In this chapter we explore the main area of the game and sorry for the long chapter, not a lot of good places to save in this area or rather it is limited.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.

Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Lysandre Arc Chapter 3

Welcome to Mementos

The next day Aqua was on the crowded train heading for school. She had to hold her bag to her chest it was so crowded.

"…Move a little more to the right. I can't see the screen." Gatomon said squeezing his head out of the bag.

"Now for today's Train News." The Train Monitor said "Today's headlines are…'Vollyball Beating Investigation!' The school claims to have left teaching methods up to its staff. It has denied once again that it had any knowledge of the beatings"

"Seems the news on Gaston's crimes aren't dying down yet" Aqua said to herself in a low voice

"'Pollen Warning as of Next Week!'" The Train Monitor continued "Greater volume and arriving later than in previous years. 'Hotspots of the City!' Experience art in Remnant! The Lysandre exhibit opens next week."

"People are really talking about the Gaston incident." Gatomon said smiling "No one in this car knows that we're the ones who did it…"

"True" Aqua said and continued on her way to school.

When she arrived, she got to class and took her seat as class with Mrs Forger began.

"Oh yeah, you've got exams starting on Wednesday. Don't tell me you forgot." Yor said looking at her class "Anyway, today we'll be talking about 'The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.'"

When everyone got the books open Yor continued the lesson saying "Most theorize it's the oldest story in Japan; for some, it's the oldest science-fiction story in the world. But if you ask me, it's the oldest story in Japan about a terrible woman."

"I mean, Princess Kaguya gives her suitors absurd tasks, demands fancy gifts, then runs off to the moon." Yor explained "Some men lose their fortunes, some are humiliated, and some even get serious wounds or go blind. Woman like Princess Kaguya actually show up in a lot of stories from around the world."

"Now then, Aqua." Yor said and Aqua sits up and looks at the teacher. "You've probably heard that a woman who uses her wiles to lead people to their doom is a femme fatale. So what's the literal translation of the phrase 'femme fatale'?"

"Hmmmmm…I think at would be Fatal woman." Aqua said thinking on it.

"That is correct." Yor said with a nod "The answer is fatel woman. In French, of course. Some famous examples are the witch Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend and Queen Salome from the Bible. Not to mention the wild, seductive dancer of opera, Carmen."

The class were impressed that Aqua got it all right and Gatomon noted Aqua got smarter by answering that question and Aqua felt it too.

Yor then sighs and said "…Let me just warn you that exams aren't so easy that you can pass them with a single night of cramming. Take your time and make sure you understand the material, okay?"

"…You heard her. Must be rough being a student." Gatomon commented.

"Yeah, almost as tough as being a Phantom Thief." Aqua said sighing.

"Well, you have nothing to lose from studying. Give it all you've got." Gatomon told her.

When school was over the members of the Dragon Gems were in the hideout on the school roof. Uzi was scrolling through her phone and sighs

"None of these posts are any good." Uzi groans "Everyone's just complaining about their parents or their boyfriends. There isn't even a hint of a hunt about a new palace…"

"We can't get everything online…Finding a post with a name and location is asking a lot…" Alexis told her.

"Guess we just got to find one ourselves then!" Uzi states nodding

"Are you seriously suggesting we look for a target that even the police troopers have overlooked?" Gatomon asked her.

Uzi thinks about it and looks down "…Yeah, you're right. We should probably just hold off until exams are done with, right? We can wait and see for a little longer, then worry about coming up empty handed if it happens…"

Suddenly the group hearing the door back inside open and Gatomon quickly goes to hide and the person who came out was J. Aqua had seen her around mainly in the library but she couldn't help but exam her a bit.

"Oh…" Alexis said seeing her.

The pigtailed haired drone girl approaches and said to the three "This place is off-limits, you know."

Uzi sighs annoyed and said "…We'll get out of here once we're done chatting. Anyway's what's Miss Council President want with us?"

"The troublemaking Drone girl, the center of gossip and the infamous transfer student. Hmmm, this is an interesting combination" J said looking at the three and folds her arms

"Great way to start a conversation…." Alexis said under her breath.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you formally" Aqua said to J.

"By the way…" J said nodding and thinking "It seems as though you got to know Mr. LeGume pretty well."

"Yeah, I somewhat did" Aqua said nodding.

"Anyone who attends this school would have interacted with him, whether they liked it or not." Alexis told her "Especially when he was literally the centre of attention."

"Hm…" J said thinking "I heard Mr. LeGume used a volleyball team member to spread details of your past record. Don't you hate him? Mr. LeGume I mean."

"I mean he made it hard for me to lay low, but after he confessed his crimes all I have is just pity for him." Aqua said thinking.

"I see." J said nodding.

"What's all this about?" Uzi said to J annoyed. "My friend here's an upstanding girl."

"I don't mean to offend." J said simply "Mayne students have been shaken up by what happened with Mr. LeGume. The rumors about that odd, calling card-esque posting aren't going away either."

The group look at each other and Alexis said surprised "I didn't expect someone like you would care about that tactless stuff, J."

"I dunno that it was tactless…" Uzi said in a low voice. She then said to J "Anyways, we done here? We can't leave if you keep talking to us."

"At least try to understand my position." J said folding her arms annoyed "Being forced to deal with this horseplay…"

"Horseplay?!" Alexis said angered by it.

Aqua looks at it J and she felt like the drone girl was more forced to do this and it wasn't interacting with them that made it feel like horseplay for her but the drone girl kept a reserved and focused look making her hard to read

"Ah yes by the way…. corporate has decided that this place will be closed off due the incident." J said proudly. "I did hear some people are coming up here without permission after all. I'm sorry to have interrupted you." With that J takes her leave.

"What was that about?" Alexis asked concerned.

Gatomon comes out of hiding and said "…She's on to us. That drone girel seems rather sharp. We should be cautious of her."

"Oh um…yeah, I guess" Aqua said nodding refocusing, she can't help admit that J intrigues her.

"She really gets on my nerves and is useless in my opinion." Uzi said annoyed.

"Hey no need to be rude, so be careful" Aqua said

"Grrr…Bite me. It's a pain in aft" Uzi said still annoyed.

"That reminds me." Gatomon said smiling "Study hard. Especially you, Uzi. There are bound to be traps that will need to be solved with brains. Keep in mind that everything you do in your daily lives has an impact on your abilities."

"I know I have noticed it in the last few weeks" Aqua said nodding.

"True, studying won't be so bad if we just think of it as helping us prepare to be phantom thieves….through I am quite serious with studies so don't need that drive but nice to think it" Alexis said nodding.

"I guess you got a point…" Uzi sighs standing up from her chair. "But geez, it's just so lame…I was all fired up about helping people, not about studying…"

"Well, I do have somewhere interesting to show you beforehand." Gatomon said smiling "You guys did originally promise to help me our with my mission, after all."

"Huh? Mission?" Uzi asked confused.

"Follow me." Gatomon said.

The other three nod and follow him.

The group were gathered at Remnant central area and stay by the stair way near the underground walkway, Uzi and Alexis had her phone out as instructed by Gatomon.

"What're you bring us here for?" Uzi asked confused.

"Just do as I told you." Gatomon told her.

"All right, I've got the Phantom Aficiondo Website up. Now what?" Uzi asked him

"Look for a post with a full name in it." Gatomon instructs them.

"I already said there's no infor on any big shots." Uzi said annoyed "Don't you remember? But wow, people actually go and put someone's real name on here. That's some scary stuff…"

"Gives whole new meaning to doxing" Aqua said nodding.

"'He won't listen to what I say'…" Alexis said reading a post "No wait, there's no name on this one."

"'Someone's bad-mouthing me in online chat rooms'….This one's got a name." Uzi said reading another.

"Ignore those." Gatomon told her "Aren't there any posts about more serious trouble?"

Alexis finds another one and reads it "'I don't know what to do about my ex who's stalking me. His name is Sunstreker' It says he is a cybertronian teller at City Hall"

"A government worker's stalking someone?" Uzi asked in disbelief.

"That should be a suitable target." Gatomon said nodding. "All right, not get the Meta-Nav ready."

"We're just gonna jump right into a Palace? Fine by me!" Uzi said getting it set up

"Hey, what happened to all that talk of 'unanimous decision'?" Alexis asked annoyed and looked to Aqua "What do you think we should do, Aqua?"

"We need to do this in my opinion." Aqua said nodding "Left unchecked his stalking could get worse."

"That's what I'm talking about!" Uzi said smiling

"Alright then, let's go." Alexis said with a nod.

"We need a name and a place, right?" Uzi said checking the Meta-Nav app. "So the name is…"

"Actually, we don't need a location this time. Just enter exactly what I say." Gatomon explained. "The keyword is…'Mementos.'"

"Huh? What're are you trying to pull?" Uzi asked confused

"Just listen to me. It should work…I think." Gatomon told her.

"Geez that again?" Uzi sighs annoyed.

"I know but just trust him on this Uzi" Aqua said

"Alright…. uhhhh…M-e-m-e-n-t-o-s, was it?" Uzi said entering then the app activates saying match found surprising the drone girl as she stands up "We got a hit?!"

"Just as I thought!" Gatomon said proudly.

Just then the group feel a sensation as they're pulled into the Metaverse and see everyone around them vanish.

"Everyone's disappeared!" Alexis said shocked. "It…kind of felt like I'm…walking on air?"

"Is this that Sunstreaker bot's Palace?" Uzi asked confused.

"That's half right, but half wrong." Gatomon said.

"What do you mean?" Aqua asked him.

"This is a type of Palace, but it's different from the normal ones." Gatomon explained. "Come on, let's head down. The Shadows here known as Batlings here lurk underground. I don't quite understand why given they are bat-themed. It may be because they're drawn to something."

"Underground? How are we going to get there?" Alexis asked confused.

"How? You use it every day on you way to school. Follow me!" Gatomon told them and heads down to the Underground Walkway.

"Ah! Wait up, cat!" Uzi called out

The three follow down to the underground.

The group enter the area and look around as it was very different as it was red and there were veiny fleshy areas.

"The robot hell is this place?" Uzi asked confused she looks and gasps seeing Aqua and Alexis in there Phantom Thief attire and sees herself was in it too, also Gatomon was bipedal now again. "Wait, our clothes changed?!"

"The Shadows know we're here?!" Alexis asked shocked.

"Since the moment we stepped in." Gatomon told them

"You should have told us!" Uzi told him annoyed.

"We're still safe right here." Gatomon explained "I've come hgere to investigate a number of times, how I know what the Shadows look like. They never come up to this floor. But it's a different story once you go down. This place is simply teeming with them."

"More importantly, what is this Mementos?!" Alexis asked "It's about time you start explaining."

"I agree, what is this place Gatomon?" Aqua asked.

"Mementos is….everyone's Palace." Gatomon told them

"Huh? What do you mean, 'everyone'?" Uzi asked confused.

Gatomon folds his arms and explained "A Palace as grand as the previous castle only forms when a person's wishes are extremely distorted. So instead of many individual Palaces, the general public has one gigantic, shared Palace. That's where we are now…Mementos."

"Now that you mention it, this place feels a bit different from Gaston's Palace…" Alexis said.

"Yeah it is quite…eerie." Aqua said nodding.

"When you say shared….you mean they're all put together? Even though they're just strangers?" Uzi said thinking.

"Think of it as the collective unconscious…" Gatomon said thinking how best to explain and sighs "No, never mind. You wouldn't understand that."

"So what you're saying it…Using this place, we can even change the hearts of people who don't have a Palace?" Alexis asked smiling.

"Correct!" Gatomon said smiling "The steps to do so are slightly different though."

"But this place looks pretty huge." Uzi said thinking "Are we gonna be able to get around just by walking?"

Gatomon runs to an area with a space and said "It seems the time has finally come…" The other three look at him as he makes some action poses and said "Gatomonnnnn….transfoooooorm!"

Gatomon jumps up into the air and in a puff of smoke comes down now as a big white bus with a cat tail and his headlights also have eyes. This surprised the three.

"Come now, Prima. Human ladies first." Gatomon said happily

"A car…?!" Alexis said in shock

"No way!" Uzi said in shock.

"That is definitely a new thing to learn about you Gatomon." Aqua said in shock.

"This comes from the way cognition materializes in the Metaverse, plus a bit of extra training." Gatomon explained "It's not dissimilar to how you guys transform."

"You turning into a car is totally different than our clothes changing!" Uzi yelled out.

"For some reason, cats turning into buses is an extremely widespread cognition among the general public." Gatomon explained.

"Why a bus though?" Alexis asked thinking on it.

"Have zero idea." Gatomon said moving to make a shrug in bus form.

"Hang on, why didn't you do this at the castle?!" Uzi asked realizing something.

"I would have if I could!" Gatomon said and explained. "But that castle was cramped, there were tons of stairs, and no way this fits on top of a chandelier!"

Uzi runs to get in the Gato-car and Alexis noticed and said "Hey, Circuit! Human ladies first he said!"

"Stop pulling me! That's dangerous!" Uzi said and the two fight

"Prima! Please be gentle!" Gatomon said in response to the fight

Aqua sighs shaking her head and goes to get into the back with Uzi and Alexis.

"All aboard! Let's go!" Uzi said smiling but then looked confused as the three noticed they weren't moving.

"Why arer you all just stilling back there? I'm a car, remember?" Gatomon told them. "I'm not going anywhere unless someone drives me."

"You can't drive yourself?!" Uzi asked in shocked.

"Do you know how to drive?" Alexis asked Aqua.

"I have driven in a video game…" Aqua admits.

"That's a bit worrying, but I'll let you handle it." Alexis said sighing "I don't even that experience to lean on."

"You are probably more skilled thant I am too." Uzi admits "Plus you're the right height as I'm well….short…"

"All right then, we'll leave the driving to you!" Alexis said smiling at Aqua.

"Alright then, let me just go to the drivers seat" Aqua said opening the sliding door and heads there.

"Now star the engine! You can't drive if it's not running!" Gatomon told them.

"Aw geez. What a pain…" Uzi said as she climbs over the seat to get in the passanger side while Aqua gets behind the wheel. "Where's the key to this thing?"

"Why would you need a key?!" Gatomon asked "There's a switch just down next to the steering wheel." Aqua feels around "That tickles! Lower, lower!"

"Ah I think I found it" Aqua said as she presses the button

"Oh, there…That feels soooo gooooood…" Gatomon said and purrs a bit as the engine starts.

"Uh, is that purring I hear? What a creepy car!" Uzi said shaking her head

"Don't underestimate my meowtary engine." Gatomon told her. "We're going full throttle! It's time to fly!"

The group drive off and enter the first floor of the area known as Path of Qimranut as Aqua carefully drives.

"Man….This place defernatly does feel like a Palace…" Uzi admits.

"Yeah, I guess it'd be strange driving on the tracks like this in the real world…" Alexis said nodding. "Anyway, Sunstreaker's somewhere in here, right?"

"Most likely in a segment of his own creation." Gatomon explained "Don't worry, it won't be the size of a Palace. Our next step is to find an entrance to that segment."

"And what's this entrance going to look like?" Uzi asked curious.

"I have no idea, but strong distortions should be a pretty obvious visual clue." Gatomon said.

"Got it. Keep an eye out guys" Aqua said nodding as she drove.

"So, we're just got to go wandering around for it then? What a goddamn pain in the rear…" Uzi groaned

As they drove through the tunnels they see several tall Shadows in shaodws with bat like hoods on, to fight them Aqua crashed into them and they faced some Shadows from Gaston's Palace but a new one. A green slime like monster called Viscid Rotting Meat.

Aqua convinced the last one to join her and it was revealed to be called Slime.

"Me am honoured to serve you by your side" Slime said happily

"Glad to have you on board Slime" Aqua said smiling

Continuing exploring they found an area with a platform but keep exploring the floor and soon find a vortex down one tunnel, this was no doubt the place but they stop outside it.

"Woah, the heck is this? It's all wavy and such." Uzi said in shock.

"This is the place…I sense the target up ahead." Gatomon said determined "Now, are you ready, Waterwave?"

"Let's do this." Aqua said nodding and drives into the vortex.

The group exit into a one room area, the three empty out of Gatomon who tranfroms back and joins them.

"Hey, somethings there!" Uzi said pointing

Indeed, up ahead standing there shadows coming off him was a cybertronion that was yellow and black and looked to transform into a car. He has a symbol on his chest of the Metaverse eye logo.

"That seems to be Sunstreaker's Shadow." Gatomon said thinking

"Let me see." Uzi said thinking "Some front desk cybertronian guy at City Hall became a stalker, right?"

"I don't know how much evil he's done, but we have to do something if he's bothering other people." Alexis said nodding.

"Indeed, if left alone it might get worse." Aqua said nodding

"All right, we'll go talk to him." Gatomon said nodding.

They approach him, Shadow Sunstreaker. He hears them and turns to see the four. Looking angry with his yellow optics he asked "Who are you?!"

"Are you that stalker?!" Alexis asked angry "Haven't you ever stopped to consider how your ex feels?"

"She's my property! I can do whatever I want with her!" Shadow Sunstreaker states. "It's not like she didn't treat me like a playing, abusing my good Autobot nature! What's wrong with me doing the same?!"

"You can't treat someone like trash just because they did it to you!" Uzi said angry "What a load of junk…We're going to change the hearts of all the jerks like you!"

"There are millions of people far worse than me!" Shadow Sunstreaker said in anger slamming his fist into a nearby pillar. "What about Lysandre…? He is the worst Earthling I met, he stole everything from me, but you're letting him off the hook?!"

"…Lysandre? The heck this guy going one about?" Uzi asked confused

"I swear I heard that name before…" Aqua said thinking

Shadow Sunstreaker then transforms into it's true form a little imp like demon with purple hair however it also looked robotic.

"An Obariyon but it's more robotic…" Berith said in shock

"Must be because it is more powerful then normal" Arsene said.

"Get ready! Here he comes!" Gatomon said

"Let's calm him down!" Aqua said drawing her keyblade.

The arena fills with several Batlings peering over and cheering as the battle begins.

"Now that I finally have what's rightfully mine…I'm not going to let you take it away…" Shadow Sunstreaker told them "Look….This is a winner-takes-all world. Come fight me and I'll show you what I mean!"

"Alright!" Aqua said and uses Arsene's Eiha to do some damage

Gatomon then uses Zoro's Garu for some more damage. Shadow Sunstreaker uses Sledgehammer on Uzi doing a lot of damage. Uzi gets payback using Zio on him hitting the weakness and the group do an All-Out attack. Alexis then heals Uzi with Dia spell

"Well now that we know the weakness" Aqua said and switches to Pixie and has her cast Zio on him

"Take this!" Pixie said zapping Shadow Sunstreaker. The group did another All-out attack and Gatomon then attacks him again with his sword..

"I won't let you win!" Shadow Sunstreaker said using Sledgehammer on Alexis doing massive damage and also dazing her

Uzi does Zio again to knock him off his feet and the group minus Alexis do another all-out attack. Alexis in her daze heals herself and Aqua uses Berith to end the fight

"Time to end this match!" Berith said using Cleave but it misses. Gatomon then moves and finishes off Shadow Sunstreaker but it does.

Sunstreaker does Sledge hammer on Gatomon hurting him a lot. Uzi uses her Rail Gun on him.

"N-Noooooo…." Shadow Sunstreaker hunches down to his knees.

The group also feel like this fight made them all stronger, even Berith. The group see Shadow Sunstreaker turn back to the form he had before, still kneeled over weakened. The Batlings look on surprised

"I-I'm sorry…Please forgive me…" Shadow Sunstreaker said now calmed down. He looks sadly as he explained "I-I couldn't stop obsessing…N-Not after this person I trusted used me and then disposed of me."

"Which person are you referring too?" Aqua asked him concerned.

"Wait up, are you talking about that guy you mentioned earlier…Lysandre?" Uzi asked folding her arms.

"I…was afraid of being thrown away again like some worthless thing." Shadow Sunstreaker admits.

"So some selfish jerk was making you suffer too…" Alexis summarizes the situation "Still you shouldn't have dragged an unrelated woman into your mess."

"Yes, I know that now. I'll put an end to my other selfs love for her." Shadow Sunstreaker said nodding. He stands up but thinks "…Hang on, you can change people's hearts, right? In that case…Won't you change, Lysandre's heart?! Before more people fall victim to him…" He smiles now knowing what more to do to influence his other self.

Shadow Striker glows and fades away into glowing like and left behind was an orb of light.

"Change….Lysandre's heart?" Alexis said thinking.

"Hm? What's that shaining thing?" Uzi asked pointing to the orb.

"It's the bud of a Treasure." Gatomon explained "Had we left it be, it very may have blossomed into a Palace. Waterwave, this will make a perfect reward!"

"Yeah" Aqua said taking it and it turned into an accessory known as Attachment Pearl "Job well done" she said smiling.

"So, Sunstreaker had a change of heart, right?" Uzi asked

"Most likely." Gatomon said nodding.

"But how are we supposed to know if we succeeded?" Alexis asked.

"The lady posted the dude's name online. If he really does change, she'll probably comment again." Uzi guessed thinking on it.

"Yeah, you do have a point." Gatomon said nodding.

"Either way, traking against Shadows down here's the best!" Uzi said smiling "It's great prep for our next target!"

"It's also nice to be able to give courage to the people who post their problems online." Alexis said happily.

"On top of that, we can sell whatever treasure we get for some cold, hard cash!" Gatomon said smiling.

"It will help keeping our skills ready alright" Aqua said with a nod.

"Sounds like things are going pretty great for us!" Uzi said proudly. "All right, we did it!"

"Hang one. There's somewhere I want to show you guys before we leave." Gatomon said serious.

"Wait, there's more?" Uzi asked surprised.

"Don't worry it won't take long." Gatomon said "We leave the room first."

The group leave the room back to the tunnels

"So? What else do you want to do?" Uzi asked as they were back in the car.

"There's something I'd like to check in an area further down." Gatomon explained. "That platform we saw earlier should be the way down. Let's head there first."

"Wait, you've been here before, right?" Uzi asked "Don't you got like a map or something?"

"That would have no meaning in this place. The layout changes every time you enter." Gatomon explained.

"Wait, so our path changes too?!" Alexis asked shocked.

"This place is the fused cognition of a countless number of people. It's constantly shifting." Gatomon explained. "Even so, our destination should be pretty close. I'm counting on you Waterwave.

Aqua nods and drives and finds the platform and the group get out of the car.

"Hang on a sec…you guys hearing something?" Uzi asked as they hear something from the other track. They see a train roll in and stops "The trains are completely running?"

"Of course they are. We're in the subway, you know." Gatomon told her.

"Yeah, but I thought this was a Palace!" Alexis points out

"Then maybe this is how the public views this place? I don't know" Gatomon admits.

"People go though this darkness…every day?" Alexis said looking down.

"Forget that! You sure we're cool running around on these tracks?!" Uzi asked worried about being run over.

"It should be fine as long as we're not on the same ones…I think. I'm no train expert." Gatomon said thinking.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Uzi said face screening.

"Anyway, lets head to the lower area. It should be right after we go down that escalator." Gatomon explained.

The group not and head on down to the next level.

The group were on a platform with two tracks either side of them with trains running on both and head was what looks to be a stone doorway.

"All right, there it is!" Gatomon said smiling "The thing I want to make sure of is inside!"

The group head towards the stone doorway and Gatomon examines in.

"…What is this place? It's kind of creepy." Alexis said.

"And a dead end at the. Why's it even exist?" Uzi asked.

"Now hold on…Just watch." Gatomon said "This is most likely not an ordinary wall. If my hunch is correct…"

Garmon places his hand on the door and the room rumbles and the wall opens up revealing more stairs downward.

"It opened!" Alexis said surprised.

"A new area has been confirmed in the depths. Updating guidance information" The Metaverse Navigator said.

"See?! It's just as I thought!" Gatomon said happily turning to them.

"What do you mean?" Alexis asked confused.

"That wall wouldn't budge when I came here by myself before." Gatomon explained. "But it'd be weird for the deepest part of Mementos to be some normal place like this, wouldn't it?"

"So you were thinking there's got to be more?" Uzi asked.

"Yeah! Now that Gaston's Palace is gone and people are actually starting to talk about us…" Gatomon said nodding. "I knew something had to have changed down here!"

"How deep is it? Should we try going further down?" Alexis asked.

"Let's not. That's not why we're here today, remember?" Gatomon told them "We've already accomplished our goal. We should head back and I'll explain more once we're home."

"Agreed that's enough for today" Aqua said.

The group then move to head back up to the top floor.

The group arrived at the top floor but stop as they see a figure near the entrance. The figure was a bird headed human in a black cloak, behind him was a shadowy figure that resembled the bird. They were standing by a yellow orb filled with flowers. Behind them was a black and purple car with a lot of items and boxes attached

"Hey, look!" Aleixs said pointing.

"A person?! In Mementos?" Gatomon said shocked.

Aqua looks and noticed that his eyes were yellow but the same kind as Galla and Gardine and thinks.

"Hmmm…" The figure said and reaches to the orb and it turns into a cup of tea. "Perhaps this one Dark Shadow…" He sips it "Ohh!"

The shadow bird known as Dark Shadow said "Interesting flavour."

The Dragon Gems approach the figures.

"Hey, what's he drinking?" Uzi asked confused.

"Oh? Hmmm, I thought Dark Shadow felt something strange for a second…" The bird headed boy said. "So, who are you people?"

"WE should be asking YOU that!" Gatomon said suspicious of him

"Hmmm, you bring up a good point. I apologise" The boy said nodding. "It's customary for a mortal being to introduce itself before asking another one for its name."

"Thanks for reminding us, Misterrrrr….um, Tanuik? No, um…Hmmmmm…Cat?" Dark Shadow said looking at Gatomon.

"What took so long to come with 'Cat'?! And I'm not either of those!" Gatomon said in anger.

"Yeah, um to be fair getting confused about that seems pretty normal to me." Uzi points out.

"My name is Tokoyami and this is Dark Shadow. We're looking for flowers." The boy told them. "I'm actually surprised to see some normal humans running around. I didn't know people could just come here." Dark Shadow shrugs.

"Well, we are pretty special…W-Wait, that's not important!" Gatomon said to him and asked "Who YOU are is what matters right now!"

"When you said you were looking for flowers, did you mean that floating thing?" Alexis asked.

"That's right, pretty lady." Dark Shadow said and happily nuzzles Alexis a bit.

"Ahem, yes and those seem to be the ones we've been looking for." Tokoyami said clearing his throat and pulls Dark Shadow back. "We're collecting as many of them as we can cause we're studying mortals."

"Studying mortals? That's why you turned a flower into a drink?" Uzi asked him.

"That is correct." Tokoyami said nodding.

"Drinking flower tea counts a studying?" Uzi said surprised.

"Hey, Tokoyami, could these guys help us with our research?" Dark Shadow said excited.

"Hmmmm, only if they want but they could." Tokoyami said thinking.

"How?" Alexis asked.

"By collecting flowers for us." Tokoyami explained. "We wouldn't ask you to do it for free, though. We find all kinds of stuff you can use while you're exploring. We'll trade you some of that stuff for more flowers."

"What do you think? Should we try and get him some flowers?" Uzi asked the group.

"Seems like it could do us some good, but we don't know these bird guys…. we got to be careful." Gatomon said concerned.

"Oh, I'm sure they're fine. Let's give them a hand." Alexis said smiling. "They seem like they could use it, and it shouldn't be too hard to pick flowers while we're exploring, right?"

"That sounds fair" Aqua said nodding.

"But are there any OTHER reason?" Uzi asked suspicious.

"Hehe, the shadow bird is adorable, and it called me 'pretty lady'" Alexis giggled and blushed embarrassed.

"Nooo! Lady Alexis…." Gatomon said looking down.

"Eh, it's probably fine. I mean, he said he'd give us useful stuff and all." Uzi said smiling. "What do you say?"

"Well, are you going to help us find the flowers or not?" Tokoyami asked.

"Sure let's help them out" Aqua said nodding.

"Thanks!" Dark Shadow said happily

"Wait, wait, hang on a second!" Gatomon said in anger "We still have no idea who these guys are!" He looks at them "Don't go thanking us just yet, buddies!"

"Aw, are you tired, kitty? You seem grumpy." Dark Shadow said concerned.

"I am NOT a cat! And I'm NOT grumpy!" Gatomon said frustrated.

"O-Oh, okay then are you hungry? We learned hunger can make a person turn grumpy" Dark Shadow said and reaches into the car.

"I learned that first hand." Tokoyami said.

Dark Shadow pulls out a packaged cookie and hands it to Gatomon and said "Here, you can have this."

"Thanks, but I'll pass…" Gatomon said backing off.

"You're making the shadow bird worry about you even more." Uzi said frustrated "Guess there's no way out of this one."

Gatomon falls onto his knees sighing. A while later Tokoyami and Dark Shadow were in there car ready to leave.

"We'll be looking for flowers around here, so stop by and say hi if you see us," Tokoyami said. "Oh, and I guess just gathering flowers would be sort of boring, huh?"

"We know mortals seem to enjoy playing so much, we'll come up with some fun games for you." Dark Shadow said.

"Hmmm, I also remember something mortals like to say to each other:" Tokoyami said and honks his horn "Good job!" They then leave.

"Who in the robot hell was that?" Uzi asked confused

"If they're studying mortals, does that mean there aren't ones?" Alexis asked. "I mean they just seemed like a bird headed nice kid with a friendly shadow."

"Well, they didn't feel like a Shadow…well the ones we usually encounter" Gatomon said. "I wouldn't say they're dangerous….at least, for now…"

"Anyways, if we see any of those flowers he wants, I guess we can grab them for them." Uzi said thinking

The group nod and prepares to leave but hear a car honk.

"I almost forgot!" Tokoyami said and the car returns. "There's something I've been meaning to give to all of you."

"Wait, something for us?" Aqua asked surprised.

"Yes, the thing is…I picked up something strange while I was exploring earlier. Here it is…" Tokoyami said and pulls a crystal like star out his cloak.

"Huh? What the heck is that?" Uzi asked.

"It's a star." Dark Shadow said "At least, that's what they look like, so that's what we call them."

"A star?" Gatomon said thinking.

"Um, so what about it did you want to show us?" Alexis asked.

"Mortals make ushes on stars, right? That's so interesting." Tokoyami explained "Stars getting wishes…So this star is going to grant your wishes."

This surprised the group and Gatomon said "Our wishies?!"

"…Or it would be nice to think that." Dark Shadow said chuckling

"'Nice to think that'….Seriously…" Gatomon said sighing.

"I'll give this to you." Tokoyami said "It is quite bright and looks beautiful, you want it too, right? It's a 'sign of our friendship'. We know what that is."

"Right we'll be going now." Dark Shadow said as Aqua takes the star "Good job." With that the two leave again.

"Hey wait!" Gatomon said but it was too late.

"Welp, there they go." Uzi said arms folded. "A star, huh? He said it'd grant our wishes or something…"

"I highly doubt something like that would actually happen, even in Mementos…" Gatomon said "Well, I guess you can least try making a wish."

"Alright…hmmm I wish for an all-you-can-eat parfaits! With zero calories!"

"An extra large beef flavoured oil bowl! With Energon soup on the side!" Uzi said smiling.

They all look at the star but nothing happened not even a shimmer like it was working.

"…Nothing happened." Gatomon said sighing.

"Was Uzi's wish too petty?" Alexis asked.

"Bite me! You're the one to talk!" Uzi told her.

"Calm down you too" Aqua said.

"Hm. I guess things don't just happen that easily." Gatomon said thinking "But we can't just throw the thing away…Hold onto it for now."

"Yeah I will" Aqua said putting it in her pocket.

"Well, that was a bit unexpected…Let's head back now." Gatomon said.

The group nod and head for the exit.

The group were back in the real world and were talking about what they just experienced.

"Mementos, huh? I still don't really get that place." Uzi said thinking. "Oh, and what was that wall thing we saw at the end?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but that wall must've been there for a reason." Gatomon said thinking "If Mementos is the public's Palace though…it might be affected by the general public's belief in us."

"Why do you know so much about it, Gatomon?" Alexis asked.

"My memories are a little foggy in that regard…" Gatomon admits "However, I need to know what lies in the depths of Mementos, no matter what."

"No matter what?" Alexis said asked.

"Mementos is not just everyone's Palace, it's the source of all Palaces" Gatomon said serious "It used to be that Palaces like Gaston's with one ruler simply didn't exist. So if we can do something about the greatest cause of distortions, I'm certain my appearance will…"

"You wanted someone to save you too…" Alexis said smiling.

"I-I just needed pawns." Gatomon said nervous.

"I see…So that's why you came poking your nose around with us." Uzi said nodding.

"Make sense to me" Aqua said shrugging.

"…I'll help you." Alexis said nodding "I hope you can regain what you've lost." Aqua and Uzi nod in agreement

"I'll…be relying on you guys" Gatomon said nodding.

"By the way Gatomon…are you a boy? Or might you be a girl?" Alexis asked.

"Oh, definitely a boy." Aqua said nodding.

"Yeah, I agree…I wanted to make sure though, just in case." Alexis said smiling.

"He could turn out to be pretty ancient." Uzi said giggling "What if he smells like old person?"

"Stop that…" Gatomon said annoyed "…In any case, of course I'm male! I mean, I…"

"…What is it?" Alexis asked confused.

"No…It's nothing. We've done talking about that!" Gatomon said "Anyway, we now know that we can perfom minor changes of heart in Mementos. If we come across any eye-catching leads, it may be worth dealing with them for a bit of combat practice."

"There weren't any other outstanding ones though…" Alexis said sighing.

"I bet we'll get tons of them if we can change someone famous and make the Phantom Thieves well-known." Uzi said smiling. "The big fish are our main targets after all."

"First you need to find a way to get through your exams." Gatomon points out to her.

"I got to study…" Uzi sighs looking down dejected.

The others laugh unaware that someone a bit away from them was watching them. Or rather someone watching one of them in particular.

Well Mementos seems like a good thing also 2 things. 1) For Mementos Target bosses unless they are unique forms and not just regular shadow enemies they gain a unique form and 2) I gave some hints as to which romance I will do.

Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.