Chapter 7: Fall of a Sphynx

April 24th, 2016

We're lucky it's a Sunday. Saves us time. Ren tells himself as he dresses up. Yaldabaoth seems to be getting impatient that I'm not using the Guillotines to make more personae. Maybe I could pester him into giving me a copy of the Compendium? Probably not. He turns to look out the window, checking the time on his phone. Besides, the sooner we get Futaba's Palace over with, the better. Then, we can let the year play out. He sighs to himself, picking up the Calling Card for Futaba and giving the words one final look. A card he personally wrote. Nodding with satisfaction, Ren grabs his bag with Morgana inside and heads downstairs. Sojiro was already at the counter making curry for the afternoon.

"You heading out?" He asks.

"Yeah. To meet up with my friends." Ren replies evenly. Sojiro side-eyes him before giving a nod as he continues to stir the pot.

"Don't stay out too late, you hear?" Sojiro responds, turning his attention back to the curry. Ren gives a nod in reply before quickly leaving the café and heading for Tae's clinic. It didn't take long before the others arrived, Yusuke arriving last.

"Madarame questioned me on my need to leave again. I told him that I almost had a flash of inspiration and that I needed to open my mind once more to realise it." Yusuke reveals before folding his arms. "I fear I will not be able to trick him a third time."

"Don't worry. You won't have to after today." Ryuji replies, rolling his arm. "Once his exhibit is up, we can start going through his palace. But first, Tabers."

"So how are we giving the Card to Futaba. Didn't you say Sojiro-san locks the house when he leaves?" Shiho asks as the team makes their way to Sojiro's house. As if in response to her question, the front door opens slightly at Ren's touch, allowing the team to enter.

Inside, they find the place dark with the curtains closed. The sight almost makes Makoto reach her hand out to Ren, but she manages to stop herself.

While a familiar face stood in the middle of the hallway with a wide smile on her face.

"Ren!" Futaba cries, throwing her arms around her brother's shoulders. "I'm so happy to see all of you finally!"

"Same here, Tabers. Only wish it was under better circumstances." Ren replies as the rest of the Time-Traveling Thieves hug Futaba. A sense of closure falls over them as their final member is reunited with them at last. Shiho and Mishima watch on, feeling detached from the closeness that the Thieves share. Breaking from the hug, Futaba spots Mishima and Shiho, giving them a warm smile.

"Hey there, newbs. Glad to finally meet you." She greets them before her smile fades. "Just wish it wasn't like this."

"Even though it's not great, I am glad to meet you, Futaba." Shiho replies before giving the hacker a hug. "Sorry, I just felt like I had to after seeing your palace." Futaba is briefly taken aback by the hug but slowly recuperates it. Just as Ren hands her the card.

"Just to let you know, but your Shadow told us to bring you in with you when we go for your Treasure. I think we all know why." Morgana tells her.

"I had a feeling. Even if you went in without me, I would still follow." Futaba replies before looking at the card.

Futaba Sakura has committed the great sin of drowning in sloth and wrath. Thus, we will rob every last bit of those distorted desires.

At that instant, the room was plunged into darkness as a shadowy figure appeared before them. Large, imposing, and hovering in the air.

NO! IT'S YOUR FAULT! YOU WILL DIE FOR IT!

The Shadow screams at them, chills running down their spines as Futaba feels her Palace going on full alert as the room returns to normal.

"Couldn't you have changed the Card to be a bit more fancy? It's basically the same as last time." Futaba complains before pocketing it, giving Ren an unamused look.

"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" Ryuji replies before glancing around. "Let's not waste any time. Let's get in there."

"No complaints from me." Futaba replies as Ann takes out her phone while giving a shudder. "Can't believe that this is happening in the first place…."

"We'll make Yaldabaoth pay for his transgressions. And it starts today." Haru assures her as Ann hits the navigation app.

Just like with Kamoshida's Castle, the atmosphere of the Pyramid was a burning rage. Shadows patrolled the halls, eyes glowing with rage. Only forgetting that the Great Stairway was left unguarded as the Thieves, with Futaba in the middle of the formation, rushed up the stairs. Before them, the door leading to the lift lay open with the Thieves walking onto said lift and rising to the top.

Reaching the highest point, they find themselves in a large spherical room comprised of blue computer screens displaying countless messages and commands. A true heart of a hacker.

"This is what represents your room, Futaba?" Outlaw asks as the team proceeds across the hovering platforms.

"Yeah. Makes sense when you think about it. I practically lived on the internet for two years." Futaba replies before the team arrives at a lone door. "This is it…The cognition of my mom is on the other side…"

"Your mom?" Spring asks. Futaba nods sadly as Joker opens the door, holding it open as the team enters.

"Yeah. She represents all of my self-hatred I had…. Or have in this case…" Futaba's words trail off as the team looks around their surroundings. Small and enclosed, with a very low ceiling indicating that they were at the very top of the Pyramid. A glowing spot on the floor illuminated the room, while nestled at the far back of the room was a black sarcophagus.

"Is that it? Or is the Treasure inside it?" Outlaw asks, pointing at the black coffin.

"It should be inside it, but we didn't find out last time since Futaba was the Treasure herself." Queen replies as the team turns to look at her. Futaba gave a small shrug before an excited mew from Mona drew their attention.

"T-Treasure!" He cries before Noir gently grabs him at the scruff of his neck.

"Do we have to put you on a leash every time this happens, Mona?" Panther asks while shaking her head. Mona looks at her sheepishly before the room is suddenly rocked by an impact outside.

"What was that?!" Spring asks before the room is struck again, a large hole carved out in the roof as sunlight poured into the room.

"It's my mom." Futaba replies evenly. Nothing appeared in the hole save for a deep blue sky. Before half of a woman's face appeared over it, her right eye staring into the room with pure hatred.

"FUUUUUUTAAAAAABAAAAAA!"

As the woman's voice echoed around them, more strikes impacted the room. The walls were torn apart as harsh winds blew over the team. Blowing away the loose stones, the attacker hovered in the air before them.

With the body of a lion, the wings of a bird and the head of Wakaba Isshiki, the Sphinx of the Pyramid hovered before them. Eyes burning with hatred.

"That's your mom!?" Spring cries over the winds generated by the Sphinx's wings as she tries to blow them away. As Spring stood her ground, she failed to notice a nearby pillar crumbling at its base before falling right towards her.

"Spring! Watch out!" Outlaw cries as he dives in to push her out of the way. Just barely avoiding being crushed by the pillar. "You okay?"

"Yeah, thanks." Spring replies as Outlaw helps her up, their masks hiding the faint pink dusting on their cheeks, before turning their eyes back to the cognitive Wakaba. While the team regained their balance, Futaba glared at the cognition with a burning anger. Before, her vision suddenly took on a purple hue.

You killed her!

Why don't you say something?!

It's your fault!

You monster!

Murderer!

Futaba could feel a burning pain enter her mind as the words assaulted her soul. She squeezes her eyes shut while she fights to ignore the false words spewed at her.

"That's right! You killed me! You are nothing but a demon who stood in my way! I wish you had never been born! That way, I could have announced my results without having to waste time on you!"

Futaba grits her teeth as her hands clench at her sides.

"I poured my heart and soul into that research! It would have been the discovery of the century! You're going to die! There's no meaning to your life! No one needs you!"

"You're wrong."

Futaba opened her eyes to the cognition, eyes burning with hatred. "You're wrong. Dead wrong. There are people who need me. People who are still my family. And mom… it's true she did pour her heart into her research, but not once did she never stop loving me!"

Futaba stomps a bear foot forward. "We promised that once she was done, we would make up all the time we lost. And we would have, were it not for Shido and his assassin! He's the one who killed her! The one who drove me to depression! The one who fed me false lies and blinded me to the truth!"

She places a hand over her heart. "I said this once before, and I will say it again. I'm going to push forward and trust with my own eyes, ears, and my own heart to distinguish the truth from the lies. And there is no way in hell you'll ever be my mom! You're just a fake created by those horrible adults! And I will never…"

"…EVER FORGIVE THEM!"

As Futaba's voice echoed around them, her Shadow materialised behind her with a smile before rising into the air in a flash of blue light. Flames rush over Futaba as her will of Rebellion reignites once more, cladding her in her Thief outfit while above, shining down with multi-coloured light, Prometheus hovers triumphantly.

Prometheus then opens her mouth, releasing several octopus tentacles as they carefully wrap around Oracle and bring her gently inside.

Contract renewed…I am thou, thou art I…

The forbidden wisdom is once again revealed to you.

No mysteries… No Illusions shall deceive you any longer.

Let us return the pain that has been placed on us with renewed interest.

"Oh yeah! Looks who's back in action!" Oracles proudly declares from inside Prometheus as the team watches on with proud smiles. Spring and Outlaw stare in amazement as seeing Oracle's Persona before harsh winds blow into their backs. "But first things first! That's got to go!"

"You heard her team! Let's bring this oversized bird down!" Joker calls. The Thieves spin around, glaring at the cognition as it flies away from the Pyramid. Out of range of any of their weapons, save a spell. And yet even those did little to phase her.

"Damn it! How are we going to hit her all the way out there?" Outlaw asks. While they could shoot her down with their guns, there was no guarantee they would hit. Let alone bring her down with the limited ammo they had.

"Don't worry! I got this!" Oracle declares before beaming down a Ballista at the rear of the platform. "Use this and shoot her down!"

"DIE!"

The Cognition of Wakaba shoots into the air, far above the Thieves, before divebombing down onto them.

"No you don't!" Futaba cries, erecting a barrier around the team as Wakaba collides with it. Her attack reflected right back into her and stunned her briefly. "Someone man the ballista!"

"I've got it!" Outlaw shouts, rushing for the Ballista as the others cast spells at the cognition. "I can't use any spells, so this is all I can do."

"Don't sell yourself short! Everyone has a place." Oracles assures as the team avoids a swipe of Wakaba's paw. "Aim the Ballista straight ahead, angle it up by 45%!" She instructs. Outlaw calmly follows her through, aiming the Ballista into the open sky. Right into Wakaba's flight path. "Now fire!"

Tugging the handle down, Outlaw fires the Ballista bolt into the open sky. It flies straight and true, slamming into the side of Wakaba and bringing her down to the ground in a daze.

"ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Joker yells as the Thieves attack from all directions, slicing deep cuts into the fur and wings of Wakaba. They were pissed, and while Yaldabaoth was out of their grasp, for now, the Cognition of Wakaba made for a temporary replacement.

But despite that, Wakaba managed to take flight once more, albeit it was heavily injured.

"Grrrr… You god-damned brats! Naughty children who defy their parents… Should be punished! You did this, Futaba… You ruined my life! All you did was get in the way of my research!"

"Shut up! You are not my mom!" Oracle shouts back as a new bolt is inserted into the Ballista. "While it's true that I still miss my mom, I have a new family to be with! And I will not let these lies shackle me to the past again! Launch it, Outlaw!"

"Pull!" Outlaw shouts as he fires another bolt, along with a connecting rope. This time, skewering Wakaba in the wing, pinning it to her side. "Caught a big one!" He cries as the rope is winched in, dragging the cognition up the Pyramid slopes. By the time it was brought up to them, Wakaba had even more cuts and scrapes lining her body. Her lone wing struggled to flap as her broken glasses hung loosely on her face.

She stares down at all the Thieves, aiming their guns, Mona's slingshot and Spring's bow directly at her.

"Nnngh! Futaba… If only I had never birthed you!"

The cognition's words enflamed the fires that the Future Thieves already had, while Outlaw and Spring could feel their already growing anger roaring into raging infernos. This was spawned because of Shido torturing and tormenting an innocent girl all because of his ego. And not just him, but all because of Yaldabaoth's game.

A game that they all were but pawns off. But no longer.

"It doesn't matter what you say. I…no, WE WILL LIVE! FIRE!"

Oracle shouts, and, as one, the Thieves unleash all of their bullets, grenades, arrows, and slingshot orbs into Wakaba. The onslaught proved too much for the cognition as it lost its grip on the floor.

Slamming down the pyramid, the cognition breaks through the construction equipment lining the side. Wood, metal bolts and stone dig into it as the Ballista bolts are driven further inside before coming to a stop on the sandy dunes below. Soon, the cognition of Wakaba vanishes into black smoke, just like a shadow.

"And that takes care of that!" Skull loudly proclaims as the team gathers up, Oracle beaming down from Prometheus.

"Goodness gracious. And I thought my father's cognition of Sugimura was bad. That was downright awful to hear." Noir comments. "To think you had to hear that for two years, Oracle."

"It's alright. It's in the past now. I'm more interested in the future." She replies before a flash of light catches the team's attention. Small gasps come from Spring and Noir while Outlaw blinks owlishly as a new cognition appears before them.

With a gentle smile and warm eyes, the new Cognition of Wakaba Isshiki stands before them in a glowing aura.

"Futaba… Thank you for choosing to remember the real me."

"Mom…" Oracles raises her mask to wipe the small tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry that I've been selfish… And I wish we could have gone to Destinyland together like we promised. But…" She turns around to the team. "I've found a new family. A place where I belong… Not that I will ever forget you, of course. I love you, after all…" Wakaba smiles with motherly love.

"I know, Futaba… I love you, too. Always have, always will." Her form glows as motes of light leave her see-through body. "Now, you should be going. You have a god to defeat, after all." The team collectively blinks as the cognition winks at them before vanishing into the wind.

Leaving the team gaping at where she stood.

"Did…that just happen?" Panther asks cautiously.

"I…think so?" Mona replies, equally dumbstruck.

"Wait, what part didn't happen?" Spring asks, confused at what had transpired. The team turned to look at her before Fox gently patted her on the shoulder.

"We shall explain once we are out of this place."

"Oh, right! Fu—I mean, Oracle's treasure!" Outlaw suddenly shouts, rushing over to the black coffin. "Hey, it's empty."

"Huh? Why is it empty?" Spring asks as she joins him.

"Oh, that's right… Oracle herself is the Treasure. And when she became a Persona user, her Shadow and Treasure became her Persona, Necronomicon." Queen remembers as she snaps her fingers. Before, her face instantly fell as she and Joker shared a look. "But that means… oh crap." Just as they put the dots back together, the entire Pyramid shook, with parts of the floor falling away.

"CRAP! We forgot about this!" Skull yelps as he jumps away from a hole opening underneath him.

"Everyone run!" Joker yells as he leaps down the edge of the platform. The team rushes after him as the entire floor collapses under them.

Letting out a loud scream, the team leap down the exposes stone of the pyramid side as the levels behind them explode into dust and stone fragments. Large pieces of stone and planks of wood tumble past them as they continue to rush to the bottom of the Pyramid.

"It's catching up to us!" Outlaw cries, taking a quick glance behind him.

"This is what you had to do when I left my palace the first time!?"

"YES!"

"And I thought running from my father's palace was stressful!" Noir cries, dodging a piece of stone flying past her head. "Mona-chan! Can't you turn into a car now!?" She asks the non-cat. Spring and Outlaw give Noir confused looks at her question but are too busy dodging rubble to ask her.

"I'm trying to! It's not easy when I'm jumping down giant stone blocks!" Mona calls back before suddenly being grabbed by Panther. "No, wait, please!"

"YEET!"

"NOT AGAIIIIIIIN!" Mona yells as Panther throws him into the air before turning into his van mode. If Spring and Outlaw weren't running for their lives, they would have stopped and gapped. But all of that was moot as the level they were on exploded, sending the team flying through the air towards Mona.

In response, he opens his back door while creating a large cushion to catch the Thieves as they crash inside one by one. With everyone aboard, Queen, in the driver's seat, floors the gas and drives like a bat out of hell away from the collapsing pyramid.

Dodging rubble as it flies through the air and crashes around them while a large shockwave races after them. Right before they leave the Metaverse in a flash of light.

The destination has been deleted.

"And good riddance to it…" Yusuke breathes as the team lies on the ground, breathing hard with Haru resting her head on his shoulder. A feeling of relief fills the area around the team as they recover outside Sojiro's house. Futaba, sitting between Ren and Makoto, hugs them both.

"Thank you guys… let's never go through my Palace ever again…"

"Agreed…" Makoto replies as Ren rubs Futaba's head.

"Uhm, Ryuji… You know you can stop squeezing me, right?" Ann asks her boyfriend, who is currently hugging her from behind. The blond, realising their current placements, blushes furiously as he lets go of her.

"Sorry about that!" He quickly apologises while Shiho giggles at them.

"Urgh…why did I have to get thrown again?" Morgana moans from Haru's side.

"Sorry about that, Morgana. It was the only thing I could think of at the moment." Ann apologises. Shiho and Mishima glance at Morgana, a question burning on their lips.

"About that. Why did you turn into a van Morgana?" Shiho asks. The team glance at them briefly, before Futaba facepalms.

"Did you guys forget to mention that to them?" She asks in an exasperated voice. The team, to their credit, look sheepishly at one another for their mistake.

"Yeah, we did. I think it's because we're so used to it that it just slipped our minds." Ren replies, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, as you two saw, Morgana can turn into a van when we're in the Metaverse. It happens rarely in Palaces due to the tight spaces, but when we venture into Mementos, it's practically essential for navigation."

"As for the reason why, it's because of the public cognition. For some reason, cats turning into vans is practically accepted by it." Morgana adds.

"Huh… That's interesting…" Mishima replies with a small nod.

"Yeah… But when did you realise you could do it?" Shiho then asks. Morgana pauses for a moment, looking to the ground in thought before giving a shrug with his shoulders. At least, he attempted to.

"I dunno… Even since I was created, I guess? Never really thought or questioned about it." It was not exactly the answer they were expecting, but then again, it was an answer. Ren pulls his phone out to check the time, noting it was still sometime in the afternoon. A thought came to his mind.

"Anyone up for getting lunch?" He asks the team. "As a pseudo-celebration on clearing Futaba's Palace?" Grins spread across the team's faces as they agreed to the idea. Although Futaba ducked back into the house for her usual outgoing clothes.

"Anyplace in mind?" Makoto asks. Ren glances around, silently debating before clicking his fingers together.

"How about Ginza? The Sushi restaurant?" Ren offers.

"Oh. The place we went to after beating Kaneshiro. That sounds good." Makoto agrees with a head bob before turning to the rest. "How about everyone else?"

"Sounds good to me."

"I really enjoyed it the last time we were there."

"The atmosphere and setting were always aesthetically pleasing."

"Please allow me to foot the bill."

A unanimous agreement came from the others, with them promising to take some with them for Morgana due to the no-pet rule it enforced. With Morgana returning to Ren's room and Futaba joining them, the team make their way to the station and heads for Gaza.

Once more whole and complete, with new members.

Yaldabaoth could not believe what had happened.

The plan he had in place, tormenting the girl and driving her to near suicide and blackmailing his pawn, had been completely derailed!

Not only that, she became a Persona user as well! His rage lashed out at the Shadows around him, furious that his plan was foiled.

But then he takes a moment to calm down.

While it was true that he had lost one, it was only one person out of a sea of millions. What good will she do for his pawn? But still, his pawn was not cooperating in his own way.

So far, he had refused to use either the Guillotines or the Electric Chair. Perhaps he does not know what combinations of Persona would create what? He could offer him a copy of the compendium to help…

Something to think about for later. He would have to make sure that his pawn could not obtain persona from the copy and only use it as a reference book.

Then there were his other pawns…

How one relished in his role, uncaring for the lives he ruined. Considering what had happened to him, Yaldabaoth was not surprised at all. As for the other, the power-hungry politician had no idea he was being used. That every single choice, every single decision, was not his own.

It made him want to laugh at his own stupidity.

But it would be some time before his pawns would come face to face… For now, he had to ready the next target. But there was the chance that his pawn could somehow sense his altering the hearts of his chosen foes.

Perhaps it would be safe to sit and watch as things play out. Let him discover them without influencing others.

After all, the artist would draw plenty of attention to his pawn. And that would be all that is needed.

Looking down on the city of Tokyo, the SIU Director looked down like a king. The simple-minded fools had no idea that they were the ones behind the Mental Shutdowns. How easy it was to control the public's conceptions by omitting a few truths.

It would be downright frightening if he wasn't one of the ones behind it.

"All the more reason to be with Shido and not against him." He muses to himself before walking back to his desk. For the past two years, things had gone as they had planned. Opponents dealt with either by death or made fools off.

It would be a clear win for Shido to take the helm as Prime Minister. But there was something that was concerning.

Kamoshida's sudden change of heart.

It was something none of them had expected. Shido had placed him there for a reason, to curb Shujin Academy and root out any troublesome students with the perverted Olympian. Turning it into a bastion of Shido supporters with Kobayakawa at the helm.

At yet… This sudden change…

"What could have caused it?" He muses to himself, sitting in his chair. As his mind wandered, the phone on his desk began to ring. Noting the I.D., the Director picks it up. "Good afternoon, Sir. What can I do for you?"

"….."

"Ah, yes. I am also concerned about that too. Kobayakawa himself has shown great disturbance by Kamoshida's change of heart as well. Apparently, all he knows is that these… 'Phantom Thieves' had left several calling cards on a bulletin board. The following day, Kamoshida was absent before admitting to his crimes."

"….."

"I see. So you believe it as well…" He leans back in his chair, looking at the ceiling. "We do not know if they will strike again or if this will be a one-off. But the possibility remains."

"….."

"My thanks, sir. By the way…" He leans forward, resting a hand on the desk. "He came round today. Told me he had found an apprentice. Are you aware?"

"…."

"I see…" A dark grin forms on his face. "That will certainly keep him from interfering with us. If he wants to keep her safe, that is…" He stands from his chair and walks to the window. "I'll keep an ear to the ground for any clues to these Thieves. I'll even pressure that walking egg for any info he can get. By the time we're done…" He smiles evilly as he stares at the city below. "…These 'heroes' will be our scapegoats."

It was a slow day for Sojiro. Not many customers coming in and the ones that do only order a cup of Jove. There was that one politician in the blue suit and gloved hand that had become a regular for him. Never seemed to miss a day he did.

But even so, it was quiet. Quiet enough for Sojiro's mind to wander back to the kid. He just couldn't figure out why he felt so familiar. And it had only been a few weeks, but he had already slotted into a spot he never knew was missing until now.

Hell, even started helping with serving coffee to the customers. It certainly surprised him how adept he was at making it as well.

Then, there were the glances he gave to the curry pot. Did he know how to make curry? These questions just seemed to follow him no matter where he went.

"I keep telling myself it's all in my head, but…" he mumbles to himself, cleaning a mug under the sink. Maybe it was his age getting to him? Either way, it didn't matter to him. So long as he stayed out of trouble and—

CRASH!

The sound of glass breaking rips through his mind as a pane of glass suddenly shatters before his eyes. As though it had always been there. Before magically reforming and vanishing. Followed quickly by a deluge of memories flooding his mind.

He gasps, dropping the mug into the sink as he grasps both sides to steady himself. He breathes heavily, small beads of sweat dripping down his face, before glancing at the nearby calendar. He notes the date before glancing around the empty café.

Taking a deep breath, he dries his hands on a rag before walking over to a nearby bar stool and sitting down. Taking his glasses off, he rubs his weary eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Hoo boy…"