Catch-22: The Next Disaster

By: M14Mouse

Summary: Well…this could have turned out much worse.

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

Hands are shackled, feet are bound
Sinking in the icy waters
Seems inevitable our protagonist will drown
There's no rescue, no way off this ride
If all the world's a stage
We're burning down the theater with everyone inside-Barenaked Ladies's The Next Disaster

"Hello, my guest," Margaret said with some amusement in her voice as he sat on a makeshift bed. His jacket and shirt beside him. She kneels next to him and gently pressed her fingers against his ribs. He groaned in pain as she pressed against his ribs.

"Hello, Margaret. You're beautiful as ever," Yu said with a tired smile.

Margaret flushed.

"Charming as ever," She said.

"Only for you," He said.

She let out a small chuckle as she examined his injuries.

"You had quite an adventure. Luckily, nothing seemed to be broken. Mostly heavily bruised and some minor cuts. Most of all, rest," She said.

"The portal wasn't very kind to me."

"Ah, because of Veles."

"Veles cause it?"

"From what my Master has told me about him. Yes…Veles is interesting in many ways. Unlike other gods, he never forgets. While most would become insane with the changing or overlapping of different realities, he knows they exist and acknowledges them but doesn't allow to overtake him."

Blinders, lassie.

"Veles said that he puts on a pair of blinders. He focuses on one aspect of time and ignores the rest. But that doesn't explain why I didn't land where my students were."

"You two formed a contract…unlike the ones that you formed with your other personas."

"Yes, we have a common enemy and the same desire to take him down."

Issy is going to help. Something about tongues. Izzy has his big ass sword. Little lassie wants the eyes.

"Hmm…I take it that you have been using his powers," Margaret said thoughtfully.

"Of course," He said.

"Veles might be able to put on a pair of blinders as you call it. You don't have the ability…at least not yet."

"Veles did talk about us being closer. I started remembering details that I shouldn't be remembering. Timelines if you will. In this case, you're saying that because my students in that world need help. I went there first?" He asked.

"Possible. It is a theory since you did say that you landed in places with no connection to you."

He sighed.

"Something for another time," He said.

"Truly. Your students and the others are waiting for you."

"On to the next disaster," He chuckled softly as he grabbed his shirt and jacket next to them.

She laughed.

-PQPQPQPQ-

"Sensei!" Haru shouted as he exited the room.

"Are you okay?" Makoto rushed to his side.

"Heavily bruised and some minor cuts. Overall, I'm fine but I won't be in battle for a bit," He said mildly.

"You said that your journey was a little rough…what happened?" Ann asked.

"We should sit down for this especially since you have a story to share as well," He said.

"Good idea! Come on, Sensei. There is a sitting area by the snack bar!" Morgana said.

"Yup! We got to make Sensei comfortable. Well…older Sensei…" Teddie said thoughtfully.

"This is going to be so confusing. How about we just call you, Bob or something?" Chie said.

"NO! We aren't calling Sensei that!" Morgana shouted.

"I agree!" Teddie shouted too.

"You can continue calling me Sensei or Gambler if it makes it easier." He said amusedly.

"Oooo…code name that doesn't really fit you," Yukiko said.

"Yukiko is right. You're totally a boss," Kanji said.

"Ooo…You should be called the Boss!" Rise added.

Naoto and Goro sighed.

"Too late. We already have a Boss," Ryuji added.

"Bummer."

"Maybe, we should call him Sensei. Only Teddie really calls him Sensei. It seemed easy enough to remember," Fuuki said.

"Agreed," Shinjiro said.

"That is settled. Shall we get going?" He remarked.

It didn't take long for the group to make it to the box office area with the snack bar nearby. He noticed that the girls usher him to the sofa to sit down. The group started to settle down in chairs, on the floor or against the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ryuji approaching the snack bar.

"Ryuji…Theodore," He said.

They froze like a pair of deer caught in the spotlight.

"I'm truly sorry, Master. He is always so willing to try all my new offerings," Theo said with a bow.

"I notice especially with his knee bouncing up and down like that," He noted.

"I'm just nervous!" Ryuji said.

He didn't say anything and Ryuji's shoulders sagged.

"After the maze, you can have some more to drink and eat. Burn off what you already ate and drink."

"Yes, Sensei."

"Akihiko-san," He said.

Akihiko has the same look on Ryuji's face.

"I haven't done anything…I mean lately." Akihiko said in a panic.

"Your hands and waists. You haven't iced them."

"No, he hasn't," Mitsuru said calmly.

"Yes, he said that he would do it after me but he didn't," Makoto added.

Akihiko looked panicked for a moment.

Shinjiro let out a sigh.

"Theo…can you get us some ice?" He said.

"OF course, sir," Theo said as he went to the ice machine to get some ice.

Was he enjoying himself?

Maybe a little….

Akihiko tends to harp about his injuries and not his own.

A little payback.

"Wow…you grew up to be a mom…" Chie said beside him.

He glanced over slightly. Chie nearly jumped and hid behind his younger self.

"Why are you hiding behind me?" His younger self asked.

"He is less likely to kill me if I'm hiding behind you."

"That is a good point."

"Nope, he grew up to be terrifying." Kanji mumbled.

A lot of mumbling in agreement.

"Now, who should start first?" He asked.

"You should start first, Sensei," Haru said.

He nodded before jumping into his story. Of course, there were interruptions.

"Like us? But not us? Weird," Ryuji said.

"Not really. Science has been exploring that for years," Mitsuru said.

"Yes and you forget comic books, manga and video games have explored the concept as well. Question…were there aliens?" Fubata said.

"Sadly, no aliens," He said.

"Bummer."

"Were we different?" Ann asked.

"Some ways, no. In some ways, yes. It was little things. In some cases, big things…you had another member. Yoshizawa-san…very lovely girl. You lost your father, Haru."

"Oh," Haru said softly.

"You and your sister are on much better terms." He added.

"Oh…that is good," Makoto said with a small smile.

"And Morgana was human."

"WHAT?!" The group shouted.

"See?! I told you! Human! Was I handsome, Sensei?! Was I?!"

"I bet that you were beary handsome," Teddie added.

Morgana beamed.

"Hmm…but you turned back. The cognition didn't hold when you and the others snapped out of it," He noted.

"Well, now, I know that it is possible. Beside, I didn't want some creep to do it anyway. I was going to do it myself."

"Right on, man," Kanji said.

"Man, I don't know how that works but you can do it," Junpei added.

Morgana blushed.

"Then you and the other Oracle made an awesome attack," Futaba said with a pout.

"It was adequate. The one that we are planning is better."

"But there are robots?!"

"But ours have exploding trees."

Futaba paused for a moment.

"You're right. Ours will be a million times better," Futaba said with a nod.

"Anyone else nervous about these two?" Ken asked.

"I think that this is so awesome! I'm so glad that Senpai is joining us," Rise cheered.

"What?" Yosuke said.

"My abilities tend to work both ways as a navigator and a combatant. Although, I do make the others nervous when I bring out the cards," He said mildly.

He could almost hear Morgana mumble something about his tail. He did warn him about the card being an agi-based spell. He wasn't sure which one.

"We are getting distracted. So, you and the others were able to reverse what the palace master did and another portal opened up? I wonder why," Misturu asked.

"Probably because whatever disrupted the portal was gone, he was free to move on," Naoto answered.

"Yes, then I faced an angry swordsman….I have no idea what his issue was."

"Maybe you needed to be there too? Even if there is no connection to that world…"

"I don't think so? He called me a summoner too. So, there was no connection. Of course, it got worse when I came face to face with Lucifer and Lilith. They tend to be quite troublesome to deal with," He said with a sigh.

There was a moment of silence.

"Is he joking?" Yukari asked.

"No," His younger self answered.

"And little play the mysterious angle too much. Much like dealing with the faeries, they like to believe that they have a secret. They lure you into a bargain or deal," He paused.

"Don't eat, drink, promise or sign anything when dealing with them ever. You understand?" He said to the group.

The group mumbled yes, Sensei and he nodded at their responses.

He should have added gods.

"You grew up to be so damn weird," Yosuke mumbled.

"Yu is already weird." Chie replied.

"True," His younger and himself said.

"Then I landed here and met up with you. I believe that it is your turn," He said as he finished the story.

"Would you already know what happened since you kind of lived it?" Ken asked.

"No. This place is between worlds and realities. Once you leave this reality, you will forget," He said.

"What?! But…but we made so many friends," Rise shouted.

"Right?! We got along so well."

"Me and Chie can't train anymore…"

"That is a good thing."

"HEY!"

"Man, it is nice to know other persona users…."

"In our time, Sensei hooked us up. I know Rise and Ann text each other all of the time. Yosuke and Kanji talk about art stuff from time to time. I would totally think Akechi and Naoto would hit it off but she is out of the country for a case right now."

"Yes, I can imagine that we would be friends in another time."

"Agreed."

"I have a question. How do you know this is going to happen?" Makoto asked.

"Veles. He remembers everything but he doesn't share what he knows. Something about me going crazy if he did." He said mildly.

Interesting. You aren't going to tell them this is the second time for some of them.

No, it gave me a headache and heartache when she messed with my head. I can't do it to them, especially what was lost.

You're learning.

"Well…that is not great."

"Now…who would like to start?" He asked.

The group eagerly told their story…in many parts. A lot of commentary from the others.

"He is a creepy ass no matter what universe."

"Right on."

"Can you not with the dinosaur thing?"

"But it's fun!"

"Robots? I bet you were happy."

"Sad and happy. It was complicated."

"It often is."

Slowly, the tale approached when he met the others.

"Ah, the hollow fairy tale," He remarked.

"The hollow fairy tale?" Ren asked.

"Not really hollow, more like a façade. There was not really happiness in the dancing smiling flowers…or anything even the FOEs that I talked too. They held the same hollowness in actions and words. A façade."

He watched as the group grew silent. He saw Hikari's face turn pale.

"You figured it out…?" Hikari said softly.

He smiled sadly.

"Everyone does it from time to time. We put on a smile when we want to curl up in a ball. We laugh when we don't think it is funny. We do it get through the moment. The difference is that you have been holding onto that façade for a very long time, haven't you?"

Hikari nodded her head.

"I'm very proud that you are willing to face it," He said as he took a blank card out of his pocket. Slowly, he folded the card into a little butterfly. Stiffly, he got up from his place on the bench. He walked over, took her hand, and gently put the paper butterfly in her hand.

"I remember a quote by Ms. Kelseyleigh Reber about a butterfly…. Butterflies live most of their lives being completely ordinary. And then, one day, the unexpected happens. They burst from their cocoons in a blaze of colors and become utterly extraordinary. I can't wait for you to become extraordinary," He said with a small smile.

Her face turned bright red and she looked at him with awe.

"Damn, dude…OUCH! What did you do that for?" Yosuke shouted behind him.

"He was cheering her up and you ruined it!" Chie shouted.

"It was so sweet too. Jerk," Rise said.

He sighed.

Well…they didn't grow out of that.

"I suppose everyone wants to get back to the maze but…I like to talk to Ren for a moment," He said as he went back to the bench.

"Okay, everyone. Let's get ready in the theater," Minato said.

The group nodded and mumbled in agreement. The group started to grab supplies and their gear then disappeared down the hallway. Theo grabbed Elizabeth's hand.

"We are going to visit our sister for a moment," Theo said in a panic and pulled her away.

"HEY! I want to hear a heartfelt conversation. The passion! The anger! The-!" Elizabeth shouted.

He sighed.

"And…she doesn't grow out of that either."

Ren laughed slightly.

"So, you have questions," He asked.

"Why? Why did you hide it?" Ren said in frustration.

"Like I said before, I am under a contract and breaking those terms could result in consequences."

"Now, it won't?"

"Because you will forget. I will forget."

"You and the others weren't lying about that, were you?"

"Sadly. It has always been a point of contention between me and Igor."

"What?"

"He has done this before. So have other gods and goddesses. A few other powerful demons. Time is their plaything and they don't mind messing with it for their own entertainment. I like to point out that experiences make us who we are and to erase it. Well, it kind of defeats the purpose."

Ren nodded.

"If you don't remember, how do you know about this time thing?"

"Veles. He remembers everything."

"Wait…you know Igor…and you know about the Velvet Room….and…."

"I could see them from the start. Technically, I could enter your Velvet Room since I have developed a bond with you. Like I said before, Igor and I aren't on the best terms right now. So, it is best that I stay away and not punch him in his big nose," He said rather cheerfully.

Oh, I love this laddie. One of you better take a picture of that moment and I wanted it framed.

Ren stared at him for a moment.

"You know…I think that you are completely serious about this,"

"Oh, I am."

"So, that is why you step in with the twins."

"Yes, their behavior isn't called for. You notice that they aren't quite like the others."

"I did. I thought that they were being them. Do you think there is something wrong with them?"

"Possible. Attendants are tricky. I know that they have some relation with the Velvet Room, Igor, and Wild Cards," He said with a pause.

"Wait…us?" Ren asked.

"I have a theory that Igor doesn't really choose the Wild Cards that enter the room. The attendants do."

Ren tilted his head slightly.

"You know….that is definitely a good theory. I can see it when the twins aren't mad at me or something. We get along quite well," Ren said.

He watched as Ren seemed to get lost in his thoughts.

"Wait…you have been hinting at this stuff for as long as we have known you! The cards…the sessions…"

He beamed.

"Yes. A little slow but yes, I have been trying to tell you and teach you at the same time. Doing your attendants' job in a way."

"You really don't like the twins?"

"I don't hate or like the twins. They are just crappy at their jobs."

Of course, he knew the reason now.

He might have to punch the fake twice.

"They aren't that bad."

He tilted his head and Ren flushed.

"Okay…they could be a little better."

"Anything else?" He asked.

"It has been very interesting meeting the other Wild Cards, especially the younger you," Ren said with a grin.

"Oh?"

"You are just as intense but have a very dry sense of humor. I don't know how you get away with saying the stuff you say without getting hit."

"A straight face and ability to gauge a person's reaction."

Ren laughed.

"That sounds about right."

"Feel better?"

"A little even if you said that I'm going to forget it later."

"Don't worry. I will tell you again."

End of the New Disaster

Next Chapter: The Navigators

A/N: Sorry that it took so long but I wanted to finish this arc. I added one chapter and added 1000 words to another chapter. From here, it is five more chapters. So, you will have more updates quicker in the future. YAY! Thanks for the reviews, kudos, feedback, favorites, etc. Read and Review if you wish.