Chapter 8: Fall of the Marie Kingdom!
"I've just come back from checking on our forces. The Rebel Crops are filling out." Hifumi informs the group with a grin.
"Are you excited for the big showdown yet?" Ann asks Erina with a wide grin. One that Erina was more than happy to return.
"Yes. I have been waiting for this for a long time." Erina replies. "We're finally nearing the numbers we need. Marie had better be ready for what comes next!"
"The big Showdown, eh? It certainly is shaping up to be that way." Toshiro remarks while Chihaya is looking over her cards with narrow eyes. Glancing up at Toshiro.
"Is anyone else concerned that she hasn't shown up since our last fight with her?" Mishima asks.
"Somehow, I don't think she can." Ryuji replies with a grin. "Did you see what she looked like? She can't even leave her tank without being in pain. And we have our persona for that."
"Don't get overconfident. A cornered fox is more dangerous than a tiger." Iwai comments.
"Not only that, she has an idea of where we will be entering her castle from." Makoto agrees. "No doubt she will have all of her forces there waiting for us."
"A frontal assault on a castle will always end in failure. Especially as one heavily fortified as Marie's." Yoshida remarks. "Thankfully, we have devised a strategy for breaking through."
"We call it Operation: La Revolution." Hifumi remarks with a grin, although Erina gives a slight pout.
"Aww…. I thought we were going with 'Sneaky, Sneaky, Bang, Bang!'…"
"Yeah…. That's a bad name." Shinya remarks, pulling his hat over his face.
"Yep. 0/10." Futaba replies, nodding her head. "Anyway, what's it about?" Toshiro walks over to Yoshida and Hifumi as they bring out the map, tapping the castle.
"Out first target is not the castle itself. But the plaza before it." Toshiro tells them. "Once it has been secured, we can gain access to the castle itself. Once secured, the Rebel Crops will begin a full assault on the castle while the Phantom Thieves, Erina and I move in to eliminate Marie herself."
"We have already narrowed down the shortest routs we can take. Once inside, it will be all over for Marie." Hifumi replies.
"But what about the Rebels? Won't they be in a bad spot?" Akechi asks with a hand on his chin. "Shouldn't Erina at least stay with them?"
"Actually, they requested that Erina accompany us along with Toshiro in our push towards Marie." Yoshida reveals. "They have more bravery than their small size would care to admit."
"Well, no point in trying to argue about it now." Sae remarks. "If they want Erina to be with us, then we won't deny them."
"Speaking of them, it would appear they are waiting for you to give a speech, Erina." Yusuke points out the window, showing a large crowd of hat people armed with weapons and canons.
"Looks like it." Erina replies, taking a breath. "I'll head out and greet them. Join us when you're ready." Erina tells the Thieves as she heads outside, Toshiro right behind her. But while everyone got ready to follow, Ren noticed Chihaya reading her cards with a narrow gaze.
"Chihaya? What's wrong?" He asks, drawing her attention.
"I just did a reading to see what lies beyond us. But… What I got is concerning." She replies, motioning to the three cards on the table. The first one was the Chariot, followed by the Wheel of Fortune and ends with the Moon.
"And…what does this meaning mean?" Ren asks although a part of him felt it already knew the answer.
"It means… Our journey is not over after Marie. Or rather…" She glances back outside to Toshiro. "His journey is not yet over…" That gave Ren a moment of pause, following her gaze to Toshiro. If her cards were right, and they always were, then what was in store for them?
Pushing those thoughts out of his mind for now, Ren and Chihaya exit the Café and join the others as more Rebels fill in around them.
"This is amazing!" Violet comments as more Rebels join. "It's almost like the entire city is here!"
"They have been waiting for this moment for a long time. It's no surprise that they are all here." Kawakami, aka Teach, replies to her with a grin.
"The fall of tyrants is always brought about by the coming together of the people." Yoshida, aka Sensei, remarks. "It is a proven fact through history."
"Everything alright, Toshiro? You have been very quiet the moment we stepped outside." Athena asks, noting the silence from him.
"Nervous? Me? Who do you think your talking about!" Toshiro attempts to reflect with a smile, only for it to quickly fall. "None of you bought that for even a second… right?" The silent shaking of heads was his answer as Toshiro let out a sigh. "I will admit…I am feeling rather anxious about this."
"Nothing can be done about that. We're all human, after all." Gecko remarks.
"Unless your thinking of going back to us not fightin' again." Skull asks with hands in his pockets, with Toshiro shaking his head.
"Far from it. At this point I completely agree we need to fight back. But as Gecko has said, I am feeling the stress." Toshiro replies.
"There's no need for you to be stressed out." Spring comments. "You've got an entire Rebel army behind you, and you have us, the Phantom Thieves, at your side as well."
"If anything, Marie is the one who should be worried." Outlaw remarks, dipping his hat. Toshiro looks around, reminding himself how much support he has as he takes a calming breath.
"I admit, that was reassuring. Thanks." Toshiro replies, looking much more calmer than he initially was.
"Captain! Everything is ready!" One of the Rebels calls out to Erina.
"This is it, Erina. Ready to give us one last speech?" Joker asks, leaning back on his feet. Erina nods, taking her own calming breath as she walks to the front. Looking at all the Rebels waiting for her command. Opening her eye, she thrusts her left hand out as she speaks.
"Everyone! We now march to our final battel! One this day, each of us will stand up to oppression and exploitation! We fight so we can regain our freedom! We fight for our very lives! You are with me just as I am with you! Please, lend me your strength, and we will all be freed!"
With her speech ended, the Rebels erupt in a joyous roar while the Thieves smirk in trepidation. The time has come for Marie to face the guillotine.
"Lady Marie! The Rebels are advancing on the main plaza!" Marie grits her teeth in anger at the report. Ever since her stockpile of gunpowder was blown up, she had lost contact with all of her bases outside the castle. Ever her armoury had stopped responding to her! And now, she had the answer as to why.
"Seal the castle gate! I don't want any of those Rebel Scum entering my castle!" She shouts in anger. Her eyes locked on the billowing smoke clouds rising from the city. Even here, as the sun turned to dusk, fires raging around the city turned the sky a dark, fiery orange.
"But my Lady! What about our brothers in the plaza!?"
"So long as my flag stands, they will not fall. And besides…" She grins darkly, looking down at the plaza. "I have a little surprise waiting for them when they attack. One they will not be expecting…"
It didn't matter what tricks they had. At the end of the day, SHE will win. No matter what.
Chaos. That's all that could be described at the central plaza around Marie's statue. All around it, Marie's Legionnaires stood their ground against the Rebel Army. Even though they were vastly outnumbered, they were sure that they would stand tall.
Until the Phantom Thieves entered the fray.
Moving with speed not seen before, the Thieves unleashed payback on the Legionnaires in the very same place they were once Dominated in. It was cathartic for them, letting out their anger in this very same spot.
As for the confidants who didn't have a Persona, they stood tall with the Rebels on the rooftops. Firing down on the Legionnaires from above, giving the Thieves fighting on the ground support.
While on a house overlooking the plaza, Toshiro, Sensei, Shadow and Oracle watched as the fighting turned in their favour.
"Their forces are scattering. Our chance is approaching." Toshiro remarks, noting the Legionaries' lines in disarray.
"Indeed. It is time we brought that statue down." Sensei agrees, giving the statue of Marie a glare.
"Hold it! I've got new contacts coming from the castle!" Shadow suddenly says in alarm, looking through her sniper scope. "That is… We've got trouble!" Before either of them could ask, rumbling from the castle heralded the arrival of three of Marie's tanks. Each one was driven by a brute, loaded with troopers and drummers.
"This is not good. Those tanks will tear out lines to shreds." Toshiro says through gritted teeth.
"Then it's a good thing Fox came through." Oracle replies with a smirk, bringing her screens up as Al Azif floats to an empty spot near one of the tanks. "It's time for some payback! Show them what you can do, Edelweiss!" Pressing a button on her screen, Al Azif blasts the ground with a green beam, blinding the nearby Legionnaires for a moment. While the Phantom Thieves smile in recognition, a low, familiar rumble erupts from the green sphere on the ground.
Before the Edelweiss, fully restored to her full glory of red and black and blue lights, rolls out from the orb and takes aim at the first tank. The Phantom Thief emblem is proudly displayed atop the turret once more. Not even giving them a chance to move, the tank fires her main guns and obliterates the tank in a single salvo.
The remaining two tanks switch targets, rushing towards the Edelweiss as the troopers on top of their tanks fire. Unfortunately for them, the rounds ping off harmlessly as the Edelweiss let loose a barrage of rockets from the pods.
One of the tanks manages to swerve out of the way, avoiding the missiles as they slam into a few unlucky brutes. Unfortunately, the second tank was not, as it was destroyed in a flurry of explosions. Seeing just what they were up against, the last tank rams right at the Edelweiss, slamming into its side as the Legionnaires inside it rush over the top of it. Aiming to take control.
Unfortunately for them, they didn't count on Devil, King and Fortune giving cover for the tank, picking off the Legionnaires with supporting fire. While Toshiro and Sensei look on in awe.
"Impressive." Sensei remarks. "And now that the threat is dealt with, it is time for the coup-de-grace! Toshiro-kun."
"Yes, Sensei. Artillery, advance!" Toshiro calls out as several hat people roll out cannons towards the statue. While on a roof on top of the gate, Joker and Erina watch on as a lone brute stands guard of the statue.
"I am so envious of you guys right now. That tank is amazing!" Erina remarks, looking as Edelweiss gave covering fire to some Rebels.
"I don't remember it being this sentient before. But I won't complain." Joker comments, glancing at the brute before tightening his glove. "Ready to end this?"
"More than ever." Erina replies as the two leaps to the ground before rushing right at the brute. "Your in our way!" She shouts, slamming her spear at the brute who guards with one of the grenades in his hands. Only for Joker to fire his grapple at the brute neck as he spins around, firing his gun right into its chest.
Staggering backwards, the brute was unprepared as Erina fired her own gun at its face, blinding it more as it stumbled back into the base of the statue.
"Fire!" Toshiro shouts, and the cannons roar. Raining down cannonballs on the statue as it crumbles to pieces. And the flag held in its hand dissolves, stripping the Legionnaires of their power. Erina uses the blinded brute as a stepping stone to leap onto the base and, changing her spear into a flag, rams it into the statue base.
The golden aura radiating out from the flag rushes through the city streets, wiping out all of Marie's guards while a dark aura stops it form entering the castle. But for those outside, it didn't matter. They had won!
"Rebels! In the name of freedom, the time for revolution has come!" Erina shouts from atop the statue base, with a roar of acceptance ringing out around them. With a charge, the Rebels thunder up the stairs towards Marie's castle. Throwing themselves at the closed gates. While the Thieves regroup in a narrow alleyway leading to a secret entrance into Marie's castle.
"All right, time for the sneaky part of the plan." Mona quips as the team heads down the alleyway.
"Man, that felt good! Beating up those shitty Legionnaires." Skull remarks, slamming his hands together.
"I thought we were in trouble when those tanks showed up. Good thing Fox finished repairing the Edelweiss, huh?" Spring comments, looking at the artist himself.
"Yep. Although I have to say…" Oracle suddenly interjects. "When did the Edelweiss become that sentient? She was doing actions without my input." It was a valid question. But while they wanted to find an answer, now was not the time as Joker changed the clip in his gun.
"We can figure that out later. For now… It's Showtime."
"What the hell is going on!? How the hell did they take over the plaza!?" Marie was beyond furious. Watching from her throne room, she watched as her army was not only stomped like flies but even the three tanks she sent to assist had been effortlessly taken out. And was that the tank she was turning into her new Honeymoon car as well that did the deed?!
"Lady Marie! The Rebels are attempting to break through the main gate!"
"Yes, I can SEE that!" Marie shouts in annoyance at the guard for bringing the obvious news. "Now get down there and—!"
"Lady Marie! Intruders have been spotted in the castle entrance!" Another Legionnaire rushes in with more news, increasing her anger.
"WHAT!? How the hell did they get in!?" Marie stomps a foot in her car, ignoring the pain coursing through her leg. "I can't take this anymore!" She suddenly grabs a pistol from inside her car and shoots both of the Legionnaires in the head, venting her anger. "So… These rats want to fight me head-on, do they? Well, let them come! I will deal with them myself!"
"Is anyone else concerned that we are walking down a corridor with a large group?" Devil asks, glancing around. "Or that said corridor is covered in balloons, streamers and confetti on the ground?"
"Best you just ignore it." Panther replies. "I know I am. I'm half tempted to burn this corridor to the ground."
"Not while were are here, Panther." Noir replies, glancing at yet ANOTHER sign with 'Welcome to our Wedding' written on it. "But maybe once we leave."
"You would have thought that a castle that looked big on the outside would have large rooms on the inside." Skull comments, popping a balloon with his gun.
"If there was anything I wished I remembered while under Marie's control, it would be the layout of this place." Queen admits with a shake of her head. As they continue on, they find themselves at a grate stair case with yet ANOTHER welcome sign. And a table filled with either flyers or invites. Spring looked around with a pensive look on her face.
"What's wrong, Spring?" Outlaw asks, patting her shoulder.
"It's nothing. Just… Doesn't this place look like a wedding venue?" Spring asks, indicating everything around them.
"I assumed the giant signs would have given that away." Crow comments, shaking his head. "Although, it is rather extreme with how far she has gone in decorating this place."
"And we know this place isn't a Palace." Mona quips. "Miss Lavenza and Master Igor told us that."
"But even so, that leaves too many questions unanswered." Joker comments. "Such as who Marie really is."
"I think I may have found a clue." Boss suddenly calls out, standing next to an open door. "I've found a projector in here. Perhaps it could tell us something."
"A projector?" Teach asks while shaking her head as the team move into the room. "What is something like that doing in here?" No one could blame here for sitting on a table that was indeed a projector one would see in school. Aimed right at a white board.
"It is rather out of place for a wedding venue as well. What could be its purpose?" Fox asks as Oracle walks up to it. Before she could even touch it, the room darkens as the projector turns on.
"I didn't touch it!" Oracle yelps as a scene starts to play. Showing Toshiro bowing to a woman wearing a pink shirt and skirt while sitting on a pink couch. But what was noticeable about this long brown haired woman was the silver engagement ring on her left hand.
"Toshiro, why must you keep disappointing me?" The haughty woman asks the bowing Toshiro, with an uncanny familiar voice to Marie. "I don't understand how you can't play along. Are you toying with me or something?"
Toshiro, on the screen, remains quiet, unable to answer her question as she gives a huff.
"You couldn't have come across more awkward at the engagement party. Our relationship is one that will build great things someday soon. Letting your feelings interfere with that is simply childish. What if your bungling led some sleazy journalist to run a piece on us? There's already gossip. And how long will you continue to be under that No-Good-Tora's tutelage?"
That hit a hard spot with the Thieves as Sensei grips his arms slightly.
"I'm…I'm sorry." Toshiro says on the screen, no argument on his lips.
"Of course you are. Begging for forgiveness is the one thing you're any good at." The woman says with an uncaring voice. "Listen for once. You are my sorry excuse for a puppet. When a puppet can't do what it's supposed to do, you can imagine how I handle it." At that, the video ends as the lights turn back on.
"Who the hell was that?" Guernica asks as all eyes turn to Toshiro, with his head in his hand.
"That's right… Marie…Anto…Ngh!" He grabs his head in pain, squeezing his eyes shut as Medic moves to his side.
"Hey! Stay with us." Medic says, taking out a bottle of headache tablets and giving them to him.
"T—Thank you." Toshiro replies, taking some to ease his sore head.
"Did you remember something?" Mona asks, waiting for Toshiro to swallow the pills.
"I do… Marie's real name… is Marie Anto. And there is no mistake that she is my fiancée in the real world…" Several of the team gasp while others fold their arms as Toshiro continues. "Marie is the daughter of a CEO of a major conglomerate. And our marriage was arranged by my… father? Yes… My father…"
"A father arranging a forced marriage… I can sympathise with that…" Noir comments as Fox hugs her close.
"Yes… I can certainly say I'm no fan of it myself." Toshiro admits. "My father is a politician as well. He's long been focused on marriage as a political career-booster for me. Marie's family needed our power, and my father needed their financial backing. It all boils down to a marriage of convenience so our families get what they wanted."
"Well, we certainly get the situation." Panther comments. "But are you really okay with this? You already said you aren't a fan of it."
"Whatever I wanted didn't matter. If I raised a fuss, it would've tanked the marriage talk. And who knows what Marie's family would have done in retaliation if I happened to harm their reputation. So considering that fact, I thought I should just grin and bear it…" Toshiro ends, looking at the empty screen, hands clenched. "But that may have been a mistake, though. In hindsight, that approach may have only worsened her frustrations with me."
"But why are you letting her trample all over you? Shouldn't you be standing side by side as equals?" Skull asks, hands in pockets. Toshiro remains silent, unable to come up with an answer.
"I think I understand." Noir says, drawing everyone's gaze. "Your fathers' expectations of you and the pressure you're under. You start telling yourself, 'If I put up with it now, it'll be okay later.'"
"Noir…" Queen says sadly as Fox tightens his grip on her.
"But, I know you will only regret it later. That's how it was for me." Noir's words echo in Toshiro's mind, letting them sink in as the pall that fell over him started to vanish. Allowing a small smile to form on his face.
"Yes. You are right. Thank you, Noir." Toshiro tells her, turning his gaze back to everyone. "Don't worry about me. I'm actually finding myself handling the stress a bit better after winding up here."
"I suppose some good things have happened after all." Fortune remarks with a smile.
"Although your legs are still trembling." King points out to the audible wobbling of Toshiro's legs. "Never knew they had that audible wobble, though."
"It's probably a cognition effect." Crow tells him, shaking his head. "Although it IS rather comedic." He admits with Violet doing her best to stifle a chuckle.
"There's no guards outside. We're free to move." Boss informs the Thieves as they quickly break from the room, rushing up the stairs before finding themselves in a large room full of cakes, pastries and other confectioneries.
"It would seem we have found the banquet hall." Sensei remarks. "Although… there are far too many sweets for my liking."
"Panther, keep your craving in check." Spring tells her, noting the glint in Panthers' eyes before she vigorously shakes her head.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!"
"Just when you thought her obsession with this wedding couldn't get any worse, we find this room." Shadow comments, shaking her head.
"After seeing how far she is willing to go, perhaps this is just her showing off her power." Gecko comments with a frown.
"After seeing how much pride she has, I wouldn't put it past her." Joker comments, looking around in disgust. "A normal wedding would be 'beneath' her, apparently."
"And it would certainly explain why she decided to make an entire kingdom her venue for a wedding." Queen adds, shaking her head. "This is just ridiculous."
"Taking over an entire nation just so she can hold a wedding no one wants to be a part of? Man, that really pisses me off." Guernica admits, smashing her hands together.
"My fiancée is extremely obsessed with gaining political power." Toshiro says, looking around with anger in his eyes. "I suppose that's why she agreed to our arrangement. She wants my title. Nothing more."
"So being filthy rich isn't good enough for her, huh? She wants power, too?" Guernica comments, hands tight.
"Ummm, sorry to interrupt, be we got trouble coming our way!" Oracle suddenly shouts, pointing to a group of Legionnaires rushing into the room from around the cake. Something that Teach did not take kindly too.
"Noir, give me a hand." She says, aiming her RPG at the cake. Noir, picking up on Teach's move, aims her grenade launcher at the cake and launches a grenade. With Teach firing a rocket at the same time. The two explosives detonate, destroying the cake yet covering all of the Legionnaires in icing.
With them standing on the spot, legs shaking, Joker recognises the cake having the same effect that the paint in The Streets had. With a grin, he casts Maeiha on them, nocking all of them down in one go. Boss follows up with a blast of Kouha on top of them, taking them out in one go.
"Nice one, Boss." Joker says with a proud grin as Boss chuckles to himself. Pushing his hat up.
"Can't have you kids have all the fun, can I?" He replies, patting Joker on the shoulder as he closes his book. Joker lets out a chuckle of his own before turning back to the others.
"Let's keep moving! We should be over halfway there now!" Joker calls to the others as they press on, moving through yet another hallway filled with ballons. Only this time, the ballons had pictures on them. But there was something…strange about them.
"Has anyone noticed how… off these pictures look?" Violet asks, pointing to said pictures. Each one was of Marie holding onto Toshiro's left arm. But while her face was clear as day, Toshiro's was non even there.
"Toshiro's face is… Missing?" Athena asks, hand on chin.
"A grinning bride with a faceless groom… this is more appropriate for a horror film than a wedding celebration." Fox comments, hand on chin.
"But hold up. Doesn't Marie want to marry you? Why the hell is your face blank then?" Devil asks, hand on hip.
"As I said before, Marie is only interested in me for my political power. Since my face has nothing to do with that, it's no surprise that she can't even remember it." Toshiro remarks, not even phased at the pictures.
"Sure, but doesn't it shock you that she's so blatant with it?" Oracle asks.
"Maire is so selfish that she turned an entire city into her venue. I wouldn't be surprised if she only remembered her own face." Spring comments with a frown.
"Marie is clearly not a person of sound mind. That's why it is our job to right her wrongs!" Erina remarks, slamming her spear onto the red carpet.
"Let's keep going. This is only a gut feeling, but I feel like we are getting close to the Throne Room." Queen comments as she and Joker take the lead. It wasn't surprising they had a feeling where to go. They were under her spell the longest. But what they found next down this hall was not something they expected to find.
"What the heck's that!?" Mona shouts as the team finds a giant stuffed white teddy bear. Chained to the wall with a crown on its head wearing a suit like Toshiro. But it was beaten and torn, fluff seeping out of it like steam.
"Is this Marie's teddy bear?" King asks while shaking his head. "Who would have thought, huh?"
"I believe it is more than that." Sensei remarks, glaring at the stuffed toy. "I believe this is how she sees Toshiro-kun."
I'm…
"Did anyone hear that?" Fortune asks.
"Hear what?" Medic asks, turning to her.
"I think I heard something…"
"C'mon, cut it out, Fortune…" Queen remarks, gluing herself to Joker. "Seriously, it is not funny."
I'm…a…
"Eeeeek!" Queen screams, clinging onto Joker as all eyes turn to the giant stuffed bear. Well, all but one, anyway.
"Queen… Your spikes…" Joker says through gritted teeth, feeling the spikes on Makoto's shoulders and knees digging into him. Luckily, Queen releases her grip on him as she jumps back a bit, quickly apologising to him.
I'm…a…pathetic puppet… Lady Marie…give me my orders… I can't make my own decisions… I don't want to think about anything…I live to obey your orders…I promise I won't defy you…
"Something tells me she just told us how she really sees you, Toshiro." Panther remarks, turning to him while Toshiro looks on with a stunned look.
Please let me serve you…Lady Marie…Please let me serve you… It's so much easier to go with the flow…Why make things harder for yourself? Right? *sigh*
"Is it done?" Outlaw asks as the bear goes silent.
"Looks like it." Athena remarks. "And while it hasn't physically attacked us, it would seem it managed to do some mental damage to Toshiro." Her words draw all eyes to Toshiro, who stood looking at the stuffed bear with an unreadable expression.
"Toshiro?" Erina asks, walking up and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" Instead of answering, Toshiro just laughs. Laughs at the bear as Erina takes a few steps back. "I think the bear broke him!"
"Don't… Don't get me wrong." Toshiro remarks, catching his breath. "I'm merely laughing because that bear forced me to take a good, long, hard look at myself. Once you realise how you come across, there's nothing left but to change." His face hardens as he grips his hands at his side. "Now, I know I have no intention of taking this lying down anymore. When we find Marie, I'm going to make that monster eat her words!"
"And we have your back, Toshiro." Joker replies, nodding his head. "It's time to bring this tyranny to an end. Getting away with whatever she wants, treating others like her own plaything, ruining their futures…" Joker starts to shake as his face is caked in shadows.
"This woman is sick. Her obsession with controlling and humiliating people…" Queen adds, shaking with the same intensity as her own face is covered in shadows. Before, both she and Joker glare at the bear with pure white eyes and upper faces clocked in darkness, telling at the same time.
"She's done getting away with it!"
"Yikes! Queen and Joker are going to riot!" Oracle yelps, taking a step back.
"And they aren't the only ones." Guernica remarks, clearly holding her anger back. "How close are we to the Throne Room?"
"It shouldn't be far." Joker replies as the two storm forward with Toshiro behind them. Followed closely by the rest of the Thieves. After having to navigate another banquet hall filled with tables lined with food, the team arrived at a large room leading to a giant door and balcony with two stained glassed windows on either side.
And sitting in her tank car was Marie. Still covered in magical wounds but now wearing a clean dress. And a very pissed-off look.
"So, you've made it all the way here, you brats? I should have hired better guards." She says in annoyance as the team spreads out. "This is how you repay the gratitude you received when you were fortunate to become my subjects? That sort of thing usually has you in tears of joy and gratitude!"
"Like any of us asked to be your slaves!" Joker shouts back in anger as he and the other Thieves growl in anger.
"Potato, potato. But that is all water under the bridge now that you've brought back my fiancé to me. In fact, I'll even let you off the hook… Just be sure he doesn't slink away again."
"As if we would trust the words coming from your mouth." Crow shouts, shaking his head.
"We're bringing an end to your reign, whether you like it or not." Queen says with a low growl. "And you will receive the punishment that you rightly deserve."
"Listen here, you bottom-feeding swine! If there is any punishing to be done, I'm the one who does it around here! This is why I can't stand the poor… Show them the smallest mercy and they bite the hand that feeds them! You lowlifes should be falling over yourselves, thanking me for the opportunity to serve someone like myself!"
"I feel very attacked right now…." Noir comments with a frown, Guernica giving her a pat on the back.
"For the record, you are still in my god books." She says with a whisper before turning her anger back to Marie.
"Toshiro, what are you doing with this filth!? Hurry the hell up and get over here! Idiot!" Toshiro stares at her, not moving an inch as Marie scoffs. "You aren't thinking of saying 'no' to me, are you? Are you?" She asks with a knowing smirk, thinking she will still win. But what happened next shattered her dream.
"I am through with you!" Toshiro shouts, wiping the grin off her face as it is replaced by befuddlement before morphing into furious anger.
"WHAAAT!? Are you serious right now!? Where did you get the idea that you have the right to defy me!? You are just a puppet!? How are you even able to do this!?"
"Because he is not a puppet, you bitch!" Guernica shouts, moving forward and earning Marie's ire. "He is his own person, free to choose his own path! And he certainly isn't some stuffed-up bare for a glorified rich bitch to pawn over like some toy!"
"What did you say, you street rat!?" Marie shouts back, her anger reaching a fever pitch.
"That's right. I am a street rat! Grew up on those very streets with nothing but a will to live and a dream to bring to life! While people like you sit in your ivory towers thinking that you can do whatever the hell you want! Well, you know what? I'm sick of it!" Guernica stomps a foot down. "I've been having my own little revolution with street art, and its time I brought that here!"
"Your empire is going to come on down, and I'll paint all over its ruins!"
You certainly took your time.
A pulse rips through Guernica's mind as she tumbles in place, gasping at the sudden spike, while Joker and the others gasp in shock.
You know the law of the streets, the joy our art can bring.
But now you aim for new heights, regardless of the consequences.
Will you continue this path of strife to spread your dream to others?
"You're me, right? You already know the answer." Guernica replies, glaring at Marie with yellow eyes before turning to normal. Sending a tremble down Marie's spine.
You are right. I already do.
I am thou…thou art I.
Let those who decry our work the truth it can bring
And bring your sister's dream to a reality!
The flames of rebellion flow over Guernica's face, taking the form of her old gas mask from before. Except this time, the lower half was missing, exposing her noes and mouth. The eye protectors were smaller, covering only her eyes and leaving the top of her head visible. The mask itself was a calm silver, and the lens a spectrum of colours while her eyes could be just seen behind them. Grasping the mask with both hands, Guernica rips it off without hesitation, letting the flames of rebellion flow over her as Marie watches in shock and the Thieves with pride.
Behind Guernica, floating with a blue aura, was a person dressed in a white suit similar to Guernica's but covered in pain stains and holding numerous spray cans, paint brushes and rollers. Gloves coated in black and white paint cover their hands, while a spray can is held in each. A mouse tail extends from the back as a nother larger spray can is carried on their back while a hood covers their head. Their face is covered by a gas mask, hiding their identity.
As for Guernica herself, she was wearing what could be described as a combination of Joker's coat with a Mousecot hood while also having Skull's trousers and Panther's gloves. Noir's shirt was underneath, while Queen's spikes protected her shoulders, elbows and knees, Fox's boots protected her legs. Mona's belt rings around her waist while neon lines similar to Oracle's run along her coat arms. While the entirety of her clothing was black, paint coated the outside as though she had just been painting.
And in her hands were a pair of nun-chucks. Gecko couldn't help but smirk at Guernica's new look. She was like a perfect fusion of the eight original Thieves.
"Another one!? What are you brats doing!?" Marie shouts, angered at the appearance of another one of these spectral people, while Guernica quietly laughs to herself.
"So, this is what you guys have, huh? Talk about freeing." She quips to the others, giving them a smirk. "What's say we end this now, huh!?"
"We shall." Joker replies as he and the other Persona users walk up beside her. "You want to know what this is, Marie? Well… We'll be happy to tell you!"
"PERSONA!"
As one, they all summon their other selves in a wall of flames, each Persona emerging from it as though it was but mist. And each one glared hatefully at Marie. Raoul and Gorokichi cracked their knuckles, and Agnes roared in anger. Célestine and Persephone stare at Marie with pure anger while William, Lucy and Blondie each aim their guns at her, already charging magic in their barrels. Chiyome and Ella, normally the quiet ones, both glared at Marie with looks that could kill her while Al Azif blinked and flashed angrily.
While Hereward, Themis and Diego never saw their other selves get mind-controlled, they still glared with a wave of anger easily matched by the others. While Merlin stood on his cloud, impassive and unimpressed at their foe. Before all of them launched a simultaneous attack on Marie, engulfing her in magic and tearing up her new gown into an even worse state than her old one.
As for everyone else without a Persona, they all stood back. This was a fight that they could not help, but they were staying here to watch. As for Marie, her anger reached a point she could no longer contain.
"That's it! Do you brats want a fight?! I'll give you one! And I will make it as slow and painful as possible! I hope you are ready!" Marie screams as her tank comes to life, rolling forward towards them. "I will make every last on of you submit to me!" She throws several bouquets at them. But Joker and Queen knew what was coming.
"Dodge!" The two cry as they dive for cover, everyone else quickly following them as the bouquets explode. One of them lands next to Spring, who hits it right back at Marie, exploding in her face.
"How do you like that!?" Spring shouts in glee as Marie rubs the soot off her face.
"You little bitch! Get over here!" Taking out a chained neck collar, she throws it at Spring and drags her towards her. "This is the end of you!" She shouts, revving the engine on her tank.
"Like hell, you will!" Guernica shouts as her persona forms behind her. "Banksy! Triple Down!" Despite having spray cans in his hands, Guernica's persona manages to land the attack right into Marie's side, distracting her and allowing Spring the chance to escape. Just as she hits her foot on the accelerator and sends her tanks crashing into the wall.
"Nice one, Guernica!" Skull shouts, sending a blast of lightning at Marie and shocking her.
"You brats are pissing me off!" Marie shouts, drawing her gun from her tank and aiming it at the non-combatants. "I think I'll kill you first!" She shouts, aiming right at Teach.
"No!" Outlaw shouts, jumping in front as Marie takes the shout. But the round bounces off him harmlessly. Falling to the floor with a tiny clink. Outlaw looks at the bullet, blinking for a moment before coming to a sudden realisation. "Oh yeah…I block gun attacks…" He says quietly before putting on the biggest smirk he could possibly do.
"What the!? Why are you not dead?!" Marie shouts, firing again only for the round to ping off Outlaw's chest. For every step that Outlaw took, Marie fired her gun in a futile attempt to kill him. Spring couldn't take her eyes off him as the rest of the Thieves grinned in amusement. Until Marie finally ran out of ammo and was left with a clicking empty gun. "Who the hell are you!?" She shouts in anger and shock.
Outlaw, still wearing the biggest grin ever, tilts his hat up with his left hand, gripping his rifle in his right while looking Marie dead in the eyes.
"I'm the Outlaw, bitch." He replies before quickly raising his rifle and shooting Marie's gun right out of her hand.
"Nice one, Outlaw!" Violet calls, sending a spear of light at Marie's tanks, denting the metal surface. Outlaw shoots her a smirk before diving out of the way as Marie comes crashing through. If he was immune to guns, then that would mean physical strikes would take him down without question. And considering that Marie was driving a big freaking tank? Yeah, he would be roadkill.
"Why won't you all give up!?" Marie screams, throwing more bouquets around the hall only for them to be redirected back at her. As the smoke cleared, it looked as though her tank was on its last legs until it managed to rapidly repair itself.
"She can rapidly heal that tank!?" Queen shouts, avoiding the neck collar and chain.
"That ain't fair!" Panther shouts in agreement, letting a fire spell fly at Marie only for it to miss.
"You stupid children! Did you really think you could beat me? So long as I have this tank, I am untouchable! And I am going to mow down every last one of you until you are nothing but paste and paint you all over my walls!" Marie declares with glee before noticing the triangular ship above her. Glowing with a combination of blue and green.
"Oh yeah? Well, have you met our tank!?" Oracle screams before firing down a beam to the floor. Summoning the Edelweiss back to the field once more, Marie looks on in shock and horror. "Do you remember this, Marie?! And what you did to her!? Well, she's back with a vengeance! Get her, Edelweiss!" With what sounded like a roar, the Edelweiss actually charges forward and rams into Marie's tank, throwing her off and sending her crashing into some church chairs nearby. She then suddenly reverses, aiming all her guns at Marie's tank and fires everything at once. Blowing it to pieces before returning back to Oracle's Persona.
"MY HONNEYMOON CAR!" Marie screams, seeing the smoking wreck of her tank and feeling the injuries from when she Dominated. The Thieves catch up to her before she can stand, suddenly surrounded her on all sides by the fifteen thieves and Erina while Oracle floated above them. Each one of them aimed their guns at her with an anger that almost couldn't be held back. "You filthy, street-wandering rats! Don't think you have won!"
"Well, too bad, Marie! Because we already have! ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Joker shouts as every one of them leaps into the air before they all slash into her from every angle. Physical weapons, guns, and even magic were slammed into her as the team let out all of their pent-up fury at the tyrant. While Oracle hovered above, dropping a bomb on her as the team leapt back. Consuming her in a fiery explosion that sends her flying towards the balcony.
Falling flat on her face as her strength finally gave out. She had lost.
"How have I been… brought to my knees!? That's not… Not how this works!" Marie defiantly shouts, even as she lay on the ground with no way to continue the fight.
"Actually, it is. And there is a word for that." Joker tells her coldly as everyone gathers in front of her. Each one of them shoots a death glare right at her. "It's called 'Karma', bitch. And you have more than earned it."
"Why!?" Marie shouts back. "Why am I the one being attacked here!? The only thing I wanted was to be the wife of the Prime Minister! How can I, of all people, be treated this way!? All I've done is taken what is rightfully mine!"
"And that right there proves why." Guernica replies. "You're nothing more than a spoiled rich kid who doesn't even understand what she's trying to get. You don't want to be the wife of a PM. You just want to rule the country through a puppet." Marie glares at her before redirecting her focus to Toshiro.
"Toshiro! Are you seriously going to stand there, posturing like you're on 'their side'?" Her words strike like a cold sword, sending a chill down everyone. Toshiro even more so. "Did you really think you can burry your own past and start playing hero!? I wonder what will happen to you when that amnesia of yours wears off." Marie grins with madness, pointing a finger at Toshiro. "Try as you might to whitewash your memory. You'll never hide it all. There's no escaping what you've done…" And with her last words, she vanishes into particles of light. Leaving the Thieves stunned and confused. Toshiro all the more.
"She vanished?" King asks, looking at the spot where Marie is.
"I'm not picking up anything. Same with her goons." Oracle informs. "They all vanished along with her."
"Even though we never finished them off like normal shadows?" Noir asks. "That is strange." It was certainly worrying and only raised more questions about what this place really was. But one of them was not going to allow the gloom to sully their victory.
"Ah, come on, guys! We need to celebrate our victory! We actually overthrew Marie!" Erina shouts with joy, already batting away the gloom in the room.
"That's right. We did." Joker comments with a grin. "And got our own back against her as well."
"Someone's gotta give the folks outside the good news. How 'bout it, Erina?" Skull asks with a grin. Erina returns the grin, already morphing her spear into a flag. One much larger than any of the others she had created as she marches to the balcony. Waving the flag high over a victorious Rebel Army.
"Everyone listen up!" She shouts, grabbing all of their attention. "We've disposed of the tyrant Marie! At long last, the revolution has come!" The roar that came from the plaza was almost deafening, as even the sky itself changed from Marie's pink to a natural blue. "What I hold is our banner of victory! Your dark times are over! Rejoice in the light of freedom!"
The cheers echoing from the plaza echoed through the throne room/wedding hall. It was honestly hard for the Thieves not to smile at the jubilant cries from outside.
"Now that was worth…everything…" Guernica says before almost collapsing forward. Thankfully, Panther and Shadow were there to catch her. "Dang… that's some kick back…"
"Just a little sleep, and you'll be good as new." Queen comments before looking Guernica over. "Still, I'm surprised at your outfit. You're almost a perfect combination of all of us."
"Well, she IS a big fan of us. It doesn't surprise me that her outfit would reflect that." Mona comments, glancing at Violet. "It's like how Violet's was influenced by Joker's outfit." Violet gives an awkward chuckle while Crow shakes his head before all eyes turn to Erina as she joins them. "Still, I'm glad we managed to uphold our end of the bargain."
"Yes, we couldn't have asked for more. We'd have been wiped out if it weren't for all of you." Erina replies, giving them all a salute. "I'm not sure if I could ever express my gratitude enough." The Thieves smiled at her, pleased at what they had accomplished. Before the doors leading into the hall were burst open by the Rebel Crops.
"Thank goodness! We made it in time! We came to express our gratitude for all you have done for us! Thank you for liberating us!" At that, the entire Rebel Crops piled into the room, swarming the Thieves as they either hugged them in thanks or threw them into the air in joy.
While some of the Thieves felt sick at being thrown into the air, none of them could really blame them for being this happy. They had token down a tyrannical bride and freed a kingdom. In this moment, they could allow them to be jubilant.
Now, if only they would stop trying to throw Mona onto the bell above them!