Haru: How long have they been chanting?
Morgana: For hours.
Ann, Ryuji and Ren: Shiho! Shiho! Shiho!
Haru: They're glad. I am too. I hope things go smoothly.
Morgana: Let's start the show!
Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Seventeen
[Opening Scene: Palace of Lust (The Love Room)
Theme of Awakening Battle: Will Power from Persona 5]
"I'll make you submit to our King!" The Ambassador of Filth shouted.
"I'd like to see you try," Shiho murmured before the mask appeared on her face once more as she held up her shield.
The Ambassador of filth let out a roar and launched several shards of ice towards Shiho, who quickly ran forward and swayed side to side to avoid each shard of ice that came her way.
Shiho twirled her spear, then leaped into the air and shouted, "Boudicca: Aqua!" Boudicca appeared behind Shiho and spun her spear before thrusting it into the air, causing an orb of water to form around the Ambassador of Filth before exploding, causing the creature to slump.
Shiho let out a scream as she twirled her body and launched the spear at the Ambassador of Filth and pierced its chest with her spear, shaking it out from its slump only for it to wail in pain.
Shiho landed on the ground and summoned the spear back into her hands before using her shield to block a particular large shard of ice, which exploded upon impact.
Shiho shouted! "Boudicca!"
Boudicca appeared behind Shiho and lunged its spear straight at the Ambassador's chest, which caused it to seize up in pain.
Just then, Ann, Ryuji, Morgana, and Ren entered the room with sweat dripping down their faces and saw the sight of Shiho in her new outfit.
"What the hell?" Ryuji murmured.
"This is new to me too," Ren said.
Shiho turned around and grinned broadly at the other shadow users and asked, "What took you guys so long?"
"Shiho?" Ann asked with surprise in her voice.
"Great, more of you cretins to hurt my stud muffin…No matter… I will defeat you all," the Ambassador of Filth said weakly, its eyes struggling to stay open.
"I think I got this thing beat, so let's finish it off, yeah?" Shiho exclaimed as she dug her feet into the ground and launched herself back at the shadow, her spear stabbing into the shadow's chest twice before the shadow swung its arm to strike her.
Shiho ducked the arm and slashed up its chest towards its neck before she jumped backward from it and shouted, "Boudicca: Drown her!"
The persona smirked, and water began to flow from the spear and form an orb around the shadow before it exploded, which caused the shadow to slump in pain once again, looking stunned from the pain.
"D-Did she just stun it?!" Ryuji asked.
"On her own?!" Morgana followed up.
"She did. Now let's go help!" Ren shouted before the foursome ran over to Shiho, who stood in front of Haru.
"Nice job Shiho," Ren said as he nodded to her.
Shiho nodded back before she said, "We need to capitalize on this down creature!"
"Yeah, let's!" Ren shouted before the five smirked and dashed towards the creature, and with speed, each member sliced, stabbed, whipped, and smashed the creature before Shiho jumped into the air and finished it off with a stab through its forehead.
"K-King Kamoshida! Help m-me!" The shadow begged.
"Sorry, but he can't help you now!" Shiho shouted pushed herself through it further before she came out the other side of its head, where she landed with a skid, stabbed her spear to the ground, and spun theatrically around the polearm before she gave a thumbs-up and said, "Game, Set, Match!"
"King Kamoshida!" The shadow yelled in agony before it exploded into the familiar inky black substance.
(Theme of After the Battle: Battle Result from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment)
Shiho leaned forward and panted heavily, and said, "What a workout," before Ann slammed into her with a tight hug and an excited laugh. Morgana joined in the hug with a pounce, which caused Shiho to squeal as she fell to the ground.
"G-Guys!" Shiho shrieked happily. "I'm okay!
Meanwhile, Ren and Ryuji walked to Haru and asked, "You alright?"
"Just fine…Exhausted. Confused and well confused, but I'm okay," Haru replied with a slight grin. "But I would like the full story of this immediately when my head is on straight. Okay?"
Ryuji grinned and replied, "Consider it done. Now excuse me." Ryuji ran off and shouted, "Dogpile on Shiho!"
"Ryuji-kun!" Shiho laughed.
Haru and Ren shared a laugh as they walked up to the group. Ren plopped down in front of the group with Haru sitting beside him as he said, "Well…Nice to see you're a part of the group now. Welcome to the gang."
"Glad to be here," Shiho said with an exhausted smile. "Boy, do I feel wiped out."
"Happened to all of us," Ryuji said. "We should get out of here, Ren-Ren. I could use some sleep." Ryuji put an exclamation point on his words with a loud yawn before scratching his cheek, a sleepy expression on his face.
"Same here," Shiho yawned as well before she leaned her head on Ann's shoulder, her eyes drooping slightly behind her mask.
"Then let's get out of here quickly," Ren yawned out.
"Stop yawning," Haru whined before she yawned as well.
[Change Scene – Okumura Residence (Nighttime)
(Theme of Okumura Residence: Have a Short Rest from Persona 5]
"Whew! What a night!" Ryuji exclaimed as he plopped down on the bed across the room from Ren's bed, where Ren was already lying down on it.
"We fought Ann, fought some powerful guys, and now Shiho has a persona too. We went from a team of three to a team of five in one night. Six if you count Haru," Ryuji said.
The group was now back at Haru's home, with Haru, Shiho, and Ann immediately retiring for the night, which left Ryuji and Ren in the guest room. Morgana opted to rest in the room with Haru, who agreed wholeheartedly.
"You think Haru could be next?" Ren asked.
"I mean, it seems like everyone who goes in there gets a Persona. Maybe not that day, but it happens," Ryuji said with a yawn.
"I mean that theory does hold some water considering…" Ren said. "We better get some shut-eye…We got a lot of explaining tomorrow while also having school still."
"Holy shit! I forgot about school," Ryuji whined as he shut his eyes. "Boy Ren…What a night."
"What a night indeed," Ren repeated as he shut his eyes as well.
[Scene Change – The Velvet Room
Theme of the Velvet Room– Velvet Room from Persona 2: Innocent Sin]
"Wake up, inmate!" Caroline exclaimed.
Ren's eyes opened up to reveal himself back at the jail cell, his clothes back in the generic prison attire of white with black stripes with his legs and arms chained up. He stood up and walked to the cells where Caroline and Justine stood.
"Ah, welcome back, inmate," Justine's calm voice said.
"You took far too long! Next time I'll force you in here!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Nice to see you too, my little Tsundere," Ren said with a grin.
Caroline sneered but couldn't stop her blush from appearing. Ren took a step back preemptively before Caroline's electrified baton slammed into the metal bars of his cell, which caused electricity to streak against it. "Do not call me that again!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Awww, I'm sorry, my little firecracker," Ren teased.
"Inmate, must you tease her so much?" Justine asked as Caroline swore up and down a storm across from her with a red face.
"Oh? Feeling left out, my little snow lily?" Ren asked, which caused Justine to blink in surprise, a blush spreading across her face.
"O-Oh…" Justine murmured.
"As much as I approve of this amusing scene," Igor's amused voice began, which prompted Ren to look at the man behind the desk. "I have summoned you here to talk to you."
"Oh, sorry there…So what's the business for today?" Ren asked as he leaned against the cell bars.
"How have you adjusted to this place?" Igor asked.
"Um…Specifying would be nice," Ren said. "Like the cell? My new home at LeBlanc? Shujin Academy?"
"All of the above," Igor chuckled out.
"Um…The cell is neat. Not a fan of chains, but these two adorable kiddos are a pleasure," Ren replied before he took a step back again to allow the blushing Caroline to bash her baton against the cell bars.
"Glad to hear it. It seems your nerves are strong enough to keep your personality intact. Now, what else?" Igor asked.
"The school is…decent. I met some awesome people but mostly trying to stay out of trouble. Well, it was before Kamoshida reared his ugly, big-nosed face into it. No offense to your big nose," Ren said.
"None was taken," Igor chuckled out. "It is nice that you are accommodating to your new surroundings and making new friends."
"Is it?" Ren asked.
"Yes. Your rehabilitation determines if ruin can be stopped. Yet, such a feat cannot be done by you alone. But in the last few days, including today, you have entered a partnership with four others who have awoken to the same power, haven't you?" Igor asked.
"Yes, my creepy lordship," Ren joked with a grin. "I'm not surprised that you found this out, but yeah, I did. Why do you ask?"
"That is the reason I brought you here today. Involving yourself with others is an important foundation for your recovery. You've done well. That said, I am not advising the formation of superficial relationships," Igor said.
"Oh damn, I was hoping to engage in some one-night stands…" Ren said with a pout and a snap of his fingers.
"Be serious, inmate!" Caroline said before Ren gave her grin, which caused her to pause and look away, her face still reddened.
Igor chuckled and continued with, "It must not be of frivolity, but a ring of those who would, by morals or faith, lend you their strength. In other words, they are bound with those who have been robbed of their places to belong. The expansion of said ring will, in return, help you mature as well."
"Personas are the strength of heart. The stronger the bonds that surround you, the more power your personas will gain," Justine said.
"I see…" Ren said softly.
"There are countless people in the city who have talents that a weakling like you doesn't. You better rack that noggin of yours and get them on your side! We'll then change that into power," Caroline exclaimed.
"Oh what? So if I make more friends, I can have more power?" Man, if only Vergil had it this easy," Ren joked.
"Indeed. You should be prepared to use even myself, or your ambitions will not come to fruition," Igor advised with a toothy grin before he chuckled and leaned back into his chair. "So, we have a deal then."
"Such lofty goals for me, Igor…Well hell, why not. We have a deal," Ren said with a grin on his own. It was then he heard a voice in his head…A strangely familiar voice.
"I am thou, thou art I…
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Fool Persona,
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power…"
He then felt a pulse rock through his chest before the sounds of chains unsnapping from his mind before this rush of power flowed through his veins, causing a brief burst of ethereal blue flames to shoot from his body.
"Whoa…So that is what that feels like…" Ren said. "Welp, I better get going then!"
"Until we met again, continue devoting yourself to your rehabilitation," Igor said with a nod.
"Now this conversation's over! Get lost, you troublesome inmate!" Caroline exclaimed.
"Alright, alright, I can see when I'm not wanted, my little cobalt firecracker. Thanks for the friend-up, Igor. I'll see you later!" Ren said with a grin and quickly shuffled back into his bed to sleep, the sounds of Caroline's sputtering sending him off into a slumber.
Ren: And that is the end of this chapter guys! So Shiho is a part of the crew. The next chapter will start the confidants of the four as well as getting to the end of the Kamoshida arc. So until the next chapter!
Shiho: Goodbye!