Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
6/26
Black and blue flames washed over the Anubis as it laughed. Seeing how ineffective Curse was, Hakuno dodged a bolt of light barely and pulled out the Breeze Ring firing off blades of wind that barely scratched its hide. Clenching her teeth Hakuno brought forth Avenger once more.
"Evil Smile!" A wicked smile appeared on Avenger's face as Anubis froze the floating Shadow teetered off balance and Hakuno used the momentary distraction to throw a smoke bomb onto the ground giving her enough time to escape the Shadow.
Hakuno took a moment to calm her breathing, that was a lot closer than she wanted it to be.
She has to stay away from the Jackal headed Shadows, their immunity to her main damage source was too dangerous to deal with by herself. Spikes rose from the ground near her to remind her that this was the wrong way.
Searching in her Regalia she found the item she was looking for, a large rock, she threw it the way she came as the Shadow began searching for her. It rushed towards the noise as she darted behind it.
Futaba's Palace was weirdly complicated compared to Kaneshiro's. Jumping over pillars sticking out the sand she reached a new door, inside was a button feeling confidant Hakuno pressed it as she felt rumbling. Looking down towards the spike wall she watched as it slowly lowered.
"Gem." Hakuno heard a faint whisper as she saw a glimmer of green off to the side, removing it from the Anubis Statue Hakuno felt something happen as she shook her head.
Heading down and slowly making her way around the Guard Shadow that turns into Anubis Hakuno walked over the holes where the spikes came from. Seeing the dog shadows look at her and freeze helped drastically as she threw down another smoke bomb covering the area.
Spotting a treasure chest she dashed to it lifting the lid barely before shoving the unknown item inside her ring.
Hakuno dashed through the smoke, spotting even more stairs. Checking her reserves she nodded to herself as she continued on.
Hakuno was looking at a strange device. Beams of light came from the cracks in the ceiling as the light was focused into the nearby wall…spotting a nearby button she crouched as she threw a stone at it.
Missing terribly.
She sighed as she had Avenger manifest for a moment to press it.
The mirrors shifted in place and the light turned 180 degrees and focused on the door. Sizzling was heard as the locking mechanism for the door fell apart, the door now opening.
Reaching up she pulled herself up to where the door was and she found another Anubis statue. Pulling out the gem Hakuno debated on placing it.
"Leave it."
"Thanks." Hakuno whispered as she placed the stone on the waiting hands of Anubis the statue's eyes gleamed. Hakuno began walking towards where the spikes were blocking her path, finding a button on the other side of them.
Pressing the button Hakuno saw a Ballista from the previous room firing, getting rid of the wall that was blocking the beam of light. The wall crumbled from the ballista shot showing a clear path onwards.
Hearing a rumbling Hakuno saw two women in white with golden feathers reminiscent of wings. Isis patron of mothers and magic.
Clenching her fire staff, Hakuno summoned Avenger, "Maegia!" Black and blue cursed flames covered the two women as they pushed through the blades of light came crashing down on Hakuno as she felt searing hot pain.
Forcing through the pain, Hakuno pulled out a small vial of liquid and threw it at one of them as a pink mist covered the one it hit.
The now pink clouded Isis looked at the other one and began to attack its ally with blades of light that did nothing, before the now brainwashed Isis began physically attacking the other.
Taking the momentary confusion Hakuno had Avenger impale the non brainwashed Isis with his cursed claws.
The pink cloud dissipated as its ally turned to black dust, enraged the Goddess turned to Hakuno as she fired shot after shot from her Pulse Gun. Four of the shots hit as Hakuno missed twice.
Avenger came forth to block as several Talismans appeared to do… nothing?
Hakuno got lucky as Avenger quickly dispatched the goddess in its confusion. Sitting down near the button Hakuno placed one hand on her Charm as she felt her magic circuits as a Recover Code Cast began to patch up her wounds.
Fully healed, Hakuno braced herself as Avenger appeared and carried her across the way, staying away from the beam of light. Being deposited on the other side of the light beam, Hakuno stumbled for a moment before righting herself.
Hakuno heard muttering as she glanced up.
Security Tape covered a door as she pulled herself up to the Will Seed Door… Placing her palm on the door the mutters increased in speed and volume. She couldn't make out any individual words but she could feel the resentment coming off them. Pushing open the door Hakuno felt the tape turn to dust.
Spotting the Red Will Seed, Hakuno took a deep breath as she picked it up.
The world changed, they were inside a nondescript apartment, Futaba who was now five years old was sitting alone on the couch. She glanced up at the clock seeing the time move slowly.
It had reached her bed time.
Her mom didn't come home and the babysitter had already left for the day. Futaba sighed, "Happy birthday to me…" A cupcake was on the table as she slowly ate it heading to her room. Her footsteps are the only noise in the now desolate apartment.
The vision faded…
Hakuno remembered that day, it was the first time they celebrated Futaba's birthday. But her mom was there. Hakuno herself was there as they spent the whole night playing video games and eating cake.
"Did you notice?" Futaba's Shadow was standing on the outside of the room, "Parts of her memories are corrupted."
"But… how?"
Futaba's Shadow sighed, "She needs to remember the truth, without it she will never be free…" Futaba's Shadow faded into nothing as the Palace rumbled slightly. Hakuno shook her head as she walked into the light path.
Inside the light was pointing at a picture… that was scrambled. Hakuno glanced down as she spotted controls, testing the simple controls it allowed her to 'correct' the picture.
The picture was of Shadow Futaba and three owl headed men in black suits holding some paper in their hands….
…Was this at Wakaba's funeral? The Owl-Headed men looked vaguely similar to what the men dressed in that kicked everyone out…
"I should never had Futaba, She was always such a bother." The voice coming from the mural sounded garbled as it continued, "It seems you caused your mother a great deal of trouble, Futaba-Chan… She must have had some kind of maternity neurosis…"
The light turned around and pierced the mural which faded into nothingness.
Futaba's memories… are heavily distorted… Hakuno had an inkling on how she should fix this Palace…
Seems she was at the great staircase again. Taking a moment to collect herself, Hakuno stepped down the steps leading down to the staircase. Heading up the stairs she felt the familiar presence of a Safe Room. This is enough for today…
"Oh? Hakuno? What are you doing here?" Hakuno froze as she passed by Leblanc Akira and Morgana had spotted her. Hakuno chewed the inside of her cheek as she waved.
"I was just talking to Futaba…"
"Oh? The girl who has the Palace?" Morgana was the one who spoke, "Where is she?"
Hakuno paused, glancing into Leblanc to make sure Sojiro wasn't inside at the moment, "She is still at home, I just sit beside her door and talk to her."
"With your phone off?" Akira asked, his eyes hidden behind his glasses.
"... I forgot to charge it last night."
"I see… Well, Makoto cracked the cipher earlier and we will be heading back tomorrow."
Hakuno grimaced slightly, she was tired of the back to back Palace hopping but she didn't want Akira to be suspicious so she nodded along, "Alright, I'll be ready."
"If we're lucky this should be the last push we need for Kaneshiro's Palace!" Morgana said with a smile on his face, "Then everybody would know about us!"
"Hey Morgana… What exactly are our Shadows? Like what are they really?" Morgana's tail swished as he tilted his head.
"A Shadow is the true self that is suppressed… a side of one's personality they don't want to see, they are…" Morgana paused for a moment. "Humanities dormant emotions."
Hakuno idly nodded, "Hmm… Well I should head home. See you tomorrow." Hakuno parted ways with them as she headed to catch her train.
"Hey Akira… that was weird right?"
Akira nodded, "Yeah… you don't think she has been going into Futaba's Palace by herself do you?"
Morgana chuckled, "No way, she is… smarter than that right? She would only have to wait like a week?"
Akira couldn't help but feel something was off as Hakuno left his vision, the surroundings grew dark as he focused.
Her Tarot Card faded from view but Akira's inner picture of it was always different then the rest of his confidants. Even the Twin's Strength was similar to the rest. But Hakuno's Seeker... was just weird.
Originally it showed something else… In her Palace, when she was encased by the black sphere it showed a woman in purple with a small cube… then before she emerged it glitched as flames covered it as it became Seeker…
Akira shuddered as he remembered it… something about those flames was not good… deciding to stay home for the night he flipped the sign to Closed…
He wasn't too sure how Edmond Dantes related to Seeker… but with Hakuno being their Friend it couldn't be too bad… right? Maybe... he should find the The Count of Monte Cristo and read the story...
6/27
Hakuno took another sip of her canned coffee. It was too bitter and tasted terrible compared to what Akira constantly was bringing and sharing with the group but she needed help staying awake.
Hakuno took a moment to double check her notes for the day, she wasn't expecting much but she had an inkling they were going to have a test…
The bell rang as class was dismissed, Doctor Maruki was walking outside her door… She froze for only a moment before sending him a nod of acknowledgment, as he did the same.
She will have another conversation with him… but not today…
Hakuno was waiting for the group in the Metaverse, doing a double check of their communicators.
"Just think about talking into it, or press the button on the side and it will link up with the rest."
"Interesting… How durable are they?" Fox asked as he placed his on.
Hakuno shrugged, "Not… too sure… avoid getting them hit if you can. Your outfit should in general protect them as they seem to give us a small barrier around yourself."
"Testing… one…two…three." Queen rang clear.
"Copy." Joker stated, "This will be useful, Mona can stay as our Navigator and inform us without having to yell."
Hakuno nodded in agreement… "Mona, do you need help?"
Mona was trying to fix it in place but wasn't doing a good job… Though part of it was Hakuno forgot how large his head was…
"Let me see it." Hakuno plucked a single hair from her head as well as a tin clasp from her Regalia as she used her hair to act as an anchor to extend the earpiece for him.
"At least someone appreciates me!" Hakuno ruffled the top of their Navigator as Mona swatted Hakuno's hand away.
"Well, lead on, leader." Warping back to their previous safe room the group got onto the elevator. Hakuno glanced down at the overly large inner bank. Thousands upon thousands of safe deposit boxes lined each of the five rows. Hakuno could feel Shadows roaming about.
Hakuno had a feeling that the Treasure will be in the center part, the appearance of the lanes looked familiar…
Glanced at Queen she seemed to have figured it out as well.
The entire bottom half of the bank was a large lock.
Cursed flames covered the guardian of cattle, the twin headed beast howled in pain. The backup group had been ambushed, they didn't notice the Guard Dog Shadow approaching until the main group was already in their own battle.
Orthrus howled in pain as it sent Nuclear Energy towards her, she was caught off guard as it knocked her back hard. "Magus! OUT OF MY WAY!" Fists came down and snapped the neck of the twin headed dog turning it to dust.
"Sorry…" Hakuno muttered as she stood up, it seems her escapades in Futaba's Palace took their toll on her more than she thought…
"Are you ok? You seem out of it today." Hakuno nodded slowly as she pulled out a Yakisoba Pan and began to munch on it.
"Just tired."
"If you are sure…" Queen patted her shoulder as they began going down the hallway.
6/28
Hakuno watched as Joker passed another note towards Queen, once she figured out the basics of the Cipher, according to Queen it was remarkably simple.
Finding notes in golden pigs though… Hakuno felt that Kaneshiro was taking the term 'piggy bank' too far…
Hakuno watched as Queen imputed the code as she felt the walls shift. Hakuno felt her instincts kick in as she shouted "Block!"
Avenger sprung forth as a large skeletal human with a horse head stabbed at Queen Avenger had been stabbed black and blue flames danced around his wound as he vanished… his cursed flames doing practically nothing.
"Positions!" Joker shouted.
"Kumbhanda… Strong against Curse." Hakuno muttered.
Blades of wind slashed at the group, Hakuno's mind reeling from the pain of Avenger's temporary unsummoning couldn't dodge in time as she was forced back.
"Disrupt him!" Joker shouted
"Goemon!" Fox had locked his blade with the Shadow ice slowly covering its weapon.
"Hack!" Digital energy slammed into the Shadow as it stumbled.
"Leanan Sidhe! Go down!" Spheres of colors sprung forth and slammed into it knocking it to the ground.
"Way to go Joker!" The Metaverse shifted as Joker, Fox, Panther and Skull dashed forward, their weapons crashing into their fallen foe.
"Not done yet!" The horse headed Shadow Howled as it picked itself up purple energy washing off of it as slashes occurred on the group.
"Seiten Taisei!" A monkey man on a cloud appeared and slammed down a long red staff onto the Shadow pushing it down.
…Hakuno knew she wasn't fully paying attention the last few days… but when did Skull's Persona change?
The Shadow struggled to get up as Avenger came forward and stabbed Cursed Claws into the Shadow.
The Shadow Grunted as elemental magic slammed into it from the various members turning it to dust.
Hakuno sighed in relief as she used "Recover" on herself. Avenger was hurt but he would heal with a bit of time.
They walked into the next ring of vaults, instead of a keypad it was two buttons…
One left, one right.
"Which way should we go?"
Hakuno shrugged.
"Isn't it always go left?" Skull muttered.
Joker shrugged as he pressed the left button. The walls shifted as Hakuno heard mumbling.
"Will Seed?" A large yellow Shadow stood in their way.
"Back to back bosses?" Hakuno sighed, she did have enough Od for Avenger's skill…
Joker glanced back at her as she nodded, "Ok, Magus will weaken it everybody else get ready."
Blue lines decorated her arms, the air right above her became a haze as Avenger Sprung forth, with a sadistic gleam in his eye spheres of pure energy sprung forth.
The Shadow finally noticed them as it turned into a white lion with a metallic tail. Flames licked its lips as pillars of fire rose from the ground.
Hakuno braced herself for the heat as Avenger dashed forward, the pure energy smashed into the white lion knocking it back. It snarled as it jumped over the second blast of energy and slammed Avenger onto the ground.
Hakuno forced more Od into Avenger as a third beam sprung forth pushing the Lion into the air.
"Go!" Lightning, Flames, Nuclear, Ice and Curse wracked the White lion until it fell to the ground.
Still standing with minor difficulty the Lion charged forward. Fox was the first to meet his Katana screeching into a shield of energy as he was knocked back. The Lion howled.
"Block!" Avenger sprung forth to stop a large fist that came flying out of the air. Feeling the pain of the attack caused Hakuno to stumble.
"Carmen!" It swallowed Ann's fire. A few of the lighter injuries turned green as it was healed.
Absorbs fire neet.
"Don't use fire! Focus on debuffing!" Joker shouted.
Blades of wind sprung forth from Mona and knocked it to the side.
Pillars of flames erupted from underneath the group as Hakuno fell to the floor. Her vision becoming hazy.
"Recover" She clenched her teeth as the Code Cast did its work, stitching the visible and invisible wounds.
She was running low on everything...
She pulled out her gun and fired the six shots into the white beast.
Fox's ice seemed to have been its weakness as both Fox and Joker began to rain down ice on it.
Avenger sprung forth as it released its cursed flames onto the Guard Dog of Hell.
Sighing in content as it turned to dust Hakuno sat outside the Will Seed room as Joker went inside, she stayed back helping recover some of their HP with items.
"We are so closeeeee" Mona purred as Hakuno wrapped a bandage around his stubby arm.
"Mhmm…"
The group returned and pressed the button on the right. The walls shifted as a middle column raised from the ground. Looking back Hakuno could easily see the way out of the 'lock' they were in.
Heading down the last elevator Hakuno witnessed for the first time the glowing haze of a Treasure.
Author's Note: They did find the second Will Seed… I just forgot to mention it… Hakuno's Arcana revealed! Seeker! Her Persona list will more or less be some older Persona's that I find on the wikis mostly ones that are part of the minor arcana... like Rod they will have a few new abilities, not all the ones related to Hakuno will show up though.
Why was it Moon Cancer? Why did the Moon Cancer burn away? Answers will appear eventually... a lot later, like seriously lot later... and How exactly does Edmond relate?
Her Confidant won't be all roses and daisies like I kind of implied the previous chapter… after all it isn't like it truly started in the previous chapter…
Ya know… Its kind of weird how I havent given Hakuno much Hakuno time… soon there will be a break for all the characters soonish...
Deciding Her Arcana was probably the number 1 hardest part and the reason I didn't release another chapter I have the general idea on the arcs and how Hakuno's personal arc stuff will go, but man I got a lot of different ideas and most couldnt work together...
Had ideas for Aeon, Fool, heck even a few rough character arcs for Hakuno representing the World Arcana and even one for the entire Suit of Wands Minor Arcana... Maybe once the story is over I'll post them in like a rambling chapter...
