Chapter 34: The Fall of Shido.
November 26th, 2016
What happened? Why am I in so much pain? Akechi questions himself as his eyes open. He silently gasps as he sees a broken black mask on his face, one of the red lenses gone while the other is cracked. He could feel pain all over him as he slowly got up, quickly realising he was not in control. Another dream?
"You ready to call it quits?" Skull's voice echoes as Akechi looks up. Before him, standing tall and covered in slight cuts and scrapes, were the Phantom Thieves. Joker, Queen, Mona, Skull, Panther, Fox, Noir and Oracle. All looking at him with equal measures of exhaustion, anger and acceptance. While Spring, Shadow, Outlaw, Athena and Violet were missing. But why them?
What happened here? Is this a continuation of my last one? If so, how is Ren alive? Akechi wonders, seeing the scorch marks lining the floor and walls. "I know…I have enough…" He hears himself speak while his head shakes. "…You're so lucky. Lucky to be surrounded… by teammates who acknowledge you… And once Shido confesses his crimes, you'll all be heroes." He could feel himself griping his knee in anger as a tear stung his eye. "As for me, people will find out my past deductions were just a charade. My fame and trust will vanish." If this version of me is a murderer, then I deserve it. Akechi thinks to himself while he sees Mona folding his tiny arms.
"…I see. So you were turning people psychotic, then solving the cases yourself." Mona deduces. "And you did that by joining forces with Shido." Akechi hears himself giving a bitter laugh mixed with coughing, placing his hand on his side.
"In the end…I couldn't be special…." He admits with a shake of his head, while Akechi does the same on the inside. All of this just for fame? How petty could I have become…?
"You are more than special, Akechi." Joker says suddenly, drawing their attention.
"It pains me to admit… but your wit and strength far exceeds ours. We only defeated you by teaming up…" Queen admits, holding her hands together. "I was honestly… envious of your natural ability. It was frustrating to see how much my sister trusted you…"
Envious? Of me?
"I have no intention of forgiving you for what you did to my father or Oracle's mother, but…I sympathize with you." Noir says, glaring at Akechi with a mixture of anger and sadness. "I wholeheartedly understand wanting to get back at the adults who took from you…"
"But when you gained the power to fulfil that desire, you only used it for your own self-benefit…" Fox adds, placing a hand on Noir's shoulder as she leans into him.
Self-benefit? So, I was consumed with revenge?
"If you got more than one Persona, maybe you have the same kinda power as Joker's." Oracle says with a tilt of her head. "But you trusted no one. So you only got two Persona's. One for your lies and one for your hate. Still, you thought that was enough, right? That part I totally get. "
I trusted no one? No wonder why this version of me is so ruthless…
"You were better at everything than us… yet you didn't have one thing that we have. The trust, the bonds, the familiar relationships between us. That was what you failed to find." Panther replies, placing a hand on her hip as Akechi looks on in stunned silence.
Familiar bonds… That's why I'm different to this version of me…. Mr. Yoshizawa, I am forever in your debt for saving me from becoming the man I see before me. Even if none of us knew about it…
"All right, let's go back and get that callin' card ready!" Skull shouts, before turning to look at Akechi. "We're gonna take Shido down. What are you going to do?"
"It'd be a problem if you kept getting in our way. Wanna come along and help us settle things?" Panther asks, giving a smirk.
"…Are you all idiots?" Akechi finds himself asking the Thieves. "You should all get rid of me… If you don't want me getting in your way." He looks to the ground, confusion filling both his face and the Akechi inside him. "…You truly are all incomprehensible…
They really gave me a chance to redeem myself? Even after everything I did? Ren… I agree with this version of myself. You truly are beyond my comprehension. Akechi shakes his head internally, before the sound of leather footsteps draws his and the Thieves attention as a Cognition of Akechi appears before them.
With a gun aimed directly at Akechi.
"…I'll deal with the rest of you later." C-Akechi says with a dull voice and eyes. "Captain Shido's orders. He has no need for losers. Well... this just moves up the plan a little. He was going to get rid of you after the election anyway."
What? "What!?" Both Akechi's ask, even if one could no hear the other.
"Did you truly believe that you would be spared after all the murders you undertook? Don't tell me… Where you actually feeling good about having someone rely on you for once? Oh by the way, the captain says its time you receive retribution for causing the mental shutdowns."
This cognition….he's not just talking to this version of me. It's like he talking TO me.
"I see…" Akechi hear himself chuckle as he stands hunched over in pain. "I was wondering how he would protect himself if I used my power to go after his Palace and tear it apart. Turn's out your how. So he's making a puppet kill me… Sounds like something he'd do."
"But look at yourself….your the true puppet." C-Akechi replies, his face twisting into a crooked grin. "You wanted to be acknowledged, didn't you? To be loved? You've been nothing but a puppet from the very beginning." Shadow appear around C-Akechi, ready to pounce on the wounded Thieves. "You know what? I'll let someone volunteer in his place. Who knows, you might delay his death."
This is what Shido thought of me? Some sort of murder happy puppet!?
"Hahah…I'm such a fool…" He hears himself as he watches his body take out a gun and aim it at Joker. Flashbacks to that interrogation room run through his mind as Akechi silently pleads himself to stop. "…Don't misunderstand… You're the one who's going to disappear!" He hears himself shout while spinning around, firing the gun right at C-Akechi and hitting him in the shoulder. Before quickly shooting an emergency buzzer and slamming the watertight bulkheads shut. Separating himself and his cognition from the Thieves.
"Akechi!" He hears Joker shout while banging erupts from the other side.
"Hurry up and go!" He hears himself shout even as he clutching his side in pain.
"You fool! Are you trying to get yourself killed!?" Fox shouts back as the banging intensifies.
"The real fools…are you guys. You should have forgotten and abandoned me a long time ago. You would have perished…if you tried to face these things down with me…" Akechi could see each of the shadow guards pointing their guns at him as C-Akechi kneels on the floor. He could tell in his gut, how this dream would end.
"Change Shido's heart… in my stead… End his crimes…" He waits for a response, before hearing one that he didn't expect.
"I'll be holding onto your glove Akechi. We still have a duel to finish, remember?" He hears Joker's voice as the banging comes to a stop. In this moment, Akechi could feel his alternate self chuckle in surprise and happiness. Even at this moment, after all he did to him, he still wanted to be his friend.
"Heh…after all this, that's what you have to say? Seriously, you really are…" He stops himself as the C-Akechi rises to his feet. Pure rage filling his eyes as he trains his gun on him. A motion that Akechi felt his body readily accept. "So, my final enemy is a puppet version of myself… How fitting…" As one, both Akechi's fire their guns as time comes to a crawl. In slow motion, Akechi could see the bullets fly to their targets, just grazing past each other before lying directly to their heads.
And just as the bullet was about to hit him, he wakes up on a futon bed in a well-kept attic. With a bandage covering his chest. With the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Shaking his head, Akechi catches a glimpse of a calendar showing it was November 26th, while on the wall above a couch was a poster of the Phantom Thieves of Heart, along with the delectable smell of curry and coffee. It took his mind a moment to recognise where he was as someone came up the stairs. Glancing at it, he sees Ren in his school uniform entering the room, with Morgana jumping out of his bag.
"Glad to see your awake, Akechi." Ren says, putting the bag down. "How are you feeling?" Akechi places a hand on his chest, wincing at the pain he felt.
"I have had better days." He admits before turning to Ren with worried eyes. "But enough about me! Yoshizawa! Is she—?"
"Still alive." Morgana reveals, hoping onto the bed. "Sae managed to patch her up well. She's currently staying with Haru before heading home. Although she won't be able to go into the Metaverse for a few days. Same with you." Akechi could feel himself calm down tremendously at hearing that. His worries melting away. Despite wondering how he heard a cat talk, before remembering about the cat-like creature he saw in his dreams and in the Metaverse.
"So she is safe…thank the kami." He says before looking between Ren and Morgana. The dreams he had been having these past few weeks were still on his mind. And it was time to get answers. "If you two don't mind, I have some questions I need to ask you. As well as something I need to get off my chest."
The two look at each other, a silent conversation passing between them before turning back to Akechi. "What is it?" Morgana asks while his tail curls around him.
"For the past few weeks, I have been having dreams. Or rather, nightmares of a…shall we say, alternate timeline." Akechi begins with a sigh, while Ren and Morgana eyes widen slightly. "A timeline…where I was Black Mask…and a pawn for Shido…"
"You remember, then…" Ren says, getting Akechi's attention.
"Remember? Wait…do you mean to say—?"
"That that timeline actually happened. Yeah it did." Ren reveals. Akechi remained silent, his gaze looking at the covers as he processed the information. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. How Ren and the others managed to hit their targets so quickly, stopping Shido from assassinating and framing them. The only way they knew was if they had prior-knowledge about this. Knowledge from the future. It would also explain why their current group had more members than in his dreams.
But that left a few things unanswered…
"But…how are you alive?" Akechi asks. "The dream I had on the twentieth…I SAW myself shoot you in the head. Yet…the dream I just had…you were alive." Ren smirks a little as he gives off a laugh
"Well, let's just say that your evil alternate self-made one crucial mistake." He turn to Morgana who was sporting a very cat-like smirk.
"Remember back in May if you asked us about having pancakes? I was the one who said it. And people can only hear me talk if they have been to the Metaverse." Akechi's eyes widen in realisation his mind pieced the puzzle together.
"I see… and thus knowing I could not be trusted, you devised a plan to take advantage of the Metaverse and have me kill a fake." Akechi smiles as he shakes his head. "A cunning plan. One that would not have seen coming." Before his smile falls. "Futaba and Haru hate me, don't they? After all, I killed their parents in that timeline."
"They hate that version of you, Akechi. Not the current you." Ren replies, shaking his head. "But, I think your more curious as to WHY we are back in the past."
"Well, I did die after having you promise to take Shido down for me, so I admit that I am." Akechi replies, shifting himself a bit.
"Well, to start off with, we did managed to defeat Shido and change his heart. But we then ran into a problem none of us saw coming." Morgana begins, lying down into a loaf. "You know how Mementos if the Palace for everyone in Tokyo? Well, it also has a Treasure. A Treasure that became sentient enough that it became a God and has complete control over everyone's minds. Meaning that even when Shido confessed, that Treasure, who calls itself Yaldabaoth, simply mind controlled everyone to ignore it and even made them forget we even existed."
"A Treasure was able to do that?" Akechi asks with wide eyes before narrowing them. "Although, considering the amount of people in Tokyo all sharing a Palace, it is possible that such a thing could happen."
"That's not the only thing." Ren says while shaking his head. "Yaldabaoth is the reason you became Black Mask in the first place."
"What?" Akechi asks with wide eyes.
"That's right. He chose you to be his champion, and had you fight against Ren in a rigged game where he would be the victor. He told us this himself when we went to confront him." Morgana replies before letting out a sigh. "Well, we repaid the favour but shooting a giant bullet through his face, but he ended up killing us at the same time."
"And that's when we were giving the chance to start over." Ren finishes, before standing up. "Well, that is the short version of it anyway."
"I see…I would appreciate hearing the long version someday, but for now I need to rest." Akechi says, wincing at his chest. "The wound Sho gave me hurts like hell…And I shudder to imagine how Yoshizawa's is…"
"Well, according to Haru it's all healed up. He has a scar but that's to be expected. We all have some level of scars anyway." Morgana reveals. "It's not enough to stop her going to school or home, but she does get some slight pains so gymnastic stunts and Mementos diving won't happen until she's fully healed. Same with you. After all, we want EVERYONE to be there when we take down Shido."
"Waiting a few days gives us time to prepare as well. Although we can't wait too long. Shido will get suspicious when you and Sho don't get back to him. Or when he hears Sho is in prison." Ren adds with a frown.
"No need to worry about that. There have been times Sho had gone silent for long periods of time. Shido won't notice." Akechi replies before leaning back. "Sorry to cut this short, but I feel the need to sleep."
"Take as long as you need Akechi. You're safe here." Morgana replies, hoping off the bed as he and Ren head downstairs. As Akechi steeled himself for some much need rest, he could feel Loki steeling in his heart. It was a shock at the time, seeing Robin Hood turn into Loki, but he feels more in control of himself than ever before.
And with allies who, while he did seemingly betray in a different timeline, were there ready to support him when need. And he would do anything to return the favour.
November 30th, 2016
"How did it go Sae-san? Getting Sho in jail that is?" Ren asks, serving up some coffee.
"Worryingly, it went off without a hitch. Almost too easy." She remarks with a frown. "It felt as though there were some people pulling the string to make sure he was arrested no matter what. One of the guards even mentioned about the Kirijo group. Why they would have an interest in him is beyond me…" Sae huffs before sipping her coffee.
"There are still a lot of things we don't know about Sho. How did he get his Persona? When did Yu get his? And who were the other Persona users he thought against?" Ren asks with a hand on his chin. "I know Philemon told as about one group who stopped Nyx and the Dark Hour, but how long ago was that?" A silence fell on the café as the two let the minds swim, as Sae folds her hands.
"Be that is at may, there was another reason for me coming here today." She says, looking at Ren. "After Shido is prosecuted and locked away, I intend to retire as a prosecutor and become a lawyer."
"A lawyer? That's a sudden career change." Ren comments.
"I suppose it would be. But after seeing how far the corruption has gone, and the amount of innocents trampled beneath it, I can no longer stay as I am." She says, placing her hands around the cup. "In truth…our mother was actually a lawyer. Its how she and our father met during a case. They both realised how the case seemed to be rigged, and worked together to uncover the truth and exposed the prosecutions corruption. It was a story that I always held dear to me, but forgot it when I became a prosecutor."
"And then, I awakened my persona, rediscovered the convection I once had. And the stories my parents told me. It was then that I made that vow, to cast off my ties to the prosecution and become a lawyer. To help save those who have no one else to turn too." She glances up at Ren with a smile. "And I have you, Makoto, and the others for helping me realise that again. So, thank you Ren." She holds out a hand to Ren, which he gladly returns.
"It was my pleasure, Sae." Ren smiles, watching as the tenth star appears on Sae's card. Just as Lavenza's words echo within his mind once more.
I am thou, thou art I...
Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath.
Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion
and break the yoke of thy heart.
Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret
of the judgment, granting thee infinite power...
Ren smiles as the information for Satan returns to him. Just as he ad Sae drop hands, Sae gives of a slight gasp as she closes her eyes while a slight pulse echoes through the café. Ren was sure Akechi would have felt it upstairs as Sae delves into her heart.
Before he, floating the blue abyss, Justitia hovers in all her glory, before she is engulfed in the fires of rebellion. The moment the fire faded, Justitia had changed forms.
Now wearing a long green cloak over a long silver dress. While brow gauntlets and boots cover her arms and legs. Bird wings extend from her back and hips, while in her hand is a large silver bow, while a silver quiver of arrows hung on her back. Her face was hidden by the green cloak, but two lengths of braided brown hair trailed out from the hood. While two piercing blue eyes glowed from within the hood.
Along with a new name, echoing within Sae's mind.
Maid Marian.
"Congratulation, Sae-san. You evolved your Persona." Ren says with a smile.
"That was, certainly an interesting experience." Sae remarks. "And yet, I feel not only stronger, but even more in control of myself… I am now more than convinced of my path." Ren nods before they both turn their attention to the stairs as Akechi walks down. His chest had completely healed, now only bearing a faint cross shaped scar, but it still hurt to the point that any action in the Metaverse would be hampered.
"I felt a powerful aura just now. Did something happen?" He asks curiously.
"Nothing much. Just Sae-san's persona evolved." Ren replies with a smirk.
"Ah… Congratulations, Sae-san. Now, we are even more ready to take on Shido." He winces, placing a hand on his chest. "Once my chest stops hurting that is…"
"Then head back upstairs and rest, Akechi-kun. Futaba has the calling card all planned out. We need to be fighting fit for when we record it." Sae replies with a smirk.
"Okay…? By the way Joker. There's something I want to talk about later. And it resolves around those Showtime attacks you and the others seem to do…"
December 3rd, 2016
Night had fallen sa the citizens of Tokyo went about their business. The news anchor reporting on national news about the Phantom Thieves still at large while also the downfall of the SIU. Alongside PubSec starting its own investigations into the SIU before the screens suddenly short out as the logo of the Phantom Thieves is shown on every single screen and billboard. Instantly drawing the attention of all.
"Yo! What is UP everybody!?
"You haven't forgotten out voices have you?"
"If so, then allow us to reintroduce ourselves."
"We, are the Phantom Thieves."
"And all of us are still alive and kicking!"
The screen changes from the Thieves symbol to a rotating image of Alibaba's symbol.
"The last time we did this, our target was but a simple gangster. But not tonight."
"That's right, for today, our targets are those in power who hide away the truth and manipulate all the information and news that you see."
"So, before we appropriate our next target, we would like to first, borrow your time!"
"The recent scandals of public figures, the accidents cause by the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns, including the arrest of Kunikazu Okumura on live television, these weren't caused by unknown reasons."
"One man is behind every single instance, using an assassin for his own selfish deeds."
"That man was afraid of his crimes, and attempted to push the blame on us many times. He even went as far as to manipulate the police and the SIU for this."
"We only steal the hearts of criminal. But this asshole, attempted to shift the blame on us. That just shows he doesn't care about those victims at all."
All around Tokyo, the police and SIU mobilised as they attempted to shut down the broadcasts, only to watch as they grew to cover the entirety of Japan. And they were powerless to stop it.
"The identity of that cowardly man is a cabinet minister of all things. The Minister of State for Special Missions…"
"Masayoshi Shido!"
The crowds gasp as a picture of him is displayed on all screens, shock running through them as the running politician is revealed.
"Everything that guy says is a lie! He has no care for the future of Japan, or the world! Only his own tyrannical self-interests!"
"So this is our statement to you, Shido."
The screen changes as it shows every single member of the Phantom Thieves standing around the Edelweiss, faces covered in shadow.
"We are coming for you!"
"Shido himself will soon confess to all the crimes he has committed. But he is not the only one."
"For tonight, we shall also steal the hearts of four of his inner circle. Please look for to it everyone!"
A list appears next to the Thieves, showing the names of Ooe, the IT President, the TV President and the former noble.
"We're not just gonna sit back and watch some crook wreck this country just 'cause of his goddamn ego."
A picture of Shido with a drawing of Alibaba munching on his head shrinks before turning into a small box on Skull's hand. Standing next to Joker with Queen on his other side. Before tossing it away as Queen looks at Joker.
"Isn't that right…Leader?"
Joker, still in the shadows, nods his head as the camera zooms in on him.
"Yes. Before that happens, we will take this country!"
As the crowds roar in either excitement, denial or awe, a certain man in an office glared at his tablet in utter rage. Even as his aids rushed about trying to damped the broadcasts, Shido himself already knew how this would end.
"Very well… I'll crush them beneath my heals!"
The waves around the ship churned and raged, even as it continued on it's path through the sunken city. Within its walls, the shadows and cognitions huddled together in fear watching as the Phantom Thieves rushed past them.
Waiting for Crow and Violet to heal up had proved to be a wise choice as Joker had managed to abuse the Fusion Alarm in the Velvet Room to create powerful weapons for everyone. Some that didn't even exist in the last timeline, such as the whip he got from the King Frost.
It was strange, how the twins aloud him to fuse so many high level Persona that were out of his range despite not unlocking their confidant. Not that he was complaining, now that he had his full roster at his side again. And he could already feel they were itching to fight Shido.
But as they charged towards the assembly hall, Joker took a moment to glance at Crow's thief outfit. It still had the same clothes as his dietetic prince, but now it came with black gauntlets and greaves. Almost similar to the ones he wore as Black Mask in the old timeline, but slimmed down and sleeker like a knight. The same was the chest armour that now appeared on his chest, which was missing during the fight with Sho. And his mask was now a blend of black and red, with the long pointed noes shortened by half.
An almost perfect fusion between the two suits. Although Joker did note how close Crow was to sticking with Violet. Then again, after the near death experience, he couldn't blame him. The others certainly did that when he survived the 20th.
Soon, the team were racing between the seats of the assembly hall, while Shido's treasure, a giant steering wheel hovered above him. As the bald man himself stood atop the Prime Minister podium. His back turned to the Thieves.
"Shido." Joker says calmly, catching the tyrants attention.
"Where did you brats gain that power?" He asks, angry at their presence before he catches sight of Crow. "Akechi. So you did end up betraying us after all. Do you not care about your family?"
"Once we are finished, you won't be threatening them anymore." Crow replies back with narrow eyes.
"Hmpf. I have no idea where Sho is, but it does not matter. His usefulness was nearing its end anyway." Shadow Shido remarks with a shake of the head. "I will just have to dispose of you myself."
"With what? My mothers research?" Oracle shouts, holding back her anger.
"You'll have to forgive me, but who are you related to? I've killed so many researchers over the years that I've forgotten their names and faces." Shido replies with a cruel smile.
"How could you be so selfish?" Violet asks, disgusted.
"Sacrifices are inevitable on the path of reform."
"Reform? This is not reform, Shido. This is a dictator ship!" Athena shouts back.
"That is the point. Japan was strong when we had a dictator! The entire Pacific was out lake! And I will make it ours again. Even if I have to drag the whole world into war."
"You're planning a third world war!? There would be nothing left but ashes!" Spring shouts, appalled.
"That's right! You would only be ruler of a frozen lake!" Outlaw agrees. But Shido shakes his head.
"What makes you think I would have to use a single soldier? All I need is the Metaverse, a target, and a convenient mental shutdown. It doesn't matter who it is. A military commander, the president of a country? All are fair targets for world domination."
"And just how many innocents do you plan to kill in your quest?" Shadow questions with a snarl.
"As many as need. But it won't matter. For I have the foolish entrust their support onto me. I shall guid them."
"You only got this far because of Sho. Without him, you would have been arrested long ago." Joker says, before smirking to himself. "Or, is it that you yourself are already the pawn."
"What did you call me?" Shido asks, insulted at the words.
"You heard me. A pawn, a tool, to be thrown away once their worth is over. That is who you are Shido. Not some cunning mastermind who managed to make his way to the top. But a convenient piece for another plan to rule over the world." Joker tightens his glove as he glares directly at Shido. "And once we're done with you. We are coming for him next."
"You fools…" Shido snarls as he grips the sides of the podium. "You believe you can defeat me!? A man chosen by the Kami!?" The ship shakes as Shido's podium rises to the skies as the top half opens up. Already knowing what was to come, the Thieves quickly jump onto the approaching sliding floor as they jump their way up after Shido. As all eyes turned to the giant golden lion waiting for them.
"Let me make myself clear. Do not think of me as you did with Sho or my foolish son over there." Shido comments, as he slowly walks up the lion to a thrown. Black and red aura enveloping his feet with every step. Before he himself was enveloped in the aura and changed into true form. A tyrannical general with meddles, a red cape and spiked helmet that would make Char Aznable envious. "Die, without further delay." He commands, sitting in the chair as the Lion readies itself to attack.
"All of us have had to go through hell because of you, Shido! Let's finish this!" Joker shouts, ripping his mask off as he summons one of his new Persona. "Futsunushi! Panta Rhei!" Summoning the ruler of the Magician's Arcana, Joker sends the powerful wind spell towards Shido. Damaging the Lion as it roars in response, slamming its paw to the ground.
"Careful guys! That lion repels both physical and gun!"
"Oh fuck me…" Outlaw curses while Spring pats him on the shoulder.
"Later…" She whispers before ripping her mask off. "Nike! Kougaon!"
"Kouga, Cendrillon!" The two bless spells from the girls slam into the Lion, enraging it further as it buffs its own attack with a roar.
"Resistance is futile!" Shadow-Shido shouts while casting a Masukunda on the Thieves, slowing them down as the Lion began to charge.
"It's charging up a big one!"
"Boudica! Dekunda!" Shadow shouts, bringing their agility back to normal.
"Loki! Debilitate!" Crow shouts, lowering the Lion's abilities just as it unleashed it's Arms of Destruction on the party. While not as strong, the Almighty spell managed to injure the Thieves greatly. But Joker was not having that.
"Cybele! Salvation!" With the ruler of the Priestess arcana at his side, Joker heals all the injuries the Lion had inflicted, before switching his Persona up. "Ishtar! Atomic Flare!"
"Anat! Freidyne!" Joined by Queen, the ruler of the Lover's arcana blast the Lion with the strongest Nuke spell know, powered up by Queen's own spell. Releasing from the blast, Panther and Mona spy an opportunity.
"Hecate! Agidyne!"
"Mercurius! Garudyne!"
The tow spells merge together, creating a firestorm that surrounds the Lion and leaving no avenue for escape. Growling, Shido slams his hand into the arm rest of the chair as the Lion forms wings at takes to the sky.
"You shall regret this foolish action taken against me…in the afterlife!" With a wave of his hand, Shido unleashes Royal Wing Beam onto the Thieves. Enveloping them in the explosion while sending some of them into a dizzy walk.
"Me Patra!" Spring shouts, curing them of the dizziness while Mona and Queen worked to heal them up.
"How did that not finish you off?!" Shido exclaims, surprised at the teams resilience.
"Guys, that lion is now immune to spells, but it's weak to phys and gun! Go wild Outlaw!"
"Ned Kelly! One Shot Kill!" Outlaw shouts as his other self sends the gun attack right at one of the Lion's wings. Amazingly, it managed to pierce right through before the lion managed to heal the wound up. But that moment gave Joker the opening he needed.
"Ongyo-Ki! Gods Hand!" The ruler of the Hermit arcana comes to his side, sending a powerful fist right towards the Lion and landing right in its stomach. If it had eyes, they would have momentarily popped out as the Lion was suddenly sent higher into the sky. Shido himself struggle to stay on before it manages to reorient itself.
"Such incompetence!" Shido shouts, sending a barrage of magic down on the Thieves. One of each element. Only for the team to split up and absorb the ones they were immune to. Before they all took out their guns and opened fire at the flying target. With it being so large, it was impossible for them to miss as the Lion soon came crashing to the floor. But not before Shido changed its from once again into a giant pyramid. With his helmet acting as the tip.
"To think you'd manage this much...! Why won't you stop resisting...?! The nation I strive for... is the ultimate realization of the public's happiness! The weak must be sacrificed for the sake of grand ideals! This is the natural order of this world!"
"Not, its not." Athena calmly says as she takes her mask off. "That is just you own delusion! Maid Marian! Megidola!" With her newly evolved self, Athena slams the almighty magic into the side of Shio's pyramid. With a growl, Shido returns fire with a cannon, blasting back with almighty magic of his own.
"Astarte! Psiodyne!" Noir calls out, grabbing the incoming attack and sending it back right at Shido. Damaging it more as parts begin to crumble and fall off. The angry growl coming from the top was all the team needed to hear.
"I will destroy you!" Shido shouts as the Pyramid prepares to fire its ultimate attack. But Oracle was one step ahead.
"No you don't! Come, Edelweiss!" Just like back in Okumura's palace, Oracle shoots a green beam down to the floor as she summons the Edelweiss to the field.
"What is this!?" Shido shouts, taken aback by the sudden appearance of a tank.
"A little something from our time in Kobayakawa's Place! Fire!" With a roar, the Edelweiss unleashes its arsenal into the Pyramid, tearing it to pieces as Shido ejects himself from the masses. Frowning in disgust.
"Useless, ignorant masses!" He shouts, watching as the golden people who made up the lion vanish into darkness before stomping towards the Thieves arms folded. "It seems even Thieves should not be taken lightly if they come in great enough numbers…"
"Blaming your loss on the people who worship you? How typical." Fox comments with a shake of his head.
"Of course, we already knew you would." Panther replies, pushing one her pigtails behind her head. Shido glares at her before turning his eyes to Joker with absolute hate.
"So, you are the one leading them? I do not know who you are, but I will make sure you do not live to see tomorrow." Shido remarks, turning his chin up at him.
"You may have forgotten about me, Shido…" Joker replies, before taking his mask off to stare at him with a Nijima-Amamiya glare. "But I sure as hell haven't forgotten about you, you drunk asshole!"
"What?" Shido questions, before his eyes narrow in recognition. "You…you are that boy who stopped me from taking that woman! I thought for sure I destroyed your life!"
"Just like when you had Kamoshida try and destroy ours?" Skull asks as he, Queen, Noir, Spring and Outlaw take of their own masks.
"Students from Shujin, the Okumura heiress and sister of Nijima!?"
"Or how about me?" Fox replies as he takes his own of. "Surely you haven't forgotten about Madarame."
"His prized student!?"
"Perhaps you remember Kaneshiro… for I haven't." Shadow remarks bitterly, taking her own mask off as well.
"The shogi prodigy!?"
"How about me? Did you forget how you had Sho kill my sister and turn Crow into your pawn!?" Violet asks, removing her mask too. Shido stands agape as she stands beside Crow, one of the three targets that kept him in line. Now immune to mental shutdowns.
"Or me? How you had my mom killed and tried to frame ME for her death!?" Oracle remarks, ripping her mask off as she glares directly at Shido.
"And I haven't forgotten how you tried to turn me into one of your pawns for the SIU." Athena remarks, joining the others and taking her mask off.
"Nijima!?" Shiro remark, completely taken aback at the identities of the Thieves.
"Do you see, Shido. All of us are here, because of you. All of us gained our Personas, because of you." Joker says calmly as he tightens his grip around his dagger. "All of the suffering we went through, the abuse, the neglect, the separation, all of it, because of you. And now, here we stand to bring you down. United as a family. All. Because. Of. You."
As one, the team place their masks back on as Shido stands, stunned at the people standing before him. Before he began to laugh like a madman.
"So…all of this is the result of my own action? A force created to oppose me from my own wake? How ironic… And what an interesting turn of fate… But your efforts will be worthless in the end. After all, small sacrifices are inescapable for those wishing to be powerful, competent leaders. How would you even reach your goal if you stopped to count each ant you crushed underfoot?"
"So even know, you still believe that all those people you killed deserved to die? You truly are irredeemable." Noir remarks with a shake of her head.
"I wouldn't expect the ignorant masses of this country to understand. Thus, I will offer proof…" In a single motion, he removes his cape, shirt, gloves and spiked hat to reveal…a BDSM like gear around his torso? Along side a menacing red aura. "By absolutely crushing the Phantom Thieves!"
"Others have tried to do so, and only one person ever came close to doing so!" Mona shouts, pointing his blade at Shido. "And you are nowhere close to his level!"
"No matter… I WILL win this game! Tyrant's Purge!" With a forceful punch, Shido sends a gauntlet fist of light towards Joker, aiming to take him out in a single blow. But he was ready for this.
"Sandalphon!" Calling the ruler of the Moon arcana to his side, Joker absorbs the bless powered fist before channelling it into his own. "Kougaon!" The powerful light if reflected back to Shido who holds up his hand to block the light. But as he does, he is briefly blinded as Fox and Skull charge in from the sides. Weapons enchanted with their element.
"Deathbound!"
"Myriad Slices!"
The two cry in unison, striking into Shido's side and knocking him of balance right into Outlaw and Shadow.
"Mind Slice!"
"Swift Strike!"
While not as damaging as Fox and Skull, their attack was enough to distract Shido as Joker joins with Panther, switching up personas once again.
"Lucifer! Inferno!"
"Agidyne Hecate!"
With the ruler of the Star arcana by their side, the flames rushed over Shido as a torrent, burning his skin and leaving the metal brace around him glowing red. With a smirk, Joker stayed with Lucifer as he readied his most powerful skill.
"Morning Star!" Unleashing the unique skill of Lucifer, Joker envelopes Shiho in almighty magic as Athena and Crow join with their own.
"Heat Riser!" Shido screams, buffing himself as he powers through the attack, sharing energy into his hand. "Deathbound!" Striking out at all angles, Shido strikes each of the thieves with his enhanced attack, forcing them back.
"Enough of that! Artemis! Dekaja!" Summoning the ruler of the Charity arcana, Joker saps Shido of his Heat Riser before switching Persona's yet again. "Chi You! Psyco Force!" With the ruler of the Chariot arcana by his side, Joker alongside Noir and Shadow unleashed a storm of psionic energy into Shido.
Forcing him to his knees.
"He's down! Get the Treasure!" Violet shouts, only for Shido to start laughing maniacally as he stands once more. "He's still up!?"
"Don't think you have won. The power held by the most elite is what rules over our society. It's vexing that I have to use this on some foolish brats… But I will educate you though and through!" With a powerful surge, Shido rips the brace off his body as his mussels grow and contort while his skin glows pure red.
True Samael has taken to the field.
"Did he get even stronger?! Outlaw shouts, reaching for the rifle on his back.
"Just how much power does he have?" Crow asks, blade covering his chest.
"…Die. Megidolaon!" With a thrust of his hand, he unleashes the Almighty magic on the Thieves, knocking them back as they quickly more to recover.
"Bufudyne!"
"Ziodyne!"
"Garudyne!"
The three attack from Fox, Skull and Mona slam into Shido who puffs his chest out to absorb the blast. Smirking at the trio as the magic leaves hardly a scratch, he charges energy into his fist to attack, before he was blindsided from behind.
"One Shot Kill!" Outlaw and Noir shout as one, sending a double attack right into Shido's back. Startled, his aim goes wide as the bless energy slams into Violet and Spring. Who either absorb it or take minor damage from the attack.
"Kougaon!"
"Tempest Slash!" The twin strikes from the girls disorients Shido as he backs away right into a plume of fire from Panther. While Athena charges in firing both of her guns along side Queen before the skid to a stop.
"Freidyne!"
"Megaton Raid!" Empowered by nuclear energy, the strike slams right into Shido's gut, almost sending him over before he quickly recovered and slams his fist into the floor.
"Tyrant's Wave!" With a blast of darkness, the wave flows over the team while bypassing their defences, heavily damaging them as Joker switches persona once more.
"Mother Harlot! Ice Age!" Brining the ruler of the Empress arcana to his side, Joker entraps Shido in a sphere of ice as Crow rushes in from the side.
"Laevatienn!" With Loki by his side, Crow blindsides Shio's side with the powerful spell as Fox and Shadow rush in and slash Shido with their weapons.
"Hmph! You will regret you actions! You've angered me for the last time! Tyrant's Judgment!" Slamming his fist into the ground, he summons a gigantic gauntlet that was shooting strait to the ground. Seeing the incoming attack, Joker switched to Artemis and buffed everyone's defence just as the fist slammed into the ground.
The resulting wave of bless energy dealt heavy damage to the Thieves, while Crow was knock off his feet due to his weakness to bless. Spotting this, Shido blasts him with a orb of darkness, only to groan when he sees the energy was simply absorbed by Crow.
"Odin! Thunder Reign!" Taking advantage of the lapse in judgement, Joker brings out the Ruler of the Emperor arcana to bring divine lightning onto Shido. Not only did the lighting cause damage to him, it also managed to shock him in place. "Outlaw!"
"I've got him!" With a shot, Outlaw's bullet sends Shido onto his knees. Looking up, his eyes widen as the Thieves unleash and All-out attack on him, slashing into him at every point and leaving him covered in slashes and gun marks, with the occasional mark from a magic spell marking his body.
But Shido had enough.
"Ngh… To think you would all be able to put up this much of a fight…" He groans, charging energy into his hand once more. "You bastards…I WON'T LET YOU HAVE THIS!"
"Brace!" Joker shouts, putting his arms up just as Shido slams his hand into the deck. Unfortunately, not everyone could get their defences up in time as the resulting wave sent almost the entire group of Thieves outside of the field of battle. As a wall of fire surrounds Shido and the two who were not knocked back.
Joker and Crow.
"You okay, Crow?" Joker asks, taking out a flask of coffee and taking a drink.
"I'm fine. But it looks like we are on our own now." He remarks with a grimace, seeing it was just the two of them against Shido.
"Damn it! The fire is surrounding the entire area! Joker! Crow! Don't you dare die now!"
"I never would've imagined... that impertinent brat from so long ago, managing to get in my way this much..." Shido begins to monologue, with his hand on his face. "Honestly unbelievable, I should have finished you off before this could've happened... Hahaha, it seems I too was naïve." He removes his hand, glaring at the two boys. "However - my dream has been attained! My desire to steer this country has finally come to fruition! But, my ambition has only yet begun! I WILL NOT stumble over mere minutia like yourself! This time, I'll be dead certain to seal your fate. I will reduce you to nothing!"
"Come and try it then Shido! Arsène! Heat Riser!" Summoning his other self, Joker buffs himself before the two charge into towards Shido. As Shido throws a punch, the two duck under before slicing at his legs and leaping away. "Riot Gun!"
"Eigaon!" Crow shouts as the darkness infused Joker's attack before slamming into Shido. But the strike seemed to do nothing as Shido raises his arms above him like a praying mantis. "Well Joker. Got anything else you can use?" Crow asks, hoping that Ren had one Persona who could affect Shido.
"Yeah. I do." Joker replies, placing his hand on his mask. "And she's one of my favourites."
"It is time I finished you rats off! Once and for all!" Shido exclaims as he charges energy into his hand again. But as he did so, a soft giggle came from behind him. And although it sounded innocent enough, it somehow managed to send a shiver down his spine. Turning around, he found himself looking at a young girl with blond hair. Wearing a purple dress with a white sash around her stomach. But while her smile seemed innocent enough, along with the curtsied she was giving, the purple aura that radiant off her sent a shive up Shido's spine.
All the while, Joker smiled as he issued the command.
"Alice. Megidolaon."
With a childish grin, the ruler of the Death arcana points a finger at Shido. Enveloping him in a powerful almighty explosion that sent him flying into the flaming wall around them. Falling to his knees, Shido shakes his head as he looks up, his vision blurry while Alice floats behind Joker.
"Eigaon!" He commands, with Alice sending the dark spell towards Shido and blasting him in his face. While Crow rushed to the side and unleashed a Riot gun into his side. But despite the powerful attack, Shido still stood. Weakened, but still with enough strength to continue the fight.
"He still has strength to fight? If he was anyone else, I would commend him." Crow admit with a shake of his head. "Joker. I think it's time we tried that out." Joker glances at him, before nodding his head. As the star in his pocket began to glow.
"Alright. Let's end this with style!"
"It's Showtime!"
As the red curtain came down and covered the field, the battle area was transformed into a rooftop terrace, with rain coming down from the sky. Crow stood alone on the rooftop, holding a hand to his head before he was suddenly engulfed in a red aura, before charging down the rooftop towards Shido.
All the while, Joker grappled along the vents of the roof towards Shido before swinging high into the air and slicing down across his chest. Before doing the same in reverse as he leaps back over Crow, he begins to wail into Shido with relentless abandon before giving one final slice across his chest and appearing behind him as Joker lands next to him.
"Game over." Joker quietly says before firing a single shot into Shido as Crow walks away. Calm as ever.
"Impossible…" Shido groans as he falls to his knees while the area returns to normal. "Who could…I lose…to mear Thieves…" He breaths before falling down to the ground. Covered in cuts, bullet marks, scotch marks from magic and blood seeping from his nose. True Masayoshi Samael Shido, lay defeated.
"It's over." Joker says silently as the flames around the dissipate. Before the sound of running feet drew both of their attention as Queen and Violet crash into Joker and Crow respectively.
"You did it! You absolutely did it!" Violet cheers as she tightens her hug around a blushing Crow, who gently pats her on the head.
"We did it Violet. All of us together. Right Joker?" Crow asks as the rest of the Thieves gather round. Each with a tired expression, but with smiles all around. It when then that Joker realised how many cuts and scraps al of them took. Some of them even had parts of their Thieves gear missing. Just a reminder at how strong Shido was.
Good thing that it didn't translate to their actual clothes in real life.
"How could I…lose?" Shido asks while he pushes himself off the floor, having reverted back to his business suit.
"Masayoshi Shido. For the countless lives you have took, the psychotic breakdowns, the tearing of families and public manipulation…you will atone with your very life." Athena commands with her arms folded.
"On top of that, you will confess to the false criminal charge to Ren Amamiya. You will see his criminal record expunged, even if it costs you your life." Crow adds with glare of his own.
"I accept these conditions…I have no room to argue…" Shido replies, glancing at joker. "You have every right to hate me… I will see to it that you are relived of all charges… Akechi…"
"Save your breath. I have no words to say to you. The man who abandoned my mother and forced a psychotic breakdown on her." Crow replies, looking away from him.
"I did not order a hit on her…I did not know she was even alive until you appeared in April… I have no reasons to lie anymore… I have been defeated…" Shido reveals as the steering wheel floats down to the team. A sudden memory returns to Joker as he grapples the Treasure towards him before booking it to the exit.
"Joker!?" Mona shouts as the team chase after him, leaving behind a wallowing Shido. "What's wrong!?"
"Don't you remember what happened last time!? Shido's going to try and collapse the Palace and kills us all!" Joker shouts, grappling to the top of the ship. The rest of the team pale at the reminder, even thoughts who had not been with them the first time, before quickly following Joker to the top. Just as the ship rumbled under their feet.
"Crap! It's starting!" Oracle shouts as the team sprint for the front of the ship. Al around the cognitions and shadows scream in terror as eruptions rupture the ship while it begins to list. Not wasting any time in getting lost in the interior, the Thieves rush across the top of the ship before landing in front of the Diet building entrance.
Already the ship began to list backwards, making the rush for the lifeboats at the front a challenging run. But the team where determined not to let Skull potentially sacrifice himself again.
Thankfully, the team managed to board one of the lifeboats and send it into the water. Watching as Shido's Ship of Pride began to sank beneath the wave. Taking with it every shadow and cognition to its watery depths. Of course, not killing any of the shadows, only sending them back to their own Palaces or Mementos.
"We did it…we brought him down." Violet comments, leaning a head on Crow.
"Not yet. We still have one more job left to do." Joker replies, glancing over the team. "On Christmas Eve, we have a false god to bring down."
So, the Ship of Pride had been sunk. It was no matter to him. Shido had been a most worthy puppet. Stringing the masses along to his will. And now that he had been brought down, it would be child's play to bring the people of Japan under his command.
But even so, there were some thing that troubled him…
Sho, that wild pawn, had disappeared from the jail he was placed in. It was no surprise that he did, but what confused him was who broke him out. Three different aura, two of which should not even exist. And a fourth that…he didn't know what to call it. And he couldn't detect Sho anywhere!
Otherworldly interference, perhaps?
And then there was The Streets. How did something like that form without his knowledge!? And now that Tao was beyond his influence! Just like the rest of the Tricksters confidants! Was it him? Trying to mussel in on his agenda?
But the final point of confusion was that Palace in Odaiba. No matter what he did, he could not infiltrate or influence it. An enigma that should not be possible. Perhaps it was time to end this game now. No doubt the Trickster would come to him when the election was over. All he had to do was wait.
Wait, and prepare for battle.
Confidant Ranks:
Yaldabaoth: Jester (Rank 9)
Phantom Thieves of Heart: The Fool (Rank 10/Max)
Makoto Nijima: High Priestesses (Rank 10/Max)
Ryuji Sakamoto: Chariot (Rank 10/Max)
Ann Takamaki: Lovers (Rank 10/Max)
Yusuke Kitagawa: Emperor (Rank 10/Max)
Haru Okumura: Empress (Rank 10/Max)
Futaba Sakura: Hermit (Rank 10/Max)
Morgana: Magician (Rank 10/Max)
Mishima Yuuki: Moon (Rank 10/Max)
Suzui Shiho: Charity (Rank 10/Max)
Kasumi Yoshizawa: Faith (Rank 5/Max?)
Hifumi Togo: Star (Rank 10/Max)
Sojiro Sakura: Hierophant (Rank 10/Max)
Goro Akechi: Justice (Rank 10/Max)
Sae Nijima: Judgment (Rank 10/Max)
Chihaya Mifune: Fortune (Rank 10/Max)
Munehisa Iwai: Hanged Man (Rank 10/Max)
Tae Takemi: Death (Rank 10/Max)
Sadayo Kawakami: Temperance (Rank 10/Max)
Ichiko Ohya: Devil (Rank 10/Max)
Shinya Oda: Tower (Rank 10/Max)
Toranosuke Yoshida: Sun (Rank 10/Max)
Takuto Maruki: Councillor (Rank 10/Max)
Lavenza (Justine & Caroline): Strength (sealed?)