In this chapter we have another awakening, time to see what happens with it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.

Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Lysandre Arc Chapter 14

Zane's Awakening

The Dragon Gems were making their way through the museum with Zane in tow who was baffled by this world. They made it into the room with all the portraits Zane looked at them shocked.

"So, this…. is inside of Sensei's heart?" Zane asked concerned "A vain museum such as this…?" They enter the hall and he looks to one of them and gasps "Ah, this painting…!"

"Do you recognize it?" Alexis asked him "We were thinking these might be his past pupils or something…"

"But… why are there paintings of them here?" Zane asked worried.

"Technically, those aren't actually paintings. They're the pupils themselves." Gatomon explained.

"Lysandre saw them as objects, so that's what they are in here… Oh, and uh… we found yours too." Uzi added rubbing her head. Hearing that Zane remained quiet.

"We'll talk more later. For now, let's get out of here." Gatomon tells them.

The group nod and keeps on moving.

The group soon made it to the room of the Infinite Spring statue. They rush to the exit but suddenly some Shadow Basherbots appear in front of them blocking their path.

"The exit is right there!" Gatomon said annoyed.

Suddenly they hear laughing behind them and looks to see a figure with a red and yellow kimono, metal clawed hands and feet and helmet with orange hair but Ludandre's face. He was escorted by two Basherbots, one was wearing the white coat that had gold highlight markings on it. No doubt, it was Lysandre's Shadow.

"Who it is?! What the…." Alexis said in shock.

"Talk about lousy clothes." Uzi said "First a king now some kind of shogun?!"

"Welcome to the museum of the master artist Lysandre…" Shadow Lysandre said grinning.

"Huh?" Zane said in shock. "Sensei? Is that you? That attire and those claws…"

"Disgusting." Alexis said in disgust

"Matadormon…I should have known it was you in charge of this place." Arsene said worried.

"This… This is all one big lie, isn't it?" Zane asked worried.

"My usual ragged attire is nothing but an act." Shadow Lysandre told him. "Besides, a famous person living in that shack? I have another home… under a mistress's name, of course."

"This is absurd." Aqua said glaring.

"Hahahaha! How naïve!" Lysandre said laughing.

"If the 'Julian' was stolen, why was it in the storage room?" Zane asked so confused "And if you had the real one, why make copies? If it's really you, Sensei… please tell me!"

"Foolish childish robot. You still don't, see?" Shadow Lysandre said to him smirking "The painting being stolen was just a false rumour I spread! It was all a perfectly calculated staging!"

"What do you mean?!" Zane asked shocked.

"Let me see… How does this sound?" Shadow Lysandre grinning and thinking "'I found the real painting, but it can't go public… You can have it for a special price, though…' Haha! How's that for preferential treatment?! Art snobs will eat it up and pay good cash at that!"

"No!" Zane said holding his head and falls down to one knee.

"The value of art is purely illusion. What's the matter with providing that illusion to eager customers?" Shadow Lysandre explained. "Though I doubt a brat bot like you would ever come up with such a brilliant scheme!"

"You keep going on and on about money this, money that…" Uzi said annoyed "No wonder you ended up with this disgusting museum!"

"You're supposed to be an artist, right?!" Alexis said angered "Aren't you ashamed of plagiarizing other people's work?!"

"Silence welps! You will not speak to the great Lysandre like that" The Museum Gallery General said.

"Art is nothing but a tool… A tool to gain money and fame!" Shadow Lysandre said grinning. "You helped me greatly as well, Zane…"

"Robot God… this annoys the hell out me…" Uzi said angry and looks to Zane "That's your teacher."

Zane is still on one knee looks up at Shadow Lysandre and said "But what about the people who believe in you? Who think you're a master artist?!"

"…I'll tell you this alone, Zane." Shadow Lysandre said "If you wish to succeed in this world, I'd advise you don't rise against me." He smirks "Do you believe anyone could find success with my objection holding them down? Hahahahaha!"

"To think I was under the care of this wretched man!" Zane said looking down.

"You thought I took you in out of the goodness in my heart?!" Shadow Lysandre asked "Plucking talented, yet troubled artists allows me to find promising pupils and take their ideas…After all, it's much easier to steal the futures of children who can't fight back."

"I can't believe this…" Zane said shocked.

"Livestock are killed for their hide and meat! This is no different, you fool!" Shadow Lysandre told him. "…But I tire of this little chat. It's timje that I…"

"You are unforgivable." Zane said angered while looking down.

"Hm?" Shadow Lysandre lets out confused.

"It doesn't matter who you are…I won't forgive you!" Zane said standing up and glares at the shadow of his sensai.

"So, you repay my keeping you around for all these years with ingratitude! You damn brat bot!" Shadow Lysandre said glaring. "Men! Dispose of these thieves! General this is your chance to make up for your past failures!"

"Yes my lord" The Museum Gallery General said nodding as he and his men move forward.

"Get back!" Alexis says to Zane.

"How amausing…" Zane said simply.

"Huh?" Alexis said confused.

Zane shakes his head smiling saying "It seems the truth is stranger than fiction, hm?"

"Zane?!" Alexis asked concerned.

"I wanted to believe it wasn't true…I had clouded my vision for so long…" Zane said as he glares at Shadow Lysandre and holds his head "My eyes were truly blind…. Blind, and unable to see the true self behind this one horrible man!"

"Have you finally come to your senses?" A male voice said in Zane's head who feels increadble pain in his sensors and holds his head "How foolishly you averted your eyes from the truth…A deplorable imitation indeed…Best you part from that aspect of yourself!

"A-Aaaagh!" Zane screams out as he falls on his hands and knees and scrapes his hands on the floor.

"Let us now forge a contract…" The voice said to Zane. "I am thou, thou art I….The world is filled with both beauty and vice…It is time you teach people which is which!"

Zane looks up with yellow eyes and wearing a black and white ninja mask. He stands up while Shadow Lysandre looks concerned. The robot then said "Very well…Come, Goemon!" He rips off the mask.

From the beam of light appear's Zane's Persona, a Japanese man in blue gi, in high heeled sandals, a poperdor and smoking a large pipe while also having geisha like face makeup on. Zane was also in a new outfigt a black and silver like ninja armor gi.

"Should have expected Goemon to be brought onto this, not that I'm complaining" Arsene said with a smile.

Zane poses and says "A breathtaking sight...Imitations they may be, but together, they make a fine spectacle…Though the flowers of evil blossom, be it known…Abominations are fated to perish!" He sends a whirlwind of ice knocking several of the Shadow Basherbots back as he draws out a sword and some shurikans.

"Whoa, this is impressive!" Gatomon said amazed.

Shadow Lysandre recovers and glares at Zane and said "Who do you think you are?! The price for your insolence will be death! General, where are my guards?! Kill them all!"

"At once sir" The Museum Gallery General said and summons more Shadow Basherbots.

"The children who adored you as 'father'…The prospects of your pupils…How many did you trample upon?" Zane asked Shadow Lysandre who smirks "How many dreams did you exchange for riches?! No matter what it takes… I will bring you to justice!"

Aqua smiles and said ready to fight and said "You got this?"

"I am ready!" Zane said with a grin.

The General assumes his true form a figure in a black apron wearing a metal mask holding large hammer and pliers known as the Embittered Blacksmith, the four other guards appeared to be tengu like creatures known as Foolish Monks.

"You are in the presence of Lord Lysandere!" The Museum Gallery General said to the Phantom Thieves. "On your knees intruders!"

"I learned much from you, Lysandre, in order to see authenticity… one must be dispassionately realistic." Zane admits looking sad "With Goemon by my side… I can now ascertain your true self without any reservations!"

Zane then opens the attack by having Goemon use the ice attack Bofu on the enemies it knocks down the Foolish Monks it knocks down two but misses one, Aqua then uses Great Slice on the General and baton passes back to Zane who tries to take down the two other Foolish Monks. It works and the group All-Out attack the five enemies and the monks are finished but the general is still up barely

"You…won't win…" The Museum Gallery general pants and attacks Alexis.

Alexis attacks with Agi which shows he is strong to fire so Uzi tries Zio and Zane finishes him with Bofu and the fight was won.

"N-no…I'm sorry…my lord." The general cries out as he fades away.

Zane then approches Shadow Lysandre who backs up but the now Nindroid collapses to his knees "Ngh…" He feels weak.

"Zane, you've just thrown your bright future down the drain." Shadow Lysandre told him. "I'll destroy every chance you've ever had of becoming an artist!"

"Lysandre!" Zane said looking up glaring.

"You'll forever rue the day you dared defy me." Shadow Lysandre told him with his own glare. He then walks away.

"Get…back here!" Zane said trying to give chase but collapses again and the Dragon Gems go to check on him.

"Zane!" Alexis said worried.

"Why can't I move?!" Zane asked frustrated.

"Listen you're totally drained. You can't do much, even if you wanted to!" Alexis explained to him.

"What a disgrace I am!" Zane said looking down.

"Come on, just listen to her." Uzi told him.

The four help Zane out to the front desk area and sit him down on the waiting couch for him to recover.

"You've known for quite some time, haven't you?" Alexis said to him.

"I'm no fool." Zane said shaking his head "Strange people have been coming by for years, and the plagiarism was an everyday affair. But… who would want to admit that the man they owed their life to was doing such terrible things?"

"Why didn't you leave, Zane?" Alexis asked him.

"Well, he is the one who painted the 'Julian.' On top of that, I owe him a great debt…" Zane explained.

"You mean because he raised you?" Uzi asked him.

"I… never knew my mother." Zane admits "I was told my father built and cared for me by himself, but he died in an accident when I was around three years activated. That's when Sensei took me in. I heard he helped my father while he was still alive."

"Heard…?" Alexis asked concerned.

"To be honest, I don't remember much about my father either." Zane admits sighing. "I did everything I could for Sensei, I thought him as a father… but he changed." He looks angry behind his mask "To think he would treat the 'Julien,' the very foundation of his art, like that!"

"…A lot's happened to you, huh?" Uzi said thinking.

"When you mentioned plagiarism…deep down I know you were right." Zane said looking at Uzi and Aqua. "That's why I so vehemently denied you…I was simply running from the truth. I'm sorry."

"It's nothing to worry about." Aqua said smiling

"…Thank you." Zane said nodding. "I'm grateful for the chance to face what I have been denying all this time."

"You're way to serious my guy." Uzi said standing up smiling "That's why you're always getting suck in your own head. Look at me! I just go with the flow."

"For real" Alexis said nodding.

"What are you going to do now?" Gatomon asked Zane.

"I don't know…" Zane said shaking his head

"We can't help the fact that Lysandre's gone and changed." Uzi said to him "But… we can change his heart. We'll make him pay for his crimes."

"That reminds me, you mentioned something about that 'change of heart' earlier…" Zane said thinking.

"Have you heard the rumours?" Uzi asked him "The ones about the Phantom Thieve that steal hearts?"

Zane looks at them and his eyes widen in realization "…?! Don't tell me…"

Just then behind them more Basherbots appear ready to fight them.

"Oh doors!" Uzi said in surprise.

"We'll talk later! We need to scram!" Gatomon said to the group.

Zane then looks to finally see the outfit he was wearing and asked, "When did my clothes change?"

"You just noticed that now?" Uzi asked in disbelief.

"Save it for later! Let's go!" Alexis said and the five rush off for the exit.

Once the group managed to get out of the Palace and back to the real world, they all went to the Diner on Central Street and explained everything to Zane about the Metaverse, the Shadows, the Phantom Thieves all of it including what they did to Gaston.

"…I see." Zane said nodding. "And because of that, this PE teacher had a change of heart…" He processes this "The Phantom Thieves who steal hearts…To think they truly exist."

"Is it hard to believe?" Aqua asked him.

"No, I believe you…" Zane said and explained "There's no need for common sense to blind me after seeing a world like that. So your plan with sensei Lysandre…with Lysandre is to force a change of heart, correct?" The group nods and Zane then said "Let me join… as a member of the Phantom Thieves."

The four were surprised at this and look at each other.

Zane then adds "Had I faced reality sooner, this may have been avoided. I must put an end to this for the sake of the others whose futures as artists were robbed, as well. That…is the most civil thing I can do for the man who was…in some manner, my father."

Alexis looks at him "…Civil, huh?"

"Sounds fine to me. We're gonna deal with Lysandre anyways." Uzi said shrugging.

"He may have a mental shutdown if we screw up." Gatomon said emerging from Aqua's bag that sits on the table "We have ways to prevent that, but they aren't fail-safe…Remember how we mentioned this on our way here?"

"Lysandre is a man who has the art world under his thumb. He has connections to many orginizations." Zane explained "If someone like me raises my voice, it'll only snubbed out… We have no option but this."

"Zane…" Alexis said looking sadly.

"It's a deal then." Gatomon said smiling.

"We have a new member in the Phantom Thieves now!" Alexis said smiling. "I hope we get along, Zane!"

"You better not slow us down." Uzi said with a grin.

"I'll do my best" Zane said nodding.

"Welcome aboard" Aqua said with a smile and nod.

"Thank you, I ask that you coach me as well." Zane said with a nod.

"Oh that reminds me… I wonder what's going on with the real Lysandre." Alexis said thinking. "Zane and I were in a pretty tight situation…"

"Actually, I contacted him before we came here. He believes that I continued pursuing Alexis." Zane explained. "And, just as you all explained, it appears he knows nothing about his Shadow."

"What did he say?" Alexis asked concerned.

"He was complaining to the security company how thy couldn't even catch one high school girl." Zane said simply. "However, he's still furious about it, and said that he's going to take legal action against everyone."

This shocks the group even more and Uzi groans and said "Talk about being completely on guard…"

"Legal action… He's acting way to desperate." Alexis said concerned. "Maybe he still has more secrets."

"If he were to act, it'd be after the exhibit is over. Any scandal during the show would be his loss." Zane explained.

"Right when I think the talk about being a nude model is over, this happens?!" Alexis said a bit annoyed.

"We'll have to force a change of heart before then, if we're to dodge this 'legal action' thing." Gatomon points out. "Looks like our plan must be accomplished while the exhibit is still open!"

Aqua, Uzi and Alexis nod to this but Zane looks at Gatomon and asked, "By the way… what is this?"

"Huh? A cat." Uzi said point to Gatomon.

"But it's talking." Zane said confused.

"You have a problem with that?!" Gatomon asked glaring.

"No, not really." Zane said shaking his head.

"Why not?" Uzi asked surprised.

"He's just on a different wavelength than other people and bots." Alexis guessed.

"Do you wish to draw me? You better bring out the best of me, in that case." Gatomon said as he smiles proudly.

"Hm…" Zane thinks and then leans over as it to touch thw white cat.

"Hey, don't touch me like…" Gatomon said but Zane instead press the call button in front of him.

"I was thinking of ordering some white bean jelly Energon." Zane told him.

"I bet he got that idea from a 'white cat'…" Uzi said bemused.

"Oh!" Zane said in realization "I didn't bring any money."

Alexis sweatdrops and said "…Never mind. He's just weird."

Aqua giggles at that looks like the group got more lively with Zane's inclusion.

We soon come to Aqua and Gatomon arriving LeBlanc safely and Vito sees them and said "I hope you're not up to no good. Don't forget you're still under probation, got that? One misstep and you're finished."

Aqua nods understanding but Gatomon whispers "…No good? What's wrong about changing the hearts of criminals? We're doing the right thing."

Aqua nods and gets a message on the Dragon Gems group chat and sees it's from Uzi who said "Legal action? This ain't funny."

"That sounds problematic." Aqua messages.

"If the police hear about this, they'll totally get in touch with the school," Uzi messages "We'll get expelled for sure this time."

"School would be the least of our worried… We'd end up arrested. Unlawful entry, defermation…" Alexis messages

"Guess that means we really can't afford to mess up this time." Uzi messages.

"Yeah, from here on out is what really matters. Let's do it!" Alexis messages. Aqua nods and puts her phone back in her pocket.

"We just need to change his heart before he presses charges. Try to focus on that problem for now." Gatomon told Aqua.

"Yeah" Aqua nods upstairs, once there she feeds her plant some Bio-Nutriants and then goes to watch what was left of Bubbly Hills 90210 where she feels charm improve.

"I feel that was a nice ending" Pixie said smiling

"Indeed but time for bed to rest up to prepare for what's next" Belith said

"Agreed" Aqua said and yawns going to bed.

Well Zane has officially joined the team, let's see how well he does in his new group.

Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.