Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies, and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
8/9
Hakuno felt her Magical Energy weave into the small Ether Shard, the concept of Regeneration imbued in the small piece of crystal was Hakuno's hope for the temporary Mystic Code.
Taking someone without a Persona deep into Mementos was far too risky to leave to chance in her mind, if it was towards the top of Mementos the time spent might not be a problem, but without a Thief Outfit, there was a chance that something might occur due to prolonged exposure to the Metaverse.
While everyone that has entered a Palace has awoken, herself included, it was typically at most an hour or two inside, the Metaverse, not the long expedition they will have to make while trying to solve any puzzle or defeat Sugimura's Shadow. An Ether Shard for regeneration, to keep Haru's concept stable, and an Iris for hope and to keep her spirits up.
The flower information was something that Haru herself informed her of. The Ofuda was far less complex than the Mystic Codes that she designed for the rest of the Thieves, the Ether Shard was ground to dust as used to encase the flower onto the paper, inside of Mementos it should keep her stable.
It might make her skin feel itchy though.
Being in Reality made it slightly more burdensome for her, but she did not want to stay in the gloomy Mementos if she didn't have to, something less complex should be fine to do in the Real World…Hopefully, it would mitigate the possible side effects of being in a Palace without a Persona.
Hakuno nodded to herself as she placed the materials back inside her small desk, while she kept most of her Mystic Code pieces in her Regalia she felt it would be best to keep some at home, if ever the chance Ann needed anything for one reason or another.
Spooky Ghost Burglars
Tricky&Kitty:Makoto did you manage to talk to Haru?
Makoto: Yes, she is… willing to join us tomorrow, MemeQueen can you edit the GPS on her phone?
MemeQueen: Piece of cake, I'll set somethin' up to keep them not too suspicious, set it to go round her normal routes.
Pirateboi: Make her watch the movies or school stuff? So they don't try an' call or txt?
Hakunon: Good idea
Catburglar: Should we add her to this chat?
Tricky&Kitty: Not yet.
Pirateboi: Oh come on, even without a Persona she divin into Mementos w/ us.
ART: We shouldn't have her delve too deep into our profession, while we will open her eyes to the Sin of Man that would not necessarily lead to her awakening her Rebellious Spirit. Although I would appreciate it if she did, that moment of raw beauty would be something to record.
Hakunon: Hopefully dealing with his Shadow will go simple.
Catburglar: That… is a flag if I've ever heard one.
Makoto: Hopefully not resistant to physical…
Tricky&Kitty: That's true, Sorry team.
Tricky&Kitty: Morgana's demanding everyone to go to bed.
MemeQueen: Our fearless leader… whipped by our cat.
Tricky&Kitty: Claws are sharp, the flesh is weak.
8/10
Hakuno stifled the strange wrongness that permeated the air as she entered Mementos, a flash of her Magic Circuits formed her 'uniform' the clothes that made her remember… Rin.
Akira and Futaba were already here, his eyes dully stared into the corner the Twins often hung around at, his body twitching slightly was the only sign that he was alive. Something about fusion… Futaba was sitting at one of the tables on her laptop, the only normal electronic that fully worked in this strange world.
She sat down beside her, giving a slight nod to the other girl who was focusing on her laptop, Hakuno took a moment to filter through the list of recovery items that she had stored inside, from cans of soda to the strange goop that Morgana ensured healed their spirits.
Such a strange place… the Palace of everyone's hearts. With her memory of her previous world informing her of the Three bases of a Human, the Mind, Body, and Soul, perhaps it was more correct in this world to add the Heart as another aspect?
The strange stone-like existence that rested inside of each of the Thieves… she could observe hers without thinking deeply but it being cold was different than the others being warm other than Ann and Ryuji whose cores were fully gone and seemingly fused within themselves.
Hakuno wonders, if deep down there rested a Treasure at the bottom, a Palace was around those with a distorted desire… and those with extreme distortions could split off and form their own Palace and a Treasure was always the heart and soul of a Palace…
"Did you send him the calling card?" Hakuno stretched slightly, perhaps they should do more stretching before jumping into battle… Futaba glanced at her a slight pink, strange tinge on her cheeks.
"Y-yeah, it's set up to send in about… twenty minutes, same with the GPS spoof for Haru's phone." Quickly glancing back at her laptop. Hakuno felt something was missing in that line of thought, but she felt Akira come back to this reality and the twins joining him made her drop it for the moment.
"Seeker!/Hakuno!" The Twins approached her, Justine at least tried to look bashful.
"We loved the idea you provided, the Brazen Bull works just like we expected!" Braz-
"The execution device?" Why did they pick up on the weirdest things…
"Indeed, the ability to make ashes was something we have been theorizing, your ability to dig deep into the recesses of the Soul made the idea a reality." Justine looked proud that she and her twin managed to make one of the more disturbing torture devices she happened to know.
Hakuno looked up at Akira, the confidant facade cracked as he sighed. "It… is as disturbing as you think Magus."
"It is a work of art!" Caroline pouted, her feet slamming against the ground, Hakuno knelt and patted the younger girl.
"Do remember, we are not just children Seeker." A flash of power, so similar to Persona and yet so different… almost familiar… Futaba fell out of her chair with a shout of surprise.
"Woah! Ok, so Twins are hella strong…" Futaba's mask lit up with green code as Hakuno shrugged slightly.
"Y-yeah! Show us some respect!" Caroline tried to look stern but…
Hakuno just couldn't take them seriously, something about them reminded her of them, Caroline's attitude was of Rin's while Justine was oh so similar to Rani. Perhaps this is what they were like when they were children…
Haru was surprised at the text she received from Makoto, even more so from the one that Futaba had sent her.
She didn't fully understand their plan but, they were helping and giving her a chance to get some freedom.
"Hey Senpai!" Sakamoto was easy to spot in a crowd, him and his boisterous voice that feeling of…
Of not needing to pretend.
"Good afternoon Sakamoto, Tamakaki." A pair of blonde juniors, she felt some of her worries slide off due to how relaxed the pair was, she guessed that they had been doing it for a long time it would be a walk in the park from them...
"Wow… haven't been called that in a while," Sakamoto responded a faint dusting of pink on his cheeks, "Just stick to Ryuji… or I guess Skull?"
Skull?
"Not in public knucklehead," Takamaki sighed, "It's… complicated but our expert will explain it in a moment." She guesses it's the rest of the team, but who is their expert?
Seemingly noticing her confusion Sakamoto lifted the most adorable cat, who began to meow… and hiss at the blonde.
So, very very cute that's Kurusu's cat, isn't it?
A soft sigh from behind, "Calm down you three, let's head down." Ah, Mako-Chan.
"Mako-chan?" Ah, she spoke out loud, she felt a slight blush come across her face.
"So… what do you need me to do?"
"Uh…" Sakamoto shrugged, "Just stick close 'k?" A flash of red, appalling red, she felt ready to vomit something deep within her screamed at her to run.
"Take a breath, easy now." She felt a hand on her back… unknown voice.
She quickly turned around to see a bandit-cat bobblehead. Idly she thought they should sell those in stores. "Bobblehead?"
The bobblehead seemed shocked, "Now I'm a bobblehead!?" He(?) fell to the ground in shock.
"Ha! Serves you right Monamona." Sakamoto(?) was wearing a unique leather black jacket that he had not been wearing before. A sharp glance at… Takamaki had her wearing the…
A bright red catsuit. A tail and face mask as well. She vaguely reminded her of an American villain… Seeing her look she sighed, "Yeah…I know."
"Wait… Mona-chan?" her eyes landed on the… cat? Not a cat?
"In the flesh!" He put his little stub onto his chest and smirked, "A bonafide Human!" She nodded slowly… perhaps she was drugged? The red tinge around everything was making her dizzy.
"Let's take you to Magus, she whipped something up for you." Makoto's outfit was… cool. It reminded her of a biker someone on the road, the chunk of metal on her face was strange though.
She wonders why they all have masks on them...
Hakuno's gaze landed on Haru as she entered, the brunette was looking around, seemingly mystified by the area, the twins had disappeared even to her sight once the group had come down.
She didn't want to do this… however to help her friend she believes this is right, not like they had any other ways to fix her situation.
Right?
"Are you ready?" Akira clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"This… place is nauseating." Haru's eyes were large as she spoke, "But your outfits are…certainly unique?" The dilapidated subway was an unnerving location.
Hakuno felt Avenger's bubbling flames remind her to stay on target, reaching into her pocket she handed the fluffy-haired girl the talisman, "Place this on your clothes, it should lessen the effects that this place might have on you."
Haru nodded as she pinned the Ofuda onto her teal dress, "Magus is our main magical girl, she can create all sorts of weird magical items." Hakuno rolled her eyes at Futaba's remark. She just can use more Magical Energy than the rest of them and can pull out the concepts that lay buried into the items.
Morgana jumped up, "How are we splittin' up, who's going to be the Leader of the Subgroup?" The group glanced at Akira who shrugged.
"Might be best to keep Mona as a car, Magus's firepower and Makoto's reliability… So, Panther, Skull, and Fox with me while Makoto, Mona, and Magus focus on protecting Haru?" Once more in the backlines… except this time with a slightly more dangerous role…
The pair of them watched as they disappeared, so deep into Mementos that their eyes barely could see."Do you think we should have warned them?"
A harsh glare from her sister quieted the more rambunctious twin, "Master already scolded us for that last time…"
Caroline sighed, "Yeah… but…"
"We have to believe in them, the Seeker and Inmate can overcome any adversaries…"
"Right…"
Wielding Magic and fighting monsters right out of myth and legend, a far-flung difference then the Phantom Thieves she had envisioned. The world was still nauseating to be in, a pressure onto her very body, but being inside Mona-chan and the charm Hakuno had given her seemed to be working well.
She felt a hand rest upon hers as Hakuno gave her a small smile before she passed her a pink-tinted mochi. She was slightly peckish…
"Keep your energy up, it's a long way down," Takamakai said, her outfit was certainly the most surprising out of the bunch, she hadn't even thought of using that much leather…
"Our outfits are made from our Rebellious Will." Futaba looked back from the window, "Our idea of a Rebel made true, or something like that, Panther has the best." Panther did fit her… attire.
"Ugh… Don't remind me you sci-fi gremlin."
"I think your outfit truly does reflect your soul," Kitagawa was… a strange one… his tail looked fluffy though… "A pure flame that does not hide anything about themself." She wasn't too sure that was a compliment… Seeing Takamaki's face made sure it was not.
Luckily it seemed the matter just dropped, "We arrived." A swirling rainbow-colored vortex was in front of them, she felt a twinge of fear, would this… truly work? With That Man away, she might be able to steer her Father away from destruction… with him being the top-ranked on the Phansite… hopefully, this will buy her enough time to save him from himself.
The door slowly unraveled itself, almost fleeing as Haru touched it, the Shadows in the main tunnels fled from them for the most part, only the ones inside the Pseudo-Palace actively attacked them.
They did manage to have Akira recruit Balam, he had a lot of Personas now… he only carried a small handful at any time, including a good handful of the demons from Goetia. She could feel Avenger simmer at that but she chose to ignore it.
Avenger didn't like a lot of things…
The main group went inside leaving the three girls to sit in the front seat Makoto stood behind the wheel of the Monamobile tapping the wheel as Hakuno sat beside the fluffy-haired girl. "So… this is how you guys do it?" Hakuno nodded at her question.
"Usually it is a bit less complicated… this is the first Pseudo-Palace we have discovered," Makoto said as she turned off Mona's headlights to ensure the Shadows couldn't find them as easily.
"Yeah! I never even knew these things could happen… Exploring Mementos for the first time is always a chore, you ok?" Morgana's voice echoed from the speakers as Haru giggled.
"I am… You are a brave kitty aren't you?" Haru patted the dashboard as Morgana purred slightly.
"Not a cat…" Barely a whisper above his purring was heard.
"Those things you summon… You call yours Avenger?"
"Yes, Avenger is… different then the others…" How could she explain… all she could do was shrug."Avenger is my Persona and something else," Hakuno herself doesn't look for Vengeance, but the most famous Avenger had been called during the creation of her pact.
Something tickles the back of Hakuno's mind… something seemed off about that thought…
But what could it be?
Akira felt his knife sink into another Lilim as it dissolved into a black mist, "A nightclub with almost solely Lilim and Succubi is very by the books."
"That Incubus got crushed fast though!" Oracle helpfully pointed out, that this place was mostly a lair of demons meaning that his Mithra was getting a good workout, bless attacks demolished most of the Shadows.
Taking a sip of one of the many sodas he had collected, "How close are we?"
Akira heard a strange sound from the floor above…
"Just one more floor seems smaller than this floor. Maybe three rooms, probably only two. Only a two-floor night Palace? Noob." Not that she had to climb any stairs, the gremlin floated in her invisible Persona, and barely a heat haze from the exhaust could be seen.
Akira's third eye flashed as they climbed the small staircase, strange weird half stairs… "Witches stairs… interesting." Yusuke muttered as they climbed, "Ah, an urban myth that witches could not climb this type of stairs. When in reality they are made as they are for thinner staircases."
"You know the strangest things Fox…" Ryuji shrugged as they reached the top, a small handful of doors with what appeared to be a larger door at the end, an overly large gold lock and chain covered the door.
"Should we check out the other doors?"
"Nah, a few weak Shadows, maybe there is some loot but… I'm getting a bad feeling we should wrap this up."
Loot was good…
But safety first, can't make the Mom of the group worry.
"Alright, give me a moment and I'll break through this lock with no problem" How hard could it be?
His wheels screeched dodging another ball of webbing as he tossed a ball at random behind him as the creature shrieked.
He had gone way too far down, once Mister and his friends opened up another layer he had wanted to explore… but he got ahead of them, he hadn't expected to meet it. He didn't even know it existed!
But he had felt it, and now it was climbing up, he could barely sense Mister and his friends, his buggie speeding up as he passed their floor, and he could hear the creature stop following him.
…
A warping of energy, as he felt it leave the floor, caused him to slow down.
Perhaps he shouldn't have driven near the corridor that they were in.
The lock broke with only taking two of his picks with it, a lot better than when he first started, he grumbled slightly and decided to ask Morgana to help make a few more tomorrow night.
"Oh? Visitors?" Inside the overly large room was an equally overly large bed, the half-naked form of Sugimura raised as did a Cognitive Haru, who looked barely humanoid.
Some sort of doll?
His face sneered as he looked down upon them.
"How dare you intrude upon my time with my toy…"
"Gross, preying on a sweet girl is so pathetic." Ann's words held a venom that reminded him of Kamoshida.
His eyes landed on Ann, "I see you brought me a present. I'll accept this offering, now begone from my sight." He waved his hand.
Akira rolled his eyes, incredibly cliche…
"As if scumbag!" Akira could feel the lightning come off Ryuji, "Come on let's go!"
The Shadow rolled his eyes, "Very well… if you don't want to obey… then pay with your lives."
Black gunk covered both him and the Cognitive Haru before erupting, a woman with an overly large snake took form next to a pale white…
"Why does he have a penis head!?"
Hakuno felt the ground shake slightly. A flicker of familiarity came over her, but she didn't know why.
"Hmm? Mona, do you feel anything?"
"Uh… my Navi powers are limited as a car… but I sense a Shadow, maybe we should have them come back?" Avenger's flames grew in intensity inside of her, a warning?
An overly loud screech erupted from the origin of the Pseudo-Palace, one so full of anger and regret. "Into the nightclub now!"
Hakuno grabbed Haru as Makoto jumped out, a puff of smoke as Morgana transformed and the four bolted inside.
Author's Note: Well… honestly wanted to do more of the combat, but will be a heavy combat next chapter!
Not much to say other than see ya'll next time.