Authors Notes: Hey everyone hope your day is going well. I thought I would start doing some fun facts going a little forward though if that's not your cup of tea you can totally skip this lol. When originally breaking down the original RP to form this Fanfic I had to change up a lot of things like Masami are leading lady. She actually didn't join the cast until Arc 2 of the rp, but insanely she took over as a leader so fluidly that she's the actual reason I felt like I could pull this off.

I give a lot of mad respect to her original creator making such a solid lead who started as a side character joining the Thieves. That is honestly one of the biggest changes between the rp this story is inspired by in fact minus albeit... four other big changes I believe. I'll definitely go more into detail as we move along don't want to make this first round of chatting to long after all so enjoy the chapter x3.

With all that said I hope you enjoy, and if you like it please leave a follow or a review it helps us writers know when we are making something you like. Heck even if it is a criticism the fact you took time out of your day to do so says our idea is worth the effort.

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Persona 5: Alternative

Chapter 3 Part 1

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"What is this madness," were the words finally able to shudder past Shiro's lips as her toughened wits held to some avail on what was happening amongst the castle-gardened grounds. The area was well taken care of high kept with clean-cut vegetation sequenced with rows of different shades of yellow roses. At first, it just seemed like a massive bed garden, but the more one stared the more it became apparent there was a method of design. Taking a few steps further down to look upon the slanted gardens Shiro could now see the Kanji symbols the roses formulated.

"Pure. Astute. Pride...," Shiro read out loud trying to wrap her head around it all. Masami though was frozen in place as the dream of the Velvet room came back hitting her like a truck that she had tried to suppress as stress now seemed all too real. Had that prison been real? Masami looked up at the red moon a feeling of immense pressure entering her mind as she couldn't look away as things spiraled out of control.

"Hey," Masami shook with a jolt as Shiro walked up to her gripping a hand on her shoulder giving a form of comfort, and reality to anchor to for a moment even if a bit rough.

"Let's just work on getting out of here for now okay," Shiro held a firm resolute look determined to see them through this. Yet Masami could see the cracks of concern and confusion at the edges of the will Shiro held to... she was just as scared but able to bottle it up better to keep functioning. Regardless she wasn't alone, and for that, Masami was able to nod to Shiro in agreement as they looked around.

"I see no way to get up the wall. Nor do I see any way to escape this garden. Except back the way I came," Masami whispered turning her attention up the steps to an entrance to explore the castle rather than escape it. It was clear that no other option existed, but to delve a bit into the madness of this castle of electrical stormed thorns. They were built upwards as if attempting to pierce the sky for the moon itself. Shiro gritted her teeth also unable to see a way around it, as such she took a step ahead of the mossy-haired girl, and sighed before taking a few breaths to get herself back to an intimidating stage of expression.

"Alright, stay behind me," Shiro spoke leading the charge as the two girls headed into the imposing castle. The interior was much like that of the exterior redwood, and black stone aplenty in the materials used to hold the structure strong. Yet in addition, there was dark yellow wallpaper filled with old maple trees and thunderclouds strewn about. Lanterns were lit above and hooked to the rafter beams allowing a good balance of light, and dark to exist in the room to where you could see most things ahead without problem. The hallway present was extremely long without much show of any other routes.

The walk was hauntingly silent other than the steps of their own feet no other sounds were present minus some strange scratching-like creaking of the beams above. yet no matter how many times they looked there would never be a sign of anything leaving the imagination to much power to play with on their nerves. Along the halls, the wallpaper started to show some changes though almost like a graphic novel.

At first, it showed a duo of boys playing in a field happy as could be with a few other boys, and girls playfully chasing after them. Ahead of them in the image around the Maple tree stood six prominent samurai figures donned in purple armor. One clearly above the rest was on a warhorse of sorts. The children while having fun were none the wiser to the look of dread on the six prominent figures looking out to the distance at a strange shade of black that could be seen off in the mountains ahead.

The second showed the children running and screaming as a surge of sickly diseased-ridden monstrous-looking children appeared like a wave of famine devouring the five figures and spreading some sort of plague to the leaderish figure. The duo of boys could be seen trying to guide the other away but held looks of confusion at what was happening to the warriors.

Upon the third, the image was now of a ruined town with the five warriors gone and a sickly-looking ruler holding a sword out in his diseased hand to one of the boys. Something Masami noticed immediately in this picture was four of the boys from the other pictures were suddenly gone. No rhyme or reason for their disappearance as the rest of the children were still very present... it was odd a notice, but one she found bothering her all the same.

Around the fourth was a picture of a hard-fought battle between the healthy children, and the sickly demonic ones. The boy who had been handed the sword leading the charge against the demonic kids seemed to summon a storm of thunder from the clouds striking them down with feverish intent. A majestic creature appeared amongst the clouds that she could have sworn she had seen before but she couldn't identify due to how much of it was covered up and scratched off.

Moving to the Fifth the wallpaper scene showed the other children donning different colors of armor with the boy of the duo who hadn't taken the sword donning a red set looking out with a strange look of uncertainty yet concern. Looking towards the one who had taken the sword donned a dark yellow set now riding the mythological creature that could be identified as the Kirin a giraffe/deer/dragon hybrid creature with electrical producing scales all over its body, and a single black horn acting like a conduit rod. One of the others a girl who donned pure white armor had a look of regret, and sadness looking down at four particular slain diseased monster children. Another was hidden alive behind her cape the white armor samurai's hand holding the cape up so the other wouldn't see the surviving creature of the diseased. In all, Masami could count 14 fallen demonic children, and one survivor. Another notable detail was the sickly original ruler was ahead of the Yellow-armored samurai kneeling in a deep bow as if offering his services to the boy for saving them all.

Arriving on the last unique sixth wall-papered story it showed the Kirin Rider now Shogunate Yellow Armored Samurai atop a cliff looking down to the dark depths at a much more monstrous yet beaten down version of the disease-demonic child the white armored samurai had spared. A clashing storm signals some sort of confrontation. However, after that, there was no more story it seemed to end on a cliffhanger of sorts.

Masami wasn't exactly sure what to take from it all. It seemed to be a tale of intense conflict with an overpowering disease that had hit the land. Even going so far as to cripple the old guard requiring a new one to rise, and strike back pushing away the diseased wave of monsters for the land to recover. However hard-fought the battle there was one piece of it left that seemed to stick to the self-made Shogunate's mind as his vassals had made decisions or signs that gave context to other issues, but nothing solid to assume.

Shiro for the most part only gave glances to those preoccupied with finding a way out, and to whatever was making that damn scratching sound. Yet the fifth picture caught her attention. Looking up, and down the white armored female Samurai confused her as to why it was defending the monster. Yet the glance was minor, and quick as it was something not of concern at this time. At the same time after passing the last wallpaper portrait an exit from the hallway could be seen.

"Come on," Shiro whispered motioning Masami to the discovery as the two started to pick up speed the sounds of air vastly echoed signaling some form of massive opening that must have been an opening. The closer they got the more light they could see at the tunnel the end of the rabbit hole.

"No. No. No. No. No. WAIT YOU TWO HAAALLLLTTT," a hesitant, speedy, and skittish voice starting to ring from above before launching a full-on demand for attention. As if triggered by a code word Shiro spread her hands out catching the sides of the entranceway and halting her movement as Masami slammed into her from behind grabbing onto Shiro's waist to halt her from potentially falling backwards.

Before any form of location of the source could be made a massive wind erupted as dozens of Edo-era leather-bound soldiers on horseback came rushing past them in the wider area outside their little hallway. A mere second in delay would have no doubt seen them trampled to death. However, the more imposing issue would be how big, and how inhuman the soldiers were. They had no real faces just masks, their skin was a strange black rubber-like substance. Their size was twice that of a normal human, even the horses they rode were unnaturally bigger, and also of similar black rubber composition with those unnatural masks plastered to their faces.

They were all screaming in some form of victory chant, and as the small army passed by the ground began to rumble as at the end of the line of soldiers three massive war horses covered in spike-covered black battle armor carrying the most intensely intimidating figures Shiro, or Masami had ever seen. The lead Samurai was garnered in Heroic red while the two behind him were of demonic purple and holy white. They were the same Samurai from the mural wall art down to the smallest detail. More imposing was the fact they were even bigger than their fellow foot soldiers about an easy four times in size with the purple one six times the size. Yet as they passed massive ropes appeared behind attached to their horses and a bloodcurdling scream could be heard in the form of what was a massive brown bag with something trapped inside being dragged brutally slamming into the walls left, and right carried away out of sight as the three samurai also disappeared in the distance. To say nerves were now officially on end... was an understatement.

The two girls stood in their little hallway petrified having met the occupants of the castle. As silence followed the notice of lack of that prior scratching sound was also gone. As Masami let go of Shiro's waist she looked up to the rafters again finding nothing to see... who had warned them? The question in mind was followed by a massive gate-sounding slam shaking the ground again as Shiro ran out to the wider area.

"Shit," Shiro cursed under her breath as Masami thought for a moment in pause before chasing after her seeing a behemoth of an iron gate blocking what had no doubt been an exit. Looking around for any such clues Masami noticed another of those shadows from above two floors up walking away from a lever that must have been what had closed the gate.

"If we can get to that we can escape," Masami nudged Shiro pointing her towards the scene at hand. Shiro gritted her teeth at the distance as it meant they had to chance exploring more of this madhouse to escape potentially. Neither girl liked the option at hand, but it was the only option.

"Alright. Let's get this nightmare over with before more of those things show up," Shiro spoke shaking her head at it all. She seemed over the initial shock of everything and was starting to gauge things with a more level head with hints of frustration on how this had happened. "So. Why did you say those things out loud," the delinquent asked Masami as they started to walk around looking for stairs.

"What?"

"Kajik Sato, Shujin Academy, Castle. I am not trying to point fingers, but where Shujin Academy was is now gone in place of a Castle," Shiro bluntly explained not holding back the fact as Masami hesitated in finding a not sounding crazy answer.

"By that logic, Sato would be here right," Masami hesitantly joked.

"Given we're trapped in a nightmare scape. I wouldn't doubt my luck being that bad today," Shiro smirked with a scoff at the thought as Masami took in a bite of a breath before answering the dreaded question.

"There's been an app reappearing on my phone all day. I have been deleting it, but it kept coming back like a rejected date. During all that craziness going on with that thug, I think I accidentally clicked it. When you were arguing with that girl I think it was picking out parts of your conversation," Masami explained having been avoiding the show for the very reason of how mental it sounded aloud.

"Huh. I guess we're both at freaking fault than... makes me feel a bit better," Shiro casually responded to Masami's confused surprise.

"Really," Masami blurted out.

"Ya. Things are easier to handle, and accept when there is someone to share them with. That's the Drivers way of thinking," Shiro expressed though not happy to be in the situation caused by Masami's phone she was happy to know it was more shared an incident of accident.

"Drivers?"

"My gang."

"Wait so you are a troubling delinquent," realizing the rudeness that had just erupted out of her mouth without thinking Masami found herself back peddling. "I am so sorry I didn't mean to point a finger back," was all she could muster.

"Don't be. You're not wrong by the textbook definition I am a delinquent. I have stolen, fought, and amassed a group of equally likely to do such people. I am a delinquent...yet it's always... more complicated than the label given," Shiro expressed with a small laugh not taking what Masami said in a rude way, but more as a state of fact. It was clear there was more to it than that, and from the sounds of it, it wasn't so clean-cut.

"And you're just going to accept the words coming out of my mouth?"

"Don't see why not. I don't pay attention to the fuck ups I more so care to get past them. Overthinking the past does no one good making the actions of the present harder to wrap around. I have enough on my plate taking care of "business" than to stress over things I can't control. And I got a lot of "business" to handle so I can't waste energy stressing how I got here, and just need to get back out" Shiro explained with a prominent concern for whatever this business was, and didn't seem to like being away from it for long. Sounded like her life was kept simple, and whatever came she just rolled with... or destroyed into oblivion if it wouldn't move in the name of something that Masami couldn't understand.

"Why were you stressing arguing with... Chiyumi then," Masami asked out of the blue causing Shiro to halt for a moment with a look of contemplation. Masami realizing the words that had come out of her mouth again during this really bad time to ask a question was about to take it back before things went bad.

"Cause she was the one we were supposed to be able to lean on, and she ended up breaking on us when we needed her most," Shiro expressed now emotionally dead on the verbal side of things not even turning to look at Masami when answering. The weight of betrayal reverbed heavily in Masami's mind making her realize they could understand each other. With a lump stuck in Masami's throat, they moved on finally finding something in the form of a massive stairwell heading up. Given the pacing, and projection of the stairs, it was a positive view that could lead them to the lever.

Cautious, and with no further words they made their way up. The lantern-lit stairs reverberated with drums off in the distance initiate some sort of celebration it sounded like. Halfway up three routes appeared in their view. The left which was a bit of a hallway ended with another stairwell upward surely leading to the locking mechanism. The right ended abruptly with a ladder heading up high into the rafters it seemed. Continuing forward seemed the least likely to provide anything but trouble as the sound of drums came from its way. With it seeming rather obvious which way to go Shiro started to head left as did Masami a soft scratching sound started to appear again.

"Wait stop! Why are you guys so terrible at this? Did you even scope this place, or are you just trying to cause an alert, and bring the whole palace down on us? I mean I know I am good, but that doesn't warrant a sore loser response," this time with a raised fist Shiro was ready to go throwing down with whatever was talking to them. Unlike last time as Masami looked up in a split second she could have sworn she had seen a strange red bush of something, but as she couldn't confirm any such visuals she found herself most likely on high nerves.

"Um, this is a castle."

"Well, ya it's a palace in the form of a castle duh."

"You know how dumb that sounds"

"Wuh? I don't make the rules or choose the words. I just don't want to piss off the Ruler here before I can find his treasure."

"So you're admitting you're a thief?"

"Well of course aren't you two thieves? You're here to compete right? Nothing more stirring than gallant rouges going toe to toe with one another right? I mean unless you're with that Trench Coat Mannequin to which I see constantly scoping the place out... not sure what he was after. Yet his burst of violence delayed my heist by a whole month humph," The voice spoke proudly as both Masami and Shiro shared a look before returning to look up where the voice was coming from.

"We do not correlate to such a person. Though to be fair a place like this probably has a few things of value worth taking," Shiro mumbled dryly folding her arms as she looked around to make sure there wasn't something worth taking around them for their troubles.

"Well if you're not here for the main treasure, or violent tendencies what's your goal," the voice asked now relaxing, and revealing a bit of a feminine tone to its manner.

"We sort of just popped in, and now we're trying to get out," Shiro mumbled.

"Wait you guys got in that easily? That's amazing it took me a week to find my infiltration point. Oooooh you're working on your exit strategy then," the voice asked to which Shiro was about to correct until Masami gave her a slight raise of a hand to not say anything. Though a tad confused Shiro kept quiet to see what Masami would do.

"Of course. Though we weren't aware of your claim to the spot, and as much as it would be an honor to challenge you we don't want to be rude and step on your toes. Besides we stand no chance. Especially if you have competition already it would just be an honor to know we got to see you at your peak before snatching your mark. Though we don't want to leave empty so we were going to snatch something by the main gates lever would you be willing to share with us how to get there safely," Masami spoke her sickly voice now replaced with a charming, and confident tone that caused Shiro to turn to her in surprise.

"Hehehe, well it's only natural pros recognize pros. Such respect should be in turn respected. Go up the ladder, and follow the beam to the end. There will be a drop-off point to that gate level just be quiet," the voice spoke with charming words winning them over way too easily.

"Much obliged, and happy snatching," Masami spoke bowing politely as the sound of soft scratching followed before there was no longer a sound. Satisfied with the result Masami returned to her sickly pose and approached before turning to the ladder as Shiro followed her this time being the one unable to gauge the other after that performance.

"That was good... like professionally good," Shiro motioned watching the girl with hawk-like observation.

"Oh? It's nothing school acting club and all that you know," Masami lied waving it off, and given their situation started to climb the ladder.

"Huh... that teacher should get a goddamn raise then... or an Oscar," Shiro mumbled letting it go for now as she followed suit.

The girls found themselves rather high up hidden amongst the rafters with the mystery thief nowhere in sight. Before them however laid a massive ceremonial-like room filled with those foot soldiers all circling that massive bag from before with swords, and spears at the ready attempting to keep whatever was inside centered in the room. Behind in the most bizarre thing to add to the scene was on the outer circle of the foot soldiers stood Shujin Academy students dressed in strange scholarly robes waving their hands in a depleted manner almost as if they were forcing themselves to give whatever celebration aesthetic they could.

The more the girls would stare in disbelief the more they would notice the students were not human as with a wave here or there they caught the scene of demonic yellow eyes from all of them. Atop that madness, the walls of the room behind the students were disturbing lined up sinister black spikes jutting out all over with no rhyme or reason to be much like the more massive ones from outside around the spiky castle. The lighting while much better than the hallways still had an unnerving layer of ambience of low light on the floor. Near the right end from the girl's position stood a jeweled, and furnished throne that the three Samurai encircled seemingly guarding that which was most important to a castle... its ruler. A figure in formal dark yellow shogun wear sat watching the handling of whatever was in the bag blocking the view of their face with a folding fan. As the drums continued to bellow their song the war horses still attached via rope to the bag were pulling in opposite directions.

Yet the added pressure instead caused enough tension for a diseased claw to pierce out of the bag as it gave way to being ripped apart revealing a blotched purple diseased laden oversized Demonic Shiro to which screamed like a banshee causing those all present to drop whatever they were doing holding onto their ears to stop the bloodcurdling pain. Shiro and Masami were also hit with the ear-splitting sound yet Shiro couldn't look away with chills, and goosebumps running down her body. The sight of herself down there in the form of a monster covered by rags, and animal pelts from whatever it could get its hands on causing a dissociation with herself. Her breath was heightening speeding up unable to register what was happening anymore.

The only ones not affected were the Samurai and the Shogun which electricity started to generate off of menacingly. He swung his folded fan to the right causing an immense ricochet of electrical currents upon contact with the black wall spikes spreading throughout the whole room before collecting all together at the top amongst one massive spike above the Shiro Demon.

"KNEEL," the Shogun shouted with authority as the electrical blast came down like a holy thunderbolt upon the plagued creature. Its shriek upon impact came to an immediate halt as it was pinned against the ground now completely paralytic to the blast. When the bright light of its force was gone all remained silent for a moment before the foot soldiers rushed forward using iron clasps to quickly lock the demon's limbs in place.

The human Shiro was now just as paralyzed to the beam now sitting on a part of her wanting to scream in perpetual rage of confusion to what she had just witnessed. Her brain unable to register anything broke her down to her basic emotional elements. Before she could erupt Masami lunged placing a tight grip on the delinquent's mouth, and eyes.

"Think straight. Concentrate on that business you have to attend to. Don't think about anything else right now. We don't have time for shit we can't control right," Masami pleaded with whatever she could be given by Shiro. At first, Shiro's hands tightly gripped at Masami's wrists seemingly ready to break them, but as the delinquent breathed through her nose an air of calmness slowly returned as Masami removed her hand from Shiro's mouth.

"I'll be your eyes for now until you can think straight. Fair," Masami asked with a whisper as what happened below was to not exist at this moment.

"... Fair," Shiro spoke slowly starting to inch forward as Masami with her hand still over Shiro's eyes inched toward their collective goal.

"Long, and tired we have all worked from the damages done four years ago. Drained, and depleted I know you all are. Run down with the work we had before us. Yet look at the result the last touch of impurity pinned at our feet. I promised you all I would purge the plague from our lands and after all our accumulated work not I but we have succeeded in that mission," an all too familiar voice rang out causing both Masami and Shiro to freeze for a moment in place. Masami didn't dare to confirm the real suspicion as she pushed against Shiro forcing her to continue as the voice did too.

"We will share equal worth, in our astuteness. The award of bountiful potential at our doors reopened like the days of old. All that is left before the dawn of award rests upon us is to purge the last smear of the demons left to burn," the Shogunate proclaimed rallying the troops, and whatever the students could muster in celebration.

As this continued the girls had gotten to the end of the beam path. From what Masami could see leaning towards her left was a stairwell leading to a platform underneath them that upon further leaning revealed the tip of the level in plan view now within reachable circumstance. The drums had picked up again and were getting louder, and louder.

"We're right there. It's not going to be a pretty landing, but the moment you can't hear anything we need to jump left," Masami explained as her voice became more, and more consumed by the drums. Only able to nod in understanding Shiro waited for Masami's signal for a leap of faith as the mossy green girl finally boldly turned to the right to see the very thing she wished she hadn't the Shogunate... was Kajik Sato. A confident prideful smile laid across his features as even more demonic Yellow eyes pierced the soul of Masami's view. Her sense of understanding was starting to waver. At the apex of the drums, she shrugged it off as with a forceful twist she threw herself, and Shiro off the rafter beam.

"Rejoice for those purged from Shujin Castle will no longer devour our earned flesh and hard work. We are absolved of their inability to be a part of something greater clawing us down to be as worthless as they were. Pride yourselves on surviving, and accomplishing past their worthlessness," as the Shogun Sato spoke Masami midair with Shiro no longer holding onto her eyes could see the snapping point reached as the delinquent held a look of pure shock that slowly became pure rage upon their descent. The two hit the ground hard with Masami sliding towards the lever, and Shiro towards the railing to the platform. Extreme pain from the height ravaging their bodies from the devilish stunt.

With everything Masami had she leaped from the ground to halt Shiro yet missed her by an inch hitting the ground hard as Shiro slammed herself against the railing looking at the sight of her Demonic version pinned down, and useless. Unable to do anything the Three Samurai converged around the demon's head with flaming Katana, light-blaring Yari, and dark wispy Kanabo drawn at the ready to finish the last black mark smearing their lord's vision. Clawed feet, and hands plagued by purple blotches all over its skin clawed wildly as the Demonic Shiro tried to do something anything to escape, but eventually, it gave up unable to see any reason to fight anymore.

"YOU DARE ACT LIKE SOME HIGHER CAUSE NOBLE? AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO KOYUSHI, YUI, GOMI, AND AMANE I SHOULD RIP YOUR HEAD OFF YOU PIECE OF SELF-SATISFYING SHIT. YOUR NOTHING MORE THAN TRASH UNHAPPY WITH THE HAND GIVEN TO THEM BURNING OTHERS TO ASH TO ELEVATE YOUR OWN DAMN WORTH," Shiro's voice impressively rang out over the drums as Masami slammed into the rails. Having a hard time with balance with the pain all over her body she was quick to lock onto the Shogunate Sato holding his hand up in a signaled fist silencing everything around them.

The Soldier, the Scholarly Students, the Samurai, the Demonic Shiro, and even the Shogunate himself all looked to Shiro in pause. The Shogunate Sato looked between the Demon, and Human Shiro's rage equal to Shiro's formulating as he looked at Masami a Shujin Academy-dressed girl. At the peak of his ability to hold back his rage, it instead turned to a devilish smile as he pointed his closed folding fan at the girls.

"AS I TOLD YOU LEAVE A DISEASE ALONE IT SIMPLY SPREADS. GET THEM BEFORE THEY CORRUPT ANYONE ELSE. LET'S END THIS ALL AT ONCE," he declared confident in this being the end of the road regardless of the unexpected catching him off guard. Causing another volley of invigorated roars to erupt from the foot soldiers Masami grabbed Shiro's hand pulling her off the rails as within all doubts in this realm of madness one of those behemoth war horses sprang up like a massive missile at the duo. The immense weight ripped the lever platform clean off as a chunk of wall came with it sending the the girls, the platform they were on with the lever, and the war horse spiraling down to the ground below.

The horse with its intense action and speed fell first to the ground shattering it and creating a wide hole that it and the platform the girls were on fell in. One floor, two floors, three floors the horse shattered through as the girls' platformed descent was followed with screams holding onto whatever they could as the platform cracked, splintered, and smacked into debris, and destroyed flooring the whole way down.

"GARU," an unnatural force of wind split the girls apart ripping them from their grips on the railing and lever upon passing the third floor.

Eventually, everything came to a grinding halt as the spikey war horse hit cement at the bottom of the castle before the platform impacted it shattering, and burying the war horse in debris, and showers of water. The girls were thrown into body of water potentially saving them from a bone-shattering fate. Upon reemerging from the water the two found themselves in a water canal system with a cemented architect. It thankfully wasn't a sewer at least...

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