Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.


5/25

Joker was expecting another strange palace.

Joker was expecting to have hard fights where he would almost die.

He was expecting to probably fight shadows.

He was not expecting Makoto Niijima to grab his leg and start crying in fear.

He looked at the rest of the thieves who just stood there in shock.

He felt his Joker Facade break.

"N-Niijima-Senpai?"

"Imsorryimsorryimsorrysissavemeplease."

Akira thought for a moment, "Bring out your phone's light."

"There is no need for that." A feminine voice stated

Dozens of torches lit up the graveyard becoming even more eerie now that blue fire let shadows dance around them.

A woman in a black and gold cloak appeared as she raised her hands, "Welc-" She looked down, golden hair cascading from her hood, but the rest of her face didn't appear?

She showed up as light blue in his Third Eye. He let out a small sigh of relief.

"Who is that." She pointed at Makoto.

Akira gently helped up his Senpai who looked a lot calmer now there was light, but was still clinging harshly on his arm.

"Congrats?" The cloaked woman said. He felt there was a major misunderstanding forming…

"Um…" The rest of the thieves finally snapped back into reality.

"Are you the gravekeeper?" Yusuke asked, hand resting on his sword.

"Niijima-Senpai, why are you here?" Ann placed a hand on Makoto's arm. All Makoto replied was a chattering of teeth.

"Um… yes." She coughed into her hands then raised her arms, "Welcome Phantom Thieves of Hearts, I will" She noticed their general annoyance. "Sorry… You are here to rescue Hakuno, right. Come this way, there is… as you call them a safe-room." Makoto still clung to his arm and clenching her teeth with eyes closed and attached to him.


Makoto's face was buried into the strange table.

She was surrounded by Hakuno's friends? Phantom Thieves? Whatever in Halloween costumes. And a strange cloaked woman whose face was hidden by her hood.

Makoto already pinched herself to check if she was dreaming.

She wasn't.

"So, you're the gravekeeper? Why are you an 'ally'?"

Gravekeeper?

"Um… I can only theorize, Hakuno's cognition of me is that of a Rebel due to her knowing I was a," The lady coughed, "Which is Kind of a Rebel…."

"A terrorist!?" A young boyish voice said. A person in a cat costume!?

"ANYWAY! She summoned me, and I am here to help guide you. I can't fight, but I can show you where Hakuno is being kept."

"Is… Hakuno in trouble?" Makoto squeaked out.

A Niijima never Squeaks!

"Niijima-Senpai… we brought you here because we couldn't remove you from Joker without hurting you…"

Joker? Code-names?

"She needs to leave. She is useless here." The Gravekeeper? Spoke up.

"I get it, I get it… just like with Ann." Sakamoto's voice spoke up as he grabbed her.

… Makoto slapped his hand away.

It really feels like they drugged her.

"She can always come back, you know." Ann spoke up again, "She entered the Metaverse the Meta-Nav will be on her phone."

Metaverse?

"... I think we should explain." Makoto nodded as the rest of the group began to explain with the man called Fox mostly staying silent… He seemed just as new as she was.

"So.. Hakuno. Was Kidnapped by her other self into her mental world and she is secretly an AI made that became human."

Makoto was 90% sure they drugged her.

"It's… a bit hard to believe but this is how we got Kamoshida to confess, knowing this, you should go back. We can explain in more detail later."

Makoto took a deep breath then glanced outside the extremely dark and super haunted forest loomed over her, "Ok… Can someone please walk me out."

Akira nodded as he lent her his arm as she shut her eyes until the unfamiliar wave of red washed over her senses.

"Here… let's exchange chat IDs… we can talk more about this tomorrow? Just… promise me you won't come back until after we talk." Akira in the real world was a lot… calmer?

She couldn't put her finger on the way he acted. She wanted to help Hakuno… but going into a haunted forest is a bit too much for her.

"...I promise." Doing as you're told… by someone younger than you… well… at least she can guarantee she found the phantom thieves…


"Sorry about that… You said you will guide us?" The Gravekeeper nodded, she knew where to go. The forest behind the graves only had one real entrance.

The Gravekeeper was nervous. She knew who she was supposed to be. But she wasn't. She knew everything required, but she couldn't call her powers.

She had to pretend, She knew this Palace, and even how to get to Hakuno. But she knew she had to walk past The Eight Graves first…

"We have to follow the path… The forest… isn't real, just an illusion to throw you off." Hopefully they bought her lie.

They generally agreed which made her relieved.

The Shadows in the Palace weren't too difficult.. She didn't think at least. Joker made movements to shatter a few flower arrangements and collect something… while also bargaining with the more… spirit like Shadows.

Aeros, Aquans, and Flaemis he called them. Wind, Water and fire… All strange Shadows that were more ghost than man.

"The first grave…" She ran her hand down the side of the obelisk. It was an elaborate design with accented purple, cannons were engraved upon it and at the base held a small plaque.

Here Lies Shinji Matou, the Gaming Prodigy.

She felt a wave of something come into her as her cage/lantern flickers ever so slightly brighter. "This way…"


The second obelisk was various shades of green with a small yew tree planted beside it with the plaque Here Lies Dan Blackmore the Father I never had.

While the third pillar was decorated as if a child did it, pastel colors absolutely covering every spot, Here Lies Alice, may you find your Wonderland.

A few stronger shadows, but no sign of any Servants just yet. Which Akira thought to be strange. He kept his eyes out but the Shadows seemed to slightly stay away from the blue flame held by the Gravekeeper. The Shadows here seemed inspired by ghosts and the dead.

Fitting for a graveyard forest.

At the fourth tombstone was colored black and red, a small plaque was hidden by Tamamo-no-Mae. Except… she was wearing long blue robes, her one fox tail sat on the ground with two ethereal copies beside it.

"Oh… just go on ahead… The one I fell for passed… I won't interrupt you." She spoke slowly. "You all. Have such beautiful souls,so full of passion, perhaps if we meet again, I would call you Master?"

A familiar wave of red washed around her as she mumbled something more as her mirror floated in front of her. "Ah.. I see, no choice then."

She stood up as the thieves gripped their weapons, "I don't want this fight, but alas a Command Seal has been used by the fake one. Please end me."

Akira barely managed to dodge the mirror as it came flying for his head, his pistol's first shot inciting the rest of the thieves into action.

She wasn't even moving out of her spot. Throwing out lazy fast attacks, "I am not like the berserk Saber… I accepted my death." Her mirror came to block a slash from Yusuke as her tails softened a blow from Ryuji.

"I had wished to fade away but the Faker and King wished to save their failed attempt. Fusing our Hakuno's together.. Would doom both." Ice blocked the flame as her ofuda clashed with Panther's fire.

The mirror crashed into Mona's wind as it repelled it back at the not-a-cat.

The gravekeeper stood to the side lightening the fight.

Akira took a deep breath "Double Shot!" Shiki-Ouji appeared behind him as the paper shikigami spread out his hands as large bullet holes appeared on the Caster.

"Thank you…" Tamamo held a small smile as she turned to golden dust.

Akira tensed as he noticed the mirror was still there. With a flash of speed it cut the fourth tombstone and it began to crumble. Taking that as it's que it turned to dust as well.

"Did.. that mirror just cut a tombstone?"

"For real… This place is fucking creepy."

"Agreed… I think we should call it a day, I can smell the treasure we are half-way there."

The Gravekeeper nodded, "I will make you a Safe-Room."

Make a safe room?

A red and blue keyboard came into view and with a few button presses a hazy safe-room appeared. "I… just found out I can do that."

Not sketchy at all.

Akira sighed as he and the rest of the thieves left the palace.


5/26

"So… Hakuno's Shadow version managed to infiltrate Madarame's cognitive world and captured her for some reason?" Makoto had managed to bring them into a nearly dead diner as they spoke quietly.

"We think." The Cat? Morgana.

"We think it's the same Shadow but she was acting extremely different then before."

"You said she wasn't human before?" Makoto was not used to thinking of this stuff.

She felt like she was in some fantasy story with an author that made things up as they went.

"Could… her you said Body part of her had her own Shadow? You said a defining feature of Shadow's are their yellow eyes."

"It's… possible. A Shadow is made by your ego… Could… that first Palace have been the Bodies Palace?!" Morgana shrieked.

Talking to a cat is checked off her bucket list apparently…

"If that is true… then Hakuno's Body and Hakuno's Main Shadow worked together? Or possibly the Body was taken over from her own Shadow? You said her first palace was deleted? And any information about the …Gravekeeper?"

"Speculating on it won't do any good. We just have to push through the Palace and rescue her. Hopefully… it's not too much longer. She has been trapped for a week now." Ann noted.

"Yes… I will keep your secret. And I'll.. try and help make sure no one notices in school…" Makoto said calmly she knew who the Phantom Thieves were now… "Good luck.. In there."

But…

Was it Justice to turn them in?

What should she do!? She hates feeling so… Useless


?

Hakuno could feel now.

She wished she didn't.

All she could feel was a tightness around her as if she was surrounded by some sort of energy. For it was not solid enough to even be a liquid.

She could also hear but nothing made sense. She couldn't recognize the language that was spoken…

Where was she?


The Palace felt different to Ann… She wasn't too sure how to put it. The Shadows were weak and while Tamamo was strong she wasn't trying too hard…

The Gravekeeper girl was quiet to… Hakuno didn't mention any gravekeeper… or terrorist.

But she was a Rebel? That didn't pinpoint any specific person… She didn't go over their real life too much…

Ann shook her head dispelling the thoughts, Mona was saying they were headed in the right direction so at least the Gravekeeper is trustworthy enough.

"Let us be off…"

The gravekeeper did her best to keep her face hidden from the group, her hood only allowing her long blond hair to show as well as a glint of red.

Ann took note of the surroundings, even without Mona's smell or Joker's I Can See it! Thing he randomly whispers she can tell they are closing in on something.

After all there was a mansion in the distance, and blue lightning striking something on the top… it was vaguely familiar.

"Frankenstein's castle…" Joker muttered, "An English story about a Mad Scientist who managed to bring about a new life using the dead…"

Oh.

Yeah that doesn't sound too good.

The fifth obelisk was dark black with an accent of navy blue, chunks of stone were missing from it as if it was bitten by some huge wolf.

Here Lies Julius Harwey The Man who only Loved Once

A red glowing shadow was seen before the next tombstone, Ann couldn't see a way around it as it patrolled the path.

"On a count of three." Joker held up his hand.

"One… two…. Three! REVEAL YOUR TRUE FORM!" The shadow turned into sludge and warped into a large blue fox with 9 tails…

Ann tested fire as it washed over the fox hair and it was slightly singed but seemed to have a resistance. "Resistance to fire! Try this! Zorro!" Wind whipped around the fox as it fired blue flames towards the group.

The flame ached maybe it wasn't normal fire? Ann saw Joker switch to Shiisaa as nuclear energy arched towards the fox causing it to jump back unnaturally fast.

Ann's whip came down across the fox's back as it moved into position, while Fox's sword came from the front.

Both attacks didn't do any damage as it seemed to laugh at them.

Ann felt her mind getting clouded as she saw herself launch an Agi at Fox. She can't hear, she just knows the fox is her friend.

"Panther's been charmed!" She felt something hit the back of her head as her vision cleared. Red Hot Anger flowed through her as she realized she was charmed pulling out her gun.

"This will hurt!" Her submachine gun fired into the fox spirit and it howled in pain, falling to the ground. "This is a holdup!"

The fox looked as they surrounded it and sighed. "Lend me your power." Was all Joker had to say before the fox turned into his mask and flew at his face.

Seeing it happen so often Ann wasn't surprised anymore.

Other than a few smaller weaker shadows in the forest that stayed away from the strange lantern the Gravekeeper had, they arrived at the next tombstone obelisk thing.

It was solid red until it reached the bottom where it became black. The symbol of a red Spear was on it as the plaque red, Here Lies Rin Tohsaka… The Best Friend an AI could ask for.

The Gravekeeper kept her hand on the tombstone a little too long as a soft red light emitted from her hands. "You alright?" Saying that seemed to snap her out of whatever she was thinking.

"Ah yes… not much farther…just one more left…"

Ann felt herself nod as she met Joker's eye. He seemed slightly concerned but didn't voice anything.

Fire was surrounding the last gravestone. Boundless orange flames were erupting from underneath it.

"▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!" Was the warning they had as Nero's sword came at them.

"Zorro, Show your might!" Wind whipped alongside Ann's flames as the Berserk Nero took it head on. Grunting through the pain Nero's sword met Mona's scimitar as he was flung back.

"Goemon!" A freezing mist began to lock her in place, as she shrieked the flames surrounding her turned pure white as even Ann was sweating from the heat.

"Don't bother with fire!" No shit!

"Orthrus!" A two headed dog came from Joker as it bit into the Saber who was forced to drop her sword. She put the hound in a fucking headlock and snapped it.

"Captain Kidd!" Lightning arced into her and she was paralyzed.

"Yaksini! Oni-Kagura!" A Nearly nude purple lady was then summoned as she brought her blades down on the wounded Saber.

"Carmen!" She sent out Tarunda to soften her sword that reappeared in her hands.

"▃▃▅▅▃▃ー!" She stood up as flaming red rose petals erupted around her moving fast Fox brought his Katana down as their blades began moving at super speed. Ann did her best as she fired bullets upon Nero who was solely now focused on Fox.

"Jack Frost! Rakunda!" A … familiar snowman appeared behind Joker as he switched to lower her defense as he went in close with his knife stabbing her in the back.

"Goemon!" Fox's persona appeared behind him as Goemon smashed down with his pipe's ghostly blades sunk into Nero.

Nero kicked Fox into Skull as the flames were slowly shrinking. Bullets and pellets came from around her as the three standing members unloaded their guns into her.

She fell to the ground.

"All out attack!" With the metaverse warping at their speed they landed successive blows on her as she began to turn back into sludge, the flames surrounding the tombstone evaporating and leaving behind … a small gem? Which Joker picked up and placed in his super pockets.

Must be nice having pockets.

"Gravekeeper… Can you make a safe room so we can rest?"

"Mm" With a wave of her hand the Obelisk opened up letting them fit. It wassmall though…

Ann shook her head as Joker passed out coffee and… curry?

"Boss just taught me the recipe."


"Hrmmm… We are close. Really close, we should be able to reach it if we push a bit more."

"That… is correct, only a few more feet, you will need to prepare a calling card to get in. I can have my hound deliver it…" The Gravekeeper stated, "You as humans won't be able to enter, She already knows you are here but… this world's laws decree it."

This world? Does she mean the Metaverse?

"Just tell me where to swing my pipe… I do think you should write the calling card though." Skull said, looking at her.

"Yeah.. I have a few things to say to her."

"Everyone ready?" With nods all around they left the weird safe-room and found themselves back in the graveyard forest.

The Seventh Tombstone Obelisk thing was solid white as if the flames never were even there and looked as if something crawled out of it, the dirt entirely missing leaving a giant hole in the ground. "This… is where the fake woke up."

Here Lies Hakuno Kishinami, the Fallen Body.

Everything after the seventh obelisk was a familiar see through haze.


Author's Note: I felt this was a good place to end it, I know I kind of had them complete a whole Palace in one run but Hakuno's Palace is really new so there isn't a whole lot of Shadows… and a lot of it is focused on the next chapter as well… So uh yeah, actually didn't think of the Dark Hour when making this Palace… but it does kind of fit in a morbid way.

Hint Number 3!: Not necessarily a Thief… But certainly did Rebel against … something.

Special Hint Number 4!: Not limited to Fate/extra timeline