Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies, and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
8/1
Hakuno tapped her foot, both she and Ann were waiting for the rest of the team. The pair were waiting near the taped-off bookstore, only a few blocks away.
Ann was on the lookout as Hakuno focused on Avenger's invisible form as thousands of calling cards fell gently down. Summoning a Servant outside of the Metaverse before a major fight was risky but… they didn't have a better plan.
They had pondered how best to distribute the Calling Card to ensure that Ran Rū would find one, and they decided the best way was to repeat Kaneshiro's. Because they couldn't find her, not even the Police could not see hide nor hair of the murderer.
That mixed with a flurry of messages online done by Futaba would at least ensure the general buzz of conversation. Hopefully enticing something from the Cannibal.
'That and…' Hakuno didn't know why Ran Rū targeted her but… She figured why not use it to their advantage?
Hakuno and Ann were the only two here on purpose, with Ann catching looks, a few were also pointed at herself, with the knowledge that Ran Rū was hunting around here mixed with general buzz, Hakuno just had to hope that Ran Rū would only look for an opening and not attack at first sight.
A brush of a tail made her refocus, "Hey! It worked, the Palace is going crazy." Morgana purred.
Hakuno nodded in relief but kept her eyes open if it worked then she was nearby.
"Let's find a place to slip in then…" They still weren't entirely sure about the limit of the Metaverse Navigator, but with the knowledge that it drew in three of their current group without being intended then…
Doing it in public surrounded by people was a terrible idea. Morgana could due to his ability to enter the Metaverse without help but their app would possibly draw in more people…
Hakuno had her phone ready, the app pulsed with red and black on her screen as Morgana gave the all-clear as they passed by a nearby store, the teenage clerk was grabbing as many calling cards as he could.
They quickly slipped into a nearby alley as they entered the Metaverse.
Sickly black and Red covered them as they entered the palace for the last time the electric presence of the Palace covered her as the flames of her Rebellious Spirit did.
Hakuno always felt strange whenever a Calling Card got sent, almost as if someone was watching them.
… Perhaps the… Master of the twins? She would have to ask Joker or the Twins.
Hakuno forced the thought out of her mind, pushing that question aside.
"OK, everyone ready?" Joker's voice echoed in the small safe room, Hakuno internally sighed but nodded with everyone else.
"It's showtime," Hakuno rolled her eyes as left the safe room.
Slowly they crept and surrounded the oversized tent. Moonlight pierced the clouds as the snow creaked under their feet. Hakuno glanced behind them, ensuring that no Shadow was nearby but even the large lights were now turned off, the pulse of red from the Calling Card was in effect but…
There were no Shadows.
Hakuno slowly lifted the part of the tent as they entered. The only light in the tent was on stage a woman in white and green calmly sat on a chair waiting.
"Ah the morsel hath returned, once moe with friends, Nay use 'i hiding. Mine eyes see clearly." Hakuno shivered at her voice the clown mask was nowhere in sight, and her curly orange hair reached the ground. Multiple lights sprung on as the tent was illuminated.
A serene expression was on the Shadow's face. "Talk it up! We didn't even know about you until you attacked us!" Panther's voice carried well in the nearly empty carnival tent.
"You broke out of jail and started killing people! Taking you down is the right thing to do!" The Shadows sighed at Queen's comment.
"It is not like I had a choice, yet alas, it is not as thou would believe me, I am a Shadow, one's true self." … No Choice? What was she talking about?
Hakuno glanced at Joker who was equally confused, "Well. The one 'i black and blue might not be hither, A shadow is one's repressed feeling. The darkness that lies 'i one's heart and yet… She bears her heart so openly, this one canst stop but to defend with all our strength! Show us thieves of hearts thy true power!"
Crackling of bones as black sludge covered the Shadow, torrents of red power covered her form as the tent froze and shattered. "What the heck!"
"We are the ones that will devour the world!" The voice was raspy as the moonlight shined down upon an enormous wolf, fragments of tattered red ribbons covered its body as it howled.
Vánagandr the wolf that eats the Gods.
Hakuno blinked as she was in the air as Avenger threw her, the spears that littered the ground had stabbed into the space she was in. A glance showed that most of the other thieves had managed to dodge as well.
Spears of ice and steel formed around the wolf as it charged. Hakuno's mind went into overdrive as she focused.
"Queen focus on defence! Skull, Fox with me!" Joker's voice echoed in their earpieces as the arctic winds howled. Cursed Flames splashed onto the Shadow as its hungry eyes seemed to lose focus. Spears flew at her as she moved.
Ryuji admittedly didn't fully remember the plan, but he knew between the four brainiacs on the team that they wil-
"Skull on your left!"
His hammer swung as his body moved without him realizing the stupidly large tail was pushed back as the Shadow howled in pain. He wasn't good at tricks like Magus or Monamona was. Nor was his Magic as strong as Queen or Panther but he was by far the studiest member!
A crack of bones sounded in his head as he felt lightning dance in his blood, his muscles swelled as the Wolf went to bite him he bashed the wolf's face with his shoulder. He swung around as his Hammer screamed and the crack it made echoed in the blizzard.
"PERSSONAA!" Seiten Taisei swung its own staff as flames slammed into the wolf. Fox's blade slashed as the wolf howled in pain for the first time. Joker appeared from the shadows as his knife bounced off the wolf's fur.
He heard another loud howl. Seiten Taisei swung his staff behind him his head ached as his Persona was impaled by numerous metal spears.
But…
The Wolf was in front of them!
"There are two of them!" Oracle's voice echoed. As Fox's blade danced with the Wolf's claws.
Mona blinked as his body moved.
His cutlass was not going to cut through that thick fur and so in this scenario, he was playing defense as Zorro batted away the spears of ice and steel his eyes could barely make out his team as he focused on healing.
Flames rolled forth as he moved closer to Panther his job in this fight was to protect her, his mind raced as one of the spears nicked his ear.
"Zorro!" Wind whirled as spears of ice were shattered.
"Persona!" Thunderbird screeched as lighting struck the overly large wolf, and Hakuno's cursed flames crashed into the large wolf. "Panther, Magus, Queen, and Mona focus on the second wolf!"
Second Wolf?
Howling as Magus turned around her staff cracking as it held off the gaping maw of a smaller Fenrir. Flames erupted from its mouth as Hakuno forced her Od into her staff light flickered from inside the cracks and Queen grabbed her cape as the staff erupted in light.
Spears of Ice were counted as flames countered them above the Mini-Wolf Mona flickered spinning around as his cutlass slashed into the wolf's neck black sludge dripped from the open wound.
They need to take the initiative! "Flames of Love and Hate!" Almighty magic pierced the blizzard as the wolf screamed in pain before turning into black dust.
Hakuno chugged one of the many sodas that Joker had saved as the green light flittered out as Oracle's buff flickered out.
The blizzard slowed down as her vision became clearer. Snow still fell but nowhere near as bad enough to let another wolf attack them.
Why were there two wolves anyway? Hakuno pushed that thought out of her head as the blizzard revealed the bloody form of Vánagandr both sides heaved in exhaustion. The red ribbons barely hung onto the wolf's body.
She howled.
Hakuno's leg was pierced as a metal spear jutted out of the ground. She clenched her teeth in absolute pain. Red tint covered her hand as her mind became overcome by static.
"Position Hack!" Hakuno's body shifted as a howl of pain erupted as she and the Wolf had switched positions. She was still gushing out blood as Mona shifted into place beside her green light slowed the blood as she felt her body heal.
"Save your Seals, Magus! It's almost down!" Oracle's voice echoed in her head as she took a deep breath.
Staying calm was something she could try to do.
Vánagandr shattered the spear that bound them but collapsed before slowly turning back into Ran Rū clutching her arm. "Well. I might not but say that 'twere an eye-opening fight, shall thou hast me pray for mercy now?"
"Mercy? You eat people!" Panther's eyes lit with flames.
"That is right." The Shadow grimaced as it nodded, "An yet… It only began when that one appeared. The past shall not be changed but… The future is full of possibilities." Ran Rū released a heavy sigh.
That one appeared?
"Did they have a Black Mask?" The Shadow blinked at the question, as faint gold flickered on their body.
"Aye, but…the first was years and years… while only the latest was protected by a black helm. Your enemies are numerous but… I surely believe in you." Her eyes were focusing on Hakuno as she dissolved into golden light.
The Palace began to shake. The winds picked up as the snow melted.
"Everyone inside now!" Hakuno slammed the helmet on Mona's head as he transformed the screeching of Shadows as dozens of Shadows began to fly in their direction.
"How are we going to get through all this?" Fox motioned towards the trees and the horde of Shadows. Hakuno grimaced.
"Queen focus on driving, I'll focus on the Mystic Codes and…" Hakuno glanced at Joker who nodded.
"I got the gun."
"We are so going to die…" Oracle curled into a ball. Hakuno felt her Magical Energy charge the plow as it faintly glowed, the steel took a hint of blue as it hummed. Queen's driving was fast and furious.
"This is the best day ever!" Mona's voice came over the speakers as Hakuno cracked a smile.
Gunfire exploded above them from the hatch on the top Hakuno's magical energy was draining at an annoyingly fast rate. Panther leaned out of the window as Skull and Fox opened the back window firing their guns which in the grand scheme of things didn't help too much…
Hakuno leaned against the alley wall for support her fingers were numb as her Magical Energy was nearly depleted.
That ending was close… The flocks of Shadows that attacked them were weak and fell to the newly minted minigun but the drain was tiring so they won't be able to use it often. That mixed with the bulky-
Flash of Orange in her vision as Hakuno barely pushed herself to the side a Silver light flashed in her vision as Ran Rū stood above her. MY TuMmy aCHES... bUt noW Your HERe!"
How long does a change of heart take!?
Hakuno felt for her Magical Energy but it was sluggish and unresponsive. Anymore and then…
Morgana's claws raked the back of Ran Rū distracting her for a moment as Hakuno pulsed her blood into Magical Energy she felt it get cold as Garu pushed Ran Rū backward.
Her knife clipped Hakuno's arm as she fed the blood to the ring to channel another blast of wind that knocked her arm back as Morgana jumped from her shoulders.
Ran Rū SCREAMED as she clung to her head ignoring the large claw marks on her back.
Hakuno felt lightheaded as she used the wall to stand up Ann appeared beside her and grabbed her hand and they ran.
Morgana's claws echoed behind them as he jumped onto Hakuno's shoulder.
"That was too close…"
Author's Note: Close call with a crazed murderer! Mini Palace is complete. Going to be a bit of downtime for a bit, mixed with Hakuno now looking for her 'reason for being a Seeker.' so expect some stuff to happen.
And yeah super small chapter, but the Palace is over.
I think from now on the chapters are going to be every other week for right now. I have a lot of stuff on my plate. Perhaps for two or three more chapters.
Anyway, see ya later.