantom Thieves looked up at the medieval castle, staring at it like it was a scene from a nightmarish horror movie. "Is anyone else creeped out by this?" Dove asked nervously as she almost quaked in her shoes.
The Phantom Thieves emerged from the cat bus, one by one, with Joker being the last. Ren Amamiya, Joker, stood there wearing a sleek black ankle-length tailcoat, a high-necked waistcoat with gold accents, black pants, brown-black winklepicker shoes and a pair of red gloves. Upon his face rested his mask, a black and white, birdlike domino mask.
Morgana, AKA Mona, entered his humanoid form. He jumped, his bus-like form shifting down to his normal state. A small cat-like being wearing a black mask, a yellow scarf and small pouches around its waist. "Come on Dove, we've seen worse... right?"
Ryuji Sakamoto, the heavy hitter modern day pirate known as Skull, grinned as he threw his bottle away. His costume had a matching black jacket and pants with knee pads, a red ascot, combat boots, a pair of yellow gloves, and a skull mask. And on his back was a spine-like back-guard, like overlapped plate-mail. "The Prison or Momentos. But even then, this place has a WHOLE other creep factor man." he commented
Ann Takamaki, the blazing dominatrix Panther, stretched and throwing her chest out a bit, before grabbing her whip as she heard her costume squeak. Consisting of a skin-tight red latex catsuit with a cleavage cutout and zippers, a matching red panther mask, pink gloves, dark red thigh-high boots, a clipped on tail on the back of her catsuit, she was a real bombshell. Her blue eyes showed her hint of fear, but she stood slightly forwards in front of Dove "Don't worry Shiho, we'll be fine as long as we stick together." she assured
Shiho Suzi, the holy slightly submissive looking fighter Dove, stood next to her. Her hand resting on her sword, she nodded "Right. Sorry. It's just... it looks like something out of a nightmare." she shuddered. Dove was wearing a purple leotard of sorts, black fishnet stockings and boots and finally wearing a dark purple-black jacket with embroidered wings on the back on her waist was a broadsword scabbard and a new sword in her side.
Yusuke Kitagawa , the traditionally Japanese looking Samurai known as Fox, put all of his drawing equipment away, the pad and his pencils going neatly into a bag he hid in a dark corner, while adjusting his cloths. Clad in long white boots, a black-blue popped collar jacket, black-blue trousers, a blue and white striped belt that had a white fox's tail with red bindings, blue gloves and holding a red sheath katana "It most defiantly holds an aura of malice." he said with a frown
Futaba Sakurai, their ever present and knowledgeable navigator called Oracle, was swaying back and forth in clear nervousness "It totally looks like something out of one of those old cheesy retro horror movies that is in all black and white and stuff." she commented. She was wearing a full black bodysuit with neon-green lines over her forearms down to her waist, silver elbow and kneecap pads, neon-green shoes and fingers on her gloves. And finally her mask, a VR headset-like mask with large red eyes.
And finally Makoto Nijima, the biker road warrior Queen, stepped forwards next to Joker. Queen, wearing a dark-blue bodysuit with a black leotard and crotch area, spiked black kneecap guards and shin-high slightly heeled boots, spiked shoulder-pads, white gloves and a long black scarf, the way the suit was shaped and designed it did appear rather revealing "What's the play, Joker?" she asked
"Yes inmate, what IS your plan?" a voice asked, not too far from the group, as two figures approached them
"Huh?" Both Futaba and Makoto questioned as they all stared at the approaching two people. Both were wearing blue prison guard uniforms. Platinum-blonde-haired and wearing black eye patches but on opposite yellow eyes.
On the right, the girl had her hair in two side buns; the black eye patch was over her right eye with a golden 'V' emblazoned on it. She had a long-sleeved dark blue prison guard's shirt with a light blue sash over her left shoulder that went to her right hip, a long black tie and gloves, a silver belt around her waist, a black skirt with pouches with silver buttons, a pair of long white socks that went up to her kneecaps and flat black shoes. On her head was a blue prison guard hat with golden letters around the black band. X-M-R-N. In her hands was a baton with what was hidden, a button.
On the left was a girl with a long braid wearing the exact same blue prison guard uniform, all down to the last detail. But there were differences, notably, her eye patch was on her left eye. And in her glove bound hands was a prisoner roster. And the golden lettering around her black banded police hat was: O-Y-O-O.
"Um, Joker? Who are they?" Queen asked, pointing at the two girls.
"Oh, it's those two again!" Skull called "Heya kiddos!" he waved... and got a baton to the knee "YOW! Hey! What's tha big deal!?"
"You'll speak when spoken to." The baton-wielding girl informed.
"And we are not, as you put it, 'kiddos'." The clip-board holding girl answered.
"Oracle, Queen. These are Caroline." Joker spoke, pointing to the baton-wielding girl first. "And Justine." He pointed to the roster holding girl second.
"Please do not get us mixed up." Justine asked politely.
"... They are cute!" Oracle cheered and hugged the two, who weren't much shorter than her.
"H-hey!" Caroline double-took as she was hugged by one arm.
"Please. Release your grasp on us." Justine asked politely.
"Hey, hey, Joker! If I died my hair, you think we could be triplets?" Oracle giggled
"What?!" Caroline and Justine double took as they heard that.
"D-Don't get any funny ideas!" Caroline pointed.
"Probably, it might be kinda cool. Not sure Sojiro would approve." Joker laughed as he looked at his crazy red haired girlfriend
"I'm not hearing a 'no'!" Oracle smirked.
"I think you've had enough sugar!" Caroline broke the hug.
"Who are you two? And why did you call Joker 'Inmate'?" Queen asked.
"It's... complicated." Joker laughed nervously
"We wanted to report that this Palace is an... anomaly in regards to this Palace." Justine responded. "Your actions have made a powerful enemy of this location's owner."
"Really? But I've barley even seen this guy." Joker blinked
"It is more your association with another, that has caused this disruption." Justine explained "What's more, is this man understands the human body and mind much more than an average person. With an extra level of authority in the subconsiout. Be weary and know that out here, you are safe."
"Now, you wanna change that load out of Persona you've got?" Caroline huffed "You've had mostly the same load out for a while... Still don't know how you have so many high level ones, Inmate."
"Yeah, I think I better." Joker agreed as he looked at Caroline. "I don't know what's going to be in there, so it's better if I switch some around."
"You can switch'em around?" Skull asked.
"May we see?" Fox followed up.
"No, you cannot." Justine answered.
"I'll just be a minute." Joker assured
Panther quickly grabbed his hand and whispered to Joker. "Don't take too long."
"I won't." Joker reassured as he walked through the blue door.
Flash!
Joker was back in the prison, now back in his prisoner garb. 'Dang it, I thought that I'd keep the clothes.'
"Welcome back, Trickster." 'Igor' spoke as he looked at him, sitting with his smug grin behind the desk and far away from the cell.
"Hello." he nodded calmly
"It seems that you've made... Great progress, since we've last met each other." 'Igor' responded calmly. "I'm impressed."
"I try." he bowed a little bit
"Caroline and Justine have talked about you." 'Igor' continued. "You've left quite the impression on them."
"Master!" Caroline snapped/blushed
"Ah, you have returned. I hope you give the Trickster all the help he needs." 'Igor' commented.
"Of course, Master." Justine answered calmly. "Your compendium has grown since last time, Inmate."
"Now. I just leave. I must look into this cataclysm that is coming." 'Igor' stated and faded away
"Bye." Ren waved dismissively. "Alone again." He smirked.
CLANG!
"You jerk!" Caroline blushed as she kicked the jail door.
"GAH!" Ren yelled, jumping back "What the hell did I do now?!"
"Our master knows about us!" Caroline huffed, feeling embarrassed that 'Igor' knew of their feelings. "You get us so flustered!"
"Sister, calm down." Justine urged
Caroline looked at Justine and took a deep cleansing breath, retracting the electrified baton and tucking it away. "Okay." She muttered.
"So, let's get some new Persona." Ren commented.
"You'll have to be rid of some." Caroline commented.
"I've got an idea for a couple." He spoke... as he pulled out an 'empty' black gun.
"What's with the-?" Caroline asked as he eyed up at the electrocution chair.
"... No." Justine realised.
"Yes." He nodded. "Lucifer. In the gun."
The two looked at each other in shock. Was the Inmate... Trickster... Joker going to sacrifice such a powerful Persona for a weapon.
"Very well. I assume that you have made your choices for these weapons." Justine asked.
"Yeah, I've got a few things." He smiled, having a few 'Model Guns' and 'Black Kogatana' on his person. "It is time for some new upgrades." He smiled
Both Caroline and Justine looked at each other, realising what this meant. Well, they were his wardens. They had to see what he was going to make.
"First. THOR!" Ren spoke summoning a Persona.
Both of their eyes widened in shock, seeing one of the strongest Persona appear before them... but they had a job to do. They grabbed a blue velvet cloth and bound the Persona in chains as they brought the Aesir to the electric chair.
*Outside*
"... So... Anyone read any good manga today?" Skull asked as they were waiting around.
"Seriously, Skull? That's what your mind went to?" Queen asked.
"Hey, if we're waiting for our leader, we gotta talk about something. I can't be the only one getting creeped out by Doc Franken-Drac's Castle over there." He responded, pointing at it with his thumb.
"I suppose that you're right." She muttered.
"My research into more detailed and muscular mangas has proven fruitful." Fox answered. "I'm looking into martial arts manga now."
"Maybe Queen could pose for ya." Oracle giggled
"Hmm." Fox hummed and looked at Queen with his artistic stare at her.
Queen turned around and huffed, trying to 'cover her shame' "W-What?" she asled
"Only if it was alright with you. You actually have great structure." Fox admitted.
"I'm not going to be your model!" She responded, feeling nervous about being 'perved' on by Fox. Though he only saw her aesthetically.
"Very well. I'll have to ask someone else." Fox answered calmly, slowly looking over at Panther and Dove.
"Oh no. Not again." They answered.
"Bwahahahahaha!" Oracle burst out with laughter
"What's going on?" Joker asked as he walked towards the group fully set up once again, carrying a few items
"We were just talking about- HOLY SHIT!" Skull calmly spoke before they saw the items.
"WHAT the hell?!" the others blinked, looking at his equipment
"What did you do?" Mona asked as he saw the items in Joker's hands.
"I just thought I'd give my best friends a 'little buff'." He smiled and passed over a beautiful pale golden slingshot; it had a scale motif and two 'dragon whiskers' for the sling and 'red eyes'. "This is yours."
"Wow~!" Morgana blinked weakly
"Um, Joker... what are these?" Panther asked as she was given a black twin-whip with an icy blue grip.
"Your new weapons. New palace. New weapons. Not all of these are the best I can do." Joker explained. "That one was made with Skadi. Mona's was made with Kohryu."
"Is that a hammer?" Skull asked as he looked at the large sledgehammer Joker had.
"Yep. Mjolnir." He answered, passing it to Skull. The hammer was a dark grey sledgehammer with electric blue runes glowing around the edge of the metal, a yellow leather grip that was embossed with a snake. "Yours."
"For Real?!" Skull gasped as he reached out, taking the weapon carefully "OH HELL YEAH! I'M GONNA SMASH IN SO MANY SKULLS!" the bottle blonde cheered as he took the weapon around for a swing, striking wildly at nothing
"Watch where you're swinging that thing, Skull!" Dove called out.
Shink!
"M'lady." Joker smirked as he brought out a rippling metal sword with embossed runes along the blade with a red leather grip and a silver guard and pommel.
"You dork." Dove smiled as she took the blade, it being a long broadsword.
"How much was this?" Fox asked as Joker brought out a new assault rifle. A silver-blue and red-wing-motif gun with golden markings along the barrel.
"Don't worry about it." Joker answered.
"What are these things called? And what can they do?" Queen asked as she was given her own new weapons. A pair of black metal knuckle dusters with little bat wings at the wrist and large white bladed spikes emerging from the knuckles, the white having a gradient to red as they went up the spikes
"Those are something I got thanks to our new friend, Nosferatu, from Kobayakawa's Palace." Joker explained with a nod "They are called The Impalers. Stronger than your current one, and they drain energy from your opponent if you hit them right."
Queen took the knuckles and smiled, donning them and giving a few quick jabs to try them out. "Nice. Thank you."
"What's this called?" Dove asked.
"That one was made from the Dwarf, weak Persona, but very good when upgrading weapons." Joker explained. "Not super strong, but it can withstand any physical attack."
"And ours, Joker?" Panther asked, looking at her new whip
"Yours is called 'Snow-Queen's Whip', it has a passive skill that increases accuracy and evasion." Joker explained. "Fox's is 'Heaven's Gate', it increases your base speed. Morgana's is 'Sudarshana', which can inflict enemies with a random ailment. It's a small chance though. And Skull, yours is 'Mjolnir', basically electric empowered hits."
"Sweet!" Skull cheered.
"What's mine called?" Dove asked.
"It's called 'Dwarrow Iron'." Joker explained.
"And did you get anything for yourself?" Queen asked
Joker smiled as he pulled out his own weapon... and it was hellish. It was a dark-silver and black metal revolver with skeleton-alien-like detail, a closed eye on the top of the grip, a curved guard in front of the trigger, and two red 'eyes' that had blood streaked markings down the barrel. And a 'mouth' at the front that exposed teeth. It looked like an H. R. Geiger inspired creation. "The Tyrant Pistol." He smiled. "It increases my magic quite a bit."
"Wow!" The group gasped
"Nice!" Mona smirked and gave a thumbs up.
"And... how much did that cost you?" Panther asked.
"Nothing. Honestly." Joker reassured.
Panther frowned, as did Dove.
And Queen
And Oracle.
...
Why did he feel like he was in the dog house?
"Um..."
Pat
Pat
"Good luck, dude." Skull whispered before he turned around and walked away
"Let's go!" Mona called, wanting to get out of this situation, as he marched towards the Palace
"I shall accompany you." Fox nodded, following the other two
"I-I-G-Guys! Guys! Come back here!" Joker called out in fea
"Joker...!" Dove glared.
"You've spent too much again, haven't you?" Panther growled.
"Even though you didn't need to." Oracle added, her goggles shining and covered by light.
"Hey-Hey now. I'm-I'm totally fine..." He laughed nervously
Crack!
Queen cracked her knuckles as she heard his nervous laughter. "Joker. Be honest. Or we're going to make you."
"Okay, okay. We don't need to escalate things!" He panicked and tried to cool the situation. "Maybe... a couple... of... hundred... thousand."
...
Joker shivered as the four looked at him.
"YOU IDIOT!" The four yelled at him.
"GAH!" He yelled
"Why did you do that?" Oracle snapped
"You can't just bankrupt yourself like that for our sake!" Panther added.
"Huh?" He blinked
"Are you serious? Hundreds of thousands of yen? For weapons?" Queen answered. "You have to look after yourself! What about your rent? Food?"
"Well... I don't REALLY pay rent..." He mumbled
The girls looked at Oracle for confirmation. "... He's right. He helps out a lot, so he doesn't pay rent." she reluctantly admitted
"Plus he is my carer. Would be weird for him to charge me." Joker laughed nervously
"Still..." Queen frowned, turning to Joker once more
"Ren. We all LOVE you." Panther stressed "So we worry about you. And spending SO much money on ALL of us, all the time?"
"I..."
"Joker. Please. Maybe ease up? We don't need 'diamonds' or full-on strongest weapons. Okay?" Dove asked.
He was silent, looking at the four girls. Feeling like he might cry, in all honesty. "I... promise to try. Okay? I'll be better at saving my money." Ren responded as he looked at all of them lovingly, a sad smile on his face
"Thank you, that's all we ask." Oracle answered, as she was still not using any weapons. But the reinforced clothes were a good thing... and then she rushed forwards and hugged him tightly
"Oof! Okay. Okay." Joker hugged her back... before he was hugged then by Panther, Dove and then Queen. "GAH! Okay, okay! I get it! I get it!" he laughed softly, hugging them gently "Okay, I get it. I'm... I'm sorry."
"You better be buster." Panther sighed
"And you are not paying for our next few dates." Dove added
"I-But-" Joker stuttered
"You spoil us ENOUGH. Especially with Phantom Thief work on top of that. We can afford to treat -you- every now and again, buster." Queen stated "A relationship isn't just one way, it isn't just you wooing us and making us feel special. You deserve the same... even if I am still new to this whole dating thing."
"Same." Oracle chuckled
"But I couldn't have said it better, myself." Panther chuckled
...
"Damn, you are all right." Joker flinched, groaning softly at their points
"Too right we are." Dove chuckled
BANG!
"We... should PROBABLY head inside and help out." Queen blinked
"Agreed." Joker nodded. The group quickly rushed inside to see the others in the middle of a fight
And Yusuke was on the floor, in his normal outfit, his Phantom Thief uniform gone
"FOX!" They called out.
"Oh hey, guys~. Glad for you to join us!" Skull panted and spoke in a sarcastic sing-song voice as he battled a Shadow
SHINK!
"We're coming guys!" Dove called out, brandishing her weapon.
The Shadows that were there were a pair of pink-skinned humanoids with vines and roses binding their feet all the way up to their arms, long flowing copper hair and closed eyes; they looked androgynous in their appearance. And an emerald snake that was wrapped around a silver staff, with two blue wings protruding from the top of the staff.
"Oracle, analyze!" Joker called as he jumped into the air, slashing at his foes as he passed "And why is Fox in his normal outfit?!"
"I don't know, he got blasted with some needs as we came in and reverted back." Mona added
"'Blasted by needles'?" Queen asked.
"Okay, the nude flower people are 'Alraune' and that's an 'Asklepian'." Oracle informed. "Alraunes block Curse, resist Fire and Ice and are weak to wind!"
"Okay, got it!" Mona responded, focusing on the Alraunes.
"Need some info for the snake thing here!" Skull called out.
"Asklepian, strong against Curse, resist Wind and Holy, weak to Fire and Nuclear!" Oracle continued.
"Queen, let's smoke this girl and make a new pair of snake sin boot!" Panther grinned
"Oh, ho, ho...You're speaking my language!" Queen smirked as their eyes glowed right at the Asklepian. The two rushed forwards as Joker and Dove helped up Yusuke and tried to heal him.
"You okay?" Dove asked gently
"I... I can not hear Goemon." Fox mumbled
"What?" Joker gasped as he heard that. "He cut you off from your Persona?"
"And... and my Phantom Thief self." He looked at his hands. "This. They shot something at me." Joker blinked as he looked at what Yusuke had in his hand. A small needle, a syringe.
"A syringe?" He asked in confusion as he looked at it.
"Does that mean-?" Dove asked in slow realisation.
"Guys, look out!" Joker called out.
"Huh?" the group blinked as their current wave of foes where defeated
fwoosh~!
stab!
stab!
stab!
"Ow!" Panther, Skull and Queen grunted as they were struck by something...and in a flash of blue flame, they were transformed out of their costumes!
"The hell?!" Ryuji double took, pulling the thing out of his neck.
"W-What happened to our outfits?" Ann asked in shock, patting her body. Expecting the red latex to be there, and got nothing but her jacket and flesh "What the hell?!"
"Why is it so quiet?" Makoto asked in fear, realising she could no longer hear the voice of her other self
"Joker, we've got to get out of here!" Mona called out, worried that a cat wouldn't be much help in this situation.
"Right." He nodded, helping Yusuke to his feet "Come on guys, we need to get out of the hospital."
The group collected the treasure before another needle fired and ran out of the hospital, the fluid in the needles still in their veins as they had to flee. They turned tail and ran, less than a dozen steps. But as everyone left... blue flames washed around
FWOOSH~!
"Hey, we're back to normal!" Queen commented as she suddenly felt her biker leathers cover her
"Oh yeah! That was scary." Skull commented, adjusting his jacket
"Definitely. I don't want to go through that again." Panther agreed, her pink glvoes running across the red latex.
"Thanks for getting me out of there." Fox responded as Joker gave him a drink to get his health back.
"How did that happen?" Mona mumbled
"Can I see that?" Oracle asked.
"Sure." Joker nodded, passing the syringe to her as she began to examine it.
"I'm not sure. But... it's scary. Being reduced to our normal selves." Queen commented.
"Agreed." Panther nodded, holding herself "Never thought I'd say this... but I missed this outfit."
"You and I both." Fox agreed.
"Ah-ha. I think I've got it." Oracle spoke out.
"What is it?" Mona asked.
"The syringe is an extension of the Palace. When injected it causes a disruption to the Phantom Thieves, one poke from this and 'poof' we're normal again. It only stops when we leave the Palace. Inside, it's a sort of poison; outside, we're fine. It's a defence system made to keep us weak." Oracle explained "It is technically nothing, nothing is REALLY being injected into us. But it is symbolic of a doctors appointment or his medication. As a patient, we loose all power against him while inside the hospital. It is impossible to summon our spirits of rebellion."
"Sonovabitch." Skull groaned and growled at that.
"But they only shot out while you where in the lights." Joker hummed "So we should be able to avoid them if we are fast enough."
"So that's what happened." Fox commented. "It was like Madarame's palace."
"Well, not just Madarame's palace, Fox." Joker answered. "But yeah, something like that."
"Okay! Let's try round two!" Skull yelled
"Yeah, this time... no splitting the party." Joker added. "And stay close." Everyone nodded, heading inside together
Once again going into the fray...
And feeling the fear of what was to come...
*time skip*
The group had started their travel into the hospital-castle Palace, the insides were pristine and nearly bleached white with how juxtaposed it was compared to the outside. It was like walking into a 'Clean Room' or a 19th century insane asylum.
"You said this place is only four floors high, right?" Skull asked
"That's right." Oracle answered.
"Then how come are we still only on the first floor?" Skull continued.
"This place is much larger than other Palaces. This doctor has probably cultivated this place for years." Oracle answered. "Lots of crisscrossing roads and rooms."
"But wasn't Kamoshida-?" Panther asked.
"It probably didn't flare up as much as this place before he became a teacher." Joker theorised.
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Skull responded.
"So... not to sound dumb here but... what was that Shadow? The snake one I mean." Dove asked.
"The Asklepian?" Oracle asked.
"I think that's a symbol of medicine." Joker answered.
"I thought that was the staff with two snakes on it." Fox commented.
"No, I think that's a common mix-up. Two similar symbols just get interchanged." Queen responded.
"Really?" Panther asked with amazement
"Considering we're in a hospital, it makes sense to have something based on medicine." Queen admitted. "I look up some weird things."
"Yep." Everyone nodded
"... I thought you'd say 'No Queen, you don't' or something." She muttered in slight shame and embaressment, having hoped the others would have supported her a bit
"Wait!" Joker spoke as he halted their progress as the trap lights were there. Everyone came to a stop, looking out quietly. Joker pulled out an item he could get rid of, a smoke bomb that could help them lower the intensity of their presence... but he had to test this out. And he under-hand threw the smoke bomb into the searchlight.
POOF!
Shoot!
Shoot!
Shoot!
Shoot!
"Now!" He yelled, sprinting forth
The group rushed forwards as they were given a distraction by Joker, pushing through to the other side.
Shoot!
Shoot!
Shoot!
"DAMN that's was close..." Mona panted, falling face first onto the ground. The group barley dodging the attack
"Is everyone together?" Joker asked, looking behind and saw that everyone was tired but still together.
"Yes." Queen nodded, after giving a quick scan "And everyone is okay."
"Thank goodness." Joker sighed in relief. "I think we can get to the next floor much easier now."
"Um, Joker... there's a big door here." Oracle spoke as she scanned forwards.
...
"What?" Joker blinked. At the end of the room, there was a large door, branded with the personalised logo of Doctor Oyamada on the front with the outline of a speaker slot.
"Are you kidding me?" Panther groaned.
"What is the purpose of this?" Fox added.
"Er... What do we do?" Panther asked
"And have we found a safe room yet?" Queen commented
"No, I don't think so." Oracle answered. "There hasn't been any distortions."
"Great." Joker frowned as he approached the door. As he approached it, the speaker flickered on to life.
"Welcome. To progress, you must answer this question."
"Err, is this thing giving us a quiz?" Skull asked, pointing at the door.
"What does the term 'Bradylalia' mean?" The speaker asked.
...
"ER... The what the who?" Skull blinked
"I have no idea." Mona mumbled
"Did he even speak Japanese there?" Dove whispered
"'Brady'? I don't know." Joker whispered, hoping that the speaker couldn't hear.
"Insufficient answer." The speaker responded.
Shoot!
Shoot!
Shoot!
Shoot!
"AH!" Each of them were struck by small needles... and their costumes were now their normal clothes again.
"Not again!" Yusuke gasped in shock as he looked at everyone.
AWOOO!
AWOOO!
AWOOO!
"That alarm!" Ann panicked.
"We gotta go!" Queen responded.
Ren scowled at the large door, this damn place. It was making him feel challenged and also inferior. "Hey! Watch my tail!" Morgana panicked as he struggled to get the syringe out.
"Gotcha!" Futaba responded as she picked up the cat and ran with him.
"What're we gonna do?" Shiho panicked.
Bwoosh!
"Wait, I got an idea!" Ryuji thought. "Yo! Uglies! Over here!"
"Huh?" The others blinked
"Get! Exit! Go!" Ryuji waved to get down the corridor while he was going to be a distraction.
"Get out of here!" Ren ordered.
"But what about-?" Makoto panicked
"We'll be fine!" Ren answered, throwing another smoke bomb. "GO!"
The Shadows grunted as the Phantom Thieves made their escape with Ryuji and Ren being the distractions. "Ren, be honest. We're gonna die; right?"
"Not if we can help it!" He responded, grabbing his gun and fired at the Shadows.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The Shadows emerged and transformed into spiky-blue-haired women wearing purple boots and gloves, pixie wings on their backs and wearing silver metal bustiers on their chests and torsos.
"GAH!" They screamed as they were knocked down.
"How did you know that'd work?" Ryuji asked.
"I didn't." He responded as they ran through the hospital.
*With the others*
"This way! I remember it!" Futaba called out as they ran out, rushing straight through the doors and out, where their costumes returned and Mona turned back to his bipedal state.
"Oof! We're out!" Panther realised as she and Dove were about to turn tail and head back inside.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Queen asked.
"We can't just leave them! Skull has a bad knee and we don't know how many smoke bombs Joker has!" Dove answered.
"Yeah, we can't leave them!" Panther nodded in agreement
"... We out speed the lights." Queen frowned as she ripped her mask off "Come on, JOHANNA!" Blue flames burst around, the bike like Persona taking shape
VRRRRRRMMMMMM!
"... That'll work." Mona nodded.
"Wait here!" Queen called out as she rushed inside, her bike roaring as she road into the Hospital
"You think she's going to get to them in time?" Fox asked.
"I hope so." Oracle answered.
VRRRRM!
'Hang on guys!' She thought as she went through the lights and dodged all the syringes that were shot at her. For as fast as they were, it was a frigging bike. Within a rather simple hospital. She was even driving along walls, a bunch. 'There!' she thought, spotting the two in the distance
BANG!
BANG!
THWACK!
"Any more bullets?" Ryuji panted in exhaustion, brandishing Mjolnir.
"More than I care to say." Ren answered, holding his own new weapon. A black dagger with red edges, a burning wing guard and a malicious grin embossed on its hilt.
...
"You didn't mention THAT one." Ryuji blinked
"Did I not?" Ren asked.
"No!" Ryuji snapped.
SLAM!
"Get on!" Queen ordered as she came crashing down on the Shadows.
"Yes, My Queen." Ren could not help but joke with a smirk, amazed at how beautiful and badass his girlfriend looked right now
"Yeah, okay!" Ryuji nodded, getting on the bike right after Ren. As much a perv he was, he'd never hug his best friend's girlfriend.
Ren, though? No problem. Sure, probably wasn't the time or place so he didn't go too far. But it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy it. Wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close. Of they weren't running for their lives he would have happily enjoyed the moment
"Hang on!" Queen ordered as she revved Johanna and blitzed out of the hospital.
"WWOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAA!" Ryuji screamed at the speeds, hearing the tier squeal
Queen's eyes were focussed as she drove through the lights, doing her best to go straight through the lights and not even bother with the warnings.
Shoot!
Shoot!
Shoot!
"We're almost there!" Queen called out.
'Damn it, the alarms are blaring up!' Ren thought to himself before he grabbed something from his jacket.
"Dude, what're you-?" Ryuji asked, before he was given smoke bombs.
"Throw'em!" He ordered, throwing five smoke bombs over his shoulder.
"Okay?!" He answered, throwing some behind him but didn't let go from Ren's stomach.
VRRMM~!
The doors of the hospital where almost blown open, the bike Persona jumping high in the air as the team made their mistake
"GAAAH!" Skull screamed as they flew in the air and came to a heavy THUD on the ground as the blue flames of rebellion covered them into their Phantom Thief costumes. Skull stumbled off the bike, trying to regain his sense of Balance with a grown "Hoo... god. That was scary, Queen." Skull commented.
"You're welcome by the way." Queen responded.
"Thanks for saving us, Queen. I mean it." Joker responded as he stayed on the bike, close to her
"No problem." Queen smiled as she enjoyed the hug.
"That was insane, Queen." Panther commented.
"I was the fastest one, I had to do-" Queen responded before she was kissed. Though it took her by surprise, no one reacted fully to what happened.
"Thank you." Panther whispered to her.
"I... Err... n-no problem." She stammered.
"So... what do we do? How many smoke bombs or whatever you used do we have?" Dove asked.
"Between smoke bombs and stealthanol, a few. But I'm going to have to make more if we go back in there." Joker admitted. "This guy probably has like... 30~45% on alert now?"
"Isn't there something big you can use to lower it?" Fox asked.
"Yes, this." Joker nodded, pulling out a large smoke bomb. "'Covertizer'. It does a lot more than stealthanol, but it's hard for me to get all the parts for it."
"Okay, I gotta call you out on that. You've got like fifty of them." Mona called him out and rolled his eyes.
"... Yeah, but-" Joker frowned.
"We've still got a map of the first floor. That's something." Oracle answered.
"Was there a safe room that we missed?" Dove asked
"I think so, but knowing this asshole, he might've hidden it behind the door." Oracle answered. "But there are a few spaces we need to fill out."
"Okay. Let's map the whole place out and then head back." Joker nodded, still sat on Johanna with his arms around Queen's waist
...
"You can let go now. Can't you?" Fox asked.
"I could." He shrugged, resting his head on his girlfriend's shoulder
...
"You GONNA?" Mona asked
"Maybe." He chuckled
"Come on, Joker. We've got work to do." Queen mumbled as she was still enjoying this.
"Fine." He laughed, slipping off the bike "Well guys... Let's try this one last time."
"At least we've got some idea what's going on right now." Dove responded.
"We stick together and don't get hit by the lights." Panther agreed.
"Yeah. Just be careful." Oracle nodded with a flinch
"Hopefully we are done by dinner." Skull laughed
"Let us go." Fox nodded
Joker nodded, leading the charge back in once more
tick
Tick
TICK
*20th of November*
tock
Tock
TOCK
Ren was feeling his throat get dry. This talking to Sae Niijima was slowly getting to him. And all he could think about was the past while looking at her. The drugs still in his system because of the corrupt police and the drying water on his face.
"This doesn't make sense." The silver haired woman frowned, crossing her arms. Sae was a beautiful long silver-haired woman that was parted on the left-hand side, brown eyes with a tint of red, wearing a black business suit with a black turtleneck, long tight-fitted black trousers with flared ends and black heeled shoes; her blazer had a silvery-grey clamshell design on the cuffs and lower part. She had a silver necklace of the 'section sign' around her neck, violet fingernails, silver earrings and black hairclips to keep her hair in place.
"It's the truth." Ren hoarsly responded.
"I found it strange that you did not mention the principal or your other two victims the first time around, as well as describing such a dramatic difference in strategy." Sae commented, leaning forwards "If it wasn't for the fact I know you, I would think you are insane or that the drugs have destroyed your mind more than I could have hoped. But your story is getting more and more insane, you know."
"With what I've been through. I guess it looks that way." Ren answered. "But that palace, we had to change our styles."
"I would think so." she frowned "So... how did you get around this?"
tick
Tick
TICK
*back to the present, August 22nd. Later that day*
tock
Tock
TOCK
Ren was in his room, looking at the ceiling with dread. "Urgh... what are we going to do?" He asked himself, mentally exhausted because of the trials in the Doctor's Palace. It was hell, between the struggle to actually find the Safe Room, and trying to open the door to the next floor... which had its question change on them!
Luckily Morgana turned into his bus form and they just stormed through the place the second the question was asked and they realised it was different. They did not even try to answer it. Giving them a chance to BARLEY make it out of there.
...
Ren had to admit. He was stumped.
He could not see how they could win this one.
Morgana was sleeping in his bed, sleeping soundly since the day was so long for them.
'I have to figure this out.' He thought to himself and grabbed his phone. But he needed to sleep. So best not to dell on that now...
*elsewhere*
Makoto was alone in her room. Wearing just her shirt, partially unbuttoned, with her pantyhose as she sat at her desk. Her legs curled up against her chest as she looked down at the papers before her. She had a lot on her mind, combing over different medical lingo and jargon. It was the only thing keeping her mind off that kiss from Ann from earlier. Sure, she and the others girls where sharing Ren. But... that was shocking. And she kind of liked it. Ann had very soft and plump lips, and she knew how to kiss. Even as Makoto tried to ignore those thoughts, while seeing herself as straight, she had to admit that fact.
...
And then she remembered the fact that one of the girls she was sharing her boyfriend with, Tae, was her own sisters ex-girlfriend and the awkward-weirdness that made her feel.
"Oh god, what am I going to do?" She muttered and whined to herself, holding her head... What had her personal life been?
buzz!
buzz!
Suddenly her phone rang, a message popping up. Being sent over by Ren.
Ren: Hey, you up?
"Ren! Oh god. Um..." She muttered to herself.
-Yeah, I'm up. Just trying to figure out some medical speech.- She responded.
Ren: Good call, but this guy is an expert. Probably more advanced stuff than we can work out. At least in the time we have.
Makoto frowned at the comment... but understood
-'You're right. I guess I just wanted to help. This one is tough.'-
God, why did it have to be like this? She felt so useless.
buzz
buzz
"Timing." she smiled lightly
Ren: Do not beat yourself up. You are amazing. You are doing your best. This is just a real hard problem. But we will work it out. Together.
Makoto felt her cheeks light up, turning bright red. And she smiled
'Thank you, Ren. That means a lot.'-
Buzz
Buzz
Ren: Any time. I love you.
Makoto blushed bright red at those words, her eyes flicking around to try and work out what to say next. She'd never done this sort of thing before! She didn't know WHAT to say?!
...
Maybe she could show? She did remember Ann and Shiho had mentioned before ...
...
...
She'd do it!
*With Ren*
"Maybe she went to sleep." Ren commented as he relaxed, sitting back calmly
buzz
buzz
"Oh?" Ren blinked, opening his the message... And coughing a bit.
On his phone was a picture of Makoto. Barley clothed. Wearing a plane and simple matching set of a black bra and black panties, alongside her shirt and pantyhose. How did he know the colour of her underwear? She had unbuttoned her shirt a bit, giving a tiny hint at what was holding her chest. And meanwhile she had set her legs up, together in front of her with her shirt covering her treasure between her legs but he saw the hint of black straps around her hips
And with the picture was the message
'Love you to.'
Ren's eyes widened as he saw the picture and put it into a folder for safety. 'Gonna sleep well tonight.' He thought as he lay back in his bed.
CONFIDANT RECAP:
Fool: Rank 10
Magician: Rank 10
Lovers: Rank 10
Chariot: Rank 10
Sun: Rank 10
Lust: Rank 9
Strength: Rank 8
Hierophant: Rank 7
Death: Rank 7
Temperance: Rank 6
Hanged-Man: Rank 6
Devil: Rank 6
World: Rank 5
Emperor: Rank 5
Fortune: Rank 5
Moon: Rank 5
High Priestess: Rank 4
Empress: Rank 4
Star: Rank 4
Tower: Rank 4
Hermit: Rank 3