Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies, and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
Rewrote parts of this chapter, added a bit more to the boss fight.
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 snow-white wolf, fragments of tattered red ribbons covered its body as it howled, mad red eyes clouded by hunger.
Vánagandr the wolf that eats the Gods.
The world pulsed with sickly red light.
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. As Seiten Taise swung behind him his head ached as he was stabbed by numerous metal spears.
But…
The Wolf was in front of them!
"There are two of them!" Oracle's voice echoed. 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!" The wind whirled as spears of ice were shattered. Another slightly smaller wolf appeared smacking him to the side.
His body quickly righted itself as Wind slashed into the smaller beast who forced itself to dash forward his teeth inches away... Panther's support was much appreciated as flames tossed the wolf backward its snow-white fur now slightly charred.
"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. She forced her body to calm, Avenger was… oddly quiet.
Staying calm was something she could do.
Vánagandr shattered the spear that bound them but collapsed before black flakes eroded from their form. Their hazy eyes regained focus. "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 as her form began to slowly morph back into her True Shadow.
That one appeared?
"Did they have a Black Mask?" The Shadow blinked at the question, returning their form to Ran Rū.
"Aye, but…the first was years and years… while only the latest was protected by a black helm… Hm?" Ran Rū's eyes focused on something behind them. "Hast I not granted enough combat? Am I not allowed to rest?"
What?
"Woah guys… Something's coming this way and fast!" A pulse of red clouds Hakuno's vision as Ran Rū's shadow is impaled with a red vine.
"What the hell?!"
Red ink forces its way o- "Avenger!" Claws raked with cursed magic as he futilely slashed at the vine before it fused with the Shadow.
Ran Rū's body lurched, and the snow melted as steam obscured her body.
"Woah woah!" Oracle's voice echoed, "Its power level is going way up!"
The creaking of bones shattering mixed with the flurry of painful howling.
"I think I'm going to be sick!"
"Round two…" Joker sighed, "Everyone ready?!"
Hakuno was tired but…
"Maegia!" Blue and black magic screamed from Avenger's claws as Ran Rū's new form was revealed.
Where once was a wolf as white as snow, now…
There was a large hound of pitch-black, black ink dripped from the hound as lightning and flames crackled around its mouth.
Yusuke was calm.
His blade met scales as he swung, fully trusting his instincts he knew something more was coming after the first battle and was prepared.
However, he was not fully expecting something to merge with her at the least.
His blade met her claws, heat came off of her skin as his eyes focused on ĕ̸̮v̸̳͝e̷̱͋r̸̺͂y̷͖͝t̴̡̋h̴̖͊i̶̛̥n̷̜̽g̵̨̓ every shift of scale to the notches in the beast's claws. Each labored breath from the Black Hound.
A slight shift in her body, a slightly larger tuff of flames… Goemon sprung to life, ice exploded from his other self as its head reared towards him as flames leaked from its mouth.
His skin burned.
"Fox is down!"
"Hecate!" Flames danced as a red shield shattered in front of the black wolf. The wolf's eyes focused on her as it threw Fox to the side.
"Flames of Love and Hate!" Magus's voice echoed as the beam of Magic slammed into the beast. Ann dashed forward as the wolf's eyes focused on Skull and Magus now, her hands quickly found the Revivadrin in her pocket and forced it into the artist's mouth.
"Let me help you up…"
"You have my thanks…" Fox gasped out, "Diarama." Hecate glowed green as Fox stood up.
Fox shook his head, "Inari, you stay back! The boss uses fire and lightning and is immune to ice and fire!" Joker's voice echoed into their earpieces.
"Wait… I got an idea! Mona-Mona get over there!"
Avenger blocked another swipe of claws as Skull's pipe bent with the force his Reinforcement Enhanced body was able to use. Hakuno could practically see the Magical Energy leaking from the blonde pirate.
Hakuno felt the headache start to creep in as Avenger took more damage. His claws covered in cursed flames only barely blocked the Black Dog's flame and lightning-covered claws.
"Hack!" Digital energy blipped into existence onto the beast stopping it in its tracks as Skull slammed his pipe with enough force to make the Beast buckle under the pressure. His mask combusted in blue flames as the Monkey King prepared to smash his staff on the beast's head.
Joker appeared on the beast's side as a phantom Tam Lin appeared behind him "Assault Drive!" the duo's voice as their Personas moved.
The Beast howled in pain as it reared back. Black ichor spilled out of its wounds and pooled onto the ground as smaller Black Wolves spawned from the inky blood.
More enemies…
Queen's fist shattered one as Nuclear fire turned another to dust. "Weak to Nuclear!"
"Mwehehe! Go team go!" Tires squealed as Makoto grabbed her by her cape.
Bullets numerous bullets were fired out of the Monamobile Fox was on the Gatling gun using the hatch while Ann drove.
Hakuno heard Mona's shrieking.
The bullets appeared to be denting the beast. Queen tossed Hakuno on the back of her Persona as Hakuno's Avenger slashed into the beast. "The scales are weaker on its chest! Focus fire!"
"Queen back me up! Skull toss me!"
Hakuno summoned Avenger in front of the Black Dog's face as if it knew what they were planning, blood-red flames mixed with red lightning as it reared onto its hind legs.
"Flames of Love and Hate!" Almighty Magic screamed from Avenger which clashed with the screaming lightning-infused flames. Hakuno felt her reserves and they were getting dangerously low.
"Look over here ya big dumb dog!" Panther's voice came from the speakers as Fox's bullets smashed into the side of the mouth and the beams petered out to nothingness.
"Head on up!" Hakuno watched as Skull threw Joker his knife glistening in the night as it stabbed into the Wolf.
It howled in pain as Queen chose that moment to jump off of Johanna her fist crackling with nuclear fire as she threw everything into punching the dagger into the Beast's body.
The knife tore threw the beast as the Black Hound Barghest collapsed, black smoke gushed out of the body as it slowly broke apart into a collapsed Ran Rū.
Who proceeded to vomit the red vine as it became ash, "Methinks…That was too far oh demon…" She struggled to stand.
"What was that?" Queen's voice was stern… but Hakuno could hear the scared undertones of her voice.
"That. Was if thou never play the game how it intends…" Ran Rū gave out a soft laugh. Game? That was twice now that she had heard of this being called a game…
First was Avenger and now Ran Rū… What was pulling the strings?
"Ah. yet. this should'st be enough to warrant mine return…" The Shadow looked sad, "This one is truly sorry about the accidents that occurred... This… hopefully shall let her be embraced by the chains of Acedia once more…"
"Everyone inside now! We got hoards coming out!" Oracle dove out of Necronomicon into the Monamobile curling into a ball.
"Queen focus on driving, I'll focus on the Mystic Codes and…" Hakuno glanced at Joker who nodded. She was tired oh so tired… but.. The screams of Shadows exploded from the forest as thousands of Shadows
"I got the gun."
"We are so going to die…" 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 at the growing cloud of Shadows as they raced from the decaying forest.
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-
A Flash of Orange lit up 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 forced her blood to decay into Magical Energy she felt it get cold as Garu pushed Ran Rū backwards.
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 Morgana jumped from her shoulders and landed next to Hakuno hissing.
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 as they ran.
"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.
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.
