Here we go. Boss fight time, enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Lysandre Arc Chapter 19
Lysandre/Matadormon
The group had managed to acquire Lysandre's treasure and were making their escape via the roof of the Treasure hall part of the Museum Palace, they soon reach a red portal archway.
"Is this another portal to an unknown destination?" Zane asked.
"We don't have time to lose." Gatomon said "Just go through it! Now's our chance!"
"For real?! But…I guess there no other way!" Uzi said sighing. Aqua goes in and the portal turns green and they pass through and appear outside in the Central Courtyard. "Is this…the courtyard?!" She asked.
They run further into the courtyard and Gatomon said smiling "I knew it! All that security would've been meaningless if it just led back inside!"
"It seems we managed to escape their siege." Zane said nodding.
"Mrrrr….Meowww…" Gatomon said twitching and fidgeting.
"Hey…Why's Gaon getting excited now of all times…?" Uzi asked concerned.
Gatomon turns to the group and said "I just can't take it any more! Let's take a look at this Treasure…!" They move to the centre of the garden and unwrap the painting and he said "Treasure!" But then looked confused "Huh?"
The painting was just a black drawing of a face and nothing else extravagant or amazing which confused all the Dragon Gems.
"THIS is the Tresure?!" Uzi asked surprised
Zane looks up and sees some electro pylons emerge from the ground and called out "Get back!" The group move and managed to avoid getting trapped in an electro cage.
"Meddlesome vermin." A voice said and they look to see Shadow Lysandre there with a captain Basherbot and more Basherbots emerge from hiding trapping them in the Central Courtyard. He motions to the captain who was holding a painting "Is this what you're looking for?"
"How dare you try to trap me like some kind of mouse!" Gatomon said annoyed.
"So you had a fake prepped, huh?!" Uzi asked him.
"Counterfeits are accepted in this world of Japanese art." Shadow Lysandre explained.
"What made you change like this?! Is it because you became famous?!" Zane asked his mentor. "Can't you understand how much it pains me to inquire about the crimes of my foster father?!"
Shadow Lysandre then explained "…Now that I think back, the only reason why I took you in was due to my ties with your creator/father. That man never lost his passion for painting or science even after his wife died. His skills and talents were quite astonishing…That's why I decided to look after him." He then smirks as he from warps and his true form is revealed "Your father and the artwork he created….they're all MY works of art!" He clutches his head and groans "I mean…that is what his heart makes me believe."
"Matadormon…" Goemon said revealing the Shadow of Lysandre's true name. "You've broken free?"
"No…just…temporary gotten my own senses back" Matadormon said "I can answer your questions
"Well then how low can Lysnadre sink?" Alexis asked glaring.
"I suppose I can grant you a gift before you die by his corrupted hands, a glimpse of the genuine 'Julien'!" Matadormon said grinning.
"Genuine…?" Zane said confused.
Matadormon motions the captain Basherbot who reveals the painting, it was of Julien, but the white fog was not there, instead was a table with a robot lying on it deactivated, the robot almost resembled Zane.
"That's….the real 'Julien'? Zane asked in shock. "This can't be! Father…"
"Huh?!" Uzi said confused.
"Indeed, it is." Matadormon said nodding "This was painted by your father. It's a portrait of himself. A man who knew his death was coming painted his last wishes, for the son he would leave behind." He gives a look the implies he was smirking but that may have been Lysandre's darkness doing "That is the truth behind the mystery of 'Julien's' expression!"
"He stole something THAT personal?!" Uzi asked him angered.
"My owner and I knew at first glance." Matadormon said "We knew it'd be a huge success if he added a touch to the painting and announced it under his name!"
"But the robot in the picture…Why did you paint over it?" Zane asked.
Matadormon chuckles but stops "…It was all to stage it. If the robot is erased, the reason for the man's expression will become a mystery! That is what the general public is drawn to! Each of those parasitic crittics wrote the same thing!"
"I always felt something was off about all this…Now I know what it is." Alexis said "If you really treasured that painting, you wouldn't even think about replicating it for profit! You don't love art at all!"
"Matadormon, you used to value art more then money, but the corrupting influence of your owner is warping your mind!" Carmen said.
"Through you have a real Tresure, your ture skills are nothing more than those scribbles on that fake!" Gatomon said.
"We will awaken from your corruption." Zorro states.
"It makes me laugh, junkhole!" Uzi states but adds. "Uh…no offense"
"We won't lost this fight" Captain Kidd adds.
"So, you'll defy me no matter what…" Matadormon said but manages to get his senses a gain and sighing said. "Well then, since you're his work of art, Zane, I'm going to reap you for the sake of my future…Along with those insolent friends of yours there. That is what he would no doubt make me say."
"I can't believe he's treating both father and son like they're objects…He's inhuman!" Alexis said angered.
Gatomon looks over at Zane who looked deep in thought and asked "Ninja?"
"I heard that you destroy your 'art' once they outlive their usefulness…" Zane said concerned and asked "…Did that include my father as well?" This made the others widen their eyes and look to see Matadormon's answer.
Matadormon gave a grining looking but it seemed sad like his real self was trying to show behind the corruption of Lysandre's heart "He just so happened to have a seizure in front of my master. That's when a thought crossed his mind…If I don't call for help and live him be, I could obtain his painting without any strings attached."
This shocked the group and Alexis asked "No…He let him die?!"
"He was physically weak. No one would doubt if he just dropped dead because of a seizure." Matadormon explained "Above all, Zane, didn't you think it was odd that Lysandre discovered your talent when you were active for only three years? The reason why we kept you around was to keep you from realizing the truth behind 'Julien'."
"You…no…Lysandre kill him…?" Zane said angered but he knows that Matadormon was suffering from the corruption.
"He is stronger than Asmodaous…he is actually trying to break though the corruption now that the control has weakened a bit." Arsene said about Matadormon "Since he is now referring to him and Lysandre as different."
"We will ensure to free him from the corruption." Goemon said.
"The artistic talents you managed to inherit from your father's programming were a delightful miscalculation, though." Matadormon explained. "If we're to steal ideas, it's much easier robbing the future of brats who won't talk back than adults. It's thanks to you that Lysandre came up with the idea. You have our gratitude…ah…" He holds his head his was still trying to break through the corruption. Zane chuckles at what they said.
"Zane?" Alexis asked concerned.
"I thank you, Matadormon!" Zane said serious "Every reason for me to forgive Lysandre has disappeared without a trace at this very moment! He isn't some rotten artist…he's a despicable fiend who wears the skin of an artist! Now I will help free you in return!"
Th—Thank…AHH!" Matadormon cries out and when he looks up he looks angry, the corruption of Lysandre had taken full control again "All you good-for-nothing…! Barging into my museum and doing whatever the hell you want…"
"Hang on Matadormon, we'll help you!" Aqua said.
A black and red vortex forms under Matadormon and he said "Those who have the connections make the rules; those who don't, follow them. Not to mention the value of art is all subjective! I make the rules in the art scene! I am the supreme being! I am the god of the art world!"
"This isn't good. Get back!" Gatomon said
Matadormon laughs as he sinks in with the two Basherbots close to him and they transform into five paintings that make up his face two eyes, a nose and a mouth and he cries out "I'll paint all over you! Now…let's begin you vermin!"
Aqua begins using Matador's Psi on the mouth, The left eye does Flame dance on Gatomon and the right eye ups the attack of the mouth. Gatomon uses Garu on the mouth. The nose uses maelstrom on Alexis who dodges and the mouth bites Uzi. Alexis then uses Agi on the mouth which Aqua finishes with Psi. The left eye then restores the mouth.
"They regernated?!" Gatomon said shocked. "Dammit…Those things can come back if we don't take them down at once?!"
The right eye ups the mouth's attack again. Uzi and Gatomon team up and use there personas to take down the moth again. The nose uses Maelstorm on Gatomon but he resisted it. Alexis then uses Agi on the left eye but it was absorbed. The left eye then uses Artists Grace covering Gatomon in black paint.
"What is this attack?!" Gatomon said shocked "There has to be more then just our color changing! We should be cautious!"
The right eye lowers Gatomon's attacks with her bat and Gatomon also attacks physically on the nose. The nose attempts Malestorm on Gatomon but he dodges. Alexis finishes off the nose. Aqua then uses Mazio with Shiki-Ouji to hit both eyes but it was resored both of them. The left eye revived the nose and the right eye lowered Gatomon's defence again.
Uzi takes the nose down and Gatomon who manages to get the paint off attacks the left eye. Alexis then shoots both eyes and Aqua uses Arcangel to do some damage to both. The left eye does Thunderclap on Alexis and the right lowers Aqua's defense. Uzi physically attacks the left eye taking it down. Gatomon and Alexis team up to take down the right eye finishing it. Matadormon cries out as it sinks into black paint and he comes on out.
"Matadormon's out! And still looks under the corruption of Lysandre's heart control" Gatomon said. The Dragon Gems surround Matadormon.
"Dammit...I'm the great Lysandre…" Matadormon said. "The Lysandre who gathers a full crowd every time he opens an exhibit! I'm not someone that worthless brats like you are allowed to defy!"
"You're STILL saying that?" Gatomon said talking more to Lysandre then Matadormon. "There's no need to hold back then! Let's get him, Waterwave!"
The group do an all out attack dealing damage to Matadormon but not a lot.
"I'm the great artist, Lysandre! If you brats can't fathom that…Then you'll witness if for yourselves! Behold my master craft!" Matadormon said he waves his hand and appearing were four copies of him with different colours one was yellow and emitting electricity, the next was red emitting fire, the next one was blue emitting ice and the final was green emitting wind.
"Wha…?! He made copies of himself?!" Gatomon said shocked. "…Hm, I see. Creating duplicates IS his specility!"
Aqua uses Asparas Bufu to knock down Red Matadormon and baton pases to Gatomon. Gatomon uses Garu on Yellow Matadormon but misses. Uzi uses Zio on Green Matadormon knocking it down, he passes back to Gatomon and he tries again and knocks down the Yellow one and passes to Alexis who uses Agi on the blue Matadormon and passes to Aqua. Aqua uses Arcangel's Mafrei on all of them at max power it defeats the blue, yellow and red but the green survives but Gatomon shoots it and regular Matadormon finishing the clone.
Alexis heals Gatomon, Matadormon does True Fake creating more clones two red and two blue. Aqua uses Bafu on the red Matadormons and Alexis does Agi on the two blue and passes to Uzi who uses Lunge on Matadormon. Uzi then attacks ont of the down copies
"N-Ngh…" Matadormon lets out "Stop this…Is this how you show your gratitude to the man who raised you?!"
"Threaten us all you like you're not going to stop us now!" Gatomon said "Or have control over your shadow for long." He then uses Garu on a red copy. Alexis destroys one of the blue clones.
The remaining blue one stands and said "You dare defy an esteemed elder? May you all be frozen in fear!" He then uses an ice attack on Gatomon.
One of the reds stands up and said "Damn clueless brats…My fiery rage shall reduce you all to mese ashes!" He then uses a fire attack on Gatomon burning him. The next one stands up and does it on Aqua knocking her down and again on Uzi. Matadormon summons another red clone.
Aqua attckes with Arcangels Mafari taking out the remaining blue and Uzi Zios the Matadormon. Gatomon uses Media to heal everyone and Alexes strikes Matadormon, two of the three reds up their attacks as the real one summons a new green one.
Aqua strikes the green one with a Frei, Uzi knocks the green one down with Zio and bounces it back to Aqua who uses Mafrei to take out all but the real Matadormon and one red clone. Gatomon use a group wind attack to injure them and Alexis finishes the clone off. Matadormon makes more clones two yellow and two green but something was off with them, one of the greens was even asleep.
"Hey, something seems wrong! Could he have…?" Gatomon said looking
"What?!" I, the great Lysandre…made an error?!" Matadormon said shocked and clushes his head as he then said "Y-Yes…I refuse to let you…corrupt and hurt people…a-any more…"
"Looks like you've reached your limit…allowing Matadromon to interfere with your power." Gatomon said smirking "Failling to be able to make a counterfeit? You're really looking like a joke now!"
Aqua uses Maferi to hurt them and destroy the sleeping green one. Uzi then uses Zio to down the last green one. She passes to Gatomon who downs the two Yellows and passes to Aqua who Maferi's them taking all the clones out. Gatomon and Alexis attack Matadormone who makes more clones a yellow and three blues, two of the blues were poor fakes though.
Aqua uses Kouha on the yellow one and Uzi strikes it and Gatomon knocks it down and passes to Alexis who uses a group fire to take out the two sleeping blues, knock the other down but was repelled by the down yellow and do some damage to Matadormon.
"Dammit….Dammit…" Matadormon said getting angry. "Stop it, you brats, or else…!"
"Gratitude?! You robbed your students of their futures!" Gatomon said speaking to the corruption "Why should they be grateful?"
Alexis passes to Aqua who uses Mafrei on them all destroying the clones and Alexis attacks Matadormon. Matadormon made four new clones one green and three red all the red were sleeping. Aqua uses Frei on the Green one and Uzi uses Zio on the green one and Gatomon finishes it and Alexis strikes Matadormon who summons a new green one.
Aqua then uses Mabufu on all of them getting reflected off the green one and freezes her. Uzi zios the green one and passes to Gatomon who uses Lucky punch on Matadormon and strikes him. Alexis uses Agi on Matadromon
The green clone stands up and said "Disappear from my sight without a trace like dust scattered in the wind!" He then uses a wind attack on Alexise and Matadromon makes a new green on and two yellow, one which was a poor fake.
Aqua was still frozen and Uzi uses Zio on the greens and Gatomon uses Garu on the yellows taking the poor fake out. Alexis strikes Matdormon with Agi. On his actual turn Gatomon finishes the last yellow and Alexis on hees uses Maragi on the remaining enemies taking on out. The remaining clone recovers and tries to hit Uzi who dodges. Matadormon makes three more clones a yellow and two blues one which was a poor one.
Aqua unfreezes and uses Arcangels Great slices on Matadormon ending the fight as he cries out in pain and collapses onto the ground.
Zane approaches Matadormon who under the corruption clutches the painting ot Julien and was afraid. But then the real Matadormon breaks free and sighs.
"No one cares for true art….All they want are easily recongnizable brand." Matadormon said "If he was in control of me still, he say he was a victim in all this as well. Would you've agreed?"
"Sounds more like excuses on his end" Uzi said sighing.
Matadormon nods standing up "He came to believe the art world revolves around money after all…You can't rise up without any money…Ah" He groans as the corruption takes hold and looks at Zane "Zane, you understand, don't you?! Being a poor artist is truly miserable! I just didn't want to return to that life!"
"A fiend like you has no right to speak about the world of art! Get out of Matadormon's head!" Zane said to him in anger grabbing him. "You're done fore along with this whole wretched world!" He pulls out Matador separate out of the body leaving behind only a shadowry version of Matadormon that turns into a shadowry Lysander
"Well now…my mind feels more free" Matadormon said and looks at the shadow of his master "You truly are done for now."
Shadow Lysandre shrieks and said "No, please! Just…don't kill me!" He falls over scared.
Zane pays him no mind and looks at Matadormon and said "Return to his real self in reality and make him confess his crimes all of them!"
"I will" Matadormon said nodding.
"You're not going to kill me?" Shadow Lysandre asked.
"Do you swear it?" Zane asked Matadormon.
"We will make sure, won't we?" Matadormon said looking at the scared Shadow.
"All right…All right!" Shadow Lysandre said. "Wh-what about the other one though?" He asked looking at them.
"You mean the one with the red insectoid mask?" Matadormon asked and the shadow nods.
"Hm?" Zane said confused.
"Who?" Aqua asked.
"A red insectoid mask?" Alexis said. "Wait, who're they talking about?"
"It can't be…There was another intruder besides us within this Palace?!" Gatomon said in shock.
Before they could continue this the world begins to shake and start to fall apart, the Basherbots begin to flee. Uzi said "There's no time! Hurry!"
Gatomon thinking fast goes and transform into his van and said "Get on!" Everyone goes to board.
Zane reclaims the painting and begins to walk off. Matadormon asked "Hey Zane...is there anything you want me to make Lysandre do?"
"Put and end to all this and have him use his own artwork for once." Zane told him and Matadormon nods and hands Zane a keychain of him to hold onto and Zane accepts
"Zane!" Alexis called out. Zane heads for the van.
"No, wait! Please!" Shadow Lysandre goes to get him but Matadormon holds him back he cried out in tears "Zane! Zane!"
"It's over, you lost this round" Matadormon said and looks at the van drive off "Good luck Phantom Thieves, you're going to need it."
We come to the group outside Lysandre's house now out of the Metaverse. Zane was holding the painting of Julien which was of the actual one his father made and not the altered version Lysandre did.
"The destination has been deleted." The Metaverse Navigator said.
"It would be bad if people started getting suspicious of us. We should leave at once." Gatomon said.
"Zane, come on." Uzi said to Zane who was looking at the painting.
"Right…" Zane said nodding and looks at the painting "Goodbye, Sensei."
The group arrive at the hideout in the train station walkway and relax.
"I guess the mission was a success." Uzi said sitting and drinking some oil "All that's left is to see if he had a change of heart or not." She groans "Ugh, so bitter…Why'd you get it coffee black flavoured?"
"The 'Julien'…" Zane said looking at the painting.
"You're not gonna get all teary-eyed and say stuff like, 'Dad…!' are you?" Uzi asked.
"To think that this painting was the source of Lysandre's distorted desires." Zane said smiling. "The only saving grace is that my father won't know of what transpired…"
"The genuine painting at his atelier has been altered, after all…" Gatomon said sighing. "Ironic as it may be, this one here is his true self-portrait now."
Alexis smiles looking at it "…It's a wonderful painting. And…although it took some time it's in your hands now, Zane."
"…I'm thankful for it." Zane said smiling. "However, it's impossible for this painting to be acknowledged by society anymore…"
"Was 'Julien' your dad's name?" Aqua asked.
"I'm unsure, but I doubt it's the name of any man in particular." Zane said thinking "I would bet it was to make it more mysterious just a part of Lysandre's foolish staging maybe."
"Well, it would've been obvious that he plagiarized it if he were to use the real name if your father was well known." Gatomon said.
"So, this is my father…There's no way that I would remember his face clearly…" Zane said his memories from his first activation being gone. He smiles adding "But I was right about the rush of emotion I felt when I saw this painting."
Uzi stands and walks away, she comes back later with a differe oil drink and once done she somehow burps.
"Stop that!" Alexis said glaring.
"You're so vulgar, Uzi." Gatomon added.
"So, what're you gonna do now?" Uzi asked Zane "We're gonna keep targeting big shots."
"…Why do you do such things?" Zane asked.
"It's to get back at scumbags and like…society in general?" Uzi explained. "We're also wanna give courage to the people that're suffering because of selfish adults."
"Courage, hm…What good does that do?" Zane asked. "You mean the courage to stand up for themselves, correct? Will acquiring that make them happy?"
"Probably…" Aqua said thinking as she was truly unsure.
"…Yeah. There's no knowing whether it'll turn out good for everyone or not." Uzi said sighing. "Still, we won't know unless we give it a try."
"…In other words, it all depends on the person, hm?" Zane said thinking "Then the same can be said about myself right now. I also suffered because of an adult's selfish act. Moreover, if we investigate these Palaces, it may expand my artistic repertoire."
"You really only think about art, huh? You're impressive." Uzi said smiling.
"Well, I won't take part in any inelegant plans, all right?" Zane told them.
"No worries! I've got us covered!" Alexis said smiling making Aqua and Uzi sweatdrop "Plus, we have a rule that says we always have to decide on a target unanimously."
"How about it, Waterwave?" Gatomon asked. "We can give our calling cards a lot more 'oomph' if we have Zane on our team."
"I am sure he'll make a great member." Aqua said smiling.
"I will try and live up to those expectations." Zane said nodding.
"At any rate, I'm curious…Another intruder besides us, huh?" Gatomon said worried.
"Our only clue's a red insectoid mask, so that doesn't necessary mean it's just one person, right?" Alexis asked.
"But there's no way to check anymore. The Palace is gone and we can't exactly talk to Matadormon anymore." Uzi points out.
"I'll try probing Lysandre." Zane said "I may be able to learn something from him."
"Are you sure? I mean…" Alexis asked concerned.
"I'll contact you all if anything turns up." Zane told them smiling.
"We should probably exchange our contact info with you then." Alexis suggested. Everyone agrees and do that with their phones.
"An artist and a phantom thief…It seems I'll be engaging in two trades from here on…" Zane said smiling. "Very well. You only live once, after all. Still, the incident about this other intruder does concern me a little…"
A while later Aqua and Gatomon were back at Leblanc in there room. Aqua sat on the bed and looking though her phone.
"Not only have we dealt with out second big target, we even have a new addition to the team!" Gatomon said proudly. "Goodness things are going so well!"
"Maybe but we can't get too cocky." Aqua told him.
"That's true. Still let's honestly be happy about it right now." Gatomon said nodding. "But I have to say, you sure are something special. This is our fifth Persona-user. It'll help broaden our battle strategies as well."
"Besides having an eye for beautiy is a must for phantom thieves. We're lucky to have Zane." Gatomon said smiling. "An artist is a talent you rarely come across. I mean, he IS a bit strange but still…An artist, huh…" He thinks "What kind of person do you think I was? There's no way I'd turn out to be some bad guy in the end, right? I get so engrossed with the embodiment of human desires…"
"And that's not all." Gatomon continued to explain "When it comes to the Metaverse, I'm the only one who can transform into a car…I'm special…but it's still odd. Who could I actually be?"
"A human maybe." Aqua said shrugging.
"You really think so?" Gatomon asked and sighs "What a half-decent answer. Well, there's no way a dashing honorable rogue like me could be evil. A man who saves those in trouble in the west, while punishing evildoers who may lurk in the east! A man who chastises people that smoke inside in the south, while saving bullied cats in the north."
"A man who has a sturdy body and vows to always do one good deed a day, be it rain or shine." Gatomon continued smiling "I'm that kind of ideal person…Or so I hope. So if I turn back to being a human…surely she'll take notice of me, who't she?"
"We'll know eventually." Aqua said knowing Gatomon was talking about Alexis.
"Well, that's true, but…" Gatomon said sadly and sighs "Where should I go when I become human? I wonder where she'd like to go…An amusement park, a movie theater, a fancy café, shopping…" He looks to Aqua "What do you think?"
Aqua rubs her head but feels her bond with Gatomon has gotten stronger and sees the Magician card level up to rank 3 earning the follow up ability with it.
Well that was the battle and Lysandre arc enters the end game as the celebration for a successful job is the end point of the arc or at least when the next target is introduced in the present.
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